We all know it is possible to say all the right things and still lack in Love.    It is not possible to minister supernatural unconditional Love, and still say all the wrong things.    We do  not have to agree on everything, but those who have met Him agree on the basics.  And there is Love.  Love that supercedes personality differences and background.  Love that supercedes odor, dirt and warts.  Love that supercedes the past.    He is Love, and where He is, that Love is made manifest.

   The Psalmists compel the Soldier of The Cross to Praise the Lord all the time and in multitudinous ways.    How can this be done?  What is real Praise?  How does one begin?  How does one keep praising?    Praise begins in prayer.  Only by prayer does the Christian see who God is and what He has done.  Yes, there must be God's Word, but without prayer, there is no sight.  Without prayer, there is either legalism or the abuse of freedom.    Thanking the Lord for everything is the beginning of praise.  It is about agreeing with God, no matter what.  When there is obedience in this area, there is a supernatural thankfulness that exceeds any description of the thing  or circumstance for which the Soldier is offering thanks.    When there is thanks for abundance or something thrilling, thanking the Lord makes it clear to the one who prays that God is responsible for all things and that nothing happens without Him.    Then, there is a praise that spills over from obedience. It is a vector and is supernaturally sustained by the Holy Spirit.    Some would have you believe that being whipped up into an emotional state and repeating things over and over results in praise.  Not so.  That is nothing more than getting into an emotional state and repeating things over and over.  There is no spiritual benefit and it does  not bring honor to the Lord unless it is the outflowing of something more.    Christians who do  not praise the Lord feel responsible for running their own lives.  They worry about money and are moody and often resentful of others.    Soldier, agree with God.  In prayer.    Aloud.

   In the human experience, there is nothing that compares with the fellowship of those who have decided to agree with God.    Why?    Because when two or three are gathered in His Name, there He is also.    Soldier of  The Cross, for thirty three years, I have sought out those who are in love with the One who holds the stars in place.  It is worth any effort that can be made.   It means being with the Lord.  It means recognizing and enjoying Him.    There are many Christians who do not realize they can enjoy the Lord.  They have been born again, but can't understand why there is always a sense of something more.    The first step is to tell the Lord that He can have you completely, and that you agree with Him in everything.  He will begin to reveal what that means, and it is glorious.  As the revelation of His Love begins to unfold He becomes so beautiful and so consuming that  the things of this life pale in comparison.    There is still the struggle of living ion the world and dealing with time.  Nevertheless, there is such a craving to know Him that prayer begins to change the Soldier of The Cross in such a manner that he seeks Jesus above all else.  When this happens, the Soldier is led to rich, deep, hot, blessed fellowship.      This fellowship is found in the company of fellow Soldiers who are slogging through this life as you are.  The important thing  is, Pilgrims and Sojourners  who have decided to obey Him have the delight of His company for the journey.    In His Presence there is sight.    In His Presence there is acceptance.    In His Presence there is healing.    In His Presence there is Love.    In  His Presence there is Grace.    In His Presence there is the assurance of provision.    Soldier, you can't make it on your own.      There is no one else to follow.

   The Bible speaks of  the newness of His Life.   It is the rare believer who enjoys this aspect of the Christian life.    When the issues of daily life crowd in and the Soldier is forced to deal with the unexpected or unpleasant,   there must be a deliberate and assertive agreement with God.  If  He says  all things become new, and if He says He withholds no good thing, then each event, concern or difficulty must be brought to Him in prayer for the purpose of agreeing with  Him.    The Soldier of The Cross who lives in this manner will still experience the fallen world, but will see things through the eyes of eternity.        Learn to be free and filled with Joy.    Actively and aloud.    Take Him at His Word.

   Life must revolve around the Word of God.   Without the freshness of the Word taken in each day, time will loom large, and the things of earth will be far more real than eternity.  Without the freshness of the Word taken in daily, the believer becomes cemented in what he has learned and ceases to walk in the Light.    It is a matter of discipline.  Anyone who says there is no time is mistaken.  There is always time and  it is a matter of obedience.    The bills are not eternal.  The mistreatment is not eternal.  Diapers are not eternal.  Work is not eternal.   Illness is not eternal.    God's Word is eternal.

   Soldier, this is the year of  Joy.    God's Word says that His Own are entitled to enjoy Him at infinite levels.    He is the High Tower.     He is the Fortress.     He is the Rock of Ages.     He is the Lion of Judah.     He is the Great Physician.     He is the Rose of Sharon.     He is the Bright and Morning Star.     He is the Lily of The Valley.    He is the Savior and the Redeemer.    He has numerous names, and He has shared that information with you so that you could know Him, rely on Him and pursue Him.    Soldier, I tell you often that there is nothing else.    Is there something that you can name?  Of course not.  So then, why do you allow yourself to value the opinion of an enemy?     Why do you allow yourself to worry about money?     Why do you allow yourself to fantasize about the cause of the matter?       Why do you worry about vindicating yourself?    Do you believe Him?    Consider His Place as King of Kings.  How does that compare to the thing that troubles you?    You are an adopted Son and you have been born into the Kingdom of  Light.  Take up the matter with Him .    Aloud.    Today.

   You have a message that the whole world needs that of salvation.    Do you see the need?  Have you made yourself available?     Soldier of The Cross, be sure to be on the alert all the time.  Even the finest of the fine  need Jesus.  So do the worst of the worst.     No one is out of His reach, and He uses His Own to reveal His Love.

   Why is is to hard for the flesh to walk by faith?    Because the flesh is dying and struggling for survival at any cost.  Faith is the essence of eternal investment, and it is the thing to which the flesh is the  most opposed.    The two greatest faith struggles are those that concern money and those that concern immediate family members, usually spouses.    Money seems so important.  After all, it is the ingredient needed for physical transactions that relate to survival.  What does the Bible say?  That we should pray in our Daily Bread.  That we should look to Him who has promised to meet our every need.  That we should give out of our lack.  That we should give of the first fruits.  That if the sparrow lacks for nothing, neither will we.    Why then is it so hard?  Because the flesh wants control.    What about relationships?   He says "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you."  He says that He must be first and that is all there is to it.      Conflicts must be brought to Him in prayer.  Faith agrees that He hears and that He cares.     Faith agrees that He intervenes.     Faith agrees He knows better than we.     Faith agrees that while we may not see the result here, we shall see the result in eternity.     Faith agrees that our feeling does  not compare with His Plan.    Soldier of The Cross,  look beyond the immediate.  Gaze upon Him.  Consider the Word.  The flesh kicks and screams, but the Spirit beckons to living on the Higher Ground.   There is simply nothing else.  There is no one else.

   Soldier of The Cross, although there are seasons of rest, life on this earth does not allow for any person to avoid the hills and valleys.    When the Lord becomes Master, the hills and valleys even out because of faith.  The road becomes straight because of faith.  Eternity is envisioned and seen with the eyes of faith.  The burden is made light because of faith.    The journey may be tough, but it is short.  Even heartache is made sweet because of faith.      Soldier, look up and move on.

   What is your place in the Body of Christ?    To be there.  To bear the weight.  To Love.  To do what is needed.     Beyond that, we are instructed to give ourselves to whatever it is we believe we are intended to do.  Often, such tasks are seen by those who should do them.  There is a mantel to be taken up and donned.  Do you see the need?  If no other has been assigned, or if there is a need for relief,  take up the matter in  prayer.  Then, move.    There is  much to do.  Most of it is thankless.  It does not matter.    There is no big or little.  There is no unimportant job.  The toilets must be cleaned, and someone must attend to the children.   The shut in and the imprisoned must be visited. It must all be done by prayer.    Soldier of  The Cross , those who consider the importance of their tasks are guaranteed to loose perspective.    Do the next thing.  Cheerfully and with relish.