What you don't know

When you see someone in ministry that appears to have everything
going their way, think about this:

If they are truly fulfilling God's commission for them, there is
most likely a very long, very difficult, and very costly path behind
them that you do not see. They are where they are only because of
great personal sacrifice and surrender to God's purpose.

Pray for them. They need your prayer.
  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

  So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly
  for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling
  them to do miraculous signs and wonders. There was a plot afoot
  among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to
  mistreat them and stone them. But they found out about it and fled
  to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding
  country, where they continued to preach the good news.
  (Acts 14:3,5-7 NIV)

He is Worthy

Let the whole world bless our God and sing aloud his praises. Our
  lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling. (Psa
  66:8-9 NLT)

Reciprocate

Our relationship with God is reciprocal. It works like this: When we
give Him all we are and have, He is then enabled to give us all He
is and has. So much so that He makes us one with Him. (John 17:22-23)

Yet, people strive to acquire things of lesser and temporary value,
while forfeiting what is permanent and invaluable.

Changes are coming: The "real world" will not always be so real.
  

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant
  nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put
  their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our
  enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to
  be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up
  treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so
  that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Tim 6:17-19 NIV)

Keeping Perspective is Key

We may not be able to avoid rejection or keep it from hurting when it happens, but we can keep it in perspective. There is One who will never reject us. In Psalm 27, David wrote: "My father and mother may abandon me, but the LORD will take care of me." (v. 10, GNB)

---

"I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.' "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." (John 13:18-20 NIV)

Your Vision

Has God given you a dream, a passion, or a "knowing" of some task or
purpose you are to fulfill? Do you feel inadequate or unprepared?
Does it look and feel impossible?

Remember, the purpose the vision of it and the passion for it is
His. It was His before He gave it to you, and it remains so after.
You are only fulfilling a role in His vision.

However passionate about it you may be, God is more so. And... He
will not ask you do to something you are unable to do.
   Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside
  and villages and buy themselves something to eat." But he answered,
  "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take
  eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on
  bread and give it to them to eat?" "How many loaves do you have?" he
  asked. "Go and see." When they found out, they said, "Five and two
  fish." Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to
  heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to
  his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish
  among them all. They all ate and were satisfied. (Mark 6:36-38;41-42 NIV)

Communication

• I believe that communication is an absolute necessity in a relationship and that you cannot maintain a relationship with someone without communicating with them.
  
  I also believe that our communication with the Lord is an indicator of the health and maturity of our relationship with Him. It is the "yardstick" by which our relationship with Him is measured.
  
  What does your communication with the Lord (of which prayer is a component) say about your relationship with Him? (Tough question, I know: I ask myself that question constantly.)

But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you. (Psa 88:13 NIV)

Courage

Be strong and very courageous." and "Do not be afraid or
discouraged.": Those were commands to Joshua, orders--not emotions.
He was instructed not to feel, but to do.

We typically think of love, courage, fear, and such as emotions.
They are, in truth, decisions that are accompanied by emotions.

Now, a decision requires information. And the right information
makes the decision easier to hold to when it is tested.
  

Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do
  not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything
  you do. Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day
  and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only
  then will you succeed. I command you--be strong and courageous! Do
  not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you
  wherever you go." (Josh 1:7-9 NLT)

The Right Time

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless,
  Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a
  righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to
  die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were
  still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified
  by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath
  through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled
  to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been
  reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (Rom 5:6-10 NIV)

Can I Get one Amen?

I have little tolerance for negative, critical, fault-finding,
judgmental people. The emotions they incite can be a very
detrimental spiritual distraction.

For me, it feels like trying to play in a
band with an off-rhythm drummer: Very difficult to ignore! If you had to
focus on the rhythm and count it out: 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4...

"Count it out" in spiritual terms: Do not as much as you are able
allow them to pull your attention from the Lord and your relation-
ship with Him, the source of your spiritual rhythm and harmony.

  Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an
  example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and
  in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of
  Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift,
  which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of
  elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give
  yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
  Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if
  you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Tim 4:12-16 NIV)

Regardless

One of our basic human needs is to be understood. It is not just a
"nice thought". It is a need because God created us that way.

Remember that even if no one else understands your circumstances (or
cares), God does. Where you are and what you have done is no
surprise to Him. He understands. And He loves you--regardless.
  

You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless
  people enjoy--their immorality and lust, their feasting and
  drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.
  Of course, your former friends are very surprised when you no longer
  join them in the wicked things they do, and they say evil things
  about you. But just remember that they will have to face God, who
  will judge everyone, both the living and the dead. (1 Pet 4:3-5 NLT)

Relationship

As far as how we interact with God: It is all about relationship.

Remember when you were "in love"? You wanted to be with that person,
know everything about them, make everything all right for them. The
world was a better, brighter place because they were in it.

That is how God feels about us (John 3:16). Do you feel that way
about your relationship with Him? Really think about that today.
  

  For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not
  stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the
  knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and
  understanding.  And we pray this in order that you may live a life
  worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in
  every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,  being
  strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that
  you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving
  thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the
  inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. (Col 1:9-12 NIV)

Focus

Some days (weeks, months, years) are just tough. If you are in one,
do not lose sight of your hope in the struggle.
  

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling
  of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his
  people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will
  wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or
  mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed
  away." (Rev 21:3-4 NIV)

Life

Some people say, "Life is a bowl of cherries." I say that it can
feel like a series of breakings sometimes. And in that case, it is
easy to look for someone or something to blame for our troubles.

A problem can come unbidden and be unavoidable. But even then, the
first place we should look is to our foundation, our relationship
with God. Is it strong and secure, or is it shaky and unstable?

I believe that we really can survive anything with God--and I say
that from my experience, not as rhetoric or cliche. He can turn even
a problem that we created to our good in the end.

  I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words
  and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who
  dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came,
  the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was
  well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them
  into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without
  a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed
  and its destruction was complete." (Luke 6:47-49 NIV)