The End of the World

Newspaper columnist Mike Royko wrote a story about a practical joke that was played on a man in Madison, Wisconsin. The man and his three friends went on a fishing trip to a secluded lake. Each night they went to bed at 10 o’clock and got up before dawn every morning to fish.

One night Joe went to bed first and quickly fell asleep. And that’s when one of his friends got an idea. He got Joe’s wristwatch and changed the time to 4:45. They all changed the times on their watches and clocks, and set the alarm to go off at 5 o’clock. Then they got into their beds and waited. 

Fifteen minutes later, the alarm went off. They all got up, rubbed their eyes, and shuffled around like they had been sleeping for seven hours. They made breakfast, just like every morning. Joe complained that he felt like he hadn’t gotten any sleep that night.

After they started fishing, every few minutes Joe would look at the eastern horizon and say, “What time do have?” One guy said, “6:00.” Joe said, “Shouldn’t it be getting light soon?”

At 6:40, Joe stopped fishing and stared into the darkness, “Guys, I’m tell you, something is wrong! The sun isn’t coming up. It should be up by now!” He started freaking out, “Guys, this must be the END OF THE WORLD!” His friends burst out laughing and let him in on the joke.

One day the end of the world will come, and that’s no joke. Jesus described the signs of the end by saying, “Men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke 21:26). Clearly, those terrified people Jesus is talking about aren’t ready to meet God.

You might not see the end of the world, but when you die, it’s the end of your world. The end of your time in this world is the beginning of your time in the next world in one of two places.  Will you make peace with God before that time comes? CLICK HERE to find out how to do this.   www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com   www.makinglifecount.net

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Cold Turkey

Garrison Keillor tells a story of a family get-together at Thanksgiving, and how every year it was the same uncle who gave the blessing at the family dinner. It was always a long prayer, and inevitably it got stalled at the point where he began giving thanks for Jesus’ death on the cross.

While the rest of the family began to worry about the turkey growing cold, the uncle would begin to weep. Keillor said, “I don’t know, I guess he just never got over Jesus’ death the way other Christians have.” Sadly, Jesus’ death on the cross doesn’t move many people to tears.

Jesus was dining at Simon the Pharisee’s house when an immoral woman came into the house. She kissed His feet and poured a vial of perfume on them, and as she wept, wiped His feet with her hair. The Pharisee was offended by her actions. He thought, “If this man were a prophet, He would know that she is a sinner” (Luke 7:36-39).

Jesus said, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He then told a story about a moneylender who had two debtors. One owed 500 denarii, and the other owed 50. When both were unable to repay, he forgave them both. Jesus asked Simon, “Which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” Jesus said, “You have answered correctly” (7:41-43).

According to Jesus, our love for God has everything to do with our realization of how much we have been forgiven by Him. He said, “Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little” (Luke 7:47). 

That’s why the woman cried and wiped His feet with her tears. And that’s why the uncle cried every Thanksgiving when he gave thanks for Jesus’ death on the cross. He focused on what Jesus did to purchase his eternal salvation, while the others seated at the table were focusing on the turkey getting cold. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com   www.makinglifecount.net

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What If You Were Blind?

Imagine living in a beautiful mansion with a scenic view of the countryside. You own the finest furniture. Your yard is landscaped with beautiful flowers and cascading waterfalls. A Lamborghini and a Bentley are parked in your garage.

Add one more factor to your hypothetical world. You’re blind. Although you own the finest of everything, you can’t enjoy them because YOU CAN’T SEE THEM. Now you understand that you already own one of the most valuable things you could possibly have—your eyesight.

Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, is one of the richest men in the world. In 1997, he was giving a speech to 1,500 people at a convention in Seattle. After Gates’s speech, a medical doctor stood up and asked a question. “Mr. Gates,” he asked, “If you were blind, would you trade all your money to have your sight restored?” At the time, Bill Gates’s personal wealth was $35 billion. Gates thought for a moment and said, “If I were blind, yes, I would give up all my money to receive my sight.”

Since you’re reading this, you already have your sight. Suppose someone offered you $35 billion if you would give up your eyesight. You would be blind for the rest of your life, but you’d be rich. Would you do it? I don’t think so.

But many people aren’t enjoying life, even though they are surrounded by every blessing imaginable. They just CAN’T SEE THEM.

A friend of mine lives in Florida a few miles from Kennedy Space Center. I told him, “It must be fun watching the space shuttle launches and going to the beach all the time.” He replied, “I never go to the beach and I don’t even go outside my house to watch the space shuttle launch.” I asked, “Why?” He said, “I’ve seen them so many times it’s no big deal.” And there lies the problem.

When we see the same blessings every day, we eventually stop noticing them. When we stop noticing, we quit appreciating. When we quit appreciating, we stop thanking. When we stop thanking, we start complaining.

I thank God from my heart every day for saving me, for my wife, family, house, cars, electricity, water, air-conditioning, etc. I see them. I appreciate them. And I thank God for them. Can you SEE all the blessings God has given you? www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com   www.makinglifecount.net

Jumping to the Wrong Conclusion

In April 2000, a woman in Houston, Texas was killed in a car accident. As the coroner was doing the autopsy, he discovered a bullet in the deceased woman’s brain. He changed the cause of death from an accident to first-degree murder. 

What looked like a car accident apparently was a diabolical coverup for a crime. Of course, the husband would be a primary suspect in such cases. But before we lock him up in a prison cell on death row, we need to gather all the facts. Maybe the butler did it, or someone else was involved.

Upon further investigation, the coroner discovered she had been accidentally shot in the head in 1978 and never had the bullet removed. Once the coroner gained this new information, he changed the cause of death from murder back to a car accident. 

Do you see how easy it is to jump to the wrong conclusion? We take one bit of information and think it’s the whole story. We make wrong assumptions when we fill in the blanks with our biased opinions and mentally connect the dots that aren’t there.

The prophet Samuel wrongly assumed Eliab was going to be the next king of Israel (1 Sam. 16:6). Saul wrongly assumed David wanted to usurp his throne (1 Sam. 18:8-9). Samson wrongly assumed he would always have supernatural strength (Judges 16:19-20). The scribes and Pharisees wrongly assumed Jesus received the power to cast out demons by Satan (Mark 3:22).

Proverbs 18:13 says, “He who answers before he hears the facts—it is folly and shame to him.” If you don’t know all the facts, and if you don’t know the other person’s motives, hold off from forming an opinion or making an important decision. It might save you from being embarrassed later.  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com   www.makinglifecount.net

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If Jesus Wrote a Letter to Your Church

In Revelation 2-3, Jesus wrote letters to seven churches in different cities. These letters (recorded by the apostle John) were to be delivered to those churches so they could make corrections. It made we wonder—what would He write to today’s churches? Here are some facts about those letters:

1. Each church had an opinion about itself that was inaccurate. “Groupthink” is the conformity of thinking within a group, which typically doesn’t allow differing points of view. Laodicea thought they were wealthy and didn’t need anything. But Jesus corrected their false opinions, “You don’t know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked” (Rev. 3:17).

2. Jesus praised them for what they were doing right. He told the church at Ephesus, “I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil…and have not grown weary” (Rev. 2:2-3).

3. Jesus rebuked them for what they were doing wrong. He also told Ephesus, “But I have this against you, you have abandoned the love you had at first” (Rev. 2:4)

4. Jesus told them how to make corrections. “Remember how far you have fallen, repent, and do the works you did at first” (Rev. 2:5).

IF JESUS WROTE TO CHURCHES TODAY, He might say something like this:

To the Liberal church: “I know your compassion for all broken and rejected people, and will accept them into your church. But I have this against you—you have ignored My Word about the need for repentance, and you will not allow Me to change their hearts and behavior.”

To the Traditional church: “I know that you do not compromise My Word, that you are teaching it to all ages in your Sunday School classes, and you support missions. But I have this against you—you hold on to man-made traditions and rituals, many that I want you to abandon. You’re doing them because you’ve always done it that way, and not because I told you to do them.”

To the Contemporary church: “I know that you have changed the atmosphere to make your church more inviting to the younger generation. You’ve updated your music, made your sanctuaries more comfortable, and even serve donuts and coffee. But I have this against you—entertaining the congregation has become more important than making disciples and worshipping Me. You have abandoned discipleship programs for all ages (like Sunday school), which has made your congregation spiritually shallow.”

Okay, I’ll admit that I’m just speculating about what He might say. Your church might be perfect. Or it might need a letter written to it. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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The Optimist Says, The Pessimist Says

Peter, James, and John spent all night fishing and had caught nothing. As they were washing out their nets, Jesus told them to go back out and let down their nets and then they would catch fish (Luke 5:1-5). Suppose an optimist and a pessimist were also on the boat. Which one is you?

The Pessimist says:  "Go out again? Why didn’t you tell us this before we washed out our nets? We already wasted an entire night out there. The fish aren’t out there! It won’t do any good.” The Optimist says:  "It doesn’t make sense, but I will trust you even though I don’t understand.”

God did have a purpose for their empty nets. It was to show them that He could provide for them when their own efforts failed. When they threw out their nets, they caught so many fish that their nets began to break (Luke 5:6). Pessimist says: “Oh no! The nets are breaking so now I’ve got to repair them.” Optimist says: “Look at all the fish! We can sell them and buy new nets and a new boat. Thank you, Jesus!”

The pessimist complains when the nets are empty, and complains again when the nets are full! We can choose to look at the positive side of each situation or the negative side. The optimist sees the donut. The pessimist sees the hole.

They filled both of the boats with so many fish that they began to sink (Luke 5:7). Pessimist says: “Oh no! God is sinking our boats! These nets are so heavy! My back is killing me! Call a doctor. I think I threw my back out. I'll sue!" Optimist says: “Wow! God is blessing our boats! This is great! I've never seen a haul like this before. Only God could do this!” 

And when they had brought their boats to the land, they left everything and followed Him. (Luke 5:11) They left their boats behind. They left behind their tremendous haul of fish they had just caught because they found a higher calling. Pessimist says: “I’m losing my fishing business!” Optimist says: “I’m gaining eternal life!”

Peter and the other disciples were convinced if Jesus could provide that many fish, then He could provide all their other needs as well if they followed Him. Many people have never figured that out. Have you? But first you might have to leave your “fish” behind. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net

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Taking Communion on the Moon?

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 became the first manned vehicle to land on the moon. Nearly everyone knows Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon, but few remember the second man was Buzz Aldrin. Even fewer remember that Buzz Aldrin was the first man to observe the Lord’s Supper on the moon.

He was an elder at Webster Presbyterian Church in Texas at the time, so he asked his pastor to provide the elements to take to the moon. Aldrin and Armstrong had only been on the lunar surface for a few minutes when Buzz read John 15:5 and swallowed the bread and wine inside the lunar module. Aldrin later said, “The very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements. And some of the first words spoken on the moon were the words of Jesus Christ, who made the earth and the moon.” 

At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). I have to wonder if Jesus knew that Communion (also known as the Eucharist) would one day be celebrated on the moon. Since He knew all things (John 18:4, 19:28), He certainly did know. When Mary anointed Jesus with perfume, He said, "Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her” (Matt. 26:13).

His statement sounded impossible, but Jesus knew a Bible would be written in the future and this event would be recorded in it. Today the New Testament has been translated into 2,300 languages. Bibles have been distributed worldwide, and the story about Mary anointing Him with perfume is recorded in each one of them.

He never said, “Truly I say to you, this supper will be celebrated on the moon.” It would be too much for anyone to believe, at least until 1969. We don’t take the Lord’s Supper to remember it was celebrated on the moon. We take it to remember Jesus died for our sins, and we’ll continue to observe it until He returns and we’re in His kingdom (1 Cor. 11:26, Matt. 26:29).  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net

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The Hardest Part in Learning to Swim

When I was a kid, I took swimming lessons at the local neighborhood pool. The easy part was when I grabbed on to the side of the pool while someone held me up as I learned how to kick. I passed with flying colors! Then came the hardest part of swimming—learning how to float. The instructor told me the water would hold me up if I would just relax.

Many people say, “I haven’t learned how to swim,” but what they really mean is “I haven’t learned how to float.” Once you figure out how to do that, swimming becomes easy.

I had thrown rocks and other objects into a lake and all of them sank to the bottom. It was hard for me to believe the water would hold me up because I was much heavier than the rocks I threw. My instructor told me to lay flat as he held me up by the stomach. Then, he let go. Just as I expected, I immediately sank! I went home that day embarrassed and frustrated.

The next time I went to the neighborhood pool, I tried again to float, but my feet would immediately drop down so I could stand up. I didn’t fool anyone when I did that awkward “half swim” where I walked along the bottom of the pool while moving my arms like I was swimming.

Then one day, I quit trying to float. Instead, I held my breath, put my face in the water and just went limp. For the first time in my life, I floated. The crazy thing was—the key to floating is not trying to float. When I totally surrendered to the water and quit struggling, the water held me up.

That’s how we learn to trust God. Inwardly we go limp. We quit trying in our own strength and submit to His power to hold us up. We say, “Lord, I’m completely depending on you to come through for me.” David continually put his trust in God. He said, “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You ... In God I will put my trust; I shall not be afraid” (Ps. 56:3, 4).

Just like I learned to float by trusting the water to hold me up, David learned to trust God by putting his confidence in the Lord to hold him up. And we must do the same. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net

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It All Went Up in Smoke

After spending months writing his book The French Revolution, Thomas Carlyle took his manuscript to his friend John Stuart Mill for his comments. Mill passed the manuscript on to a lady named Mrs. Chapman, who read it by the fireplace on the evening of March 5, 1834. Before she went to bed she laid the manuscript on the mantel.

The next day, the maid came to clean the room and start the fire in the fireplace. Mistaking it as trash, she used the manuscript as fuel to start the fire and burned up the book! Carlyle had to start over and rewrite the entire manuscript.

The same thing happened to the prophet Jeremiah. God told him to write on a scroll everything He had spoken concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations (Jer. 36:2). That covered 22 years, and it would soon be burned in a fireplace.

Jeremiah spent about a year dictating the words to Baruch the scribe, who wrote them down. Because the message called for everyone to turn from their evil ways, it was never going to be a New York Times bestseller. The scroll was taken to evil King Jehoiakim to be read.

The king was in his house with a fire burning in the fireplace. When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king grabbed it, cut it with a knife, and threw it into the fire, destroying the entire scroll (36:2-23). The king tried to seize Jeremiah and Baruch, but the Lord hid them (36:26).

It had to be devastating for Jeremiah to see all his work go up in smoke. Then God told him to start over and write it again! He took another scroll and rewrote all the words on the scroll that Jehoiakim had burned, plus more information (36:28-32). 

Maybe you need to start over because everything you had before went up in smoke. You’ve lost your job. You’ve lost your reputation. Your house burned down. You got divorced. You’ve lost a loved one. Like a burned-up manuscript, all you have left are a pile of ashes.

However, the Lord still has a good plan for the rest of your life. He will give you “beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and the garment of praise instead of the spirit of despair” (Isa. 61:3). God will help you start over. Don’t say that you can’t. You can and you will!  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com 

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We Act on What We Believe to be True

In the days before cell phones, a woman received a phone call while her husband was out delivering packages for UPS. The caller said, “Mrs. Williamson, this is Dr. Chandler. I’m sorry to inform you that your husband is in the hospital with a life-threatening disease and may die. We need a hair sample from you immediately to run some tests because we believe you may have also contracted this disease.”

 The wife was shaken when she heard the shocking news. The doctor instructed her to cut off all her hair at the roots and bring them in. She clipped off all her hair until she was bald and asked what to do next. The man replied, “Wait for your husband to come home. I made up this entire story. Goodbye.”

We don’t necessarily act on what is true, but on what we believe to be true. The woman acted on what she believed to be true, and not what was actually true. But she wasn’t alone. The news reported that six other women had fallen for the same prank.

Joseph’s brothers did something similar when they deceived their father, Jacob. They dipped Joseph’s tunic in blood and made Jacob believe Joseph was killed by a wild beast, even though it wasn’t true. He reacted to the lie as if it were true and declared he would mourn until his dying day (Gen. 37:31-35). He continued to believe the lie until many years later, when the brothers told him the truth (45:25-28).

Jesus said Satan is a liar (John 8:44) and is able to deceive the whole world (Rev. 12:9), so it’s not surprising that many people live their entire lives believing things that aren’t true. A deceived person doesn’t know he’s being deceived. We’re all susceptible to being deceived, but God’s Word and the Holy Spirit can reveal the truth to keep us from being misled.

Don’t be so quick to believe everything you hear. Do your homework, check out all the facts, and ask God to show you the truth. “By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:6). www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com 

Why Did He Jump Overboard?

Cameron Robbins, a recent 2023 high school graduate, was on a trip to the Bahamas with students from several local high schools. Just four hours after their arrival, Robbins and his friends went on a sunset party cruise. The boat, named Blackbeard’s Revenge, was designed to resemble a pirate ship. Around 9:40 p.m. someone dared Robbins to jump off the boat into the shark-infested waters. Taking up the challenge, he voluntarily “walked the plank” and jumped overboard.

 

A video taken moments after the jump shows Robbins ignoring onlookers’ pleas for him to grab a life ring that had been thrown in the water. A silvery reflection stirred in the dark waters near the boat’s hull, which may have been a shark. Robbins swam away from whatever it was in the water. The last scene of the video shows him splashing a few feet from the boat, before disappearing under water. The teen’s body was never recovered.

How could anyone be foolish enough to jump off a ship at night where tiger sharks were known to be? Someone dared him to do it. Maybe he was afraid to say no in front of his friends. Maybe it was to prove he was brave. Perhaps he thought the video would go viral on social media and he would become famous (which it did). Whatever the reason, I’m sure he regretted his decision not long after he hit the water, but then it was too late.

Cameron Robbins represents many people who are partying on the wrong ship, listening to the wrong voices, and jumping to the wrong conclusions. They make hasty decisions that will ruin their lives without thinking about the consequences. It might not be jumping overboard, but something just as dangerous and fatal in the long run.

Proverbs 14:16 says, “A wise person suspects danger and cautiously avoids evil, but the fool is arrogant and careless.” That means we have the courage to say no when people dare us to do very stupid things. We choose to be with friends who follow God and avoid those who want us to do wrong. Solomon said, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Prov. 13:20).   www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  

She Wasn't Expecting This to Happen

My daughter Hannah practiced for several weeks for the high school varsity cheerleader tryouts. She had been a junior varsity cheerleader, and only 3 varsity spots were open in a school of 2,000 students. Her best friend, Melissa, who was already a varsity cheerleader, practiced with Hannah every day to help her win one of the vacant spots. They kept talking about how fun it would be to cheer together. Melissa taught her the proper way to jump and how to always keep a smile on her face. She kept telling her, “You can do it, Hannah! I know you can!”

Over 100 girls showed up to compete for the 3 spots. The results would be posted at 9:45 pm. At 10:00 pm, Hannah came home, sobbing uncontrollably. My wife and I rushed over to comfort her. I told her, “It’s okay that you didn’t make varsity. We’re glad that you tried.”

Hannah continued to cry. She finally settled down and said, “I did make the varsity, but the judges demoted Melissa from varsity to junior varsity and gave me her place on varsity. I hurt so badly for her. She’s devastated!”

We were stunned. In a weird twist of fate, Hannah took Melissa’s position on varsity, and Melissa took Hannah’s position on J.V. “I don’t want to be a varsity cheerleader now,” Hannah said. “I’m going to ask for my junior varsity position back so Melissa can stay on varsity.” I told her, “I don’t think the judges would allow that.”

Hannah got up and drove over to Melissa’s house, where they cried together. She didn’t want to leave her alone, so that night she slept on the floor next to her friend.

I always enjoyed watching Hannah lead cheers at football games, but my fondest memory was when she demonstrated the love of Jesus and slept on the floor next to a hurting friend. Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:39), and we’ll never be able to do this until we first feel the pain that they feel.   www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net 

Check Your Baggage Here

Before you can board an airplane, you must first have your baggage checked. The TSA agent is checking your bags to make sure that you’re not carrying too much weight or if you have something explosive packed inside. It’s okay to carry clothes in your suitcase, but it’s not okay to carry bombs.

You also need to check the baggage you’re carrying on your soul for the same things. A burden is an invisible weight that you carry on your soul. How do you accumulate excess baggage? By continually mulling over the problems that bother you. Each time you dwell on a problem, it weighs you down. Add another problem and the baggage gets heavier. If you keep adding weights to your soul, you will eventually get depressed. To check your baggage, you must inspect 3 different suitcases.

PAST BAGGAGE (YESTERDAY). Inside this suitcase is GUILT (refusing to believe Jesus will forgive all your sins), GRUDGES (wanting to punish those who have hurt you), REGRETS (wishing you could go back in time to change a bad decision)

FUTURE BAGGAGE (TOMORROW). Inside this suitcase is WORRY (refusing to trust God to supply what you need) and BEING IMPATIENT. While worry dreads the future, being impatient is too eager to get to the future and isn’t happy with the present. (“I can’t wait to get out of here. I can’t wait to get married. I can’t wait to change jobs” etc.)

PRESENT BAGGAGE (TODAY). This is the only suitcase you should be carrying because you can only live TODAY.  Even so, if you pack too many things in this suitcase, it becomes too heavy to carry. If you take on too many responsibilities, you will get STRESSED OUT.

Jesus said, "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…and you will find rest for your souls for My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matt. 11:28-30). We carry excess baggage because we haven’t learned from Jesus how to correctly think and live.

To get rid of your excess baggage, you must "Cast your burden upon the Lord" (Psalm 55:22). Put your problems in His hands. Notice that God does not automatically remove your burdens from you. He instructs you to cast them to Him. You must LET GO of them. After you cast your problems into God’s hands, the weight will be lifted off your soul because your problems are in His hands now.   www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net

The Preacher Who Lost His Voice

 The following comes from my book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals

Some people believe God healed people in biblical times, but they’re not sure if He still heals today because they know some people who weren’t healed. However, just because someone isn’t healed doesn’t mean that no one can be healed today. While some people claim God healed them, it’s not often when a miracle is caught on a recording. The following healing was actually captured on audio:

Duane Miller was pastor of First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas. In 1990, he lost his voice due to a virus that infiltrated the nerves in his vocal cords. Over the next 3 years he went to 63 specialists, who told him he would never speak normally again. Even so, he continued to teach the Bible in a loud whisper to the best of his ability.

In 1993, he was teaching a church class on Psalm 103, which was being recorded on audio. As he was teaching through his whisper, he said, “The Psalmist says, ‘Bless the Lord oh my soul.’ One of the benefits is ‘He heals all my diseases.’ In verse 4 He says, ‘and redeems my life from the pit.’ Now, I like that verse a whole lot…”

At that moment, he felt something happen in his throat. He stopped whispering and started talking! As he continued to speak, his voice got stronger and clearer. He paused, realizing he had just been miraculously healed, and said, “I don’t understand this right now. I’m a bit overwhelmed by the moment…” The class was stunned, realizing they had just witnessed a miraculous healing, and started cheering.

As he choked back tears, he continued, “I’m, uh… sounds funny to say, I’m at a loss for words! Thank you Lord!” Miller has continued to speak normally since that day. We serve a living God who still does miracles because Jesus said, “The things that are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27).

We can learn a few things from this. Duane Miller didn’t become bitter at God because he wasn’t healed for 3 years. He continued to serve the Lord, even when he had to teach God’s Word in a whisper. He still believed God could heal today, even though he was told he would never speak normally again. We should all follow those three examples.    www.makinglifecount.net 

You can listen to the recording of the moment he was healed by CLICKING HERE.  You can visit Duane Miller’s website at www.nuvoice.org

The Job Applicant

The following comes from my book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals

In the early 1900s, when the telegraph was the fastest method of long-distance communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse Code operator. Morse code is a method of sending text messages one letter at a time by tapping out electronic signals on a telegraph key board, as seen by the telegraph operator in the movie Titanic.

Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the office address that was listed. He walked into a busy office filled with noise and clatter, including the sound of the telegraph in the background. The receptionist instructed the job applicants to fill out a form and wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office.

The young man sat in the waiting room and filled out his form. A few minutes later, he got up and walked into the inner office. The other applicants in the room looked at each other in disbelief. Since his name had not been called, they thought he was unfairly jumping ahead of them.

Shortly after that, the employer escorted the young man out of the office and told the other applicants, “Thank you for coming, but the job has been filled.” One applicant complained, “That’s not fair! He was the last to come in, and we didn’t get a chance to be interviewed.”

The employer replied, “The entire time you have been sitting here, the telegraph has been sending the message in Morse Code: IF YOU UNDERSTAND THIS MESSAGE, COME NOW INTO THE INNER OFFICE. THE JOB IS YOURS. None of you deciphered the message, but this man did. He’s hired.”

Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mark 4:9). All the applicants heard the sound of the telegraph, but only one had “ears to hear.” Ears to hear means willing to obey what God tells you to do. Every believer can hear God speak if they are willing to do what He says. If you hear His voice, don’t just sit there. Get out of your chair and follow His instructions. www.makinglifecount.net   www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com 

I Touched His Sore Spot

One Sunday morning I greeted a friend as he entered the church. When I shook his hand, I placed my other hand on his shoulder. He immediately recoiled in pain, moaning "Owww!"

I had gently touched him on his shoulder, the same thing I had done to several other folks that morning. However, no one else had pulled away from me. This man reacted differently because He had injured his shoulder a few days before. He pulled away from me because I had touched his sore spot.

Suddenly I understood how physical injuries can teach us about spiritual wounds. A person with a wounded spirit will react abnormally to an innocent comment that wouldn’t hurt a healthy person. The slightest touch on their hurting area causes them to recoil in pain and lash out at others. And that’s why hurting people will hurt other people. They are protecting their sore spots to keep from being hurt again.

How can you detect when people have inner wounds? They are typically in a bad mood. If you make an innocent comment that triggers a painful memory, they will either lash out or withdraw in pain. That’s not a normal reaction.

A person with a toothache cannot fall in love because it’s hard to love others if you are hurting inside. All your attention goes to your pain. A wounded person’s greatest need is to be healed, and healing typically begins by forgiving the person who hurt you.

God can heal you. He says, “For I will restore you to health and I will heal your wounds” (Jer. 30:17). The sooner you deal with the issue that hurt you, or forgive the person who hurt you, the faster you will heal. Two weeks after I touched my friend’s sore spot, his shoulder was healed—and that’s when he started acting normally again. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

Watch the Matt Maher song “And All the People Said Amen”

Tell Your Heart to Beat Again

The following Devotional comes from my book Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals  

This is a true story. A pastor in Ohio asked a member of his church, who was a surgeon, if he could be in the operating room to watch an open-heart surgery. The doctor permitted him to observe. 

The physician began the surgery, removed the woman’s heart, repaired what was wrong, and placed it back into her chest. As he massaged her heart to get it going, it wouldn’t beat. He tried to start it using other procedures, but nothing worked.

In an act of desperation, the surgeon knelt down beside his patient and whispered, “Mrs. Johnson, this is your surgeon. The operation went perfectly and your heart has been repaired, but you need to tell your heart to beat again.” When he finished saying those words, immediately her heart began beating!

Even though the surgeon did everything necessary to repair her heart, the patient needed to cooperate with him. By an act of her will, she had to start her own heart beating. This story inspired singer Randy Phillips to write the song, Tell Your Heart to Beat Again.

Maybe you’ve been rejected or you’ve lost a loved one—and your heart has stopped beating. Perhaps your spouse betrayed you and your heart has been devastated. You’ve lost hope and your will to live. Remember, God is the great physician who can repair your heart—but you have to tell your heart to beat again.

Tell your heart to love again. Command your heart to hope again. No matter what tragedy you’ve been through, God still has plans for the rest of your life. He will “restore your soul” (Ps. 23:3) so you can move forward with your life. The rest of your life can be the best of your life. Just tell your heart to beat again. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net

To listen to the video of Randy’s song with lyrics click here “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again”

He Found WHAT in the Sewer?

The following Devotional comes from Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals

Roy Parrino has a job most people wouldn’t want. He works in a sewer in Orange County, California. Roy spends his days cleaning out miles of sewer lines in the Los Angeles area—braving toxic fumes, avoiding discarded syringes, and wading through filthy muck that’s been flushed down toilets. “You really have to psych your mind up for it,” Parrino says. “Remember, you’re going into the filthiest environment there is. It’s like being in a big toilet.”

 

Maybe you’re in a “sewer” right now. You’re stuck in a stressful workplace, surrounded by hateful people with toxic attitudes. How can we keep a positive attitude in the middle of an intolerable situation like that? Doesn’t the Bible say to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil 4:4) and “consider it all joy when we encounter trials” (James 1:2)? How is that possible?

 

You may not choose your circumstances, but you can choose how you view them. Every situation contains both good and bad, but you can choose what you'll focus on. It’s easy to see what’s wrong, but it takes determination to look past the filth and search for something good that God wants you to find.

The first day on the job, Roy climbed out of the sewer holding a 2-carat topaz ring that he had found. Parrino has found gold necklaces, bracelets, and even diamond rings while working in sewers. If Roy can find jewels in a sewer, then you can find something good in your messy situation.

You can find something positive in every situation if you’ll search for it. Jesus said, “Seek and you will find” (Matt. 7:7). No matter where you work and what you’re going through, you’ll never be happy unless you develop a positive attitude. The next time you’re up to your neck in sewage, just remember that you can find diamonds in your sewer—if you’ll search for them.  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net

When God Does Not Heal

The following Devotional comes from Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals

Randy Frieouf was a member of our church who suffered with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. As the months passed, his health continued to worsen. He was confined to a wheel chair, and finally to a bed. Many people were praying for him during this time.

One day my 13-year-old daughter Hannah said, “Dad, I had a dream last night that Mr. Frieouf was walking.” I told her, “Let’s keep praying for him. I believe that all things are possible with God.” The next week Hannah told me, “Dad, last night I had another dream that Mr. Frieouf was walking!” Again, I encouraged her to keep praying for him. 

Not long after this, we received the phone call that Randy had passed away. When Hannah heard the news, she got upset and hurried into the bedroom. A few minutes later, she came out of the room and said, “Dad, I asked God why Mr. Frieouf died after I had those dreams. God just spoke to me.”

“He did? What did He say?” Hannah said, “He told me to read Psalm 1:1, but just the first part. Dad, I didn’t know what that verse said, so I looked it up. God told me to read just the first part of the verse.”

She held out an open Bible and read from it. “The first part of Psalm 1:1 says, ‘How blessed is the man who does not walk.’ Dad, the man who does not walk is Mr. Frieouf! Do you think He told me this to let me know he is happy in heaven?” “Yes, that’s exactly why He told you that,” I said. “He wants you to know that he’s blessed in his eternal home in heaven.”

I believe we should pray for healing no matter how dire the situation my appear. In fact, I’ve seen God do miracles when people were seemingly beyond hope. Jesus said, “The things impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27). 

However, when our prayers aren’t answered, we can find comfort in the fact that believers who aren’t healed will receive complete wholeness in heaven. That’s why God sent the message to Hannah, “How blessed is the man who does not walk!” www.makinglifecount.net  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com