Thursday, December 11, 2008

Trials and Pain Help Us Grow

Read about A. W. TozerDecember 9

Trials and Pain: It Works!

...Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. --2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Ten thousand enemies cannot stop a Christian, cannot even slow him down, if he meets them in an attitude of complete trust in God. They will become to him like the atmosphere that resists the airplane, but which because the plane's designer knew how to take advantage of that resistance, actually lifts the plane aloft and holds it there for a journey of 2,000 miles. What would have been an enemy to the plane becomes a helpful servant to aid it on its way....

If this should seem like a bit of theorizing, remember that always the greatest Christians have come out of hard times and tough situations. Tribulations actually worked for their spiritual perfection in that they taught them to trust not in themselves but in the Lord who raised the dead. They learned that the enemy could not block their progress unless they surrendered to the urgings of the flesh and began to complain. And slowly, they learned to stop complaining and start praising. It is that simple--and it works! We Travel an Appointed Way, 32-33.

"Lord, I wish I could more readily 'stop complaining and start praising.' I pray for Your grace to work within me that I might allow the trials to lift me aloft rather than press me down. I'll do it in Your strength today. Amen."


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Today's "Insight for Leaders" is taken by permission from the book, Tozer on Christian Leadership, published by WingSpread Publishers

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Sharing the Gospel at the Homecoming Parade



This past October 3, I went to the Homecoming Parade of my alma matter, Sissonville High School, to share the Gospel. I was able to talk to several young people one2one about where they will spend eternity. One young man who was kind enough to talk with me had his face painted in the Sissonville colors and admitted that he was concerned that if God judged him by the 10 commandments that he would spend eternity in hell seperated from God. From what he told me, it sounds like he is being raised in a Christian home with a Christian monther, but has not yet repented and believed in Christ for Salvation. I hope that since our conversation, Terey, has repented and trusted in Christ as his Savior. I hope I spelled his name correctly. I had it written down, but misplace it.

If anyone else reading this post doesn't know Christ, please visit www.NeedGod.com to learn how to know Him and to know how to spend eternity with Him. There is nothing more important than that.