Where the Lord is, there is fire.    Those who Love Him and have determined to serve Him, find that the flame of the soul does not go out.  There is motivation, even when the reason is  not see.  There is determination even when it seems the body can not move.  There is power in the experience of weakness.    The fuel is the Word of God.  And, fellowship with those who love Him and are called according to His Purpose.    The fire burns brightly in prayer and in turn brings a hunger for the Word and for those who share the pursuit of God.    Those who have no fire do not recognize it.  Those who taste the sweet burning of the Holy Spirit within crave each other and seek each other out.    It takes one to know one.

   God's Word teaches that there is a supernatural Joy to be experienced and expressed.    Soldier of The Cross, there is a difference between happiness and joy.  Happiness is the experience of the absence of sorrow, pain or any distress.  Joy is that which is experienced by the obedient Servant when he is led by the Holy Spirit and agrees with God.    Many are those who have tasted this promised Joy.  Some have been tortured, some have been handicapped, some have lost all earthly goods, but all have agreed with God.    Is there any argument against agreeing with God?  Is there someone who has a word superior to His?    Joy is the immediate expression of a complete agreement with God with regard to any matter that must be yielded to Him.     Soldier of The Cross,  what is your issue today?     Money?    Family?    Profession?    Reputation?    Weight?    Imprisonment?    Agree with the One who holds the stars in place.    He is profoundly deep and He is profoundly simple.    Trust and obey, for there is no other way.

   Our God is not limited.    For that reason, we must be led in prayer.    For that reason, we must be ready to change.    For that reason, we must claim that which is  not seen.    For that reason we must be praying according to His Word, rather than according to circumstances alone.    Soldier of  The Cross, if He can have your life, He can reveal Himself in ways that you can not imagine.    Tell Him He can have you completely.    Tell Him aloud.    Tell Him now.    Walk in the possibility of the impossible.

   For the Soldier of The Cross, the Joy of The Lord is available when there is Obedience.    So many are the stories of torture and isolation.  But for those who have stood the test, there is always a testimony of the experience of the Presence and the Joy of  The Lord.   Soldier of The Cross, if you are indeed a Soldier, it means you have determined to take up The Cross and follow Him.  The Cross is the place of the death of the flesh.   That means that you embrace anything the Sovereign God wills.    Soldier, I ask you today, are you His, or are you yours?  This is the critical question.      It separates you and protects you from false accusation.   It protects you against the attack of the enemy.    It energizes you to get into The Word.    It propels you into prayer.    It compels confession.    It releases Love.    Soldier, is there anything else?    Look up and move on!

   Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.         Proverbs 4:7    As soon as someone thinks he is wise, he is in trouble.     If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom, there must be such a dependence on the Lord, that the believer does not look within himself  for the answers.    Wisdom is not a state of being or a  high rung on the spiritual ladder.  The Bible teaches that Wisdom is a person.  When The Soldier of The Cross walks in the Light of the One who is the Light of The World, there is clean and clear sight.    Wisdom means being in tune with the Lord and agreeing with Him.  Those who are wise do not feel wise - they are too busy being desperately dependent on the One they know is perfect and sees all.  I have known  exquisitely wise Christians who were of average intelligence or less.  Some have been poor and most of them unrecognized.    As more and more years have passed, I have come to see and understand that wisdom is available to those who desperately pursue Him.  He is available to those who are willing to leave all behind, take up The cross and follow Him.     Unlike many seem to think, God does not give wisdom to people so that they can run others'  lives.  While we can encourage and exhort one another, we ought not to think we can make choices for each other.     God deals administratively through the leadership of His Body and parents must determine many things for children.  But when it comes to adult decisions,  The Soldier of  The  Cross must stand before the Lord and trust Him to reveal Himself in everything and in each moment.    We have the blessing of  mature counsel.  We have the blessing of the accounts and insight of those who have gone before.    We have the blessing of  coming to the One who holds the stars in place, and asking Him for Light and for wisdom.    If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.         James 1:5

   What is impressive to you?    Soldier of The Cross, God must be impressive to you far beyond anything else.  This world can not be impressive.  All the things  the world offers can not be impressive.  All the things that are not eternal should not be impressive    God's Word is clear.  No treasure in anything not eternal.    Where are you with regard to this matter?  What are the things that call to you?    Reputation?    House?    Family?    Money?    Status?    Comfort?    Security?    Job?    Control over those around you?    Soldier, more than likely, all would agree that the above listed things are not of eternal value.  The issue is, are you willing to give up all to follow Him?    All hell is against you.  But, there is nothing to loose if your treasure is in heaven.    It is your choice.

   Today is the first day of the American New Year.    For Christians, it is not only a day of reflecting on what God has done, but also a day of looking forward to knowing Him more intimately, serving Him more devotedly and becoming more like Him.    The Soldier of The Cross will be able to see Jesus more clearly as the years pass, because he has determined to live for Him and for nothing else.  The Soldier has committed himself in prayer and he continues to commit himself to living for and unto the Lord.    The Soldier of The Cross does not resent correction and is  not easily offended.  He delights in seeing the Lord and in watching Him work.    The Soldier stands on The Word.    The Soldier is looking toward eternity and is careful not to build up treasure here.    The Soldier of The Cross knows Freedom.

   God's Word has a great deal to say about attitude.    Attitude does not reflect circumstances or feelings.  Attitude is the result of either agreeing with God or disagreeing with God.  There are no murky areas.    There is always a place to go.    Christians who whine and yelp about the past do not understand either the Sovereignty of God, or His ability to restore the land.  Those who constantly object to the treatment they receive do not understand Grace and they have not begun to grasp what it means to be a Living Sacrifice.    This goes way beyond bucking up.  This is not about gathering courage to jump into the volcano.  This is about yielding to the surgical knife of the Lover of your Soul.  This is about eternal investment.  This is about learning to be like Him.    This is about more of Him and less of me.

   Soldier, one of the most important lessons in life is learning to ride out storms.    There is no telling what is around the corner.  You have no control over any other human being, and there is no way to avoid unpredictable waves and torrents.    The critical issue is, what is the focus of your attention?  What does the Bible say?  At Whom should you be looking?    It is not as complicated as it seems.    You were created for Him.  Your job is to deal with and go to Him.  He will take care of the other things.    Tell Him.  Aloud.    Today.

   Soldier, now is the time.    Now is the time for Obedience.    Now is the time for Prayer.    Now is the time for Love.    Now is the time for Service.    Now is the time to buffet the body.    Now is the time to exercise the gifts.    Now is the time to give.    Soldier of The Cross, there may not be any more time.     Buy up the minutes now.