.....arise

Christian growth means to become closer, and develop a more intimate relationship, with God. This relationship begins when we are born into His family - when we ask Him to forgive our sins through faith in Jesus and begin what is intended to be an eternal communion of love. He desires for us to trust Him in ALL things and pray to Him on all occasions; "In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" Philippians 4:6.

Jesus promised that our prayers will be heard and answered; "Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete" John 16:24. But as we lift up our requests, we can sometimes become confused by God's response. We often perceive His answers to be slow in arriving, or we are disappointed with His reply; we may even begin to doubt if God even hears our prayers.

We must remember that we have entered into an eternal relationship with the Sovereign Creator of the Universe! Underlying all our prayers must be the firm belief that "in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him" Romans 8:28. God always has a plan, and His plan is very, very good! His plan is that we draw closer to His side and joyfully be conformed to the image of His Son, trusting that His answer to our prayers will meet our true need, and fulfill our deepest desire, much better than we could ever imagine Ephesians 3:20.

Peter and John were confronted by a crippled man sitting beside the Temple gate begging for money. "Then Peter said, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.'" Acts 3:6

The crippled man had never walked a single step. In his limited view of the world, the only hope he had for a better life was to be given a little money by those passing by. His request was limited by what he could see and understand - limited by his faith.

Our loving Father always hears and answers our prayers. His answer to prayer is either yes, no, or wait...and sometimes He answers with, "Here my child, I have something much better for you." But most often, God answers by simply giving us more of Himself.

God's view of our needs is much higher and grander than our own. We generally see our need as the solution to some short term problem, but our true need is always to grow by drawing closer and loving Him more. Let's take our eyes off the ideas we think will "fix" our problem and look instead to the One who is calling, to the One who patiently says, "Trust Me and come into My presence as you arise and walk!"

- steve troxel

.....return

One day when Jesus was traveling from Galilee to Jerusalem, ten men with leprosy approached Him and called out; "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" Luke 17:13. Jesus didn't immediately heal the lepers. Instead, He gave them a simple instruction; "Go, show yourselves to the priests" Luke 17:14.

A leper would only present himself to a priest if he believed the leprosy was gone. The priests had the authority to declare a diseased person ceremonially clean and allow them to return home Leviticus 14. Therefore, the lepers demonstrated great faith when they followed Jesus' command; "And as they went, they were cleansed" Luke 17:14. Notice that the lepers had to take action before they were healed; their action was a demonstration of their faith.

Though all ten lepers had been cleansed of their terrible disease, only one returned to give thanks; "He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked Him" Luke 17:16. Jesus responded with a very convicting question.

"Jesus asked, 'Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?'"Luke 17:17

I wonder if we really understand the degree to which we have been healed and made clean; "God made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgression" Ephesians 2:5. We were DEAD, and He made us alive with Christ - that's serious healing!! Our Heavenly Father reached down in love and provided a way for complete restoration when we did not even have the ability to cry out for help; "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8 - that's serious love!!

His Hand guided us toward healing through His Son and His Hand continues to heal in countless ways on our daily walk. Every time relationships are restored, His hand has healed; when conflicts are resolved, His hand has healed; and when He lovingly welcomes us back after we have wandered from His presence, His hand has healed.

But do we return to thank Him? Or are we as the other nine lepers who go on our way and forget the One to whom we owe our very lives.

The one leper who returned threw himself at Jesus' feet. If we knew how deathly sick we are without Christ and how completely He has healed our soul, we would not only throw ourselves at His feet, but we would remain and refuse to ever leave. Let's live each day in the presence of God and continually come before Him with hearts overflowing with thanksgiving and praise. 

Let's remember our divine healing and ALWAYS be the one who will return to give thanks.

- steve troxel

.....monotony

I read this morning about the world's longest foot race -- and was amazed at what I learned!  According to Reuters:  "The longest foot race in the world is 3,100 miles [4988.966km], long enough to stretch from New York to Los Angeles. Those who run it choose a different route: they circle one city block in Jamaica, Queens, New York City - for two months straight (52 days). 

The athletes lap their block more than 5,000 times. They wear out 12 pairs of shoes. They run more than two marathons daily. In the heat and rain of a New York summer, they stop for virtually nothing except to sleep between midnight and 6 a.m.  

I find it incredible that anybody can run that far for that long.  But perhaps what I find even more incredible is that it is done by running the same half-mile stretch over and over and over.  If the running didn't kill me, the monotony would! 

But I thought of what a great picture that is of life.  We often talk about how the Christian life is a "race" I Cor. 9:24; 2 Tim. 4:7; Heb. 12:1.  And it is a long, long race.  But I don't know how often we have considered that the difficulty in the race is not only in its length, but also in its monotony.  So much of what we do is repetitive and "mundane."

A Christian mother works hard to demonstrate her faith in taking care of her husband and children.  But, every day seems just like the day before -- diapers to be changed, clothes to be washed, dirty dishes to be cleaned, a house to be vacuumed and swept.  The same thing over and over and over.

A Christian father works hard to demonstrate his faith by providing for his family and living out his faith in the workplace.  But every day seems just like the day before -- fighting the traffic to and from work, working on an assembly line doing the same job repetitively day after day, dealing with hard-to-please customers.  The same thing over and over and over.

One of the difficulties in living life (and the Christian life in particular) is in hanging in there through those difficult times when it seems that you're running across the same ground over and over.  Be assured, though -- if you can survive the monotony and continue to run, the finish line lies ahead.  Continue to plod on.  And keep this promise in your heart:

"Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." I Cor. 15:58

- alan smith

.....tools

In the days of the prophet Jeremiah, God's chosen people had turned away to worship other gods. But God longed for His children to return and worship Him as the One True God. The Israelites had been warned for many years and now God used a foreign king as His tool for discipline and instruction.

"Now I will hand all your countries over to My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him." Jeremiah 27:6

God reminded the people that He alone was almighty and in control of world events. But He also revealed their sinful pride as He required them to yield to His discipline in order to survive; "Bow your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and you will live" Jeremiah 27:12. Many chose to die rather than to trust God and submit to His instruction.

Nebuchadnezzar did not even acknowledge God at this point in his life; and yet, God called him "My servant." It was God's plan to use this non-believing foreigner to teach His children some very important (and painful) lessons. God's Hand of discipline is firm, but His Hand is always directed with a loving purpose. Pride was keeping His children away, and it needed to be removed by any tool available.

Being adopted into God's family through the gift of Salvation is a one time event. Through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sin, we receive His grace and become "a new creation" 2 Corinthians 5:17. However, learning to truly live for God and become "conformed to the likeness of His Son" Romans 8:29, is an on-going process which will last all the rest of our days.

There is so much our Heavenly Father desires for us to understand - so many lessons He wants us to learn - and yet, all the lessons seem nearly identical. He desires a continual and intimate fellowship; He wants us to learn to trust Him and love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength Mark 12:30.

As we open our life to God's teaching, we must allow Him to instruct us using the tools of His choice. His lessons are often taught using the most unlikely messengers and through the worst of circumstances, but His lessons always contain a lasting sweetness.

No matter what we face today, let's look for the lesson God is teaching. Circumstances in our work, home, or even place of worship may often become hot with friction, but these sources of abrasion may very well be the tools God is using to mold us and draw us closer to His side. He actively continues the process because He loves us and desires for us to learn to trust and love Him more. Let's praise Him for His continued loving instruction. 

Let's embrace the shaping process and be thankful for ALL the tools of The Teacher.

- steve troxel

.....trust

Hezekiah became the king of Judah soon after the northern tribes of Israel had been taken captive by the Assyrians. Judah was now being threatened by this same Assyrian army. Hezekiah was young and had a strong desire to do right in the eyes of God, but his faith was being greatly tested.

Seeing his kingdom would soon be under attack, Hezekiah sought help through an alliance with Egypt. Though this alliance was not wrong in itself, the action was taken out of fear and without consulting God. This action was not only foolish, it was sin!

"Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord." Isaiah 31:1

Hezekiah made the same mistake all too common among believers today. We say we believe God's Word is true, but fail to trust Him with the real trials of our life. It was easier for Hezekiah to place his trust in what he could see, than in the Hand of God which he "believed" but remained unseen.

When the Assyrians actually attacked Jerusalem, Hezekiah's faith had greatly increased. As he spoke with his soldiers, Hezekiah demonstrated full confidence in God.

"Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles."2 Chronicles 32:7-8

Where do we turn when the enemy threatens? If our faith is restricted to the inside of church walls on Sunday morning, we are definitely ill-prepared. We must learn to walk in the presence of God all through our day so we KNOW God is with us.

When we trust Him and love Him with ALL our heart, we begin to walk in victory regardless of the physical outcome of a particular battle. God may certainly direct us to protect ourselves, avoid conflict, or seek the best medical treatments available; but with our eyes firmly set on Jesus, we must understand the real war has already been won. This truth is worth repeating! Regardless of the outcome in each of life's many battles, the end of the Book has already been written...Jesus wins!! When we are under attack, let's put substance to our faith and allow our lives to demonstrate in Whom we trust!

- steve troxel

.....through

It's a great privilege to be part of God's creation. Through the beauty of this world, we have the honor to view "God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature" Romans 1:20. Every plant and animal; every hill, valley and body of water; every star in the sky and every man, woman and child declare the glory of God and attest to His majesty. And yet, as glorious as this world may be...it is not our home.

"Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body." Philippians 3:19-21

When we place our trust in Jesus, He provides a way for us to be united with God and "adopted as His sons" Ephesians 1:5. We are adopted by grace and become "fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household" Ephesians 2:19. If we could gain even a small understanding of "God's household," we would hold very loosely any of our attachments to this world.

Abraham lived his life by faith. When God called Abraham to pack all his household and move, he obeyed "even though he did not know where he was going" Hebrews 11:8. Abraham was never concerned with his earthly dwelling; he was "longing for a better country - a Heavenly one" Hebrews 11:16. Abraham honored God through faith while remaining an "alien and a stranger on earth" Hebrews 11:13.

We have been placed in this world with all its beauty and with all its temptations. In fact, when we give our life to Christ, we are sent into the world for a purpose; "As You have sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world" John 17:18. But we must NEVER become identified by the values of the world or driven by anything it can offer. We are sent into the world, but we must not be part of the world system; "They are not of the world, even as I am not of it" John 17:16.

Our home is defined as the place we feel most comfortable, the place we store our treasures and find rest for our soul. If we are a child of God, our eternal home is in His presence and we ought to be able to say, "Take everything I own but leave me Jesus and I will have enough!" 

This world can be VERY beautiful, and our lives in this world should always be a productive expression of worship for our Lord. But we must remember that our citizenship is in Heaven, and for all the days we walk this earth, we must walk as though we are just passing through!

- steve troxel

.....way

"And he did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief." Matthew 13:58

It sure was frustrating, but it turned out to be my own fault. Let me explain... A few years ago, I was standing in front of the television set trying to get a new DVD to play. The DVD would began to play, but when I would walk away, it would abruptly stop playing. The power to the DVD player would turn itself off and the entire screen would go blank. I walked back to the silly thing and tried it again. And again, the process repeated itself. It would fine for a while, but when I walked away - it would shut down once again. 

 

I was determined to get the thing working right. I stood there and turned the thing on again. I watched the FBI copyright warning scroll across the screen. The Menu Window appeared. I selected a scene. I pressed the Play button. And I watched for a full 30 seconds to make certain it really was going to work this time. The movie was now in full swing, so I walked back to the sofa.  

And the power shut itself off and the screen went blank once again! Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!  If I had had any hair left, I would have pulled it out. I looked at my wife -- who by now was bent over laughing herself silly -- and then I looked over at my desk. AND THEN I SAW IT!  I had inadvertently laid my laptop down on top of the DVD remote control. And it was pushing the OFF button!!! 

When I walked toward the television set to turn the DVD player on, I walked into the path of the remote control, thereby blocking the "OFF" signal it was sending. Everything worked fine until I moved out of the signal path and the "OFF" message was once again transmitted. I had gotten in the way - and that caused my frustration.

Sometimes, we get in the way of God, don't we? We do it when we have a lack of faith.

In the Bible, we read of a specific incident where the people doubted the power and authority and position of Jesus Christ. And the Word tells us "And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." Matthew 13:5

I think that happens a lot in our lives today. God wants to do mighty works in, through and around us - but we get in his way by doubting. Think about it. How many times have you heard this... "We've never done it that way before" or "This is how we've always done it in the past."

That's another way of saying "We're going to limit what we allow God to do by putting guidelines on how He can work - He's got to do things like we've always done before." Or, how many times have you felt the Lord leading you to do something, but you didn't do it because reason says it's illogical and doesn't make any sense at all to us.

That's another way of saying "We're going to limit what we allow God to do by only attempting man-sized tasks that make sense to man's logic and can be accomplished by man's ways."

God is a great big God and He wants to do "mighty works" -- but sometimes we get in the way. We think in terms of the traditions we've gotten accustomed to, or we analyze things by man's abilities instead of God's. And then we wonder why the screen goes blank and the power shuts off.

"...Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20) 

.....choose

The day is coming. 

In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of the solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. 

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose. 

I choose love... 

No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness, I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves. 

I choose joy... 

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God. 

I choose peace... 

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live. 

I choose patience... 

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complaining that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage. 

I choose kindness... 

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me. 

I choose goodness... 

I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness. 

I choose faithfulness... 

Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home. 

I choose gentleness... 

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself. I choose self-control... I am a spiritual being. 

After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control. 

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5

- adapted from max lucado

.....view

Yesterday when I parked at the lot on my way into the grocery store, I looked up at the extraordinary blue. What a day. One of the chamber-of-commerce afternoons where the spring green of the trees met the deep clear sundrenched sky. On the highest part of a tall streetlight, a mockingbird was comfortably perched. Just checking it out, taking a rest. There he was, on top of the world.

Most days we aren’t on those mountain-peak highs, we live in the valley of life. Everyday life, the normal, the ups, the downs. Often those times are a little harder for me to like. Could be a season where you feel your world is unraveling and you are hanging by a thread, like this butterfly to the leaf. You may be barely holding on, waiting for the tide to turn. I’ve heard people voice questions. “So where was God anyway? Why did He let it happen?”, “God didn’t answer my prayers about that”.

No matter what it seems like, no matter what is going on, God is still sovereign. He is still in the midst, keeping every one of His promises. He’s not distant, He’s not uncaring nor uninvolved. He is a personal God, wanting the best for His children and a close relationship with them.

The Word of the Lord is truth, and here are a few verses that you can count on to help to gain a ‘bird’s eye view’ perspective:

• Psalm 97:9 "For you, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods."
• 1 Chronicles 29:11 "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all."
• Isaiah 37:16 “O Lord almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth."
• Psalm 73:28 "But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds."
• 1 Chronicles 16:31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”

.....misplaced

We are encouraged to guard against anything which takes away from our complete dependence on our Heavenly Father. We saw how worldly security can sometimes cause us to close our eyes and ears to God's leading. Becoming secure in the world means we are placing our trust in the things of the world. David made this mistake and it cost him dearly.

God described David as "a man after My own heart" Acts 13:22. David clearly saw God working in his life. When he went to fight Goliath with only stones and a sling, he knew to trust in the strength offered by God; "All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's" 1 Samuel 17:47. God continued to protect David through his trials with Saul and later led him through many military victories as the king of Israel. But toward the end of his reign, David began to trust the world's definition of power and might.

"Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, 'Go and count the Israelites. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are.'" 1 Chronicles 21:1-2

God allowed Satan to tempt David because there was still deep rooted pride in David that needed to be revealed. There was nothing inherently wrong with counting the people. When God led the nation of Israel out of Egypt, He told Moses; "Take a census of the whole Israelite community" Numbers 1:2. But David had become very "self" reliant and had placed his trust in his own strength and abilities. He became focused on his resources - the number of men who were able to fight - rather than keeping his eyes and ears on the true Commander of ALL battles.

David recognized and confessed his sin: "I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg You, take away the guilt" 1 Chronicles 21:8. Though David's sin was forgiven, God still enforced severe consequences; "So the Lord sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead" 1 Chronicles 21:14. As the leader of God's chosen people, David was expected to set a clear example of complete trust.

God wants and expects the total devotion of our heart. Devotion will always mean love and worship, but it also must include our sustained and unwavering trust. Our Heavenly Father establishes our path and provides all the necessary strength to achieve the victory He desires. He simply asks that we trust only in Him and continue to follow where He leads. Let's give Him ALL the glory and honor as we keep our eyes forever focused on Christ and guard against the sin of misplaced trust.

- steve troxel

.....secure

Jehoiakim was king of Judah just prior to the first Babylonian invasion in 605 B.C.. He had become comfortable in the security of the palace, and an alliance with the Egyptians made him feel even more protected. But Jehoiakim led the people of Judah further away from God; "he did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as his fathers had done" 2 Kings 23:37.

God sent the prophet Jeremiah to warn Jehoiakim and the people of Judah that disaster would come if they did not repent; "If you do not listen to Me and follow My law..., then I will make this city an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth" (Jeremiah 26:4,6). But with his every need and desire fulfilled, and his every fear removed, Jehoiakim did not see a reason to listen.

"I warned you when you felt secure, but you said, 'I will not listen!' This has been your way from your youth; you have not obeyed." Jeremiah 22:21

We spend the majority of our lives building security in our job, finances, and relationships. But security within the world system is extremely shallow and deceptive; "Do not store up for yourselves treasures {security} on earth, where moth and rust destroy, where thieves break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19). We ought to be thankful for every one of our earthly blessings, but we should NEVER receive our "security" from the world. Our complete dependence must always remain on our Heavenly Father, and our eyes and ears should continually be open to His leading.

Our daily walk is made one slow step at a time as we "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:5. Usually, we are allowed to see only the next step; "Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light for my path" Psalm 119:105. We may not know what turns lie ahead, but our true security, peace and comfort, comes from simply knowing we are on His path, not from feeling we control the direction or pace of the journey.

True security begins with faith in Jesus Christ and builds on a pure love which flows from the innermost part of our heart. Even activities such as church attendance, Bible study, or work in various ministries mean nothing without a faith based love; and these well-intended actions become a false spiritual security when they replace the need to abide in the presence of God or daily seek His direction.

Let's not allow our lives to develop a sense of security which shuts out the need for God and the absolute hunger for His presence. Our walk of faith will always require stepping into the unknown where all we have is what He provides, and a loving trust in God is confident that His provision is always enough! Let's lean on Him, love Him, and draw ever closer. Let's seek true security by only being secure in His presence.

- steve troxel

.....strain

Our life in these mortal bodies will always fall short of God's standard. From the moment sin entered the world, we've been unable to satisfy God's requirement of perfection. But, knowing our weakness, God gave His Son as a sacrifice to make perfect those who believe; "By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy" Hebrews 10:14. Faith in the sacrifice of Jesus makes us perfect forever - this is the gracious gift of Salvation; "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith" Ephesians 2:8.

The grace of God makes us perfect the moment we are saved; but, for the rest of our days on this earth, we are in the process of "being made holy." This is why Paul, who freely writes about the gift of grace, can also exhort us to a life free of sin; "Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires" Romans 6:12. 

Paul understood that, though we have become "perfect forever," we have also been called to a high standard of holiness. He therefore refers to his life after Salvation as a race to be won; "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me" Philippians 3:12-14.

The picture of a well-conditioned athlete straining toward the finish line can be a wonderful motivator. However, when we press and strain toward the wrong goal - or with our own strength - we will soon become fatigued and discouraged. We are in a race, but we must allow Jesus to establish the goal as well as the route to be run. The goal of a Christian life must always be to produce fruit that glorifies God; "This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit" John 15:8. And the route of fruit production must ALWAYS be through the vine of Christ

.

"No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:4-5

We are called to produce fruit by living a life of holiness and bringing glory and honor to God in all we do, fruit can only grow if we remain intimately attached to the vine - a branch cannot produce anything by itself! In our own strength we cannot produce holiness or ANYTHING esteemed by God. But when we allow the life of the vine to flow through our veins, we WILL produce a bounty of fruit.

Let's attach firmly to the vine of Jesus Christ and allow Him to flow through every area of our life. Let's live each day in the holy presence of God and produce baskets of fruit for His glory and honor. Let's run to win the race as we press and strain toward the vine.

- steve troxel

.....serendipity

There is an old story handed down from the country of Serendip (present day Sri Lanka). In this story, there were three princes who traveled the country and quite by accident would discover amazing and unexpected things. In 1754, after discovering these stories, Horace Walpole coined the word, "Serendipity". The basic understanding of this word that I prefer would be: "The art of finding what you're not looking for." 

As I thought about this understanding of the word, I thought of how much of our Christian life is a "serendipity". How many things do we find unexpectedly which turn out to amaze us. I think that is why we sing songs like, "Amazing Grace", or "I Stand Amazed in the Presence" or "What Wondrous Love".

Our journey through life with Christ, the creator and sustainer of the universe is amazing, especially when you consider His sacrifice for us and His fellowship with us. I can hardly read any section of scripture that I don't find some new understanding, run across some tidbit that I've somehow over looked in the past or suddenly awaken to a new insight. Christianity is never boring, it is always amazing, always a "serendipity". 

This has always been the effect that Jesus has had upon people. In Matthew 7:28 we are told that people were amazed at His teachings and the authority He exhibited. In Mark 10:24 we see that His disciples were amazed at his teaching. He revealed hidden treasures unexpectedly then - just as He does now. 

The question is, "What we do with the treasure?".  How do we deal with the serendipity of life in Christ?  The scriptures don't leave us hanging on that on that point, but give us some instructions concerning how to deal with these unexpected treasures.

In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus said, "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."

May your life be a continual, amazing serendipity!

- russ lawson

.....guard

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23

One of the first things first responders look for when someone is unconscious is a pulse. The beat of a heart, or pulse, is evidence that you are still alive! The heart is essential for living. It is a vital organ that we cannot live without. Just as our heart produces physical life, we also have a spiritual heart that produces spiritual life. 

When the Bible refers to the heart, it is referring to our mind and will. This is where all our life decisions take place. Every choice we make, including our Salvation, is a result of the decisions made with our mind. As we read in the verse above, everything we do flows from our spiritual heart. Therefore, we are instructed to guard it carefully, so that we can manage and protect our actions. 

We have control over what we allow to influence our heart or mind. Our choices will be a result of what we are feeding our minds. If we put the right stuff in, our actions will be glorifying to God, uplifting to others, and will help us lead meaningful lives. However, if we allow garbage to fill our minds, we can be sure that what flows from us will be detrimental to ourselves and others, and our spiritual health will decay. 

Philippians 4:8 says, "...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." This sums up what we should be feeding our hearts. 

As Christians, our goal should always be to fulfill the purpose God has for our lives and finish the race strong. Therefore, let us not get distracted with the temptations and negative influences around us, rather let us constantly be on guard and make decisions that will help us reach our goal.

Dear God, please give me the strength to say no when I am tempted to go astray. Help me stand strong in Your Truth in all circumstances and guard my heart against anything that is not pleasing to You. Let everything I do reflect you.  In the name of Jesus.

.....minister

God will sometimes use powerful preachers to share the gospel message with thousands, but most often, He uses common people like you and me to share His love with one individual at a time.

For most, sharing the gospel does not come naturally. We fear being offensive or rejected, and we really fear not having the right answers. A portion of these fears are perfectly natural, but our fears are always magnified by the enemy who hates for us to speak the truth and, therefore, seeks to keep us silent.

God chose Jeremiah to be a prophet forty years prior to Israel's captivity in Babylon. This was a difficult time to be God's spokesman - His message was not at all pleasant. From his first days as a prophet, Jeremiah was told to speak of approaching doom; "From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land" Jeremiah 1:14. God was going to discipline the nation for their many years of sinful rebellion; Jeremiah was sent to warn and explain why.

Jeremiah had his own fears about sharing God's message; "Ah, Sovereign Lord, I do not know how to speak; I am only a child" (Jeremiah 1:6). His words certainly match some of ours today. But Jeremiah was obedient and placed his trust in God's promise; "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you" Jeremiah 1:8.

After many years of proclaiming God's message, Jeremiah's life had become nearly unbearable. Nobody believed his message and, instead of repenting, the people mocked and ridiculed; "The Word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long" Jeremiah 20:8. Jeremiah had every reason to walk away from his calling, but something wonderful had taken root in his heart.

"If I say, 'I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,' His Word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." Jeremiah 20:9

For many years, Jeremiah had pressed close to God, seeking His direction and desiring to do His will. Jeremiah knew the presence of God and could not conceive of life apart from His Lord. Despite great hardship, he could no longer imagine his life void of ministering and proclaiming God's Truth!

His Word is never a burden too heavy to carry. But we will continue to struggle with proclaiming the truth until we draw close and fill our lives with His presence. When we can see nothing but His majesty and glory, His Word will no longer be contained. Only then will we truly shine. Only then will we be compelled to minister.

- steve troxel

.....grace

We are encouraged to press closely into the presence of God and share how His truths have been made real in our life. As we continue to walk with our Heavenly Father and better understand His love, we ought to experience a sense of awe which we can't help but share with others.

The complete story of Jesus Christ, which began before the creation of the world and continues for all eternity, is a love story whose central theme is grace; "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2:8. 

The moment we believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sin, God lovingly welcomes us into His Family; this is His gift of Salvation! We are adopted into His Family before doing anything deserving of being called His child. This means our Salvation is never something we earn - it is a gift of grace.

"And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace." Romans 11:6 If we come before our Heavenly Father thinking we can do ANYTHING which makes us deserving of Salvation, then we do not yet understand His gift of forgiving grace. God's grace is extended to all who believe, but we are called to believe His grace is both absolutely necessary AND completely sufficient.

If we truly believe, our life will produce fruit and we will do good works; "Faith, if not accompanied by action, is dead" James 2:17. But our good works will never save us - Salvation is a gift. If we truly believe, we will desire to obediently follow; "We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands" 1 John 2:3. But our obedience will never save us - Salvation is a gift.

If we have never settled the issue of Salvation, then today is the day to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:5. We must come before God with empty hands, acknowledge our sin and need for a Savior, and receive the gift of grace offered through Jesus.

As we then continue our walk with Christ, we learn to love Him with all our heart and strive to present our very best as we obediently follow and produce good works, bringing Him glory and honor in ALL we do. But while we walk, love, and strive, we must remember that our "best" is not what earns His favor. 

Our "successes" will not make us more worthy, and our "failures" will not cause us to lose His love. His gift is everything! Let's give Him everything in return as we continue to live each moment of this wondrous journey by trusting in His grace.

- steve troxel

.....chains

Though our faith may appear small, all genuine believers in Jesus Christ have the faith to move any and all mountains which stand between us and a close relationship with our Heavenly Father. However...Not all trials represent mountains which must be moved! Many things we view as obstacles are perfectly aligned with God's plan. 

Our Christian walk never promises freedom from trouble. In fact, Jesus promised us just the opposite; "In this world you will have trouble" John 16:33. He immediately followed these words with a message of hope; "But take heart! I have overcome the world" John 16:33. Though trials may come and remain much longer than we would like, we can still be set free by abiding in The One who has overcome.

The Apostle Paul had many trials during his ministry: "Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea" 2 Corinthians 11:24-25. But Paul was able to keep his trials in proper perspective by focusing on what was eternally relevant; "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" Romans 8:18.

Toward the end of his ministry Paul was arrested for the "offense" of preaching the gospel. While awaiting trial in Rome, Paul spent two years under the guard of a Roman soldier and wrote a wonderful letter of encouragement to the Philippians: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4. Though he was confined, Paul allowed himself to be used by God to encourage many others toward an increase in their faith.

"Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly." Philippians 1:14

Every time we experience a trial, the world watches to see the substance of our faith. Often, there is no better witness than to continue to trust and praise in the middle of our own trials. The best way to show that God is real is by making Him real in our own life.

Let's take a new look at our trials. Some are truly mountains which must be moved, but others are simply the chains we must patiently endure for the sake of the gospel. Let's turn what the enemy meant for harm into something which glorifies God. Let's encourage others to draw nearer to a loving Father as we praise Him with all our heart...in spite of our chains.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....message

God is our protection against the deceptive attacks of the enemy. By knowing the truth, we can recognize the lies of "worldly wisdom," and continue along God's path without painful detours into the weeds. 

We must be willing to faithfully apply the truth in all areas of our life and share the truth with others at every opportunity.

Prior to the final invasion of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, God spoke through Jeremiah to warn the people of their coming destruction and their need to repent. Needless to say, this was not a popular message and Jeremiah was not a welcomed prophet. But there were other self-proclaimed prophets who provided a much more comfortable message. These prophets made people feel good by telling them what they wanted to hear - telling them they could continue down their same path without fear. But God warned about falling into their seductive trap of false security.

"Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They keep saying to those who despise Me, 'The Lord says: You will have peace.' And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, 'No harm will come to you.'"Jeremiah 23:16-17

The ministry of encouragement is a vital part of our Christian walk. We all face valleys and need encouragers to provide a lift. And since we know there are many others who are walking through valleys today, we should encourage in every way possible; "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today!" Hebrews 3:13.

In our zeal to encourage and build up, we must never compromise by presenting a message which falls short of the absolute truth. We must never present an "all is well" message if all is not well. When God's children wander from His path and plant themselves amongst the weeds, there must be someone willing to "gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance" 2 Timothy 2:25.

Our task as an encourager is not always to make others comfortable or to deliver a pleasing message; we are not called to tell people "what their itching ears want to hear" 2 Timothy 4:3. Rather, our task is to "speak the truth in love" Ephesians 4:15. We never help when we make someone comfortable with sin.

The absolute best encouragement we can give is to help someone have a right relationship with their Heavenly Father through a surrendered faith in Jesus Christ. God's truth can and will set us free John 8:32! Let's encourage in every way possible, but let's make certain we always encourage with a message of truth!

- adapted from steve troxel

.....secret

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. 

Thank you, Lord, for the gifts you have blessed me with. Whether they are in the form of talents or material possessions, I ask that you show me ways to bless others with them, and in doing so, bring honor and glory to you. My desire is to fulfill Your purpose for me and find true happiness that comes from you. 

- david langerfed

.....comfort

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort 2 Corinthians 1:3

The nineteenth-century Irish pastor Philip Bennett Power had a tender way of comforting those who were suffering from pain or the various trials of life. He suggested three axioms for strength and perseverance in difficult times: 

1. Get firmly convinced that God, God Himself, God the Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our Father, is a God of comfort.
2. Do not look anywhere else for your prime and first comfort. I do not deny that there is much comfort in friends, in happy feelings, in books… but I want you to gather in your thoughts and feel that the only sure comfort is with God. 
3. Expect comfort from God.

Paul considered suffering for Christ a privilege, and he kept serving and obeying God in spite of persecution and difficulties. He persevered. The same God who helped Paul persevere through tough times will help you. Ask Him to give you the strength to keep going in any area of life in which you feel weariness and pain.

- david jeremiah