God will use anyone who is willing to be used.

     My father graduated from Northwestern School of the Bible, Multnomah and Trinity Seminary in Chicago.  His specialty was Bible languages, particularly Greek.  His missionary assignment was to establish a seminary in Mexico and train national pastors.

     Ultimately, he had to leave the mission field for several reasons.  He was diagnosed with cancer when I was a junior in high school and struggled with it for twenty-six years.  He took endless treatments and although he worked, he had to take much time off. 

     Having been trained in Christian service, he took additional training to be able to qualify for other work.  He was often sick,  and although he never complained, it was clear to me that he had left his heart in Mexico.

     Just before he died, I went to visit him and we had the most wonderful time.  He was absolutely God's man and I had always known that.  We sang together and talked about the Lord as long as he could talk.  

      At the funeral, I was surprised to see a huge crowd in attendance.  In fact, there was standing room only.  When it was over, most folks did not leave, but formed a line and waited to talk to me.  I had no idea what was happening.

     The line was dozens of people who worked with my father at his civil service job, and each one wanted to grab my hand and tell me how my father had led him or her to the Lord.   I was stunned.   During his tenure in that job, he had several years of his most severe bouts with cancer.

     Soldier of The Cross, time is short.  Soon, time will be no more. 

     God will set ablaze any bush that can be lit.      

     The gifts are given as God chooses, and they become operational when the Soldier of The Cross steps forward to serve the Body of Christ.

     It is distressing to see some of the literature on the subject that is being dispersed today.  I recently saw a study guide that is being used in some churches to teach individuals to identify their gifts.  The basic questions were, "What do you like to do?  What comes naturally?  What makes you feel good?"

     If that were the basis for identifying my spiritual gift, I would declare myself to be to be an anointed food-tester.

     The gifts develop and are evident to those in spiritual authority when the Holy Spirit is allowed to reign in a Christian's life.  The gifts are for the Body, and the Lone Ranger Christian will not be in a position to exercise any spiritual gift. 

     It is not necessarily the thing that one does naturally that is his spiritual gift.  Often it is after years of following the Lord that the gift blossoms.  Gladys Aylward was a a preacher a rescuer of children.  Much could be said about her gifts.  But the Lord put her in a position so that the first years of her missionary service were spent in turning mules' heads into the compound of the missionary under whom she worked.

     There is much to be done.   The Soldier of The Cross must be available for jobs that are not glamorous and for jobs that may not feel right.  Quite often, the Lord does not choose the most experienced or the naturally gifted for His work.  What about Moses? 

     Years ago as the pastor's wife, I was in charge of a huge banquet.  After it was over, I asked  a woman near me if she would grab a broom and help me sweep.  She looked at me and said "No."  Although most definitely a Christian, she was unquestionably not ready to minister or exercise any gift.  Now years later, that same woman is a devoted and spiritually gifted teacher.

     Soldier of The Cross, God does not hide and He is not in the business of hiding His will or His gifts.   Be available. 

     The Living Sacrifice is available for anything.

     Tell Him you are available and then put your weight under the nearest load.  If you have given it to Him, He will let you known if it is not for you.
     Tell Him aloud.

     There is always resistance to the spreading of the Gospel.

     When Christians go into situations or territories that have been in the control of the enemy for considerable time, there is darker oppression.   The western world is seeing more of this, but it has been most common in Africa and the Middle and Far East.

     Today, Soldier of the Cross, you must understand that He who called you and anointed you, has also protected you from anything other than His best for you.  If you are willing to serve Him with abandon, you will most certainly encounter this oppression.

     In the words of Robert Jaffray to Darlene Deibler Rose, “Don’t be afraid, for he is a defeated foe, undone by Calvary.  Never forget that greater is He that is within you than he that is in the world."

     The Soldier of The Cross cannot afford burnout.

     The major cause of burnout among Christian workers is assuming responsibility for the result, and this is usually accompanied by a distinct lack of private time with the Lord.

     For years and years, well-meaning people have insisted that I must take more vacation time and cut back on activities.  I have learned some things:

     The busier one is, the longer the prayer time should be.
     If work is really the Lord's, the worker will not look for job satisfaction to come from the results.
     No one can be someone else.
     If the Lord so desires, it only takes an instant for Him to do what seems like an endless task.
     There will be an unction for the task if it is assigned by the Lord.

     Eat sensibly, sleep well.  Then, be willing to go without either.  Each of us is to be a living sacrifice.  The more self-protective the worker, the more frantic he or she will be to try to preserve the thing that produces a temporary sense of safety.

     I am thankful for those who have gone before, some of whom like the apostle Paul, were willing to endure anything.  Am I willing?

     You have decided to serve the One who holds the stars in place.  Can He be trusted?

     Our time is His.  Our bodies are His.  Soldier, bring this before Him and ask Him to lead you in this matter and to train you. 
     Tell Him aloud.

     Lord Jesus, I come to you tonight and stand before you as one who wants you over all else. 
     My problem is me.  And, I ask you to change me.    Lord, I come to you with all that I am and all that I have.  Please take it and do whatever is needed to make me like you.
     I know you are over all and I know you are not limited.
     Oh, Lord, though I feel like a failure, I know that your Word reigns over feeling. 
     Nothing is as attractive to me as you.    None is as interesting as you.  There is no comparison. 
     Lord Jesus, take me as I am.  Change me.  Use me.  Anything you want.  I stand before you and ask that you do your deepest work. 
     I know there is nothing else.

     I want you more than anything.
     My Lord and my God.

     The children love the little song "Why Worry When You Can Pray."

      What is worry?  Costume-makers give clothing to moneys to "worry" the garments.  The monkeys work the material until it looks old and worn, giving it a genuine old and frayed look.

     It is the same with the soul.

     Don't forget we have an enemy who loves to dangle the unknown and unresolved before us.  Is it really true that we have a tender, loving and personal Lord?  Is He in charge, or am I responsible for my future?

     Worry is the taking of a thought and displaying it on the screen of the mind, flashing it through numerous possible outcomes.  Then, the mind tries to take each outcome and play that scene to its untimate end.

     I often hear people say "All we can do is pray."  The statement implies that if there were something else other than prayer, it would be more effective.

     Hallelujah that we can pray.  He is the one who creates from nothing and separates light from darkness.  He is still the same Lord who created the universe. 

      What about the adventure of faith?

     He notices all things equally.  Much is released and set into order by prayer.  The one who prays according to the Word of God is able to see the provision of God by faith.  Then when the matter is settled, there is the experience of faith and it leads to more faith.  Less and less worry.

     It is not merely suggested that we not worry in God's Word.  It is commanded.  So, we must let Him teach us.  It is about how to live.  Can one be "being filled" with the Holy Spirit, useful and a minister of Live while worrying at the same time?

     Bring it to Him.  Aloud.
     His plan for you is Resurrection Life.
     

      He is the Great Physician.

     We must learn to pray to a God who is active and able.

     Every Christmas, the Portland Symphony Orchestra performs slews of concerts and involves a large community chorus in the program.  Year after year, I watched a woman in the front row of the chorus.  She had multiple sclerosis and it was evident she was worsening rapidly. 

     It was hard to watch.   I saw her stand on crutches.  The next year, a walker.  Finally a wheel chair and eventually she was bent over in the wheelchair. 

     One day years and years ago, I got a call from one of the string players who said, "Have you heard about Joanne?"  I said "Joanne who?"  Then she told me it was the woman in chorus.  The caller wanted me to know that Joanne had been completely healed and was walking normally. 

     I had to see it with my own eyes.

     I did not know Joanne socially, but I looked up her phone number and called her.  It was true.  She had been healed.  I had not even known she was a Christian.  She had not been at any kind of healing service or any such thing, but was at a Christian dinner club when the pastor just came over to her while speaking on a topic.  He put his hand on her and was simply speaking to the group. 

     Joanne was instantly healed and everyone was shocked.  There was no expectation of it.  The Lord just did it.

     When I next saw Joanne, she stood straight and practically danced all the time.  Of course she was thrilled.   I still see her at the Christmas concerts and she is completely well

     God chose to heal her and did not let us know the reason.  He can and he does.  At the same time, He often chooses not to heal the body.

     We so often limit the Lord.  I don't know why He heals some and not others, but I do know He can be trusted.   

     Trust is the real issue.  If He does heal, it is the best thing.  If He doesn't, it is the best thing.

     Be clean and pray.

     "But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work. . ."
                                        James 1:4a  (Amplified Bible)

     Soldier of The Cross, the bottom line is, are you willing to be changed or not?  

     It is not always easy, and often the things that feel the most intense are the very things that must go.

     Patience does not come by merely wanting it, although availability is the first step.  Patience and endurance come by going through trials that seem endless and unbearable.  Yet, we learn to go to Him and stand on His Word through the storm.

     He loves us enough to live within us and take us through the deepest waters. 

     It isn't about torture, it is about Love.  And becoming like Him.  Making Him seen before a lost world.   Being prepared for eternity.

     If you are available, tell Him.  Aloud.
     He'll take you at your word and will meet you in this most wonderful matter.
    

     Remember  this wonderful old song:

          Lord, lay some soul upon my heart;
          And love that soul through me.
          And may I humbly do my part
          To win that soul for thee.

     How thankful we are for all of the rich scholarship that is our heritage.  I would never cheapen it.  At the same time, information does not win the soul.  Love wins the soul.

     Yes, the soul is the place of decision. 
     No influence compares with Love. 

     The things that count are the things that are seen by faith.

     Christian character.  The fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Being easily moved by the Lord.   Love that is not conditional and does not diminish.

     Many of the things we writhe and contort about are not so important.   We must stand before Him and learn to address matters according to His priorities.  And often, prayer is the only place where we are able to gain perspective.

 
     Worry about the future is futile.
     Worry about finances is futile.
     Worrying about position or opinions of others means attention is being deflected from pleasing God.

      Interestingly, the Soldier of The cross who takes His priorities as his own, seems to also have a beautiful work ethic.  He is a pillar in the house of the Lord.  He is clean and does not have a guilty spirit.  He bears things cheerfully and is more concerned with others than he is with himself.

      Human success counts for little.  It will pass quickly.  

     Those who want Him more than anything else, follow hard after Him and are easily identified by each other.

     The children in our church love to sing this little song:
  
          Change me, Change me, oh, Jesus please;
          All of my heart and life, oh Jesus seize.
          Teach me to live out my life on my knees;
          Change me, change me Jesus.