Yesterday was rough. I was very angry several times for different reasons. I could not find what I needed. Some tasks I had planned to do were not working out. By the evening, I felt like the day was wasted.

Today, like most mornings, I started my day journaling and studying the Bible and praying.

As I opened my journal, I saw an asterisk next to my last entry for yesterday morning. (Whenever God seems to be speaking loud and clear to me about something, I put an asterisk next to that journal entry.) Yesterday, I had marked a quote from a footnote in my Bible: “When the unexplainable and unwanted intrude into our lives, we can find comfort in . . . [God’s] sovereignty.”

I suddenly realized I had totally forgotten God’s morning lesson to prepare me for yesterday! This morning, He gently reminded me I had not prayed throughout each setback as they came my way. I had been doing things “on my own” and was very frustrated with the results.

How much better if I had given the day to God. The circumstances may, or may not, have changed, but I would not have been frustrated. The day was His to do as He pleased.

He had a reason for showing me that quote yesterday; He wanted to prepare me for the day that was ahead for me! Sometimes I learn best by looking back and learning from my mistakes, but it would be wiser, I would think, to be prepared for what lies ahead.

I just read about Father Zakaria Botros in a blog post (go to the very last paragraph) and felt impressed that we should pray for him and his effective ministry in reaching Muslims for Christ.

Father Botros, an Egyptian Coptic priest, reaches 50 million Muslims a day via satellite television.

Joel Rosenberg explains, “. . . he’s taking on Islam verse by verse, chapter by chapter, hadith by hadith and he’s deconstructing it. Then because he’s a believer in Jesus, he explains . . . the truth. Now, people call in to his show and they’re furious.”

Thank you for praying that many will come to Christ through his ministry. Also pray for his personal safety.

God is using the life of Paul to reach Syrians for Christ.

The premiere showing of Damascus, a film on the life of Paul, was seen by more than 1,000 influential Syrian leaders. Read more.

When Paul encountered Jesus, his Messiah, in Damascus, “the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.’” (Acts 9:15)

How exciting to think that God may still be doing that through this film! Join with us in praying for God to use this film in reaching the people of the Middle East.

Joel Rosenberg says that the U.S. is contributing to the re-building of Babylon. Learn more about The Future of Babylon Project on his blog.

We just learned that the Billy Graham Association will begin an emphasis on the return of Christ. Follow the link for a message from Billy Graham.

Their desire is that this will be a message of hope for Christians.

If you are a believer, I urge you to give your relationship with God priority in your life.

I highly recommend What’s Your God Language? by Dr. Myra Perrine as a tool to help you grow in your love and trust in God, your Creator and King.

This poem paints a beautiful picture of what fellowship with God can be:

“In this secluded place I meet a King.
He comes alone to drink reality
With me. Sometimes we talk, sometimes we sit
And sip a life that passes by the crowd.
An inwardness is born—a felted thing
Of power—a commonality—of grace
A union where unmended hopes are knit
Where silence roars as quiet sings aloud.
Oh Christ, I love it here! It is our place.
Speak Lord or not. Touch me or not. Show then
Your will or bid me wait in patient grace.
Fill all my hungry need with joy again.
With simple loaves of bread and chaliced wine
Heaven, earth, and all of God are mine.”

Quoted by Dr. Perrine from Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline, on page xv of her book.

Prophecies and fulfillment of prophecies fascinate us. In fact, most visitors to The Sovereign are searching for “Babylon.” I hope, though, that what they really end up finding is God. And not just God as a loving Father or the truest Friend, but a Universe-creating God who knows and cares about them.

The Sovereign informs its readers of prophecy-related news and explores what it means to us that the King is returning. The goal is for readers to grow as obedient stewards of the King of Kings.

As much as I enjoyed posting to The Steward blog, I have several blogs and could not maintain them all. So, some time ago, I incorporated stewardship as a related topic here.

I have learned a lot in the past several years about stewardship and practically everything I have learned can be found in Randy Alcorn’s The Treasure Principle.

I highly recommend buying this book and reading and re-reading it. You will be blessed as you learn God’s principles so you might honor Him with the finances, possessions, time, and talents that He has given into your care.

If you have Christian magazines, take some with you next time you are visiting a waiting room.

Your pediatrician might enjoy having Focus on the Family magazines for his waiting room or exam rooms. The magazine could be their monthly newsletter magazine or a subscription. Take a handful of Significant Woman tracts with you on your mammogram appointment for the waiting room. (Beginning Your Journey of Significance and Living a Life of Significance).

Maybe you have a Christian video for your doctor’s waiting room or flyers for your church’s next big outreach event.

Be sure to ask permission to leave materials at:
• A medical office (doctor, dentist, clinic)
• An auto mechanic’s
• A professional office
• And anywhere with a waiting room

Some other materials you might donate to a waiting room:
• Worldwide Challenge magazine
• Creation magazine
• Answers magazine
• Tracts

You might enjoy reading some more stories from my waiting room experiences.
• Well-behaved kids in a waiting room
• Taking a stand against obnoxious TV programming in waiting rooms
• Recycling
• More suggestions

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” ~ Luke 16:13 NLT

“Just watch a child standing before a selection of candy after he has been told he can have something. Perhaps he ends up just looking. . . and looking. Maybe you see him reach for one thing, only to pull his hand back and start for another. What is the problem? Does the child not like candy? Certainly not! The problem is that the child likes all kinds of candy! It’s hard to choose one thing when your appetites and tastes draw you to many things. Every follower of Jesus faces the same challenge. Jesus puts it succinctly: You cannot divide your loyalties. You can have only one prevailing passion, only one master.”

Quoted from a footnote in the Discover God Bible, Luke 16:13 NLT, p. 1885.

The Discover God Bible will help you know God more deeply. Packed with 9,000 study notes, as well as articles and guides to Biblical teaching and themes, this Bible will help you see God as He is revealed in the Scriptures and also help you respond to Him and discover purpose in your life.

Bill Bright, said, “We can trace all of our human problems to our view of God.”

This Bible was born from that conviction.

To buy a copy for yourself, visit the Resources of the Discover God website or order from your favorite book supplier.