Expect Him on the Ordinary Road..... Streams in the Desert

 

Expect Him on the Ordinary Road

Streams in the Desert

Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside, of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush" (Exod. 3:1,2).

The vision came in the midst of common toil, and that is where the Lord delights to give His revelations. He seeks a man who is on the ordinary road, and the Divine fire leaps out at his feet. The mystic ladder can rise from the market place to Heaven. It can connect the realm of drudgery with the realms of grace.

My Father God, help me to expect Thee on the ordinary road. I do not ask for sensational happenings. Commune with me through ordinary work and duty. Be my Companion when I take the common journey. Let the humble life be transfigured by Thy presence.

Some Christians think they must be always up to mounts of extraordinary joy and revelation; this is not after God's method. Those spiritual visits to high places, and that wonderful intercourse with the unseen world, are not in the promises; the daily life of communion is. And it is enough. We shall have the exceptional revelation if it be right for us.

There were but three disciples allowed to see the transfiguration, and those three entered the gloom of Gethsemane. No one can stay on the mount of privilege. There are duties in the valley. Christ found His life-work, not in the glory, but in the valley and was there truly and fully the Messiah.

The value of the vision and glory is but their gift of fitness for work and endurance.
--Selected

 Making Disciples

Dr. Charles Stanley

Matthew 28:18-20

 

Scripture teaches us to tell others about Jesus Christ. And while sharing the gospel is awesome, it is simply not enough. We should continue to encourage and invest in new believers. Many don't know where to begin reading in the Bible or how to spend time with their heavenly Father.

 

Of course, God takes each person's spiritual journey seriously, and He won't leave a seeking heart unsatisfied. At the same time, we have a responsibility to invest in the lives of spiritual brothers and sisters by sharing our understanding and experience.

 

This type of teaching is called discipleship, and it is both an honor and a great responsibility. As you commence this type of relationship, consider the following points.

 

First, make sure to continually spend time with the Lord so that you are growing and in tune with His Spirit. Second, be prepared with a plan. Your friend needs to understand the basics, such as how to read the Bible, what prayer is, and where to find fellowship. New believers will have questions--answers are important, as is your ability to find resources when you are unsure of how to reply. Third, help the individual understand generally what to expect as he embarks on his Christian walk. Tomorrow, we will explore the stages of a believer's journey.

 

Most of us learned, struggled, and learned some more till we began to understand the basics of life in Christ. Godly mentors can be a tremendous help. And remember, no matter how long we've believed, we never stop needing advice and encouragement from those farther along in the journey.

Stain on the Brain..... by Fred Alberti

 Stain on the Brain

by Fred Alberti

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.- Psalms 119:11

I watched Caleb as he sat there in deep concentration just staring at the book. Finally, I asked him what he was doing. His response was one I had never heard before. He said, "I'm staining it into my brain."

He was memorizing Scripture verses for AWANA Club.

The thing is he knew what he was doing. He knew that he was trying to burn the words into his memory so he could pass on to the next challenge.

I like how today's verse applies to Caleb's staining power. The psalmist gives the reason why he is hiding God's Word. What is it? So that he will not sin against God.

The reason for Bible memorization is to help us to abstain from sinning.

Oftentimes we resist Bible memorization. Instead we choose to stain our brain with TV shows depicting adultery, murder, and obscenity. Then we get ourselves into a moral bind and we wonder how we got into that place. We shouldn't wonder. We should realize that what we choose to watch and/or memorize is what is going to stain into our brain.

"Oh, that sex scene isn't so bad, at least they muted the sounds."

"Why yes, the whole point of the show was that the husband didn't get along with his wife and had an affair. But at least he was able to get a divorce and the mom was able to keep the kids."

"Well, sure there was a lot of swearing but the story was great and the murder scenes were so realistic. Cinematography has really advanced these last few years."

Folks, these are stains. They will stain your conscience and your heart and those of your family.

What are you staining your brain with these days?

Intersecting Faith & Life: Spend some time this week with your family memorizing key scriptures about salvation, like Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Acts 16:31, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.

How to Search Earnestly for God..... by Jennifer Waddle

 How to Search Earnestly for God

by Jennifer Waddle

Millions of Christians, all over the world, would give anything to have the religious freedoms we have in America. Not only to hold the Living Word in their hands, but to read and share it freely, would be like winning the lottery to them.

Here, in our westernized culture, with Bibles gathering dust on bookshelves, and Bible apps stored away on our phones, I’m afraid we’ve lost our fervor for the precious and holy Word of God.

Meet Earnest—also known as eagerness and wholeheartedness—a forgotten virtue of the Christian faith. The earnestness to get up each day and meet with God in worship has been replaced by to-do lists and agendas. An earnestness to share the Gospel within our circle of influence has been hindered by tolerance and complacency.

I am writing these things to myself as well, sadly realizing how much earnestness has escaped my busy, daily life; how the zeal I once had for Christ has been overshadowed by worldly desires and restless temptations.

But now, more than ever before, we have an amazing opportunity to rekindle an earnestness for the Word of God; to read and to study, to share and uphold, and to shine the light of God’s truths in dark places. For the Word of God truly is living and active, able to penetrate the deepest intents of the heart.

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Meet Earnest—the attribute that ushers in an excitement for the things of God—and rekindles our tiny flame of faith into a raging fire of conviction and motivation.

My prayer for Christians everywhere, is that we will awaken anew to the life-giving truths of the Bible and yearn for them as for daily bread. I ask, in the precious name of Jesus, that we will pick up that Bible, dust it off, and open it as often as we can. I ask for the Holy Spirit to continue His work in us to reach a hurting and confused world, with the only absolute truth there is. And, lastly, I pray for an earnestness, to once again declare God’s Word—a lamp for our feet and light for our path. (Psalm 119:105)

A Prayer to Help You Relinquish Control ..... By Betsy de Cruz

 A Prayer to Help You Relinquish Control

By Betsy de Cruz

“Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” - Exodus 14:13-14, NIV

“Why did I say that?” I wondered. After I interviewed for a new job, my stress levels increased while waiting for the results in the days that followed. I went over the conversation in my mind again and again, analyzing what I could have said better or shouldn’t have said at all.

I’d felt confident, until the interviewer said, “We’ll let you know of our decision in three weeks.” My thoughts immediately went to all the reasons why I might have to wait so long, including the possibility that he hoped a better candidate would appear. My mind went into overdrive, analyzing every mistake I might have made in the application process.

I tend to overthink things.

Mulling over the interview now can’t change a thing, but it does illustrate the way we grapple for control in hard situations. We think if we do or say just the right thing, we can make everything okay. As if it all depended on us.

What situation in your life today is causing you to overthink? Are you worn out trying to come up with solutions? Do your thoughts keep you up at night as you hash out the problem and wonder if you’re doing enough to solve it?

In today’s verse, the Israelites were surrounded by trouble, with the Red Sea before them and Pharaoh’s armies behind them. Yet Moses challenged them to cast off fear and stand firm on the hope of God’s deliverance.

What if you surrender your situation or problem into the Lord’s care? Ask Him to help you be still and trust Him to fight for you. Our job is to seek God first: to trust His goodness, stand firm on His promises, and praise Him, even before we see the victory we long for. God’s job is to fight for us: to open or close doors, direct our paths, and empower us by His Holy Spirit to live out His plans.

Let’s pray:

Lord, I praise you for your great love for me and your power that works on my behalf. Help me to trust you today. I lay down my worries at your feet, and I ask that you help me to surrender control to you. I trust you, the great and powerful God who goes before me.

Lord, would you fight my battle for me? I am powerless, but you are all-powerful. I do not know the best solution to this situation, but you are all-knowing and wise. Give me grace to stand still and look to you. Bring your peace to my anxious heart.

Help me to believe you will act on my behalf. I praise you now for the victory you will bring. I thank you now for the door you will open and the door you will shut because I trust you to lead me along the right paths. All your ways are steadfast love and faithfulness.

Be glorified in my life today. Help me to keep a quiet heart and to live with an attitude of surrender. In Jesus’ name, Amen.