The Heart of Kings

Proverbs 21:1  

"The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as 

the rivers of water: he turneth it 

whithersoever he will."

     As we near the U.S. Presidential elections in what is spoke of being the most important elections of our times, much is at stake, both for America and for the world. People on both political party's are on edge, worried about what might happen if the opponent wins. Other people have expressed displeasure with either candidate and feel hopeless. There is no better time to remember that no matter who wins the elections in any country, God is the ultimate King. His plans will be carried out and His judgment will be executed. Let’s not lose sight of that.
    All who are eligible must vote. People must do what they can to facilitate what they think is right. Yet, after the ballots are cast, it’s time to hand it over to God. If we are deserving, God can direct any president’s heart in our favor. As we study and judge each candidate, as we should; we must also turn inward and judge ourselves. As believers we must trust that God will do as He sees fit for every nation across the globe no matter who the leader may be.
    Let us use this time to reinforce our belief and trust in the Lord. No person on earth, in spite of titles or honors, gets to run the world. There is only one God, and only He will determine how history will unfold. Only He will lead us to our ultimate destiny in the right way and at the right time.

Amen!

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Taking Responsibility For Others

Esther 8:6  

"For how can I endure to see the evil that shall 

unto my people? or how can I endure to 

see the destruction of my kindred?"

    Noah may have been close to God, but he neglected to care for humanity. He knew about the flood and built the ark so he and his family could survive it. But in all the years that he spent building the ark, Noah never once tried to save others or get them to repent and avert disaster. We also don’t hear Noah asking God to save the people as we do later when Abraham begged God to save the people of Sodom when he understood God’s plans to destroy it.
    The irony is that while Noah was only concerned with his own family’s survival, his downfall came after the flood when he simply couldn’t handle the fact that everyone was gone. He got drunk to escape reality and was discovered naked, in a shameful state, by his sons. There is an old saying, "One who saves only himself, even himself he does not save." 
    There are many characters in the Bible who corrected this wrong; those who took responsibility for the well being of others. Abraham, Joseph, and Moses were all individuals who recognized that we are all part of one whole and we cannot stand by while others suffer. Queen Esther expressed this exact idea when she said to King Ahasuerus: "For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people?" Esther could have said nothing and saved herself, but she recognized that she was part of a greater whole for whom she was responsible.
    Today, we have a similar choice to make. We can take care of only ourselves, even as we are spiritually connected to God, but ignore the plight of others. Or, we can follow the lead of great leaders before us and speak up for the oppressed and take care of the needy around the world.
Amen! 

Reading: (Esth. 8:1-17)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Live Boldly

Proverbs 28:1 

"The wicked flee when no man pursueth: 

but the righteous are bold as a lion."
 

    We must follow in the footsteps of great men and women who had gone before. Abraham, who was willing to leave his homeland for a new unknown place; Moses, who was brave enough to demand that Pharaoh let God’s people go; Mordecai, who refused to bow to Haman; Esther, who was bold enough to approach the king UN-summoned though it could mean her death; Ruth, who had the courage to ask the wealthy widower Boaz to take her as a wife. All of these great biblical figures had courage, lived boldly, and it made all the difference in the world.

    Because of their actions, a new people were formed, a new nation was founded and preserved, and a new family line was formed from which the messiah would come. We all know that those who are wicked are easily frightened because they do not have faith in God. Instead, they live in a scary world where life is vulnerable, random, and devoid of purpose, plan, or meaning. The righteous, on the other hand, know that their lives are in God’s hand. They can live boldly knowing that God has their back.

    In this verse the righteous are compared specifically to a young lion. The young lion is confident because it knows that its father is a full-grown lion, mighty and powerful. Know today that you are a lion or a lioness, son or daughter, of the most mighty King. Live boldly and step out in faith. Where there is trust in God, there is courage, and where there is courage, all things are possible.

Amen!

Ref:(HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

  

Maintaining Good Works

Titus 3:8  

"This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, 

that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain 

good works. These things are good and profitable unto men." 

    It is wise advice that we should try to turn away from controversy and disputations. We can not use such methods of advancing the truth. After all, the Lord’s test is the true one for all teachings which are in question. What is their fruit? "By their fruits ye shall know them." Let us, therefore, cultivate the grace and beauty, the righteousness and purity, of a holy life. Let us yield ourselves to Jesus to be wholly possessed and used by Him; and let our one aim be to get glory for Him and success for His Kingdom. Then our views of truth will become clear and sound, and the beauty of our lives will have the most convincing effect on others. It is better to live a holy life than be a successful disputant. 

Amen!

Reading: (Titus 3:8-15)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Remember God's Protection

Micah 6:5  

"O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, 

and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from 

Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know 

 the righteousness of the LORD."

 

    The king of Moab had hired Balaam to curse the children of Israel in order to weaken them so he could defeat them. However, after several attempts to do so, Balaam was unsuccessful. He was extremely capable of performing this task. Yet, when he wanted to curse God’s chosen people, Balaam couldn’t get the words out of his mouth. Instead, he was forced by God to praise Israel and bless them, furthering their prosperity.

    What an amazing demonstration of how God fights our battles for us! It reminds me of the story of Esther when Haman, who wanted to destroy his archenemy Mordecai, was forced to parade him around town on the king’s horse while Mordecai was dressed in the king’s royal garments. Haman had intended to harm Mordecai; he had already built the gallows on which to hang Mordecai;  but God arranged for Haman to promote Mordecai, and Haman was ultimately hung by the noose made with  his own hands.

    So often we get caught up in worrying about what people say and think about us. We waste so much energy trying to predict what people might say or do to harm us. However, these verses inspire us to leave those things to God. That’s not our job; it’s His. What can we really do about what other people think or say about us anyway? So what is our job? Our job is to be honest, kind, humble, and God-centered.

    Next time you catch yourself worrying about what others might say or think about you, let it go and cast your worries to God. He will fight our battles and ensure justice. Then we can focus on our job and let God do His.

Amen!

Reading: (Num. 22:2-25:9)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Reprove Those Whose Works Deny God

Titus1:15  

"Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that 

are defiled and unbelieving is nothing 

pure; but even their mind and 

conscience is defiled." 

    The teachers, who insisted that men must become Jews before they could be Christians, were always on Paul’s heels, visiting his churches and diverting his converts from the simplicity of the faith.  Such men were to be resisted to the uttermost and sharply rebuked. Where the work of grace is really commenced in the heart, a sharp rebuke will often turn the soul back to God. The gardener must not hesitate to use a pruning-knife, if the well-being of the tree is at stake.
    Note the marvelous power we possess of viewing things in the light or gloom cast upon them from our own temperament. We see life and the world in a glass, colored from within. Oh, that we might possess that pure and untarnished nature that passes through the world like a beam of sunshine, and not being contaminated by nothing! The true test of the knowledge of God is a holy life. The better you know God, the more you will resemble Him; read and compare Ps. 111:1-10; Ps. 112:1-10. The more you are like God, the better you will know Him. 
Amen!

Reading: (Titus 1:10-16)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail

The Cross Life Ministry

Hearing God’s Gentle Whisper

Proverbs: 20:5

"Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;

but a man of understanding will draw it out."

     God has placed our purpose inside our hearts, but it is often hard to grasp. It takes insight and listening in order to draw it out. Every person needs to quiet all the other voices and sounds that impair our godly hearing so that we can hear God’s voice. I can’t help but think of the passage from 1 Kings where Elijah the prophet encountered God following his famous battle with the prophets of Baal. The Bible tells us in 1Kings 19:11-12  "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." It is in the gentle whisper that Elijah finally heard God.
    Today, there is a lot of wind and fire and shaking in our lives. They come in the form of media that bombards us all day long, people who might be interfering a bit too much in our lives, or our own critical inner voice. But if we want to know what God really wants of us, we have to make time to hear His voice above all the rest. 
    If we are quiet enough, we might just hear God tell us to feed the hungry and not just our own voice yelling at us to do the grocery shopping. We may hear God tell us to give charity, instead of hearing our friends tell us about the latest gadget we simply must buy. And if we are connected enough to God’s voice, we may just hear His calling on our life and the purpose we are meant to fulfill. Consider starting today, how we can carve out that "quiet time" so that we can better hear what God has to say to us.

Amen!

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Take Heed To Thyself

1Timothy 4:16  "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine;

continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both

save thyself, and them that hear thee".

    In all Christian service we must set our hope on the living God. Nothing counts apart from God. Prayer implies that all our gifts and efforts cover only a small part of our efficiency. There are infinite resources in God, which He is waiting to employ in human affairs, and of which we fail to sometimes make use of. The Christian worker, therefore, must not only labor and strive, but must hope in the living God, whose saving grace is at the disposal of our faith. The faith exercised by the average man results in obtaining only natural things; the supernatural is secured by the faith of those who have made deep seated discoveries of God, and can therefore make demands on His resources, which are hidden from the princes of this world.
    In order to succeed, we must give ourselves wholly to our work for God. In answer to prayer great gifts had been communicated to Timothy, but he had to give heed to them, use them, and stir up the slumbering embers of the fire, kindled at his ordination. It is worthy of notice that the Apostle’s injunctions do not include a single allusion to priestly or sacramental service, but urge to boldness of character, (1Tim. 4:12); diligent study, (1Tim. 4:13); rigorous orthodoxy, (1Tim. 4:16); and the daily self-watch of the soul, (1Tim. 4:16). Take to heart the blessed assurance of the closing sentence of the chapter. 
Amen!

Reading: (1Tim. 4:9-16)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry  

The End, Better Than The Beginning

 Ecclesiastes 7:1  

"A good name is better than precious ointment; and 

the day of death than the day of one's birth." 

    So what did King Solomon mean when he said that the day of death is better than the day of birth?

 I believe the best way to get an understanding is to relate it to a parable to illustrate the idea.
    A brand new ship was being set off to sea for the very first time. A group of people gathered to send the ship off with great joy. At the same time, an older ship was returning from its final journey. That ship was old and worn, ready to be retired upon its return. While everyone else was cheering on the new ship, only one man happily greeted the old ship.
    The others asked the man why he was more excited about the old ship that would soon be a heap of junk than the new one on its maiden voyage. The man explained that when a ship begins its journey at sea, its future is unknown. It might be overtaken by pirates or it could sink in the middle of the sea. Whether or not the vessel would complete its mission was beyond anyone’s guess. However, when an old ship arrives from sea having successfully completed its mission, then all doubts are removed. The ship was successful and that is reason to be joyful.
    It is the same, when a person is born, we do not know how the person will turn out. But if they have lived a good life, remaining faithful to the Lord, then when their life is complete we can rejoice and be comforted in their successful mission even in the midst of our sorrow and grief.
    Let us remember that as long as we live we are like a ship at sea. It’s up to us to keep the ship on course and to fulfill our respective missions. We determine the success of our life. If we remain focused and resolute, then our final day can be even better than our first.

Amen!

Reading: (Ecc. 7:1-29)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

,

Engraved On Our Hearts

Deuteronomy 4:39-40

"Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God 

in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. Thou shalt 

keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command 

thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after 

thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, 

which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever." 

    There is a big difference between writing and engraving. When a person writes with ink or pencil on a piece of paper, it is possible for the writing to be removed with an eraser or special chemicals. Therefore, the words and the paper remain two separate entities even when they are together. Engraving is totally different. Once something is engraved, it cannot be removed. The words that are engraved become one with the item that they are chiseled into. This should be our goal when it comes to the Word of God. We must engrave it on our hearts to the point where we are one with God’s truth. 
    In Deuteronomy 4:39 we read, "Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else."  Acknowledging something and taking something to our hearts are two different things, and we must do both when it comes to God’s Word. So how do we go from reading something in our Bibles to fusing it with our very beings?  Many helpful strategies have been suggested over the years, such as meditating on or repeating a verse, singing the Word, and asking God for help in integrating His Word into our hearts and into our lives.

    But I’d like to suggest that a great way to engrave His Word is simply by living it.  Live, "love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18).  Model how, "To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). Be a shining example of someone who knows how to "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might" (Deuteronomy 6:5). When we put God’s Word into our actions, we become one with it. So engrave His Word on your heart and let His Word guide you today.   

Amen!

Reading: (Deut. 4:32-40) 

               (Deut. 6:1-25)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Embracing Our Roles

Numbers: 17:9

"And Moses brought out all the rods from before 

the Lord unto all the children of Israel: and 

they looked and took every man his rod." 

    Have you ever looked at another person and wished that you were him or her? Sometimes it feels like when God handed out roles for the play of life, we might have been given our part last. All the good roles were already taken! But as we have learned; "God casts His ensemble perfectly." 

    Two miracles had already occurred, both intended to quiet the rebellion led by Korah. The first came when Korah and the other rebellious leaders were swallowed by the ground while 250 of his followers were consumed by fire. But, Aaron’s offering was accepted by God, proving that he alone was God’s chosen priest. Then, God commanded the Israelites to conduct another “test” to prove Aaron’s status. This demonstration wasn’t merely done to confirm Aaron’s position, it would teach the people something new and something that they desperately needed to learn.
    God told Moses to take 12 staffs, one for each tribe of Israel. On each staff, the name of a tribe leader was inscribed, including Aaron’s name on the staff belonging to the tribe of Levi. Then God told the Israelites they would know His chosen leader by the staff that had sprouted the following morning

    As we might expect, the next morning only Aaron’s staff had changed. Not only had Aaron’s staff sprouted buds, it also produced flowers and fruit. Not only had his staff blossomed miraculously, but each step of the growing process still was evident on the staff. Normally, once flowers emerge, there are no longer buds; once fruit appears, the flowers are gone. However, in this case, buds, flowers, and fruit all co-existed.

    The message that the staff imparted was that while Aaron and Moses were the chosen leaders, all of Israel was part of one team. Just as it takes buds to blossom into flowers and flowers to bring about fruit, each Israelite had an important role to play in order for the nation to thrive. Each role was equally as important and equally as necessary for the final product to emerge. It’s as if God were telling them and us today; "Don’t be jealous, you are all beautiful and important to Me!"

    Next, Scriptures tells us that "each of the leaders took his own staff." In the end, they each had embraced their own roles. Friends, we need to take the lesson of Aaron’s staff into our hearts. We need to know that whatever role we were given to play in life is equally as valuable and beautiful as any other. What is your God given role? Celebrate all that you are and all that you can become. Embrace the amazing person that God created you to be. 

Amen!

Reading: (Num. 18:1-50)

               (Num. 17:1-13)

               (1 Sam.11:14-12:22) 

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 

Jesus Christ Suffered For All

1Timothy 1:15  

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, 

that Christ Jesus came into the world to 

save sinners; of whom I am chief."

      The Apostle breaks off into expressions of heartfelt thanks to God for the abounding grace which had overcome his former willfulness and blindness. Only ignorance could cause his or another one's outrage, and insults toward Christ; "Who was and is the beloved object of our entire Surrender."   He felt that he had been the chief of sinners, because he had sinned against more knowledge and opportunity than others.

      It is only when we see God, that we know ourselves and repent in dust and ashes. The Apostle, however, comforted himself in this at least, that through coming time the most hopeless and abandoned sinners would take heart as they considered his case. "He was a sample of mercy, a specimen of what Christ could do, an outline sketch to be filled in. Believe on Christ. Faith rests on Christ as foundation". 

      We must fight a good fight, run a good race, and finish the course. Then and only then can we say that, we have "War the good warfare, against sin". When we thrust away faith and a good conscience, we stab our pilot and cause a shipwreck."Who concerning the truth have erred. saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some, (2Tim. 2:17). Of whom be thou aware also; for he hath greatly withstood  our words," (2Tim. 4:14).  

Amen  

Reading: (1 Tim. 1:12-20)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Source Of Our Blessings

Psalm 131:2

"Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child 

that is weaned of his mother: my soul 

even as a weaned child"

      Rulers of ancient nations often considered themselves nothing less than gods. Pharaohs had their images forged into idols, and kings throughout history have flaunted their great powers. They believed life and death, wealth and poverty, freedom and slavery, were all in the power of their hands. It’s no wonder these men looked upon themselves as equal to or just below God, and way above all other men.
      In sharp contrast, King David proclaimed in Psalm 131 that he did not share this view in any way. Although he led the mighty army of Israel to countless victories, and even though he was the king of a great nation, David never saw himself as above others. He wrote, LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. (Ps.131:1). King David knew his place he was a servant of God and of His people.
      David depicted his place in the world through an analogy, comparing himself to a nursing baby. Just as a baby is helpless and hungry without his mother, David too was vulnerable and lacking without divine assistance from God. David never thought that he was God; in fact, he knew that he was nothing without God. All that he had and all that he had become were the results of God’s kindness.
      This Psalm ends with David’s directive, that we should put our trust in the Lord because it is only God Who can sustain us. David implied that we are all like nursing babies gaining nourishment from a loving mother. It is foolish to trust in anything else when everything that we could ever need is available from our loving Parent.
      The more the baby wants to nurse, the mother wants to feed. When a child wants to nurse, he feels hunger. But when a mother is ready to feed her child and she can’t, she feels pain. A mother wants nothing more than to nourish her hungry child. God also wants us to be happy and satisfied. But we can only receive sustenance from God as we remain close to Him. We must remember that we are all God’s children, He nourishes us, He sustains us. He alone is the source of all blessings.

Amen!

Reading: (Ps. 131)

Ref: (HG SB)

 May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

Never Give Up, "Get Up"

Ruth 1:7  

"Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, 

and her two daughters in law with her; and they went 

on the way to return unto the land of Judah."

      With her two daughters in law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah. There are three purposes for humanity’s existence in the world: to learn, to serve God, and to fight the fights of life. In regard to this third task, we must remember that there isn’t a fighter who doesn’t get knocked down at one time or another. Every fighter entering the ring knows this will happen. However, as in the boxing ring, it doesn’t matter how many times we hit the ground; what matters is that we get up.
      In the book of Ruth it tells us that with her two daughters in law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road. This part of the story refers to Ruth’s mother in law, Naomi. Naomi had left Judah with her wealthy husband and two sons for Moab because there was a famine in Judah. Naomi’s husband left Judah because he didn’t want the burden of supporting his people even though he had the capability to do so. As divine retribution, first Naomi’s husband died in Moab. Then, after her sons had married, they, too, died. Naomi found herself penniless and bereft. She was at rock bottom.
      Naomi had been knocked down hard. She had gone from a comfortable life as the wife of a wealthy and noble man, to a poor widow who had been married to a man who turned his back on his people. Life knocked her down again when both her sons died leaving her with no means of support. But Naomi got up. She returned to her hometown of Bethlehem in spite of her shame and difficulty.  Job’s wife also lost her children, her wealth, and in the process, she nearly lost her husband. But look at how she reacted. Job’s wife said to him, "Curse God and die!" (Job 2:9). She had completely given up and encouraged Job to do so as well.

      Now consider the conclusion of each story. Job’s wife remains nameless, and she is barely mentioned again, even when a happy ending at the end of the book. But Naomi, she becomes the ancestor of King David! The matriarch of the Messiah! Naomi’s refusal to give up paved the way to redemption. 
      I don’t think that it is by accident that the first thing we do every morning is literally "get up" It is as if God reminds us every day that we can get up in every sense of the word. No matter how bad the day before was or how much we have to face today, we must get up, never give up, and move forward in faith.

Amen!

Reading: (Ruth 1:1-22)

Ref:(HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Charge Against, Idol Words and False Doctrine

Timothy 1:4-5  

"Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister 

questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. 

Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure 

heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:"

      The relation of Paul to Timothy is an example of teaching God's Word and training others to go out and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ as firm believers in sound Doctrine.  "For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church," (1Cor. 4:17). Timothy was young when converted, and was probably about thirty-five years of age when this Epistle was addressed to him. He was enthusiastic and devoted but was of a timid nature, so Paul encouraged the believers of Corinth to except him, (1 Cor. 16:10-11).
      Timothy is warned against the Gnostic heresy, i.e., the heresy of the knowing-ones, who pretended to give revelations about the angels and their ministry, and to bridge the gulf between man and God by a whole series of mysterious imaginary beings. Their teaching led from spiritual pride to sensuality, for they accounted the body as inherently evil. Question? Is this not familiar in our society today? 
      All this was and still is contrary to healthy doctrine. That word sound, or healthy, is peculiar to the Pastoral Epistles, (1Tim. 6:3; 2 Tim. 1:13; 2 Tim. 4:3; Titus. 1:9; Titus. 2:1). It suggests a certain test of the various teachers who cross our paths. The question always is, Do these words of theirs promote the health of the soul, and above all, love out of a pure heart and a good conscience? If Not, My Friend, It's False Doctrine.
Amen!

Reading: (1 Tim. 1:1-11)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

Be A Good Watchman

Ezekiel 3:17  

"Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto 

the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my 

mouth, and give them warning from me." 

      Ezekiel was bitter because of his message, but hot because God’s fire was burning within him. It is a blessed thing for preacher, leader, or Christian worker, when the hand of God is strong upon the soul. But whatever your inward condition, you will never be able to do your best work, unless you can sit where the people sit. In other words you must take their attitude, know by experience their circumstances, and share those same circumstances. We must live very near to God, or we shall never hear the word of His mouth. There is no other way of obtaining messages that will effect His purpose. 

      Ponder again Ezek. 3:17. Then in Ezek.3:20 God is said to lay a stumbling block only in the sense that He has constituted the world in that way. When the prophet went forth into the plain God revealed Himself. Whether He bids us go to the plain, or shut ourselves in the house, the place of obedience and duty will always be the right one for the manifestation of His glory and the communication of His message. The success of a Minister and the Ministry, leader or Christian worker is to be absolutely yielded in thought with the Word of God.   

Amen!

Reading: (Ezek. 3:12-27)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Choose to Be Happy Over Being Right

Proverbs 26:12

"Seest thou a man wise in his own 

conceit? there is more hope 

of a fool than of him."

      "What is the difference between adults and children?" Most answers given are focused on the supposed maturity of adults and silliness of children. However, the answers don't praise adults at all. Because most adults hold grudges while children don’t. 
      If you’ve been around children, you’ve probably witnessed this firsthand. A child can be in a fight with another child one minute and best friends with the very same child a few minutes later. A child can tell his mother that he hates her and then 10 minutes later decide that she is the best mother in the world. On the other hand, if an adult tells you that he or she is no longer speaking with you, chances are 15 years later, you are still not on speaking terms with that person.
      So why is it, that we adults, who are mature, keep grudges while children, who are less mature, are able to let go?  The reason is that children choose being happy over being right, while adults choose being right over being happy. 
      It feels terrible to end a once cherished relationship. It is miserable to go through life not speaking to a family member, an old friend, or a neighbor. But most people would rather be right than to pick up the phone and admit that they were wrong or be the first to make amends. We have a lot to learn from children! 
      This is what King Solomon meant when he wrote: "Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him." How could there be more hope for a fool than a wise person? When we are so attached to being wise in our own eyes, and to being right all the time, there is more hope for a four-year-old who doesn’t know much, but also doesn’t need to be right. Sometimes our attachment to our wisdom can stop us from making intelligent decisions.
      Today, let’s take some time to think about "being right." When do we feel the need to be right? Does it ever get in the way of our relationships at home, at work, or with strangers? Today, practice being kind over being right. And if there is a relationship in our lives that needs mending, let us be brave enough to pick up the phone and call. Choose happiness, choose kindness, and choose life. 

Amen!

Ref: (Prov. 29:20)

        (Luke 18:11)

        (Rom. 12:16)

        (Rev. 3:17)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

A Hard Commission

Ezekiel 2:6  

"And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be 

afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with 

thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not 

afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their 

looks, though they be a rebellious house" 

      The people were hardhearted and their words were harsh, for they were like poison from scorpions. They were a rebellious people. But the prophet was commissioned by God, and therefore went forward on his divine mission undeterred by their opposition. Under such circumstances we must be sure of a "Thus saith the Lord." But no man can stand against the continual opposition of his fellow man, unless his strength is renewed, as Ezekiel’s was, by eating that which God gives. "Open thy mouth, and eat that which I give thee," (Ezek. 2:8).   
      Let us specially consider that our words may be sharper than any two-edged sword. Nothing makes us so strong as feeding upon God's Holy Word and especially on the Word within the words. We must eat the flesh and drink in the life of the Son of man, Then and only then can we deal rightly with the needs of mankind.
Amen!

Reading: (Ezek. 2:1-10)
               (Ezek. 3:1-11)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Give Your Heart To God

Proverbs 23:26

"My son, give me thine heart, and let 

thine eyes observe my ways."

      People can do amazing things. When we were kids, we could memorize all the facts about our favorite baseball player; how many home runs he hit and his batting average. But when it came to memorizing the presidents of the United States or other details in U.S. history, which most of us found boring in the fifth grade, we weren’t quite as successful and could barely remember enough to get a good grade on our tests. Yet when it came to things we cared deeply about, like the lyrics to our favorite songs or details about cars we thought were cool, we could remember almost anything. So what was the difference? Our hearts were in it.
      When our hearts are attached to something, there is no telling what we might accomplish. In other words, when we give our hearts over to God, we are able to follow Him automatically and more powerfully. We are able to accomplish things for God’s glory and overcome temptations that might have otherwise been impossible. The way that a person wants to go, God will help him go there So if a person loves God with all his heart and wants to serve Him, God will help him to do so. 
      We are where our heart is. For this reason, it is so important to love God with all our heart and all our soul. Still, this isn’t always easy to do. Perhaps we are going through a difficult time in our lives, or maybe we are distracted by the material aspects of the world. How can we motivate ourselves to love God powerfully and continually? The answer is to seek out inspiration. We must find something that inspires our love for God. Let’s get in the habit of filling ourselves up with daily inspiration. Give your heart over fully to God, no holds barred. When we do, we will see that we can do things we thought we couldn’t do and accomplish goals we thought unattainable. Nothing is impossible when we’ve given our hearts to God.

Amen!

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

We Are As We Think

Proverbs 23:7

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:

Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but 

his heart is not with thee." 

      We’ve probably all come across the following two types of extremes in people. On the one hand, there’s the person who has everything anyone could ask for and yet, somehow, never seems to be happy. There is always a problem, a complaint, or a worry on their lips. On the other hand, there are people who don’t have easy lives from the start. Yet, they are always full of love, gratitude, and faith.

      The interesting thing is that the circumstances of our lives are less impact than our attitude toward life. Whether or not we are happy has less to do with what we have and more to do with the thoughts we have. Let's think about the phrase; "as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." My friend, our thoughts determine our lives. When a person is ask, "How are you doing today, and they respond with "Lousy"! God say's, 'You call this "Lousy!  I'll show you "Lousy"!  And then that person winds up facing worse things than before. But when the person answers joyfully, “I’m doing great, thank God!” even though he really isn’t doing so well, God says, “You call this good?! I’ll show you good!” And indeed He does.

      Its not that God is being cruel to the person who is going through a rough time. Is that when we focus on the bad, the natural consequence of thinking that things will get worse is that they usually do. If someone wants to find something to complain about, one will find it. One can always find a reason to say that things are lousy. Yet, the opposite is true as well. There is always something to be happy about. Even when times are tough, there is always something for which we can be grateful. And if we focus on the good, God smiles down on us and gives us even more good things to be grateful for in our lives.

      Let’s resolve right now to focus on the good things in ourselves, in our lives, in the people in our lives, and in the world. Let’s thank God for them and praise Him for his mercy and blessings. When we show God that we recognize His generosity and that we are grateful for it, we will be deserving of more blessings.  That's a much better way, to face each waking day.

Amen!

Ref: (Prov. 23:7)

        (Ps. 12:2)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

         

 

All Is Forgiven

Psalm 130:1

"Out of the depths have I cried 

unto thee, O Lord."

      How many people in life are walking around looking for love and forgiveness from their Father in heaven? If you’re like the rest of us, you have probably messed up once or twice in your life. We all make mistakes! Every time we fall, there is the risk that we will be too discouraged to get back up again. The next step after sin is repentance; yet sometimes, we find it hard to move on. 

      What David was referring to was the depths of sin. Sometimes when we sin, we feel so low and so far from God. We feel like we are deep in the gutters of life. How can we possibly climb out? How can we face our God again? We feel distant, unlovable, and unworthy. If we give in to those feelings of unworthiness, we will never be restored to our true selves.

      In Psalm 130 David also reminded us that God is forgiving: "Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption," (Ps. 130:7). God is waiting for us, loving us, and anticipating our return so that He can forgive us. We just need to return to Him. My Friends, let us not forget from where our mercy comes, and Who gave His life on the Cross at Calvary! For Through Jesus Christ All Is Forgiven!!

Amen!

Reading: (Ps. 130)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

We Must Be Humbled

Daniel 4:3  

"How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! 

his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his 

dominion is from generation to generation."

       How great are his signs! Nothing less than a real change of heart could cause such a confession as this! Nebuchadnezzar was now old, had reigned above forty years, and seen as much of the world as most men ever did.  And yet never 'till now, did he admire surprising events, as the signs and wonders of the high God! How gladly worldly men turn in hours of crisis to religious men, who draw upon unseen resources, and bear themselves with calm and unruffled peace, "O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof" (Dan. 4:9). 
      The greatness of the King is set forth under the figure of a mighty tree, filling the earth and sheltering the nations. There was only one Being who came down, combining in Himself watchfulness and holiness, Jesus Christ.  In Dan. 4:17 we learn that no destiny is decided apart from the careful sifting of the celestial council chamber. "This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men."  Thank God For His Heavenly Council! Invite Jesus Christ into your heart, confess that your a sinner, and change your life today!
Amen!

Reading: (Dan. 4:1-18)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Cloud Of Glory

Numbers 9:17

"And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, 

then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and 

in the place where the cloud abode, there the 

children of Israel pitched their tents."

      The Israelites’ journey through the desert is symbolic of our journey through life. Along the way, the children of Israel experienced many divine miracles, as do we. But as we will learn, there are different types of kindnesses that we receive, and we must be grateful for them all.

      One miracle the Israelites experienced while in the desert was the Well of Miriam,  a supernatural well of water that followed them wherever they went, providing life giving water for drinking and washing. Another gift from God was manna, the food that fell from heaven each day, providing every family with the exact amount of sustenance that they needed. These two divine benefits represent God’s daily providence. He gives us our basic necessities day in and day out in order to sustain us on our journey.

      However, there was another kind of supernatural assistance that the Israelites received in the desert. God provided a Cloud of Glory to accompany the Israelites on their journey. When the cloud lifted up, the Israelites would travel. When it rested, the Israelites encamped.

      Cloud of Glory was given purely to make the journey easier. Interestingly, while the children of Israel complained about both the manna and the water during their time in the desert, they never once complained about the Cloud of Glory. This is because while the food and water were necessities that the Israelites could not live without, the Cloud of Glory was a pure gift from God. When it came to their actual needs, the Israelites had plenty to say it’s not good enough, it’s not enough, and so on. But how could they complain about the Cloud of Glory? That was given to them as an unnecessary gift, a gift of love.

      Friends, we are also given our own Clouds of Glory in our journey through life. God gives us so many things that we don’t need, and things that give us comfort and joy. From the colors and textures of the food we eat, to the miracles of modern day technology, we have so many gifts of love. "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; and his love endures forever."  

Amen!

Reading: (Num. 9:15-23)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry