Blessed as God's Man

God's men are blessed. When you see the old testament word "blessed" it is tied to God speaking good things about or of the thing that is said to be blessed . Can you imagine that God would speak good of us? And when He does so, good things happen of course. So, let us be God's men, fearing the Lord and delighting in His commandments. He's got power, so much power that only a fool who deceives himself would not fear (respect) Him. His commands are not only backed up by His power but they are what's best AND they are aimed at taking us to somewhere wonderful He has planned. The fact is, we  cannot get to that wonderful destination He had planned for us by any other means. What difference should it make them, if His commands take us through somewhere difficult since He will be with us and see us through to the other side? Texting FWM to 419.419.0095 will sign any man up for this service.

P. Daniel Stevenson
Pastor New Heights Fellowship
Director Southside Life Station
419.469.0270
churchToledo.com
app: life4toledo
text INFO to 419.419.0095 for updates
text NHFBCT to 49775 to get free right now media

Taking a Hit

So, Here is what I've figured out-That the anticipation of taking a hit is often worse than taking a hit. This assumes of course that the hit comes and goes or that the hitting does not continue.

Many have been through grueling physical torment that goes on and on. that's not for me to speak of except in general terms because I have never endured such.

However, when it comes to spiritual matters we are all subject to hits now and then. The enemy is tactically clever and we even expose our weaker defenses at times perhaps because we care about someone a little more than we thought or the like.

Then, it occurs to you that you might be about to take a hit and the person is not really talking about the problem...

Anticipation begins to eat at your soul. You just know this is gonna be bad. Relationship hits might be best handled like getting a shot-take a deep breath, don't hold it, and relax. When you're about to get in a car accident people do best when they assume the position in a relaxed manner.

So, what I am saying is that tensing up or fretting over a coming spiritual hit is bound to make it worse. Better, would be to leave it in God's hands and say-It's gonna be whatever it's gonna be. relax, He's got this. He told you what He can do. Just look at the hits Jesus took and He didn't want to. He prayed against the cup of wrath but He needed to in order that you and I might be set free, justified...

So, when it looks like someone is going to betray you don't overreact. Stand your ground and take the spiritual licking that you've got coming. In fact, rejoice always, again I say rejoice. Rejoice that you were determined worthy to struggle as Christ did even if only in this minor way.

In that rejoicing, maybe you will find that the worst part of the hit is defused and that you can be "happy" on a bumpy road just as much as you can be on a smooth road as long as you know that God is in the driver's seat.

Pastor Dan Stevenson
www. newheightsfellowshipchurch.org

fatigue

Your eyes are tired and dry. Your neck is stiff or your back is sore. You have had enough but life goes on. You fall asleep when someone is talking to you. Your eyes drift shut but a second later you are wide awake and you feel fine. It's fatigue.

Maybe you've pushed yourself too far. Maybe you've burnt your candle at both ends. A few late nights, a few too many early mornings and your fatigued. But that's not the only way.

Fatigue

TV fatigues the mind as the screen continually refreshes to mimic the actual movement of real life. (Watching TV is not rest.) Emotional moments fatigue a person psychologically. The brain creates chemicals and chemical byproducts of emotions build up so that only rest will free the brain for proper balance.

Fatigue

Water is used in virtually every process of the body and tons of people (I think maybe almost all ordinary people) are struggling under the effects of dehydration. I even think that sometime when people's body are calling out for water they eat (resulting in all sorts of other problems.) Hydration makes health and strength possible. Drink more water (nope-more than that.)

Fatigue

Good health is the antithesis of Fatigue. Sure, we will still get tired but not so much fatigued. Exercise, hydration, proper nutrition, periods of peace, and Sabbath are the solution. I say that knowing that I sometimes fail in these areas. In fact I am fatigued this morning after a long weekend and missing my Sabbath yesterday due to an emergency.

Peace. No God? No Peace. I'm not stirring up trouble. Realizing that living without the one you were created to relate to is fatiguing is absolutely necessary. Dodging that reality has become a pass time for some. They work very hard at it even finding substitutes for as long as they hold out. Sounds Fatiguing doesn't it?

Sabbath: Sabbath is the time set apart to reflect on God, yourself, and especially your relationship to God. Leave God out, scripture out, or reflection out and you are not having Sabbath. Rest is good but Sabbath is the God given answer to fatigue.

So, you tell me? Should the TV be on during Sabbath? Should read a good book? Should you sleep it away? I think, no. I think you can incorporate these things in small amounts but the Bible, you, and quiet are the principle ingredients. One more thing ,the ratio is 1/7th. The Bible teaches that you need to take the equivalent of one entire day every week. This is not complete rest. It is as described above...

Lord help us. We have become a nation that has forgotten this most important principle.

and the result?

Fatigue.

Pastor Dan Stevenson
http://www.newheightsfellowshipchurch.org/