Encouragement

Is That a Trumpet?

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments 
I was in the spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet. Revelation 1:10 NRSV

In Hebrew, the word translated as trumpet was a ram’s horn called a shofar and God chose the shofar to be used for many important occasions. The shofar was blown at the beginning and ending of religious festivals, called the people together for meetings and its blast was also used as a signal for armies to advance in battle. When God blows a trumpet in our lives, we should not be afraid because it is HIs sign that we are His people and that He has a message we need to hear.

At the time of the writing of the book of Revelation, the apostle John had been exiled to an island used for prisoners called Patmos. On that island, John was as far from home as he had ever been in his life. But even in his isolation, instead of surrendering to despair, John chose to worship. Though very few of us will ever experience circumstances, like John did, all of us have our own times of difficulty, isolation and even despair. But Gd, even at those worst of times, is still with us and wants us to hear his voice. We never know what unusual ways He may choose to speak, so we need to be always ready listening. Then when we least expect it God just may come to us today and blow a trumpet and bring us news from Heaven.

Prayer: Father recently I have been battling fears and feelings of isolation. Thank you for remembering where I am and blowing a trumpet so I can hear your voice in my life today!

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I Love Being Rejected!

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For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. James 1:3

If you are a writer, then you know that the most dreaded response from a publisher begins with the words, “Thank you for your submission, but…” We cringe because we know that those nice words invariably begin every rejection letter! However, if your first novel, article or poetry was jubilantly accepted by a large highly acclaimed publisher, then read no further. But, if like many of us, you have written several novels, articles, or oodles of poems and have little to show for it beyond a few meager acceptances and an inbox filled with rejections, then let’s see what the Bible has to say. In today’s verse, James, tells us that it is neither our acceptances, nor our successes that increase our faith but our tests. When our best efforts are challenged, just as heavy work pushes our muscles to the breaking point, so our rejections cause us to dig deeper and focus more clearly on our writing goals. They bring us face to face with the why’s of our ambitions, and the purpose of our message. Are we writing so that we can become popular, or is our true motivation to serve God and our readers? Rejection has pushed me to keep going beyond my frustration, when what I thought was a great poem or article, wasn’t something anyone wanted to read, or a publisher was willing to pay for. But to be honest, it has been my rejections that have motivated me to work towards becoming a better writer, a better editor and most of all a better follower of Jesus. So, I love being rejected! It is those wonderful rejections that have drawn me closer to the heart of Jesus: Who is The Word of God, and the best-selling message of all time!

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Mind – Motives and Ministry

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Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, Philippians 2:5 NKJV

I hate dental exams and am not too crazy about routine checkups at my primary care doctor either. It isn’t that I don’t like or trust the medical professionals in my life. My problem is that I worry about what they will find and some of the probing they do can even be a bit painful. Those unsettling sessions remind me of how God works on my motives. Just like many of you, I usually start off into service of one kind or another with enthusiasm, and without a doubt, by God’s grace some good gets done. But after a while, I discover that God schedules a visit to His examination room. There He pokes around in uncomfortable areas of my motivations, shines a bright light on the dark corners of my methods and then sends me off with a referral to a specialist by the name of Dr. Holy Spirit. Then I notice that He has written a recommendation for surgery! It says that I need the removal of at least 10 lbs. of self-promotion and the insertion of a pacemaker to keep my weakened heart in proper rhythm. If you have been to God’s exam room lately and come away feeling discouraged, I want to remind you that along with the referral, He also gives us some prescriptions to fill at Heaven’s pharmacy. Here are three of the medications that He recommended for me that I have found have helped prepare me for the upcoming medical procedures. This first one you will need to take early in the morning, before your day begins: so that you can start things off in the right direction.

Then around midday, when things are getting a little busy, sit down for a moment and take this second one, along with a tall glass of God’s living water. You will find that as soon as it goes down, that it will refresh your heart and put your crazy day back into perspective.

Then in the evening, when you are feeling worn down from all that has been piled on you during the day and it seems like you don’t have anything left to give, try a double dose of this, just before you lie down for the night. This one always gives me peace and rest, because it comes from the one who loves us the most and who is working every detail of our life out for good!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 
2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV