Priscilla Shirer illustrates God's life-changing power.

In 1987, our family moved to California to take up the pastorate of a church in the Long Beach area. The day we flew into town, my secretary picked us up at the airport to take us to our house. As we pulled into traffic, the very first thing I saw was a bumper sticker that read: “Welcome To California . . . Now Go Home!” It was not exactly a warm and cheery welcome to sunny southern California!

Several years ago, Ravi appeared on a live call in show with Canadian host Michael Coren. Today we’ll hear part one of that program.

May 16, 2013 - May 20, 2013

Numbers 12-14

Dropping Your Guard: The Value of Open Relationships

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Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. The word wait there has within it the thought of weaving where your will, your child’s will, is being woven and bound into God’s will. It takes time; it takes intimacy. And when the two come together it is time to soar on eagle’s wings that don’t flap but rest on the wind. He gives strength to the weary. Apart from Him you and your child can do nothing.

Star Wars Money Lessons – Howard Dayton and Steve Moore reveal what the Star Wars movies can teach you about Biblical money management. Then they answer questions at (800) 525-7000 and MoneyWise@Compass1.org:

• Would it be wrong to use debt to invest in rental properties?
• What is the best way to invest $10,000 over a 3-year period before we head into mission field?
• I am $15,000 in debt, and I am wondering if there is a way to consolidate the debt?

Be sure to check out the Compass website for a complete listing of helpful resources and radio archives.

Thanks for your prayers and generous financial support which allow us to keep MoneyWise on-the-air!

3252 Denise Donovan: (Parental Kidnapping, Fear, Shame) Denise and her sister are kidnapped by their father, a sailor who disappears from their lives when Denise is ten. They are raised by their unstable stepmother, Betty, an alcoholic. Life is miserable for both girls. After her sister leaves, Denise endures her stepmother's bizarre behavior. At sixteen Denise goes to church, hears the Gospel and prays to receive Jesus. Then, Denise lives with her sister, graduates and works. She marries, has two daughters and finds her real mother. But there is no bonding. Her husband divorces her and she is now serving with a hospital-ship ministry.

"I never dreamed, I would not have dreamed this life, because it would not have occurred to me that it could happen. But God has opened up doors of ministry and influence and opportunity that are beyond my comprehension, and He’ll do the same for you."

"What are you doing,Grandma?" asked Janae when she stopped to see her grandparents on the way home from school.

"Oh, I'm getting things together for the object lesson I'm giving in Bible club tomorrow," replied Grandma. "Want to try it?"

"Sure," agreed Janae.

"Good! Then fill a cup with water," instructed Grandma. Janae got a cup and filled it. "Next, sprinkle this pepper all over the water, and then stick your finger in the cup," continued Grandma.

"Oh-h-h!" exclaimed Janae after following Grandma's instructions. "The pepper is all over my finger!"

Grandma nodded. "Clean the pepper off your finger and rub this dish washing soap on it." Grandma chuckled. "On your finger, that is," she added. "Not on the pepper." Janae laughed and then carefully did what Grandma told her. "All right," said Grandma. "Now stick your finger in the water again."

This time the pepper rushed away from Janae's finger and clung to the sides of the cup. "Cool!" she exclaimed. "But . . . you said this was an object lesson, so what does it teach us?"

"Let's pretend the water is the world, and the pepper is sin," said Grandma. "The finger represents us. We go into the world, and we're peppered with sin. For example, we sometimes do and say wrong things, don't we?"

"Yeah." Janae nodded. "Like . . . even though I try to be good, I sometimes mess up."

Grandma nodded. "So the water stands for the world, the pepper for sin, and the finger for us. But Bible verses we learn are like . . ." began Grandma.

"Like the soap!" Janae interrupted. "What we learn from the verses helps us stay away from sin. I remember that when Jesus was tempted, He quoted Scripture verses."

"Good." Grandma smiled."Always remember that just putting Bible verses in our heads by memorizing them isn't enough. When they're truly in our hearts--when we think about what they say and follow their teaching--we can use them, like Jesus did, to keep sin away."

How About You?
Do you have Bible verses hidden in your heart? Do you think about the verses you memorize? Do you consider what they mean and apply them to your life? You live in the world, so sin is all around you. When you're tempted to look at something you shouldn't, to disobey your parents, to use a bad word, or to sin in some other way, let the verses in your heart help you choose to obey God and send sin away.

Today's Key Verse:
Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. (Psalm 119:11)

Today's Key Thought:
Overcome sin with Scripture

May 17, 2013

Psalm 121:7-8

Paws & Tales

Episode Summary:

Look out! Liz and Spike are all tangled up with robbers. Check out their latest adventure on this week’s Kids Corner.

Listen to this week's episode

Devotion:

Verse: Colossians 3:20

Children obey your parents in everything for this pleases the Lord.

Why should children obey their parents?

Parents say "Don't play with fire." What bad things could happen if their children don't listen?

Parents say, "Do your homework and try hard in school." What bad things could happen if their children don't obey?

God told the Israelites to obey His laws. They didn't. Do you know what happened to them when they didn't obey God? Slavery. Every time Israel forgot to listen to God, another country would fight Israel. This country would win and make the Israelites their slaves. After years of being slaves, Israel would remember God's words and ask Him for help. God would feel sorry for them and send someone to rescue them. Then Israel would obey God again. Unfortunately, Israel would start forgetting to obey God's commands. Yes, you guessed it: slaves again. The book of Judges tells this same story over and over and over. Only the names of the invading countries and the people God sent to rescue Israel seem to change.

God tells us to obey Him. Why? God is our father. He knows what bad things wait to grab us if we don't obey Him. He cares about us. God made His rules to keep us safe and happy. He wants us to live well, and the rules He created let us live well with Him. Our parents want the best for us so they also use rules to keep us safe and happy.

There's another reason to obey God and our parents. Obedience is a gift. When we obey God, He knows that we love Him. Our parents know that when we obey them, we love and respect them. Obedience not only keeps you safe, but it also shows your love. It's a very good rule to follow.

Full Devotion

Discussion Guide:

Obedience isn’t just for kids. Oh, it’s important for children to obey. And one of the benefits of learning to obey as a child is that you have established a pattern of behavior that can inform your behavior as an adult. God places a high value on obedience. In the Old Testament God repeatedly chastised the Israelites for their lack of obedience. In the New Testament Jesus declared that our obedience demonstrated whether or not we love God.

But obedience isn’t easy for us. Sometimes we can confuse it with the freedom we have in Christ. Obedience feels so much like a lack of freedom. But when we think this we are not thinking clearly or biblically. God is our heavenly parent. The abundant life that Jesus promises comes to us through obedience, not indulgence.

As parents it can be hard to insist on obedience from our children. But when we let our children get away with disobedience, we are doing them no favors. One important prayer to offer for our children is that God would give them teachable spirits. God promises blessings when we obey and problems when we don’t. May God give us and our children obedient hearts and teachable spirits.

Full Discussion Guide