In John chapter 11, Jesus was sent word that His friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus needed Him. Yet He tarried where He was. Lazarus was sick and needed the touch from who they knew could make a difference. They had seen Jesus heal the sick, lame, blind and lepers. They had seen Jesus raise the dead. Their worst fear came upon them and they buried Lazarus. Then Jesus traveled to them when it seemed that all hope was lost. When Jesus arrived, they cried out with such agony that even tears from the eyes of Jesus are recorded. I thank God that the story does not end with Jesus crying at the graveside of a friend. Jesus cried out for Lazarus, and he came out alive! You see, with Jesus, there is hope in the most hopeless situation! Just depend on God! It’s never too late with God!

> I have heard it said that if you are not moving forward then you are moving backwards. There is a great deal of truth to that, but there are some times that we need to be patient and wait. Shortly after the ascension of Jesus Christ, the disciples of Jesus were in the upper room waiting for direction. I could only imagine waiting and hearing the nay sayers grumbling and telling the disciples they were wasting their time! Determined to do what God told them to do they prayed and waited. I am sure there were times of discouragement. Some may have begun to doubt. Some may have begun to expect God to not show up. That is when God really shines. The sound of a great and mighty wind begins to blow and the fire of the Holy Ghost anoints the disciples giving them the burning message that Jesus Christ is Lord! Within a week, 5,000 souls were added to the church. All because they were determined to wait on God! Are you discouraged or doubting, just wait on God!

Wednesday was a wonderful evening here at the Bible study and prayer meeting! We experienced the outpouring of the gracious love of Christ! That is the commandment that is given to each of us as Christians! We are to love and bare one another’s burdens. That is exactly what happened! Some made request and others made known the praises of God and there was an air of love for the brethren! It was a concern for the bettering of the people of God. Praise God that we were able to have this time in our church! This, I believe, is proof of a church praying for great and mighty things to happen! We must first see it in our homes and then it will spill over into our church and then our church can be effective in our community and surroundings for the glory of God! Continue to pray for these great and mighty things! There is no limit to what God can do if we submit to Him! I just say, “Praise God! For He is Good!!”

I have reason to rejoice. Sure, there are plenty of problems in the world. I am not blind to these problems, but our joy as Christians should not be dictated by the circumstances around us! If you are truly born again you have reason to rejoice. You have Jesus Christ in your heart! We have worries, troubling circumstances and another issue may arise before the day’s end, but we have Jesus! This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it! Look above and rejoice that you are saved by the blood of Jesus and there is nothing to take that away!

It seems that our world advances toward more and more turmoil every day! You hear on the radio, television, internet that turmoil has taken over. This to me is another confirmation in my mind that God’s Word has been true and will continue to show what the world will come to! The great news for us as believers and followers of Jesus Christ is that we already know the end! We know who is victorious! We know that God will be victorious over the nations! We know that God will set up His kingdom and that we will be there! Turmoil has been a constant for ages! It will continue until Jesus comes to sit upon the throne that has been promised Him! Fret not at the happenings of this world! Look to the promise of the return of our King! Just as John says, “even so Lord come quickly!” I say, Amen! I am looking forward to that glorious return of the King of kings and Lord of lords!