Hold On For Life

Exodus 15:22, 24 

"So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out

 into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days

 in the wilderness, and found no water.  And the 

people murmured against Moses, 

saying, What shall we drink"?

     The Lord did not take Israel to Canaan by the most direct route. The People needed not only to observe the mighty works of God's power, but also to depend upon Him for the necessities of life. Ultimately, they needed to understand that all would be accomplished by God's own power and not by their ability. At Marah they needed water, but the water that was available was not fit for drinking, "Until God Acted." God was instructing them that even though they had been brought out of bondage and had witness the defeat of the Egyptian army, "they must still depend on Him."     

    When the Bible tells us that they went without water for three days in the desert, it also means that for the same three days they didn’t study God’s Word, which was passed down by Abraham. Over a period of time when we don’t study God’s Word, we can become bitter. When God told Moses to throw some tree into the water, it wasn’t just any tree, to them it was the "Tree of Life." What do I mean? At the end of (verse 25) it says  "and there he proved them." That is, He both tried their faith by the need of water and their future obedience by this general command. They believed on that tree that Moses cast in the water, just as we believe on the "Cross of Christ"  
    My Friends, the lesson for us all is that when our circumstances get us down, we need to turn to the Word of God. Better yet, we need to study God’s Word regularly so that we don’t become depressed in the first place. We need to hold on to God's Word no matter what. When we hold onto the His Word, it holds us up. It takes away our bitterness and helps sweeten our challenges.

Amen!

Reading: Ex. 15:22-27

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

                                           

God’s Message from the Bush

 Exodus 3:2 

"And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a 

flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he 

looked, and, behold, the bush burned with 

fire, and the bush was not consumed." 

     The teaching in Egypt was not sufficient to equipped Moses for his life's work. He was taken to the wilderness. That is God’s college (His training ground).  All who have done the greatest work in the world have graduated there. Elijah at Horeb, Ezekiel at Chebar, Paul in Arabia, and John in Patmos. God’s workers may take their arts course in the universities, but must take their Divinity course alone with Him. Often in the middle of daily duty we come within the presence of our Lord. Let us be on the outlook for it, and take off our shoes.
    This burning bush has generally been taken as the emblem of the Church amidst the fires of tribulation; but there is a deeper meaning. The fire was the token of God’s presence. The bush was unconsumed, because God’s love is its own fuel. Notice the successive steps: "I have seen;" "heard;" "know;" "am come down;" "will send." The "cry" of the previous chapter is answered by the "coming down" of this. "And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?" (Luke 18:7).  My Friends, what the question should be; "What Will He Find"! I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"  (Luke 18:8). 
Amen!

Reading: Ex. 3:1-12
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Our Success Comes From God

Psalm 138:8

"The Lord will perfect that  which concerneth me:

thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever: forsake 

not the works of thine own hands"

    When He puts His hand to the salvation of our soul, He pledges Himself to perfect the good work until the day of Jesus Christ, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" (Phil. 1:6). Trust God, let Him know all disappointments and heartaches. He will wipe away all tears, explain all mysteries, and place the top stone on the structure of your life.

    Scripture warns us that there is a danger in taking credit for our achievements in life. In the process of focusing on how great we are, we forget how great God is. "And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day." (Deut 8:17–18).

    We need to acknowledge the Source of our success and blessings. God alone is the force behind our success. "This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." (Zech. 4:6).

David longed for the day when everyone in the world would recognize this great truth and all kings would praise God and so, he led the way by setting an example. Let us do the same. Praise God in front of your friends, your family, and your community. Most importantly, praise God inside the deepest parts of your own soul. 

Amen!

Reading: Ps. 138:1-8

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Gift Of Unanswered Prayers

Exodus 2:4 

"And his sister stood afar off, to wit 

what would be done to him"

    What if God answered every prayer with a resounding YES? Would the world be a better and happier place or a worse one? what if God had answered Miriam’s prayer as she stood among the reeds next to the Nile River where her baby brother Moses floated in a basket designed to the protect him as he drifted in the water?  

    Miriam and her mother had placed Moses in the basket as a last resort. The Egyptians had resolved to kill every single Hebrew baby boy. Miriam and her mother hoped that who ever would find the infant would have mercy on him. Miriam watched to find out her baby brother’s fate. Miriam prayed for Moses protection and prayed that no Egyptian would find him.   

    Who should come along but the daughter of Pharaoh himself! The daughter of the very man who proclaimed: "And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive." (Exodus 1:22).

Miriam watches as Pharaoh’s daughter see him and she reaches for the basket and takes him as her son. It was a good thing that God didn't answer Miriam's prayer! If God had done what she asked, Moses would have drifted off and drowned. Instead he grew up in Pharaoh’s home where he  become a leader who redeem Israel.

    Like Miriam, we don’t always get what we pray for. But we always get what we need, and that makes all the difference. When we pray for one thing and we don’t get what we asked for, it feels as though one of two things has happened. Either God didn’t hear our prayers, or He has denied us a gift. But neither is true. God hears every one of our prayers. Sometimes He says "yes" and other times He says "no." But when God says "no," it’s not because He doesn’t want us to have good things. When God says "no" to what we asked for, it’s because He has something even greater to give us! When your prayers seem to go unanswered, think of Miriam standing desperately by the Egyptian Nile. Thank God for your unanswered prayers because those are often the greatest gifts of all. 

Amen!

Reading: Ex. Chapter 1 and 2

Ref: HG SB

 May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr. 

The Cross Life Ministry

Worship Begins In Your Heart

Ecclesiastes 5:1

"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, 

and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice 

of fools: for they consider not that they do evil."

     Fruitful and acceptable worship begins before it begins. So our passage commences with the demeanor of the worshiper on his way to the house of God. He is to keep his foot; that is, to go deliberately, thoughtfully, with realization of what he is about to do. He is to "draw near to hear" and to know himself, while drawing near, of what his purpose should be. Our forefathers Sunday began on Saturday night, and partly for that reason the hallowing influence of it ran over into Monday, at all events. What likelihood is there that much good will come of worship to people who talk politics or scandal right up to the church door?
    Then comes the direction for conduct in the act of worship. The same thoughtfulness which kept the foot in coming to, should keep the heart when in, the house of God. His exaltation and our lowliness should check hasty words, blurting out uppermost wishes, or in any way outrunning or (overlooking) the emotions of prepared hearts.
    Many a young heart touched by the truth has resolved to live a Christian life, and has gone out from the house of God and put off and put off till days have thickened into months and years, and the intention has remained unfulfilled for ever. Nothing hardens hearts, stiffens wills, and sears consciences so much as to be brought to the point of melting, and then to cool down into the old shape. All good resolutions and spiritual convictions come by a "Vow Made To God." One must remember it is true that it is better not to have made a Vow to God, than to make a Vow and break it.  
Amen!

Reading: Eccl. 5:1-12
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Prayer Is The Answer

1 Samuel 1:13-15

"Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her 

voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away 

thy wine from thee. And Hannah answered and said, No, my 

lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk 

neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured 

out my soul before the LORD."

    Hannah’s heartfelt prayer revolutionized the way we pray. Hannah, who was barren, quietly poured out her heart to God at the temple in Shiloh, praying for a child and promising to dedicate him to God. The way she prayed was so unusual that the priest Eli was sure she was drunk and scolded her. Hannah, most dignified, told Eli that she wasn’t intoxicated; she was crying out to God.
    From this short exchange, we learn many lessons about prayer. First, potent prayer is deeply emotional prayer. Second, a powerful way to pray is to speak directly to God, privately and quietly, like conversing with a parent or confidant — as opposed to formal prayers offered publicly, in grandiose fashion, which must have been the norm at that time. Third, prayer must be expressed through our lips, not just in our hearts. Even if prayer is quiet, our thoughts must become words. Words help create reality.
    Hannah’s request was granted, and she gave birth to the prophet Samuel. Why did God make so many holy women barren? The only answer could be: "Because God desires the prayers of the righteous." God intentionally made those women, like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Hannah, childless so that they would turn to Him in prayer.
    Have you ever heard someone say, "I don’t pray so that "I will" get an answer?"  "My Friend, our prayer is the answer." Prayer is not for God’s benefit; it’s for ours. Through prayer, we grow and change.  When we pray, we evaluate what is truly important to us and regret past mistakes; we pledge to move forward with greater appreciation and dedication. Most importantly, we grow closer to God, deepening our connection to Him.
    God wants the prayers of His people because He wants us to be the very best that we can possibly be. Sometimes God puts us into desperate situations because He wants us to turn to Him in prayer and grow into better people. We must realize that our challenges are never meant to be cruel, but are given with great love for our own good. As we change through our heartfelt prayers, we increase our capability to receive greater and greater blessings into our lives.

Amen!

Reading: 1 Sam. 1-28
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

For He Is Good

1Chronicles 16:34 

"O give thanks unto the LORD; 

for he is good; for his mercy 

endureth forever"

     We take so many of our gifts from our Father in Heaven for granted. We don’t even recognize that it is He who is giving us everything we have and everything we need. God carries us through life, but if we don’t look for Him, we won’t see Him. Some people think that it is hard to have a loving relationship with God because He is so far from us, all the way in the heavens. The reason why so many of us don’t have a relationship with our Father is because He is so close to us! He is so close, and His presence so familiar, that we rarely notice Him.

    Every breath we take is a gift from God. But how many of us feel that way throughout our busy days? We take the clean air and our ability to breathe for granted because we are given that gift every moment of our lives. But try holding your breath for a few minutes, and you might come to have a new appreciation for your next breath and the one after that.

    In 1 Chronicles, after the Ark of the Covenant was brought into a special tent that King David had created for it, a ceremony took place involving sacrifices and offerings. But then David instructed the priests to serve with words of praise and thanks to God. This was critical to their daily service. We read: "Give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever."

    During David’s reign, there was a plague that killed 100 people a day. Realizing that this plaque had a spiritual cause, David prescribed a spiritual cure: To recite 100 blessings each day. The plague stopped, and David’s prescription is followed by observant Jews to this very day!

Everyone is asking what will it take to put our world in a better state. We see all the bad things happening around us. But maybe the cure is to notice the good things, to give thanks for them, and to bless God for giving us all the gifts we have in our lives. 
Amen!

Reading: 1 Chr. 13-16:43
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

              

Turn to God in Times of Trouble

Isaiah 38:1  

"In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah 
the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said 
unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house 
in order: for thou shalt die, and not live." 

    King Hezekiah who was told by the prophet Isaiah: "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover."  If told by God’s own prophet that our time was up, most of us would accept the message and give up the fight for life. And that’s exactly how many people behave when a doctor says as such. But that’s not how Hezekiah responded.

    Immediately, as the Bible tells us in the next verse in Isaiah, Hezekiah turned to God in prayer. He prayed and wept and poured his heart out. The Scriptures record what happened next. God returned to Isaiah and commanded him to tell Hezekiah: "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life" (Isaiah 38:5).

    This powerful story illustrates the necessity to never give up. God is greater than any medical report, any circumstance, or any problem. It doesn’t matter what "they" say. What matters most is what we say to God and that we fear only God. 
Amen!

Reading: Isa. 38:1-22
Ref: HG SB 

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 

Joseph Reveals Himself To His Brethren

Genesis 45:7

"And God sent me before you to preserve you a 

posterity in the earth, and to save your 

lives by a great deliverance."

    It may be that we have here an exact representation of a scene which shall be transacted some day, when our Lord makes His return to receive His brethren. The Apostle Paul tells us that ultimately all Israel shall be saved; and may not this be brought about, when He says to them, "I am Jesus, your brother, whom ye delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate"?  Was not Joseph’s wife rejoiced by his joy, and will not the Church of the redeemed be glad when that great reconciliation takes effect?
    What a beautiful interpretation Joseph per trade on their act of treachery "God did send me before you" Let us always trace God’s plan in the malevolence and opposition of men. They could have no power at all, unless it was given them from above. Joseph supplied all their needs, wagons to carry, food to nourish, raiment to clothe, and greetings to welcome!
    One cannot fail to see in the history of Joseph one of the most remarkable types of the Lord Jesus, and that, in many details of the ways of God in regard to the Jews and Gentiles. "Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy" (Rom. 11:31).    
Amen!

Reading: Gen. 45:1-15
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail

The Cross Life Ministry

Confidence In God’s Protection

Psalm 140:1

"Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: 

preserve me from the violent man;" 

    Here is a picture of a man who is surrounded by foes. Around are slander and hatred; at his feet were ploy's and traps. No one can withstand a day of battle, standing alone. Similar experiences happens to God’s people still. Some are hunted by earthly enemies; others are stung by the fiery darts of the wicked. My Friend, life is like a path through a forest, where attackers hide and where traps are laid. At any moment the enemy may break from his ambush. Our faith in God, at such a time, brings us strength, salvation, and protection. 
    We belong to the kingdom of Christ. The only coals of fire that we can deal with are those of love and mercy, which we heap on the heads of our enemies. The least in the kingdom of love stands on a higher plane than the greatest in the kingdom of law. But let the wicked remember, "But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:" (Rom. 2:5,6) . There is an inner sanctuary where the Believers  shall be safe! 
Amen!

Reading: Ps. 140:1-13
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 
  

The House That God Protects

Proverbs 12:7

"The wicked are overthrown and are not:

but the house of righteous shall stand."

     Remember the story The Three Little Pigs? In the fairy tale, three little pigs are sent out into the world to build their lives. The youngest brother builds a house out of straw, finishes quickly, and goes on to play. The second builds his house of sticks and then joins his younger brother in having fun. The elder takes the time to build a house of brick.  We all know what happens next. The wolf comes to "huff and puff and blow the houses down" so that he can eat the little pigs. He blows down the houses of straw and sticks easily. But when it comes to the house made of bricks, he fails and the little pigs, ran to safety in the elder brother’s brick house.
    King Solomon is teaching us that while the wicked may amass great amounts of wealth and have a grand old time in life, their existence, both physical and spiritual, In one instant, everything can be utterly destroyed. But the righteous have a special godly protection. Since the righteous have built their lives on the solid foundation of biblical values, morals, and teachings, their house can withstand any adversity that comes into their lives. 
    Notice that both in the story and in real life, adversity visits us all. The "big bad wolf" can be it in the form of financial difficulties, illness, or broken relationships; will come and try to blow down everyone’s house whether they are righteous or wicked. We all face difficulties, but we don’t all come out of them the same.
    When a life is built on lies, when it is founded on faulty beliefs and misplaced values, that life is an extremely vulnerable one. If the material aspect of that life is in peril, people might lose their sense of well being and capacity for hope. If they suddenly lose all their money, they might completely collapse. If you don’t have God in your life, what will keep you standing in the face of adversity? The good news is that we don’t have to live that way. We can choose to build our lives on the solid foundation of faith, obedience, and biblical values. If we do this, then we will weather the greatest storms. Our houses will stand firm and sound 

Amen!

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

He Knows Our Every Thought

Psalm 139:2  

"Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, 

thou understandest my thought afar off,"

    The down sittings of life are times of weariness, depression, failure, shortcoming, and inconsistency, that is when we are far short of our best. When we are at our best, our uprisings are our strongest, happiest, holiest moments. God knows all. He cannot be surprised. His hand is laid upon us, shielding and protecting.
    Though the faithfulness of God perfects all His blessing's, not a thought escapes God. Morally speaking, there is no staying in His presence; but there is no getting out of His presence. But this brings in another aspect. He knows all, because He has formed all.  He cares for us, watches over every member that is formed, as He knows our every thought; He has His own too, and these are precious to us. 
    My Friend, this is the change and working of faith. It begins with conscience under God's eye; for it brings us into His presence, and then we get into God's thoughts, and God into ours, who has created us for Himself, and then unfolded boundless spheres of His blessing and ways. 
Amen!

Reading: Ps 139
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

His Mercy Endureth Forever

Psalm 136:26

"O give thanks unto God of heaven: 

for his mercy endureth forever."

     What is so special about this psalm that it is deserving of that title over all of the rest? I believe that this title is perfect, because "the Almighty sits in the high heavens and distributes food to each and every creature." "who giveth food to all flesh" (verse 25). The great praise of God is that He is not too great to care for the needs of even the smallest of creatures. Despite His unlimited power, control, and authority over the universe, God does not deem Himself “too important” to be concerned with the daily, mundane needs of every single living creature.    

    Now, can you imagine for one moment that the Queen of England spends her time dishing out broth in a soup kitchen? Maybe once or twice a week or month, but every single day? Normally, the greater the person, the less likely they are to spend time serving others less fortunate. Yet, we learn from this psalm and God’s example that the noblest undertaking a person can ever do is to help another person, no matter who he or she may be or what the job may entail. 
    One day there was a very important man walking home from prayers with the usual entourage in tow, he heard the sound of crying. He stopped and searched for the source. He discovered a little girl Crying behind a bush. All the others watched as the elderly man sat himself on the ground, wiped away the tears of the little girl, and asked what was bothering her. "My friend told me that my dress is ugly," the girl cried. "You tell your friend that I think your dress is beautiful." With that, the girl broke into a smile and happily ran off to play. 
    Friends, let us remember that no job is beneath us. Whether it is wiping away the tears of a child, feeding the homeless, or even taking out the garbage, it is our honor and privilege to help other people. The great praise of God can be our praise, too. When we humble ourselves before others, we rise to great heights in the eyes of God.

Amen!

Reading: Ps. 136:1-26

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

We Owe Our "Creator"

Ecclesiastes 12:1

"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, 

while the evil days come not, nor the years 

draw nigh, when thou shalt say, 

I have no pleasure in them;"

    Solomon is giving advice to young men and women, warning them about the dangers of not restraining one's fleshly desires. Solomon failed in this area. He had many wives and was a rich man in which turned his heart from serving God, (1 Kgs. 11:1-8). However he writes at the end of his life to encourage young people to follow God while they are still in their youth, so that in their old age, they can look back on a fruitful life, having been blessed by God. 

    We owe a great deal to our "Creator." How can we do less than serve and devote our life's to God? Let me go further and say, "This advice is not just for the young but for anyone at any age." Once this fact is realized than one can reflect on his life with peace in his heart. My Friend's, the most important thing that we can learn in this life, "is that the pleasures of this life cannot compare to the joy that comes from living for God, no matter how old you are!"  Let's Serve Our God Proudly!

Amen!

Reading: Eccl. 11:1-10

               1Kgs. 11:1-8

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry  

  

What Will You Take With You?

Ecclesiastes 12:7

"Then shall the dust return to the earth as 

it was: and the spirit shall return

unto God who gave it."

    Most of us would agree with the statement that we won’t live forever. But that isn’t entirely true. The issue is not if we live forever or not, but who "we" refers to. If we think of ourselves as our body, then it’s true; we do not live forever, and knowing that should inspire us to make the most of the time we have. However, if we know the truth about who we are; that we are essentially a soul and not the body we have been given for a number of years then it is true that we live forever, only not in physical form or on this planet, but in our spiritual form in our real home in Heaven.

    This perspective should also affect the way we live as well. If you were going on a short trip for a week or two, you would never go on a vacation that would spoil your life after the trip. You wouldn’t put all your money into this vacation and have nothing when you returned home. You wouldn’t quit your job or sever important relationships. At the same time, you also wouldn’t want to waste a minute of your vacation.
    My Friend, we are each a soul, given the "clothing" of a physical body so that we can be here for a limited amount of time. Knowing this is a temporary state of being, like being on a trip, we wouldn’t want to do anything that would take away our reward in the afterlife. We wouldn’t want to forget that we have a job to do, which is to make ourselves and the world a better place. We wouldn’t want to waste a minute of our lives and would use every moment as a chance to develop our souls.
    Knowing that we do live forever makes us pause and consider what we are doing today to ensure that our "forever" is the best that it possibly can be. How can we be more generous? How can we become more loving? In what ways can we overcome our shortcomings and develop our God given talents? One day, our bodies will be part of the earth. But our souls never die. We simply return to where we came from and live the rest and best part of our lives. On that day, all we will take with us are our good deeds. How might that influence the decisions we make today?

Amen!

Reading: Eccl. 12:1-14

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Valley Of Decision

Joel 3:14

"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the 

day of the Lord is near in the Valley of decision."

    Having stated the outward blessings that would follow repentance, Joel unveils the extraordinary spiritual blessings that were in store. This blessing is for all whom the Lord our God shall call to Himself, and as one to whom His call has come, you have a perfect right to claim your share in Pentecost. The promise is to all that are "afar off in space and time. The very slaves, the most degraded and despised of men, become free when they yield themselves to Jesus and have an equal right to the same Spirit.
    Chapter 3 of Joel refers to the last desperate effort made by the powers of the world against Christ and His people. This will be the closing scene of man’s apostasy. But the Lord will vindicate and deliver His oppressed from the hand of their oppressors; and the same judgment will bring them blessing. Having cleansed His people from their stains. God Himself shall be with us and be our God. "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God," (Rev 21:3).   

Amen!

Reading: Joel 3:1-21

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

Send Me an Angel

Daniel 3:28

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

    In the book of Daniel we are witness to one of the most spectacular displays of faith and, conversely, one of the most glorious demonstrations of God’s salvation. Three Jewish youth, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who had been taken captive and exiled to Babylon, decided to disobey King Nebuchadnezzar. The king had built a massive golden idol and declared that everyone under his rule must bow down and worship it. The penalty for failing to do so would be death by fire. The three young men refused as it would be committing idolatry, one of the three sins for which a Jew be put to death for disobeying that command.

    When the matter was brought to the king, he was so furious that he ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than it already was and that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be bound and thrown into it. The furnace was so hot that the soldiers who brought the convicted three to its door died immediately from the scorching heat. By all natural measures, the three youths should have perished in seconds.

    Yet, this is what happened: "Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God," (Dan 3:24-25). What Nebuchadnezzar saw was God’s angel in the furnace with the men. The angel had untied and protected them. When the men emerged, not only were they completely unharmed, but they also didn’t even smell like they had been anywhere near a fire!

    In shock and awe,"Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God."  Nebuchadnezzar recognized that the three youth’s faith was what caused God to send His angel to rescue them.

    We’ve all heard of guardian angels. We’ve heard of modern day accounts where people have felt saved by a stranger whom they suspected was an angel in disguise. However, as much as we value or believe in the assistance of angels in our lives, we can learn an important lesson from the words of Nebuchadnezzar. 
    My Friends, The angel didn’t come on its own accord. It was the faith and trust that the men placed in God that caused God to send the angel. Our job isn’t to place our hope in angels. Our job is to place our hope steadfastly and completely in God and God alone. If we do that, He may just send the angel we need. 

Amen! 

Reading: Dan 3:1-30
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

A Summons To Penitence

Joel 2:1 

"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm 

in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of 

the land tremble: for the day of the LORD 

cometh, for it is nigh at hand;" 

    We know nothing of Joel beyond this book. He was content to be God’s mouthpiece and remain unknown. His message was one of woe. The memory of God’s loving kindness ought to have kept His people faithful and loyal, but since grace and love had failed to affect them, awful judgments were announced. A small insect, the locust, was to lay flat man’s boasted power. The four kinds of locusts here described and which doubtless devastated the country, were also symbols of the four world empires, Assyria, Babylon, Greece, and Rome, which were to destroy the Holy Land. Such judgments call for acts of repentance, such as fasting, humiliation, and intercession. 
    There are days in national experience when we ourselves have became encircled in moaning and weeping. Where there has been infidelity to the great Lover of souls, when the visible Church or the individual member has turned from Christ to the evil way's of this world, then joy withers away. At that point spiritual worship ceases, and there can be neither peace nor safety until there has been repentance and return.
Amen!

Reading: Joel 2:1-11
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

What Money Can't Buy

Psalm 135:15

"The idols of the heathen are silver and gold,

the work of men's hands."

    

    Many people dream of winning the lottery. While we all agree that money can’t buy happiness, it doesn’t stop us from thinking that a lot of money would make life much easier, and with that would come happiness, right? Maybe and Maybe Not!  
    Psalm 135 warns us, "The idols of the nations are silver and gold."  Many people worship money. They crave it, live for it, and love it. However, money is empty. It is an idol like the psalmist described, "They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see." "They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths."  There is no life in idols or money, and neither can it give us life.
    The psalmist further cautioned us, "Those who make them (idols) will be like them, and so will all who trust in them." Just as gold and silver are without the ability to see, hear, or speak, so will be those who trust in them. They won’t see the truth, hear the truth, or speak the truth. They will be blind, deaf, and speak lies. They are destined to make bad decisions, resulting in a messy life.
    Is money a bad thing? Certainly not! Money, when used properly, can help us on our life’s journey and service to God. However, it is a means to an end and not an end in itself. Only God can fill us with the joy, love, and security that we all crave. Only God can guide us and lead us on a path that will be most satisfying. Only God can give us life. And that is worth more than anything money can buy. 

Amen!!

Reading: Ps. 135:15-18

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Master's Touch

  JOHN 1:1,3

"In the beginning was the Word" and the word was with God, 

and the word was God.  All things were made by Him; and 

without Him was not any thing made that was made."

     As a thought must be clothed in words before it can be known, so God clothe Himself in flesh.  John's mystical statement declares beyond question the absolute, eternal deity of the Lord Jesus as well as the manner and the meaning of His entry into human life. He walked upon the blue waters of Galilee.  The winds and the waves obeyed His command.   He healed the sick and raised the dead. He gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf.  He cast out demons and made the lame to walk.  He turned water into wine, and fed five thousand with the lunch of a lad.
    Some people might say, well that was then.  No!  It is not just then it is now  and forever.  Just look around you, your life your family; Our God is a The Living God And His Touch has never changed. Jesus is man yet, He is more than man.  He is not God and man, but the God-man.  He is God in human flesh.  His two natures are bound together in such a way that the two become one, having a single consciousness and will.
    God's touch came through the man know as God's Son Jesus Christ , during his lifetime this world had the fiscal touch from God.  Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we have the eternal Spiritual touch. Through righteousness and faith and accepting Christ as our saviour the eternal Spiritual touch will never be broken. He will never leave or forsake us  (Psalm 37:28).
    Therefore God's touch is event today as it was in the beginning. He has all power in Heaven and Earth  (Matt. 28:18),  Only God has all power.  I pray to day if you don't know Jesus Christ as your Personal Saviour, that you will pray the sinners prayer:  "God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin.  I willing to turn from my sin.  I now invite  Jesus Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal saviour."  
Amen!!

Reading: The Harmony Of The Gospels
Ref; HG SB 

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail

The Cross Life Ministry

 

Reveal Your Light

Daniel  2:22  

"He revealeth the deep and secret things: 

he knoweth  what is in the darkness, 

and the light dwelleth with him"

    There was once a king who decided to visit a beloved commoner. He sent word to the man that he was coming to spend time with him and to please prepare for the visit. The commoner prepared everything as best as he could with his modest means. As a finishing touch he placed his cherished silver candlesticks on the table and lit two candles. Everything was set to perfection.

    However, as the king approached with his entourage, the commoner noticed the incredible wealth the king possessed, including tens of beautiful silver lanterns filled with light. He became embarrassed by what he had to offer. Ashamed, he quickly hid the plates, candlesticks, and bed sheets that he had bought for the king. When the king arrived, he quickly noticed that nothing was prepared for his visit. Confused, he asked the man, "Didn’t you get the message that I was coming and to prepare for my arrival?" The commoner explained that, indeed, he had but was ashamed at what he had to offer when the king was so accustomed to much greater luxuries.

    The king replied, "It’s not my things that I want to enjoy when I come to visit you, but yours. It’s not my light I want, but yours." The king had all his possessions hidden and explained, "I won’t use anything that belongs to me as long as I am here so that I may enjoy what you have to offer."

    This short story has a profound message. We read in the book of Daniel: "He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him." Sometimes, God will hide His light in order to reveal our light. God has all the light in the world, but He desires our light. When we don’t reveal it on our own, God will conceal His own light in order to bring out what He knows lies hidden within us.

    Friends, when things seem dark in our lives, know that God is waiting for our light to shine forth. When the world seems darkened, God is hoping we’ll illuminate it. We never know how strong we have to be until we have no other choice. We never demonstrate unwavering faith until our faith is tested. We never know what treasures lie within us until we have no choice but to find them. God could do it all for us, but then we would never discover our own light. Be encouraged today. If things seem dark, it’s because God is right there waiting for you to reveal your own light.
Amen!

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Loudest Sound In The World

Proverbs 16:32  

"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; 

and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." 

    "The loudest sound in the universe is the breaking of a bad habit.”  What an way to capture the strength it takes and the difficulty involved in changing our ways for the better! This statement both validates our struggles and appreciates our victories in our inner self. It at once acknowledges that we will stumble, but encourages us to keep trying;  trying to be more patient and less angry; to be more in control of our desires and less vulnerable to temptation; to be more forgiving and less begrudging. Whatever our own personal “bad habits” may be, we can break them no matter how difficult.  In this verse it refers to two levels of self mastery. The first part of the verse speaks of a person who has somewhat conquered a bad habit yet still struggles with it. He or she is compared to, and deemed greater than, a warrior.
    This comparison recognizes that inner strength is even greater than outer physical might. Building internal, spiritual, and emotional muscles is a greater achievement than that of body-building. However, this individual has only achieved part of the ultimate goal.

    The second line of the verse speaks about a person who has mastered self-control. This person is compared to one who has captured an entire city. Just as the conqueror of a city has complete control over the many parts and activities that occur within it, so the person who has mastered him or herself is able to completely rule over any inner temptations. "This is complete victory the level for which we should all strive to attain." 
    Let us be motivated by this verse and this teaching as we go about the most important work of our life, and that My Friends is becoming a better and more godly person. Do not be discouraged by setbacks or intimidated by the challenge. Above all, do not give up even though the path to self mastery may be long and tedious.
    Moreover, celebrate achievements. Though it may take time to conquer our own inner selves, we can still be greater than the strongest, most able-bodied warrior when we achieve some degree of change in our inner self. We must believe that we can completely conquer those pesky bad habits. God has created us to do so, and He has equipped us to do so. We need only to keep trying and believe in ourselves. And once we do manage to master our tendencies, we will pierce the heavens with the loudest sound in the world and the greatest achievement of all. 

Amen!

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Walk Your Personal Path

Proverbs 14:2 

"He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: 

but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him." 

    What is a righteous path for one person is not necessarily the right path for another. A person has to walk righteously in the way that God created him or her to be. In contrast, so many people live their lives, even while dedicated to the Lord and with the best intentions, as God created someone else to be instead of as themselves. God could have made us all the same, but He intentionally chose to make us different, right down to the details of our fingerprints. God gave us each a unique way to serve Him and to thrive. Those who fear the Lord will choose such a path.
    There is a righteous path for a person who looks bad to others but looks great to God. Additionally, there is such a thing as a path of life that looks good to other people, but looks very bad in the eyes of God. We all have different "righteous paths." What’s right for one person may not be right for us and vice versa. Are we brave enough to be who God created us to be? When we fear the Lord, we aren’t worried about what others will think. Our path doesn’t have to make sense to anyone but ourselves and God. 

Amen!

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

How Good And Pleasant

 Psalm 133:1 

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for 

brethren to dwell together in unity!"
 

    Power and strength are not the only positives to come out of unity. When people stick together, we are capable of creating new things and discovering new cures. We can make a better life that all people can enjoy. This is basically what the psalmist meant when he wrote, "How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." It’s not just the absence of fighting that makes it "good and pleasant" when God’s people live together; it’s the presence of great innovation and capability that results when people help each other, work and live together, and create a better world. 

    When the Israelites were at the foot of Mount Sinai, it was as if they shared "one heart and one soul" They had merged into one unit. It is because of this unity that they were able to merit God’s revelation and the giving of the Ten Commandments. If the unity of the Israelites in ancient times could bring God down to earth, imagine what will happen when God’s people come together in our times!

    As Christians we all share the same love for God, the Bible, and Israel. Together we work tirelessly to fulfill God’s purposes. Now let's stand together with God, and His Holy Work and together we will see with our own eyes, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

Amen!

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

.