CHRIST IS FIRST:

CHRIST IS FIRST: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” Col1:15 wp.me/p29yfQ-3m #firstplace #Jesus

Endurance; Look to the Future

Endurance; Look to the Future – John MacArthur

“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:17

It is far easier to endure trials when we value the future over the present.

A few years ago the popular Back to the Future movies dealt rather whimsically with the possibility of time travel, which always involved entering the future. The recurring theme was that with all the complications of tampering with the future, it was better to live in the present. Viewers could infer that, ultimately, it is not worth it to dwell a lot on the future. That is just the opposite of the apostle Paul’s attitude about the future. He dealt with the profound certainties of what awaits all believers in the life to come. For Paul, the value of the future was another important reason he could endure life’s sufferings and trials. The temporal pain for him and us is inconsequential compared to what awaits us in Heaven (Rom. 8:18).

Trials are inevitable, and the pain associated with them can be very intense, but when compared to what we will enjoy in the future, they hardly matter. Paul saw them as light afflictions, or literally “weightless trifles.” He knew that their real significance is only in how they contribute to our eternal glory. That contribution is anything but trivial. Rather, it produces “an eternal weight of glory.” Concerning this expression, it’s as if Paul envisioned an old-fashioned two-sided scale that was being tipped in favor of the future by the cumulative mass (“eternal weight of glory”) of his individual sufferings. Paul could endure the pain of present trials when he was certain that they contributed positively to his life in Heaven.

The amount of trials and suffering you and I endure now is also directly linked to our eternal rewards. Those rewards are not external bonuses such as fancier crowns, better robes, or bigger heavenly mansions. Instead they refer to our increased capacity to praise, serve, and glorify God. That fulfilled Paul’s greatest desire and enabled him to joyfully persevere in trials, and it should do the same for us.

Suggestions for Prayer:
Ask God to give you a perspective that sees every trial as trivial in light of eternal rewards.

For Further Study:
Read Romans 8:18-25. How far do the effects of sin and suffering extend? What does Paul say about hope in this passage?

 

IN MY RIGHT MIND:

IN MY RIGHT MIND: “...[they] found the man... sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind....”Lk8:35 wp.me/p29yfQ-3j

Endurance: The Value of the Spiritual

Endurance: The Value of the Spiritual – John MAcArthur

“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:17

Believers are far more blessed when they concentrate on the spiritual rather than physical aspects of life.

Concerning endurance, Paul is again our role model. One reason he was able to endure pain and trials was that he knew the physical was far less important and lasting than the spiritual. He realized that our physical bodies are naturally aging and therefore not permanent. He was probably aware of this more than most people because his rigorous ministry with its travel demands hastened his own aging process. And surely he also aged more rapidly than others because of all the physical and emotional persecution he endured from his enemies.

Paul was able to accept physical suffering and aging because he knew his inner man (his spiritual self, his new creation) was being renewed daily (2 Cor. 4:16). It’s not easy for us to follow Paul’s example; yet he urges believers to “set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Col. 3:2). Many of the trials and sufferings the Lord brings to us compel us to obey Paul’s words, look away from ourselves, and experience the spiritual growth that is so directly the result of suffering (see 1 Peter 5:10). God’s Word assures us that He will provide all the strength we need to endure. In closing, consider the prophet’s words:

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

—Isaiah 40:28-31

Suggestions for Prayer:
As you go through this day, pray that the Lord would help you focus on the spiritual rather than the physical.

For Further Study:
Read Hebrews 11:1-16. What common ingredient allowed those in this passage to look beyond the physical toward the spiritual?

 

 

God Is Always In Control – Dr. Charles Stanley

God Is Always In Control – Dr. Charles Stanley

Isaiah 45:5-7

I admit that I often don’t understand why bad things happen. Even so, I believe that God has a purpose for everythingHe does or permits. My faith is rooted in the biblical principle that says the Lord is sovereign (Ps. 22:28). He is in absolute control of this universe, the natural and political climate of this earth, and my life and yours.

When we are in the midst of a trial, it is hard to resist crying out, “God, Why is this happening?” Sometimes we get the answer and sometimes we don’t. What we can be sure of is that nothing happens by accident or coincidence. He has a purpose for even our most painful experiences. Moreover, we have His promise to “cause all things to work together for good to those who love God” (Rom. 8:28).

Seeing in advance how the Lord will work evil or hurt for our benefit is very difficult, if not impossible. My limited human perspective doesn’t allow me to grasp His greater plan. However, I can confirm the truth of this biblical promise because the Father’s good handiwork appears all through my pain, hardship, and loss. I have experienced Him turn mourning into gladness and have seen Him reap bountiful blessings and benefits from my darkest hours.

As believers, we must accept that God won’t always make sense to us. Isaiah teaches that His ways and thoughts are higher than our own (Isa. 55:9). He sees the beautifully completed big picture. We can rely on the fact that God is in control, no matter how wildly off-kilter our world seems to spin. 

ALWAYS RIGHT:

ALWAYS RIGHT: “The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just....” Deut32:4 wp.me/p29yfQ-38 #perfect #right #neverwrong

A Traitor Turns To Christ

A Traitor Turns To Christ by John MacArthur

 

The twelve apostles included "Matthew the tax-gatherer" (Matt. 10:3).

I remember reading a notice in a local newspaper announcing the opening of a new evangelical church in our community. It gave the date and time of the first services, then added, "our special guest star will be . . ." and named a popular Christian celebrity. In its attempt to appeal to unbelievers or simply draw a large crowd, the church today commonly uses that kind of approach.

Jesus, however, used a different approach. None of His disciples were famous at all. In fact, rather than drawing a favorable crowd, some of them might have repelled or even incited anger and hatred among His Jewish audience. Matthew was such a man because he was a despised tax-gatherer--one of many Jewish men employed by Rome to collect taxes from his own people. As such he was regarded as a traitor by his own countrymen.

The Roman tax system allowed tax collectors to keep anything they collected in excess of what was owed to Rome. That encouraged bribes, extortion, and other abuses.

To compound the issue, Matthew was among those who had the prerogative of taxing almost anything they wanted to tax--roads, bridges, harbors, axles, donkeys, packages, letters, imports, exports, merchandise, and so on. Such men could accumulate enormous wealth for themselves. You might remember another tax-gatherer named Zaccheus, who is described in Luke 19:2 as a wealthy man. His salvation was evidenced by his offer to repay fourfold to those he had defrauded (v. 8).

Some people think God can't use them because they're not famous or because of their past sins. But God has used Matthew, Zaccheus, and millions of others like them. Concentrate on your present purity and let God bless your ministry as He sees fit.

Suggestions for Prayer:

Thank God that he has made you a new person in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). Minister in light of that reality!

By your patience possess your souls

By your patience possess your souls —Luke 21:19

When a person is born again, there is a period of time when he does not have the same vitality in his thinking or reasoning that he previously had. We must learn to express this new life within us, which comes by forming the mind of Christ (see Philippians 2:5). Luke 21:19 means that we take possession of our souls through patience. But many of us prefer to stay at the entrance to the Christian life, instead of going on to create and build our soul in accordance with the new life God has placed within us. We fail because we are ignorant of the way God has made us, and we blame things on the devil that are actually the result of our own undisciplined natures. Just think what we could be when we are awakened to the truth!

There are certain things in life that we need not pray about— moods, for instance. We will never get rid of moodiness by praying, but we will by kicking it out of our lives. Moods nearly always are rooted in some physical circumstance, not in our true inner self. It is a continual struggle not to listen to the moods which arise as a result of our physical condition, but we must never submit to them for a second. We have to pick ourselves up by the back of the neck and shake ourselves; then we will find that we can do what we believed we were unable to do. The problem that most of us are cursed with is simply that we won’t. The Christian life is one of spiritual courage and determination lived out in our flesh.

 

SURELY:

SURELY: “. . . And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt28:20 wp.me/s29yfQ-surely #nodoubt #confident #Christ

Faith vs. Doubt by Pete Briscoe

Faith vs. Doubt by Pete Briscoe

 

“Faith and doubt are by no means mutually exclusive; doubt is rather the shadow which everywhere follows faith and trust.” —Wolfhart Pannenberg

 

Abraham and Sarah wrestled with a lot of doubt and asked tons of questions right after God told them they were going to have kids. But, it was true. I'm sure their minds and emotions told them that they would be childless forever. But, that was a lie.

 

Wikipedia defines doubt as “a status between belief and disbelief, involves uncertainty or distrust or lack of sureness of an alleged fact, an action, a motive, or a decision.”

 

Let's be honest, to a certain degree all of us live in this "status between belief and disbelief." Sometimes we have the same reaction as Abraham and Sarah when we hear the truth about who we are in Christ, one of the promises God has made, or even prophecies about what the future holds. It is natural for our flesh to doubt when we are first exposed to the Truth. Even the disciples wrestled with this.

 

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later… he [Jesus] said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” —John 20:24-29

 

Don’t feel pressured if you have doubts. You aren’t being unfaithful or betraying God by questioning what you believe.

 

Belief is a courageous process.

 

In fact, a sincere, growing faith emerges from doubt. I think doubt, to a certain degree, will always be with us until that day when we can put our fingers into His nail-scared hand.

 

God, I want to call You, “My Lord!” and live with You as “my God!” just like Thomas proclaimed. Thank You for understanding my doubts as I continually reject lies and Page replace them with Your truth. Show me the next lie that You want to replace! Amen.

 

 

WE NEED GOD MORE:

WE NEED GOD MORE: “And he said to him, ‘If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.’” Ex33:15 wp.me/p29yfQ-31

The Beauty of Pain

The Beauty of Pain – By Steve Arterburn

 

News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and paralyzed, and he healed them. - Matthew 4:24

 

Pain is something most of us try to avoid, at all costs. It’s the reason some of us are trapped in addictions and hate the thought of each new day. But pain is also one of the best things that God allows in our lives. Pain is a great motivator. It lets you know that there is something that you need to pay attention to. It lets you know when doing things your way no longer works. It’s a tool that when used to your benefit will redirect your life.

 

But in that redirection, you have a choice. You can chose to cover the pain to treat the symptom and never treat the cause. Or you can do a little work, find the cause, and deal with it once and for all.   

 

You might continue in life with the pain, like a pointed stick poking at your spirit, but never doing anything about it. But that pain is telling you to back up, take an inventory of your actions and attitudes, to make amends with someone, to seek help from someone who’s been there before or has experience you don’t have. It’s also telling you that God is in charge, and you’re not.  

 

So, accept pain as your friend. Make the choice to deal with the root issue, and not just the resulting pain. When the issue is dealt with, the pain will subside. Pain is part of your healing, but if you deal with it wisely, it will lead to a road of freedom and a pathway of lasting joy.

 

“Pain is short and joy is eternal.” -J. C. F. Von Schiller (1759-1805)

 

 

REVIVAL:

REVIVAL: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”Ps51:12 wp.me/s29yfQ-revival #joy #saved #refresh

NAME OF GOD:

NAME OF GOD: Jehovah Elohim Yeshua

Verse:

O LORD (Jehovah), the God (Elohim) of my salvation (Yeshua), I have cried out by day and in the night before You. - Psalm 88:1

Meaning:

LORD God of My Salvation.

Prayer: Adoration

Jehovah Elohim Yeshua, you are the Lord God of my salvation. You reign from heaven and rule on earth. You rescue those in need and bind up the brokenhearted. You save not only eternally but in time and history. You save me from making wrong choices or going down the wrong path through the wisdom of your Word. You save me from living a life of misery and regret through the compassion of your healing forgiveness and grace. You save me from worry knowing that I can trust in you. You save me from confusion when I seek your truth and kingdom agenda in my life. I praise you because you are Jehovah Elohim Yeshua, the Lord God of my salvation.

 

By Dr. Tony Evans

SELF-DECEPTION:

SELF-DECEPTION: “The heart is deceitful above all things, & desperately sick; who can understand it?”Jer17:9 wp.me/p29yfQ-2X #truth

AN INTACT BELIEF SYSTEM

AN INTACT BELIEF SYSTEM – Dr. Neil Anderson

 

1 Timothy 4:6 

In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Jesus Christ, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following

 

One problem with Christian maturity is trying to base spiritual growth on practical sections of the Scriptures and spending too little time internalizing the doctrinal sections. Each of Paul's letters tends to fall into two major parts. The first part is generally doctrinal, such as Romans 1-8, Ephesians 1-3, Colossians 1-2, etc. These sections reveal what we need to know about God, ourselves, sin and salvation. The second half of each letter is the practical section: Romans 12-15, Ephesians 4-6, Colossians 3-4, etc. These passages describe what we need to do to live out our faith in daily experience.

 

In our zeal to correct the problems in our lives--doubt, temptation, satanic attack, conflict in families, friendships and churches which are falling apart--we jump to the practical instructions of God's Word. We want a quick fix, a rule or instruction which we can apply like a Band-Aid to make things better.

 

Perhaps you have already discovered that a Band-Aid approach to daily living doesn't work. Why not? Because when you don't understand the truth pertaining to your position in Christ, you have no ground for success in the practical arena. How can you rejoice in hope and persevere in tribulation (Romans 12:12) without the confidence of knowing you have been justified by faith and have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1)?

 

When your basic belief system about God and yourself is shaky, your day-to-day behavior system will be shaky. But when your belief system is intact and your relationship with God is based on truth, you'll have very little trouble working out the practical aspects of daily Christianity. Show me someone who knows who they are in Christ and who is filled with the Holy Spirit, as taught in the first half of the Epistles, and I will show you someone who will instinctively live according to the second half of the Epistles. It will be the "natural" thing to do.

 

Prayer: Loving Father, I desire to know what I need to know about You so I can live the way You desire for me to live.

HE'S IN THE BOAT:

HE'S IN THE BOAT: “...they woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’..." Mk4:38-40 wp.me/p29yfQ-2V

 

You have everything you need for your God-given dream

You have everything you need for your God-given dream – Shana Schutte, bluepringforlife.com

 

Sometimes I ask strangers personal questions at weird moments—like at the McDonald’s drive thru. For example, some time ago I drove through Mickey D’s to purchase an unsweet iced tea. While at the drive-up window, I wanted to encourage the young man who served me so I asked, “If there was one thing that you could do with your life, what would that one thing be?”

He looked at me as if I had lost my marbles, then grinned and said, “I want to become a businessman. I want to own one of those big offices like we have downtown.”

“Great!” I said. “What is one thing that you can do this week to move toward your goal?”

“Go to school,” he responded. “I’m starting classes this week.”

“Fantastic! That’s awesome.” I said. “Have a great day!” I shouted as I drove away.

I love asking people this “If-there-was-one-thing” question. I also think it’s interesting that lots of people say they can’t pursue their dream because they don’t have what they need.

“I can’t because I don’t have the money.”

“I can’t because I don’t have the education.”

“I can’t because I don’t have the courage.”

“I can’t because I don’t have the time.”

“I can’t because I don’t have influence.”

My response is, “Of course you don’t have what you need. That’s the way it always works.”

No one who accomplishes anything for God has everything they need when they start to move toward their dream and His plan for their lives.

When Noah received the assignment from God to build the ark, he didn’t have the supplies to build it or the animals to fill it. When Moses headed toward the Promise Land, he didn’t have the ability to get the people across the Red Sea. When Nehemiah first had the desire to reconstruct Jerusalem’s wall, he didn’t have a crew, the supplies, or King Artaxerxe’s approval.

So, if no one has everything they need upfront to pursue their dream, what’s the difference between someone who follows the desires of their heart, and someone who doesn’t? The answer is simple: hope. When you have hope, you will also have faith to act and move forward because faith springs from hope (Col. 1:5).

If you have hope, you have everything you need to start out toward your God-given dream. If God has placed the desire to succeed in your heart, it’s His responsibility to move the obstacles you will face, just as He did for Noah, Moses, and Nehemiah.

In 2012 when I decided to relocate to Georgia, I didn’t have everything I needed for my new home or the money to relocate. God provided. When I decided to go on a multi-state book tour, I didn’t have the financial resources when I answered God’s call to go. God provided. When I chose to move to London, England to go to college, I didn’t all my financial provision up front. In hope, I even booked my flight before I paid my tuition. God provided. When I decided to become a writer, I didn’t have the college education; others were more qualified. God provided—and is still providing.

It’s your responsibility to say yes to God and your God-given dream; it’s God’s responsibility to bring it to pass for His glory.

So, if there is one thing that you could do with your life, what would that one thing be?

 

HE KEEPS ME:

HE KEEPS ME: “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless….”Jude1:24 wp.me/p29yfQ-2R #Christ #holy

SPIRIT-INSPIRED BOLDNESS

SPIRIT-INSPIRED BOLDNESS – Dr. Neil Anderson

 

Joshua 1:9 

Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go

 

The third qualification for demonstrating authority over rulers and authorities in the spiritual realm is boldness . A Spirit-filled Christian is characterized by a true, godly sense of courage and boldness in spiritual warfare. On the eve of taking authority over the Promised Land, Joshua was challenged four times to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9, 18). When the early church prayed about their mission of sharing the gospel in Jerusalem, "the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31). Spirit-inspired boldness is behind every successful advance in the church today.

 

The opposite of boldness is cowardice, fear and unbelief. Notice what God thinks about these characteristics:

 

I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murders and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 21:6-8).

 

That's pretty serious--cowards lined up at the lake of fire alongside murderers, sorcerers and idolaters! It should serve to motivate us to exercise authority with boldness (2 Timothy 1:7).

 

A lot of Christians I meet fear the dark side of the spiritual world. It's true that a little knowledge can be a dangerous and frightful thing, but a growing knowledge of the truth is liberating. Seminary students have told me, "I used to be afraid of that stuff, but now I know who I am in Christ, and I'm not afraid anymore." That's exactly the perception we should have.

 

Prayer: Lord, increase my courage to light candles of truth and dispel the darkness in Your name. I will fear only You today, not the enemy.

 

 

Sid Stewart

Executive Director

864 226-6193

www.havenofrest.cc

A TWIG OF HOPE:

A TWIG OF HOPE: “And the dove came back to him...in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf....”Gen8:11 wp.me/p29yfQ-2P #hope

TRUE HUMILITY

TRUE HUMILITY – Neil Anderson

 

James 4:10 

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you

 

The second qualification for demonstrating authority over rulers and authorities in the spiritual realm is humility . Humility doesn't mean that you're always looking for a rock to crawl under because you feel unworthy to do anything. In exercising our authority, humility is placing confidence in Christ, the source of our authority, instead of in ourselves. Jesus didn't shrink back from exercising His authority, but He showed tremendous humility because He did everything according to what His Father told Him to do.

 

Pride says, "I resisted the devil all by myself." False humility says, "God resisted the devil; I did nothing." True humility says, "I resisted the devil by the grace of God." Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5), but that doesn't mean we're not supposed to do something . We exercise authority humbly in His strength and in His name.

 

Seeing humility as self-abasement is similar to seeing meekness as weakness. The Lord was meek, but He wasn't weak. Meekness is great strength under great control. Humility is confidence properly placed. We are to "glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3).

 

Pride is a killer. Pride says, "I can do it." No you can't. We absolutely need God and each other.

 

Prayer: Father, I know You can remove Your blessing from me if I move out from under Your protection and authority. I acknowledge today that You are in charge of my life.

ADDICTED TO PEACE:

ADDICTED TO PEACE: “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Ps34:14 wp.me/p29yfQ-2N #peace #Jesus #devotion

Praising God

Praising God - Neil Anderson

 

Psalm 100:4 

Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name

 

Praise and thanksgiving are part of every level of prayer. They are continuous as we walk in the light. To come before God with thanksgiving is no different than coming before our earthly parents with an attitude of gratitude. Nothing disturbs a parent more than a child who is always demanding, forever complaining, and never satisfied. How would you feel if you've given as much as you can as a parent and your child still wants more, more, more? On the other hand, how would you feel toward the child who snuggles up and says, "Thanks for being who you are. I just love you and I know you're doing the best you can for me." What a great parent-child relationship.

 

Can you imagine approaching God and demanding, "I want more!"

 

And He responds, "I gave you My only begotten Son."

 

"But I want more!"

 

We ought to start every day by saying, "Thank You, heavenly Father. I deserved eternal damnation, but You gave me eternal life. How may I serve You today?

 

Praising God is acknowledging His attributes. I try to be aware when I pray that God is the ever-present, all-powerful, all-knowing, loving heavenly Father. I don't praise Him because He needs me to tell Him who He is. He knows who He is. I am the one who needs to keep His divine attributes constantly in my mind. I try to keep the knowledge of God's presence foremost in my thoughts. No matter where I go, He is with me.

 

I'm always disturbed when I hear people asking God to "be there." It's like we are questioning His omnipresence. The same goes for asking God to be with our missionaries. We have the assurance of Scripture that He will be with them unto the ends of the earth. We can confidently acknowledge that He will neither leave us nor forsake us. We ought to thank God for His presence and ask Him to bring to our minds anything that may be keeping us from having perfect fellowship with Him.

 

Prayer: Father God, teach me to practice the awareness of Your presence and accept the sufficiency of Your attributes.

 

IN CHRIST ALONE

IN CHRIST ALONE: “for all have sinned...and are justified...in Christ Jesus….” Rom3:23-25 wp.me/p29yfQ-2L #savior #Christ #righteous

Fool?

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” -Jim Elliot

Jim Elliot always wanted to be a missionary. While growing up, his family read the Bible daily and lived a Christian lifestyle. He went to Wheaton College and focused on activities which would help him become a missionary.

After he graduated, in 1955 Elliot and four other men traveled to Ecuador to extend a hand of friendship to the mysterious Auca Indian tribe. The Auca Indians were uncivilized, dangerous, and hated all strangers. They lived only to hunt, fight, and kill.

The missionaries were dropped off one-by-one by plane on the Auca beach. After four days, an Auca man and two women appeared. It was not easy for the missionaries to understand them; they only knew a few Auca phrases. The missionaries tried to show sincere friendship and asked them to bring their families and friends to meet them.

Jim and his friends waited for the other Aucas to return for two days. Finally, on the sixth day, two Auca women emerged from the jungle. As they came closer, the women did not appear friendly. Jim and Pete heard a terrifying cry behind them. As they turned around, they saw a group of Auca warriors with their spears raised, ready to throw. Jim reached for the gun in his pocket. He had to quickly decide if he would use it. But he knew he couldn’t. Each missionary promised he would not save himself by killing an Auca who did not know Jesus. Within seconds, the Auca warriors threw their spears. All five men, Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, Nate Saint, Pete Fleming, and Jim Elliot, died on January 8, 1956. Jim was only 28 years old.

Jim Elliot knew that his life and our lives have two phases: earth and eternity. Our present life on earth is represented by the dot. It begins. It ends. It’s brief. Now imagine a line starting at the dot and continuing across the room, out the door, and on through infinite outer space. The line represents your eternal life, going on for­ever. The line is eternity. Christians will spend forever in heaven.

Right now, we’re living in the dot. The shortsighted person lives only for the dot. The person with an eternal perspective lives for the line. Life is short, eternity is long. What are you living for?

 

By Hal White

SEASONS:

SEASONS: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens….” Ecc3:1 wp.me/s29yfQ-seasons #change #nofear

WHAT GOD WANTS DONE

WHAT GOD WANTS DONE – Neil Anderson

 

Philippians 4:6 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God

 

When you feel anxious in a task or a relationship, your anxiety may be signaling the uncertainty of a goal you have chosen. You are hoping something will happen, but you have no guarantee that it will. You can control some of the factors, but not all of them.

 

For example, a teenager may believe that her happiness at school depends on her parents allowing her to attend a school dance. Not knowing how they will respond, she is anxious. If they say no, she will be angry because her goal is blocked. But if she knows all along that there is no possible chance of them saying yes, she will be depressed because her goal will not be achieved.

 

When you base your future success on something that can never happen, you have an impossible, hopeless goal. Your depression is a signal that your goal, no matter how spiritual or noble, may never be reached. Some forms of depression can be caused by chemical imbalances. But if there is no physical cause for the depression, then that depression is the expression of hopelessness.

 

No God-given goal can be blocked, uncertain or impossible. With God all things are possible. If God issued a command that could not be obeyed, it would undermine His authority. If God wants it done, it can be done.

 

The real question is: What does God want done? The answer? He wants us to be what He has called us to be. And if that's what God wants done, no situations or circumstances of life can keep you from being the engineer, homemaker, parent, or leader God has called you to be.

 

Prayer: Lord, help me keep my eyes on what You want done in my life, not on the seemingly impossible hindrances that keep me from growing in You.