....looks

After Joshua died, the nation of Israel was ruled by judges for over 300 years. During this time, the people turned to God when life became difficult, but "did evil in the eyes of the Lord" Judges 3:7 when the difficult times passed. Finally, they cried out for a king: "We want a king to rule us. Then we will be like the other nations" 1 Samuel 8:20. God gave them exactly what they wanted; He gave them Saul, "An impressive young man without equal among the Israelites" 1 Samuel 9:2.

Saul looked impressive and was loved by the people, but he failed to obey God's commands. After several years, God rejected Saul as king and sent Samuel to anoint a new king from among the sons of Jesse. When Samuel arrived at Jesse's home, he saw Eliab and thought for sure he was to be the next king.

"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'"1 Samuel 16:7

Samuel assumed the next king would fit the same "impressive" mold as Saul. But this king was to be chosen according to the criteria of God, not the criteria of man. God chose David, not because of his appearance or status, but because of his heart.

How often do we fall into the trap of evaluating others based on outward appearance? How often do we draw conclusions about a person based on looks and status. These prejudices affect the relationships we pursue and the counsel we give as well as receive. But God calls us to consider the heart of others and to strongly examine the condition of our own heart!

Much of our life is focused on being externally impressive. We desire the "right" looks, credentials, and possessions. We believe our outward condition makes us more valued, and some people actually do evaluate us based on these outward coverings. But God looks past the external and directly pierces into who we are on the inside. Our focus must forever be on how we are viewed in the eyes of God, not the eyes of man.

There are very few things with eternal value. And nothing outside the will of God can survive the flames of judgment. The priorities of our life become the treasures which mold our heart; "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" Matthew 6:21. 

And our heart is NEVER hidden from the eyes of God!

Let's place our treasure firmly in the palm of His Hand. Let's begin to consider the riches stored inside our Brothers and Sisters, and consider our true appearance as we stand before our holy Father. Everything external will one day fade away and we will stand bare and empty, with God looking at our heart. 

- steve troxel

....happiness

 "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

Christopher Parkening is regarded as the world's greatest classical guitarist. He has played guitar with orchestras around the world and has even played for several presidents in the White House. In addition to being a great musician, he is also a world-class fly-fishing champion.

By his own testimony, he writes, "By age 30, I'd achieved all my dreams in the musical world, but I was tired of hotel rooms, performances and recording sessions. It was time to go fishing, so with the money I had earned, I found my dream stream on a ranch in Montana. I bought the ranch, called my management group at Colombia, and told them I had no desire to play anymore. I had earned enough money that I didn't need to work anyway. 

For several years, I did what I wanted, but as time went by, my life became emptier. I found out that when you have everything you thought would make you happy, and it doesn't– you start asking questions like: What's missing? 

While in California visiting friends, I attended a church where I heard a sermon entitled, "Examine yourself whether you are in the faith." The preacher said that you could know all about Christ, the Bible, even pray to God, and Jesus could still say, 'Depart from me, you worker of iniquity, I never knew you.' I was convinced if I had died that night, Jesus would have spoken those words to me.

So, I walked down the aisle, surrendered my life to Christ, and was baptized. I read the Bible when I was a kid, but I never wanted a Lord to obey unconditionally. I went home that day broken over my selfish ways.

That night, I couldn't sleep, so I got up and started reading the Bible. Soon I came across 1 Corinthians 10:31 that said, "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." I realized there were only two things I knew how to do: fly fish and play guitar. I am playing the guitar today for God's glory, and that's what I tell my students at Pepperdine, where I teach. I now have peace and joy unspeakable that I never had before. My life has purpose and I've learned the true secret of genuine happiness!"

Happiness is not about what we possess, but rather what we give. The gifts God has given us are not meant only to bring us satisfaction, but rather to be a blessing to others. When we share what God has given us and seek to bring him glory, we are fulfilling His purpose for our lives, and this produces true happiness. 

Lord, thank You for the gifts you have blessed me with, whether they are in the form of talents or material possessions, show me ways to bless others with them, and in doing so, bring honor and glory to you. May our desire be to fulfil Your purpose for our lives and find true happiness that comes from you. 

-dick ines

....fence

There was an incredibly large group of people assembled. On one side of the group stood Jesus. On the other side of the group stood Satan. Separating them, running through the group was a fence.

The scene set, both Jesus and Satan began calling to the people in the group and, one by one, each having made up his or her mind, each went to either Jesus or Satan.

This kept going, and eventually Jesus had gathered around him a group of people from the larger crowds, as did Satan. But one man joined neither group. He climbed the fence that was there and just sat down on it. Then Jesus and his people left and disappeared. So too did Satan and his people.

And the man on the fence sat alone.

As this man sat there, Satan came back, and appeared to be looking for something that he'd lost. The man said, "Have you lost something?"  Satan looked straight at him and replied, "No, there you are. Come with me."

"But," said the man, "You don't understand. I sat on the fence. I chose neither you nor Him.

"You don't understand." said Satan. "I own the fence."

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon." Matthew 6:24

- dave langerfeld

.....example

When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, the gospel accounts of Jesus had not yet been written. Most believers didn't know many details of Jesus' life, so it was difficult to encourage by saying to live as Jesus would live. Instead, Paul led others to Jesus through the example he demonstrated in his own life.

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."1 Corinthians 11:1

In setting the example, Paul certainly didn't claim to be perfect. He would be the first to stand up and say; "What a wretched man I am!" Romans 7:24. Though Paul wrote and preached on how to live the Christian life, he still admitted his imperfections; "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me" Philippians 3:12.

And yet, Paul also knew he was a child of God and was willing to place his life in open view for others to examine and imitate; "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice" Philippians 4:9.

When we claim to follow Jesus, the world takes notice - whether we like it or not. We may not feel we are witnessing, but for many people we are the only view of Jesus they will ever see and the only words of Jesus they will ever hear. We may not realize it but the way we live cries out, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."

Do we want others to put into practice what they see in us? We will always fall short, but would our example cause others to be drawn closer to God or to drift further away? Do we follow Jesus' command to love one another so that, "By this all men will know you are My disciples" John 13:35? 

This is a huge responsibility and one we must not assume is only for the "Super-Christian."

A friend of mine had an "I Love Jesus" sticker on his car. One day, as he angrily sped in and out of traffic, he realized his driving was not setting a good Christian example. He solved this "problem" by removing the sticker. Rather than modify an area of his life, my friend removed his public identification with Jesus.

We cannot remove the "I Love Jesus" stickers from our life. The world is watching and we must be bold enough to stand and accept the accountability. We need men and women of strength and character - Brothers and Sisters who love one another and love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength! Let's fall more in love with Jesus Christ and be among those who seek to live a life that brings Him glory and honor in ALL we do. Others are ready to follow. Let's show them the path to Christ as we set the example. 

- steve troxel

....tests

 "...What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to take my life?" 1 Samuel 20:1

The cost of being one of God's anointed can be great. Those whom God has anointed for service and influence in His Kingdom go through a special preparation. 

David was anointed to be the next king over Israel.  Shortly after this, while still a young boy, he was brought into King Saul's service to play music in Saul's court. While there, the opportunity to stand up against Goliath elevated David for his next stage of development as future king. As his popularity grew so did Saul's jealousy. However, even Saul's jealousy was God's instrument for molding and shaping David. 

Saul finally decided he could no longer tolerate David's success and popularity among the people, so he tried to kill David. The confused young shepherd boy spent many years hiding in wilderness caves before he was able to see the hand of God in all of this. No doubt David thought that when Samuel anointed him he would be conveniently raised up to be king with all the accompanying benefits of kingship. Not so. God's preparation of David involved much persecution, disloyalty, and hardship. These were the lessons necessary to be a godly king. God brought many tests in David's life, just as He did with Saul. David passed these tests. Saul did not. 

When God anoints us, it often is accompanied by some severe tests. These tests are designed to prepare us for the calling God has on our life. Should we fail these tests God cannot elevate us to the next level. 

What if God has chosen you for a specific purpose in His Kingdom? Are you passing the tests He is bringing about in your life? These tests are designed to bring about greater obedience. In most instances, it will involve great adversity. The Bible tells us that the King of Kings learned obedience through the things that He suffered Heb. 5:8. If this is true, why would it be any different for His children? Be aware of the tests God may be bringing before you in order to prepare you for His service. 

- os hillman

....return

"Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back - whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'" Mark 13:35-37

Are we ready for the Owner of the House to return? We can't afford to wait for that next promotion or for the kids to grow; we must wake up and be prepared today! We can't wait for our house to be built to our satisfaction before we dedicate it to the service of the Lord; we must give our all and serve the One who gave His life so we could live...today!!

If the end of our time on earth were to occur tomorrow, did our thoughts, words, and deeds for today bring glory and honor to our Heavenly Father? If the answer is no - we need to arise from our spiritual slumber and allow Jesus to clean our lives. 

For what is the purpose of our being allowed to walk this earth if not to bring Him glory?

The study and discussion of end times should cause us to praise God for His victory over evil. 

Our understanding of the end times should cause us to walk in reverent obedience and fight the pulls of the world. Let's not be caught sleeping. Rather, let's look forward with great anticipation and commit to being prepared. 

Let's draw near to God in all we do and watch for His return.

- steve troxel

....up

A short while after Moses and the people of Israel miraculously passed through the Red Sea, "the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites" Exodus 17:8. The Israelites did not have the power to win this battle on their own, so Moses sent Joshua to the battlefield and then climbed to the top of a hill: "I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands" Exodus 17:9.

"As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side, one on the other - so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword."Exodus 17:11-13

Moses knew what he had to do, but he simply became worn out. Fortunately for the people of Israel, Moses had two trusted companions who stood by his side and were willing to hold up his arms until the battle was won.

Many people have committed their lives to fighting the battle for the Kingdom of God. These, who are daily on the front lines, feel greatly outnumbered and are prone to grow weary. They desperately need an Aaron and a Hur to come alongside with prayer and encouragement.

"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. Those who faithfully serve may appear strong and confident, but they come under daily attack and their arms are getting very tired; they need to be reassured and loved. 

Many of our Brothers and Sisters are on the front lines of battle today. Let's join them by becoming a continual "supply line" of encouragement and prayer. Let's be like Aaron and Hur, and hold up their arms!

 

....fragrance

"The fragrance of the knowledge of Christ is spread through the believer” 2 Cor.2:14

I looked out the window and noticed a thorny plant in bloom. The flowers look like clover...  Round little purple heads on a tall and gangly stalk. The amazing thing, though, is the amount of bees this plant has drawn. About thirty bees are literally swarming around this bush. There is no fragrance to this flower that I can detect, but, there is something most definitely appealing about this perennial to these busy insects!

In the Bible, God talks about fragrance a few times in both the Old and New Testament. In 2 Cor. 2:14 He says, "the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ is spread through the believer". In the next verse, it says that we (Christians) are "the sweet fragrance of Christ to God" 2 Cor. 2:15

So, therefore, we are the fragrance of Christ, to God, and we spread this fragrance of Christ to others. Just like the bees were drawn to the flowers which emitted no sweet smell to me - likewise, non-believers can be drawn to a Christian - by some undetectable pull.

In the New Testament, the story of a nice aroma is told in the book of John. In this story, Mary took expensive perfume and anointed Jesus’ feet. This wonderful smell permeated the entire house. John 12:3  Likewise, sometimes our love for Christ is overflowing in such a manner that the fragrance of joy is obvious to others, and draws them near to see what is going on.

In either of these manners, obvious or subtle, Christians must draw the secular population to the saving grace and knowledge of Jesus. This is the fragrance which is pleasing to our God.

- marion smith 

....move

As the Israelites approached the Red Sea, "Pharaoh and his officials changed their mind" Exodus 14:5.

Every chariot in Egypt was sent to bring the Israelites back. With no escape route in sight, and the Egyptian army closing in, the people cried out to God. Moses tried to calm the people, "The Lord will fight for you: you need only to be still" Exodus 14:14. But being still was not in God's plan.

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.'"Exodus 14:15-16

God had been in close communion with Moses. He had given His direction and demonstrated His awesome power. Now at this moment of crisis, God expected Moses to know what to do: "Why are you crying out to Me...move on!"

We must diligently seek His will in stillness and prepare our life to follow where He leads; "be still and know that He is God" Psalm 46:10. The conditions will never feel perfect, nor will we ever feel fully prepared; beware of a never-ending mission analysis which paralyzes us from action. In the end we must remember: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31.

There will always come a time when God expects us to demonstrate our faith in what He has provided. Let's prepare for that time by drawing near and learning to trust in HIS ability. Let's live with an active faith such that when we know His power, know His provision, and know His direction, we are able to trust and move on.

- steve troxel 

...suffering

 "We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance." Romans 5:3

A young Christian went to an older believer and asked, "Will you pray that I may be more patient?" So they knelt together and the man began to pray, "Lord, send this young man tribulation in the morning; send him tribulation in the afternoon; send him..."

Just then the young believer blurted out, "No, not tribulations! I asked for patience."   "l know," said the wise Christian, "but it's through tribulation that we learn patience."

The word perseverance in today's Scripture can mean the ability to remain steadfast under difficulties without giving in.. John A. Witmer wrote, "Only a believer who has faced distress can develop steadfastness. That, in turn, develops character."

When the apostle Paul told the Christians in Rome that "tribulation produces perseverance" Romans 5:3, he was speaking from personal experience. He had suffered beatings, whippings, stoning, shipwreck, and persecution. Yet he remained steadfast in his faith and did not shrink from his responsibility to preach the gospel.  

If you are facing a difficult test, praise God! Under His wise control, everything that happens to us - whether pleasurable or painful - is designed to develop Christlike character. That's why we can glory in tribulation. 

- richard dehaan

....all

"The Lord said to him, 'Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.' But Moses said, 'O Lord, please send someone else to do it.' Then the Lord's anger burned against Moses."  Exodus 4:11-14

Moses would later be described as "more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth" Numbers 12:2. But as he stood before God and received his initial assignment for battle, his "humility" was nothing more than a self-absorbed lack of faith. Moses looked at his own abilities and didn't see how success was possible. He failed to see the Creator of the Universe who promised to walk by His side.

Our Christian walk is ALL about God working through us. Our abilities will seem too small; of course the enemy will seem too big! The seemingly impossible steps are all part of His plan. Our Heavenly Father desires an intimate and passionate relationship built on absolute trust, so why would He ever lead us in a direction that did not require our complete dependence on Him? 

The assignment may seem impossible, but His call is our greatest assurance of victory; "If God be for us, who can be against us" Romans 8:31.

When God is truly Lord of our life, it's false humility to believe we cannot follow where He leads. Let's allow His glory to so completely fill our vision that we can boldly follow because we KNOW...it's all about Him.

- steve troxel

....lifeline

"He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust." Psalm 91:2

In his book "The Fisherman and His Friends", Louis Albert Banks tells of two men who were assigned to stand watch on a ship out at sea. During the night the waves from a raging storm washed one of them overboard  The sailor who drowned had been in the most sheltered place, while the one who survived was more exposed to the elements. 

What made the difference? The man who was lost had nothing to hold on to.

What a picture of the way some people are affected by the trials of life! When life is peaceful, they are very self-sufficient; but when the going gets rough, they are swept off their feet. Because they have refused God's help and have nothing to hold on to, they are easily overwhelmed.

People who cling to the Lord, though, can weather the fiercest storms of adversity. They are often heard to say, "I don't know what I would do without the Lord." They know that the heavenly Father is always with them to strengthen, guard, and protect them. Those who have put their hope in God have Someone they can rely on in every circumstance of life. They can say of the Lord. "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God in Him will I trust " Psalm 91:2  Can vou?

 

God has not promised to keep us from life's storms, but to keep us through them!

  

....ground

Our relationship with Jesus Christ should produce great assurance; "In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence" Ephesians 3:12. But as we approach the throne, we must always remember He is the King and the Creator of ALL things. He has invited us into an intimate relationship, but we must never attempt to enter into God's presence with a casual or assuming attitude.

If we desire to hear from God, we must first establish time which is free of distractions - we must be able to see where He is burning and listen for His call. Then we must have an available heart which daily cries out "Here I am!" Finally, we must draw near in reverent and humble submission.

The presence of God demands holiness, it creates holiness...it IS holiness! "For it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy'" 1 Peter 1:16. Without the presence of God, our churches and homes are nothing but walls and a roof, and our lives are nothing but empty shells of flesh. But as we love and worship Him with all our heart, His presence resides within us and we can live with purpose and direction.

Through faith in Jesus we have become His living temple. Let's take off our sandals by confessing and repenting of ALL that is unclean in our life. Let's live every day and take every step to honor Him; for we are His.

- steve troxel

....limit

 "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able." 1 Corinthians 10:13

We've all seen load-limit signs on highways, bridges, and elevators. Knowing that too much strain can cause severe damage or complete collapse, engineers determine the exact amount of stress that various materials can safely endure. Posted warnings tell us not to exceed the maximum load.

Human beings also have their load limits, which vary frorn person to person. Some people, for example, can bear the pressure of trials and temptations better than others; yet everyone has a breaking point and can take on so much.

At times, circumstances and people seem to be pushing us beyond what we can bear. But the Lord knows our limitations and never allows any difficulties to enter our lives that exceed our strength and ability to endure. This is especially true when we're enticed by sin.

So when trials and temptations press down on you, take courage. Remember, your heavenly Father knows the limits of your ability to stand up under life's pressures. Draw on His strength; no temptation will ever be greater than that. 

- richard dehaan

....burning

Moses was a peaceful shepherd for 40 years, but then "The angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush" Exodus 3:2. The bush was on fire but not actually being burned. This definitely got his attention, so Moses went to take a closer look.

"When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, 'Moses! Moses!' And Moses said, 'Here I am.'" Exodus 3:4

Notice that God waited until Moses saw the bush, stopped what he was doing, and drew himself near. I wonder how long this bush had been burning before Moses noticed? During the last 40 years, how many "burning bushes" were placed in his path? "Be still, and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10. How long had Moses needed to experience the "stillness" of tending the flock before he was ready to hear God? Oh Lord, help us to be still!

God is at work all around us, and He's calling us to join Him today. The bushes are burning, but in the hurriedness of our daily lives we most often fail to notice - fail to stop and draw near. Is it any wonder we have a hard time hearing His call? What will we see when God allows us to look back at the life we might have lived if we would only have taken time to listen?

Let's not miss the opportunity to participate in God's wonderful plan. Let's create time to be very still and look intently for where God is working. Then, with great expectation, let's join Him and draw near to the burning bush. 

- steve troxell

....glory

 "Thou, O Lord, are a shield about me, myglory and the lifter of my head." Psalm 3:3

Is God your glory? The word "glory" is the translation of a Hebrew word meaning "weight" or "significance."

Some people measure their worth by beauty, inteiligence, money, power, or prestige. But David, who wrote Psalm 3, found his security and worth in God. He said that many stood against him. He heard their cruel voices and was tempted to believe them, to give way to discouragement and depression. Nevertheless, he comforted and strengthened his heart with these words: "You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head" (v. 3).

What a change that realization made! He had God, and his enemies did not. So he could hold up his head with confidence. 

Verses like Psalm 3:3 can bring peace to your heart even in the midst of a storm of trouble. God is your shield and deliverer. He will deal with your adversaries in due time.

Meanwhile, tell God all about your troubles. Let Him be your glory. You don't have to defend yourself. Ask Him to be your shield - to protect your heart with His overshadowing love and care. Then, like David, you can lie down in peace and sleep, though tens of thousands are against you vv. 5-6.

Remember, No one is more secure than the one who is held in God's hands.

....alone

"The news about Him spread all the more, so the crowds of people came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Luke 5:15-16

We long for and desperately seek the presence of God, but Jesus Christ IS the very presence of God: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us" John 1:1,14.

And though He had perfect union with the Father, created the entire Universe, and demonstrated complete control over the elements of nature as He "rebuked the wind and the raging waters" Luke 8:24, Jesus still made time to be alone with the Father in prayer. Why?

1. Prior to the important decision of choosing His twelve apostles, Jesus "went out to a mountainside and spent the night praying" Luke 6:12. 
2. On the night before He was crucified, Jesus was in such anguish that He prayed until "His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground" Luke 22:44. 

Jesus, through His life and death, taught us of the need for prayer and how we ought to relate to God...and these are lessons we must not ignore!

If Jesus demonstrated such need of prayer, how much more necessary is it for us who contain so many flaws and so easily drift away from God. We cannot wave our hand to calm the storm, but we CAN pray for patience and the strength to endure, and relentlessly ask for His help. 

We are to live in such constant communion with God that we "pray continually" 1 Thessalonians 5:17, even as we drive in busy traffic, manage multiple assignments, or care for noisy children.

But each of us must also set aside time, "often" and regular, where we can withdraw to a quiet place. The presence of God can be found in the midst of our busyness, but we all need times of quiet where we can be refreshed and receive direction - times when we can simply lift our hearts to God and say, "Thank You!" 

Let's develop and maintain the discipline of entering the courts of His presence. Let's regularly set aside times of quiet to get alone and pray. 

- steve troxel

.....serve

Joshua led the people of Israel into the promised land of Canaan and helped them fight many battles. Toward the end of his life, Joshua gathered the leaders of Israel for some final encouragement: "You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the Lord your God who fought for you" Joshua 23:3.

Joshua wanted the leaders to know that God would continue to fight for them, but he also wanted them to know that God expected obedience to His Word: "If you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the Lord's anger will burn against you" Joshua 23:16. 

Joshua then gathered all the people and told them the time had come to make a choice."But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."  Joshua 24:15

The Israelites had seen God's mighty hand as they fought their enemies in Canaan, and had heard many stories of God's protection as He led them out of Egypt; the time had come to make a decision. Either they would commit to serve the Lord with ALL their heart, or they would serve the man made gods of the world.

We face the same decision today. We either decide to follow and serve Jesus, or we have decided to serve the priorities and "gods" of this world. There is no middle ground. A choice must be made! And failure to choose is itself a choice; "Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son" John 3:18.

Everyone must make their own decision about Jesus. However, each of us has a wonderful opportunity to influence others...especially those in our family. We can't force others to drink - and we can't quench their thirst by drinking for them - but we can definitely lead them to the water.

We can no longer float through life waiting to see where the pulls of this world will lead; we must live with intention and purpose, and decide once and for all to serve God with unrestricted devotion. Today, we stand at a crossroad and must choose. 

Today, we must choose whom we will serve.

- steve troxel

 

....memories

After the people of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years, God led them across the Jordan river into the promised land of Canaan. This was not an ordinary river crossing. God stopped the Jordan from flowing and allowed the priests to stand in the middle of the river bed, with the ark of the covenant, as the Israelites walked passed. This spectacular event was an obvious miracle that God wanted His people to remember and pass down to future generations.

"Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.'" Joshua 4:5-7

Memorials are anything that help us remember a specific time when God revealed Himself and said: "I am here!" We must never forget the miracles in our life, or the times God gave us clear direction or rescued us from darkness.

The presence of God is a wonderful place to be - it's where our Heavenly Father desires for us to live each day of our life! But His presence can often be illusive and fragile; when we find it, it seems to quickly fade away. Most of us have so much input from the world that we become easily distracted from God. We must not allow this to happen!!

We must become more aware of God as He works in our life and in the world around us. As we see and hear Him, we must find ways to create memories for ourselves and those we love; "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago" Psalm 77:11. Memorials help and encourage us to remember.

May we never forget that He is by our side and desires for us to draw, and remain, near. Imagine if we could be a living example of a life devoted (each and every moment) to God. Let's regain the heart of worship and share the stories of God's love. Let's remember...and look for ways to create lasting memorials.

....live

"We live by faith and not by sight."  2 Corinthians 5:7

The first step of faith is when we recognize our sinful condition, repent of our sin, and believe Jesus died so our sin can be forgiven. This belief in Jesus is not a result of what we see, but a result of faith - and without this first step of faith it is definitely not possible to please God.

But as we continue our walk with Christ, He becomes more and more real. With each new step our eyes are opened a little wider and we are allowed to see a little clearer. The challenges of yesterday which required great faith have become easier to bear...for now we can see! "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" Hebrews 11:1. True faith always involves a confidence of the unknown, an assurance of what is unseen. 

Our Heavenly Father desires to lead us in a life of faith. This means He often draws us into the unknown, for it is only in the unknown that we truly learn to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:5. And as the unknown becomes known, He will surely call us to take the next step, an even bigger step, and trust Him more.

Where is God calling us today? For some, it's to take the awesome step required for Salvation through faith in Jesus; "Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" Hebrews 4:7. For some, it's a step of trust for a burden which right now seems completely unbearable; and for some, it's a step into a level of service which appears impossible to achieve. Each of these requires a step into the unknown, into a place we cannot see, but each is part of the great adventure of faith!

Though the unknown is sometimes uncomfortable and maybe even a little scary, being guided by God into what we cannot see is the essence of a life of faith - a life which pleases God, we must continue to listen, step, and grow; we must continue to live daily by faith.