The Joy of The Lord:

   The deep, deep joy of The Soldier of The Cross comes from the unbridled Presence of the Indwelling Holy Spirit.   How does this happen?  By obedience to God's Word.   Joy is not something that comes like a bolt of lightening, nor is it a feeling that is the result of inspiration.    Joy is the result of the absence of sin and the organic Presence of God in the life of a Servant who is determined to be a Living Sacrifice.    Where does the song in the heart come from?   Is it true that the stars sang before the earth was created?  The music of the soul is the result of the union between God and man that is brought about by man's acceptance of the gift of Salvation.    Salvation is experienced daily by those who obey His Word and the result is protection from all of the unhealth of disobedience.    Soldier, the deeper, the simpler.  He has not made it hard.  He is clear.  We do this and He will do that.  Most of God's Promises are conditional, based on obedience.    Is there a song in your heart today?    Even those who have experienced the most difficult pain and loss will say they have known his comfort and joy because of agreement with God.    If you have many years or only a few days, it is all the same.  You must let Him have the day and the night.  Your thoughts must agree with His Word and your mouth and actions must reflect that agreement.    For this you were created, and anything else is simply foolish and a waste of limited days.    Look up and move on!

The Battle is in The Mind:

   Christian character is determined by and built by, obedience to God's Word, especially in the most private of moments.    Soldier of The Cross, how do you make decisions?  Are choices made because  of pressure, sentimentality or desperation?  Or, are your decisions based on His Word - no matter what?    The mind is always involved and it is the enemy's prime battle field of choice.  The important thing is to recognize one's own thoughts and to make sure that if they do not line up with His Word, they are led away captive.    How does this actually happen ?  When the matter is brought before the Lord in  prayer, He opens the way for the Christian to recognize what is happening.    That is the first step.  Then, the Holy Spirit will initiate a choice that opens the door to obedience and allows escape from strangulating thoughts.    It is critical to be in the Word afresh each day.  No matter what your verse is, the Lord will use it to provide release.    The thoughts are the most private of moments.  As a man's life is the sum of his choices. Those choices must begin in the mind and must reflect his abandon to all that is not of God.    Soldier, are you a cheerful giver?  Are you tempted to splash about in thoughts about your taking so much of the load?     Or, what has been done to you?     Or, worry about the future?     Or resentment about something that is out of your control?    Or a fantasy about what could be?    The Christian Servant must agree with God and it begins in the mind.  If there is agreement there, the life will reflect the Lord and there will be an outpouring of Love and healing.    There is simply nothing else.    There is no one else.

His Own Life:

   Soldier, have you ever seen a blade of grass push its way up through the cement?    Such is the quality of life.  And, all the more it is the quality of His own Life.     Those who deal in death do not understand Life.  They deal in falsehood, manipulation and a unity of darkness. There is no respect for the sovereignty of God, nor is there a delight in His ways.      You have been born into the Kingdom of Light.  Look up and see.  Gaze upon Him who died for you.  Investigate His personality.    Those who walk in the Light will not be deceived because they can see where they are going and they can see with whom they deal.    Count as valuable that which is valuable.  Discount that which is not valuable.    Obedience to God's Word brings the experience of Life.

The Treasure:

   Make no apology for the Gospel.    The hardest face may be a front for a heart that is craving to hear the Truth.  The most vigorous protest may be covering a soul desperate to respond to reality.    He stands firm.  He is not afraid of criticism or rejection. He is not insecure about the limitation of time or any barrier of circumstances.  He does not flinch when it appears He is misunderstood or misinterpreted.    He does not have to prove anything.    Soldier, you have nothing to lose by standing firm and presenting eternal Truth.  Time is short and the day must be spent with that in mind.    Always have an answer for the Hope that is within you.    Preach in season and out of season.    Every one needs to know.

No Apology:

   Make no apology for the Gospel.   The hardest face may be a front for a heart that is craving to hear the Truth. The most vigorous protest may be covering a soul desperate to respond to reality.   He stands firm.  He is not afraid of criticism or rejection. He is not insecure about the limitation of time or any barrier of circumstances.  He does not flinch when it appears He is misunderstood or misinterpreted.   He does not have to prove anything.   Soldier, you have nothing to lose by standing firm and presenting eternal Truth.  Time is short and the day must be spent with that in mind.   Always have an answer for the Hope that is within you.   Preach in season and out of season.   Every one needs to know.

Christian Character

   What happens in private?    Those who belong to the Lord understand that there are many unseen witnesses.     There is only one measure of character, and that is the Word of God.  Soldier of The Cross, no matter what is whirling around, no matter what seems to be, no matter what emotions say, God's Word stands over all.    Those who want Him stand for Him before others and bend to Him in private.    Those who want Him tel Him each day.  They are aware of His attention and are eager to please Him.    Soldier, all are watching.  Your heart must belong to Him and to him alone.  Your goal must be to know Him and to serve and encourage the Body of Christ.    What are your most private decisions?     Prayer is a time for raw honesty.    Soldier, there is nothing else.

Others First:

 A Soldier of The Cross does not complain, whine or waste time licking his wounds.       He is interested in serving the Lord, and that means that he will attend to others at his own expense.    There is a significant difference between serving others, and doing everything to win another in order to gain approval and control.  Similarly, the same difference exists between kindness and niceness.    The Servant of The Living God has determined to leave Silken Self behind and follow the One who left Glory to rescue us.     If you are not actively doing for others, there is a void in your life.  If you are attending to the needy, the most extreme circumstances are diffused because of obedience.       What is His nature?  After all, He is Love.    The greatest miracle in the human life is knowing God.  The fruit of knowing Him is being like Him.       There is nothing else.

A Foretaste of Glory Divine:

   God's Word is stimulating.     Revealing.      Motivating.     Convicting    Exposing.    Soldier of The Cross, we must all remember that we are fed, and cleansed by His Word.  How easy it is to let it go.  Other things press in and seem so much more critical.    Never let the urgent take the place of the important.    Are you aware of your priorities?  They should be stated in daily prayer.  Aloud.     There is nothing to lose and everything to gain.

His Birth:

   No human effort went in to the birth of Jesus - only humble submission.    Soldier of The Cross, may He be born into your life?  May He be seen?  May His death and resurrection be reflected as He sees fit, as you submit to Him in prayer?    He did  not choose to be recognized.  He did  not choose to be safe.  He did not even choose to be comfortable.    He chose humility.    He chose obscurity.    He chose to be rejected, even at birth.    Yet, Grace revealed Him to the Wise Men and to the Shepherds.    Soldier of The Cross, He has called your name and has extended His Hand to you for a life that reflects and reveals His Own Life.    Are you available, or do you have certain doors and boxes that are sealed?  Is there something you must have?  If that something is other than Jesus, you must present the situation to him in prayer.    There is no freedom greater than faith in the One who came as a Baby.    Have you told Him how much His birth as a child means to you?    Tell Him today.    Tell Him aloud.  He is the ultimate Responder.  He will absolutely let you know that He has heard.

No Guessing:

   Soldier of The Cross, serving the Lord means sticking to Truth.    Gossip is not always the breaking down of communication.  It is often foolish guessing.  People love to fill in the blanks.    This is a lethal trap and  those who do not have a scriptural handle on the thought life, will fall into it.    If you interpret circumstances and read faces, you will develop a fantasy world that throws the door open to the enemy.     The enemy is insane.  What is insanity?  Separation from reality.    Soldier, avoid speculation.  Make sure you do not present facts not in evidence.  We are told that God hates false testimony and anything that separates the brethren.    Be wise.  Be quiet.  Wait for Him.    It is  not your battle, it is His.    In the meantime, there are many who need to be fed, healed, loved and saved. You must avoid the quicksand of deciding you have Holy Spirit insight into the motives and thoughts of others.    Watch for and wait for the Lord.    You must do this because you do not have all the answers.  He alone knows the unknown.