But be faithful to the LORD your God as you have done until now.

Joshua 23:8NLT

Happy New Year!

This year (2007) Mustard Seed Ministry's online devotional enters its tenth year. If you want to do the math, that is over 2,500 daily devotionals. We've covered nearly every book of the Bible and almost every topic. The readership continues to

John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. Mark 1:6 NIV

There was no doubt about it; John the Baptist was different! He was not your average guy. Never one afraid to stand out in a crowd, this man of God was atypical at best.

Today we begin a four part look at this

And this was his (John the Baptist) message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie." Mark 1:7 NIV

As we continue our study of John the Baptist, we see today that John had a humble heart. He knew his position as it relates to Christ. He saw that he was nothing when

And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Mark 1:4 NIV

John the Baptist knew his purpose in life! And he followed it!

We can learn a lot from the life of John the Baptist. Prophesized as the "messenger" of God, John fulfilled exactly what God had planned for him to

He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30 NIV

Perhaps the greatest known statement of John the Baptist is today's verse. As we conclude our examination into the character of this foreteller of Christ, we look at his most important attribute.

John the Baptist recognized who Christ was!

Remember the time the disciples came to

Always be full of joy in the Lord. Philippians 4:4 NLT

I wake up most mornings in a fairly good mood. My family may disagree, but at least in the way I feel, I'm not in a bad mood. I have my moments though when for whatever reason, the "joy of the Lord" isn't evident in my life to the people around me. Is that true for you as well?

How can we

Do not be anxious about anything, Philippians 4:6a

If you want to continue to live in the emotion of joy, here's step one: Worry about nothing!

Don't worry about anything! What a command! What a challenge!

How are you doing in this area?

Why is it so important to get rid of worry in our life? Because worry and trust don't work together.

"but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6b NIV

Step two to living in a state of joy: Pray about everything.

Prayer is simply talking to God. You don't have to be a great Bible scholar to be a great person of prayer. In fact, Jesus criticized those who tried to impress people

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6b

Step three to living a life of joy: Give Thanks in everything.

It has been said that the healthiest human emotion is gratitude. It does more good for your body physically than any other emotion. When you are thankful for what you have, you are more resistant to stress and less

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV

The last step to living in joy, step four: Think about the right things.

If you and I want to continue to have a joyful

The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." Genesis 12:1

As we are privileged to read God's Word concerning Abram, he is already a hero of the faith. Notice the verse says "The Lord HAD said". It was past tense, because as it is written, the act has already

"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing." Genesis 12:2 NIV

Yesterday I mentioned that as we read about Abraham, we are reading about history. While I don't back down from that statement, even though it is history, the promises are still very true today.

Someone

"I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:3 NIV

God is going to take care of His people. He did so in history, and He will do so today!

There was once a boy in our neighborhood that liked to pick on my son. He was several years older than my son

So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. Genesis 12:4 NIV

Abram, better known to us as Abraham, believed God, and the Bible says it was credited to him as righteousness. That means that, even though Abram was a sinner, just like you and me, because he had a

He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. Genesis 12:5 NIV

Do you know why Abram arrived in Canaan? It was not because he traveled night and day to get there. It wasn't because he followed the signs

Jesus said, "You're right! You don't have a husband--for you have had five husbands, and you aren't even married to the man you're living with now." John 4:17-18 NLT

This series is for all the broken people in cyberspace. As we begin our 10th year doing this Internet ministry, I am reminded of how many hurting lives I have encountered. This

Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts; those who refuse to slander others or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Psalms 15:2-3 NLT

Another group of hurting people I have encountered in the 10 years with this online ministry are people who have been abused verbally by another

Christ is the head of the church, which is his body. Colossians 1:18 NLT

I meet people often who say they have been "hurt by the church". I used to think I was one of those people. One day as I was ministering to one of these broken people I gained a new insight. Here was my reply:

"You have not been hurt by the church. The church is the body

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 2 Corinthians 5:18 NIV

I meet so many people who have broken relationships in their life. The relationship could be with a family member or friend, co-worker or neighbor, but it hurts. Usually the person contacting me wants it healed,

None of their past sins will be brought up again, for they have done what is just and right, and they will surely live. Ezekiel 33:16 NLT

Probably the single greatest opportunity for ministry over the last ten years has been dealing with people seeking forgiveness for their past. Are you one of those? Are you having a hard time accepting the

The word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you Jeremiah 1:4-5a NIV

God wanted the prophet Jeremiah to know something. It was good news, probably very encouraging to Jeremiah, and it included a plan and purpose for Jeremiah's life. The God who never changes has the same for you and me today. During this

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" Jeremiah 1:5a NIV

My mother made Cheryl and me a quilt for Christmas. It was not an ordinary quilt. She took a dozen or so pictures of Cheryl and my life together; some of the boys when they were young, Cheryl and I as children ourselves, and pictures of the family today. Somehow she transferred

before you were born I set you apart Jeremiah 1:5 NIV

Okay, here's the deal, continuing our thought from yesterday, God knew you before anyone. In fact, He knew you before the beginning of time. No only did God know you, however, but God set you apart unique from all others.

My wife loves snowmen. She collects them. We have hundreds of