The natural gifts and the spiritual gifts are entirely separate.

     A speaker may have a tremendous oratorical ability and may be able to stir the masses.  But when it comes to the spiritually gifted,  they are appointed by the Lord and only they can move the heart of the Blood-bought believer.  The speaker may stutter or shuffle or lack training.  The words may be simple.  The power does not come from the ability, but from the speaker's availability as a lightening rod for the voice of God.

     I have heard many fine singers.  The most moving singing I have ever heard was by a man with multiple scleroses, bent and twisted in his wheel chair.  He was difficult to understand.  He sang "Victory in Jesus" and I was touched beyond words.  Not because of his handicap, but because of the depth of his agreement with God.

     Soldier of The Cross, shake loose from self-consciousness.  Stop reviewing your service and words as though evaluating a performance. 

     He has asked you to be a living sacrifice, and as such, you may not lie on the altar holding up a mirror.

     We move on.  We welcome correction.  We are servants of the Loving God.  May He use us as He wills?

     Tell Him.
     Alone and aloud.   

     I have never known an effective missionary to be a fussy eater.

     Children must be trained to eat what is put before them.  A child's world is tiny and he will test at every turn.  When something is distasteful, of course, he will reject it.  Although we know that "foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child", it is too easy to forget that "The rod of discipline will remove it far from him." (Proverbs 22:15)  This does not always mean corporal punishment, but discipline.

      While I have never been an advocate of the "Clean Plate Club", it is essential that children partake of more than the the familiar or favorite.  Things must be introduced and eaten, even in tiny amounts. And eaten without making a face.

     The training I received as a child has gotten me through many situations that have nothing to do with food.   Firstly, the family meals are times that should be about one another.  Courtesy should rule, and no one should be allowed to complain. 

     As a child, mealtime meant, singing together and finding out what each had done during the day.  Friday nights were the nights when something bizarre would always appear on the table and I had to eat five bites.  I often "lingered" for a long time. 

     For little ones, it is a wonderful opportunity to learn to stretch - to do things that are hard and possibly even distasteful. 

     Our children must learn not to be self-centered.  It is not natural and has to be taught.  A child who is trained in graciousness becomes an adult who is aware of others, available for others and, if filled with the Lord, puts other before himself.

     It isn't about food, it is about one of the primary things in the world of a child.

     How does our Heavenly Father deal with us? According to what is best for us and according to what will prepare us for heaven.

     Determine to raise Soldiers of The Cross.

     The Lord is always available to reveal Himself.

     In the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal, Elijah was sure God would answer.  He had a history of experience with God and he knew God was watching, was listening to his prayer and would send the fire.

     Then, the fire fell from heaven:        
           ^"At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and that I have done all these things at Your word.
           Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You, the Lord, are God, and have turned their hearts back [to You].
           Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and also licked up the water that was in the trench.
           When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and they said, The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!

                                I Kings 18: 36-39 (Amplified Bible)

     The work of the Lord is marked by the requests of His people in prayer and His faithful response.  The story is so familiar to us that it is easy to overlook the security Elijah had in God.  The power of the fire was more than able to burn the meant to the extent that it licked up all of the water.

     Today, God's fire is still a consuming fire.  When His Own pray in agreement with His Word, He will send the flames of heaven to reveal who He is. 

     Soldier of The Cross, Elijah was just one person.  One person who knew God.  One person who was willing to represent Him. 

     There is no mistaking God's work and His Presence.  When prayer makes way for the Lord, His majestic fire descends upon the hearts of men and He is revealed.

     Always.       

     Lord, there is none but Thee.

     The enemy is always projecting something, but, your reality is more than any thing else. 

     So Lord, I give myself to you for anything and everything.  I agree with you.  I embrace every Word of Yours.  As I stand before you, I declare you it is my heart's desire that you do anything needed to bring about your likeness in me.

     My Lord and my God.

     One of the highest forms of worship is the thrill of fellowship that comes about when meeting those who are in love with the Lord.

     Many are in love with Christianity.  Others with activity.  Others with the culture.

     Those who love the Lord are like Him and filled with Him.  Heaven's sparks are given off when contact is made.

     Being in love with the Lord is more than being attracted to Him.  It means having gone through some tough times and having agreed with Him in the worst of it.  It means knowing that His way is best even when not as comfortable as your way.

     It means submitting to all that He is and all that He wants.

     Water seeks its own level and fellowship is no exception.

     The Soldier of the Cross is not allowed to be offended.

     It is not about being thick-skinned. It is about agreeing with God, and allowing Him to do a deep work that brings about His own likeness. 

     Believes are offended when there is some bruise, scar or pride issue, all of which must be taken to Him in prayer.  The offended one does not realize that in reality he is being held by his own reaction.    He is looking at the offender and blaming that person for his own discomfort.

     When the door is opened to the Lord and He is allowed to come in and sup with the Christian, there is a healing that diminishes the unhealthy place.  At the same time there is Light to see what is really happening.

     We are not squishy or numb, but we are supernaturally enabled to enjoy Him, serve and love without missing a beat.

     Why should I waste time fuming about something someone has said or done?  What about "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" ?

     There is no time for wound-licking, and no Bible verse to back it up.

     Take the matter to the Lord and agree with Him.
     Aloud.

     Have you read Amy Carmichael's "If" book?

     What about Elisabeth Elliot's  "Through Gates of Splendor" or "A Chance to Die?  Or Helen Roseveare's "Though Lions Roar"?  How about Darlene Deibler Rose's "Evidence Not Seen"?  The remarkable books by Pauline Hamilton?  Patricia St. John is a must-read.

     I could list a hundred more. 

     He gives a song in the night.  How can that be?  Why?

     Because He does not just meet the need.  He is far more than the need.  He is always more than enough.

     Soldier of The Cross,  understand that He has far more in mind than just getting you through the the crisis.  He is the Lover of Your Soul and loves you enough to prepare you to be with Him for all eternity.

     Are you available?

     Lord Jesus, I stand before you and by faith declare to you that I will agree with you in the matter that is far too great for me. 
     I will listen for you.
     I will watch for you.
     I will agree with you no matter what.

     It is clear to me that the song you have put in my heart cannot be muffled by anything while I agree with you.
     I love you Lord.   Please do anything that needs to be done in the deepest recess of my heart.  Anything, Lord.  Anything.

     There is a wonderful old song by this title:  Living for Jesus.

     It reflects the posture of one who has made a firm decision to step away from the world and live unto the Lord.

     Rarely does a person accept Christ and then make an immediate U-turn in all areas.  There is a beautiful process whereby the believer is privileged to respond to the challenge of God's Word, receive the counsel of mature Brothers and Sisters, and learn to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in prayer. 

     Most of modern Christianity has become community and experience driven, rather than Lord centered.

     When the Christian is taught that he must leave all behind, take up the Cross and follow the Lord, he is confronted by the initial decision:  is he or is he not willing to pay the price? 

     Every story that stirs the heart begins with a deep and private decision that results in a public display of yieldedness.  And, the main character of that story is allowed test after test, in order to bring him constantly back to that precious bottom line.

     Soldier of the Cross, it is usually the little snigly things of every day life that eat away at the soul via the mind.  Nevertheless, whether tragedy or thistles, the bottom line always remains the same.

     This is the refrain of the song:

     O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
     For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.
     I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.
     My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

    The Victory in Heaven happens when the Soldier of The Cross agrees with God.

    Victory is not about winning in Time.  After all, what about Paul?  What about Moses?  What about the prophets?  Soldier, you must understand that the matter before you is an eternal matter, not one of Time.

     There is no situation on earth that is not addressed in God's Word.

     He will never interrupt you.
     He will never misunderstand you.
     He will never hold it against you.
     He will never tire of you.

     Tell Him all about it.  Tell Him aloud.  Tell Him that you want to be changed. Tell Him about the things that weigh you down.   Learn the habit of laying it all out before Him .

     Do it today.
     Do it  aloud.

     The Lord does not lead a blind-folded Christian through thick and thin.

     As we get to know Him and learn to follow Him, we learn to pray in such a manner that the Holy Spirit is free to shed more and more light on His ability to provide, His capacity to Love us, His desire to reveal Himself, and His tender care for His Body.       

     Why is it so thrilling to be with those who have walked with Him for a lifetime?  Because while they know enough to trust Him in the thickest fog, they also know that He will let them see the things that have to be seen.

     Soldier of The Cross, why is it called blind faith?  I have not seen that term in the Bible.  Faith is not the result of a mind persuaded.  It is the result of a supernatural Presence and work in the heart and soul of one who has been set apart unto Him and agrees with Him.

     The beauty of faith is that it allows the leaning of the entire personality and thought life on what He has said.

     It is so practical.   If I have a hard time over something, I am the problem.  He is not having a hard time over anything.  Even if the thing before me is explosive, it is completely detonated when brought to Him in faith.  It may still explode, but faith places the whole thing at the feet of the One who holds the stars in place.

     He who is The Light can be completely trusted.
     Hallelujah.