A Voice in the Wilderness

 What a wonderful promise! Yes, He may punish us. And like every kid that's grounded, we probably won't enjoy it. God is the God who starts and ends things. And there are countless extinct species, that served their purpose. There are even various people groups He has wiped out entirely. But mankind is, for some reason, special. To the point at which, He died for us. So, while it might not seem like much, the point is that whatever happens, He'll get us through.  If you liked that, check out my main site-www.voiceintha.com  And then, tell your friends!

 This is one of those things that seems impossible until we try it. Suffering doesn't seem like a privilege, at least not to our flesh. But if we step back, and try to look at things through faith rather than brain power, it's a joy to be even a little like Christ. He was both perfectly God and perfectly man. And as we take on His suffering, we become more perfect, until we rise with Him in glory. Which sounds like a priviledge to me.  If you enjoyed that message, check out my main site-www.voiceintha.com  And then, tell your friends!

 A nd cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  That last bit really is the clincher. Forgiveness is great, righteousness is swell. But the sanctifying is a bit less fun, especially when it comes "As through fire." God is anything but cruel. Still, like any father, if we test His patience long enough, He'll allow us to harm ourseves, or to hang out with a bad crowd. But once we see our errors, He truly is faithful and just, and His mercy endures forever.  If you liked that, check out my main site-www.voiceintha.com  And then, tell your friends!

 You might have heard this before. After all, it's the whole gospel in one sentence. But have you thought about what these words mean? If death is your "wages," it's what you've earned. It's what most of the unsaved world has been working towards since the garden. Some even see it as an escape into nothing, which sounds nice. But that's the Devil saying hell's not real. Still, like a birthday cake you simply have without earning, Christ offers you an escape with Him, and boundless joy. If you liked that, check out my main site-www.voiceintha.com  And then, tell your friends!

  which God has promised to those who love him." The crown of life. It sounds somewhat nice. But today, I'm afraid we've lost some of the imagry James was going for. Crowns, in his day, meant power, honor, wealth, and prestige or respect. And elsewhere, we're promised life more abundantly. So, really, what James is trying to say in less words, is that if we endure trials with righteousness, God has promised us His power, seasons of honor and respect (though not always.) and all we need provided for, perhaps more. If we stick things out, He will bless.  If you liked that message, check put my main site-www.voiceintha.com  And then, tell your friends!

 Congratulations! If you're here, that's exactly what you're doing. I know, since I've been in the same boat for a long time myself. Of course, like me, you'll pobably feel like sharing what you've found. Which is great,because there's room for everyone. But because we live in a sin cursed, broken world, we need constant refreshing. Good thing our living water is a never ending fountain. Stay thirsty, my friends.  If you enjoyed that message, check out my main site-ww.voiceintha.com  And then, tell somebody!

 This was first promised to Ebed-Melech, but it extends to all who believe, as layed out in scripture. But like all covenant promises, it's really hard for us humans to grasp. We see so much going wrong, and we feel like we have to fix stuff. And yet, this only works when we surrender, and let Him work things out, instead of getting in the way. When we do that, He will surely save us.  If you enjoyed that message, check out my main site-www.voiceintha.com  And then, tell your friends!

 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. As they were first entering the promised land, this is the blessing that Aaron's sons were instructed to give to the Isrealites. It might have been a one-time thing, or they could have reminded them after every day's ceremonies. I'm really not sure. But what I do know is that they spent forty years in the desert after stuff so intense, we're still taking about it. And there, they lost roughly half of everyone. But even through all the hardship, God intends to bless and keep them. And if you trust Him, He'll bless you too.  If you liked that message, check out my main site-www.voiceintha.com  And then, tell your friends!

 The last verse of a long lament, this follows David pouring out all his troubles. Time after time, he talks of how even his friends seek his life. But it's always punctuated by pleas for help. Still, I love how it ends on this note. Through it all, our hope is in the Lord.  If you liked that, check out my main site-www.voiceintha.com  And then, tell your friends!

 This is probably the hardest part of being a Christian. Paul, the author who wrote this, compared it to being crucified anew, daily. But the thing is, we can also be ressurected daily. As we die to sin, we're also lifted up to new life with Christ, daily. And another thing Paul talked about: The Holy Spirit prays for us and helps us, when we don't have the words or the strength. Our very present help has made us more than conquerors.  If you enjoyed that message, check out my main site-www.voiceintha.com  And then, tell your friends! 

 It's important to remember: This doesnt mean that everything will be good. Life isn't always filled with cotton candy and rainbows, while those totally exist. But just as diamonds are only produced through immense pressure, God often brings good things through things that are hard to deal with. We may see them as bad, and wonder why He hates us when we give so much. But really, He's working it for our good.  If you enjoyed that, check out my main site-www.voiceintha.com  And then tell your friends!

 What an astounding promise! Sure, it was given in refference to something thousands of years ago. But a beauty of the living word is that it applies still today. I can think of many examples of this very thing happening. And He didn't only share things I didn't know, but things that were hidden from most people! I can't speak to what you might need. But God the Father is faithful, and He'll meet you wherever you are. All you gotta do is call. If you liked that, check out my main site-www.voiceintha.com  And then, tell your friends!

 The verse continues to speak about the way He keeps covenants. And while I truly enjoy that, rather than explaining covenants again, I'll just talk about faithfulness. See, humans are "faithful" when we do a thing most of the time. But nobody expects anybody to behave a way every single time. That'd be impossible. Except for God. He's poweful enough to create time itself, but also to remain steadfast throughout. And that's why we can rest our hope in Him, forevermore.  If you enjoyed that message, check out my main site-www.voiceintha.com  And then, tell your friends!

 Basically, this is what I'm trying to do here. Which is a little difficult, because something that surpasses knowedge is kinda hard to talk about. Still, it's just so good, I have to try. And also because it's what all Christians, all people really, were made to do. The Gospel is the greatest love story ever, spanning all dimensions and ages. And we're invited not only to be involed, but to be main characers! So, if you haven't accepted Christ yet, don't wait. Jesus loves you.  If you enjoyed that, check out my main site-www.voiceintha.com  And then, tell your friends! 

 For that passage to fit, I omitted specific instructions for celebrations, which I encourage you to look up, if just to include details. But the message I'd like to share today is how this comes right after a hard work of ministry. And whenever believers do stuff for the kingdom, we get tired. So the enemy takes that moment of weakness, and plays head games, making us sad, or wonder why we even try. We try because we're called to something greater than ourselves. Something better than we could imagine. So just remember, next time it all becomes too much, the joy of the Lord is our strength. If you liked that, check out my main site-www.voiceintha.com  And then, tell your friends! 

 The full verse goes on a bit more, listing specific things. But even without that, I fee like this passage should be on the mind of every believing Cristian.  And as we reflect, we all have our own examples of such things we've seen Him accomplish. Take some time, and consider your own. And then, let that motivate you to continually reoice while praising His name!  If you enjoyed that, check out my main site-www.voiceintha.com  nd then, tell your friends!

 They're then told to teach their children, and grandchildren. We see this trend several times in the scriptures, although this might be the first. The obvious intention is to share a legacy, so future generations would know of it. But an unseen effect is that by teaching said children, you're required to not only remember the legacy, but in no small part, live by the instructions. God put in pace a system by which the future of everything was immideately changed for the better. Hallelujah! If you enjoyed that, check out my main site-www.voiceintha.com  And then, tell your friends!

 This is one of the passages most used to deny the scriptures. Who hasn't asked for a thing, but not gotten it? So, clearly, that cancels out everything else in the Bible. Except, scripture never contradicts tself, and there's Ecllisiastes along with other verses that explain how God gives out those things that make His game plan work. So the trick is getting on board with the One who's calling the shots. And once you do, the sky's the limit on things you can recieve. If you enjoyed that message, check out my main site-www.voiceintha.com  And then, tell your friends! 

 This is a promise, to everyone. But what we forget is that it's a covenant. Which means a commitment. If you give all of yourself over to God, forever, He'll do the same right back. He already died to prove that. Of course, being all-powerful, He took back His life. And that kind of power is what He offers you. All you have to do in return is everything. Still, though, that's a pretty sweet deal. If you liked that, check out my main site-www.voiceintha.com And look me up on Facebook, X, and Instagram before telling your friends! Thanks!

 How many of us can actually say this? Even though God is faithful to direct, I think we often get squeamish. But that just shows us how things really are! As we follow our own council,it becomes clear that it's not that great. The problem is, following His way, we get attacked by everything the enemy can throw at us. Except, as I like to point out, He's overcome the world. So, as we stick with Him, things wind up better than we imagined. Just hold fast! If you enjoyed that message, check out my main site-www.voiceintha.com  And then, tell your fiends!