First, Jesus demonstrated His power over death, by delaying his return to Bethany until Lazarus died and was buried, instead of frantically returning to prevent his death. The unspoken request in the sisters’ appeal was that Jesus would return once He knew of Lazarus’ condition. Indeed, it embodied their sense that Christ’s love for the whole family would prompt His return. Interestingly, when the centurion requested healing for his servant (Matthew 8:5-7) and Jairus brought news of his daughter’s imminent demise (Mark 5:22-24), Jesus immediately went to their homes. Yet, with one of His dearest friends deathly-ill, He deliberately stayed away. Jesus obviously retained absolute control of His ministry. He had a plan, followed its self-imposed timetable and implemented its procedures as He determined-because He had absolute confidence in His death-defying sovereignty.

Second, Jesus demonstrated His power over death by arriving in Bethany four days after Lazarus was buried. According to Jewish legend, the spirit hovered over the corpse three days before departing for Sheol. To everyone in Bethany, all hope of resurrecting Lazarus had vanished by the time Jesus arrived. Lazarus had disappeared beyond recall. Which explains the Lord’s return only after all hope of recovering Lazarus was past. Christ’s power over death couldn’t have been expressed as it was if He had been present even hours or a day after His friend’s departure.

Third, Jesus demonstrated His power over death by correcting Martha’s faulty perception of His nature. Her faith in Him as God’s Son remained true and unabated, but it lacked any immediacy of meaning. At least Martha didn’t say, “if you had been here, but it’s too late now.” She knew, even now God will give you what you ask.

When Jesus promised Lazarus’ resurrection, however, she continued thinking in terms of Christ’s previous teaching-God will raise His people in the end. Jesus immediately enlarged her understanding. Eternal life was real now, not a future promise. Where Martha said God would give Jesus whatever He asked, Jesus countered that eternal life isn’t something He acquired for being obedient to God. Eternal life is Christ’s nature and essence. Therefore, since HE presently IS eternal life, not merely gives eternal life, belief in Him brings eternal life. The conjunction of verses 23 and 25 is very powerful. Lazarus would rise whenever Jesus pleased to raise him, because Jesus, even as He stood before Martha, IS the resurrection. The tense indicates a present fact with continuing implications.

Fourth, Jesus demonstrated His power over death by precipitating the crisis that brought His ministry to His self-chosen goal. This resurrection decided the Sanhedrin: Jesus had to die. Indeed, so immensely did the miracle impact Jerusalem and all Judea, the Sanhedrin determined that Lazarus had to die, since his resurrection had convinced many people of Christ’s power. The resurrected life is always an offense to unbelievers, who sometimes viciously attack it.

Fifth, Jesus demonstrated His power over death by making the resurrection a public event. He ordered the stone removed, which frightened and offended Martha. She certainly didn’t appropriate the meaning of Christ’s I Am The Resurrection claim, but thought in Old Covenant terms or, at best, in the future state of God’s people. Which is very true to life; what is too far beyond our comprehension is filtered through previous constructs. Her reference to the body’s decomposition was certainly true to physical laws. They buried bodies the same day death occurred for just that reason.

By ordering the stone removed, Jesus guaranteed it would be an actual physical body rising from the grave. It wouldn’t be a “spiritual” resurrection – anymore than Christ’s personal bodily resurrection was a “spiritual” experience in the hearts of His believers. For Jesus, an actual bodily resurrection; for Lazarus, the same. Only if Jesus could produce the body of Lazarus from the corpse inside the tomb would Jesus actually be the resurrection He claimed.

Then, to the amazement of all, Jesus called for Lazarus, a real life individual. That’s the importance of using the name in the simplest, plainest, most direct appeal to his spirit. He spoke it loudly so the spectators could hear His voice call it and see the body respond to it. He spoke it personally because God considers us as individuals, while belonging to the whole, not residents of a Nirvana in which individuals are eclipsed by the whole. His mighty verbal summons sounded beyond life in the spirit-world, where only One voice reaches. And there, among millions at rest, or in turmoil, one person heard, listened and instantly left, to re-appear in a tomb outside Bethany, Israel – where he stirred awake his corpse until he struggled his feet to the floor and wrapped in grave windings, stalked his way outside, to hear Jesus Christ’s triumphant shout, Take off the grave clothes and let him go.

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary, Who may live on your holy hill, He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken. We live in an evil world. When David wrote the book of Psalm, the world was evil. From the moment Adam and Eve took the first bite of that forbidden fruit, the world has been evil. Sadly, most of us tend to forget that fact, and too often think that the best way to live our lives is to take our guidance from the world. It’s a lot easier to watch TV, read the newspaper and best-selling novels, go to the movies and talk to our friends and co-workers than it is to study the Bible. It’s much simpler to take our cues from the world – and multiple TV talk shows – on how to live, how to handle relationships, how to vote, how to work – than it is to seek what God would have us do.

But God wants us each to live righteous lives. He wants us to follow His Word and obey His commandments. By living according to His Word we are being obedient. By being obedient we are showing our love and gratitude to Him. Our reward is seen in the last verse of Psalm – we will never be shaken. If we are living in a close, intimate, personal relationship with Jesus, no matter what the world throws at us, no matter what our circumstances, no matter how bad things get, we will never be shaken. We will be able to stand firm in the hope of His eternal love.

- Bonnie Ricks

Psalm 15

Second Timothy 1:7 says, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” The Word of God renews our mind in a spiritual sense. Now we have discovered that foods and nutrients from His plant kingdom can have a significant effect on mood, memory and other mental functions. And to live the abundant life we all deserve, it’s important to have a clear and focused mind, as God intended.

Here are 10 very effective nutrients for a healthy mind:

1. Beta-carotene – Adequate amounts of beta-carotene are critical to ensure proper thought processes. Good sources are dark green leafy vegetables, carrots and sweet potatoes.

2. Folic Acid – A deficiency of folic acid (folate) can lead to depression, dementia and even psychiatric problems. Studies show that correcting a folic acid deficiency with as little as 400 micrograms daily can increase brain chemical transmitters (serotonin) and can correct forgetfulness, depression and irritability. Good sources are spinach, lima beans and green leafy vegetables.

3. Garlic – Studies indicate that garlic tends to be a mood elevator. People who take it regularly report less irritability, fatigue and anxiety. (Garlic has heart-protective and cancer-preventive effects as well.)

4. Iron – Essential to maintain normal mental functions, iron is found in greens, lean read meat and nuts.

5. Peppers – Capsaicin, a primary chemical in chili peppers, can cause the release of brain chemicals (endorphins) that produce increases in mood and feelings.

6. Riboflavin – Found in almonds (you only need 10 a day!), cereals and fat-free milk, riboflavin is helpful in maintaining memory function.

7. Selenium – An essential mineral and antioxidant that plays a key role in protecting brain cells from free-radical damage, selenium is in fish, seeds and nuts, and oat bran.

8. Thiamine – Another essential substance for normal memory function, thiamine is found in wheat bran cereal, nuts and wheat germ.

9. Zinc – Slight deficiencies in zinc can lead to poor memory function and mental activity in general. A regular diet of cereals, turkey and legumes (all high in zinc) can help prevent deficiencies.

10. Caffeine. Although you might not be considered a “nutrient,” caffeine is actually a widely used mood elevator. Studies show that it can function as a mild anti-depressant and also increase concentration, reaction times and thought processes. But don’t exceed two cups a day.

As a Christian, one of the most important subjects to learn about is the mystery of prayer. It’s critical for us to learn how to pray—how to articulate those things that are in our hearts to God. We need to learn to talk to God about everything—things like our hurts, our needs, our joys, those things we are grateful for. Only then will we start to see some real change in our lives, and we can help others begin to see positive changes in their lives as well. In Matthew 16:19 it says, I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven (The Amplified Bible). What I believe that really means is that God says He’s going to give you authority to bring HEAVEN to earth. That verse says that God will give you the keys of His kingdom. That’s a pretty powerful statement. Think about it: The very keys to His kingdom are in your hands! God has given you the power to release a bit of His kingdom into your life or into someone else’s life.

I want to show you another verse in Ephesians 3:20: Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do super abundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] (The Amplified Bible).

If this verse is true—and I believe it is—we have to become much bolder in our prayers. We don’t need to come before God’s throne in prayer with a fearful spirit. We need to come boldly! Now, can you come boldly to God if you are feeling worthless? NO! That’s why, before you can really become bold in prayer, you must understand the message of righteousness through Christ.

When you understand the truth that it is through Jesus Christ and Him alone that we were all made righteous, then you will understand that becoming the righteousness of God is not all up to you or all about you. We can approach God’s throne with boldness because we are confident in the power of what Jesus accomplished for us at the cross.

And when we pray for ourselves or others boldly, we make power available. We open up a door through prayer for God to work, either in our lives or in the life of the one we are praying for.

In order to really connect with God in prayer, we must learn to pray in the Spirit. Now what does that mean? I realize that there could be many different definitions of that phrase “in the Spirit.” But all I mean is that our prayers must originate in the heart of God and come from God’s heart to our hearts. Then what comes out of our mouths is prompted by the Holy Spirit.

We need to get over just praying our own prayers and what we want to pray for other people. Prayer is so much more serious than that. It’s amazing to me the things that God will put in our hearts to pray for others if we’ll just be patient and wait on Him to show us His heart on the matter.

Next time God lays someone on your heart, just take a few minutes to listen carefully. Ask Him what it is that He wants you to pray. Usually, in just a few short minutes God will reveal to you the things that He wants you to pray. When you pray like that, you can pray boldly, knowing that your prayers are getting through, they are touching His heart.

-Joyce Meyer

Like former President Ronald Reagan who lost his battle with Alzheimer’s disease in June 2004, people with this severe form of dementia are eventually robbed of their memories and of their ability to communicate with loved ones. It can be very heartbreaking, especially when the victim can no longer recognize their spouse or children. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, “Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease that usually begins gradually, causing a person to forget recent events or familiar tasks. How rapidly it advances varies from person to person, but the disease eventually leads to confusion, personality and behavior changes, and impaired judgment. Communication becomes more difficult as the disease progresses, leaving those affected struggling to find words, finish thoughts or follow directions. Eventually, most people with Alzheimer’s disease become unable to care for themselves.”

While scientists aren’t certain what causes the disease, most agree that a variety of factors could contribute to DNA damage and the death of nerve cells in the brain that can lead to a decline in brain function, and advanced age and family history appear to be risk factors.

Researchers are also exploring the role of genetics in the development of Alzheimer’s. Results from a study at the Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix suggests that the brain-destroying disease actually starts decades before symptoms appear. In the study, the brain scans of 12 patients between the ages of 20 and 39 who had a mutation of the APOE gene (the gene associated with a high risk of Alzheimer’s) were examined. They found that the young patients shared some of the same metabolic changes seen in patients with advanced and mild cases of the disease.

Says Dr. Eric M. Reiman, lead author of the study, “People with this susceptibility gene have reduced brain activity in each of the brain regions that are progressively affected later in life.”

This study is part of an ongoing effort by many researchers to find a way to identify at an early age which individuals will later develop the memory loss and thinking problems of Alzheimer’s disease.

So what can you do to reduce your risk of developing this dreadful disease or slow down the decline in brain function once the disease starts to present itself? One of the most promising therapies concerns the intake of antioxidants. Several studies have indicated that oxidative stress and exposure to free radicals play significant roles in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, could a high intake of antioxidants prevent or delay the onset of the disease? I believe so.

In a study published in the Archives of Neurology, researchers found that high daily doses of vitamins E and C taken together reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s disease among elderly people. The study involved over 4,700 adults who were over the age 65 when the study began in 1995. In the first phase of the study, data showed that the participants taking vitamin supplements had a 78 percent lower risk of developing the disease than those in the study who weren’t taking supplements. At the end of the study, the risk factor was 64 percent lower among the vitamin supplement takers.

“These results are extremely exciting,” says study author Peter Zandi of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “Our findings suggest that vitamins E and C may offer protection against Alzheimer’s disease when taken together in the higher doses available from individual supplements.” What these researchers seem to have found is that, while lower doses of vitamins C and E found in typical, store-bought multivitamins afforded a modest amount of protection, the greatest level of protection against Alzheimer’s came from significantly higher doses of these two antioxidant nutrients.

The discovery of penicillin revolutionized health care. Prior to the 1940s, bacterial infections were often fatal. Since then, penicillin has saved countless lives by killing harmful bacteria. The men who recognized its potential and developed it for widespread use won a Nobel Prize in 1945. Long before the discovery of penicillin, other silent killers were at work saving lives by destroying bacteria. These silent killers are white blood cells. These hard workers are God’s way of protecting us from disease. No one knows how many invasions they have stopped or how many lives they have saved. They receive little recognition for all the good they do.

The Lord gets similar treatment. He often gets blamed when something goes wrong, but He seldom gets credit for all the things that go right. Every day people get up, get dressed, drive to work or school or the grocery store, and return safely to their families. No one knows how many times God has protected us from harm. But when there is a tragedy, we ask, “Where was God?”

When I consider all the wonderful things that God does silently on my behalf each day (Isa. 25:1), I realize that my list of praises should be much longer than my list of petitions.
-Julie Ackerman

I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things, Isaiah 25:1

God’s goodness undergirds our lives
In many silent ways,
His blessings are beyond compare,
For them we give Him praise
-De Haan

A Christian woman read an article in one of those supermarket tabloids that claimed the Bible is full of messages in secret code that can reveal the future to us. The examples given were very persuasive, but I couldn’t help but wondering why God did it this way…

And, Billy Graham answers, No, it is not true – and for a very good reason: God wants us to understand the message He has given to us in the Bible. He hasn’t hidden it from us, He wants us to know it so we can make it the foundation of our lives.

And the reason He wants us to understand the Bible’s message is because He loves us wants us to come to Him and love Him in return. A human father doesn’t refuse to tell his children what they need to know, nor does he hide it from them; he makes it as clear as possible. The same is true with God. As the Bible says, “What may be known about God is plain to them (the human race), because God has made it plain to them” (Romans 1:19).

What is the Bible’s message? First, it is a message about us and our need of God. We were created to know Him – but we have chosen to go our own way, and are cut off from Him as a result. This is what the Bible calls “sin,” and it tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

But the Bible also gives us a message of hope. God loves us, and He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to take away our sins and bridge the gap between us and God.

He did this by dying on the cross for us, and now He offers us salvation as a free gift if we will only trust Him as our Lord and Savior.

By a simple prayer of faith ask Christ to come into your life today.

Are you carrying emotional baggage in the form of unresolved issues (past/present), negative emotions, unhealthy mindsets, and the like? If so, have you considered the impact of this on your life? The truth of the matter is that your emotional baggage can render you ineffective in your home, office, church, community, etc. Just like marathon runner, running with a backpack full of rocks, your baggage can have a severe impact on your ability to finish your race or even finish well. Now, when it comes to dealing with our emotional baggage, many of us have a challenge because we either deny the obvious, pretend everything is ok or are blinded to our issues. And so, you may find yourself wearing a mask to hide what’s going on, deep within you. Talking from experience, it takes more effort to keep up the facade than dealing with ones excess weight.

Also, in attempting to deal with your emotional baggage, you may turn to food (comfort or binge eating), alcohol, work, money/spending, sex, drugs, etc just to keep your boat afloat. This is something I can relate to personally. Eating was one of the ways I adopted to make myself feel better. Of course, this had serious impact on my weight (to say the least). Another behaviour I adopted was buying items (e.g. clothes, bags and shoes). In the long run, neither of these approaches helped me deal with my issues, as their effects were never lasting. Sadly, if you have fallen into the trap of repeating the same patterns of behaviour hoping that the next ‘fix’ will end your problems, you have probably realised by now that they don’t. Instead, they create further problems for you, further down the line.

So what is the answer? Simply put, get God involved. When it comes to dealing with our issues, some of us leave Him out of the loop. We look to ourselves to fix our issues, based on self-help notions. And so we try this and then we try that. But let me ask you this, when last did you sincerely bring that burden or issue to God? Have you spoken to Him about how you are feeling or what you are going through? These sound so basic but how often do we do it? I remember a time when I would tell God everything or trust Him for great things. However, I left matters of the heart out of the equation. Was it that I thought He didn’t care? Was is that I thought my issues were trivial in comparison to what I perceived to be more important matters such as giants to slay, souls to be saved, revival in the church, or the like? Or maybe I did not believe God could heal my wounded heart (though I believed in healing)? Honestly speaking, I don’t know the answer. But the fact is that God cares about the big and little things in our lives. Moreover, He can heal all facets of our lives too.

Therefore, consider adopting God-centred approaches for we cannot accomplish anything apart from Him (John 15:5). Instead of trying to fill the void of your soul with precarious behaviours, why not allow God in? After all, His ways are proven and are worthy to be trusted (Psalm 33:4). Moreover, we have His promise of being our healer (Exodus 15:26). Now, I am not saying sit back and do nothing. Rather, I suggest you make God the centre of your plan of action. Commit your ways to Him, trust Him and watch Him help you (Psalm 37:5).

So how do you get God involved? You do this through prayer and reading of His Word. Continually seek Him for insight and guidance as He may have things to reveal to you. It may be that He wants you to forgive that person that wounded your heart. Maybe there is a specific action He wants you to take such as seeking help or talking to someone (James 5:13-16). Whatever it is, your answer lies with Him.

So I encourage you to commit your emotional baggage to God. Allow Him to free you permanently from all that heavily besets you. Let Him help you experience what it means to prosper in your soul (3 John 2).

Gladys Famoriyo, award-winning author, speaker and coach, is the author of Overcoming Emotional Baggage.

ISBN: 0-924748-73-7

Luke 10:38-42

Martha of Bethany welcomed Jesus into her home. Her act of service may seem small compared to works like the apostle Paul’s missionary trips and letters. But she and her family provided a place of rest and refreshment for the Savior. This act must have been a welcome pause in His busy week. It’s true that Jesus once corrected Martha for placing too much emphasis on the details of hospitality. But when He visited her home, He no doubt anticipated food and fellowship with people He loved.

God’s plan for every believer is made up of a lifetime of small opportunities. No matter what our career or calling may be. We should each seek ways to serve the Lord daily. We do this by ministering wherever we are to family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.

The Lord gives His children gifts and talents for fulfilling His purpose. So, we know He wants to use us. The question we should be asking is, “Can God use me?” That is, have we made ourselves available to follow Him in any circumstance?

The areas of service set aside specifically for us are waiting. No one knows ahead of time exactly what God will require, but we can be sure He’ll equip us with the right tools for the task.

Are you ready to say “yes, God can use me?” Tell the Lord that you’re available to work for Him in any way He desires. He will respond by placing people and opportunities in your path. Through His strength, you’ll do more to further the kingdom than you ever imagined. One day and one small act of service at a time.

Charles Stanley

Quercetin is one of the most abundant chemical compounds in fruits and vegetables. Quercetin is an important member of a large group of plant compounds called flavonoids. Flavonoids have potent antioxidant properties, but also have recently been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antihistamine effects. Foods particularly high in quercetin include apples, onions, parsley, purple grape juice and tea. As we study the therapeutic uses of quercetin, we quickly realize why God spread it so widely throughout the plant kingdom. Quercetin helps to alleviate allergy symptoms. Studies show it inhibits the release of histamines from certain types of red blood cells and thus functions as a mild antihistamine.

Quercetin and other flavonoid cousins can also promote insulin secretion and protect blood vessels as well as enhance immune system function.

Studies from Finland indicate that quercetin may also help prevent blood clots, which is the initial process that leads to blockage in the arteries and heart attacks. Because of the anti-inflammatory properties in quercetin, it also may be useful in rheumatoid arthritis.

Although quercetin is very common in fruits and vegetables, 60 percent of adults unfortunately do not get even three servings of vegetables a day and 80 percent get less than two servings of fruit daily.

As a result, I strongly recommend taking a high potency supplement that contains quercetin.