​What direction is your faith facing today?
 
During these changing, challenging times of uncertainty, a lot of people are looking back to what they thought were the good old days. Most of us who have lived for any substantial period of time know the good old days were not as good as we thought they were. Solomon concurs with that judgment in Ecclesiastes 7:10.
 
“Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.
 
If the good old days were not as good as we thought, then where should we be investing our thought and energy? In which direction should we be looking for a successful and fulfilling future?
 
The way our faith is faced determines what God can do in our lives and what goals we can achieve.
 
Whether our good old days were good or not so good, to go forward you and I have to face forward with faith.  
 
Paul knew this. Writing from jail the Apostle of grace penned these words. “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:13-14
 
Paul, who as Saul persecuted Christians before surrendering his life to Christ, determined to do one thing: face forward by forgetting the past and reaching for the future in Christ.
 
Sounds easy huh? Not so fast. Our daily struggle is to face forward when life’s stresses pull on and pressure us to face backward.
 
The look back to yesterday is easy but unfruitful and frustrating. The look forward to today and tomorrow is harder but fruitful and fulfilling.   
 
 Paul’s faith was facing the right direction.
 
Paul honestly admits that he had not arrived yet to Christian perfection (complete maturity), but he was arriving day by day (Philippians 3:12). Paul pressed on to be whole and complete in Christ in the midst of adversity. He advanced through adversity because he faced forward.
 
When tremendous trials tempted Paul to pull back, he faced forward and moved forward to overcome his challenges.
 
 The goal for the prize of the upward call in Christ is forward and upward.
 
Too many “people of faith” spend their time facing backwards. What people talk about and dwell upon locates their life direction. Is it any wonder some people’s lives never seem to move forward? How can you possibly move forward when you are always looking back?
 
Try moving forward while you are looking back. You guessed it. You will fall down on your face. We cannot go forward if we are facing backwards. If we are facing backwards, we cannot reach forward. We cannot press on and reach forward when looking back.
           
Facing yesterday robs us of the future today and tomorrow holds.
 
The way I face determines the vision I see and the steps I take. When we face forward, we see forward. A future full of God blessed opportunities lies forward. When we face backwards, we see backwards. And who needs to see the past (with its glory and grind) again? Once is enough!
 
Let’s face it. Life is tough enough at times when we face forward. It certainly will not improve or become any easier if we are facing the wrong way.
 
Think about these “face forward” folks in the Bible.
 

• Israel faced forward…. and crossed the Red Sea.
• David faced forward…and slew the giant Goliath.
• Nehemiah faced forward…and rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall.
• Esther faced forward…and saved her nation.
• Joshua faced forward…and led Israel into the Promised Land.
• A leprous man faced forward…and was healed
• An adulterous woman faced forward…and was forgiven of her sin.
• Peter faced forward…and walked on water to Jesus.
• Paul faced forward….and won Gentiles to Christ.
• Jesus faced forward….and went to the Cross.
• Jesus faced forward…and rose from the dead!!
• Jesus is facing forward…and will soon return for the Bride of Christ!!!

           
(Your name) faced forward…and did what for God’s glory?
 
Our future in Christ is forward. The face of faith faces forward.
 
So face forward by faith and reach boldly for the prize of becoming more like Jesus and fulfilling His perfect will for your life.
 
Life always turns out better when we face forward.
 
“Then Joshua said to the people, “GO FORWARD, and march around the city (Jericho), and let the armed men go on before the ark of the Lord.”                                Joshua 6:7
 
“But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and LOOKING BACK, is fit for the kingdom of God.”                                                             Luke 9:62
 
A Word For Your Week: Face forward to go forward.

​I wrote this piece on July 13, 2020. I feel I should share it again as your and my peace is at stake every day during these unsettling, troubling times in America.
Covid-19, frightening civil unrest, unbridled chaos, brazen lawlessness and disorder, malicious violence, senseless destruction and hateful, spiteful divisiveness is disrupting peace in our culture.
Lately I have found myself extremely ticked off, torched, incensed, infuriated and madder than a hornet concerning what many misguided, anti-American people are doing in an orchestrated attempt to destroy the United States of America as me, you and many country loving patriots of our republic have known it.
I have been upset before in my life. You probably have too. This angst I am experiencing has risen to a level that I am concerned about. Why? Because it is trying to steal my peace.
I do not like the me who can get so upset. An edgy, irritable, short-fused, hard heart is not my desire. Backlash and payback are not the name of the game for me.
Indeed, there is justification for what the Bible calls righteous indignation and anger. God Himself has been angry more than once with humankind. God loves us. Christ’s cross proves it. But there are things that God hates and gets His holy dander up. I am certain the Almighty is not very pleased with some in our society who are rebelling with malicious intent against everything holy, sacred, moral, authoritative, historical, reasonable, wise and plain old common sense.  
While in my hide-away place of prayer last week, the Holy Spirit (after I informed God how teed off I was!) quietly said to me in my heart “Steve, guard your peace.”  In that serene revelation moment, I reminded myself that my Lord and Savor Jesus paid the ultimate price for my peace.
As the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ is my peace. It is important to my spiritual, emotional, mental, physical and relational health that I never take the Lord’s peace lightly and that I guard the peace I have graciously received from Him.
Peace in our hearts, sprits and minds is vital to a Christlike, God-honoring, healthy, prosperous, successful, blessed and satisfying life.
Peace disrupters do not give a rip about Steve Roll’s peace. But, as a Christian, I do.
As He prepared to go to the Cross, Jesus said to His faithful followers “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27. Note: Jesus’s peace would be their peace; therefore, they did not need to be afraid or troubled in their heart. The world’s peace is false. Christ’s peace is true peace.
Writing from a dark, damp, depressive jail cell, awaiting the executioner’s sword, Paul wrote in Philippians 4:7-8 “The peace of God which passes all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of a good report,, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.”
Amazingly Paul experienced joy in jail. Thirteen times the word joy or rejoice is referenced in the book of Philippians.  Paul’s joy was based on Jesus’ presence and peace in his mind and heart. How could Paul, facing death, be peaceful and joyful?
He guarded (the word means fortress) his heart and mind. He built a spiritual/emotional fortress/wall around his thoughts and emotions.  Paul set a watch over his life to protect the peace of God which came from the “God of peace” (verse 9).
He also instructed and encouraged believers what to think on. Note the list of “think on these things” is totally opposite of what is happening in our streets, newscasts, political pontifications and combative “conversations”.  If we focused our thoughts on “these things” our day would be much more peaceful!
Guarding our peace does not mean that, as Christ’s followers, we compromise truth, we cower or cave into evil pressure, click our life on silent mode, or stick our heads in societal sand. Not at all. May it never be. Godly, peace-filled folks who know Jesus Christ are the ones the spiritually lost, ungodly, evil, confused, misled people in our culture need to hear from.
How will people who do not have the peace of God in their heart receive it unless God’s peace-filled people share the Good News with them?
When given opportunity, pray it up, stand up, speak up to share Jesus Christ from a peaceful heart.  
Pointers Worth Pondering for Guarding Your Peace

• Walk daily in the peace of Jesus Christ. God keeps those in “perfect peace” whose mind is stayed on Him and who trust in Him. (Isaiah 26:3).
• Tune out. Turn off all negative media. Turning off peace disrupting news and sensationalist, agenda- driven, truth twisting journalists and power motivated political pundits will do you a world of good.  
• Get off Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for a while. You will be amazed how peace will fill your heart when you shut off the “noise”.
• Find something to laugh about. Really laugh. A big old belly laugh reduces stress and will help you keep your peace.
• Choose to resist and reject anything or anyone who disrupts your peace. No matter who it is, relatives, friends, co-workers, church members, pastors, celebrities, media darlings, political personalities, stay away from people who get your dander up in a not so good way!
• Fill your spirit with peace by feeding on God’s Word. Read, study your Bible. Listen to wise, discerning, reputable biblical preaching and teaching. God’s Word always brings peace to the seeking heart.
• Surround yourself with fellow peace guarders! Fellowship is two fellows in the same ship. Only sail on the sea of life with those who guard their peace and help you guard yours.
• Always, thank God for peace that passes all understanding, is incomprehensible and comes through your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Someone has said “No Jesus. No peace. Know Jesus. Know peace.
Rest assured that Satan, the world system, ungodly people and even immature, professing Christians will attack you and me, seeking to disrupt and steal our peace.     
 If you and I do not guard our peace, nobody else will. Guarding my peace is my responsibility. So, Steve Roll is doing his best to guard his peace.
My friend, keep your peace guard up!
“Finally, brethren, farewell. Be complete, be of good comfort; be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” II Corinthians 13:11
A Word For Your Week: You are the guardian of your peace.

​Highway 101 hugs the California coastline from Los Angeles to San Francisco. I know because my newlywed bride and I traveled on it during our honeymoon in 1974.
 
Jo Ann and I could have trimmed substantial hours off our trip to honeymoon bliss in San Francisco if we would have driven Interstate 5. I am so happy we chose 101. Interstate 5 is boredom at its best…a gridlocked, crazy-crowded, concrete corridor of nothing but boring sameness.
 
Scenic Highway 101 is anything but boring. Winding and weaving its way through some of the most breathtakingly beautiful shoreline scenery in America, if not the world, something new and exciting awaits around each bend of the road.        
 
Skillfully navigating bends in the road, Jo Ann’s and my vision was opened to surreal vistas of spectacular scenescapes. Sunlight skipping and dancing on the Pacific Ocean waves, playful seals frolicking on the rocky shoals, straight down drop-offs that took your breath away, Jonathan-Livingston seagulls soaring freely above, salty ocean breeze passing through the car…wow! A never-to-be-forgotten ride with my beautiful bride.
 
Approaching each bend in the road we did not know what was around it. But we knew it would be good. Whoever planned Highway 101 knew what they were doing. Talk about bang for the buck!
 
At first the bends in the road raised my anxiety, especially when we seemed to be hanging on to the side of cliffs overlooking a jagged, rocky beach below.
 
Truth being told, I prefer to know and see where I am going. A bend in the road blocks the view of the rest of the road and the end I am anticipating. After a bend or two, realizing the bend was not the end, I turned into a bend freak! So much for my bend-phobia. Bring on the bends. I could not wait to see what lay just around the bend.   
 
A bend in the road is not the end of the road.
 
Paul reminds us that God causes, works with and through all things (including bends in our faith road) for good in the lives of those who love Him and desire to fulfill His purpose.
 
Romans 8:26 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
 
Bends are not necessarily bad things. Even if you believe a bend in the road is not good, God can work it for your good, if you let Him. A bend in the road can be part of God’s will for your life if you trust Him.
 
Having walked by faith in Christ for forty-nine years, I have experienced significant bends in my spiritual journey. Bends in the road that caught me by surprise, turned my plans upside down, and left me wondering what was next. With God’s help, I worked hard to not let the bends break me. A bend was not the end for Steve.
 
I trusted God that the bends in the road could and would lead me to be more Christlike and fulfill the dreams God had given me.
 
I do not want to minimize bends in the road. Road bends in the journey of life can be intimidating and challenging when facing one. But I believe God made the faith road…. bends, curves, twists and turns included. There are many blessings just around the bends you and I encounter. 
 
Without question, the richest, incredibly exciting and satisfying, most enduring blessings God has brought to my life showed up on the other side of a bend in the road.
           
 Turning Bends In The Road Into Blessings
 

• God is in the bends of life. Ups, down, whatever comes around, God is with us.
• Bends are not ends. Bends are a means to an end on the road of abundant and eternal life. 
• A bend in the road can be the beginning of something awesome in life.
• A road bend can lead to an ending we could have never imagined.
• A bend in the road is an opportunity to walk by faith, not by sight. 
• God can use a bend in the road to mend something in my life that needs mended.
• A bend in the road can be a friend along your life journey.
• A bend-less journey is a boring journey. Interstate 5 or Highway 101? We choose which one we plug in to our GPS.     
• Trust God. Be wise. Bends in the road are not sent to suspend our journey but to bless our journey.  
• A bend in the road can send you down the road to God’s blessing in ways you never imagined.

 
Think with me for just a moment.  What might you miss if you do not keep moving forward by faith just because you cannot see around the bend in the road? What blessing might you forfeit if you turn back when you come to a road bend?
           
If you have come to a bend in the road, it is not the end of the road.
 
Just because you cannot see around the corner right now, does not mean your journey is over. God is waiting for you around the corner, paving the way for you to experience and enjoy His good, acceptable and perfect will for your life.
 
Your bend in the road can be a blessing if you believe God is just around the bend!
Embrace and enjoy the bend!
 
“When God did awesome things we did not expect, God came down and the mountains quaked at His presence. For from of old they have not heard nor perceived by ear, neither has the eye seen a God besides You, who acts on behalf of the one who waits for Him.”                                                                                                                  Isaiah 64:3-4
 
A Word For Your Week: Bends in the road are opportunities for God to show us something new.    

​“My gosh, I cannot believe this is happening.” Many people are feeling this way these days.
 
Are you surprised at negative things that are happening in our society and world?
 
Let’s list some negatives. Abortion. Homosexual perversion. Same sex marriage. Unemployment. Home invasions. Family slayings. Terrorist attacks. Unprecedented debt loads and deficits. Corporate and personal greed. Political corruption. Government intrusion and overreach.  Discrimination. Wealth redistribution. Moral scandals.
 
Worldwide pandemic. Catastrophic natural disasters. Disrespect for lawful authority. Cancel culture. Intolerance. Division. Disunity.  Hostility. Violence. Lack of self-control. Unconstitutional legislation aimed at curbing free speech and the right to bear arms.
 
 Anti-Christian attitudes. Scathing attacks on Christian values. Public maligning and mockery of all things innocent, pure, holy, and decent.  
 
I believe America has lost her spiritual bearing. Our moral compass is broken.
           
The people of the United States have blown huge holes in our moral cover. Evil runs rampant, unrestrained. Unrighteousness is not only tolerated but is becoming the order of the day. Clearly, most of our people have lost their way, hurtling blindly toward the hellish abyss of a Christ-less culture. A day of reckoning is coming.
           
Personally, I am appalled, angered and deeply saddened, but not surprised, by what is transpiring in my country. I am mourning that we have turned our backs on God.
I have to keep my faith focused and guard my personal peace daily.
 
The truth is Christians should not be surprised about what is happening. God’s Word says it will happen.
 
Peter, writing in a day when Christians suffered persecution from the hands of an evil, unbelieving, anti-Christian society wrote to God’s divinely loved ones “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.” I Peter 4:12
 
Fellow Christians, the “fiery trial” you are experiencing is “no strange thing” if you name the name of Christ. Matter of fact, the world’s opposition to your faith should be familiar to you by now. It is a daily occurrence if you are a believer who does not have his/her head buried in the sand.  
 
So, what were Christians to do? The exhortation is clear: “Do not be surprised” and “keep on rejoicing”.  Rejoice? Are you serious Peter? Do you have a loose screw or two brother? Has persecution’s heat melted your mind?
 
Not at all. Peter had a sound mind in Christ. He understood the times in which he lived. He knew trials would test our faith. Peter qualifies his statement in verse 12 with a further explanation in verses 13-16.
 
“But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name, let Him glorify God.”
 
Wow! Talk about big-picture perspective. Hey believer…. do not be surprised at what is happening. Rejoice instead. Why?
 
You are blessed, yes blessed, not cursed, when as a Christian you share in the sufferings of Christ. Do not be surprised when the world attacks you, your faith and your values. The world persecuted Christ, so they will persecute you who bear His name. Do not be ashamed of your relationship with Jesus Christ. Stand firm in your faith. Glorify God amid the societal shaking going on.
 
Peter is saying that when the time when all this anti-Christian persecution is fulfilled (and only God knows the exact time), Jesus will return for His holy bride the church. Jesus is coming back! He said He would. While we wait for Jesus to appear, the Lord expects His followers to not be surprised by the suffering and persecution that is setting the stage for His glorious return.   
 
What does this word mean for you and me? I believe it helps steady us when we read or hear the latest breaking news which I encourage you to turn out and turn off!  
 
I do not rejoice in what is happening. I do rejoice in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who is running the real show.  
 
Things will proceed from bad to worse before the return of Christ. Please read Matthew 24, II Timothy 3:1-14 and Jude 10-25. If you think things cannot get any worse, think again! All of this is setting the stage for the glorious return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Do not be surprised. What we are experiencing is predictable.
 
Take heart fellow Christian. Rejoice. Do not be surprised by the fiery trial upon us. Stay prayed up. Confess the Word. Walk in God’s wisdom. Hold your head up high in Christ. Stand up boldly for Him. Persevere. Endure. Guard your peace. Share your faith. Encourage others to look to the Lord during these tumultuous and troublesome times.     
 
I would not be surprised if Jesus, in all His glory, accompanied by the heavenly host, splits the eastern sky soon and catches us away to heaven!
 
I am ready…. how about you and your loved ones?
 
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.
 
“Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God…For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”
                                                                                                            II Timothy 2:8, 12
 
“You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
                                                                                                                        James 3:8
 
A Word For Your Week: Do not be surprised by things that should not surprise you.