Wednesday's Word: Endure to the End

 

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

 

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

 

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

 

So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

James 1:2-8, 12-16 (NLT)

 

 

Troubles are allowed to give our faith the opportunity to grow. As we face our storms, we can freely ask of the Lord for wisdom to overcome. He will give us what we need, and all we have to do is trust Him with all our hearts not leaning on our own understanding. The Lord will bless us for enduring to the end. We are His prized children, and He will not keep any good thing from us.

Wednesday's Word: Don't Give Up!

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

 

Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

 

But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

 

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

2 Corinthians 4:8-18

 

Paul gave this amazing testimony to the Corinthians. Although the apostles and early Christians faced great persecution and even death for their belief, they continued to preach God's Word. They recognized the greater power and reward in staying true to Christ.

 

What are you facing? What pressures are hemming you in? What is troubling you?

 

Don't give up on what God has placed in your hands! Remember that God's grace is sufficient for you. Allow your spirit to be renewed in Him. Remember those who have persevered through greater trials and went on to win! Think on the glory that Christ has in store for you.

 

Don't give up!

Going Through The Storm

Sometimes you can see a storm coming. You look at what is coming down the line, and you see the obstacles in your path. You feel the winds change. You see the dark clouds start to gather. And often we know we have to walk through the storm to get to the other side. We can't avoid it. We can't escape it.

Going through the storm strong requires full reliance on the Lord. We have to put away fear and trust that God has our best interests in mind.

When facing His greatest challenge, Jesus knew He had to walk through it. Even though He prayed for the Father to take the situation away, Jesus knew that He could only reach His ultimate goal by going through. (Luke 22:42)

So, Jesus prayed. He put His full being into communicating with the Lord. As He prayed, He received strength from heaven. (Luke 22:43) And when He got up, He was able to face His greatest challenge head-on. And He went on to win.

What storm clouds are gathering in your life? What obstacle is standing waiting up ahead for you?

Don't give in to fear. Don't look at the problem. Look to the Lord who is your help!

Continue in prayer. Communicate with the One who holds this entire world in His hands. Allow heaven to strengthen you in what you're about to face. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you! (Philippians 4:13) And that means you can make it through the storm.

Verse of the Day: But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:32, 33

Hard Times

Life does not always make sense. Life is definitely not always fair.

I find myself in a period right now where there seems to be more going wrong than right. I have more questions than answers. And, I'm just trying to stand in faith and not question my way into doubt and unbelief.

The Lord has told us that His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. Since He's the One keeping this world spinning, I have to trust that what He allows is what's best for all of us in the end. Even when it doesn't make sense... Even when I still have questions...

Right now you may be in a situation where you don't understand what's going on. You may feel that life is dealing you a really rotten hand. You may think that you can't possibly take any more, but the hits keep coming.

So, today, I wanted to remind all of us of the kind of God that we serve.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust:

his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

Psalm 91:3-10

This passage was written either by David or Moses. Both men faced hard times. One led people from the hands of slave owners into the wilderness. The other was given a promise of greatness but then was forced into a life on the run, a life where he was being hunted like an animal. No matter which one wrote these words, the meaning still rings true: our God will take care of us.

In the long run, we will look back and see the sovereign hand of God orchestrating our lives to the fruition of His great purpose for us. Yes, right now we may be hurting, confused, or concerned. But we have no reason to fear. We have no reason to lose our hope. God is working all things together for our good.

Let's not forget that God still has the last say, and He has our ultimate good in mind.

Prayers Going Up Today

First of all, let me apologize for the spotty posts last week. I was fighting an illness, and I missed some days as a result. Thankfully, I am back, healed and whole, and I'm ready to go full steam ahead!

Today, my heart is carrying the families and loved ones who were affected by the senseless violence that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School last week. I cannot even imagine what their hearts are going through. Only God has all the answers and can piece it all together, and I am trusting Him to heal those who are brokenhearted and suffering loss.

I want to encourage you to pray for our country today. Like our president said last night, we are seeing too many of these mass shootings and something needs to be done. We need to pray for wise leadership who will enact and enforce the right legislation. We need to intercede for those who are struggling with mental health issues and those that are caring for them. We need to pray for our parents who are trying to raise children at such times as these.

Lift up our country. Pray for God's protection and love. Pray for your family and loved ones. Cover them with the blood of Jesus and commission angels to their care.

Pay attention to the leading of the Holy Spirit. He is our Guide and Comforter. We have to be sensitive to His leading as He knows all things.

Don't take this life for granted. No matter how old or young, none of us is promised tomorrow. Life is too short to hold a grudge, not apologize, or to hold ill will for anyone.

As you pray today, ask God to give you a heart like his own, one that will reach out to others in love no matter what the circumstance.

Verse of the Day: But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14

Let the Lord Fight For You

So many of us right now are facing battles and obstacles in our lives. Many of us are spending our days going through the motions of life while trying to figure out how to overcome roadblocks. We spend our nights lying in bed trying to figure out how to make ends meet. We can't relax because we are consumed with strategizing how to make things work.

Today I would like to encourage you to give it to God.

As believers in Christ, we don't have to allow the trials of life to overtake us. As joint heirs to the throne we don't have to figure out how to make things work. As children of the King of Kings we don't have to fight one battle in our own strength.

The Lord Himself has promised that He will fight for us. And any battle He fights, He has already won.

We don't have to struggle, stress, strategize, or worry. All we have to do is take our burdens to the Lord and leave them with Him. We have to leave them in His care trusting that He will work it out for us.

Too often, though we trust our own ability over the Lord's. We say we trust God to deliver us, but then we allow the discomfort of our situations to sway us. We take our eyes off of Him and start looking at the storms. We grow weary of standing on the Word and try to walk forward on our own strength.

Allow the Lord to be your fighter. Allow Him to be your deliverer. Give Him the opportunity to fulfill your miracle. Stop sabotaging your own breakthrough.

Yes, it may take more patience than you might expect. It may cause you to spend more time in prayer and fasting than you had anticipated. You may have to do some things that you weren't prepared to take on.

But the end result is victory! The final chapter is the fact that you win! It's guaranteed! Why not let God do His thing?

Today, give your battle to the Lord and leave it with Him. No matter how much you are tempted to take matters back into your own hands, use your faith and allow the Lord to work it all together for your good. It will definitely produce a better outcome than you can ever devise on your own.

Verse of the Day: The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:14

It Is Well With My Soul

There's an old hymn with a refrain that says: It is well with my soul. Over and over the psalmist repeats that despite all that's going on, despite the trials that come from the enemy, no matter how much things try to block the way: It is well with my soul.

Life can be overwhelming at times. Things happen unexpectedly. Trials come unnanounced. Hardships pop up in our paths. But, not matter what goes on around us, we should be able to find God's peace buffeting us in the midst of any storm. We should be able to find courage to face any trial because the Lord is with us.

Sometimes that peace and assurance is right there. The trial may come, but it finds us strong and able to face it down with no problems. Other times, we may have to call upon that courage like David. Or, we may have to rehearse God's promises to us in our own ears. We may have to take the time to pray and ask our Father to visit us with His peace.

Either way, the Lord is there with everything we need to face any situation. That's why the psalmist can sing It is well with my soul. No matter what comes up, we have a way to face it, endure, and overcome. Nothing should shake us, scare us, or beat us. We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.

Be encouraged today! You have all the tools you need to face your situation. There is nothing too hard for the Lord, and He is with you! So, you can sing along with the psalmist: It is well with my soul!

Verse of the Day: As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me... Psalm 55:16-18

God's Got You!

In Psalm 56, David is praying to God for deliverance from his enemies. In the verses, David tells of being afraid and crying because of the way he is being targeted by evil men. Yet, in the midst of his despair, David had chosen to trust in the Lord. In the midst of his fear, David had decided to stand on the promises of God.

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee... (Psalm 56:3)

Who do you run to when you are afraid? Do you run to the Lord? Or, do you only trust yourself to handle dire situations?

Maybe you do turn to the Lord, but do you turn to Him trusting that He can handle what you are facing? Do you come to Him with assurance that He can deliver you from the hands of your enemy?

David made the declaration that he would never fear what a man could do to him. He knew that with the God of the Universe on his side there was nothing the earth could present that could overtake him. He knew that with a cry to the Lord, his enemies would be turned around because God was fighting for him.

In the time of trouble, we should cry out to the Lord trusting in His righteousness and strength to save and deliver us. We should face the world with no fear because we know that we have the ultimate Winner on our side. There is nothing on this earth that can override the will of God.

As long as we're in His will, we have nothing to fear.

We just need to remember to call out to our Savior when trouble comes. We need to fill ourselves up with the Word of God, so we can have something to stand on when things get tight. We need to spend time with the Father to build a relationship so that our instinct is to turn to Him first before anyone else.

When trouble comes, you have someone who can keep you safe from all trouble and harm. Don't let the circumstances cause you to fear or falter. God's got your back!

Verse of the Day: When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. Psalm 56:9-11

Stormy Days

Life is full of changes. We have days where everything seems to go right. We have days where everything seems to be falling apart. There are times that the sun shines bright, and there are times when the wind blows, rain falls, and clouds block our skies.

Stormy days have a way of unsettling us. No one likes to go through a storm. No one likes to have their world rocked beneath them. But, storms come to help us to grow. And, not all storms are bad.

In the Bible we have lots of examples of how storms can affect our lives.

Storms can come as a result of disobedience to God (sin). God decided to send a storm to cleanse the earth of sin. Only Noah, who was righteous in God's eyes was saved. Jonah ran straight into a storm that God caused because Jonah chose to run away from the call of God. It wasn't until Jonah volunteered to surrender his life that the storm quieted down.

But not all storms come as a result of sin.

A storm that Paul experienced also proved God's saving power. Even though the boat Paul was sailing on was completely destroyed, no one lost their lives and Paul was able to minister the gospel effectively to all that travelled with him.

Jesus used storms to point to the power of God as well. He showed the disciples that even the winds and the waves will obey words of faith. He showed Peter that you can even walk on water if you keep your eyes fixed on the Savior. Through Jesus' example we learn that we don't have to fear any storm that comes our way.

Maybe right now you are in the midst of a storm. Just because the winds may be blowing or the rain coming down, it doesn't mean that all is lost. This may be a signal that you need to ask God for forgiveness for a transgression that you did. Or it could be that you are going through a storm so someone else can see God's saving power. After you come through your storm unscathed, you'll be a better witness for the Kingdom.

Or, God may have possibly allowed your storm to come for you to use your faith. He may want you to grow in prayer or knowledge of His word. A storm may be just what you need to stand strong in the Lord and see what faith in Him can do.

So, yes, the wind blowing, rain falling, boat rocking, waves crashing, and dark skies may be the last thing that you want to experience. But God will never allow you to go through more than you can handle. There's a reason why you are going through the storm. Don't get so distracted with looking at the waves crashing around you that you start to sink. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and you will find yourself walking on solid ground while everything else is in chaos around you.

Verse of the Day: And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? Mark 4:37-40

What's Your Response?

I do not like surprises. I like for everything to go according to plan the way it should. When things happen off the radar (as they always do -  that is the very definition of life), I am easily upset and knocked off my game. Often when bad issues pop up, I react in anger or out of my confused emotions. I say and do rash things only to regret my behavior later.

I justify myself at times by saying that it's just a part of my nature, but it's no excuse. There's no reason for me to still react in such a negative way to sudden misfortune.

Looking to God's Word, Job is a perfect example of how to respond to bad news. After Job learned that he had lost everything, his first reaction was to worship God.

Don't remember that tidbit?

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped... Job 1:20


He just learned that he lost all his children and all of his wealth. In seconds, he went from being one of the wealthiest men on the planet to the poorest.

Yet Job didn't panic. He didn't spazz out. He didn't start cursing to the heavens.

He worshipped.

I believe we can learn a lot about Job just from that one fact. He was a worshipper. He spent quality face time with God. No wonder God was so confident in the face of the devil that Job would not sin. God had a one-on-one relationship with Job. He knew the man's heart.

And after all was said and done, Job passed his trial with flying colors and received more children and wealth than what he had lost. (Job 42:12-17)

What is your first reaction to trials and tribulation? Do you already have a reserve of worship on the inside of you that can sustain you when troubles come? If the enemy challenged God about your loyalty, could the Lord reply back in confidence that you won't succumb to the enemy?

A worshipful heart is a powerful asset. Time spent in the Lord's presence can benefit us in more ways than we may initially think.

Make sure you take some time out today to worship the Lord. Meditating on His goodness, greatness, and love will make whatever problems that may show up seem trivial and small. Worship can strengthen our spirits to handle those challenges when they come.

Worship reminds us of how big and powerful our God is. We can't let ourselves forget that truth.

Verse of the Day: Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. Job 1:20-22

Keep Believing

Principals' Breakfast... Parent Newsletters... Parent Teacher Conferences... Report Card Pickup...

These are all the reasons why I didn't post yesterday. And I am truly sorry. Despite my working til late into the evening yesterday, I am still here bright and early working this morning. So, why not bless you with the post you missed?

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The last couple of days I've been thinking on the father of the demoniac child who was told about in Mark 9:14-27.

This man had been through all sorts of trouble trying to help take care of his son from the time the boy was a child. He had to rescue his son from fires, from drowning, from harming his own self. This father had to do all of this while his son could not utter a word.

Then, he hears about the miracles that Jesus is doing and brings his son thinking that maybe they could help.

Imagine his disappointment and hurt seeing the disciples lay hands on his son to no avail.

No wonder when Jesus said that anything was possible to those that believed, the father cried out: "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." (Mark 9:24)

That is sort of where I am right now. I've heard about the miracles God can do. I've seen things in my own life that I know only God could have worked. Yet, I am dealing every day with a person who is in need of a miracle. I am caring for someone who is so dear to me that is not completely whole.

I believe that God can do it, but Lord... help with the part of me that doubts at times.

Thankfully, the story doesn't end with the disciples attempt. Jesus knew exactly what it took to heal the boy.  He spoke the words of life, and the boy was healed.

We all are facing some kind of trial or situation that is pushing our faith to another level. We might have been able to easily believe God for other things, but this more difficult situation may be causing us to hesitate in our stance.

We cannot allow what's going on to keep us from our miracle. We cannot let disappointment deter us from our destiny. We have to continue to believe. We have to cry out to the Lord for strength to continue to believe.

We can't give up! We can't lose hope. We have to continue to stand in faith. The Jesus who was able to heal the demoniac boy is our King and Redeemer. He can deliver us from our afflictions in the same way. We must continue to trust.

Verse of the Day: But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26

No Time For Pain

Today I was in a little pain. I hate being in pain. So, I keep pain medication on me. Thank God for His revelations to mankind!

I said a prayer, took my pain pills, and waited. Those 30 minutes seemed like forever. But I was able to persevere because I knew that help was on the way.

The pains of life, however, are often not so simple.

God allows the pains life brings to happen in order for us to grow in our knowledge of Him and His love. He allows those times of pressure to give us opportunities to press into His presence. He lets the storm winds blow, so we can anchor ourselves more deeply in Him.

Sadly, we often want just a quick remedy. We want to say our little prayer for God's help, and see Him instantly come through for us. We want the pain to leave immediately.

It's true. No one likes to experience pain. No one wants to suffer heartache. Yet God does everything for a reason. Everything works according to His plan.

Sometimes He does give us immediate relief. More often than not, He chooses to move at a slower pace than what we would like. He has a higher plan for us, and that may be the only way to get us there.

So don't just look on the surface of what you are going through. Set your mind on the higher plain that your Heavenly Father is on, and look with the eyes of the Spirit.

He may be allowing the hurt to push you out of your comfort zone into the greater realm of His glory. He may be staying silent to bring you deeper into His Word to learn truths you would have never gone after otherwise.

Stay strong. Obviously God knows that you can handle it, or He would have never sent it in the first place.

Verse of the Day: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8, 9

Good Morning...

This morning was...a challenge.

I woke up earlier than I wanted to do and had to deal with something I really didn't want to.

What's funny is I spent time last night in prayer over that very thing, and there the problem was shaking me awake this morning.

I had to remind myself of God's faithfulness. I had to encourage myself in His love. And I had to tell the devil where to go.

At times like this I remember the Apostles and how they encountered persecution everywhere they went. Each city posed a threat to their lives. They were openly mocked, cast into prisons, beaten, whipped, and even put to death for what they believed in.

Still, they continued to preach the gospel. They continued to go into all the world and tell of Jesus' love. In the midst of their physical pain and emotional beatings, they continued to trust God. They continued to stand on the principles of Christ. They continued to choose to live out what Jesus profiled.

And here I am. Yes, my pain is real. Yes, my trials are distressing. But they are nowhere near what the Apostles faced. I have much more freedom and support in my endeavors. As they chose to continue to follow God in spite of what it looked like, I can choose to remain faithful to the God who is yet faithful to me.

Verse of the Day: We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

Accentuate the Positive

It's easy to dwell on the negative. Rehearsing hurt, disappointment, and defeat comes naturally to our minds. Yet finding the good in a hurtful situation.... Forgiving someone while we still feel the sting... Letting go of our pain and handing it fully over to Jesus... These things take practice and work.

But the benefits are so much sweeter!

One of my favorite life examples from the Bible is David. He went through just about everything that you can think of: He was overlooked by his family, and hated without cause. David had to live for years in hiding. His best friend was killed. David's sins were publically exposed for his whole kingdom to see. There was unrest in his family, and his own son tried to kill David to take over the throne.

In Psalms, however, we see the reflections of David's heart. In the midst of David's anger, frustration, and pain, the love that he has for God is overwhelmingly present. In the same chapters where he calls out for the destruction of his tormentors, he also reassures himself in the greatness of his God. As he remembers his foolish behavior, David recalls the forgiving nature of the Lord.

David didn't let the situations he faced block out his view of God. He remembered the sovereignty of the Father at all times, and kept God's promises and words close to his heart. Rather than hold on to bitterness, anger, heartache, and shame,  David sang songs of praise and worship. He was a man after God's heart.

I am constantly reading the book of Psalms for this very reason. Yes, I may face hardships in my life. I may mess up and disappoint God and myself. No matter how I feel, though, I must always remember that the God I serve is great! The God I serve is also forgiving and has a love for me beyond measure.

There's no reason for me to dwell on the negative. With God in my corner, I can always accentuate the positive!

Verse of the Day: The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.  He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever. Psalm 145:18-21

He Can Handle It

Please pray for your girl today. I am tired! I've kept waking up a couple times a night for the last few nights without being able to get back to sleep. Right now I'm counting down the hours til my lunch break, so I can go out to my car and get an hour's worth of sleep in.

Moving on...

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We are so blessed as children of God. We serve a God who is also our Father. As such, He takes a great interest in our well being, loves us, wants us to succeed, and helps us along the way. Our God is personal, caring about our every facet of life.

He cares so much that He told us to give Him our cares, and He would take care of them. (1 Peter 5:7) He doesn't want us walking around worried, insecure, or apprehensive. So, He will take any burden we carry off our hands. We just have to hand it over.

Are you carrying around any burdens? Is your heart sick with worry or fear?

There's no need for you to live that way. Your Heavenly Father will gladly take the load and remedy your situation. Why don't you give them over to Him?

Yes, you may have talked to God about it. You may have aired your issues and concerns in His ear. But did you leave your troubles with Him? Did you trust Him to take the information and figure it all out? Or did you pick up your burden again once you were finished speaking to continue to worry and fret about it?

We serve the God who holds all power in His hands! He knows the end from the beginning, and He can turn any situation around. Why not trust Him to handle your great quandaries?

We can only do so much. And what we can do is so very little. Give your burden to God. He won't leave you hanging. He won't forget you. He won't abandon you. He will answer your call.

Verse of the Day: He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. Psalm 91:15

Pressing Rewind

Right now, I wish I had a remote that could rewind time to about 12 hours ago when I was snug in my bed fast asleep. Or, I take a fast forward to later on this evening after all my running around is through when I'll get to sit down and relax for a minute.

Sadly for me, that is not life. Yet there are times where God brings back some "rewind" moments to let us know how much we've grown (or how much we're still the same).

You know those times. Like the man you know was not God's plan, the one that had you straight off the path of God, the one you promised God you would leave alone and never get down with again... yeah, him. He's suddenly hitting you up on Facebook, or blowing up your phone. What are you doing?

Or, the times where you have the opportunity to engage in the behavior that you've testified that God has delivered you from. The one that had the vice-grip on your life. And now, space and opportunity have afforded you a prime moment to slip back in without anyone knowing. What are you doing?

Most challenging of all are those times in life when your at your lowest, feeling your weakest, or after a crushing blow from the enemy. It's then that our own minds sometimes push the rewind button and offer up solutions to ease the pain with all of those things that we embraced before we fell in love with the Father. What are you doing?

Keep in mind that at our weakest, God is the strongest. If we choose to cling to Him in the midst of the "rewind" moments, if we choose to ignore our flesh that is crying out for a release, if we stand on the Word and squeeze off the life force to the flesh... we can continue to overcome, continue to experience victory, and continue to grow in God.

We will know that God is able to trust us, and we will see how much we've grown in Him. As we keep passing the "rewind" moments, they begin to lose their power giving us confidence, and the next one is easier to pass through.

Even if we fail the "rewind" moments, rest assured that our loving God will show forgiveness and love us still. We don't have to dwell in condemnation. We just have to move forward determined to continue in God's will, Word, and way surrendering ourselves to the purging fire of His love.

Verse of the Day: I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong... Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 8:21, 24-25a (NLT)

Rain, Rain Go Away?

This morning I woke up to clouds and rain... a-gain. Its been raining for days on end over here in Chicagoland. I would love to see a little sun and be able to feel a little warmth. It is supposed to be spring, right?

Walking in to work this morning, it was on the tip of my tongue to complain about all of this wet weather. Yet something stopped me. I thought about the One who's causing all the rain. There's a reason why He's keeping on the spout, who am I to question His direction?

The same can be said about our personal journeys through life. At times it may feel like our lives are continuously being stricken with rainclouds and storms. We may grow weary of our 'wet weather' and cry out to God for relief.

Our God never does anything on a whim. He doesn't do things 'just because' either. Our God is purposeful in His action, and works everything together for our ultimate good. We should trust that whatever winds He's allowing to blow in our lives will bring us to His purposed good place.

So, yes, you may be tired of putting on your rain boots and pulling out your umbrella. You may have grown tired of the gray skies and the rainy winds. You can still take comfort knowing that the One who is allowing those winds to blow also holds the power to make the sun shine and the skies clear. And this same God has your best interests at heart.

Be encouraged. It's all a part of His plan for your good.

Verse of the Day: Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. Job 36:26-28

Never Miss An Opportunity To Be A Witness!

This morning I was thinking about the thief who was on the cross next to Jesus when he was crucified. Despite of the pain and suffering He was going through, Jesus still made time to minister to the lost. As the thief acknowledged that Jesus was innocent and truly was the 'King of the Jews,' our Savior assured him that he would be partaking in the glories of heaven that day.

There was something about Jesus that made the thief recognize that He was truly from God. Even as they hung dying, the man could still see the glory that Jesus held.

We have that same Jesus living on the inside of us. Yet how do we go through our suffering and our trials? Do we still allow the glory of God to shine through no matter the pain that we feel? Can strangers look on us and still know that we are redeemed by God?

In addition to showing the glory, are we still making time to share the glory as we go through? At times our weights can be so heavy that we get wrapped up in our own concerns and pressing issues. However, there is still a sin-sick world all around us that is crying out for a Savior. We still need to make time to share His love with them despite what we are currently facing.

If Jesus could take time to save someone from hell's flames as he suffered the incomprehensible agony of the cross, surely we can share the love of God in the midst of our trials.

Verse of the Day: And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke 23:42, 43

Choose to Follow God's Will

What amazes me most about Jesus going to the cross is that He chose to go. He knew what He was getting into. He knew that He would experience mental, physical, and even spiritual anguish in His journey to retrieve our redemption. Yet He still chose to follow God's will anyway.

As He prayed in the garden, I'm sure Jesus was aware that not everyone would appreciate His sacrifice. Through the years, He knew that His trip to the cross would be downgraded to 'just a story.' He might have even known that people who did acknowledge His sacrifice would take it for granted and abuse its benefits.

Yet, He still chose to give up His life for us.

As we go through life, we often are faced with hard choices. God may direct us to go down a path that we would rather not face. He may place someone in our life that we would rather not love. He may give us a task that we would rather pass along to someone else.

It is in those times that we should remember the example that Jesus left for us. When He was feeling the call of the Father that it was time to go to the cross, He prayed seeking God if there was any other way that He could go. He travailed in prayer verifying that it was truly God's will for Him to die.

And when Jesus knew that there was no other way, He acquiesced to the will of God. He went forward with God's plan and never looked back. And as a result of Him going through the anguish of the cross, Jesus was able to revel in the glory of the resurrection.

You may have moments where you spend time seeking God for any other way than the one before you. However, when you know within your heart what God is requiring from you, go forward and don't look back. Remember, there will be glory after the cross.

Verse of the Day: And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. Luke 22:41, 42

I'm Okay With It

Right now, there are a lot of things in my life that I would love to change. Previously, I was seeking God's face consistently to show me how to change my situations. More recently, however, I have taken a page from Paul and am now asking God to teach me to be content where I am.

I believe that there is a reason for everything. God takes us through certain things to teach us lessons, allow us to grow, and give us experiences that only those directions could provide. Yet, sometimes I get so caught up in everything that I forget to look for the reasons behind them. I miss out on appreciating my spiritual growth during those times. I downplay the daily miracles that occur in the midst of the storms.

If I'm following God's will and staying true to His commands, I have to trust that He is leading me down the right paths. Under God's direction, I should be content knowing that He has my best interests in mind. However long the journey, however painful the climb, my heart should be at rest with the faith that God is bringing me to an expected end.

So, I'm asking God to teach me contentment. Instead of constantly looking for the breakthrough or the answered prayer, I'm asking God to show me how to look for the lesson and the building of my character. Sometimes knowing how strong you are becoming helps you to weather the storm just a bit longer. Seeing how much you've grown encourages you that you can grow a bit larger.

Whatever situation you're facing today, ask the Lord to give you peace about it. Allow Him to settle your heart and mind with the pace that He has you walking towards your deliverance. Be content with the place you are in now knowing that God is working it all together for your good!

Verse of the Day: ...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Philippians 4:11b