NEVER GIVE UP

2 Corinthians 4:1 (NKJV) 1 ..., as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 
   Never give up is often accredited to Winston Churchhill, as leader of Britian in the second world war, however Noah had that spirit and God used him to save a world. God spoke to Noah in Genesis 6 and said, "the earth is corrupt... I am going to destroy... the earth," and Noah was launched into a 100 year ministry to save mankind. What has God launched in your life, what is He seeking to do through you?
   The writer to the Corinthian church says, "we have received mercy," every breath we get is another blessing from God, and He wants to do things through us that will impact the world for Christ. The world seems all too large for the average person but take heart, God put you where you are to minister in your sphere of influence. What does that mean, I am so glad you asked!
    We face daily, things that seem overwhelming, and too big to handle, we often retreat into a self made shell and wait until the storm blows over. God never intended for us to hide, and wallow in self pity, He desires to walk throught the fires with us. The last part of this verse says, "don't lose heart," basically, never give up, it is not about me it is about what God will do through me. That is amazing, Jesus the Christ desires to walk in me in such a way that others can see Him, difficult circumstances, hindrances, pain, suffering, brokeness and even being ignored, He wants you to know, there is a plan. James 1:2 Says, "count it all joy," that is hard, to be joyfull when everything is out of balance, do it, and you will never look back, "we do not lose heart," NEVER GIVE UP, God loves you in every situation.
Heavenly Father thank You that You love me all the time, thank You for being in all the hurts, comfort and joy and thank You that I can trust You when there is nothing to cling to. Thank You for loving me enough to make a way through Your Son Jesus, that I can live for You. Amen

WHAT SHOULD I EAT?

John 4:34 (NKJV) 34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, ...
   The ability to eat sustains the body and gives nourishment for work, the need to eat has in view a time of preparation and then the actual act of ingesting. The same is true for The Word of God, there must be preparation and the actual spiritual meal time with God where we are nourished to do His Will.
   Just recently my family and I sat down for a meal in a local restaurant, we ordered and soon realized it was everything we had expected, cooked perfectly and seasoned wonderfully, we left content. God offers a banquet of Truth for the believer, every imaginable perfection is offered, we need only to dig in to be satisfied. However for most, the spiritual taste bud gags at God's wholesome Word, why, I am so glad you asked.
   We indeed have a need for food but our choices are not always good, there are foods that do the body no good. Like physical food the body also needs spiritual food, this food will give light to the soul and nourish it for eternity, that food can only be found in the presence of Jesus. He says, "I have food you don't know about," I love to try new tastes, and Jesus promises to give what we have never tasted before. Wow, our Creator wants to treat us to His delicacies, Jesus wants us to taste His joys and His delights. That will happen if, you have a personal relationship with Him, do you? What are you waiting for dig in, get full on God's Word and you will be forever healthy!
Heavenly Father let us hunger for You, let me only be satisfied with Your Word in Your presence. May I hunger for Your Truth and no other, teach me to taste what pleases You and to love what You love. Amen

"HE WILL TELL US ALL THINGS"

John 4:25,26 (NKJV) 26 ..., "I who speak to you am He." 
      Christ idenifies Himself as The One, Why? Within every individual is the longing for complete being, that is, living a life satisfied by an internal wellness of spirit and mind. Many look for this joy in all the wrong places, Jesus says, "I am," everything the human being needs is in Him.
     The woman at the well said to Jesus, "when Messiah comes, He will telll us all things," she identified her internal desire to know and know from God's perspective. Worship is the key to identifying with Jesus, He says, those who do discover a relationship with the Father, find it comes only in worship and Jesus says, "those who do worship will worship Him in Spirit and Truth, what does that mean, I am so glad you asked!
      God is seeking the heart that will put everything down and put Him first, right now, lay aside every disturbance and intrusion at the feet of Jesus and say to Him, "I am yours do with me what You will." Worship Him from the very core of your being, let God have every fiber of thought and every emotion of your self and give Him first place in your life.
Heavenly Father let us see You as the woman at the well did, open our eyes to see nothing is hidden from You. Teach us how to worship You in Your Truth and Your Spirit. Amen

"HEAR MY CRY"

Psalm 61:2 (NKJV) 2 ...; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 
     A young man asked me to pray for him, "that God would get him out of this prison." I asked him what he would do when he got out, he replied, "I would stay out." We prayed and God mercifully led him out to freedom, however just two months later he was back in crying for freedom again. What went wrong, he asked for freedom and God delivered?
    God often allows us what we want, to remind us we are making wrong decisions about life and in our relationship to God. What is He letting happen in your life, that is stressing and causing much pain and worry? Our Heavenly Father wants to hear our cries for mercy, but they must be properly understood to experience true freedom.
    The psalmist cried, "Lead me to the rock," we need freedom based on the solid relationship Jesus wants us to have in Him. That freedom consists in complete obediendce to the Father through the Son, walking in this life based on, The Christ leading and us following. What are you following right now, is it your desires or the direction of the Creator, He wants to lead us into a solid relationship with Him, however you must trust Him where you are, not where you want to be!
Heavenly Father thank You for the pressure that takes us to our knees and reminds us, You alone are our Rock, there is no other solid ground. Will You use me where I am today, to be light and salt and Lord may I always look to You in every circumstance, let me trust The Rock for all my needs. Amen

NEVER LOOK BACK

Joshua 4:18 (NKJV) 18 ... the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks as before. 
      The Israelites walked on dry ground where the swollen waters of the Jordan had hindered them passage. God parted the water and provided a way into a land that promised to meet every desire of the heart. God has given that picture of provision for us today Jesus has parted the waters of life and made a way into Eternity for all who will trust Him to lead the way. Note, there is no way into heaven for anyone without first coming to the place where we trust God and God alone, I cannot make a way and get into Heaven. See that God will let all who want access to go through, but it must be through Jesus.
      However the waters must return, where once we are given passage into the promised land there is no going back. Just as Jesus faced Jerusalem and death on a cross for all mankind, He had to die, to satisfy the awful judgment of sin in my life, Jesus Christ could not just suffer and continue on, death closed the door to the past. Like the waters closing behind the Israelites there is no return to our old life it must die before the new life in Christ Jesus can live in us. There is the promise of a glorious new day in the Savior but the past attractions have no more to do with Jesus and living in Him. Have the waters of the old life closed behind you, never look back.
Heavenly Father help us to move on in this new life of Grace that You have provided and never let the past attract us again. May we always look up and remember the price my sin cost you. Amen

WHO SPEAKS THE TRUTH?

Psalm 15:1-3 (NKJV) 2 ..., And speaks the truth in his heart; 

    The psalmist asks "who can abide (continue) in Your presence," as he examines himself, God shows him the tools needed. It is to live within the preordained rules of Almighty God, the same God requires of Himself. What are they? I am glad you asked!
    Our Heavenly Father requires of His creation the internal life of honesty, righteousness, and truth, these are revealed externally in a tounge of peace, protective of his friends, and one who will not hurt his neighbor. He gives everything I need to live Holy before Him, isn't that amazing, I don't need to produce a single molecule of my own righteousness, He will do that through me, in His Son Jesus.You and I can live with God by His standards, simply trusting His provision of Holiness, that is through Jesus Christ alone.
    Wouldn't you like to speak truth from your heart today, you can, just ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and humbly ask for Him to enter you and use you today.
Heavenly Father let the truth of Your Word live in me so others may be drawn to You, let me in no way hinder another form trusting You with their whole life. May it please You to use me today that You might be blessed where ever you put me. Amen

SEARCHING FOR PEACE

Luke 24:36 (NKJV) 

..., "Peace to you." 

      The world needs to heed the blessing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Fear and confusion had risen in the hearts of the disciples, they were terrified of the next moment and Jesus appears saying "Peace to you." 

      Today there are wars and violence against man, nature is revealing God's awesome hand, and the Creator still asks, "Why are you troubled, why do doubts arise in your hearts," He encourages us, "look" to Him. However, we appear to be very busy, preoccupied with living. Everyone seems to be able to communicate in a moments notice, eyes and ears are focused on electronic devices, we are so busy with the instant, that we cannot see or hear the obvious. What is that you ask? 

      We need peace, peace of mind, peace in the heart, peace in our confidence of The God who has saved us from a lost and dying world. Jesus is Lord of all, He is over all, He is in control of all and Jesus is the author of all life in men. John 1:1-4 Take charge of your destiny today by trusting Jesus Christ with every area of your life, he wants to give you Eternal life with Him. He wants to bless you with the "peace that passes understanding," however He says, first "repent and ask forgiveness for our sins," for His peace, I have done that have you? I pray you will!

Heavenly Father we trust You right now for the promise of Your peace. Let that peace permeate our lives so that others see You in us. I trust You to use life's circumstances to bring others to Jesus through me. Amen