http://subs.zinester.com/42221 A devotional delivered each weekday to encourage golfers in their relationship with Jesus Christ. en http://archives.zinester.com/42221/120452.html?rss=1 Dear Links Daily Devotional readers,

Two weeks ago, we moved the Links Daily Devotional to a new transmission
service, Constant Contact. While this format has many advantages, we have found
that about 1 in 10 subscribers have had the devotionals blocked by their ISPs.
While the sending address is still linksplayers@linksplayers.com
(mailto:linksplayers@linksplayers.com), the change in sending servers has kept
some of you from receiving the devotion.

If this is the case for you, we can attempt to individually renew your
information. This has worked for some. In order to initiate this, just reply to
this message and write RECONNECT in the subject or message. You will later
receive an email allowing you to update your account with us.

You may also need to contact your ISP and tell them that you wish to continue
... ]]> 120452 Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:52:41 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/118638.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

Each Friday's devotion is also available for quick printout as a Bible study in
pdf format. Copy and paste this link into your browser to get today's study:
www.linksplayers.com/DAILY_DEVOTIONAL/Topical_Archive/1-12-2007/1.7.07lddbs.pdf
(http://www.linksplayers.com/DAILY_DEVOTIONAL/Topical_Archive/1-12-2007/
1.7.07lddbs.pdf)

REAL LIFE
"'I have come that they may have life.'" (John 10:10a, NIV)

Let's consider how we might catalogue our lives.

If we are "typical," as is often described by writers and teachers, then we men
... ]]> 118638 Fri, 12 Jan 2007 08:11:09 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/118563.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

RADICAL GROWTH
"'He must become greater; I must become less.'" (John 3:30, NIV)

Through the years, as with many of us, my golf swing has changed. Actually, it
would be more accurate to say that my swing has "evolved." I certainly didn't
set out to change it.

While the resulting swing has turned out to be better, at least for the
frequency and style of play that I employ, I cannot say the same for other
changes in my life--many of which I have set out to enact.

And then there are those changes that God introduces.
... ]]> 118563 Thu, 11 Jan 2007 08:23:13 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/118495.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

TRADE-OFF
"If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly
scorned." (Song of Songs 8:7, NIV)

God: Can you hear Me now?

Golfer: Whoa! Uh, yeah, yeah.

God: Just want you to know I'm here to give you everything you've asked for.

Golfer: I've tried that already, Lord. I've asked for a bunch of things You
still have never given me. Honestly, it's made me a little mad.
... ]]> 118495 Wed, 10 Jan 2007 08:20:15 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/118352.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

COMPELLING LOVE
"So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few
days to him because of his love for her." (Genesis 29:20, NIV)

While his career shows he is anything but an overnight sensation, Vijay Singh
has certainly caused golf's overnight buzz since his win on Sunday afternoon in
Hawaii.

It was Singh's 30th win on the PGA Tour, which he did not join until 1993, when
he was 30 years old. Since his 40th birthday, not quite four years ago, Singh
has now won a record 18 events, one more than fellow Hall of Famer Sam Snead
after that age.
... ]]> 118352 Tue, 09 Jan 2007 08:20:28 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/118264.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

DRIVE
"Jesus replied, 'No one sets his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for
service in the kingdom of God.'" (Luke 9:62, NIV)

Some golfers are nine-holers. A couple hours on the course is all they need to
satisfy their pleasure in playing the game.

I'm not one of these. And I know many others like me. If we're going to head to
the golf course and take the time it takes to get there, we're playing all 18,
come what may.

I guess that makes us driven, which relates to a curious question my wife asked
... ]]> 118264 Mon, 08 Jan 2007 08:22:10 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/118024.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

Each Friday's devotion is also available for quick printout as a Bible study in
pdf format. Copy and paste this link into your browser to get today's study:
www.linksplayers.com/DAILY_DEVOTIONAL/Topical_Archive/1-5-2007/
12.31.06lddbs.pdf ( http://archives.zinester.com/42221/118024/
181681_12.31.06lddbs.pdf )

A FAST START
"The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, He saved me."
(Psalm 116:6, NIV)

A select group of last year's winners are looking to get off to a fast start on
the PGA Tour this week. They will be joined by many more next week, all with
... ]]> 118024 Fri, 05 Jan 2007 09:06:32 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/117894.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

BEFORE THE LORD
"Cush was the father of Nimrod, who grew to be a mighty warrior on the earth.
He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, 'Like Nimrod, a
mighty hunter before the Lord." (Genesis 10:8-9, NIV)

I'm still waiting for the day when someone says, "Like Jeff, a mighty golfer
before the Lord."

I know, I know, my chances of attaining the "mighty golfer" tag are well past
me. And I must admit I never really loved to practice enough, even when I was
young and had the time.

... ]]> 117894 Thu, 04 Jan 2007 08:24:17 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/117786.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

THE VOICE INSIDE
" I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life,
so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God,
listen to His voice " (Deuteronomy 30:19-20, NIV)

When I step on the seventeenth tee at the Cypresswood Traditions Golf Course I
hear voices. The seventeenth is a 300-yard par-4 with water running all the way
down the right side of the fairway. To lay up at the 100-yard marker is no easy
task. You have to place your shot between four bunkers, carry your shot 175
yards over water, stay left of the water on the right, and hit a slight draw
around a giant pine tree guarding the left side of the tee box. It is almost as
easy to hit driver at the green without penalty. So this conflict of risk
... ]]> 117786 Wed, 03 Jan 2007 08:53:14 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/117716.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

HEAVEN, OUR GOAL
"And He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer
be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the
first things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4)

Here is a great trivia question: What is the best year ever by a professional
golfer on the PGA Tour?

Maybe Hogan in 1953 or Nelson in 1945? How about Tiger Woods in 2000?

These have merit, but here is my choice as the best year ever by a professional
golfer: Payne Stewart in 1999. He won the U.S. Open and went to heaven in the
... ]]> 117716 Tue, 02 Jan 2007 09:21:27 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/116761.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

Today's devotion is the final devotion for 2006. The Links Daily Devotional
will return on January 2, 2007. We have not included the regular pdf Bible
study with today's Friday devotion.

HERE'S WHY

In case you're still wondering

Jesus Christ came into the world to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew
5:17)

Jesus Christ came into the world to preach in the villages, so the people could
... ]]> 116761 Fri, 22 Dec 2006 08:20:16 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/116762.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

THE CHRIST CHILD
"This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy
to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him.
As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword
will pierce your very soul." (Luke 2:34-35, NLT)

Without sounding sacrilegious, the game of golf can be compared to the Christ
child in that this wonderful sport can bring great joy to many, while at the
same time causing many others to fall! Almost every person who has ever played
the game of golf can admit to a love/hate relationship with this wonderful, yet
utterly frustrating, sport!

... ]]> 116762 Thu, 21 Dec 2006 08:20:19 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/116760.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

THE PURSUIT
"The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:  let the wise listen and
add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance." (Proverbs 1:1,5,
NIV)

The reason sports--all sports, but perhaps golf especially--are so reflective
of life's big picture is this: there is no such thing as perfection.

Athletes go in hot pursuit of victory, but even in winning there is almost
always room for improvement. Have many of your friends have sought your
commiseration after a round for what might have been, though they had just
posted their career score? It happens fairly often.
... ]]> 116760 Wed, 20 Dec 2006 08:20:20 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/116686.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

TIME OUTOF TIME
"My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than
watchmen wait for the morning." (Psalm 130:6, NIV)

Our friend David Cook, the sport psychologist who brings the truth of Christ
into his coaching of a number of tour players, often uses the phrase "time out
of time." He means something like this: when your schedule is as packed as ever
and you can't seem to shake all the responsibilities that get heaped on you,
what you may need most of all on your calendar is a timeout, a chance to get
away and see things from a whole different perspective.

I like that idea, don't you? I like dreaming that very soon I will have the
... ]]> 116686 Tue, 19 Dec 2006 08:26:20 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/116588.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

STUDY TO LIVE
"You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."
(Jeremiah 29:13, NIV)

Have you ever been frustrated in your efforts to get better at this silly game
of golf? Often, the quest to find the right direction through golf gurus ends
in a conflicting series of advice. One guy says it's your posture, the other
guy says it's your grip and still another guy says it's your mental
toughness--or lack thereof! The fact is, they might all be right, or they might
all be wrong.

Let's look at the facts. There are textbook grips on tour that win and there
... ]]> 116588 Mon, 18 Dec 2006 08:27:10 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/116198.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

Each Friday's devotion is also available for quick printout as a Bible study in
pdf format. Copy and paste this link into your browser to get today's study:
www.linksplayers.com/DAILY_DEVOTIONAL/Topical_Archive/12-15-2006/
12.10.06lddbs.pdf ( http://archives.zinester.com/42221/116198/
178544_12.10.06lddbs.pdf )

A STRUGGLE UNTO LIFE
"For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the
Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you
from doing the things you want to do."(Galatians 5:17, ESV)

On the golf course, who is your greatest enemy?
... ]]> 116198 Fri, 15 Dec 2006 08:16:21 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/116191.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

GREAT CHAMPIONS THINK OF THEMSELVES WITH SOBER JUDGMENT
" Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of
yourself with sober judgment." (Romans 12:3b, NIV)

The Amplified Bible expands Paul's instruction here, stating that the believer
is "not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance; but to rate his
ability with sober judgment."  Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words
states the word "sober" comes from two Greek words: "sozo," to save; and
"phren," the mind; hence, "self-controlled  temperate  of sound mind.

The past two months I have frequently thought of the death and legacy of Byron
Nelson, who was recently awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest
... ]]> 116191 Thu, 14 Dec 2006 08:17:11 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/115954.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

ORDER PIES EARLY
"When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don't run from
trouble. Take it full-face. The 'worst' is never the worst." (Lamentations
3:28-30, The Message)

We heard of Ezell's shortly after we moved to the Pacific Northwest.

Family and friends kept telling us about Ezell's famous fried chicken. Rumor
had it that Oprah regularly has her people fly to Seattle just to pick up some
Ezell's and bring it to her in Chicago.

... ]]> 115954 Wed, 13 Dec 2006 08:27:17 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/115937.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

ANOTHER WEALTH
"As they make music they will sing, 'All my fountains are in you.'" (Psalm
87:7, NIV)

Have you ever been to the desert? If not, you probably still have a pretty good
picture in mind: sand and gravel, scrub bushes, a few large "moon rocks," and a
whole lot of heat.

While many histories have been written about the ill-fated westward-moving
Donner Party, reduced to cannibalism in its blizzard-halted push across the
towering Sierra Nevada mountains that separate Nevada and California, equally
horrifying accounts can be found about those who attempted the southern
... ]]> 115937 Tue, 12 Dec 2006 08:23:05 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/42221/115884.html?rss=1 LINKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
A ministry of Links Players International

ANTICIPATION
"For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall
not be remembered or come to mind." (Isaiah 65:17, NIV)

It started to rain on November 1st and did not stop until December 5th. It was
the wettest November in the history of the Puget Sound region. In one month, we
received half of our yearly rainfall total. When I discovered it was going to
be dry and sunny last Friday, I began to prepare for a long-awaited round of
golf after a nearly 3-month layoff.

Preparations for the upcoming round included:

... ]]> 115884 Mon, 11 Dec 2006 08:28:11 MSK