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I can't remember my own name most of the time.  No really!  Sometimes when it comes time to sign a letter or some document, I have to take a moment to remember what to write.  I have adult ADD, plus I'm a recovering drug addict who fried away most of the brain cells responsible for memory and "on the draw" recollection.  This is not an anti-drug devotional, but let me just warn you... marijuana will mess you up.  The crack cocaine didn't help much either.

This is motivation for scripture memorization.  I know... it sounds ultra boring!  And it is... if it's just for the sake of knowing stuff.  Nobody likes a "know it all" right?  Well, this is different.  This knowledge is a weapon.  I hate the devil.  If you get to know me, you'll find out that I spend a lot of energy trying to make sure the devil knows where I stand.  I hate him... he hates me... and that's the way I like it.  He's the only thing I'm allowed to hate and for a person with anger issues, it's nice to have him around to blame everything on.  He has proclaimed war on us, so we need something to fight with.  Scripture works best.

When I'm tempted to repeat a sin I've already learned from... I quote Proverbs 26:11.  "As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool repeats his folly."   When I feel like I can't get the devil and his accusations (little voices) out of my head, I quote James 4:7.  "Submit yourselves then to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you."   Sometimes I have to say this stuff over and over again and sometimes I'm lazy and I don't.  But when I do... IT WORKS!

Even Jesus was tempted by the devil.  And when he was... he always quoted The Scriptures, and he always resisted the temptation.  Freakin' Amazing!  People keep asking "What Would Jesus Do?"  Then they think of some miraculous way he handled situations and try to copy it... on their own.  Even Jesus called upon the power of The Scriptures to help him when life got tough.  I'm going to try to do better at this memorization stuff.  If you'd like to join me... you've just got to hear this awesome talk given by Brad Gray, our summer teaching intern here at Ogden Church.  He not only quotes an entire book of the Bible.  He also helps us understand how important memorization is, and gives helpful hints on how to "get er' done."  Here's the link.  You can click on it and just listen, or right click and "save link as" to download.  Enjoy!                Brad Gray - "Speaking The Scriptures"

If anyone of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

I learned something new this year when I took a group of youth from my church to summer camp. Now understand, I always learn something at camp but this time I'm still feeling it almost a week later!

You see, things happen when there is a group of teens and time to spare. Somehow, some way, new games are created and usually someone has to test them out to see if they are fun and worth repeating. Well, I can't say I was the first one to volunteer but I forgot my age and thought this new thing looked hilarious....ok, enough excuses! We had mattress wars! Two people are on opposite sides of the room holding a twin size mattress straight up in front of them. When someone yells, "Go!", they run head on into each other like a couple of banchees! It literally felt like I'd been in a car wreck! You know the crazy thing about it all - I didn't stop after the first time! It took me 5 times to finally have enough. Talk about hitting your head against a brick wall!

When I think back on it now, I know it was a stupid decision to participate. I knew I was going to suffer for it physically but I just had to try it. Sounds like a lot of other decisions I've made in my life that have gotten me into trouble. The tempation is so subtle sometimes that you aren't even aware it's pulling you in the wrong direction. I think to myself, "What could possibly go wrong?" HA! Man oh man, if I only had the wisdom of God at those times, I wouldn't be hobbling around right now! If I had only asked God, like the scripture above says, He would have given me the wisdom I needed and I wouldn't be feeling it so much today. If only.....

Got any stupid decisions you've made? It's not too late to learn from them and make better choices tomorrow. Better yet, choose to ask God next time - He gives free advise to those to ask, and amazingly it's always what's best for us!

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1

Father's Day always reminds me of how important a father's love is to us.  My own father went to be with the Lord sixteen years ago, however, I still have many fond memories of the various ways he showed his love for me.  For many Christians, their view of God is filtered through the way in which they were treated by their earthly father.  In talking with friends and others at my home church, this fact was affirmed by many of them.

One woman in particular shared with me that her father would be very nice to her in many different ways, and then unexpectedly, might 'thump' her for something she did which he might not have approved of.  This would often come out of nowhere, and for no apparent reason.  She said to me that although that was more than forty years ago, she still today anticipates that God will 'whack' her for any little mistake she makes.

Later in the day, I thought about how sad her story was.  Especially since today was Fathers Day, but more importantly, because God's character is so very different from that type of behavior.  As the verse above relates, our Heavenly Father lavishes His love upon us.  Webster's online dictionary gave me this definition for lavished:  "To give or bestow in abundance; shower, [Middle English laves, probably from Old French lavasse, downpour,]"  To me, this definition is quite different from being whacked around by an angry God.

If you have a negative view of your Heavenly Father because of the way your earthly father may have treated you, simply look to that verse and be reminded that our Heavenly Father's love is constant, meaningful and given in abundance.  I urge you to claim that love and allow it to modify your view and feelings towards God, despite what may have occurred in your relationship with your earthly father in the past.  Our God is a God of love, for He cares for us.  by Thomas Bartel

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16

Have you ever been in a situation where you were taken advantage of and were left with that sick, 'why did I do that' feeling inside?  Or, maybe you were disappointed with yourself for being so gullible and perhaps even felt some anger inside.  Well, the Bible has a surefire solution to this all too common situation we sometimes find ourselves in.  It is called wisdom, and it is given to us in good measure.

The verse tells us that we are to be 'wise as serpents'.  Does this mean we are literally supposed to be like a snake and go around biting people who might want to take advantage of  or cause harm to us?  The answer is no, at least not in a literal sense.  A snake knows when to proceed or not based on the 'vibrations' it feels by activity around it.  It knows when to move ahead, stay put, or back away to a safer location.  It usually does this without causing harm to anything.

So also, as the snake, Christians should be aware of what is going on around them in the world.  We have been provided with wisdom, the equivalency of the snakes "vibration radar', to 'feel out' a given situation wisely and act accordingly.  As the second part of the verse instructs us, we should do this with a gentle spirit.  As Proverbs 15:1 tells us "A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger."  

In any given situation, especially when sharing the Gospel with unbelievers, we always want to leave the door open to return at a time when the individual might be more willing to hearing what we have to say.  So, just as Jesus did, use your gifts, talents and opportunities wisely, while at the same time, be aware of using gentleness to either defuse or proceed in a given situation.

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

Did you know that you are not of this world? What?! Are you an alien? Well, sort of. When you are fully walking with Jesus, you will not blend into this world. You are suppose to stand out from among the world and be different.

I challenged a group of youth once in this area. I asked them if they were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict them? Or would they fall into the category that they love the Lord in their heart, but they don't want to "offend" anyone by talking about Him? I could tell I was getting through to some because their eyes were rivoted to me, as if the light bulb was finally going on in their heads. But the others, well, let's just say "the deer in the head lights" look was more what was happening!

I heard a few days later what a couple of guys decided to do to make a difference, to cause a wave and to let the evidence of Christ be clear. They went to the high school for a whole school day with signs on the front of their shirts saying, "I'm a Christian" and on the back, "Ask me if you want to know more". WOW! That was some boldness! They knew they were opening themselves up for ridicule from other students and possibly some embarrassment, but they took a stand anyway!

Let's face it - youth listen to youth. What are you saying lately that people listen to? What stand are you making? Are their people around you who are hurting and angry and need to find their way into the arms of Jesus? Don't look around for someone else to take the stand and make a difference! Pray and ask God to give you the words to speak to people. He knows exactly what will work for each and every one of us.