School is out for the summer, and the campmeeting season is upon us -- I couldn't be more happy. College makes life busier than I hoped, and I have found it a difficult task to find time to write. But, the Guthrie meeting is over now, and I'm so thankful I was able to go. The meeting was special to me, and I hope the blessings I received will be long-lasting. I went to Guthrie knowing I had needs in my life. I wanted more of God and admittedly had been struggling to find God and find my way to Him. As He always is (and I'll revisit that later on), He was faithful to give me what I needed.
Bro. Marty preached a message on the first Sunday night that really spoke to me. He talked about having a heart that is fixed on God. We all entertain the idea of being sold out to God, and all of that is well and good. But some of the real-world examples he gave in the message caused me to think about how grounded I really am. He asked if a runner didn't care whether he won the race of not, how successful would he be? If a mechanic was working on a car and didn't care if it ran or not, how successful would he be? If someone owned a business and didn't care if anyone bought their products, how successful would they be?
The resounding answer to all of those is very little to none. To be successful, you have to care. That extends to any area of life, but it especially applies to your spiritual walk. I don't want to be accused of lacking motivation for God. The reality is, we can't put 100% of our effort into many things. We can only give our all in a few things. I want the first of those to be my spiritual life.
He also mentioned how the devil is constantly trying to loosen our relationship with God. He has a crowbar and is prying what holds us together, hoping to break it apart. We need to be invested in what God has for us and be willing to make it impossible for the devil to separate us from God.
Psalm 57:1 says
"Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast."
We want to be fixed in a place that is safe. In the shadow of the Savior's wings is the safest place we could ever find.
He also pointed out how God's will and our will inevitably conflict at times. At that juncture, one of the two has to diminish to give place to the other. It's a challenge to me that I always sacrifice my will to allow God's cause to advance -- in whatever way that situation dictates. I don't want to be a hindrance to God's cause for me and my life, so I have to be willing to humble down and diminish what I want. In reality, that's HOW we fix our heart. We have to give up our way and realize God's way is what is best for our life. Just like a mechanic has to care about fixing a car that won't run, we have to care about the process that will take us to a successful life. That process involves allowing God to work on us.
This message was such a challenge to me and it helped me realize there were areas in my life where I hadn't allowed God's cause to advance. I wasn't in fixed place as much as I should have been, and it was manifesting itself in how I allowed God's cause to diminish and mine to increase.
As John the Baptist said in John 3:30, "He must increase, but I must decrease." That's the key to fixing my heart for God, being firm in the commandments the Bible teaches and being willing to do what God wants from my life.
But, that leads me to the second message that really stood out to me during this meeting. It was the last Sunday morning when Bro. Ed preached about Psalm 110. I definitely encourage you to listen to this one, it was such a blessing. The entire message is very good, but the primary part I got from it is Psalm 110:3:
"Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth."
"Thy people" is in reference to Jesus' people, or in other words, Christians or saints. The day of thy power is the time of the salvation. The gospel is powerful and compelling, and this prophesy describes how the saints will be willing vessels in the gospel time, dating back from Jesus' resurrection until the judgment.
We are saints. We can be part of the willing vessels for God's service right now. It describes them as dressed in the "beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning." I feel incapable of describing it the way God showed it to me, but this paints a beautiful picture of what God's people are intended to be. The encouraging part is that we all can be part of this wonderful illustration if our heart is fixed on doing God's will.
The womb of the morning refers to renewal and refreshment. We are born again and alive in Christ, and that freshness can be true of our spiritual life. We have the dew of youth, a fountain of energy and vigorous for the cause of the heavenly kingdom. The holiness which our lives can reflect is beautiful. It is such an encouragement to hear both the prophesy in the Psalm as well as the challenge it is to us. The Bible tells us such Christians will exist in the time of the gospel. It is up to us to be the fulfillment of those words and to fully embody the life of a fixed and willing Christian.
I don't know how to adequately express the beauty of God's plan as it is described in these verses. Yet, I know that God calls us to a place where our heart is fixed and our spirit is willing to use us, even in our youth, as a critical member in His body.
As I mentioned earlier, God is ALWAYS faithful. I know He has been my support so many times and has sent exactly what I needed. It's wonderful to know the Savior is on my side, seated at the right hand of God, petitioning my case before the Father. That's how I know He'll continue to be faithful to teach me and instruct me as long as I am fixed on His cause and willing to go where He takes me.
Keep encouraged!
Monday, June 3, 2019
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Now Know I
**Preface: This might be a little long, so I'm sorry if it tires or bores you... but I hope that maybe it will be a blessing to someone. :)
Christianity is a beautiful thing. We hear the gospel and we know Christ died for our salvation, but there are always mysteries to the story, unexplored lessons to learn along the way, and new revelations as we grow in our faith. Sometimes it doesn't always seems like life is a constant, upward trajectory. We go through spurts of substantial growth while other times leave us feeling sluggish. It's in the sluggish times where I find it difficult to learn or understand exactly what God wants of me and how to reach that place. I doubt I'm the only one who has struggled with that.
Christianity is a beautiful thing. We hear the gospel and we know Christ died for our salvation, but there are always mysteries to the story, unexplored lessons to learn along the way, and new revelations as we grow in our faith. Sometimes it doesn't always seems like life is a constant, upward trajectory. We go through spurts of substantial growth while other times leave us feeling sluggish. It's in the sluggish times where I find it difficult to learn or understand exactly what God wants of me and how to reach that place. I doubt I'm the only one who has struggled with that.
I look at it this way: God is infinitely wise, so we can never fully comprehend the entirety of His plan with our finite minds. Yet, He calls us to spiritual growth. If we are flexible with Him, life will present us with plenty of teachable moments. God is always in these plans to help us learn and make progress with Him. All of that is to say this: There are a lot of things I don't know -- about God, about His plan, and about life in general. That can be shaky ground, and it can cause fear and uncertainty to rise up. But, God is faithful... and I'm so thankful for that. He helped to comfort me and show me something from a broader perspective. I hope and pray that it will help me, and you, to better understand and deal with our unique, specific problems we face.
God showed me a verse a few weeks ago, and it was meaningful, but I didn't understand exactly how it applied to my life. It definitely was an inspiring verse, but there wasn't a specific situation at the moment that really clicked in my mind. When I read it today, it totally stood out to me, even more than when I had first read it. Psalm 20:6 says:
"Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand."
I don't know how meaningful that is to you, but it struck a chord with my heart. In this psalm, David affirms that he KNOWS the Lord saves those who live for Him. The anointed remnant will be heard by God, in heaven, and be saved by God's strength. Who is stronger than God? No one. No one comes even close. It's remarkable to me that a God so great and powerful is willing to hear the petitions of His children. That gives me confidence. David had shortcomings in his life. Some of them seem far more egregious than things I've ever struggled with. Yet, despite these issues he had a confidence in what God would do for those endeavoring to serve Him. It's encouraging to read the assurance of someone who experienced God's endless mercy. The next verse is also very special to me.
"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God."
This is what I know now. Trust in other things will not sustain us. Chariots and horses are symbolic of earthly, human help. Those won't be our salvation. We can't let our trust fall in anything aside from God. Our call for help must be to our God -- He is the only deliverer. Too often I let that slip my mind. The person who has called us His own won't neglect our petitions. That's why Jesus' blood was shed for us. He fully intends for us to lay our problems, struggles, and fears at His feet so He can help us deal with our life that isn't as easy as we hope it will be.
It's not like God will shame us for having difficulties. Psalm 46 explains that God is a "present help in time of need." That indicates we WILL have struggles in our walk. What God longs for us to understand is that in those times we can turn to God for help. My flesh naturally wants to run from a vengeful God when I mess up or feel like I'm not doing what God wants of me. But, it's so important to remember that the same God who will be our judge at the end of our life is the SAME God who longs for us to let Him help us. He wants to be there for us when we're struggling. He wants to be a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. He wants to illuminate the way for us. He wants to give us the strength we need to press on through the things in life that are really hard.
Now know I that the Lord saveth.
I know that. I believe that. And I trust that. The word saveth isn't exclusive to our initial salvation. It refers to that, but it also means He will save us from fear, from insecurities, from doubts, from the lies of the enemy, and from every imposition of the devil. Whatever you're struggling with, the Lord saveth from that. Everything I struggle with, the Lord saveth from that. The key is in the second verse, verse 7. Our trust has to be fixed in Him. We have to remember Him when those things come against us.
It's not easy to do. I know, at least for me, it's always hard to get around the fact that I've done something imperfectly. God is ultimately going to be my judge, and it's easy to be afraid that after a mistake, He'll want nothing to do with me. But that isn't the case. As long as we're willing to fix the areas in which we struggle, He's willing to help us do that. It's only by His power and His Son that we're saved in the first place. He wants to keep us free from the bondage that sin requires.
But, even when we know that God is the only fail-proof source of help, it can be hard to accept it. As humans, we want to rely on ourselves and other people to help us. After all, God sends messengers to deliver His word, right? Sis. LaDawna Adams preached a great message tonight titled "What is Man?" One of the stories she read in Act 3 stood out to me. She read the story of the lame man who laid every day at the gate of the temple and asked Peter and John for alms. Verse 6 says:
"Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
The man was asking humans for earthly assistance. Peter wisely understood that wouldn't provide any meaningful help for the man. Instead, Peter called on a higher authority. Man will often be insufficient to meet our needs, and we need to learn to expect that. But we can point people to Jesus. Peter gave what he could for the man, and that was Jesus. Help from friends, family, or mentors is valuable, but ultimately it can only help insofar as God is involved. The lame man was greatly blessed by Peter being in touch with God. Surrounding ourselves with people who will support us in our walk with God is priceless. The Bible says not to forsake our assembly together (Hebrews 10:25). It's important. But recognizing that it is ultimately God who does the saving is key.
As much as Peter had the heart to help the lame man, he couldn't do it in himself. We have to come to the realization that we can't expect other people to fix our problems for us. They're humans with problems just like us, and we can't put to their responsibility something that is for us to work out with God. I've found that relying on people can take our focus off of the true help: God. That's dangerous. When we don't let God be the focus, we lose touch with Him and place undue burden on others.
I'm so encouraged with this thought. Now I know, I'm confident, that God will save His anointed. When we're living a life in pursuit of Him, serving Him to the best of our ability, He will be faithful to save us. It doesn't matter what we're going through. There are problems other people can't touch. I want to learn better how to trust God fully for the struggles I have in life. I want Him to save me and heal me. I also want to be a faithful servant, and that includes helping others along the way. Our confidence can't be in man, but God wants us to help and encourage each other along the way. God will send people to help us, maybe even to help us understand where our issues are coming from. But the actually healing for those problems and the strength to overcome them come from the Lord himself.
I pray that this can be an encouragement to someone else, too. There are problems that are simply bigger than what we or someone else can handle. We have to go directly to the source of our salvation. We can go with the same confidence David had and say:
"Now know I that the Lord saveth His anointed; he will hear him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand."
Keep encouraged!
"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God."
This is what I know now. Trust in other things will not sustain us. Chariots and horses are symbolic of earthly, human help. Those won't be our salvation. We can't let our trust fall in anything aside from God. Our call for help must be to our God -- He is the only deliverer. Too often I let that slip my mind. The person who has called us His own won't neglect our petitions. That's why Jesus' blood was shed for us. He fully intends for us to lay our problems, struggles, and fears at His feet so He can help us deal with our life that isn't as easy as we hope it will be.
It's not like God will shame us for having difficulties. Psalm 46 explains that God is a "present help in time of need." That indicates we WILL have struggles in our walk. What God longs for us to understand is that in those times we can turn to God for help. My flesh naturally wants to run from a vengeful God when I mess up or feel like I'm not doing what God wants of me. But, it's so important to remember that the same God who will be our judge at the end of our life is the SAME God who longs for us to let Him help us. He wants to be there for us when we're struggling. He wants to be a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. He wants to illuminate the way for us. He wants to give us the strength we need to press on through the things in life that are really hard.
Now know I that the Lord saveth.
I know that. I believe that. And I trust that. The word saveth isn't exclusive to our initial salvation. It refers to that, but it also means He will save us from fear, from insecurities, from doubts, from the lies of the enemy, and from every imposition of the devil. Whatever you're struggling with, the Lord saveth from that. Everything I struggle with, the Lord saveth from that. The key is in the second verse, verse 7. Our trust has to be fixed in Him. We have to remember Him when those things come against us.
It's not easy to do. I know, at least for me, it's always hard to get around the fact that I've done something imperfectly. God is ultimately going to be my judge, and it's easy to be afraid that after a mistake, He'll want nothing to do with me. But that isn't the case. As long as we're willing to fix the areas in which we struggle, He's willing to help us do that. It's only by His power and His Son that we're saved in the first place. He wants to keep us free from the bondage that sin requires.
But, even when we know that God is the only fail-proof source of help, it can be hard to accept it. As humans, we want to rely on ourselves and other people to help us. After all, God sends messengers to deliver His word, right? Sis. LaDawna Adams preached a great message tonight titled "What is Man?" One of the stories she read in Act 3 stood out to me. She read the story of the lame man who laid every day at the gate of the temple and asked Peter and John for alms. Verse 6 says:
"Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
The man was asking humans for earthly assistance. Peter wisely understood that wouldn't provide any meaningful help for the man. Instead, Peter called on a higher authority. Man will often be insufficient to meet our needs, and we need to learn to expect that. But we can point people to Jesus. Peter gave what he could for the man, and that was Jesus. Help from friends, family, or mentors is valuable, but ultimately it can only help insofar as God is involved. The lame man was greatly blessed by Peter being in touch with God. Surrounding ourselves with people who will support us in our walk with God is priceless. The Bible says not to forsake our assembly together (Hebrews 10:25). It's important. But recognizing that it is ultimately God who does the saving is key.
As much as Peter had the heart to help the lame man, he couldn't do it in himself. We have to come to the realization that we can't expect other people to fix our problems for us. They're humans with problems just like us, and we can't put to their responsibility something that is for us to work out with God. I've found that relying on people can take our focus off of the true help: God. That's dangerous. When we don't let God be the focus, we lose touch with Him and place undue burden on others.
I'm so encouraged with this thought. Now I know, I'm confident, that God will save His anointed. When we're living a life in pursuit of Him, serving Him to the best of our ability, He will be faithful to save us. It doesn't matter what we're going through. There are problems other people can't touch. I want to learn better how to trust God fully for the struggles I have in life. I want Him to save me and heal me. I also want to be a faithful servant, and that includes helping others along the way. Our confidence can't be in man, but God wants us to help and encourage each other along the way. God will send people to help us, maybe even to help us understand where our issues are coming from. But the actually healing for those problems and the strength to overcome them come from the Lord himself.
I pray that this can be an encouragement to someone else, too. There are problems that are simply bigger than what we or someone else can handle. We have to go directly to the source of our salvation. We can go with the same confidence David had and say:
"Now know I that the Lord saveth His anointed; he will hear him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand."
Keep encouraged!
Monday, October 29, 2018
Priorities
What do you prioritize in your life? What do you make time for? That's something that has been on my mind a lot lately, and I thank God that He has caused me to consider where my time is spent and how important it is to redeem the time that He's given us.
If you've kept watch, a lot of TIME has passed since I last posted a blog. I'm not really proud of that, because it hasn't been that the Lord hasn't blessed me. It's been because I haven't prioritized sharing what He's done or even giving adequate time to the Lord. It's not easy to make time for everything that life brings at you. I've been very busy lately, and some things in my life have caused me to reflect on my time, and how I can use it better.
I was able to go to the revival Bro. Darrell Johnson held in Sapulpa this past weekend. I really got a lot of good from the meeting, and the last message was the one that stood out to me the most. He talked about time, and how important it is to make time for the Lord. There are a lot of things we can spend our time in, and a lot of distractions that can inhibit our time with the Lord. But, we have to prioritize time with God or our lives will slip away. He talked a lot about how we don't know how much time we have left, so we need to redeem what time we are blessed with. Ephesians 5:15-16 says:
"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
This verse is used a lot, but it really hit me. We only have a certain amount of time in a day. But each day is a fresh day, and that time can be used however we choose to spend it. We have to be careful of what things occupy our time and ensure that we give enough time for God to deal with us how He wants. The days are evil. Things can drag us down and get us distracted and sometimes in trouble. We are instructed to be watchful over that.
When I started college, I knew that I would be busy, but I didn't realize how much time it would take me to keep up with school and work. As a teenager, it's hard for me to immediately come to grips with managing work, school, and a relationship, so it takes a lot of God to keep me afloat. But what happens if I don't spend enough time with God? I'll sink. That's what God was trying to point out to me. If I allow my life to be so caught up and busy -- even if it's in lawful and profitable things -- but neglect my soul, I'll end up way worse than if I relaxed on some things and let God have control.
Bro. Darrell made the point that we will always have time for what we put first. I don't want a 50% relationship with God, so I have to put Him first ALWAYS. It's something that I have been thinking a lot about, and God sent a message at a perfect time for me to receive it. Isn't He good? I want to encourage anyone who is struggling with managing a busy schedule or just life in general... put God first. He is faithful to bless us when we are willing to make Him our first priority. The other things in life become easier to deal with.
God also showed me a verse, and I'm very thankful that he brought it out to me. It's in Colossians 1:19, and it says:
"For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell."
All fullness and fulfillment should be found in Christ. That is where our happiness and enthusiasm rests. Life is full only if lived in Christ. I pray that God will help me refocus my joy to live a life for Him above all else. I firmly believe that when we have our spiritual life taken care of, other parts of life will go more smoothly. We'll enjoy the good parts better and be able to handle the difficulties more easily. That's because our soul can be satisfied by an experience nothing on earth can replicate. We can have peace and assurance in knowing that our heart is fixed on God and that He is faithful to be with us.
I have a good life. God has blessed me tremendously. I don't want to neglect my spiritual experience or neglect to thank God for how He has been faithful to me. I pray that He'll help me to better prioritize the important things of life and realize that He'll help me deal with the rest if I put Him first.
And I hope I can continue to share the things God shows me along the way. It's an encouragement to me to express my feelings, and I hope it will bless and encourage you, too. So as always...
Keep encouraged!
If you've kept watch, a lot of TIME has passed since I last posted a blog. I'm not really proud of that, because it hasn't been that the Lord hasn't blessed me. It's been because I haven't prioritized sharing what He's done or even giving adequate time to the Lord. It's not easy to make time for everything that life brings at you. I've been very busy lately, and some things in my life have caused me to reflect on my time, and how I can use it better.
I was able to go to the revival Bro. Darrell Johnson held in Sapulpa this past weekend. I really got a lot of good from the meeting, and the last message was the one that stood out to me the most. He talked about time, and how important it is to make time for the Lord. There are a lot of things we can spend our time in, and a lot of distractions that can inhibit our time with the Lord. But, we have to prioritize time with God or our lives will slip away. He talked a lot about how we don't know how much time we have left, so we need to redeem what time we are blessed with. Ephesians 5:15-16 says:
"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
This verse is used a lot, but it really hit me. We only have a certain amount of time in a day. But each day is a fresh day, and that time can be used however we choose to spend it. We have to be careful of what things occupy our time and ensure that we give enough time for God to deal with us how He wants. The days are evil. Things can drag us down and get us distracted and sometimes in trouble. We are instructed to be watchful over that.
When I started college, I knew that I would be busy, but I didn't realize how much time it would take me to keep up with school and work. As a teenager, it's hard for me to immediately come to grips with managing work, school, and a relationship, so it takes a lot of God to keep me afloat. But what happens if I don't spend enough time with God? I'll sink. That's what God was trying to point out to me. If I allow my life to be so caught up and busy -- even if it's in lawful and profitable things -- but neglect my soul, I'll end up way worse than if I relaxed on some things and let God have control.
Bro. Darrell made the point that we will always have time for what we put first. I don't want a 50% relationship with God, so I have to put Him first ALWAYS. It's something that I have been thinking a lot about, and God sent a message at a perfect time for me to receive it. Isn't He good? I want to encourage anyone who is struggling with managing a busy schedule or just life in general... put God first. He is faithful to bless us when we are willing to make Him our first priority. The other things in life become easier to deal with.
God also showed me a verse, and I'm very thankful that he brought it out to me. It's in Colossians 1:19, and it says:
"For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell."
All fullness and fulfillment should be found in Christ. That is where our happiness and enthusiasm rests. Life is full only if lived in Christ. I pray that God will help me refocus my joy to live a life for Him above all else. I firmly believe that when we have our spiritual life taken care of, other parts of life will go more smoothly. We'll enjoy the good parts better and be able to handle the difficulties more easily. That's because our soul can be satisfied by an experience nothing on earth can replicate. We can have peace and assurance in knowing that our heart is fixed on God and that He is faithful to be with us.
I have a good life. God has blessed me tremendously. I don't want to neglect my spiritual experience or neglect to thank God for how He has been faithful to me. I pray that He'll help me to better prioritize the important things of life and realize that He'll help me deal with the rest if I put Him first.
And I hope I can continue to share the things God shows me along the way. It's an encouragement to me to express my feelings, and I hope it will bless and encourage you, too. So as always...
Keep encouraged!
Monday, September 17, 2018
Peace in the Midst of Confusion
From Summer Beverage:
I’m thankful to the Lord for giving me a testimony of His peace in my life over the past few months, and really over the past year.
Having an eternal peace is something that never really meant something to me more than the occasional good message that was preached on it. It wasn’t until I found myself in utter chaos that I realized it was only the Lord's peace that could get me out of this state. This spring I heard a couple of different messages preached by Bro. Joseph Gellenbeck that really showed me the “rest and peace” the Lord wanted to show me.
I really don’t know if I can describe it in the way that I want to, but its almost as if a switch was flipped. Like the Lord said, “Ok you’ve got to start having more faith that I can give you peace.”
I began to pray more earnestly. Asking for guidance on not only the big things, but the little things. This entire time not even realizing that this was all to guide me into this summer.
As a certain situation occurred, my natural response was to just “figure it out." Confusion swept over me like I’ve never felt before. I got frustrated that this was happening and that I didn’t know the answer right away. This confusion started taking over my thoughts in most aspects in my life. That's when I just stopped and realized that I couldn’t do it anymore.
Then I started asking the Lord to just take the situation into His hands. And to please give me the answers. God had other plans. I really feel that God gave me just enough answers for me to realize “He’s got this”.
At this point, I really felt that the Lord was just going to give me the answers, because I asked Him to. That's not what happened. I began to get discouraged that I wasn’t doing anything and that I should be doing something. This train of thought led me to put God in boxes. Because I was so desperate to have an answer, I would say “But the Lord told me…”.
I wish I could say a certain day when I felt this “powerful wind” give me an answer. Or that I had this strong feeling of peace come over me all at once. But no, God really does work in mysterious ways.
After praying over and over again for peace and deliverance from this, I slowly started feeling the eternal peace that I wanted so badly. Again, I don’t know if I can explain this in the way that I want, but looking back I wish I could only share the peace that God has given me. It was only after I was forced to humble myself and surrender to the Lord that I felt His peace. And the funny part is, Once I surrendered to the Lord, needing to know the answers suddenly became less important to me.
I’ll be honest, I feel more than a little hypocritical saying this, Because I’m definitely the same person that gets worried over decisions (big or small). But I now can say that through prayer, a surrendering of myself, and a realization of just how much is out of my control, God showed me His love more than ever before.
Just recently I’ve been finding scriptures that have really given me an assurance. One being Isaiah 42:16 -- “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them and not forsake them."
I’m just so thankful to the Lord for showing me if I’ll just surrender my self, and have faith and trust in Him, He will give me a peace that earthly problems cannot consume. Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Having this peace doesn’t mean that He’ll give me the answers right away, but that it is in Gods hands. So there’s no reason to worry about it. ;)
I hope this testimony can show someone that it really is worth it to lay yourself down and receive the eternal peace that God wants to give!
- Summer Beverage
I’m thankful to the Lord for giving me a testimony of His peace in my life over the past few months, and really over the past year.
Having an eternal peace is something that never really meant something to me more than the occasional good message that was preached on it. It wasn’t until I found myself in utter chaos that I realized it was only the Lord's peace that could get me out of this state. This spring I heard a couple of different messages preached by Bro. Joseph Gellenbeck that really showed me the “rest and peace” the Lord wanted to show me.
I really don’t know if I can describe it in the way that I want to, but its almost as if a switch was flipped. Like the Lord said, “Ok you’ve got to start having more faith that I can give you peace.”
I began to pray more earnestly. Asking for guidance on not only the big things, but the little things. This entire time not even realizing that this was all to guide me into this summer.
As a certain situation occurred, my natural response was to just “figure it out." Confusion swept over me like I’ve never felt before. I got frustrated that this was happening and that I didn’t know the answer right away. This confusion started taking over my thoughts in most aspects in my life. That's when I just stopped and realized that I couldn’t do it anymore.
Then I started asking the Lord to just take the situation into His hands. And to please give me the answers. God had other plans. I really feel that God gave me just enough answers for me to realize “He’s got this”.
At this point, I really felt that the Lord was just going to give me the answers, because I asked Him to. That's not what happened. I began to get discouraged that I wasn’t doing anything and that I should be doing something. This train of thought led me to put God in boxes. Because I was so desperate to have an answer, I would say “But the Lord told me…”.
I wish I could say a certain day when I felt this “powerful wind” give me an answer. Or that I had this strong feeling of peace come over me all at once. But no, God really does work in mysterious ways.
After praying over and over again for peace and deliverance from this, I slowly started feeling the eternal peace that I wanted so badly. Again, I don’t know if I can explain this in the way that I want, but looking back I wish I could only share the peace that God has given me. It was only after I was forced to humble myself and surrender to the Lord that I felt His peace. And the funny part is, Once I surrendered to the Lord, needing to know the answers suddenly became less important to me.
I’ll be honest, I feel more than a little hypocritical saying this, Because I’m definitely the same person that gets worried over decisions (big or small). But I now can say that through prayer, a surrendering of myself, and a realization of just how much is out of my control, God showed me His love more than ever before.
Just recently I’ve been finding scriptures that have really given me an assurance. One being Isaiah 42:16 -- “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them and not forsake them."
I’m just so thankful to the Lord for showing me if I’ll just surrender my self, and have faith and trust in Him, He will give me a peace that earthly problems cannot consume. Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Having this peace doesn’t mean that He’ll give me the answers right away, but that it is in Gods hands. So there’s no reason to worry about it. ;)
I hope this testimony can show someone that it really is worth it to lay yourself down and receive the eternal peace that God wants to give!
- Summer Beverage
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Take Up Your Cross
From Damon Sallee:
Take Up Your Cross
I want to thank God for the challenges that He has been giving me in my spiritual walk with Him. He's been dealing with me a lot recently on giving him 100%.
Through the past few months, I've been doing a lot of spiritual warfare. I'm thankful for that. It lets me know which side I'm on.
I’m finding that spiritually, you get out what you put in. An awesome Christian experience isn’t a default. It’s something you must work at. I’m finding God’s blessings become greater as I surrender more of myself to Him.
We all fight the same kind of battles: spiritual lethargy, failures, and struggles unique to our personality. Sometimes while fighting those battles, we miss what God is really trying to tell us. David prayed that God would search him and know his heart, that He would try him and know his thoughts and that He would see if there was any wicked way in him.
I pray the same prayer for myself, but I’ve found in times past that when I would pray that prayer, one thing would come back to my mind over and over, so much so that I began to push it out of my mind and say, “Lord, I know about that, and I’ll try to do better in it and fix it when I get some time.”
I’d make some resolutions, and maybe some promises, and that would appease my conscience a little, but it never took care of the problem. I’d find myself asking, “Okay, but is there anything else?” And then I’d focus on something different but would fail to address what He had dealt with me about in the first place.
God started dealing with me about that. You can’t choose to disregard His instructions and expect to maintain a joyful spiritual experience. Disobedience costs a lot. My experience suffered greatly because I kept pushing Him off and making excuses. Telling God, “I’ll do it later,” seemed to be better than saying, “No. I won’t do it.” But it wasn’t. God dealt with me with the intention that I would follow Him immediately.
I think of 2 Corinthians 6:2. “… I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
When God deals with you, then is the time to take care of the problem, unless He instructs otherwise. If you don’t know how to go about it, that doesn’t give you a valid excuse to push it off. Seek for wisdom earnestly until He gives it to you.
I am finding that this is part of “putting in” for your salvation. It’s not an easy thing. Seeking His will and direction takes dedication and much determination. Doing it requires humility, submission, and trust that He knows what is best for you.
When I realized His will and what action He wanted me to take, but chose to push it off, my spiritual growth came to a standstill. Can God bless me in my disobedience? I can attest to the fact that He can’t. My life became very miserable. The peace and joy that had been in my soul was replaced with inner turmoil. God through His abundant mercy kept dealing with me, and slowly I began to see that peace comes through obedience and surrender to His will, regardless of what it costs.
Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me.”
He also said, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
I thank God from the bottom of my heart that He has shown me the importance of unconditional surrender and submission of my will to His will. That’s all that He asks of me, to be “a living sacrifice.”
Now His Holy Spirit is content to dwell within me, and spiritual peace is restored. I still have trials and hard times. I still get confused about things, but there’s one thing that is of great comfort to me. It’s Joy. What is Joy?
J-esus O-wning Y-ou
I have willingly put myself into His hands, to do His will no matter what it may be, no matter what it costs, because Jesus owns me, and “He will only permit what is best.” His thoughts are “of peace, and not of evil, to give me an expected end.”
And this brings me to my current testimony.
ELS #87 “I Know My Name Is There”
My name is in the Book of Life,
Oh, bless the name of Jesus!
I rise above all doubt and strife,
And read my title clear.
Yet, inward trouble often cast
A shadow o'er my title,
But now with full salvation blest,
Praise God! It's ever clear.
While others climb thro' wordly strife
To carve a name of honor,
High up in Heaven's Book of Life,
My name is written there.
I know my name is there. I know that God will “perfect that which concerneth me” and that I can trust Him to guide me in the future decisions of life. I can trust my life in His hands. And now I choose daily to put it into action. And I ask for His strength to do so.
I encourage anyone who reads this to take up your cross and follow Him with renewed dedication, realizing that your strength is not of yourself but is given by Him as you ask for it and meet the requirements that He has shown to you.
- Damon Sallee
Take Up Your Cross
I want to thank God for the challenges that He has been giving me in my spiritual walk with Him. He's been dealing with me a lot recently on giving him 100%.
Through the past few months, I've been doing a lot of spiritual warfare. I'm thankful for that. It lets me know which side I'm on.
I’m finding that spiritually, you get out what you put in. An awesome Christian experience isn’t a default. It’s something you must work at. I’m finding God’s blessings become greater as I surrender more of myself to Him.
We all fight the same kind of battles: spiritual lethargy, failures, and struggles unique to our personality. Sometimes while fighting those battles, we miss what God is really trying to tell us. David prayed that God would search him and know his heart, that He would try him and know his thoughts and that He would see if there was any wicked way in him.
I pray the same prayer for myself, but I’ve found in times past that when I would pray that prayer, one thing would come back to my mind over and over, so much so that I began to push it out of my mind and say, “Lord, I know about that, and I’ll try to do better in it and fix it when I get some time.”
I’d make some resolutions, and maybe some promises, and that would appease my conscience a little, but it never took care of the problem. I’d find myself asking, “Okay, but is there anything else?” And then I’d focus on something different but would fail to address what He had dealt with me about in the first place.
God started dealing with me about that. You can’t choose to disregard His instructions and expect to maintain a joyful spiritual experience. Disobedience costs a lot. My experience suffered greatly because I kept pushing Him off and making excuses. Telling God, “I’ll do it later,” seemed to be better than saying, “No. I won’t do it.” But it wasn’t. God dealt with me with the intention that I would follow Him immediately.
I think of 2 Corinthians 6:2. “… I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
When God deals with you, then is the time to take care of the problem, unless He instructs otherwise. If you don’t know how to go about it, that doesn’t give you a valid excuse to push it off. Seek for wisdom earnestly until He gives it to you.
I am finding that this is part of “putting in” for your salvation. It’s not an easy thing. Seeking His will and direction takes dedication and much determination. Doing it requires humility, submission, and trust that He knows what is best for you.
When I realized His will and what action He wanted me to take, but chose to push it off, my spiritual growth came to a standstill. Can God bless me in my disobedience? I can attest to the fact that He can’t. My life became very miserable. The peace and joy that had been in my soul was replaced with inner turmoil. God through His abundant mercy kept dealing with me, and slowly I began to see that peace comes through obedience and surrender to His will, regardless of what it costs.
Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me.”
He also said, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
I thank God from the bottom of my heart that He has shown me the importance of unconditional surrender and submission of my will to His will. That’s all that He asks of me, to be “a living sacrifice.”
Now His Holy Spirit is content to dwell within me, and spiritual peace is restored. I still have trials and hard times. I still get confused about things, but there’s one thing that is of great comfort to me. It’s Joy. What is Joy?
J-esus O-wning Y-ou
I have willingly put myself into His hands, to do His will no matter what it may be, no matter what it costs, because Jesus owns me, and “He will only permit what is best.” His thoughts are “of peace, and not of evil, to give me an expected end.”
And this brings me to my current testimony.
ELS #87 “I Know My Name Is There”
My name is in the Book of Life,
Oh, bless the name of Jesus!
I rise above all doubt and strife,
And read my title clear.
Yet, inward trouble often cast
A shadow o'er my title,
But now with full salvation blest,
Praise God! It's ever clear.
While others climb thro' wordly strife
To carve a name of honor,
High up in Heaven's Book of Life,
My name is written there.
I know my name is there. I know that God will “perfect that which concerneth me” and that I can trust Him to guide me in the future decisions of life. I can trust my life in His hands. And now I choose daily to put it into action. And I ask for His strength to do so.
I encourage anyone who reads this to take up your cross and follow Him with renewed dedication, realizing that your strength is not of yourself but is given by Him as you ask for it and meet the requirements that He has shown to you.
- Damon Sallee
Monday, August 6, 2018
Guidance
I've been thinking a lot about the Lord's guidance, and the way He works in our lives. Isn't it super cool that we can go to the Lord for counsel and direction? He's really shown Himself strong to me lately, and I want to praise Him for that, hoping it will be an encouragement to you all as well.
This summer has been a very eventful one for me. I graduated high school (YAY) and have moved on to a new, different stage in life: work. Super fun, isn't it? I'm actually really enjoying what I do, but I'll get into that a little later. I'll preface this story by saying this: I've never been accused of being a workaholic. ;P A lot of it has to do with my personality. I enjoy having fun, being with people, and make people laugh. There's nothing wrong with that -- unless it makes me lazy. And, I'll admit, I've had my fair share of moments (and still do sometimes...). But, God has shown me several things in this year, helped me to mature a little more, and given me opportunities to prove myself.
Originally, I had intended to get a job while I was still in high school. But there were several things that hindered me. I really didn't want to work at a fast food restaurant because coming home every night smelling like a French fry didn't sound appetizing (ha), and to get many hours, I would have to work late, which wouldn't help with my homework schedule. Most other jobs I found required that I be available at any time of day, or hours that conflicted with my public school schedule. I was becoming discouraged with job searching, and as my graduation came and went, nothing changed. I didn't have a job.
The Lord had shown me a verse in devotions several months ago that had given me faith about looking for a job. The verse is in Isaiah 49:2-3. It says:
"...in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; [3] and said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified."
This may not seem like a verse that is an encouragement for a job, but the Lord revealed it to me in a special, personal way. The shadow isn't normally seen as a positive, cheerful thing. It can be mysterious and sometimes scary, as opposed to the bright, sparkling sun. He let me see that my personality was sunny -- fun-loving, happy-go-lucky, and cheery. But if you're in the sun too long, you'll get burned. God has to bring us into the shadows. They might seem a little scary or unpleasant at first. They're not as exciting as having fun in the sun, but it's a necessary place for protection. God showed me that I had to get out of the sun. Out of the excitement and into a place where He desired I would be. For me, that was a job.
The rest of the verse made the impact so much more real. First of all, God's going to be with me. He's not sending me off alone to the influences of the world. He's going to be with me, protecting me while I'm there. It's going to make me polished, more mature, and useful for the Lord. A shaft or arrow is acutely refined. It's straight, smooth, and without knots. God can use circumstances in our lives to help us "grow up" and become a perfected vessel for His use. He'll put us in His quiver, ready for use when He so chooses. The last part of the third verse clinched it. "Thou art my servant." Ultimately, the Lord is in control of my life. If I want to serve Him, I have to give Him the keys AND let Him drive. He'll be glorified when we obey His leadings. So, stay with me. I pursued getting a job.
Yet, it seemed as though nothing was working out. I had felt encouraged and inspired... I believed God had given me a sign with that verse. A sign of confirmation that I need to look for a job, and a sign of His blessing on my efforts to do so. I asked Him why things weren't falling into place. I didn't feel anything change. It all felt like God was just letting life happen, and not intervening on my behalf. So I soldiered on, putting in applications, looking for scenarios that might work.
Then, I went to Guthrie for the May meeting, and on almost the last day, I got a call from Twin Oaks Custom Cabinets, the company where my dad works.. They wanted an interview. Needless to say, I was excited. I set up an interview, and a few days after going home, I interviewed. Here's the caveat, though (there's always something, isn't there?) My family had planned a vacation right after the West Virginia meeting that was about to start. I would be away from home for about 3 weeks. I let them know of that situation during the interview, knowing it could hurt my chances of being hired.
Listen close, ya'll. This is the Lord. During the interview, the lady interviewing me asked when I was getting back from vacation, and I told her July 2nd. The interview continued a little longer, and then, as we were wrapping it up, she said "Well, we'll plan to see you on July 2nd, 8:00 am."
*jaw drop*
I didn't know what to think. In my first interview, I was hired on the spot. The Lord worked it out for me. He gave me a job when I wasn't seeing anything work out. He allowed the timing to work out where I could still go to the West Virginia meeting and go on vacation with my family -- two things that were very important to me. It still amazes me how he worked it out for me. I have enjoyed my job a lot, and even though I had to give up a lot of time during Monark to work, the Lord was faithful to me when I was there. I can still count my blessings that I was able to attend during the evenings and weekends and receive good from the services I was in.
Isn't it amazing how the Lord guides us. He works in mysterious ways. We don't always see why or how He does things, but as Romans 8:28 says, He's working them for our good if we're diligent to follow Him. The Lord showed me a verse after Monark was over, and I was reflecting on all that God has done for me this summer. It's in John 3:8, and it says:
"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."
The Spirit of the Lord works a lot like the wind. We see the effects of His workings. We see the things He does for us, and recognize His presence with us. Yet, it's unexpected and unpredictable. We often don't understand the why. We can't see beyond our human vision to understand the mind of God. It's a trial of our faith sometimes. I didn't understand why God wasn't allowing things to work out for so long, or when I wanted. But now, I can see that it was a lesson in faith, dependence, and simply trusting in God to do what is best for me. I fully believe the situation He's placed me in is the right one, and better than the ideas I had myself. It's amazing how God can work a perfect plan. He has His way in the whirlwind, and though we can't discern the way He chooses to work, we'll feel the gentle breeze, His spirit directing the path of His children.
I'm very thankful to the Lord for His guidance to me. If you've made it this far, you're a trooper. I tend to get long-winded sometimes, but I really felt inspired to share my experience, in hopes that it might encourage you all that God knows what He's doing... and He's doing it all for us. :) I've really learned a lot in this spiritual journey the Lord has taken me on. I appreciate His faithfulness to me and for giving me so much help during this summer. It's been a time of necessary growth for me, and I anticipate that a change in me is still coming. I love you all, and pray that God will keep us all nearer and nearer to Him. Pray for me.
Keep encouraged!
This summer has been a very eventful one for me. I graduated high school (YAY) and have moved on to a new, different stage in life: work. Super fun, isn't it? I'm actually really enjoying what I do, but I'll get into that a little later. I'll preface this story by saying this: I've never been accused of being a workaholic. ;P A lot of it has to do with my personality. I enjoy having fun, being with people, and make people laugh. There's nothing wrong with that -- unless it makes me lazy. And, I'll admit, I've had my fair share of moments (and still do sometimes...). But, God has shown me several things in this year, helped me to mature a little more, and given me opportunities to prove myself.
Originally, I had intended to get a job while I was still in high school. But there were several things that hindered me. I really didn't want to work at a fast food restaurant because coming home every night smelling like a French fry didn't sound appetizing (ha), and to get many hours, I would have to work late, which wouldn't help with my homework schedule. Most other jobs I found required that I be available at any time of day, or hours that conflicted with my public school schedule. I was becoming discouraged with job searching, and as my graduation came and went, nothing changed. I didn't have a job.
The Lord had shown me a verse in devotions several months ago that had given me faith about looking for a job. The verse is in Isaiah 49:2-3. It says:
"...in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; [3] and said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified."
This may not seem like a verse that is an encouragement for a job, but the Lord revealed it to me in a special, personal way. The shadow isn't normally seen as a positive, cheerful thing. It can be mysterious and sometimes scary, as opposed to the bright, sparkling sun. He let me see that my personality was sunny -- fun-loving, happy-go-lucky, and cheery. But if you're in the sun too long, you'll get burned. God has to bring us into the shadows. They might seem a little scary or unpleasant at first. They're not as exciting as having fun in the sun, but it's a necessary place for protection. God showed me that I had to get out of the sun. Out of the excitement and into a place where He desired I would be. For me, that was a job.
The rest of the verse made the impact so much more real. First of all, God's going to be with me. He's not sending me off alone to the influences of the world. He's going to be with me, protecting me while I'm there. It's going to make me polished, more mature, and useful for the Lord. A shaft or arrow is acutely refined. It's straight, smooth, and without knots. God can use circumstances in our lives to help us "grow up" and become a perfected vessel for His use. He'll put us in His quiver, ready for use when He so chooses. The last part of the third verse clinched it. "Thou art my servant." Ultimately, the Lord is in control of my life. If I want to serve Him, I have to give Him the keys AND let Him drive. He'll be glorified when we obey His leadings. So, stay with me. I pursued getting a job.
Yet, it seemed as though nothing was working out. I had felt encouraged and inspired... I believed God had given me a sign with that verse. A sign of confirmation that I need to look for a job, and a sign of His blessing on my efforts to do so. I asked Him why things weren't falling into place. I didn't feel anything change. It all felt like God was just letting life happen, and not intervening on my behalf. So I soldiered on, putting in applications, looking for scenarios that might work.
Then, I went to Guthrie for the May meeting, and on almost the last day, I got a call from Twin Oaks Custom Cabinets, the company where my dad works.. They wanted an interview. Needless to say, I was excited. I set up an interview, and a few days after going home, I interviewed. Here's the caveat, though (there's always something, isn't there?) My family had planned a vacation right after the West Virginia meeting that was about to start. I would be away from home for about 3 weeks. I let them know of that situation during the interview, knowing it could hurt my chances of being hired.
Listen close, ya'll. This is the Lord. During the interview, the lady interviewing me asked when I was getting back from vacation, and I told her July 2nd. The interview continued a little longer, and then, as we were wrapping it up, she said "Well, we'll plan to see you on July 2nd, 8:00 am."
*jaw drop*
I didn't know what to think. In my first interview, I was hired on the spot. The Lord worked it out for me. He gave me a job when I wasn't seeing anything work out. He allowed the timing to work out where I could still go to the West Virginia meeting and go on vacation with my family -- two things that were very important to me. It still amazes me how he worked it out for me. I have enjoyed my job a lot, and even though I had to give up a lot of time during Monark to work, the Lord was faithful to me when I was there. I can still count my blessings that I was able to attend during the evenings and weekends and receive good from the services I was in.
Isn't it amazing how the Lord guides us. He works in mysterious ways. We don't always see why or how He does things, but as Romans 8:28 says, He's working them for our good if we're diligent to follow Him. The Lord showed me a verse after Monark was over, and I was reflecting on all that God has done for me this summer. It's in John 3:8, and it says:
"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."
The Spirit of the Lord works a lot like the wind. We see the effects of His workings. We see the things He does for us, and recognize His presence with us. Yet, it's unexpected and unpredictable. We often don't understand the why. We can't see beyond our human vision to understand the mind of God. It's a trial of our faith sometimes. I didn't understand why God wasn't allowing things to work out for so long, or when I wanted. But now, I can see that it was a lesson in faith, dependence, and simply trusting in God to do what is best for me. I fully believe the situation He's placed me in is the right one, and better than the ideas I had myself. It's amazing how God can work a perfect plan. He has His way in the whirlwind, and though we can't discern the way He chooses to work, we'll feel the gentle breeze, His spirit directing the path of His children.
I'm very thankful to the Lord for His guidance to me. If you've made it this far, you're a trooper. I tend to get long-winded sometimes, but I really felt inspired to share my experience, in hopes that it might encourage you all that God knows what He's doing... and He's doing it all for us. :) I've really learned a lot in this spiritual journey the Lord has taken me on. I appreciate His faithfulness to me and for giving me so much help during this summer. It's been a time of necessary growth for me, and I anticipate that a change in me is still coming. I love you all, and pray that God will keep us all nearer and nearer to Him. Pray for me.
Keep encouraged!
Monday, July 2, 2018
Persevere
From Damar Randle:
I thank the Lord for his blessings unto me! I was able to get away from work and attend the Fresno Campmeeting and I can say, I am full. There was a lot of Spiritual Food laid out and I did partake. The Lord was faithful to meet me several times at the altar and I'm grateful for that.
One message I heard preached that really stuck to me was preached by Bro. Paul titled "Perseverance". He spoke on what it means for us to persevere. One of the things mentioned was that we must put forth an effort to reach our goal. To press on in spite of what is around us.
Putting forth effort is not an easy task. I remember all the work I put in as a runner in high school, long, hot, dreadful hours, yet I did it daily. The Lord has convicted me before as I've studied for school. He has pointed out that I don't put forth the effort in reading his word as I do school. The degree I'll get will only be good for 40 or 50 years and then I'm unable to put it to good use, whereas the things we learn through studying his word will last an eternity.
I have been dealt with time and time again along this line and can say firmly, I don't want to be found in this place again. Studying his word is important. The Apostle Paul charged Timothy to
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim 2:15. I can spend a good amount of time with friends, online, studying, sleeping, working or whatever yet none of it will matter. Time spent without eternal value, is time wasted.
It is my desire to persevere and put forth an "I mean to go right on" effort until my crown is won.
I thank the Lord for his blessings unto me! I was able to get away from work and attend the Fresno Campmeeting and I can say, I am full. There was a lot of Spiritual Food laid out and I did partake. The Lord was faithful to meet me several times at the altar and I'm grateful for that.
One message I heard preached that really stuck to me was preached by Bro. Paul titled "Perseverance". He spoke on what it means for us to persevere. One of the things mentioned was that we must put forth an effort to reach our goal. To press on in spite of what is around us.
Putting forth effort is not an easy task. I remember all the work I put in as a runner in high school, long, hot, dreadful hours, yet I did it daily. The Lord has convicted me before as I've studied for school. He has pointed out that I don't put forth the effort in reading his word as I do school. The degree I'll get will only be good for 40 or 50 years and then I'm unable to put it to good use, whereas the things we learn through studying his word will last an eternity.
I have been dealt with time and time again along this line and can say firmly, I don't want to be found in this place again. Studying his word is important. The Apostle Paul charged Timothy to
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim 2:15. I can spend a good amount of time with friends, online, studying, sleeping, working or whatever yet none of it will matter. Time spent without eternal value, is time wasted.
It is my desire to persevere and put forth an "I mean to go right on" effort until my crown is won.
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