.....provision

During the ministry of Elisha, a widow came to him for financial help. Creditors had threatened to take her two boys as slaves if she didn't pay her debt, but all the woman had left was a little oil. Elisha told her how to miraculously multiply her oil and pay her bills...and in the process bring great glory to God.

"Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side."2 Kings 4:3

The woman gathered empty jars and began to fill them from her one small jar of oil. She continued to fill the jars until each one she collected was full; "Then the oil stopped flowing" 2 Kings 4:6. The woman was able to sell the oil and pay her debt.

Notice that the oil stopped flowing as soon as the last jar was full. If the woman would have collected half as many jars, the oil would have stopped flowing when the collected jars were filled. And if she would have collected twice as many jars, the oil would have continued until every last one was full. God's provision was equal to the number of jars she collected - equal to the number of jars she believed God would fill.

In our limited understanding of God we often place artificial restrictions on what we think He can accomplish, and our prayers become reduced to what we believe is actually possible. In this sense, our low level of faith has limited what God provides!

.....portion

At the time of his greatest need, God gave Elijah a spiritual companion to share the burdens as well as the joys of ministry. I'm so glad God understands this need in His children! Elisha served as Elijah's attendant while learning the ways of God. Just before the end of Elijah's ministry, immediately before "Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind" 2 Kings 2:11, Elisha made a bold request of his mentor.

"Elijah said to Elisha, 'Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?' 'Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,' Elisha replied."2 Kings 2:9

According to Jewish law, a double portion of the inheritance was given to the firstborn son. This son would also then have the honor of leading the family. By boldly asking for a double portion of Elijah's spirit, Elisha was asking to inherit Elijah's prophetic ministry and his ability to serve God. Elisha could have made many different requests, but he asked to be blessed with an increased ability to serve.

God granted Elisha's request and used him to perform many miracles and serve as a prophet for more than 50 years, almost twice as long as Elijah. God granted his request because Elisha's motives were pure; his heart was firmly set on worshiping God through his service and proclaiming His Word throughout the land.

Solomon made a similar request when God offered to grant him anything he asked; "Give your servant a discerning heart to govern Your people and to distinguish between right and wrong" 1 Kings 3:9. The primary focus of our requests should always be to draw closer to God and glorify Him in all we do. Jesus said if this is the one true desire of our heart, all our other needs will also be satisfied; "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" Matthew 6:33.

God honors the prayers of those who love Him with all their heart and desire to increase their ability to serve. Let's "approach the throne of grace with confidence" Hebrews 4:16 and live our lives as His sons. 

.....companions

Elijah felt alone in his devotion to God and alone in his ministry. This loneliness was affecting his judgment as well as his ability to persevere under stress. He needed a spiritual companion who would encourage him and walk by his side. God recognized this need and sent Elisha; "anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet" 1 Kings 19:16. God was not replacing Elijah, but since he had many "opportunities" for future discouragement, God provided someone to share the burden, provide motivation, and be trained for future service.

Elisha was in the field plowing with a team of oxen when Elijah first called him to follow. Elisha's response was immediate and decisive, and he was devoted to Elijah for the remainder of his ministry.

"He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant."1 Kings 19:21

God never intended for us to go into battle alone. While He is always at our side, ready to intervene, His Word also directs us to draw upon the strength of others; "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness" Hebrews 3:13.

Immediately after creating the first man, God said; "It is not good for the man to be alone" Genesis 2:18. We were created to be people who need one another; "Two are better than one...if one falls down, his friend can help him up" Ecclesiastes 4:9-10. Jesus demonstrated this wisdom as He sent messengers to proclaim that the Kingdom of God is near; "the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him" Luke 10:1. Difficult tasks require mutual support and encouragement.

As we travel down God's path, let's listen to His counsel and not walk alone. Let's entrust our lives to our Heavenly Father and seek other believers who will encourage us to remain in His presence and aligned with His perfect will. Let's pray that God would bless us with courage and strength...and also with an abundance of committed spiritual companions.

- steve troxel

.....here

"Then a voice said to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'" 1 Kings 19:13

Obviously, the question was not in reference to Elijah's physical location. Elijah was standing on the mountain because God had called him to that exact location. Though God already knew the answer, His question was asking Elijah what had brought him to this spiritually defeated condition. Elijah had been given the opportunity to talk with God, witness His power, and actually stand in His presence, yet he was filled with doubt and felt terribly alone; "I am the only one left" 1 Kings 19:14.

Once again, God could have lectured Elijah on his lack of faith. Instead, in His mercy, God gave Elijah the reassurance he needed to continue; "I reserve seven thousand in Israel - all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal" 1 Kings 19:18. God encouraged Elijah that there were many others fighting this same battle. He also gave Elijah a companion who would walk with him for the remainder of His ministry; "Anoint Elisha to succeed you as prophet" 1 Kings 19:17.

Jesus Christ died as a sacrifice for our sin so we could be restored to a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father. This relationship saves us from an eternal death and separation from God, but it also allows us to be saved from the despair, fear, loneliness, and lack of purpose which surrounds us today.

 As we trust God for our eternal salvation, we must also trust Him to daily save us from the effects of a fallen world as well as our own weak and sinful nature. He is there to hear our cry and we must never be afraid or ashamed to tell Him exactly how we feel: "I'm weak and lonely, frustrated and discouraged. Lord, I need You! ... please hold me!!" Nothing we say will ever surprise God or cause Him to let us go.

Our Heavenly Father has called us to examine our heart, confess our condition, and trust Him for the solution - He has called us to be saved! When we recognize and confess our weakness, we actually demonstrate our strength in the Lord. Let's strive to live each day in His presence, but let's also be prepared to respond honestly and without fear when God asks: "What are you doing here?"

......whisper

God's understanding and mercy He sent an angel to comfort Elijah during his moment of deepest despair. The angel demonstrated great compassion by offering food to Elijah and helping him regain his strength.

God then sent Elijah on a forty day journey through the desert - a journey which ended at the same mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments. When confronted by God on the mountain, Elijah honestly expressed his discouragement: "The Israelites have rejected Your covenant...I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too" 1 Kings 19:8.

Elijah felt utterly alone. He understood the holiness of God and how far his people had strayed from God's path, but he also felt overwhelmed and helpless, unable to make a significant impact on God's Kingdom. God answered Elijah by calling him to be spiritually revived; "stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord" 1 Kings 19:11.

"Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face."1 Kings 19:11-13

Everyone who desires to walk God's path and serve Him with all their heart will sooner or later relate to Elijah. It's unfortunate, but many will face Elijah's overwhelming helplessness time and time again. The mission is simply too great when we only consider our limited ability! But no matter what the problem, God's solution is always the same: we must come into His presence, be clothed with His strength, and listen intently for His leading.

We often assume that when the Creator of The Universe desires to "speak," it will be with a thundering call; "Walk this way!!" But God desires for our heart, soul, mind, and strength to be focused on Him; to be free of the clutter and noise - the distractions which tend to "choke the word, making it unfruitful" Mark 4:19. A major part of God's calling to all His Children is for us to simply be prepared to truly hear. It is therefore not surprising that God most often speaks in a whisper during the quiet and still moments of our life.

No matter how busy we become, we must set aside time which is quiet and undisturbed, time where we can enter into the presence of God, worship Him, and listen. God desires to encourage us and give us clear direction today. Let's love Him with all our heart and listen intently for His gentle whisper.

- Steve troxel 

.....compassion

Prophet Elijah was used to call the people of Israel back to worship of the One True God, he witnessed the mighty power of God but then became afraid and ran into the desert when threatened by the Queen.

How would God handle His chosen prophet, His messenger who had been assigned to proclaim the Truth to the people of Israel? What would God say to Elijah, the man now crumpled under a tree wishing to die: "I have had enough, Lord. Take my life" 1 Kings 19:4.

"All at once an angel touched him and said, 'Get up and eat.' He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again."1 Kings 19:5-6

God could have chastised and rebuked Elijah. He could have answered with a loud thunder, "Am I not the God who rained down fire from Heaven and then blackened the sky with clouds? Have I not answered your prayers? How can you now doubt Me and wish to die because of your fear?"

Yes, God could have given His "How can you doubt Me?" speech, but He did not. Rather, God saw Elijah's tired pain and showed simple compassion. He ministered to Elijah by sending an angel to give a gentle touch and bake a cake. The time would soon come for Elijah to rise and follow hard after God; but for now, God comforted Elijah and allowed for a very necessary rest.

We must continue to learn what it means to be a loving and caring Family. All who have been saved through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus have been "baptized by one Spirit into one body" 1 Corinthians 12:13. And as members of "one body," we must learn to effectively minister and truly help one another.

Very few circumstances require us to provide a complete solution. We usually must avoid trying to "fix" what we believe has been broken. Most often, our Brothers and Sisters simply need a friend who will compassionately listen and show they care by helping them rest and regain their strength. It's amazing how many Spiritual truths are clearly seen after a little cake and a good night of sleep.

So many of God's children face pain, weariness, fears, and frustration which keep them from experiencing the fullness of God's joy and peace. But each of us can help ease the pain and lighten the load through biblical words of truth and encouragement...along with a gentle touch of compassion.

- adapted from steve troxell article 'touch of compassion'

....fragile

"He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. 'I have had enough, Lord,' he said. 'Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.'" 1 Kings 19:4

Elijah was a man who spoke directly with God and clearly witnessed His awesome power; yet, he fell into great despair when faced with this new adversity. Elijah experienced a wonderful victory, but it was quickly shattered.

What caused Elijah to become so discouraged? Had he already forgotten God's power? Had a few victories caused him to take his eyes off God and begin to rely on his own strength? Or was he just worn out from being on the front line of ministry? Whatever the cause, in his moment of greatest victory Elijah became the most vulnerable to attack and failure; "I have had enough, Lord."

When life is a struggle, we must pray and "trust in the Lord with all our heart" Proverbs 3:5. When life is running smooth, we must pray harder and trust even more. But when we experience victory and dance on top of the mountain - when we begin to feel strong and "self" assured - we must pray as if our very life depended on it and lean on the Lord as never before. Our moments of greatest vulnerability to enemy attack come when we begin to think we no longer require God's help. After the mountaintop, the broom tree is closer than we might think.

Lord, remind us of our need! ALL we accomplish is through the strength of Christ; "apart from Me you can do nothing" John 15:5. And as His promises are fulfilled in our lives, we must continue to walk daily by faith. Let's keep our eyes on Jesus and reclaim the life of dependent devotion. Let's remain in His presence and always guard against a fragile victory.

- steve troxel

......direction

As we continue our search for God's direction - patiently waiting and actively seeking His presence - we ought to rejoice with every single step He reveals. As we draw closer to Jesus, we will desire, more and more, to only take steps which are aligned with His will. Therefore, ANY direction from God, no matter which way He leads and no matter what method He uses to direct, should be a reason to rejoice.

During his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul received specific direction from Jesus; "get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do" Acts 9:6. A few years later, the Holy Spirit specifically directed Paul to begin his first missionary journey; "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul {Paul} for the work to which I have called them" Acts 13:2.

Midway through his second journey, God directed Paul with peace and assurance: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you" Acts 18:9-10. And at the end of his third journey, Paul once again received specific direction; "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem" Acts 20:22.

God often leads us by opening doors and lighting a path for us to follow. But there are also many times when God directs by simply telling us where NOT to go.

"Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to."Acts 16:6-7

Paul was still walking with God - still being directed by His Spirit - but now God's direction was in the form of closed doors. Paul never appeared to get discouraged when God closed a door; he simply allowed himself to be redirected toward whatever door God opened.

So much of our Christian growth is a process of relinquishing control and trusting God to completely direct our life. He alone is in control of the doors; "What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open" Revelation 3:7. It is a mixture of pride and foolishness that causes us to continually push on doors which God has closed.

Our Heavenly Father is constantly guiding and calling us to trust Him more. He opens doors which require us to step through in faith, and closes doors which require us to patiently wait. His guiding hand is always a reason to rejoice, even when we are lovingly guided by closed doors. 

- steve troxel

....cleared

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them... Psalm 32:1-2

Being forgiven is such a valuable gift, which brings such peace to our lives, yet it is something that can be taken for granted if we are not careful. One famous atheist said, "The one thing I envy about you Christians is that you have someone to forgive you." Without forgiveness, life can be full of guilt, anxiety, and lack of peace.

A man by the name of Val Patterson died a few years ago due to cancer. He knew the end was coming, so he wrote his own obituary notice. Because of some things he said, it went viral. One of the things that he said was: "Now that I have gone to my reward, I have confessions and things I should now say. As it turns out, I AM the guy who stole the safe from the Motor View Drive Inn back in June 1971. I could have left that unsaid, but I wanted to get it off my chest." Forty-one years earlier as a teen, he committed a robbery. Though he wasn't caught by the police, he was never able to escape the voice of a guilty conscience. 

King David said in Psalm 32:1: "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." What a gift to come to the end of your journey and know that your sins are forgiven, that they are not screaming at you in the corridors of your mind, and you are at peace and ready to go to your heavenly home. If you have not received God's forgiveness, I encourage you to do it today. Yesterday is past, tomorrow is not guaranteed, so now is the time to open the door of your heart to Jesus. 

- david langerfeld  

.....den

 "So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lion's den. The king said to Daniel, 'May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!"' Daniel 6:6

No question,  Daniel got a rough deal.  He was set up by jealous, lesser men who wanted him out of the way.  It seemed like they succeeded, except for one thing they overlooked:  Daniel's trust in God. 

The interesting thing, however, about Daniel being thrown into the den of lions is that God didn't deliver him out of the den before Daniel found deliverance in it.  Imagine if Daniel had fought against being thrown into the den (which he would have been justified in doing) and gone into the den fighting against it every inch of the way, chances are the lions would have torn him to shreds before he hit the bottom.  But Daniel didn't. He accepted his lot and trusted his life to God who shut the lion's mouths. 

Sometimes, like Daniel, God has a lesson for us to learn in our present difficult situation and before he delivers us out of it, like Daniel, we need to find deliverance in it.

....door

Traveling one day in Israel, a visitor to the holy land came across a shepherd and his sheep. He started a conversation with the shepherd and the shepherd showed him the fold into which the sheep were led at night. It consisted of four walls, and only one way in.  He asked him, "This is where they go at night?"

"Yes," said the shepherd, "and when they are in there, they are perfectly safe."

"But there is no door," he said.

"I am the door," said the shepherd. (He was not a Christian and wasn't speaking in the language of the New Testament. He was speaking from a shepherd's viewpoint.)

The visitor looked and him and asked, "What do you mean you are the door?"

"When the light has gone," he said, "and all the sheep are inside, I lie in that open space, and no sheep ever goes out but across my body, and no wolf comes in unless he crosses my body;  I am the door."

"Therefore Jesus said unto them again, 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door; whoever enters by me will be saved.  They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy: I have come that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.'"  John 10:7-11

- david langerfeld

....secrets

Tell a child you have a secret and you have his undivided attention. All of us children - big and little, young and old - love secrets; love to hear them, love to tell them. Today, I am opening the vault and revealing four of the best-kept secrets in the Kingdom of God.

Secret #1 - God has big plans for you.

Jeremiah 29:11 says it best. "I know the plans I have for you: plans for your welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope." His plans for us fall into two categories - earthly and heavenly.

Secret #2 - He is not going to tell you what they are.

In His compassion, God makes big plans for us. In His wisdom, He does not tell us what they are. He protects us from knowledge of the future for two reasons.

   (1) We could not handle it.

   (2) We would mess it up.

Suppose you found out that your brothers were going to fake your death and sell you into slavery, and that you would end up forgotten and forsaken in a foreign prison for years. Who could handle such news? Most of us would grieve over such a future and grow bitter toward our brothers and angry at God. In the Old Testament book of Genesis, Joseph experiences precisely such a fate.

Suppose the Lord told you that one day you would become the king's second-in-command and live in power and luxury for the rest of your life. Who could handle news like that without becoming distracted? This too is the story of Joseph in Genesis.

Scripture promises the Lord will not put more on us than we can bear. One way He does that is by withholding details about our future. The burdens would rob us of our joy and threaten to destroy us in advance, while the blessings would distract us from our responsibilities of the moment.

Secret #3 - God is working on His plans this very moment.

He is getting you ready for the future and getting the future ready for you. Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you. If I go away, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:1-6. He is getting Heaven ready for us. He is getting us ready for Heaven.

One way God prepares us for future challenges is by giving us difficulties and hardships. He strengthens us the same way a personal trainer builds our muscles: by laying on stress. "It is good for me that I was afflicted," the psalmist said, "that I might learn thy statutes." Psalm 119:71 That's how it works.

Secret #4 - Your job is to be faithful today.

Bloom where you are planted, as the saying goes. The way to be ready for tomorrow's opportunities is to do our job today, no matter how insignificant or routine.

Writing in the Spring, 2003 issue of "Columns," the alumni magazine of Louisiana College, Curt Iles pays tribute to science professor Charles Cavanaugh. Early in Curt's sophomore year, he paid Cavanaugh a visit to tell him he planned to drop chemistry.

"Prof," said the 19-year-old, "I thought it was God's will for me to become a science teacher. I enjoyed the biology classes you taught last year. But chemistry is killing me. That little rural high school I attended did not prepare me for this. I failed the test yesterday and I am not going to be able to pass this course. So, I plan to drop chemistry. Maybe God will have something else for me since I can't be a science teacher. I need to find His will."

Suddenly, the professor cut him off. "God's Will? God's Will? Son, I'll tell you what God's Will is for you! Get in there, go to work, and pass chemistry. That's what God's Will is for you!" And he stormed out of the office. Curt sat there in shock. Finally, realizing the professor was not returning, he went back to his dormitory. That night, he studied chemistry, and the next day, made a D on the test. At least, it was passing.

"That day," Curt Iles writes, "I decided that nothing was going to stop me from achieving my goal of teaching. I was going to pass this course or die trying." A month later, the chemistry professor said, "Iles, what's happened to you?"  He had totally changed.  He was a student with a purpose.

Before leaving the disciples, Jesus began to prepare them for the future. Peter listened, absorbed all he could, then turned to the apostle John. "Lord," he said, "what about him?" Jesus said, "What is that to you? You follow me." John 21:22

God has big plans for you. He is mercifully not going to tell you what they are. At this moment, He is at work getting you ready for them and them ready for you. Your job is to do the work He has put on your plate today.

- joe mckeever

......regrets

Two years ago I lost my brother and once again I was reminded. Ten years ago we were in the middle of cancer treatment with our then thirteen year old daughter, and I was reminded. Many of you remember the cancer struggles with my sister and her dying at age forty-four. During that time I was certainly reminded! Cancer has been cruel to our family with my mother also dying of cancer at age forty-three. Often over the past many years, and more frequently as I get older, I am reminded of the frailty of life and I ponder the questions: "What if this day was my last? Would I have any regrets?"

John the Baptist discovered the uncertainty of each moment of life as he sat in prison.

I guess they call me John the Baptist because I preached a message of repentance and baptized with water while pointing the way to Jesus John 1:31-33. The Baptist isn't such a bad name. I could have been called "John the Wearer of Camel Hair" or "John the Eater of Locusts."

King Herod must be mad at me for exposing his sin of marrying his brother's wife Matthew 14:3-4. I sure wish I was back in the desert preaching, but God must have a plan for me here in prison. I think Herod actually likes me. He often listens to me talk and seems genuinely interested Mark 6:20. It's pretty loud in the palace tonight. They must be having quite a party.

"On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, 'Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.' The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison."Matthew 14:6-10

Wow, that was fast! No time to say good-bye or write letters to my friends - no time to even gather my thoughts - just, "lean over and put your neck on the block." I sure wish I would have.....

No one knows when they will breathe their last. We may have sixty years or sixty minutes; but no matter how long we have, it will seem to pass in an instant. It amazes me how fast life passes by. The time to place our saving faith in Jesus is NOW! The time to restore relationships and encourage others with the gospel is NOW! The time to enjoy our family is NOW! And the time to praise God for His blessings and grace is absolutely NOW!!

Each of us enters this day with things we wish we could change, decisions and words which have not been honoring to God. But each of us also enters this day with the ability to begin, right this very moment, to live a life which glorifies God in all we do. Let's begin today to live fully committed to following Christ. Let's give Him our ALL and live toward an end which will leave no regrets.

- steve troxel

....storm

Paul had proclaimed the gospel through much of the Roman empire and was being transported by boat to stand trial in Rome. A storm arose which blew the ship terribly off course. The ship was battered and tossed for several days; "We finally gave up all hope of being saved" Acts 27:20

It must have been difficult to trust God's timing as the storm continued through the many long days and sleepless nights. But as hope was fading away, God sent an angel to Paul with a familiar message.

"Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid.'"Acts 27:23-24

There may be times when our ability to trust is severely tested. But our faith in God - in His ability to hold us secure - must be independent of the force of the wind. Though the winds may blow, we remain in His hands and must not fear; "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, but even if He does not..." Daniel 3:17-18.

Most storms last longer than we prefer. But our Heavenly Father is leading us to the place where we can have peace, contentment, and even joy, whether the sun is shining or the storm is raging. He is calling us to be free of fear, calling us to trust Him more and experience His calm within the storm.

- steve troxel

.....timing

God's direction and timing is always perfect and always with a purpose - but it is often with a purpose we may not initially see or understand. Even when we earnestly ask for direction through prayer and the study of His Word, God's answers are usually not what we expect and are often perceived as slow in arriving. However, His direction and timing still remains, always perfect and always with a purpose.

God called Abraham to follow Him when Abraham was already seventy-five years old. Though advanced in years, God blessed Abraham with great abundance and soon promised he would have many descendants; "I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted" Genesis 13:16.

Although this was a wonderful promise from God, it certainly did not seem possible. Not only was Abraham an old man, but his wife, Sarah, had never been able to have children and was now long past the normal child bearing years. Therefore, when Sarah failed to become pregnant - when God's promise was apparently going to be unfulfilled - she formulated a plan to "help" God.

"The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her."Genesis 16:2

Since this was an accepted practice and seemed like a reasonable way to fulfill God's promise, Abraham agreed. Not surprisingly, great tension soon developed between Sarah and her maidservant. This tension increased when Ishmael was born and even continues today with the unfortunate hostilities we see in the region of the Middle East. Abraham clearly heard the call and promise of God, but he became impatient with God's timing and resorted to a worldly solution.

It was another thirteen years before God fulfilled His promise through the birth of Isaac. These were thirteen long years of waiting and wondering if God had forgotten...but God's direction and timing is always perfect and always with a purpose. With Abraham one hundred years old and Sarah ninety, the birth of Isaac left no doubt that God was in complete control and guiding the events in Abraham's life.

In a very real sense, we are foreigners in this place and time; "Aliens and strangers on earth" Hebrews 11:13. We will never understand how all the pieces fit together until we stand before the Creator of the Universe. Until then, we must continue to love and worship Him with all our heart. We must continue to seek His face and ask His guidance for every step. We must continue to follow His direction and patiently trust His timing.

- steve troxel

.....one

It seems everywhere we turn, whether in the news or in our own relationships, we are faced with stories of pain and heartache, frustration and confusion; people are crying out for help and simply existing from day to day. This is NOT the life God intended! Yes, our world is facing some dramatic changes that continue to produce trials. 

But some of what we see is often the result of our eyes being opened and our heart becoming more sensitive to His Spirit. This is good and means we are on the path of transformation; however, our ability to see now begs us to offer a solution.

We who have placed our faith in Jesus Christ have been radically changed, whether we realize it or not. We have been given the ability to see with new eyes and redefine what is truly important; we have been set free to live a new kind of life. We now must live this life and proclaim His truth: Jesus came to set us free! Eternal freedom is found only through the complete forgiveness offered by Jesus, but daily freedom - daily contentment and peace - is found only through complete submission and devotion.

Martha had become irritated that her sister Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus rather than helping her prepare the meal. In fact, she was so bothered she approached Jesus and said: "Lord, don't You care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" Luke 10:40. But Jesus very patiently replied:

"Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42

The world continually tries to tell us what is necessary and important - but it's a lie! And we never really understand or see the deception until we consistently make the time to worship at the feet of Jesus and hear Him say; "You have now chosen what is better."

No matter what this day may bring, we must live each and every moment in devotion to our Lord. No matter what our circumstances, we CAN be set free...and we can offer this freedom to others. We may need to adjust our priorities and eliminate some things which consume our time and clutter our thoughts, but the freedom of true worship at His feet is worth it ALL. 

Let's boldly respond by taking a stand for Christ, faithfully proclaiming His truth to the world, and building our life on His solid foundation. Let's remember that though many things may seem important, only one is needed!

- steve troxel

.....days

Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s 2 Chronicles 20:15

We all have bad days. So did the biblical heroes: Jeremiah, when all his fears materialized at the destruction of Jerusalem Lamentations 1:1; Jacob, when he heard that his son had been mauled to death by a wild animal Genesis 37:34; and Jehoshaphat, when he learned a massive army was coming against his kingdom 2 Chronicles 20:3.

“Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord” 2 Chronicles 20:3. Calling together his people, he led them in prayer saying, “Our God…. We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (verse 12).

If you’re having a terrible day, it’s hard to fully cast out alarm, but do what Jehoshaphat did - turn your eyes on Jesus. On our good - and bad days - God is making us more like Christ. He will help you today.
"Many times when I come to the end of myself I pray, 'Lord, I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on You'. Focusing on what God has done in the past takes my mind off the problem and positions me to hear His solution." Jane Glenchur
- david Jeremiah

....storm

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages, below the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm. 

When the storms of life come upon us ... and all of us will experience them...we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. 

The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow God's power to lift us above them. God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure, and disappointment into our lives. We can soar above the storm. Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.  The Bible says, "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

.......foundation

Near the Temple in Jerusalem, there is a great mound of huge blocks in a heap on the Herodian street, testifying to the fulfilled prophecy of Jesus. The blocks were stones of the Temple that had been heaved 50 feet over the Western support wall onto the street below, during the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 AD.

When the Romans finally penetrated Jerusalem's walls, they burned the temple and dismantled the walls enclosing the Temple Mount compound in order to recover the gold that melted between the stones. Every block was pried away and they literally left not one stone on another. The stones were pushed over the edge of the Mount and sent crashing onto the street below. 

Today, you can still see how the pavement caved in from the impact of the stones that were dropped from above. It is amazing to see the fulfillment of Jesus' words frozen in stone yet today. "For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you ,and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.'" Luke 19:42-44

Still, this attempt at erasing the grandeur of Jerusalem, and perhaps its memory, has been a failure, because the foundation remains.   "Thus says the Lord God, 'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.'" Isaiah 28:16 

The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy moves about one-twentieth of an inch a year and will eventually fall. Quite significantly, the word "pisa" means "marshy land," which clues us in to why the tower began to lean even before it was completed. At a height of 179 feet, its foundation is only 10 feet deep and built on swampland! How important is the foundation on which we build every facet of our lives! 

In Luke 6:47-49, Jesus gives us a warning. "'Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.'" 

Build a firm foundation! Everything else in your life depends on it.

......ultimatum

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon desired to unite his kingdom by instituting a centralized form of worship. He built a statue of gold about 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide and ordered that everyone must fall down and worship the statue whenever the royal music began to play.

A report was delivered to the King that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were refusing to worship the golden image. The King summoned these three young Jewish men and gave them one more chance to conform to his rules for worship: "If you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" Daniel 3:15.

These three followers of Almighty God were faced with an ultimatum: "Compromise your beliefs, or die!" They could have found a way to rationalize this false worship. They could have found a variety of excuses for compromise. But rather than fall to the pressures of their surrounding environment, the three decided to live a life of unwavering faith and unashamed devotion to the One True God.

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up Daniel 3:17-18

Though we seem to hear more stories every day, few of us will ever face a "Compromise or die!" ultimatum. But almost everyone will be tempted to push aside convictions and bow to such "golden images" as financial gain, physical pleasure, personal recognition, or the fear of conflict. We are also constantly tempted to "bow down" with the "entertainment" we watch, listen to, or read. Standing firm requires a determined effort to remain solidly on God's path.

Hearing God's direction for our life can sometimes be difficult; but one truth remains: God never asks us to compromise His standard in order to follow His path...NEVER! Of course, in discerning His standard, we need to look to what God has made clear and not necessarily to what has been created through our well-intended traditions. But once His standard is clear, we can be assured that ANY compromise represents a deviation from His plan.

Let's strengthen the convictions God has already placed on our heart. We need not be ashamed of, nor fear, what we know is true, and we need never doubt the perfection of His path. Let's live a life of consistent belief and trust such that what we believe is directly reflected in the way we live. Let's take a stand and live a God-honoring life...without compromise.

- steve troxel

......seasons

 

There is an appointed time for everything. And a season for every event under heaven Ecclesiastes 3:1. 

I have visited, but never lived, in a place where there is only one season. I do not think I would really like that very much. It is nice if you live in a climate where the winters are desperately cold, to dream of perpetual warmth. Or, if most of your season faces blistering heat, it is nice to think of cool breezes. Still, I would miss the wonder of four seasons. 

I have a hard time trying to choose which one is my favorite season. In the winter, I look forward to the spring. In the heat of summer, I wait for the fall. One might think I could limit my favorites to spring and fall, but that is not really true. I love the winter in the mountains when the leaves are gone, and the rocks and crags stand out in clear relief. There is something majestic that does not show itself when the green leaves cover the view. And summer: When would you swim or spend a day at the beach without summer? God made them all, and I love them! 

Seems to me that God may have also placed seasons in our lives to remind us of life itself. Spring is the season of beginnings. Summer is the time for growth. Fall is the time of radiant beauty with a hint of coming winter. Winter is waiting for the resurrection that the warmth of spring brings. 

It sounds biblical, does it not? I find it helpful to think in these terms. At no time is it more comforting than when I stand in grief beside a loved one's grave. Like the barren trees of winter, there is no sign of that which I viewed in the radiance of life, but there is the faith that, as certainly as the trees will leaf out and flowers will bloom in spring, this one whom I love and miss has found new life in the blazing glory of God's greatest spring, the resurrection! 

Solomon wrote, "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven" Ecclesiastes 3:1.  And again he wrote, "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart...." Ecclesiastes 3:11.

 

I like to think the seasons are just this way. Especially the part where He "set eternity in their heart." I love the blaze of colors in our East Texas fall, and I grieve the loss when the last leaf has left the tree. But... I also know that as winter has dissolved into spring and summer is coming, the bitter chill and the barren land now watered with spring rains will soon be filled with warmth, growth, and joy!

- bill sherrill

.....instrument

The great and mighty Apostle Paul was once the great and mighty persecutor of Christians and destroyer of the Church. He was so zealous that he actually went from house to house and dragged believers off to prison Acts 8:3. Paul then set off for Damascus to rid the land of these "misguided" Christian troublemakers. However, Jesus had other plans!

"As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him."Acts 9:3

Jesus revealed Himself to Paul in such a magnificent manner that there was no doubt as to the truth of the Gospel; "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting" Acts 9:5. Paul encountered the living Christ on the road to Damascus and was literally blinded from the brilliant light - but his life was forever changed.

After three days, Jesus sent a man named Ananias to restore Paul's sight. When Ananias hesitated because of Paul's destructive reputation, Jesus made it clear that Paul was now God's servant. "The Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel" Acts 9:15.

Most of us will never encounter Jesus in such a dramatic fashion as Paul. One day, Jesus simply meets us on the road and forever changes the course of our life. And just as Paul was called to carry the name of Jesus, we also have been called to follow the living Christ and carry His name to everyone He places along our path.

God could have chosen the rocks and trees to advance the Gospel message, but He didn't. He could have written His plan of Salvation with a fiery finger in the clouds, but He didn't. God chose us! Even with all our many flaws, jagged past, and sometimes overwhelming insecurity and fear of failure, we are still His messengers to a dark and dying world; "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us" 2 Corinthians 5:20.

As we continue on this wonderful journey, with all its glorious peaks and fearfully jagged valleys, let's commit to drawing closer to God and listening more intently to His leading. Let's be faithful to advance His message of love through the forgiveness found only in Jesus. In this time of great spiritual need, with the world so desperate for truth, let's remember that we are now God's chosen instrument.

- steve troxel

.....standing

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. Romans 1:16 

We’re living in a time when people are standing up for all sorts of causes. And in some cases, people are even willing to lay down their lives for what they believe in. Isn’t it time that we, as Christians, stand up for what we believe? It seems to me that at a time when so many are standing up for so many causes, there are many in the church who are not standing up for anything. We are embarrassed. We are ashamed. But it’s time to stand up and be counted.

The apostle Paul wrote, “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile” Romans 1:16 Are you ashamed of the gospel of Christ?

We must be especially watchful in this area of denying the Lord, because the Bible tells us that it’s something that will happen in the last days. Many who once acknowledged Jesus Christ will ultimately deny Him. One of the signs of the last days is that there will be a great apostasy, or a falling away. Some will fall from the faith, Timothy says, and “follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons” 1 Timothy 4:1.

Yet in the times in which we are living when we have violence at an unprecedented level, who do we often see vilified on television, in movies, and in the press? It’s people of faith. At best, they portray those who believe in God and have certain moral principles as kooks or feeble-minded dolts. And at worst, they blame them for the problems that our society is facing. Ironically, these very problems, which are the result of our society’s rejection of God, are then placed at the feet of Christians, as though we have brought them on our culture.

You can say anything. You can believe in anything. But if you stand up and say, “There are absolutes. There is right and wrong, and the Bible says so,” you’re labeled as a crazed fanatic who’s hurting our society, this isn’t the first time in history that Christians have been made scapegoats for the ills of a culture. When Caesar Nero was largely responsible for the burning of Rome, he laid the blame at the feet of the Christians, although they had nothing to do with it.

It isn’t right. It isn’t fair. But it’s part of being a disciple of Jesus. It’s part of the Christian life, although it isn’t something that any of us enjoy.

Yet Jesus said, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” Matthew 5:11–12

Wear it as a badge of honor. Remember, you’re in good company. Don’t be ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

- greg laurie

......difference

And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. John 3:19 

English cleric William Farrar wrote, “I am only one, but I am one; I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do. And what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do.”

What can one person do?

A lot.

The Bible tells the story of one woman who saved a nation. Esther may not have been the first woman people would have imagined for this assignment. After she won a beauty contest, she became queen in the Medo-Persian Empire. And in that position of influence, Esther, who was Jewish, discovered that her people faced a serious threat. A wicked man named Haman had devised a plot to exterminate every Jewish person in the empire.

Esther considered appealing to King Xerxes on behalf of her people. But by doing so, she would be risking her own life. The king could have her executed for approaching him without his invitation. But her cousin Mordecai sent her a message, which said, “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” Esther 4:13–14.

In other words, “Esther, God doesn’t depend solely on you. But He can use you in a powerful way. Will you step up?” Esther did, and as a result, the Jewish people survived. One person made a difference. You, too, can make a difference. So make the decision to be the godly representative that Jesus called you to be. He said, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden” Matthew 5:14

We live in a dark world where people are comfortable in darkness. They have become accustomed to the dark. But a little light can go a long way.

After the capture of the Bastille in 1789, a story emerged about a prisoner who had been confined to a dark, dingy dungeon for years. When he was released and led outside into the Paris sunlight, he begged to return to the prison. His eyes could not endure the sun’s brightness. His only desire was to die in the very darkness where he had been a captive.

That is how a lot of people are today. They live in darkness, and they are comfortable there. But the Bible says that when we come to Christ, we “turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God” Acts 26:18. We need to shine the light of Jesus Christ into our dark world. We must take it seriously and seek to make a difference in our culture wherever we go, whenever we can.

You make a difference. 

You have a strategic and important part to play.

- greg laurie