Achieve the Splendid...I Dare You!

I am simply fascinated by people who do great things with their life. Those that make significant impacts in their community, school, job, family, church, etc. are things that I never tire of hearing about. How about you?

I tear up so often when it comes to seeing kids perform in music, plays, or other art areas. I am touched by people who are able to touch other people's lives. No matter if you do something significant or help out someone to allow them to do something significant, you still did something significant. That brings us to this week's quote...

Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared to believe that something inside them was superior to circumstance. ~ Bruce Barton

We must be willing to be open to doing something splendid. Splendid things do not just happen, generally. Even in the lives of people who had riches, for example, fall into their lap, it was probably because a person born before them did something significant.

So what will you dare to do? What is it that you believe in yourself that you can do which you will seek to achieve?

The circumstances to get you there may not be the easiest, but the sweetness that comes from the victory will be well worth it!

Now it's your turn...What will you dare to do that is "splendid?" I look forward to the stories that follow...

Reign Falls - Joshua 1:1-9

Some people crack under the pressures of responsibility; others thrive on it. I've been in both situations. When one is expected to do more than they are used to they must make a choice to either decide it is too much for them and get out, or "eat the elephant" one bite at a time.

Occasionally, when a responsibility seems too great it is because one hasn't taken the time to put it all in perspective. You look at the big picture and think about the fact of going from point A to point B and it seems overwhelming to get to those two places. However, once you can put it into perspective, it will seem possible to complete.

Yesterday, we looked at Joshua, as he had this newly appointed reign fall on him. He was responsible for the people of Israel to make sure that they made it to and through the Promised Land. God was with him and tried to do all that He could to make sure Joshua was assured. God told him several times to be "strong and courageous". This advice of wisdom was not only for the outside forces that would come upon them, but his leadership among the Israelites. Moses encountered complaints, I'm sure that Joshua even witnessed some of them. So, Joshua was bound to be thinking about the complaints and headaches that would come his way, as well.

As you think about this section of text from the book of Joshua, here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

1. When on the 'battlefield' keep in mind that God is always right here - He will never leave us or forsake us.
2. When you see someone who needs to be bandaged up - do it, don't leave them susceptible to 'shrapnel'
3. When the battle is within, keep in mind that God created you and knows how your made. Open yourself up to Him to let Him deal with the battle.
4. Keep in mind that with God there is victory. He assured Joshua by telling him that there won't be an enemy who will be able to stand up against him. Join up with God to gain the victory!

We all face battles. Many of them are daily. Some are within, where others are from outside influences. You may be dealing with a tough decision or self-esteem, or dealing with a marriage issue, a work issue, a school issue, or a parental issue.

The list could go on and on to be thinking about all the battles that one could face. If you are facing some issue, feel free to e-mail me at ichthus_man@hotmail.com, I'd be willing to pray about it with you.

Battles leave us wounded. Wounded soldiers are not that productive on the battlefield. Make sure you are not going out wounded on to the battlefield.

Stay safe, remember where the victory is attained, and be assured!

How Sweet It Is!

Last Wednesday, I had the great privilege of baptizing Alexa S. into Christ! This is the greatest decision one can make! It takes away all the filth that sin brings to our life. It is the detergent of all detergents. No stain can withstand it. No color will be evident. Quoting from Isaiah 1:18, we are “white as snow” afterwards.

It sometimes seems surreal to know that one moment you are doomed for hell and the next moment you are welcomed to heaven. How can it be? Faith is the answer. It is all about faith. Without faith, we are just plunged. With faith, we are not simply plunged, but we are “plunged…to victory”. Oh, isn’t it sweet to know that we can have this “victory” because of Him?!

Each person who has taken that “plunge of faith” knows the feeling of coming up out of the water. You now see life in a different way. The Spirit is given as your gift. You have been forgiven of filth. You don’t just have your sins taken care of, you have a clean conscience. You now do not have to worry about a “next time” you sin. The blood of Jesus has already taken care of that. You don’t have to be baptized again and again to get rid of any sins because of Jesus. Oh, how sweet it is!

Another part of sweetness comes as a result of someone else being baptized. You get to see their excitement, zeal, and thirst. They are experiencing many things for the first time. Let their excitement be something that rubs off on you to give you a renewed/heightened zeal. I always look forward to getting to be around the people who have been baptized because it gives me such a thrill to see their excitement.

Soul Quest played a part in getting Alexa ready to make this awesome decision. I received a phone call and text regarding her decision to be baptized. Events like Soul Quest can really play a pivotal role in helping people make the decision to obey the gospel. I think we should praise God for those types of events, including workshops, Bible camps, and anything like that. They give an out-of-the-ordinary look at Christianity.

The next time you see Alexa let her know how excited you are about her decision and welcome her in to the “family”! She is a neat teen who had already been talking about Jesus to her friends, before her baptism.

Baptism…how sweet it is!

Monday Mentiongings: Which 'Cross' Will You Choose? - Mark 8:34

The Cross is an important Christian icon. Of all the different events that Jesus experienced, there is probably no one, which has heard of Jesus, who doesn’t know of Jesus dying on the cross. Since the cross represents His death, pain, shame, and humility were also a part of that event. Jesus asks his followers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. However, if you knew that pain, shame, and humility would come with “taking up your cross” would you still follow Him?

Yesterday, we talked about two types of crosses, one – crossing your fingers, two – the cross of Christ. You make the choice every day to choose one or the other. You can choose to give in to your self or you can deny self. Here are some applications to choose from to use from yesterday’s lesson…

1. Choices can be easy or difficult. When we make the choice to follow Jesus we are also making the choice to suffer through any discomforts that may come our way. For example, praying for our enemies, complimenting instead of complaining, patient instead of pouting, loving instead of leaving, etc. Some choices we make as we follow Christ may not be pleasant, the Hebrew writer reminds us that Jesus “scorned the shame of the cross” for the “joy” that was on the others side (Hebrews 12:2), we too have a much joyful “other side” to look forward to!
2. The Bible teaches that there is nothing that man can do by his own abilities, once he has sinned, to save himself. We cannot “work” our way to heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9), but it is only by the grace of God that we are allowed to go. God gives us the opportunity to obey what He commands to allow us to go to heaven, but even in those “actions” if they are not done with faith, they are in vain. As we make choices in life, do we choose the cross of human power – fingers crossed – or of God’s power (Christ’s cross)? If we try to do things on our own, fixing our job, our family, etc., and not giving it over to Him, we have missed the point. “With man this is impossible…” (Matthew 19:26a) reminds us that we can’t do anything on our own. The next time you are in a predicament, give it to God – He’s got the power to “fix” it, not us/man!
3. Just like in the movies, the good guy always wins. If you like to lose, then you should make the choice of the cross which is formed by fingers crossed. If you want victory, then you will make the choice to follow Him. You will be willing to take up your cross, daily, and follow him. The next time you are at a crossroads regarding which “cross” to follow, just think to yourself, “Is it the one of defeat or victory?” Maybe that will make the decision easier.

May God make it easy on you to make the right choice – the cross of Christ – by keeping selfish thoughts and temptations away from you!

Has God opened doors for you lately to share Jesus? If so, I would enjoy hearing about it…

Making the choice ~