Life delivered

 

^{“All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pains…. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.” – Romans 8: 23}  

WAITING tries our patience; and waiting for God is also trying. We would far rather things happened when we want them to. But those who groan as they wait for God must do so with a longing for what is to come. Some Bible translations, like the one above, say we must be like an expectant mother waiting for the birth of her baby. So we must be ready while we wait…know that the Lord will deliver and He’s probably bringing us up to speed preparing us for what is to come.

Young arrows

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.

 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.” -  Psalm 127: 3 - 4

YOUTH is a precious but passing thing and these days it is filled globally with more challenges and dangers than ever before. Young people have a very special role to play, both now and in the years ahead. The world needs their vibrancy and hope, their dreams and the aspirations. But youthful enthusiasm needs protection, guidance, and discipline, more so than ever before. Christ shows us the way, but let’s pray that more moms and dads set the example that inspires the emerging generations to shape the world of the future in a godly way that overcomes the spreading worldview of secular cynicism. Our younger ones are His arrows into the future and must fly straight.

Love wins

“Blessed are they
    whose sins are forgiven,
    whose wrongs are pardoned.” – Romans 4: 7

GOD’S forgiveness is complete. When you err and make bad decisions usually hurting others, it can hurt you too so that you ask for forgiveness. Hopefully, those you hurt forgive you, accept your regrets, and the relationship is restored. But it is usually hard for the people you hurt to forget what you did; it hovers and hurts. But it is not like that with God. He forgives and forgets. It’s done and dusted. Love wins.

Stick to the path

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly...

Though they stumble, they will never fall,
    for the Lord holds them by the hand.” – Psalm 37: 23 – 24

OUR good intentions do not always have good results. It’s tough to stay positive and focused in troubled times, when things we value are going to the dogs. But we must avoid getting desperate, and fall. The psalm above is an ongoing reminder that though we stumble, we will not crash and burn, for the Lord watches over His people and supports them with His mighty hand. He wants us to keep faith when things get tough, and to keep on the path He set before us so that others can follow. Hebrews 12: 13 tells us to “Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak, and lame will not fall but become strong.” The joy of the Lord is our strength, and He delights in the kind of faith endures even when others want to give up.

Living examples

 

“For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all…” – 1 Thessalonians 1: 5

WHEN you feel that you’re not yet living up to God’s purpose for you, take heart; it’s a good state of mind because it means you’re going to have to get closer to Him, and more deeply into His Word. The greater your faith in His Word, in Christ, the more the Holy Spirit will lead you. It all depends on Him, and on our faith in Him. So let’s try to get closer. His Word says He makes everything work together for those who love Him; so we too can become examples of His power and love.

Keep on climbing

 

Hi there – A word for you today about overcoming the difficulties that face you:

“We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. – Acts 14: 22

WE can’t choose our hardships, nor can we manage to steer clear of them all. But with God’s help, we are protected, and we can still choose our response to the things that stress us. He sent Christ to help us transcend these difficulties and see them as a stairway – however steep and tiring – to heaven. He wants us to respond with hope, not despair, with innovation and integrity, with peace and trust in Him - not with worry. Our troubles are meant to nurture Christ’s kindness and caring, not our own resentment and anger. God wants our obstacles to build us up not break us down. Through faith and endurance, we can overcome - and the reward is joyful and eternal.

The protection of youth

 

“But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” - Matthew 19: 14

MUCH of the world is bowed in mourning as gunmen’s terror attacks at schools have brought death and agony in America and elsewhere, on campuses occupied predominantly by helpless youngsters. This public horror is terrible reminder of the vulnerability of youth - at all its stages between birth and adulthood - to the evil forces that stalk them in ways ranging from physical depravity to human trafficking and as targets of political terrorism. We adults must raise them in a way that protects them with exceedingly great care. But whatever other precautions you take, don’t prevent them from being curious about Jesus. God embraces the holy innocence of the young and their need for love and protection. Those who “stop them”, as the scripture above advises, from coming to Jesus will suffer God’s wrath.