Encouragement

This has been a difficult week for me in many ways, but the Lord is always faithful to encourage us when we need it. I was able to have lunch today with Brad Diehl. Brad was a teenager when his family first started coming to our church. He and his whole family were saved and baptized in our church. They are wonderful people. It's been ten years since I have seen Brad and have been able to talk with him. Brad is currently full time youth pastor at White Plains Baptist Church. He's 29, married and has two children. His family is still in church and faithfully living for God. It's so easy to get discouraged with current struggles and lose sight of all that God is doing. When Brad shared today how important our ministry had been to him in the past, it encouraged and reminded me that in spite of current struggles, the ministry is too important to quit.

God is at work in ways that we will never know till we get to heaven.

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9)

Advances vs. Setbacks

Life is a series of advances and setbacks. As one person said, 'It seems as if I'm always taking one step forward and two steps backward.' I often feel that way. But in reality, I am moving forward. Most often God uses what we think are setbacks as our greatest advances.We can 'plant' and 'water' but 'God gives the increase.'

One of the benefits of being involved in God's work, is the confidence that He is in control of the results. We live in a results oriented society. We measure, analyze, critique everything. But ultimately, only God knows why things turn out the way they do. When my focus in on my idea of how things should be, I get discouraged.

I really believe a key to living a ROCK SOLID life is Living His Work...not our work..His Work. If we faithfully Live a life of service for the Lord, in the end, we are promised His reward.

Let's keep our hand to plow and Live His Work!