KEEP PRESSING ON

I PRESS ON

The baseball adage "It Ain't over till it's over" can be loosely applied to the expectations and obligations that born again Christians have in service to the Lord of Lords. At the moment of salvation, the spiritual baptism of the Holy Spirit is received into our hearts, our bodies, the heavy lifting begins. By His grace, the changes begin in us. These changes are the hallmarks of the Kingdom residing in us through the Holy Spirit. No change, NO SALVATION!

Paul teaches us in Philippians of the hard work, the heavy lifting, the commitment to His will that becomes our passion of every second of every day -- for the balance of our days of life on this earth. This service is eternal, and becomes our momentum. Those who keep the passion to the last breath are rewarded greatly;   Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. { Php 3:13-14}

On bended knees, Jesus prays to His Father; "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. { Joh 17:24} This pleading to God is to our overwhelming benefit. We, who are in receipt of the Holy Spirit through the Grace of God are the beneficiaries and shall be in the presence of the Father and of the Lamb for all eternity.

The Apostle Paul continues: For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.- For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. - Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. {2Ti 1:12 -Php 1:6 -1Co 9:24-25}

As you read this offering, and the blessing of salvation through grace has never been received; if you have delayed, for whatever reason, inviting Christ Jesus into your heart; time is not on your side --  Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,   fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. {Heb 12:1-2}

Won't you call His name right now. Say JESUS, I am so very tired of being tired and filled with sin. I truly ask You to come into me right this minute. Save me. Baptize my spirit with Yours. Fill me, teach me, reach me, show me, grow me for Your service and Your will, Amen, and AMEN.

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FINISH WELL --Brigadier General Michael Ferguson

FINISH WELL

Brigadier General Michael Ferguson

As the Apostle Paul alluded to in his writings, U.S. Army Brigadier General Michael Ferguson brings to the present a message on the importance of FINISHING WELL:

In an age of so little perseverance I find these words are ringing in my ears like the background music on an elevator. Fight the good fight; keep the faith; finish the race.

I can't count how many times I heard Pastor Arnold Lastinger speak these words of challenge into my life. As a young man with no experience I probably rolled my eyes, but as time has passed this holy background music has become more like the soundtrack of a timeless movie. (Yes, I downloaded the Star Wars movie score in anticipation of Episode VII. Thank you, John Williams.)

On December 8th, Pastor Lastinger went absent from the body and present with the Lord. What a soul-marking moment it was for me, as I watched him worship until the end, using his dying breath and waning strength to lift his hands to the God he longed for.

Several days later I flew to Mississippi where I spent time with another one of my heroes, John Perkins. Due to his age and health concerns his daughter makes clear that he needs boundaries on his schedule. Yet when he starts talking about Jesus and justice and the greatness of God, he just won't stop. I'm serious. One night, after hours of conversation, I had to plead with him to go home and go to bed, as it was approaching 10:00. As we finished, he invited me to be a part of the Bible study he was leading the next day. At 5:30 the next morning. I've never heard of a Bible study at 5:30 in the morning. But sure enough, there he was, long before the sun would rise, leading a room full of men through Romans 9. It was like watching a child opening a present on Christmas morning. Joy. Energy. Wonder. 85 years of age and he is still burning.

A week earlier, I listened as Pastor Lastinger described his peace and contentment and anticipation of heaven. "It's all true," he told me. "When I preached funerals in my 20's I thoughtI believed it. But 50 years later I realize, it's all true. And it works!" he explained with a peace I can't explain. But then I heard something else: his longing for his Savior. The closest comparison I have is like a bridegroom getting ready for his honeymoon. He was longing for Jesus. On his deathbed he was still burning.

I want to burn till the end.

In an age of so little perseverance these two men stand tall. Their voices have weight. And their entire life has become their message. Neither has tried to stay relevant, and that is part of what makes them so. Their transcendence is their relevance. Oh how it has fed my soul to be exposed to men whose lives carry such a rare grace. Some things can only be said after years. Or decades. Or a lifetime. And the only way you get this kind of gravitas is to persevere. To endure. To finish your race.

What a lesson for young leaders.

I've heard it said that it takes 20 years to make a man or woman of God. But I'm starting to think it takes a lifetime. In a culture that bows before the shrine of youth and worships to the tune of the latest one hit wonder, it becomes difficult to discern when timeless words are being written and the truest lives are being lived. But I long for this.

Did these men give me clues about how to persevere? Sure. Both would tell me stay curious. Keep learning. Figure out how to handle your pain. Set up accountability relationships to deal with temptation. But at the end of the day both of these men most fed me because their obsession with Jesus. I would meet with Pastor Lastinger seeking wisdom, and it was there. But in the middle of a lunch meeting he would break down in tears when he began to speak of Jesus. I flew to Mississippi seeking justice, and it was there. But what I found most was a man dripping with the Author of justice. --Army BG Michael Ferguson

Finish well, my friend.

Sir, you did just that departing by that Celestial PCS on January 18th, 2020. We will sorely miss you here, but we soundly commit to seeing you again in the Kingdom of GOD.

GOD Bless your family, friends and Soldiers, AMEN

S A L U T E

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IF TONIGHT WAS THE NIGHT.....ARE YOU READY?

RAPTURE. Its closer than you think!

"Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. {Rev 1:19}

Just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."  For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. -- "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. {1Co 2:9-10 --Joh 16:13}

BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. { Rev 1:7}

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. {1Th 4:13-17}

He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. {Rev 22:20}

Come, Lord Jesus

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HIS NAME MEANS "GOD WITH US"

EMMANUEL

God with us

Matthew 1:23

"Will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; -  And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. - By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He [GOD] who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory. {2Ch 6:18 - Joh 1:14 - 1Ti 3:16}

In these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. {Heb 1:2}

So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, "Peace be with you."  (20)  And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."  (27)  Then He *said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing."  (28)  Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" {Joh 20:19-20,26-28}

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. {Isa 9:6}

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EMPTY ME LORD, FILL ME WITH YOU!

LET THE LORD RUN YOUR DAY PLANNER, GIVE IT ALL TO HIM

From the moment you realize morning has arrived, even before placing your feet on the floor, greet Your Lord, Praise Him, and let it be HIS WILL how the day will progress. Give Him full access to your Daily Planner, your calendar, then leave it up to Him to guide your steps through the Holy Spirit. We all get a little panicked when we are not IN CHARGE. Here is a little secret; we have NEVER been in charge!! Ever! Take your hands OFF of the steering wheel. That's the whole idea here. Let Jesus drive. Trust and Obey, THAT is the way---

"The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." {Deu 31:8}

"If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.   I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps. {Exo 33:15, Jer 10:23}

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way.  When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand. {Psa 37:23-24}

Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.  With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory.   For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. {Psa 73:23-24, Rom 8:38-39}

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