Streams in the Desert.....

 Streams in the Desert

As soon as the soles of the feet of the priests... shall rest in the waters… the waters shall be cut off (Joshua 3:13).

The people were not to wait in their camps until the way was opened, they were to walk by faith. They were to break camp, pack up their goods, form in line to march, and move down to the very banks before the river would be opened.

If they had come down to the edge of the river and then had stopped for the stream to divide before they stepped into it, they would have waited in vain. They must take one step into the water before the river would be cut off.

We must learn to take God at His Word, and go straight on in duty, although we see no way in which we can go forward. The reason we are so often balked by difficulties is that we expect to see them removed before we try to pass through them.

If we would move straight on in faith, the path would be opened for us. We stand still, waiting for the obstacle to be removed, when we ought to go forward as if there were no obstacles.
--Evening Thoughts

What a lesson Columbus gave to the world of perseverance in the face of tremendous difficulties!

Behind him lay the gray Azores,
Behind the gates of Hercules;
Before him not the ghost of shores,
Before him only shoreless seas.
The good Mate said: "Now we must pray,
For lo! the very stars are gone.
Brave Admiral, speak, what shall I say?"
"Why, say, 'Sail on! sail on! and on!'"
"My men grow mutinous day by day;
My men grow ghastly wan and weak!"
The stout Mate thought of home; a spray
Of salt wave washed his swarthy cheek.
"What shall I say, brave Admiral, say,
If we sight naught but seas at dawn?"
"Why, you shall say at break of day,
'Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!'"
They sailed. They sailed. Then spake the Mate:
"This mad sea shows its teeth tonight.
He curls his lip, he lies in wait,
With lifted teeth, as if to bite!
Brave Admiral, say but one good word;
What shall we do when hope is gone?"
The words leapt like a leaping sword:
"Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!"
Then, pale and worn, he kept his deck
And peered through darkness. Ah! that night
Of all dark nights! And then a speck--
A light! A light! A light! A light!
It grew, a starlit flag unfurled!
It grew to be Time's burst of dawn.
He gained a world; he gave that world
Its grandest lesson: "On! sail on!"
--Joaquin Miller

Faith that goes forward triumphs.

No Greater Love..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 No Greater Love

Dr. Charles Stanley

John 15:12-14

Perhaps the most intense love and protective instinct in the experience of mankind is that of parents toward their children. There is little that most mothers or fathers wouldn't do for a baby. If a truck posed a threat to the little one, it wouldn't surprise us if they jumped in front of the moving vehicle without a second thought.

Wouldn't you like to be cared for with this kind of intensity? You are. In fact, the Lord's love toward you is far deeper and more secure than that of even the most caring, tuned-in human parent. And what God did for us is proof. Romans 5:8 says that while we were living in disobedience, He sent His only Son to die on the cross for us.

Think about a father giving up his child for people who choose to rebel against him. What a tremendous sacrifice and cost! Jesus' death took the place of the punishment that we deserved. If we accept this gift and decide to follow God, He no longer sees us as guilty. Rather, He justifies us, makes us righteous, and changes our ultimate destiny: instead of facing everlasting separation from Him, we will enjoy His presence eternally. What's more, almighty God adopts us as His children forever. Our heavenly Father guides, protects, and counsels us as we walk through life—and promises us that we are secure in Him throughout eternity.

How incredible that the Creator of the universe would love you and me in this way! Do you know and experience the security and sweetness of His care? Gratitude and praise should flow from your heart. In turn, love others deeply out of thankfulness for the love that you have received.

The Power to Live Out Scripture Even When It Feels Impossible..... LYSA TERKEURST

 The Power to Live Out Scripture Even When It Feels Impossible

LYSA TERKEURST

Lee en español 

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11 (ESV) 

I know what it feels like to have been hurt so deeply that living out the commands of Scripture to forgive seems too cruel to even consider.

How can I offer forgiveness like Colossians 3:13 commands when someone has wounded me to the point where I fear I’ll never feel normal again? And how can I be expected to be a woman of grace and compassion like Ephesians 4:32 asks of me when the pain seems never-ending and the one who hurt me acts like it’s no big deal?

These are questions pulsing not just with pain and loss but with a grief so deep it can feel completely maddening to think Scripture should apply in these circumstances.

And this is exactly when I must remember that Truth proclaimed and lived out is a fiercely accurate weapon against evil. Truth says I have an enemy … but it’s not the person whose choices have caused me great pain.

Yes, people do have a choice to sin against us or not. And certainly, when we are hurt, the person hurting us willingly played into the enemy’s plan. But it helps me to remember what Paul teaches in Ephesians 6:10-13 — that people aren’t my real enemy. The devil is real and on an all-out assault against all things good. He hates the word together. And he especially works with great intentionality against relationships. But we are told in Scripture that we can take a stand against the schemes of the enemy.

Ephesians 6:11 reminds us we need to, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

The phrase “may be able” (which is translated “can” in the NIV) is dynasthai in the original Greek form, meaning “I am powerful — I have the power.” We may feel powerless when the enemy stirs up trouble among us, but we aren’t. The secret is to be aware of this. And it’s knowing where that power comes from.

When Paul commands us in Ephesians 6:10 to “be strong,” it can actually be interpreted in the original Greek in the passive voice. Paul is saying we should be, “made strong, or be strengthened.” There is tremendous freedom to be found in this subtle difference. God isn’t calling us to find a power within ourselves to overcome the battles we face. The reason we can "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might" (Ephesians 6:10, ESV) is because the very same power of God that raised Christ from the dead through the Spirit lives in us. (Ephesians 1:19-20)

So, the power is not in question. But our awareness of it often rises and falls on our willingness to do what God’s Word says to do in times of conflict.

It’s often when I don’t want to live out God’s Word with another person that doing what God says is an epic defeat of the enemy. Hurt feelings don’t often want to cooperate with holy instructions. But there is nothing more powerful than a person living what God’s Word teaches.

Dear friend, the heartbreaks you carry are enormous. So, if no one else in this world has been kind enough to say this, I will. I’m so, so sorry for all that’s happened to you. But I’m praying you and I will both remember that true victory lies not in making anyone pay for how they have hurt us, but in our willingness to walk in obedience to all that Scripture asks of us.

Even when it doesn’t make sense to us … even when it feels painfully impossible … especially when it seems unfair … God’s Word is good, and it’s for our good. And He has not left us powerless to live it out today.

Father God, I’m so thankful You haven’t left me unprepared for the battles I face. I have Your Word to guide me, Your Spirit deep inside of me, and Your armor to protect me. Help me remember who my real enemy is. And give me the strength and the wisdom to live in obedience to You, no matter what my feelings might say. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (NIV)

5 Ways to Spend Time with God When Life Gets Busy..... By Courtnaye Richard

 5 Ways to Spend Time with God When Life Gets Busy

By Courtnaye Richard

“And let us not grow weary in well doing, for in due season we will reap, if we faint not.” -  Galatians 6:9

Life gets busy! Trust me. I know it. Some of us have kids, housework, errands to run, dinner to cook, extracurricular activities to drive our kids to, ministry responsibilities, and tasks that need our immediate attention. For some, there may be school work that needs to get done (college or online courses for seminary) or deadlines from work that need to be met on time. Nevertheless, in the midst of all of our busyness, we have got to make time to spend with our heavenly Father. He longs for us to spend time with Him…no matter how busy life gets!

Are you busy today? Meaning, do you have a lot to do? Is your To-Do-List full to capacity? Let me ask you two more questions. Do you sense that God is calling you to a deeper walk with Him? Or are things great with you? If you’ve already created balance in this area, that’s great! But if not, or if you wouldn’t mind grabbing a few extra tips, here is a helpful list of 5 Ways to Spend Time with God When Life Gets Busy…

Create a place in your home that is nice and peaceful, where you can sit down with a hot cup of coffee or tea to pray, talk to God, journal your thoughts or fresh insight from the Lord. Make sure to have your Bible, pen, and notebook ready to gain new revelation and encouragement from His word.

Change scenes by visiting a local coffee shop or bookstore. Bring your Bible, books, a journal, and do your devotion there! Be open to share what you’re reading with someone who may just happen to walk up to you to ask what you’re studying or reading (this is a great way to be a light in the place, too).

Simply be still in His presence. This can take place when you first sit up in bed in the morning or at some point in your day. It’s a moment when you purposefully stop what you’re doing and take a moment to just be still in His presence. It can even happen in your parked car, before rushing out of it to start the work day or errands. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” He owns everything…including time. So spend it with Him. Take time to breathe and sit in His presence.

Grab a Christian film from Wal-Mart, your local Christian bookstore, the Redbox, Netflix (they have a Faith and Spirituality movie section), from your video collection at home or go to your local theater and take a load off. Get some popcorn and just relax to a great wholesome film that will pour life into you. It’s a great way to escape your world of busyness and grow in your faith at the same time.

Take a long ride. Get away for a little while. Get away from the housework, kids, hubby, fiancé, school work, assignments, To-Do-List, and take a ride. It’s a great way to talk to God, have a good cry, and/or a moment to just break away from the normal routine and regroup. Personally, I do all of the above!

And don’t forget to rest. The Bible tells us in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary in well doing, for in due season we will reap, if we faint not.” But it also tells us that Jesus is right there willing and ready to give us a time of rest in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” So yes, we have work to do, and we do need to do what needs to be done. Quite naturally, life does get busy. BUT Jesus comforts us by reminding and nudging us that He will give us rest. Yesssssssssssss!

There is nothing like His supernatural rest. It just feels so good. But He also gives us wisdom to know when we need to slow down enough to spend time with our heavenly Father. Think about it. Even in all the work that Jesus did when He was here on earth, He still found time to rest and spend time with His Father in prayer. He knew that He could do nothing without being connected to Him. What a great example for us. We need to spend time with our Lord, even when life gets busy.

St. Polycarp: Christian Hero..... by Sarah Phillips

 St. Polycarp: Christian Hero

by Sarah Phillips

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:12

Christian. When you hear the word, what images come to mind? It's too easy for me to approach the faith only in a modern context.

But there is so much more to professing faith in Christ than what we see today. Whenever I need a little dose of context, I read about heroic Christians from other eras. This week, I came across a Christian in a unique position: he was among the first generation of Church leaders after the apostles passed away.

St. Polycarp, a 2nd-century bishop of what is now part of Turkey, was a disciple of John the Apostle. St. John, often known as the "beloved disciple," was privileged to stand at the foot of the Cross. He knew and cared for Mary, Jesus' mother. He was in the upper room after the Resurrection and was a member of the original twelve.

St. Polycarp was one of the first Church leaders who did not get to do any of these things. Perhaps this seems like an easy position to be in. After all, Polycarp knew those who witnessed Christ's life with their own eyes. But being a second-generation Church leader wasn't a comfortable position. It meant you were entering unknown territory - territory filled with disputes and heresies that threatened to destroy Christianity in its infancy. These leaders had to place incredible faith in the Holy Spirit to guide them.

Not only did Polycarp and his peers face disagreements within the Church, but they also faced pagan persecution from the outside. During this time, Christians were called "atheists" because they rejected the predominant polytheistic beliefs of their culture. In these early days, pagans would burn Christian "atheists" or feed them to wild animals.

Polycarp stayed grounded by keeping his focus on Christ. He was known for being very tough on heresy but gentle on fellow believers who disagreed with him on non-essential details of the faith. When the eastern and western churches could not agree on how and when to celebrate Passover and Easter, Polycarp did not force the issue with other leaders when it became apparent that both approaches were true to the gospel.

St. Polycarp also relied heavily on a deep prayer life. He prayed specifically for people he encountered and the needs of his particular era. He was committed to leading his fellow Christians effectively and never sought glory for himself.

Although Polycarp was well-loved and respected by both pagans and Christians, he was keenly aware that one day he may face martyrdom. When his time finally came, he was already eighty-six years old, and he went willingly. He could have pledged his allegiance to Caesar to save himself, but instead, Polycarp told his captors, "If you imagine that I will swear by Caesar, you do not know who I am. Let me tell you plainly, I am a Christian."

After his death, Christians kept his bones in his memory and as a reminder of the persecution the early Christians faced.

In some ways, Polycarp faced situations unfamiliar to us and yet in other ways, his story reminds us that the trials we face today are not as unique as they may appear. If we keep our focus on Christ and our days filled with prayer, we can continue the legacy the faithful left to us almost 2,000 years ago.

Intersecting Faith & Life:  Do you find yourself distracted from the love of Christ because of bickering in your local church or challenges from those who don't believe? Take a lesson from Polycarp. Spend additional time in prayer this week to refocus, refuel and discern the best way to proceed.

A Prayer for Knowing When to Speak Our Convictions..... By: Maggie Meadows Cooper

 A Prayer for Knowing When to Speak Our Convictions

By: Maggie Meadows Cooper

"A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.   Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth." - 2 Timothy 2:24-25

Sweet friends, I come here with something on my heart that can be a touchy subject. But over the past few weeks, I've just had a knot in my stomach at times over the displays of bickering and, in some cases, hateful comments I have seen on social media over posts sharing controversial topics. Strangers sparring with words over subjects that are so much bigger than one paragraph.

As someone who loves Jesus and wants everyone to know Him for themselves, I find myself thinking about how to express Biblical perspective and truth without coming across as judgmental and hypocritical, at the right time, in the right place, with the right words. I am no expert, and I mess up on the regular, but over the years, the Lord has taught me this about standing up for the Word and sharing Jesus: our words will mean nothing if we have not earned the right to speak into someone's life.

And what I mean by that is this: if there is no relationship, there is no respect for the convictions offered.

When I was teaching, I learned very quickly that if my students knew I truly loved them and believed in them, it changed the entire classroom dynamic in regard to rules and consequences if those rules were broken. At the beginning of the year, it was a guessing game as to how long it would take for each student to get to that point. Some who came from stable homes were quick to trust me. But others who had not known a consistent, unconditional love, or truly just had a longing to buck the system, took longer and were not willing to listen or accept my instruction at times.

It's the same way in life, y'all. Relationships first. Sharing truth in love after, one person at a time.

We all sin. There is not one who doesn't. But we are called to hold each other accountable as Christians and to share Jesus (and Biblical truth) with those who don't know Him yet. We cannot do either of those for someone if they don't already trust that we truly care about them, love them, and want what's best for them.

If those relationships are in place, when a difficult time comes, that person may come to us for advice or perspective. Then we can pray for the Lord to speak through us and open doors to share truth.

When people know you disagree with the choices they are making, but also know you love them in spite of them, it can change everything. Seeds can be planted for the Lord to grow and hopefully collect a harvest later on.

2 Timothy 3:14 says, "But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you." (italics mine)

If people know they can trust us because we speak from a place of love, they will listen, y'all. Let's guard our words. Whether spoken or typed.

If there is truly a burden on our hearts for the lost, for those who don't know truth, for those who need Jesus and just don't know it yet, let's be ever so careful to pray about voicing our convictions before we speak.

Dear Jesus,

There are so many things that I want to say. I want to share my opinion and give my perspective and try to change minds toward you and your Word. But Lord, I know my words are empty unless they come from you. Please help me to be patient and wait for your timing. 

Give me wisdom and discernment. Help me to speak the truth in love and let my words bring healing and build bridges and make connections where there were none before. Help my motives in speaking to be pure, and most of all, may you be glorified in everything I do and say.

In Your Mighty Name, Amen.