Handling Trials

James 1:2
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations."  This verse on the surface appears to be a paradox.  How can we be joyful when we fall into various trials?  The idea of being joyful in a trial seems ludicrous on the surface.  How can we be happy in the midst of misery?  We need to consider the source of our joy.  As Christians the source of our joy is our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.  He has unlimited power to help in times of trouble.  He is a very present help in time of trouble.  He cares about what is going on in our lives.  His presence encourages and strengthens us as we spend time in His presence through prayer and bible study.  The idea of being joyful in trials seems strange until we realize that our joy is not dependent on our circumstances, but our joy is dependent upon a right relationship with Christ.  How is your joy today?  Are you relying upon circumstances for joy or the real source of joy?

Spiritual Renewal

A time of refreshment is important in every Christian Life.  During the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ there were times when Christ had to separate Himself from the throngs of people that were crowding in on him and begging Him for assistance.  He would separate from the hustle and bustle of the daily ministering to the needs of the masses and would retire to a desert place to spend time alone in prayer.  Jesus was modeling a wonderful example for us as believers.  He was demonstrating the need for a time of spiritual renewal and refreshment.  Jesus knew full well that the power of the Holy Spirit of God was available through prayer.  As believers we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.  A famous preacher once stated that it's not how much of the Holy Spirit we have, but how much of us does the Holy Spirit have.  Time in prayer alone with God strengthens our walk with God and enables us to carry out the ministry that God has assigned us as His ambassador.  How is your walk with God today?  Are you walking through dry, barren places?  God wants to refresh and renew your spirit today.  He wants to be a spring of living water rising up within you to refresh you for the journey ahead.  Take time to spend time with God today and go forward in the strength of His Spirit!

What's Next? Discerning God's Direction

There are times in life when we don't feel a clear direction from God, but we have a very important decision that must be made.  What do we do during those times.  We pray, but it seems that our ceiling is made of lead and our prayers are falling back down to us without leaving the confines of our room.  As Christians we know that God doesn't operate on our timetable.  There are times when we expect an immediate answer, but that immediate answer doesn't come.  These are times that we have to wait patiently, by faith simply trusting that our Lord's timing is always perfect.  He has promised that all things work together for good to them that love Him.  We have to trust God as sovereign to always do those things that are in our best interest.  He will always do what is best for us.  We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus.  What practical steps do we take when we simply don't know what to do?  We need to wait on the Lord, don't get hasty and rush ahead in our own wisdom.  We need to keep doing those things that are in accordance with the Word of God.  The things that we know are right and in God's will.  Finally we have to maintain an abiding trust in God.  He will answer, He will move at exactly the moment that is best in our life.  We serve an awesome God.  He has unlimited power and ability to help in every circumstance in our life.  Trust Him!

New Book on the Horizon

I'm almost finished with a new book that deals with one of the most needed topics in today's world.  The topic of the book is Peace.  We live in a turbulent world where peace is often elusive.  This book will detail God's Powerful Principles for Peace.  It will examine what the Scriptures teach us about peace.  The book examine our source of peace and how we can implement the principles of peace in our daily lives.  Not only can we learn the principles of peace, but we can share our knowledge to positively impact the lives of others.

The Need for a Physician

Mark 2:15-17 "And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Jesus declared his mission to the world when He stated, "I come to seek and to save that which is lost." Jesus came to die for the sins of all mankind. He came to heal those who were diseased by sin. Their lives loaded down with hurt, worry and fear. He came to offer hope to those who had no hope. The self-righteous Pharisees didn't want anything to do with Jesus. They were the professed teachers of the "Law". They were leaders and guides in spiritual matters and they sought to discredit Jesus. Their accusation was that Jesus was hobnobbing with publicans and sinners. They would never deign to spend time in such an environment amongst such people. They were holy and religious and above this rabble. Jesus clearly and succinctly stated a spiritual principle that they desperately needed to hear. "They that are whole have no need of the physician." These publicans and sinners were exactly the crowd that Jesus came to save. He is still seeking the lost today! Have you put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. He wants to heal you of the heart break and the disappointment. He wants to heal you of the loneliness and discouragement. Reach out and trust Him by faith today and let the healing begin.

And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

God the Creator

Gen 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." What a wonderful statement to begin the Bible, the Word of God. It tells us emphatically that God is the creator. God through the power of His spoken Word created all that we see around us and even that which we can't see! We can't see the microscopic creation. We can't see the far reaches of interstellar space, but we can rest assured that God created it all. What a wonderful, powerful God we serve. John 1:3 "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." If our God is that omnipotent (All Powerful) then He can handle anything that comes to pass in my life.

The Light of the World

Joh 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John the Baptist revealed the world's response to the Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry. The light was truly shining in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not. It seems amazing that the religious leaders of the day did not recognize Jesus Christ for whom He was. They had so polluted the law of God that they didn't recognize the appearance of their Messiah. These so-called teachers of the law had taken the law of God and ruined it with their man-made traditions and interpretations. How sad to be in such a dark place and the light is trying to shine, but a decision is made to quench the light.