–Kenneth S. Pratt  (Legacies of Spring)

       “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

                    –Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
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I used to like to wander trails that I found in the woods.  They were mostly deer trails of no significance, but they were fun to travel and not knowing what one might come across was part of the excitement, whether it be an animal or a grand vista.  I’ve heard speakers, most notably preachers, who start on a message–a divine purpose–when all of a sudden they start off on a “rabbit-trail” that more often than not amounts to nothing.  They follow this trail and that trail and never really get back to their original message–their purpose.
       I happened to be reading something from Barna a couple of weeks ago that caught my attention.  The more I pondered it, the more alarmed I became.  Teenagers (13,000 total) were asked to complete this sentence, “I would prefer to attend a church that supports…”  Ah, you may think they said, “missions” or “evangelism” or “discipleship.”  Here are the top five responses:

          –Ending extreme poverty (35%)
          –Positive mental health (35%)
          –Ending hunger and famines (34%)
          –Ending sexual abuse (34%)
          –Promoting racial justice (34%)

Look at these carefully.  None of them are necessarily a wrong issue, one that shouldn’t be addressed, but notice how it deals with the self, with a social gospel.  Where is the cry for the lost?  Where is the longing for heaven, to be like Christ, to bring glory and honor to God?  
       Notice the first three.  What is positive mental health?  Is it to make me feel good, or is it picking up my cross daily?  Ending extreme poverty, but is that realistic?  Notice, the implied socialism.  Jesus said the poor would be with us always (Matthew 26:11).  We are to do our part in helping the poor, but we are also to be good stewards.  Can we really end hunger and famines?  Hmmm, I recall that one of the horses in Revelation will bring famine (Revelation 6:5-6).  
       It is a noble thought to end sexual abuse and it should be…however, how can it happen when society is pushing for drag queens to read in schools, when transgender is thrown at us by educator and the media, when the abomination of the LGBTQ is demanded?  Sexual abuse–all of those fit that scenario in one form or another.  One more question, what is racial justice?  Is it giving reparations to minority groups for something that happened generations ago?  The more racial injustice that I see today is the fact that there are those who push for it.  Not that the pendulum has swung the other way, but that it is completely turned upside down.  Housing, made to make people equal–what happens?  In a few years it will be a slum.  Education with the emphasis on affirmative action, hmmm, does it work?  
       The above are good ideals, but where is the purpose of the church in those ideals?  You can have all the programs, redistribute all the wealth, but if the heart is not changed it will come to naught.  Which is more important:  temporal life upon this earth or eternal life with Christ?  Social issues do not make the gospel, they will follow the gospel.  But in fact, most of those wanting the changes above want to do away with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

          “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
                    –Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)

                         –Dan Arnold  (Bear Creek)

       “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

                         –Matthew 7:13-14(NKJV)
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A good friend of mine developed a study called, “The Journey.”  It speaks primarily of the Christian’s journey through life, but we all must realize that everyone, from the day they are born are in this journey called life.  As a baby enters this world, they have no concept of the journey at hand, and even through their primary and teen years they still are not cognizant of the journey, at least to its full extent.  The real shame is that so many grown ups, adults only by age, do not realize that this short life is a journey.
       There are some on this journey that refuse to see God’s wonderful offer of salvation.  It is there for them, the price was paid, the sacrifice was given.  They have only to reach out, repent, and accept the wondrous salvation provided by the Lord.  Instead, the have chose to mock Him, scorn Him, and some to the point of playing the fool and saying that God does not exist.  There are those who have turned the truth into a lie and are on the road to perdition.  Many want to disavow God, and seek other avenues even to the point of giving their lives over to the devil.  This journey is one that leads not only to death–the end of the journey–but also to the second death.
       The vast majority of people are on the merry-go-round of life.  The world turns, it twirls and they don’t know what to do.  Life is chaos for some; they live in confusion.  Others try and fail, try and fail, and stay on that endless cycle.  Others try many things thinking that they may finally get off the whirling of life.  Others seek the thrills, they want the tornado, until it brings destruction to them or their loved ones.  They are the simple, not caring about others.  Some are afraid of life, they are afraid of tomorrow, they are afraid even of their shadow.  Many cry, “stop the world I want to get off,” but that’s not the way it happens.  This life is to be lived, not shunned.
       However, there are some who find the gateway to living life with the Lord.  The gate is narrow (Matthew 7:13), the road may be rough and rugged, but it is the way to victory.  It will lead one to the heavenly shore and life eternal.  My Aunt Bern used to sing a song first recorded in 1927 by David Miller, but is actually older than that, most think around the time of the Civil War.

               “You’ve got to walk that lonesome valley,
               You’ve got to walk it by your self;
               There’s nobody else can walk it for you,
               You’ve gotta go there by yourself.”

It is true that each of use, even if we are traveling the same road, must walk our own walk.  The road may be the same, but the experiences different.  On this road of life that leads to heaven, we may have aid at times.  That is one reason the fellowship of the saints is so important.  A brother or a sister in the Lord, may smile or whisper words of encouragement to you.  They, at times, may even help you carry your load, but it is only for a while.  Some have the good fortune to have a spouse aid them alone the way.  But in the final analysis this walk–the journey–is yours and yours alone.  
       Now, don’t fret.  Even though you face life alone, for it is up to you to accept or reject the Lord, the Holy Spirit is there to guide us.  He is the Paracletos–the Advocate, the Helper, the Comforter, the Counselor.  In other words, He is the one to whom you can turn to for help along the journey.  Don’t think that for a moment you travel completely alone.  Be sure to read the Bible for it is your guide along the way.   In the light of eternity, troubles and trials are only for a moment.  Learn to think in light of eternity and press onward and upward.

               “I’m pressing on the upward way,
               New heights I’m gaining ev’ry day;
               Still praying as I’m onward bound,
               “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.'”
                         –Johnson Oatman, Jr.

               –1 John 5:4 (NLT)
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Woe is me, I just got a hang-nail, oh, woe, woe–whimper, whimper.  What happens when there is a real dilemma, when there is real danger?  Where is the faith that you once talked about?  Don’t you trust God?  Now, that is a little far-fetched, but maybe again, not so much.  We fear and lose faith over simple things.  When trouble arises, how do you handle it?  With whining and crying or with stubborn faith?
       Years ago I had a very good teacher under my supervision.  She was a teacher of first-graders and she was constantly telling the kids how great God was.  How that God would take care of them in every circumstance of life.  That God was always there for them, to just trust Him.  A tragedy came into her life and she completely fell apart.  She was weeping and crying in the classroom, so much so that the kids were afraid and crying with her.  So much for her testimony of faith!  I had to send her home until she could gain control over her emotions.  One incident destroyed a year of example.  George Morrison said, “We help people by what we do.  Perhaps we help them more by what we are.”  The teacher was good at helping her kids, until the storm came, then it seemed she lost her faith.  
       Who are you then?  What do you do when there is that dark hour, when things are the darkest and the storm is seeming ready to wreck your life?  Look at the situation that Paul found himself in.  The storm was raging and was so bad that the captain of the vessel ordered everything to be thrown overboard.  For three days, it raged and it looked as if everyone aboard would die in the storm.  Then Paul spoke up–“Therefore, take heart, men, for I believe God…” (Acts 27:25, NKJV).  The King James renders it, “Be of good cheer…”  What?  When everything is falling apart, I am to be joyful?  What?  I’m about to die and you are telling me that everything will be alright?  Yes!  And guess what?  The attitude and assurance of Paul changed the thinking of the sailors.  “Faith radiates the atmosphere of hope.”  (Morrison)  The presence of strong faith affects others even in the midst of peril.
       Be strong in the turmoil, be strong through the pestilence.  Be strong when it seems that everything around you is tumbling.  Live out your faith in the storms, through the battles.  Be strong when others cry in terror and weep in despair.  Look at this verse again from the Amplified, “So keep up your courage, men, for I believe God and have complete confidence in Him…”  
       Not only that, smile in the midst of the storm.  It has been said that the smile of Dwight D. Eisenhower was infectious.  In the midst of battle, in the midst of decision, Ike would smile, and that smile flowed through the room lightening the mood and giving hope to his comrades.  There is a story of an ocean-liner caught in the fury of a tremendous storm.  Men were panic-stricken, women screamed–and then, the captain smiled.  He radiated the faith behind that smile for he knew that the ship could weather the storm and thus brought good cheer to everyone on board. (Morrison)  
       James tells us to, “count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”  In other words, when the storms come, and they will, be brave and radiant when things are the darkest.  It will have an impact.  It will strengthen those around you and give them hope.  You want to be of help to others, then smile through the storm.  “A strong faith is the secret of all helpfulness.” (Morrison)  It is your faith and how it is presented that brings the victory that overcomes the world.

                    –Ty Murray

       “I call heaven and earth as witness today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”

                    –Deuteronomy 30:19 (NKJV)
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I smile when I read someone who agrees with me.  Really when it comes to the writings of Paul, Peter, James, and the others, I should be more humble.  It is good, however, when my mind and spirit is united with the writers of the Bible.  That is the Holy Spirit working.  Contemplate the words of Steven Lawson before we look at the first portion of Psalm 92.  “Worship is a lifestyle, a continual experience of magnifying the glory of God.  This adoration should be carried out through a Christian’s actions, thoughts, and words.  Wherever we are, that place should be transformed into a palace for praise.  Whatever we are doing, that activity should be a platform for worship.  Ceaseless praise, all day every day, should be a living reality to every believer.”

          1 — It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
          2 — To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night,
          3 — On an instrument of ten strings, on the lute, and on the harp, with harmonious sound.
          4 — For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.
          5 — O LORD, how great are Your works!  Your thoughts are very deep.
          6 — A senseless man does not know, nor does a fool understand this.
          7 — When the wicked spring up like grass, and when all the workers of iniquity flourish, it is that they may be destroyed forever.
          8 — But You, LORD, are on high forevermore.  (NKJV)

       It is hard for you to deal with life?  Do the problems of the day aggravate you, whether they be at work, at home, or at school?  Perhaps more time is needed for the Lord.  Perhaps more of our lives should be dedicated to Him.  Hmm, perhaps we need to realize that everything we do should be unto Him.  George O. Wood asks the following, “When was the last time you woke up in the morning with good thoughts of God’s love and bedded down at night thinking of His faithfulness?  Have you lately sung for joy at the works of God’s hands?  Have you paused to celebrate the sky, birds, flowers, forest, sea, grass, the butterfly as expressions of the Lord’s artistry, power, and love of beauty; or gladdened yourself by praising Jesus for what He has done for you?”  Go back and read Psalm 92:1-5.
       Friend–it is good to give thanks to the Lord!  It is reasonable and right.  Just think of His faithfulness, in the small things as well as in the great things.  He is devoted to His children.  Let me give a simple, little illustration that happened to me on Friday.  The family went to Washington-on-the-Brazos and Kimberly purchased some earrings made from cow horn.  Annie put them on and she noticed when we got home that somewhere one was lost.  We looked through both vehicles and couldn’t find it.  I went out the next morning, praying to the Lord for Him to show me where it was.  It was drizzling rain, and I drove into the parking lot, got out of the truck, looked to my right and there it was.  See He cares for the little things in our lives.  Verse 4, in the NLT is translated, “You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me!”
       Ah, but then there is the senseless man–one who is dull or stupid, a brute beast (Ps 73:22).  This man does not know the ways of the Lord nor does he care to know them.  They are fools–they are wicked.  They just don’t “get it”.  That’s one reason there is so much hatred, evil, and perverseness today; people do not care to understand the ways of the Lord.  They are fools to reject such a great salvation that is provided through Jesus Christ.  These, “because of the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart” (Ephesians 4:18, NKJV) are fools, they are senseless.  They may spring up around you “like weeds” (NLT) but they are soon to be destroyed.
       Having trouble?  Burst into song.  I do it ever so often, despite my “wondrous” tonal quality.  Come, let’s be like Martin Luther when he said, “Come, let us sing a psalm and drive away the Devil.”  A song of praise to the Lord will do more than drive the devil away; it will change your mood, change your attitude.  Oh, the problem may still be there, the storm might continue to raise, but the perspective in facing it has changed.  Cultivate a spirit of praise and thanksgiving and open your eyes to the thrills of a life with God (Petersen).

               “O Jesus my Savior, with Thee I am blest,
               My life and salvation, my joy and my rest;
               Thy name be my theme, and Thy love be my song;
               Thy grace shall inspire both my heart and my song.”
                           –unknown