What's this Lordship thing?

A new Christian may think the future will be  wonderful, but then they run into this "Lordship" thing.

God has a call on every believer's life, not just the preacher, and all should be in His Word, studying to be fit for the kingdom of God. That's our training ground Monday through Saturday. 

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

We need to give God permission to be Lord of our lives. If we don't, we are operating in our own wisdom. We need to get out of the driver's seat and give Jesus the keys. He is capable. Partial surrender is no surrender.

What do you lose when you totally surrender to God, and what do you gain? We lose everything and gain everything. That's a good deal.

Why don't we give Him permission to be Lord of our life? We have to get rid of our pride, but we are getting something back we can be proud of: His righteousness.

Is He truly your Lord or do you just call Him that? Have you given His Lordship permission?

Give God your tongue...

The tongue is a little member, but it has great power. 

Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

God can use our tongues to direct others into the way of life and to delight them in the trials of life. The following words can transform your life.

"Please and "Thank you." When you use these three words you are treating others like people and not things. You're showing appreciation.

"I'm sorry." These two words have a way of breaking down walls and building bridges.

"I love you." Too many people read romance into these words, but they go much deeper than that. As Christians, we should love the brethren and our enemies. This statement can carry tremendous power.

"I'm praying for you." And be sure that you are. When you talk to God about people, then you can talk to people about God.

Give God your tongue and your heart each day and ask Him to use you to be a blessing to others.

Mama said someone left a box of groceries

. . .  on their doorstep during the great depression. They never knew who. She also said jobs were scarce and people struggled to survive. Desperate, Aunt Ruth and Uncle Joe moved in with them for awhile. I wasn't born yet, but I can imagine a covey of hungry kids running through the house. Songs like God Will Take Care of You, I Need Thee Every Hour, and Great Is Thy Faithfulness gave them something to lean on.

Today, we take things for granted. If I have to chose, you can have my toys and games, my television and computer. Take my dishwasher and air conditioner, my automobile and fortune and fame. Withhold food, swelling my belly. You can have it all, but give me Jesus.

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold;

I'd rather be His than have riches untold;

I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands;

I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.

He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;

He's sweeter than honey from out of the comb.

He's all that my hungering spirit needs;

I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

Rhea F. Miller 

How to Have Victory in Trials

There are four essentials for victory in trials:

1. A joyful attitude
2. An understanding mind
3. A surrendered will
4. A heart that wants to believe

James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations: knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Outlook determines outcome, and attitude determines action. God tells us to expect trials. The believer who expects his Christian life to be easy is in for a shock. Jesus warned his disciples. "In the world ye shall have tribulation" (John 16:33). Paul told his converts that "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22).

Some trials come simply because we are human -- sickness, accidents, disappointments, even tragedies. Other trials come because we are Christians.

When we face the trials of life, we must evaluate them in the light of what God is doing for us. This explains why the dedicated Christian can have joy in the midst of trials: he/she lives for the things that matter most.