.....encouragement

Barnabas played an essential role in Paul's ministry. He boldly introduced Paul to the apostles in Jerusalem Acts 9:27, and then searched for Paul when he fled Jerusalem to his home town of Tarsus Acts 11:25-26. After taking Paul to Antioch, Barnabas remained with him for several years while they encouraged the church...and each other.

Being an encourager was a way of life for Barnabas. His name was originally Joseph, but prior to even meeting Paul, the apostles had begun to call him "Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement)" Acts 4:36. Barnabas was able to evaluate other people according to their ability in Christ - an ability determined by the strength of Jesus and not hindered by past failures. This allowed Barnabas to see great potential where others saw only weakness, and to encourage when others had given up.

Barnabas went with Paul on his first missionary journey where they jointly proclaimed the name of Jesus wherever they went. Another young man, named Mark, began this first missionary journey with Paul but then turned back Acts 13:13. This apparent lack of perseverance bothered Paul so much that when he began his second missionary trip he refused to take Mark along.

Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus Acts 15:37-39

Barnabas saw the Christ-given potential in young Mark and encouraged him as he had done with Paul many years before. As a result, Mark matured in his ministry and faithfully continued in his service to Jesus. He ministered alongside the Apostle Peter 1 Peter 5:13, was reunited with Paul Colossians 4:10, Philemon 24, and later wrote an account of the life of Jesus - the Gospel of Mark.

The early church faced many difficulties - many opportunities for discouragement - but God used Barnabas to strengthen those who had been called to the front lines of battle. We can't all stand up and preach in front of large crowds or travel as missionaries to foreign lands, but we ALL have the ability to encourage those whom God places in our path.

The world is full of people crying out for someone to care for and believe in them. Individual lives can be changed, families can be restored, entire communities and even nations can be turned toward God, if each of us will encourage others to draw closer to our Heavenly Father, to love Him more, and to trust Him with all our heart. Let’s do our part to change the world! Let's share the love of Jesus and effectively minister by seeing others, and then taking action, as a Son of Encouragement.

- steve troxel

.....feel

Have you ever seen a hot, dusty child throw off their tee-shirt and sandals and run across a beach into the water? Have you ever seen someone who has just received good news do a little dance or twirl – totally oblivious to all around them? Have you, yourself, felt the freedom of the removal of doubts, worries or fears? If so, then you can relate to the following scripture.

“Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance, the race set before us.” Hebrews 12:1

It is only too easy, or perhaps a human reaction, to hang on to our sins. We ruminate our infractions. We question ourselves - How could I have done such a thing? Why am I having those thoughts? What is wrong with me? And on we go, digging deeper and deeper into the pit.

Instead, scripture tells us to throw off the sin that entangles us or "ensnares us". Toss it aside, never to be picked up again. Focus on the goal ahead and run for it. God has forgiven us when we confess, and He has already forgotten our sin. He is with us urging us forward in total freedom. The voice that hinders our race, that insists we are not worth it, that we have totally blown our relationship with God, is the enemy of our souls. He would have us wallow in the darkness of our sin BUT God says, “ No – You are my beloved, forgiven child. Move forward into the light.” How wonderful is that!

The next time we feel burdened by sin and dark thoughts, let’s look up. That great cloud of witnesses is cheering us on. Throw off the gloom and soar as an eagle into the light of God’s forgiving grace. That is His gift to His children and it’s ours for the taking.

- pat earl

.....barnabas

Prior to meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, Saul was one of the greatest enemies of Christians: "Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison" Acts 8:3. But Saul's conversion to Christ was dramatic, and after a few years he tried to join with the believers in Jerusalem. However, with his reputation for hatred toward Christians, the disciples were not willing to accept him.

But one man saw beyond the past mistakes, saw beyond the slimy pit from which he had been removed, saw the grace of Jesus which had worked a miracle in Saul's life - that man was Barnabas! Barnabas believed in Saul, comforted him, and defended him to the other believers.

"But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus." Acts 9:27

Saul was on fire for Jesus, ready to preach the gospel with the same energy he once used to persecute the church. But after just a short time in Jerusalem, Saul had to flee for his life back to his home in Tarsus. It's not clear what he did for the next several years, but there is no evidence of ministry work until Barnabas, once again, found Saul and provided the necessary encouragement.

"Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people." Acts 11:25-26

The Apostle Paul went on to have a greater impact in the forming of the early Church and in defining Church doctrine than any other follower of Jesus. But if not for Barnabas, Paul may not have ever preached beyond his own back yard. In the early days of the Church, Barnabas believed the absolute best in people and encouraged them at every opportunity. His encouragement of Paul resulted in more fruit for God's Kingdom than anything else he could have possibly done or imagined.

We all know someone who can use a lift - someone in desperate need of a friend to believe in them - someone in need of a Barnabas! Let's encourage others today by believing in the power of Christ working through their lives, by looking beyond what we can see to what we know Jesus can do with a life completely devoted to Him, by being the spark which reignites the fire and helps them return to the great race. Let's look for opportunities to encourage our Brothers and Sisters according to the example of Barnabas.

- steve troxel

....situations

 As long as you live in this world, you are subjected to the same chaos, the ups and downs, the good and bad, the positives and the negatives of life. You are not the only person facing this.

What sets you apart from others though, is how you choose to deal with this situation. Here are steps to cope with bad situations and create something good out of them:

1. Release Your Frustrations.

Don’t bottle them up because you might just implode. Talk to a friend about it. A listening ear does wonders. Go exercise and release the tension. Journal it out. Give it up to God. All of it!

2. Realize You Are Not Alone.

No matter what you may think, you’re not alone in this. God is with you. He brought you to this to take you through it. After you get through this, you'll be stronger, more dedicated and more faithful to Him. Knowing this helps you to get out of a self-victimizing mindset.

3. Being Frustrated Isn’t Going to Solve Anything.

The problem will still remain whether you go berserk at it or whether you think about it calmly. The former will create more problems as your agitation prevents you from making good decisions. Remaining frustrated will not help you, so focus on what can be done instead.  Keep your eyes on Jesus.

4. Know You Always Have A Choice.

Realize no matter what happens, you always have a choice in how you react. While you may not be able to control what happens to you, you can most certainly control your behaviors. You can face the worst things in the world, but if you make the choice not to let yourself be affected by them, you won’t be.

5. Objectify It.

An incident is an incident; we’re responsible for the feelings attached. Remove the feelings and look at the situation objectively. This will help us cope a lot better.

6. Focus On What You Can Do.

Action creates empowerment. It brings possibilities. It creates results. By taking action, you are no longer a passive recipient. You are a conscious creator.  "Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only."  (James 1:22)

7. Ask For Help If You Need To.

It’s okay to ask for help if it makes the situation easier. Remember, you are not alone in this. "He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7)

8. See It As An Obstacle To Be Overcome.

Life is a journey of learning and growth, and everything happens for a reason. Obstacles are the things stopping you from getting your goals, and if you keep overcoming these obstacles, you’ll eventually get what you want. "I press on toward the prize of the upward high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14)

9. Identify the lesson learned.

There are always things to be learned from every situation. Learning a lesson, moving forward and not repeating the same mistake will help you the next time.

10. Give It To God

Give it to God - All of it!  And then forget about it. He's up every night. No need for you to be.

No matter what life throws your way, as long as you cope with it constructively, with God, nothing can get you down, slow you down or hold you down.

Keep looking up and you'll move up!

.....hard

Jeremiah had been a prophet for nearly forty years by the time Jerusalem came under attack by the Babylonians. He had long been proclaiming a message of repentance, but the people continued to ignore his words. Now, the enemy had surrounded Jerusalem and the end was near. In this time of great turmoil, God told Jeremiah to purchase a field from his cousin.

This was a strange request but Jeremiah obediently purchased the field. However, he soon began to question God's reasoning: "See how the siege ramps are built up to take the city? Though the city will be handed over to the Babylonians, You say to me, 'Buy the field'" Jeremiah 32:24,25. 

Jeremiah had been a prophet for many years. He had been given the privilege of talking directly with God, but this command just didn't make sense. Why should he purchase a field when the enemy was invading and taking prisoners?

God answered Jeremiah with a simple, yet challenging, question.

"I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me?" Jeremiah 32:27

Yes, the enemy had invaded the land and would soon overrun the city of Jerusalem. But God's plan was for the people to one day return: "I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in My furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. They will be My people and I will be their God" Jeremiah 32:37-38. Jeremiah's field was to be a reminder that God would one day restore His people - a reminder that He could be trusted even in the face of overwhelming circumstances.

We often have a difficult time seeing how all the pieces of God's plan fit together. He leads us down a path and we fail to see the purpose - especially when the enemy begins to attack. We want to fight back, but God says to patiently trust Him and pray. We want to determine a solution and solve the problem, but God says to love Him with all our heart and share His love with others.

The times in which we are most tested and pressed down ought to be the times of greatest growth and closeness with our Heavenly Father. When it seems we have nowhere else to turn, we ought to rejoice and trust Him even more! Let's put our life firmly in His Hands and submit to His guidance - even when we may not see where we are going or how we will get there. Let's trust His ways and always remember...for God, there is NOTHING too hard! 

- steve troxel

.....wait

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried, 
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied. 

I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate, 

And the Master so gently said, "Child, you must wait." 

"Wait?  You say, wait! " my indignant reply. 

"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why! 

Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard? 

By Faith, I have asked, and I am claiming your Word. 

My future and all to which I can relate 

Hangs in the balance, and YOU tell me to "WAIT"? 

I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign, 

Or even a 'no' to which I can resign. 

And Lord, You promised that if we believe 

We need but to ask, and we shall receive. 

And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry: 

I'm weary of asking!  I need a reply!

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate 

As my Master said once again, "Child, you must wait." 

So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut 

And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting... for what?" 

He seemed, then, to kneel, and His eyes wept with mine, 

And he tenderly said, "I could give you a sign. 

I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun. 

I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run. 

All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be. 

You would have what you want ... But, you wouldn't know Me. 

You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint; 

You'd not know the power that I give to the faint. 

You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair;

You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there; 

You'd not know the joy of resting in Me 

When darkness and silence were all you could see. 

You'd never experience that fullness of love 

As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove; 

You'd know that I give and I save... (for a start), 

But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart. 

The glow of My comfort late into the night, 

The faith that I give when you walk without sight, 

The depth that's beyond getting just what you asked 

Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST. 

You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee, 

What it means that "My grace is sufficient for Thee." 

Yes, your dreams for your loved one overnight would come true, 

But, Oh, the Loss! If I lost what I'm doing in you! 

So, be silent, My Child, and in time you will see 

That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me. 

And though oft may My answers seem terribly late, 

My most precious answer of all is still, "WAIT." 

- Russell Kelfer

.....deeds

The area which probably causes the most contention is the role of grace in Salvation, this debate is largely due to various sides not really understanding one another, and also to shifting the debate to the role of good deeds. This message, will focus on those who agree that Salvation is completely through the grace of God but may disagree as to the role of good deeds.

For those who hold that good deeds do not have a part in Salvation we can point to, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" Ephesians 2:8-9. Our works, or good deeds, do not save us.

And for those who hold that good deeds definitely do have a part in Salvation we point to, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?" James 2:14. The implied answer to this question from James is a resounding NO! This seems clear: Our works, or good deeds, are necessary to save us

.

The answer to this apparent contradiction is found by looking closely at what James is really saying. And he seems to make his point abundantly clear in the next few verses.

"Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."James 2:15-17

When combined with verse 14, James is equating the one who claims to have faith with the one who says "keep warm and well fed." He is saying it does no good to verbalize these words, or claim to have faith, if you do not follow through with action - meeting physical needs or doing good deeds. A faith which does not result in action is useless - it is dead!

Our good deeds cannot save us! Jesus makes this clear when He rebukes those who come to Him with their list of good deeds; "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" Matthew 7:23. Nor can simple belief save us; "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder" James 2:19.

How then is Salvation made effective? James gives us this answer through the example of Abraham as he offered Isaac to be sacrificed; "You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did" James 2:22. We see that saving faith cannot be separated from good deeds; rather, a saving faith is defined as a faith which results in good deeds, which can also be defined as obedience or following Jesus, are an integrated, essential part of saving faith!

Let's hold on to a faith which transforms the entirety of our life by the grace of God. Let's put an end to the divisive debate and live a life which worshipfully accomplishes the good deeds of faith.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....pity

Last Saturday, along with millions of other fans, I watched my favorite team play football. Yesterday, social media lit up with hundreds of posts from fans of every team that lost.  Most came from "amateur coaches" and "Monday Morning Quarterbacks", who obviously knew more than the coach about what plays to call and what should have been done. 

If you summarized what they all said, it was statements such as... 

     "If only the coach had/hadn't...."

     "If only the referee had/hadn't..." 

     "If we had just made that field goal..."

     "if we didn't commit that penalty..."

     "If we had only saved that time out..." 

     "I wish we had run instead of passing..."

     "Or conversely, I wish we passed instead of running..."

As I read those posts, I reflected on how many times we can easily live our lives based on a "What if" or a "If only" or a "If only I had/hadn't" statements or other some other fantasy world thinking where we think we can somehow change the past. 

"Leaving the Pity Party"

I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet, I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be unpleasant, and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it - I'm talking about my annual "Guilt Trip." 

I got tickets to fly there on "Wish-I-Had" Airlines. I got my baggage, which I could have checked, but didn't - because I chose to carry all my baggage all the way by myself. It was weighted down with a thousand memories of "what might have been". No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the "Regret City International Airport". 

As I checked into the "Last Resort Hotel", I noticed that they would be hosting the year's most important event, "The Annual Pity Party". I wasn't going to miss that great social occasion. Many of the town's leading citizens would be there. 

First, there would be the "Done Family" - you know, "Should Have", "Would Have" and "Could Have". Then came the "Wish I Had" family. You probably know of "Wish I Had" and his clan. Of course, "The Opportunities" would be present - "Missed" and "Lost". The biggest family would be "The Yesterday's". There are far too many of them to count, but each one would have a very sad story to share. 

Then "Shattered Dreams" would surely make an appearance. And "It's Their Fault" would regale us with his stories about how things had failed in his life, and each story would be loudly applauded by "Don't Blame Me" and "I Couldn't Help It". 

Well, to make a long story short, I went to this depressing party knowing that there would be no real benefit in doing so. And, as usual, I became very depressed. But, as I thought about all of the stories of failures brought back from the past, it occurred to me that all of this trip and all of the subsequent "Pity Parties" could be canceled - BY ME! I started to truly realize that I did not have to be there. I didn't have to be depressed. 

One thought kept going through my mind, "I can't change yesterday, but I do have The Holy Spirit living in me to make today a wonderful day".  I can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, content, blessed and totally at peace - because my sins have been forgiven and I will spend eternity with my Savior. I know who I am and where I am in Christ and I know where I'll be when I die.  Knowing this, I left "The City of Regret" immediately and left no forwarding address. 

Am I sorry for mistakes I've made in the past? YES! But there is no physical way to undo them, and more importantly, they've all been forgiven - no matter how bad they were. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "If any man is in Christ, He is a new Creature.  Old Things are past away; behold, all things are become new."

So, if you're planning a trip back to "The City of Regret" (located between the land of "What If..." and country of "If Only..."), please cancel all your reservations now. Instead, take a trip to a place called "Starting Again". I liked it so much that I have now taken up permanent residence there. My neighbors, the "I Have Been Forgiven's" and the "New Starts in Christ" are so very helpful and encourage me each day. 

By the way, you don't have to carry around all of your heavy baggage, because the load is lifted from your shoulders upon arrival. God bless you in finding this great town. His Holy Word has all the directions you need. When you find it, please look me up. I live on "I-Can-Do-All-Things-Through-Christ Street!!! 

- dave langerfeld

.....understanding

Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians to show that Jesus is sufficient to supply every need of the believer. In the opening verses, Paul wrote that the Colossians had a reputation for great faith in Jesus Christ - their love, hope, and hunger for the Gospel was bearing fruit and had been growing "since the day you heard it and understood God's grace" Colossians 1:6.

Paul was thankful for their strong faith, but he wanted them to have even more and was committed to praying for their continued growth; "We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding" Colossians 1:9. Paul then explained the purpose of his prayer.

We pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father. Colossians 1:10-12

Though God's gracious gift of Salvation is free, the cost is high. We can do nothing to earn or maintain this gift besides believe in His Son; but the faith through which His grace flows is a faith committed to Him without reservation, prepared to follow anywhere He leads, and willing to honor Him in all we do. A saving faith transforms our life and propels us to action.

Paul did not pray for the details of an honoring life; rather, he prayed for what truly produces change: "the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." We never please God by focusing on specific activities, we please Him by drawing near and allowing His blessings to flow in and through our life. This is a life which results in deeds that bear fruit and is filled with endurance, patience, and thankfulness.

The God honoring life is available for us today...regardless of our circumstances. But we must draw nearer to our Heavenly Father and hunger for a better understanding of His will. We must long for His presence and continue to grow in love and faith. God has infinitely more to give and will pour His blessings upon those who continue to seek Him with all their heart.

Dear Lord, we pray that You will give us a continued passion for You and an increased hunger for Your Word. We pray that You will strengthen our faith and use our life for Your glory. Heavenly Father, we pray that we will abandon ourselves to You and that You will fill us with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 

- steve troxel

.....search

John and Bob were two of the bitterest golf rivals at the club. Neither man trusted the other's arithmetic. One day they were playing a heated match and watching each other like hawks.

After finishing on the fourth green and marking his six on the scorecard, John asked Bob, "What'd you have?" Bob went through the motions of mentally counting up. "Six!" he said and then hastily corrected himself. "No -- a five."

Calmly, John marked the scorecard, saying out loud "Eight!"   "Eight?" Bob said, "I couldn't have had eight."  John said, "Nope, you claimed six, then changed it to five.  But actually, you had seven."

"Then why did you mark down eight?" asked Bob.

John told him, "One stroke penalty, for improving your LIE."

Golfers are notorious for stretching the truth, but they're certainly not the only ones who do so. In fact, you probably find that lying comes all too easy. 

When we're caught doing something we shouldn't be doing, it's easy to lie to try to cover up our involvement. When we're asked to do something we don't want to do, it's easy to lie about plans we haven't made.

Unfortunately, every lie we tell makes it that much easier the next time.  And some people have spent so much time "improving their lies" that they have trouble distinguishing between the real truth and the "truth" they have manufactured.

God is concerned that we be a people of truth.  "Therefore, putting away lying, 'Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,' for we are members of one another." Eph. 4:25 Diogenes was a philosopher in ancient Greece.  He was said to have walked through the streets of Athens, carrying a lighted lantern in broad daylight in a futile search for one honest man.

There are people all around you who are searching for the same thing.  May they find in you someone who will tell the truth, no matter what. 

- alan smith

.....others

In considering the grace of God in our Salvation as well as in our daily Christian walk, anytime we add requirements to genuine faith, we have strayed from the true gospel message. We certainly need to be challenged as to what faith really means and how a saving faith will manifest itself in our life, but we must never walk away from Salvation by grace through faith alone.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! Galatians 1:6-8

This is a serious call...one we cannot ignore. We are challenged in the strongest of terms to continue walking according to the true gospel. We usually begin this walk by focusing on our own life. We slowly take our eyes off what we can do and look more upon what Christ has already done; "He must become greater, I must become less" John 3:30. But there remains another step we must begin to take. This important step is to recognize that the grace which pulled us out of the slimy pit and set our feet on solid ground Psalm 40:2 is the same grace which works in the life of others. We know we can do nothing to earn or add to our Salvation, but how often do we place "requirements" on those around us? How often do we inadvertently create lists of what a true Christian must do? 

True Christians must dress and talk a certain way, listen to an approved list of music, watch an approved list of movies, and drink only an approved list of beverages. Our churches tend to have lists which can include quality of clothing, length of hair, style of worship music, or involvement in certain "sins" about which the Bible is absolutely silent. Sure there are extremes in every category which are clearly outside the will of God, but there is a wide range which, though it may make us uncomfortable, belongs to the grace of God. Our walk with God begins with His grace and must continue by His grace.

We must all strive to follow Christ in a completely surrendered obedience, but in walking down this path, we must never pull anyone from the true gospel by requiring obedience to our list. We are saved by grace through faith and faith alone - and "we" includes ALL our Brothers and Sisters who have trusted in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin. Let's follow hard in His grace and diligently seek to recognize God's transforming power at work as He continues to pour out His grace in others.

- steve troxel

.....failed

Harry Houdini's name is one that is recognized by almost everyone.  His claim to fame was that he was a magician and an excellent escape artist.  He would free himself from handcuffs, chains, ropes and straitjackets, often while hanging from a rope or suspended in water.  He escaped from coffins, riveted boilers and canvas bags.  Houdini was even locked inside a high security prison once, but, of course, Houdini always got out.

But then on October 24, 1926, death laid its hands on Harry Houdini and he would never escape.  Houdini told his wife, Bess, prior to his death, "If there is any way out. I will find it. If there is any way out, I will find you and I will make contact with you on the anniversary of my death."

For ten years after Houdini's death, his wife tried to make contact with him.  Then, she finally acknowledged, "Houdini did not come through.  My last hope is gone. I do not believe that Houdini can come back to me, or to anyone... The Houdini Shrine has burned for ten years. I now, reverently... turn out the light. It is finished. Good night, Harry!"

Bess Houdini was so right, and yet she was so wrong.  She was right to admit what people have been forced to admit for centuries - we do not have the power to conquer death.  Not even the famous Harry Houdini.  Eventually, death will win the battle over each and every one of us, and there is no escape.

But Bess Houdini was oh so wrong when she said, "My last hope is gone."  For while none of us can escape death, we can find our hope in the one who overcame death.  Only one man has come back from the grave alive.  Only one man offers us hope of life beyond the grave.  His name is Jesus!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you." I Peter 1:3-4

Turn the light back on.  It isn't finished at all....... It's only just beginning!

- dave langerfed

.....discernment

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11

Napoleon was a genius in sparking patriotism in the common man. He often told this story...  

Once, while visiting a province, he came upon an old soldier in full uniform, but with one sleeve hanging empty. He proudly wore the coveted Legion of Honor.

Napoleon asked, "Where did you lose your arm?" The soldier answered,  "At Austerlitz, sire."  Napoleon asked, "And for that you received the Legion of Honor?"   The man said, "Yes, sire."

"It is but a small token to pay for the decoration." Napoleon continued, "You must be the kind of man who regrets he did not lose both arms for his country."   The one-armed man asked, "What then would have been my reward?"   Napoleon answered, "I would have awarded you a double Legion of Honor." And with that, the proud old fighter drew his sword and immediately cut off his other arm. Napoleon told the story for years until someone asked, "How?" (If he only had one arm...)

A similar story is told of the man who collected thousands of dollars for the grieving mother of the "unknown soldier". A lot of people post stories and quotes on social media every day without ever verifying the source or confirming the veracity of the story.  AI is making it harder and harder to distinguish whether a photo is real or AI generated. 

It's not wrong to question what you think you know. Sometimes it's wrong not to. As human beings, we are often satisfied with our opinions and content with our knowledge, which is a recipe for perpetual ignorance.

Solomon, in his wisdom, has the foresight to recognize this truth when he wrote, "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him." Proverbs 26:12

Today, remember that discerning fact from fiction is important, and that the genuine truth is found only in our Savior Jesus Christ and in HIs Word.

.....amazing

  "Strong In His Grace" we considered God's grace in the process of Salvation and saw we can do nothing to earn a right standing in His eyes. Our Heavenly Father freely gave and poured out His love when He sent Jesus; "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8.

God graciously gave us His Son and said, "Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16. We are allowed into an eternal relationship with God because of His grace and are strongly exhorted to live each day knowing our relationship is maintained by the same grace in which it began, not by anything we do or accomplish.

There are many things we are called to do as a Child of God, many ways to serve and honor our Heavenly Father, many ways to be obedient, seek after holiness, and demonstrate our faith. But we can NEVER fall into the trap of thinking, even for a moment, that what we do adds to our Salvation by grace. As much as faith in Jesus Christ is absolutely necessary for our Salvation, faith in Jesus Christ is also absolutely sufficient.

Paul delivered this message of grace in many of his letters, but nowhere as strong as in his letter to the Galatian churches. He had preached the message of Salvation by grace, but they were led into a false teaching which said they must earn their Salvation by first submitting to the Old Testament Law. Paul warned that if we fall into this same trap, "Christ will be of no value to you at all" Galatians 5:2. There is value in the things we do, but the value is not in the religious activity or product we produce; rather, the value is in the true faith in our heart which ought to motivate ALL we seek to accomplish.

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love Galatians 5:6

We show our love for God through worship, thanksgiving, prayer, study, obedience, and faithful service; and we acknowledge His saving grace with a humble spirit which does not allow us to become puffed up or feel deserving of our Salvation. We demonstrate our love for others as we refuse to cause harm, in word or deed, refuse to harbor unforgiveness, and actively look for opportunities to serve. And we show an understanding of God's grace as we express our love to others without requiring them to earn our love or even love us in return.

Let's receive His grace with a thankful heart, knowing we bring nothing to the cross besides our sin which He then takes away. Let's trust only in His grace, given to us through faith, and express our faith with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength as we love Him and love one another. Let's begin to live this life like we truly understand His amazing grace.

- steve troxel

.....duty

We are unprofitable servants. We have only done what was our duty to do Luke 17:10

Early one morning, a mother went in to wake up her son. "Wake up, son. It's time to go to school!"  "But why, Mom?  I don't want to go."

"Give me two reasons why you don't want to go."  "Well", said the son, "the kids hate me for one, and the teachers hate me, too!"  "Oh, that's no reason not to go to school.  Come on now and get ready."

"Give me two reasons why I should go to school."   "Well, for one," said the mother, "you're 52 years old.  And for another, you're the principal!"

Sometimes we have to do things even when we don't feel like doing them.  It's called having a sense of duty.  I think perhaps the concept of duty has taken some abuse in the church.  We sometimes talk about the importance  of doing things for God because we want to, not because we have to.  And I would wholeheartedly agree with that.  But if we only serve God when we really "feel" like it, our service would be minimal indeed.  Sometimes the feelings aren't there and we need to continue to serve knowing that it is the "right" thing to do.

It shouldn't bother us to think that way because we do many other things in life for the same reason.  For example, I am a father of three children.  When each of those babies entered my home, I loved them.  And I provided for their needs because I loved them.  But, I can honestly say that there were many times I got up in the middle of night to meet their needs when I didn't "feel" like it.  There were times when I got out of bed exhausted and irritable, and the only reason I got up was because I had a responsibility as a father to meet their needs.  The love is always there, but sometimes it is a sense of duty that drives you to do what needs to be done.

The same thing is true in our Christian walk.  When you get "exhausted and irritable" in your service to Christ, when you don't "feel" like doing what you know needs to be done, may a sense of responsibility, a sense of duty, drive you to continue to remain faithful.

"And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'?  Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him?  I think not.  So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have only done what was our duty to do.'" Luke 17:7-10

- dave langerfeld

.....strong

When we are brought to the point of belief - the point where we see our sin, desire to change, and acknowledge God's Son as our only way to eternal life - we ask, in faith, for Jesus to forgive our sins and be our Savior. At that very moment, the grace of God abounds, His Spirit transforms our heart and He picks us up as His child: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast Ephesians 2:8-9.

The moment of true Salvation is without question the most significant event in our Christian life. In that moment, we are "born again" John 3:7 and become a "new creation" in Christ 2 Corinthians 5:17 through the power of the Holy Spirit; "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit" John 3:6. If we seem to stumble through every step, we still have reason to rejoice with every breath - we are children of the King and will spend all eternity in His glorious Kingdom.

Our journey with God can indeed be rocky. As we continue down His path, we are to strive for holiness and purposeful worship in our life. We are to diligently seek Him and "learn the secret of being content in any and every situation" Philippians 4:12. We must learn to "trust in the Lord with all our heart" Proverbs 3:5, while remembering that "apart from Me, you can do NOTHING" John 15:5. The reality of this journey is that if we strive for anything in our own strength, we are certainly destined to stumble and fall.

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus 2 Timothy 2:1, meaning we must continue to trust in His grace and in His grace alone. We did nothing to earn our Salvation, and we can do nothing to maintain our right standing before God - nothing besides belief in His Son; "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Galatians 3:3. Our goal of a life which is honoring to God cannot be accomplished through our own effort!

We are saved by the grace of God and we must continue to live by this same grace: "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught" Colossians 2:6. Our Heavenly Father will determine our path to holiness, purpose, contentment, and trust - and His grace will equip us with all we need for the journey.

Let's completely trust in the saving grace of Jesus! Let's apply the strength of His grace today in every trial and temptation. Let's live a life of pure and holy devotion by always remaining strong in His grace.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....in

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:15-16

As I reflect back on my childhood, I recall a day my mother and I came home from church to find a stray cat waiting at the door. The cat was nice and cuddly and the meow seemed to make me weak. I begged my mother to let me keep the cat, but she refused. Noticing that I was disappointed, she wrapped her arms around me and said, "Son, never let any ol' thing or anyone come into your house. Just because the cat is cute does not mean that this is a good cat, so we have to be careful of who/what we let in." 

Many of us can relate to the above story in a variety of ways. There were people that we came across and let them in on the first date, only to have our hearts broken later. We came across people that we shared our most intimate thoughts with the first night we met them, only to have them betray us after a short period of time.

Oftentimes, in our attempt to obey God's command to love people, we often let the wrong people get too close to us. Many of us have let people in because of their physical appearance, financial status, corporate position, fame or other "sheep's clothing" that captured our attention. 

Like Jesus was prayerful about His small circle of 12 disciples, He calls us to be careful who we let in. 

- timothy jackson, jr.

.....digging

When I was a boy, I had a golden retriever named Champ. Whenever we gave him a bone, he'd chew it till it was bare, then take off to bury it. But once it was buried, he would never let it lie. Every day, sometimes several times a day, he would make his rounds, going to every buried bone - dozens of them - and digging them up to chew on some more. Then he'd bury them again, only to repeat the process till the day he died.

Unlike my dog, God buries our sins and lets them lie: He never digs them up.  Like my dog, however, sometimes we dig up old sins, chew on them, confess them again, and bury them - but in a shallow grave whose location we memorize for convenient access. We do this not only to ourselves but others. 

We piously say, "I forgive you," but dig up old sins to chew on at our pity parties, wave them in front of others as gossip, or use them as weapons of revenge or tools to barter and manipulate. In doing so, we become obsessed with sin instead of the Savior. We give more credit to its power than to His. "Once confessed, sins should be forgotten. We should choose to dwell on them no longer."  Randy Alcorn

“Their sins and iniquities I will remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." Isaiah 43:25

.....follow

We are often reminded of our need to pray and study God's Word. These essential disciplines allow us to abide in the presence of God and "hear" when He calls; they are also necessary for strengthening our faith in order to obediently follow where He leads.

God's Word encourages us that when He calls, He also provides the tools to accomplish our assigned task; "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness" 2 Peter 1:3. And we are comforted that as we respond, we will never be alone; "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" Hebrews 13:5. But God's call also carries responsibility. His call says He has made His choice - He has chosen us to take part in His wonderful plan, and, in faith, we must respond.

After delivering many of God's messages to the people of Israel, calling them to repent and return to the worship of the One True God, the prophet Jeremiah became impatient with God's timing: "I would speak with You about Your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?" Jeremiah 12:1. 

Jeremiah complained about how long he had to wait for the wicked to be punished. He was following God and calling others to do the same, but the ungodly seemed to continue living the "good" life. Sounds much like our complaints today. But God's response was not what Jeremiah was hoping to receive.

"If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?"Jeremiah 12:5

God told Jeremiah that the situation in Israel was going to get worse in the coming days, and He asked Jeremiah if he was truly ready for the challenge. Jeremiah had been called to be God's messenger and now was not the time to complain. This was the time to be a soldier and trust with ALL his heart; it was a time to renew his strength and push toward the assigned goal.

Our Heavenly Father dearly loves us and desires an eternity of intimate fellowship. He is a God of great comfort, but He is also challenging us to prepare for the spiritual battles ahead. This world often appears corrupt and unjust, but the conditions of today may be preparing us to fight in the trenches of tomorrow. 

We must trust now more than ever that God chose the right person when He called and gave us our assignments. Let's spend more time worshipping at His feet and loving Him with all our heart. Let's rely on His strength, trust His understanding, and always be prepared to follow.

- steve troxel

.....free

King Nebuchadnezzar made a large statue of gold and commanded that everyone must worship the statue whenever they heard the royal music; they must worship the statue or face terrible consequences! "Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace" Daniel 3:6.

Daniel's friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were determined to live with an uncompromising faith. They believed God's Word and obeyed His commands: "You shall have no other gods before Me...you shall not bow down to them or worship them" Exodus 20:3,5. These three young Jewish men took a stand and refused to worship the golden statue. Their devotion to God was greater than their fear of the fire; "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, we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" Daniel 3:17-18

Nebuchadnezzar was furious and followed through on his threat: "He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace" Daniel 3:19-20. But when Nebuchadnezzar looked inside the furnace, he was amazed by what he saw.

"Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."Daniel 3:25

As they were facing the fire, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego saw no chance of escape, but they placed their complete trust in God - a trust which would not falter even if they were burned. But rather than being burned by the fire, these three men were freed from their binding ropes and walked with "a son of the gods," who many believe is an Old Testament reference to Jesus Christ! (The KJV renders this verse "...like the Son of God.") In their time of greatest need, God comforted these young men and set them free.

The fires in our life WILL come. The heat will seem intense! But we must not fear or abandon what we know to be true. Our faith is ALWAYS refined and made stronger by fire; "the testing of your faith develops perseverance" James 1:3

Fire will always teach us to trust more deeply and worship more sincerely. When we really believe this truth, it will become possible to actually rejoice in the face of fire. We can rejoice because we KNOW He will walk beside us, no matter how hot the flames - this is true freedom! Let's walk with a bold faith, knowing our Father is there to comfort and protect us, knowing He will strengthen us and set us free in the fire.

- steve troxel