"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable . . . that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" ( 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ). Scripture equips you for spiritual service. Each week I have the privilege of interacting with more than one hundred students at The Master's Seminary. One of my greatest joys is seeing their determination to do God's work in God's way. That attitude is the key to success in ministry, as Joshua learned when he assumed leadership over the Israelites after Moses' death. At that point, God said to him, "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success" ( Josh. 1:8 ). This is how Paul described spiritual success to Timothy: "In pointing out to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following" ( 1 Tim. 4:6 ). "Servant" speaks of one who oversees and dispenses the goods and property of another. A good spiritual servant is one who knows and dispenses God's Word. Whatever level of ministry you pursue, you must conform to biblical teaching. To do that, you must know what God says about ministering to His people. I've met many people who love the Lord and want desperately to serve Him effectively, but haven't taken time to learn the principles that govern spiritual ministry. Consequently they're ill-prepared and in some cases unwittingly participating in activities that actually violate God's Word. Don't let that happen to you. God's Word supplies all the strength, instruction, and comfort you need to serve Christ properly. Study it thoroughly and follow it closely. Suggestions for Prayer Thank God for every ministry opportunity He gives you. Ask Him to help you see any areas of your service that might need to be corrected, and then respond accordingly. www.gty.org.

" Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you." Have you ever heard something so ridiculous? Anyone who has ever been crushed under the weight of a snarky comment or snide remark knows the utter falsehood in that statement. Sticks and stones may very well break your bones—but words? Words can crush your heart. They hold enormous power. Proverbs 18:21 tells us, “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (ESV). James 3:5 reminds us, “The tongue is also a small part of the body, but it can speak big things” (NLV). So what are you speaking over those around you? Are you speaking words of life? Are you proclaiming the largeness of God’s promises, or the smallness of your fears? Allow me to illustrate with a story. One of my sons struggled through school. His teachers labeled him with a disability. His brothers would pick on him—John and I would tell them he just thinks differently. His brothers would respond with, “but he doesn’t think!” We realized we weren’t nurturing his identity in Christ because we were too busy accepting the labels the world placed on him. We made a conscious choice to start speaking Scripture over him: You have the mind of the Christ. You are the head, not the tail. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. As our son started to believe and declare the Lord’s promises over his life, he started to improve in school. He moved into AP classes and landed a place on the honor roll. His progress followed him into his career when he became one of the youngest managers for Apple, whose slogan at the time was fitting: “Think Differently.” We chose to speak life rather than death and the results were evident. Our words have the potential to create atmospheres where people can thrive. Let’s not use our words to position people for normal, because normal has not served the church well. Rather, let’s position each other for signs, wonders and miracles by speaking God-given identity and destiny into the lives of others. Let’s remind those entrusted to us that they are sons and daughters of the Most High God. Let’s close our mouths to words that diminish and tear down and open them to release words of life! Our words can either cause others to shrink back and live small lives, or frame a world large enough for them to be heroes in. Which will you choose? www.lisabevere.com

Fear has its  cause . It also has its  consequences . If we left fear there, we’d be with little hope. Praise God, we don’t have to! The Christian has hope amidst fear. The Christian has faith that defies pragmatism. The Christian has love that resists emotionalism. The Christian, above all people, may enter each new day settled and secure in life’s circumstances because of the anchor of his soul (Heb 6:19). Possible Solutions to Fear We must explore several intriguing yet inadequate solutions before examining the ultimate and lasting solution to fear. People . Is it possible that when we’re in a situation that invokes anxiety or fear, we look to a person or people to ultimately bring resolution? Consider being a new kid in school or a new person at work. Is there not a temptation to quickly join and find a reprieve from being accepted by a group or a person? Consider marriage. Is it possible to find inordinate solace in your spouse, leading to walking on eggshells to avoid conflict ending in resentfulness? While community and relationships are part of God’s salve in our fearful situations, they are not ultimate or lasting. People move. People change. Thus, human relationships are insufficient to meet our more profound need for abiding peace amidst the storm. We need something more. Philosophy . Are there times when a theory or philosophy is presented that seems to tackle our fears once and for all? Whether it’s  Maslow’s hierarchy of needs  revealing the preferred aspirations innate within humanity or  Dewey’s pragmatism  arguing for uncovering the practical benefits of doing what works through experiential analysis, we are bombarded and, at times, compelled to adopt philosophical jargon and practice. While these and other theories are persuasive and sometimes beneficial, are they ultimate? The problem with philosophy as a stand-alone solution is that it removes the need for God and His working through the mystery of His Spirit. Thus, philosophy is limited and does not ultimately meet our needs amidst fear. We need something more. Process . Is it also possible for us to rely on a daily routine, habits, or step-by-step solutions to resolve fear(s)? Take ten deep breaths…get oxygen to the brain…, and reduce the flight or fight response to scary situations. How about this…try this or that habit for sixty days to help offset the trigger reactions to anxiety-causing activities or circumstances. Implementing specific processes to help us cope with fear and anxiety may be helpful, but it isn’t sustainable. While routines and habits are part of learning and growing, even woven into the fabric of creation (Gen 8:22), they are not fool-proof, and we all wane at some point in our self-discipline and often choose comfort over pain. Therefore, implementing a process to finally remove our fears tries but comes up wanting. We need something more. Fear’s Only Lasting Solution Christ, the God-man :  fulfills God’s promises and thus (1) qualifies Christ as the essential  object  of our faith and (2) vindicates Christ as the irrevocable  fulfiller  of our faith. The apostle Paul describes Christ as the Seed of Abraham, born of a woman, and in the fullness of times to redeem those under the Law (Gal 3:19, 4:4). What is the significance of Christ being the Seed, born of a woman, and born under the Law? There are many reasons, but I’ll highlight three here: Christ fulfills God’s promise of a seed to Abraham (Gen 12:1-3). Christ fulfills God’s promise to mankind to deal with sin once and for all (Gen 3:15). Christ fulfills God’s requirements of the Law and God’s promise of blessing according to obedience to the Law (Deut 6:4-6, 28). Therefore, Christ is the only One suitable to offer Himself as a reconciling substitute for a sinful humanity. The question is, “Will Christ do it? Will he offer Himself for us to be reconciled to God? Luke 23:34 gives insight into Christ’s heart. Notice what He says,  “But Jesus was saying, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.'”  In effect, Jesus’ love for mankind was an extension of God’s love for mankind (John 3:16), and He fulfilled His purpose as the ultimate and only Sacrifice acceptable to God to propitiate (satisfy) God’s wrath stored up as a result of mankind’s sin (Heb 2:17; 1 John 2:2). There are at least two implications: Christ did choose to offer Himself as a ransom payment for mankind (Mark 10:45). Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient to restore mankind to relationship and fellowship with God (Col 1:19-20). How Does This Apply To Us Today? Fear is appropriated . The word appropriate makes sense to us experientially and logically. When we act appropriately, we conduct ourselves in a way that fits the context. For example, I will appropriate my actions differently as I watch an Aggie football game and attend a wedding. When fear is appropriated, it is placed appropriately within a specific context. For instance, my fear of a wasp flying at my head differs from that of my child growing up too quickly; thus, I respond to the wasp one way and to the nostalgia another way. This simple example intuitively makes sense, but we often misappropriate fear. Take texting as an example. Have you ever heard of texting interrupting a person’s otherwise healthy emotional balance? A text is sent, and the response doesn’t return a smiley face, exclamation point, or even a heart tapback. What if the person never responds? How does that make some people feel? They fear the other person is upset. Silly example, but helpful. In this case, fear is misappropriated. How do we appropriate fear? Wisdom and the fear of God. As our fear of God grows, all other fears are set in order. What is your view of God?  In his book,  When People Are Big, and God is Small , Ed Welch encouraged,  “We must learn to know that our God is more loving and more powerful than we ever imagined ” (Welch, 113). Our view of God dictates our fear of Him. How big is God to you? A Right View of God . Notice how James invites us into God by revealing aspects of His character in James 1:5,  “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”  In other words, we seek wisdom from God because we  trust  He is generous and does not scold us for doing so. Thus, by faith, we embark on a journey of seeking wisdom from God, which implies the fear of God. Do you trust God in everything? Wisdom is Found in the Fear of God.  To gain wisdom and, therefore, the ability to appropriate fear, we don’t try harder or hope the fear(s) will disappear. Instead, there must be a fear that surpasses all other fears—the fear of the Lord. Jesus is the Wisdom and Power of God . Paul, writing to the church at Corinth, describes Christ as  “the power of God and the wisdom of God  ” (1 Cor 1:24). Through faith in Christ, the Christian not only has a right standing with God but has access to the wisdom of God. Rightly does one of the authors of the Proverbs says,  “The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord”  (Prov 9:10). It follows that since Christ is the wisdom of God and The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord We learn the fear of the Lord by knowing Christ. What is the answer to fear? Knowing Christ.  “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ”  (Phil 3:8). How do we know Christ? Walk in His commands. “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him” (John 14:21). Walk in holiness. “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor 7:1). Take every thought captive.  “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor 10:5). Confess when we don’t.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). How do we stay at it–knowing Christ? In God’s power. “ For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure”  (Phil 2:13). God help us to fear appropriately! Amen and Amen!

How many times have we struggled with being “stuck” in a particular holding pattern of thinking, reacting, and living? And maybe as we say here in the great state of Texas, “you’ve been snake bit” meaning the decisions of yesteryear has immobilized you, causing you to become fearful of moving forward into something NEW. Or maybe you are at a crossroads, not sure if you should venture into the NEW, even though you have been feeling for some time the gentle prodding of the Holy Spirit to step out and into… Honey if this is speaking to you, then let this bring you an encouraging word that will bring a settled peace and bright hope to your beautiful soul… The children of Israel developed over the years of being in bondage while in Egypt a confined mindset… a limited way of living and thinking. Having lived enslaved for so long, with loss of freedom and function, caused a strong-hold to be formed over their minds. And though they cried out for deliverance, and God delivered them in a mighty way by parting the Red Sea, and bringing them through the wilderness where He showed Himself to be their faithful Guide (a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night) and their abundant Provider (raining down daily fresh manna and quail)… they could not overcome their old way of thinking, their “stuck mentality”. Though they left Egypt… Egypt never left them. BUT there were two young men, Joshua and Caleb, who refused to be “stuck” living in yesteryear, in the former ways of thinking that were bound by years of fear and containment. See there was something different about them… they were not bound by the past, nor would they allow it to define their future. The Bible even clearly says that Caleb had a different spirit in him. He had a different attitude about him, a spirit of faith! (Numbers 14:24) When Joshua and Caleb and the others were sent to spy out the Promised Land… the land that the Lord had already prepared and promised the children of Israel that was theirs for the taking… the others came back with a negative fear-filled evil report. All they could see was the “giants” in the land. They were stuck in a mindset of fear from yesteryear, not a spirit of faith to see their bright tomorrow… But Joshua and Caleb chose only to see God and all the possibilities and promises. And when the others gave their negative report to all the children of Israel, fear being instilled throughout the camp, Caleb who was filled with faith and possibility in the NEW day and NEW way of living, quieted the people and in bold faith said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it!” Caleb’s words were faith-filled and ready to possess everything God had for him. He no longer wanted to live the wilderness way. He was ready to step into a thriving way of living and go possess the NEW season, the NEW land, because he knew they had the power and the capacity to prevail and succeed because God was with them and promised them a land flowing with milk and honey… but they had to go possess it. I say this with every ounce of firm loving Southern sweetness that is inside of me… It’s Time to COME UNSTUCK in Jesus Name! We must forget those former things, the things of old… the old fears… old memories… old mindsets… old perceived wrong decisions… the wrongs someone did to you… the past seasons… the old ways of talking… nursing, rehearsing and cursing the past… And step out and into the NEW that He has promised you! For behold He makes all things NEW! Let's leave the “Stuck Mentality” behind… you know all those “pasts” that replay over and over in our mind like a broken record… and lets be open to all that He has already prepared for us to possess today! For we are well able to possess ALL that God has for us… Because WE ARE UNSTUCK! Hallelujah!

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" ( Matt. 5:8 ). There are basically only two kinds of religion in the world: those based on human achievement and those based on divine accomplishment. Religion comes in many forms. Almost every conceivable belief or behavior has been incorporated into some religious system at some point in time. But really there are only two kinds of religion: one says you can earn your way to heaven; the other says you must trust in Jesus Christ alone. One is the religion of human achievement; the other is the religion of divine accomplishment. Those who rely on their achievements tend to compare themselves to others. But that's a relative, self- justifying standard because you can always find someone worse than yourself to base the comparison on. Jesus eliminated all human standards when He said, "You are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" ( Matt. 5:48 ). Even the Jewish religious leaders, who were generally thought to be the epitome of righteousness, didn't qualify according to that standard. In fact, Jesus told the people that their righteousness had to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees if they wanted to enter heaven ( Matt. 5:20 ). That must have shocked them, but Jesus wasn't speaking of conformity to external religious ceremonies. He was calling for pure hearts. God doesn't compare you to liars, thieves, cheaters, child abusers, or murderers. He compares you to  Himself . His absolute holy character is the standard by which He measures your suitability for heaven. Apart from Christ, everyone fails that standard because "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" ( Rom. 3:23 ). But the glorious truth of salvation is that Jesus Christ came to earth to purify our hearts. He took our sin upon Himself, paid its penalty, then bestowed His own righteousness upon us ( Rom. 4:24 ). He keeps us pure by continually cleansing our sin and empowering us to do His will. Your faith in Christ—not your personal achievements—is what makes you pure. Let that truth bring joy to your heart and praise to your lips! Suggestions for Prayer Thank the Lord for accomplishing salvation on your behalf and for granting you saving faith. Pray that your thoughts and actions today will evidence a pure heart. www.gty.org.

As you see what's happening in the world today, you see what's happening in the Middle East, for example. You see what's happening among people who are longing for their next meal or glad to be alive one more day. You know, they have a lot to be thankful for, but you and I never know what a new day will bring. We never know whether tragedy will strike, sickness will hit, an accident will take place in our lives or the life of a loved one. So we've gotta be just as thankful every day for the day because no other day is guaranteed. We can't brag about tomorrow. We gotta just make it through today and be grateful for the grace of God that's given us today. So let's make gratitude a way of life. In fact, let's not be like Israel. God delivered them from Egypt, and they spent all that time in the wilderness grumbling and complaining, and that complaining was one of the reasons they didn't make it to the Promised Land, because they were so ungrateful for what God had done that they weren't able to get to what God yet wanted to do. Don't block your future with ingratitude. That's not recognizing what God has done with your past and what he's doing in your present. Psalm 110:4-5 reads: "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5  For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." KJV

In Luke 19:11-27, we find a parable Jesus taught to a crowd as they went up to Jerusalem for the Passover. It's a familiar one, where a departing nobleman entrusted money to his servants, and upon his return, they had to give an account on what they gained from the money. One servant gained 1,000 percent on the investment, and another gained 500 percent. Each one who earned money received this commendation: "Well done, good servant." In this parable, Jesus is the nobleman. It's a clear and beautiful depiction. He's the King who leaves the earth, receives the kingdom from His Father—and at one point He will return. So, when He says, "Do business until I come," He means "Increase My investment in you." How you serve the Lord today will determine your service in the future kingdom. That should change the way we live. As Jesus said, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:20). You've been given the greatest treasure known to man. Shouldn't you now give it away to as many people as you can? We are stewards of the gospel, and we should multiply our spiritual capital. I want to focus on the third servant in verses 20-26, the one who returned the nobleman's investment to him with an excuse: "For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow" (v. 21). The nobleman asked why he didn't put the money in the bank where it would have collected interest. Now, we don't know why the servant did nothing with the investment. Maybe he was afraid of taking the risk, or maybe he didn't think the master was coming back. One of the greatest incentives to the Christian life is knowing Jesus Christ can come back at any moment. John said, "Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself" (1 John 3:3). The servant lost his reward to the one who gained a 1,000 percent profit, but no other punishment was mentioned. So, the way I see it, this is somebody who is saved but unfaithful. If we don't use what God has given us, then why should we even have it? It's just wasting away. Here's what I want you to notice. The third servant had a wrong view of his master. He accused him of being severe, harsh, demanding, unfair, and even a thief. All of this was wrong. He was living with the wrong concept of his master. This is why theology and Bible teaching are so important—because wrong ideas about God will keep you from fulfilling His greatest intention for your life. It will keep you from investing it the right way. A. W. Tozer said, "Nothing twists and deforms the soul more than a low or unworthy concept of God." So, do you want to be faithful, fruitful, and satisfied? Do theology. Read your Bible and understand it. Get a right concept of God. Our Master is absent, but He's coming back. Until then, we have a task: spreading the message of Christ. And we should be constantly evaluating ourselves: How do I spend my time, my money, my resources, my influence? A faithful, fruitful Christian is somebody who leaves behind more than they found. You can complain—or you can do business until He comes so that you can hear "Well done, faithful servant."

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.” Genesis 1:1-3 In the opening chapter of the Bible, God brings order out of chaos. Later, God makes mankind in His image, and tells them to rule the creation, be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth by subduing it according to God’s design. As the Bible articulates, God’s design is to create…this creation has in its center an ordering. Most everyone understands and appreciates the fact that chaos is bad and order is good. What’s more, we have largely been removed from the chaos of the external world. For instance, take shelter and water…there is the invention and utilization of indoor plumbing, of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning units, of slab-built and masonry constructed housing, etc. We could also talk of political, clothing, food, and medicinal conveniences. The point remains, there have been many instances where chaos has largely been mitigated from our world around us. And so, many in first-world countries benefit from external order created by generations of forethought, sacrifice, and ingenuity. However, while we benefit from these things, we can still face chaos in our own lives. This chaos, on the other hand doesn’t have to rule us. No, no. We have a say. We have a say on how we invest our time, our talents, and our treasures. As we begin a new year, let me share how I invest my morning time. In reality, most of my life is built around routines. Sure, I have to be flexible, because life is dynamic. However, I can still bring order to my life by routines that guide me like seasons. Let me share my morning routine that has been helpful for me to cultivate order instead of chaos each day. 5:30AM – the alarm goes off (I still need an alarm…I’m not one of those who wakes up without one. Further, I need at least 7 hours of sleep to feel rested and ready for the day. Thus, I’m aiming for bedtime to be before 10:00PM. I drink a full glass of water I pour a cup of coffee and some half-and-half I grab a small snack Next, I write in my morning journal Each journal has the following heading: day, date, time, and temperature I simply list prayers, events, or thoughts. The entry is usually 3-5 sentences. Start my Bible reading plan Here’s the one I use:  RMM  — DA Carson —  Volume 1  and  Volume 2 Next, I read the insight from DA Carson on the chapters I just read Then, I read from the  Voices of the Past  devotional Next, I read from  Diary of Private Prayer Then, I read from a thought-provoking and spirit-lifting resource Right now, I’m reading the Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis Finally, I Pray As I’m led… I also use the following Family Life resources 6:30AM – I’m usually wrapped up in 1 hour Upon finishing this AM routine, I get ready for my day, which may include a walk, but does include looking over the schedule, starting necessary communication, and then getting dressed for the day. This obviously isn’t the only way to cultivate order instead of chaos, but it has been very helpful for me each day. There are changes to this routine based upon changes in the day, but this routine is my aim. If I miss, I’m not stressed, I adjust, and look forward to the next morning! Do you have a morning routine? In what ways could one create order in your life?

18  So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT I saw the following statement on the front of a T-shirt (a notable and always reliable source of profound information).  A goldfish is the happiest animal on earth because it has a 10-second memory. The statement is false (scientific studies debunk the idea), but it does make a good point:  There’s value in leaving the past behind and living in the moment. So let’s use this silly, humorous statement to discuss an important topic.  We humans are, perhaps, the most  unhappy  sentient beings on earth because we continue to dwell on things we should let go of; things in our past continue to adversely affect us. In these instances we would benefit from a short memory.  I’m not suggesting that we ignore, deny, or try to erase painful memories. But we  can  properly and thoroughly  process  past experiences so they don’t continue to handicap us. The troubling event is still there but it’s been diffused. Sometimes, we need to simply “drop” minor offenses and inconveniences; such as: Your plane is delayed; someone makes a tacky comment about you; you’re cut off in traffic. Learn to simply dismiss these minor issues. Here’s a post I wrote about  mastering the helpful skill of “dropping it.” More importantly, we need to properly process and manage major, painful issues from the past such as: a dysfunctional upbringing, getting fired from a job, a major illness, or failed marriage. It’s difficult to just “drop” these issues; they need to be processed, ideally with help from a professional counselor or a wise friend. These issues are often deeply impeded, sometimes difficult to identify, and complicated to resolve.   One downside to the goldfish syndrome (if it was real) would be that favorable experiences in life—memories that we  should  remember, savor, and be grateful for—would be lost. So I’m not suggesting we wipe our memories clean; just mitigate the painful and embrace the positive.  We will find ourselves in a place of quiet rest when we properly process recent and distant past experiences. Disempower the painful and savor the good.

Two critical aspects of the Christian life are  remembering  on the one hand and  forgetting  on the other. What do I mean? When I was in high school football, we had this thing called two-a-days. The best way to describe this is early, uncomfortable, and exhausting. My alarm would go off each morning, and, in the darkness, I would, in misery and dismay, arise from my slumber. Upon arrival, we would be hurriedly ushered to a dew-covered field, expected to embrace the drills with all our energy as we undertook the uniform stretching and preparation routines. Then, with all their whistling and authoritative commands, the coaches would move us to our positions, where our other coaches would have us run drill after drill. Wet, tired, and surprisingly invigorated, we would finish the morning workout only to return and repeat another practice later that day. How might two-a-days relate to remembering and forgetting? On the one hand, the misery of that brief season was unbearable; yet, on the other hand, it was fundamentally necessary to our development as athletes--mentally, physically, for comradeship, and more. As painful as that time was, the "actual" sting of the misery was correspondingly forgotten in time. Indeed, the momentary discomfort gave way each year and was not so great as to keep me from continually engaging in the process before launching into the new football season. Similarly, life offers us difficult seasons that we must endure, sometimes repeatedly, that at times seem unbearable. Still, the actual pain is superseded by the memory of what it produces, as time does its work to mute the noise at the moment, and we replace those experiences with new ones. We both (1) remember and (2) forget.  (1) We  remember  what the pain taught us, formed in us, and enabled us to think, feel, and/or do as a result of the experience. Thus, the Christian sees the outcome as more significant than the pain. (2) We  forget  the full measure of how sharp, tangled, and brutal the experience of the discomfort in our lives. Thus, with time and choosing to have short memories, the Christian's pain is appropriated in a proper position. How Does This Apply To Us Today? REMEMBER: Cultivate memories of God's sovereign grace. FORGET: Choose to forget past wrongs, hurts, and pain. REMEMBER One of the critical aspects the apostle Paul wanted the members of the church of Ephesus (and principally all Christians) to remember was that the gospel removed their alienation (because of sin) and brought them near (because of the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ). What would be the result of remembering their former separation and present union? As they (we) remembered the gospel, they (we) would extend their (our) vertical reconciliation with God horizontally to their (our) friends, enemies, and everyone in their sphere of influence around them. FORGET Another essential element of Christian living is the forgetting that occurs naturally and the forgetting that we choose to implement regularly. When hurt by someone's actions or words, it's easy to say we " forgive but cannot forget. " This mentality is rooted in pragmatism, with a focus on what works. In other words, pragmatic forgetting focuses on horizontal experiences because it comes "in handy." This type of forgetting is entitled and natural. However, the gospel does not permit this endeavor as we think it does or should. Instead, the gospel's root is in the soil of godly forgetfulness, not entitlement. What do I mean? Love received is love given. If Christians have received love, then they can give love. One aspect of this love is that it " does not keep records of wrong ." This is unnatural. What's natural is to remember the account of wrongs or store them away for future use. However, that's pragmatic forgetting. The Christian instead offers gospel forgiving. Sound impossible? On the one hand, yes. However, on the other hand, no. However, when we forget and remember according to the gospel of Jesus Christ, a mystery occurs, reaching into a realm as real as ours. "...the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places." Ephesians 3:10 Christians who walk in gospel remembering and forgetting reveal the wisdom of God to the supernatural realm!

I wondered if you too have ever said… But Lord, I CAN’T… Something I have learned through the years is the  “I CAN’T…”  mentality always has an inward focus, looking solely at your own personal abilities, inadequacies, inexperience, that try to disqualify you before you even step out and discover you CAN... Instead of having an outward focus, looking to the Lord to strengthen, qualify and equip, help lead and guide you, so that you CAN do all things through Him… And as I am thinking about this, I wonder if you too are being led into something unfamiliar… perhaps even uncomfortable… where you must leave that ‘oh so tried and true’ comfort zone and walk by faith into the new He has for you in 2025…  When Jeremiah was called, the word of the Lord came to him saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you (set you apart); I ordained (appointed) you a prophet (one who is called) to the nations.” But Jeremiah,  voicing his disqualification said, “Lord God! Behold,  I CANNOT  speak, for I  am  a youth (claiming his inadequacy and inexperience).” The Lord in His Omniscience (All-Knowing nature) replied back: “ Do not say , ‘I am a youth,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you.” Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched his mouth, and the Lord said: “ Behold I have put My words in your mouth.  See I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.” (Jeremiah 1:4-10) Oh Darlin’ when the Lord calls you forward into… you must always remember three things:  #1:Stop voicing your disqualifications, your “I CAN’Ts…”  You know those comebacks that are so ingrained in your way of thinking… those “I’m too old… I’m too young… I’m going through the change of life… I’m too inexperienced… I’m too afraid… I have a past… It’s too late…” I remember years ago my husband gifted me with a personal trainer, which I was excited to embark upon this journey of fitness with. I remember one day she said to me while I was gracefully struggling through my ab exercises, “Jana, your mind will quit before your body will.” Meaning your mind will tell you  “I CAN’T…”  But your body is made to be resilient, strong, and powerful, and CAN do more than you think it can. Your body can push forward and lift harder than you think it can. Don’t allow your mind to set limitations on yourself, push through! #2:  Speak God’s Word over yourself, taking action in obedience to His word to you, and allowing Him to qualify and equip you. #3:  And refuse to fear! The Lord doesn’t always call the qualified, but He will qualify the called… As we can see in the lives of so many in the Bible like Jeremiah, Joshua, David, Joseph, Moses, and Esther... Always remember that God has fashioned your days ahead of you before there was yet one. (Psalm 139:16) And you have been placed in His Kingdom for such a time as this. So with the one life you have to live, let’s together replace the  “I CAN’Ts…”  with the “I CANs…” and step out by faith INTO what He is calling us to do in the days ahead . For He knows the plans He has for you… and they are plans to give you a hope and a future! Glory!

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19 There was a man who was abruptly awakened by a bright light in his room. The heavenly encounter was accompanied with a clear impression on his mind. When he woke up the next morning, he knew what his calling was. He had to speak out against the slaughter of unborn children. The task was formidable. Many states had laws that needed to overturned, but that seemed unlikely since the Supreme Court had legalized abortion. The liberal press favored the “rights” of mothers to abort their children. So where should he start? First, he needed to educate himself. So he read volumes about reproduction and medical ethics. He wrote letters to the editors of magazines and newspapers. He worked to elect local politicians who shared his views. He marched for pro-life and picketed abortion clinics. He worked tirelessly for years, but he grew more and more disillusioned with his progress. He fought off bitterness against his perceived adversaries and the flaming darts of the enemy, who was relentless. Look at your feeble efforts, the devil said. You’re not accomplishing anything. So why don’t you quit and have a little fun in life! The devil’s advice was tempting, but the man took his case to the Lord one night. “God,” he said, “I feel like a failure. I am so discouraged. I wanted to please you, but nothing seems to have changed.” In the stillness of night, another heavenly impression came to his mind. My child, I asked you to speak out against abortion, and this you have done. You have renewed your mind, learned how to speak the truth in love, and put on the armor of God. You are more patient, kind and loving than you were before, and yet you feel hopeless because you have not impacted the laws of the land or stopped the press of the ungodly. I never I asked you to do that. I, my child, will “convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” If you want to feel discouraged and depressed, try assuming God’s responsibility for Him. In this world we are going to face negative circumstances and inevitable losses. Suffering is part of our sanctification. “We boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:2-5). This job seems hopeless, so I think I will change jobs. This marriage seems hopeless, so I think I will dump this one and look for another spouse. Such are the musings of the hopeless. There may be times when we need to change jobs and move, but in many cases what we really need to do is hang in there and grow up! We only make matters worse if we keep running away from the lessons of life. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4). This is not Christian masochism. This is how we can have proven character—and that is the basis for our hope in God. questions to consider: Why do some get discouraged serving God and standing for righteousness? Why is it so important that we know who is responsible for what? What are some of the consequences if we don’t? Is a Christian ever hopeless? Why or why not? What causes you to be discouraged in serving God? How can you avoid becoming depressed over the seemingly lack of progress?