"...Deal courageously, and the Lord shall be with the good." 2Chron. 19:11

This is a statement we need to remember on a daily basis. We are going to face trials, heartaches, storms, problems,fears, doubts, whatever may come our way; and there are always two ways to handle any situation we will ever face; a right way, and a wrong way. Many times we will have something come up that it will be much easier; and cost us much less heartache, pain, or time to simply turn and run from our situation, but we may be here as Esther "for such a time as this". Often the circumstances we face are brought on by our own decisions, so at these times it would be cowardly, and possibly even immoral (certainly showing a lack of character) to try and evade these situations. There are other times though that due to no fault of our own, a trial will appear on hand for us, that we may sit in awe of it as did Job of his trial. No matter what the reason is behind what we face, whether it be of our own fault, or if it be just the providence of the Almighty bringing things to fruition, we must always remember deal courageously, and let the Lord sort things out. It will take courage to handle life in the way that God would have you to handle it, for at these times we are no longer walking by sight, but rather by faith. Not into the unknown, but rather into the unseen. This is a place the flesh does not like to go, our flesh likes to keep a clear line of sight wherever it chances to trod, but the Spirit is at rest when we are walking by faith. We need not cower and run from the storms of life, but " deal courageously", for " the Lord shall be with with the good."

" I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly." Pro. 5:14

We must beware where we feel the safest; for often this is the devils most fertile soil. We tend to think that there is safety in numbers, but as we review scripture we find the opposite often to be true. Elijah we find protected while all alone in the midst of enemy territory, we see most all of the prophets had a lonely road to walk. Typically we will have to obtain the Kingdom all by ourselves, and have few or no familiar friends to enjoy the pilgrimage with us. Solomon realised, that when he felt the safest in the flesh; in the midst of the assembly, he was really in the most danger he could ever face. It is true that there looms many perils within congregations, and there is no protection guaranteed by God just because we are in a congregation, for " though hand join in hand, they shall not be unpunished." There are many places, and groups where we as people flee for protection, and feel as if we are somehow more safe. We must not think ourselves to be safe just because of any group we are a part of, for this is where all evil is found. We see today how many are joining hands on some sort of common ground, but their common ground is shifting sand, and soon they will fall. We must beware that we unite only so far as the word of God allows, and unite upon the similar beliefs of the word. We must never unite simply to be united; for we shall soon find that there is all evil lurking in the shadows of the assembly. There certainly is a time to unite, but just as certainly as this, there is also a time to "come out from among them". Let us be wary, that we be not ensnared in all evil, simply to be a part of an assembly.

" I am this day weak, though anointed..." 2 Sam 3:39

This stands as an open reminder to all who serve the Lord in places of authority that there come times when, though we may be anointed we will sometimes grow weak. The great King David at this moment had done nothing amiss, he had committed no open and egregious sin against the Holy One of Israel, but he was still weak. There are times we grow weak for various reasons, sometimes; as was the case here, there will be others under your authority who will commit some act contrary to your guidance, and this will weaken your hands and spirit. There are other times when you will misstep, and move in a direction that God did not direct you to move in, and this will weaken your hands adn spirit. Many are the ways that our hands and spirit will grow weak; and for these we must carefully watch. We can be sure that even when our hands or spirit grow weak, that God is still God, he is in control and will perfect that which concerneth us. Just because we are weak is no need for despair, for we are still anointed. God still has a job for us to do, and we still must do it. What an opportunity for some dear saint, who thinks their life to be useless, to find their job to pray for the anointed of the Lord. Whenever we see the anointed of God growing weak or weary in their service for their Great Master, it is our responsibility, yea privilege to pray without ceasing for the precious worker of God. There will be no benefit to us, for the anointed to be too weak to carry on their service for God, so I implore you to pray for strength for the servant of God. These times come; there is likely nothing we can do to prevent them; but we can certainly shorten their life span, and deaden their effects by praying for the anointed of the Lord. How long has it been since you prayed for your Pastor?

"There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken... all came to pass." Josh. 21:45

Isn't it so wonderful that the Lord keeps his promises? He has never yet failed; not even one single time in even the smallest of matters. We need not worry that he ever will fail us at any time to come. God is faithful; and his faithfulness, thank God, is not based on any contingency. There are times in our lives where we will mess everything up, and go the wrong direction, but God will not under any circumstances ever leave us or forsake us. If God were ever to get in the forsaking business, even the most holiest of saints would be in a great deal of trouble, because not any one of us deserves his goodness toward us. Israel had certainly been through some high mountains, and some low valleys, they had heard the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, and they had danced naked around a golden calf; but God still did what he said he would do. We too may experience times in our lives where the devil will take us, and hang us out to dry, and leave us half dead for hells buzzards to pick out our eyes, but we need not worry, for God still no matter what you have done, or where you have been will keep his word. We may feel lonely and forsaken during our brief sojourn here, it may even seem as if there will never come a brighter day where the sunshine of Gods love will shine through, but fret not, we must; for God will not; yea cannot fail! One day when we get to heaven, and can see all things clearly, and remove this darkened glass that we must needs look through at this time, we will certainly be able to say at time that there has failed not ought of any good thing he has promised.
"That soul though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never , no never, no never forsake."

"And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the Lord..." Ex 16:7

What a wonderful time the morning is. This is the time when it seems as if all the creation is waking from it's season of rest, and giving it's thanks to the great Creator. This is when the birds are beginning to find their highest perches, and singing their loudest praises. This is the time when the flowers of the field are putting all of their energy into being the most colorful, and beautiful that they can be. This is the time when the sun comes racing forth in all of it's glory, and the rest of the sky joins in the act, and brings out all of it's brilliant hues that it can muster; all as if saying "thank you Lord for this another day". What a grand time for mankind to bask in the time of the morning, there can be no pride when we view the creation shooting forth it's great magnificence. This is a time when all we, as man can do is enjoy, for there is no power in us to change the face of the sky, there is no power in us to make the birds keep their silence, or the flowers hide their beauty. I truly pity the man who remains in bed so long as to miss this great display every morning. It is our grand privilege to see this great display daily. How great this promise in our text was, "in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the Lord" if we had this promise we could face the darkest of nights, and be sure that all would soon be over, and we would be at peace and rest. We could endure the deepest of trials, the stormiest of weather, the most painful of affliction, for it is only for a short season. Friend,take heart; every word of God is profitable for us today, this verse stands as sure today as it ever did. We can always rest assured that whenever a night comes upon us; no matter what we may face through night the morning comes swift and sure; and truly in the morning we shall the glory of the Lord!

"... then began men to call upon the name of the Lord." Gen 4:26

What a wonderful day this was, when of men, it was able be said that they called upon the name of the Lord. Often times we think that men long ago were the most pious, and religious there ever were; but we find this not to be so. Mankind had only been on the earth for a very short period of time when men had fallen away from their Creator. It would seem that while Adam was walking the earth himself, that, for the most part men would have acknowledged their Creator. But alas we find Cain to have quickly fallen out of presence, and fellowship with God. Whenever a person, no matter what their upbringing, is taken away from the presence of God it will certainly follow that they will very soon leave the his fellowship, and fall into whatever sinful vices, the naturally sinful state leads them. How soon we see that not only the sinful line of Cain had fallen from God, but also the Godly line of Adam had also been drawn away from his God. We look, and say "why would Adam have fallen away from God?" but we must remember that "the natural man receiveth not the things of God"(1 Cor 2:14). Our sinful nature cannot be tamed by the wisest of mens devices. We have been able to tame lions, tigers, whales, and all other sorts of wild beasts, but nobody has ever been able to tame the natural state within themselves that tends toward sin. How great the grace of God is though; even though we are not able to do better on our own, we can have; not the natural state tamed, but actually defeated by the blood of Christ. What a glorious thought that no matter how sinful, and rebellious we are, all we must do is call upon the name of the Lord. This was a day to be much celebrated, and remembered, for this was the day when men called on the name of the Lord; will it be so for you today?