....proving

We begin our Christian life in faith; "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith" Ephesians 2:8. And just as we begin our life in faith, so we must also continue to walk in faith; "Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him" Colossians 2:6. We are to live in Christ, and continue to walk with Him, in the same manner as we received Him...in faith.

We cannot come to Christ without faith and we are unable to live a victorious Christian life without continuously walking in faith. Our faith is of great worth!

"For a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."1 Peter 1:6-7

One of the beautiful truths in God's Kingdom is that everything along our walk has a purpose; "In all things God works for the good of those who love Him" Romans 8:28. Even our difficult times of hardship and trial can be used by God "for the good." As we continue to love Him with all our heart, God will use our trials to reveal and strengthen our faith. And a truer understanding of our faith is one of the greatest "goods" we can receive.

Do we really believe our faith is "of greater worth than gold"? Until we've been sustained through times of great trial and testing, it's difficult to understand the true value of faith. Our faith is shown to be real, or "proved genuine," only as we trust Him when no other hope can be seen. We never need to prove our faith to God; He sees deep within our heart and already knows the genuineness of our faith. When our faith is tested, it is proved genuine to ourselves.

God gave us our faith and calls us to live "in accordance with the measure of faith God has given" Romans 12:3. But our measure of faith is ALWAYS greater than what we believe we have, and it can sustain us through greater trials than we believe possible. As we more clearly see the strength contained in this wonderful gift of faith, we are able to give all praise, glory and honor to God as Jesus is revealed through the testimony of our life. As we trust Him with all our heart, He will cause us to emerge from our trials much stronger and more confident, more "mature and complete, not lacking anything" James 1:4, because we will KNOW He is by our side.

As our faith is strengthened and refined, the presence of God will cease to be an interesting theory or an empty hope; it will become real and an integral part of our life! Let's rejoice that our trials last only "for a little while." But let's also rejoice that our trials are being used for His glory and for the purpose of proving our faith.

- steve troxel

......witnesses

Our journey with the Lord is like a marathon in many ways. We must maintain a disciplined training program to ensure we are prepared. The race itself can be long and hard. There will be times we run out of energy and want to quit, but crossing the finish line will be more rewarding than anything we can imagine! And along the way, we will certainly learn to appreciate the encouragement we receive from the cheering crowd.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great 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 marked out for us."Hebrews 12:1

This verse follows what we often refer to as The Great Hall of Faith. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews describes many people from the Old Testament who were commended for their faith: Able, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Samson, David, and many others.

At the end of this impressive list, we read that even though they were faithful, "none of them received what had been promised" Hebrews 11:39. Their reward was postponed until the coming of Jesus; "God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect" Hebrews 11:40. 

The testimony of the faithful is meant to give us great encouragement. It's as if they are cheering us on with great anticipation, knowing that one day we will be "caught up together with them" 1 Thessalonians 4:17 to receive our eternal reward when Jesus comes.

This cloud of witnesses now also includes the testimony of New Testament believers as well as Christians throughout the last 2000 years. It also includes Brothers and Sisters who love us and pray for us today. As we run the race and sometimes grow weary - sometimes even stumble and fall - these witnesses continue to cheer and encourage our every step.

The race is long and sometimes difficult, but we're definitely not alone. Let's run with renewed perseverance; and when we become discouraged, Jesus has promised to abide with us let us listen to His tender voice impressed upon us by the at times still and small voice of The Holy Spirit our teacher and guide John 16:7-11

.....holiness

We often speak of God's Word as the absolute truth by which we are to live. We encourage one another to live without compromise and not to be pulled by the temptations of the world. But this type of discussion always implies a standard for Christian living, a standard for holiness. And, as much as we hate to admit it, a standard implies rules

Much of the Christian teaching we receive today is focused on the free gift of God's grace; "For it is by grace you have been saved" Ephesians 2:8, and this grace seems to be in conflict with the presence of rules. Since our sins have already been forgiven, and "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Romans 8:1, how can we talk about rules or standards or expectations?

It is absolutely clear in the Word of God that we are saved by grace and can do nothing to earn or improve upon our Salvation - we live and breathe under God's grace. However, it is also perfectly clear in His Word that there exists a standard of holiness for which we must strive. Sin is defined against a standard and the precious gift of God's grace never gives permission for sin!

"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may abound? By no means!" Romans 6:1-2

As children of God, we now have complete freedom; "the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death" Romans 8:2. But the freedom we have been given is the freedom to claim victory over sin and live a pure and holy life; "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do" 1 Peter 1:15. We will never attain perfect holiness, never live in perfect compliance with God's standard. And though we who belong to Jesus are no longer under condemnation, we are still called to holiness.

So why should we strive? 

First, holiness is honoring to God because God hates sin. Sin kills those our Father loves - those He loves so much that He sent Jesus to die as a sacrifice for the penalty of sin. God hates sin and we ought to hate what God hates. 

And second, as we strive for holiness (while remembering that our striving plays no part in our Salvation) we will see even more clearly how far we fall from God's required perfection. As we strive, our sin will become even more apparent and we will see with ever increasing thankfulness how much grace and forgiveness we have been given through faith in Jesus.

Salvation is ALL grace!! 

We live under His grace and have been set free from the law of sin and death. So now, let's truly learn of His grace by seeking to follow in His steps and striving for a thankful heart through a life of grace-filled holiness.

- steve troxel

 

...today

Today, 

For what I am that I ought not to be, 
   Forgive me. 
For what I am not that I ought to be, 
   Forgive me. 
Be with my mouth in what it speaks 
Be with my hands in what they do 
Be with my mind in what it thinks 
Be with my heart in what it feels 
Work in me 
   ...through me 
   ...for me 
   ...in spite of me 

In the precious name of Jesus, 
Amen  

....nineveh

Our Heavenly Father desires each of His Children to be "conformed to the likeness of His Son" Romans 8:29. And the process of being conformed is primarily one of obedient worship in ALL areas of our life. But then comes Nineveh!

When God has a specific call for our life, He will persistently give us clear direction and use all His infinite resources to make sure we understand. But as we read through the Word of God, we must conclude that this type of specific call is relatively rare. For most, God's will never moves beyond a general call to walk in His love.

Jonah teaches us to follow when God's call is specific, also regarding God's general will which applies to all of us every day of our life. This principle is discovered by examining why Jonah ran from God: "'Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because it's wickedness has come up before Me.' But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish" Jonah 1:2-3.

Jonah didn't run from God simply because Nineveh was located in a distant and foreign land. Jonah ran because he disliked (even hated) the people who lived in this leading city of the growing empire of Assyria. The people of Nineveh had a reputation for cruelty in war, idolatry, and a general disrespect for God. Jonah had grown up with a hatred of Nineveh and couldn't bear being sent there to preach. He couldn't bear the thought of these hated people actually repenting and being blessed by "his" God.

"O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity."Jonah 4:2

God desires all the world to turn from their wicked ways and receive His blessings. And His general call is for us to deliver this message of love. We are called to deliver this message to ALL - especially those we may naturally dislike or have been "taught" to fear and hate. 

Ministering outside our natural group becomes a form of worship because it demonstrates our understanding of the grace we have been given through faith in Jesus; none of us can ever earn God's love! 

- steve troxel

.....help

You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to You. Psalm 31:22

During Antarctica's nine-month winter, the continent is engulfed in darkness and the temperature sinks to -115' F (-82" C). Flights are halted from late February to November, leaving workers at scattered research stations isolated and virtually cut off from outside help. Yet, in 2001, two daring rescue missions penetrated the polar winter and airlifted people with serious medical conditions to safety.

We all feel helpless and cut off at times. It may seem that not even God can hear or answer our cries for help. The psalmist David said in a time of trouble, "I am cut off from before Your eyes" Psalm 31:22. But David discovered that the Lord had not forgotten him, and he rejoiced, "You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to You" v.22.

What circumstances make you feel helpless or hopeless today? Poor health, broken relationships, a family member in great need? In Jesus Christ, God has pierced the dark winter of our world in a daring rescue through His redeeming love. He is therefore able to reach us and calm our fears in the most desperate circumstances. 

We are never cut off from the mighty power and sustaining peace of God. 

God's help is only a prayer away.

....hope

His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

It's one of the saddest stories of the Bible, yet it inspired one of the most hopeful hymns of the twentieth century.

The prophet Jeremiah witnessed unimaginable horrors when the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem in 586 BC. Solomon's temple was reduced to ruins, and with it went not only the center of worship but also the heart of the community. The people were left with no food, no rest, no peace, no leader. 

But in the midst of suffering and grief, one of their prophets found a reason for hope. "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed," wrote Jeremiah, "because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" Lamentations 3:22-23.

Jeremiah's hope came from his personal experience of the Lord's faithfulness and from his knowledge of God's promises in the past. Without these, he would have been unable to comfort his people. 

This hope of Lamentations 3 is echoed in a hymn by Thomas Chisholm (1866-1960). Although suffering sickness and setbacks throughout his life, he wrote "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." It assures us that even in times of great fear, tragic loss, and intense suffering we can find comfort and confidence as we trust in God's great faithfulness. 

- julie link

....alone

I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

Robinson Crusoe, the chief character in a novel by Daniel Defoe, was shipwrecked and stranded on an uninhabited island. Life was hard, but he found hope and comfort when he turned to the Word of God.

Crusoe said, "One morning, being very sad, I opened the Bible upon these words, 'I will never, never leave thee, nor forsake thee.'

Immediately, it occurred that these words were to me; why else should they be directed in such a manner, just at the moment when I was mourning over my condition, as one forsaken of God and man?

'Well then,' said I, 'if God does not forsake me... what matters it, though the world should all forsake me...?'  From this moment I began to conclude in my mind that it was possible for me to be more happy in this forsaken, solitary condition than it was probable that I should ever have been in any other state in the world; and with this thought I was going to give thanks to God for bringing me to this place.'"

Have you been forsaken by a friend, a child, a parent, a spouse? God has said, "l will never leave you nor forsake you" Hebrews 13:5. So you, too, can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" v. 6. 

Fear will leave us when we remember that God is with us.

....servant

The night before Jesus was crucified, He was celebrating the Passover meal with His disciples. We traditionally call this the Last Supper. Jesus knew this would be the last time He would eat with His disciples; He knew in just one more day He would be hung on a cross to die.

Knowing He only had a few short hours remaining with this select group, Jesus used His time to leave a lasting impression of what it meant to truly follow Him.

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him John 13:3-5

Without using words, Jesus gave His greatest sermon. Jesus was absolutely secure in who He was and where He was going: "He had come from God and was returning to God." But He was not proud or arrogant in His security. He didn't use His position to force others to submit or demand they satisfy His needs; instead, His secure position allowed Him to be completely humble and serve His disciples by washing their feet.

Our Heavenly Father desires for us to have this same level of security in Him. He wants us to KNOW we are His children and where we will spend eternity. Jesus came to set us free, and we are to walk in this secure freedom. But rather than using our freedom to arrogantly strut according to our own desires, a secure freedom should give us the necessary confidence to humbly serve without being offended; "do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love" Galatians 5:13.

Being a follower of Jesus Christ means, first and foremost, that we love the Lord with ALL our heart, soul, mind and strength Mark 12:30, it means we are to love, serve, and "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ" Ephesians 5:21. 

Knowing where we will spend eternity, and keeping our eyes set on this eternal perspective, allows us to focus more on the needs and concerns of others Philippians 2:3-4. It allows us to use our gifts for their intended purpose; "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others" 1 Peter 4:10. My own earthly needs become few when I have a clear picture of my eternal home.

Let's learn to live as Jesus lived: in fellowship with our Heavenly Father, with absolute assurance of who we are in Christ, with confidence of our eternal destiny, and with the complete abandoned humility of a free and secure servant.

- steve troxel

 

.....circle

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15

Following the death of our seventeen-year-old daughter in a car accident in June 2002, each member of our family handled the loss differently. For my wife, among the most helpful sources of comfort were visits from moms who had also lost a child in an accident.

Sue found strength in their stories, and she wanted them to tell her how God had been faithful in their lives, despite the deep sorrow that comes with losing a precious child.  

Soon Sue became part of a circle of compassion, a small group of moms who could weep, pray, and seek God's help together. That cadre of grieving moms formed a bond of empathy and hope that provided encouragement in the face of her daily sorrow.

Each person grieves uniquely, yet we all need to share our hearts, our burdens, our questions, and our sadness with someone else. That's why it's vital that we find others with whom to discuss our pain and sorrow.

In our relationship with Christ, we find encouragement, consolation, love, fellowship, affection, and mercy Philippians 2:1. God comforts us so that we can comfort others 2 Corinthians 1:4. So let's "rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep" Romans 12:15. Then others will find a circle of compassion too. 

"A heartfelt tear can show our love

As words can never do;

It says, "I want to share your pain -

My heart goes out to you."

We must learn to weep before we can dry another's tears.

- dave branon

....up

Christ is the solid Rock upon which we have been set. He alone is our stable source of direction and strength. We will need to visit this truth again and again as we continue to answer the call to follow. When Jesus called Peter and Andrew to "Come, follow Me" Matthew 4:19, He was calling them to become His disciples (the word disciple means follower). But Jesus placed strong conditions on a disciple; "Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple" Luke 14:27.

The call to be a disciple is not simply a call to live a good moral life. It's a call to crucify (put to death) everything of our self that hinders our relationship with God. We must hold loosely to everything but God; "Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple" Luke 14:33.

The life of a disciple should clearly demonstrate a commitment to Christ by producing fruit for His Kingdom; "This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourself to be My disciple" John 15:8. A disciple should flow with pure love; "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35). And a disciple should maintain a commitment to all Jesus taught; "If you hold to My teachings, you are really My disciples" John 8:31.

Discipleship appears to be a VERY difficult call! It's difficult to be His disciple and even more difficult to "make disciples of all nations" Matthew 28:19. In fact, if we focus only on these "requirements," our task is impossible!! We are called to glorify God by drawing very near to Jesus and loving Him with all our heart; but in our own strength, we have no ability to draw near - no ability to be His disciple.

But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself. John 12:32

When Jesus was "lifted up" on the cross and died for our sin, He provided the way back to the Father - the way to become His disciple. He drew us to Himself so we could be forgiven and stand in the presence of God. Likewise, the only way to draw near and follow today is to lift Him up to His rightful throne over our life and give Him our pure praise and absolute worship.

If we fail to lift up Jesus Christ, our efforts to carry our cross become nothing more than a list of restrictive rules; we will have no ability to produce Kingdom fruit, and our love for others will be selfish and artificial. 

Without a focus on Jesus Christ, our walk will become an impossible burden without direction. Let's "make disciples" by first being His devoted disciple. And let's be His disciple by ensuring that in ALL we do, we love Him and continually lift Him up.

- steve troxel 

....blessings

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses;
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes;
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears;
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean;
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on GOD instead of yourself!!!!

"... But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God..." 2 Corinthians 1:9

....rock

 

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

We must make every effort to firmly stand; and yet, we must realize we cannot stand in our own strength. The ground is solid only because of Christ. He IS the rock upon which we have been set - the Rock of our Salvation. Whenever we feel unworthy or unable to follow - whenever we feel we can no longer stand - we have surely begun to look to our own strength rather than God; "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ" 2 Corinthians 1:21. He alone gives us the strength.

We have trusted Him to lift us out of the pit, and now that we are His children, we must continue to trust Him to strengthen us and be the stable Rock of our life. "For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!" Romans 5:10.

The solid Rock is no place to tremble, no place to fear. He will remain solid for all eternity, and as we stand on Him, He will accomplish through us what we are unable to do in our own strength. He is our new life, our strength, our identity, and all our self-worth. 

He is our comfort when we grieve, and He is our guiding light when we have lost our way. Let's honor our Heavenly Father as we continue to stand. Let's bring Him glory as we resolve to stand firm on the Rock!

- steve troxel

....hand

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort 2 Corinthians 1:3 You never know when you need the Lord's comfort the most - when God's care will be your only hope to face tomorrow.

One day in 1932, pianist, singer, and songwriter Thomas A. Dorsey discovered his need for God's comfort. He left his pregnant wife, Nettie, at home in Chicago while he drove his Model A to St. Louis to sing at a revival meeting. All went well, and the crowd responded enthusiastically. At the end of Dorsey's performance, he received a telegram with the tragic news that his wife had died in childbirth. Within hours, the baby boy also died.

Filled with grief, Dorsey sought answers. Should he have stayed in Chicago and not gone to St. Louis? Had God done him an injustice? A few days after Nettie's death, Dorsey sat down at the piano and began to p1ay. Finally, sensing God's peace and closeness, he began to sing some new words and play a new song:

   Precious Lord, take my hand

   Lead me on, let me stand;

   I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;

   Through the storm, through the night

   Lead me on to the light;

   Take my hand, precious Lord, take me home. 

Is there a problem too big for you to handle alone?  Or a grief to great to bear?  Put your hand in the Lord's.  Let the "God of all comfort" lead you home. 

 

When God permits trials, he also provides comfort.  

....ground

The life changing benefit of God's perspective can only be found through a clear understanding of His gospel message. And His gospel changes everything!

The gospel message is one of hope which says, God loves us and has an ETERNAL plan for our life through faith in His Son Jesus. Without the hope of the gospel, we would continue to live a life of emptiness and an eternity separated from God. Even if we stumbled onto temporary fulfillment - even if our burden was made light - without the gospel our life would end without hope.

But as we place our trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sin, He lifts us up, gives our life new meaning, and transforms us into a new creation through the power of His Spirit.

"I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." Psalm 40:1-2

These words were written by King David over one thousand years before the death and resurrection of Jesus. And yet, they provide an excellent illustration of the hope found in the message of Salvation.

In our sinful nature, we all "have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way" Isaiah 53:6. Our nature is to follow our own sinful desires and walk down paths which cause us to "fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. Each of us have been firmly embedded in the mire of sin and none of us can climb out of the slimy pit with our own strength; we have no ability to build eternal hope!

But before the creation of the world God loved us and had a plan to bring us back to Himself, a plan to rescue us; "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. The death and resurrection of Jesus allows us victory over sin and creates a way out of the mud; "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" Romans 10:9.

If we truly desire to be clean and live with hope and a new view of life, we must call out to Jesus and believe He is who He claimed to be - our Savior and Lord! If we will trust Him and cry out in faith, He has promised to hear our cry and lift us up. He will pour His cleansing love upon us and fill us with purpose! 

He will set our feet for all eternity upon Himself and we will forever stand on solid ground.

- steve troxel

....strange

 "And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands" 2 John 1:6

A distinguished Indian evangelist named Sadhu Chellappa was on a mission trip to a village north of Chennai, when in the middle of the night he suddenly sensed God speaking to him: "Leave this house quickly and run away!"

Not exactly a convenient thing to do. But Chellappa was accustomed to accepting even strange instructions from the Lord without debate, so he dressed quickly and ran into the darkness.

After a while, he was in open country. As he passed beneath a large tree, he felt God tell him, "Stay here and start to preach!" Now, even for an experienced evangelist, this was puzzling--because there was no one to be seen. Why did God want him to preach to an empty field in the middle of the night? But he stopped under the tree and began to preach the gospel.

Finally, he reached the point at which he called on his unseen listeners to give their lives to Jesus. He was surprised to hear a voice from the top of the tree and see a man climb down, crying. The man tearfully gave his life to Jesus. When Chellappa asked why he was in a tree out in the middle of nowhere, the man admitted, "I came out here to hang myself."

How is your obedience quotient? God calls us to be obedient to that small voice inside that can direct us to sometimes do strange things. Jesus was obedient in ALL things. "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous" Rom 5:19. God can do exceedingly great things through one man or woman who is willing to be obedient to God's voice. Ask for His grace today to be obedient to His voice.

.....never

Are you discouraged?  Remember, the game's not over until it's over. Anyone going through a difficult time needs to remember that the end has not yet come, and that our Heavenly Father may have all manner of wonderful things in store just around the bend in the road. 

USA TODAY once reported a story which demonstrates this fact very well.  Milwaukee Hamilton High School had a 22-15 lead against Milwaukee Marshall with just a few seconds left in a football game one Friday night in September of 1983. It appeared to be a sure victory. With only four seconds remaining, Hamilton, which was on its 40-yard line, snapped the ball to Jose Alba. Alba ran back toward his end zone to run out the clock, then tossed the ball into the air as time expired, thinking the game was over, and the victory belonged to him and his teammates.

But, remember - in football, the play is not finished until the ball is downed while in the possession of a player. So when the ball came down, one of Marshall's players, Floyd Heard, picked it up on the five and ran it in for a touchdown. Then with time expired, Marshall attempted the two-point conversion - and made it. They won the game 23-22.

There are many times in our lives when we're on the losing side of the scoreboard, and time is running out. If Floyd Heard had believed what the circumstances told him, he would have walked to the sideline, accepting defeat. Yet, that is what we do so many times in our lives. The game - nor life - is over until it's over. Be encouraged! Don't give up! Stay the course!

"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." Luke 18:1 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."Galatians 6:9

- rocky henriques 

....waiting

As Paul was returning to Jerusalem at the end of his third missionary journey, he already had a sense of where his next journey would lead; "after I have been there, I must visit Rome" Acts 19:21. But he also knew he was about to face many difficulties; "in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me" Acts 20:23. Paul was arrested less than ten days after arriving in Jerusalem. He probably didn't realize it at the time, but his journey to Rome had just begun.

Paul's journey to Rome would last about two and a half years and include many legal and physical trials, and many opportunities to demonstrate his faith in Jesus Christ. Surprisingly, it also included two long years where Paul had nothing to do but sit in prison and wait for an occasional visit with Governor Felix before being transferred to the courts of Rome. "As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, 'That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.'"Acts 24:25

This must have been a difficult time for someone accustomed to being so actively involved in ministry. Paul was treated well in this prison, but after receiving specific instructions to minister in Rome, two years must have felt like a painfully long time.

We are never told of God's reason for this waiting period. Many times, waiting is necessary to allow other events to occur and other people to be properly positioned. And many times, waiting is necessary because we need to better learn some of God's truths...or we simply need a good rest.

Paul was about to face his most challenging journey and possibly his most significant ministry opportunity; "Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome" Acts 23:11. On his journey, Paul faced a severe storm, shipwreck, snakebite, and many threats on his life, but Paul was also given the opportunity to minister to the leaders of the Roman Empire.

Much of our own journey involves patience and learning how to trust and wait on God. Almost nothing seems to occur as fast as we would like; difficult situations take longer to resolve, people take longer to mature, and ministries take longer to grow. But our present circumstances always serve a purpose!

If we have earnestly sought God and not received specific direction, it's possible we are simply being told to wait - wait and be refreshed; wait and spend time abiding in His presence; wait...and prepare. Let's continue to rejoice and learn to trust Him even more during our times of waiting.

- steve troxel

....momentary

There is no example of a Christ-changed life which is more dramatic than the Apostle Paul. While on his way to Damascus to capture Christians and put them in jail, Jesus blinded Paul and asked, "Why do you persecute Me?" Acts 9:4. When Paul asked who was speaking, Jesus replied: "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do" Acts 9:5-6.

Jesus identified Paul as "My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel" Acts 9:15. This special selection did not make Paul perfect, but he was gifted with a close relationship with Jesus as well as special insight into the true gospel message.

Paul suffered many hardships and trials during his years of ministry. His life was continually threatened; he was beaten many times, placed in prison for extended periods, and faced the frustration of ministering to people who failed to truly appreciate his message. And yet, Paul weighed his trials on the scale of eternity.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Paul had learned "the secret of being content in any and every situation" Philippians 4:12. This secret involved knowing who he was in Christ and viewing his life from the perspective of eternity. This secret also gave him a new understanding of his trials.

Though our days on earth may sometimes be difficult, our days are very few. A hundred years is not even a visible speck on the canvas of eternity - our days are momentary! And the weight of our burdens vanish to nothing when compared to the glory of Heaven - our burdens are truly light! This is the lasting power of an eternal perspective.

God's peace and contentment require us to expand our view to include an eternity we cannot see and a glory we may not understand; "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace" John 16:33. His peace is available today; it is available in our relationships, our work, our finances, our health, and our ministry.

Let's allow the world to see our confidence in His promised eternal glory by the peace which fills our life. Let's live by the faith of an eternal perspective and be renewed as we rightly consider ALL our trials to be light and momentary.

- steve troxel

.....bank

I don't want to admit how debit-card-dependent I am. It's getting embarrassing. 

One day this week I couldn't find my card. I looked everywhere. Even by the next morning there was still no trace of the card. I searched high and low, near and far- even under the sofa cushions. I found 37 cents, three marbles, a T-shirt (how had we ignored that lump?), seven M & M's, a screwdriver, my favorite sunglasses, and the TV remote (hey, we'd been looking for that thing) - but no card.

I checked our bank account online to make sure no one had used the rogue card.  Nope, no extra charges (although how in the world could all those charges be mine?). Still, I was just this side of panic.

Why is it that I wait until panic starts to set in before I remember where I really need to turn? Finally I thought, "I'll have my quiet time with the Lord and then I can resume the hunt with more peace, less panic." I opened my Bible and guess what fell out; my card! I had absentmindedly stuck it between the pages the morning prior to mark a passage.

What a lesson my Father taught me about where I should run first. I found such treasure in His Word that morning and, believe it or not, the real treasure was not even card-related. Psalm 119:14-16 says it best: "I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word."  Ah, it's great to be rich!

- rhonda rhea