Dear Abby II

The prize for the most useless weapon of all times goes to the Russians. They invented the “dog mine.” The plan was to train the dogs to associate food with the undersides of tanks, in the hope that they would run hungrily beneath advancing Panzer divisions. Bombs were then strapped to the dogs’ backs, which endangered the dogs to the point where no insurance company would look at them. Unfortunately, the dogs associated food solely with Russian tanks. The plan was begun the first day of the Russian involvement in World War II...and abandoned on day two. The dogs with bombs on their backs forced an entire Soviet division to retreat.

So how often have you left church and thought, “I am going to be the person I want to be!”?  Only to find that you have failed again and have those same feelings of doubt and fear that make you think you will never get it right, kind of like the Russian dog trainers…  Poor dogs (you figure out which ones).

Yesterday we talked about Abigail taking action, using wise words and following through.  When we spend time in the service together we feel the presence of the Holy Spirit more than when we are alone.  This is one of the big reasons I like going to church for corporate worship.  I get to sing with everyone else, the camaraderie of fellow Christians and the confirmation that the words spoken are either from or approved by God (because people don’t leave when I am preaching).  I think this CrossPoint experience is the first part of that three pronged attempt on a Holy life.  Debi and I call it a family reunion with people you like;-)

After we have taken the action of being at CrossPoint and we say our goodbye’s; we head home or to a restaurant and eat.  By the time lunch is over and we have digested the meal our digestion of the sermon is almost done.  By the next morning we see our busy week coming at us and we feel the glow of the Sunday service fading, we dig in and go for broke for another week.  Saturday comes and we realize yet another week has passed and we are still far from God and hurting.

This week let’s move onto step two. The using wise words, part of Sunday’s sermon.  Here are some verses on assurance, five, one for everyday of the week.

1 John 4:15 (HCSB)
15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God.

Romans 10:9 (HCSB)

9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved

John 11:25-26 (HCSB)

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live.  26 Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever. Do you believe this?”

Romans 10:11 (HCSB)
11 Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame

You don’t have to live in fear.  Focus on these verses and you will start to see fruit in your life.  What are the Fruits of the Spirit?  Google it.  As you see yourself improve you will start to see that the reasons you where having problems before was because of you were relying on yourself.  You need to rely on Jesus!  

In John 14:6 He says “I am the Way the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father but by Me.”  Jesus doesn’t expect YOU to do it.  He says do it through HIM.  That is the follow through.  

1 Chronicles 28:9 is a promise. 

9 “As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands the intention of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

This week allow yourself to be led into peace; you will be amazed how often you see what wonderful change comes because you are relying on Christ instead of yourself.  Don’t let the devil convince you that you can train dogs to find your sin.

Here is a blessing for you!!!