Promises of God That Require Perseverance

"You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised."
                                                                Hebrews 10:36




One of the ministries that I am blessed to serve in is a healing group that studies the Bible related to a particular area of brokenness that women need, and have often struggled underneath the weight of, for years and even decades. In the majority of cases these women are Christian women who love God and yet have found that certain promises of God have remained elusive to them despite their efforts to draw close to Him. By the time that most of these women reach out to us, they have typically experienced much heartache and have decided that this brokenness is keeping them from the best that God has for their lives. It is in this quest for more of God that the decision is finally made to overcome the barriers that have held them back.

One of the things that I have learned in this study is that there are two types of perseverance in which we can be involved: 1. There is a passive perseverance that simply allows us to survive, and 2. There is an active perseverance that will allow us to thrive. And, it is in thriving that God desires for each of us and that Jesus died for us to have. Both of these methods require energy and endurance and yet only the active perseverance will ultimately lead to victory in our lives and the fulfillment of all that God has promised to us.

Merriam-Webster defines perseverance as "continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition: the action or condition or an instance of persevering: steadfastness; to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counter influences, opposition, or discouragement." What this definition says to me is that to truly persevere, it must be an intentional, active decision that continues until we see the promises of God come to fruition in our lives. Endurance measures our stamina or persistence while perseverance continues to act without regard to discouragement, opposition, or previous failure.

It is a passive perseverance that leads to discouragement, deception, and failure. Whereas, an active perseverance leads us to victory and the fulfillment of all of God's promises to us. Just to be clear, if the waiting time is extended for a long period of time, it is possible to vacillate between a passive and an active approach. Our ultimate goal, however, is to continue to grow in our faith and not vacillate between the two.

Just think about the people in the Bible who waited for extended period of times for the fulfillment of God"s promises:
                          Abraham and Sarah waited 24 years to have the baby God promised them

                          Moses waited 40 years in the desert to help emancipate his people

                          Noah waited 100 years while he was building the ark

                          Joseph waited 13 years in Egypt before God promoted him

                          David waited 13 long, difficult years being pursued by Saul before he
                          became King


All of these people continued to believe the promises that God had given to them while they waited. Which, honestly, is a very hard thing to do, especially living in a "microwave" society. Sarah exemplifies what not to do while we wait and that is to try to take things into our own hands instead of waiting for God to act on our behalf. Not trusting God to move or not trusting in His timing only leads to much additional angst and heartache and will never shorten the length of time in which we wait.

Perseverance requires patience. And, patience is what gives us the power to wait until we finally see the outcome. Patience is a powerful fruit of the Holy Spirit and is not utilized very often in our culture today. (Full disclosure: I absolutely hate waiting but am trying to improve in this area!) And, even worse yet, it is tribulation that cultivates this much needed fruit of the Spirit.

All of this then begs the question: How do we actively persevere according to the Word of God?

                      1.Acknowledge all your needs before God. Examples are: strength, courage, etc.

                      2.Continue to wait before Him and draw closer to Him while you wait.

                      3. Tell God you still believe His promises for your life. Speak each one out loud.

This ACT acronym is how we continue to be steadfast despite any disappointments we may face while we wait. In God's perfect timing, we will see the fulfillment of His promises and we will walk in victory, even in the areas where the enemy thought he had defeated us. God desires our victories even more than we do because He is the Perfect Father who loves us beyond all measure.

Even in the hardest fought battles, remember that the opposition is also being used by God to  prepare us for what lies ahead. When David was being pursued by Saul, the Bible tells us that "The  war between the house of Saul and the house of David was very long. David grew stronger and stronger and Saul grew weaker and weaker" (2 Samuel 3:1). Even in this battle though, there was certainly a time lapse where David had no idea that Saul was getting weaker and weaker. This was just something that David had to trust God and know that, in the end, things would work out the way they were supposed to.

Even fiery trials (1 Peter 4:12) are a tool that is used by God to burn up the things within us that will ultimately hurt us in our lives and also provides an ash that is fertile soil for the good things of God to grow. By their very nature, fiery trials are unexpected and frightening, but even in that, God can wipe out the fears that taunt us. Absolutely everything that we experience will ultimately be used for good in the capable hands of our Creator when we cooperate with His purposes and persist in them.

So, as we have now entered into a New Year and a new decade and era, it is my belief that refreshing and restoration are now upon us. Not only are they upon us, but I also believe that God is opening our eyes spiritually to see them and to know that even when it did not look like things were moving on our behalf that, indeed, they actually were. We may not have noticed that we were getting stronger and we may not have noticed that our enemy was getting weaker, but that still does not negate the truth of what God has been doing. This is the time and the season that we will see the fulfillment of many promises that we have long waited for!

     "You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance."
                                                    Psalm 65:11

Abundant Love That Leads To Afflictions

"The greater are our affections the deeper are our afflictions, and the more we love the more we have to weep."
                                                           J.C. Ryle




None of us are immune to the pain and suffering in this world. In fact, the more deeply we experience life emotionally, the more afflictions will surface throughout our life's journey. We never realize this truth more poignantly than when we bury a loved one. This has been my journey over the past few months as my terminally ill Mom experienced the phases of dying and then ultimately went home to be with the Lord.

It is so interesting to me how we are wired as people to learn the most important truths in the valley of suffering. Perhaps this is because we are more desperate during these times to find meaning in deeper and more significant ways. Or, perhaps, when our hearts are shattered the most, we lay down our defenses and are more open to receiving whatever it is that God has for us in this place. I think this is how our tears mingle with joy in the most unexpected ways and we begin to learn that pain is not something to be avoided, but, rather, an experience to embrace, especially when our Savior is right there in the midst of it.

This whole past year has provided many opportunities in my life to unravel the mystery of just how God allows sorrow to shape us for the destiny He has prepared for us. It appears to us in many shapes and forms and somehow is uniquely designed with specificity for our individual lives. Within the shadow of sorrow lies a sequence of events that propel us to face our greatest fears and ultimately make the decision of whether we will trust God fully with every crevice in our hearts and minds or whether we will allow fear, bitterness, and disappointment to drive the train of our existence.

My Mom modeled this very well to me. About seven years ago, at the beginning of Mom's diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus (excess fluid on the brain), Mom received a prophecy that God was going to heal her of her disease. From that point forward, everyday she believed that this was the day that God would heal her body. This continued day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year. She never stopped believing. And, from my perspective, she could not have left a better or more meaningful legacy than this.

As Mom's body continued to give way to the physical limitations of her disease, she continued to boldly proclaim that God was going to heal her. There were many people and physicians that doubted her statements, but she never did. And, in the end, when our family got hospice involved in her care, she then realized that God was going to heal her by bringing her home eternally. While God's methodology differed from what Mom initially believed would happen, she receive the grace that God had apportioned for her and slipped away peacefully in Jesus' loving arms.

At first glance, it could be perceived that the prophecy she received had not been fulfilled. But, if we look deeper than the surface, we realize that God actually answered her prayers in far greater measures than she was even expecting. While the truest blessings may appear in disguise, I'm sure if I were able to ask her today if she would rather be healed and on this earth or healed in the presence of the Lord that she would hands-down choose the latter. I'm sure she would not trade the gift that God gave to her for anything in this world.

When we see life through the lens of faith, we realize that God's plans are always greater than our own. Undoubtedly, we all have moments when things do not make sense to us in the natural, but if we persevere, we will one day see things through God's perspective and align our vision for life with His. And His plans are far better than anything we could ever conceive.

For me, 2019 was one of the most difficult years of my life, but it was also one of the most beautiful years of my life. I was privileged to see beauty in things that no one on this planet would define as beautiful. I got to stand in the gap observing the most sacred of places in my Mom's life. As I stood on the precipice between life and death and life, I got to catch a glimpse of heaven like I have never seen it before. And I know with certainty that it is far more glorious than anything our English vocabulary could ever describe.

Many people I know have had a very difficult year in 2019. There are a lot of people who have more questions than answers on things that have happened in their lives. If you are one of these, may I just say to you that it is because you love deeply that you have been afflicted. Do not let this be a deterrent to you to continue to love deeply. For it is in the depth of this love that you will experience the love of Christ like you never have before. He will meet you in the sacred place of your pain and that is a joy that is incomparable to anything we can experience in the natural realm.

This then gives us the confidence of really knowing the heart of God for us and the ability and willingness to then share that same love of God with others. As the days on planet earth continue to escalate in intensity, may we never lose our faith our our love for others. These are the true gifts that we are created to share and give to others.

                                May God Abundantly Bless This New Year!!!

Twas The Night Before Christmas (a slight adaptation)

                              Twas the night before Christmas and all through the town

                              Many cattle and sheep were stirring, looking all around.

                             The manger was waiting, as the earth silenced its noise

                             They were waiting for their Savior in the form of a baby boy.


                              While many were nestled all snug in their beds,

                             There were a few shepherds and wisemen who imagined what would lie ahead.

                             Mary was contracting, as Joseph paced around the stable
                        
                             Both of their minds were racing with questions, but knowing that God was able.


                             Suddenly, Mary experienced her very last labor pain

                            And looked into the  beautiful face that would ultimately rule and reign.

                            How could this be? And with an infant so small?
    
                            That this tiny child would grow up and be the Savior to all.

       
                            There was a brilliant star that beamed its radiance, bright in the sky

                            And led the Magi to Bethlehem to honor this sacred new life.

                            In a moment, the world as they knew it had definitely changed,

                            And nothing on this planet would ever be the same.


                            The birth of our Lord and Savior that is now known as Jesus,

                            Arrived in this world without any fanfare or fuss.

                            For an event so miraculous as this certainly was, both then and now,

                            It would seem there would be a party, or parade, but there was none.


                            Jesus came to this world in the humblest of ways, lowly and meek.

                            To model for us that actions are much louder than the words we speak.

                            He was motivated by love for people like you and like me

                            And he laid the foundation for us to live together with Him for all eternity.


                            So, today we remember all that Jesus came to our earth to do

                            And recognize that we have already received the most wonderful gift of all.

                            If you draw nigh unto Him, He will definitely draw nigh unto you,

                            Because He has promised this to us and it is what He came to earth to do.


                            The point was to obliterate the chasm that occurred between humanity and God,

                            And one day He will return again in power, with a mighty rod.

                            We no longer have to be separated from God because of sin.

                            Jesus remedied this forever when He died and rose again.


                           So as we celebrate the birth and life of Jesus during this blessed season,

                           May we remember that He is the Lord of all and the purpose and the reason

                           That we join together to bring to Him the gifts of worship and praise

                           And remember His sacrifices for us for all of our days.


                           May we feel His presence this year like never before

                           And may we rejoice that, in Him, we will all live forevermore.

                           Through Jesus, we now have hope and futures that are bright,

                           And we can say confidently that the first Christmas Eve was the best of all nights!


                                So, Merry Christmas to All and to all a Good Night!


                             

                            

                            


                            

                            

From Thy Bounty

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
                                                           James 1:17




As the end of 2019 is quickly approaching and Thanksgiving day is now upon us, I pause to reflect on the events of this past year. For us, 2019 has been a year that has been extremely difficult for many reasons. In fact, it may have been our most difficult year yet. We have already buried one close family member and just placed another close family member in hospice. Additionally, we have traversed major upheavals in many other areas of our lives. At times, it has felt like there was no security or comfort to be found on this earth. And, then again, maybe that's the very point.

Through it all, I have discovered some of the sweetest blessings that I have ever known. I have experienced firsthand how "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted [and that] He saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18). We have witnessed just how tender His daily mercies really can be and that He always provides exactly what we need when we need it. He has shown His love to us at unexpected times and in unexpected ways and through unexpected people, all the while letting us know with certainty that every goodness was showered directly from His loving hands.

We have also seen how when we are weak that He really is strong through us and that His grace is sufficient for whatever we may face in this life (2 Corinthians 12:9-11). On the days when we awoke and doubted the ability to face more unknown circumstances, Jesus clearly filled us with whatever strength, or peace, or joy, that was required. Not once did He ever let us down. He never chastised us for our limitations. Instead, He graciously took us by the hand and gave us clarity in how to handle each task we faced before us.

Additionally, God has brought some extremely precious people to us in the midst of our pain. Whether they came with a smile, or a prayer, or a needed hug, time and again, we have witnessed the genuine hearts of loving people that just happened to be at the exact right place at the exact right time. Are these mere coincidences? Certainly not!

He also showered us with unexpected joys and blessings. He gave us a beautiful new grandson in October that is precious beyond words. There is nothing like a newborn snuggle to eradicate any difficult circumstance that may come our way. Daily, this baby brings a smile to our faces and a joy to our hearts that supersedes every flaming dart hurled in our direction. And, there are too many other blessings that have happened to mention in a short blog.

Through it all, we have realized that the depth of God's bounty is never-ending. None of us will ever exhaust His resources or run out of His supply. He really is the Fountain of Life, the air that we breathe, and the giver of all good things (Acts 17:25). He is kind and generous and loves to care for the children He created and adores.

Merriam-Webster defines bounty as "something that is given generously; liberality in giving; yield, especially of a crop; and a reward, premium, or subsidy". And, daily, God lavishes us from His bounty. Daily, His tender mercies towards us are new (Lamentations 3:23).

One of the greatest lessons I have learned from our experiences this year is that we really are just passing through this earth. This cannot, nor will not, be our permanent home. We have a far more glorious home to look forward to in the presence of our Lord and never again will any of us who are in Christ have to face sorrow, or pain, or loss, or suffering, or death. This truly will be the greatest gift we have ever or will ever receive.

The next important lesson I have learned came from a saying that I saw on a coffee mug. It stated, "Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful." Even in the midst of hard challenges, we still can have eyes to see the beautiful sunrise or the heart to appreciate a gentle touch. There is so much goodness to be found when we realize that we really deserve no good things and yet God gifts us everyday with so many beautiful and perfect gifts.

The third important lesson that I have really learned how to do is to "give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Granted, I am not giving thanks for all things because some things are really, really hard. However, throughout each day, there are always some things we truly can be thankful for and when we recognize God's sovereign hand in all things, it is much easier to give Him thanks for this.

So, if this Thanksgiving finds you in a place of suffering or mourning, please remember that God is near to you. He loves you beyond anything that you can fathom and He will strengthen you each and every day. If you turn to Him, His grace will give you everything you need. Also remember that daily He showers you with tender mercies and blessings in the midst of your circumstances. While our challenges and circumstances shift and change, God never does change. He is always good and always merciful to us and His bounty never runs dry.

And, if this has been a good year for you, remember that it is from His bounty that you have also been blessed. As the turkey is carved, remember how God created those turkeys for our enjoyment. When you look at the people around your table, remember He has blessed you with both friends and family. And, when you offer Him your Thanksgiving prayer, enumerate each blessing that He has given and give thanks with your whole heart.

Both the good and the difficult are from His bounty. His hand is upon them all. None are ever intended to harm us or hurt us. Instead, they are all given through the loving hands of a loving Father who both sees our potential and our destiny and is determined to equip us to fulfill our callings on this earth and in the life to come. In Christ, there is a joy to come that will instantaneously erase every sorrow in the twinkling of an eye and reveal to us just how generous that our God really is!

So, remember to thank God for His generosity. Remember to thank Him for His goodness. Remember to thank Him for His tender mercies and the abundance of His grace. Remember to thank Him for the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf. Thank Him for the strength that the Holy Spirit gives to us each day and that His Bounty continues to flow from now until eternity!


   MAY EACH OF YOU HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING, FILLED WITH THE              
                                         PRESENCE OF JESUS!!!!!!!!!

The Ultimate Garden

                "Look deep into nature... and you will understand everything better."
                                                  Albert Einstein




Once upon a time, in a land far away, stood a garden named Eden that was arrayed in the most glorious fashion. The lilies were white and sparkling and the roses beamed brightly in the deepest of crimson colors. Dew glistened on every flower and tree in such a way that you could almost see yourself in the greenery as the sun reflected off of them in a way that was completely breathtaking. The detail of every plant and piece of fruit looked like it had been crafted by the most skilled of artisans and the backdrop looked like a mosaic of every beautiful color that was ever created. It was a garden that lacked no good thing and there was not a thorn or thistle to be found.

There was a man and a woman who lived in this garden, along with the Artisan that had created every beautiful detail of it. This couple was happy and complete and they also lacked no good thing. The Artisan had given them one stipulation, however, and that was that they were not to eat of one of the trees that the Artisan had named "The tree of good and evil".

Life was perfect in this idyllic place until one day a serpent crawled up to the woman and convinced her that the Artisan was trying to keep them from the best experience of all. The woman believed the serpent and the man did nothing to stop the travesty that was about to occur. She carefully took a bite and then this couple's world came crashing down around them.

The couple was evicted from their beautiful garden and curses began to fill the earth as a result of their rebellion. Work became difficult and thorns and thistles began to sprout up everywhere. When the woman delivered her children, intense pain and agony consumed her body, which was an experience she had never had before. In an instant, their world was filled with darkness and suffering and even death. The beautiful plants and trees that had once lived forever turned brown and decay set in. Their minds reeled as to what they had done and they ran and hid from the Artisan.

Fast forward several hundreds of years. There was a man named Jesus who was the Son of the Artisan and He was standing in a different garden, called Gethsemane. Jesus was in this garden with some of His followers and He began to pray. The scenery that He viewed was rows of olive trees which only served as reminders to Him of the pressing He would imminently  endure. He knew that the pressing would be so great that His very life would soon be taken from Him. His distress was so intense that He began to sweat drops of blood. His blood drops reminded Him of the price that must be paid because of what the first man and woman did within their garden.

Jesus asked His followers to help Him watch and to pray so that they would not fall into temptation. They all fell asleep, however, and Jesus was left alone in the presence of the Artisan. At first, Jesus asked the Artisan to take away His burden but then the Artisan reminded Jesus of a better garden that would one day come as a result of His obedience. When Jesus surrendered His will completely once again to the Artisan, the garden of Gethsemane got even uglier than it was before.

Jesus glanced up to look his betrayer, Judas Iscariot, in the eyes. Judas glanced down but then looked around to the soldiers, Pharisees, high priests and others who had marched in with him to arrest Jesus.
There was an unwanted kiss and a follower of Jesus who fell into temptation by attacking a man named Malchus and many unbelieving hearts as they watched Jesus perform yet another miracle. Jesus was arrested and dragged out of the garden which means "oil press".

That very night, Jesus was interrogated, and beaten, and mocked, and spit upon He was found guilty. After this mock trial before the Sanhedrin, Jesus was sentenced to death and handed over to Pontius Pilate the next morning for execution. Pilate acquiesced to the pressure and Jesus was crucified that very day.

John tells us, "At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid" (John 19:41). Both Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus wrapped Jesus' body and prepared it according to Jewish burial customs. Today, in Israel, this place is called the Garden Tomb and is located just outside the old city walls of Jerusalem.

On the third day, Jesus was resurrected and reunited with with His body that is now incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:50-55). This is how Jesus could actually show His wounds to Thomas (John 20:27-28). And, it is also a picture to us as believers of what is also to happen to us when we die. Our spirits will instantly go to heaven to be with the Lord and then when Jesus comes to the earth, we, too, will be reunited with a new incorruptible body that will live forever.

Because Jesus was willing to go to both the garden of Gethsemane and the Garden tomb (death and resurrection), those of us who are in Christ have the perfect garden that we can look forward to. In Paradise, the Artisan (God) will one day restore the perfection of the Garden of Eden but this time it will be even better. It will be just as meticulously crafted for beauty and serenity as the first one was but this time both the Artisan and Jesus will physically dwell among us. Their glory and Spirit will fill the garden of Paradise and no other light will be needed because Their light will radiate throughout the world.

So, today, if you prick your finger on one of this earth's many thorns or thistles or if your body or soul is filled with indescribable pain, remember, there is coming soon a garden that will be devoid of all these things. The Bible tells us that in this garden, the Artisan "will wipe away every tear from [our] eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things [will] have passed away" (Revelation 21:4). This will be the Ultimate Garden, the creme de la creme of God's Masterpiece, and for those of us who are found in Christ, there really will be a happily ever after!


"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will se His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever."
                                                   Revelation 22:1-5

Standing On The Promises

                                                 "Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
                                                  through eternal ages let His praises ring;
                                                  glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
                                                  standing on the promises of God.
           
                                                  Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
                                                  when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
                                                  by the Living Word of God I shall prevail,
                                                  standing on the promises of God.

                                                 Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord
                                                 bound to Him eternally by love's strong cord,
                                                 overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword, 
                                                 standing on the promises of God.

                                                 Refrain:
                                                 Standing, standing,
                                                 standing on the promises of God my Savior;
                                                 standing, standing,
                                                 I'm standing on the promises of God.

                                                Standing on the promises I cannot fail,
                                                listening every moment to the Spirit's call
                                                resting in my Savior as my all in all,
                                                standing on the promises of God."

                                                    Standing On The Promises Hymn
                                                            Russell Kelso Carter
                                                                         1886




At the time when Russell Kelso Carter penned this well known hymn, he was also teaching at a military academy in Pennsylvania. Many have said that this military academy affected the lyrics of this hymn and that it is taken from the passage in Ephesians that says, "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place" (Ephesians 6:14) and from the passage in 2 Samuel that says "As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is tried; He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him" (2 Samuel 22:31).

We are first equipped with the armor of God and then it is time to take our stance. In the Christian faith, it is our attitude that determines the stand we take. And, our attitude emerges by our level of faith. If I have doubts in God's Word as to whether He is really on my side or whether He is really fighting my battles, I will be slouch in my stance. If, however, I stand on God's Word and really believe the truth of His Word, I can lean forward in confidence that no matter what the enemy hurls my way it is he that is going down and not me.

This past week I listened to a sermon by David Jeremiah and he was teaching about what to do when life throws you a difficult curve ball (or several of them). He said that we can either get mad at God or we can lay down in discouragement because it looks like evil is winning and will ultimately prevail. Or, we can determine in our hearts that we will be the absolute best student in the midst of our circumstances that we can be.

After hearing this, I have meditated on how to be the best student I can be. A few thoughts came to mind:
               1. I can study what God's Words says about my circumstances
               2. I can write down the promises that God is speaking to my heart
               3. I can declare His Word daily until I see change
               4. I can discard every lie from the enemy that says something contrary to God's Word

Many of us would prefer not to believe that standing on the promises of God is really a battle. And, yet it is. His promises are always right, and good, and true, but we also have an enemy that wants to steal them from us at every turn. Satan salivates at the thought of stealing victories from God's children. He lives to make us as weak and ineffective as he possibly can.

The verse in 2 Samuel (written above) tells us that the very Word of God will be tried. The word tried that is used means "refined like pure gold, with no taint of earthly dross". This means that God's Word is perfect and pure and completely faithful. No matter how much resistance comes against it, it will always remain pure. God knows this to be true and sometimes He allows us to sneak a peek at this truth, as well.

These are the times in our lives that can get somewhat uncomfortable. It is the fork in the road where the truth of God's Word stands face to face with the ugliness of our circumstances. We are being stretched and challenged in our faith and we have to choose which we will believe? Will we believe what we see with our eyes along with the sinister whispers of the evil one, or will we stand on God's Word until the end and believe in the inerrancy of what God has said?

Doubts and fears whirl loudly around us and our deepest desire is to try to maintain some semblance of control in what is happening. And yet, we are not in control. We do not know better than God does, even when His plan involves intense pain and suffering. He is still good, and kind, and merciful. His Word is still true.

Jesus calls us unto Himself so that we can rest. He understands the chaos and turbulence that afflicts our world and He knows that it is only when our ears are leaning upon His chest, listening to His very heartbeat, that we can find the true comfort that we need. It is in His presence that we do not need a military stance or additional protection because we will never find a safer place.

It is in the midst of this world that we do need to be armored up and fighting offensively with the Word of God. May I encourage you today, dear friend, to search in God's Word the promises that pertain to your circumstances and declare them over your life. Hold onto them as a sacred treasure and believe in your heart that even though God's Word may be being tested in your life today, there is zero chance that it will fail if you hold onto your faith. Adjust your stance and look the enemy in his beady little eyes and declare to him that he is already defeated. This is how we stand on the promises of God and shout our victory!!!

         "Faith... involves trusting in the future promises of God and waiting for their fulfillment."
                                                          R. C Sproul

Losing Our Saltiness

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."
                                                      Matthew 5:13




In the land of Judea, there is a place called the Valley of Salt (or Jebel Usdum). In this valley, there is a precipice on this mountain that is made up of salt that is about 12 feet in length that continually has some erosion. When you take a piece of salt from this area, you find that this salt has lost its saltiness because it is continually exposed to the elements of rain, sun, and air. Even though it looks like salt, it has no savor, and more identifies with nature than with the inner part of the rock that is solid and salty.

Interestingly, this is the place in the Bible where David killed 18,000 Ammonites (2 Samuel 8:13) on the south of the Dead Sea. Enemies from all sides had joined forces with the Ammonites, including the Syrians, and the Edomites. And yet, with God, these destructive forces were able to be obliterated. Their enemies from the north, south, east, and west were destroyed and David was able to complete what Saul had failed to do. In this, the Bible tells us that the victory was so outstanding that David even made a name for himself.

Because David believed the promises of God, he was a warrior for the things of God. This means that he fought against everything that opposed God and his precepts, and he fought for the things that were important to God. Not only did David defeat the enemies of Israel, but he also destroyed the idols of gold from the enemies. The vessels of gold, however, were dedicated to God for the temple that Solomon would one day build. In other words, David was able to discern what people and things stood against his God and which people and things were dedicated to Him.

In the Bible, there are many references of salt. It is used to season, and purify, and preserve. It is also used for payment and as an asset of wealth. To share salt with another meant to receive hospitality and sustenance from another. God also required that the Hebrews use salt in their religious ceremonies. It was to be added to every grain offering in every ceremony.Elisha healed the bitter waters of Jericho by adding salt to them. God even made a Salt Covenant with David, meaning that it was a covenant that could never be broken.

There are also negative implications when it comes to salt. Abimilech used salt to ruin the soil of his enemy so that the soil would remain barren. Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt when she disobeyed God's commands and turned around to see what was happening in Sodom and Gommarah.

Symbolically, salt is used in the Bible to signify usefulness, value, purification, fidelity, durability, loyalty, and permanence. As in Abimilech's case, salt is symbolic of retribution. And, in the case of Lot's wife, it is used as a symbol of God's judgment.

A salt that loses its saltiness is a salt that is contaminated with other minerals and therefore causes a blandness or an unpleasant taste. This occurs when we abandon the Gospel and more specifically when we adulterate it with things that are not from God. The apostle, Mark, uses salt to explain how terrible the judgment will be in eternity when we do this (Mark 9:49). And, in the passage above, Jesus tells us that this who contaminate the Gospel are not good for anything except to be trampled underfoot.

My greatest concern for our nation today is not all the ungodliness we see everywhere (although I do hate it). It is not in how divided we are as a people (although I hate that, too). It is not even in how lost we are as a society (really hate). Instead, my greatest concern today is in how the Gospel is being contaminated and down-played as being antiquated and no longer relevant.

Divisive directives are both being added and subtracted from what God has shown us is right in His Word.  We are subverting the purity of the Gospel with perversion and violence and we are now reeling in the wake of these decisions. We now have a whole generation (for the first time) who basically do not know God or even have an understanding of what genuine faith is. In fact, the number of non-believers in the millennial group has quadrupled in the last 30 years.

Many that are within the church do not really know or understand what God's Word says. In today's society especially, attending church once a week will never be enough to sustain us when the trajectory of paganism continues to escalate. We have to be in the Word and we must be equipped to give a defense of what we believe and in Whom we believe.

We must, like David did, believe the promises of God and become a warrior for the things of God. In doing so, it is imperative to know what things we are to fight for and what things we are to fight against. So many are confused and deceived in this area. And this confusion and deception will continue to increase if we are not solidly standing on God's Word alone.

If salt in the Bible symbolizes: usefulness, value, purification, fidelity, durability, loyalty, and permanence, we must ask ourselves if these truths apply to our own lives, as well. If close friends and family were to describe your best attributes, would these words be used to describe your life? If you are unsure, ask three people who are the closest to you. Then, ask God to reveal to you both your strengths and the areas of your life that need to become more salty.

More than ever today, the Church needs savor. Too many in it have become exposed to wind, sun, and rain and can no longer really identify with the inner Rock inside, which is found in the person of Jesus. My prayer is that these dry bones will once again hear the Word of the Lord, receive His breath, and live (Ezekiel 37:4-5). Instead of forever losing our saltiness, we will be revived and become a large, vast army of the Lord prepared and ready to do His bidding!


   *Only God Can Preserve Our Land, And Chances Are That He Will Do It With Salt.*