01/01/15
A NEW YEARS BLESSING

Scripture: Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you .... "

There are people in many nations who receive A Word In Due Season each day. I thank all of you for your personal responses and for trusting us with your prayer request. I wish that I could offer each of you a gift during this season when people exchange gifts with their friends, but that is nearly impossible. So I am coming to you as always with a Word In Due Season. As we begin a New Year, I am speaking a blessing over your personal life that is found in God's Word. Since I do not have each of your names, I ask you to put your personal name in this blessing each time it says "You." I also encourage you to print this blessing and then put it in several places as a reminder that a blessing has been and will be spoken over you throughout the year. You can put a copy of this blessing in your wallet, on your desk or your mirror, or use it as book mark in your Bible. But wherever you choose to place it, please make sure to speak these words aloud several times a day.

“The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’ Numbers 6:24-26

When you speak these words, you are speaking God's blessing over your life and God declared that His Word would never return unto Him void. He said that His words would accomplish what He sent them forth to do. God's Word is powerful and His voice is creative. When God spoke in the past, the light appeared and His creations came into existence. Everything happened as a result of His spoken Word. Now the angels hearken to the voice of His Word (Psalms 103:20). They are diligent to listen and when they hear God's Word being spoken, they make haste to fulfill it. You have a part in the angel's assignment and a responsibility for your own destiny. You activate the Word of God by your declaration of it. The Lord loves you and He honors His Word, so speak it continually and His blessings will come upon you and you will find peace. +++

01/02/15
A STRENGTH IN ADVERSITY

Scripture: Proverbs 24:10 "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small."

The scriptures teach us that once we are born again, we enter into a major warfare with the enemy, for Satan goes about as a roaring lion seeking to devour us. He doesn't have any good intentions towards the children of God who shine as lights upon his darkness and bring the message of God's peace and hope to a troubled world. John 10:10 says that Satan's purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy. The more you try to serve God, the greater Satan's attack, or as one minister says, "New Level - New Devil."

Yet, God does not leave His people helpless against this spiritual adversary. Through the Apostle Paul, God instructs us that we are to stand against the devil and having done all to stand. God provides us with spiritual armor and weapons consisting of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God (Ephesians 6:13-18). God then exhorts us to pray at all times with all manner of prayer. The armor protects us and prayer empowers us for the battle. Our battle is not won on the battlefield, but on our knees in our prayer closet.

Just before His toughest battle, Jesus spent His time in prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. His disciples could not stay awake and pray with Him. Sleep overtook them and when adversity came, the disciples forsook Jesus and fled. Their faith became weak and their strength fainted. When Jesus had found them sleeping earlier, He warned them, "Watch and pray, so that you do not enter into temptation." But they were too tired to pray. "Their spirits were willing, but their flesh was weak" (Matthew 26:41).

Weariness is a great hindrance to prayer, but prayer is the only way to maintain spiritual strength when the day of battle comes. If we find ourselves too weary and too tired to pray, we will find ourselves too weak to fight the enemy. Hebrews 12:3 tells us to look at Jesus, who was able to endure, so that we do not become weary and faint in our minds. Our strength comes from the Lord. And if Jesus found it necessary to spend much time in prayer and communion with the Heavenly Father, shouldn't we? In the day of adversity, we will not faint if our strength is not small and our strength will not be small if we have been empowered by the Lord's presence in prayer. +++

01/05/15
WAIT ON THE LORD

Scripture: Isaiah 40:31 "They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Others may be able to counsel you, pray for you, and teach or instruct you, but only you can wait upon the Lord for yourself. The time that you spend alone in God's presence is what gives you the strength so that you can mount up with spiritual wings and soar above the storms that come into your life. This scripture doesn't say that there is a fifty-fifty chance that you will be stronger if you wait upon the Lord. It declares that you WILL definitely be stronger, for strength is conceived in solitude with God. As you wait in God's presence, you exchange your weakness and lack of might for His power and renewed strength. Isaiah 40:30 tells us that even the young men who don't wait upon the Lord will faint, be weary, and fall. This is because true strength doesn't come by natural might or power, but by the Spirit of the Lord (Zechariah 4:6).

The eagle stands on the edge of the cliff, spreads its wings, and then waits for the wind. It stands there alone for as long as the season demands. The eagle isn't pressed by time or the circumstances that surround it. It doesn't jump off the cliff ahead of the wind, for the eagle knows that its strength is not in itself but in the wind. The eagle waits on this unseen force and depends upon the wind to lift it above its circumstances. When the wind comes, a mysterious thing happens. As the eagle yields to the wind, it exchanges its weakness for the power to soar. So it is in your life with the Spirit of the Living God. You don't have to understand how the wind of the Spirit works, just be still and wait upon the Lord. When you sense His presence, yield yourself to Him. As you do, He will replace your weariness with His strength and cause you to mount up with wings as the eagles.

Be encouraged by these words from Roy Lessin.

"As you wait on the Lord,
You learn to see things from His perspective,
You move at His pace, and function under His directives.
Waiting times are growing times and learning times.
As you quiet your heart, you enter His peace;
As you sense your weakness, you receive His strength;
As you lay down your will, you hear His calling.
When you mount up, you are lifted by the wind of His Spirit.
When you move ahead, you are sensitive to His timing.
When you act, you give yourself only to those things
He has asked you to do." +++

01/06/15
PERSEVERE IN FAITH

Scripture: Hebrews 10:36 (Living Bible) "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised."

You must keep on patiently doing the will of God if you want Him to do all that He has promised to do for you. God's promise is simple. If you persevere and do your part, He will do His part. You must endure to the end. You can't stop short of the goal that is set before you, for the prize will only be awarded to those who cross the finish line. Jesus endured the cross until the end, and then He said, "It is finished." Paul continued serving the Lord through various trials until one day he could say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course."

Paul also said, "Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9). It is very easy to give up right when you are on the edge of a miracle. Look at the situation with God's people, Israel. God led them out of Egypt with signs and wonders and did mighty miracles in their midst. God protected them and provided for all of their needs, yet they would not persevere in faith. It is amazing that they saw Him do such magnificent things, yet they could not maintain their faith in this miracle working God. And because of their unbelief, they gave up and never received His promise. God could not do His part simply because they did not do their part.

Joshua and Caleb, along with the younger generation, were the only ones that entered into the Promised Land. Numbers 14:24 tells us that because Caleb had another spirit and followed the Lord fully, he was able to possess the land. He persevered in faith. At the age of eighty-five, Caleb was still declaring that he was strong enough to possess God's promise. In Joshua 14:12 Caleb said, "Give me this mountain ... I shall be able to drive my enemies out, as the Lord has said." He went to battle, drove out the giants, and conquered his mountain.

God waits for you to persevere in faith like Caleb. Regardless of your age or what has happened in your life, the promise that God gave to you is still alive and is still yours. Put your trust in God and He will help you take the mountain and defeat the giants that stand in your way. If you persevere in faith and do your part, God will do His part. +++

01/07/15
PURPOSE IN ALL THINGS

Scripture: Romans 8:28 "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

If you love God and are living for His purposes, then everything that's happening in your life is working together for your good. You may not understand exactly what is happening, but you can be sure that God's Word is true and that it is all going to turn out for the best because He is in control. You can trust God to honor and fulfill this simple word, "all things - work together - for good." All things are not good, but they are working together for good. As you come to put your faith in this revelation, peace will come into your heart. You'll realize that everything that affects you also affects God. This knowledge will enhance your faith in the desperate days that you experience.

God has a hidden purpose in the things that happen to you. Just like the life of Joseph, God took every negative situation and used it to bring about His ultimate purpose. God used the evil circumstances to change and mold the character of Joseph until he became the vessel that God could use and trust. God repaid Joseph for all the lost years with an abundance of wealth and honor. Joseph's ultimate destiny proved that the journey of hardships that he endured was worth every moment. All things did work together for good in Joseph's life because he did love God and was called according to God's purposes.

God has good thoughts towards your life. You must cease meddling with the Master's plan and trust God. You must lean upon Him rather than upon your own understanding. God's work with your life is like a tapestry. Underneath, the threads have no pattern, but topside, they make a beautiful picture. God causes the dark threads of your life that you do not understand to work together with the other colors to form the picture that He wants to reveal to the world. You are God's masterpiece. When His picture is finished, you will find that all things truly worked together in your life for good and in order to fulfill His purpose. +++

01/08/15
SOFT AND PLIABLE

Scripture: Psalms 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

We often think this scripture means that God is going to give us anything that we want if we just simply show Him a little bit of interest first. We probably appear to the Lord as small children when we approach Him in this manner. I can remember doing this with my own father in my childhood. I would be real sweet to him and try to gain his favor before I asked him for something, but He could always figure out my schemes and see through my childish manipulations. Before I even had a chance to make my request known to him, he would ask, "Why are you being so nice to me and what do you want?" My hand that was seeking for provision was more evident and truthful than my heart that was full of love for him.

God is certainly wiser than our earthly fathers and He can discern the thoughts that are hidden deep within our hearts. He knows when we are truly delighting ourselves in Him and when we are attempting to manipulate Him by our praise and adoration. In Mark 7:6 Jesus said, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." The Lord sees each chamber of our heart and knows our thoughts better than we do, and sometimes He doesn't answer our prayers so that He can give us the true desires of our heart. I have asked God for many things that I did not receive. And I confess that I am very grateful that He has not answered all of my prayers, not just the prayers of my youth, but also those of my more mature spiritual years. I have learned that even after walking many decades with the Lord, I am still not equal to His wisdom.

In the Hebrew, the word "delight" in this scripture means "soft and pliable." If we substitute those words for delight, it would read, "Make yourself soft and pliable in the hands of the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." We are simply clay in the Potter's hands and must allow Him to mold and make us into the vessel that He has planned for us to be. God always gives us the best when we allow Him to do the choosing. We must find out what His will is for our lives and then delight or make ourselves soft and pliable in His hands so that we can complete His will. When we wrap our hearts and souls around God's purposes then the desires of our heart will truly be met. Instead of getting what we wanted, we will find that we want and are delighted with what He has given to us. +++

01/09/15
THINGS THAT BELONG TO PEACE

Scripture: Luke 19:42 "If you had known ... the things which belong unto your peace."

Jesus wept over the people and said that He desired that they come to know the things that pertained to their peace. Who would know better about peace than Jesus, for He is the Prince of Peace? The words of the Lord are so powerful. In fact, they are sharper than a two-edged sword. Just one phrase or one sentence from His lips can speak peace to our storm, drive away our darkness, and turn our lives around. We can learn a great truth from these simple words that speak to us even today, which is to "know the things that belong to our peace."

Jesus came to give all of us peace, but receiving His peace is an individual and personal issue. There are some spiritual things that we need to know to have peace in our hearts and soul. There are also some natural things that we need to understand and then do so that we may obtain peace. In the spiritual realm, we must first receive Jesus into our lives as Lord and Savior, for without that security, we will never have true peace. The knowledge of our salvation settles the question of who we are, who we belong to, and where we will spend our eternity. Peace will also be ours when we spiritually cast all of our cares upon the Lord and allow Him to carry our burdens for us. To continue in peace, we need to confess our sins daily and allow the Holy Spirit to wash us with the water of God's Word because receiving forgiveness generates peace. We also need to keep ourselves from worrying about the future. Instead of allowing anxiety to torment our minds, we must rest in God's promises and believe that He will take care of all of our needs.

On the other side of the coin, if we want to have peace we must also deal with things in the natural. For different people, it may mean different things. Many lose their peace when they are surrounded by clutter because they find it hard to concentrate or can't find things when they are needed because they are not in their proper place. Simply misplacing your keys can steal your peace. It causes you to be late and makes you have to rush in order to make up for lost time. Neglecting to pay your bills on time can hinder your peace because this habit brings undue stress into your life. It steals your finances through late fees and forces you to deal with collection agencies. This is not to mention the havoc that is caused by the worse case scenarios when the bill is so delinquent that the water or lights are turned off.

Then too, simply not eating right or getting enough rest can hinder your peace because you will become agitated when your physical body is suffering from lack of care. If you do not obey the laws of the land a multitude of problems can occur that will steal your peace. Being at odds with your friends and family will create tension that will destroy your peace, and engaging yourself in battles that do not have eternal value will frustrate you and drain you of your peace. Sometimes, you must stay quiet and allow God to fight for you if you want to keep your peace.

Ask God to help you to recognize the things that will bring peace into your own life. When you know what creates peace for you, then make yourself available for change. God will be there to help in the spiritual, but you will have to deal with the physical. The Lord will not pay your bills, clean up your clutter, exercise for you, or force you to obey the laws of the land. You will have to do your part and deal with the natural things, and then God will be faithful to do His part. Jesus has already paid the price for your personal peace. He said, "My peace, I leave with you." It is not a peace like the world gives but a peace that passes all understanding. His peace is a great gift, so come to know the things that belong to your peace and allow Jesus, the Prince of Peace, to rule over your life. +++

01/12/15
RUN WITH PATIENCE

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1 " ... Let us run with patience the race that is set before us."

Each of us have different issues to face in life. One struggles with finances, another with relationships, some with health, and others with death itself. We do not get to choose our circumstances or the race that we would like to participate in. God places us in the race at His discretion and we must patiently endure it, knowing that God will never put more upon us than we can bear. Whoever you are and whatever you are going through, you can be assured that you were God's choice for that testing. He knows your heart and has faith in you.

When God spoke to Satan in Job 1:8, He said, "Have you considered My servant Job, there is none like him in the earth?" God placed His full confidence in Job and felt that Job was well able to pass Satan's tests. God allowed the hedge around Job to be lifted, but each test that Satan placed on Job had to be allowed by God. God's confidence was rewarded by Job's steadfast faith and trust, which prevailed against his hopeless situation. Job patiently endured and ran the race that was set before him and at the end he received his reward.

God has good plans for you and His thoughts towards you are much higher than you can imagine. At the end of your race, God has great rewards, but like any physical race, you must discipline yourself to achieve your goals. You must expect hurdles, and in the midst of your race you cannot allow yourself to be distracted by the glory that you are receiving or by the pains that you are having to endure. You are to lay aside every weight and every sin that seeks to burden you down. 

Jesus is your great example and the author and finisher of your faith. Because of the joy that was set before Him, Jesus was able to endure the cross and despise the shame. His goal was to defeat Satan and redeem you and I from spiritual death and the curse of the law. Jesus' vision of victory kept Him from giving into the temptations and evil devises of the devil. Therefore, you are to considered Jesus and the things He endured for you so that you do not become weary and faint in your mind. The Lord doesn't want you to give up in the middle of the race. You must run your race with patience. In the midst of the race, the Holy Spirit of God will fill you with His power. You will catch a second wind and you will experience the joy of victory. +++

01/13/15
NO HANDLES?

Scripture: Isaiah 45:9 (Amplified) "Woe to him who strives with his Maker! ... Shall the clay say to Him who fashioned it, 'What do You think You are making? ... Your work has no handles?'"

We see here an earthen vessel that has been formed in the potter's hand. The potter knew the intended use and exactly what he wanted when he made the vessel. He knew how he would use that particular vessel, so he fashioned it precisely and supplied it with everything that it would need to fulfill its intended purpose. However, the vessel became very unhappy because it saw all the other vessels that were made differently than itself. The vessel was experiencing disappointment because some of the other vessels were endowed with more than it had. They either had handles on both sides or at least a handle on one side. Some had a handle on top and some were very special with a spout for pouring. And then others were just as this particular vessel was - a "no handle" vessel. The truth of the matter was that all of the vessels were created very differently to meet a particular need, and all were very necessary.

Have you ever compared yourself with others? And in looking at yourself, did you notice the great differences in your physique, inner character, talents and abilities, and strengths and weaknesses? Did you ever question your Creator, God, like the scriptures read in Romans 9:20, "Why have you made me thus?" Or have you wondered why you were different. And like the vessel that Isaiah spoke about, said, "God, I have no handles! What do You think You are making? Look at me God, I'm not like Your other vessels. How can You use me? I have no special gifts or talents. If I just had one small handle - maybe, just maybe - You could use me."

You must remember that when God Himself was making you, He was designing you for a unique purpose. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "God knows the thoughts or plans He has for you. They are thoughts and plans for peace and not evil, to give you an expected end." God saw your future when He was forming you, and He knew if you would need handles or not. God never commissions without equipping, and His call does not come void of His power. Don't allow yourself to strive with your Maker. Instead yield yourself completely to His choosing. Trust totally in the Potter. Allow Him to use you as His vessel for His purposes and understand that regardless of whether you have handles are not, you are still the work of His hands. +++

01/14/15
THINGS THAT SEEM IMPOSSIBLE

Scripture: Psalms 40:13 "Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord make haste to help me!

Do you have any rivers that you think are uncrossable or any mountains that you cannot tunnel through? If so, you must change your mindset and come to understand that God specializes in the impossible. He is not limited and He can do what no other power can do. All you have to do is trust God and just let go of everything. You must allow God to be sovereign in your life. When you yield yourself to His will, your burdens will vanish and your darkness will turn to light.

You may be standing at one of these rivers or mountains today with burdens that seem too heavy for you to carry. It may appear that there is no way for you to cross the river or go through the mountain. You may be at a mountain of financial difficulty or lack with no way to fix the problem because you are at the end of your natural means and can do nothing else. You may be at a river of loneliness as you grieve over the loss of a loved one or a relationship. Or you may be facing a mountain of physical disease and don't have the energy within yourself to continue the battle that is raging in your body. There may be a river of confusing circumstances and you need God's direction to get through them. God specializes in problems. He can give clear direction and make a way when there seems to be no way.

David said that he had made the Lord his refuge. He waited patiently for the Lord, and the Lord heard him. God not only heard David, but He also put a new song in David's heart. It was a song of praise unto God. In the midst of David's problems, God gave him such peace and praise that David said, "Many shall see and fear, reverently worship, and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord." Like David's witness, you too are a testimony and an open book that is read of all men. They watch you when you face rivers, encounter mountains, and walk through dark valleys. They take note of your responses and when you come to the end of your dilemma, you find that God causes you to be a comfort to them.

At the river's edge God says, "Be patient - wait - stay where you are. Look to me, love me, and worship me. I'm building a bridge for you to cross. Don't go to the right or to the left to find a way to fix the problem yourself. Instead, wait for Me and I will take you to the other side. The process belongs to Me. Give Me your problems and the mountains and rivers that you face and I will give you My solutions. Ask Me your questions and I will give you My answers. Look to Me and let Me help. I will perfect those things that concern you. When things seem impossible, I will make haste to deliver you". +++

01/15/15
PROVISIONS FROM GOD

Scripture: Nehemiah 9:15 "The Lord gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst."

God is so awesome. Just when we think we have things figured out, God does something new. He amazes us with His creativity and surprises us with the unexpected. Look at the Israelites as they came out of Egypt. They were hungry and had need of food and they were thirsty and had need of water. To meet these vital needs, God provided them with manna from an open heaven and water from a rock. Who would have ever thought that you could secure water from a rock in the desert by simply speaking to it? Or who could have ever imagined that enough bread could fall out of the heavens every morning for forty years to feed six million people? God is truly awesome.

God's provision for His people came with such simple instructions, "speak to the rock" and "gather the manna daily." God speaks to us in this same simple way today. He is the Rock of our refuge (Psalms 94:22), and He tells us to speak to this Rock. He said, "Call upon Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things that you have not known before" (Jeremiah 33:3). When you pray, He will create solutions that are just as amazing as water coming from a rock. If you have a need of any kind, He says, "Come to Me in the Name of Jesus ... Ask and it will be given, seek and you shall find, knock and it will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7). Your Rock, Christ Jesus, is waiting for you to speak to Him.

God also told us to gather our manna daily just as He did the Israelites. Jesus said our prayers are to be "Give us this day our daily bread." We are not to worry and fret over future provisions. Jesus told us not to be anxious about what we are going to eat, drink, or wear. We are to "Seek the kingdom of God first and all these things will be added to us" (Matthew 6:31-34). God doesn't depend upon our resources but supplies all of our needs according to His own riches. He opens the windows of Heaven and pours out blessings that we are incapable of receiving. We serve the same God that Moses and the Israelites served, and He is just as interested in meeting our needs today as He was in meeting their needs. What He did for them, He will do for you. Trust Him. God's resources are awesome and unlimited. +++

01/16/15
PAFFLICTION INSTEAD OF PLEASURE

Scripture: Hebrews 11:25 "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season"

This scripture speaks of Moses and the choice that he made for his own life. When Moses was born, his mother hid him for three months from Pharaoh and when he was too big to hide, she put him in a basket and placed the basket on the river. His mother was trying to hide him because Pharaoh had commanded that all of the male Hebrew children be put to death. Yet, God had a very special plan for Moses and it wasn't death. His sovereignty caused Pharaoh's daughter to find Moses and when she saw the baby Moses, she had compassion upon him. She drew him out of the water and brought him into Pharaoh's palace and raised him there as her own son until he was grown.

When Moses was old enough to make his own choices in life, he did something that probably confused a lot of people. He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He may have loved her as a mother but the call of God on His life was a stronger commitment. He chose to sacrifice his place of honor amongst the people in Pharaoh's court and he walked away from the wealth and pleasures that could have been his. Verse twenty-four says that he made this choice by faith. He left the easy life and walked into the darkness and hardships of the unknown. He willingly put aside his comfortable life and the luxuries that he was accustomed to. He forgot his fame amongst Pharaoh's servants and went to live on the backside of the desert where no one knew him. He chose to live in a tent rather than in Pharaoh's beautiful palace. He tended his father-in-law's flock in the field instead of being in charge of more important duties or commanding a host of men. Moses stayed in this humble position for forty years.

It was in this setting that God spoke to Moses from a burning bush and commissioned him to bring the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt and into the Promised Land. God planned to use Moses long before he was ever born and God ordered his steps and protected him from all harm. When Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, he probably never dreamed of the fame that he would receive or that people would still be talking about him almost 4000 years later. Yet, he chose the path that God had ordained for him. His choice not only affected him but also a multitude of people, for his personal sacrifice brought millions of people into blessings and freedom.

Our lives are full of choices. Some of them are easy because they promise joy and happiness, but others are difficult. They call for true commitment and sacrifice without speaking of reward. It may not be on the same scale as Moses' sacrifice because none of us will have to give up our palace, our easy life, or our multitude of servants. Our sacrifice may be to simply share our meager means with someone who has less, go the extra mile when we are weary, or allow others to take the best of the lot. Yet, the choice still demands something from us and like Moses' decision, it will take faith on our part. We must remember that God never asks for anything that He doesn't intend to repay. We will never know the rewards of what could have been unless we make the right choice. To experienced God's best, we must be willing to choose the affliction instead of the pleasures of sin that last for only a short season. +++

01/19/15
YOU ARE GOD'S BUILDING

Scripture: I Corinthians 3:9 "... you are God's building."

The church, which is the people of God, is like a magnificent building. I Peter 2:4-5 says that Jesus Christ is the foundation of the building, and we, as individuals, are the lively stones that God uses for the existing structure. God is the Master Builder and He works with each of us to form and fit us together just like a mason works with stones and bricks. He studies each stone and carefully sets it into the wall where it will fit precisely together with the other stones so that there are no gaps or overlaps. Each stone is valuable to the builder, regardless of its size or shape. In fact, the various shapes and sizes enhance the beauty of the final product.

God has placed within each of us different talents and abilities so that we complement each other and make up for any lack or differences. Each and every individual is important and serves his unique purpose, enhancing the beauty of God's building. If the mason finished his building and discovered that one stone was missing in the construction, he would consider his building a disaster. Not only would the beauty of the building be ruined, but the security of the structure would also be in danger. Just like the stonemason, God doesn't want any gaps in His building. He wants each individual member of His building to be fitly joined together, working in unity, and fulfilling His will and purpose.

In the previous verses, Paul corrected the church for the division they were having concerning Appollos and himself. Paul made it very plain that both he and Appollos were servants of the Lord and co-workers together with Him. One was not greater than the other. There is no room for jealousy in God' building. Paul also emphasized that God would be the one who would prosper the work. Like Paul and Appollos, we are called to fulfill the purposes of God according to the abilities that He has placed within us. Regardless of what we are chosen to do, we must endeavor to leave no gaps in God's spiritual building. God may choose us to plant or to water. It makes no difference what our unique part may be because God will be the one who will bring the increase. We need to rest in this assurance that we are all necessary and important to God, for we all are part of God's building. +++

01/20/15
HE WILL GIVE YOU WINGS

Scripture: Joshua 1:6 (NIV) "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead this people to inherit the land ..."

Joshua ministered to Moses' needs and served him as an assistant as they journeyed with God's people in the wilderness. When Moses died, God promoted Joshua and chose him to take Moses' place. God instructed Joshua to lead the people into their inheritance. Surely the burden of this awesome responsibility must have concerned Joshua. Yet, God, Himself, had imparted strength into Joshua's heart and God knew that Joshua was capable of completing the task. He charged Joshua to remain strong and be courageous.

Fear is a great enemy. It paralyzes our vision and keeps us bound in mediocrity. It disallows us to inherit the promises of God or to fulfill His purposes. There is a story of two caterpillars that were walking slowing upon the ground. Suddenly, a beautiful butterfly appeared in the sky above them. As it soared through the air, its colors radiated the glory of God's vision for its life. As they watched this beautiful sight, one of the caterpillars spoke of his dreams and visions. He said, "Someday, I will be just as beautiful and I will fly like that butterfly." There was something deep within his being that was calling him to a higher level. He knew that his destiny had not yet been fulfilled. The other caterpillar spoke out in fear as he watched the butterfly soaring in the air and said, "You got to be kidding. You'll never get me up in one of those things." Both were headed towards their destiny that God had planned. Yet, one traveled in anticipation and delight for what the future held and the other shrank back in fear because he was afraid to fly.

Jeremiah 29:11 says that God has good plans for you and He wants you to be strong and courageous as you face those plans. He doesn't want you to shrink back in fear of your destiny or any assignment that it might require along the way. He wants you to face the future with anticipation and delight and to see yourself in the beauty and glory that He has planned for your life. If God has chosen you for some awesome responsibility, you have no need for concern, for He will equip you. If God calls you to witness, He will fill your mouth with words. If He calls you to help others, He will finance His plan. If He calls you to minister to your next-door neighbor or sends you to a foreign mission field, He will give you sufficient strength and grace to complete the task. God will never leave you helpless or hopeless. The Lord will always impart into your life gifts that will equal His call, for He never falls short in preparing His servants. So when God calls, be strong and courageous, for nothing is impossible with God. If He calls you to soar through the air, He will give you unfailing wings. +++

01/21/15
SUBMITTING YOUR WILL

Scripture: Luke 5:5 "At Thy Word I will."

Obeying and acting on God's Word sometimes can be very challenging. Peter and his men had spent the night fishing and were tired and weary. When they brought their boat to the shallow waters of the shore Jesus asked them to allow Him to use it as a platform to teach the people. When Jesus finished teaching He told Peter to "Launch out into the deep." This command challenged Peter and his men because it meant greater self-sacrifice. They wanted to go home and rest, but Jesus was asking them for more. Peter responded and said, "Nevertheless at Your Word I will let down the net." He was saying, "I'm going to submit myself to Your Word. I'm going to trust in You." They obeyed the Word of the Lord and because they did, they were blessed and their nets were filled with fish.

Have you ever noticed that God usually calls you to do something when you are too tired, too busy, or feel too inadequate to do the job? The Lord usually starts by giving us something to do in the shallow part of the lake that is near the shore. He knows that it is something that we can handle. He tests our faithfulness in these small and shallow things and then calls us into a place of greater responsibility. Often the shallow waters have proven to be a challenge and we can't imagine being able to handle the deeper waters. Yet our desire to please God and do more for His kingdom draws us to obey His voice and do His will.

As we obey God's Word and launch out into the deep, we discover several things. Going out into the deep water means that we must give up the security of the shore, and sometimes it means that we have to leave others behind. To go into the deeper water requires greater commitment and a greater dependence upon God. We find that we can't jump ship at the first sign of trouble and return to the safety of the dry land. There will also be stronger winds of adversity to face and increased responsibility, but this greater challenge means greater opportunity to see God work as we exercise "water walking faith." Psalms 107:23-24 says, "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep." Another translation says, "When you are in great waters, you see God in action."

The call that God is now extending to you may be far greater than your past experience, but as you obey His Word, He will bless you beyond measure. Take the challenge! At the Lord's command, launch out into the deep. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and say as Peter said, "Nevertheless, at Your Word I will do it." +++

01/22/15
WAY IN THE WILDERNESS

Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-19 "Do not remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth ... I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

You may be wondering how God is going to get you out of your current situation or the adversity that is vexing your soul. You may be challenged in your health, finances, or relationships, and anxiety may be attacking you as you face the insecurities of the future. There may be a vast wilderness or a dry barren desert before you. You may find yourself frustrated as you endeavor to work everything out in the same manner as you did in days past, only to discover that the formula is no longer working. There may be questions in your mind of what to do next.

God has an answer to every question and a solution for every problem. He says through Isaiah, the prophet, "Don't remember the former things, neither consider the things of old." God is not limited by your knowledge or confined to the routine of the past, so don't dwell on those things. His ways are higher than your ways and His thoughts are higher than your thoughts. God is still the creator and He is doing a new thing. He can make a way where there seems to be no way, for nothing is too difficult for Him. He will give you answers that you have never thought of because He will create them. He will make a way in the wilderness and cause streams to spring up in the desert. Never fear the new paths or the new direction that you are feeling in your spirit. If God is speaking to you, He is also going before you to make the crooked way straight and work out every detail to bring about this new thing.

It's easy to turn back or give up when the wilderness gets too thick and the desert becomes too dry. But remember David's words in Psalms 37:23, "The steps of a good man are directed and established of the Lord." This includes the easy steps as well as the hard steps. Should God lead you down a rough path, He promises to make a way and will give you the strength to complete the course. He orders your steps and assures you that rivers will spring up within your deserts and your life will bloom in a new fashion. He is a faithful God, a loving Father, and a keeper of His Word. The new road that you are called to travel may not always be easy, but the journey will be worth all of the bumps. +++

01/23/15
ENLARGED THROUGH DISTRESS

Scripture: Psalms 4:1 "You have enlarged me when I was in distress."

Spiritual growth comes as we face times of distress. For instance, it is only during times of financial difficulty that we learn to stretch our faith to believe God to meet our needs. As we exercise faith and see the need met, we discover that our faith for the next financial challenge is stronger. When we walk through the valley of the shadow of death with a loved one, we gain great insight into the preciousness of every moment that we have with those remaining and we become more personally thankful for our every breath. Likewise, sickness causes us to lean upon God for healing.

Each and every trial strengthens our faith, enlarges our soul, and gives depth to our spirit. Distress to our inner man is like the exercises we do for our muscles. Through physical stress our physical muscles are strengthened and likewise through times of distress our inner man is strengthened. In fact, the psalmist ends this psalm by declaring that it was in the time of lack that God caused gladness to come into his heart as he felt God's peace and safety.

We find that our great and wonderful times do not shape and form us as do the times of our greatest sorrows and temptations. It is as we pass these tests and make it through trials that we qualify to go to the next level. The story of Joseph is a good example. He was a man that endured much distress in his life but he was enlarged through each and every one of them. He was rejected by his brothers and sold into slavery, but he allowed God to enlarge him during this difficult season. In doing so, he cultivated forgiveness in his heart for his brothers rather than bitterness. He was put into prison, but instead of murmuring and complaining, he worked hard and developed his capabilities until he was able to become overseer of Potiphar's house. He chose to make each grievous situation an opportunity. If Joseph had never been a prisoner of Egypt, he would never have risen to become governor of that land.

Like Joseph, God has a plan for you. You may not recognize it as God's plan when you are experiencing it because His ways are not like your ways. His plan may seem hard and grievous to you at the time, but He has a divine purpose that He is seeking to fulfill. He wants to enlarge your heart and infuse iron into your soul like He did with Joseph (Psalm 105:18). God takes you to the edge of the sea and you think that all is lost. However, He has a higher plan than your plan and He parts the sea before you. You find yourself in a storm and your boat is filling with water, but He speaks peace and calms the storm. Like the lad with a few fish and a few loaves of bread, God asks you to give Him what little you have, and you think there is no way that you can make it. He then multiplies the sacrifice you offered to Him, and you end up with an abundance. God's ways are never your ways, nor His thoughts your thoughts. They are much higher. As you face the next distressing situation, remember that God is at work and He is enlarging every area of your life. +++

01/26/15
MOVE FORWARD IN FAITH

Scripture: II Kings 7:3 "... Why sit we here until we die?"

Four leprous men were living outside the gates of the city because this was what the law of the land required. As they began to commune with each other, they came up with the conclusion that they needed to make a change in their life or else they were going to die. Their options were few. Verse four tells us that if they went into the city, they would die because of the great famine in the land. Yet, they would also die if they remained where they were. They decided to do something bold, which was to approach their enemies, the Syrians. They felt that they had nothing to lose. If their enemy ended up killing them they would be no worse off than they were at the present moment.

These men had little hope of survival and had just about given up on life. Little did they know that God was working on their behalf. As they began to move forward towards their enemy's camp, God caused the Syrians to hear a great noise of chariots and horses. The Syrians fled from their camp in fear. In their haste they left everything behind, and when the lepers arrived on the scene, they found food, drink, clothing, and gold. Their bounty was more than enough to meet their own needs so they took the news back to the city and shared their good fortune with a starving and needy people.

Decisions of faith are not always easy and they very rarely make sense. Yet, faith will always move you forward. It will take you to places that you have never been and provide peace in every circumstance. Like the situation with the leprous men, many times things look hopeless because there are no reasonable options. You just have to go forward and believe that when you get there God will make a way where there seems to be no way and will provide for every need. Make no mistake; God is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He is well able to do far more than you could ever ask or think. When God gets ready to bless you, He may do it in an unexpected way like He did with the lepers. You must simply trust Him to make a way in the wilderness and believe that He will drive your enemies out before you. With God all things are possible. It is better to move forward in faith than to sit in doubt and die. If you don't give up in despair, you will find yourself standing on the other side of victory. +++

01/27/15
THE WONDER OF TODAY

Scripture: Psalms 118:24 "This is the day which the Lord has made ..."

The great healing evangelist, Kathryn Kuhlman, said, "We don't live on yesterday's glories, nor tomorrow's hopes - But on today's experience." Her words are simple but they stir our hearts with new revelation. Too often we miss the joys of today because we are weighed down by the memories of yesterday or we're too busy looking for a brighter tomorrow. We say, "I will be happy when ..." and we fill in the blank, but as soon as that particular need or desire is met, we insert something else in the blank space. Our hearts are never complete because we are searching for something that cannot satisfy our souls. True joy comes as God ministers to us.

We must learn to appreciate the wonders of each new day that God so graciously gives to us. Very often we take our lives for granted. We fail to consider that each breath that we take and each moment that we have is given to us because of God's loving kindness, mercy, and grace. We tend to waste the day that God made for us because we don't treasure or understand its value. We just try to make it through the individual hours. At the end of the day we've lost something that we cannot redeem, which is not just a block of time but also a portion of our life.

Each day should teach us something new and we should grow in the light of that day. We should exchange each day for something of value such as giving and receiving love and experiencing joy. As we live each day, our prayer should be that our very presence will make a difference as we pass through the lives of others. This is the day the Lord has made and we should seek Him with all of our hearts and expect to find Him in a unique way. We should listen for His voice and expect His words to pierce our hearts. As we reach out to the Lord, we should expect to feel His presence. We must not dwell in the mundane and the predictable. Instead, we should engage ourselves in new activities and adventures, for they will create a fresh awareness of life. We are never assured of tomorrow's sunrise so let us hold to the convictions that this is the day that God has made for us. This day is new and it is exciting. This day will never return so let us live it with intense passion. +++

01/28/15
KEEP YOUR FLAVOR

Scripture: Mark 9:50 (Living Bible) "Good salt is worthless if it loses its saltiness; it can't season anything. So don't lose your flavor."

As believers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have been commissioned to spread the gospel and reconcile others to Him. Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth and a light to the world. This is an awesome responsibility because as His witnesses, we must make sure that the salt in our lives has flavor and that the light of His presence never grows dim. Our witness must remain true and minister grace to all of the lives that we touch.

Jesus warned us about salt that had lost its flavor, saying that it was worthless and would accomplish nothing. When the salt in our lives has lost its flavor it is a condition that cannot be hidden because others will recognize our lack. When they hear our words and see our actions they will easily discern our state. Salt enhances, but if our life has no flavor, what good is it?

If we continually murmur, complain, and criticize instead of speaking a word in due season to the weary, what have we accomplished with our words? If sadness and depression prevail in our hearts, how can we show forth the spirit of joy? If hate, bitterness, and prejudice govern our actions, how can others see the love of God in our lives? If we allow confusion and turmoil to dominate us, can we really touch others with the spirit of peace? If we are filled with anxiety and dominated by fear and doubt, how can we teach faith? If there is no kindness, meekness, and patience manifested in our lives, can we say that the salt in our lives has flavor?

Our lives are but a vapor and we can not waste our precious moments on pretense. We can't pretend that our salt has flavor, for others will discern our deception. If our salt has flavor it will be evident, for it will enhance the lives of others and entice them to come to Jesus by gently drawing them into His circle. His Spirit working through us will bind up the broken hearted and give beauty for ashes. He will cause us to be able to comfort those who mourn and minister to the meek and lowly. He will work through us to drive away evil and set the captive free.

The season has come that we have an opportunity to be a blessing to all mankind. Let us start by making sure that the salt in our life has flavor so that our witness will enhance the lives of others. +++

01/29/15
HE KNOWS YOUR NEEDS

Scripture: Matthew 6:8 (Living Bible) "Remember, your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him."

Do you remember some of the prayers that you prayed in the past concerning things that you thought you needed or just had to have? You later rejoiced and thanked God that those particular prayers were not answered. How many hardships have we brought on ourselves by taking less than God's best or acting out of His perfect timing? God is full of wisdom and much smarter than you and I will ever be. He loves us enough to protect us from ourselves, and yet we struggle and get depressed when we don't get the things that we want.

God encourages us not to fret about those desires that go unmet. We are instructed to trust the Lord with all of our heart and told not to lean upon our own understanding, for He is an omniscient God. He is all knowing and He knows exactly what we need. Just as a wise earthly father rations sweets or caffeine to their children, God refuses to give us the things that He deems harmful to our body, soul, and spirit. His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. He will provide everything that we need.

God says in Isaiah 65:25, "I will answer them before they even call to Me. While they are still talking to Me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers." God's thoughts toward you are good, and His plans far exceed anything that you could ask or think. He is like a loving father and mother who are expecting a child. The child is unaware of any of its needs at present, and in reality could do with a lot less than the provisions that are in the making. But the loving father and mother rearrange their whole life and sacrifice their time and space to make room for the child to come. Months before the baby is born, they begin to decorate the nursery and acquire items for the baby. They are taking care of the needs before the baby even knows that the needs exist or before it knows how to ask. 

If we can be so loving towards our own children, how much more can God, who is love, be loving towards us? Jesus said, "Don't be anxious about your needs; not even about what you going to eat or what you are going to wear." God knows your situation. Trust Him. You are His child. He loves you and He knows exactly what your needs are and is making provisions before you even ask. +++

01/30/15
STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY

Scripture: I Kings 19:7 "... the journey is too great for you."

God created us and gave us common sense so that we could take care of ourselves. Yet many times, we fail to do this. We neglect ourselves and do not get the proper nourishment and rest that we need. After extending our energies to the breaking point, the journey becomes too great for us. We become discouraged mentally and often collapse physically and then find ourselves wanting to give up. Even professional counselors tell us that our problems will look totally different and diminish in our minds when we exercise, rest, and get proper nourishment.

In I Kings, chapter eighteen, Elijah stood from morning to noon watching the prophets of Baal as they tried to call down fire from heaven. Then from noon to the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah prepared an altar for God. He built the altar, put wood upon it, and cut the sacrificial bull into pieces to place upon the altar. He dug a trench around the altar and had twelve barrels of water poured upon it. He then called down fire from heaven, which consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and all of the water. After this, he participated in killing the 450 prophets of Baal that had challenged God. A short time later, Elijah knelt down on his knees and prayed seven times until the promise of rain came. When the clouds began to form, he ran seventeen miles from Mt. Carmel to Jezreel and even outran Ahab's chariot. All of these things depleted his energy and strength.

At the end of all of this, Jezebel threatened Elijah's life and he went a day's journey into the wilderness to escape. I Kings 19:4 records that Elijah finally became so worn out that he told God, "I've had enough; Take away my life." In his natural state Elijah thought that he was finished but God recognized the real problem. Rather than taking Elijah's life, God responded to his prayer by allowing him a season to regenerate. God also sent angels to nourish Elijah with food and water and they confirmed God's declaration and said, "The journey is too great for you." Elijah was tired and ready to quit, but God was not through with him. God was planning to send him forth to do another great work but Elijah needed rest and nourishment for the journey that was set before him.

Many times in life's battles we reach this point and feel that God must be finished with us. It seems that our greatest work is behind us and our exhaustion tells us that we can't go any further. There is just no strength left in our weary bodies, and like Elijah, we just want to quit. My friend, do not give up, for God is not finished with you yet. Daniel 7:25 tells us that Satan's work is to "defy the Most High God and wear down the saints." When you become weary your own battle may seem as severe as Elijah's or even Job's. You may have lost your property, health, friends, and children. Your spouse may even be against you. Your job may be demanding all of your energies. Your strength may be gone and it may seem that you have nothing left to give, but remember that Satan is simply trying to wear you down. You must resist him and find rest in God, for without God's help, the journey will indeed be too great for you. However, as you allow God to minister to you both spiritually and physically, you will find strength for your journey. +++