Habakuk 3:17-19

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.

The Soveriegn Lord is my Strength; He makes my feet like the feet of deer, He enables me to go on the heights."  - Habakuk 3:17-19

God will give His followers surefooted confidence through difficult times. They will run like deer accross rough and dangerous terrain.

At the proper time.

God will bring about His justice and completely rid the world of evil.

In the mean time, God's people need to live in the Strenght of His Spirit, confident in His ultimate victory over evil.

Psalm 27:1

"The Lord is my Light and my Salvation - whom shall i fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall i be afraid ?" - Psalm 27:1

Fear is a dark shadow that envelops us within ourselves. Each of us has been a prisoner of fear at one time or another---fear of rejection, misunderstanding, uncertanty, sickness, or even death.

But we conquer fear by using the bright liberating light of the Lord who brings Salvation. if we want to dispel the darness of fear, let us remember with the plsalmist that the 'Lord is my light and Salvation'.

Jeremiah 17:8

"But blessed is the man who trust in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.

He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."  - Jeremiah 17:8

Those who trust in the Lord, flourish like trees planted by water, will have abundant strength, not only for their own needs, but even for the needs of others.

Like a well watered tree, have strength for the time of crisis and even some to share as you bear fruit for the Lord.

Jeremiah 17:5,6

"This is what the Lord says: 'Cursed is the one who trust in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord.

He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes.

He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.'"  - Jeremiah 17:5 - 6

The people of Judah were trusting in false gods and military alliances instead of God. and thus they were barren and unfruitful. 

In times of trouble, those who trust in human beings will be impoverished and spiritually weak, so they will have no strength to draw on.

Jeremiah 17:9,10

"The heart is decietful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it ?  I, the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."  - Jeremiah 17:9,10

God makes it clear why we sin--it's a matter of the heart.

Our hearts have been inclined toward sin from the time we were born . It is easy to fall into the routine of forgetting and forsaking God.

But we can still choose whether or not to continue in sin. We can yeild to specific temptation, or we can ask God to help us resist temptation when it comes.

Jeremiah 7:2 - 3

"Stand at the gate of the Lord's house and there proclaim this message; "Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place."

 -  Jeremiah 7:2 - 3

The people followed a worship ritual but maintained a sinful life-style. It was religion without personal commitment to God.

We can easily do the same. Attending church, taking communion, teaching church shool, singing in the choir--all are empty exercises unless we are truly doing them for God.

It is good to do these activities, not because we ought to do them for the church, but because we want to them for God.

James 3:17

"The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy" - James 3:17

Have you ever known anyone who claimed to be wise but who acted foolishly ? True wisdom can be measured by the depth of a person's character.

Just as you can identify the tree by the type of fruit it produces, you can evaluate your wisdom by the way you act.

Foolishness leads to disorder, but wisdom leads to peace and goodness. Are you tempted to escalate the conflict, pass on the gossip, or fan the cord of discord ?

Careful, winsome speech and wise, loving words are the seeds of peace. God loves peacemakers.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will see God." - Matthew 5:9

2 Corinthians 4:15

"All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God." - 2 Corinthians 4:15

2Corinthians 4:16-18

"Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an Eternal Glory that far outweighs them all.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2Corinthians 4:16-18

Paul had faced sufferings, trials, and distress as he preached the good news. But he knew that they would one day be over, and he would obtain God's rest and rewards. As we face great troubles, it's easy to focus on the pain rather than on our ultimate goal.

Just as athletes concentrate on the finish line and ignore their discomfort, we too must focus on the reward for our faith andd joy that will lasts forever. No matter what happens to us in this life, we have the assurance of Eternal Life, when all suffering will end and all sorrow will flee away.

It is easy to lose heart and quit, we all have faced problems in our relationships or in our work that have caused us to want to think about laying down the tools and walking away. Rather than giving up when persecution wore him down, Paul concentrated on experiencing the inner strength from the Holy Spirit (Ephessians 3:16).

Don't let fatigue, pain, criticism force you off the job. Renew your commitment to serving Christ. Don't forsake your Eternal reward because of the intensity of today's pain. Your very weakness allows the resurrection power of Christ to strengthen you moment by moment.

Our troubles should not diminish our faith and dillussion us. We should realize that there is purpose in our suffering. Problems and human limitations have several benefits:

(1) They remind us of Christ's suffering for us;
(2) They keep us from pride;
(3) They cause us to look beyond this brief life;
(4) They prove our faith to others; and
(5) They give God the opportunity to demonstrate His power. See your troubles as opportunities !

Our ultimate hope when we are experiencing terrible illness, persecution, or pain is the realization that this life is not all there is---there is life after death!

Knowing that we will live forever with God in a place without sin and suffering can help us live above the pain that we faced in this life.Publish Post

Isaiah 35: 10

"And the ransomed of the Lord will return. Everlasting Joy will crown their heads.

Gladness and Joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." - Isaiah 35: 10

This highway, the "Way of Holiness," is the way that righteous pilgrims will take from the desert of suffering to Zion (Jerusalem). It is found only by following God.

Only the Redeemed will travel God's highway; they will be protected from wicked travelers and harmful animals.

God is preparing a way for His people to trvel to His home, and He walk with us.

God never stops at simply pointing the way; He is always beside us as we go.

Luke 13:30

"Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last." - Luke 13:30

There will be many surprises in God's kingdom. Some who are despised now will be greatly honored then; some influential people here will be left outside the gates.

Many "great" people on this earth (in God's eye) are virtually ignored by the rest of the world.

What matters to God is not a person's earthly popularity, status, wealth, heritage,or power, but his or her commitment to Christ.

How do your values match what the Bible tells you to value ?

Put God in first place, and you will join people from all over the world who will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of heaven.

Put On the New Self

What does it mean to "put on the new self "?

It means that your conduct should match your faith. If you are a Christian, you should act like it.

To be a Christians means more than just making good resolutions and having good intentions; it means taking the right actions.

This straight forward step that is as simple as putting on your own clothes.

Colossians 3:13

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."  - Colossians 3:13

The key to forgiving others is remembering how much God has forgiven you. 

Is it difficult for you to forgive someone who has wronged you a little when God has forgiven you so much ?

Realizing God's infinite love and forgiveness can help you love and forgive others.

Colossians 3:16-17

Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and Spiritual songs with gratitudes in your hearts to God. 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of our Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. - Colossians 3:16-17

Paul offers a strategy to help us live for God day by day:

(1) Immitate Christ's compassionate, forgiving attitude 3:12,13);

(2) Let love guide your life (3:14);

(3) Let the peace of God rule in your heart (3:15);

(4) Always be thankful (3:15);
(5) Keep God's word in you at all times (3:16);

(6) Live as Jesus Christ 's representative (3:17).

Ungratefulness

God had consistently provided for His people, but they refused to see what He had done, and they showed no interest in thanking Him. Ungratefulness is a common human fault. 

For example, when was the last time you thanked your parents for caring for you ? your pastor for the service he gives your church ? your child's teacher for the care taken care with each day's activities ? your Heavenly Father for His guidance ? 

Many of the benefits and the privileges we enjoy are the results of loving actions done long ago. Look for hidden acts of nurturing , and thank those who make the world better through their love. 

But begin by thanking God for all His blessings.

Be Sure Your Brain Is Engaged Before Your Mouth Is In Gear

"Be sure your brain is engaged before putting your mouth in gear. 

Happiness is often punctured by a sharp tongue."  - Anonymous

Proverbs 3:1-3

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." - Proverbs 3:1-3

Philippians 1:28

"Without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.

This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved - and that by God." - Philippians 1:28

Romans 10:9

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." - Romans 10:9

Have you ever been asked, "How do I become a Christian ?" This verse gives you a beautiful answer----Salvation is as close as your own mouth and heart.

People think it must be a complicated process, but it is not. 


If we believe in our hearts and say with our mouths that Christ is the risen Lord, we will be saved.

Luke 14:11

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" - Luke 14:11