The Light Of The World by Helen Dowd

"As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. - He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." 

John 9:5 & 8:12

Christmas is a special time of year. I can't imagine what it would be like if we did not celebrate Christmas. What better time of year than Christmas, to teach our children the true meaning? 

Christmas is not about lights, trees and presents, turkey dinners, or family gatherings. Oh yes. Those things are great, and "God has given us richly all things to enjoy." But more importantly, Christmas is about God's LOVE, about LIGHT. John 3:16 sums up the true meaning of Christmas, God s ultimate gift to EVERYONE His Son, the LIGHT of the world. God loved His creation, US, so much that in order to redeem us from eternal death, which we so deserves, He sent His Son to be the substitute for us. 

I don t care that some say that the first Christmas was not observed at the birth of Christ, that it originated back in Rome to honor Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture, or some other theory that someone else might have come up with. To me, the first Christmas was the day that God sent LIGHT into the world. 

I am glad that Sunday schools and churches put on pageants with the manger scene and the shepherds. What better way to teach a child about Christ and why He came to earth. I am glad that the authors of the Bible recorded that the humble shepherds celebrated on the night of Christ's birth, by leaving their sheep when the skies filled with LIGHT and the angels sang, and they went seeking for the Light of the world, JESUS. The wise men began their search for the King that same night because they saw a LIGHT in the sky a star in the East. 

Does it matter that the usual scenario is of the wise men at the inn with the shepherds in these pageants? Is it really giving the children the wrong idea? Of course we know that the wise men came on the scene much later. The child will learn to put things in their proper order as he grows up. I did. So let the Sunday schools put on their pageants, with the wonderful Christmas scene of the shepherds and the wise men worshipping Jesus. 

I don't care that research has shown that we do not know the exact day of Christ's birth. It does not matter whether it was not December 25th or some other day of the year. What matters is: Christ, the LIGHT of the world was born. And that He lived--as a man; suffered--as a man; died a cruel death on the cross--as a man; and rose again on the third day--as God, triumphant over sin and death, our REDEEMER, our SAVIOR, our LORD. 

I don't care if they tell me that the exchanging of gift idea did not originate with the gifts that the wise men took to the child Jesus. To me, gift giving, 'though enjoyable, is not important. God's ultimate Gift is. If people get pleasure and comfort from giving and receiving gifts, then let them carry on with it. To me it does not detract from the true meaning of Christmas. 

I don't care what they say about the Christmas tree--that it is a pagan symbol. To me that is not important. I have heard several opinions on this. Great that people get pleasure out of putting up and decorating a tree. It doesn't bother me a bit. In fact, if it uplifts someone from their humdrum existence, bringing light and giving them something to look forward to, at least once a year, let them put up a tree. To me this is not a distraction from the true meaning of Christmas. Perhaps it even adds to it. Christ came as the Light of the world: so let the lights at Christmas help remind people of this. Christ died on a tree for our sins: so let the tree be a reminder of this.

How quickly time passes

James 4:14 "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

Becky said yesterday while putting up the Christmas decorations that it didn't seem like a whole year had passed since we were doing this last year. This year has been tougher on me than any I have experienced since 2005. Physically, mentally, and emotionally I have been stretched to a point that I never have been before and it has been rough. During the past 5 years I have made some very wonderful friends, but I have gone through some very rough times and only by the grace of God have I made it through. I always heard that the older you got time seemed to move by quicker and I'm beginning to believe it (LOL)! My point is time has continued on. It didn't stop for me and it won't stop for you.

Time does go by so quickly. If the Lord tarries His return:
-My oldest grand will be 16.
-My middle grand will be 12.
-My next will be 7.
-My youngest will be 2.

It seems like only yesterday Hannah was in diapers, Gracie was still sucking her pacifier,
Hayden was learning to walk, and Gannon was not even in the picture. Before you know it they will be grown, married, and have their own families. Shane was bemoaning that thought last night.

Nostalgia hit me yesterday afternoon and I worked for hours on Christmas videos from our time serving the Union Church of God. I mad several videos from some of our Down Home Christmas celebrations at the church. It made me happy and sad at the same time, realizing that some of those precious folks are no longer with us, but in glory now, or have moved on to another church. Those were some of the best times of my life working with those precious folks, playing with those great musicians, and just enjoying the holidays.

Time slows down for no one. It just keeps on moving and we have to do the best we can with the time that we are allotted. So we have some choices to make. Either we accept the changes that time brings us and keep on living or we allow our time here on earth to be one of despair and defeat. That decision is ours to make and ours alone. I have to make it and so do you. Before you realize it a day may come when time as we know it has slipped away. So do the best that you can with what you've got. Make every minute count because you will never see that minute again.

The Tale of Three Trees

Once upon a mountaintop, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars twinkling like diamonds above him. “I want to hold treasure,” he said. “I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I will be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!”

The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be a strong sailing ship,” he said. “I want to travel mighty waters and carry powerful kings. I will be the strongest ship in the world!”
The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and busy women worked in a busy town. “I don’t want to leave this mountaintop at all,” she said. “I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me they will raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world!”

Years passed. The rains came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell. “Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest,” thought the first. “I shall hold wonderful treasure.” The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is strong. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell. “Now I shall sail mighty waters,” thought the second tree. “I shall be a strong ship fit for kings!”
The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heave. But the woodcutter never even looked up. “Any kind of tree will do for me,” he muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought him to a carpenter’s shop, but the busy carpenter was not thinking about treasure chests. Instead his work-worn hands fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once-beautiful tree was not covered with gold or filled with treasure. He was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.
The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took him to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ships were being made that day. Instead the once-strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. Too small and too weak to sail an ocean or even a river, he was taken to a little lake. Every day he brought in loads of dead, smelly fish.

The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. “What happened?” the once-tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted to do was stay on the mountaintop and point to God.”
Many, many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. “I wish I could make a cradle for him,” her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood. “This manger is beautiful,” she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out onto the lake. Soon the thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. He knew he did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and rain.
The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, “Peace.” The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the King of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry, jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man’s hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel.
But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God’s love had changed everything. It had made the first tree beautiful. It had made the second tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the whole world.

Do not underestimate what God is doing for you as well.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Thankfulness (Part 5)

Thanksgiving In Our Hearts

Thanksgiving is a special day, it comes but once a year,
When we give thanks for all our blessings, for family and friends so dear.
But Thanksgiving should be like Christmas, alive in our hearts everyday.
And for the gift God gave on Christmas, let us bow down our heads and pray.

Not just once a year, but all year through, each and every moment we must savor,Giving thanks and praise to God above for the gift of our dear Saviour.

For family and friends, love and health give thanks, but also please remember;
The blessing that holds the greatest wealth is that of our Redeemer.


Happy Thanksgiving from the Stone family.

Thankfulness (Part 4)

A Thanksgiving Prayer

Dear Father in Heaven please lend me Your ear,
'Cause I've got a prayer You'll be happy to hear.

Lord, there's no request list this time when I pray,
I just want to give thanks this Thanksgiving Day.

First, I want to thank You for gifts from above:
Your unending mercy, Your undeserved love.

And thank You for sending Your Son down to earth,
For now those in Jesus can have second birth.

Lord, thank You for saving Your children from Hell,
And giving Your Spirit who comes to indwell.

And thank You for choosing me to be Your own,
For now that You're in me I'm never alone.

Lord, thanks for forgiving me when I'm untrue,
And last, but not least, Father, thank You for You!

Thankfulness (Part 3)

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something

For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.

During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations

Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge

Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes

They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary

Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are

also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles

and they can become your blessings.

Thankfulness (Part 2)

2 Chronicles 5:13
The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: ‘He is good; his love endures forever.’

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

Mark 14:22-23
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take it; this is my body.’ Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.

Luke 17:15-16
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him - and he was a Samaritan.

Ephesians 5:19-20
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Colossians 2:6-7
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

1Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

Thankfulness (Part 1)

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV

Cultivating a spirit of thankfulness is more than a good idea; it’s a direct command from God. In the Old Testament, God laid down specific guidelines for the Israelites to bring thank offerings. In the New Testament, believers are instructed to be thankful in all circumstances.

When we’re struggling with trials and difficulties, this sounds like a strange command, especially since we live in a culture that encourages us to act on the basis of how we feel. But God knows that when we focus on our blessings, it’s easier to keep our problems and concerns in the right perspective.

A spirit of thankfulness honors God and strengthens our faith. It also strengthens our relationships with other people. We can’t be in a right relationship with God or with anyone without a spirit of thankfulness no matter what problems we’re struggling with.

So this Thanksgiving week give praise to the Lord for everything. It can change your mind and heart for the better.

I Am Thankful

Colossians 3:15 NKJV "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful."

The older I get the more thankful I become for precious friends who have been mentors and supporting partners in my ministerial journey. Without their support, prayers, and friendship it would have been a very lonesome path.

My dad was my first inspiration. The next 6 weeks were his favorite time of the year. This will be our 26th Christmas without him. You never stop counting the time when you lose one of your best friends and when the Lord took him home He took mine. He was my first mentor and example of what a Christian should be and how a pastor ought to live. Was he perfect? No, but he was one of the best examples of a believer that I ever knew. He was so young when the Lord called him home, but his legacy lives on.

I. C. Morris, Jr. was another mentor of mine. A great pastor, leader, and friend. He loved God, the Church of God, his family, and his congregations. He had a way about him that stood out and pastored some of the largest churches in our movement in that day. It was he that taught me how to help a congregation grow and allowed me enough leeway to become creative and inventive with our music, worship, and media. We had a lot of "firsts" in the Church of God in North Carolina back in the 70's under his leadership. I am thankful I was his friend and associate.

Bobby and Peggy Johnson also had a great influence over my life. Sister Peggy went home to be with the Lord a number of years ago, but Brother Johnson is still pastoring in Mauldin today. Brother Johnson offered me my first church staff position and was very kind to Becky and I. Sister Peggy was my buffer, my protector, and my friend. They both had such an impact on my life that even at my age I still honor Pastor Johnson as my elder and not just a peer in ministry.

I also give thanks for good church men like Brother Shirley, Turner, Murphy, Nave, Taft, Clark, Birch, Beard, Sanford, Thomas, Calhoun, Ramsey, Thackston, and many others who stood with me through thick and thin in the churches I have served. These men were there when I needed them and did whatever was needed when asked to help perpetuate the Kingdom of God. Without the great men and women of God our churches could not have done in the past what they did or today what they are continuing to do.

Sometimes I get very sad when I think about them not being with us, but I rejoice and am very thankful that one day I will see them again if I serve the Lord. That's why I am so thankful today and encourage to be as well. Take the time to remember those who have mentored or assisted you to where you are in ministry today. Be thankful for what they taught you and pass it on to the next generation. It is surely something worth sharing.

Absolutes

Those of us who were raised Pentecostal have always been excited about a new evangelist preaching in an excitable way what we call the old-time doctrine. Yes sir, down with the trends and fancies of the day just give me that old-time Word. Sounds great doesn't it? However, most of the time we shout a little bit, dance a little bit, and worship and then within two days we go back to doing the same things we did before we heard that new evangelist. Why is it that we have professed to have the greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit on a generation and yet can be so spiritually fickle when it comes to just basically living right and treating people with respect as we should? That is the question most non-Christians and even-non-Pentecostals are asking today-"If you guys profess this Holy Ghost power, why doesn't it give you the ability to love one another and help one another when you are in need and treat people right?"

There is a need for sound doctrine today. There is a need for absolutes.
2 Timothy 4:3, 4 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;  and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."

I am not talking about Church of God doctrine, or denominational doctrine, I'm talking about Biblical doctrine. The Bible is still filled with absolutes by which we are known as believers or not. A professing Christian may not be perfect, but he or she will do all within their ability to make sure to adhere to the true doctrines of the Word of God.

So what are some of those absolute truths?
-Salvation-Whosoever calls upon the Lord shall be saved.
-Living a sanctified, holy life-Possessing your vessel (body, mind, and soul) in sanctification
-Being filled with the Holy Ghost-Acts 2
-Bearing the fruit and gifts of the Spirit-These identify you.
-Restraining yourself from vengeance, gossip, and deceit-Controlling your actions.
-Carrying for the needy and hurting-doing the work of the Father.

For so long we have majored in minors and that has hurt the Kingdom of God. I have shepherded precious people who had all the trappings of Spirit-filled believers, yet they bore no fruit as a believer in Christ should. Nope, I'm not judging, just stating facts. I know myself that I have fallen short in some areas of my life and had to sharpen those areas up to be the best that I could be for God and it wasn't based upon some new doctrine or spiritual fad. It was based on the absolutes of the gospel that my life was changed by God and I had to do things differently if I wanted to give Him honor and glory.

I cannot tell you how to worship because worship is based on your relationship with God. I cannot answer every mystery of why things happen in your life or mine when we serve the Lord that are bad, painful, or hurtful. I cannot tell you the answer to certain things that have happened around us in our families and homes that have had a negative effect on us. But I can tell you I believe that God still has absolutes that we can build upon even in times of need and will do so in closing. These are some absolutes you can count on:

He is Almighty.
He is a Bridge over troubled water.
He is Closer than the mention of His name.
He is Dedicated to His children.
He is Encouragement personified.
He is Full of grace.
His Goodness is everlasting.
He Helps us in the time of need.
He is In control of your situation.
He Just cares about you.
His Kindness is beyond compare.
His Love is boundless.
You Matter most to Him.
Your Needs He will supply.
He is Patient and concerned.
He's ears are Open to your cries.
He Qualified you for eternity with the availability of His great salvation.
He Rescues the hurting today.
He Saves the needy.
He Totally knows what you are facing and going through.
He Uses every means necessary to show you His glory.
He Verifies daily how much He understands your problems.
He still Works miracles today.
His Spirit is a spiritual X-ray of your soul.
He is Zealous to see you make it out of your turmoil and restored to high ground.

Thank God for absolutes! They still work today!

Time management

"But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." (Romans 7:23-25 KJV)

Most of us pastors spend way too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.  In other words, productivity is not just about getting things done, it’s about getting the right things done.  

Being busy for appearance sake only doesn't mean you are always doing what is right. A pastor must take care of his congregation, but he must do so in a balanced way so that he is spiritually and physically empowered by God to be the best he can be.

At the end of each day, you have to look at how you have spent your time, and adjust your schedule as necessary for tomorrow.  If necessary get rid of your schedule’s complexities so you can spend more time on the things that really matter. Sometimes this means fine-tuning and eliminating all but your essential tasks, so you are left with the ones that add value to your life.  

Above all, know when to set aside the time for important things like family, prayer, study, and personal care. I am still in this learning process myself and it is a struggle. Yet I'm learning everyday that I must take care of me if I am going to help lead and take care of others.

So for whoever this message is for today just stop what you're doing and analyze your day. Do what's important because it's important and let the other stuff take care of itself. Fight that inner war and win because tomorrow may depend upon it.

Hope and Future (Part 2)

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

The future you build depends upon a lifetime of positive choices. It’s not based on something that's one-and-done as some people believe. Finding the path to your future can be simple for some, but walking on the path destined for you is harder than you can imagine.

Why is that path so hard to stay on?
-There are always people filled with negativity looking to infect you with that spirit.
-There are obstacles that interfere with completing your journey that were unforeseen when you embarked on your path.
-There are defeats and losses you will encounter that will shake the very foundation of your path as you walk step by step on it.

But remember this: when your mind is challenged by situations that engage your plans for your future, things come to life that help you grow into your greatest self. You learn through experience that you have to put in a great effort to live the life you imagine and dream of regardless of what you face.

You learn how to hope through life's journey. You learn it by saying ‘no’ to all the negativity in your life. You learn it by conquering the obstacles life has put in the path of your future. You learn it by making each victory a declaration to yourself that you are on your way to bigger and better things in your future with the help of the Lord. and that defeats are but stepping stones.

When things about your future seem clouded remember a day from your past that ended with a great sense of joy. It wasn't a day when you goofed off with nothing to do, but it was a day you had more to do than seemed possible, and you did it and felt great joy in what you were able to accomplish.

God does have a plan for you and that plan is to prosper or bless you in your future. Bad days will come along with sorrows sickness, and even loss, but God wants you to invest your hopes and dreams into His plan for your future. Your happiness can grow with each effort you put forth and your future will be blessed.

Hope

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Hope is so much more than an emotion. Hope is the fire that fills your heart with great joy. The Negative Nellies of this world never see this ever happening in their lives. That’s why they fall victim to feelings of sadness, envy, and hopelessness. They lose sight of what’s important, wasting their time and energy on things that don’t really matter.

Hope comes from a chosen course of action, a way of being, and a constantly renewed mindset as well. Hope is the key that unlocks your potential. Whatever you dream about your future begins on the path you pave with the commitment to being happy and living a fulfilled life.

The hope that makes your future different doesn't come from instant gratification. There’s nothing instant about healing old wounds, nurturing real love, and finding the courage to let go of what’s not working. It’s takes commitment and a great effort on your part to make the changes necessary to have hope when everything seems hopeless.

You are responsible for the life God gave you. You either do what you know can give you hope in the future or you allow yourself to be swallowed up by the sorrows of the past. The choices you make, good or bad, are yours and you have to live with them. Your destiny to live happy and fulfilled or sad and empty will be affected by the company that you keep and the relationships that you make. If hope isn't in that company you will be in trouble.

Remember God has plans to give you a hope and a future. Don't let yesterday destroy your tomorrow.

Mind, Body, Spirit

It is very had to stay focused on any goal when your mind, body, and spirit are not connected. So often we put ourselves in positions that rob us of our abilities to recover and we just keep stretching ourselves thinner and thinner. It is in those moments that one or more of these elements rebel against us and we have to stop and reevaluate where we are, what's going on, and how can we get better.

I believe there are three things we need to do when these types of situations prevail:

(1) Search the heart of God.
It is in these times of difficulty the only one you can trust in is God. He knows what has happened to you and how to make things right. Sometimes He wants you to go forward and at other times He wants you to regroup and go in an alternate direction. One thing is for sure, He is in control of everything that is going on even when you do not know what to do. Seek His face and search His heart. He does have an answer for you.

(2) Know when you have reached your limits.
All of my generation was raised with a specific work ethic that has been drilled into us from childhood. Because of this training ( and believe me there's nothing wrong with it) we sometimes overextend ourselves and try to ignore situations that affect us in these three areas. Then when one of them gets out of whack, it's hard to get the other two to stay in order. Sometimes we just have to pull ourselves together and listen to what these things tell us to understand our personal limits before they get the best of us.

(3) Sometimes God allows things we can't control.
There are certain things in life we can all control and there are others that we can't. The Bible says He has given us authority in His name to do many spiritual wonders and I have experienced many of them. Yet at other times we have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death simply by faith. Sometimes it refers to something that we cannot control.

So wherever you are reading this today please keep this in your heart:
-He knows your heart.
-He knows your limits.
-He knows what you can and cannot control.

If He knows He will make a way to get you out and help you through.

Eight things to remember

-Stay planted in a good local church.

-Stay focused on Jesus. Fix your eyes on Him.

-Take heed to your walk, that you do not fall.

-Remember, the race is not to the swift, but to the finishers.

-Sharpen your focus, purpose to fulfill your calling.

-Maintain strict training. I still work out or take exercise walks almost daily at age 62. Keep the same focus on spiritual exercise.

-Purpose to please God, not man.

-And let no hardships move you as you finish your course and still bear fruit in old age. Stay focused on crossing the finish line.

Let the Eagle Soar

Eagles are born with big and heavy wings, and part of the survival mechanism they are born with is that they have to learn how to fly without actually flapping their big wings.
They have to learn how to do this in order to conserve energy. Eagles can literally die if they expend too much energy flapping their wings during flight as versus soaring without flapping their wings.

As a result, what eagles have to learn to do very early on in order to be able to soar without flapping their wings, is to wait for what are called wind thermals to come up on them. A wind thermal is a big gust of wind that will rise up from the atmosphere.

Sometimes eagles will remain perched for days before they can catch a good, strong, wind thermal, where they can then launch onto it and combine a mixture of flying and soaring on that strong wind thermal to get them to where they want to go.

Just like the eagle has to learn how to catch the wind thermal in order to survive in this world, we have to learn how to be led by the Holy Spirit on a daily basis so we can fully accomplish everything God that will want us to accomplish for Him in this life.

And just like the eagle has to learn how to ride and navigate on those wind thermals once they actually launch onto them, we have to learn how to walk with the power of the Holy Spirit operating through us so we can fully accomplish the tasks and assignments that God will be calling us to do for Him in this life.

If we learn how to be led by the Holy Spirit so we can get to where God will want to take us to – but we do not learn how to actually walk and flow with His actual power, then we will never succeed at the specific tasks that He will be calling us to do for Him.

If you decide to follow and serve the Lord in his life, then sooner or later God will call you and you will then have to take that big leap off the edge of the cliff in order to learn how to fly into the calling that He has placed on your life.

And just as the wings of the eagle are the only thing that will allow them to fly and soar on those wind thermals, in the same way the only thing that will allow you to fly on the call that God has placed on your life is your faith and belief in the Lord.

God will

Psalm 92:4 “For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.”

God told Noah to build the ark and gave him the dimensions-540’L x 90’W x 54’H. The ark had to be built to God’s specific details without power tools and precut, treated lumber. For over 100 years Noah labored, not quitting, not getting discouraged and only 8 people were saved.

Noah’s work encourages us to be faithful to what God called us to do, so don’t give up.
 He will bring you thru the storms if you trust in Him.

Don't forget the Ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals.

 

So remember...

-God will give you the tools you need to do what He’s called you to do.

-God can take the simple and make something great out of it.

-God will show you that triumph comes from obedience and sacrifice, not self or vain glory.

Oh yes my friend, God will!

 

 

 

Give me the strength

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

You ultimately become what you believe yourself to be.  If you keep on saying to yourself that you are incapable of doing a certain thing, it’s likely that you will end up becoming incapable of doing it.  On the contrary, if you have the belief that you can do it, despite your struggles and frustrations, you will likely acquire the capacity to do it, even if you can’t do it right now.

Remember the darkest night will eventually end and the sun will rise.  If you take another step, and another, you’ll be surprised to know how far you can go from the point you thought was the end.  So say this to yourself, and mean it with all your heart: “Lord, no matter how hard things get give me the strength to not give up."

Let this be your prayer today:
Lord,

-Give me the strength until I touch heaven.

-Give me the strength to overcome my fears and worries.

-Give me the strength to witness one more time Your glory.

-Give me the strength to hold on by faith and not let go.