Help from the past
Life is good. No events or issues have risen to challenge ur self confidence. However as trials come u find self confidence deflate. More n more trouble chips away until u find defeat.  U have experienced situations common to all who have ever lived. So how do u overcome? Imagine urself in a large colliseum arena. U face ur opponent a dark foreboding fear. Or another opponent might be anger, doubt, lust, or any one of the common enemies of man. U feel u can defeat ur opponent by urself. U circle the floor waiting for the right moment. U lunge, dart, thrust forward, n at once u have the upper hand. However with a swift twisting move u r pinned to the floor….ur enemies sinewy arms hold u down. U strain to get free. Sweat breaks out on ur face. Pain fills ur soul. U r pinned with no solution in sight. Finally u cry out for help. From the grandstands Moses cries…look to Jesus. Unsure u see Noah from the corner of ur eye. He faced unrelenting crowds, preached 120 years n built an ark saving his family against the flood. What should I do Noah? Noah cries, look to Jesus. Like a wave crashing against the shore, the voices of the onlookers take up the cry. Look to Jesus!  In the crowd, Elijah who ran from the wicked queen, Jezebel, cries Look to Jesus. High upon the platform u see ur life coach standing next to the throne. He encourages u. His confidence fills ur heart. Remembering His carefully taught lessons u buck ur body upwards. Ur opponent tenses yet his hold loosened. A twisting move u remember from ur Masters book flashes in ur mind. Jesus nods. U react. Fear is shaken. Doubts hold pinning u to the floor trembles n breaks. In one lightening move, u pin ur enemy to the floor. The crowd goes wild. Ur opponent shudders trying to break ur Coach’s famous move. Fear strains then yields. Faith has over come.

12 And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. 13 Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!
Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. 14 Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. 15 And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves you don’t snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.
16 Be cheerful no matter what; 17 pray all the time; The Message

Watch out
Watch out for each other. The devil wants to destroy u, ur ministry, n the ones who minister to u. Watch out for leaders n encourage them, pray for them n love them. Watch out. Watch out for pitfalls in ur own life as well. Guard against self-pity, self-preoccupation, giving up, becoming bitter, or becoming discouraged. Because we are inadequate, we can wallow in our weakness or we can learn to see our dependancy as a sign of our need for God. If we choose dependance on God we thru humility n faith find the strength we need. Dependance or despair are our choices. We can be bitter or better. If we fill our emptiness w the temporal of this worlds we hunger again. However if we fill our lives w his presence thru the word, selfless obedience, n constant prayer we find a cup overflowing. Make Christ the center n anchor of ur life. Become patience in ur dealings w others. Speak peace that comes from his constance in ur life. Fill ur heart w his word n prayers n out of ur mouth ur heart will speak. Ur need of him can be ur vehicle to becoming more like him. Then ur work n ministry can help others find that same peace, patience, n prayer.

Right now ur view crowds w rock, walls; a plethora of problems that seem insurmountable. U r in the vale n the light is obscured by the trees n even the clouds in the heavens darken. The thunder sounds n resounds ominously on the walls around u. Fear grips ur heart. But I say rely on the Lord. His word always truly stands firm. No storm defeats him. He simply renders it still with a word of peace. Tho u may not see it, his way is perfect n he is a shield against attack. Trust him. There is none other like him. His strength, path n perfect plan will raise u to the heights. From the heights u will see the purpose n path of the valley. U find the clouds less ominous when u r above them. The thunder fades n flashes of lightning appear more a thing of beauty than fear. Trust him ur valley has purpose n the heights will soon be urs. Rely upon him, trust him, his strength will guide u n lift u up in due time.

Paul asks for prayers in this passage from a church he had yet to see personally. They knew of him but did not know him intimately as Antioch, Macedonia, Thessolonica, or Corinth. Paul more often in his letters comments on his constant prayers for others.  He commands believers to pray for each other. Once and a while he asks prayer for himself. Once and a while he even complains of the burden of ministry n the defection of young preachers from his work. Do not think once that Paul was whining or weak. Most of his ministry he spent in jail, court, beaten, hunted by assassins, or shipwrecked while on missionary journeys. He merely points out a need so often forgotten by church members n believers in general. Think about this the next time u carry a burden to ur pastor. He too, needs ur prayers. A pastor does not have a pastor save Jesus. There’s no one he confesses to, no one else who holds his hand when the going gets rough. When he sorrows or Satan attacks who does he seek out but the Lord alone? No one has an office where he can go n unburden the cares of this world that overwhelm his soul. Who visits him in his home when things r not well? Who holds his hand or comes to his bedside for prayer? When he needs encouragement, advice, patience, courage, grace or a challenge where can he find hope n help? No where but at the altar of God. Like the High Priest in Israel he carries the burdens n prayers of his Israel to the throne along w his own cares. Ministry can be a lonely, long journey for those the Lord calls. So don’t forget that when u bring a burden to ur pastor. He needs prayers too…..Because a pastor has no pastor, no shepherd, friend or confidant outside the Lord Jesus the great shepherd alone.

I have not sacrificed
The Hebrew Christians wanted to defect. They feared reprisals from their people who were not saved. They too had not grown in faith they way they should. The writer challenged them to grow to eat meat n get off the spiritual milk. He also warned them they had not resisted with bloodshed. Fear is often over exaggerated in our imaginations. Too often we need to quit looking at wat discourages us n look to what encourages us. I am reminded of the great missionary to Africa.
“For my own part, I have never ceased to rejoice that God has appointed me to such an office. People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Is that a sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter? Away with the word sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice. We ought not to talk of sacrifice when we remember the great sacrifice that he made who left his Father’s throne on high to give himself for us.” David Livingstone

I Thessalonians 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man ; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.  

James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  3:9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.  

I choose to encourage
I fail often at this battle for the tongue. I know from my.mouth comes the issues of my heart. I see so many good meaning people who fail too. People who by np fault of their own r victims of anothers evil intent. They, if they r not careful victimize others. The victim becomes a victimizer instead of a victor. The passage where jessus talks any being an overcomer goes on to speak of His peace that he gives believers. To be a victor is to be an overcomer not a survivor, not a pity party player, n not a victimizer. I must see that evil that vicitimized me as wat it is…. Evil!  I must see people as images of God n not verbal punching bags. If I want that peace I need to get my heart n my tongue under control. But doesn’t James say we cannot do it? Yes n that’s the key. Surrender to God is the key. U cannot n I cannot do it ourselves. He must run our ship. I therefore choose caution in my harsh judgement of others. Patience in my appraisal of their growth. Peace from God I choose by seeking to build up n encourage with my heart n.mouth rather than hurt those whom I love.

Luke 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise   

Acts 20:35 ….ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus,…. It is more blessed to give than to receive   

I know u need help
Weariness sometimes can be too much. I know u sometimes just wish for a break. A breather to refresh ur life would be nice once and a while. U tire not if the large n grand works I put in ur path but u tire of the simple seemingly mundane good works in life. It would be good to have someone to help wash the dishes. Someone who would mow the grass, help balance the bills, or just listen to ur problems would be a blessing. Life is hard. I created u to need others. U r right u cannot do it all alone. It’s okay to ask for help. The humiliation u feel when u do is my voice calling u to my side. As u learn u need others u begin to open up. As ur spirit opens up u can see that u need me. I created u for a holy dependence. Independence n control resist my Spirit’s free flow in ur life. Those others that can help u r blessed in the helping. When they help I help them. Again they r learning that they need others as well. I am opening them up to the fact that they need me more. Be blessed ny being a blessing. Be blessed by letting others bless u. Be a listening ear n I will give some one listening to u. Visit the sick n infirm n I will have those to bless u in ur time of need. Love each other. Be ur brothers keeper. N learn to love me by letting me live u thru others.
It’s in the simple mundane goodness I repay n will repay in ur life n the lives of others.

“For I am the LORD,your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” -ISAIAH 41:13

Walk confidently

Today do not worry or fret. Walk confidently w me. I am ur Lord n ur God. I uniquely created n fashioned u. From ur DNA to ur personality, gifts n talents…u r unique. I am also ur savior. I have saved u n gifted u for ur own work. No other can do wat I have called u to do fully in the way I desire. I am ur author of faith. I design unique moments thru ur day to strengthen u, grow u, n refine ur faith. Sometimes trials come ur way to strengthen ur faith. Other times I send people to encourage u n others upon whom u hone ur skills. The there r those who try ur patience n test ur limits. These I use to strengthen ur dependence on me. At the same time I am writing ur story of faith remember I am writing theirs too. I desire that both succeed. I give opportunities for victory to all. However, if they fail do not fail urself. Focus on me n my hand. Look to me. Ur life is my story written in u. U r my epistle to the world. Be faithful to me n trust me. I am writing ur life. There r no accidents, mistakes, or failures in me. I only create good. Let me show u. Be patient n yield to my authorship. I finish well.

Psalms 139:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me .  139:2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.  139:3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.  139:4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but , lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.  139:5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.  139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.  139:7-8 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?….you are there.

God sees u
God is aware of you. He intimately is aware of you. He sees u where u r. He sees your need. He keeps his attention fully focused on u. When we walk in sin that can make us uncomfortable. When in trouble or lost it can be a source of joy. When sorrowing it can even make us angry. Remember, Mary n Martha? They accused Jesus of not caring. They cried sorrowfully, if u had only been here our brother Lazarus would not have died. They believed time n space limited Jesus. The disciples found the Lord asleep in the ship while they fought the storm. They assumed he did bot care cuz ur was asleep. They thot circumstances n seemingly inaction by God meant he does not care. His only answer to Mary n Martha was a question n a statement. Do u believe? I am the ressurection n the life. To the storm tossed disciples he only responded, u weak n faith. Then he acted. He said peace be still n the stormed ceased. Where ever u r, watever u r doing, He is there, aware n ready. In fact tho u may not see it, feel it or know it, he cares n is already acting.on ur behalf. Trust Him. He is righteous n faithful. In time u will see.

Jeremiah 18:6 ….Behold, as the clay is in the potter ‘s hand, so are ye in mine hand….

I am worthy because You have chosen me.

Just as a potter picks the right clay for his pottery work so God choose wisely. When fashioning jewelry a jeweler knows which piece to pair with another. God matches people with people. He gifts n invests in people opportunities to learn n aquire skills for the tasks ahead. He chooses kids for parents n parents for kids. He makes no bad choices. Although people make bad choices.  Note the potter of jeremiahs day did not purchase a purified clay prepared by other hands. He had to dig in a vein of clay outside the city walls. After a day of digging the clay discovered may have been judged unworthy for his work on the potters wheel. What would make the clay unworthy? Impurities found in the soil, rocks, too much sand, grass, other soils not fit for pottery making. What kind of impurities r in ur life that keep u from being a vessel of honor made from clay under his hand? You r worthy cuz he chose u. U r useful when u r separated from impurities that disqualify u from his use. Lieing, covering sin, hatefulness, mean spiritedness, anger without righteousness, being materialistic, poor stewardship, hypocrisy, unloving, and much more serve as bad soils, stones, that corrupt our use on the potters wheels. R u chosen yet worthless. Find ur worth in his choosing. Find ur use in surrender, repentance, n purity.