Month: January 2021

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Can We Find Hope in Perseverance?

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We could all use some encouragement and hope these days. Can we be encouraged and find hope through persevering?

As God’s children we should want to please our Heavenly Father. We can glorify God in what He asks of us and even in the midst of a trial. Jesus set that example for us. He glorified His Father by completing the work He was asked to do here on earth, even to the cross.- John 17:4. When God puts before us a task or places us in a situation that tests our faith we can find ourselves uncomfortable and want to quit. Sometimes we have no choice but to endure, yet we must persevere. Jesus set the example for us when He endured the cross to complete the task His Father asked of Him, to die for the sins of the world. – John 3:16

Perseverance is the ability to progress in spite of adversity.

Jerry Bridges

When our boss asks us do something, we can choose to do it or not to do it. But by choosing not to do it or do it poorly dishonors our boss. Whether or not we agree with the task or enjoy doing it, we complete the task to honor our boss. Luke 9:51 – “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” (NIV). Jesus was resolute in carrying out the task His Father set before Him. He endured the cross for us to glorify His Father.

So when God sets before us a task we need to resolve that we want to glorify and honor God. Even if given a list from our spouse, parent, or whomever, when we complete the task for them we are honoring God as well. By anchoring in Christ, we have this hope firm and secure – Hebrew 6:19, giving us the ability to persevere, especially through a trial. Knowing that Jesus endured the cross for us so that the Father would be glorified we can find encouraging because Jesus knows what it’s like to face a trial.

We can find encouragement as God provides what we need to endure and persevere. His provision gives us hope that we can accomplish what He has asked us to do.

When we see how God provides what we need, it gives us hope and encouragement that we will be able to accomplish the task or endure the trial so that God will be glorified.

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January 25, 2021 – Revelation 21:5

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“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”

Revelation 21:1

Our Hope for the future, a new heaven and a new earth when Christ returns.

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“…let words of prayer be on our lips.”

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Nothing, nothing surprises God. There is nothing new under the sun. A new administration has begun in our government and some citizens are feeling disappointment whiles others maybe celebrating. One thing holds true and remains the same, God still sits on the throne. He knew before the foundations of the world how this election was going to play out and He knows the future. Daniel 2:21 – “He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” God is in control.

Now, whether or not we agree with the outcome, we have a new president. We don’t have to agree on anything and we don’t have to resort to violence or name bashing and tearing other people down. What we need to do as Christians is pray for our leaders. The Bible tells us in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 – “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” And in Romans 13:1 – “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” We need to pray for our leaders. As hard as that may be, we need to pray for them.

When authorities begin to cause us to go against scripture and disobey God that’s when we need to resolve who we are worshipping. Who will we obey? As Daniel resolved to do when King Darius ordered that everyone worship him, if anyone was caught praying to any other god or man beside Darius, they would be thrown in the lion’s den. Daniel had been getting down on his knees praising and worshipping God three times a day and he resolved that nothing was going to change that. It cost him a night in the lion’s den, but God protected him and shut the lion’s mouth. The next morning, King Darius saw no harm was done to Daniel. He recognized that the God Daniel worshipped was indeed God.

Philippians 4:8-9 – “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.’ ” When we think bad of others, we are dishonoring God. We are to take every thought captive. – 2 Corinthians 10:5. Will you resolve with me to think good of others and pray for our leaders? We won’t be perfect at it, we will have days. But God is gracious, just and willing to forgive us. – 1 John 1:9

God still sits on the throne, He is in control and He is sovereign.

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January 18, 2021 – Isaiah 43:18-19

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“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Isaiah 43:18-19

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Resolving – Living Life on Purpose

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Could resolving to live life on purpose reduce anxiety? Could it reduce the fear of the mountains we face? Who isn’t experiencing anxiety these days? We are all experiencing it on different levels at different times. From making simple decisions as to what will I wear today to what’s our world gonna look like in six months?

What’s causing anxiety and stress for you today? Do you feel like you have no choices? Too many choices? Last week we saw Daniel resolving or choosing not to eat the choice foods from the king’s table. Where do you think he was experiencing anxiety? Was it being true to God or in refusing to eat the king’s food? There were consequences to either choice. What or who do you think he was more anxious about?

God had a purpose for Daniel and Daniel chose to live that life on purpose for God. Daniel feared God more than King Nebuchadnezzer. Daniel knew the consequences of not continuing to remain faithful to God. Resolving or choosing to remain faithful to God eliminated the fear and consequences of that choice. What did Daniel have to fear if he knew he was remaining faithful to God?

King Nebuchadnezzer couldn’t deny Daniel and his three friends were in better health after the ten day trial – Daniel 1:17-21. Daniel resolved not to defile himself, to remain true to God- Daniel 1:8. So what if we applied resolving to how we do things, how we live life? Would that help reduce anxiety in your life. What helps you remain faithful, what have you resolved to do in your walk with God?

From resolving how we handle ourselves in situations to how we choose to remain faithful to God can help us live lives of integrity and amidst anxiety and in chaos. Taking a test causes anxiety for many students. But the student who is diligent in their studies and in some cases seeks a tutor for those difficult subjects will have more confidence in passing a test. The student has resolved or planned to pass by choosing to take the steps needed to pass. The same can be applied to our walk with God. What do you need to do to ensure you are being anchored in God’s Word? Does an app help you, joining a small group at church or an accountability partner? What helps you keep on track with any New Year resolution, fitness trackers, a workout partner, joining gym? What keeps you on track with how you live life, controlling anger and emotions, behaviors, how you share and live out your faith?

There will be challenges this year that will threaten your resolutions. Your walk with God will be challenged. There will situations that will arise and cause you anxiety. What can you do to help limit or eliminate the anxiety and set you up for a victory? What will you resolve to do this year to anchor in Hope, anchor in God’s Word and share your faith? Will you choose resolve and live a life of integrity?

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January 11, 2021 – 2 Corinthians 5:17

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

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New Year and Resolutions

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Resolutions. Every year we all set new goals to eat better, to exercise more, to read more, to learn more, to give more, etc. And by the time March comes around we find ourselves derailed and so far off course we tend to throw in the towel and give up. Some people are more disciplined and they just pick up where they left off and continue on like nothing happened and I applaud them. They are the kind of folks that are resolute; they have integrity and motivation.

Depending on what it is that I have set my mind to, I can become derailed and then pick up where I left off. Like being organized. I can start out strong and before you know life happens, I get busy and anything that was once organized now looks like a war zone. But if I want to continue to locate items and make cleaning up easier, I can jump back on the wagon and clean up like nothing ever happened. Working out, well that’s one area in which I can easily fail. My workouts become sporadic at best. Consistency, HA! Out the window!

But, Daniel and his friends in the Bible is a great example of resolution, integrity, and consistency. Daniel was kidnapped, taken from his home, from his family, from all that he ever knew, and taken to Babylon by the order of King Nebuchadnezzer to serve in the the king’s palace. There at the palace they would be trained for three years. During this training Daniel was given choice food from the king’s table. This food was rich, fatty food that was not a part of Daniel’s Jewish heritage.

But in Daniel 1:8, “Daniel resolved not to defile himself” by not eating the food from the king’s table. Instead he asked to eat what he had been eating and then after ten days Daniel and his friends would be compared to the others who had eaten from the king’s table. It was proven that Daniel and his friends were in better condition than the others who had eaten the king’s food. In Daniel 6:10 – “Daniel always prayed to God three times every day. Three times every day, he bowed down on his knees to pray and praise God.” Daniel was consistent.

You may know the rest of the story where Daniel ends up in the lion’s den for not bowing down to King Darius. Daniel was found guilty of not obeying the law and the penalty was to be thrown into the lion’s den. But, God recognized Daniel’s integrity and devotion to Him. in Verse 21 we see where God shut the mouths of the lions and Daniel’s life was spared. This caused Kind Darius to recognize who the God of this universe is and issued a decree that everyone was to worship Daniel’s God – verse 25. I encourage you to read the first six chapters of Daniel if you’re not familiar with the book of Daniel.

2020 has passed and we are all hoping for a better 2021. I can’t predict what the future holds, but I know this, our faith will be challenged and the resolutions we’ve made will be challenged. How will you resolve to get back on track when you are derailed, when you are tempted to cheat on your diet or workout? Or how will you resolve when your faith is tested? I know the God I serve, the God we serve as Christians, will deliver us from whatever challenge we face – Daniel 3:17. We can resolve and have integrity as Daniel did and trust God.

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January 4, 2021 – Lamentations 3:22-23

The Kedge Anchor

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NRSV)

God’s mercies are new every morning. Each day God gives us is another day for us to glorify Him. We are sinners let’s face it, we fail everyday in our own strength. We miss the mark daily, we can never measure up to holiness without the Blood of Jesus Christ. God gives us a new day to start over, to get things right with Him. God is a God of second and third chances, of many, many chances. We get a “do over” everyday. After 2020 we need a “do over.” Wouldn’t you agree?

What new things are you going to do with each new day God has given you? What new things are you going to do that will draw you nearer to God? How will you kedge in 2021?

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