A job well done is always worthy of recognition and praise.

In my early career in IT, I always strived to do the best job I could. I’ve won a few awards for projects I’ve worked on. But, I can honestly say that there’s no better reward or blessing than to help someone in need; to help someone as they’re going through their trial or are experiencing hard times.

As I hiked along with my team on this last mission trip, I knew early on that day that this was going to be a hard and difficult hike. The consistent mucks of mud that we walked through were overwhelming at times. I had to constantly remind myself of this: “If God takes you to it, He will take you through it.”

This specific trial I endured was only a fraction of time where God tested my strength and physical endurance.

But, oh, the reward when we reached the small Amazon village of Olivos! The peace I felt, it was almost as if God patted me on the back and said, “Well done.!”

And the faces of the people that were there to greet us as we entered their village was priceless.

The hike, although long and enduring, was blessed by God’s presence and love for the people of Olivos.

Don’t grow weary of trials. Look for the opportunities of blessings to come!

Romans 5:3-4 - “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,”

Don’t let your past define you, but allow it to teach you great lessons.

As a parent, I can remember watching my kids as they were learning new things. Sometimes they learned after one experience (like touching a hot object); other times it may take several occurrences of the same message mistake.

Philippians 3:13 - “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,”

We must not forget our past failures or trials, but consider remembering how God brought you through them; how He never left you alone in the suffering or the loneliness.

The most important lesson I’ve learned in recent trials, is that by focussing on God’s goodness and how He’s helped me through various seasons, I’ve learned to persevere and stay faithful; to never give up on God, and to look for Him in everything and every journey I find myself traveling on.

Relish the memories of days gone by and share your story with someone today.

Learn from your past and use it to help someone in the future.

Have you ever watched trees in a powerful windstorm?  Maybe it’s an old oak tree that stands tall and sturdy.  Maybe it’s a palm tree that sways back and forth from the forceful hurricane winds.  Whatever the case may be, some trees will bend all the way to the ground, but never break into.  Some may not even be affected by the wind, while others will come out of the ground with enough force. 

The scenario above reminds me of my life as a Christian.  What happens to me when the trials of life come, when the catastrophe comes out of nowhere?  Do I break at the first gush of wind that catches me off guard?  Do I fold, or get uprooted when things don’t turn out like I thought?  Or, do I stand tall, knowing that God’s got this?  Do I hold my ground, knowing that nothing or no one can take me from this life, without God allowing it?

We all have to be able to bend every once in a while.  We have to accept what’s thrown at us and know that God’s in it.  The only way to do this is to stay grounded in God’s Word. Keep open communication between you and God. Then, once the storms of life are building all around you, and are forecasted to strike soon, you’ll be ready.

If we cower away from every situation or circumstance that comes before us, then we’ll end up broken, ripped from our foundation and left for the devil to devour. 

God will never give us more than we can handle.  He may allow some things to happen, but He will never let it take us out.

I’ve come through many trials, not broken, but more determined to serve God than ever before.

Are you able to be bent but not broken?

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 – “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Ever since I started going to church as a small child, I can remember people saying that we were living in ‘end times.’

But as I look around now, I see people living (just as in the days of Noah) as if life as we know it will last forever.

When God made man and all of creation, He determined when it would all end. No one knows this date, but all should be aware of it.

While we’re living here on earth, and if you are a Christian, you have a lot to do before the end of time.

Matthew 4:17 - “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

God doesn’t want anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance. He loves us so much that He sent His only son to earth, to die in our place, for our sins. And more than that, God wants to spend eternity with us.

So please join me, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, in increasing our eternal family. Tell others your story of repentance and how God is continually renewing your life, until the day He comes to earth to take us home.

The end times on earth is just the beginning of eternity for all those who believe and accept Jesus as their savior.

Romans 8:29 - “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

God has called us to become someone significant; someone that stands out in a crowd.

All my life, I’ve avoided the spotlight. I’ve been the person that does their job but doesn’t want to be pointed out or praised.

In my early teens, before I knew Christ, I constantly strived to escape life. The reality of it all overwhelmed me at times. I never had the desire to commit suicide because honestly, I was scared of dying.

After I gave my life to Christ, I knew that I was loved; I was important and God could actually use me for His path for the lost.

This journey has been full of blessings and trials. I can see now how God used adversity to take my eyes off of myself and fixed solely on Him.

Just like it takes time to create a piece of art, it takes faith and focus to keep your eyes on God.

He’s still working on me; some days I feel like He’s having to work overtime, but I can rest in the assurance that He’s not finished with me yet.

Do you sometimes find it difficult to focus on God? Do you get discouraged when things don’t turn out the way you thought they would?

There have been many times in my Christian walk when I’ve felt like giving up. There have been roads I’ve traveled, and ended up on a dead-end street. My best advice in times like these is to open up your Bible and find God’s guidance.

You’ll not find the answers in alcohol. You’ll not find the remedies to solutions from your friend’s advice. There’s only one resource that’s never ending, life fulfilling, and that’s God’s Word.

God knows the heart of His children. Don’t let feelings of failure weigh you down. And don’t be surprised when the distractions of the world, or the wandering of your mind take your thoughts away from God.

Each time you persevere through trials and show God your faith in Him, you achieve victory in His eyes.

Discouragement is a temptation. It’s not to be tolerated and God does not want it to cause us to stumble. We are to fight it.

Don’t let your hearts be ruled by what you see, but what God promises.

Take off the first three and the last 4 letters of the word, “discouragement.” You’ll find courage!

This is the fight of our life. Don’t let discouragement have any room to grow in your garden of life. Find the courage to look for what God promises you in the world to come.

Psalm 147:3 - “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

I’m sure most of you have heard the above phrase before. Whether it be, “I’m going to go see Aunt Sue before she dies, or I’m going to spend more time with my son, etc.” But, some find out that time runs out. Aunt Sue died, or your son left home without ever remembering you spending time with him.

The world will pull you into a battlefield of busyness. Most people, instead of putting the world on hold, tend to put God on hold. They’ll say, “I’ll go to church more when I retire.” Or, “I’ll give more time to God when my kids are gone from the home and I have more time to go to church.”

This is a deadly, frightening life to lead. The more you put God in the background of your life, the harder it will be for you to find Him.

Making time alone with God should be your highest priority in life.

None of us are promised tomorrow. We could pass from this life before we laid our head down on the pillow tonight.

Matthew 7:13 - “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”

Don’t put off knowing God. The road is narrow that leads you to God, and sadly, most choose the wide road; the one that leads to death and destruction.

God’s not asking for you to follow His rules, He’s asking you to follow HIM!

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Today is the day of salvation.

If you’ve ever had a baby, or been around a newborn baby, you’ll see this fragile little human, who couldn’t live a day without someone caring for his/her every need. Babies are designed this way by God.

God has also designed each of us to need Him moment by moment. The more we are aware of our neediness, so does the realization of His abundant sufficiency become clear.

Philippians 4:6 - “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

When we go to God in prayer with our requests, along with our thanksgiving, He gives us peace; sufficient peace for the present. If He gave us all that we would ever need at one time, then why would we have the need to call on Him again and again?

God can meet our needs without draining Himself of resources. Ask God in confidence today what you need; but couple that with faith in Him that He always cares for us, knows what we need before we do, and continues to guide and direct us throughout our life here on earth.

Peace is God’s continual gift to all who believe in Him. Don’t you want that peace today; the peace you see in a newborn baby, sleeping in his momma’s arms?