By GARY ANDREWS
Editor and Publisher

President Ronald Reagan once said, “If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”
How true this is! And, it seems that America is headed in that direction.
Since prayer was taken out of schools in 1962 it seems that America has taken a downward turn. With our new government in place it seems that we are going further and further down the road and turning away from God in most every instance. How much longer are we, as Christian Americans, going to let this happen?
Most Americans will tell you they believe in prayer. Most Americans will tell you that that there is a God, however, most Americans are letting this country go down the tube because we are not standing on the promises that God gave to us.
We are the same as the Israelites of the old testament in 2 Chronicles 7:11-22. This passage tells us of the Lord appearing to Solomon and giving him explicit instructions for himself and Israel. Could this story apply to America of today also?
We have gotten away from what truths built this country. We have gotten away from the integrity and hard work of Godly people who worshiped the Lord and called on Him in times of trouble.
People, we are in times of trouble in America. Many of our systems are failing and we, as a worldly congregation are trying to fix it without calling on the name of the Lord, our creator and sustainer. Pay careful attention to verses 21 and 22. “...Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple? People will answer, “Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers,...”
All of us need to pray for ourselves and pray for our country. We need to look at 2 Chronicles 7:14 and do as this verse tells us. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive  their sin  and will heal their land.”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for being a patient God. I pray that I will be in your will in all that I do and Lord, I pray for America. We are in a time of great need and You are the only one that can bring us out of this peril. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday - 2 Chronicles 11-22; Monday - Psalm 116:1-7; Tuesday - Acts 1:24-26; Wednesday - John 15:9-17; Thursday - Luke 18:1-8; Friday - Matthew 8:2-4; Saturday - Zechariah 7:4-14.)
Gary Andrews is the author of “Encouraging Words – 30 days in God’s Word” an uplifting devotional book leading into a daily journey. To obtain a copy of his book visit his website at www.gadevotionals.com or stop by the Yazoo Herald for an autographed copy.

By Gary Andrews
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You are what you think you can be! Such a big statement in such a few words yet it hard for many people to grasp the power these eight words.
We hear these words over and over from motivational speakers and what they tell us is the truth. However, many of them stop short of informing us what the truth is to these words and how we can obtain it. Many will tell you it is up to you on how to control your own destiny and this is the truth. They will tell you sure fire ways of controlling your thoughts and temperament and many times these suggestions will work for you.
All of us are victims to what people say about us and many of us do not know how to respond. Most of the time when we hear unpleasant words spoken toward us or our actions we put on our defense mechanism and come back at them in a state of anger or frustration. This is human nature and all of us have these built in responses. We tend to let human ideas and actions take away from what we really want to accomplish because we are programmed to respond to negatives. We are built up and go forward with what we want to accomplish when people respond to us in a positive attitude.
For the ones of us that are Christian and have asked Jesus to be our Lord and Savior don’t have to worry or depend on what others are saying or doing. The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippian 4:13, “I can do everything through who gives me strength.” This is the only feedback that we will ever need.
The world is going to have their say and if we stop and listen to them then we are going to have a rough time moving forward. The world doesn’t want you to move ahead of them; however when we have Christ in our lives, there is no stopping us. Our rewards are not here on this earth but with Jesus in eternity.
You really are what you think you can be. It is entirely up to you how to perceive this statement and make it work for you. If you are of the world, then you will do what the world dictates for you to do. If you are a born again believer in Jesus Christ, then you are not of the world and the world will have no effect on you, unless you allow it too. In the Gospel of John 14:6, Jesus answered Thomas’ question that so many of us have today, “how can we know the way.” Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Give your life to Jesus and know that you will live with Him when you depart this old world.
Prayer: Father God lead me where you want to go and allow me to do what you want me to do while on this earth. Forgive me of my sins and use me as a testament for you. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – 2 Chronicles 12:1-8; Monday – Psalm 39:1-11; Tuesday – 2 Peter 1:3-9; Wednesday – James 3:1-2; Thursday – Jeremiah 9:23-24; Friday – 1 Corinthians 15:9-10; Saturday – Proverbs 29:9-18.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals.com

By Gary Andrews
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Not too long ago my wife and I had the opportunity of taking our first trip with a cruise line. It was an enlightening experience and one that neither of us will ever forget. It is also something that we want to do again.
For many years I would put off going on a cruise because I thought I would get seasick. Many years ago I would go deep sea fishing with my father-in-law and on every occasion he, and his brother, would have to bring me back to shore. The 21-foot boat and the large ocean waves were more than I could bear.
I am not a big fan of fishing and the added experience of being in the ocean, not being able to see land, was more than I could handle. The perception of traveling on a cruise liner was built on my experience of this 21-foot boat which was totally different.
Isn’t it amazing how we look and visualize things we want to do but would never try because of similar situations that we have gone through before? Many of us have had bad or remember unpleasant experiences in something we have attempted or forced to do.
I find that many people quit going to church or Bible study because of something that was said, because we didn’t like the teacher, or our toes were stepped on by examples given. Most of the time when our toes are stepped on we realized that we aren’t in the will of God but don’t want to give up the ways of the world. The world is full of promises and gives up a glimpse of what is or what can be in a short time. Worldly attractions appeal to us because of the quickness they appear, however we need to stop and think at the quickness they disappear also.
Staying in fellowship with Christians and studying our Bible gives us a peek into what is everlasting. The joy and peace that only Jesus can give should be enough for us to want to go to church, go to Bible study, and pay attention when our toes are stepped on. Maybe we are being called out for a reason and most of the time that this happens is between you and the Lord and no one else in the study knows about it.
The fellowship of believers was taught by Jesus. It is all through the New Testament. Jesus conferred on the apostles the authority and the unique teaching of fellowship and the breaking of bread. We read this in Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
Taking a cruise was something I was apprehensive about because of unique experiences I had previously. There was no comparison between the two however I made it a problem until I experienced a cruise ship and the bigness of it. There was no comparison and my long time beliefs kept me from having enjoyable voyages years ago. The same is true with church attendance and Bible study. Even though we had varying opinions of what went on, it will not be the same day after day or in other locations.
I have heard from people not attending church say they are looking for the perfect church to join. When I hear this I tell that if they find that perfect church do not join it because they will ruin it. We are not living in a perfect world but we need to try and make it as good as we can.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for giving me the opportunity to fellowship with believers. Thank you for your Word and what it says to me. I pray that that I will hear and adhere to your message. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Philippians 2:1-4; Monday – Leviticus 26:1-13; Tuesday – Psalm 55:12-23; Wednesday – Romans 14:1-8; Thursday – 3 John 13-14; Friday – 1 Samuel 20:42; Saturday – 1 Corinthians 1:10-17.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals.com.

By Gary Andrews
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It is amazing what people throw away and don’t realize what they have gotten rid of. I have a friend that works for a landfill as a bulldozer operator. His sole responsibility is to push trash into areas that will be covered by dirt so the land can eventually be used again.
This concept of landfill is a good idea because we have so much trash on this earth that we need to put it somewhere. Why not bury it in the earth and cover it up. One would have to guess what the earth will look like and have inside its confines a 1000 years from now.
As my friend works each day he helps individuals that bring their own trash or personal belongings to this landfill. Many will back their cars or trucks up to certain areas and dump what they do not want any more. It is strictly amazing at the products and items brought to this landfill. The old saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” is a very true statement. I really have to believe that some people have no idea of what they are throwing away.
The same holds true for our personal lives also. So many of us walk this earth and don’t realize what we have and the opportunities that are lying in front of us and waiting for us to absorb them. We see and hear what God can and will do for us and all He asks is that we believe on Him and accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Once we do this our lives will change and the old sinful nature that we are used to will not be important any more.    
Every day that my friend works he will notice something that has been discarded by individuals or hauled in by a trash truck that will catch his attention. On many occasions he has found valuables such as jewelry, piggy banks with money, furniture, clothes, and many other items that have worth being discarded by someone who didn’t take the time to realize what they really had.
All of us have valuable items that will be left behind when we leave this earth. These valuables will be discarded by someone who is not willing to check out their worth and will throw them away.  All of us need to realize that we are valuable to God and all He asks us to do is accept Him through faith and our reward will be eternity with Him. It is a shame that so many of us do not realize what God offers us through Jesus and we throw away the opportunity of eternal salvation. Once we accept Jesus into our hearts, then nothing else on earth has the value we put on it. Missing out on eternity is missing out on God’s plan for us.
We have become so entwined into what the world is telling us that many are not willing to let go of the old sinful nature and accept God’s amazing grace. Many people are discarding the most precious possession you can have by throwing it away just as people have thrown out good objects into a landfill. We need to remember what the Psalmist tells us in Psalm 78:32, “In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of all his wonders, they did not believe.”
Prayer: Father God thank you for each day of life that you allow me to have. I pray that my life will a valuable asset to someone else because of your amazing grace and they will come to know you personally. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Ecclesiastes 3:1-14; Monday – Matthew 9:27-34; Tuesday – Hebrews 4:1-3; Wednesday – Ezekiel 18:21-32; Thursday – 1 Timothy 2:1-6; Friday – Ephesians 2:11-22; Saturday – Judges 6:7-10.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals. com.