Never Give Up

No matter how yucky or depressed you may feel on a particular day, you must (not "should", but "must")...

GET UP - No hitting the snooze alarm; you will only feel worse. Set your alarm for a later time if you want more sleep and get up immediately when it goes off.

DRESS UP - Even if you work from home, which includes moms of young children, get out of your PJs or workout clothes and dress like a million bucks. That shows you mean business and it WILL affect your attitude and productivity. Dressing up also shows respect for those around you, as well as yourself.

SHOW UP - Hey, you've got other people depending on you, whether it's your children or clients. They need you to show up and be your best.

NEVER GIVE UP - Duh! Just... keep... going. You've got this! (Philippians 4:13)

source: FB friend

Not a hair of your head will perish

If the Gospel message is good news, then why do so many people treat Christians with contempt and hostility for their beliefs and practices? 

Jesus warns his followers that they will be confronted with wickedness, false teaching, persecution, as well as the temptation to renounce their faith when it is put to the test.

restore life, gives life, 

Satan destroys and kills - God restores and gives life

The real enemy of the Gospel - the good news of Jesus Christ - is Satan (also called Lucifer), the powerful leader of the fallen angels who rebelled against God and who were cast out of heaven. Satan opposes God and all who follow his rule of peace and righteousness (moral goodness) on the earth. Jesus calls Satan a "murderer" who turns brother against brother and the "father of lies" who twists the truth and speaks falsehood (John 8:44). Satan not only opposes God's rule, he seeks to destroy all who would obey God. Satan will use any means possible to turn people away from God. He tempts people through envy, deception, hatred, and fear to provoke hostility towards those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

What is Jesus' response to hostility and persecution? Love, forbearance, and forgiveness. Only love - the love which is rooted in God's great compassion and faithfulness - can overcome prejudice, hatred, and envy. God's love purifies our heart and mind of all that would divide and tear people apart. Knowing God as our compassionate Father and loving God's word of truth and righteousness (moral goodness) is essential for overcoming evil. Jesus tells us that we do not need to fear those who would oppose us or treat us harshly for following the Lord Jesus. He promises to give us supernatural strength, wisdom, and courage as we take a stand for our faith and witness to the truth and love of Christ.

The Gospel is good news for the whole world because it is God's eternal word of truth, love, pardon, and salvation (being set free from sin and evil) through his Son, Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus has won the victory for us through his atoning death on the cross for our sins and his rising from the grave - his resurrection power that brings abundant life and restoration for us. That is why the Gospel has power to set people free from sin, fear and death, and bring peace, pardon, and new life.

Endurance never gives up hope in God

Jesus tells his disciples that if they endure to the end they will gain their lives - they will inherit abundant life and lasting happiness with God. Endurance is an essential strength which God gives to those who put their trust in him. Endurance is the patience which never gives up hope, never yields to despair or hatred. Patience is long-suffering because it looks beyond the present difficulties and trials and sees the reward which comes to those who persevere with hope and trust in God. That is why godly endurance is more than human effort. It is first and foremost a supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit which enables us to bear up under any trial or temptation.

Endurance is linked with godly hope - the supernatural assurance that we will see God face to face and inherit all the promises he has made. Jesus is our supreme model and pioneer who endured the cross for our sake (Hebrews 12:2). "God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Jesus willingly shed his blood for us - to win for us pardon and peace with God. Our joy and privilege is to take up our cross each day to follow the Lord Jesus.

True martyrs live and die as witnesses of Christ and the Gospel of peace 

The word "martyr" in the New Testament Greek means "witness". The Book of Revelation says that "Jesus was the faithful witness ...who freed us from our sins by his blood" (Revelation 1:5). Tertullian, a second century lawyer who converted when he saw Christians singing as they went out to die by the hands of their persecutors, exclaimed: "The blood of the martyrs is seed." Their blood is the seed of new Christians, the seed of the church.

The third century bishop, Cyprian said: "When persecution comes, God's soldiers are put to the test, and heaven is open to martyrs. We have not enlisted in an army to think of peace and to decline battle, for we see that the Lord has taken first place in the conflict." True martyrs live and die as witnesses of the Gospel. They overcome their enemies through persevering hope and courage, undying love and forbearance, kindness, goodness, and compassion.

God may call some of us to be martyrs who shed their blood for bearing witness to Jesus Christ. But for most of us, our call is to be 'dry' martyrs who bear testimony to the joy and power of the Gospel in the midst of daily challenges, contradictions, temptations and adversities which come our way as we follow the Lord Jesus.

We do not need to fear our adversaries 

What will attract others to the truth and power of the Gospel? When they see Christians loving their enemies, being joyful in suffering, patient in adversity, pardoning injuries, and showing comfort and compassion to the hopeless and the helpless. Jesus tells us that we do not need to fear our adversaries. God will give us sufficient grace, strength, and wisdom to face any trial and to answer any challenge to our faith. Are you ready to lay down your life for Christ and to bear witness to the joy and freedom of the Gospel?

Lord Jesus Christ, by your atoning death on the cross you have redeemed the world. Fill me with joyful hope, courage, and boldness to witness the truth of your love for sinners and your victory over the powers of sin, Satan, and death.

source: From the desk of Don Schwager, 

hosted by Kairos Europe and the Middle East

Storms in our lives, never give up, put all hope and trust in God. Seek Him and Call upon Him

Trials and difficulty are the storms in our life and will happen in our lives from the day we are born and breathed our first breath, as in the Job 14:1-2, "Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble. They spring up like flowers and wither away, like fleeting shadows, they do not endure."

There are 3 stages in the storm of life.

1. Those are heading into the storm, trying to avoid it but are sucked into it.

2. Those in midst of the storm, fighting our lives to overcome and get out of it.

3. Those survive out of the storm, thanking God, smiling and victorious over the storm.

When we realise that we are heading towards a storm that is beyond our avoidance, we should call upon the Lord as we love Him and trust in His will as He is our creator, "I will rescue him, I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him, I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him." (Psalm 91:14-15).

When we experience our storms of life. In these times we seek God and cry out to Him for His mercy, "Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed" (Psalm 57:1) and again when they cried, He save them, "they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress." (Psalm 107:28).

Trust, and get on my knees, and cry out to the Lord as David did, God is always faithful and steadfast in our storms, "He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me, God sends forth his love and his faithfulness." (Psalm 53:3). God works all His wonders through Jesus His Son, find Jesus above your storms, seek Him and ask Him to pray for you to the His Father God. God is in the storm with us. You’re in the storm with His presence and you’re in the storm for his purpose, therefore He will bring you out of the storm.

God has promise that He will be with us and to deliver us in our storms, "For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear, I will help you." (Isaiah 41:13). Again God promises, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, the flames will not set you ablaze." (Isaiah 43:2). God has a blessing for you even in the midst of your storms!

On overcoming and surviving our storms, we must thank, praise and glory the Lord for all He has done, as it is by His will we are saved, "I will praise you, Lord, among the nations, I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens, your faithfulness reaches to the skies." (Psalm 57:9-10)

"Praise You In This Storm"

~ Casting Crowns ~

I was sure by now

God You would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

[Chorus:]

And I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

I remember when

I stumbled in the wind

You heard my cry to you

And you raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on

If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls

I barely hear You whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

[Chorus]

I lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord

The Maker of Heaven and Earth

[Chorus x2]

Writer(s): Bernie Herms, John Mark Hall

Copyright: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, Word Music LLC, Banahama Tunes