Growing Stronger

GROWING STRONGER
"They go from strength to strength."--Psalm 84:7

They go from strength to strength. There are various renderings of these words, but all of them contain the idea of progress.

Our own good translation of the authorized version is enough for us this morning. "They go from strength to strength." That is, they grow stronger and stronger. Usually, if we are walking, we go from strength to weakness; we start fresh and in good order for our journey, but by-and-by the road is rough, and the sun is hot, we sit down by the wayside, and then again painfully pursue our weary way. But the Christian pilgrim having obtained fresh supplies of grace, is as vigorous after years of toilsome travel and struggle as when he first set out. He may not be quite so elate and buoyant, nor perhaps quite so hot and hasty in his zeal as he once was, but he is much stronger in all that constitutes real power, and travels, if more slowly, far more surely.

Some gray-haired veterans have been as firm in their grasp of truth, and as zealous in diffusing it, as they were in their younger days; but, alas, it must be confessed it is often otherwise, for the love of many waxes cold and iniquity abounds, but this is their own sin and not the fault of the promise which still holds good: "The youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint." Fretful spirits sit down and trouble themselves about the future. "Alas!" say they, "we go from affliction to affliction." Very true, O thou of little faith, but then thou goest from strength to strength also. Thou shalt never find a bundle of affliction which has not bound up in the midst of it sufficient grace. God will give the strength of ripe manhood with the burden allotted to full-grown shoulders.
* This post is taken from: Back to the Bible Devotions*

"Growing Stronger" is what I see happening not only in my life -but in those around me who are serving the Lord. It's awesome to see & praiseworthy to note because it is through Him that we develop this way.

"Through," Not Engulfed

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. (Isaiah 43:2)

Bridge there is none: we must go through the waters and feel the rush of the rivers. The presence of God in the flood is better than a ferryboat. Tried we must be, but triumphant we shall be; for Jehovah Himself, who is mightier than many waters, shall be with us. Whenever else He may be away from His people, the Lord will surely be with them in difficulties and dangers. The sorrows of life may rise to an extraordinary height, but the Lord is equal to every occasion.

The enemies of God can put in our way dangers of their own making, namely, persecutions and cruel mockings, which are like a burning, fiery furnace. What then? We shall walk through the fires. God being with us, we shall not be burned; nay, not even the smell of fire shall remain upon us.

Oh, the wonderful security of the heaven-born and heaven-bound pilgrim! Floods cannot drown him, nor fires burn him. Thy presence, O Lord, is the protection of Thy saints from the varied perils of the road. Behold, in faith I commit myself unto Thee, and my spirit enters into rest.

*Devotional from: Faith's Checkbook*

He's Talking... If We Would Just Listen

Sounds
The man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day. -Genesis 3:8 (NIV)

EARLY in the morning we hear the sounds of construction. Heavy trucks bring concrete and lumber for building new homes. When I hear those sounds, I know that soon we will have new neighbors. Their children will play along our street and make new sounds.
Before we rise in the morning, we hear the city garbage truck picking up the trash. In the winter I start our snow blower; in the summer I run our mower. We hear sirens when an ambulance or fire truck comes through our neighborhood in the middle of the night. Sounds form a picture of our life. Not long ago, a neighbor called to complain about the ringing of a church's tower chimes. In conversation, I learned that the person did not want a reminder that God was at work in our community.

Reminders of God's presence have always been around us - and have not always been welcome. In Eden, Adam and Eve heard reminders of God's presence as a threat. They had not followed God's instruction but had obeyed another voice, that of the serpent. Voices and sounds call us in many directions. Some call us to pain and others, to life. As we ask God to help us, we can sort out and follow the calls that lead to life.

Prayer:Gracious God, give us sensitivity to hear your voice of grace in all the sounds around me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Reflection:
How can I attend more fully to God's presence in my life?

God Has Not Given Up On You!

You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19 (NIV)

The foundation of the church is that Jesus Christ died on a cross, shed real blood, died a real death, was buried in a real grave, stayed really dead for three days and rose on the third day really alive with all power in His hand. That is our faith! This is what we believe. It is our foundation. It signifies the difference between Jesus Christ the man and Jesus Christ the Savior.The fact that Jesus got up on the third day with all power gives everybody hope everywhere. All humanity can be redeemed. I don’t care how dark the night or how depraved humanity has been, how perverted humanity may be; all humanity can be redeemed. Murders can be redeemed. Thieves can be redeemed. Adulterers can be redeemed. All humans can be redeemed. Molesters can be redeemed. All humanity can be redeemed. Those violated can be redeemed. God has not given up on you! Despite your past, despite what you’ve been through. I know it was wrong but God is a God of second chances. Just call out to him, confess your sins unto him. Turn from your sinful past and watch God make things new. He has not given up on you. You will be what God has purposed you to be. He sealed it with the cross and with His resurrection. God has not given up on you! Don’t give up on yourself!

A Prayer For The Reader:Heavenly father, I confess that I have sinned against you and you only. I confess that my life has not always been perfect and I ask that you give me a fresh start. Wipe away my sins and my wrongs with the blood of your precious son, Jesus. Cast them into the sea of forgetfulness, never to be seen again. I recognize that you have a plan for my life and that you have made it possible for me through the death and resurrection of your son. Make me new. Give me a fresh start. Redeem me that I might be all that you will have me to be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.