​“During these trying times…”
The above statement is the opening line of a commercial on television that leads into the sales pitch of the service their company is providing.
I do not know about you, but I am wearying of people reminding us about “trying times” as if we did not know that the times have and continue to try our faith, resolve and patience.
There has never been a time in human history, beginning with Adam and Eve, where mankind did not face trying times, various trials and tribulation. The real issue with “trying times” is what you and I are going to do about them.
Will we be triumphant over them or be troubled and overcome by them?
Thoughts About Trying Times

• Trying times are part and parcel of life. No escape from them.
• Trying times have a shelf life. A trying time is not for a lifetime.
• Trying times make us irritable, ill-tempered and difficult for people we love to live with us.
• Trying times are a tool of Satan designed to shake faith. The evil one always tests the belief of God’s children. Trying times are one of the devil’s favorite tools.  
• Trying times try our patience. Impatience can cause us to make “stupid” decisions when under pressure.
• Trying times test and reveal our character. When trying times test your faith, pass the test.
• Trying times require a positive attitude, persevering spirit and good old-fashioned grit.
• Trying times are opportunities to overcome in the name of Jesus. 
• Trying times test our resolve to live for Christ no matter what circumstances come our way.
• Trying times require some try-umph in Christ!

You and I can triumph over trying times. The Bible, God’s Word, says so.
The Apostle Paul writes in II Corinthians 2:14-15:
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being save and among those who are perishing.”
Paul, the Gospel gunslinger of grace in the New Testament, makes three statements about triumphing over trying times.

1. God always, the word is always, leads you and me, causes us to triumph in Christ. That is a great word for us. Paul assures us through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that God’s kids always triumph, not in their own power, but in Christ Jesus the Lord.
2. God makes us smell good! “Sweet aroma” is the phrase. How? Because we know Him and walk with Him. Christians should not stink to the world. I have met some smelly believers in my time of ministry and the scent was not sweet!
3. Christians are a “fragrance of Christ” to believers and unbelievers. Biblical Christians are to fellowship with one another and witness to a lost world smelling like the love of God, drawing people to the Savior. God’s love is “sweet aroma.”

Question my fellow brother or sister in Christ: How is your spiritual fragrance? Do people smell the sweet aroma of Christ on you? Or something else?
Trying times can be spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, relational, cultural or economic. Throughout my lifetime I have experienced various trials. I am sure you have also. James 1:2-3 states “Count it all joy my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
 Hey James, I am still working on that “joy” thing!
Whether you and I feel like it or not, see results the way we want to see them at the time or not, we always triumph in Christ. Not some of the time, or occasionally, but always, every single time you and I triumph over tests, trials and trying times.
So do not act like a loser. Get rid of the loser’s limp. I get irritated when I hear a Christian say when I ask them how they are doing who respond with a sigh “Oh, I am just hanging in there.” Please tell me how a professed believer in Christ can just “hang in there’ when the Son of God hung on a cross, died a horrible death and then rose from the dead to save us from sin and prepare the way for us to go to heaven. Beats me! I do not get that attitude.
We are triumphant in Christ because of His triumph over Satan, sin, death and the grave!
Friends, loser’s limp will get you and me nowhere. How can we positively influence and encourage fellow believers and be winsome witnesses to those who are searching for Jesus if we are sucking our spiritual thumbs, dragging our pity-poor-me blankies around and looking like we were baptized in lemon juice? That is not a picture of a triumphant Christian.
People all around us are being beaten up by trying times and trials. They need to see Christians always triumphing in Christ. They will be attracted to Jesus when they see us rising above trials and winning the day as we walk by faith and not by sight.  
The next time your faith is under fire because of a trying time, release your battle to the Lord and receive strength from Him to overcome and triumph over your trial.
You, my friend, are triumphant in Christ!
“In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:32
A Word For Your Week: Trying times are excellent opportunities to triumph in Christ.

​It’s a miracle.
The word miracle is spoken a lot in our culture. At times, rightly so.  At other times, not so much. I am pretty sure that a last minute “hail Mary” touchdown pass by my favorite football team is not a miracle. I mean, who does Almighty God, the Sovereign Lord of the universe cheer for? Which team’s sports jersey and apparel does He wear? My team or my rival? Just saying.
 A miracle, simply put, is “the supernatural intervention of God.” Something is not a miracle unless God is involved.
The Christmas story in the Bible is a true story of Gods’ glory intersecting/interacting with humanity.
Every time I read Luke’s account of the announcement of Christs birth I get holy goose bumps.
 “And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terribly frightened.
And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people’ for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord. 
And this will be a sign for you; you shall find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” Luke 2:9-13
According to the Bible, God’s Word, Christmas is all about Jesus Christ.
Here’s what gives me holy goose bumps.

• Almighty God gave man a glimpse of His glory. A snapshot of heaven. Amazing!
• The angel’s sudden, surprising announcement was good news of great joy in a bad news world.
• Initially the shepherds were emotionally stunned, shocked and afraid like I would have been. Who wouldn’t have been shaken by what they just observed? 
• A Savior is born for all men. A savior from sin. Salvation had come to the earth in a baby wrapped in rags in a feeding trough. What a humble entrance for mankind’s Savior.  
• Christ’s birth would bring peace on earth to all men. All who would believe in Him.
• God was very pleased with the announcement of a Savior. Blessed the Father’s heart to send His Son to save the world.
• An innumerable heavenly choir praised God and glorified His holy name. Talk about a Christmas cantata!

 Without the birth and subsequent sinless, sacrificial life of God’s Only Son, there is no Savior, no salvation. Without Christmas, there would be no revelation of truth, no Cross, no resurrection from the tomb, and no promise of Jesus’ second coming to take the Father’s sons and daughters home to heaven.
Without Christmas, you and I are without hope, lost for eternity. With Christmas, you and I have the hope of hopes! Christmas is all about Jesus Christ.
A beautiful  nativity set adorns our family room. It is the centerpiece of our Christmas decorations. When I see Joseph, Mary, the shepherds, and animals adoring baby Jesus in the manger, I reflect and meditate for a moment or two.  I always shed a warm, grateful tear or two. I praise God for the gift of salvation through His Son. Remembering once again the reason for the season, I ask the Lord for opportunities to share the good news of Christmas with a lost, hurting world. 
As Christians, you and I are bearers of good news. A message of hope for all mankind. The coming of the Christ child at Christmas is the miracle of miracles. The world has a Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord!  God’s Son was born in a manger so you and I can be born-again as a child of God.
If the miraculous birth, life, death and resurrection of God’s Only Son Jesus Christ is not a miracle, I do not know what is.
My friend, do you need a miracle in your life this Christmas? Something that only God can do for you?  
More important than the miracle you seek, do you know the miracle maker? Do you have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you confess Jesus as your Lord and Savor?  Have you repented of your sin and received Jesus into your heart? Are you headed to heaven because your sins have been forgiven, washed in Christ’s holy blood, and your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life?
If you don’t know Christ and would like to, the miracle you need this Christmas is just a prayer away. Why not unwrap the greatest gift of all, salvation, this Christmas? Receive Jesus.
Heavenly Father, I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son who died on a cross and is risen from the dead. I repent of my sins. Please forgive me. I receive Jesus into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior. From today on I choose to serve and obey the Lord. Thank you Father for saving me.
If you sincerely prayed that simple prayer, welcome to the family of God!
According to Matthew 1:23, Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God with us.”.  Imagine that. God with you and me. Right here, right now! Amazing!
It’s a miracle!
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were not born of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13
A Word For Your Week: The Christmas miracle awaits all who seek Jesus.

​America’s supply line.
A currently trending, headliner topic of discussion among politicians, economists and consumers is our nation’s supply chain.
The at times volatile rhetoric of short supplies, backed-up goods sitting in cargo containers at our ports and foreign nations holding up essential parts and products we need is creating a spirit of anxiety, worry, apprehension, fear and even angst in many.   
I have good news for you and me: even if the store shelves empty, the Lord will take care of His own. The United States Government, United Nations, Wal-Mart, Target, or Amazon Prime will never out supply the Lord of heaven and earth!
The Holy Bible, God’s Word, has many things to say about God’s supply chain. Search scripture regarding heaven’s supply chain. Let’s look at just one of God’s promises to provide the needs of His followers.
Writing from a dark, damp, smelly, bare bones, lonely prison cell, the apostle Paul declares “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
Look at and marvel at what the prisoner of the Lord says about provision in or outside of prison.

1. Paul’s personal confession. “my God.” Not just God, but Paul’s God. God’s provision to Paul was intensely personal because of his personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
2. Paul’s personal confidence.  “shall supply.” Not might. Not maybe. Not if you are lucky. Not if you hope against hope. Shall means will. Done deal. God’s provision guaranteed!
3. Paul’s personal conclusion.  “all your needs.” Not some, all. Needs not greed.  Whatever God’s children need will be supplied according to the promises found in His Word.
4. Paul’s personal conviction.  “according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” The source of our supply has nothing to do with man. Our supply has everything to do with God’s inexhaustible riches in His Son Jesus Christ. The Kingdom of God will never run out of goods and services or go bankrupt!

What an uplifting, encouraging word Paul. Sitting in prison, persecuted for your Christian faith, awaiting possible execution, you declare without reservation that God always supplies your needs and the needs of His people!
Take that all of you who are freaking out over America’s supply chain!
Paul was content with his circumstances because he knew God would provide
“Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering. I can do all things who Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-13
Paul knew the secret of contentment. He learned to be content with God’s provision.
As a Christian, it took me a while to learn to be content with God’s provision. I grew up in a welfare home with a single mother and five brothers. We never went without. But as the oldest son there were times I worried about groceries and other necessities. That “little boy” has traveled with me for decades. Every once in a while he shows up and tries to get me to worry about provision.  
Thank God I have a glowing testimony of how graciously, generously and bountifully the Lord has provided for me and my family over the years. Lean or fat times, He has always supplied.
God’s supply line is lifetime.
David writes in Psalm 37:25 “I have been young and now I am old; yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread.” Young. Old. His family. God provided for David and his brood all the time in every circumstance. He does the same for you and me!
You and I will not always get what we want, but God’s Word assures us that we will always, yes always, and I say it again, always have what we need.  
The Kingdom of God will never run out of the goods and services God’s people need.
By the way, there is no hoarding in heaven. You and I do not have to hoard anything on earth. God forbid the children of Israel to gather no more than a one day supply of Manna. Every single day it appeared from heaven and the Israelites were fed. God’s supply chained worked for His chosen people.
One of my favorite Christian hymns says it all.
“Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness; morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed Thy hand has provided, GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS, GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS TO ME.”
Steve Roll says a hearty Amen!
If the grocery store shelves begin to empty, lift your eyes on high to see God’s heavenly pantry, storehouses and distribution centers full and ready to fulfill your every need. 
My friend, stop worrying about stuff. Start trusting God to supply the stuff you need when you need it.   
A Word For Your Week: Trust God to always meet your every need.

​Hanging in my study above my desk and computer is an eye-capturing picture of a bald eagle soaring majestically high above lush green forests framed by a splashing, two-tier, whitewater waterfall cascading down massive granite boulders.
This picture has inspired my soul for the past twenty years when I sit to write A Word For Your Week. In my mind’s eye I am sitting in that breathtaking setting.
The caption at the base of the portrait inspires me the most.
“…be strong in the Lord, and in the power (strength) of His might.” Ephesians 6:10
Paul introduces the classic passage on spiritual warfare and the whole armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-20 with verse ten. Paul says “Finally, my brethren…” When a biblical author uses a summary statement like finally, it is time to sit up, wake up, pay attention, take note and get what God is saying to those of us who believe in His Son Jesus Christ.
The passage is about power over the enemy of our souls. Satan is not intimidated or fearful of weak Christians. Weak, feeble, powerless Christians will never win lost souls to Christ.
Life by its very nature, whether people know the God of the Bible or not, beats us down, works us over, and wears us out. Real, everyday life finds a way to drain and deplete you and me of strength and power for living successfully daily.
I do not know about you, but weakness is not one of my friends. Being powerless and weak does not set well with me. Never has. I am certain it never will!
I admit Steve’s strength is limited. I also know God’s strength is limitless.
To fight the good fight of faith (I Timothy 6: 12) you and I must be strong in the Lord. The Christian life is a daily walk by faith and not by sight (II Corinthians 5:7) in His power, with His strength.
 Paul understood human weakness and divine strength.
Read and meditate on II Corinthians 12:1-10. Paul experienced a heavenly vision. Satan attacked him with a “thorn in the flesh” which we are not sure what exactly what the thorn was. I believe it had something to do with his eyesight and perpetual harassment and persecution from the Judaizers.
The “thorn” made Paul weak. Three times He asked the Lord to remove it. God’s response “My grace is sufficient for you; for power is perfected in weakness.” (Verse 9).
Paul’s personal response is utterly amazing, instructive and inspiring. “Most gladly therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG.”
Do Paul’s words hit you in your soul as hard as they hit mine? Like a ton of spiritual bricks? My goodness gracious. When I am weak, then I am strong. Well content with weaknesses. How Paul did you come to that conclusion and confession?
Paul was convinced by promise and experience that the power, strength of God rested on him in his weakness.
Like brother Paul, there is hope for Steve. In my weakness there is power from God to make me strong.
Paul could preach, teach, exhort, write, encourage and live this way because he knew he could be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Weakness is not our friend. But it is a pathway to God’s strength and power.
What To Do When You Feel Weak

• When you feel weak, powerless, admit it. There is no shame in facing the fact and admitting that you need God’s strength. Weakness happens to all of us. God’s strength is available to each of us.
• When feeling weak, actively, prayerfully seek God’s strength. Look to the Lord to empower you with His power. He hears the prayers of those who need His strength!
• Search scripture and meditate upon Bible verses that promise you God’s strength and power when you are weak and powerless. The Word is powerful in itself!
• When the Lord strengthens you, give Him the glory for empowering you!
• Share with others how God strengthened you when you were weak. Your testimony will encourage them to seek God’s power when feeling powerless.
• The next time you feel weak, remember how the Lord strengthened you in the past.

So, what are you going to do the next time when you feel weak and powerless? Are you going to stay that way or receive God’s strength and power for living victoriously in Christ?
When spiritually weak, put on the whole armor of God. Then you will battle with God’s power!
Like Paul, God’s grace is sufficient for you and me and His power is perfected in your and my weakness.
Weakness or strength. Strength in weakness. You choose.
“Once God has spoken; twice I have heard this; that power belongs to God.” Psalms 62:11
“But they that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings as eagles; they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses……” Acts 1:8
A Word For Your Week: Be strong in the strength of the Lord.