Moving Forward

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Numbers 9:23 Moving And Staying At God’s Command

At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses. Numbers 9:23

Traveling across the country people must follow certain directions or it can cause major problems for themselves and others.

Coming up to an intersection with a stoplight, one must be willing to stop when the sign is red. Once it turns green, they are given the go ahead to continue moving forward. Failure to follow the rules will cause a major accident and possibly death. Following the rules allows one to safely move forward.

The Israelites would encamp or set out on their journey as the Lord commanded them. They would obey God’s command through Moses. Every person is on a journey in this life on earth.

While the majority of the world believes that their life only affects the here and now, it actually has an effect that goes into eternity. Just as there are rules on the roads as to when to move or stand still, there are rules in life as to when to move or stand still.

God, who is in control, knows when a person should move or stand still. He is sitting above all life watching how things are moving and is coordinating things to move in light of eternity.

Believers in Jesus will understand this and listen to God’s commands as to when to move or not move. It is easy for one to choose to move when things don’t look right or look right in their own eyes, ignoring God’s commands. However, it is when they move or stand still at God’s commands that everything works out for their good and God’s kingdom is built.

Obedience to God’s commands will keep one safe on the journey through this life.

Regardless of where you are in this life, God has a plan of travel for you. He knows exactly when to begin moving and when to stand still.

Do not allow yourself to rely upon your own wisdom or the wisdom of this world. Following the ways of this world will cause an accident and great harm. It will get you off the path of God.

Wait for and listen to the commands of God and obey them. He has you on a journey that will lead you and others into eternity with Him.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know the commands of God in your life; that you will obey the commands of God; that you will trust God’s plan for your life; and that you will only move or stand still at God’s command.

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When All Hell Breaks Loose (book review)

Title: When All Hell Breaks Loose
Author: Deborah Wittmier
Publisher: Xulon Press
Date: 2021
Pages: 149

When All Hell Breaks Loose (book review)

Every person has challenges or adversities in life that occur on and off on a regular basis. Most of the challenges are not very large and are easy to deal with. Sometimes, however, it feels as if all hell breaks loose in your life and everything that can go wrong does go wrong. Life is completely turned upside down and everything is helter-skelter. It may feel as if God has thrown you out and forgotten about you, leaving you to your torment and suffering.

This book is about when things like this occur in your life and how to move forward despite the setbacks. Deborah Wittmier, the author, had such a situation occur in her life. She is a minister and does a lot of missions work in Africa with her husband, Harvey.

In 2018, she noticed her vision was not very good for some unknown reason. After getting examined by a doctor, they found out that she had a brain tumor and they needed to do brain surgery to remove it.

In this book she discusses the fears and struggles that she had. She talks about her insecurities and feelings of no value, while wondering why God did not just miraculously heal her. As she does this, she allows you to apply it to any situation that is horrible in your own life.

The first section talks about how to face the adversity in your life. The next section talks about how to walk through it with the eyes of God. The final section looks at how to make room for victory.

At the end of each chapter, she asks a few questions to get you to thinking about how to apply what she talked about. She makes it very clear that this is not an easy road to travel, but at the same time God is with the person and makes a way. There are times she points out where she had the wrong thoughts or attitudes about what was occurring with each setback and trouble, yet God, in His mercy strengthened and guided her.

Although she did not get the complete victory as she would have loved to have, God did bring her through it with great health and no more brain tumor.

Harvey and Deborah Wittmier

I highly recommend this book if you have ever gone through some traumatic experience in your life, or if you have not, read it to be prepared in your mind and heart for any setbacks that will occur. It is a short book and easy to read, but will tug at your heart, even with small troubles or setbacks that you may be going through with day to day in your own life.

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Matthew 28:5 Where Are You Looking For Jesus?

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.” Matthew 28:5

Everyday people are searching for something. Often it is something that they have misplaced and are trying to figure out where it was put. Others are searching for something that they had in the past, an experience or a feeling, and desire to have it again.

While they may search for that experience in the past, it is often gone forever, or it has moved on to something new and different. Many fear that it is completely lost with no hope left.

After Jesus had died, He rose again a few days later. Some women chose to go to the tomb and see the tomb of Jesus. When they got there an angel told them to not be afraid, though they were looking for Jesus and He was not there.

In the beginning of the life of a believer, he often has experiences with God that are outstanding. Jesus appears to be especially real and alive to him when he first believes. Later in life some bad circumstance occur and he may feel that Jesus is missing. Often he will go back to the old ways of being with Jesus, rather than seeing that Jesus has moved on forward with new things.

God is not one to just stand still and stay in the same spot forever. He is always on the move, working to build His kingdom that will last forever.

Jesus had died and did the job of purchasing salvation for all who believe. Now it was time to move forward and build the kingdom.

One needs to be willing to be led by the Holy Spirit to know and understand where God is moving and move forward with Him.

As a believer you have met Jesus in your past. You may be wondering where He is today in your life. The initial joy of following Him has gone away and you are searching for Him again.

Do not go back to the tomb, but move forward in where God is working today. Jesus is no longer dead, but alive and working hard. Seek to be led by His Holy Spirit in the place that He is today.

Allow yourself to grow and mature as you work with God on building His kingdom. Where are you looking for Jesus today?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will see God in your life every day; that you will be led by the Holy Spirit as to where God is working in your life; that you will keep your eyes open to what God is doing; and that you will be doing the work God has for you to do.

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Packed Up And Moving Forward

Shelves of boxes

Christmas is over, the new year is here. Most people have probably already packed up the Christmas ornaments and decorations, taken down their tree and are ready to move forward with the new year.

All those Christmas decorations and ornaments are packed up for another year. They will not be taken out until November or December of this year. They are hidden away in a attic, closet, shed or garage to not be seen until Christmas season arrives again.

During the Christmas season, everyone is quick to talk about the birth of Jesus, about giving and loving others. The focus for many, at least for believers, is why Jesus came to this earth. Churches are often packed out for the Christmas service. People go to Christmas concerts and performances. Radios play songs about the birth of Jesus.

Manger scene

Yet, as soon as Christmas is over and the new year has begun people move on. Very quickly the heart of Christmas is missing. Generosity is forgotten. Joy is gone. Jesus is often put back in a box, packed away until the right season comes along.

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Luke 2:17-18

Looking back at the time of when Jesus was born, the shepherds were the first ones to learn about His birth. Immediately upon meeting Jesus, they went out and told everyone about what they had seen and learned. They did not pack up Jesus for the next season, but did it immediately.

While the bible does not say anything more about those shepherds, I often wonder if any of those shepherds later followed Jesus. How long did they keep talking about what they had seen?

Shepherd with sheep

I believe that they did not stop any time soon. This was a major event in their life. Think about it, how often do you suddenly see the sky filled with angels to bring you a message from God and you are able to verify the message is true? I have never had that experience.

There are experiences that I have had in my life that occurred 30+ years ago that I still talk about to this day. They had a major impact in my life. I want to continue to remember those experiences and share them with other people.

Drop in water

Trusting that you are a believer, Jesus has impacted your life. There was a point in your life where you chose to believe in Him and it changed your life. Do not stop at that point, keep allowing Jesus to impact your life and share that impact with others.

While Christmas is the season in which we focus on His birth, it does not need to stop there. Many believers are quick to talk about Jesus during the Christmas season, but quickly forget talking about Him after the season. Carry Jesus with you every where you go. Pack up the Christmas ornaments and decorations, but do not pack Jesus up until the next Christmas season or even until the next Sunday morning.

Child walking forward

Move forward in what God has for you, sharing what Jesus has done in you, for you and with you. Be willing to tell the world the good news. The good news of His birth gets better after His death and resurrection. You have great news to share, so go out and share it.

As this new year has begun, find out how you can draw closer to God. Find out how you share Jesus with more people. Do not hide Jesus away so that they world cannot know Him, but allow Him to shine in this dark world through you.

As you move forward in this new year, move forward in His joy, His love, His peace, His comfort, His strength, His life, His ways, His mercy, His grace, His patience, and His salvation given to you.

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Psalm 29:11 Strength And Peace

Nature deer lake

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. Psalm 29:11 

Moving forward in life is very difficult for many people. They get worn out from the battles that are in their lives. As they are going through their days, challenges rise up to stop them or divert them from the path they desire to be on.

The greatest battles that many are fighting are to have more possessions, which is believed will bring more peace and contentment in their lives. In order to get more, people will work more. As they work more, they get worn out and wear down, which then causes them to lose their peace, fearing they will lose what they have obtained or are aiming for.

In the middle of all this, there is also very little peace because of the fighting that is going on in this world of crime, abuse and wars.

David states that God gives strength and peace to His people.

The strength that God gives is the ability to keep going day after day. It is the ability to stand up and keep moving forward in spite of difficulties or battles. When the world is trying to take a believer down, he is given power to stand up and hold on to his belief in God.

God’s peace comes upon the believer in the middle of the battles. He can know that no matter what happens, God is on his side and in the end will gain eternal life. As the world is falling down all around him, the believer has a supernatural peace that God is still in control of everything. When the world is dark all around him, the believer has God’s light shining in him showing him the path to take, bringing great peace and comfort.

No matter what is going on in your life, God is with you. Look to Him for your strength to keep moving forward. As the world attacks you and strives to pull you down, keep in mind that God is with you and gives you all that you need for the battle.

Hold on to the peace that Jesus is giving you. This peace is not the absence of trouble in your life, but that God will bring you through all troubles. It is a peace that in your heart that passes all understanding. You are at peace with God, which means everything.

I pray today that you will know God’s power in your life; that God will give you the needed strength to make it each day; that your heart will be filled with the peace of God; and that you will rest in knowing that God will help you through every battle.