Remember that often when Jesus healed or taught, the result was conflict.

     He did nothing wrong.  He revealed Himself as the Son of God and was perfect.  Yet, his enemies plotted against Him and planned His death.

     He never tried to please the crowd. 

     Soldier of The Cross, today is His.  You must represent Truth and let Him minister through you.    You are not assigned to make everyone happy, but you are assigned to share in season and out of season.

     When someone is displeased, it can be hard.  We certainly do not want to be calloused or jaded.  On the other hand, the Servant's success is never measured by how well he or the message is received.   It is critical  to be sensitive to the Spirit rather than to the person or people being addressed.  Let the Holy Spirit lead and speak.

     Then, look up and move on.

     Why did this happen?

     Why didn't He let me know how to avoid it?  Why couldn't it have been resolved?  Why doesn't He let me know how to fix it now?  Why did this happen to me - it does not seem to happen to others.

     We do not need to know why.  That is what faith is all about.  He knows what He is doing and He has promised to attend to His Own.   Soldier of The Cross, your job is to make sure you are telling Him He can have you no matter what.  Your job is to tell Him that He can have the past and the future.

     We come to Him as we are and that includes all that He has allowed under His sovereignty.  We agree with Him whatever that means.

     Period.  No exclusions.

     Stop wanting to know the reasons.  He is not going to tell you now because you do not have the capacity to understand.  That will happen in the by and by.

     Lord Jesus, I know I belong to you and to no other.  And, I don't want anything else.  Tonight I come to you and give you the matter.  I stand before you and tell you that I gratefully recognize you are my Lord and King.  How thankful I am that you revealed yourself to me.  

     Please teach me to follow you instead of wanting to understand before moving.  Oh Lord, there is nothing I want more than to chase hard after you.  Nothing compares to you and I want to refuse distraction.

     Please do what ever is needed in the deepest recesses of my heart, in order to bring about your own likeness.  Please, Lord.    

     God cannot be put in a box.

     Although there is no compromising His Word, He is always moving beyond the borders of our conception.  If we are locked in to what we think can be predetermined to be evidence of Him, we will often miss Him.

     His creativity is limitless as is His Love.  That means He will show Himself in ways that might be missed by those not looking for Him. 

     Formula does not recognize the Lord.  Formula only recognizes formula.  

     The Lord recognizes the Lord.
     
    

      I am always newly amazed at the behavior of some Christians.

     Any Carmichael said that when the cup is tipped over, what is inside will spill out.  And, surely that is the case. 

     As a family attorney, I see people in the most difficult situations.  It is hard to have someone lie about you.  It is hard to see your children think you are responsible when in fact you are not.  It is hard to have someone you have loved take up with someone else.  Humanly, it is impossible to live with a misunderstanding that cannot be resolved.

     Soldier of The Cross, you are not able to choose all of your circumstances.  You have no control over any other life.  The Lord alone is in control and He knows what He is doing, no matter what things look like.

     The Soldier of The Cross may not be bristly.  He or she may not respond with a thorny retort, just because the other party is a jerk.  There is no verse in God's Word that allows a Believer to get back.  Isn't that evil for evil?

     There is no need to give in because of fear or being worn down.   On the other hand, aren’t we charged with a ministry of grace?  Don't we have the Indwelling Holy Spirit?  Aren't we agreeing with God?  Is it necessary to score in an argument?   After all, no one ever wins an argument. 

     We speak the truth in line with God's Word and as empowered by the Holy Spirit. 

     Tell the Lord you are willing to be changed in this area.  It is hard for the flesh, but it is not hard for the One who holds the stars in place.

     Tell Him today.
     Aloud.

     How vividly I remember the moment I received Christ.

     I was alone and stunned that He had let me know that He was real and interested in me.   I knelt on the red and fake tile of my tiny kitchen in Waterville, Maine, and invited Him to be my Lord and King. I could hardly get the words out, because I was so overwhelmed by the fact that He was real.  I knew He had touched me.  That was all I needed.  

       I was twenty-nine years old and had been so jaded, there was no hope.  

      After I gave my heart to Him, I grabbed the bible and it fell open to the book of John.  I read about the man who had been blind from birth. I was almost unable to breathe, because I knew that was about me.  I had had all the information.  I had the right answers.  But, I had always been blind.

         I had been the only child of missionary parents who had their own issues.  My father was a deep and godly man.  I was raised on the laps of missionaries who had been expelled from China during the revolution. 

    I was bright and responsive.  Just, not saved.   No one knew the real situation except my father, who made it abundantly clear, to my distress.  He was not confrontive, but I knew he sounded me accurately. 

     I had all the information, the doctrine and the history.    How thankful I am for a father who continued in prayer until the Lord heald my sight and revealed Himself.

     Do not be discouraged.  Blind is blind.  Holding the most stunningly gorgeous painting before blind eyes does nothing. 

   
     Sight comes only by prayer.

     Don't give up.      

     Soldier of The Cross, you must learn to pray in your daily bread.

     It is an interesting principle, and those who want to know Him must learn it.  Most Christians think they are financially independent until there is reason to worry.  What does God's Word say?

     Where does the provision come from?  Those who give without considering what they have left are those who are financially secure. 

     Yes, stewardship is godly.  No giving, no stewardship.

     Soldier, are you able to tell Him that your money is no longer yours, but is His?

     Lord, I come before you today and ask that you teach me to follow you through the minutes and the hours.  I want to spend them wisely and must learn your priorities.

     I know you are not limited by time.  I also know you can stretch time, just as you do money.

     I want my time to belong to you.  I want to learn to live by faith in this area and listen to you.  Please do whatever is needed in me to produce your own life in this area. 

     I want to know what it means to give to you the firstfruits of my time.

      Serving the Lord means doing all as unto Him.

     It does not mean having to be in a recognizable Christian position.  I have known missionaries and pastors who were tremendous saints. I have also known some choice servants who served the Lord without recognition and in the most pedestrian of circumstances.

     Children must be taught to serve the Lord.  They should learn to sing when they are afraid, to give of their money, and to encourage others.  Children who have given their hearts to the Lord should be taught to pray privately and to do so aloud.  They should understand the purpose of life is about the Lord and that it is not about having a good life.

     Children should be taught to visit sick friends and encourage Christian friends.  Regularly.  It should be the normal thing to do.

     A good children's church is fine.  That is, if the purpose is to train Soldiers of The Cross.  Children must understand the most basic tenants of the faith and not be separated out, only to have a better time.  They must learn that when they are saved, they are members of the Body of Christ. They need to see mature Brothers and Sisters in prayer, in song and in service.  They also need to hear anointed preaching.

     Children need to hear and memorize the real Word of God and not watered down versions.  The intellect is not the interpreter of the scriptures, but rather the Holy Spirit.

     They are not our children.  
     They are His.

    

     Though it seems like such an emergency to resolve the matter now, when we are with Him we will see that it was a brief discomfort and well worth it.

     The issue is, are you really a Soldier of The Cross? Are you willing to do it His way in His time, or does it have to be fixed right now according to limited concept?

     He has promised delight beyond comprehension.  Is it true?  Can He be believed? 

     This is the bottom line.  We are not living for now.  What we experience must result in an attitude that agrees with God.  What we choose must be in agreement with God.  What we want must be in agreement with God.

     It comes out of the mouth, the eyes, and is reflected in the entire countenance and body language. 

     Who do you belong to?  Were you bought with a Price?  Or do you dare to say that you are your own?

     Soldier, talk to Him about this matter and do it aloud.

  
          Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,
          We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
          But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
          All tears forever over in God's eternal day.
    

          It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
          Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
          One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
          So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

     Nehemiah did not give value to the threats of his enemies. 

     He gave himself to the task before him and let the Lord deal with the efforts of those desperately trying to prevent the rebuilding of the wall.

     Anyone who has determined to serve the Lord has found that there are always those who try to subvert or stop the work.   Almost anything is game.  The enemy will threaten, storm about and lie.  

     There must be wisdom about how to handle the matter.  For the most part, Nehemiah riveted his attention on the job and refused to be distracted.  Hallelujah!  What a magnificent picture of a trusted servant who has his priorities in order.

     There are times when action must be taken, but wisdom will preside.  Counter measures should never be taken just because of fear or self-defense.  The important thing is the work of the Lord, and if it is His work, He will oversee it.  This applies to everything from the missionary frontier to the home life. 


     Isn't it all His work?
     Aren't we building that which cannot be built with human hands?
     Aren't there constant attacks and missiles of distraction?

     Soldier of The Cross, look up and move on!