Take Up Your Cross

October 4th 2014

Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit. And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more. (Amos 8:1-2 KJV)

Do you have spiritual fruit blossoming?

In the Old Testament times God used many ways to get the attention of His prophets ...

Many of us have gotten ourselves into strange and unappealing circumstances where we have been tried and tested by God.  Man has cried out to God from prison, harrowing circumstances near the shadow of death because of accidents and situations of impending doom, or from the hopelessness of dependence upon drugs or alcohol.

God will use any circumstance in our life that will get our full attention to swing towards Him; even from a belly of a whale.  ...

This Psalm, like other Psalms, is a song likely meant to be sung in services in biblical times; worshiping and lifting up God.  This Psalm was inspired and written by David in some low and desperate times in his life.  We all have desperate times in life.

Man has only two choices in low and anxious times of life:

One solution is to look around at all the things this world has to offer to numb or pacify raw ...

Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:8-9 KJV)

God promises in His Word that He will both establish and preserve His own spiritual family.  God promises He will keep us in His hand, even amid fierce contrary winds and storms we may encounter as ...

Life has no meaning or satisfaction when a person is living outside of God’s will.  Solomon was richly blessed but desperately seeking to find meaning for his life.  He was reaching for anything to hold onto and he understood that hard work did not bring meaning and fulfillment to life.

Many people are caught up in this same mindset today.  Placing hard work and careers in a high position or importance in their life; toiling long hours so ...