And we know that in all things God works for the good of those
who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
-- Romans 8:28

The real issue in our lives is not God's faithfulness, but ours.
The history of God's faithfulness to Israel and to his promises is
found in the Scriptures. We can depend and rely on him to do what
he promises, despite the apparent circumstances of our lives. The
real issue is whether or not we choose to truly love him and live
for his purposes when life becomes unbearable and faith becomes
hard. This verse is no platitude, but the life-ring of hope for
those with gritty faith who choose to persevere when there is no
easy reason for doing so. Faith is rooted in a Savior who triumphed
over death, Satan, and sin on the third day while we find ourselves
caught up on the second day waiting for the dawn of our full
salvation.

In his book, Leading From the Second Chair, Mike Bonem describes how second chair leaders have a “subordinate role whose influence on others adds value to the organization.” Serving in a second chair position, I have discovered, is not about title, but rather influence. People follow a second chair leader because of the influence they gain through relationships. The lessons learned lately revolve around this concept. If I am to be effective, I need to develop relationships based on trust and open communication. Only then will I be able to influence those around me to greater Kingdom service.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not
know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes
for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches
our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit
intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
-- Romans 8:26-27

Sometimes our prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling and fall to
the floor. Other times, we are overcome with emotion and the words
of our prayers can't capture what's in our hearts. Thank God for
the assurance that the power of our prayers is not dependent upon
our words, but upon his grace given us by the Holy Spirit's
intercession!

Life can be very difficult at times. Anyone who has lived long knows this. At the same time, even our worst nightmares are staging periods for our great redemption. Our loneliest moments are the waiting room for our final adoption into the very presence the King of Ages. With the Spirit living inside us, we are assured of theultimate destination of our lives, no matter where the current scene in life's drama places us. So let's live as those who areassured of their final destination but just have not yet finally arrived, not those who have made their home and placed their hope in what is present. Our best days lie ahead!

Nothing will ever be attempted, if all possible objections must first be overcome. -- Samuel Johnson

Things won are done, joy's soul lies in the doing. -- William Shakespeare

Commitment without reflection is fanaticism in action, though
reflection without commitment is the paralysis of all action.

     -- John Mackay

We live in an age when people want to mix the contents of many
mystical faiths into the boiling pot of their own pseudo-Christian
religion. Most do not know that the basic claim of Scripture is
simple and clear. Only God, the Almighty Yahweh, is truly God. Only
the one true and living God is to be worshiped. Only this Abba
Father is to be trusted. Yes, there are other spiritual powers, but
these powers lead to despair, death, and destruction. Seek God, the
Yahweh of Israel, the righteous Father of Jesus, and live.

You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it istoday. -- Deuteronomy 8:17-18

If any man should ask me what is the first, second, and third part of being a Christian, I must answer "Action!"

God is so holy, so mighty, so awesome, and yet he bids us to call him "Abba Father." Abba was a term of endearment, familiarity, dependency, and love used by Jewish toddlers to address their fathers. God, through the incredible gift of his Holy Spirit in us, has given us this ultimate gift of availability, love, companionship, protection, and mighty care. Abba! Sweet Abba Father! My God, my LORD, the Sovereign ruler of heaven's armies and Creator of the universe is also my Abba!

After stumbling around in the dark watering my yard last night,
I was overjoyed to find a flashlight so I wouldn't meet any
unexpected "critters" as I reached into the shrubbery to turn my
faucet on and off. My joy, however, is far greater at finding
Jesus, who illuminates my heart on my darkest nights, illuminates
my future with his coming glory, illuminates my path with his words
of truth, and illuminates my hope with the dawning of each Sunday,
my weekly reminder of his triumph over the grave.

Use Me Lord

Do not be angry that you cannot make others as you would wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
Romans 8:9

We show who is in control in our lives by the way we live! We show our relationship to the Father by living with His character in our world. So let's live under the control of the Spirit -- obeying the Spirit's inspired Word and following the Spirit's lead -- so we can show and share Jesus in what we say and do!

If you have been tempted into evil, fly from it. It is not falling into the water, but lying in it, that drowns. -- Author Unknown

Those who flee temptation generally leave a forwarding address.

-- Lane Olinghouse

I know well that when Christ is nearest, Satan is also busiest. -- Robert Murray M'Cheyne