He's got a mean left hook!

Jab right, dodge left. Shuffle your feet faster. If you don't block quicker, you'll get hit every time. He knows which way you're going next, so you have to outsmart him!

This boxing analogy may be all too familiar to beginning fighters. But, in our Christian walk, it is familiar, too.

-We are hit with jabs on all sides. 2 Corinthians 6:8-10
"...through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything."

-Sometimes our feet are followed, tripped, and planted by the enemy. Psalm 56:13
"For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life."

-If we are not in His word, we do not know when to block the enemy from our path. Matthew 16:23
"Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.'"

-Just like a fighter knows where the rookie will be moving next, Satan tries to outsmart you and plant you in places of deceit and wickedness. Walk with the Lord and outsmart the fox. Isaiah 55:9
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Beaten, Abused, and Mocked

Have you ever been verbally abused? For that matter, ever verbally beaten where you feel like you've been hit with left hook after left hook? What about mocking? Have you ever been mocked in a way that degraded you as a human being, took everything you've worked for and turning it upside down like you were a mere child and you didn't know what you were talking about?

Sometimes it is not you...it is your spouse or someone in your family...making you feel helpless.


Sometimes people in leadership positions feel as though their job is to nit-pick and make your life a place where you are miserable. That is when a person fills the position of a leader without knowing HOW to be a leader.

A true leader shows fault along with remedies for the fault. In other words, when you find fault:
--bring it up then (don't let it wait)
--show several ways in enhance the area of weakness (in a friendly environment)
--leave by encouraging ("You may be at fault now, but I know you are talented enough to make this little change and bring this back where you need it.")

Moreover, your reaction to fault will show your true faith in your Father.

Psalm 118:13 "I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me. "

Do you think the Lord puts us in certain situations to get a faith temperature? At the times where we are knocked down, mocked, and beaten, know that God is there to help you. Rely on Him.

When going through trials, read Psalm 118 over and over and remember that our Lord was physically beaten, physically abused, and verbally mocked while upon the cross. He has gone through every situation (in some form) that we can experience. Depend on His Word for guidance and support.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%20118&version=31

The Father's Love

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”- 1 John 4:10

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."-John 3:16

"The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again."-John 10:17

"For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these."-John 5:20

"How deep the Father's love for us, How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son, To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss, The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One, Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross, My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice, Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart His wounds have paid my ransom"

Plans...

Do you think God thinks it is funny when you make plans? Just looking down from on high at us going to and fro, carelessly saying we will do this and that...go here and there...

When we lost power, our plans changed. We went to a hotel, then to moms, and waited until the power was back to come home.

Matthew 6:33-34..."But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

May we only think upon today as we are in it. May we pray God's wisdom to overtake our own thoughts and ideas on what we should do. May we do His will and seek His face in all things.

Power...

From Tuesday, January 27 - Tuesday February 3, much of the western part of Kentucky has been without power from the ice storm that came through. We were without power Tuesday night through Saturday afternoon. We were at home Tuesday night, at a hotel Wednesday night, and at mom's in Lexington Thursday afternoon-Sunday morning.


We uprooted out family last week searching for power. Searching for a source of electricity, warmth, and current.


The Bible tells us that we always have power within those who know Christ.


Ephesians 6:10 - "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power..."


I am thankful that, as Christians, we do not have to uproot ourselves searching for a power source...for a feeling of warmth...we have that within us by the power of Christ.

Our lights should never be dimmed for -"You are the light of the world..." Matthew 5:14.

There is a River

David Phelps sings "There is a River" about the woman at the well with Jesus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TScCZn9AMhE

John 6:15-21

15Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
16When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. 20But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." 21Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
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Jesus withdrew to a mountain...so should we. We should withdraw each morning and night for quiet time with God. Personal moments with God help us to:
1) listen to how He communicates
2) be still and know He is God
3) give Him the personal moments to start and end each day to seek guidance for our lives