Endurance - Do you have what it takes?

Good Morning World!
This morning while cleaning one of the college classrooms I noticed a textbook opened to a story about Sir Ernest Shackleton a heroic explorer of the Antarctic.  What caught my attention wasn't his heroic feats as much as some interesting seemingly unimportant details.

On one of the expeditions he used a ship called the Polaris of great craftsmanship,  however, he changed the name to Endurance which was based on the family motto: Through endurance we will Conquer. This to me was the most important element of the whole heroic event!  Why?  Because it shows what was in the man.  Through endurance he was able to keep ALL of his crew alive in the Antarctic after a terrible shipwreck in the ice.  Not many people can say that they have what it takes to endure through such hardship and turmoil!

The scripture tells us that Jesus said these words: "He that endures to the end, the same shall be saved!" Do you have what it takes?  This can be a hard life, and believing in Jesus Christ and living by His principles can be difficult at the best of times.  Not because it is difficult to follow Jesus and His ways, but because people in this world don't understand why we do what we do.  It is a lack of understanding in the unknown and fear that causes people to treat those of us who try to live a righteous, God filled life in a not so pleasant manner.

It takes a great deal of intestinal fortitude and endurance to keep your tack, and not turn back.  We must not let the negativity of this world beat our convictions down.  Don't let the majority tell you that you are wrong, just because they don't understand your point of view.  Endure the cross as Jesus did, and one day you will find that it leads to a glorious salvation! Keep the faith and don't look back!

Yours for Christ,
Pastor Fred

Daily Bible Reading -- Psalm 64 - 65

Good Morning World!

The snow is falling, and everything is white again for a moment.  I am so glad that Jesus covers us too, and makes us white.  However, Jesus is better than snow, because He doesn't melt in the sun, and spring will not wash Him away!

Psalm 64
A Psalm of victory!  Have you ever felt like everyone was against you?  Yeah, me too.  It isn't a very good feeling, but it doesn't mean the end of the world for you, because Jesus is on the throne in Heaven and He loves you and is on your side!  Our reading this morning describes a situation that looks hopeless.  A time when the wicked are attacking and because there is no retaliation they are bold and arrogant. Yet, no matter how dire the situation Jesus is still the ultimate hero, and He will rescue your soul from danger.  He will make the wicked eat their words, and pay for their indignities. Rest assured that you can put your trust in Jesus, and He will see you through!

Psalm 65
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be called to enter the throne room of a king or queen?  Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be the private guest of royalty?  Let me assure you that you have been called and you have the privilege to be royalties guest!  Jesus has sent out a call to come, and you are on the list!  You have been called to enter the throne room of heaven, and kneel and the throne of Jesus the creator of the universe!  Not only that, but Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart right now and asking to be invited in so He can be your guest of honor!  Why not try the Lord today.  Just ask Him in your heart to stay!

Yours for a victorious relationship with Jesus,
Pastor Fred

Praise Your Way to Victory! Daily Bible Reading -- Psalm 47

Good Morning World!  Another cold day in Springdale, but Jesus is still on the throne!  He is alive!  He is victorious! He is almighty!  He is Saviour!  He is the Healer!  Jesus is Good All the Time!

Psalm 47

Have you ever praised your way out of the "paper bag" of life?  I mean really get with it and just worship in spite of all the turmoil around you?  There is something wonderful about the sacrifice of praise!  There is something amazing about the connection that you receive with Jesus when you praise Him even though the storm is blowing!  Look at Paul and Silas.  They were beaten, imprisoned, falsely accused, and yet they took time in the middle of the night, while the shackles tore at their hands and feet, to lift a song of praise to Jesus!  The presence of God was so strong the building, chains, doors and area they were in could not handle it, and had to bust open in spite of being locked!

David is describing a scenario of worship that calls God into action!  Clap your hands, Shout and Worship with a voice of triumph, because God will (future tense) take care of our enemies who are trampling us down!  Let's not wait until God triumphs to worship.  NO!  Let's worship before He makes His move, because we know that when God moves nothing can with stand Him!  We know that He will take care of us!  We know that He is almighty!  We know that He is on the throne!  Worship in spite of the storm!  Worship you way to Victory!

Another time God called the armies of Israel to battle, however, He asked the praise team to march in front of the soldiers.  The would sing and praise their way into battle!  As they sang and praised God the enemy thought they heard an innumerable army, and turned and fled before the battle ever started!  When we worship Jesus with a voice of triumph the enemy becomes confused and can no longer fight!  When we sing with a voice of triumph we begin to unleash the power of heaven upon earth!

Let's stop cowering under our situations and circumstances.  Let's rise up as the people of God and begin to Praise our way to Victory with the loud voice of triumph!

Your's for Daily Spiritual Victory,
Pastor Fred

Feed Your ... Victory!

For the past few days I've been studying with a series of DVD Lessons from the Bible College 5 out of the "First United Pentecostal Church of Wichita." Pastor Cornwell is an awesome teacher! Here is a nugget of Gold which I found in the second lesson.

(this of course is my own personal spin and vernacular!)

So often we base our feelings, attitude and daily character on our circumstance, which are currently surrounding us. Due to this fact we are more often in an attitude of defeat, rather than sounding the trumpet of victory! We allow the attitudes, feelings and negative vibes that are around us to influence how we act. We should not let other people dictate to us how we should feel, act or live. We need to push past the negative and demonstrate our faith, love and worship to Jesus verbally, physically and emotionally! The trumpet of victory is always preceded by those who would try to stop moving forward, by murmurers, by wet blankets and other such negative influence. Yet, in the midst of all that there will be strong leadership that will urge us onward toward victory.
We can even learn to live in a spirit of victory! An attitude, which doesn't derive it's passion and emotion from the present circumstances, but rather feeds itself off of past victories, present faith and future hope! Don't let your circumstance dictate defeat, rather let your faith push you to certain victory!
Learn to make victory a habit!

Yours for the Kingdom of Christ,
Pastor Fred

Using the Enemy's Weapons against them!

Did you know that the military strategy of using an enemy's weapon, strategy, offensive and/or attack against them was instituted by divine will? Yes, God was the first to use this kind of a strategy! Let me describe the story.

Adam and Eve where created by God as told in Genesis chapters one and two. Each day God would come down off His throne in Glory and visit with His creation. A relationship grew, and it seems that God chose the cool of the day for His visits.

In the mean time, Lucifer, who had been cast out of heaven, was planning an attack so daring it required his own personal touch, and not that of a lowly imp. He made his way into the garden enough times that, at least to Eve, he seemed to be familiar. When the timing was right, and Eve was passing near the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he tempted, beguiled and deceived her. She ate the forbidden fruit, and took a portion for Adam, whom she convinced to eat too.

There eyes where now opened to a whole new world of possibilities: Good versus Evil! Not only this, but they had sinned against God disobeying His one and only "thou shalt not."

Lucifer thought he had won, and for many centuries it seemed he had, but God told him, Adam and Eve that He would take this seemingly brilliant victory, and turn it against Lucifer. God was going to use the very thing, Adam and Eve, that Lucifer was using to get back at God, to redeem, save and bring humanity back into a divine relationship with Himself!

Gen 3:15 And there will be war between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed: by him will your head be crushed and by you his foot will be wounded

Sometimes you may feel like satan has won a victory over you, however, don't dispare God is still in control, and through Jesus Christ will turn that victory into a defeat! We are more that conquerors through Jesus Christ who loves us! Jesus is on your side so who possibly can be against you and win!

Yours for the Kingdom,
Pastor Fred