Welcome the LessonsWritten by Joyce C. Lock
When we read of great men of old, mighty and strong, courageous, faithful, those who slew thousands and ten thousands ... perhaps we also think of phrases like, "faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings with a single bound." In admiring their feats, we tend to think of these men as super human, almost supernatural, and nearly impossible to follow - while missing their weakness and how God brought them to places of such courage and faith. If you've ever found yourself in a series of lessons where you hang on to God because there's nothing else to hang on to, and He gives you sweet promises like this, "When thou passest through waters, I will be with thee: and through rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall flame kindle upon thee," Is. 43:2 ... then there's nothing left to do but hang on, drown, or get burned. That's how God's chosen become courageous.
| | We Have Different RulesWritten by Joyce C. Lock
One thing God's sheep are known for is encountering trials. The messes we make, struggles we face, and horrors Satan sends our way can sometimes seem endless. Even our service is more work than joy and reaps little result or reward. All of that would suddenly change if we could just get this one thing. We cannot overcome, succeed, or achieve any kind of spiritual greatness by world's methods. WE HAVE DIFFERENT RULES. When we remove "I" from any situation (how I feel, what I think, how it will make me look, I can't), we begin saying, "Okay, God. I'll speak when You give me words and shut my mouth rest of time. I'll go where You want me to go and do what You want me to do. I'll wait on You. I'll listen and observe. I want to use Your plan instead of mine. I'll do it Your way', De. 5:24, 27. Then, stand back and watch for miraculous! God quiets storms, calms seas, puts out fires, meets needs, and makes paths (vs. 30). God also says, if His children would just do this all time, they wouldn't find themselves in such messes (vs. 29).
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