Streams in the Desert.....

 Streams in the Desert

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us (Romans 8:37).

This is more than victory. This is a triumph so complete that we have not only escaped defeat and destruction, but we have destroyed our enemies and won a spoil so rich and valuable that we can thank God that the battle ever came. How can we be "more than conquerors"? We can get out of the conflict a spiritual discipline that will greatly strengthen our faith and establish our spiritual character. Temptation is necessary to settle and confirm us in the spiritual life. It is like the fire which burns in the colors of mineral painting, or like winds that cause the mighty cedars of the mountain to strike more deeply into the soil. Our spiritual conflicts are among our choicest blessings, and our great adversary is used to train us for his ultimate defeat. The ancient Phrygians had a legend that every time they conquered an enemy the victor absorbed the physical strength of his victim and added so much more to his own strength and valor. So temptation victoriously met doubles our spiritual strength and equipment. It is possible thus not only to defeat our enemy, but to capture him and make him fight in our ranks.

The prophet Isaiah speaks of flying on the shoulders of the Philistines (Isa. 11:14). These Philistines were their deadly foes, but the figure suggested that they would be enabled not only to conquer the Philistines, but to use them to carry the victors on their shoulders for further triumphs. Just as the wise sailor can use a head wind to carry him forward by tacking and taking advantage of its impelling force; so it is possible for us in our spiritual life through the victorious grace of God to turn to account the things that seem most unfriendly and unfavorable, and to be able to say continually, "The things that were against me have happened to the furtherance of the Gospel."
--Life More Abundantly

A noted scientist observing that "early voyagers fancied that the coral-building animals instinctively built up the great circles of the Atoll Islands to afford themselves protection in the inner parts," has disproved this fancy by showing that the insect builders can only live and thrive fronting the open ocean, and in the highly aerated foam of its resistless billows. So it has been commonly thought that protected ease is the most favorable condition of life, whereas all the noblest and strongest lives prove on the contrary that the endurance of hardship is the making of the men, and the factor that distinguishes between existence and vigorous vitality. Hardship makes character.
--Selected

"Now thanks be unto God Who always leads us forth to triumph with the Anointed One, and Who diffuses by us the fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place" (2 Cor. 2:14, literal translation).

Seeking God's Will..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Seeking God's Will

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 John 5:14-15

Parents train their children to do many tasks—from knowing which clothes match to handling money. Perhaps the most important skill we can teach is how to follow God’s direction.

We are blessed that our omniscient and mighty Father is willing to make His way known to us. He wants to reveal exactly what to do in every situation. In fact, He promises this: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you” (Ps. 32:8). Let’s explore how to discern God’s will at each crossroad of life.

The first step is to make sure that we have repented of all sin. Listening to God while holding onto iniquity in our heart is like using a foggy and unreadable compass. After confessing and repenting, we can ask for direction.

Next, we should read Scripture regularly with a seeking, open heart. The Bible is like a lamp on a dark path (Ps. 119:105). The last step involves God’s indwelling Holy Spirit—the wonderful gift that the heavenly Father has given each of His children. The Spirit provides truth and guidance as we read the Word and pray. We should listen patiently for His leading, which is often communicated quietly to our hearts as we spend time with Him.

When asking the Lord to reveal His will, we shouldn’t expect instant answers. The discipline of waiting builds character, and besides, rushing the process may lead to a path that misses God’s best. Take the time to seek Jesus’ plan for your life, remembering He'll provide all you need to follow Him.

Left-Handed Perfection: Why God Wants to Use Us at Our Point of Greatest Weakness..... MARK BATTERSON

 Left-Handed Perfection: Why God Wants to Use Us at Our Point of Greatest Weakness

MARK BATTERSON

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) 

I’m fascinated by an ancient group of archers from a tribe known as the Benjamites. Their ambidextrous ability to shoot arrows and sling stones sounds like it’s right out of a Marvel movie: “All of them were expert archers, and they could shoot arrows or sling stones with their left hand as well as their right. They were all relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin” (1 Chronicles 12:2, NLT).

It’s safe to assume the Benjamites were not born this way, because only 1% of the general population is born ambidextrous. In other words, this was nurture over nature. This was not an innate talent. It was a hard-earned skill set.

There are several famous Benjamites in the Bible, King Saul and the Apostle Paul among them. Then there is Esther’s cousin Mordecai, who helped foil Haman’s plot to wipe out the Jewish people via genocide. So the tribe of Benjamin has its fair share of heroes, but their ancestral hero is a judge named Ehud.

Years before the Benjamites were known for their ambidextrous qualities, Ehud delivered Israel — with his left hand.

In Judges, we read, “But when the Israelites cried to the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud son of Gera, a Benjamite, a left-handed man … ” (Judges 3:15, AMPC). Ehud is one of the most significant southpaws, or lefthanders, in Scripture. So what does that have to do with the ambidexterity of the Benjamites?

Ehud’s left-handed victory became the Benjamites’ signature story, buried deep within their collective consciousness. It was their rallying cry, like “Remember the Alamo!” Cultivating weak-hand skills was their unique way of honoring Ehud. Ambidexterity was a tip of the cap to the judge who delivered Israel with his left hand.

Most of us tend to ignore our nondominant hands. Why bother when using our strong hands is so much easier, so much better? We let our weak hands atrophy. But how you handle your weak hand affects more than your present task; it affects the next generation. Ehud didn’t just deliver the Israelites from the Moabites; he inspired generations of Benjamites. His bravery wasn’t just their breakthrough; it became their signature story.

God wants to use you at your point of greatest giftedness. That’s a given. He is the one who gave you those gifts in the first place. But God also wants to use you at your point of greatest weakness. Why? Because that is where His power is made perfect as 2 Corinthians 12:9 says: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

When we’re feeling particularly weak and weary, we sometimes assume God can’t use us until we’re feeling strong again. But what if this moment of weakness is when God most wants to shine His light, show His power and surround you with His strength? The result might affect generations to come.

Heavenly Father, use me now, even at my point of greatest weakness. May Your power be made perfect in that weakness so others will not see me, but You instead. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Isaiah 40:29, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (NIV)

Psalm 73:26, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (NIV)

The Lord of Hosts (Amos 4:13) ..... By Jennifer Waddle

 The Lord of Hosts (Amos 4:13)

By Jennifer Waddle

Today’s Bible Verse - For behold, He who forms mountains, and creates the wind, who declares to man what his thought is, and makes the morning darkness, who treads the high places of the earth—The Lord God of hosts is His name. - Amos 4:13, NKJV

As we read through different Bible books and passages, it’s easy to overlook certain words or phrases, especially when they occur repetitively.

In a recent Bible study, the title “Lord of Hosts” came up in our text and was emphasized several times within a few verses. It caused us to stop and consider the significance of this title and learn what it meant. From our research, we discovered that the Lord of Hosts is used more than 250 times in the Old Testament and means God of armies. This can refer to angel armies, human armies, and even the heavenly hosts, such as sun, moon, and stars. In a nutshell, The Lord of Hosts emphasizes that God is sovereign over all.

The incredible thing is, God not only rules over heaven and earth, He communes with us and invites into His presence. The thought of God commanding angel armies to fight for us, yet, at the same time, reaching down in sweet fellowship with us, is both awe-inspiring and humbling.

“For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.” - Psalm 91:11

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.” - Psalm 34:7

This awesome picture of God orchestrating heaven’s armies to surround us and protect us shows the amazing nature of our loving, powerful, and personal Lord. And as we stand in awe and wonder of the Lord of Hosts, we know that one day we will join Him in heaven and live with Him forever.

I pray this is a great encouragement to you today, as you are reminded of God’s sovereignty and intimacy with His creation. For our God is not too far removed or too busy ruling the universe to interact with us. Instead, He dwells within us by His Spirit, comforting, guiding, and protecting.

As you read through Old Testament passages and come across the title, Lord of Hosts, pause for a moment and thank God for His absolute authority and His involvement in your personal life. After all, it is nothing short of amazing.

Heavenly Father, 

Thank You for being our Sovereign God and our personal Lord. We are amazed by You! We give You all the glory, honor, and praise, as we declare Your name—the Lord of Hosts. Thank You for commanding angel armies to fight for us. We stand under the covering of Your grace and provision. You are an incredible God and we love You with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength—in Jesus’ holy name. 

Amen.

White Walls..... By Meghan Kleppinger

White Walls
By Meghan Kleppinger

Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, "Build houses and live {in them;} and plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease. Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare." - Jeremiah 29:4-7 

If we were playing the word association game and someone said, "Military life," I would answer "white walls."

Thanks to our travel agency, otherwise known as the U.S. Army, I moved with my family 13 times before I graduated from college. Many of our abodes were Army quarters (houses on army installations for military families). The walls were always white. I determined early on that when I moved out on my own there wouldn't be a single white wall in my home. 

From the time I graduated college until now, I've continued to be in transition which has meant more white walls in my apartments. Well, I just bought my first house and, of course, I'm not thinking about the practical purchases that need to be made (like a washer and a dryer for example), I'm considering color! I'm thinking about the things that need to be done to help me feel settled and at home.

Eventually, I could move to a different town, or I could marry (this one gets my parents' vote), or a number of other things could happen that would require me to move out of this house. Will my probable future keep my belongings in their boxes or the paint in its can? Of course not! If there is one thing I learned as a military kid, it's to make home wherever I am for as long as I am there.

This world is not our permanent home and God tells us our days are like a breath (Psalms 144:4), but He has also given each of us the opportunity to unpack our boxes and make an impact while we are here. 

Like the exiles in Babylon, God has put each of us where we are at this time for a reason. While we anticipate a "better country" (Hebrews 11:16), we are to live, enjoy the blessings God continues to give, and exhibit a life that tells others of His magnificent love.

Intersecting Faith & Life: In the words of missionary Jim Elliot, "Wherever you are, be all there." In other words, get a brush and paint some walls!

A Prayer for Walking in Your Convictions..... By: Chelsey DeMatteis

 A Prayer for Walking in Your Convictions

By: Chelsey DeMatteis

If we live by the Spirit, let us stay in step with the Spirit. - Galatians 5:25

The Lord has continued to impress on my heart the importance of walking in our convictions. Addressing them with The Lord, repenting of what’s revealed, and moving forward in the sanctification He has blessed us with. With so much happening in the world, I think for many of us as Christians, it has caused us to look inward at the heart of who we've become. It's made us look closer at who we are in the flesh and who God actually calls us to be. It's made us ask if we look more like the world than people of God? It's made us ask, "how did we get here and how can I move forward boldly living for Christ?"

As I wrestled through the question of “why” with my own heart, I kept coming back to the sad reality that we can get caught up in turning a blind eye to convictions. As hard as it was to admit, this is all I could come up with: “complacency felt more comfortable.” Which really translates into, “I choose my comfort over God’s commands.”

We are told all throughout scripture that the Christian life is not about comfort but conforming to the character of Christ. We see that in 1 Peter 1:16, “Be holy as I am holy” and if we disregard our convictions, we disregard the commands of God and we begin to sidestep the call of holiness.

Galatians 5:25 tells us that “if we say we live by the Spirit we must stay in step with the Spirit.” Staying in step with the Spirit means walking in the convictions God lays on our hearts. Then, when we begin living in the truth of what scripture says, we’ll see the gift conviction is. We will see that conviction is God’s pursuit of our heart and that He desires for us to know Him more deeply through it.

Conviction leads us to bear fruit in our lives. Conviction is the pruning process God uses to make us more like Him. This is an honor to know that our Creator wants us to reflect Him to this world that so desperately needs to see people living lives of order; and order comes when we talk in conviction. I pray we celebrate this and praise Him for loving us so much that He doesn’t want to leave us in our sin. May we turn to the Word of God as we walk boldly in the convictions He lays on our hearts.

Pray with me…

Lord,

Thank you for conviction, and thank you for loving me enough to pull me out of my sin. I pray, Father, for a heart that boldly walks in its convictions and leans into you. Help me Lord to see conviction as a gift, a gift of grace and mercy. Please continue to stir in my heart the places I’ve fallen complacent and lead me as I turn from them.

Help me to live out the truth from Galatians 5:25, that if I say I live by the Spirit, let me stay in step with the Spirit.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Verge of the Unknown..... Streams in the Desert

 The Verge of the Unknown

Streams in the Desert 

 The land whither ye go to possess it is a land of hills and valleys and drinketh water of the rain of heaven; a land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even to the end of the year. (Deuteronomy 11:11-12)

Today, dear friends, we stand upon the verge of the unknown. There lies before us the new year and we are going forth to possess it. Who can tell what we shall find? What new experiences, what changes shall come, what new needs shall arise? But here is the cheering, comforting, gladdening message from our Heavenly Father, "The Lord thy God careth for it."

All our supply is to come from the Lord. Here are springs that shall never dry; here are fountains and streams that shall never be cut off. Here anxious one, is the gracious pledge of the Heavenly Father. If He be the Source of our mercies they can never fail us. No heat, no drought can parch that river, "the streams whereof make glad the city of God."

The land is a land of hills and valleys. It is not all smooth nor all down hill. If life were all one dead level the dull sameness would oppress us; we want the hills and the valleys. The hills collect the rain for a hundred fruitful valleys. Ah, so it is grace and brings down the shower of blessing; the hills, the bleak hills of life that we wonder at and perhaps grumble at, bring down showers. How many have perished in the wilderness, buried under its golden sands, who would have lived and thriven in the hill-country; how many would have been killed by the frost, blighted with winds, swept desolate of tree and fruit but for the hill- stern, hard, rugged, so steep to climb. God's hills are a gracious protection for His people against their foes!

We cannot tell what loss and sorrow and trial are doing. Trust only. The Father comes near to take our hand and lead us on our way today. It shall be a good, a blessed new year!

He leads us on by paths we did not know;
Upward He leads us, though our steps be slow,
Though oft we faint and falter on the way,
Though storms and darkness oft obscure the day;
Yet when the clouds are gone,
We know He leads us on.
He leads us on through all the unquiet years;
Past all our dreamland hopes, and doubts and fears,
He guides our steps, through all the tangled maze
Of losses, sorrows, and o’er clouded days;
We know His will is done;
And still He leads us on.
--Nicholaus Ludwig Zinzendorf