You Must Endure...Endure!

Why is it that once you have noticed good deeds in someone or an organization, you pay a compliment, where, initially, the compliment is happily accepted, then, before you know it, things tend to work in a direction to steer the deeds away from good?  It is almost as if once the good deeds are brought to light that the thinking turns in another direction like--we should not be doing things the good way.  Clearly, Satan has acted on the situation and tried to turn a good way into a shameful way of doing things.  There is nothing to be ashamed of in doing good.  Satan is attempting to steer things in his direction.  The Christian walk takes much inner and physical strength.  We must endure in the walk to continue in serving the Lord.  Where there is good the Christian can be certain that Satan is nearby with his schemes.  We must continually be on alert because Satan will try to take a hold on things and try to stop the good.  Christians must endure...endure!

Words and Song for the Weary

If you are weary in your Christian walk, continue to find rest in Jesus because Satan seeks to devour you (I Peter 5:8).  Use your faith to "[q]uench not the [H]oly Spirit (I Thessalonians 5:19) but "...to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked" (Ephesians 6:16).  The song "All Your Anxiety" is about casting your cares upon God.  Remember, through the power of Christ, you are strong when you are weak (II Corinthians 12: 9, 10).

Is it Time for a Rest?

Perhaps in your weariness God has drawn you to learn of Jesus through Whom you will find rest for your soul (Matthew 10: 28, 29).  Does this song "Worn" by Tenth Avenue North speak to your condition?

Praying for You

In hopes that you are drawn closer to the Lord and His word, I pray the words of a prayer found in a sermon called "The Bible and the Believer" by the late Peter J. Gomes in his book entitled Sermons: Biblical Wisdom for Daily Living:

"Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning: grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy word we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ."  Amen.

Are You Offended by Jesus?

If man is offended because of Jesus, it is because the man has not come to the realization of how essential Jesus is to life.  The offended man views Jesus as being in the way instead of being 'the way.'  It is through trying the Word of God that man comes to know how good the Lord is (Psalms 34:8).  How can man be offended by goodness? How can man be offended by Jesus?

True life begins when man lets go of his own plans to follow Jesus without offense.  "And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in [Jesus]" (Matthew 11:6).

How about Giving the Lord a Taste

As you venture out to your various "taste of _______" celebrations, receptions etc..., remember to pause and taste your portion of the Lord.  "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him" (Psalms 34:8).  In "tasting" the Lord, you come to realize what Jesus meant when he answered in response to Satan that "[m]an shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).  Amen!

Praise Ye the Lord!

God is searching for worshippers to worship Him in spirit and in truth.  When we continually praise God, we are walking humbly with Him.  We can humble ourselves before God and praise Him through psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  Through praise we are giving all the glory to God! Amen!