Certain Death or Life Everlasting

At my church we are currently studying The Pilgrims Progress. It has, thus far, been an eye opening journey. It is a magnificent portrait of the perseverance of the saints. On Wednesday night I was so encouraged by Christian's understanding of why we should endure in this life.

When Christian ran into Timorous and Mistrust they were in pursuit of fleeing from difficulty and danger. They were imploring Christian to do the same. Christian's next words should be a banner in our lives. He says,

"If I go back to my own country,
which faces fire and brimstone,

I shall certainly perish there.
If I can get to the

Celestial City, I am sure to be
safe there. I must go

forward, facing the risks and
dangers. To go back is nothing

but death; to go forward is fear
of death, and life everlasting beyond it.

So I will go
forward."

There is nothing this world could offer that will alleviate us from difficult times, trials, heartache and pain. There is no easy way. In this life we will run in to a Timorous or Mistrust. We will run into people whose lives are gripped by fear. Even people we love and trust will try to persuade us to return to the City of Destruction.

Remember Lot's wife, don't look back, keep moving ahead and let the words of Christian resonate in your hearts and minds, so that when you are faced with those who desire to veer off of the way of the King say to yourself, "To go back is nothing but death; to go forward is fear of death, and life everlasting beyond it. So I will go forward."

If you are interested in joining us through our study of The Pilgrims Progress please go to Southwest Christian Fellowship's website where the sermons are available.

Created to be Feminine

A couple of days ago I was sitting in McDonalds play land watching my children enjoy a game of hide-and-seek. While I was being entertained I noticed a woman and her two children enter the play area. I began to admire the cuteness of one of her offspring. As I watched them I found myself wondering whether or not this child was male or female. At first glance you would think "female". The little one's hair was braided, had beautiful almond shaped eyes and a "pretty" smile. However, the child was dressed in big and baggy clothing, and I was left wondering.

All too often young ladies are mistaken for young men. And more frustrating to me, young girls are seeking and striving to look more masculine. Where have we gone wrong? Why are our young girls so displeased with the way the Creator, created them to be? Why are we so accepting?

In Genesis 1:27 it says, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (emphasis added) Oh, how beautifully sculptured we are. Designed perfectly by the Master. As I look at the discontentment in this world it reaffirms the depravity of man. Everyday we see men and women, young and old shaking their fist in the face of God. Yet I am reminded that without the mercy and grace of our loving Father we would do the same.

I would encourage us all, to train our daughters up with the understanding and the joy of knowing and honoring the beauty in which God created us. If we are training our daughters to bask in the rays of their femininity then God will be glorified. If you know a young lady who strives to be the opposite of what she is I implore you to admonish them. Turn their thoughts to the divine order, the order which was established at the beginning of time.

I Need Thee, O I Need Thee

This was sent to me from friend. I pray that it shows you how much We need grace and the One who supplies it. Be blessed.


Truth ForLife Devotional
June 29, 2006
AND SO IN THE MATTER OF THE ENVOYS OF THE PRINCES OF BABYLON, WHO HAD BEEN SENT TO HIM TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE SIGN THAT HAD BEEN DONE IN THE LAND, GOD LEFT HIM TO HIMSELF, IN ORDER TO TEST HIM AND TO KNOW ALL THAT WAS IN HIS HEART. 2 Chronicles 32:31


Hezekiah was growing so inwardly great and priding himself so much upon the favor of God that self-righteousness crept in, and because he trusted in himself, the grace of God was for a time, in its more active operations, withdrawn. If the grace of God were to leave the best Christian, there is enough sin in his heart to make him the worst of transgressors. If left to yourselves, you who are warmest for Christ would cool down like Laodicea into sickening lukewarmness: You who are sound in the faith would be white with the leprosy of false doctrine; you who now walk before the Lord in excellency and integrity would reel to and fro and stagger with a drunkenness of evil passion. Like the moon, we borrow our light; bright as we are when grace shines on us, we are darkness itself when the Son of Righteousness withdraws Himself.

Therefore, let us cry to God to never leave us. "Take not Your Holy Spirit from me! Do not withdraw from us Your indwelling grace! Have You not said, 'I, the LORD, am its keeper; every moment I water it. Lest anyone punish it, I keep it night and day'?1 Lord, keep us everywhere. Keep us when we're in the valley so that we do not grumble against Your humbling hand; keep us when we're on the mountain, so we do not lose our balance by being lifted up; keep us in youth, when our passions are strong; keep us in old age, when becoming conceited in our wisdom, we may therefore prove greater fools than those who are young and silly; keep us when we come to die, in case at the very end we should deny You! Keep us living, keep us dying, keep us working, keep us suffering, keep us fighting, keep us resting, keep us everywhere, for everywhere we need You, O our God !"1 Isaiah 27:3

Amen!