Mark 16: ¹⁵ And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

We are commanded to go into all the world and to preach the gospel.  For many the world they are to teach are those in their immediate circle–family, friends, and co-workers.  Some are to go as missionaries to foreign lands.  Some are to teach in local churches.  Others are preachers to lead the churches forward.  Where is God calling you?  Over the years I was called at times to teach only those who are in my immediate circle.  For a time I was called to go into the jail to teach.  Then, I was called to write the books I have written.  With some fear and trepidation regarding my own inadequacies, I did as I was asked.  Then I was asked to write this email and post the daily blogs to a website which is now being viewed worldwide.  So often, I have awoke and prayed, "God, please give me some word for today.  Take my life and search out, destroy the sins of this covetous heart that my testimony of you stand to show your Glory."  Often, Satan presses in with words of discouragement and doubt because of my imperfections and inadequacies; but, God has been my power and strength as I must always keep my focus on Him.  Today, I have a radio interview–so once more I am being asked to step out of a comfort zone.  My desire is to lay aside all of who I am so that God might be glorified and God speak.  I remember when God had told Moses to go and speak.

Exodus 4: ¹⁰ And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

¹¹ And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?

¹² Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

So, Lord be my mouth and teach me what to say.  As I am called to step out into the water.  The raging waters that surround me desire to pull my focus from you, so Lord let me be reminded to keep my focus upon You that I may walk on this water in Your strength and Your Voice; then let Your word go out to whomever you desire, that Your work be performed in their life.

Matthew 14: ²⁹ And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

³⁰ But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

³¹ And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

³² And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

So dear friends, take a moment today and say a prayer for me today.  Listen to this beautiful song Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) by Hillsong. 

"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders.

Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever you would call me.
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my saviour.I will call upon your name

Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in your embrace
I am yours and you are mine"  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8mZpGj29qw

Romans 15:  ¹³ Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Where does hope come from?  We look around us and see very little hope.  We search for some anchor to hold onto.  Perhaps the man who diligently worked and saved so that he could enjoy his retirement; only to learn that he had advanced metastatic cancer and only 3 months to live.  What happened to the anchor that he had tightly placed his hope?  Or, the market failed and all his retirement funds were gone in one mighty sweep.  Again, what happened to the anchor of his hope?  What about the woman who hopes so in the love of her husband and he comes home to say that he is leaving her and the children to marry someone else.  The anchor on which she placed her hope once more failed and she is left crushed, broken-hearted.  The man who places his hope in his own ability and strength to accomplish whatever he wants; suddenly is found jobless and even homeless when his company fails.  So where is the only hope to which we can cling?  God.  The God of hope with all of His covenant promises toward us stands firm that He will accomplish all of His will toward you. 

Isaiah 55:

¹⁰ For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

¹² For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

God is the only source of hope and can fill your heart with joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells you causing you to be filled with hope in grace for today and in God’s future sustaining Grace for tomorrow all the way through eternity.  That hope then breeds more faith which overflows with joy and peace. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4KvwhWDPjk&NR=1&feature=endscreen

2 Peter 1: 1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

² Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

³ According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

⁴ Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹ But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Peter is speaking to those who have obtained like precious faith through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.  Through His power we are given all that we need- He has provided His righteousness in exchange for our sinfulness, through the power of Christ who hath redeemed us.  Does that mean that we need not ever again think about our relationship with him?  No, we must be diligent to continue to learn more of Him by studying His word, by growing in our faith, by diligently seeking virtue in our lives, learning patience and kindness and love toward each other and mankind.  I for one do not want to forget the great love and grace that God has shown me.  If I ever keep these in remembrance then I will also desire to be fruitful and grow as a Christian; never being satisfied with the status quo of my own life and always reaching, studying, seeking to be more like Christ.  Don’t ever forget what He has already done for you and don’t ever lose your passion to follow after Him.  Diligently follow after that which you have found in Him. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLJJ1GSNCSDZHMCQ7ZDTVJSRCBVJPD9IC9&NR=1&v=AgOpycgihsY&feature=endscreen

2 Peter 1: 1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

² Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

³ According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

⁴ Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹ But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Peter is speaking to those who have obtained like precious faith through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.  Through His power we are given all that we need- He has provided His righteousness in exchange for our sinfulness, through the power of Christ who hath redeemed us.  Does that mean that we need not ever again think about our relationship with him?  No, we must be diligent to continue to learn more of Him by studying His word, by growing in our faith, by diligently seeking virtue in our lives, learning patience and kindness and love toward each other and mankind.  I for one do not want to forget the great love and grace that God has shown me.  If I ever keep these in remembrance then I will also desire to be fruitful and grow as a Christian; never being satisfied with the status quo of my own life and always reaching, studying, seeking to be more like Christ.  Don’t ever forget what He has already done for you and don’t ever lose your passion to follow after Him.  Diligently follow after that which you have found in Him. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLJJ1GSNCSDZHMCQ7ZDTVJSRCBVJPD9IC9&NR=1&v=AgOpycgihsY&feature=endscreen

John 16: ³³ These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Christ was telling the disciples what was to come.  He did not say, there will not be any tribulations.  He did not say that sorrow would not be a major part of the Christians life.  Indeed trials come from every side; perhaps even greater to the Christian.  Christians are not exempt from illness, financial disaster, loss of love ones, burgleries, devastating accidents, sorrow, broken-heartedness, nor great suffering.  Nor are we exempt from moments of great doubt and fear.  Even John the Baptist, whom Christ referred to as the greatest prophet; doubted for a moment.  Luke 7 records, "¹⁹ And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?" Christ responded and told the men to go and tell John the Baptist of all that He had done and the miracles He performed.  Yet, ,despite that moment of doubt; John stood firm and uncompromising "²⁷ And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison"  Did John stand firm believing that Christ was going to perform such a miracle on His behalf; no, he stood firm because he knew that knowing Christ was enough.  Joy, Hope, Peace, and Eternity  were found in Christ and the pain, suffering of this world (though they endure a lifetime) were but a fleeting moment compared to eternity.  Much like Paul who suffered imprisonment, beatings, lonely moments, and moments of great despair: explains that as the children of God we will suffer as Christ suffered.  Romans 8 "¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.¹⁹ For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God."   No, where does it say that Christians will not suffer?  Yet, there is a difference in how we view and see that suffering.  When we focus on Christ and all that He has done for us, we can find peace, hope, and deep seated joy even in the midst of great sorrow.  We can view the trials as opportunities to grow even closer to God our only source of love, joy, and hope.  There is another point.  The world watching on will notice as the Christian walks through each trial not as one weighted down by the trial; but as one who calmly, assuredly marching forward with the hope of God’s future Grace filling the fountain of joy to overflowing–no matter how harsh the trial may seem.  Our strength, our hope, our joy, our pleasure, our peace, are all anchored upon this one thing–Jesus Christ’s covenant love for us. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fIP_bKxjLs