faith – Page 28 – The Arrow Preacher

Do you Walk the Walk?

July 6, 2018July 6, 2018 thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

Do you Walk the Walk?

I’ve been thinking about who I am. I have been thinking about who others think I am. As my path has changed drastically in the last two years, it’s difficult to know if I’m being judged by those around me or not. I have often thought people would not support me on my journey because of one major thing, they know my past. In scripture we see as Jesus is run out of his own home town largely because people knew his background, his parents, and couldn’t believe a man of his background would have any authority to speak on such matters. If the Son of God was judged by his parentage and siblings, it’s no wonder I have often felt my path could and will most likely be attacked in the upcoming years. Being prepared for it, I supposed is better then being blindsided. However, I have hoped for affirmation, and in my journey I have received it. Those whom I consider spiritual counsel have affirmed my decision and encouraged my continued path.

It’s always a good idea to seek counsel before making big life changes. Proverbs 12:15“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” Proverbs 11:14“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 15:22 “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.”Proverbs 19:20-21“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Each of these verses talk to the heart of wisdom. We as sinful people can be swayed easily by our own desire, and we can be blinded from seeing truth. This isn’t to say your ideas aren’t good intentions, but that doesn’t mean every good intended idea is good for you. Before I chose to pursue Ordination, I decided to find out if I would be a good fit, and to see if I could do it. I sought my closest advisors and will be following their guidance. I expected my friends to tell me the truth. I expect them to not let me take the car down a one-way street. I expect them to love me enough to be honest. I expect them to be encouraging and uplifting even if the truth isn’t what I want to hear. I expect myself to survive because I don’t make big decisions lightly.

When we are walking as a Christian we are expected by God to act like it. Act is not the right word; we are expected to be like Christ. So many people act like Christians. They walk the isle, they sing the songs, they know the church prayers, but the moment they leave the church their Jesus gets put back on the counter and it’s not picked up till later in the week. How many people have to brush the dust off before Sunday service? When you talk to Christians how many know scripture? When you dissect a Christians life how many have blatant sin in their lives? Now, I’m not here to judge. What people do in their lives is between them and God. I would say though, if you think saying the words, “I believe in Christ.” Is enough to save you from the fire, you’re sorely mistaken. Scripture says many will be wolves in sheep’s clothing. If we worship out of habit and not because we are compelled to do so out of love for the Holy Spirit then perhaps we need to take a good long hard look into our lives. If that’s the case you need to ask where your heart is. If you’re living a life of sex, drugs and rock and roll, you may not be following Christ.

It can be difficult to turn away from temptation and sin. When we are tempted it’s important to keep our witness. It’s important that we fight that temptation and it’s simple, we must pray in the name of Jesus that temptation flees from us. When people hear your name what image comes to mind? We all sin, and we all fall short of Christ, but it’s not about our shortcomings, it’s about our every day walk. People will always be judgmental, but the difference is like this: It’s well known every Thursday you go to the bar and drink till you can’t stand and you need to be taken home by friends. Every Friday night you’re at the strip club. Every other week you have a new sexual partner. If these examples sound like you, maybe you’re not following with Christ as you should. This isn’t to say those people wouldn’t be at church on Wednesday, or Sundays, but it’s not if you’re in church that matters. What truly matters is your own personal walk with Christ. You have to answer for you, and at the foot of the cross you’re on your own. It’s best to wear your faith on your sleeve so other see you as different. It’s best for people to ask you about your faith, your salvation, then to look at you as a disgrace to the name of Christian. Anyone can turn around, and everyone has a story and testimony. I’ve seen people change, and I’ve heard stories of people changing through Christ. If you’re walking the wrong path, it’s never to early to change. Don’t just walk the walk out of habit, be the walk, live the walk, and you might just inspire others to walk with Christ.

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It’s a wonderful thing to be able to share the blessings and teachings of Christ with all of you. For those who read my works in Christ, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Recently I came across an amazing home business based in Travel and Entertainment that’s the real deal. The savings found through this business are amazing. If you shop online, like to go to movies, or travel, this gift card for you can save you up to 50%. Please enjoy your gift as a symbol of my appreciation and gratitude. God Bless.

Temptations

July 5, 2018 thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

Temptations

What do you struggle with? I think everyone suffers with some kind of temptation. Temptations can be difficult to ignore or fight. In scripture we see Jesus tempted by Satan after 40 days in the desert. Those temptations were to appeal to Jesus’s physical pain, his power, and his pride. These are often 3 things we see tempt us every day. The 4^this physical satisfaction. Often times we can be tempted by things that on the surface seem to make physical or emotional pain going away, by making our bodies or our minds feel good, but it’s only masking the symptom. Much like modern day pain relievers, you can take an Advil for pain, and while it will help with the pain, once it wears off the pain comes right back. You must find the cause and deal with the cause. We cannot get bit by a spider and put a Band-Aid over it and expect that’s going to make it all better. You can cover it all you want, but left untreated some spider bites can be fatal.

We see in Matthew 4:1-11 the temptation of Jesus. Matthew 4:1-11“4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” 5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not [a]tempt the Lord your God.’ ” 8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, [b]“Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”

In scripture we see Jesus repel Satan each time. Jesus turned to scripture and at each temptation repelled Satan’s advances. When we are tempted do we drop to our knees in prayer? Demons cannot stand before Christ. I have found in my walk when I am tempted if I pray, and I mean really pray, my temptations subside and I’m able to carry on with my day. If temptations such as drug use, alcohol, online pornography, gambling or other addictions plague you, first and foremost seek help. Second, pray and talk to God about finding the piece of your hearts that’s missing that you’re ultimately trying to fill. We all struggle, and we will all fall, but that doesn’t mean you have to allow that temptation to have power over you. We cannot allow ourselves to bend a knee to be controlled by substance, or addiction, or poor decisions. We must learn how to repel these attacks, and focus on our walk with the Lord. When the Apostle Paul wrote to the city of Ephesus he explained the protections from Satan’s fiery attacks would need to be the whole set of Armor. Ephesians 6:10-18 tell us from head to toe we must be covered by the Holy Spirit. We must not allow our minds to be corrupted. We must protect our heart, and never allow our heart to be deceived by sinful matters. We must allow our feet to dig in and never loose ground to the oncoming attacks. We must hold up the word as our shield to repel the flaming arrows. We must poise the buckler and ready ourselves for battle. No matter what the attack is, or where it comes from, we must learn to stand tall as a warrior. We have the power because we know, if we are with God, no one can stand against us. No matter what happens to us in this life, we are promised salvation to all those who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the father, that he was crucified and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of scripture. He is seated at the right hand of the father. He watches over all of us from Heaven and we are never alone as the Holy Spirit is always with us.

Stand firm against sin and temptation. Don’t fall victim to the lies and never allow your heart to be tempted to harden. Anger and hatred are powerful, and as sin can tempt you to do bad things, you can be tempted to anger just as easily. Fight back with the only true weapon we have, and that’s the Word of God. Rise above the sinful worldview and know that just because the world deems something is okay, doesn’t mean it is. Don’t allow sin to control you, and don’t allow your power to be taken away but it. You have the power of the Holy Spirit inside you, and when you are with God, nothing can truly break you. Find your foundation in the Lord and build your life from there. Always put God first and the rest will fall into place. I’m not saying there won’t be hardships and trials, but you will find your purpose when you walk with the Lord. Temptations will have no power over you.

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You Think It’s Hot?

July 3, 2018 thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

You Think It’s Hot?

It’s been hot here in North Carolina. It’s been in the 90’s and the humidity has been 70% or higher. We complain, or rather, I complain about the heat and humidity here in this state. See, my body doesn’t like humidity. I can step outside, do nothing, sit in the shade, and yet, I will soak through a shirt in just minutes. It’s discouraging and frustrating that I can’t do what I like doing in the summer. I think about how miserable I’ve been but then I think about my salvation, and realize while I may be miserable today, this life is fleeting, and I don’t have to be miserable in the afterlife. We see what Hell will be in the book of Revelation 21:8“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” I know when I think about the suffering I go through now, being in a fiery lake of burning sulfur for eternity just doesn’t sound pleasant.

One thing I have heard so often is, people believe in Christ, and often say they are good people. I have heard people tell me that if they do enough good work, be basically a good person, that they would be able to get into heaven. Those who truly submit to the Lord, to love the Lord are ones who will be allowed to enter the gates of perfection. Matthew 7:21-23 21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ While the authorship of Matthew is not known, the canonicity of Matthew has never been in question. Jesus would prophesize the coming generations and for many the path doesn’t end well. As Jesus consistently said many would come, few will enter. And when they come and get turned away, their path is expressed in Matthew 25:46“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” So many people say I’m not that bad of a person, I’ve never killed anyone, never stolen anything, etc, but when you look at the first sin, all the way back to Adam and Eve, what sin was committed in the beginning? The first sin was eating of the fruit of good and evil, the tree of knowledge. Eve didn’t have to kick puppies to get there, or break into a max security parameter to get to the tree, instead she could walk straight to the tree, reach up, and grab the fruit. The sin was saying ‘No’ to God. Telling God our way is better, and God can’t control me. The sin in the garden wasn’t inherently ‘bad’ by our standard, but at the foot of the cross all sin is created equal. If that particular action doomed the entire race of man to an eternity of Hell, what do you think your sins will cost you if you don’t submit to Christ?

I’ve been to one of the hottest places on the planet and between Iraq, Kuwait, and Death Valley, I’ve seen hot. The hot we experience on this planet is nothing compared to what an eternity awaits us if we don’t give our hearts to the Lord. I for one would rather not spend that much time in Hell. I’ve seen war, and the statement ‘war is hell’ while perhaps it is hell on this earth, the Hell we are promised if we are turned away from the gates of perfection is beyond our understanding of suffering. Don’t believe the hype that if you are mostly good you’re saved. Jesus is not fire insurance, and is not a ‘get out of jail free’ card. Those who think if they walk a walk, and pray a prayer, then they will be saved, this is absolutely not true. While I am in no position to say if you’re saved or not, that’s between you and God. However, I would urge you to take a long hard talk with Jesus Christ and work on if you’re saved or not. If you come to decide you’re not truly saved, there is no better time then now. Remember John 3:16“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Follow the Lord Jesus Christ, and let God into your heart and fill you with the Holy Spirit. Give yourself to the Lord completely, and submit whole heartedly.

Okay I Lied

July 2, 2018 thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

Okay I Lied:

When I woke up this morning, slightly groggy, I rubbed my eyes and swung my legs over the bed thinking to myself, ‘okay time to publish today’s post.’ That’s when I realized I didn’t have one, and I didn’t really know what to do with myself. As I went throughout the day, the nagging sensation to write and post stayed with me. I was thinking about a new tattoo I want, and while I was thinking about that I was thinking of peoples moral compass. I’ve seen people justify so many horrible things and somehow felt okay with those decisions. Recently I was asked by someone (mind you I told them my advice would be based on scripture only) out of two men, which do I think she should focus on. One man was married with kids, the other had kids, and both worked with that individual. Obviously scripture tells you not to mess around in someone else’s playground. It truly has astounded me over the years how people justify bad behavior. I knew someone one time who would sleep with married men and never bat an eyelash. The though process was they weren’t the ones cheating, and the married guy was the one making the choice. They truly didn’t feel it was wrong to be an accomplice to cheating. Which way is North on your compass? Which way do you follow along your path? I’ve seen people’s compasses broken and spin every which way, and I’ve seen people’s compasses point almost North, but just a shy bit off. The thing is though, no matter how far off of Jesus you are, if you aren’t right there, then you mine as well not be there at all.

Christians who are cold, or luke warm Christians are not really where they should be. When you look at Christians today and they are in all manner of trouble can we truly call ourselves Christians when we don’t act like, or behave like Christ would have? If our compass doesn’t point North to Christ then we are lost just the same. If you’re in the military and you shoot an azimuth and you’re off by even a degree, it can place you miles off course. In the military we are taught to check and recheck your azimuth every couple hundred meters. We shoot a course and then pick an object within view we can walk to on our path, and then when we get there, shoot again. This is no different then life. We shoot a course of Christ, and when choices come up in our life, we should be checking our Jesus Compass, and making sure we’re still on the right path. This is for decisions big and small. It’s even more so when you’re talking about making a choice that’s in active sin. When we walk with Christ we are ambassadors of Christ, and we need to make sure we live up to the name of Christian. If we expect the world to change and be a world of loving and caring people under the blood of Christ, we must first be the loving and caring church. We must show a good representation of what it is to be Christ like, but we can’t do that if our compass doesn’t point to the Cross.

Check your compass people, and figure out where you stand, because if you’re not walking towards the Lord, you’re walking into Hell. Many will stand before the Lord crying out Lord Lord, and in reply, the Lord will say, ‘I do not know you.’ This isn’t meant to be harsh, but Heaven cannot have imperfection, and those who have chosen to follow their broken compass have chosen to gamble with their final destination. Set your course and check it often. Ask yourself in each decision if that decision still points you to Christ. If you’re compass is broken, I suggest you dive into scripture, talk to a pastor or priest, find Godly counsel amongst your friends, and fix your life. Don’t let the Devil’s temptations lure you off course. Like the sirens in the Odyssey, their sound is beautiful, majestic, magical, enticing, perfect to the ears, but the reality is it lures you off course and you crash into the rocks and join the thousands who’ve perished. Follow the voice of truth, and find your True North. Stand tall on your faith, and trust in Scripture to guide you home. As my days move forward I ask God, “Please God let me write just one more.”

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Seasons of Love

July 1, 2018 thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

Seasons of Love:

I’ve been thinking about the past and how I’ve gotten through the storm to sit where I do now. I feel like I’ve been climbing a mountain through storm after storm. I have watched those on the mountain with me have fallen away. I have watched as people with me have tried to cut my ropes. I’ve climbed with people that would climb off without me. In this climb I have found strength I didn’t know I had. I have shed tears of heartbreak, loss, and some in victory. I have watched as close friends have stabbed me in the back. I have watched as close friends have abandoned me with no word. In all the bad, there’s been good too. I have grown in my faith with Jesus Christ. I have found a path that has been laid in front of me by God. A path I have to hold onto and try to remain focused on is my service to God.

In the last 24 hours I was hit with something pretty big and it’s had a sizeable impact on my life. I have climbed this mountain for a long time now, and once in a while I’ve been hit with someone so hard it felt like a punch from the hulk. In times of struggle all we can do is turn to the one who can make a difference Jesus Christ. This message was supposed to be one of hope, and of change, and one of positive direction. Instead I want to talk about the seasons of love we all enter.

In 1 Corinthians 13:4we a couple words that stand out above the rest. “4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”Charity is the word Agape which is the purest form of Love in ancient Greek. There was no love greater. The next and last word I want to discuss is suffering. To endure completely, to love and not keep track of the transgressions, but to continue in the ways of love because it’s about the spirit of Love, not the benefits of what’s in it for ourselves.

Love won’t be an easy thing as it never has been, and of course it never will be. There will be days that you are fed up, you are tired, and you want to throw in the towel, but I say to you, in your heart is it love you feel? I have loved and lost, and many have asked me how I can say I love someone after all they did to me. My response is always the same, “Love suffers, and it does not keep score.” I usually give a half smile. “Love endures all things.” I always follow up with, “Forgiveness is not a suggestion, it’s a command, thus we must forgive not because they deserve it, or have earned it, but because it restores balance in our hearts with God.” Love takes effort, it takes work, and sadly if it is not cared for, the fire can go out.

As I have walked for many years up that steep mountainside I know one day I will reach the top. One day I will sit with Jesus on the edge of the summit and look out over the world below. I envision beautiful trails, and waterfalls, rainbows, and perfect animals all around for the nature lovers in Heaven. As I close my eyes and I’m taken to a place my heart has longed for, I’m reminded of the raw power I received a glimpse of for only a moment. How great it will be to enter unto Heaven and find myself exploring the perfect forests, the perfect land. I open my eyes and I’m back on the mountain clinging to the side of the rock with a long climb ahead of me. Today the storm came and all I can do is pitch the tent and ride out the storm.

Working in security I found myself doing a job I was good at, but never truly feeling fulfilled. The very rare occasions that came up for me to make a legitimate difference in someone’s life were so fleeting it never sustained the gap between them. Several weeks ago when God closed that door in my life, I realized the seasons were changing. When winter starts to dwindle and spring is coming there’s a time period when the environment is just rough. The snow has melted and the ground is soft and muddy, the clouds are still thick and gray, and nothing has started to bud with new life. Every season has a transition period and as I enter mine, I am reminded of the promise made by the Lord. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 3

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

2 a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace.

In this time of change I am going back to school, and moving along this path I have set out on. While I don’t know where this path will lead me, I do know God has laid this in front of me, and I shall not wander away. Much like Dorothy on the yellow brick road I assume there will be dangers along the way. We must learn what things are priorities, and be willing to change those priorities as needed along the way. For over a year I have placed this blog as one of my top priorities in my walk with Christ. I have been faithful in writing and in my ministry and my worship of the Lord in this forum. It’s with a heavy heart I must realize that this season is starting to change. With school on the horizon I realize I won’t be able to put as much time and energy as it’s taken to maintain this blog 7 days a week. It’s with deep sadness I must take some time to reevaluate the frequency in which I am able to post new messages. This has been a major part of my life for over a year now, and walking away is certainly not an easy thing. But as I have learned, just because the winter ends doesn’t mean you get rid of your snow boots. I will keep the blog around, and when I am able I will post new messages. Sadly, this will be the last day of the every day messages.

I want to thank those who’ve read consistently. While the traffic to my blog never reached my desired goals, I cannot deny the impact my blog has had around the world. This post is number 553. I have reached over 100 countries and I have had over 15,000 views and more then 7000 visitors. There’s no doubt in my mind, while I didn’t receive much in the way of feedback, the messages that were published reaching that many people had to make a difference to at least one person. As I continue on with my education in the pursuit of my pastoral counseling degree, I will continue to take note, to stockpile ideas, and when time allows, I will write and post again. The page will remain up and active and the prayer request page will be available. Please feel free to comment at any time on there for prayers, or you can find my email on my contact page. Go forth my brothers and sisters and continue to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to those in your lives. Be hopeful in your walk because this life is just another season, and the next one is perfection. Right now I am hunkered down on the cliff waiting for the cold brutal storm to pass, but I know, I believe, I have faith that in due time the storm will pass, and I will climb once more. God Bless all of you, and I look forward to being able to share updates as my journey continues.

Why God?

June 30, 2018 thearrowpreacher1 Comment

Why God?

I wish I could stand here and tell you I’ve never been on the outs with God. I wish I could tell you I’ve never felt like I was the cosmic punching bag. The truth is, when I felt like I was being punished for something it was me that had the wrong perspective. It’s not easy living life through the trials, the storms, but the thing I get asked most often, “why?” While I don’t always have the answers to why, I want to talk about perspective. We’ve become a society of passing the buck. We blame all manor of things, but more often then not, the things responsible are ignored or underplayed.

Recently I was thinking about my own past. When my ex had her affair I blamed God. I blamed God saying “Why would you do this to me? I’ve been faithful.” Interestingly enough, looking back from where I am now, I think of Luke Skywalker, “Amazing, every word of what you just said, was wrong.” We often find ourselves angry when we are in pain. Pastor Glen Newsom told me an example recently, when we hurt we’re like a bear caught in a trap. We will lash out to anyone or anything that comes near us. When we’re trying to help people we often have to get close enough to that bear to be hit in the face. Sadly when dealing with a bear trap, you might have to tighten it causing more pain, before you can release the bear from the trap. Counseling and aiding those in need is sometimes the same. We are angry and we hurt, and we just want the pain to go away, and we’ll do anything to make it stop. When I was angry I didn’t think twice about the source, I blamed God. In all reality my problem was me. I knew the past of the people I had been in relationships with. I knew there were a few things that seemed morally questionable. When the time came around and I was the one cheated on, instead of blaming them, and Satan, I targeted the wrong entity. I know that God has the power to step in, to change the way things are, but to do so would be to take away the second greatest gift we’d ever be given, Free Will. Of course the first greatest gift is Jesus Christ.

To this day I still don’t have an understanding of why my ex wife left. What I do know is sin and lusts of the flesh are powerful motivators. Sin and free will can be a dangerous combination when we aren’t walking alongside Christ. We cannot place blame on God for the sins of Man. I was thinking about that recently. Blaming God for the things people do, is like blaming the police for not stopping a murderer from killing, or blaming firefighters for the fire because the arsonist burnt the forest down. Blame is our scapegoat. We don’t want to think it’s our loved ones fault. We don’t want to think somehow we are responsible. Instead we want to pass the buck to the easiest place possible. The hard part about responsibility is when we’re told all the blaming we’ve done, all the finger pointing should really be turned inward. No one wants to hear the truth that they are responsible, or their loved one’s at fault. How could someone we love and care about be the cause of so much pain? Of course this falls into play when you talk about the stages of grief. Denial is a powerful stage and if you happen to be the sorry soul to point out truth, be careful, the swings will come, and you’re likely to get punched in the face.

All My Hope, By Crowder “All my hope is in Jesus, thank God my yesterdays gone, all my sins have been forgiven, I’ve been washed by the blood.” When we look to yesterday we are gifted with hindsight which they say is 20/20 vision. Sometimes though even when we look back things are only clear to the ones wearing the glasses. As they say about history it’s written by the victors. Our eyewitness accounts would vary drastically from one person to the next. Deuteronomy 11:26“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse:” When we’re in the middle of the storm, we can’t see the size, the distance, even the worst to come within that storm but radar can. We are not able to see it because we aren’t God. It’s not a healthy path to start questioning your decisions too much. I’ve always been an advocate of healthy after action reviews to improve upon every major decision made, but we cannot get caught in a loop of the what ifs. We will never have those answers within this life, and so we should not worry ourselves about hypothetical rhetoric. Trusting in the Lord to work out every bad situation to be a learning tool, a blessing, or correction for our own bad behavior will come with faith. God does not control the actions of man because God has blessed man with free will. When most people are asked if they believe in destiny or fate, most will answer with a resounding yes or no. Those who say no often say it because they don’t like the idea they aren’t in control of their own actions. Those who say yes often agree that we are destined to get a certain job, or go through certain things, but when you break it down to the smallest detail, ‘are you destined to have Cheerios one morning, or Fruit Loops?” Their tune changes a bit when you start talking about the true nature of destiny and free will. God does not want slaves, but he wants his Children to love Him. I am not a parent, but I imagine if I were I would not want to force my kids to love me, I would want to know they love me of their own free will, because they want to, not because they have to. We can’t have it both ways, we cannot blame God for the wrongs of every person, and want our own free will. We get the good and the bad when it comes to free will.

When people get sick with a disease, or die in an accident, one of the first questions asked is ‘Why would God let this happen?” There’s no answer myself, nor anyone could ever give that would be right on purpose. We don’t know why a smoker of 50 years dies the ripe old age of 95 never having contracted cancer, and someone who smoked for just a fear years dies in their 40’s of lung cancer long after they’ve quit. We don’t know why babies are taken home to be with the Lord so shortly after coming into this world. We don’t know why God allows the body to have miscarriages, and so many other incidences that plague our lives. Jeremiah 29:11“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” While we often say, ‘I don’t disserve this.’ We don’t disserve life, but we were blessed with the opportunity to ever lasting life through our Savior Jesus Christ. It’s an opportunity because it’s not mandatory for us to enter into Heaven. Heaven is a gift, but one we must accept. It’s a gift with a single stipulation, and that’s to love Jesus Christ with all your heart and soul. We must trust in that love and understand that as Christ suffered trials and persecution we to will undergo trials and persecutions to test our own faith, our own resolve. 1 Thessalonians 5:18“18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” We think ourselves mighty if we believe we don’t deserve the trails and sufferings we encounter in this life. We are no different then those who drove the nails into the hands and feet of an innocent man. We are no different then those who cast lots to divide up the clothing of a man who was blameless. We are no different then the wicked men of our forbears. We believe we are basically good people, but at the foot of the cross we are no better, nor worse then anyone else who’s ever lived before us, or those who will come long after we’re gone. How can you say we don’t deserve the trails that come when all sin is created equal, and the only way for us to be rid of it, is to give ourselves, succumb completely to the Love of Jesus Christ. We are not worthy of that love. Grace however is given to those worthy or not. Love is given to all without cost, without reward, without score, and yet we are short sighted in our ideas of love, forgiveness, mercy and grace. Why does God love us? Why do bad things happen to us? The answers are simple, and yet so simple people have a hard time understanding and or respecting the answer. Bad things happen because Sin entered the world. Bad things happen because people live in the world by the worlds rules rather then living for God. God loves us because He can. God wants to love us, and that’s all the reason He needs. God loves each and every one of His children more then we can wrap our heads around the word Love.

We must keep Proverbs 3:5-6in our hearts and minds always. “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Faith in the plan from the Lord because we know our God loves us, and wants good things for us, not bad. We are to be tested to be the best we can be. We are to be tried because we learn from our failures, we grow, and we mature in our struggles more so then any other time in our lives. Faith, Hebrews 11:1-3 “11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” So ask yourself again, why do bad things happen? Bad things happen because people make sinful decisions. Bad things happen because we make poor choices. Bad things happen because in life we live in a fallen world, and we don’t always get the answers to why. We learn from them, we grow in them, and in all things we are commanded to come to God in our sorrow, our time of need. Crawl into your Abba’s lap and cry, and always ask God to be with you, because He always is. Jesus Christ will never leave you, He will never abandon you, and for every tear you cry, He’s holding them in His hands, and He’s crying along side you. Be of good faith, and know that you will be the sword forged in fire, to be made sharp, and battle ready, tested under combat, and you will prevail, that’s why bad things happen.

The Eye

June 29, 2018 thearrowpreacher5 Comments

The Eye:

I have spent the last few weeks ministering to those whom I meet and it’s no surprise to everyone else, but a total shock to me, that the moment I would devote my life to ministry the door cracked open, the flood of people I would be ministering/counseling would skyrocket. In these few weeks I have found myself finding lost sheep everywhere I turn. I have felt as it Sauron’s great eye were watching me. No I’m not comparing Sauron to God, but I have felt as if I were being watched. The fact is, I have been. Our God is an almighty sovereign of the universe and He can watch every single one of us at the same time. Proverbs 5:21-23“21 For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths. 22 The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. 23 He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.” We think we know the right way, we think we know the path, but if we but see through the eyes of the Lord, we would not be so easily led astray, let to ruin, led by the flesh.

I have often found when we start to stray away from God we fall to the flesh, the desires of our sin nature and thus, we fall to the ever watchful eye. We are children and when we need it we are punished and corrected so we may get back onto the path away from Sin. Of course we all sin, we will all always fall short of perfection, but in this life we are always working to be as Christ like as possible. Hebrews 4:13 “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” God is so great, and so merciful and gracious, and yet we spit on our blessings, we turn our backs, we scoff at the Lord, it’s no wonder our society and our Nation have fallen so far.

We have allowed the great darkness to rise and spread through the land and like Mordor’s black army being raised, we are Gondor vastly outnumbered, and yet we stand at the ready to face the swarm of darkness. The evil eye of Satan watch and waits for our guard to be down before He strikes and tries to break our spirits, our resolve. If we are being watched by the enemy, why then are we not watching for Him? We are told in scripture to be mindful, to be watchful, and it’s no surprise. 1 Peter 5:8“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” If our enemy doesn’t sleep, what makes us think we can rest in this war? While there is a time for every season that doesn’t mean we become complacent.

When I was in the military and deployed to Iraq there was something I remember above all other signs. “Complacently Kills.” It was a Marine Motto. When you become relaxed on the battlefield that’s when the enemy is able to get the drop on you and kill you. We cannot expect the great deceiver to take a break so why should we? Don’t take your eye off the ball because when you do, we never know when, where, or how the attack will come, but rest assured it will. Remember to pray to the one who can actually do anything for us, the one which whom our strength comes from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Father God, I want to give thanks for the many blessings you have bestowed upon me, and the path you’ve placed me on. I know it’s not always been easy for me, and I know I have not always been the best of servants, and for that and my sins I ask your gracious forgiveness. I thank you for my readers, and that they be blessed as you’ve blessed me. I pray for the vast number of prayer requests that have been made to me this week. There so to many to count, and some potentially life threatening. You are Holy and I know that at any moment you could wave your hand and right the ship, change the course, and make smooth sailing, but to my own feeble understanding I am nothing compared to the picture of the universe within your hands. You have given us so much, and we give so little in comparison, I ask your mercy that I may better serve you, but more importantly I ask for your blessings of those whom I encounter. There are so many crying souls Lord, you hear them all, and I pray for them. Lord I have met so many lost sheep in the last few weeks, I feel overwhelmed with responsibility to spread the word, but to make a change. I realize I am just a link in the chain, so I ask patience and wisdom as to how to manage these emotions I feel.

Father God I ask your continued blessings upon me, this blog, and my family which supports me so very much. I thank you for the animals you’ve placed in my life, Riley, Cooper, Roo. I want to thank you especially for Riley and her continued service to me. You know how much she aids me in my day to day life, and how much of a blessing she is, and I can never say it enough but thank you for everything she is for me. Father please watch over my church as we continue to preach your word, your truth, and please allow us to continue to repel the Devils attacks as he’s always trying to breach the defenses of the walls we’ve built. Please help us remain vigilant with your wisdom, your eyes, your patience. Please help us keep watch in the cold of the night, and in the longest of storms. We praise your name, and forever the glory to your son Jesus Christ. It’s all this I ask in yours Sons Holy and Precious name Jesus Christ,

Amen

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Find Your Ministry

June 28, 2018June 28, 2018 thearrowpreacher1 Comment

Find Your Ministry:

Have you felt like something’s missing in your life? Something you can’t quite describe but you feel it in the morning when you get out of bed and when you’re out with your friends. You feel it deep down into your heart and soul, and you crave answers, but you don’t even know the question. I felt this for many years of my life, and only when I struck the bottom of life’s horrors did I finally realize my heart has been calling to one thing, and that was Jesus Christ. The day I heard the voice of God I realized how long I had been living in the darkness. People think once you find your salvation or you have that one big event that changes everything in your life that you are all of a sudden going to be a perfect human being. This couldn’t be further from the truth. You can continue down a sinful path, but when you feel the love of Christ cover you like a warm blanket your body has revulsion to sinful behaviors. Things of your past will no longer be appealing, they will no longer give you the fake joy you once reveled in. You can continue to ignore those convictions, but you are only denying the truth. When you find Christ you are reborn, by fire your old self is burned away, and you are a new person. When that day comes, what’s your next step? Well, let me show you what your path will look like.

When you find that salvation in Christ you need to seek Godly counsel. You should go to your pastor, or a close friend in Christ. You need to meet with your pastor and talk about yourself, and start looking at ministries to get connected to. At first you should volunteer with as many as you can till you find the one you are most comfortable with. You will be searching for your spiritual gifts that you’ve been blessed with. I hear people tell me all the time there’s nothing they are good at. There’s nothing that makes them special. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Each and every person on this planet has been given gifts from the Holy Spirit and can use them in a ministry field. I think there are a lot of misconceptions as to what ministry is. Most people believe ministry is teaching, or preaching. This is not true, and when you look to the Hebrew of the word ministry it is, Shareth, “Ministry, religious ministry, service in the tabernacle.” Ministry is service to the Body of Christ. Every job, every works in the service to the Lord as according to your gifts is ministry. This is everyone from those who cook, clean, sing, organize, administration, teach, or preach. Ministries cover every works in the church. Any way for you to service God is a ministry. It’s our job to evangelize but evangelizing is a job for everyone. While people may evangelize and specifically good at missions work, that would be one of their spiritual gifts. You will find a natural interest or desire to particular activities. In this you are being directed by the Holy Spirit to explore different things and you will find it. Not all gifts are found right away, and some require practice. We do not see basketball, football, or hockey players using only their God given talents without also practicing their gifts. We do not improve without putting forth the effort.

God knows us beyond our imagining. We see the true nature of the Blessed Lord especially in Psalm 139:1-13 New Living Translation (NLT)

1 O Lord, you have examined my heart

and know everything about me.

2 You know when I sit down or stand up.

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

3 You see me when I travel

and when I rest at home.

You know everything I do.

4 You know what I am going to say

even before I say it, Lord.

5 You go before me and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too great for me to understand!

7 I can never escape from your Spirit!

I can never get away from your presence!

8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;

if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.

9 If I ride the wings of the morning,

if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

10 even there your hand will guide me,

and your strength will support me.

11 I could ask the darkness to hide me

and the light around me to become night—

12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.

To you the night shines as bright as day.

Darkness and light are the same to you.

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body

and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

If God knew us from before our birth and knows us in our death, knows our path, and what we will do, he designs each and every one of us with care and consideration to how we can serve in accordance with His desires for our service within the Body of Christ. In order to work on our selves, we must work with God by servicing God. Matthew 7:7-11“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” We must pray for our path to be made clear. Pray to Abba and ask how we may serve. We must allow God to mold us, to guide us, and in doing so, we submit to the spirit and let go of our own wants and desires. In doing so we will develop new joys, new dreams, and we will be blessed by God accordingly. Matthew 7:7-117 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”

Be sure to plug in when you find yourself a church. You will find yourself in need of prayer and thus you will pray, but you will also need to study. Joshua 1:8“8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”We must learn to take scripture into our hearts. The Devil will attack you day and night and he is testing your defenses to find a weakness to break through to poison your heart. Do not part from Christ, instead pray day and night, and study, and take scripture into your heart.

1 Corinthians 12

12 Now, dear brothers and sisters,[a] regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. 2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. 3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice[b]; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.[c] 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages,[d] while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

One Body with Many Parts

12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles,[e] some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.[f] 14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? 18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” 22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. 27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:

first are apostles,

second are prophets,

third are teachers,

then those who do miracles,

those who have the gift of healing,

those who can help others,

those who have the gift of leadership,

those who speak in unknown languages.

29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.

Everyone has his or her gifts as seen in scripture. God ensures that every single person has his or her gifts. Never stop praying to God how we can serve. 1 Thessalonians 5:17“17 Never stop praying.”

Affirmations: “emotional support or encouragement.” When you start getting plugged in people will naturally tell you, or thank you for doing a good job. Between passion, desire, interest and talents, you will find your place in the church body. Finding your ministry is like “going to a buffet, some stuff ‘s okay, some stuff is pretty good, some stuff you absolutely hate, stuff you’ll absolutely love and you’ll want more.” (Rev. Glen Newsome, Jr M.A.C.S) Never stop growing, and learning about God. Your journey will never end, but as you grow your love and appreciation for the shear size and power of the Lord will begin to be revealed to you. It took me 34 years, nearly a dozen traumas, two divorces, loosing my job, and having major back surgery to find my gift in ministry. Never underestimate the lessons that will be used in each and every one of your hardships for the Glory Of God!

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Medic

June 27, 2018June 27, 2018 thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

Medic:

The medic is a soul of compassion and much like a physician also has an oath.

THE MEDIC CREED

My task is to provide to the utmost limits of my capability the best possible care to those in need of my aid and assistance. To this end I will aid all those who are needful, paying no heed to my own desires and wants; treating friend, foe and stranger alike, placing their needs above my own. To no man will I cause or permit harm to befall, nor will I refuse aid to any who seek it. I will willingly share my knowledge and skills with all those who seek it. I seek neither reward nor honor for my efforts for the satisfaction of accomplishment is sufficient. These obligations I willingly and freely take upon myself in the tradition of those that have come before me.…These things we do so that others may live.

When tragedy strikes 911 is called. EMS comes with their gurneys, their first aid bag and begins to provide aid. As a Christian we are to lift up and to never tear down. We are told in 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 “4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” I’m not saying loving like this is always easy, but easy or hard, it’s a command by Jesus Christ to love everyone. No, you do not see the command in this scripture, however, you do see it in Mark 12:30-31 “30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” I put this in red because in most bibles this passage is in red. It’s red because it’s from Christ himself. If we are to love God, and to love our neighbor’s, then we must do what love is, and if love is what’s found in Corinthians, then we need to be doing that for everyone we meet. That’s not a suggestion it’s a command. Part of loving is being there when the need arises. Everyone will stumble and fall in their daily walk, but when they do, it’s important to be there to help them back up. Carrying one another’s burdens is important as a Christian. While Jesus was walking to the Skull, he fell three times. He had help carrying his cross and thus showing us we all need help to bare the cross we carry. No one person can go through life and never accept help. As a body of Christ when someone suffers alone the body suffers. We are God’s hand and feet, and we must treat a suffering Christians as if they were apart of us.

In Spiritual Warfare the Devil is trying to destroy us. Are we willing to allow someone to succumb to the Devil? If we are to busy to talk to, or lift someone up, we need to remove something from our lives because we are NOT living in God’s will. God says bare the burdens, be the hands and feet of Christ. Galatians 5:14“14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” In loving your neighbor as yourself, and knowing we all carry a cross to follow Christ, we see a second part to scripture. Galatians 6:2“2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” We are all medics for the Lord. We all have the tools, and the ability to make a difference in someone’s spiritual life. We don’t have to have money to help, or food, or connections, sometimes all the help needed is to be a warm hug, a loving word, and prayers. Scripture teaches us how, we only have to read it to learn.

Be looking for ways to lift up others. Be looking for ways to help. Be willing to take the time to talk, to listen, to laugh, and to cry. Being with whosoever needs and fulfilling the law of Scripture. We know trials and trouble will come, but we also have been taught how to navigate the storms.Matthew 4:4 4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” If you take care of yourself by studying scripture, keeping a healthy prayer life, and allow the words to fill your heart and mind, you are less likely to require a medic. You may only need a friend.

DO NOT SELF MEDICATE

If you do not have Jesus in your heart, or if you start to walk away, you may find yourself on a path of destructive pain. Often times when people turn to substances to make themselves feel better they are attempting to fill a void in their heart or life and that hole can usually be found as a Jesus shaped hole. The second possibility is if you are running from painful feelings that you don’t want to deal with. Either path to addiction is one that will only end in pain. People hide their pains in addictions of substances, alcohol, drugs, work, sex, gaming, and even now roll playing to escape reality. If you find yourself suffering from addictions I urge you to you seek help in dealing with this problem. Addictions don’t just affect you, addictions affect everyone around you. Self medication is never okay, but turning to Christ, and those who follow Christ, that will save your life.

There will always be help within the Church. To each person a divine gift is bestowed and together we can handle anything the Devil may send our way, because we have Christ with us always. Keep love in your heart as Christ so loved us, he Died for us. Love others, and be there for others in their time of need. Do not be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help for we all fall, we all sin, and we all have struggles. Do not be dismayed for there is hope as the Son rose, we shall always live with the light. Remember, we are God’s hands and feet, but we do nothing of ourselves. The one with the power the true one and only Medic is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the one who will save you, He is the one who can heal your heart, He is the one who will fill the void of emptiness you feel. You must ask Jesus into your heart, and call upon him to save you. He is the Medic, the cure for sin, the savior of all.

Captain My Captain

June 26, 2018 thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

Captain My Captain:

Follow my leader, my Lord Jesus Christ. A path straight and true, my ship sails and even though troubled waters are ahead, the storm I shall not fear. My Lord leads me through the highest swells, the strongest winds, and no storm shall sink my ship. My captain I trust, my captain I have faith and fear will not control me.

Matthew 14:25:33“25 And in the fourth watch of the night[c] he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind,[d] he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

When we give up the reigns and we trust in the Lord we will not be led astray. I believe one of the hardest things we will ever do is trust Jesus to get out of the boat of our safety net, and trust that we will not sink into the darkness. Sinking into the darkness, or trusting Jesus enough to let go of the power you believe you have. Power is the world’s greatest lie. We believe we have control over our lives, and that we are in charge of our own fate. While we do have free will, I challenge you to show me a life when bad and unexpected things don’t happen. We want to feel like we are in control but the truth is we don’t know what will happen an hour from now, let alone days, weeks, or years. Proverbs 3:5-6“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” The word in the Hebrew is Batach, to trust, to have confidence. Faith is an important part of trusting in the Lord. As we place our faith in many false teachings, many false beliefs, and people draw our faith, but I say this my brethren this is folly. Only one place your faith must go and that’s the Almighty God and His son Jesus Christ. Psalm 28:7“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” We only have one place to put our trust our faith, and in turn, we are graced with strength, and the fortitude to see the fight through to the end.

We see a theme from cover to cover in scripture and that’s trusting in the Lord. In the book of Daniel we see him thrown into the lions den and yet in Daniel 6:23“23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.” Daniel trusted in the Lord and thus was delivered at the hands of certain death. Trust came in many flavors but the Lord’s promise is powerful. Do we curse the winds, which cause the waves? Do we curse the clouds, which empty the rains? We choose to venture onto the waters, and yet we take our risks against nature. We have to have faith in our Lord and Savior. Deuteronomy 31:6 “6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Courage in the face of danger pushing the fear away, and trusting that no matter what happens in this life our love of Christ, the submitting to Jesus assures us salvation in Heaven. Isaiah 41:10 “10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” We cannot curse God for everything that happens to us. We must understand the route of all evil is Sin. Sin is everywhere and if we underestimate the power of the dark side we shall be overcome by it. People fall to sin and make selfish, lustful, poor decisions every day. We cannot blame God for the actions of people. We cannot blame God for every thorn, every thistle, every hiccup, and every trial. Know that God is always working Romans 8:28“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” We must not forsake our love for Christ with hate in our hearts. It is love that spared us death, and it will be love that will lift us up again. Love is the only way, and it’s in that love that we must have faith in the absence of things we cannot see. We live in this world but we must never succumb to it. We fight the fight so we can walk the path of rugged righteousness before our God. We trust in Christ to guide us in our way, the only way. Faith is Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” We put our faith in Christ to let go of our own prideful ways and instead give up control to Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Our faith to Jesus is where hope begins and ends. God’s grace will always be sufficient for us because we know the maker of heaven and earth, and trusting the way, the truth, the blood of Christ spilt to save us from our sins. My dearly beloved do not grow angry in the face of the trials, instead turn to the word of God to find your hope once more. Do not grow weary in the storm, for we see in 1 Peter 4:12-13“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”