....created

We spend a great deal of our time and energy attempting to create various areas of our life. We strive to create the ideal work environment in order to provide the necessary resources to create the ideal social and home life. We plan the details of our free time in hopes of creating the ideal leisure. We even go so far as working hard to create the ideal "religious" experience.

"Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture."Psalm 100:3

No amount of our own effort will ever create the "ideal." For if we are striving to create, we are chasing after the world's elusive, ever changing, false definition of what is really ideal and fulfilling. Our only hope at finding the true ideal is in understanding we are the created, not the Creator. The absolute best in life begins with knowing whose life we really live; "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" Galatians 2:20. Our life belongs to Christ, and it must be left with Him to create the life He desires.

Jesus is the only One who has ever truly been in the creation business; "All things were created by Him and for Him" Colossians 1:16. We were created by Jesus for His sovereign purpose; "We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand" Isaiah 64:8. 

Somehow, we have begun to consider ourselves as the work of our own hands. We try to create a life according to the world's system and fulfill "needs" and "rights" based on this false world view. Not only is this self-centered world view wrong - not only does this value system pull our heart away from God and grieve the Holy Spirit as we fail to follow His leading - but it can also send us into bondage as we chase a lie which will never satisfy.

The truth that will set us free is that our needs are extremely small, and we actually have NO rights - at least not in this world; "You are not your own; you were bought at a price" 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. We have been purchased with the blood of Jesus and given eternal life as joint heirs with Christ in God's Kingdom. We have the right, the privilege, and the great honor of praising Him for all eternity. We need and deserve nothing more.

If we truly want the ideal, we will stop trying to create our life and place every area in the Hands of a loving Creator. God defines and shapes the ideal, and His ideal is ours for the asking. The ideal job, home, marriage, ministry, fun, and friends are all ours; but only through releasing our rights, redefining our needs, and humbly understanding that we are the created.

- steve troxel

....much

Gideon lived during a time when Israel was ruled by judges. This was the period after the death of Joshua and before Saul was anointed king - a period lasting approximately 325 years. During this time, the people continually wandered away from God and were oppressed by various groups. But God always rose up a leader (a judge) who would deliver the people and lead them back to Himself...at least for a short while.

The oppression by the Midianites was so severe that many Israelites lived in caves and harvested their crops in secret. When the people cried to God for help, He chose to use Gideon; "'But Lord,' Gideon asked, 'how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family'" (Judges 6:15). God wanted His Children to know that true deliverance is only through His strength and by His grace. By using Gideon to save the people, God taught a valuable lesson of trust.

Gideon gathered an army of 32,000.

"The Lord said to Gideon, 'You have too many men for Me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against Me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, "Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead."' So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained."Judges 7:2-3

God's message of grace and power would not be obvious if the army had any hope of victory by their own strength: "But the Lord said to Gideon, 'There are still too many men'" (Judges 7:4). Gideon's army started with 32,000 but he was not sent into battle until the army was reduced to only three hundred. These were impossible odds! But God always reigns supreme in the impossible: the battle was completely victorious!!

God is never interested in the "wonderful" things we can do for Him. He is pleased only by our obedience and our trust. In fact, God allows many of our great endeavors to fail simply because they are being pursued without giving Him absolute control. We are never to rest in our own strength and ability; rather, we are to continually walk by faith. Several hundred years after Gideon, the prophet Isaiah gave this same message: "Woe to those who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel" Isaiah 31:1.

God will lead us into victory, but we must give Him our total trust. When we walk in His victory, we will have the joy of witnessing His mighty hand and find true fulfillment in bringing Him glory and honor. His victory is never by our strength, savvy, cunning, or intelligence. It is only as we trust Him to work in and through the empty vessel of our life. 

True victory will only be won as we go into battle with ALL of Him and without too much of us.

- steve  troxel

....spaces

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Christ traded spaces with us on the cross. He died in our place, for our sin. But if you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, you only believe one-half of the Gospel. The other half of the Gospel is the fact that Christ fulfilled God's standard perfectly.  He was 100% righteous. So, had Christ been 90% righteous or 80% righteous, his sacrifice would not meet God's demands. He was 100% righteous

So, once you bow the knee to Christ and ask him to come into your life to take residence, to come into the dwelling place of your heart, then the righteousness of Christ is imputed into your life. Thus, when God sees you, he sees Jesus and his perfect character. This is only able to take place because of the resurrection power.

That's the power that can renovate our minds and hearts today and that will one day completely renovate and restore our sin-torn bodies into glorified bodies that will live forever in heaven. The resurrection is the final hope of every Christ-follower. It is the "final reveal" of God's design and renovation: the perfection of our mind, body, and spirit. On the other side of the grave, when God says, "Okay, open your eyes and see your new space," you will open your eyes in a resurrected, recreated body, a completely new space that you will inhabit for eternity.

It will be the perfect space,

     designed by the perfect Designer (God the Father),

     rebuilt by the perfect Carpenter (Jesus Christ) and

     purchased at the ultimate cost (Christ's precious blood).

But you've got to make the choice: Are you going to keep trying on your own to rebuild the rubble left by sin or are you going to let the Carpenter renovate your life into the perfect space?

- ed young

....evidence

There are many people who remain just outside the gate of eternal life. They have heard the gospel message but are still not convinced of its absolute truth. They may concede that religion is "good," but they need much more evidence before being willing or able to commit their life.

Many of us in the church can relate to those standing outside the gate, refusing to commit. We are inside, but most are not following Christ as we should. We say that if God would give us signs like He gave Abraham and Moses, then all doubt would be removed and we would follow in true obedience. But I'm not sure we would! Jesus said we must obediently follow before we will truly know; "If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own" John 7:17. God has revealed Himself. He has called us to follow - to step out in faith - and to THEN receive a wonderful confirmation of His truth.

My own life is my greatest "sign" pointing to God. I have never seen the Red Sea part nor audibly heard God's voice in a burning bush. I have never seen water changed to wine, a blind man made able to see, or a lame man made able to walk. But when I look back at the "mud and mire" Psalm 40:2 from which I have been saved, I see an absolutely clear miracle. And as I continue to try and walk with Jesus day in and day out, I have come to the place where I KNOW!

Indeed, following leads to confirmation. But Paul also reminds us that all the wonders of creation are a sign of God's Hand.

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:20 There are signs of God all around. Yet sadly, our senses are too often closed. We cry out for evidence, yet we see, hear, smell, touch, and taste evidence every day; He is with us, all around us, in infinite detail.

It is not surprising that the world fails to recognize the evidence; "the sinful mind is hostile to God" Romans 8:7. The world lives in darkness and is blind to Heavenly wonders. But we no longer belong to the world! "He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness" Colossians 1:13. Those who have been rescued must now walk in the Light and "see" according to what the Light reveals.

God is calling us into a life of continual and passionate devotion. Let's begin to worship Him every moment of every day as we see His glory in the flowers, trees, and stars; as we hear His beauty in the songs of a bird and the cry of a baby. We are surrounded by an abundance of spiritual signs - signs confirming He is real! Let's step through the gate with full commitment and continue our walk in humble submission. 

Let's live to glorify His name and open our senses to the true evidence of God.

- steve troxel

...joy

When Jesus came to earth, He took on human form and accepted many human limitations. He knew His purpose long before He was crucified: "He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again" Mark 8:31. But He also knew the pain He must endure...and the pain would be very real!

In the hours before His death, Jesus was beaten, whipped, spit on, laughed at, yelled at, and made to wear a crown of thorns. The Creator of the Universe was required to lay bloodied and disfigured as nails were hammered through His hands and feet. His chosen people had turned against Him and demanded His death, and those He loved the most had deserted Him.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."Hebrews 12:2

Jesus endured more humiliation, disappointment, and pain than we can imagine. But the "joy" that allowed Him to endure the cross was the very reason He came to the world. He came to bring God's children back into a relationship with their Heavenly Father. 

The sacrifice of His death allowed a bridge from death to life. His joy was knowing that God's children would be able to come to Him and truly know Him; that they could talk with Him and worship Him; that they could sit in His presence and be comforted in His loving arms.

We are those children. We are the joy that allowed Him to "endure the cross." How much love is wrapped up in this deep sustaining joy? Enough love to walk with us through the hottest fires, enough love to carry us when we are weak, and enough love to NEVER let us go! "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" Hebrews 13:5.

We all face various kinds of trials, but the One who "endured" continues to walk by our side today. He has given us Himself - a true joy which allows us to endure even as He endured. He has given us the joy of a love and an unequaled strength which this world cannot begin to understand! We too can face our "cross" with great hope. We WILL endure any and all trials. We can and will endure because He is our joy.

- steve troxel

....it's

“Mom, Mom! Where are you?” Josh said as he raced into the house. “I had a fun day at school!” Nearly every day was like this when Josh got home. He was a bundle of energy, enthusiasm and happiness. However, one afternoon, when Josh was 10 years old, he didn’t come bounding in the house yelling with excitement. Instead, he quietly put his backpack on the floor and shuffled into the kitchen.

Mom had her back to him, washing some dishes. Suddenly, she realized she was not alone. In a panic, she whirled around, nearly dropping the plate in her hand before seeing Josh standing there.

“Josh, why did you sneak in on me like that? Are you OK?” she asked, staring at his rather pale face.

Josh had to smile, even if just a little. He chuckled and said, “I wasn’t trying to scare you. I just came in quietly because I don’t feel good. Sorry, Mom, but your reaction was funny!”

Mom had to laugh as well, but then she stopped laughing. Josh slumped into a chair at the table, looking glum. “Mom, I just don’t feel good. I don’t know what’s wrong, but I am so tired, and I just feel yucky!”

Mom got Josh some juice and took his temperature. She then told Josh that maybe he should take a nap and rest a bit. Unfortunately, the next day, he didn’t feel any better, so he stayed home. Three days went by, and Josh’s mom and dad decided to take him to see a doctor. After several medical tests, the doctor told Josh and his mom, “I’ll call as soon as I have the results.”

A couple days later, the call came. Josh could tell that the news wasn’t good, because Mom held her breath for the longest time while the doctor talked. She then called his dad at work and told him, “Honey, please come home immediately.”

They packed up a small suitcase and took Josh to a specialized hospital called the Children’s Cancer Hospital, and his parents kept whispering about something called leukemia. After piles of paperwork that his parents had to read and sign, and being seen by an endless stream of doctors and nurses, Josh was able to close his eyes and sleep in his hospital bed. He was exhausted.

Despite excellent medical care, days went by, and Josh was still in the hospital. When Mom would go home for the night, Dad would come and stay with Josh. Both looked tired and worried.

One day, someone knocked on his door, and a kind-faced man peeked in. The man asked, “So what’s your name, young man?” Josh wiggled up straighter in bed, trying to smile. He said, “My name is Josh.”

The man smiled and as he shook Josh’s hand, he said, “Josh, I’m not a doctor or a nurse, but I like to visit people here to make them smile. So, tell me, Josh, how long have you been here?”

Josh’s hands came out from under his blanket. He wrinkled up his nose and began counting on his fingers, coming to the conclusion, “It’s been 18 days so far.”

“I see,” said the kind man. “Well, Josh, so what do you miss most?”

Josh’s eyes grew sad as he said, “I miss my friends! They’ve come to visit me, but they can’t drive yet, so they have to wait until their parents can bring them. I especially miss my best friend.”

The kind man nodded. “Well, I totally understand that! But I want to tell you something. I have a Best Friend who’s always with me, so I never feel lonely.”

Josh’s eyes opened wide. “Really? Where is he and what is his name? Could I meet him too?”

The kind man then said, “Well, Josh, his name is Jesus. Have you ever heard about Him before?”

Josh replied, “Well, I’ve heard about Him a little. I know He’s a man who lived a long time ago, and the Bible talks about Him, but we don’t go to church, sir, so I don’t know much.”

The man then smiled and said, “Would you like to hear about Jesus?”

Josh and his parents nodded their heads, so the kind man began telling them stories about how Jesus created the world and how much He loves children. A whole hour went by. It was wonderful! Then came the time when the man had to leave. He said, “Would you like to know more about Jesus so He can be your friend too?” “Oh yes!” said Josh, and Josh’s parents agreed as well.

The kind man then asked if he could send some Adventist World Radio audio messages of hope to their cell phones. Josh’s mom quickly said, “Oh, yes, please! We could use some hope!”

The kind man came to visit about once a week, and Josh and his parents listened to the audio messages every time they received a new one. Several weeks later, during one of the man’s visits, Josh had a question for him. He asked, “I’ve been talking to Mom and Dad, and they said I could ask you this question. Would it be OK if you prayed to Jesus and told him I want to give my heart to Him? I want Him to be my very best friend too!”

The kind man’s eyes filled with happy tears as he came over and gently squeezed Josh’s thin little hand. “Oh, I think that would be wonderful! But you know what? I think He would love to hear from you too. Why don’t you tell Him, and then I’ll pray as well?”

Josh offered a shy smile and said, “Well, OK. I’m not sure I’ll do this right, but here goes. Dear Jesus, it’s me, Josh. This nice man has been telling us about you, and well, I was wondering if you could be my best friend too? I’m sorry when I’ve not always been kind or honest. Will you forgive me? This man said that if I give my heart to you, you will come live in my heart and help me not be so scared or lonely. Thank you, Jesus . . . oh, and again, it’s me, Josh. Amen.”

The kind man had a hard time finding his voice, but then he prayed for Josh and his parents. Josh’s parents were crying, but they seemed happy. Weeks went by, and Josh was becoming weaker. One day he said, “Mom and Dad, I think I am going to die. Oh, please don’t cry. It’s OK! Remember what we learned from the kind man and the audio messages? Jesus is going to be coming back soon. I won’t feel any more pain, and you won’t have to be at the hospital anymore. The Bible says death is like sleep, and going to sleep isn’t scary. Very soon, Jesus is going to come in the clouds, and when He does, He will wake me up. Then I can join both of you, and we can all go to heaven, where I will never be sick anymore. Jesus will take care of you until then.”

Josh’s mom and dad hugged each other and Josh, but they continued to cry. A few days later, little Josh died.

A few weeks after the funeral, Josh’s mom and dad remembered what Josh had said about meeting them on resurrection morning and being ready to go home to meet Jesus. They began to look for a church that taught what the kind man had taught them, and started attending some meetings at their local Seventh-day Adventist church. After those evangelistic meetings, Mom and Dad gave their hearts to Jesus!

Today, Josh’s parents still miss him, but their hearts are full of hope because they know that one day soon, Jesus will come in the clouds. The graves will open up, and everyone who died loving Jesus will go home to live with Him in heaven. Very soon, they will be able to hold Josh in their arms again. It will be the best reunion ever! And on that day, maybe you will say, “Hey, is that you, Josh? I read about you once on the AWR website!”

- karen glassford 

....wait

 "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart." Psalm 27:14

For biblical heroes, God’s will often unfolded slowly. 

Think of Abraham and Sarah waiting decades for a child;

David waiting to ascend to the throne; 

Joseph spending his twenties in an Egyptian jail; 

Paul being imprisoned five years in Jerusalem, Caesarea, and Rome. 

Think of the man in John 5 who suffered an infirmity 38 years before Jesus healed him.

When God shows us the way forward, we shouldn’t hesitate a moment before proceeding. But when we don’t have the opportunity or inner peace to move forward, we trust in God’s timing. We wait while He works. 

Waiting time is not wasted time.

The Lord is working in our circumstances to align all the details to His will. He is working on us to develop patience, perseverance, character, and optimism. God works as we’re waiting, so trust Him in times of little observable progress. Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.” 

 

In due time, He will give the victory!

- david jeremiah

....walk

God's desire is that we walk down the path He lays before us. This path begins with the gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus; "For My Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life" John 6:40. The path continues with living a life of holiness; "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do" 1 Peter 1:15.

We walk further down His path as we learn contentment "in any and every situation" Philippians 4:12, as we are filled with joy, prayer and thanksgiving 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, and as we begin to truly rest in the peace which only He provides; "Peace I leave you; My peace I give you" John 14:27. It's important to remember that each step down God's path is for the purpose of being "conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He may be the firstborn of many brothers" Romans 8:29. Every step, no matter how difficult, brings us closer to God and shapes us to be more like Jesus.

Have we entered onto God's path through faith in Jesus Christ? Are we now continuing down the path God desires for us to walk? When confronted with choices, is it obvious which direction we should go?

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" Isaiah 30:21

When we trust in Jesus and accept the gift of salvation He offers and the forgiveness of our sins, we are adopted into God's Family and begin a journey which lasts the rest of our days on earth. At that moment  God gives us His Spirit to guide us along His path; though many times when His Spirit calls, we're too busy to listen...or we choose not to respond.

If we have entered onto God's path and now desire to follow where He leads, we MUST make time to slow down and listen; "In repentance and rest is your Salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength" Isaiah 30:15. Our eternal Salvation is a transformation which occurs in an instant, but the earthly joy of our Salvation is found in our daily walk in faith under the quiet guidance from God; His presence is our only place of true peace.

Let's set aside quiet time to listen for guidance - to hear which way to turn - and to simply rest in His loving arms. And let's be determined to boldly follow when we hear His gentle voice calling, "This is the way, walk in it!" 

- steve troxel

...art

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11

During World War I, peasants would sometimes inspect recent battlefields, looking for shell casings, spent bullets, and bomb fragments. They would assemble them into items for their home. One woman in Washington state has a large collection of these decorative and practical items. Her curio cabinet displays items like salt and pepper shakers, candlesticks, and vases made from leftover fragments of war.

For most of us, our life contains broken pieces. Life is a battlefield. Paul told Timothy to “wage the good warfare” 1 Timothy 1:18. None of us escape without incurring some wounds. But God can use these to bring glory to Himself. He takes the fragments of pain, the scraps of sadness, the chunks of disappointment. In His hands, these can become the means by which we learn to trust Him and to comfort others.

Give the broken pieces of your life to the Lord, and let Him create some trench art. He does all things well, and He makes everything beautiful in His time.

Even though you might look at parts of your life as ugly or shameful, God can make all things work together for your good and His glory….The God of hope is making all things beautiful in His time.

- karen whiting

....spot

"Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body."James 3:5-6

Our tongue has incredible power to build up and encourage, as well as tear down and destroy. And though our sins are eternally forgiven when we place our trust in Jesus, the day will come when our careless words are revealed and we see the full extent of the damage we have done; "men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken" Matthew 12:36

I confess I often dread the day when I must account for every careless word; there are indeed many. Perhaps the purpose of that day is to permanently etch in our soul a full appreciation for God's love. Even with all my careless words, He loves me and wants to spend eternity with me in fellowship. Amazing! But how I long for better control.

David prayed that God would "set a guard over my mouth and keep watch over the door of my lips" Psalms 141:3. While this is a wise prayer, our lips must be seen as an absolute last line of defense - once our words escape, they can almost never be fully recovered. We must strive to control the sparks at the true source; "out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks" Matthew 12:34

If our heart is filled with the ways of the world, our mouth will naturally speak the world's wisdom which is "foolishness in God's sight" 1 Corinthians 3:19. Rather, we must fill our heart with the ways of God and allow our mouth to overflow with His love; "I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You" Psalms 119:11.

Have we been the cause of some raging fires or smoldering embers? If so, we must pray for healing and believe that "with God all things are possible" Matthew 19:26. We must fill our heart with the power of His Word and "not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths" Ephesians 4:29. Let's stop the destructive fires. 

Let's begin today to fill our heart with His Word and prevent the sparks.

- steve troxel

 

....step

"As soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away." Joshua 3:15-16

God always teaches us about faith and trust by directing us down a path we think is too hard to travel, into circumstances we do not understand. After all, if we could clearly see and understand, there would not be a need for faith. But we often miss the opportunity to experience the true glory of God because we fail to obey and take the first step.

By working through Joshua, God gave the people confidence in their new leader. By requiring an initial action, He taught a valuable lesson of obedience and trust. The river did not gradually pull back as the priests approached. Nothing happened to the river until the priests left the safety of the shore and stepped into the water. God patiently waited for a full commitment before revealing His mighty hand.

There are people who are hesitant about giving their life to God, they are scared by what they can't see or understand, so they remain frozen where they are. They desire to have a more fulfilling life but are paralyzed by the fear of what they may lose in the process. Oh, if we could only see the life we would gain by giving Him our all!

God is waiting. He is ready to pull back the flood waters and lead us into a new land, a land filled with His peace and true contentment. But we MUST commit. 

Let's trust Him with every area of our life. 

Let's take a firm hold of His hand and boldly step off the shore.

....victory

Today, all over the world, there are people facing situations which threaten to send everything they hold dear crashing to the ground. It may be the result of bad decisions or circumstances out of their control; but either way, they awoke in the middle of a whirlwind and cannot determine which direction to turn. There are many others who awoke tired and discouraged, and don't even know why. Today is much the same as any other, but they are questioning the usefulness of continuing.

I can make this bold prediction about today, not because I have any insight into this particular day or period of history, but because that is the nature of life. We live in an imperfect world filled with imperfect people. The result is a bunch of imperfect circumstances! Even when we begin to walk with Jesus we struggle with these imperfections which distract us and steal our joy.

Why begin a message on such a depressing note? First, we need to understand we are not alone. Many more people are struggling than we can possibly imagine. The need for encouragement is huge and will increase as the time of our Lord's return draws near. Next, we need to know how we can live a life of peace and how we can pass this peace to others.

When we place our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we don't receive the promise of a trouble free life; rather, we receive the promise of life eternal in the presence of God. Many of our troubles here on earth will remain. But an understanding of our eternal promise should encourage us as we shift our focus from life in terms of days and years, to life in terms of eternity; "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" 2 Corinthians 4:17.

Jesus saw these same struggles in His disciples. He wanted them to live a life of peace and contentment, but He also knew they would face many difficulties. After a night of teaching His disciples about their relationship with the Father through faith in His Son, Jesus gave these words of encouragement: "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."John 16:33

Jesus came to conquer sin and death through His sacrifice on the cross: the battle with the true enemy has already been won! If we have come to God in faith and received the transforming gift of His Spirit, we ought to keep this victorious truth at the front of ALL our thoughts. 

As we climb into the ring day after day - even as we grow weary, lose a few rounds and want to quit - let's always remember that through our risen Lord we have an eternal hope. Let's continue with the peace and assurance that in Christ we have been granted the final victory. 

- steve troxel

...uplook

All over the world today, there are people facing situations which threaten to send everything they hold dear crashing to the ground. It may be the result of bad decisions or circumstances out of their control; but either way, they awoke in the middle of a whirlwind and cannot determine which direction to turn. There are many others who awoke tired and discouraged, and don't even know why. Today is much the same as any other, but they are questioning the usefulness of continuing.

I can make this bold prediction about today, not because I have any insight into this particular day or period of history, but because that is the nature of life. We live in an imperfect world filled with imperfect people. The result is a bunch of imperfect circumstances! Even when we begin to walk with Jesus we struggle with these imperfections which distract us and steal our joy.

The need for encouragement is huge and will increase as the time of our Lord's return draws near, therefore need to know how we can live a life of peace and how we can pass this peace to others.

When we place our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we don't receive the promise of a trouble free life; rather, we receive the promise of life eternal in the presence of God. Many of our troubles here on earth will remain. But an understanding of our eternal promise should encourage us as we shift our focus from life in terms of days and years, to life in terms of eternity; "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" 2 Corinthians 4:17.

Jesus saw these same struggles in His disciples. After a night of teaching His disciples about their relationship with the Father through faith in His Son, Jesus gave these words of encouragement: "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Jesus came to conquer sin and death through His sacrifice on the cross: the battle with the true enemy has already been won! As we climb into the journey of life day after day - even as we grow weary, lose a few and want to quit - let's always remember that through our risen Lord we have an eternal hope. Let's continue with the peace and assurance that in Christ we have been granted the final victory.

....encouragement

Everyone needs encouragement. No matter how secure and confident someone may appear, everyone needs to be reassured, built up, and comforted. And we are all called to minister to one another, every day, with encouragement; "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today" Hebrews 3:13. Therefore, we are all called to meet one another's need for encouragement.

True encouragement requires us to be "others" oriented: "Consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others" Philippians 2:3-4. We will never effectively encourage until we begin to look outside our own needs and intentionally examine the needs of others. And our encouragement of others will always be hindered unless we are genuinely excited by the new growth and health we see in others.

"For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His Kingdom and glory." 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

I was excited when each of my children learned to roll over, and I cheered when they began to crawl. When they started to walk, I clapped my hands and beamed with pride, as if my kids were the first in the world to ever move about on two feet. Each small accomplishment was encouraged...and my manhood was never threatened by their progress. I wasn't worried about losing my position within the family, and I had no desire to be the only walker in the house. Every time my children fell, I picked them up and encouraged them with full confidence of their future success.

Our journey with the Lord actually begins long before our day of Salvation as He calls us and draws us to the cross; we would never even seek if He did not first call and soften our heart. This part of the journey may last MANY years and require encouragement from many different people. But as we place our faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin and continue our journey with all the many hills and valleys, our walk is definitely much easier and enjoyable if we join with others and walk together.

Let's encourage one another with each wonderful step toward Heavenly glory. 

Let's be proud and excited for the accomplishments of others no matter how great or small. 

Let's refuse to become threatened when we witness others mature and grow - we are absolutely secure in the love of God and we really don't want to be the only ones in His Family!.

Let's turn our hearts outward and begin to minister with a compassionate, loving, and secure attitude of encouragement.

- steve troxel

.....checkmate

"The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes."  Proverbs 21:1

Magnus Carlsen, 32, of Norway is one of history’s greatest chess players. He earned the title of grandmaster when only thirteen and became World Chess Champion in his early twenties. His good looks have led to a modeling career on the side. Carlsen claims he can see fifteen moves ahead and sometimes twenty. If so, he must be a genius, for that many moves involves a lot of possible variations.

The Lord can see a trillion moves ahead—really, an infinite number. He knows what will happen down the chain of events every time a president is elected, a king is crowned, a leader is assassinated, or a war is started. Every single event—large and small—is simply moving this world closer to His preordained prophetic conclusion.

Sometimes we can’t imagine why God has placed someone in a position of power, but He uses unlikely people to accomplish His will. Just look at the biblical characters of Nebuchadnezzar, Ahasuerus, and Herod. They were chess pieces in the hands of the Master of history. 

Don’t panic with the times. Rather, stand amazed at God’s providential omnipotence.

- david jeremiah 

....shaken

"Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge." Psalm 62:5-8

Our world is completely unstable, and we would have every reason to fear if we had only ourselves to rely on. But thankfully, that is not the case! God is our fortress and, when our hope and trust is in him, we will not be shaken. 

Dr. Emil Brunner said, "What oxygen is for the lungs, such is hope for the meaning of human life. Take oxygen away and death occurs through suffocation, take hope away and humanity is constricted through lack of breath; despair and hopelessness set in."

In times of trouble or uncertainty, hope is what we cling on to. If we allow God to be our Rock, we won't be shaken by what happens in our personal life or in the world around us. Now, this doesn't mean that we won't experience troubles, but it does mean that God will walk with us through every circumstance.

There is a song by Building 429 called "We Won't Be Shaken". The lyrics of this song have been such a great reminder to me where my hope lies:

   This world has nothing for me, this life is not my own.

   I know You go before me, and I am not alone.

   This mountain rises higher, the way seems so unclear.

   But I know that You go with me so I will never fear. I will trust in You.

   Whatever will come our way, through fire or pouring rain

   No, we won't be shaken. No, we won't be shaken.

   Whatever tomorrow brings, together we'll rise and sing

   That we won't be shaken. No, we won't be shaken.

May we be so firmly grounded in Christ, that regardless of what comes our way, we will stand firm in the Truth and believe that greater is He who is in us, then he who is in the world. Like David, let us also encourage others to pour their hearts out to God because He cares for them. 

- cystal b 

....purah

If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp Judges 7:11. 

The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years He gave them into the hands of the Midianites. Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. 

God heard their prayers and decided to deliver them from their oppression through an unknown farmer named Gideon. God came to Gideon through an angel and addressed him, "Mighty Warrior" which was quite a stretch of characterization from Gideon's perspective. 

All of us can relate to Gideon. He is very insecure about this assignment from God, especially after God reduces his troop size from 22,000 to 300, to insure that Gideon knew where the victory was coming from. 

Now Gideon was still not convinced about this battle, so God did two more things to help ease Gideon's anxiety. He told him to go into the camp during the night to eavesdrop on their soldiers. God tells Gideon that what he will hear will encourage him. Gideon is terrified by the whole idea. So, God takes another step in order to use Gideon for His purposes. He sends a trusted friend and soldier named Purah with him. 

God knew that Purah was the person Gideon could confide in, probably one of the ten that had helped him to break down the altar of Baal. He must take him and no one else with him. Purah would be a witness of what Gideon would hear the Midianites say and then provide the needed faith to enter the battle. He would also be a witness to what they hear and reported to the troops. Gideon went on and won the battle. 

We all need "Purahs" in our lives. We need people who are willing to take risks and who can be used by God to bring our faith up to a level of being able to do extraordinary things in His Kingdom. 

Has God called you to a daunting assignment? 

Perhaps He has also placed a "Purah" in your life to encourage you. 

....forgiveness

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. Matthew 5:44

Corrie Ten Boom shares this true story in her book, “The Hiding Place”:

It was a church service in Munich that I saw him, the former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck.  He was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time.  And suddenly it was all there -- the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing, Betsie's pain-blanched face. 

He came up to me as the church was emptying, beaming and bowing. "How grateful I am for your message, Fraulein," he said.  "To think that, as you say, He has washed my sins away!" His hand was thrust out to shake mine.  And I, who had preached so often to the people the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side. 

Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them.  Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more?  Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him. I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand.  I could not.  I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity.  And so again I breathed a silent prayer.  Jesus, I cannot forgive him.  Give me Your forgiveness. 

As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened.  From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.

And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His.  When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.” 

 

....battle

 Spiritual warfare is real. Every day an unseen battle rages around us and in us.

To fight victoriously, we need to dress properly and carry the right weapons. Sounds simple enough. In Ephesians 6, the Word of God even tells us what to wear and what to fight with. However, the problem is that all the equipment is spiritual in nature and must be utilized by faith. 

Here are some suggestions for how to slip into your spiritual uniform. Pray...

1. "Lord, I choose to put on the helmet of salvation today to guard my thinking. I desire to have godly thoughts, ones that please You and are in keeping with my identity in Christ. Romans 12:2 
2. Thank You, Father, for the breastplate of righteousness, which helps to protect my heart and emotions from the influence of the Enemy. Proverbs 4:23 
3. Enable me to establish godly affections. Galatians 5:22 
4. I want to respond based on my being Your child, not based on my own desires. 
5. Thank you also for the girdle of truth. I desire my whole life to be encircled with Your truth - I want to know it, live by it, and share it with others. 
6. Help me to set aside time each day to meditate on Scripture. Father, wherever You send me, I want to wear the sandals of peace and be a peacemaker. Matthew 5:9
7. Use me to bring others into reconciliation with You through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Help me influence Christians to resolve their conflicts and become united in Him."

Our spiritual preparations make it possible for us to stand firm in the Lord. Did you remember to "get dressed" today?

- charles stanley

....secret

"So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

We are a very blessed people. Through no effort of our own, we have been born in a time where the "secret things of God" have been revealed. We have been given the opportunity to hear the full gospel message and believe. Thank You Lord!

But God has done more than just give us this opportunity to hear and believe, He has "entrusted" us with His message of Salvation. To prove faithful to His trust, we must live in a manner which holds up the gospel message for all to see. 

We are saved by a grace which cost God the death of His one and only Son. This grace must be cherished and honored with a life void of all compromise and hypocrisy. An understanding of His great love ought to cause us to surrender ALL and live each day to bring Him glory and honor.

Proving faithful to His trust also means we must confidently and accurately share His message of hope with all who cross our path. We must diligently study His Word and be prepared to share His grace through our words as well as our actions.

No matter how hard life may sometimes appear, we are truly blessed. We have been given a gift which can sustain us through our most difficult circumstances, and provide an eternal home filled with praise and worship. When the world beats us down, we can be encouraged that the Creator of the Universe believes in us. He has revealed His Son and made us stewards of His message of grace. 

Let's live lives worthy of the trust we have been given. 

Let's prove faithful to the great honor of being entrusted with His secret.

....tested

The longer and closer we walk with God, the more we realize how He uses every opportunity to shape and mold us - to chip, file, and sand the rough edges - as we are gradually "conformed to the likeness of His Son" Romans 8:29 His desire for everyone who trusts in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin.

We often learn through personal experience how our trials are used to teach us valuable lessons and refine us into Children of God with the character of Christ; "the testing of your faith develops perseverance" James 1:3. Our trials teach us to persevere in the faith and to trust God with all our heart. But a more subtle refinement of our character occurs as we receive praise for who we are or for what we've accomplished.

"The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives." Proverbs 27:21

This isn't simply referring to how we verbally respond to a compliment; rather, it is the response of our heart which reveals our true belief and submission. God is the sovereign Creator and Lord of ALL! All our abilities and gifts were given by Him. He deserves ALL the praise and maintains the right to redirect us as He chooses. Our motivation must be our love for God and our desire to serve Him through all we do - it must never be driven by the praises of man.

The praise we receive from others is not an indication of God's approval nor a valid measure of success. We take far too much ownership of accomplishments, and most often we simply forget the basic truths: "For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?" 1 Corinthians 4:7. All we are is from God!

Every step of our journey must be established by God and accomplished in His strength. Every day there are those who refuse to turn to God because they fear the loss of status and praise; "they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God" John 12:42-43. And every day there are those who are diverted in their walk because of a gluttonous desire to feed their pride-filled ego. Unrestrained pride will always choke our relationship with Jesus.

As we are transformed, we WILL begin to accomplish His work; "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works" Ephesians 2:10. But as praises come for the work we accomplish, we must present them to God for His approval and guidance. 

He may return the praise as a Heavenly blessing, but He may also dismiss it as an unnecessary distraction and ask us to walk in a new direction. Either way, we must continue to serve with an obedient and loving heart. Let's continue to be transformed in every situation. Let's be determined to never lose our focus as a result of being refined and tested by praise.

- steve troxel

....please

In the spring, a farmer prepares the soil, plants the seed, and waits several days for the first signs of life. Many weeks pass before a few inches of growth occur and several months go by before it's time to harvest. Much hard work and patience go into reaping a bountiful crop.

The soil of our spiritual field is rich, full of nutrients and moisture; and whether we realize it or not, we are working hard and planting in our field every single day. Every day as we go out into the world we are planting into our spiritual field. Anything we plant is going to grow and produce a harvest according to what we have planted.

A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:7-9

Every day we are given the opportunity to go into the field and plant new seed; "His compassions never fail, they are new every morning" Lamentations 3:22-23. We are also given the choice of which seed to plant. Seeds of faith and forgiveness are essential for our eternal survival. Seeds of hope and trust are necessary for a life of peace and contentment. And seeds of love, purity, worship, and praise are the seeds which will make our fields beautiful - a fragrant offering to the Lord.

But there are other types of seed - the seeds of lies and deception, of worldly passions and self-exaltation. Unfortunately, once these seeds are planted, they can grow faster and stronger than all competing plants. If allowed to grow, these sinful seeds will rise up to dominate the field and choke everything which draws us closer to God; "The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature" Luke 8:14.

Today is a new day with a new opportunity to plant. We must not grow weary of planting that which draws us closer to God; "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think of such things" Philippians 4:8. 

Today, we WILL plant - so let's plant wisely!

Let's sow seed which glorifies our Heavenly Father and honors Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and let's nurture our field with an unending love. Let's sow the seeds of a bountiful harvest which is free of weeds as we daily abandon the sinful nature and sow to please the Spirit.

....desires

We often talk about the gift of Salvation as a transformation of the heart. Jesus came to give us eternal life through faith in Him and His sacrifice on the cross. His death established a new covenant for all who would come to Him in faith; "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sin" Matthew 26:28.

When we enter into this covenant we are transformed; "I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" Ezekiel 36:26. This is the same transformation referred to by Paul: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17. It is also referred to as the "circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit" Romans 2:29.

As we continue our walk with God - as we continue our journey with a new and transformed heart - we begin a process of being "conformed to the likeness of His Son" Romans 8:29. This transformation, which begins in our heart, continues for all the rest of our days. We may call this process growth or maturity, but the result is a heart which is becoming more and more like Jesus.

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."Psalm 37:4

This verse is sometimes misinterpreted to say that God has promised to fulfill all our current desires. There are people all over the world thinking that if they "pursue" God, they will receive an increase in their financial status - a better job, a nicer car, or a bigger home. This is a sad misapplication of scripture! 

When we are far from God, our heart is full of worldly desires. Apart from God, we will spend a lifetime trying to fulfill these desires only to find we are never satisfied or content.

But God says we need not spend our life chasing these unfulfilling desires. As we are diligent to draw close to God, learn of His ways, and become obedient to His commands, He gives us new desires. As we love the Lord with all our heart, our current desires are replaced with something infinitely better, the desires of Christ. The single desire of Jesus was to glorify His Father by completing the work He was given to do John 17:4. Jesus was content beyond our comprehension because He was truly one with His Heavenly Father!

The wonderful blessing from God is that as we delight in Him, He transforms our desires and also gives us the ability to fulfill these desires. This is the only way we will ever find true contentment and peace. Let's learn to live each moment delighting in our Lord. Let's allow Him to continue the transformation by giving us, and then teaching us how to satisfy, the desires of our heart.

- steve troxel

....answered

Beloved, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well 3 John 2

You came home cranky because a deadline got moved up. She came home grumpy because the day care forgot to give your five-year-old her throat medicine. Each of you wanted a little sympathy from the other, but neither got any. So there you sit at the dinner table - cranky and grumpy - with little Emily. Emily folds her hands to pray (as she has been taught), and the two of you bow you heads (but not your hearts) and listen. From where this prayer comes, God only knows. 

"God, its Emily. How are you? I'm fine, thank you. Mom and Dad are mad. I don't know why. We've got birds and toys and mash potatoes and each other. Maybe you can get them to stop being mad? Please do or it's just gonna be you and me having any fun tonight. Amen." 

The prayer is answered before it's finished; you both look up in the middle and laugh at the end and shake your heads and say you're sorry. And you both thank God for the little voice who reminded you about what matters.

Be encouraged and know that God wishes for you to live a life filled with Peace and Joy. We are to let the "Joy of the Lord" be our strength. Never allow minute circumstances to change your attitude on how your day should go. You be the dictator on how your day ends up and not the trials that come before you. Let your focus be on the God who created you rather than any negatives that come before you. 

The Bible declares in Isaiah 26:3, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in You." Keep your trust in Him and make an extra effort to see the beauties that surround you. 

- dave langerfeld

....childlike

Some people seem to grow up before their time. While it’s great to be responsible, take care of yourself, and be resourceful, you don’t have to do all of that at the age of five. Responsibilities will come soon enough. What a different life childhood is. Some people don’t realize that you can’t be a child again.

The Bible teaches that, as Christians, we are to be childlike in our faith. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven”Matthew 18:3–4.

That means we need to humble ourselves and realize that we don’t have all the answers. It means we need to come in complete dependence on God, putting our faith in Him. And as the years pass by and our faith deepens, we need to keep a sense of childlike simplicity and wonder.

There are some areas of the Christian life in which we are to be childlike, like we don’t need to know all the intricacies of evil. On the other hand, there are areas in our lives in which we need to grow up spiritually. Sometimes we behave like spoiled children when we should be behaving like mature people of God.

The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind” 1 Corinthians 14:20.

There is nothing wrong with being spiritual babies when we’re new in the faith. But as the years pass by, we need to become mature, while still maintaining a childlike faith.

- greg laurie

.....cry

 "To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I  lift my hands toward your Most Holy Place... Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy." Psalm 28:1-3.6  

The distress the psalmist expresses in today's scripture is evident. He sees the wickedness around him and is feeling desperate to see justice done. Perhaps he is questioning why evil seems to prosper and is ready to see the wicked receive the punishment they so richly deserve (v.4). Even in this moment when he feels as though evil is prevailing, he turns his heart towards God and acknowledges that God is our hope in all circumstances, especially in those that seem hopeless.

I can relate to the psalmist, as I too have cried out to God for justice when I see all the evil in our world. At times it may be easy to question God as to why he allows such suffering. The truth is that it was never in God's original plan for evil and suffering to be part of our lives. He created everything perfect and beautiful. 

Adam and Eve had the privilege of experiencing the life God intended for us. It was only because of human mistakes and disobedience to God that sin entered the world. Ever since, there has been a constant struggle of good versus evil around us, and within us. Our decision to follow Christ is an intentional choice we make every day, despite the temptations and struggles that arise.

In John 16:33 Jesus said that we would have troubles in this world, but he also reminds us to take heart because he has overcome the world. He continues to be the hope that this broken world so desperately needs. Let us, like the psalmist, choose to draw near to God in our desperation, instead of being drawn away from God because of it. God will hear our cries, he will answer, and he will be beside us through it all.

- crystal b