Iron Saints..... Streams in the Desert

 

Iron Saints 

Streams in the Desert

The shackles hurt his feet; his neck was placed in an iron collar, —Ps 105:18

Turn that about and render it in our language, and it reads thus, “Iron entered his soul.” Is there not a truth in this? That sorrow and privation, the yoke borne in the youth, the soul’s enforced restraint, are all conducive to an iron tenacity and strength of purpose, and endurance or fortitude, which are the indispensable foundation and framework of a noble character.

Do not flinch from suffering; bear it silently, patiently, resignedly; and be sure that it is God’s way of infusing iron into your spiritual life. The world wants iron dukes, iron battalions, iron sinews, and thews of steel. God wants iron saints; and since there is no way of imparting iron to the moral nature but by letting people suffer, He lets them suffer.

Are the best years of your life slipping away in enforced monotony? Are you beset by opposition, misunderstanding, and scorn, as the thick undergrowth besets the passage of the woodsman pioneer? Then take heart; the time is not wasted; God is only putting you through the iron regimen. The iron crown of suffering precedes the golden crown of glory. And iron is entering into your soul to make it strong and brave.
—F. B. Meyer

“But you will not mind the roughness nor the steepness of the way,
Nor the chill, unrested morning, nor the searness of the day;
And you will not take a turning to the left or the right,
But go straight ahead, nor tremble at the coming of the night,
For the road leads home.”

4 Ways Joy Enriches Our Lives..... By Lynette Kittle

 4 Ways Joy Enriches Our Lives

By Lynette Kittle

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’”- Luke 2:10

Growing up I loved singing the song, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy down in my heart” and shouting “where” after each stanza. It was a favorite song choice in Sunday school and Wednesday night services because it’s just fun to sing.

Psalm 100:1 encourages us to “make a joyful noise to the Lord” and singing it really did bring joy to my heart. Although just a simple child’s song, it conveys the kind of deep joy that comes from the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Below are 4 ways this joy enriches our lives 

1. Joy Overtakes Sorrow

Joy has the power to overtake mourning and groaning as written in Isaiah 35:1, “Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighting will flee away.”

The Bible is full of stories of individuals who faced hardships, suffering, and loss. Yet Scripture tells us how God gives everlasting joy to crown our heads and wipe away grief and sadness (Isaiah 51:11). And Psalm 126:5 assures that, “those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.”

The joy God brings is able to take away the deepest sorrow.

2. Joy Gives Strength

Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. As we rejoice before God, joy comes (Psalm 68:3) strengthening, uplifting, and refreshing us.

Scripture describes, too, how God takes great delight in us, how He shouts for joy and rejoices with singing over us (Zephaniah 3:17).

3. Joy Cultivates Growth

James 1:1-2 encourages us to consider it pure joy when we encounter various trials.

However, like me, I’m guessing most individuals don’t look at dealing with difficulties as a source of joy. Still, God urges us to take on a joyful attitude in facing challenges because when we do, we will grow in perseverance, which will lead us to maturity, completeness, and a confidence of being complete in Christ (James 1:3,4).

Choosing joy during trying times produces benefits far more valuable than the wear and tear experienced.

4. Joy Produces Generosity

2 Corinthians 8:2 describes how in the midst of a very severe trial, the churches in Macedonia experienced “overflowing joy.” Scriptures describes how even in an atmosphere of extreme poverty, this joy produced a rich generosity among them.

The theme of many Christmas movies is the story of a hardened, stingy heart being softened and changed to a generous heart.

And it’s true! The joy God brings through His Good News changes hearts and lives during the holiday season and all year long.

God and Treadmills..... By Ryan Duncan

 God and Treadmills

By Ryan Duncan

May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance. - 2 Thessalonians 3:5

Ever since I moved to Richmond I’ve acquired a taste for working out. There’s just something addicting about going to the gym after a long day at the office and pounding a treadmill until you feel the moisture on your forehead. If I don’t get my usual workouts, I tend to go stir crazy. That’s why I can’t stand January. After every New Year’s celebration, like clockwork, the gyms become crowded with people who have resolved to become healthier.

Because of the crowds, it becomes harder to get equipment, find parking spaces, or do any of my usual exercises. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m glad people are trying to get healthier and I encourage anyone who wants to start working out to give it a try, but I still get frustrated because I know that within a month most of these people will be gone. Exercise requires a lot of commitment and perseverance, and while a lot of people have resolved to live better, when the hard part comes they give up. You could say the same thing applies to faith. I cannot tell you how many times God has revealed himself in my life through his grace, his power, or even his sense of humor. But despite all these moments, it’s still so easy for me to doubt, to get angry with God and wonder if he has a plan, or if he’s even there at all.

The book of James is useful in moments like this, and even offers some encouragement for when we’re tempted to doubt.    

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” – James 1:2-8

Spiritual workouts are no different from our physical ones. If you want to run a marathon, you first have to run a mile, and if you want to become a tool for Christ, you have to trust him first. So don’t be afraid of trials and challenges, but instead embrace them as opportunities to mature in your faith. It won’t be easy, and odds are you’ll probably have to endure some difficult and painful experiences, but in the end you’ll look back and know you’re stronger because of it.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Apply God to your daily life through the exercise of prayer and service.

Further Reading

 Hebrews 12:1

A Prayer for Forgiving What We Can’t Forget..... By: Alisha Headley

 A Prayer for Forgiving What We Can’t Forget

By: Alisha Headley

“Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sing against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” - Matthew 18:22

We have all had someone in our life who has hurt us. It could be someone who hurt us as a child and the pain still follows us today, or perhaps its someone we face daily, whether it’s our spouse or someone with whom we work. Sometimes, these wounds are easy to heal. But what if the offense is so painful, you can’t forget it?

We are taught in the Bible the basis for believers forgiving others is the fact that we ourselves, have been graciously forgiven by God. (Ephesians 4:32) God never says we are to forget an offense, but simply forgive it. But for most of us, forgiving what we can’t forget is not so simple.

In today’s Scripture, Peter felt the same way. Jesus responds to Peter’s question with an inexact number – probably not what Peter was looking for.

Jesus was not saying we keep a tally of times we forgive and then stop after seventy times seven times. Jesus was implying a number that can’t be counted. A continual forgiveness. What this means is it will take daily practice, daily obedience, daily forgiveness, and it’s ongoing, never-ending.

So how do we walk in continual forgiveness? We do this by prayer. We are to “pray and bless our enemies and those who have hurt us.” (Matthew 5:44) And day after day, prayer after prayer, the Lord will begin to chip away the pain and soften our hearts. We may never forget the offense, but we can certainly replace that pain with a love and perspective that God plants on our heart through our prayers.

We don’t always forget the hurt, but we can allow God to change our heart as we forgive the hurt. Let us become more like Jesus day by day and choose to forgive just as He forgave us.

Dear God,

Oh, how we don’t deserve your forgiveness. Day after day, we sin, and we fall short of what you have for us. We are unworthy of your mercy, but you offer it to us new every morning. (Lamentations 3:23)

Thank you, Lord, that when we repent and ask for forgiveness, that you remember our sins no more. (Hebrews 8:12) Lord, although we still remember and may not forget hurt, you have given us the greatest example of forgiveness. You sent your son to walk the same earth we walk to experience the same hurt and betrayal we do, and yet He chose to forgive.

Help us to follow in Jesus’s example. Remind us that prayer is one of our greatest weapons and through continual prayer, praying for our enemies, you will begin to soften our hearts and give us the strength to forgive them.

Help us see those who have hurt us the same way you see them. Help us to have compassion on them.

Father, bless those who have wronged us. Show us where we are still holding back forgiveness, so that we can begin the obedient steps of forgiving.

And when we still remember, as it’s hard to forget, open our eyes to love that person, replacing the hurt with love. We thank you for forgiving us this day and every day and commit to strive to do the same.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

THE SIMPLE SECRET TO A GREAT NEW YEAR..... Dr. Jeff Schreve

 THE SIMPLE SECRET TO A GREAT NEW YEAR

Dr. Jeff Schreve 

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:33

I have never been good at being a handyman.  Things that are a piece of cake to a handyman are like climbing Mt. Everest to me.

One time Debbie asked me to put in a doggie door.  She said, "You can do it, Jeff.  The box says, "Simple installation."  "Simple is good," I responded as I opened the box with gusto.

The very first instruction was to get out my electric drill.  That is when I knew their definition of "simple" and mine were quite different.  With "simple" instructions, I would have been told to get out my hammer. Now that is simple!  (Note: the doggie door installation was so NOT simple that I had to call my friend Gene over to help me before I completely lost my salvation).

DO YOU LIKE SIMPLE?

If you like simple, you are going to love my simple secret to a great new year.  First, get out your electric drill (just kidding).

The simple secret is this: To experience a great year, just do what Jesus said, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things [the things you and I worry about] shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).  If you will seek Him first, He promises to meet all your needs.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SEEK HIM FIRST?

1.  It means that you spend time with Him at the first of each day, praying and reading His Word, asking Him for direction, guidance, help and insight ... confessing your sins when you blow it, and seeking His grace to help in your time of need.

2.  It means you put His agenda above your agenda.  You pray, “Not my will, but Thine be done” (Luke 22:42).  You live your life to please Jesus, not to please yourself.

3.  It means you obey Him and do what He says in the power He supplies.  You don't let your fleshly desires control you; you let Jesus control you.

4.  It means you invest your time, talent and resources in the kingdom of God, not the kingdom of self.

5.  It means you recognize that He is everything, and in Christ “are hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge”( Colossians 2:3).  The true treasures of life—love, joy, peace, fulfillment, true success—are only found in Jesus ... so you spend your time seeking Him.

SIMPLE STARTS NOW!

Don't wait for the ball to drop in Times Square before seeking first the kingdom of God.  Start now!  Put Jesus first every day you are blessed to live... and He will bless your life abundantly in return.

One of my favorite Scriptures says, “For those who honor Me, I will honor” (1 Samuel 2:30).  If you want God to honor you, honor Him in all you do.  The best is yet to be... and the ball is in your court.

Love,

Pastor Jeff Schreve,