2 Thessalonians 2: ¹³ But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

¹⁴ Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁵ Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

¹⁶ Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

¹⁷ Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

Three years ago, I went to Pets by Judy.  I had read carefully his profile and I wanted to meet and adopt Jason. Jason was getting older and had been returned to the shelter many times.  Every potential home had ended in his return to the shelter and the cages where he lived.   When I arrived, the shelter showed me other dogs and other options instead of bringing out Jason.    I almost left with a different dog; but at the last minute the other dog snapped at me and I said, “I cannot help a dog whom I am afraid of.” So,  I firmly said,  “I came to see Jason; please let me see him."Reluctantly, they cleared the area of other dogs and brought out this Rottweiler/Hound mix who was obviously older and looked a little anxious.  He apparently did not get along well with other dogs.  I took him for a short walk and he would pull hard in various directions; but when I pulled him tighter he responded.   Then I told them, “ I want him."  Off we went home where he became the best friend, protector, and the best dog I could have ever had.  I never caged him; because I knew he had been caged enough in his life.  He responded to my love and was devoted completely to me.  Whatever room I was in, he was there.  Gradually any behavior that he realized displeased me changed.  He quit digging in the trash and I didn’t have to hide it anymore.  He quite pulling against me when he saw a dog or cat as we walked.  His greatest joy was to just sit in my presence.  Doctrinal truth, I am uncertain whether animals go to heaven or not; but Thursday night Jason passed on.  His last years of his life were transformed because I chose him.  My life was definitely brighter because of his love and devotion toward me.

I would say that the same is true of me.  God chose me to be His child and He gently through His love has transformed me.  He has shown everlasting love and hope through His grace toward me.  I, much like Jason, am so devoted to Him–desiring to always be by His side, learning of Him or just sitting in His presence is enough.  God’s grace still amazes me, each and every day of my life.  Because I see God’s Overwhelming Love, Mercy and Grace toward me; I am transformed little by little, mercy by mercy into the likeness of Christ.  Please listen to the following song–I know the words will uplift you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNClAJO2tnQ

Ecclesiastes 12:  Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth,

Daniel 1:³ And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;

⁴ Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

⁵ And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

⁶ Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

⁷ Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

⁸ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank….¹⁷ As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom:

I Timothy 4: ¹¹ These things command and teach.

¹² Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

It is so amazing to watch young people who are certain of their identity in Christ and who are willing to take a stand.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were such young men.  The King brought them before himself to question why they would not worship his gods and when they refused, he had them thrown into a fiery furnace.  Facing the possibility of death, they would not waiver.  Their answer to the king was recorded in Daniel 3: "

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

¹⁷ If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

¹⁸ But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." 

He threw them into the fiery pit where Christ came and walked with them. 

"²⁴ Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

²⁵ He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

²⁶ Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

²⁷ And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

²⁸ Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

The question is, whatever your age, do you know your identity in Christ?

I met a young man in Atlanta who does.  His name is Brandon Maye.  May God continue to bless him and guide each step of his journey.  Go to his website to learn more of his story.  http://brandonmaye.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=fe7G8La-qSo&NR=1

Romans 5:  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

³ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

⁵ And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

⁶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Where do we find the peace, the hope and the strength to continue on in this world filled with anxiety, sorrow, evil and pain?  Do we hope in the leadership?  Do we hope in our own prowess?  Do we hope in the love of our family?  Do we hope in our own goodness?  Do we hope in friends?  Where do we find the strength that will carry us from today into tomorrow, when we suddenly are facing financial disaster, struggling against the evils of all that surround us?  Our only hope can be found in a relationship with our creator  who is God.  That relationship; however, was broken by our sin so that a perfectly righteous God could not abide with us as we so often choose to worship the creation more than the creator.  With covetous, self exalting hearts we march on and find that we have no hope.  So where can there be hope?  Do we hope in our ability to work out the deeds of the law so that God might accept us?  After all, compared to some I am really not that bad; surely, God will accept me.  Yet when my eyes behold the magnificent Glory which is God and the perfect righteousness which is His–I only see my utter unrighteousness. 

Romans 3: ²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

²¹ But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

²² Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Romans 4: ²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

²¹ But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

²² Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Thus a just God cannot accept my futile attempts at righteousness.  That is why there had to be someone who would pay the penalty of my unrighteousness so that God could remain the Just Judge that He must remain.  Christ, being God himself, came to this earth to take on a human body that He might be tempted as we are and without sin then pay the penalty for my sin so that if I accept His atonement, my faith is counted to me as though I had been righteous.  So it is, I by faith in His atoning Grace am able to stand in the hope of His Glory.  The hope I receive by faith is a sustaining hope that I may revel in His love, His Joy and His Grace.  This life I now live is but a fleeting moment, a blink of the eye compared to eternity.  I live with hope and joy not based on what my current circumstances are; but based on that promise that God is with me.  I must continue to tell others of His Love, His Mercy, His Grace, and His Glory.  It is important to remember, that there is no price too great for me to pay for the salvation of one soul.  Also, this life were it even to be filled with pain and sorrow, it is only a fleeting second and by faith I can rejoice in every tribulation as I understand that God has a perfect plan for my life.  If my trials point you to Christ, then I gladly walk each step of this journey with a heart filled with joy.

Hebrews 11:  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7oZkBgZCm4

Psalm 55:

Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

² Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

³ Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

⁴ My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

⁵ Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

⁶ And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

⁷ Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

⁸ I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

⁹ Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

¹⁰ Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

¹¹ Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

¹² For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

¹³ But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

¹⁴ We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

¹⁵ Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

¹⁶ As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.

¹⁷ Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

¹⁸ He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

¹⁹ God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

²⁰ He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

²¹ The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

²² Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

²³ But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

After the faith of this young shepherd boy had allowed him to save the nation from Goliath and his army; King Saul had taken David into the royal family.  But when the popularity of David spread among the people, King Saul’s jealousy set him on the mission to destroy David and David had to run for his life.   God had already appointed David to become King following Saul; however, David did not take that as a sign to run ahead of God.  David was confused, hurting emotionally, sorrowful, and filled with fear.  We see that in his words "My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest."  David knew that his hope, his peace and the only answer would come from God.  He would stand firm on the promises God had already made toward him.  He did not know how God would accomplish it when everything seemed so impossible.  So, he did the only thing that he knew to do—pray.  "As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

He knew to pray and to wait upon God’s answer and in God’s time.  Just as the prophet Isaiah reminds us: 40:

^"30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

³¹ 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."

As we look around us, we see evil, sorrow, financial destruction, illness, pain, things that cause us to run in fear; yet, on this truth we can stand firm:  God is still on His Throne and He has a plan of good for all those who have an intimate relationship with Him.  Even when we cannot see that plan nor understand how, even when it appears that all hope is gone; we can trust in the covenant promises of God whose omniscient omnipotence knows how to work all things together for our good to all who love Him and have accepted the gift of salvation purchased by Jesus Christ.  He is there to Steady your Heart in the midst of whatever you are facing today. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmaBhMOXXHg

Deuteronomy 4: ²⁵ When thou shalt beget children, and children’s children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the Lord thy God, to provoke him to anger:

²⁶ I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land where unto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. ²⁷ And the Lord shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the Lord shall lead you.

²⁸ And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.

²⁹ But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

³⁰ When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;

³¹ (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

Moses was speaking to the Israelite nation as they were preparing to cross over Jordan into their promised land.  An entire generation had died in the wilderness because of their rebellion, murmuring, and idolatrous  worship.  He wanted to remind them of the danger that lay before them whenever their covetous hearts begin to search for and hold too tightly to other treasures chasing after idols of any kind.  The same is true for us.  But you may say, oh then I am safe because I have no idols of which I worship.  Or do you?  Anything that is placed as more important than your relationship with God is an idol in your heart.  For some it is their work, others entertainment, others TV, others it may be money or possessions.  We desire and seek after many things in hopes that it will fill our hearts with joy or contentment; yet, we find ourselves desolate in some foreign land surrounded by many who have no desire to follow after Christ.  We begin to listen to their advice as we begin to look lightly upon sin.  After all, we live in a new society; fornication or adultery are not so bad if I do it because of love.  So what if I cheat just a little on my taxes, the government is corrupt in their use of the money anyway?  It doesn’t matter if I waste time at work; after all they don’t pay me enough to work diligently?  He hurt me, so why shouldn’t I be able to retaliate?  It isn’t really gossip because I only am telling you so that you can pray for her.  So on goes the lies whispering into our minds and we follow with each step drawing us farther from the voice of God–our only source of True Joy, True Hope, and True Righteousness. But there is Good News—

Deuteronomy 4: ²⁹ But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

³⁰ When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;

³¹ (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

His covenant promises to His Children will always stand firm.  If you find yourself in a desert somewhere or within a foreign land of your heart; seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.  Return to the God you love and find His Mercy.  If you have never known Him?  Then I urge you to seek Him and you will find Him–the only one who can provide rest and comfort for your soul.  If you do know Him, never forget all that He has done for you in the past.   Write it on your heart lest you forget.  Then teach your children and your grandchildren.  Your most important act of love for your children is to point them to Christ.  If you spend a lifetime teaching them how to live on this earth and never point them to Christ who not only is their only source of Joy on this Earth; but their only hope of eternity:  what a tragedy that would be. 

Deuteronomy 4: ⁹ Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcPzkNGp_oo