Tuesday, June 17, 2008

"He Remains Faithful" 6-17-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me beside Your still waters. ... "The saying is sure: If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful -- for He cannot deny Himself" (2 Timothy 2:11-13). You are a faithful God, worthy of our trust. I have seen Your faithfulness over and over again. You are faithful to be with us through every challenge, to strengthen us through every battle, and encourage us through every day. You never said life would be easy or even fair in this broken, fallen world where human beings and spiritual beings make choices that influence our lives throughout all our generations. In fact You warned us of the opposite: "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when His glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:12-13). Being with us does not immunize us from suffering and injustice. But being with us gives us courage to endure, faith to hold fast, and hope to know that You don't waste a moment of our suffering to produce in us hearts of gold refined in the fire of this world. "God is faithful, and He will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing He will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). By Your grace, we can choose to "entrust (ourselves) to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good" no matter what we face (1 Peter 4:19). As we do, You will give us faith to trust You more and faith to entrust more of us to more of You -- depending on Your wisdom, Your strength, Your ways, and not our own. "He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by Him you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:8-9). This fellowship of love is also a fellowship of the cross. And I choose to believe by faith that Your Word is true -- the reward of the resurrection glory to come on the day of the Lord will be worth all "the sufferings of this present time" (Romans 8:18). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! this Friday Night 6/20 at 7 pm -- on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to the Mountain! every Monday night at 7 pm to pray for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray of our ministry. Hosted in the upstairs community room of First Southern National Bank at 3060 Harrodsburg Rd in Lexington. Contact Doris at bndmccray@windstream.net All are welcome! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com