Spiritual Motivation and Insight

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by TonyB06
Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other hand, but do believe this one thing ..................

God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.

I have read this story before but these last few lines are so true!!!

[CrimsonTide4]

Blessings in Disguise

If you look at your problems as problems, they will
continue to hold you down. See them instead as
blessings in disguise, and that is what they will
truly become.

If you treat the challenges as excuses for failure,
you'll have plenty of excuses but not much else.
Approach those challenges instead as pathways to
success, and that is precisely what they will be.

There is more than enough richness in life for all
those who are willing to recognize it. That richness
most often comes wrapped in challenge so as to keep
its value intact.

For if the good things in life had no cost at all,
they would not be worth very much. It is the effort,
the discipline, the commitment to overcome any
challenge, that makes a dream worth reaching.

So whatever stands in the way of your dream is really
a blessing in disguise. For when you work your way
through it, you arrive at the place you most want to
be.

-- Ralph Marston

[Honeykiss1974]

Just when you think you have it all figured out, something will show up to make you doubt yourself. At the precise moment when you think that your troubles are over and that things are finally going your way, things will appear to turn around and head in the other direction.

On the very day that you are feeling up, happy, ready to go, you will get news that will knock the wind right out of your sails. Life is just like that don't take it personally.

When bad times show up in the middle of good times, just sit down, get quiet, remember the truth about who you are, and pray. All things really do work together for your good.

Just because things take a curve does not mean they are not on track!

The curve could very well be a part of the process! Life always brings us what we are divinely entitled to, and sometimes it will not look the way we want it to look.

Sometimes we are being tested.

At other times we are simply being called on to SURRENDER, TO BE PATIENT, AND HAVE LOTS & LOTS OF FAITH!

From: Faith in the Valley
By: Iyanla Vanzant, Esq.

[Honeykiss1974]

God's Plan
Ephesians 3:20

Take My hand and walk with Me, for I know what to do.
When it comes down to the plan that I have for You.
Do not fret when the world looks down on the stand you take,
Just look to Me and be ready to obey!

I know every desire hidden within your heart.
I was the One who planted them there from the very start!
Your mind cannot begin to imagine what I'm going to do.
I will guide you and to My glory your life will be used.

Take My hand and walk with Me, knowing without a doubt
That the God who made you has things completely figured out!

[CrimsonTide4]

YOUR PAST IS NOT YOUR FUTURE
By Lisa Bevere

The apostle Paul had a great plan for fulfilling his destiny. In his letter to the Philippians, he outlined it. He wrote: "One thing I do: FORGETTING what is BEHIND and STRAINING toward what is AHEAD, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13-14, NIV).

Paul knew what many of us need to learn -- that when we stretch back and try to make sense of all that has happened in the past, we are bound to be frustrated. Constantly replaying, reviewing and rewinding, we build different scenarios of what might have been. It's like trying to walk forward while looking backward.

We think, "If only I had done this or that, things would have been different." Yes, it is true; things would have been different. But you didn't do it differently, and thinking about it now can't change it then. Your past, no matter how tragic or terrible, is gone. You can never reach back into it and change it.

Even the wonderful parts of your past are gone. Don't try to live in them and allow them to drain your life in the present. It will only waste your time and energy.

God never goes back, although He is the only one who can. He goes forward. He is always looking ahead and moving beyond the present. He tells us, "'Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland'" (Is. 43:18-19).

God enjoys turning our wastelands into fertile plains. He has a plan for irrigating our arid land.

Those who look back say, "Tomorrow will be like today, because today was like yesterday." This is not how God views things. He never measures what WILL be by what HAS BEEN. He knows an important truth -- that your past is not your future.

In fact, He says in His Word that He has "'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" (Jer. 29:11). He does not outline the plans for you or promise that you will know them. He only assures you that He knows the plans and they are good.

Dare to believe when you cannot see or understand. Decide to trust God for the future instead of wondering about it or assuming it will be bad. Knowledge does not require faith; not knowing does. God challenges us simply to trust Him and His Word.

My husband, John, always shares this truth: "Only one person can get you out of the will of God -- you!" No man, woman, minister, ministry, parent, spouse or friend can do it. Only you.

When you set yourself in agreement with God's will and plan for your life instead of dwelling on the past, the opinions of men, women, organizations and devils no longer matter. It does not matter how many times those around you have failed. It does not matter how many times you've failed. God never has.

And if God is for you, who can be against you? (See Rom. 8:31.) Decide today to trust Him, and watch His purposes prevail in your life.




Stop telling God you've got big problems.

Tell your problems you've got a BIG GOD!

[CrimsonTide4]

Tuesday, December 2, 2003

Living confidence

Think of confidence not as something you need, or as
something you must somehow acquire before taking
action. Instead, see confidence as something you do,
as something you express, and then go do it.

Real confidence comes from the act of investing
yourself in it. Real confidence comes with action, not
in advance of action.

If you wait in idleness for confidence to somehow
magically come, it never will, but there is no need to
wait. Everything you need to take action is there,
whether you are confident or not.

Confidence can add a powerful positive dimension to
all you do. To make confidence take hold, build it
with your actions.

Let go of the myth that you must first be confident
before proceeding forward. Go ahead, make the effort,
and the confidence will surely come to add even more
power to your actions.

Stop waiting, stop wishing for confidence. Go ahead,
take action, and start living the experience of it.

-- Ralph Marston

[CrimsonTide4]

The LORD says, "My thoughts are not like your thoughts. Your ways are not like my ways. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. So you will go out with joy and be led out in peace". ISAIAH 55:8,12

There are going to be times in our lives that we just don't understand what is going on. We have prayed and fasted sought good counsel everything we could think of we have done in order for things to go our way. Then we get the big let down and don't no how to act. How could God let this happen to me ? I have done everything he asked me to do. I cannot understand this situation at all . What is going on . Well the answer is simple. Your ways are not my ways Your thoughts are not my thoughts Get it Got it good. God knows what is best for us at all times, and sometimes we need a little disappointment to bring us back to reality remember only God knows your heart and what is beast in every situation. His way will bring us true peace and joy and lead us to ever lasting life.

[CrimsonTide4]

Highly Valued Mist

In the message "More Than Grasshoppers" we considered the spies who were
sent into the promised land to evaluate the enemy. We saw that without
a proper understanding of God and how we fit into His plan, the enemies
in our life will always appear as undefeatable giants.

This sense of walking among the giants causes many of us to struggle
with insecurities, low self esteem, and general feelings of inadequacy.
While it's true we are called to: "in humility consider others better
than ourselves" (Philippians 2:3), we also must walk with a sense of
identity, purpose, and worth. And while it's true that in the context
of eternity we are "a mist that appears for a little while and then
vanishes" (James 4:14), this seemingly insignificant "mist" is dearly
loved by the Creator of the Universe.

Our real sense of identity, purpose and worth, will only be realized as
we understand that our value is never attained through the things of
this world which all pass away; it only comes from our Heavenly Father
who has adopted us as His child and made us an heir of His Kingdom!

Romans 8:15-17
"You received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs
with Christ."

The eternal inheritance we receive through this adoption makes
everything of the world seem extremely insignificant. We are a child of
God! This is our identity. While we walk on this earth, we are being
"conformed into the likeness of His Son" (Romans 8:29). This is our
purpose. And in our adoption, we are made "co-heirs with Christ." This
is our worth!

As this world tries to pull us down, let's remember our Father owns ALL;
"Every animal of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills"
(Psalm 50:10). He owns it all, created it all, and nothing is beyond
His reach. As others try to continually show us our faults and put us
down, let's remember that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us - one
day we will be made perfect and walk down streets of "pure gold, like
transparent glass" (Revelation 21:21).

Let's pull these truths together into a victorious Christian life.
Let's hold on very loosely to anything of the world which artificially
determines our worth and passionately cling to our worth in Christ; "For
what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians
4:18). Let's live our life as a "vanishing mist" while remembering we
are co-heirs with Jesus in the Kingdom of God - let's live as an
honored, protected, and highly valued mist.

[Honeykiss1974]

2nd Timothy 1:13-14 “Hold fast (seize and retain) the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.”

Over the last few months and really over this last year of 2003, many of us have had many “good things” declared, decreed and prophesied to us…prophetic words concerning what is ahead for the body of Christ in abundance and great blessing. We have had many words of destiny, appointment, purpose, transference of wealth, nations, harvest and many other awesome things that God is about to do in the earth in these last days.

In the Spirit I can hear people saying, “When is all this going to happen”? “When Lord? When Lord?” “When am I going to step into my call?” “When are we going to see this transference of wealth?” “When are we going to see this great harvest of nations come in?”

In the Spirit I can see people wanting to see God results in their life concerning the rhema words that have been given unto them freely by the Spirit of God.

The bottom line, is we can give out encouraging words, prophetic words, inspired by the Holy Spirit over and over, but only YOU can step into the fullness of the destination God has for you. No one can do it for you. God has great and awesome plans for everyone of His sons and daughters, for He knows the plans for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you.

Instead of saying “when Lord?”, we need to begin to speak and proclaim into existence the awesome things of God that He has promised us, and come into agreement with every personal prophecy, with every corporate prophetic word, with every rhema word and with the written Word of God for our lives. For God is committed to all these awesome Words that have been spoken over us, but we must line up with His will and His Word for these to manifest.

God wants to move and breathe in your life more than you want it. God however only moves on “words” and not just any words. God moves on words of faith. He will not move on words of complaining, grumbling, moaning, whining or begging or words of doubt and un-belief. These words will not move God. God will not respond to these. Faith is the only thing that will move God. When He does move, He moves by His Spirit-the Holy Spirit who is our “Helper”. If the Holy Spirit is to “Help” us, we must understand the Holy Spirits ministry of “helps” and how to cooperate in agreement with the Holy Spirit to see God results in our lives, to help us reach those destinations and fullness of everything God has for us and everything Christ has purchased for us on the cross. “For if two of you agree on earth concerning ANYTHING that they ask it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” (Matt 18:19) When you come into agreement with the Holy Spirit and His will for your life, there will be no stopping you! You and the Holy Spirit, that makes two baby!

Wherever you are at today in your life, you got there by your mouth, and the words you have spoken. The Word says that you can “have” what you “say”. God works by words. He spoke the universe into being. Jesus did all His miracles, healings and deliverances by “words”. Jesus spoke, and the Holy Spirit moved in power. We are made in the image of God, and we are to imitate Christ- “…so as He is, so are we in this world.” (1st John 4:17) Through our mouth comes blessing or cursing, life or death. As Believers are words are spirit and they are life if they are words of faith. Our words carry impact and destiny in them. So the Holy Spirit our helper moves on our words of faith. Faith has a voice. Its speaks. Romans 10:6 “…faith speaks in this way” Faith without a voice is powerless. Faith with a voice will move mountains and nothing will be impossible for you. Every time we speak doubt and un-belief or waver, the Holy Spirit cannot move on those words.

James 1:6-7 “But let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.”

The Holy Spirit is who “performs” God’s word. If we stop confessing God’s word, He stops performing. The Holy Spirit desires to be our helper in reaching our destinations and destinies that God has for us, but we must understand His ministry is Word based.

Our words will either build up our destinies and purposes in God or they will tear down. Our words will either build up people or tear them down. If we want to see God results in reaching our destinations we must hold fast to our confession.

Hebrews 4:14 “…let us hold fast our confession.”

In the greek “hold fast” means to seize and retain. We need to seize and retain our confession and let nothing stop it or steal it. Let no doubt, wavering or un-belief in concerning God’s word to us in both rhema and logos word. God’s word must be the ultimate authority in our lives.

2nd Timothy 1:13-14 “Hold fast (seize and retain) the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.”

In order to “keep” the good things which God has spoken to us whether in a prophetic word, a rhema word or the promises of God to us through the Word, we must hold fast to, we must seize and retain these promises, rhema words, destinies and callings and let no doubt, fear or un-belief creep in and steal these good things that God has ahead for us and for the “now”. Your words will either nurture your call or tear it down. You need to speak out your destiny, your call and all that God has promised you by faith and confession on a continual basis. For how long? Until it comes to pass! Speak to those things which do not exist as though they did. (Romans 4:17)

Every thought and every word you speak is a seed planted in your life and in your heart.

James 1:21 “…receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

Sometimes the words we speak are planted into other people. Therefore we must be careful what we speak to other people, be sure they are words of building up and not of tearing down. Words of blessing and not of cursing. For the power of life and death are in the tongue.

Romans 10:8 “But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.”

Once that seed is planted in you, the more you confess that word whether bad or good, is how you water that seed.

Proverbs 18:4 “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters.”

So the more you water that seed with your confession, the deeper the root will grow. The only way for that root to grow and produce fruit is to keep doubt and un-belief away, otherwise they will choke out the word of God, and the confession you are speaking. Confession is powerless without believing. (Luke 8:11) Whatever you are speaking in your life, is what is manifesting.

So everytime you look at your circumstances and talk about your circumstances the root grows deeper. Out of the abundance of your heart, your mouth speaks, and directs your destiny in where you are going in God. In proverbs it says you will either be satisfied by your mouth or snared by your words.

Even the angels only work on Gods words.

Psalms 103:20 “Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word.”

You either activate of de-activate your angels by the words you speak. Wanna see your angels move on your behalf? Then make the Word your confession, your speech, and believe the Word when you speak it. Your angels are always working on your behalf when you are speaking words that line up with God’s will. Its when you stop speaking those things of God’s will that you paralyze your angels.

Want to see your destination come to pass? Let His words abide in you, you will ask/speak what you desire and it shall be done for you. (John 15:7)

You will step into the supernatural things of God on a continual basis when you are walking in faith with your confession. Without the faith your words will profit you nothing. Its part of the good fight of faith:

1st Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

My friends, speak your way into your destination! For all creation is subject to you by the authority Christ purchase for you on the cross. You will be astounded at the God results in your life as you line up your confession with the Word of God, with His will. Instead of saying “when Lord?” speak out what is about to happen in your life. Speak out increase in your life. Speak out the big things God has spoken to your heart and proclaim them. Don’t let the devil steal any seeds from your heart that are “God” seeds. For the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy. What is he trying to steal? He is trying to steal the Word out of your heart and your mouth. If he can get you to talk against God’s will, against the destination He has for you, against His Word, then he’s been successful.

Your destination is much greater than you could ever think or imagine, for Jesus is able to do far above all that you could think or imagine. So even though some of those things seem so “far off” or “so big”, speak them out every day. God is committed to you. He is committed to ALL the good things He has spoken over you and promised you, but He needs you to hold fast with your words, mixed with faith, so these things can profit you.

2nd Timothy 1:13-14 “Hold fast (seize and retain) the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.”

[CrimsonTide4]

Being Mr. History, I've made sure our family has visited our share of Colonial restorations. We step back in history and we see men in their tricorn hats, ladies in their lace caps, and a potter. There's always a potter, and they're intriguing to watch, skillfully shaping that blob of clay. Now leave it to me to think about what it might feel like to be the clay. First, you get pushed and squeezed and poked all over the place. Then the potter takes you for a spin, and you're going around in these endless circles. The wheel stops; you're saying, "Man, sure glad that's over." Then suddenly you're in an oven - at 2,200 degrees! When you're just about cooked, the potter pulls you out - only to put you back in a little later! If you're the potter's clay, you've got to be thinking, "Why are you doing this to me?"

Strangely, I recognize a lot of those "clay" feelings! "God, why do you have me spinning around like this? Why are you squeezing me this way? Why are you subjecting me to this intense heat?"

Some of the answers are found in our word for today from the Word of God, Romans 8:28-29. We do verse 28 a lot, but you have to keep it with verse 29 to get the whole picture. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Now, if you've got some apparently "not good" stuff going on in your life right now, you may need a reminder as to what "His purpose" is.

Verse 29: "For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son." What's the "good thing" Jesus is using "all things" in your life for? Well, the highest good He can accomplish in any life. You say, "Oh, to make me happy?" No, that's not the highest good for your life. It's for you to become more and more like Jesus.

We're God's clay. The mold is Jesus. And God designed you to be, through the uniqueness of your own personality and gifts, a replica of His Son.

One of life's most frequently asked questions is, "Why, God?" The only answer that fits all situations is this: This can make you more like Jesus than you've ever been. What happens in your life is either something your Heavenly Father sends or He allows. But in either case, He only allows into your life what can make you more valuable, more Christ-like.

You can't learn to love like Jesus unless there's someone in your life who's hard to love. You can't learn His sensitivity without hurting. You can't be Jesus-patient without having to wait or to put up with something difficult or someone difficult. You can't learn joy without circumstances that you have to rise above. You can't learn peace without some pressure. You can't learn faith without needs that are bigger than your ability to ever meet them.

But unlike clay, you choose whether the Potter's beautiful intentions are realized. If you forget the Potter's goal, you can become desperate, bitter, hard, and all self-absorbed. Or you can let Him use it for the ultimate good. If you're going to get the pain, you might as well get the point! And that is to make you more like Jesus.

The oven and the wheel are God's tools to transform us blobs of clay into His masterpieces!

[TonyB06]

History of the First Frat!


The first frat was founded around 5 b.c. There was only one founder. His name was/is Jesus Christ. He pledged a line of 12 men from various backgrounds. The line was nicknamed "The Disciples." Jesus was known as Big Brother Divine. The Ace of the line was Peter, (line name "The Rock"); The deuce was Andrew, Peter's brother (line name "Baby Boy"); The tail of the line was Judas (line name "Big Money"). Judas was the chapters' treasurer. He was known for stealing dues and misreporting funds. He later denied that he had pledged and committed suicide after he arranged to have the founder crucified. But the founder had connections that, three days later, would completely undo what Judas set in motion. When the frat came under heavy opposition, Peter also denied that he had pledged and stated that he had no connection to the founder.

Jesus Christ was later crucified, bearing "the wood" (the cross) for all of us once and for all, and on that day only one member of the frat was present, John (line name "The Beloved").

Fortunately, the members regrouped and began to charter more chapters as the centuries passed. The first reformation meeting was held in the Upper Room which eventually took over a line of 120 people. (Peter later pledged a line of 3,000 who were all initiated in one day!)

The most famous of all the frat brothers, outside the founder, of course, was Paul of Tarsish. He was known for being a "hater" of the frat but was eventually "persuaded" to become a member. He helped to form chapters at Corinth (2 chapters), Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossus and 2 chapters at Thessalonica. (Note: Paul was Timothy's DP).

The history of this Frat has been recorded in what we call the Holy Scriptures or the Bible. The motto, vows, constitution, bylaws and fraternity song (written by David who was a fore runner for the frat) were originally recorded in the Canons of the Holy Scrolls which are now included in the Holy Bible.

Today the frat is still going strong with over 956,000 chapters and 600 million members world wide. Unfortunately, only 20% are financial (tithers), about 60% are shirt-wearers who don't attend meetings and do no community service, 40% have pledged other organizations (Nation of Islam, Mormon, Jehova's Witness. etc..) and a large part of the world's population have decided not to pledge because of the inability to maintain the high standards of the frat. (Your best daily attempt at righteous living and a desire to increase in knowledge daily)

The Fraternity is open to all prospectives. Rejects from all organizations are always welcome. We have no respect of persons. The ritual consists of confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as Lord. Initiation is immediate although the "process" is a life long experience. If you happen to drop off line (which most people do more than once) you will not be banned from completing the process. Although bonding with your fellow frats is important, your main focus should be on knowing your history and making a divine connection with our founder. Dues are 10% of your total earnings and membership is renewed daily.

Disclaimer: B.O.C (Body of Christ) is a non-hazing organization.

[CrimsonTide4]

WHAT GOES AROUND

He almost didn't see the old lady, stranded on the side of the road. But even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her.

Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so ... was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry.

He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put in you.
He said, "I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Brian."

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Brian crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.

As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid.

Brian just smiled as he closed her trunk.. She asked him how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Brian never thought twice about being paid. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way.

He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Brian added, "And think of me."

He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.

A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The cash register was like the telephone of an out-of-work actor-it didn't ring much.

The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude.

The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Brian.

After the lady finished her meal, and the waitress went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, the lady slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back.

The waitress wondered where the lady could be. Then she noticed something written on the napkin under which were four $100 bills.

There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote "You don't owe me anything. I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you."

Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the
baby due next month, it was going to be hard.

She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, "Everything's gonna be all right. I love you, Brian."

There is an old saying "What goes around comes around."

[RedefinedDiva]

That was so touching!

[Honeykiss1974]

The Impossible Is God's Ideal:

I'd like to underline a major truth in this world of ours that I don't pretend to understand. Here it is: The best framework for the Lord God to do all His most ideal work is when things are absolutely impossible and we feel totally unqualified to handle it. That's His favorite circumstance. Those are His ideal working conditions.

God does His most magnificent work when the situation seems totally impossible from a human point of view, and we feel absolutely unprepared and unable to do anything about it, yet our eyes are on Him... that's when God rolls up His big sleeves and says, "Step back out of the way a moment, and watch Me work."

Time after time, He brings us to our absolute end and then proves Himself faithful. That, my friend, is the story of the Bible in a nutshell.

Scripture: Exodus 14:13,14

[CrimsonTide4]

Somewhere on cable or late night TV, you might run into my old hero. He's a masked man who rides on a white horse, who shoots silver bullets and always brings in the bad guys. Every episode ends with someone asking, "Who was that Masked Man?" And as the exciting William Tell Overture crescendos in the background, someone will say, "It's the Lone Ranger!" I'm getting all emotional here. Now there was one other thing about the Lone Ranger. He had a faithful sidekick, that Indian man in buckskins, Tonto. He's the one who got famous calling the Lone Ranger "Kemo Sabe." I never did know what that meant. Maybe the Lone Ranger didn't know either. Maybe that's a good thing. But there is one thing about the Lone Ranger that always seemed a little hard to understanding - even the Lone Ranger wasn't alone.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "No Lone Rangers."

Actually, there were never meant to be any Lone Rangers. Let's go all the way back to the original Lone Ranger - Adam, the first man God ever created. As the Creation saga unfolds in Genesis 1, the Bible uses a phrase repeatedly to describe how God felt about what He had been created each day - "And God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:31 says, "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good."

There was, in fact, only one thing in Paradise that God said was not good. Our word for today from the Word of God, Genesis 2:18, tells us what it was. "The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'" And along comes Eve, and the rest is history.

But the point is really important - none of us is created to be alone. God says it's not good. But right now, you may be at a point where you're feeling pretty alone. I want you to think about this for a moment - extended loneliness is often a choice you make. See, all too often, we're lonely because we make choices that are cutting us off from people. Like withdrawing because you're wounded, going into self-pity mode, insisting that it can only be a certain person or persons who you will allow to answer your loneliness.

It's not good for you to be alone. So instead of waiting for something or someone magical to come in and end your loneliness, would you take action to break out of Lonely Island. God will give you the strength, but you have to take the step.

You may need to open up those feelings you've been burying, even if showing your feelings isn't usually your style. You're a prisoner of yourself. You have to do what you may not feel like doing, and that's to reach out to people when you feel like crawling into your cave. Maybe it's time to broaden your world, to risk moving beyond the small circle you've been depending on to meet all your needs. There could be a broken relationship you have to start to restore. Look for some people who need your love and attention. Your community is full of lonely people who need you. And treat people as you would like to be treated, not necessarily the way people have treated you. Remember, that's the Golden Rule.

Don't allow yourself to remain alone. Give yourself completely to the Savior who says, "I will never leave you or forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). And then, with your trembling hand firmly holding His strong hand, venture out of the cave called Loneliness into the light called Loving Others. Remember, even the Lone Ranger wasn't alone. And your Lord never meant for you to be either.