Great release is experienced by those who know that they are heaven bound. There are some who know they are saved, but there are others who live, knowing that heaven is more real than time. To those Christians, the Lord is more real than what they touch and see. The Indwelling Holy Spirit gives an assurance of salvation and opens our eyes to things that are beyond the visible. We are being prepared for heaven. Investments must be a heavenly. Those who are laying up treasures in heaven are not worried about money. They can have much and they can have little. Neither is better than the other, for they realize that He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and the wealth in every mine. There is nothing wrong with being wealthy and there is nothing wrong with investment. But in prayer, The Soldier of The Cross must be sure that he is not clinging to any of it, and that he is still praying in his daily bread. It is so easy to live as though none of the promises are true. But, they are true. No one can travel very far while carrying baggage. and, certainly no one will be taking any baggage to heaven. Make sure hands are clean and free. Lifted up in anticipation of what is to come.

I have been a pastor's wife for many, many years. In the course of those years, I have had numerous women come to me and ask me to correct my husband in various habits displayed while preaching. One of the first was a request that he preach with emotion instead of teaching a scholarly instruction resulting from intense study. I have been asked to tell my husband to cease from rattling the keys in his pocket during preaching. I have been asked to tell my husband to look people in the eye instead of looking at the back wall. I have been told in no uncertain terms that I must tell my husband to cease from ever looking at his watch. I have been told that I must tell my husband to speak more quickly. I have also been told to tell him to speak more slowly. I have been told what kind of tie he should wear. I have been told that he should not be preaching. I have been told that he should preach more. I have been asked to see if there is some way I could make my husband look more sincere when preaching. I have also been asked (with tears) to tell my husband that he must visit the house of every church member each week. I can honestly say that in being a preacher's wife for 27 years, I have never passed on a single request. Why? Because it is not my business, and most especially it is not the business of any of the women who have made the requests. And, every request or criticism has come from a woman. Soldier of The Cross, you need far more that you can ever ask for. You need anointed preaching that exceeds any description you could ever offer. How then could you possibly hope to influence any aspect of the preaching of physical presence of the man God has appointed to be the spiritual authority over you? Back off. Let the Holy Spirit have His way and in His time. As soon as you offer a suggestion, you cripple the Servant in the very area you longing to change. And, the chances are, the changes you long for are merely suited to your own preferences. The most powerful message I ever heard was offered by a man who had Multiple Sclerosis. It was almost impossible to understand him. He was curled in a ball, barely remaining in a wheel chair. It required significant effort for him to formulate even the most simple words. But, he was God's man. I do not think I understood all his words. But the Lord was there. He could not look up. He could not be clear. He could not stop jerking. He sang Victory in Jesus, and it was not in tune. But God had His hand on the preaching and it was God's business. It was tremendous. Soldier of The Cross, Do not put your hand to the falling Ark. Mind your own business. Do not improve or attempt to correct the ministry of others unless you are a pastor or an elder. Attend to your own business. Honor the Lord's appointment. The worst thing you can do is try to correct the leadership by criticism of small issues. Look up. Move on. Do it aloud!

Those who follow the Lord must follow one step at a time. "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. . ." Soldier, one of the most dangerous traps that awaits the Christian is, the longing to know what lies several steps ahead. We have not been told to lead, we have been told to follow. The flesh always wants to make things more complicated. The flesh always wants to be in control. the flesh always wants to have the experience of winning. Consider The Cross. Consider The One Who gave His Life as Ransom for Many. Consider The One Who is preparing a Place for you. Consider His Love for you. One step at a time. Obedience has nothing to loose.

When a loved one dies, there is a necessary grieving process. It is not appropriate to tell the one who left behind that he or she should not be suffering a loss. It does not help to say all the right things. That is why the Proverb says that we should grieve with those who grieve, and weep with those who weep. Death is a confrontation. It is never easy. And it leaves a vacuum. In is not possible to live, feel and think as though it never happened. For we who have Hope, the pain is sweet. For those who have no hope, it is a yawning abyss. Write a letter or make a call. Offer to pray for comfort. Offer to be available. Share verses of comfort, not verses of correction. Pray privately for the grieving one - aloud.

As a Soldier of The Cross, you must be available to give of yourself in such a way that Jesus can be seen. By that, I mean that He has asked that we attend to the poor, the sick, the elderly, the shut-in, the dying, and the mentally ill. We are also asked to minister to those who are in prison and those who are simply lost. Soldier of The Cross, there is no lack of work. I{t seems that we are so busy, but there is always time to do something. There is always time to attend to the need that is directly before you. I have often found that it might be necessary to travel to another country just to encourage someone who is discouraged. It might be necessary to give your last dime to someone who is in desperate need. You may be led to take the hand of someone who is ill or dying. Do it. Set aside your own self-protection and step out on His Commandments and His Promises. Soldier, there is simply nothing else. This life is soon over. Make sure your investments are eternal.

Soldier, you must put your weight on His Promises. There is simply nothing else. And, unless He is nonexistent or liar, He has a spectacular frontier of blessing for the Soldier who is willing to follow Him. Who is willing? Who believes? In whose life can He be seen? Yours?

Soldier of The Cross, what are the finer things? Are they the things that the world considers to be important, or are they the things that He says should be at the to of your list? The finer things do not include napkin rings and tapered candles. God's list includes things like the eagerness to serve no matter what. The availability to love the unlovely. Your decision to ignore public opinion. Soldier, are you willing do die for Him? This is a question that you must consider in prayer. What is your limit? If a limit exists, it is indicative of a serious spiritual problem. Here is the issue: there is nothing but God's Word. There is no one but the Lord. I know it and you know it. If that is true, then we must obey, for there is no other way!!

Soldier of The Cross, the asking of why must come to an end. We are not equipped to understand, and God has made it clear in His Word. That is why we are to know Him by faith. If we were able, or allowed to understand why, there would be no need of faith. Is there a piercing pressure to do something? To find the reason? To deal with the issue? What does God's Word say? Soldier, your job is to serve. | To love. To obey. To reveal Jesus. To lay down your life for the Brethren. To run the race. To Love God. Is there anything else?

The indwelling Holy Spirit empowers the believer in many areas. He give power to obey. He gives power to move. Power to stand still. power to speak. Power to remain silent. He enables the Soldier of The Cross to lay his life down for the Brethren. He sheds light on the situations. The list is endless. One of the grandest provisions for the Christian is the Power to follow the Lord when everything around is intended to distract. It is a supernatural response to the Lord that is not to be compared to even the most extraordinary human concentration . It is simple. Because He said. I believe it. I take hold of it. I put all my weight on it. I stop weighing and analyzing the things I see, and I stand on the Promises. But it is supernatural and it is the result of specific prayer. Prayer that gives the situation over to the Lord. Prayer that chooses His Word. Prayer that puts aside personal agenda. Prayer that recognizes His Sovereignty. Prayer that agrees with Him in all areas. Allow the Indwelling Holy Spirit to release this supernatural power in your life. Agree with God.

Soldier of The Cross, have you decided what your life is about? It must be based on God's Word. He Himself has said that those who respond to His call must set their faces "like flint". Not looking either to the left or to the right. This is possible when there is prayer. This is possible when there is a determination to exalt His Word above obvious circumstances. This is possible when the Servant determines that he must pursue Love. This is possible when the Body of Christ is put in the foreground of Service. This is possible when the Servant is determined to be a Living Sacrifice. Soldier, put your Treasure in Heaven. No where else. Tell Him. Tell Him today. Aloud.