An Act Of Faith

Joshua 2:1  

"And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men 

to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. 

And they went, and came into an harlot's house, 

named Rahab, and lodged there." 

    "To view the land" was a hazardous undertaking. The writer does not commend Rahabs mode of life nor her lies.  Her morality was faulty enough, but beneath it, slowly smoldering, was a spark of pure love and faith, and this would consume the rubbish and burn clear, "By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace," (Heb. 11:31).
    The stalks of flax that she hid them under were probably laid out on the roof to dry, and a perfect place for them to wait out the search for them. Rahab believed, of the wonders wrought in Egypt, that Jehovah was the true God, and that His word was sure.  Her faith proved itself in her works, in her efforts to save others, and in the confidence with which she rested behind her scarlet cord. 
    The possibility that she was sneered at and persecuted is quite likely, but she persisted and became an ancestress of Christ, "And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;" (Mat. 1:5).  How faith strengthens the soul!  "Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?" (Jam. 2:25). 
Amen!

Reading: Josh. 2:1-19
Ref:
HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Be Strong In The Lord

Ephesians 6:16  

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith 

ye shall be able to quench all the 

fiery darts of the wicked."

    Many of us would be strong, but fail because we forget that we can be effective only "in the Lord, and in the strength of His might."  Paul had a very vivid conception of the powerful forces that are arrayed against the Church. He is not dealing here especially with our personal temptations, but with those hosts of wicked spirits that lie behind the evil of the world. There are extensive systems which oppose the gospel: the philosophies, temples, and priests of false religions; impurity, and like evils; are agents of evil spirits in arms against God.
    My Friends, You as well as I have had many doors opened unto as believers in Christ. But once that door was opened there were many adversities waiting to strike. But only through our Faith, and God's Strength and Guidance did we make our way through those doors of opportunity. Let us not forget to take up our shield of faith daily.       
Amen!

Reading: Eph. 6:16-20
Ref: HG SB 

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

         

Be An Example

1Timothy 4:10  

"For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because 

we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of 

all men, specially of those that believe." 

    In our 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 unlimited resources in God, which He is waiting to employ in human affairs, and of which we fail to make use of. 

    The Christian worker, must not only labor and strive, but also 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 profound discoveries of God. 

    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.

    My Friend's we must give all we have faithfully to our Lord. and as Timothy, "stir up the those slumbering embers of  the fire."
Amen!

Reading: 1Tim. 4:6-16
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Don't Miss Your Crown!

1 John 5:4, 5  

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this 

is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that 

"believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

     God's word is the communication, in regeneration, of the divine nature, of which the first evidence is His love. His love is not a weak sentimentality, but a, strong, vigorous response to the motions of the divine love.

    God's life manifest itself in the soul through our faith, and faith is the substance of the unseen (ie) "the eternal world."  My Friend, if you are a Christian or a young Believer, You Must understand these two verses;  "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither know him. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God," (John 3:6, 9).  If you take these two verses as a contradiction; that it is not possible for those who are really born again to sin,  then there must be very few genuine Christians.

    God is ever bearing witness to the Son by the eternal life that He gives to and maintains in those who believe. Eternity begins even here for those who have the Son as their indwelling guest. Let your faith entwine around the risen Lord and you will be weaned from all else. Jesus must become all-in-all to you, else you will miss the crown!
Amen!

Reading: 1 John 5:1-12
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 
 

A Fortress of Faith

Psalm 94:21-22

"They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous,

and condemn the innocent blood. But the LORD is my defense; 

and my God is the rock of my refuge."

    In Psalm 94, the psalmist described a situation that didn’t look good: "They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous,and condemn the innocent blood." The situation appeared hopeless. Even as an angry and evil mob converged against defenseless innocents, the psalm writer vowed, "But the LORD is my defense, and my God is the rock of my refuge."  Even when the situations in our life appear hopeless and we can’t see a way for them to work out, the psalmist encourages us to have faith anyway.

    It’s one thing to have faith when everything is going well in our lives. Sure, things can change on a dime, but who stays up at night worrying about putting food on the table, when they have a stable job? It’s another thing to have faith in God when there is no money in the bank and no bread on the table. 

    This psalm reminds us that in even the most hopeless of situations, we are not allowed to lose our faith in God. In fact, it is our very faith that has the power to turn around the worst situation and to bring about the greatest miracles.

    Let our faith be our fortress. When life rains down all kinds of problems on us, when it thunders and pours, let us take refuge in our faith. We don’t need to know how God will take care of us; we only need to believe that He can and will!! 

Amen!

Reading: Ps. 94: 19-23

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr. 

The Cross Life Ministry 

Depend On God

Deuteronomy 17:16  

"But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, 

to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath

said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way." 

    Regulations are set up for reasons, and each one has a specific detail that it addresses. If we could really understand God's Regulations and understand the purpose of each one, maybe we would understand that it's possible to actually "Depend On God."  Let's look how God used His Regulations to show the children of Israel that could always depend on Him.
    Now the regulations mentioned in (v16), namely the multiplying of horses and wives, were set up so that the King's attention would not be turned from God and to rely on himself, or worse, on idols. God specifically commanded that the children of Israel rely on Him when it came to military endeavors, and not on horses or chariots.  "And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire." (Josh. 11:6).    

    The example of God destroying the Egyptians in the Red Sea was intended to show Israel that having horses for the purpose of building military strength was unnecessary as long as they trusted in God. When Elisha and his servant was surround by the armies of Aram. God opened the eyes of the servant so that he could see God's army of chariots surrounding the Aramean forces. 
    My Friend's God was providing His watchful care over His servants. God wants His servants today to "Depend On Him" just as Israel did, and not on what man can do! Now is the time when we must truly put our trust in God, and "Depend On Him." 
Amen!

Reading: (Ex. 15:19, 21)
               (Deut. 11:4)
               (Ps. 33:17; 147:10)
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

    

Why The Second Set Of Stone Tablets?

Deuteronomy 10:13:

"To Keep the commandments of the Lord, and

his statutes, which I command thee

this day for thy good?"

    God told Moses to hew out two tablets of stone just like the first, and to make an Ark of shittim wood. He wrote the same commandments on the second set of stone tablets, that was on the first set that Moses broke. However, this time as God commanded, Moses placed the tablets in the ark that he was instructed to make.

    God's rewriting of His Law was a demonstration of His forgiveness. The ark of the covenant made of wood, is a symbol of  "humanity" and covered with gold  "deity." It is believed by some to be a symbol of Jesus Christ in who full humanity and full deity were combined, "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily," (Col. 2:9). 

    My Friend's, even though we now live under God's Grace, through His Son Jesus Christ, who gave His life for our sins.  Actually, I must say for those who accept and believe that Jesus Christ Is The Saviour Of the World. We Must not ignore God's Ten Commands! Just because they were written under the old convent as a guide line of obedience dosen't mean that God is just going to forget His Commandments, after all He did write the same commandments twice. 

Amen!

Reading: Deut. 10:1-5

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

     

       

The Bronze Snake

Numbers 21:8 

"And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent,

and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that

every one that is bitten, when he

looketh upon it, shall live.

    The people were plagued by serpents for some time, because the Lord did not take away the serpents as they had requested. It is likely that they carried the brazen serpent with them, setting it up wherever they camped. It was placed in a permanent location once they enter into the land. However, it was later destroyed by King Hezekiah because the people had begun to worship it. "He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan," (2 Kings 18:4). 

    The brazen serpent is a type of Christ, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life," (John 3:14, 15), and since a crossbeam was likely needed to support the snake, the pole is considered by some to be a symbol of the Cross. The Jews themselves claim that faith in God, and not the mere sight of the brazen serpent, was what healed. 

    Such faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is the way of salvation and it is attested by both Old and New Testaments, "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else", (Is. 45:22). "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God," (Heb. 12:2).  My Friend's, let us not forget the meaning of the Cross and the suffering that was undertaken by our Saviour Jesus Christ! 

Amen!

Reading: (Num. 21:4-9)

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

.   

 

 

Is Being Presumptuous And Self-Confident A Sin?

Numbers 14:44  

"But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless 

the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, 

departed not out of the camp." 

    There are actually ten instances recorded in Scripture which involve Israel and their exodus from Egypt. There were two temptations at the Red Sea (Ex. 14:11; Ps. 106:7); demanding water twice (Ex. 15:23; 17:2); demanding food twice (Ex. 16:20, 27); demanding flesh twice (Ex. 16:3; Num. 11:4); the incident with the golden calf (Ex. 32); and the incident with the twelve spies (Ex. 13).
    We cannot wonder at the people’s murmuring. They were unaccustomed to the fatigues of the desert, and had not realized the length of the journey.  Now they had two reports from the twelve spies that searched the land. The first was a negative report. The people where told there were giants and the land had eaten up the inhabitants thereof. The second report came from Joshua and Caleb, and they said the land was good. "If the Lord delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it to us (v8), and only rebel not against the Lord" (v9).  But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. 
    Needless to say, the congregation that was  gathered God consumed along with the men that brought the evil report with a plague.  However, the next morning the children of Israel rose early and gathered at the top of the mountain, saying, "we be here and will go up unto the place which the Lord hath promised: for we have sinned" (v40).  Remember they were told that they would not possess the promise Land and their carcasses would fall in the wilderness and your children shall wonder in the wilderness for forty years. 
    They presumed to up into the land, but the ark of the covenant of the lord and Moses did not depart from the camp.  Needless to say the Amalekites and the Canaanites smote them and discomfited them (v45).  My Friend's let us look at this as a lesson not just on an individual basis, but as a Nation, State, City and Church. The Children of Israel added the sin of presumptuous self-confidence to their unbelief.  I Pray that all of us, "Believe And Trust In God."  
Amen!

Reading: Num. 14: 1-45
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

            

Accountable For The Words We Speak

Numbers 11:18  

"And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, 

and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, 

saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well 

with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will 

give you flesh, and ye shall eat." 

    When the people were obedient to God, they enjoyed His blessing and protection, but disobedience brought His judgment. Despite the wonders that God performed on Israel's behalf, they were ready to return to Egypt on several occasions. Because of their unbelief, it was easier to get Israel out of Egypt than to get Egypt out of the Israelite's.  

    God held the Children of Israel accountable for the words they spoke:  It began with the discontent and complaining from, "the mix multitude and the Children of Israel" as they wept and said,"who will give us flesh to eat." You see they had gotten tired of gathering manna that God had been providing and were saying  "why come we forth out of Egypt."  They had forgotten why they had fled from Egypt, because nothing but food was on their mind. Therefore, God answered their cry.
    God told them that they would not eat one day, nor two days, nor 5, 10 or 20 days; but a whole mouth! Here is what God said,  "But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?" (Num. 11:20).
    Here was God's answer to the Israelite's cry for flesh to eat. "And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.  And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted," (Num. 11:33-34).
 My Friend's, let us not doubt the power of the words we speak. Most people don't even here what we speak and probably don't care; However, God hears all and cares about all! So I would watch what I spoke, because God is listening, and God will hold people accountable for the words they speak!
Amen!

Reading: Num. 11:1-35 
               Prov. 5:21
               Matt. 12:36,37
               Heb. 4:13
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr. 

The Cross Life Ministry  

Prayer And The Hidden Well

Genesis 21:17  

"And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God 

called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What

aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard 

the voice of the lad where he is."

     In this hidden well, which Ishmael's prayer uncovered, lies many a true lesson, if only we have the right sort of pitcher to dip and draw.  How did the well come to be, just where and when it was wanted? The Arab shepherds who dug it never meant it for wandering travelers, but for their own flocks. God guided the steps of Hagar to it.  Life is full of hidden wells, stored up blessings, ready at the right moment to supply the answer to prayer. God foresees our prayers as well as our necessities.
    Our encouragement to pray is not our own goodness, but God's. We plead not the name of Abraham, or of any earthly parent or friend, but the name of Jesus, God's own dear Son.  Learn from this story not to think little things of no importance, and not to be afraid to pray to God about little things as well as great. 
    There are two reasons which prove that God does attend to little things: (1) He has made many more little things than great, and has made the greatest things to depend on the least; (2) God is so great, that the difference between what we call great and little is to Him as nothing; and He is so wise, that nothing, not a thought or atom, is small enough to escape His eye.
    Prayer itself is a hidden well; a secret source of strength and joy and wisdom, not only in times of trouble, but always.  Do not wait for trouble to drive you to prayer, but say, like the Psalmist, "O God, Thou art my God, early will I seek Thee." 
Amen!

Reading: Gen: 21:15-21
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Blessing of Praying for Others

Genesis 20:17

"So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed

 Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; 

and they bare children."

    When we pray for another person, we often are rewarded with that same request. In this case, King Abimelech, his wife, and their female slaves were unable to have children. Abraham prayed for them, and they were able to conceive. The next thing we hear about is the miracle of Isaac’s birth. By praying for others, Abraham had his deepest prayer answered, too.

    A question that one might ask?  Does this work even if a person prays for a friend only so that they themselves will receive equal benefits? Abraham’s prayers were selfless and sincere. Does it work when the prayer serves a selfish agenda? What would you answer?

    I say,  “Yes.” Let me explained it this way: God is the source of all blessings. But there needs to be a channel that is able to bring God’s blessings into the world. One such channel is prayer. When we pray, we connect ourselves to God. When we pray for a friend, we become the channel that connects our friend to God. When God sends down the requested blessings, we are inevitably filled with those same blessings, too. 

    Here is an analogy to help us understand this concept: Grass needs water, but in order to receive it, the water has to travel through a hose. Since the hose is the channel for the water to reach the grass, it can’t help but get wet itself. Similarly, when we ask for blessings on others, we are touched by the blessings as well. 
    What a powerful way to give and receive! We usually think of giving and receiving as two separate experiences: giving benefits others, while receiving is good for us. But here we learn that the two acts can become one. By praying for others who need what we need, we can give and receive at the same time! But don’t take my word for it. Try it out yourself!

Amen!

Reading: Gen. 20:1-18; 21:1-7

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

Abraham Bargains With God

Genesis 18:23

"And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also 

destroy the righteous with the wicked?"

    When God decided to destroy the city of Sodom, He informed Abraham about His plan. After all, Abraham would be God’s partner in perfecting the world. He deserved to know. Abraham didn’t want to see the death of his fellow human beings, especially the good ones. So he prayed on their behalf and tried to bargain with God. The conversation went something like this: 

    Abraham: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?" What if there are 50 righteous people in Sodom? Will you save them all?  God: Yes. Abraham: What if there are only 45? God: Yes.  Abraham: How about 40? God: Yes. 30? Yes. 20? Yes. Ten? Yes.    Abraham struck a deal. If there were only 10 righteous individuals in Sodom, God would save the entire city. Unfortunately, even 10 righteous people could not be found, and the city was destroyed. So why are we given the details about Abraham’s attempt to save Sodom? Wouldn’t it have been enough to say that Abraham prayed on their behalf?

    Everything in the Bible, and every detail is provided for a reason. It has something to teach us about how we should live. In this case, Abraham’s conversation with God is a lesson on achieving goals. 
     Abraham approached God with great apprehension when he presented his request. He knew that he was asking a lot. But ultimately, Abraham was successful in achieving his goal. How? By breaking it down into smaller, bite-sized, mini-goals. First, Abraham’s goal was to have God agree to spare the city for the sake of 50 good men. Once he secured that agreement, he went to the next goal, 45 men. In small steps, he progressed toward his ultimate goal of 10 men. Had he tried for just 10 men in the beginning, Abraham might not have succeeded. 
    Do you have a great goal that you want to achieve? Try to reach it the Abraham way. Don’t go for the whole goal right away. Instead, break it down into small, easy steps, and take the journey one step at a time. Celebrate each achievement and recognize every milestone along the way. Keep putting one foot in front of the other, and before you know it, you’ll arrive at the finish line. 

Amen!

Gen: 18:16-33

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Stay On The Move

Genesis 12:10

"And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went 

down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the 

famine was grievous in the land."

    God promised Abraham, if he took up the challenge to journey to this new land. God would bless him and make him into a great nation. He would be the recipient of many a blessings. 
    Abraham listened to God’s promises and made the difficult move to an unknown land. And then what happened? He wasn’t there very long and "there was a famine in the land.” Abraham had no choice but to move to Egypt.  What happened to the blessings that God had promised?  Abraham kept his part of the bargain. Why didn’t God keep His?  Now don't that last statement sound familiar. 

    Abraham didn’t know God’s plan. He didn’t know what was really good for him or what was really bad. All he knew was that God had made a promise and that somehow it would be fulfilled. Ultimately, Abraham and Sarah come out of Egypt, completely unharmed, and now, very wealthy. 
    Friends, when life takes us on all sorts of strange twists and turns, let us remember that it’s not we who are driving the car. The Lord Almighty is guiding us, and He knows exactly where we need to be. Sometimes it seems that things aren’t going the way that they should be, but we must have faith that it’s all part of God’s plan. Our job is to stay on the right road and stay on the move, and trust God to take care of the blessings. 

Amen!

Reading: Gen. 12:10-20

HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

God's Sign Language

Genesis 18:1-2 

"And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat 

in the tent door in the heat of the day; And he lift up his eyes and 

looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw 

them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, 

and bowed himself toward the ground," 

     One of our desires as believers is to understand how God communicates with us. I'm sure all of us have been told by others, how they know when God communicates with them. Most of them probably said their communication with God was: A warm feeling would come over them, a confirmation through Scripture, a vision, a dream or just a gut feeling. However; throughout Scripture God used sign language. These signs were something that could be seen and were real.

    After God appeared to Abraham, three men, who we later discover are angels appeared to him as well. Later, those same angels appeared to Lot, Abraham’s nephew living in Sodom. When Hagar and Ishmael were banished from Abraham’s house and found themselves on the brink of death in the desert, an oasis appeared before Hagar and they were saved. Finally, just as Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Isaac, he was told to stop and a ram appeared which Abraham sacrificed instead.

    In most of these stories, the appearance of a person or a thing was followed by immediate action. Abraham saw three travelers, so he ran to invite them in to be his guests. Lot did the same. When Abraham saw the ram, he understood that he was meant to sacrifice it to God.

But the story line changed somewhat when it came to Hagar. In her case, before the oasis appeared, God had to "open her eyes" (Genesis 21:19). It seems that not all appearances are apparent. Sometimes, we have to open our eyes to see them. 

    Imagine what might have happened if Abraham had not taken notice of the three strangers passing by his home? He never would have had his life changing encounter with those messengers of God. What if Hagar was unable to see the spring of water in the desert? She and her son would have surely died. Everything that shows up in our lives is sent to us for a reason. It’s up to us to open our eyes and read God’s messages.

    My Friend's consider what message God might be sending to us. Maybe there’s someone we can help, or a situation that we can address. What opportunities are present? Take advantage of them. What challenges do we see? They are there to help us grow.  God shows up in our lives every single day. The question is: Do we see Him?

 Amen!

Reading: Gen. 18, 21

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross life Ministry

 

        

Turning Moments Into Eternity

Psalm 93:2

"Thy throne is established of old: 

thou art from everlasting."

    We talk about eternity a lot. God is eternal. The soul is eternal. The afterlife is eternal. But do we really understand what eternity means? How can we, who live in a world where everything is temporary, really understand the concept of eternity? 
    Imagine a beach next to a great ocean. On the beach there is a pile of sand, but not the kind of pile that a child makes. This pile of sand is the size of a mountain! It soars all the way up to the sky. Now imagine that a bird comes and picks up a grain of sand in its beak. It travels across the ocean and puts the grain down on the other side. Every thousand years, the bird returns to the beach and takes another grain of sand and drops it on the other continent. How long will it take to the move the mountain of sand to the land across the ocean? That my friend is a peek into eternity!  
    Psalm 93, has a definite motion. It begins by affirming God’s eternity and ends the same way. In the middle we hear of a roaring ocean with "pounding waves" (v. 3). The motion of the psalm, appropriately, is that of a wave. It begins with the calm stillness of the eternal God, just as a wave begins from the quiet of the sea. The middle of the psalm is loud and dynamic, like a wave about to crash into the shores. But it ends with a return to the stillness of the beginning, just as a wave quietly recedes back into the sea from which it came. 
    My Friend's Our lives are only a wave in the vast and endless sea of eternity. Sure, we can make a lot of noise with our voices and pound the pavement with our feet, but very quickly, we will return to the quiet stillness of the sea from which we came. What’s a wave in comparison to the great ocean? That’s our lives in contrast to eternity.  
    Each time we have studied our Bible, it should remind us that we were "turning moments into eternity."  When we do good deeds and study God’s Word, we create moments that last forever. Most of what we do in our brief lives is gone and meaningless once we leave the world. But our good deeds last forever. They live on for eternity. 
    Let's all consider that truth, how will we spend our time today? Will the hours be lost once they pass, or can we make them last forever? What can you do today that will turn your moments into eternity? 

Amen!

Reading: Ps. 93:1-5

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Whose Side Are You On?

Isa 41:7-8 

"So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth 

with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for 

the soldering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not 

be moved. But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob 

whom I have chosen, the seed 

of Abraham my friend." 

     The whole world was on one side, while Abraham was on the other. Abraham was a renegade! The whole world believed one thing, and Abraham believed another. Abraham continued to teach the world what no one else believed: That there was only one God; that He was loving; and that He wasn’t a man made thing. Abraham dedicated his life to teaching about God. He set in motion a shift in the human mindset that continued long after his death; one, in fact, that continues to this very day.
    In the book of Isaiah, the prophet was addressing the idolatry that was thriving. The fight between Abraham the Hebrew and the idol worshipers was still being fought in Isaiah’s day.  All kinds of craftsmen encouraged each other in their work, which was to produce idols. 
    Idols of wood and stone are mostly a thing of the past, but idol worship still thrives all around the world today. Anything that is a substitute for God is an idol. Anything we value more than God is an idol. Anything that dictates our actions, instead of God, is an idol.  Money can be an idol. A car can be an idol. Sometimes, we make people into idols. And society still says that it’s ok. But They Are Wrong!  
    Whose side are we on? Do we stand with those who live life for things? Or do we stand together with Abraham, and all his descendant who live to serve God?

Amen!

Reading: Is. 41:1-20

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Seize The Opportunities Around You

Numbers 20:12

"And The Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because

ye believed me not; to sanctify me in the eyes of 

the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not

bring this congregation into the land

which I have given them."

    Everything we do has repercussions that we cannot possibly comprehend. If we could comprehend just how powerful every choice we made really was, we would be too afraid to move out of our chairs. Thankfully, we are not expected to predict the future. We are, however, required to do the best that we can in the present.
    God told Moses to go up to Mount Nebo so that he could see Israel, although he would not be permitted to enter the land. God explained the reason why Moses would not be allowed into the Promised Land. The verse is referring to the incident when Moses was supposed to speak to the rock to give forth waters, but he erred when he became angry with the people and hit the rock instead. Because of this breach against God’s instructions, Moses was not allowed into the Promised Land.
    Both parts of the verse teach us about what happens when we sin. The first part of the verse refers to the damage done,  "broken faith with God."  The second part of the verse indicates the missed opportunities,  "not upholding God's holiness among others." These are the two aspects that we need to consider in all our actions: what are we doing wrong and what opportunities are we missing to do something amazing. 
    Imagine that someone is incredibly rude and unfair to you. You lose control and lash out at the person with harsh words. The first mistake is that we did something wrong, we spoke unkindly. Maybe that led this person to fall into further depression, or take his or her exacerbated anger out on someone else later in the day.
    The second mistake is that we missed the opportunity to encourage that person. Instead of striking back, we could have changed that person’s whole day with words of kindness. That person might have been inspired to help someone else out during the day, and so on. As we begin our day, let’s think doubly about the repercussions of our choices. It’s not enough to fear doing wrong; we must also be inspired by what we can do right.

Amen!

Reading: Num. 20: 1-13

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

I Believe In You

Psalm 92:1–2

"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to

sing praises unto thy name, O most High. To shew 

forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, 

and thy faithfulness every night," 

     “I believe in you” are four of the most powerful words that one person can ever say to another. Those words are life giving. They tell a person that they matter, that they are valuable, and that they are needed in this world. 
     Everyone knows that it’s important to teach our children to have faith in God. But do you know how important it is to teach our children that God has faith in them?”  What a gift to give our children!  A person who knows that God believes in them can weather even the toughest storms in life. 
    The usual understanding of this verse is that we praise God for His love and dependability. The morning represents the good times in our lives, when everything is bright and sunny. In those wonderful times, it is important to give thanks and recognize God’s abundant love for us. The night, on the other hand, represents the dark times in our lives, when everything looks bleak and uncertain. In those times, we trust that God will faithfully carry us through until tomorrow’s sunrise. 
   "God’s faith, not our faith."  It’s not our faith in God that gets us through the toughest times in life; it’s His faith in us.  When the night is so dark and so long, what keeps us going is remembering how much God believes in us. 
   At times, we feel like giving up. Life is tough, and sometimes we feel defeated or even worse, we feel worthless. What the message is telling us is that if we are still here, it’s because God believes in us. We have a mission, and we are up to the task. If not, we wouldn’t have woken up this morning. Every day that we are alive means that we have a job to do. God needs us, and the world needs us. So how could we possibly give in to feelings of despair?  God believes in us, shouldn’t we, too? 

Amen!

Reading: Ps. 92:1-15

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

God Is In Control

2Chronicles 20:6  

"And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? 

and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in 

thine hand is there not power and might, so that 

none is able to withstand thee?" 

    Sadly, I think most would agree that both campaigns got out of hand during this Presidential  election. Personal attacks, name calling, accusations  and even violence have marked this political season. As it stands, we have perhaps the greatest division between both sides of the voting public.
    Thankfully, those of us who believe in God have our hope in something higher than the winner of this election. We know that no matter who takes office come January, God is still on His throne, still in charge, still sovereign over all.
    Give thanks to God for the blessing of living under a democratic political system. There are many today living under oppressive rule who do not enjoy that blessing. And, at the same time, resist the temptation to give in to fear. May we all hold fast to our knowledge that God is and will continue to be in control.  My Friends, no matter which candidate is elected as our  Commander And Chief, we as America citizens must Honor and Support the Authority of the position of  The Commander And Chief of The United States of America.  Most of all let's all have faith in God! For God Is In Control 
Amen!

                                           "God Bless American Again"

Reading: 2 Chr. 20:5-13

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

         

Enjoy The Gifts of God

Ecclesiastes 5:19

"Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, 

and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his 

portion, and to rejoice in his labour;

this is the gift of God." 

    There are people who were orphaned at an early age; elderly who have no one to care for them; folks with severe illness for which they cannot afford proper medical care. Children are hungry and families are irreparably broken. With all the many difficulties that people experience in life, I realized how sad it is that those of us who by the grace of God do not suffer greatly, often fail to fully appreciate the blessings that we have been given. Instead, too many of us, too many times, do not recognize the gifts that we have been given. Even worse, sometimes we squander them. 
    While so many people would do anything to have a parent around, others fail to keep in touch with theirs or get into petty fights with the people who gave them life. While many people lack any sort of family, others neglect the family they are blessed with, never making the time to be with them. While some people struggle to buy the basics, like food and medication, others are blessed to afford vacations, but then complain that the flight was delayed, or that the food was too cold at the restaurant, or that the bed in the hotel was uncomfortable.
    We might have houses, but are unhappy with their size or that they haven’t been updated lately while others scramble for shelter on a daily basis. We resent expensive health care, but there are plenty of people who have no medical help at all. The list goes on and on. It’s one thing not to recognize our many gifts from God, but it’s another to waste them by not enjoying them to the fullest. 
    When God gives us a gift, we must make sure that we enjoy it. Anything less makes us ungrateful and simply foolish. If you wouldn’t throw out a million dollars, don’t let go of the invaluable relationships with your family. If you wouldn’t dispose of an expensive piece of jewelry, don’t let the gifts of health, provisions, and abilities go to waste. Enjoy every moment and every blessing. There is enough suffering in the world; we need not add more by throwing away the wondrous gifts we have been given. 

Amen!

Reading: Eccl. 5:18-20

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Have a Vision for Your Life

Proverbs 29:18

 "Where there is no vision, the people perish:

 but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."

       Did you ask any good questions today?  When we ask questions, we are on a mission to get an answer. We are motivated to learn and take an active role in our development. People who ask questions pick up far more information than those who glide passively through the passing years.

This is true for nations as well as for individuals. Every nation needs to have a vision of what they stand for and the role they hope to play in the world. If a nation lacks direction, it will ultimately fall into anarchy or into the hands of another nation. 

    In contrast, a country that rallies around strong ideals and values will be united and strong. It will achieve great things both for its people and for the world. In the same way, if we as individuals don’t know what we stand for or what we want to do with our lives, we can end up in a mess. Without clear direction in our lives, we aren’t likely to accomplish much. We are all gifted with talents and abilities from God. It is our job to form a vision and a mission for our lives.

    When we know what problems we want to solve with our God given abilities, we are already on our way to making great contributions. When we ask important questions, we are already on our way to becoming full of wisdom. If civilizations perish when there is no vision, the opposite is also true they will thrive when there is great vision.

    I want to encourage us to have a vision and a mission for our lives. Let us ask ourselves these questions: What would we like to accomplish? What kind of person would we like to be? How do we want to be remembered? Let us ask ourselves these questions frequently  and then live the answers 
Amen!

Reading: Proverbs 29:18
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry