Proverbs 3:6
"In all thy ways acknowledge him,
and he shall direct thy paths"
We can grow by our "Questions" as well by our "Answers"
Here are some important questions we should ask ourselves:
1. What one decision would I make if i knew that it would not fail?
2. What one thing should I eliminate from my life because it holds
me back from reaching my full potential?
3. Am I on the path of something absolutely marvelous, or something
absolutely mediocre?
4. Does the devil know who I am?
5. Am I running from something, or to something?
6. What can I do to make better use of my time?
7. What do I need to forgive?
8. Would I recognize Jesus if I met Him on the street?
9. What is my most prevailing thought?
10. Can I lead anyone to Christ?
11. What gifts, talents, or strengths do I have?
12. What is one thing that I can do for someone else who has no
opportunity to repay me?
One important thing we must remember is that when we ask
ourselves a question, let's not forget to have in mind; not just
what Jesus would do, but what Jesus did do!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Friday, November 29, 2013
Concentrate On The Right Things!
Galatians 6:14
"Save In The Cross our
Lord Jesus Christ"
If we want to know the power of God (ie), the resurrection life of Jesus, in our mortal flesh; we must concentrate on the right things; "What happen at the Cross, in the Tomb and at the Ascension in to Heaven. Instead of thinking of our Personnel interest, try thinking on God, His Son Jesus Christ and the tragedy, by which we as believers have eternal life. Instantly the energy of God will be in you. "Look Unto Me;" We must pay attention to the source and the energy will be there. The effect of the Cross is Salvation, Sanctification, and Healing; just to name a few.
We must Preach and Teach "Jesus Christ and Him Crucified." The Proclaiming of Jesus will do it's own work. If I talk my own talk, it is no more important to you than your talk is to me. If we talk the truth of God, He will never be a stranger to us. Amen!!
The feebleness of the churches is being criticized today, and the criticism is justified. One reason for the feebleness is that there has not been this concentration of Spiritual Power; We don't always think seriously about the Tragedy of Calvary or really understand it. Amen!!
"LET'S CONCENTRATE ON GOD"
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"Save In The Cross our
Lord Jesus Christ"
If we want to know the power of God (ie), the resurrection life of Jesus, in our mortal flesh; we must concentrate on the right things; "What happen at the Cross, in the Tomb and at the Ascension in to Heaven. Instead of thinking of our Personnel interest, try thinking on God, His Son Jesus Christ and the tragedy, by which we as believers have eternal life. Instantly the energy of God will be in you. "Look Unto Me;" We must pay attention to the source and the energy will be there. The effect of the Cross is Salvation, Sanctification, and Healing; just to name a few.
We must Preach and Teach "Jesus Christ and Him Crucified." The Proclaiming of Jesus will do it's own work. If I talk my own talk, it is no more important to you than your talk is to me. If we talk the truth of God, He will never be a stranger to us. Amen!!
The feebleness of the churches is being criticized today, and the criticism is justified. One reason for the feebleness is that there has not been this concentration of Spiritual Power; We don't always think seriously about the Tragedy of Calvary or really understand it. Amen!!
"LET'S CONCENTRATE ON GOD"
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Distraction And Separation
Psalm 123:3
"Have mercy upon us, O lord, have mercy
upon us: for we are exceeding
filled with contempt"
What we must beware of is not so much damage to our belief in God as damage to our Christian temper. "Therefore take heed to thy spirit, that ye deal not treacherously." The tamper of mind is tremendous in its effects, it is the enemy that penetrates right into the soul and distracts the mind from God. There are certain tempers of mind that we never dare indulge; if we do we will find they have distracted us from faith in God. When this happens our confidence in the flesh and in humane ingenuity takes over.
I wonder has any Christian not had a time were the Spiritual temper has been challenged. Of course some would say; "No I don't believe it has or I am not sure." Others might response with; "No it hasn't and it will not happen because my faith in God will never be distracted or separated. I would say you might want to think about your answer. Here I am talking about distracting and separating our faith away from God
"Beware of the cares of this world," because they are the things that produce a wrong temper in our soul. What an enormous power there is in simple things to distract our attention from God. Refuse to be swamped with the cares of this life. The next time you say; I am going to put my faith down just long enough to handle this problem; Remember, to guard your Spiritual temper, because any amount of distraction and separation from our God cause's damage to our soul. Let us keep our eyes on God and our Spiritual tempers will stay in check.
"HAPPY THANKSGIVING"
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"Have mercy upon us, O lord, have mercy
upon us: for we are exceeding
filled with contempt"
What we must beware of is not so much damage to our belief in God as damage to our Christian temper. "Therefore take heed to thy spirit, that ye deal not treacherously." The tamper of mind is tremendous in its effects, it is the enemy that penetrates right into the soul and distracts the mind from God. There are certain tempers of mind that we never dare indulge; if we do we will find they have distracted us from faith in God. When this happens our confidence in the flesh and in humane ingenuity takes over.
I wonder has any Christian not had a time were the Spiritual temper has been challenged. Of course some would say; "No I don't believe it has or I am not sure." Others might response with; "No it hasn't and it will not happen because my faith in God will never be distracted or separated. I would say you might want to think about your answer. Here I am talking about distracting and separating our faith away from God
"Beware of the cares of this world," because they are the things that produce a wrong temper in our soul. What an enormous power there is in simple things to distract our attention from God. Refuse to be swamped with the cares of this life. The next time you say; I am going to put my faith down just long enough to handle this problem; Remember, to guard your Spiritual temper, because any amount of distraction and separation from our God cause's damage to our soul. Let us keep our eyes on God and our Spiritual tempers will stay in check.
"HAPPY THANKSGIVING"
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Fail At The Start; Fail At The Finish!
Romans 12:2
"Be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind"
Have you ever watched a race horse being trained how to enter the starting gate, and be under the riders commands, to be patient and wait for the start gate to open? Once the gate has been opened the horse is under the full control of it's rider. The best part is, the horse knows were he runs the race best at ( inside the middle of the pack, or outside the pack so he can run freely to the finish line. But of course he must listen to He's master in order to win the race. Because really the horse knows he has to run; but the rider will be his guide.
Our Christian service and personal dedication to the Lord is similar to the race horse and his rider. Here is why! If the race horse fails at the starting gate he will fail at the finish line. He might run the race but he won't win it. The Christian who fails is the one who first failed at the alter, refusing to surrender himself completely to Christ.
True dedication is the presenting of body, mind and will to God day by day. It is not just walking an aisle once! It is daily yielding your body to Him, having your mind renewed by the word, and surrendering your will through prayer and obedience.
Some Christians obey God because they know that obedience is good for them, and they fear chastening. Others obey because they find God's will acceptable. I obey God because He gave His Son to this world; "Jesus Christ, the one who carried my sins to His cross. Jesus also carried yours and the rest of the worlds sins as well. "For God first Loved Us," I will always obey and Love Him. Amen!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"Be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind"
Have you ever watched a race horse being trained how to enter the starting gate, and be under the riders commands, to be patient and wait for the start gate to open? Once the gate has been opened the horse is under the full control of it's rider. The best part is, the horse knows were he runs the race best at ( inside the middle of the pack, or outside the pack so he can run freely to the finish line. But of course he must listen to He's master in order to win the race. Because really the horse knows he has to run; but the rider will be his guide.
Our Christian service and personal dedication to the Lord is similar to the race horse and his rider. Here is why! If the race horse fails at the starting gate he will fail at the finish line. He might run the race but he won't win it. The Christian who fails is the one who first failed at the alter, refusing to surrender himself completely to Christ.
True dedication is the presenting of body, mind and will to God day by day. It is not just walking an aisle once! It is daily yielding your body to Him, having your mind renewed by the word, and surrendering your will through prayer and obedience.
Some Christians obey God because they know that obedience is good for them, and they fear chastening. Others obey because they find God's will acceptable. I obey God because He gave His Son to this world; "Jesus Christ, the one who carried my sins to His cross. Jesus also carried yours and the rest of the worlds sins as well. "For God first Loved Us," I will always obey and Love Him. Amen!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Right Zeal; Wrong Knowledge
Romans 10:2
"For I bear them record that they
have a zeal of God, but not
according to knowledge"
Paul was saying here that the Jews were expending time, money and energy to establish a right standing with God. They had plenty of zeal in a good sense, but their deeds were done in ignorance. Their faith turned them from simple faith to blind faith religion.
My question is to those who "Know of God;" are you headed in that same direction? I pray that your not. "Religious people" today are no different; they think God will accept them for their good works. Let me remind those "Religious people" that there are two kinds of righteousness: Works righteousness, from obeying the law, and Faith righteousness which is the gift of God to those who trust in His Son; Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen!!
So I ask you today; were is your zeal focused, and do you have the knowledge which enables one to avoid the lust of this world and the evil that surrounds it? You can know the true and faithful knowledge of God, only by knowing His Son Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord of all. I pray that you will focus your zeal toward Jesus today. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"For I bear them record that they
have a zeal of God, but not
according to knowledge"
Paul was saying here that the Jews were expending time, money and energy to establish a right standing with God. They had plenty of zeal in a good sense, but their deeds were done in ignorance. Their faith turned them from simple faith to blind faith religion.
My question is to those who "Know of God;" are you headed in that same direction? I pray that your not. "Religious people" today are no different; they think God will accept them for their good works. Let me remind those "Religious people" that there are two kinds of righteousness: Works righteousness, from obeying the law, and Faith righteousness which is the gift of God to those who trust in His Son; Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen!!
So I ask you today; were is your zeal focused, and do you have the knowledge which enables one to avoid the lust of this world and the evil that surrounds it? You can know the true and faithful knowledge of God, only by knowing His Son Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord of all. I pray that you will focus your zeal toward Jesus today. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Monday, November 25, 2013
Whatsoever He Saith
John 11:8
"His disciples say unto him, Master, the
Jews of late sought to stone thee
and goest thou thither again?"
We may not understand what Jesus says, but it is dangerous to think He was mistaken in what He said. We must never think that our obedience to a Word of God would bring dishonour to Jesus. The only thing that will bring dishonor is not obeying Him. For you or I to put our views before what He is plainly impelling us to do is always wrong. I know when a proposition comes from God because of it's quiet persistence. When I have to weigh the pros and cons, and doubt and debate come in, I am bringing in something that is not of God.
Many of us are loyal to our notions of Jesus Christ, but how many of us are loyal to Him? Loyalty to Jesus means I have to step out into something I can't see. Then I am moving on faith. Faith is deliberate commitment to a person where I see no way.
Are you ready to take a step in faith in Jesus Christ or wait until you can see how to do the thing yourself? Obey Him with reckless joy. Be loyal to Jesus and not to the notion of Him! Be loyal to what He says, and don't compromise with concepts which never came from Him? "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it."
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"His disciples say unto him, Master, the
Jews of late sought to stone thee
and goest thou thither again?"
We may not understand what Jesus says, but it is dangerous to think He was mistaken in what He said. We must never think that our obedience to a Word of God would bring dishonour to Jesus. The only thing that will bring dishonor is not obeying Him. For you or I to put our views before what He is plainly impelling us to do is always wrong. I know when a proposition comes from God because of it's quiet persistence. When I have to weigh the pros and cons, and doubt and debate come in, I am bringing in something that is not of God.
Many of us are loyal to our notions of Jesus Christ, but how many of us are loyal to Him? Loyalty to Jesus means I have to step out into something I can't see. Then I am moving on faith. Faith is deliberate commitment to a person where I see no way.
Are you ready to take a step in faith in Jesus Christ or wait until you can see how to do the thing yourself? Obey Him with reckless joy. Be loyal to Jesus and not to the notion of Him! Be loyal to what He says, and don't compromise with concepts which never came from Him? "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it."
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Measuring And Commending
2 Corinthians 10:18
"For not he that commendeth himself
is approved, but whom the
Lord commendeth"
This Scriptures is Paul's self-vindication. Paul said; "We dare not make ourselves a number or compare ourselves with others." He did not want his messengers or himself to be thought of as being joined to an esteem group of people. He had his own ministry for God. Paul preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, that he was given Spiritually ,and Christ was with Paul , because Christ did strike Paul down and put him on the road of his ministry to The Gentiles and Were ever Paul was told to go by the God's messengers.
In our Christian Community's today, we need to applied Paul's self-vindication to our own lives. We have to many Christians measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves. To many church's compare themselves against other church's; for instance, We have a better Bigger church building and more social events than yours. Some may say we have so many that want to come to our church, we now have transport for them that don't have no way. This my friends is measuring and commending themselves. Don't get me wrong all Church's and Christians are not this way, but just enough bad can destroy a lot of good. I will say this; 'If you have social events in your church I pray that you think about that and replace them with good Christian fellowship. If you have a bus route, use it and fill up each Sunday, but don't just brag on having it.
Let us think God and claim the grace He gives us, and not worry about being commended by others and for sure never commend ourselves. Christians!! We need to wake up!! Know God is God, and that God is the one who calls us to duty. God will approve us and He will commend us by saying; "Well Done My Child-----Welcome Home"
"THE LORD COMMENDETH"
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"For not he that commendeth himself
is approved, but whom the
Lord commendeth"
This Scriptures is Paul's self-vindication. Paul said; "We dare not make ourselves a number or compare ourselves with others." He did not want his messengers or himself to be thought of as being joined to an esteem group of people. He had his own ministry for God. Paul preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, that he was given Spiritually ,and Christ was with Paul , because Christ did strike Paul down and put him on the road of his ministry to The Gentiles and Were ever Paul was told to go by the God's messengers.
In our Christian Community's today, we need to applied Paul's self-vindication to our own lives. We have to many Christians measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves. To many church's compare themselves against other church's; for instance, We have a better Bigger church building and more social events than yours. Some may say we have so many that want to come to our church, we now have transport for them that don't have no way. This my friends is measuring and commending themselves. Don't get me wrong all Church's and Christians are not this way, but just enough bad can destroy a lot of good. I will say this; 'If you have social events in your church I pray that you think about that and replace them with good Christian fellowship. If you have a bus route, use it and fill up each Sunday, but don't just brag on having it.
Let us think God and claim the grace He gives us, and not worry about being commended by others and for sure never commend ourselves. Christians!! We need to wake up!! Know God is God, and that God is the one who calls us to duty. God will approve us and He will commend us by saying; "Well Done My Child-----Welcome Home"
"THE LORD COMMENDETH"
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Made My Day!
2 Corinthians 4:16
"For which cause we faint not; but
though our outward man perish,
yet the inward man is
renewed day by day
When My Battalion was deployed to Desert Shield and then Desert Storm, the hardest part of our mission was not facing Combat, because we were trained for desert warfare. The fear in every one's mind; was not returning home to our families. It was my job as The Task Force First Sergeant to Keep their spirits up and their hope's alive. Each day as I would visit my soldiers; to talk with them, and deliver a package or a letter from Home, I would see their face lite up and their spirits and hopes alive by the remark they would cry out. "First Sergeant; You have made my day." To me those letters were like the letters Paul wrote to church's about different things at different times. I could see the life and hope renewed in them as each day and night passed.
That time makes me reflect to our walk with God. As sinners we found hope and life in Jesus Christ. But in our Christian service, there comes battles that we must face or be defeated by Satan. These battles happen in their appointed time. We have no control, they may be short or they may be tough and long; however they will be through day and night. In these battles we are not alone. We have the Holy Spirit to help us through the battles; and in our hearts we know we have the love of Jesus Christ and our living God.
You know; it would not hurt for us to say; "Thank you God, You have made my day. Let us stay true to God, and keep Jesus Christ on the Throne, and let the Holy Spirit work in all of us. Through our faith God renews our Spirit daily. Amen!!
GOD HAS MADE MY DAY!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life ministry
"For which cause we faint not; but
though our outward man perish,
yet the inward man is
renewed day by day
When My Battalion was deployed to Desert Shield and then Desert Storm, the hardest part of our mission was not facing Combat, because we were trained for desert warfare. The fear in every one's mind; was not returning home to our families. It was my job as The Task Force First Sergeant to Keep their spirits up and their hope's alive. Each day as I would visit my soldiers; to talk with them, and deliver a package or a letter from Home, I would see their face lite up and their spirits and hopes alive by the remark they would cry out. "First Sergeant; You have made my day." To me those letters were like the letters Paul wrote to church's about different things at different times. I could see the life and hope renewed in them as each day and night passed.
That time makes me reflect to our walk with God. As sinners we found hope and life in Jesus Christ. But in our Christian service, there comes battles that we must face or be defeated by Satan. These battles happen in their appointed time. We have no control, they may be short or they may be tough and long; however they will be through day and night. In these battles we are not alone. We have the Holy Spirit to help us through the battles; and in our hearts we know we have the love of Jesus Christ and our living God.
You know; it would not hurt for us to say; "Thank you God, You have made my day. Let us stay true to God, and keep Jesus Christ on the Throne, and let the Holy Spirit work in all of us. Through our faith God renews our Spirit daily. Amen!!
GOD HAS MADE MY DAY!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life ministry
Friday, November 22, 2013
Never Give Up, "Be Faithful"
2 Corinthians 1:24
"Not for that we have dominion over
your faith, but are helpers of your
joy: but by faith ye stand"
We should never give up on Christ! We must always be obedient in all things. Our Lord and Saviour, loved The Father and was obedient all the way to the cross. A man who had no sin, carried the sins of this world to the cross so that we could have "Eternal Life." Christ could have gave up on God and us but He loved God and mankind; Christ faith stood from heaven to earth; through death, and back to His throne.
When we give up on Christ, I am not talking about all at once, because it begins a little at a time. How does it get this way? Let's use Shopping; "the buying trend," We all get that itch to buy something we have wanted and desired for so long, so we start our search. We go from store to store with excitement in our hearts to get our prize. Well we don't find it so we start buying things we don't really need. Our desire to find our prized item overtakes us and we lose focus on why we wanted it; so when we finally get it, we realize it wasn't worth all the trouble we went through to acquire it.
That my friends is what happens when you find yourself giving up on Christ. Your saved and secure in Christ; however just like that prized item, Satan will put sin in your mind time and time again. Then you start thinking about it more and more and before you know it you have played with sin. That's when we ask ourselves; "How did I get here again"? The best I can tell you is, be watchful, be faithful, be obedient and be aware of Satan's attacks on your faith. But most of all never never give up on Jesus Christ! Amen!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"Not for that we have dominion over
your faith, but are helpers of your
joy: but by faith ye stand"
We should never give up on Christ! We must always be obedient in all things. Our Lord and Saviour, loved The Father and was obedient all the way to the cross. A man who had no sin, carried the sins of this world to the cross so that we could have "Eternal Life." Christ could have gave up on God and us but He loved God and mankind; Christ faith stood from heaven to earth; through death, and back to His throne.
When we give up on Christ, I am not talking about all at once, because it begins a little at a time. How does it get this way? Let's use Shopping; "the buying trend," We all get that itch to buy something we have wanted and desired for so long, so we start our search. We go from store to store with excitement in our hearts to get our prize. Well we don't find it so we start buying things we don't really need. Our desire to find our prized item overtakes us and we lose focus on why we wanted it; so when we finally get it, we realize it wasn't worth all the trouble we went through to acquire it.
That my friends is what happens when you find yourself giving up on Christ. Your saved and secure in Christ; however just like that prized item, Satan will put sin in your mind time and time again. Then you start thinking about it more and more and before you know it you have played with sin. That's when we ask ourselves; "How did I get here again"? The best I can tell you is, be watchful, be faithful, be obedient and be aware of Satan's attacks on your faith. But most of all never never give up on Jesus Christ! Amen!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Acknowledge And Understand
Proverbs 5:1
"My son, attend unto my wisdom, and
bow thine ear to my understanding"
This year has been a sad and lonely time for me since the passing of my wife Robin last December. All at once I was alone, my love and soul mate was gone. Inside I felt like a lonely child not knowing what I was going to do, or was I strong enough to face this evil world without her. In mourning I close my ears and mind to everything except the question "WHY"!! I was mad at Robin for leaving me, and God for taking her. Well it did not take long for God to put a stop to that.
Robin and I had started building an online ministry; because our dream was and still is to reach as many people as we can around the world. To be truthful my heart really wasn't in it for a while, but it did not take God long to set me straight with His Word. "How have I hated instruction and my heart despised reproof" Proverbs 5:12. Until I embedded that scripture in my mind and heart I stayed in that lost and low valley.
Are you going through a lost and low valley in you life today. Anytime you doubt God or question Him, or blame someone else for how you feel; be careful your headed that way. Why? Because you have closed you ears and heart to God's Wisdom and His understanding. I ask you to go to Proverbs 5:12, and embed it's words in you heart. Once you acknowledge and understand what God is telling you, you will feel it in you heart and see it in your life.
May God Bless you
And Your Families
Minister Robert: A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"My son, attend unto my wisdom, and
bow thine ear to my understanding"
This year has been a sad and lonely time for me since the passing of my wife Robin last December. All at once I was alone, my love and soul mate was gone. Inside I felt like a lonely child not knowing what I was going to do, or was I strong enough to face this evil world without her. In mourning I close my ears and mind to everything except the question "WHY"!! I was mad at Robin for leaving me, and God for taking her. Well it did not take long for God to put a stop to that.
Robin and I had started building an online ministry; because our dream was and still is to reach as many people as we can around the world. To be truthful my heart really wasn't in it for a while, but it did not take God long to set me straight with His Word. "How have I hated instruction and my heart despised reproof" Proverbs 5:12. Until I embedded that scripture in my mind and heart I stayed in that lost and low valley.
Are you going through a lost and low valley in you life today. Anytime you doubt God or question Him, or blame someone else for how you feel; be careful your headed that way. Why? Because you have closed you ears and heart to God's Wisdom and His understanding. I ask you to go to Proverbs 5:12, and embed it's words in you heart. Once you acknowledge and understand what God is telling you, you will feel it in you heart and see it in your life.
May God Bless you
And Your Families
Minister Robert: A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Comfort Through sufferings
2 Corinthians 1:5
"For as the sufferings of Christ abound
in us, so our consolation also
aboundeth by Christ"
When we call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are calling to our side the Spirit, and Comforter. Each member of the Trinity is a Comforter: "The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit." For every situation there is comfort and grace.
This comfort that we receive from God is not simply for our personal enjoyment; it is given to us so that we might be able to minister to others. God prepares us for what He is preparing for us. We can never lead others were we have not been ourselves. These trials are called "The Sufferings of Christ" and in that we experience the "Fellowship of His Sufferings." We don't have to share the sufferings of Christ for sin, that was a ministry He alone had to perform. We suffer for His sake and His glory, and that He suffers with us.
We as Christians should be willing to endure trials since we know they bring spiritual good to us personally, and blessings to others as we share with them Gods comfort. We also should be willing to be "Partners" with Christ in suffering because this "Partnership" leads to comfort and edification. Amen!!
(Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:1-7)
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"For as the sufferings of Christ abound
in us, so our consolation also
aboundeth by Christ"
When we call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are calling to our side the Spirit, and Comforter. Each member of the Trinity is a Comforter: "The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit." For every situation there is comfort and grace.
This comfort that we receive from God is not simply for our personal enjoyment; it is given to us so that we might be able to minister to others. God prepares us for what He is preparing for us. We can never lead others were we have not been ourselves. These trials are called "The Sufferings of Christ" and in that we experience the "Fellowship of His Sufferings." We don't have to share the sufferings of Christ for sin, that was a ministry He alone had to perform. We suffer for His sake and His glory, and that He suffers with us.
We as Christians should be willing to endure trials since we know they bring spiritual good to us personally, and blessings to others as we share with them Gods comfort. We also should be willing to be "Partners" with Christ in suffering because this "Partnership" leads to comfort and edification. Amen!!
(Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:1-7)
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Be The Message, "You Speak"
2 Timothy 4:2
"Preach the word"
We are not saved to be "channels only," but to be sons and daughters of God. We are not turned into spiritual messengers the message must be part of ourselves. The Son of God was His own message, His words were spirit and life; and as His disciples our lives must be the sacrament of our message. The natural heart will do any amount of serving, but it takes the heart broken by conviction of sin, and baptized by the Holy Ghost, and crumpled into the purpose of God before the life becomes the sacrament of its message.
There is a difference between giving a testimony and preaching. A preacher is one who has realized the call of God and is determined to use his every power to proclaim God's truth. God takes us out of our own ideas for our lives and we are "battered" to shape and use," as the disciples were after Pentecost. Pentecost did not teach the disciples anything; it made them the incarnation of what they preached; "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me."
Let God have perfect liberty when you speak. Before God's message can liberate other souls, the liberation must be real in you. Gather your material, and set it alight when you speak. Let others see Christ in You! Amen!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"Preach the word"
We are not saved to be "channels only," but to be sons and daughters of God. We are not turned into spiritual messengers the message must be part of ourselves. The Son of God was His own message, His words were spirit and life; and as His disciples our lives must be the sacrament of our message. The natural heart will do any amount of serving, but it takes the heart broken by conviction of sin, and baptized by the Holy Ghost, and crumpled into the purpose of God before the life becomes the sacrament of its message.
There is a difference between giving a testimony and preaching. A preacher is one who has realized the call of God and is determined to use his every power to proclaim God's truth. God takes us out of our own ideas for our lives and we are "battered" to shape and use," as the disciples were after Pentecost. Pentecost did not teach the disciples anything; it made them the incarnation of what they preached; "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me."
Let God have perfect liberty when you speak. Before God's message can liberate other souls, the liberation must be real in you. Gather your material, and set it alight when you speak. Let others see Christ in You! Amen!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Monday, November 18, 2013
Fact Faith Feelings
Acts 14:27
"Together, they rehearsed all that God
had done with them, and how he
opened the door of faith"
Do not depend upon feelings. The promise of God's Word, not our feelings, is our authority. the Christian is to live by faith, trusting in the trustworthiness of God Himself and His word. Let me illustrate this by using three cars of a train. Let us call the engine "Fact"-- the fact of Gods promises found in his word. The coal car will call "Faith" -- our trust in God and His Word. The caboose we will call "Feelings."
You place coal in the engine and the train runs. However, it would be futile to attempt to pull the train by the caboose. In the same way we, as Christians, do not depend upon feelings or emotions, but in order to live a Spirit-filled life we simply place our faith in the trustworthiness of God and the promise of His word.
Feelings are like the caboose---they will eventually come along in life of faith, but we should never depend on feelings or look for them. The very act of looking for an emotional experience is a denial of the concept of faith, and whatever is not of faith is sin.
You can know right now that you are filled with the Spirit by trusting in God, His command and promise, and you can go through life with that assurance. In order to walk in the Spirit, then, we must first be sure that we are filled and then we must continue to breathe spiritually.
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"Together, they rehearsed all that God
had done with them, and how he
opened the door of faith"
Do not depend upon feelings. The promise of God's Word, not our feelings, is our authority. the Christian is to live by faith, trusting in the trustworthiness of God Himself and His word. Let me illustrate this by using three cars of a train. Let us call the engine "Fact"-- the fact of Gods promises found in his word. The coal car will call "Faith" -- our trust in God and His Word. The caboose we will call "Feelings."
You place coal in the engine and the train runs. However, it would be futile to attempt to pull the train by the caboose. In the same way we, as Christians, do not depend upon feelings or emotions, but in order to live a Spirit-filled life we simply place our faith in the trustworthiness of God and the promise of His word.
Feelings are like the caboose---they will eventually come along in life of faith, but we should never depend on feelings or look for them. The very act of looking for an emotional experience is a denial of the concept of faith, and whatever is not of faith is sin.
You can know right now that you are filled with the Spirit by trusting in God, His command and promise, and you can go through life with that assurance. In order to walk in the Spirit, then, we must first be sure that we are filled and then we must continue to breathe spiritually.
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Step Up And Step Out
Matthew 28:20
"I have commanded you: and, lo,
I am with you always, even
unto the end of the world"
The Lord Jesus commissioned the disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel, with the promise that He would always be with them. He said, "I have been given all authority in heaven and earth. Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations and then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.
He did not say to them, "Go into all the world, and good luck." He said, "And be sure of this; that I am with you always, even to the end of the world." "I will never, never fail you nor forsake you." This Great Commission is not just meant for Pastors, Ministers or Sunday School Teachers; This Great Commission is passed on to every believer of Our living Savior, the one whom we serve, the omnipotent God! It is time for all believers to step up-----step out and change the world Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"I have commanded you: and, lo,
I am with you always, even
unto the end of the world"
The Lord Jesus commissioned the disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel, with the promise that He would always be with them. He said, "I have been given all authority in heaven and earth. Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations and then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.
He did not say to them, "Go into all the world, and good luck." He said, "And be sure of this; that I am with you always, even to the end of the world." "I will never, never fail you nor forsake you." This Great Commission is not just meant for Pastors, Ministers or Sunday School Teachers; This Great Commission is passed on to every believer of Our living Savior, the one whom we serve, the omnipotent God! It is time for all believers to step up-----step out and change the world Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Friday, November 15, 2013
Have You Felt The Hurt?
John 21:17
"Jesus said unto him the third time,
Lovest thou Me?"
Have you felt the hurt of the Lord to the place where the real sensitiveness of your life is lodged? The devil never hurts there, neither sin nor human affection hurts there, nothing goes through to that place but the word of God. "Peter was grieved because Jesus said unto him the third time;" He was awakening to the fact that in the real true center of his personal life he was devoted to Jesus, and he begun to see what the patient questioning meant. There was not the slightest strand of delusion left in Peter's mind, he never could be deluded again. There was no room for passionate utterance, no room for exhilaration or sentiment. It was a revelation to him to realize how much he did love Jesus; and that there was no one in heaven above or upon earth beside Jesus Christ. Peter did not realize this until the probing, hurting question of the Lord came. The Lord's question will always reveal us to ourselves.
Our Lord never asks questions until the right time. Rarely, but probably at least once, He will get us into a corner where He will hurt us with His undeviating question, and we will realize that we do love Him far more deeply than any profession can ever show. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"Jesus said unto him the third time,
Lovest thou Me?"
Have you felt the hurt of the Lord to the place where the real sensitiveness of your life is lodged? The devil never hurts there, neither sin nor human affection hurts there, nothing goes through to that place but the word of God. "Peter was grieved because Jesus said unto him the third time;" He was awakening to the fact that in the real true center of his personal life he was devoted to Jesus, and he begun to see what the patient questioning meant. There was not the slightest strand of delusion left in Peter's mind, he never could be deluded again. There was no room for passionate utterance, no room for exhilaration or sentiment. It was a revelation to him to realize how much he did love Jesus; and that there was no one in heaven above or upon earth beside Jesus Christ. Peter did not realize this until the probing, hurting question of the Lord came. The Lord's question will always reveal us to ourselves.
Our Lord never asks questions until the right time. Rarely, but probably at least once, He will get us into a corner where He will hurt us with His undeviating question, and we will realize that we do love Him far more deeply than any profession can ever show. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Don't Worry Just Believe
Luke 18:41
"Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?
And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight."
What is the thing that not only disturbs you but makes you a disturbance? Its always something you cannot deal with yourself. "They rebuked him that he should hold his peace; but he cried so much more." Persist in the disturbance until you get face to face with the Lord Himself; do not deify common sense. When Jesus ask us what we want Him to do for us in regard to the incredible thing with which we are faced, remember that He does not work in common sense ways, but in supernatural ways.
Watch how we limit the Lord by remembering what we have allowed Him to do for us in the past: I always failed there, and I always shall; consequently we do not ask for what we want. "Is it ridiculous to ask God to do this." No!! If it is an impossibility, it is the thing we have to ask. If it is not an impossible thing, it is not a real disturbance. God will do the absolutely impossible.
This man received his sight. The most impossible thing to you is that you should be so identified with the Lord that there is nothing of the old life left. He will do it if you ask Him. But you have to come to the place where you believe Him to be Almighty. Faith is not in what Jesus says but in Himself; if we only look at what He says we shall never believe. When once we see Jesus, He does the impossible thing as naturally as breathing. Our agony comes through the willful stupidity of our own heart. We won't believe, we prefer to worry on.
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?
And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight."
What is the thing that not only disturbs you but makes you a disturbance? Its always something you cannot deal with yourself. "They rebuked him that he should hold his peace; but he cried so much more." Persist in the disturbance until you get face to face with the Lord Himself; do not deify common sense. When Jesus ask us what we want Him to do for us in regard to the incredible thing with which we are faced, remember that He does not work in common sense ways, but in supernatural ways.
Watch how we limit the Lord by remembering what we have allowed Him to do for us in the past: I always failed there, and I always shall; consequently we do not ask for what we want. "Is it ridiculous to ask God to do this." No!! If it is an impossibility, it is the thing we have to ask. If it is not an impossible thing, it is not a real disturbance. God will do the absolutely impossible.
This man received his sight. The most impossible thing to you is that you should be so identified with the Lord that there is nothing of the old life left. He will do it if you ask Him. But you have to come to the place where you believe Him to be Almighty. Faith is not in what Jesus says but in Himself; if we only look at what He says we shall never believe. When once we see Jesus, He does the impossible thing as naturally as breathing. Our agony comes through the willful stupidity of our own heart. We won't believe, we prefer to worry on.
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Rely On The Resurrection Of Christ
John 16: 31
"Jesus answered them,
do you now believe"
We say now we believe. Jesus says; "Do You"? The time is coming when you will leave "Me" alone. Many Christian workers has left Jesus Christ alone and gone into work from a sense of duty, or from a sense of need coming from his own particular discernment. Why does this happen? Because there is the absence of the resurrection life of Jesus. The soul has got out of contact with God by leaning on its own religious understanding. There is no sin in it, and no punishment attached to it; but when the soul realizes how he has hindered his understanding of Jesus Christ, and produced for himself perplexities and sorrows and difficulties, it is with shame and contrition he has to come back.
We must rely on the resurrection life of Jesus Christ more than we do, to get into the habit of steadily referring everything back to Him; instead of this we make our common sense decisions and ask God to bless them. He cannot, it is not in His domain, it is severed from reality. If we do a thing from a sense of duty, we are putting up a standard in competition with Jesus Christ. We become a "superior person," and say; "Now in this matter I must do this and that." We have put our sense of duty on the throne instead of the resurrection life of Jesus. We are not told to walk in the light of conscience or of sense of duty, but to walk in the light as God is in the light. When we do anything from a sense of duty, we can back it up by argument; when we do anything in obedience to the Lord, there is no argument possible.
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"Jesus answered them,
do you now believe"
We say now we believe. Jesus says; "Do You"? The time is coming when you will leave "Me" alone. Many Christian workers has left Jesus Christ alone and gone into work from a sense of duty, or from a sense of need coming from his own particular discernment. Why does this happen? Because there is the absence of the resurrection life of Jesus. The soul has got out of contact with God by leaning on its own religious understanding. There is no sin in it, and no punishment attached to it; but when the soul realizes how he has hindered his understanding of Jesus Christ, and produced for himself perplexities and sorrows and difficulties, it is with shame and contrition he has to come back.
We must rely on the resurrection life of Jesus Christ more than we do, to get into the habit of steadily referring everything back to Him; instead of this we make our common sense decisions and ask God to bless them. He cannot, it is not in His domain, it is severed from reality. If we do a thing from a sense of duty, we are putting up a standard in competition with Jesus Christ. We become a "superior person," and say; "Now in this matter I must do this and that." We have put our sense of duty on the throne instead of the resurrection life of Jesus. We are not told to walk in the light of conscience or of sense of duty, but to walk in the light as God is in the light. When we do anything from a sense of duty, we can back it up by argument; when we do anything in obedience to the Lord, there is no argument possible.
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
A Venture Into The Unknown
Ruth 1: 16
"And Ruth said, intreat me not to leave
thee, or to return from following thee:
for whither thou goest, I will Go"
Naomi had lost her husband and her two sons, so Naomi chose to return to her homeland of Judah. Naomi told her daughters in law to return to there mothers house and the Lord would give them rest. Both Orpah and Ruth loved Naomi and wanted to remain with her. However, Orpah went back to what was well know and familiar to her. But Ruth chose not to leave Naomi. She did not know what lay ahead for her, but because of her love for Naomi and her deep devotion to the God of Israel, she was willing to venture into the unknown
Sometimes life presents us with this kind of decision. A different kind of service to God opens up for us. We are called to turn our backs on the familiar, accustomed way and to venture into the unknown. Dare we attempt it? We feel that we have been doing good work where we are. The new path is strange, and we wonder what lies ahead. We wonder if we possess the strength and wisdom needed to navigate its twist and turns. Yet something compels us in that direction.
The new road was not easy for Ruth. But through love and obedience she established a new life for herself. So it is with us when we step into the uncertainty of serving God in a new, perhaps more difficult, situation. Love and obedience to God will provide the strength we need.
"God Don't Need A Road Map
For Our Life; Because
He Designed It"
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"And Ruth said, intreat me not to leave
thee, or to return from following thee:
for whither thou goest, I will Go"
Naomi had lost her husband and her two sons, so Naomi chose to return to her homeland of Judah. Naomi told her daughters in law to return to there mothers house and the Lord would give them rest. Both Orpah and Ruth loved Naomi and wanted to remain with her. However, Orpah went back to what was well know and familiar to her. But Ruth chose not to leave Naomi. She did not know what lay ahead for her, but because of her love for Naomi and her deep devotion to the God of Israel, she was willing to venture into the unknown
Sometimes life presents us with this kind of decision. A different kind of service to God opens up for us. We are called to turn our backs on the familiar, accustomed way and to venture into the unknown. Dare we attempt it? We feel that we have been doing good work where we are. The new path is strange, and we wonder what lies ahead. We wonder if we possess the strength and wisdom needed to navigate its twist and turns. Yet something compels us in that direction.
The new road was not easy for Ruth. But through love and obedience she established a new life for herself. So it is with us when we step into the uncertainty of serving God in a new, perhaps more difficult, situation. Love and obedience to God will provide the strength we need.
"God Don't Need A Road Map
For Our Life; Because
He Designed It"
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Monday, November 11, 2013
An Understanding Heart
John 14: 23
"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a
man live me, he will keep my words:
and my father will love him"
Have you ever said to a loved one, "I don't understand you, but I love you." To be honest, this is sometimes true in our relationship with Jesus. We don't always understand Jesus, either. But we love Him., and trust His wisdom and judgement. Studying His words helps to remove whatever blinders we happen to be wearing on any given day (ie) prejudice, willfulness, self righteousness; anything that keeps us from loving and better understanding others.
We are reminded again and again that Jesus deals not in generalities but with specific individuals. Each face in the crowd was and is a distinct and unique human being to be healed or forgiven or challenged, according to need and especially to the intent of the heart. We cannot look into the heart of another as Jesus does, but with His constant help we can, we have and we are learning to love others and to better understand them. Let us open our eyes and our ears, our hearts and our minds so that we may become better disciple's of Jesus Christ. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a
man live me, he will keep my words:
and my father will love him"
Have you ever said to a loved one, "I don't understand you, but I love you." To be honest, this is sometimes true in our relationship with Jesus. We don't always understand Jesus, either. But we love Him., and trust His wisdom and judgement. Studying His words helps to remove whatever blinders we happen to be wearing on any given day (ie) prejudice, willfulness, self righteousness; anything that keeps us from loving and better understanding others.
We are reminded again and again that Jesus deals not in generalities but with specific individuals. Each face in the crowd was and is a distinct and unique human being to be healed or forgiven or challenged, according to need and especially to the intent of the heart. We cannot look into the heart of another as Jesus does, but with His constant help we can, we have and we are learning to love others and to better understand them. Let us open our eyes and our ears, our hearts and our minds so that we may become better disciple's of Jesus Christ. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Calculating Without God
Psalm 37:8
"Cease from anger, and forsake wrath:
fret not thy self in any wise
to do evil"
It is one thing to say "Fret not," but a very different thing to have such a disposition that you find yourself able not to fret. It sounds so easy to talk about "resting in the Lord" and "waiting patiently for Him" until the nest is upset-----until we live, as so many are doing in turmoil and anguish; is it possible then to rest in the Lord? If this "don't" does not work there, it will work nowhere. This "don't" must work in days of perplexity as well as in days of peace, or it never will work. And if it will not work in your particular case, it will not work in anyone else's case. Resting in the Lord does not depend on external circumstances at all, but on your relationship to God Himself.
Fussing always ends in sin. We imagine that a little anxiety and worry are an indication of how really wise we are; it is much more an indication of how wicked we are. Fretting springs from a determination to get our own way. Our lord never worried and He was never anxious, because He was not "out" to realize His own ideas; He was "out" to realize God's ideas. Fretting is wicked if you are a child of God.
Have you been bolstering up that cold hard soul of yours with the idea that your circumstances are too much for God? Put all "supposing" on one side and dwell in the shadow of the Almighty. Deliberately tell God that you will not fret about that thing. All our fret and worry is caused by calculating without God.
May God Bless You
And your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"Cease from anger, and forsake wrath:
fret not thy self in any wise
to do evil"
It is one thing to say "Fret not," but a very different thing to have such a disposition that you find yourself able not to fret. It sounds so easy to talk about "resting in the Lord" and "waiting patiently for Him" until the nest is upset-----until we live, as so many are doing in turmoil and anguish; is it possible then to rest in the Lord? If this "don't" does not work there, it will work nowhere. This "don't" must work in days of perplexity as well as in days of peace, or it never will work. And if it will not work in your particular case, it will not work in anyone else's case. Resting in the Lord does not depend on external circumstances at all, but on your relationship to God Himself.
Fussing always ends in sin. We imagine that a little anxiety and worry are an indication of how really wise we are; it is much more an indication of how wicked we are. Fretting springs from a determination to get our own way. Our lord never worried and He was never anxious, because He was not "out" to realize His own ideas; He was "out" to realize God's ideas. Fretting is wicked if you are a child of God.
Have you been bolstering up that cold hard soul of yours with the idea that your circumstances are too much for God? Put all "supposing" on one side and dwell in the shadow of the Almighty. Deliberately tell God that you will not fret about that thing. All our fret and worry is caused by calculating without God.
May God Bless You
And your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Friday, November 8, 2013
When Inspired Act!
John 12:36
"While ye have light, believe in the light"
We all have moments when we feel better than our best, and yet we say; "I feel fit for anything; If only I could be like this always!" "Hello" we are not meant to be. Those moments are moments of insight which we have to live up to when we do not feel like it. Many of us are no good for this workaday world when there is no inspiration to act on. So we must bring our commonplace life up to standard revealed when inspired.
Never allow a felling which was stirred in you during inspiration to evaporate. Don't place you feet on a stand and say; "What a marvelous state of mind to be in!" Act immediately, do something, if only because you would rather not do it. If in any prayer meeting and God has shown you something to do, don't say "I'll do it:" DO IT!! Take yourself by the scuff of the neck and shake off your incarnate laziness. Laziness is always seen in cravings for inspiration; we talk about working up to a time on the inspired moment. We have to learn to live in our grey days according to what we saw on the mount of our inspiration.
Don't cave in because you have been baffled once, get at it again. Burn your bridges behind you, and stand committed to God by your own accord. Never revise your decisions, but see that you make your decisions in the time and light of inspiration.
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"While ye have light, believe in the light"
We all have moments when we feel better than our best, and yet we say; "I feel fit for anything; If only I could be like this always!" "Hello" we are not meant to be. Those moments are moments of insight which we have to live up to when we do not feel like it. Many of us are no good for this workaday world when there is no inspiration to act on. So we must bring our commonplace life up to standard revealed when inspired.
Never allow a felling which was stirred in you during inspiration to evaporate. Don't place you feet on a stand and say; "What a marvelous state of mind to be in!" Act immediately, do something, if only because you would rather not do it. If in any prayer meeting and God has shown you something to do, don't say "I'll do it:" DO IT!! Take yourself by the scuff of the neck and shake off your incarnate laziness. Laziness is always seen in cravings for inspiration; we talk about working up to a time on the inspired moment. We have to learn to live in our grey days according to what we saw on the mount of our inspiration.
Don't cave in because you have been baffled once, get at it again. Burn your bridges behind you, and stand committed to God by your own accord. Never revise your decisions, but see that you make your decisions in the time and light of inspiration.
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Thursday, November 7, 2013
God's Grace Is Overflowing Favour
2 Corinthians 6:1
"We... beseech you that ye receive not
"We... beseech you that ye receive not
The grace of God in vain."
The grace you had yesterday will not do for today. Grace is the overflowing favour of God; you can always reckon it is there to draw upon. "In much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses"; that is were the test for patience comes. Are you failing the grace of God there? Are you saying; "Oh well, I won't count this?" It is not a question of praying and asking God to help you; it is taking the grace of God now.
We make prayer the preparation for work, it is never that in the Bible. Prayer is the exercise of drawing on the grace of God. Don't say; I will endure this until I can get away and pray. Pray now; draw on the grace of God in the moment of need. Prayer is the most practical thing, it is not the reflex action of devotion. Prayer is the last thing in which we learn to draw on God's grace.
"In stripes, in imprisonments, in labors" in all these things manifest a drawing upon the grace of God that will make you a marvel to yourself and to others. Draw now! The one word in the spiritual vocabulary is "now." Let circumstances bring you where they will, keep drawing on the grace of God in every conceivable condition you may be in. One of the greatest proofs that you are drawing on the grace of God is that you can be humiliated without manifesting the slightest trace of anything but His grace.
"Having nothing...." Never reserve anything. Pour out the best you have. Never be diplomatic and careful about the treasure God gives. Amen!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
After The Long Night,
Isaiah 21:11a
"Watchmen, what of the night"?
"Watchmen, what of the night"?
"Watchman, what of the night"?
God's Ministers watch over their flock day and night to insure they are safe in the word of God. Ministers and Teachers of God's word, keeps the children of God warned of the evils of the enemy. They are to keep us in line by God's instructions that has been laid out to us by God Himself. We are reminded that after being a sleep in sin and security, it is time to wake up from sleep. It is time to rise, we have a great deal of work to do, and a long journey with some low valleys and high mountains to climb. After a long dark night is there any hope of the day dawning? What happens during the night? We must never be secure!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
The Design Of Christ Sufferings
Isaiah 53: 5
"But he was wounded for our transgressions
he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace
was upon him; and with his
stripes we are healed"
This Scripture, when read and really understood, hurts the believers heart, because even though we did not feel the pain he felt; we can still imagine the pain Christ suffered and the hurt that was laid upon Him for us. This verse is an account of His sufferings and also the design of His sufferings.
It was for our sins, and our stead, that our Lord Jesus suffered. We all sinned, and have come short of the glory of God. Sinners have their beloved sin, their own evil way, of which they are fond. Our sins deserve the most severe of all griefs and sorrows. We are saved from total ruin by our sin, because Christ Died for us to lay our sins upon Him.
Christ blood was the atonement for our sins, and my friends that is the only way of salvation. The thorns in Christ head, the nails in His hands and feet, the spear in His side is all our sins. By Christ sufferings He purchased for us the Spirit and grace of God, to mortify our corruptions, which is the disease of our souls. We can endure our lighter sufferings, if we are taught to regard all things with respect, and be willing to lose all things for Him, and to love Him because He first loved us. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"But he was wounded for our transgressions
he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace
was upon him; and with his
stripes we are healed"
This Scripture, when read and really understood, hurts the believers heart, because even though we did not feel the pain he felt; we can still imagine the pain Christ suffered and the hurt that was laid upon Him for us. This verse is an account of His sufferings and also the design of His sufferings.
It was for our sins, and our stead, that our Lord Jesus suffered. We all sinned, and have come short of the glory of God. Sinners have their beloved sin, their own evil way, of which they are fond. Our sins deserve the most severe of all griefs and sorrows. We are saved from total ruin by our sin, because Christ Died for us to lay our sins upon Him.
Christ blood was the atonement for our sins, and my friends that is the only way of salvation. The thorns in Christ head, the nails in His hands and feet, the spear in His side is all our sins. By Christ sufferings He purchased for us the Spirit and grace of God, to mortify our corruptions, which is the disease of our souls. We can endure our lighter sufferings, if we are taught to regard all things with respect, and be willing to lose all things for Him, and to love Him because He first loved us. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Monday, November 4, 2013
Rod Of Iron
Psalm 2:9a
"Thou shalt break them
with a rod of iron"
This Scripture is a peek into the climax of the Book of Revelations. What do I mean by a peek? The "rod" which Christ has is not a Scepter, an emblem of His Royal Office, but is in actuality a rod of correction. The fact that the rod is made of iron indicates the severity and harshness of the judgement that will be melted out by Christ at His return. "He shall rule them with a rod of iron" (Rev. 19:15).
This harsh judgement is not inconsistent with the meekness and gentleness of Christ. Meekness does not exclude anger, but simply means that one is angry for the right reasons and at the right time. They had made the courts of the temple a market place. "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up" (John 2:17). Christ cleansed the temple of the buyers and sellers, poured out there money and turned over there tables. Christ also made a scourge of small cords to cleanse the temple of the animals, he did not use it on the people. Christ was angry, but without sin. Jesus truthfully claim to be gentle without contradicting His claim to be the Judge.
The God who saves expects honesty from those He will save. God expects the worshiper to bring all of life-- praises, gratitude, sorrows, complaints, political activities and sacrificial worship to Him. God also expects the worshiper to be His kind of person, a person of honor, integrity. truth and love for God and for neighbor. Above all God expects loyalty and worship of Him to be offered without a mixture of any other kind of worship. By not obeying God of course will bring the "rod of correction" upon us; but not the "rod of iron" as in the return of Christ. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And You Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"Thou shalt break them
with a rod of iron"
This Scripture is a peek into the climax of the Book of Revelations. What do I mean by a peek? The "rod" which Christ has is not a Scepter, an emblem of His Royal Office, but is in actuality a rod of correction. The fact that the rod is made of iron indicates the severity and harshness of the judgement that will be melted out by Christ at His return. "He shall rule them with a rod of iron" (Rev. 19:15).
This harsh judgement is not inconsistent with the meekness and gentleness of Christ. Meekness does not exclude anger, but simply means that one is angry for the right reasons and at the right time. They had made the courts of the temple a market place. "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up" (John 2:17). Christ cleansed the temple of the buyers and sellers, poured out there money and turned over there tables. Christ also made a scourge of small cords to cleanse the temple of the animals, he did not use it on the people. Christ was angry, but without sin. Jesus truthfully claim to be gentle without contradicting His claim to be the Judge.
The God who saves expects honesty from those He will save. God expects the worshiper to bring all of life-- praises, gratitude, sorrows, complaints, political activities and sacrificial worship to Him. God also expects the worshiper to be His kind of person, a person of honor, integrity. truth and love for God and for neighbor. Above all God expects loyalty and worship of Him to be offered without a mixture of any other kind of worship. By not obeying God of course will bring the "rod of correction" upon us; but not the "rod of iron" as in the return of Christ. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And You Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Friday, November 1, 2013
With Suffering Comes Love
2 Corinthians 1: 3
"Blessed be God, even the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of mercies, and the
God of all comfort"
Does the existence of suffering in the world disprove the existence of God? To some the answer is yes. A Christian writer Terry Muck attended a convention of humanists in Buffalo, he knew he would hear a life-view opposed to his own.. One speaker asked, Why does God allow children to die, earthquakes to destroy cities, and famine to ravage villages? The assembled humanist snickered. They reasoned, if there were such a Being, there would be no suffering. and since there is suffering, there is no Being.
Before dismissing such logic, we Christians need to ask ourselves how well we understand what God is doing in this sin-cursed world. One difficulty we have in reconciling suffering and God's existence is knowing our place with God, and know that we can not think the thoughts of an infinite God. We must not be so presumptuous as to say that a loving God could never allow the forces of nature to cause suffering. The Bible tells us in (Acts 9:16); "For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."
We can find peace in our dilemma by opening our hearts to the comfort God gives when we suffer. If we trust Him, He make real to us His presence and power. And this will assure us not only that He exists but that He Is with us in our suffering. When we are suffering, let it not pull us away from our Lord, but closer to our Lord. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"Blessed be God, even the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of mercies, and the
God of all comfort"
Does the existence of suffering in the world disprove the existence of God? To some the answer is yes. A Christian writer Terry Muck attended a convention of humanists in Buffalo, he knew he would hear a life-view opposed to his own.. One speaker asked, Why does God allow children to die, earthquakes to destroy cities, and famine to ravage villages? The assembled humanist snickered. They reasoned, if there were such a Being, there would be no suffering. and since there is suffering, there is no Being.
Before dismissing such logic, we Christians need to ask ourselves how well we understand what God is doing in this sin-cursed world. One difficulty we have in reconciling suffering and God's existence is knowing our place with God, and know that we can not think the thoughts of an infinite God. We must not be so presumptuous as to say that a loving God could never allow the forces of nature to cause suffering. The Bible tells us in (Acts 9:16); "For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."
We can find peace in our dilemma by opening our hearts to the comfort God gives when we suffer. If we trust Him, He make real to us His presence and power. And this will assure us not only that He exists but that He Is with us in our suffering. When we are suffering, let it not pull us away from our Lord, but closer to our Lord. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
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