Sometimes we face the unpleasant, the impossible or the unthinkable, and we lose hope. All we see is the suffering, the immense task or the loss. The following story reminds us that Jesus is right in the middle of our pain, offering comfort and strength.

My heart aches for the families affected by acts of terrorism or war — especially for the children. Starving for love and affection, they weep and long for the warm embrace of departed family members. Such was the case in World War II. Hundreds of thousands of orphans were in dire need of shelter, food, medical attention, and love.

Worry and fear are no respecter of persons. Have you ever wrestled with them? They creep into our lives without regard to our position, power, or authority. There are all kinds of worries and fears we can focus on. Maybe you are a worrier. Maybe too much of your time is consumed with worrying about things that might not happen or ultimately have little real impact. Mark Twain once said this about worry, “Worrying is like paying a debt you don’t owe.”

Over the years and in a variety of situations, I’ve felt that I’m a pretty good multitasker. I believed that I could usually handle several issues or thoughts at the same time, but a recent experience shocked me to my very core. This issue so impacted my life that I decided that this month our devotionals would discuss how distractions can influence our lives.

As we seek to have more boldness in our faith and daily living for Jesus, let’s consider the glory of God. Today’s media glorifies famous athletes and celebrities, touting extravagant lifestyles, impressive mansions, fancy cars, and designer attire. Even with all the glamour and glitz, they all pale in comparison to the glory and radiance of God Almighty.

Under the leadership of Moses, God had directed the Israelites to endure many hardships during their 40 years in the desert. He regularly allowed opportunities for His chosen to prove their obedience and faith through the testing of their courage and commitment.

How much faith do you have? Is it a living faith? Are you willing to stand up for what you believe or do you just try to “blend in”… move “under the radar”? I know I’m challenged by these questions. We may never have to challenge a king or face an army for our faith, but every day we face a culture that tries to seduce us into idolatry. Let’s choose to live our faith boldly, a life of love, obedience, and truth.

Our theme this month deals with boldness. We are in a time when our faith is being challenged. God desires that His children are not embarrassed to proclaim truth to a broken world. Most of us are neither ashamed nor embarrassed to be called Americans. Many of us proudly display flags or other symbols, proclaiming our allegiance to this fine nation. Now, I’m not promoting Christian bumper stickers, hats, mugs, flags, shirts, or even pens. But really, how do you identify with the cause of serving Christ?

God chose this place to teach us more about His great creation… and godly friendship. There were eight hunters in our party; most were archers. During our four-day stay, we harvested eleven animals: 6 trophy elk, 3 giant buffalo, and 2 beautiful fallow deer. All the trophy whitetails scampering about were left for another trip. Many stories have come out of that trip, but my favorite is about an ornery buffalo named “Nasty,” and his trusty pal.

Godly friendship is so rewarding. One of the best examples can be found in 1 Samuel 23. This chapter illustrates the unique fellowship Jonathan and David shared.

Today’s media glorifies famous athletes and celebrities, touting extravagant lifestyles, impressive mansions, fancy cars, and designer attire. Even with all the glamour and glitz, they all pale in comparison to the glory and radiance of God Almighty.