Streams in the Desert.....

 Streams in the Desert

The land which I do give them, even the children of Israel (Joshua 1:2).

God here speaks in the immediate present. It is not something He is going to do, but something He does do, this moment. So faith ever speaks. So God ever gives. So He is meeting you today, in the present moment. This is the test of faith. So long as you are waiting for a thing, hoping for it, looking for it, you are not believing. It may be hope, it may be earnest desire, but it is not faith; for "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The command in regard to believing prayer is the present tense. "When ye pray, believe that ye receive the things that ye desire, and ye shall have them." Have we come to that moment? Have we met God in His everlasting NOW?
--Joshua, by Simpson

True faith counts on God, and believes before it sees. Naturally, we want some evidence that our petition is granted before we believe; but when we walk by faith we need no other evidence than God's Word. He has spoken, and according to our faith it shall be done unto us. We shall see because we have believed, and this faith sustains us in the most trying places, when everything around us seems to contradict God's Word.

The Psalmist says, "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of living" (Ps. 27:13). He did not see as yet the Lord's answer to his prayers, but he believed to see; and this kept him from fainting.

If we have the faith that believes to see, it will keep us from growing discouraged. We shall "laugh at impossibilities," we shall watch with delight to see how God is going to open up a path through the Red Sea when there is no human way out of our difficulty. It is just in such places of severe testing that our faith grows and strengthens.

Have you been waiting upon God, dear troubled one, during long nights and weary days, and have feared that you were forgotten? Nay, lift up your head, and begin to praise Him even now for the deliverance which is on its way to you.
--Life of Praise

Already Judged..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Already Judged

Dr. Charles Stanley

John 3:17-18

As a society, Americans are fond of their rights. We're very protective of our liberties, even when they might bring harm rather than good. That can be true of spiritual matters as well. For example, exercising the "right" to reject God's plan of salvation leaves a person in a condemned condition.

I have heard the following phrase often in my years of ministry: "I don't believe God is going to condemn me to hell." I agree, but not with the comment's intended meaning--that a person is worthy of heaven on the basis of his own merit. You see, it is true that the Lord doesn't condemn people to hell. He allows them to opt for that eternal destination themselves. They have a right to choose.

God says that those who do not believe in Jesus Christ have been judged already (v. 18). In other words, by rejecting--or politely ignoring--their need for a Savior, unbelievers have chosen to remain unsaved and unforgiven. Scripture teaches that there will one day be a judgment, but God has already determined that those who trust in Christ will stand with Him while the rest will be sent away (Matt. 25:34-46). An unrepentant man or woman is not condemned by God but, rather, has chosen to remain in the company of all those condemned by their own free will.

God desires that everyone come to a saving knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9). To that end, He has granted each person the right to decide whether or not to follow in obedience. However, those who reject the Savior are forewarned that they have settled for condemnation.

The Strength to Survive..... REBEKAH FROM SRI LANKA

 The Strength to Survive

REBEKAH FROM SRI LANKA

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (ESV)

Sundays are normally my favorite days. But this Sunday morning was different. It started with a phone call from my sister at 3:30 a.m. with the words: “Come to my house to pray.”

Typically on Sundays, my sister Verlini and I go to church and lead worship together, and I tell Bible stories to the children. At church, we sing, pray, learn and rest in the presence of the Lord. That’s why Sunday mornings have always filled my heart with hope, sustaining me through the week ahead.

But something was stirring in us that Sunday. We wondered if we were just feeling nervous about the song we’d planned to sing in worship that day. We weren’t sure what we were supposed to pray for so we just started to pray.

We prayed for church members who were sick or struggling. We prayed the day’s services would be an encouragement to people and an honor to God. But there’s one prayer from that morning that I’ll never forget: “God, give us the strength to worship You, no matter what happens.”

Later that day, as Verlini and I were about to sing, a bomb went off in the church. I was severely burned and 31 church members lost their lives. We learned later that a terrorist group had targeted us because we’re Christians.

How could they ruin a sacred thing like Sundays? How could we possibly return to worship after such a malicious attack?

My recovery was long and difficult. I still have hard days, and I can’t explain why such a horrible thing happened to us. But I can tell you one thing for sure: My faith in God is what kept me alive and gave me the strength to survive.

John 16:33 says, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Through the burning rubble and the searing pain, Jesus was there. His love and His forgiveness keep thumping through our veins like the beat of a familiar refrain: There is nothing, nothing, nothing that can give hope and peace like Him.

And no one can turn a bad thing into a good one like Jesus can. Though we feared our congregation would be too afraid to return to church, the attack has deepened our faith and broadened our outreach instead. They returned to worship with newfound fervency. People are giving their lives willingly to Jesus, saying, “Whatever happens, we will face it for You.” And together, we are finding that — even through a tragic event like this — Jesus, truly, is worth it all.

Jesus told us that choosing to follow Him means choosing to suffer for Him, too. But He also promised to sustain us through it. He promised that because of, not despite, our pain, we will experience His love and forgiveness for us and for the world.

I believe that God called us to that early-morning prayer meeting to strengthen us for the challenge ahead. I believe He was fortifying our hearts to depend on Him through difficult days. I believe He used the prayers of the global Church to uplift us through an unimaginable tragedy. And I believe He’s still calling us back to that place of prayer, where we are united in spirit with Him and with each other. In Jesus, we find the strength to survive and the song to sing along the way.

God, I thank You for providing everything we need to face difficulty with grace. I thank You for being present with me in pain. Please strengthen all the brothers and sisters who are persecuted for Your sake today. Help them to know they’re not forgotten in their suffering. Provide them with everything they need to stand strong. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Isaiah 26:3-4, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” (ESV)

Scott ask; How strong is our faith?

What Does it Mean to Train Up a Child in the Way He Should Go?..... By Brent Rinehart (02/17/2021)

 What Does it Mean to Train Up a Child in the Way He Should Go?

By Brent Rinehart

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” ( Proverbs 22:6).

What a seemingly simple, but overwhelmingly complicated verse! It’s one of the most quoted – and often misquoted – verses in the Bible.

People often use this verse as a guarantee that if you raise your children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” ( Ephesians 6:4), they’ll always stay on the right path. That interpretation can be problematic, particularly for the “good parents” I know who have seen their older children stray from the faith. We all know that we can try our best, and sometimes the results are different than we would have hoped. God has given us free will to make our own choices, after all.

I’m no theologian or Bible scholar, so I’m not an expert in these matters. I am a parent however, and I do know that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” ( 2 Timothy 3:16). Regardless of the camp you may fall in on the interpretation of this complicated verse, I believe there are several important implications we should all be able to agree on.

You have a responsibility as a parent. Throughout Scripture, God is pretty clear about the responsibility He places in the hands of parents.We are to teach our children what matters to God. It doesn't mean forcing them into a certain set of beliefs or rituals; rather, it means demonstrating a real faith – one that puts the focus on loving God and loving others. In my view, there's not a greater purpose we can have in life than reflecting God's image for our children to see.

You have influence as a parent. Children are sponges. And, my kids seem to soak up everything – good and bad. They often mimic the mannerisms of my wife and me. They’ll do and say the same things we do from time to time. And I can certainly tell who my daughter has been hanging out with by the phrases she says or the songs she sings.

I’ve often thought about it this way: the moon reflects light from the sun. And just as the moon reflects the sun, as a Christian, I should reflect the Son. We were made in God’s image, but we are not perfect like Him. We are works in progress. As we grow closer to Him, there should be some family resemblance between us and our Father. The things I say and do should be characteristic of Him. And, here’s why that’s important. If I truly reflect Him and shine His glory, others will, including my children. “Let your light so shine before men that they will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” ( Matthew 5:16).

You will have results – either good or bad – as a parent. The years our children are in our homes are critical. These are the formative years when they are developing their entire worldview. The majority of adult Christians became Christians before turning 18. Actually, many follow Christ between the ages of 4-14. On the other hand, we’ve all seen the troubling numbers of young people (the “nones”) who are much more likely to lack any religion at all. Belief systems tend to form early, and while they can – and do sometimes change – it’s critical for parents to have an active role in a child’s spiritual development early on.

It’s not likely that   Proverbs 22:6 is a guarantee of success for committed, Christ-following parents. But, it is important to recognize the truth the verse contains. God has given us an incredible responsibility by placing children in our care. The family is a primary mechanism God uses to grows His kingdom and grow His people. As a result, it’s our duty to teach our children about God. We are in an influential position, and what we do today will matter in our kids’ lives tomorrow.

The Wisdom of Gamaliel..... by Shawn McEvoy

 The Wisdom of Gamaliel

by Shawn McEvoy

In the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.
>Acts 5:38-39

I mentioned previously that I intended to read through the Book of Acts. And I've been doing it. The best part is my son decided we could make that our bedtime reading each night. Talk about fun!

The other night we happened across the passage at the end of chapter five where the Pharisees are getting really tired of these disciples going around teaching and healing and collecting followers. People are bringing their sick into the streets in hopes that Peter's shadow might just fall upon them. Can't have that going on, now.

So it comes about that our heroes are summoned in, and about to face some serious flogging. At this point, a very respected Pharisee on the Sanhedrin requests that the disciples be sent out so he may address his brethren. His name is Gamaliel, and he proceeds to caution the Jews about how they deal with the Christian "threat." He cites two other recent examples of men who rose up, said some pleasant things, and led some people away, only to have their movements dwindle and die. Why did that happen? Obviously, reasons Gamaliel, they were human, and their quests were not of God.

He goes on to say that these followers of Jesus will go the same way... or maybe they won't. And if they don't, then anything the Sanhedrin would devise against them would fail anyway, because it would mean the movement was from God.

What an amazing way to look back on over 2,000 years of history since then. And sure enough, when I re-read this passage the other night, I remembered how our Western Civilization professor in college basically made the same statement Gamaliel did when he was explaining the historical spread of Christianity and the rise of the Church. He cited movement after movement that were "of men," and of which we no longer speak to this day. But Christianity? It remains alive, precious, self-sustaining, and powerful.

A few things that stand out about this story:

- What's to worry about? We sure do still fret about things these days. No, I wouldn't dare suggest that everything we get up in arms about is actually a movement from above. Highly doubtful. But ultimately, the lesson is still the same - He's the one in control. His will be done.

- As much as Gamaliel is the hero of this brief passage, it's still with the Christians, not the Council, where we can most relate. Why is this important? These Christians, our early brethren, were the ones who couldn't shut up about the good news, not the ones who were looking for things to rail against.

- Our "religion" is one that is not of men. It is not a fad. It does not change. It has lasted. It will last until Christ returns.

- Even with Gameliel's words ringing true, they didn't prevent the disciples from persecution. They were brought back into the room, and flogged. So their circumstances didn't really change much.

- Even after a flogging, the disciples went their way grateful to have suffered as Christ suffered, and for His sake.

- Even after being warned not to spread the gospel anymore, the disciples couldn't and wouldn't stop.

And don't forget...

Even a Pharisee can have a brilliant insight once in a while, thank goodness.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Think about other things that have happened in the world just since you have been born: fads, movements, cults, and so on. Then consider everything Christianity has outlasted, and will outlast. You and I serve a God who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. What difference does that make in your life today?

Further Reading

Acts 5:12-42

A Prayer for Your Wife’s Well-Being..... By Jennifer Heeren

 A Prayer for Your Wife’s Well-Being

By Jennifer Heeren

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” (1 Peter 3:8)

I was working at a place where I had become more and more miserable. It didn’t feel like it was the right place for me. I looked for other options but when none came I figured that God had a reason and even a plan for me to be just where I was. I tried to stick it out and I even tried to do it with a smile on my face.

I would get through my days trying to stand up under the pressure as best as I could, but it wouldn’t take much to knock me over. Traffic after one of those long and tiring days was often the thing that threw me off kilter. All that I wanted to do was get home but cars all around me seemed to block me at every turn. When I would finally get home, I would throw my arms around my husband and weep.

He understood exactly what I needed—to be held and loved until the tears went away.

The Apostle Peter understood this when he wrote, husbands must give honor to their wives. They should treat them with understanding. Understanding that realizes that women are weaker in physical strength (even though they are fully equal as a part of God’s creation) and sometimes need extra care (1 Peter 3:7).

Often God uses people to show His love to other people. But even in the moments where no human being is around, God comforts His children in a multitude of creative ways.

· You come across just the right Scripture at the right time and you remember that God is Immanuel, and He is indeed with you. And that knowledge strengthens and supports you.

· A line in a song reminds you that the Lord is your Shepherd and will always pick you up and carry you when you feel like you can’t take another step. You are always close to God’s heart.

· You realize in hindsight that even though bad things have happened, God has been with you all along and has guided you through those dark valleys with his rod and staff. Then you thank Him for His protection.

So, when your wife (or husband or friend or neighbor or even a stranger) needs a reboot, offer them these three things:

1. Your shoulder to support them when they can’t go any further.

2. Your arms to show your compassion and care in the form of a hug.

3. Your ears to listen to their worries, complaints, and fears.

You don’t necessarily need your mouth, at least not in the beginning. Advice and ideas come much later in the process after the waterfall of emotion has calmed into a more peaceful stream.

After all, doesn’t love cover a multitude of sins (and worries and problems)?

Please pray for your wife:

Dear Lord, when my wife is in the midst of a tumult of worries, fear, and sadness, remind her as quickly as possible that You are with her. She can never go anywhere where You can’t find her. In her mountain top, exciting moments, You are there. In her desert wanderings, You are there. You are even there in her lowest, most distressed states. She may not always feel it, but she knows You are with her. Help me be just the right person at just the right time to help her to stand when she is under pressure. And always remind her of Your immense love which was depicted on that cross. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.