Frustrations Are Many

Job 22:21

"Acquaint now thyself with him, and

be at peace: thereby good shall

come unto you."

        "Why do things go so wrong for me? Why do so many difficulties get in my way? Why does my life seem to go from bad to worse?" These are complaints that lie at the bottom of the state of irritation that we call frustration. Even those who are attempting to live right are subject to "afflictions." We are promised that the Lord will deliver us out of all such trouble. Our part is simply to put our frustrations into God's hands. Then, having left it with Him, we must go ahead and do our best, knowing that He will make things right.

        Frustrations may arise from the fact that we are not "agreeing" with God, that we are trying to insist upon our own way and not going at things correctly. Of course, you can't assume you are right only when there is no resistance. But when everything gets in the way and continues to do so, when doors are always closing, it may indicate that we ought to rethink where we are headed and what we are doing to get there. "Commit thy why unto the Lord; trust also in him, and He shall bring it to pass" (Ps. 37:5).

        Prayerfully decide what you want to accomplish. Then, put the matter in the hands of God, asking for guidance and help. Believe He is with you. You can expect results if you commit your way to the Lord, Trust Him, work hard and do your part. You can have confidence that God will act and things will come out right, no matter how many difficulties may have frustrated you. 

        Amen!!

Reading: (Ps. 34, 37)

May God Bless You

And Your Families

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

                         

Everlasting Rest

                                                                                   Hebrews 4:8
                                                        "For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he
                                                             not afterward have spoken of another day."

        The good news of Canaan’s rest was preached to Israel but came to nothing, because the hearers were destitute of faith. They said, Can God? instead of, God can! They thought of their enemies as giants and themselves as grasshoppers, because they left God out. Take God into account and we are giants, and our enemies grasshoppers.
        To all of us Christ offers rest, not in the other life only, but in this. (Heb. 4:3; Heb.4:11). Rest from the weight of sin, from care and worry, from the load of daily anxiety.  The rest that arrives from handing all worries over to Christ, and receiving from Christ all we need. Have we entered into that experience? If we disobey, we cannot believe; but when we believe we are sure to obey. In Heb.4:10 we are directed to our risen Lord, who has finished the work of Redemption and rests, as God did when He pronounced Creation to be very good. When we understand what He meant by "It is finished," we, too, shall rest.
        Amen!!

Reading: (Heb. 4:1-13)

          
                                                                            May God Bless You
                                                                            And Your Families
                                                                                     
                                                                                          Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                                                          The Cross Life Ministry

                                                                                 

Seizing The Crown

                                                                                    2 Timothy 4:8
                                                    "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness                                                                         which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at
                                                                  that day: and not to me only, but unto all
                                                                       them also that love his appearing."

        While Paul was waiting to be executed, he thought about the greeting he would receive from the Lord when he entered Heaven. He thought about the crown that would be his, as he wrote to Timothy.  Paul had fought a good fight. He knew he had finished his course,and kept the faith. Paul was the greatest Preacher that ever walk this earth, except for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
        What anticipation of a glorious entrance into Heaven. It will be worth it all for us too, if we run with patience the race that is set before us  (Hebrews 12:1). It will be worth it all when we see Jesus and receive a crown of righteousness from Him. So let's welcome the discipline, pay the price that following Christ demands, and look forward to a glorious entrance into heaven.
        Amen!!

Reading: (2 Tim. Chap. 4)

                                                                          May God Bless You
                                                                           And Your Families
                                                       
                                                                                         Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                                                         The Cross Life Ministry      

It's Time To Stand!!

                                                                                    John 14:9a
                                                          "Jesus said unto him, Have I been so long time
                                                              with you, and yet hast thou not known me" 

        I used to think that people understood the Gospel Of Jesus Christ, and why God came to live among the human race as a man? I am not trying to be harsh; but it seems to me Christianity is being pulled back to where it was thousands of years ago.  Jesus' Ministry was only three years long however; He never stop standing with His Father! "Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it "sufficeth us" (John 14:8).  "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and, yet hast thou not know me" (John 14:9a).  Wow! Wake up call America, that Scripture alone should make a Christian feel something in their heart!!
        "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Gen.1:1). "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God"
(John 1:1-2). That same was and is Our Savior Jesus Christ!
        Everyone says that our Constitution was not set up by the Holy Bible. However; my friends there is "The Biblical Foundation Of Our Constitution."  The English Puritans came here in the 1630's and they knew about the Old Testament and what it had to say about civil government. They came to build that shinning city on a hill, because they were not going to wait to the end and surrender to evil.
        The fundamental act of our Founding, the Declaration of Independence, recognizes the Creator God as the Source of Rights; and acknowledges that the purpose of civil government is simply to "secure" The Rights God Gave Us.  The constitution we subsequently ratified was based on God's Model of civil government as set forth in the Bible.
        The blessing which flows from God's Model is limited civil government which is under The Law. That is why Our Liberty Bell quotes Lev,25:10 "proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof:"  It is time to stand against all this Laws that takes away our Religious Freedom, no matter if there Local or from The White House. Let's Take Our Country Back
        Amen!!
                       

                                                                     May God Bless You
                                                                     And Your Families

                                                                                  Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                                                  The Cross Life Ministry

In God's Care

                                                                                    Psalm 90:14
                                                              "O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we
                                                                   may rejoice and be glad all our days."

        Most all people in the world today wake up and start their day with coffee, and the morning news.  And we have always heard that how our morning starts, is what sets our mood for the day. I didn't used to believe that old wise tale. Now as my wife and I have our morning coffee and the morning news; I believe it just might be true!
        The Morning and Evening News has been watched since the first television appeared on the market, and in the living rooms around the world.  What I am getting at; "Where is the "Good News?" The positive news about our schools, our city's and towns.  And we can't forget our Government, with them there is hardly ever any good news.
         The latest and very important news that was just broadcast on TV, was "The Supreme Court Justices just made Gay Marriage a Constitutional Right in The United States Of America." Lets face it, as Christians we know what the Bible says about the times and how there going to change.  Most people probably feel like I do! God's Word has been tossed out of our Government.
        Here is the only way I know to get through all this until Jesus returns. Trust in God, for we are in His care. Along with the news you hear every day, take time and read God's Word, and hear Him, for all His news Is "Good News."  "For all our days are passed away in the wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told" (Ps. 90:9).  Let us all let God's Word guide us in life, and not the dreary Media we hear every day. 
        Amen!!

Reading: (Ps. 90, 91)

                                                                          May God Bless You
                                                                           And Your Families

                                                                                        Minister R. Lail Sr.
                                                                                        The Cross Life ministry
                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                     

Believe God

                                                                                                  Acts 27:25
                                                                  "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God
                                                                            that it shall be even as it was told to me."
                 
        A most spectacular thing happened to Paul, when He was on the High sea. He was a prisoner and heading to Rome to stand trial.  It was a bad time for sailors to sail. The ship pitched and rolled for two weeks through hurricane winds. They could not even get a glimpse of sun during the day or of the stars at night.  It all seemed hopeless.  That's when Paul gave them an encouraging word from God. "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God.
        Paul told them about the news God's angel had told him when he appeared to him during the night, bringing a promise from God.  Although the ship would be lost, there would be no lives lost, and Paul would reach Rome in God's appointed time.
        The faith in God's word that Paul displayed on the high seas, shows his confidence in what God promised him; Paul knew God would deliver on time every time. My friends we as Christians must adapt this "Heart felt confidence that Paul displayed; not only on the high seas, but throughout his entire ministry.  "Paul Believed God!"  Today ponder on the legacy that you will leave behind. I want mine to be, "Robert Believed God."
        Amen!!

Reading: (Acts Chap. 27, 28)

                                                                                       May God Bless You
                                                                                       And Your Families

                                                                                                   Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                                                                   The Cross Life Ministry  
                

No Room For Pride

                                                                                         Matthew 5:16
                                                                   "Let you light so shine before men, that they
                                                                         may see your good works,and glorify
                                                                             your Father which is in heaven." 

         Lighthouses don't blow horns; they just shine. This is how it ought to be in the life of all Christians.  Rather than tooting our own horn, we Christians should simply let our light shine. In our verse for today, Jesus' commanded, "Let your light shine before men."  Apostle Paul urged the Christians at Philippi to be lights, shinning in the mist of a crooked and perverse generation (Philippians 2:15).
        So it seems quite clear that that God wants us to lead exemplary lives.  However, without all the boasting, "What a good Christian am I."  Some make it a must to tell you how they spend hours at a time in personal devotions, gaining new messages from the Lord. They inform you that they are "totally dedicated" to the Lord. They say, "I just wish other Christians were living the crucified life I enjoy."  They never seem to take into account the fact that pride is a sin, even when it is embedded in spiritual sounding language.
        Amen!!

Reading: (Matt. 5:13-16)
               (Phil. 2:12-15)

                                                                                      May God Bless You
                                                                                      And Your Families

                                                                                                Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                                                                The Cross Life Ministry          

       

        
                    

Words Can Turn Into Stumbling Blocks

                                                                                            Psalm 32:8
                                                                      "I will instruct thee and teach thee in thy
                                                                          way which thou shalt go: I will guide
                                                                                       thee with mine eye."

        Let's get real when we talk about stumbling blocks in our life. I say real because they are real, and the reason they are real, is we bring most of them to life our self. You are probably saying; "what is he talking about."  My friends, I am talking about the words we use in our daily planning as a servant of God. Here is just a few that I am sure you will recognize: "if, but when, I can't, and how.
        These are the most used words, when we don't want to do, what we have been ask to do! Most  Christians turn to God with prayer and supplication as they plan their day. "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear" (Isa. 65:24).
        The little "if" is a dangerous word for a believer to use, because "if" shows doubt in your heart, and it is the lead off word for all the others. How many of us has used all these words in one sentence, while trying to give an excuse to God for not doing what He ask; because it took a sacrifice from you to do what needed to be done. For example: "Lord if I could I would, but I can't, plus I don't know how or when I would be able to.  What's wrong with that? Let's take out all the doubt words and replace them with God's perfect will! "For I Know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jer. 29:11).
        Amen!!

                                                                                                        Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                                                                        The Cross Life Ministry        

Tutning On The Light

                                                              Psalm 51.6
                                   "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts:
                                               and in the hidden part thou shalt
                                                   make me to know wisdom"

        Whether your hurts are deep or relatively mild, it is wise to be honest about them in the context of affirming relations so that healing can begin. Many of us mistakenly believe that God doesn't want us to be honest about our lives. We think that He will be upset with us if we tell him how we really feel. But the Scriptures tell us that God does not want us to be superficial in our relationship with Him, with others, or in our own lives.
        The Lord desires truth and honesty at the deepest level, and wants us to experience His love, forgiveness, and power in all areas of our lives. Experiencing His love does not mean that all of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors will be pleasant and pure. It means that we can be real, feeling pain and joy, love and anger, confidence and confusion.
        The Book of Psalms give us tremendous insight about what it means to be honest with the Lord. David and other psalmists wrote and spoke honestly about full range of their responses to situations. For example, David expressed his anger with the Lord because he felt abandoned by Him. " I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of my enemy? {Ps. 42:9}. However latter David said, "for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God" {Ps. 42:11b}.  My friends how "offend" and how "quickly" do we praise our God?
        Amen!!

Reading: {Ps.42, 51}

                                                   May God Bless You
                                                    And Your Families

                                                                  Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                                  The Cross Life Ministry