There are many verses that tell us to expect the Lord.
 

     That means that if we are not expecting Him and looking for Him, we will miss something.  It also means that it is guaranteed He is doing something that can be seen or experienced.

     He should be expected at meetings.
     He should be expected when there has been prayer concerning a misunderstanding.
     He should be expected when we have prayed about finances.
     He can be expected when we pray for healing.  If He chooses to heal the soul and not the body, we can expect His hand to be seen one way or the other.
     He should be expected when asking for wisdom.

     Those who do not expect Him are those who want to be sure they are in control. They seem to think if the Lord could be trusted, He would already have been seen.

     Soldier of The Cross, you were born into the Kingdom of his Dear Son, and that means  a different economy of passing through life.  He who knows no limit has come to our rescue, given Himself for us and is now eager to lead us into explosive, sweet faith.

     Expect Him.
     Wait for Him.
     Look for Him.

     The Lord has allowed just the right things in your life.

     So many look at the lives of others and wish they could exchange their circumstances or mates or children.  Some long for the gifts and talents of others.  These thoughts are always accompanied by low self-esteem and fantasy about how things could or should be.

     You are a Soldier of The Cross.  That means you have told Him He could have your life.  That means you have told Him He can be trusted.  It also means you will take up the Cross daily and follow Him.

     It is the old nature that wants what it does not have.  It is the old nature that presumes it knows more than God.  It is the old nature that bucks the gifts God has given, and wants more.

     He alone knows the beginning form the end and He alone knows what will bring the deepest gold up from the heart.  Depth has never resulted from being spoiled. 

     Look at Him - He who left Glory.  Isn't it remarkable that the One who created the entire universe chose to come as a helpless baby?  And be born in the most unsophisticated circumstances?  And die a humiliating death for crimes He did not do?

     Well, you say we know why.  The Bible tells us all the reasons.

     That's right.

     What about your life?  The difference is, you know His reasons for  His circumstances but you don't know His reasons for yours.   And, you do not need to know.

     Tell Him you trust Him for your circumstances.  Of course we pray for changes and for release and healing.  In the meantime, He knows better than we.  Those who trust Him fully, are those who have told Him so.

     Aloud.

     Why is the exercise of faith so difficult for so many?

     Because it means obedience. 

     This is not about rules and regulations or do's and don'ts.  This is about taking the Word of God into prayer on every level.   Soldier of The Cross, the Christian life is  not a puritanical gauntlet.  It is an open and free frontier of faith that leaves predictability behind.

     The issue is, is it your way or His Way?

     The Apostle Paul has much to say about the flesh.
 

      It has been said that the flesh is fallen human nature under the power of sin.
 

     Soldier of The Cross, the Blood of Jesus executed the old nature according to God's Word.  We live in a fallen world and choices must be made.  But you are no longer helpless or under the power of gravities that do not align with God's Word.

      The flesh is a distraction and those who would follow the Lord need to understand there is no room for resentment,  the need for attention, passivity, the seeking of comfort or the exalting of self.
   

     The world is desperately looking for His Life.  Life that cares about others first.  Life that loves unconditionally.  Life that ministers Grace.  Life that flows no matter what.

     Soldier, why would you not choose whatever He says is best?  You know you can't go back.  You must go forward.  We who know Him understand that we are preparing for eternity until we draw our last breath.  How deeply do you care about others.

     The whole world is looking for love. 

     Go!

       It is His call.

 
      Have you determined that He knows best?  Have you told Him that He can do anything He wants to with your life?  Have you told Him that your heart is to be a Living Sacrifice according to Romans 12?

     Soldier of The Cross,  who is calling the shots?  You?  Your children?  Your parents?  Your friends?

     Hallelujah that we have the Word of God.    Soldier,  we will all stand before the Throne.  Make sure your goal is to hear " Well done, good and faithful Servant. . . "

      There is no limit to what God can and will do.

    
      That is, if you are interested in His agenda.

     Soldier of The Cross,  if you are willing to tell Him that He can do anything He wants to with your life, an unimaginable adventure awaits you.  The problem lies with those who think they want what He has for them, but refuse to cross The Line in prayer.

     Where are you?  Have you actually told Him that He can be trusted?  Have you told Him you want Him to take your life and use it for His Glory?  You must tell Him.  Aloud.

     Tell Him today.

      I often suggest you should tell the Lord what you love about Him.

     Have you told Him what you love about His Word?  What does His Word mean to you?

     God's Word leads us through each day, each hour and each minute.
     God's Word lets us know His thought toward us.
     God's Word teaches behavior toward others, including enemies.
     God's Word lays out priorities for the soldier of The Cross.
     God's Word stirs the heart.
     God's Word encourages.
     God's Word teaches the Believer Priesthood.
     God's Word tells us about heaven.
     God's Word unfolds His tremendous love for us.

     God's Word reveals Jesus.

       Soldier of The Cross, children must be trained so they can then be taught. 

       The Bible says:  Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
                              Proverbs 22:15

       No parent feels successful except during the times when the child appears to be perfect, according to the parent's concept of perfection.   The problem is,  there is no guaranteed parenting manual except for God's Word.  

       Over the years, I have heard mothers say that there is not a chance their children would lie to them.  That is a foolish statement.  Even the best children lie although prayer will uncover the matter.

      On other occasions, I have heard parents say that their child can be trusted in situations where others cannot be trusted.  That may or may not be true.  The younger the child, the deeper the privacy.   Some of the things that surface in teen years have been there all along - just hidden.

      Christian parent, understand one thing.  You may have taught everything you could, but your child is a separate individual who must make his or her own decision for the Lord.  You can not make that decision for your child.  I have seen young  children manipulate their parents by saying the appropriate Christian thing, just to gain control over  the immediate matter.

     No one has ever been a perfect parent.  The issue is, the child rearing must be done in  prayer.  Do you have an unbelieving spouse? Make sure you do not compromise and support the activity and behavior of your children, especially teenagers, if the behavior is sensuous or otherwise ungodly.    There is no need to condemn or even confront the child about some matters, as you will not be able to control the heart of a young adult who is wandering into clearly dangerous territory.

     Most importantly, do not approve of things you know are not right.  With older children, confrontation is rarely productive.  I have worked with teenagers for forty three years.  Believe me,  you must live before them, pray specifically, and, while you should nbot argue about the issue,  do not compromise and do not ratify the ungodly. 

     If you compromise, you sell your children down the river.

     Soldier of The Cross, is there an authority greater than His Word?

     What is your issue?   Is it possible that your situation is not covered by the Bible?

     As He has already told us, there is not any situation that He can not handle, far better than we.   Soldier,  this is the bottom line of commitment.  Are you His?  Have you told Him?   Do you know that His Promises will be fulfilled?

     What is it that you want?   What is your life about?

     It is your choice.  Go to Him in prayer and let Him know that in spite of the way things  appear, you will take Him at His Word.  After all, can you offer a better alternative?  Is it possible that you know better than God?

      Soldier of The Cross, look up and move on!

     Have you decided what is going to make you happy?

    You have made the decision to give your life to the Lord, but your thoughts are centered on the thing that screams to be resolved.  In fact unless you are distracted, your mind gravitates to the matter at hand and you find yourself reviewing things and trying to resolve the situation in the thought life when in fact, there is nothing that can be done right now.

     What does the word of God say about this?  


     Unfairly imprisoned, beaten, in coupling chains and deserted by most of his closest associates, Paul wrote to the churches about joy.  Overflowing joy.  Not because of resolved circumstances, but because of the fullness of the Holy Spirit.  Because of the deep well of release that is available to the Soldier who is willing to take up The Cross and follow Him.

       There is a wide gap between human happiness and the joy of the Lord.  Life cycles between seasons of stress and seasons of release.  Such is the case for all of humanity and as long as the Lord tarries, it will be the case.  Happiness is the experience of freedom from negativity, even if only for a few minutes.  A delighted movie goer can experience happiness for a short time.  Someone in the momentum of high achievement can experience happiness because the exhilaration excludes negative emotions.
 

     Such feelings are fragile.  While we are all designed to appreciate these experiences, we were also designed for much more.  We are to know the Joy of The Lord.  This is the Joy that  is described as "Rivers of Living Water. . ." 


      This is the joy that results from agreeing with God.
      This is the joy that results from making decision that are based on the Word of God.
      This is the joy that results from considering others first.
      This is the joy that results from placing your treasure in heaven.
      This is the joy that results from faithful prayer that lines up with God's Word.
      This is the joy that results from ministering to the sick, the imprisoned and the underprivileged.


     Soldier of The Cross, there is much to distract.  You must decide what your priorities are.

      If you are  to know the joy of the Lord, your choices must line up with His and you must lay them at His feet in prayer.  This happens over and over and over.

     There is nothing else.
     There is no one else.