Jim Burns - One Life

2001 by Jim Burns

Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com

Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

Bethany House Publishers edition published 2014

ISBN 978-1-4412-6599-9

Previously published by Regal Books

Originally published by Harvest House Publishers as Getting in Touch with God. First Regal Books edition published as No Compromise in 2001.

Ebook edition originally created 2011

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Other versions used are:

NKJVScripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

RSV From the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, and 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission.

Cover design by Josh Talbot Design (www.joshuatalbotdesign.com)

To my daughters, Christy, Rebecca and Heidi,

I never dreamed I had the depth or capacity to give and receive

as much love as with my girls. I think about you all day.

I worry for you. I pray for you. I love you. You have brought

more God-given joy and fulfillment to my life than anything else

in the world. Your mom and I will be there for you. I dedicate

these stories, insights and devotions as an act of worship to God,

and I dedicate them to you, my precious daughters.

Love,

Dad

Authorities tell us that it takes several weeks to form a habit. Many times we talk about bad habits, but what about creating a lifelong positive habit of spending a few minutes each day with God? This book is geared to give you the opportunity to spend about 5 to 10 minutes a day with God. In just 50 short days you will have read 50 Scriptures, experienced a short devotional and been challenged to go deeper in your relationship with our Lord. In less than two months you can create one of the most important habits of your life. All it takes is a commitment on your part to open up this book and spend some time with God.

My experience is that thousands of students and adults are making some of the wisest decisions of their lives and are taking the 50-Day Challenge to spend the next 50 days doing regular devotional time with God. Their spiritual lives are growing and they are finding positive ways to overcome the strains and pressures of their daily lives. I encourage you to take the 50-Day Challenge and watch your relationship with God mature and strengthen. So go ahead and take the challenge, and lets watch God take up a more important part of your life.

Thanks and thanks again to:

Jill Corey. You are more than a coworker and godmother to Christy. You are a special friend and sister in Christ.

Carrie Hicks Steele. I am one of the most fortunate people in the world to have such a wonderful partner in ministry.

Todd Dean. You are the perfect COO for Youth Builders and a treasured lifelong soul mate.

Bill Hall. In the last year you have given me some of the finest godly advice I have ever received. Thank you for using your spiritual gifts to make a difference in my life. Mary Hall, you are a mother of the decade to Wendy.

Cathy Burns. Our daughters may never fully realize the incredible job of mothering you do. You amaze me daily. I love you.

One Life was created to help young people grow spiritually, but unexpectedly I have discovered this book is a powerful resource for adults, too. The stories, illustrations and quotes are invaluable in seasoning any presentation or personal study. Although the Take the 50-Day Challenge is a helpful way to motivate students to study the Word of God, it also offers a framework for parents, teachers, preachers and evangelists to find strength in Gods daily provision as evidenced in the stories and truths collected in this book.

One Life is a wonderful resource for all seasons that can be drawn upon for enriching our commitment to Christ Jesus. This devotional can be utilized in the following ways:

Spiritual growth material for camps and retreats

Illustrations for talks

One-on-one or small-group devotions

Personal studies

Family discussions

Stories and tales for Sunday School

Sermon material for church worship

Many of these daily devotionals are some of my favorite illustrations from the lives and writings of others. Thank you for adding this book to your spiritual tool kit of resources, because I am confident you will find One Life an invaluable companion in helping young people grow in Christs wisdom and grace and in challenging adults to grow in the Lords love and good deeds.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

JOHN 15:13

If you ever need a reminder of how much God loves you and that He sacrificed His Son for you, this story will be a great reminder.

After a few hymns, the pastor stood up and introduced a guest speaker. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit to speak.

Three people boarded a boat: a father, his son and the sons friend. They were sailing off the Pacific Coast, he began, when a fast-approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright, and the three were swept off the boat and into the ocean.