Day by Day

[Soldier4Christ]

Candle Light

    If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light (Luke 11:36).

The light from a single candle gives such a warmth and glow to a silent and otherwise dark room. In the quietness, you can almost hear the flicker of the flame. So relaxing, so tranquil and soothing--it is a time that I love. There is such a peace that fills my heart as everyone else is in bed for the night, and I alone sit staring into the dancing candle flame and slowly sip a cup of coffee or tea.
Even still, to share the moment with my wife is another pleasure in which I find a subtle rest. To quietly look into each other's eyes. The reflection of the flame sparkles in her eyes and lights her face in such a glorious way. It is within such moments that the cares of life, the todays and tomorrows, can easily slip away from sight and seem so unimportant.
I know my eyes as well reflect the flicker of the candle's glow. And I wonder what goes through her mind as she looks into the sparkle in my eyes. For in the midst of the flicker I know she sees within my eyes her own reflection. And both of us embrace the moment and warmly smile as if to say that it is good.

It is amazing what a little light can do, and what it can bring to a moment of a day. Reflecting in the eyes of all who come near to look upon it, it seems to draw attention when quiet finally comes. It is a soothing sight to look upon, giving off a its wondrous glow and warmth. Within the light the cares of life, the todays and tomorrows, can easily slip away from sight and seem so unimportant.
The Light of Christ is such a Light as this. It is amazing what His Light can really do. It is the peace to those who look upon it--a tranquil quiet flicker in the warmth of wondrous glow. Those who come near are drawn toward it's beauty. It calls to those who think to pass it by. And to those who would sit still within the quiet, it soon becomes the sparkle in their eye.
Now to those who have not seen the Light of God, there is for them an offering to see the Light of God residing in His children, reflected in the eyes of you and me. It is a shining testimony of the peace of God that shall always be. And it is to them an open invitation to come near, to draw near to God and to experience the warmth of His Love and the wonders of His grace.
We are the light of the world. The Light of God resides in us and will be reflected in our eyes as long as we keep our eyes on the Light. What is more, as we are in the light we become so much more. For as we look to God and He looks at us, we will see ourselves become the sparkle in our Father's eye--a light shining in the darkness--a testimony of His love, His grace and His peace. O that we can be the candles in this lost and darkened world.

[Soldier4Christ]

For The Lives Of Your Children

    Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at the head of every street (Lamentations 2:19).

There is much talk of what may come, of what judgment may befall us. For one cannot help but wonder what shall happen to a people such as ours who have turned so far from God. For if He would not spare His chosen people from the consequences of their actions, from the wickedness they reaped for the wickedness they sowed, why then shall He not also let a nation such as ours reap what we have sown? These are thoughts that should stir our hearts and cause us to consider where we are headed. And these are truths that should invoke within each of us a response to beg for mercy on our fallen land. And these are what should cause us all to cry out to God for the lives of our children.
What exactly will come, we do not know. We can only have an idea drawn from the surroundings of this present age. But one thing is certain--our children will have to face some troubled times ahead. The way of life that we have known will one day be forgotten. Our children are those who will reap the harvest of our greed and pleasure seeking motivations. For as one day our houses come crashing down upon the sand on which they have been built, the children will be left alone, neglected and abandoned.
Do I paint to grim a picture? Does it seem to be the ramblings of a prophesy of doom? History would not say so. Instead, history would surely look at this present age and utter, "Here we go again." And it may be already be so large that we cannot detour it. Like the giant snowball rolling down the mountain side, the only thing we will be able to do is pray and get out of its way. But first we must see the snowball coming--we must take notice to the signs of our times, and we must take action at least for the sake of the children.
Abortion and crimes against children are at a high in our world today. These little ones are the helpless victims of our selfish gain and greed. If they are a bother they're discarded, if a threat then put away. If they are simply unwanted, their life is simply taken before they take a breath. What noble cause shall support the deeds done to all the children? What logical reasons are there for what is done? There shall be no good excuse and the punishment will not delay. For God has said, "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea (Mt. 18:6).
We do not know what tomorrow will hold, but we hope it will hold something for the children. For they may be the next generation raised up in the fear and knowledge of the Lord. They may be those who will be men and women of faith and turn this nation back toward God. So let us lift up our voices to the Lord on their behalf, and raise them in the Light of God. And let us ask the Lord each day to intervene, and that for the lives of the children.

[Soldier4Christ]

Impassioned

    Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep (Romans 12:15).

I recently asked God to give me a greater compassion for people. I had felt as though I was becoming callused to the pains and problems of others, almost numb to their life situations. I did not like the way it seemed as though I was not stirred by some of the troubles or even tragedies that fell on some people.
And so I asked--I asked God to give me that greater compassion and He did. That is not to say that I do not still need improvement because I most certainly do. For I find it all too easy to slip back into a cycle of caring only for my own and what concerns my immediate world. But as I began to ask, and as God granted my request, I noticed some differences. For it was not long thereafter before a number of people were laid off at my work place. But where I might have been numb to their troubles only a short time ago, I now found that my heart had dropped for them, and it was as though their troubles were somehow more than just theirs.
As I prayed for the people who had lost their jobs, I could not help wonder how many of them did not know Jesus. I realized that if I were to lose my job, it would be something different than what they were experiencing. For I know that my God shall supply all of my need--but what did they know? And what kinds of questions were they asking now that they were thrown this curve? I realized that it could be rough for someone who knows Jesus, but I prayed that those who did not know Him would somehow find Him in this, so that they could find a peace in the middle of the crisis.

"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them..."
There are several accounts in the Bible where we are told that Jesus had compassion.   That is not surprising.  But it is seldom left at that.  To read further into these accounts, we will discover that the compassion He felt was always followed by action.  His compassion was not a simple feeling of pity for others; it was much more.  He looked at them, and felt for them, and then "being moved with compassion," He did something about it.  He healed, He fed, and He reached out in whatever manner the situation called for.
It is good for us to pray for a heart felt compassion toward others, but our love for others should not stop there.  We may also want to pray that, along with   compassion, that God will give us wisdom to know how to respond to the needs we see within the compassion.

May God grant us the ability to see the needs, to take compassion, and to act accordingly--even as Jesus had done.

[Soldier4Christ]

Pinch Me--I Must Be Dreaming

    But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith (Philippians 3:7-9).

A simple prayer. A simple answer to a prayer. How could it be so? Tom had prayed many times before just as this time, yet somehow something was different. For one thing, it seemed that everything had fallen into place his way, or at least how he thought would be best. Could it be that God’s way and Tom’s way finally lined up so perfect that all the things he hoped for were coming true? He wasn’t completely sure, nor was he completely convinced. For though He was so very thankful, he still had a feeling of anxiety. He worried that what looked too good to be true, was. And he held his breath while he awaited everything to unfold as it looked like it was going to.

Even as we all have times of trials, many of us would have to say that we have times when things just seem to fall into the perfect place. Times when things just could not get any better. Our desires that we have told our Lord about seem to be exactly what is in line with His will, and we stand amazed that--well--that our prayers are being answered. Perhaps we forget that we have a loving Heavenly Father who gives good gifts out of His nature, and Who is ready to give us “the desires of your heart” when our heart’s desires line up with His will. Nevertheless, we hold our breath and wait for time to pass--hoping we won’t lose what it seems God has given to us.
We have all probably heard someone say that worry is sin. Perhaps that is because unfounded worry seems to take our focus off of Christ and our faith from Him as well. So we might see that even in the good times we may worry. We may not worry about what is not, but rather we may worry that what we have will be somehow taken from us.
But that is not of God. He is not wanting us to trust in Him so He can pull the rug out from under us. He is not some cruel prankster getting kicks out of waiting for us to get comfortable only to knock us down when we least expect it. No, God desires what is best for us all, and He keeps that best in mind for us. It is His will to work the best out for us within our lives--the best as He defines it within His will.
But what if things seem to be going the way you want, but you are afraid it may not be in line with God’s will? If it is not in God’s will, we would be best to change our desires to line up with His will. For if things are going our way, but are not His way, it is certainly not the best way.
If we have sought God and believe that it is His will that is being done, then all that is left to do is to trust Him--and relax. If it is His will, He will not allow it to be snatched away from you. You do not need to fear, but let go of your anxiety and tell God you are just going to trust everything to Him.
We can worry about just about anything if we are given the opportunity. We will worry when things are good, and when things are bad. But worry is simply something that comes about when we seek to hold on to something other than God. Even if it is something we would consider good to hold on to. But we must hold on to nothing but God, for He is truly the only thing we can be assured of that won’t go away--even if we lose, or give up, all else.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Natural

    Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work (2 Tim.2:19-21).

Who might aspire to understand the nature of all things? Would it be the scientists who examine physical evidences of a creation they do not know? Or would it be those who see nature as the power itself, as though it almost has a consciousness guiding it to move as it does? Perhaps the one who truly seeks to understand the nature of all things, is the one who resigns to be inadequate to ever truly know. For though what we call nature might be awesome in its force and movements, there is behind what we call nature a super (or higher) nature found in He who controls what is and what will be.
There is no mother nature, only Father God. Nature has not mothered us nor brought our souls to be. To claim so is to take the credit from the God who created us and fashioned us in His form, and then to hand it over to a nonexistent personification of what His very hand has made. We are not the result of chaotic chance or an accident of nature, but we are part of a plan of God, intentionally designed with a purpose. All that is, all that we see and all that is to come were set into motion with all the thoughtfulness of our Lord. We and all creation are not a natural happening--we are a supernatural development, to say otherwise is to diminish the Handiwork of the Creator.
So what are we if not natural? I would have to contend that we are subnatural. The reason being is that what we call supernatural would perhaps best be called natural, for it is within the ways of God that things were meant to be from the beginning. We say that God holds true to His nature, and He does, and He created us in His image and in His nature. We, therefore, were created so that God's own nature would be that which is natural within us. Yet, sin has entered in and we have fallen from the nature we were designed to follow--fallen to a subnature--for we no longer function according to His purpose for us, but have moved beneath it.
From this standpoint, it is easy to see why we see God as supernatural. But what is really the case is that God is Natural and we are subnatural. For if we were not to have fallen, the supernatural would seem to be what is natural. We would stand in awe of God not because He does miracles, but simply because of who He is--within His nature.
If we could but confess that we are subnatural, and that we have not lived up to the natural design for which God created us, perhaps then we could grasp the potential that God has placed within us. It's like having a car that was designed to go 120 mph, but you can only get it to get up to about 60; that is not the performance level at which it was designed to run, but somewhere along the way we accept it--or we get it fixed. We have been designed in the image and nature of God to function at what we would call a supernatural level. But that is not because it is beyond the scope of possibility--it is simply because we have all settled for far less than our potential.
Just like a car, we can do what we were designed to do. With the proper care and maintenance, we can go the distance. Like speed limits on the highway, we too have standards that we cannot exceed, but few of us would settle for a car that can only go 30 in a 65 on the interstate. So why have we settled for it in regard to how God has made us to function?

[Soldier4Christ]

Above Reproach

    So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin (Rom.14:22-23).

What is sin to us? Are we so determined against committing sin that we would go out of our way to avoid it--regardless of what it might cost us? Do you remember a time that you were so in Love with God, perhaps it was early in your walk with Him, that you couldn't imagine doing anything to offend Him and you were devastated when you did? I remember the first time that an old habit reared its ugly head after I had came to Christ. I felt so awful and immediately sought forgiveness. I could not bear the thought of letting Him down.
One might say that that is fine for the clear issues, the ones clearly pointed out in scripture, but what about the issues we face that we feel we have no real clear direction? What about those times when there is a doubt? Perhaps we should look to what is written in Romans 14:23, where Paul tells us that, "the man who has doubts is condemned if. . ." fill in the blank. And why is a person condemned for doubts? Because what he does is not out of faith but out of uncertainty. What is done in uncertainty is something wherein we know that it might not be something that is wrong. Better put, it might be a sin. And what shall we say then, is it all right to sin in ignorance if what is done is thought to maybe be a sin but we just do not know?
Many of us, when we first come to know the forgiveness of God, desire to live a life that is above reproach. It is not only that we do not want to sin, but that we do not even want to do anything that might possibly be a sin. The desire to walk a holy line is not seen as a rigid confinement as likened to a prison; but it is seen as a necessity for living an abundant life--and a life that is pleasing to the One who has freed us. Some will warn that such a life is, what they might call, "legalistic." But God knows the hearts of His children, and if there is legalism He will reveal it. But in the meantime, if His child holds to a standard above all standards in an effort to keep pure that which God has cleansed (that being his very soul), then perhaps it is something that God smiles upon.
It is not legalism to want to live above reproach, it is our holy calling, for God has said, "be holy for I am holy." And for us He has provided a standard in the form of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As Christ is our focus we may at times become too rigid in our walk, or perhaps to relaxed, yet if we keep our eyes on Him He is certain to correct our course and keep us on the right path. However, the trouble is often not that we are afraid of becoming to rigid or legalistic as it is that we fear what we may have to give up. And as long as the Bible is not clear on a subject, then perhaps we feel we have a leg to stand on and therefore, what we do cannot technically be classified as sin.
But there is a higher standard that we are called to live, and we are not to reason out the possibilities of sin for lack of scriptural representation. And we are not to presume sin is not found in the unclear, simply so we can embrace a desire and maintain it. But with our standard in Christ we have an appeal to be holy and to possess a holy nature and attitude. It is a call to us to be willing to do what is necessary to remain above reproach, and to avoid anything for which we have a doubt that it might be sin. Therefore, in order that we may embrace holiness fully, let us look beyond our wants and challenge ourselves within the doubt, and let us adopt a simple motto, "If there is any doubt--don't."
May holiness mean so much to us that we are unwilling to do anything that is the least bit questionable.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Shadow of His Wings

    Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God (Isaiah 43:1-3).

The all consuming presence of God is a place of transformation. It is a place wherein we grow to become like Him. Our thoughts, our attitudes, our desires and characteristics begin to change and take shape after the image of God. We, who were created in His image, return to be recreated and cleansed from the impurities of this earth. And as we draw ever so near to Him, and take on His likeness, we begin to experience a joy and peace and fullness unlike we have ever known. Not because we came to God seeking those things, but because those things are in God. And as we come further into the presence of our Lord, we become enveloped in His goodness. And it is in seeking to be within His presence that we find more than we ever thought we could experience. We find His holiness that transforms us, we find His peace and joy that gives us rest, and we find His protection that further brings us peace as we find that God is our security.
David knew God's love, peace and protection. He was a man who trusted in the Lord and expressed that trust so frequently within the Psalms. One such beautiful expression of David's understanding of God's protection is written in Psalm 57:1, wherein David says, "Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed." David did not just say that God would protect him, he knew it, he believed it and he experienced it. It was not some half-hearted claim that he made.
There are many of us who will proclaim God's power and power to protect, only to run in fear from situations that God would most assuredly help us through. Facing the giants of our lives, causes many of us to fall back to a safe distance and quickly devise plans of our own human logic, seeking ways that we can get through something within our own strength. But God would assure us that His presence is a dwelling place, it is a mansion with many rooms. His presence is not only a place wherein we are transformed, but also a place where in we are protected.
We can come into His presence, drawing ever nearer to Him, experiencing the fullness of His goodness, love, protection and grace. We can bring our cares, troubles, pains and problems with all the questions that surround them. And He will answer us, "Draw near to me, and I will draw near to you. For in my presence you will find what you need." It seems that no matter what we need, the answer is simply, "Draw near."

[Soldier4Christ]

Of Greater Significance

    What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? (Psalms 8:4).

What are we indeed? For as we look upon ourselves we might concede to what is so, and that being that we are so small in relationship to God. Our lives are short and our bodies weak and frail. Plagued by the consequences of our actions as a whole, we suffer disease, sickness and death. In the vast expanse of time and space we are little more than specs of dust glimmering in rays of changing light. And though our time be short and our moments pass so quickly, what great important thing can we say that most of us would do? For though the gift of life we embrace is rare within its purest light, we waste away so many hours in frivolous undertakings. Of all the lives and all the hours of each life, where are the qualities in each that will echo through the years? How many will be remembered in the distant coming age?
What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose (Psalms 25:12).
Of countless lives and thousands of years, where are they that fear the Lord? Let us look at our world today and take an inventory. What is the ratio we find of those who serve the Lord to those who serve themselves? We are truly a selfish sort, self-serving to the core. For though we love we harbor self-concern that we be loved as well. And though we help another we more often move to help ourselves.
What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? (Psalms 34:12).
Count the hours of each day and see where time is spent. How much of it is scattered carelessly to short and bad investments. For we concern ourselves with much that will come to not so much. We hurry as the proverbial rats in the maze, moving from here to there, hoping we will get lucky and stumble onto the path that leads to the greatest reward. The short term satisfaction keeps us coming back for more, and that which holds the lasting good is set aside as unrealistic.
What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah (Psalms 89:48).
What shall our busy efforts yield? What shall we gain from all our work? If what is done is for life here alone, and for retirement here as well, what shall we take to the next? We work and work to build a future, and some as though there is no end. But "What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death?"
LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! (Psalms 144:3).
A little while we are here. And yet it is not all grim. For though our time is short and so much is done for self-concern, we are able to be the children of Light. God has not left us to face the consequences of our human history alone. He has not thrown in the towel on us. For though we be as we are, the pure and most holy God still loves us so very dearly. We are a mess. But God is a mender, and He can take anything that any of us have and are and make something beautiful from it. What is man, that God takes account of him? We are His children. And though so often we are more like spoiled little brats who want our way and have tantrums if we cannot have our way, we are also able to have our moments of glory. We are able to shine brightly and in so doing accomplish so much that can and will matter beyond this life, and into the next. What are we? We are the children of the Most High, and we were made to shine. Our time is short, but it does not have to be empty.

    Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

[Soldier4Christ]

Second Wind

    But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

Who knows when it first begins to happen? I certainly do not, for I only know that all I can really do is speculate. For it would seem to creep up so quietly and unseen, sneaking up on us within the shadows of our minds. Plugging away at life and living, we go on and on, until one day, "boom!" we fall down. The day before had been so grand, wherein we felt strong and secure. All was well, then suddenly, the strength we had is gone and we begin to think it easier to throw in the towel. Who knows when it first begins to happen? The disillusionment, dissatisfaction and disheartening? It seems that in such moments it takes all of our remaining strength to mutter out, "Why bother?"
But there are those days where perhaps we have thought to soar. We have tilted our   heads back and had set our eyes toward heaven, and felt the Spirit of God within. O that only God would have decreed in those moments to send us out to conquer the world. Yet, we know that His will is not based upon our enthusiasm, nor his timing on our strength. What glory would there be for Him if in our strength alone He used us?
Yet, as Paul did, perhaps we too would seek to glory in our infirmities. For anyone can glory in their strengths, but what is there in that for Christ? Sure, it can be an offering of praise before Him as we present our best within our best. But to present to Him an offering of our best when we are weakest, that would surely lift the heavens and bring such glory to His name unlike any other. For what glory is there for God in the joy of a man who He has made materially wealthy, that could compare to the glory to God in the man who has nothing, yet is rich in joy? And what glory for God is there in a woman of perfect health who is happy, that can compare to the glory to God in the woman who is crippled, yet retains a happiness that detracts from her disability?
But as the Lord lifts us up in the midst of our weakness, and as He renews a strength in us, He is glorified. For though our appearance may seem run down, and though we may seem at times to be out of steam, the Lord becomes our second wind and all who look on can only stand in awe and disbelief.
At times our hearts sink low, our spirits seem dry, our bodies are tired and our emotions are worn. "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" There is a glory that is found in God wherein we sore within our weakness, and shine within our second wind. Let the Lord renew you today.

[Soldier4Christ]

From A to Z

    For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I know not. For I am in a strait between two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again (Philippians 1:21-26).

Consider a child who is wandering the streets. Who knows how long the child has been homeless; days, weeks, maybe even months. The child seems to have learned his way around the inner city maze and back alley ways, and yet, somehow never seems to ever really become a part of his surroundings. The world in which he lives has left its mark on him, to be certain. The grime from the streets, the signs of mal-nourishment and unkept hair tell the story all too well. And still it remains obvious that this is not where the child belongs. He bears the outward weathering of one world, but the truth of what is within the child cannot be hidden. For though the child be in the surroundings of his present world, it is understood he is not part of it.
Consider the same child, after so long of wandering, he stumbles upon a map. The map is difficult to understand at first. But soon, the boy begins to figure out its curious notations and strange markings. The map looks nothing like anything else the boy has seen, yet it holds a certain familiarity. Within a short time, the boy discovers that the map has shown him a way home. "How incredible!" the boy exclaims, "This is wonderful!" The excitement wells up so that he feels that he will burst with joy. His eyes light up and he smiles so grand that he is certain everyone will notice and perhaps think he is a bit strange.
And so, he tries to compose himself and soon starts on his way toward his home. But soon he comes across another child. The child seems lost as he was himself just recently. He looks at the map and considers how he cannot wait to get home. But then he looks at the other child, lost and afraid, and then he knows exactly what he must do. He must stop and help the other child to find his way home as well.
After that, the boy would continue on his way only to come across many others who were lost as he once was. And though he wanted so very badly to hurry home, he knew that what he wanted even more was to see others find their way home as well.

Paul was torn between two worlds. In one he would dwell near his Lord in his eternal home; while in the other, he would be used by God to draw more people into the eternal home with God. Paul knew the way home and he could not wait to get there. And though in his heart his desire was to hurry home, his greater desire was to take as many with him as he could.
We may have many reasons for wanting to go home to be with God. Perhaps we just cannot wait to be with Him--our Lord and Savior! Perhaps, if the truth be known, there is some other reason why we would want to go to him--a reason more to do with leaving this world behind us. But God did not call us to live this life seeking to escape it, but He desires that we will find and abundance within it. Going home is to be a moving toward God, not a running away from something else.
But then there are also those who would prefer to stay here as long as they can. There are those who have the map and have learned the way home, but have not began to yearn to go home because they want to remain where they are--at least for a little while. Perhaps they don't want to go home until they have a chance to enjoy life a little longer or do things they have not got to do yet. The problem is that if they are not moving toward home, they won't be able to help others to find their way home as well.
We can have selfish reasons for wanting to go on to be with Christ, and we can have selfish reasons for wanting to stay here. But the truth is, we will find harmony, abundant life and more than we would ever hope to have if we can remember who we are, where we are going and who else needs to go to. We are children of God who have been given the map that shows the way home. We need to be moving toward that home and should be excited about doing so. Nevertheless, to remain here is more needful for those who have yet to find their way.
We are in the world and not of it because this world is not our home. We have a map that takes us from point A to point Z. As we follow the map we will encounter others who have not found there way and who need help to find their way. What shall they see in us if we remain content to stay at point A and make our dwelling in this world, and not moving toward the next?
Today you may want to simply ask yourself this question--"Where am I from A to Z?"

[Soldier4Christ]

If You Believe

    Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered. When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked. Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer" (Matt.21:19-22).

The story is told of a group of men who got together late one night at the request of one. It seemed that the one had been burdened with thoughts of a Christian brother serving as a missionary in a foreign land. He did not know why the missionary was so much on his mind, he just knew what he felt; and what he felt was that he needed to call a prayer meeting. So the men gathered at the church and prayed, trusting God to look after the missionary.
It was discovered that the prayer meeting had some, shall we say, quite miraculous effects. It seems that their missionary friend’s life was endangered. For there were men who had plotted to go to the missionary’s camp and to kill him. But, as the aggressors came upon the camp site, they chose to keep their distance as they saw several men at the camp site who appeared to be standing guard. It just so happens that the number of men guarding the site, was equal to the number of men who were praying for the missionary that very hour.

What is prayer to us, and how much stake do we place in it? For many of us, it is something sort of vague and mysterious. We make our requests to God, hold our breath and cross our fingers, and hope that He will answer it in some fashion we can understand. Not that we consider it to be like speaking magic words and adding power to those words by invoking them in Jesus name. But we say our prayers, kind of speaking the words into the air hoping to hit a target somewhere up there. And if things work out, great; but if they do not, then maybe something was wrong with the prayer or something like that.

Jesus said that when we pray that we should pray believing. Believing that God hears. Believing that God will do what He says He will. That He is trustworthy and faithful, and that He has our best interest at heart as it is within His will. Essentially, we need to pray in such a way that we believe that prayer is very, very real.

There are things we believe to be within God’s will always. For instance, we believe it is His will that none should perish, but that all might come to know His salvation. If then, there is someone we know is not saved, then we might pray for them. But more than that, we might pray with the power of believing. As we pray for a lost soul, we can say to ourselves, “this is something God wants, and in that case I can believe that my prayer is going to be answered.” Whenever we pray in accordance with the will of God, we know it is what God wants, so we can come away knowing that He will answer the prayer.

As you go to God in prayer today, go to Him with some things you know without a doubt are things He wants. You then take your trust out of your prayer and put it in the one to Whom you are praying. As you do this, you might notice something incredible--you come away from your prayer having a confidence that God is going to do a work according to your prayer. You may find that you become excited as you anticipate watching the Lord move in accordance with His will--if you believe.

[Soldier4Christ]

Full Assurance of Faith

    Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:19-25)

It may seem amazing to us that we are even able to walk in the Spirit at all, given the burdens that we seem to continuously carry upon our shoulders as though that is the way we prefer it. To be certain, we do not prefer it that way. Nevertheless, it would almost seem so. For we respond to crisis with personal wisdom and to difficulty with human reason, only to turn it over to God after we have hit the bottom of our bag of tricks. Not that we want it that way, but that is so very difficult for us to unlearn the way we have responded to difficulties before, and learn how to respond anew under the guidance of the Lord.
So how do we walk? Perhaps we are the picture of so many who slouch in chairs and walk sort of hunched as though we are too weak to hold up our own heads. Our spiritual demeanor weighs upon us like an anchor tied around our necks, and tugs at our facial muscles to produce a sad and weary frown.
On the other hand, perhaps we walk with a load that is light and a burden that is barely noticeable. Rather than being burdened by the worries and cares of making a living, we find joy in serving God through a life in the making. The weights that once drew down upon our facial muscles have been lifted by God, leaving behind a tranquil smile as a signature of God’s artistry--His handiwork in the mending of a soul.
Perhaps most of us walk the middle ground--burdened one day--full of joy the next. But we then must be careful that we are not “double minded” and “unstable in all [our] ways” (James 1:5-10). We must continually draw near to God to ensure that our faith is established through Christ and not a matter of circumstance.
Where we walk and how we endure are eternally dependent upon a simple matter of faith in God. We need not be weighted down by burdens. Jesus said “ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Mt.11:29-30). Our full assurance rests in the work of Christ, today, tomorrow and always. It is not something you must work for, or earn. It is simply by the grace of God that we are allowed to come to Him regardless of where we have been--to lay all our burdens at His feet--and to renew His joy in us once more.

    Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
    Heir of salvation, purchase of God. Born of his Spirit, washed in his blood
    Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture not burst on my sight:
    Angels descending bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
    Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest:
    Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
    This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long.
    This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long.
    (Fanny J. Crosby, 1873).

[Soldier4Christ]

Heaven on Earth

    The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it (Matthew 13:44-46).

“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” Strong words that echo throughout the pages of the Gospels. Imagine those words spoken by Christ to a crowd of which you are a part. As you hear those words, it is hard but to feel a sense of urgency--a sense of need to get one’s life in order, as it were.
But the sense of urgency fades, and the need to commit to serve God often gives birth to a slew of recommitments, like so many broken New Year’s resolutions. And the Kingdom of heaven blurs, becoming far from being “at hand” in the midst of our daily grind.
So when is that great someday? That great and distant day when we shall wake up to the Kingdom of Heaven? These may be the questions that come to mind when we consider Jesus’ words. For it would seem that since Jesus spoke those words nearly 2000 years ago, that surely the Kingdom of Heaven would be here by now--wouldn’t it? So it would seem. And it may seem to us at times that we shall never see it come, but God is not a man that He should lie--He said the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand, and so it was--and still is.
Consider the words, “at hand.” When we think of something as at hand, we are not speaking so much of a place in time as we are a physical place. If we have a pencil at hand, we have a pencil near and in our reach. When Jesus came to us, He placed the Kingdom of Heaven in our reach within the work and purpose of His being here. The Kingdom of Heaven was not something near as in the future, but near as in “Stretch out thy hand.” As a man seemed to grasp what Jesus was teaching, Jesus told him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God" (Mark 12:34).
As children of God, we belong to the Kingdom of Heaven. We are part of His glorious and eternal Kingdom. We need not wait to enjoy the riches of our relationship with God. He is near--even within our reach, thanks to the work of our Lord Jesus. When we consider the words of Jesus, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Mt.6:19-20), we do not need to consider it a putting away of things that we will not be able to hold or enjoy until we are in Heaven. But we lay up treasures in Heaven and are able to reap an abundance of blessings within those treasures as we dwell in the Kingdom of Heaven while on earth--simply by doing the will of the Father.
“Thy Kingdom Come...”
The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand--it is near and within our reach. “Thy Kingdom Come” should be our daily prayer. As we live to seek God and seek to live godly lives, we find that we shall draw near to God and He to us. We find that we have an abundance of life through the sacrifice of what we may want out of life. And we find that through the daily letting go of the things of this earth, that the Kingdom of Heaven is truly at Hand--and always within our reach.

[Soldier4Christ]

Forsaken and Alone

    "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46).

Alone on the cross he hanged. To lift his head and look around him would reveal to him groups of people looking on. Some were they who cried for his death. Some were they who wept for his life. The sky grew darker and his vision worsened beneath the weight of his thorny crown. And he knew in his heart that he would soon draw his last breath as the
man they called Jesus.
What went through his mind in those last moments on the cross, only he knows; all is not recorded for us. Perhaps He thought of the times he saw joy fill the eyes of one who had
just received sight, or who was lame and could now walk, or who was desperate and had now found hope. Perhaps He thought about how only recently, He had been praised in moments of a triumphal entry, only now to be spat upon and cursed. Perhaps He considered the relationships He developed with His friends, family and followers. Perhaps He thought of it all sporadically and interrupted by his need to lift to draw a
breath, or by a sudden twinge of pain shooting through His body. Even still, all was brought still within a single moment--the moment that the Father turned away leaving
Christ, for the first time, completely alone.
It was an eternity of loneliness. He had faced His oppressors, He had faced crucifixion, and now He faced everything alone.
Why did God turn away? Jesus had walked with Him daily in perfect fellowship. He heard His Father's voice and did His will. He accomplished His Father's business and had presented Himself the perfect, unblemished sacrificial Lamb that would take away the sins of the world. He knew no sin, and He glorified His Father in every moment of His life. Why did God turn away?
As we read in God's word of this moment wherein Jesus cries out, "My God, My God; why hast thou forsaken me?" it may cause us to ask some questions of our own. "How could God turn His back on Jesus?" and "What does that mean?" In the attempt to understand this event, many of us have accepted this for an answer: that He, God, simply could not look upon His Son with the sins of the world laid upon Him. It was, therefore, our sins that caused Him to withdraw His presence from Jesus. And so, because of our sin, Jesus faced the eternity of loneliness.
Our sins today still do much the same. They cause us to feel a separation from God, from others, and from even ourselves. But we can take heart because we need not feel alone anymore. Jesus placed Himself in a position to be forsaken so that we would never have to be. God turned His back on our sins placed upon His Son, so that He would not ever have to turn His back on us. In the parable of the prodigal son, the son went out from the presence of his father's house and experienced a period of pain, confusion and loneliness. Yet the arms of his father were always waiting and open to receive him back. It was simply a matter of him turning back and returning to his father's house once more. Jesus was momentarily forsaken once, and for each and everyone of us. He has made us sons of God, and provided us the way to return through His death and resurrection. It is by trusting in what Jesus has done that you need not ever be alone again. The lost can come to Him just as they are. The prodigal son can return, and all can escape the loneliness by coming in to the presence of the Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

Seeing Is Revealing

    Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God (1 Corinthians 4:5).

A new pair of glasses can certainly be an eye opening experience. Bad joke, right? Nonetheless, for anyone who has needed glasses there is quite an amazing difference in what was previously perceived, and what now is seen. The individual blades of grass are distinguishable from the once solid green mass. The lines and pores of ones own hands become suddenly intriguing, and a reflection in the mirror reveals more than we perhaps would hope once we give our eyes what is needed to see clearly.
But vision improvement is not the end of the seeing process, for there is much more to it than that. First, and most importantly, we need good lighting. For we well know that without light we will see absolutely nothing--even that which is right in front of our faces. And though we have good vision and good lighting, we must also have something to look at--something that the light will reflect off of, otherwise we may see light but sadly miss so much of what the light can do.
With the no real good lighting, good vision really does not matter as much. The reflections that are seen may well be nothing more than illusions and much may remain hidden from view. Good lighting will give us a true account of what is around us, leaving nothing hidden to those who will take time to look. But the wrong lighting will always leave us somewhat in the dark, and may even mislead us if we are not careful.
Our vision has been reborn once we come into the Light of God. It is by the Light that is Christ, that we are able to see things as they are. Yet we often have eye trouble that prevents us from seeing things in truth, even though the Light shines the same from day to day. To that we are instructed to take necessary steps to remove what is keeping us from seeing clearly, so that we may have our vision improved and so we may help others who have similar eye problems.
And this is how the Light of God is displayed in brilliance: His Light reflects in the eyes of those who steadfastly look upon Him. His Light reflects off of that which is good, such as righteous works and loving acts, and brings glory to the Light of God. For though the Light, who is Christ, is beautiful and glorious already, His beauty and glory are exceedingly magnified when allowed to penetrate the hearts of man, and add new light to the eyes of all who have come to know the Light.
One would think that we would be drawn to the Light like moths to a flame. Yet there is much that causes us to move away from the Light rather than toward Him. For although getting new glasses is a wonderful--and dare I say it, eye opening experience--it is also something that causes us to see clearly some things we would rather not. As we put on Christ and with Him, our new eyes, it is like looking at a mirror through new glasses--we see ourselves as we really are. We see the wrinkles, the blemishes and the scars. We see all the little imperfections that we have accumulated over the years, and our first impulse might be to turn and run the other way. But if we remain long enough, we may find a beauty that is certainly more than what is first seen. For though the Light reveals imperfections, it also radiates the goodness that is within and the worth we have because of the Light that has come upon us. God sees us just as we are--imperfect--and to Him we are lovely. For the Light that reveals everything about us, is the very same Light that radiates beauty in the eyes of our Maker. And He beholds us. He beholds me, and He beholds you. And as we are brought closer to the Light and given the ability to see more clearly, we discover that beauty is truly in the eye of the Beholder.