Today the country is observing Veterans’ Day in honor of those who have served this country to protect our liberties and freedoms. Without the valiant and willful sacrifices of these faithful soldiers, America would be a far different place. They deserve much respect and praise.
But today I would like you to consider some other soldiers who are just as worthy of our honor and respect: the Soldiers for the Lord. These are faithful Christians who have been obedient to their true Commander-in-Chief, the Lord Jesus Christ, and have willingly followed God’s lead to love others, to intercede on their behalf, and to defend the Gospel.
Being a Soldier for the Lord is not easy. The duties consist of interacting in enemy territory, sharing a message of hope that isn’t always welcome. It requires long hours of prayer and fasting to intercede for the lost, and it requires a selfless duty to serve others who too often aren’t thankful at all.
We are to be these Soldiers. As believers in the One True God, we need to put on our full armor, as described in Ephesians 6, and moved forward according to the Lord’s directions. We need to trust God for strength, supplies, and sustenance. We need to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow the Lord without complaint and in full obedience, receiving little reward until our service here on earth is completed.
Have you signed up for the Lord’s army? It is an honor to serve the Lord. Come join the ranks and become a true Soldier for the Lord.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
Boxes Galore
My living room is full of boxes. One would think I'm packing up to move, but actually my family is preparing for a garage sale.
It's amazing how much stuff we have. At one time I thought most of these things were essential, but since they've been packed away in storage for a few years, I've come to the conclusion that I don't need the majority of these items. So I'm sorting through the boxes, pulling out a few important things like extra sheets, hand towels, and baking dishes. I will be selling everything else.
Our lives sometimes carry excessive baggage. Just like all our extra stuff, we accumulate habits, attitudes, and ideas that we really don't need. Every once in awhile we need to sift and sort through everything, keeping only the necessities. The best way to do this is to ask the Lord for help. He is the best purger in the business. He can show us exactly what we need to get rid of and what we need to keep for future use.
Looking to get rid of a few things you've been keeping in storage? Let the Lord help you clean house.
It's amazing how much stuff we have. At one time I thought most of these things were essential, but since they've been packed away in storage for a few years, I've come to the conclusion that I don't need the majority of these items. So I'm sorting through the boxes, pulling out a few important things like extra sheets, hand towels, and baking dishes. I will be selling everything else.
Our lives sometimes carry excessive baggage. Just like all our extra stuff, we accumulate habits, attitudes, and ideas that we really don't need. Every once in awhile we need to sift and sort through everything, keeping only the necessities. The best way to do this is to ask the Lord for help. He is the best purger in the business. He can show us exactly what we need to get rid of and what we need to keep for future use.
Looking to get rid of a few things you've been keeping in storage? Let the Lord help you clean house.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Recognizing Sovereignty
Were you happy or disappointed with the Presidential Election on Tuesday? No matter how we may feel, we now have to accept that a new president is forthcoming, with changes to be expected.
We must, however, remember that God placed this man into this position; therefore, we must respect him because of the office that he will shortly hold. Romans 13:1 says, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
We must recognize that if God reigns supreme in our lives, then we have to accept His sovereign will. He can see the past, present, and future since He exists beyond time. He knows exactly what will happen in the coming days, months, and years. It’s hard for us because we aren’t omniscient like the Lord. We just have to trust Him, day by day.
Make sure you’ve made God the Lord of your life. Accept His sovereignty, and trust completely in Him, no matter what changes the world brings.
We must, however, remember that God placed this man into this position; therefore, we must respect him because of the office that he will shortly hold. Romans 13:1 says, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
We must recognize that if God reigns supreme in our lives, then we have to accept His sovereign will. He can see the past, present, and future since He exists beyond time. He knows exactly what will happen in the coming days, months, and years. It’s hard for us because we aren’t omniscient like the Lord. We just have to trust Him, day by day.
Make sure you’ve made God the Lord of your life. Accept His sovereignty, and trust completely in Him, no matter what changes the world brings.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Mid-Week Reflection
"I would have lost heart,
unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness
of the Lord
In the land of the living.
Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!"
Psalm 27:13-14
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Back-Seat Driving
If you’ve ever driven anyone anywhere, you know there is always a chance of getting critiqued by back-seat drivers. “Turn here. You’re going too fast. Maybe you should have let me drive. You’re too close to that car.” It’s frustrating driving this way because it’s easy to lose your concentration, sometimes causing you to make even more mistakes.
I wonder if God considers us back-seat drivers. Instead of letting Him drive, we want to grab the keys and head out in any direction we please. Sometimes we want to turn right when God knows it’s best to turn left. Sometimes we want to step on the gas pedal to follow our own green light, when actually God has a red light showing and wants us to keep our foot on the brake.
His gentle prods to follow His guidance can be misinterpreted as bothersome instead of loving. If only we’d relinquish the steering wheel and sit in the back where we belong, we’d be so much better off. He would head us in the right direction with no fear of getting lost since He never loses his concentration.
Are you trying to drive yourself when you know that God should be doing the driving? Sit back, relax, and let God take charge. You’ll always get much better mileage with Him.
I wonder if God considers us back-seat drivers. Instead of letting Him drive, we want to grab the keys and head out in any direction we please. Sometimes we want to turn right when God knows it’s best to turn left. Sometimes we want to step on the gas pedal to follow our own green light, when actually God has a red light showing and wants us to keep our foot on the brake.
His gentle prods to follow His guidance can be misinterpreted as bothersome instead of loving. If only we’d relinquish the steering wheel and sit in the back where we belong, we’d be so much better off. He would head us in the right direction with no fear of getting lost since He never loses his concentration.
Are you trying to drive yourself when you know that God should be doing the driving? Sit back, relax, and let God take charge. You’ll always get much better mileage with Him.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Beware the Infomercial
Having come from a background in film, I view audio-visuals with a different light than the average viewer. I am quick to note errors in composition and continuity. I notice how many different camera shots were used within a scene. I can detect whether someone is singing live or lip singing; and I can tell if a reality show has in fact been staged.
Media is a powerful tool that can persuade the masses, making myths seem like facts and facts seem like myths. I place Infomercials in this persuasive category. The whole presentation is to get you to buy their product. Everything is orchestrated. Have you noticed that not one single person dislikes the merchandise? Infomercials are extremely expensive, so you don’t want any negative comments if you are paying that amount of money.
Since anything visual can be made to look good, or can be edited to say basically anything you want it to say, I am very skeptical of infomercials. My kids, on the other hand, can easily be persuaded to buy into the hype. Sure, it may be a good product, but I’d want to do a bit more independent research before I agree to buy into it.
Hitler took great advantage of selling himself to the public through the manipulation of media. His cinematographer, Leni Riefenstahl, was a master of creating beautiful films that made Hitler look like a man committed to the salvation of Germany.
So I say beware the infomercial. Depending on what it is trying to sell, you can easily be fooled into believing something completely opposite from the truth.
Media is a powerful tool that can persuade the masses, making myths seem like facts and facts seem like myths. I place Infomercials in this persuasive category. The whole presentation is to get you to buy their product. Everything is orchestrated. Have you noticed that not one single person dislikes the merchandise? Infomercials are extremely expensive, so you don’t want any negative comments if you are paying that amount of money.
Since anything visual can be made to look good, or can be edited to say basically anything you want it to say, I am very skeptical of infomercials. My kids, on the other hand, can easily be persuaded to buy into the hype. Sure, it may be a good product, but I’d want to do a bit more independent research before I agree to buy into it.
Hitler took great advantage of selling himself to the public through the manipulation of media. His cinematographer, Leni Riefenstahl, was a master of creating beautiful films that made Hitler look like a man committed to the salvation of Germany.
So I say beware the infomercial. Depending on what it is trying to sell, you can easily be fooled into believing something completely opposite from the truth.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Deception Calls
I keep getting phone calls with recorded messages that tell me this is my last chance to adjust my credit card balances with low interest rates. The funny thing is, I have no credit card balances. My husband and I don’t use our credit cards. These calls are deceptive ways to trick the consumer to buy into someone else’s program so that the new program can receive the interest payments.
I have also received calls telling me my car warranty is about to expire, so I need to call back right away if I want to extend my warranty. Here again, another deception since we don’t have warranties on our cars. I am amazed at how people will try to bend over backwards to trick and deceive in order to get the business.
It’s hard to know what’s true anymore. You can’t believe everything you hear or see or read. Unless you really scrutinize things, you can get yourself into big trouble. Just look at the mortgage messes that have arisen these past few months.
Thankfully, the Bible, is truth. It can be scrutinized and checked out and it will always pass the test. And this is so because it is the inspired Word of God. Because of the trustworthiness of the Bible, I have reliable promises that I can stand on. There are no tricks or deceptive ads or false reports. You get a loving God reaching out to a fallen world offering Himself as a sacrifice for those He created.
Looking to hang up on the deception? Trust God’s Word and you will find truth.
I have also received calls telling me my car warranty is about to expire, so I need to call back right away if I want to extend my warranty. Here again, another deception since we don’t have warranties on our cars. I am amazed at how people will try to bend over backwards to trick and deceive in order to get the business.
It’s hard to know what’s true anymore. You can’t believe everything you hear or see or read. Unless you really scrutinize things, you can get yourself into big trouble. Just look at the mortgage messes that have arisen these past few months.
Thankfully, the Bible, is truth. It can be scrutinized and checked out and it will always pass the test. And this is so because it is the inspired Word of God. Because of the trustworthiness of the Bible, I have reliable promises that I can stand on. There are no tricks or deceptive ads or false reports. You get a loving God reaching out to a fallen world offering Himself as a sacrifice for those He created.
Looking to hang up on the deception? Trust God’s Word and you will find truth.
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