God Will Open The Windows Of Heaven

2 Kings 7:1  

"Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, 

To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour 

be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley 

for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria."

    There is a famine right now over the whole world; a famine of God’s Word. For some years the Church has felt its growing severity, but there are two classes within her borders: they are those who believe that God can open the windows of heaven, and pour down such a blessing that there will not be room to receive it, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it," (Mal. 3:10). And those who, like the unbelieving attendants, mock and ridicule at the hope of the saints. Let us answer the skeptic’s "God Can"! by the positive achievements of faith.
    When God sends blessings to His people, He rarely takes methods that we might expect. Rather, He chooses the weak and foolish things, yes, those that are not, to confound those that are, so as to prevent flesh from glorying in His presence. Whenever, in the first glint of the morning light, you discover the divine answer to your prayers, in all its abundance, do not keep the good news to yourself lest punishment overtake you, but be sure to bear the glad tidings to others. When it is a day of good tidings, be sure to act upon them, in faith and patience, counting it a sin to hold your peace. 

Amen

Reading: (2 Kings 7:1-11)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

How to Treat God’s Words

Deuteronomy 6:7  

"And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt 

talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou 

walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, 

and when thou risest up." 

    Obedience is still the one condition of true prosperity and success. Lands still flow with milk and honey; and they live long who live well. Lives are measured by heart-throbs, and not by figures on the dial.
    There are various methods for maintaining the religious atmosphere: by meditation; by the religious training of children;by the persistent study of Scripture; by spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. When Bibles are scarce, use wall-texts and share in groups; but never substitute other books for the Holy Bible, however sweet, for the whole meal of Scripture.
    Let us not forget how many of our present privileges and spiritual advantages must be credited to the prayers and the tears, the labors and the sufferings, of those who have left these precious inheritances to us, their children and heirs!
Amen!

Reading: (Deut. 6:1-19)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Render Unto The Lord Our Soul

Psalm 116:12  

"What shall I render unto the LORD 

for all his benefits toward me?"

    Have you ever been the beneficiary of such kindness that you simply had no words to thank the giver? How about our parents, our friends and family who have supported and loved us, can we ever thank them enough? How about God, who gave us everything that we have, including our very lives? Can we ever sufficiently thank Him?

    King David found himself asking this very question: "What shall I return to the LORD for all his goodness to me?" King David described a time when he had been close to death and then was saved by God. He said that God stopped his tears from flowing and his feet from stumbling. David ascended the throne after his long running conflict, Saul, was finally dead. At this joyous moment  David was overflowing with gratitude. But how could he, a mere mortal, thank God? What could he give to the One who lacks nothing? 

    David gave back to God in the way that God had prescribed: by bringing Him sacrifices. But what can we, who no longer have the option of bringing sacrifices to the Lord, give to God today? The sacrifices brought to God were not about the meat or wine or flour that was presented to Him. It was about the closeness made possible by the sacrifice. By serving God, the worshiper became closer to Him. As the prophets explained time and time again, God has no desire for mere rituals. What God wants is us.

    God wants our hearts. He wants to be a part of our lives. He wants us to turn to Him in prayer, with our troubles and our gratitude. As our loving Father in heaven, He wants nothing more than closeness with His children. God loves us infinitely, but to have a relationship, we need to love Him back.

    When we offer up our prayers, we bring a gift to God. When we sit and read our Bible, we give a gift to God. When we apply the teachings to our lives and make God the focus of our lives, we give Him great pleasure. God gave us our bodies; we bring Him our soul!
Amen!

Reading: (Ps. 116)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

A Proud Heart Humbled

2 Samuel  24:10  

"And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And 

David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: 

and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of 

thy servant; for I have done very foolishly."

    David was high-spirited and eager to make a fine showing among the surrounding nations, and to impress them with such a conception of Israel’s greatness that they would not dare to attack any point of the long frontier line. He yielded to the temptation of trusting in chariots and horses, instead of in the victories of faith. 

    After the Census was taken David's heart smote him. David realized that he sin greatly in what he had done. He had substituted his own wisdom for divine wisdom. David understood just how foolish he had been, and submitted himself to God’s Punishment. In the scriptures God offered David three choices of punishment. "Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee, (2 Sam. 24:12). 

    God gave David these options for the consequences of his sin: famine, military defeat or pestilence. David fully trusted in God even as he chose, and it is always wise to choose to fall into the hands of God. They are very loving and tender hands. "And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man," (2 Sam. 24:14).    

    My friends, there is a lesson to be learned from David's action. While we may be experiencing God's chastening, we must still rely on His ultimate grace. Trust Him fully, and be committed to Him.

Amen!

Reading: (2 Sam. 24:1-14)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 

 

Our Father and Our King

2 Samuel 6:6-7  

"And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, 

and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the LORD was kindled 

against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; 

and there he died by the ark of God."

    The danger of being too "close" to God.  Aaron’s sons brought an offering to God. The problem is that they brought unauthorized fire before the Lord.  "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not,"(Leviticus 10:1).  As a punishment for approaching God when they weren’t authorized to do so, Nadab and Abihu were struck dead.

    David was bringing the Holy Ark to his city, Jerusalem. During the joyous procession, tragedy struck. A man named Uzzah reached out and touched the ark in order to stabilize it. As a result, Uzzah was killed: The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down. Uzzah showed disrespect for God by touching the ark. "And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation," (Num. 4:15). You see, as one of the priest, he was disobeying God by letting the ark be carried on a cart. How true is that by disobedience of God's specific instructions, one is often led into another error! the ark was supposed to be carried by priest upon staves and poles. (Ex. 25:12-15; Josh. 3:8). 

    David was afraid to have the Holy presence of God beside him. So he sent the ark somewhere else instead. The ark was sent to the home of Obed-edom and remained there for three months. During those three months, the house of Obed-edom prospered and flourished so much that it was obvious to all that the ark had brought the blessings. After that, David relented and joyously brought the ark to his city.

    David learned that there needed to be a balance between closeness to God and reverent separation. To have only fear of God limits the blessings that can come only from having a close and loving relationship with God. But to only love God without any kind of fear or respect diminishes our relationship with Him and can even lead us to sin. God is our loving Father, but He is also our King. As our father, He loves us unconditionally. As our King, we must respect and obey Him. It’s our job to relate to Him in both ways and to keep a healthy balance between the two.

Amen!

Reading: (2 Sam. 6:1-23)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 

Stop Making Excuses

Jeremiah 1:6-7  

"Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt 

go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever 

I command thee thou shalt speak."

    A prophet was a chosen spokesman for God who declared God's Word to the people. The priest duties were predictable. The prophet never knew from one day to the next what the Lord would call him to say or do. The priest work primarily to preserve the past. The prophet labored to change the present so the nation would have a future. Priests dealt with rituals, sacrifices, offerings, services whereas the prophet tried to reach and change hearts. Priests were supported from the sacrifices and offerings from the people. But the prophets had no guaranteed income. 
    Is it any wonder why Jeremiah was reluctant to accept this challenge? Maybe that's why he said, "the task is too demanding," "I'm inadequate for the task," "I'm too young." Jeremiah had every excuse ready when God called him to be a prophet. 
    We all are good at making excuses when it comes to a task we don't want to under take, aren't we? For example: "I don't understand the task," "I have already served, let someone else do it." God may assign you a demanding task, but His call can keep you going when you don't want to go and ready to quit. God has hand picked you and commissioned you to serve. Like Jeremiah, we need to remember that God has a distinct plan and purpose for our life's. My friend, what excuse has prevented you from heeding to God's call? 
Amen!

Reading: (Jer. 1:1-8)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 

           

Why Is Our World So Uncertain

Ecclesiastes 8:7  

"For he knoweth not that which shall be: 

for who can tell him when it shall be?"

    We long for stability and dream of a bright and predictable future for ourselves and others. But for most of us these hopes and desires are far from being realized. Why? Because our world is filled with rapid and perilous change. We fall victim to accidents, acts of violence and natural disasters. Wars and acts of terrorism threaten the soul fabric of society, and makes it harder to achieve the security we seek. 

    Is uncertainty a way of life?  "Yes," just look at our teens and our young adults; they are so afraid that their life will just be blank, and all at once they realize that they are old and missed out on life. So before that happens they end up in gangs, drugs and alcohol. And for the adults they turn to Horoscopes, and Astrology. Some adults turn to astrological readings and attempt to peek into the future; while others read best selling books about the future, hoping that they'll find a light at the end of the tunnel. 

    Why is our world so uncertain? Is nothing predictable? Will we ever discover where this world is going? Most Certainly We Can! And it tells us a great deal about what lies ahead. We can also know the cause of our uncertainty and the turn of events that could change it for the better. 

    Where can we find these answers? My friend, the answers have been waiting for us a long time. They are in the pages of God's Holy Word, The Holy Bible. This is the only book you need to read to find your way and be certain of your future. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Tim. 3:16). 

    Much of the Bible is prophetic. It's prophecies reveal crucial information about the future of mankind. When we realize that the Bible is the Inspired Word of God, then we begin to realize the significance of it's prophecies. My friend, they are reliable because God Himself Inspired Them.

Amen!

Reading: The Holy Bible

Ref: (It's Prophecies)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

        

            

From The Mouth Of The Most High

Lamentations 3:38  

"Out of the mouth of the most High 

proceedeth not evil and good?"

     Words that are similar teach us lessons. This is because our world is filled with hiddenness. Reality is cloaked by superficial appearances, and things aren’t always what they seem. What seems good might actually be bad, while what seems bad is ultimately good. The trick is to maintain a faith perspective. When we have faith, we understand that no matter how bad things may appear, things are always good because everything comes from God. As we read in the book of Lamentations: God gives the orders for all things that happen, and if it comes from God it has to be good, even if it doesn’t seem that way.  
    It’s interesting that from the very beginning of our lives, we experience this hiddenness, this confusion. When we understand the circumstances then hopefully we can understand; "that what looks bad is actually good." Yet, we need to take this perspective throughout our entire lives. We need to know that everything we experience is good.

    The righteous don’t fear "bad" news because they know in their hearts that nothing is truly bad. They recognize that everything comes from God. "Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD," (Ps. 112:6-7).

    But how can we keep our hearts steadfast when going through crisis? We must use our mouths to declare our faith. Even just saying "I believe" will give us strength to keep going with faith. I want to encourage us all to speak words of faith to ourselves and to others. Let’s declare that no matter how things seem, we know that God is in control and has a good plan for us and for the world. 

Amen!

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Overflowing Cup

Exodus 20:1-2  

"And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, 

which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, 

out of the house of bondage."

    Suppose, that there will be a series of questions each person is asked when his or her time on Earth has come to an end. Among those questions are "were you an honest person?" and "did you make time to study God’s Word?" One of them might also be "did you anticipate salvation?" In other words, were you an optimist? Did you anticipate that things could get better and that God would help you? 

    You may be thinking is that really fair? How can God expect us to have a rosy outlook on life all the time? We all know people who seem to be born that way, always smiling, always with a cheerful disposition. But then there are some who seemingly have been born on the opposite end of the spectrum. As one person once said, "I don’t just see the glass as half-empty instead of half-full. I see the glass as half-empty and worry that someone is going to come along and knock it over!" Some people are just drawn toward thinking negatively. Is that wrong? Of course it is! 

    Why? Think about what is not said in this commandment. God does not refer to Himself as the Creator of the world, He commands that we know Him as the God who brought the children of Israel out of Egypt. Why? Because we are commanded to know God not just as the Creator of the world, but as the Savior of our individual lives! 

    We are commanded to believe in a God who hears our prayers and cares deeply for us. We are instructed to believe in a God who can and will help us out of our own personal bondage, our own trials and difficulties. So can God command us to be optimistic about life? Yes, because to believe in the God who took the Israelites out of Egypt is to believe that God can perform miracles for us, too! He expects that level of faith and commitment from us. 

    So next time you come across that glass, don’t see it as half-empty or even as half-full. See it as filling up and believe that it will run over! "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever," (Ps. 23:5-6). 

Amen!

Reading: (Ps. 23)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

God Takes Pleasure In Our Lives

Psalm 37:18  

"The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: 

and their inheritance shall be for ever." 

     God takes pleasure in our lives. In each He is working out a plan. Even our failures do not turn Him away from us, for He keeps fast hold of our hands.  Long after His people have passed home, God sees to their children. If they follow in their parents ways, they are borne along in the stream of  Heaven sent care; but obviously they may depart from it. What precious promises in Ps. 37:28, 31, 33, 37, 39 and 40! Never forsaken! Always sure of an Advocate in the Divine Presence! Not left to the mercy of our foes! Safely housed in the time of need! Dying in peace! Such are the blessings which accrue to the servant of God. Such has been the observation of one no longer young. "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread," (Ps. 37:25). 
    When taunted, persecuted, and desperate, go into a silent place and lift your tear stained face to God. He understands the unspoken language of sighs and tears. Do not hurry Him; He has ages to work in. Wait patiently and rest in God. 

Amen!

Reading: (Ps.37:18-40)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

A Gentle Whisper

1Kings 19:9 

 "And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, 

behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he 

said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?"

    Elijah the prophet is running for his life, trying to escape the persecution of the wicked Queen Jezebel. He finds himself on Mount Sinai, and God tells him to stand in the middle of the mountain where he will experience the Lord. What did God do next? 

    There was a great wind, followed by the shaking of the ground, followed by a blaze of fire. All fantastic and wondrous! God moved heaven and earth! But God was not in the wind, earth, or fire. Instead, Elijah heard a soft, still voice, and that was where he encountered God. "And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:  And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice, (1Kings 19:11-12).  

    This passage is teaching us that, as great as moments of revelation and inspiration can be, they are not where we will find God. It’s wonderful to be moved by a beautiful sunset or to be awed by a powerful thunderstorm. They may make us feel more connected to God and inspire us to change. But that’s not where we encounter God in the deepest way.

    We truly encounter God where we are least expecting it, in the store, at a business meeting or sitting around the house with our family. It’s the quiet moments in life where we choose to follow God’s Word; that’s where we truly encounter God.

    As you go through the day, keep an ear out for that "gentle whisper" guiding you and commanding you as you go through life. When you hear God’s voice and choose to obey His laws, you will have found Him, no matter where you may be. Nothing is more sensational than that! 

Amen!

Reading: (1Kings 19:1-18)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

God Has No Desire For Empty Rituals

Jeremiah 7:22-23

"For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I

 brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or

 sacrifices: But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my

 voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people:

 and walk ye in all the ways that I have  commanded

 you, that it may be well unto you."

     The goal of serving God is to become a better person. The priest had totally missed the point.

There is a warning in this message. The warning is about serving God! It's about all of the sacrifices that could be brought to God and the closeness that man could achieve with God.
    In the reading we discover that the whole system had become corrupted. The sacrifices themselves had become the focus, instead of service to God. In essence, God says to the people, keep your sacrifices: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves! God has no desire for empty rituals. So what does God want? He wants us! "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh," (Jer. 7:21). 

    While God did, in fact, give the Israelites commandments regarding sacrifices, the sacrifices alone weren’t what He truly desired. The goal of the sacrifices was to bring the people closer to God. But the people in Jeremiah’s time had missed the whole point. While there is no longer sacrifices brought to God in the Temple, we can still learn from the transgressions of others and avoid the spiritual pitfalls that have claimed the spiritual lives of many. 

    We must not ever lose sight of our goal to truly serve God! We cannot just go through the motions. This means that when we pray, our prayers have to be sincere and heartfelt. God has no need for lip service. When we study the Bible, the words need to be taken to heart.  As importantly, when leading a God-centered life, we have to be careful not to shove anyone else aside or step on others in order to "serve God."

Amen!

Reading: (Jer. 7:1-28)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Whole of the Parts

Exodus 35:1  

"And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children 

of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the 

words which the LORD hath commanded, 

that ye should do them."

    We all know that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, but it is equally true that the value of the whole is completely determined by the value of its parts. So which is more important the whole or its parts? Do we teach ourselves and our children that individual needs should be set aside for the sake of the community? Or do we stress the value of individuality and emphasize the uniqueness and specializes of each person, created in the image of God? Every individual is important and unique, an indispensable part of God’s creation. Life teaches us that both perspectives are correct. One without the other is incomplete.

    Try this: keep two pieces of paper in either pocket every day. In one pocket, the paper should read: “The world was created for me!” In the other, “I am but dust and ashes.” Together, both of these outlooks keep a person balanced. The tricky part is knowing when to pull out which piece of paper. Some situations call for individual expression, while others call to be submissive. With God’s help, we will know which situations call for which approach.

    This message teaches us that we need to spend time every day addressing both our individual needs and also the needs of the world around us. We must begin each day by asking both "what do I need today?" and also "what can I contribute to the world?" If we do so, we will end each day with the satisfaction that comes with knowing that we have both contributed to the perfection of God’s world while also taking care of ourselves, God's children.

Amen!

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

More Important Than Knowledge

Psalm 111:10 

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: 

a good  understanding have all they that do his 

commandments: his praise endureth for ever."

    Fear of God precedes wisdom. Is it more important than knowledge?  I believe it to be so. Why?  Suppose you're in a life threatening situation. What is the most important thing you need to know? How to survive right? Everything else won't matter, your expertise, all the history math and science you have mastered won't be worth a flip unless it will help you out of a perilous situation. Only after you have figured out how to save yourself and out of harms way, is that knowledge worth any thing at all.

    Fear of God in the spiritual realm is like knowing how to save yourself in the physical sphere. You ask, How? When you come into this world there are inherent risks involved. We can rise to great spiritual heights if we pursue a life of godliness, or we can sink to the lowest levels if we pursue a life of immorality.

    We are indeed in great danger from the very moment we are born; spiritual danger, that is. And that is the most serious danger of all because the spiritual world is eternal and whatever happens to us spiritually last forever. This is why "Fear of God" is most important. It must precede any other kind of wisdom, because without it all other knowledge is irrelevant. Fear of God puts everything else in life into perspective. 

    Only by making Him the center of your life and by judging your actions by His standards is all other wisdom worth while. "Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly," (Prov. 2:5-7).  

Amen!

Reading: (Prov. 2:1-11)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

     

   

        

             

Moving Forward

Deuteronomy 6:18  

"And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight

 of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that 

thou mayest go in and possess the good land 

which the LORD sware unto thy fathers," 

    Remember if you are moving forward from a broken relationship, disappointments, shame or moving away from sin, God has a plan for you. His plan for you is not in the past, it's in the future.Your old life is gone, your new life is in Christ. Now it's time to move forward. Imagine if Peter, Paul, David and more never moved on from their past. They would not have went on to do great things for the Lord.
    Christians, we must set aside the extra baggage, it will only slow you down on your walk of faith. Just think how much more will the blood of Christ cleanse you of all unrighteousness? If your taking a test you are not going to keep looking behind you. If your running a race you are not going to keep looking behind you. Your eyes will be fixed on what is in front of you. Keeping your eyes on Christ is your goal.
    Allow the love of Christ to compel you to keep going forward. Trust in the Lord, Cry out to God for help for whatever is bothering you. Ask the Lord to help you move forward. Allow Jesus Christ to be your motivation. What's in the past is in the past, leave it there! Don't Look Back Move Forward!
"The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger," (Job 17:9).
Amen!

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

   

Question Of Direction

Jeremiah 6:16  

"Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, 

where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest 

for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein."

     The word "Direction" is not used much in the Bible, However when it speaks of God's Direction the word "Paths" is used. In this article, I will use the word direction in place of paths in some areas. I'm talking about direction being the correct way to get to a destination of your choice or the destination that you are to go to.
    When we crossed from Saudi Arabia into Iraq, My destination was straight for Baghdad which is on the Tigris River. After that we had to turn and go toward Kuwait. I say we, because I was assigned to lead the Brigade Combat Trains to both destinations and I had to go a certain direction to get there and that was by phase lines and call in check points. All I had was a map of the Iraq dessert, a compass and the Grace of God. I Chose God!
    My friends my point is; God orders our steps to the paths He has given us to take and all slopes outside His paths are a very slippery slope for sure. I'm sure that one time or another we all have veered off course and got on the wrong path, and to some they have enjoyed that worldly path more.  "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein," (Jer. 6:16).
    The path that is enlightened by dawn is one that will continually shine brighter and brighter as the day progresses, so too is the path of righteousness. My friends, all hazards can be avoided by the light of His righteousness for we who have trusted in Christ walk no more in darkness. "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day," (Prov. 4:18).
    By following God's ordered foot steps, We stayed on path no matter what was before us, and our Mission was completed with no severe casualties, Only By The Grace Of God! 
Amen!

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

        

God Loves You!

Leviticus 1:1  

"And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake 

unto  him out of the tabernacle  of

the congregation, saying,"

    There is one word we hear every day, Our name. However, every time it's said it doesn't carry the same meaning. Let's say your name is Janet. There's a "Janet that is said sweetly and means "I love you." Then there is a "Janet" that is said sternly and means "You're in big trouble." There can also be the "Janet" said pleadingly that might indicate that someone is about to ask for a favor. There are many meanings to any name depending on how it is said.

    God was speaking directly to Moses. In fact this is recorded no less than fifty times in the book. Speaking face to face with Moses distinguished Moses from the prophets who followed him. Every time God Communicated with Moses whether it was expression, "He spoke, He said, or He commanded." It was always preceded by first God calling Moses by name, because by calling him by name was an expression of affection. When God called Moses' name it wasn't to get his attention, punish him or ask for a favor. When God Called Moses' name it was to tell him that He loved him. Only then would God go into what was at hand. First came the love everything else came second.

    My friends, God's love for us comes before any thing else. God's love is unconditional and unwavering. "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee," (Jer. 31:3). It is important for us to teach our children to Love God, but it's even more important to teach them how much God Loves them. People who know they are loved by God know that they are valuable and lovable no matter what anyone else says. They will have the love to pass on to others and give back to God. Remember, God Loves You! More than any of us will every know. 

Amen!

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

   

    

            

On Which Side We Fall?

Prov. 11:3  

"The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the 

perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them."

     The Spirit of God is the only guide that believers should adhere to, for all truth, and walk after Him and not after the flesh. The upright man has the word of God as the lamp to his feet and a lamp for his paths. Next to that is the sincerity and uprightness of his heart, which will not suffer him, knowingly and willingly, to go aside into crooked paths: My friends,  integrity of heart and innocence of hand go together; such are the followers of the Lamb. "These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb," (Rev. 14:4).

    The perverse ways of transgressors are words, and actions of such as transgress the law of God,  and deals treacherously with God and men, that shall be their ruin: the perverse doctrines and worship of the man of sin, and his followers, shall bring destruction upon them. "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God," (2 Thess. 2:4).  My friends, Today let us all do our own integrity check and see;  "on which side we fall."

Amen!!

Ref: (HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

The Good News About Bad News

Psalm 112:6-7 

"Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be

 in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of 

evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD." 

    Picture this: You are invited to a party by a friend, and as you arrive, you are greeted with big smiles and gracious hospitality. there is a lot of food and every one is dressed in their best attire, every thing looks perfect. There is just one problem; you don't know who the party is for. So you ask your friend what are we celebrating? "He answers: I lost my job today!"  

    This may seem a little strange and out of place, However, this kind of response to bad news is appropriate. We are taught that we should be grateful for the bad stuff in our life as much as we are for the good things. But when we have faith that things will turn out OK when things happen, Can we actually be thankful? I say, Yes!  "A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!" (Prov. 15:23)

    Thank of a time when you had "bad" news, and in the long run it turned out to be good or even the best news. Can you think of someone that lost their job, but latter they found even a better one. We won't always be able to understand how the bad things can be good for us. But we can known deep in our hearts that God wants the best for us so we can serve Him better. Knowing that everything in our lives is a part of God's plan helps us to celebrate the good with the bad.
Amen!

Reading: (Ps. 112:1-10)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

    

Weary For God

Isaiah 43:22  

"But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; 

but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel."

    Tired is one of the most used words in our vocabulary. But in reality there are "Two kinds of tired." There is "Good tired and Bad tired." The bad tired is when we feel overburdened and overworked. It is the fatigue that comes with the backbreaking labor or a restless night of sleep. We feel drained or even depressed. Good tired on the other hand is the feeling of sleepiness, but also a great sense of Joy. It's the kind of tired we feel after putting time and effort into the things we love, our family and friends, a great achievement or even work, if it's something that speaks to our soul. 
    In our fast moving society, chances are we are going to get overtired once in a while. The question is what are we getting tired for? Are we experiencing good tired or bad tired? Are we putting time and energy into things that enhance our soul? Or our we spending our energy on resources  and pursuits that leave us empty and unfulfilled on the inside?

    Here in Is. 43, God was asking the people "why" they weren't spending their energy on Him. Apparently the service to God had become to burdensome for the people. The Israelites had stopped bringing sacrifices and serving God. This alone should remind us how important it is to make time to serve God, no matter if it means getting weary and tired.
    Thank about it: Most of us would be willing to be a little tired on Monday, when we go to a late movie on Sunday. There are a lot of things we might do in the name of "fun." But what are we willing to do in the name of God! Can we push ourselves to go out at night to Bible Study? Can we get up early in the Morning to Pray? Maybe we could help someone or keep a lonely person company. God knows we are busy, and yes, sometimes tired. There is good tired, bad tired, and there is God tired. My friends being tired for the sake of God is the best kind of tired. It's being tired with Joy.
Amen!

Reading: (Is. 43:1-28)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry