​Like me, are you asking “Who can be trusted these days? Who or what can I put my faith in?
 
I can’t speak for you, but trust is a big, huge deal to me. I believe life is about trust.
 
There is so much “noise” today in our culture, clamoring for our faith. Think about it. Political personalities, pollsters, media darlings, elitists professors, religious superstars, military power, slick salespeople, master marketers, economic numbers, “trending” products and services ad nauseum, in your face infomercials and more seek your and my trust.  
 
According to Webster trust means “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength or truth of someone or something, dependence on something future or contingent, hope, one in which confidence is placed.” 
 
I believe with all my heart that trust and faith are foundational to success and satisfaction in life. Relationships with God and people must be built upon trust if they are to be healthy and productive.
 
I am convinced that as humans we must trust someone or something to make sense of life on earth.
 
When people or things or systems break my trust, it is extremely disappointing. Basically, I am a trusting person. I want to put my faith in others and be able to rely and depend on them. But not everyone nor everything is worthy of trust. I have had trust broken by men more than once and it is very disheartening.
 
Looking around today, only the God of the Bible fits Webster’s definition to a tee.
 
Reliability based on character, strength, and truth describes God. We can put our hope and faith in God because He alone can be counted on to be who He says Hs is and do what He says he will do.
 
Our Creator put the ability to trust within our souls. Trust originates and ends with Him. Being a God of goodness and grace, He entrusts us to decide where to put our trust.
 
Trust is up to us. Who we trust is our choice.
 
People, even well-meaning ones, often fall short of this standard of trust.  Anyone or anything less than God is not to be our primary place of trust. That’s why the Word warns us not to trust in men, or money, or military might, or anything but God Himself.   
 
The psalmist knew where to put his trust. According to Psalm 143:8, Davide knew who to rely on.
 
“Let me hear Thy loving-kindness in the morning, FOR I TRUST IN THEE.” Teach me the way in which I should walk; FOR TO THEE I LIFT UP MY SOUL.” Psalm 143:8                                                                   
David believed that God alone was worthy of trust. He looked and listened for God’s loving-kindness every single morning. David began the day depending on God because God was dependable. David put His faith in God because God was faithful. David trusted God to take care of every need because God was trustworthy.
 
Note that David lifted his soul up to God. Why? BECAUSE HE TRUSTED IN HIM.  David put his personal faith and confidence in the Lord. It is a sad commentary on our day that so many people in our secularized society lift up and sell their souls to almost anyone or anything except the Living God who can save their soul.
 
Have you had your heart broken because you misplaced your trust? Are you reeling from a life blow because you sold your soul to an untrustworthy person? Have you broken trust with yourself in some area of your life? Do you feel like checking out on humanity because it’s hard to find someone you can truly trust?
 
Before you throw in the towel on trust, I have good news for you. Turn your eyes toward God and trust in Him.  
 
With David, we can confess with confidence, “I TRUST IN THEE” because:
 

• God will never revoke His everlasting covenant with His people. (Psalm 105:8-10)
• God will never break His promises found in His Word.  (I Kings 8:56)
• God will never change His mind concerning His love for us. (Micah 7:18-20)
• God will never take a hike when we are hurting. (Psalm 34:18)
• God will never abandon or forsake His faithful followers.  (Hebrews 13:5-6)
• God can be trusted to meet our every need, every time. (Philippians 4:19-20)
• God can be trusted to send Jesus back to take us home to heaven!  (John 14:1-6)

 
The question of the hour and every hour is: Who are you trusting in today?
 
Paul writes in Romans 10:13“Whoever believes in Him (puts their trust in Jesus Christ) will never be disappointed.” Throughout my life, people, institutions, services, products material stuff, and myself have disappointed me.  
 
Because of His divine nature and holy character, God cannot and will not ever disappoint those who trust in him. If you don’t want to be disappointed, trust in God.
 
I have decided to trust in the Lord who can be trusted. Trust will always be tested. With God’s help, I desire to pass the trust test.
 
I ask you once again “Who do you trust?”
 
“The steadfast of mind Thou will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in Thee.” 
                                                                                                                        Isaiah 26:3
 
 “The fear of a man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.”                                                                                                                               Proverbs 29:25
 
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not lean upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”       Proverbs 3:5-6
 
A Word For Your Week: Trust in the One who can be trusted. 

​There is a whole lot of shaking going on.
 
I believe the above phrase was part of a popular pop song in the past. Anyway, there is definitely a whole lot of shaking going on in our world. The kind that can make you and me feel a bit shaky if you know what I mean.
 
Sudden, breaking news bulletins can shake things up in a hurry. Troubling worldwide events. Catastrophic natural disasters. Shameful, divisive, hateful political theater in America. Heartbreaking tragedies. Economic ups and downs. Moral implosion. Injustices. Prejudices. Shake, shake, shake our security to the core if we are not watchful and careful.
 
So what should Christians do when a whole lot of shaking is going on?
 
Don’t shake with the shaking.
 
The writer to the Hebrews in 12:25-29 reminds us that God’s Kingdom is unshakable.
“And this expression, “Yet once more”, denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, in order that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.”  Hebrews 12:27
 
Created things that are shakable will be shaken “once more” so that unshakeable things will remain. I believe the writer is encouraging us to focus our faith on what is unshakeable and lasting, not on what can and will be shaken and lost. Three thoughts stand out to me about not being shaken. 
 
 First of all, shaking is part of life. I don’t think I need to elaborate much here. All of us, at some time or another, and most likely more than once, have felt shaken by something that has happened.
 
Secondly, there are some things that will be shaken and won’t survive. Material possessions. Worldly stuff. Everything man made. Temporal things. None of these things will pass the shaking test.
 
Thirdly, and most importantly, there are things that are unshakeable. Shake proof things exist in life. When shaking comes, they are unshakeable and remain.
 

• God and His Kingdom are unshakeable. Who or what can possibly shake Almighty God off His eternal throne? He is unimpeachable and unremovable.

 

• God’s Word is unshakeable. The Word of God is unshakable because truth cannot be shaken. Jesus, who is the Word, is the solid rock of our salvation.

 

• God’s kids are unshakeable. As Kingdom kids, we cannot be shaken when we abide and hide in Christ.  

 
It is a fact of real life that you and I will experience some shaking. But when shaken, will we remain unshakeable?
           
Not everyone is shaken up by the same thing. Different things shake up different people. And some of the same things shake up different people differently. I believe that we should be sensitive and seek to understand what might be shaking someone up. Just because it isn’t shaking us up doesn’t mean the trial is not very real to the other person. 
 
I know what has the potential to shake Steve Roll up. You don’t need to know what those things are, but I do. I must identify, then isolate and not be intimidated or negatively influenced by the shaking going on. I would like to report that I am 100% successful in standing unshakeable. But then I would be less than human and certainly not honest.
 
My personal resolve and goal is to be unshakeable in the things that can’t be shaken. I have realized that it takes some good old fashioned grit, guts and complete surrender to and dependence on God to stand tall and firm when life is tumbling down around me.
 
Being unshakeable in spirit doesn’t mean that Satan won’t try to shake us up. The devil is a disrupter, a confuser, an antagonist.  Satan is a master of stirring things up. He loves disorder. The evil one is a conniving, lying, deceiving enemy who is bent on shaking up the security and stability of God’s people. .
 
Satan’s strategy is to shake us up and shake us down for the purpose of destroying our faith in Jesus Christ. 
 
Unshakeableness (is that a word?) is not for sissies! The longer shaking goes on, the more you and I need to dig in our spiritual heels, pull up our spiritual boot straps and stand fast in our faith. Spiritual and emotional wimps don’t live unshakable lives.  
             
 Are you unshakeable in Christ? Does your faith withstand the whole lot of shaking that is going on? Take some time to take inventory of your ability to withstand shaking.
 
Wake up every day with unshakeable faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Your trust in God will shake up what is trying to shake you up.
 
“My soul waits in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock, and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken.” Psalm 62:5-6  
 
 
 
 “Now we request of you brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together with Him, that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.”                                  II Thessalonians 2:1-2
 
A Word For Your Week: Shake off what is trying to shake you and your faith.  

Self-pity is the pits.
 
Elijah, mighty man of God, witnessed a momentous miracle when the Lord sent fire from heaven to fry the false prophets of Baal (I Kings 18). Elijah should be elated and celebrating, throwing a victory party, shouting the praises of his deliverer and redeemer. Instead, the prophet is holed up in a dark cave personally engaged in a full-blown pity-poor-me party on the backside of desolate, depressing Mt. Horeb.  
 
‘Then he came there to a cave, and lodged there; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here Elijah?” And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant, torn down Thine altars and killed Thy prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life to take it away.’   I Kings 19: 10
 
Sucking his spiritual thumb and dragging his woe is me blankie, Elijah laments before the Lord how bad things are going for him. Elijah, running for his life from the death threats of wicked Jezebel, wanted to die.  
 
Feeling sorry for himself, God’s man is stuck in the muck of “poor me”.        
           
Poor me. You gotta be kidding Elijah! Your very own eyes witnessed the fury and fire of the Lord of heaven and earth. Almighty God vindicated His holy name and made you look pretty good too.  
           
So how in the world could fiery, fearless, faithful Elijah descend from the mountaintop of miracles to the pit of self-pity?
 
 He took his eyes off God, fixing his eyes on himself.
 
The essence of self-pity is poor me. Pity poor me. Woe is me! My life is so miserable. Everybody is after me. Nothing is working out. Nobody is helping me. In today’s vernacular, my life sucks. I am alone. Nobody cares. I might as well throw in the towel and die. Sound familiar?
 
Being self-centered, self-pity blinds our spiritual eyes to God and what He can do. 
 
Self-pity zeroes in on our problems, not God’s solutions. Self-absorption and selfishness feed self-pity’s appetite. Self-pity is self-serving and self-destructive. Self-pity people, instead of sucking it up and moving on with God’s help, sit down and spin their wheels in the muck of poor me.  
 
Personally, I have actively participated in self-pity parties, and I hate them! I despise what the spirit of self-pity does to me. Self-pity turns me into a self-centered, thumb-sucking, blankie dragging, spoiled little brat who manipulates others to get his way. And I am sixty-seven years old!
           
There is no place for self-pity in the lives of God’s people. A person who is self-centered is off-centered. People who are all wrapped up in themselves are over dressed. Sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves is not a picture of success. 
 
You and I are not to be pitied by ourselves, God or anyone. Jesus Christ has set us free from ourselves! We Christians should be singing God’s praises for delivering us from sin’s selfishness. Praise parties, not pity-poor-me parties are more appropriate for God’s kids.   
 
Someone has said “It’s all right to sit on your pitty potty from time to time, just flush when you are done.” I will let you apply this thought to your life!  
 
May I share a couple of realities that might shake us out of self-pity?
 

• Our Lord Jesus Christ never threw a self-pity party.
• God never gives in to self-pity tantrums.  
• Positive, healthy people run away from self-pity people.
• Family and friends get really tired of our self-pity sessions.
• Satan loves self-pity people. Self pity is spawned from the pit of hell.
• Self-pity increases, never decreases our difficulties.
• Self-pity always sets us back from coming back from setbacks.    

 
Self-pity is pitiful! When life is challenging, and it will be, resist the temptation to slip into the pit of self-pity. The slippery slopes of self-pity will only lead you to discouragement and despair.
 
Stay out of the pit of self-pity. Stand firm in your faith in the One who loves you and believes in you,  but will never pity you. 
 
If you are having a pity-party, go ahead right now and slam the door on self-pity. Open the door to God’s lovingkindness, mercy and grace.
 
 “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance, and my God.”                                                                                                                           Psalm 42:11
 
A Word For Your Week: Tell self-pity to take a hike when it knocks on the door of your heart. 

​Change is a certainty in life, and honestly, most of us don’t like it!
 
Think about it. Who gets up in the morning saying, “I can’t wait for change to come my way today?”  
 
Change can be positive or negative. Change of any sort carries the potential to breed uncertainty, questions, frustration, anxiety, doubt, a negative attitude and even fear.
 
If you and I are not watchful and careful, change can cause us to lose perspective.
 
According to Webster perspective means “to look through, to see clearly; the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance. Simply put: To keep perspective means to see things as they really are.
 
Personally, when change comes, I can initially become anxious. Just ask those closest to me. Slowly but surely (I am a bit thick-headed at times!) I have learned, through many tests of my patience, to step back for a moment, catch my spiritual/emotional breath, and then look at the change in the light of God’s Word.
 
It is a fact of life…all things change. Or do they?
 
Our word for this week answers that question with a resounding no! The prophet Malachi declares to us that God does not change. “FOR I, THE LORD, DO NOT CHANGE; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.” Malachi 3:6.
 
Did you catch what Malachi said? The Lord, Almighty God declares that He does not change! The God of the Bible is an unchanging God.  
 
Because the Almighty is changeless, we as His people are not consumed by changes in life. Life does not eat our lunch when things change because God remains the same.
 
What never changes about God is His character.
 
God is love (I John 4:16). Look what Micah says about God’s love. “Who is a God like Thee, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the rebellious acts of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, BECAUSE HE DELIGHTS IN UNCHANGING LOVE.”                                          Micah 7:18.
 
God never changes because His love never does! God delights (takes great joy!)  in unchanging love. No matter what is going in life, God’s love for us remains unchanged. Changing circumstances have no effect on God’s love.
 
Circumstances are just that…circumstances. They change all the time. Circumstances shift like blowing sand. But God’s love is a solid rock which no life change can move. God’s steady, stable, secure, loving hand is on the helm of His perfect will for our lives.
 
God Himself is the anchor for our soul in times of change. God can be counted on to be God every time, in every situation. His constant character and consistent conduct overrides all changed circumstances. Things change. People change. Life changes. God does not.  Bank on His unchanging love for you every time!
 
Change can’t change God. So change shouldn’t change God’s children who trust in His love either!!!!
             
When things change, and they will, cling to that which doesn’t. God can be counted on to be who He says He is and to do what He says He will do. Every single time!
 
 Change can work for or against us. Changes can consume us or we can conquer change. depending on our perspective. Bottom line: you and I choose how to respond to the challenges of change.
 
 The Christian perspective on life circumstances is this: Life changes, but God never does. Therefore, life is secure in Him. It is awesome to know that changing circumstances will never consume us because circumstances never change God!
 
 Keeping Proper Perspective
 

• EXPECT change will come from time to time.

 

• EVALUATE changes in the light of God’s Word

 

• EXERCISE faith that looks beyond circumstances to Jesus Christ.

 

• EMBRACE the good you can see in the change.

 

• ENCOURAGE others to overcome change in their lives through faith in Christ.

 

• EXALT in God’s unchanging, unending love for you.

 
Are you currently experiencing some changes? Is a significant transition attempting to rattle your emotional cage? Are you worried about what is next in light of a life adjustment?
 
Maintain proper perspective.  Keep your personal faith fixed on the unchanging, changeless Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and yes, forever.”   Hebrews 13:8.
 
A Word For Your Week:  Surrender change to the unchanging God who loves you.  

​Many people today are fighting the wrong fights.
Marriage fights. Family Fights. Custody fights. Legal fights. Financial fights. Political fights. Work fights. Church fights. Fights, fights, fights and more fights. The sad reality is most fights are being lost because they are the wrong fights.
Think about the spiritual, mental and physical energy, emotional frustration, time, and resources wasted fighting the wrong fights. Our culture has rapidly degenerated into a contentious, offense oriented, violence leaning society, where wrong fights are the order of the day. Pick a fight and someone will be more than happy to fight you back!  
It is biblical truth that you and I reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-9). Fighting the wrong fight reaps the wrong fruit. Fighting the right fight reaps the right fruit.
The right fight is the good fight of faith.
How can I say that? The Bible says so. Paul wrote to Timothy, his son in the faith, the following words “But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance. and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” I Timothy 6:11-12.
The elder Paul instructed the younger Timothy what to flee from and what to pursue. As man of faith and man of God he was to pursue, seek after, righteousness, godliness, faith, love perseverance, and gentleness. Wouldn’t it be awesome and life-altering if you and I pursued these same things? May you and I aspire to do so with God’s help.
Then Paul exhorts, encourages his ministerial protégé to fight, that’s right fight. Fight what? The good fight of faith. Timothy was to fight, contend, stand up for his faith in Christ. Timothy was to be a faith fighter who took hold of, grabbed onto the eternal life he had been called to, and for which he had made a good, personal confession before many witnesses.
In other words, Timothy, fight the good fight of faith which you have confessed before the church and the world. Run your faith race as a faithful servant of the One who called you to eternal life. Don’t be distracted or sidetracked by the wrong fights son. Set your sights, keep your belief focused on the right fights, the good fight of faith.
Paul also reminds us followers of Christ that our struggle, battle, spiritual warfare, is not with flesh and blood, meaning people. (See Ephesians 6:10-20). Our fight is with Satan and his demonic forces in heavenly places. Sorry, fellas, she may act like it at times, but your mother-in-aw is not the devil! .
If you and I are fighting people all the time, we are fighting the wrong fight.
Throughout my life as a Christian and minister of the Gospel, I have been asked “Steve, what does Satan want from me?’ What is the evil one really after? My reply has been that the devil doesn’t want your stuff, your position, your money, your assets and not even your loved ones. He wants your faith.
Satan’s chief strategy is to deceive unbelievers from believing in Christ, and to discourage believers in Jesus from continuing believing in Him. Bottom line: the devil wants your and my faith
The good fight of faith is a faith fight against the devil who seeks to destroy faith in Jesus. The spiritual battle we wage is about maintaining, increasing, defending and sharing our faith in the Lord.   
Christian faith is of little value unless it is worth fighting for.
You may be struggling right now with a faith fight. I encourage and implore you to fight, yes fight, fight for all you are worth. Pushback doubt and unbelief with faith. Stand firm against lies and falsehood with faith. Stand courageously for what is right in God’s sight with unshakable faith. When tempted to doubt, knock doubt out with a loud shout of faith in Christ!
The good fight of faith is faith in Christ and His Word for our walk with the Lord, our personal life, our marriages, our family, our relationships, our employment, our finances, our health, our nation, our beliefs and our positive influence as light and salt in our society.
 Fighting the good fight of faith is the key to fighting for what we value most.  
My friend who and what are you fighting for? Who and what do you stand up for? Believe in? Support? Where do you invest your time, talent, treasure and testimony? Are you willing to die on the hill of faith? Would those who know you best say you are faithfully and victoriously fighting the good fight of faith?
Christians are called to be faith fighters. When you and I were born again, we enlisted in God’s holy army as good soldiers of Jesus Christ (see II Timothy 2:1-4).  Our Lord and Savior is our commander in chief in the battle for the souls of men and women, boys and girls.  
2020 has arrived. If you have been fighting some wrong fights, I encourage you to humble yourself before the Lord, repent, ask Him for forgiveness, receive a clean slate, then wholeheartedly commit yourself to fight the good fight of faith from now on.
Fight the good fight of faith will all you might every single day this new year.  
“But you beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.” Jude 20-21
A Word For Your Week: The good fight of faith is the fight worth fighting. 

​2020.
 
A new year is here. Now what?
 
Is New Years just a time to celebrate the turning of the calendar by counting down the clock with a crystal ball in New York City, setting off breathtaking, fantastic fireworks, making personal resolutions, sipping some bubbly and kissing someone you love, or could it possibly be a significant turning point in our life?
 
I believe what a new year brings is up to you and me.
 
One of the major truths throughout the Bible is that God is always doing something new.
 
From Genesis to Revelation, and everything in between, God is about the business of making things new. The Apostle John, the receiver of the revelation of things to come, wrote by the Holy Spirit “And He who sits on the throne, said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Revelation 21:5
 
God is a God of new. New is normal for the Sovereign Lord or the universe. It is in His holy nature to do new. God’s faithful, true word declares He does new things. Guess what? Our heavenly Father loves to do new for me and you!
 
One of my favorite verses in scripture is found in Isaiah 43:18-19a which reads “  
“Do not call to mind the former things, or dwell on the things of the past. Behold, I will do something new”. Numerous times throughout my faith journey the Lord used this verse to reassure me that He would do something new in me.
 
At one significant juncture in my journey, when I was deeply depressed, despairing of life, and uncertain about the future, the Lord lovingly overwhelmed me, a broken guy who was struggling to find his way back from a life setback.  Oh, how I needed to hear that God was going to do something new. God, not Steve or anyone else would deliver me from the “former things”, the hurtful “things of the past” that I was dwelling on.
 
“Behold” means to pay attention.  Listen up. The Holy Spirit spoke to me: Steve, yesterday is history. The old is past. The future is forward. Your Father in heaven is going to do something new. Note the word says “will do something new”, not might, or hope to do. What a promise from the Promise Keeper!
 
With His help, I focused on something new, not something old. Today, not yesterday. Over time, my attitude and life changed. The Lord brought me back from my setback. I am a comeback kid in Christ who knows the power of God doing something.!
 
Do you need something new in 2020? Are you tired of dwelling on yesterday? How is focusing on hurt, pain and heartache helping you to move forward? Do you really think the Lord wants you to drag negative baggage into your journey of faith in the New Year? Time to close out 2019 and open the door of 2020 with some new luggage!
 
Something New In You In The New Year
 
I don’t know what the something new in you should be in 2020. But you and God do. Here are a few suggestions that may apply to your life.
 

• Get things right with the Lord. You know what they are.
• Watch your words. Confess life, not death with your mouth.
• Clean up your language. Flush your potty mouth!
• Speak your confession of faith with confidence. 
• Overcome a bad habit
• Deal a death blow to secret sin.
• Restore a relationship that matters to you.
• Make right something you did wrong in 2019.
• Overcome something that has beaten you down for years.
• Stand up. Stand out. Stand boldly. Stand strong for Jesus Christ.
• Commit to be a positive influence for God’s Kingdom in 2020.

 
Resolutions, like gym memberships and diet plans, last about three weeks. Commitments to make significant changes in our life, with God’s help, can last a lifetime.
 
Write down what your something new in the New Year is going to be. ____________ _____________________________________________________________________.
 
 Could it be there is someone in your life that would love to see you do something new for you in 2020? Someone who genuinely cares about you is pulling for you to do better in an area of your life and hoping you will do something about it.
 
Why not surprise them with a new you in the New Year!
 
You might live a better life than I do. But I know this about me, I need something new all the time! I really do. Just ask my wife….I am sure she has an idea or two for me in 2020!
 
As Robert Schuler has said “It takes guts to leave the ruts” A rut is a grave with the ends kicked out. Doing the same old thing, the same old way is being stuck in a rut. Living in a rut is not God’s good, acceptable and perfect will for His followers.
 Refuse to stay stuck in an old rut.  Choose to do something new.  Get out of the rut you have been in before it becomes your grave.
 
Every day, not just New Year’s, is an opportunity to be and do something new in Christ.  
        
A new you in the New Year….why not? Look to the Lord to do something new in you in the New Year.
 
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Ii Corinthians 5:17
 
A Word For Your Week: Something new in you in 2020.

​Expectations matter.
 
There is a principle in life that simply says you get what you expect.
 
As Christmas approaches, what are your expectations of this holy day?
 
Did you know that loneliness, depression and boredom sharply increase during the holiday season? Have you ever wondered why? A major reason is because of  expectations. Unfortunately, many people are disappointed at Christmas because of misplaced, unrealistic, unrealized expectations.
 
Expectations based primarily on people and material things may be exciting, but they are seldom fulfilling. If we are honest, material things can be pretty shallow. Stuff, no matter if it is the latest trending fad, hottest fashion statement or the most recently upgraded techy device, has short shelf lives. Toys, including big boy toys, are not the source of joy! And not all of our relationships will be like the heart-warming fantasies played out in romance novels, big screen holiday blockbusters, and Hallmark movie specials. Sorry folks, the Lifetime channel is not real life! 
 
The “perfect” gift, the right relationship, childhood memories or holiday traditions can warm our heart. But none of these things in themselves can meet our greatest need….salvation.  
           
The Bible does you and me a favor in directing us as what to expect at Christmas. The true story of three wise men seeking the world’s Savior helps us focus on what really matters on December 25th.
 
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:1-2
 
The magi (wise men) from the east expected (hoped with anticipation) to find someone very special. Reverencing, worshipping and adoring God’s Son born in Bethlehem was the magi’s agenda that first Christmas. Full of faith and excited anticipation, they journeyed for years, personally financing their trip, bearing gifts in honor of the world’s newborn Savior Jesus Christ.
 
“And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:10-11
 
Imagine the seemingly surreal, yet very real scene. Overwhelmed emotionally with exceeding joy, the worldly wise magi fell down and worshipped a child…..The Child.
 
Humbling themselves before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who was wrapped in swaddling clothes in an animal feeding trough, their deepest expectation was more than met. They personally witnessed an out of this world miracle. A supernatural, divine encounter. The magi saw the Son of God, the world’s Savior.     
 
The magi’s lives were forever changed. The world they lived in changed forever. Rejoicing, not depression, filled the hearts of the wise men who worshipped the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Their expectation was in the right place. 
 
Christmas 2019. I wonder what will happen in our lives this Christmas. And our world.  
 
The pages of the calendar are flipping forward. Christmas day is fast approaching. Expectations are running high. How about your expectations? Is your heart in the right place? Are you seeking real joy? Genuine joy that only God can give? The joy of the Lord that lasts for time and eternity?  
 
Maybe our expectation this Christmas should be like that of the Greek men recorded in John 12:20-21.
 
 “Now there were certain Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; these therefore came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him saying, Sir, we wish to see Jesus?”
 
How about you and your family? Do you wish to see Jesus this Christmas? In a fresh way? Maybe for the very first time?
 
I remember with fondness the bumper sticker my father-in-law, who is now worshipping Jesus in heaven, had on his old 1960’s Ford. It read “Wise men still seek Him.” Great advice for all of us at Christmas 2019.
 
Seeking to worship Jesus as Savior and Lord is an expectation that all of us can have. Celebrating the birth of Christ will fill our hearts with joy like nothing else ever will. 
 
Be wise like the magi. Seek the Lord with all your heart.  Focus your hope, faith and expectation on worshipping Jesus. Then expect God to bless you in a wonderful way!
 
May you and your loved ones have a very blessed and Merry Christmas!  
 
“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.”                                            Luke 2:10-11
 
A Word For Your Week: Worship the Christ Child this Christmas. 

​Having served in the military, I understand strongholds.
Thankful to God that I did not experience combat firsthand, I was still trained by the Navy and Marine Corps concerning the priority and utter necessity to take out enemy strongholds.
To win a decisive military battle, enemy strongholds have to be taken. The enemy’s fortresses must be destroyed. Wiped out. Obliterated. Never to rise again.
The Bible addresses strongholds in our lives. Particularly spiritual ones.
In II Corinthians 10:3-5, The Apostle Paul instructs us how to destroy strongholds (fortresses) that have taken hold of our minds and heart.
“For though we walk in the flesh we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses (strongholds). We are destroying speculations and every lofty thought raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every though captive to the obedience of Christ.”
Have you ever wondered why you keep struggling with the same sin, the same negative, troubling, tormenting thoughts,  the same sabotaging of relationships, destructive habits and the self-defeating, never ending battle  to overcome something that is sucking the life out or you?
Maybe, just maybe, you are struggling with a stronghold. 
All of us, if we are honest, battle spiritual, mental, and emotional strongholds.  
Paul lays out for you and me practical pointers for destroying strongholds.

1. Destroying strongholds isn’t about our flesh. Spiritual warfare is about faith in Christ and waring a good warfare in His holy, powerful, stronghold destroying name.
2. Our weapons are spiritual, not carnal. The whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) is our arsenal for defeating strongholds that attack our thoughts and subsequent behavior. A soldier without his weapons will be destroyed.
3. Our spiritual weapons are powered by God. “Divinely powerful” means its not about Steve destroying fortress by himself. It is about Almighty God doing it through me.
4. Christians are to destroy every lofty thought raised up against the knowledge of God. Note destroy, not entertain or dwell upon!
5. The key to victory over thoughts based on strongholds is obedience to Christ. Disobedience to the Lord and His Word sets up the probability of a stronghold.
6. Christ followers are to capture their thoughts, not be captured by them. Take control of our thinking instead of our thoughts controlling us.

Solomon said in Proverbs 23:7 “As a man thinks, so he is.” Bottom line: What we think is who we are. A spiritual stronghold captures our thoughts so we think wrongly and act accordingly.
As I have ministered God’s Word to people for over forty years, I have found that many, if not most folks experiencing a life crisis, are unsuccessfully struggling with a stronghold. The spiritual, mental, and emotional fortress that has captured their thoughts is dictating how they live their lives.
Strongholds imprison people, drain the life out of us, take the wind out of our sails, and will discourage, depress and disillusion us if they are not confronted.  
People can get stuck in the rut of a stronghold that they have refused to deal with.
Destroying Spiritual And Emotional Strongholds

• Acknowledge that you are being beaten by a stronghold. Admit it. Call your stronghold what it is. Self-pity? Low self-esteem? Inferiority complex? Fear of failure? Rejection? Abandonment? Addiction? Immorality? Name it what it is. How can you take it down if you don’t locate it?
• Face the fortress head on with faith.  Determine to take it out. Boldly confront and conquer in Christ what has been conquering you. Refuse to be pushed around anymore by pain. Push pain back because Jesus took your pain for you!  
• Know the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit. Study your Bible from cover to cover. Memorize scripture. Think God’s thoughts. You have the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16). Renew you mind with God’s Word (romans 12:1-2). Confess God’s truth over your situation. Purposely take your thoughts captive. Never surrender your thinking to Satan’s strongholds.  
• When battling a stronghold enlist mature, seasoned, trustworthy, battle tested Christians to help you fight in the name of the Lord to conquer the stronghold that has a foothold in your life. Isolation is not your friend. Solitary confinement in a stronghold’s prison will destroy you!
• Rebuke the devil who is behind spiritual strongholds sent to confuse and destroy faith. Take the evil one out in the name of Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
• Stand courageously with firm, unwavering faith that leaves no room for a stronghold to re-appear. Every single day be strong in Christ. Build your faith. Be unshakable, immovable in Jesus Christ.  

Over the past forty-seven years as a Christian, I have battled my share of strongholds. Some of them beat me up for longer than I should have tolerated. I have not always destroyed strongholds in the way that would have delivered me. But I have learned to identify a potential stronghold, surrender it to the Lod, and then resist it in His name.  
 It has been a life-altering revelation for me in my Christian journey that God is stronger than any stronghold. So simple. So true. So necessary to build a stronghold (fortress) in my mind based on God’s Word. 
My friend and fellow believer in Christ, join with me daily in thanking God that He is our fortress, our stronghold, our defender, our refuge, our deliverer, our shelter and our strength!   
 “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:10
“I love Thee, O Lord my strength. The Lord is my rock and my deliverer, my God, my rock in Whom I take refuge.; my shield and the horn of my salvation, MY STRONGHOLD.” Psalm 18:1-2
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
A Word For Your Week: Tear down that stronghold that has been tearing up your life. 

​Today many people feel hopeless, helpless and powerless.
I understand why. Our spiritually lost, morally bankrupt world is heading full speed toward hell in a hurry.
Sad, bad, maddening news is the order of the day in a world that willfully and arrogantly rejects the God of the Bible. Even Christians can become discouraged with what is happening in our culture.  If you and I as Christ’s followers  are not careful and discerning, humanity’s bad news can obscure and overshadow the fact of God’s good news that JESUS IS COMING BACK!  
My friend, if you are disillusioned, discouraged or depressed over the state of affairs in the nation and world, take heart. Everything that is happening is forecast in Scripture, is coming to pass on God’s timetable, and points to the glorious return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
How do we know that Jesus is coming back? The Word of God says so.
“For just as the lightning comes from the east, and flashes even to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matthew 24:27
“And if I go to prepare a place for you, I (Jesus) will come again, and receive you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also.” John 14:3
And they said also, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go to into heaven.” Acts 1:11
“And then they will see the Son of Man coning in a cloud with great power and glory.” Luke 21:27
“Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself, nevertheless, I tell you, hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the cloud of heaven.” Matthew 26:64
“So Christ also, who having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await him.” Hebrews 9:28
‘For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. THEREFORE, COMFORT AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS.” I Thessalonians 4:16-18
Just writing these promises from God about Christ’s imminent, glorious second coming thrills my spirit beyond expressions! Indeed, Jesus is coming back for all those who love Him and His appearing. Praise His holy name!
A young Christian was preparing his taxes on the evening of April 14th. Exasperated, he raised his hands to heaven and asked, “Tonight Lord?’. I get it and so do you.
Numerous times throughout my life I have looked to the skies and said “Today would be a good time to come back Jesus.” Still here. Still waiting with intense, excited anticipation to see the Lord.  
So what should you and I who follow Christ by faith do while awaiting His glorious return? Glad you asked.
What To Do While Awaiting Christ’s Second Coming

• Do not be surprised or discouraged by the events happening in our world. Bad news is never good. Our lost, brokenhearted world is suffering, despairing and feeling hopeless. But the world’s bad news points to the return of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
• Study Matthew 24, Luke 21, Romans 8:18-26, II Timothy 3:1-15, II Peter 2, the book of Jude and other passages that predict what must precede Christs coming. These ominous, prophetic signs are happening in our time, right before our eyes, in an accelerated manner and mean that Jesus’ glorious return is closer and closer every day!
• Keep your heart fixed on God’s eternal Kingdom, not this temporal, perishing world. This world is not home for believers in Christ. Jesus is getting everything ready for all who put their faith in Him and will take them to our heavenly home soon. Hallelujah!
• Pray for lost souls. Christians are light and salt in a dark, tasteless world. People need the Lord. They will be lost for eternity if they don’t receive Christ as their Savior and Lord. Awaken body of Christ to our prime directive of soul-winning and disciple making.
• Ask the Lord to help you be a winning witness for Him in these last days. People searching for truth need to hear about your personal relationship with Jesus. Shine brightly where God has placed you as you joyfully wait for Jesus to come back.

Encourage brothers and sisters in Christ that Jesus is coming back soon!!! Cheerlead fellow believers. Remind them of the big picture. Jesus is coming back!
You and I, as Christians, should start our day on the right spiritual foot by declaring “This is the day the Lord has made, therefore, I will rejoice in it.” (Psalm 118:24).  And Lord, maybe, just maybe You will return today. Talk about getting off to an awesome beginning every day!
Beloved in Christ, keep your heart and eyes fixed on the eastern sky. Jesus’ return is promised and will come to pass.  
The last two verses of the Bible encourage my heart.
“He who testifies of these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. Amen.”
My prayer and desire every day is for Jesus to come quickly. Is that your prayer? Are you expecting Jesus to return soon to take you to heaven?
A Word For Your Week: It is a fact Jesus is coming back! 

​Thanksgiving comes and goes in a hurry.
 
Savory, sumptuous Butterball turkey and all the fixins have been happily consumed.  Delicious desserts have been dutifully devoured. Thanksgiving Day football games are in the books. Memories have been made. Family members have packed up and returned home. The holiday has passed. The house is empty.
 
 Now what?
 
What about the day after Thanksgiving? And the days after gathering together as family to give thanks to God for His abundant blessings?
 
How about giving thanks to God every day? What a great idea!
 
In the Bible, the Psalmist declares that it is good to give God thanks. “It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Thy name, O most High.’ Psalm 92:10. Christians, above all people, should sing praises to the Lord from thankful hearts.
 
 It is a good thing for God’s people to be grateful.
 
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul instructs and encourages us to give thanks in everything. “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:18. Why should Christ’s followers give God thanks in everything?
 
Because giving thanks to God is His will for those who call themselves by the name of Jesus Christ. If you are wondering what God’s will is for your life, start giving thanks in everything. Then you will be doing His will.
 
It is God’s will for His people to be grateful.
 
 I want to be dead center in God’s will. I believe you do too. So what would happen in our lives if we celebrated Thanksgiving every single day?
 
I know we can’t bake a turkey everyday. In all honesty, I don’t know how many days in a row I can stomach turkey! Sleepiness would overcome me for sure! The family can’t come home every day. But what if giving thanks became our daily habit? What if thanksgiving became thanksliving?
 
Christians should be the most thankful people on earth.
Just stop and realize what Jesus Christ has done for you by dying on the cross for your sins. Having purchased eternal life for us through the shedding of His precious blood, how can we not be thankful?
 
But too often we aren’t. Like an ungrateful world, we get caught up in grumbling, groaning and griping about what we don’t have instead of giving God praise for what we do have from His good, gracious, and generous hand. I admit, to my embarrassment and shame, to being guilty of ingratitude and most likely, you have too.
 
I heard a new phrase today that shook my spirit. Steve Whitaker, director of the John 3:16 Mission in downtown Tulsa shared on a Christian radio talk show about the need of hungry people in our city. He said many people around us are “food insecure.” That simply means they don’t have enough to feel secure about how to feed their family. The state of Oklahoma is the fourth hungriest state in our union. Reverend Whitaker shared real life stories about people and families who are suffering from food insecurity. 
 
He discussed how one single mother told him she decided on Monday that she wouldn’t eat until Thursday when the Mission fed hungry families so that Tuesday through Thursday her kids could eat the little food they had. Mom wasn’t going to eat for three days so her children would have some meager meals.  
 
Her story shredded my heart. Suddenly, the Ding Dong I was eating didn’t taste so good.
 
Today, my family is food secure because of God’s gracious and bountiful provision. I am very thankful for that….and am and will be every day.
 
When I stop to give God thanks, here some things that happen in my life.
 

• I realize that I am a blessed man. I really am.
• I am humbled and driven to repent for ingratitude.
• I loathe the times when I have grumbled and griped before the Lord.
• When I give God thanks, my issues and problems aren’t as big as I thought they were. Matter of fact, they are pretty small compared to so many people’s life situations. 
• I become aware of the needs of others around me.
• I am moved to reach out to others and bless them with the blessing I have received from the Lord.
• I remind myself to remember to thank God the next time I am tempted to be ungrateful.
• I commit myself to encourage others to be grateful to God for blessing their lives.

 
Giving thanks to God lightens the loads and brightens the day.
 
Oh Lord, may Steve Roll be found to be grateful everyday of his life. May my thankfulness bring You glory and inspire others to be thankful too. 
           
A Word For Your Week: Begin today to give God thanks in everything every day.