The journey of faith will  not be over until we are in Glory.

    Just when we think we might be over the  faith hump, there is an other challenge, and another opportunity to lean on The Everlasting Arms.

     If it were not for our own good, He would  not allow it.

    True security means walking by faith.  
    Faith means knowing God.

    There is  nothing else.
 

 

    

    

   The Question is, do you really want to be like Him?

   Do you want to take care of others first?
   Do you want to have your treasure in  heaven?
   Do you want His will over your own?
   Are you willing to stand on the Promises?
   Do you value Love over control?
   Do you actually care about the eternal destiny of others?

   Soldier, life is so short. Yet God's Word says your decisions determine eternal reward.  It is important to tell Him that you want to be like Him.  It is important to tell Him that you want to be transformed into His likeness.  It is important to tell Him that He can do anything with your life.

   And, it is important to tell Him aloud.

 

   Soldier of The Cross, knowing God brings perspective.

   When the matter can not be explained, His Word brings perspective.
   When the pain is beyond description, His Word bring perspective.
   When the damage seems beyond repair,  His Word brings perspective.
   When the seeming faithful fall, His Word brings perspective.

   Soldier, there is  nothing that is unaddressed in His Word.  Moreover, you may go before Him at any time and speak freely about the matter. 

   What is Life?
   Agree with God.  He will respond, and you need to experience His Love for you.  Tell Him about it and tell Him aloud.
  
   Tell Him today.

   So many are desperate for the will of God.

   The problem is that most seekers are looking for insurance.   Somehow, there is the idea that if the will of God can be discovered, life’s problems will be minimized.

   Of course, such is not the case.  The will of the Father is that we might know the Son.

    Soldier of The Cross,   the only guarantee is that He knows the beginning from the end and He has called you to walk and live by faith.

   Tell Him you agree with Him.  Tell Him you want to abide by His will and that you will not count the cost.

   Tell Him aloud.
   Tell Him today.

Soldier of The Cross, there is a deep well of joy that is experienced by those who agree with God.

  Why is that?

   Because it means there is acknowledgment that He knows more than we and that His ways are higher than ours.    Who would deny this?  Who would deny limited human ability?    Why do we have the Word of God?  Do we need it, or are we able to somehow create our own design and see it through?

   Of course not.  We are needy. The most capable human being is in need of a Savior. 
    There is no one without sin. 
    There is no one who is able to save himself.  
    There is no one who claims to know what God knows. 
    There is no one who knows the future without error, except our God. 
    There is no one who can heal the unseen and there is no one who can restore the years the Locusts have eaten. 

   Except for our God.

   There is nothing else.
   There is no one else.

   Just before I came to know the Lord, I asked my father how he knew the Gospel was true.

   He said, “Because of the changed lives.”

   I was riveted.  I had read the stories and heard the testimonies of so many who had been changed, not by mere belief, but because they had truly been born again.  I also knew that there was something about those people that made it impossible to separate their personalities from the thing they all said had happened to them.

   To be like Him is the theme of many verses, many songs and many books.  Interestingly, those who become more like Him also seem to be able to live above difficult circumstances.  They also attend to others.  They care deeply.  They love the unlovely.

   Soldier of The Cross, He came to live in you and He is  not leaving. If you are agreeing with His Word in prayer and if you are putting first the Kingdom of God, you need only to do the next thing that comes before you, and do it as unto Him.

   It is not a matter of deciding to change and then carrying it out.  Rather it is a matter of  getting to know, trust and follow Him.  In so doing, the things that are not healthy in life become less attractive and there is a falling in love experience - with the One who loves you beyond your comprehension.

   There is much to do.   
   Trust and obey, for there’s no other way. . .

 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth for ever.
       Psalm 111:10 

     The problem of writing  about wisdom is that the reader presumes that the writer is wise.  Of course, the writer does  not consider that to be the case, but is interested in God’s Word with regard to this matter.

   Soldier of The Cross,  isn’t Wisdom agreement with God?  Is there a more refined definition?

   What is it that you think you know?  Didn’t ‘He say that we have to come as  a little child?  What does the child have?   Availability.  No presumptions or  superior knowledge and no agenda.

   Soldier of The Cross, agree with God.  Therein lies the ultimate Wisdom, and you do not have to understand.  You have only to know for yourself  that the Bible is true and that He can be trusted.

 

   Soldier, misunderstanding is one of the most difficult situations in life.

   So, you must go to The Word.  What does God say? 

   You are not to be offended.  You are not to rush in without prayer.  Prayer that is in agreement with God is a protection against self-serving goals.

   The most important thing is to refrain from heavy-handing the situation.  If there is deliberate and  honest prayer that agrees with God’s Word, there will be perspective, and there will be a Place to be while the matter is being resolved.

   We live in a fallen world.  We are sojourners and pilgrims, which means that there can be no investment in the things that would encumber the pace.

   You are a Soldier of The Cross.  That means that your eyes are fixed on the Lord Jesus.  It means that you know with Whom you will spend eternity.  It means that you know what things are of the most value.

   Make sure you are immersed in His Word.  Study.  Memorize.  Read the biographies of those who have gone before.

   Pray aloud.  Pour out your heart to the One who holds the stars in place.
   There is  nowhere else to go.
   There is no one else.

   Be reminded that you have been rescued because of Love.
   
   Love went to The Cross.
   Love named you.
   Love is preparing a Place for you.

   The Rock of Ages is  not moving.  Rest your all on Him.

   The reason the Lord is so stern about not judging one another is because judging involves interpreting motive or action.    We have many warnings about judging one another.  Oh, how tempting it is to decide what another is thinking.  Or feeling.  I have heard people develop entire scenarios and justify their opinions because they may have seen the accused party grimace at something.    Be careful.  If you are judging, it means that you are filling in the blanks.  It means that you are assuming things that you do not know.  It means that based on your one life and limited experience., you are interpreting components of another life. Those components are actually unknown to you.   The Bible says that only  God sees the heart.  Is that true, or are you adding yourself to the list?  Of course not.  You are humble before Him and you are willing to let Him  who sees the heart decide what is there.    Soldier of The Cross, there is much to do.  Many are hurting.  Many are ill and many are alone.  Children wander the streets in other countries and much of the world is hungry.  Millions are without the Gospel.    You must  not waste time setting yourself up as the, or a, judge of another.    Be about your Father's Business.

   We serve a God who is  not limited.    We have the limitations  - these bodies, this world, finite minds, etc.  But He is not limited in any way whatsoever.  And so, He has made it clear in His Word that we are to learn to depend on Him.    The flesh is constantly struggling to survive and wants desperately to be in control.  The Spirit is always gently pointing to the Lord and reminding the Soldier of The Cross that His ways are higher than anything else.    In the same manner that He "confounds the wise", our God often uses the unexpected and the unwelcome to answer prayer.     When we pray about a matter we can know He is listening, we can know that He understands far better than we, and we know that He is going to intervene for our best.    Soldier, when you pray, look for Him.   Do  not be irritated or distracted when the answer is  not immediate or when things seem to go the wrong way.  Agree with God.    You are not on your own and if you will wait for Him, you will find His way to be far better.