Trouble Brings Us to Jesus

A good friend of mine, Mr. Seabury Oliver, often said, "It's trouble that brings us to Jesus." He knew, because he had experienced many troubles and hardships.

John Newton wrote, "Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come; 'tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home."

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient for us in every trouble, toil, and snare. Jesus said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Paul wrote, "We glory in triubulations also" (Romans 5:3). Why would he say such a thing? He gives the answer in the next line: ". . . knowing that tribulation worketh patience" (Romans 5:3).

Yes, trouble brings us to Jesus and tribulation is a part of life in this world. Though these things are true, we must ever remember these words: "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37-39).

It's the amazing grace of Jesus Christ that makes us more than conquerors even when we are in the midst of tribulation, troubles, and snares.

It's All Love

Love is the core of the Christian life. The truth is that it's all love, from beginning to end, because God is love and love is the most excellent way of life.

Without love, we could not have anything in life that's worthwhile. Years ago, I spoke with a friend of mine who was dying. I asked her, "If you knew this was the last day of your life, what would you do?"

She said, "I'd sit on the couch and hug my two sons."

The cross of Jesus Christ represents love in its fullest expression. Its vertical beam points to the love God has for us and the love we have for Him. The horizontal beam speaks to us of the love we must have for one another.

Yes, it's all love, and the relationships in our lives are the most important part of our lives. Loving God, family, friends, neighbors, and even our enemies is what it's all about.

Here are some good quotes about love:

"Where there is love there is no sin."

"Love can hope where reason would despair" (George, Baron Lyttelton)

"How shall I do to love? Believe. How shall I do to believe? Love" (Robert Leighton).

"Love is the fulfilling of the law" (Romans 13:10).

"Love is strong as death" (Song of Solomon 8:6).

"Love sought is good, but given unsought is better" (William Shakespeare).

"There is a land of the living and a land of the dead, and the bridge is love" (Thornton Wilder).

Let us remember that love is the supreme commandment.

Another New Book

Let me tell you about another new book that was recently published by Bridge-Logos Foundation. It is by my friend, who is the Senior Editor of our company, Harold J. Chadwick. The title is Christ Is God's Everything for You. It's a beautiful trade-size paperback that sells at only $13.99, and I highly recommend it to you.

Harold writes, "But this one thing you can know for a certainty, everything that God has prepared for you from before the foundation of the Earth is eternally yours in Christ Jesus, who is God's everything for you!"

Is Christ the center of your life? If so, you are among the most blessed people on the Earth, for He is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Everything consists in Him. Let Him be your Lord and Savior.

Thinking Like God Does

The Rev. Keith C. Powell has written a liberating new book for Bridge-Logos Foundation. It is entitled, The Power of God Thinking. Though this title is a bit ambiguous in that it could refer to the power that is unleashed when God thinks (creative power) or the power that comes to us when we think as God thinks. This book is about the latter meaning, and it is written in a very user-friendly way.

Keith writes, "God-thinking is as much about deliberately abandoning wrong thinking as it is about adopting or putting the things of God on top.

"In his book The Power of Positive Thinking Norman Vincent Peale wrote, "If your thinking is wrong, it is wrong and not right and can never be right so long as it is wrong. If it is wrong in the essence, it is bound to be wrong in the result.'

"It is this very kind of thinking--wrong thinking--that keeps you from getting what is rightfully yours in Christ. the Word of God is filled with references to the way you think and points to the importance it plays in the outcome of your life. 'The thoughts of the righteous are right' (Proverbs 12:5)."

May you discover the power of God-thinking in your life today, as you let His words become your thoughts.

City of Refuge

Today on "We're Talking Books" I'll be interviewing Ashley King, the author of a new novel that was recently released by Bridge-Logos Foundation. This is a well-written and compelling book.

It's title, City of Refuge, comes from Numbers 35:11, which says, "When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select for yourselves cities to be your cities of refuge, that the manslayer who has killed any person unintentionally may flee there" (NASB).

Alex began searchin for a "city of refuge"--a place of forgiveness and acceptance--after he was in a fatal accident that he felt responsible for. So many lives were affected by the crash, and this book reveals the feelings and experiences of each character in ways that literally grab the reader's attention.

City of Refuge is a page-turner that is filled with stirring emotions, gripping intrigue, and amazing insights into the human condition. Ashley King is an excellent novelist whose writing is intense, thrilling, and moving. You will readily identify with each of her fascination characters and their thoughts, experiences, and feelings.

I heartily endorse this book and hope you will add it to your summer reading fare.

Dare to Dream

Last Thursday it was my privilege to interview Trish Porter, author of Rekindle Your Dreams, on our blogtalk radio show, "We're Talking Books." It was a fantastic interview.

Trish is a 1988 U.S. Olympian. After a neck injury she stopped competing for many years. Nonetheless, she continued to dream about being a successful competitor. She became the mother of two children and then decided to rekindle her dream. This resulted in a blaze of success, for Trish became the world record-holder in the high jump for 40-44 year olds. She has won seven U.S. National Masters Championships and three World Masters Championship titles. Trish greatly enjoys competing throughout the world and inspiring other women wherever she goes.

In her very inspiring book, Trish puts forth an acronym that can be applied to our lives in many different ways. It is based on the word DREAMS.

Dare to Dream
Realize the Benefits to Yourself and Others
Eliminate the Excuses
Action Plan
Make It Happen
Say Thanks

This acronym and Trish's story show that it is possible to rekindle your dreams, and her book shows you how to do so through practical steps.

The God of Jacob Is Our Refuge

A new book that was published by Bridge-Logos Foundation concludes with these words: "Several years ago I was praying at one of my 'secret places' on Mount Carmel, about two hundred meters down a path from the place where the Lord dramatically visited me in the rental car in the 1980s. I was actually standing on the roof of an abandoned British machine-gun bunker from bygone Mandate days. The concrete bunker is built into a promontory on Mount Carmel overlooking the Mediterranean. On this beautiful clear spring morning, I watched Israeli guided missile cruisers slowly patrolling the Haifa coast and port. Three military helicopters flew by, evidently returning from guarding the Lebanese border. I was struck by the contrast of the bunker, helicopters, and the warships against the legendary beauty of Carmel cloaked with multi-colored spring wildflowers and the shimmering emerald sea stretched out before me. I sensed that I was observing the calm before the storm. The still, small voice of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge' (Psalm 46:10-11).

This excerpt is taken from The Elijah Legacy by David Davis, the founder and senior pastor of Kehilat HaCarmel (Carmel Assembly) on Mount Carmel in Israel.

We must continually pray for the peace of Jerusalem, realizing that the God of Jacob is our refuge.