Bitter Tears Turn Sweet

After reading my post yesterday, my friend Gene wrote this reply. I asked if I could use it? He kindly agreed:

"Lay your tear-stained cheeks

at Christ blood-stained feet.

He may not dry your eyes

or make your problems flee.

He will, however,

give you strength to endure,

and joy through your sorrow

as the bitterness of your tears

...turn sweet."

-- Gene Stainback

Grateful

 

Great Conflicts with the Tempter

Mrs. Charles Cowman writes these words in her classic devotional book, Streams in the Desert: If a man has much of the Spirit of God, he will have great conflicts with the tempter.

 

I once heard another saintly lady say, if you run into the enemy, you must be going in the right direction.

So, let us be encouraged in the spiritual battles we must endure, remembering always that "The battle belongs to the Lord."

Holiness Unto the LORD!
Grateful

Tempted to Fall? Endure!

There isn’t any temptation that you have experienced which is unusual for humans. God, who faithfully keeps His promises, will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist. But when you are tempted, He will also give you the ability to endure the temptation as your way of escape.-- 1 Corinthians 10:13 (GWT)

Click here: Megastunts: Nik Wallenda is Welcomed to Canada After His Tightrope Walk Over Niagara Falls - YouTube
 

When we are tempted to fall, Jesus wants to be our Endurance to keep standing. To "endure temptation" for me, means Jesus is walking in me and talking me through every temptation!  - kw

Definition of TEMPTATION

(1) the pressure to give in to a desire for easy or immediate pleasure.

(2) something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain.

Synonyms: allurement, enticement, lure, seduction

Related Words siren song; allure, appeal, attraction, attractiveness, charm, enchantment, glamour (also glamor); beckoning, invitation; bait, inducement, influence, persuasion, power, sway

Tempted to Fall? Endure!

Grateful

"The End is What's Important."

Comments in this newsfeed from the 2012 Olympic Games in London caught my full attention:

Usain Bolt is back. Racing against a star-studded field in which every qualifier ran faster than 10 seconds in the semifinal, Bolt (from Jamacia) successfully defended his 2008 gold medal in the 100 meters by setting a new Olympic record of 9.63 seconds. "I executed, and that's the key," Bolt told reporters after celebrating his fourth career gold medal with a victory lap. "I stopped worrying about the start. The end is what's important."

But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
-- Mathew 24:13 (NLT)

Let us finish the race focused on Jesus.
Grateful

Keep Your Head

But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
-- 2 Timothy 4:5 (NIV)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Yes, Ascension Is Just Above Suffering!

On my multiple pilgrimages to the Holy Land, one particuarly geographical reality is very inspiring: The Place of Jesus' Ascension, The Mount of Olives, is located just above The Place of Jesus' Suffering, Gethsemane. This visual surely inspires hope.

Standing there, I hear my Granny's death-bed chant resounding in the depths of my soul. Yes, simply and profoundly because my Granny's death-bed chant was in reality a delightful cheer: If I suffer with Him, I shall reign with him. (My Granny's Paraphrase of 2 Timothy 2:12 KJV)

Be encouraged, friends of Jesus. Let us keep our heads up while our knees are down, because The Gate of Suffering always leads to The Mount of Celebration for those Who belong to Christ. Indeed, the bitterness of Gethsemane's Olive Grove is but the entry way to the blessedness of The Mount of Olives! Earthly suffering with Jesus ultimately gives way to Eternally reigning with Jesus.

Yes, if we endure suffering with Jesus today, we can expect celebration with Jesus tomorrow.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful