What it Cost

Everything we now have in God is by and through the covenant established by Jesus, completed and validated by His blood--His atonement sacrifice for our sin. Some professing Believers not only do not know what that covenant provides, they are not even aware that there is a covenant. Do not be one of them! That covenant is the source of our relation- ship with the Lord, our authority through Him, and our hope in Him.  But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the   covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it   is founded on better promises. For if there had been nothing wrong   with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for   another. (Heb 8:6-7 NIV)

What we have and what it cost

Everything we now have in God is by and through the covenant established by Jesus, completed and validated by His blood--His atonement sacrifice for our sin. Some professing Believers not only do not know what that covenant provides, they are not even aware that there is a covenant. Do not be one of them! That covenant is the source of our relation- ship with the Lord, our authority through Him, and our hope in Him.   But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the   covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it   is founded on better promises. For if there had been nothing wrong   with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for   another. (Heb 8:6-7 NIV)

What to Do

Much of the world is in conflict. These are uncertain times. What
should we do? Same thing we should do if the whole world was at
peace: Trust God.

In difficult times, God did not say to His people: "How do you feel
about that?" What did He say to them? "Do not be afraid." That is a
command. It requires a decision independent of feelings.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified..."
(Deu 31:6 NIV)

PEP TALK

Sometimes we all need a "pep-talk". Sometimes we all need a
reminder. Sometimes we all need to be awakened from the daydreams of
our emotional self-talk and be reminded of how things really are--as
opposed to how we feel at the moment.

Consider today's message as such.
  

Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O
  mountains! For the LORD has comforted his people and will have
  compassion on them in their sorrow. Yet Jerusalem says, "The LORD
  has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us." "Never! Can a mother
  forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for a child she has
  borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See,
  I have written your name on my hand. Ever before me is a picture of
  Jerusalem's walls in ruins. (Isa 49:13-16 NLT)

Success

Whether in sports, business, or life, being aware of and focused on
the goal is absolutely necessary if you hope to succeed. "If you
don't know where you're going, you'll never get there."

For Believers, I believe the goal--the most important thing--is that
we maintain our relationship with God and fulfill His purpose for
our lives. That is why I pray, "Lord, do whatever you need to do to
cause me to be whatever You need me to be."

That said, I do hope He does not have to send a fish to swallow me
to get my attention. However, if that is what it takes, so be it.
  

Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea,
  and the storm stopped at once! The sailors were awestruck by the
  Lord's great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to
  serve him. Now the LORD had arranged for a great fish to swallow
  Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three
  nights. Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish.
  He said, "I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble, and he
  answered me. I called to you from the world of the dead, and LORD,
  you heard me! (Jonah 1:15-2:2 NLT)

Be a Better Listener

Has someone ever asked you a question, then they do not stop talking
long enough for you to answer? A good counselor would ask: "How did
that make you feel?"

Have you ever wondered how God feels when we do it to Him?
  

The LORD said to me, "Son of man, look carefully, listen closely,
  and give attention to everything I tell you... (Ezek 44:5 NIV)

natural

It is a law of nature: Living things reproduce after their own kind.
We, as Believers, reproduce by sharing the message, our experiences,
and our faith by our words, our actions--and our very lives. Those
are ways we testify.

One definition of 'testify' is: "Serve as evidence or proof of
something's existence." And, by the way, testifying is not optional.
  

He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is
  the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All
  the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him
  receives forgiveness of sins through his name." (Acts 10:42-43 NIV)l