"Set your mind on things above"

Christian Encouragement September 14, 2000 Hi friends! If you were at the bible study last night, then you know what a wonderful discussion we had regarding the last days and the rapture. I firmly believe we are "there".... at the threshold of life everlasting. And so are the lost. For quite some time now, I have felt a sense of urgency to tell everyone about Christ as well as to encourage the saved to be busy doing the good works of the Lord. Now, I am not one to blame everything on Satan, however, he has been working very hard to hinder me in these endeavors. I will go so far as to say he is trying to sift me through and through. I am not a preacher. I am not a prophet. I'm not Paul or Peter. I am just Debbie....a child of God whose sins are forgiven through the blood of Christ and who was created from the dust of the earth. Just like the rest of you, I have been given a few gifts and am trying to use them for the cause of Christ and for the uplifting of my brothers and sisters in the Lord. I know I am not alone when I say I carry excess baggage from my childhood, and in so doing, Satan knows right where to attack. So I pray that my friend Jesus Christ will strengthen me in those areas by helping me to let go and bring healing. In the mean time, I still PRESS ON. So what do these things have to do with the last days? Well, first of all, we know that Satan's time is running short, so I consider it a joy to know that he's trying so hard to stop me. Why? Because this just reinforces my faith that I am truly a child of God and that the Lord has work for me to do. If this weren't so, Satan would move on. His fiery darts give me the opportunity through faith and strengthening in Christ to GROW in my faith. It also reminds me to say, "NO! I refuse to be sifted and taken down! Get away!" And then the Lord brings to my mind His Word and I say it aloud over and over. It's amazing how much strength you gain by doing this! Not to mention how quickly "Scratch" runs off!! When Pastor Todd first started talking about how close we are to the rapture, Satan threw the fiery dart of FEAR through me. Why? Because that's the easiest one. It always has been. (part of that childhood baggage stuff!) Then I remembered scripture...which is the Truth. I began to praise Him all the way home. I didn't stop there. I continued to praise Him out loud after we got home. By the time I went to sleep last night, I was overwhelmed with joy and ready to tell the whole world how great God is! Now I wish to encourage all of you as I have been encouraged in the Lord Jesus Christ. Look in Hebrews 12:1,2. It says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us THROW OFF EVERYTHING that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us RUN with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us FIX OUR EYES on JESUS, the author and perfecter of our faith...." In I Cor. 9:24----"...RUN in such a way as to get the prize." In Phil. 3:13,14-"...But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I PRESS ON toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." And Col.3:1,2---"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your HEARTS on things ABOVE, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your MINDS on things ABOVE, not on earthly things." So...now is the time to throw off everything that hinders us, fix our eyes on Jesus Christ, set our hearts and minds on the things above and RUN the race. We have work to do. Time is growing shorter which is good for those of us who know the Lord, but for the lost and those who have strayed from God's Truth, I grieve in my heart. Let's encourage one another to TELL others. Let us share God's Word with one another that we may all be strengthened. Let us not grow faint at what we see, nor grow weary in doing good. As I encourage you with these words, I myself am encouraged! I praise the name of Jesus Christ our Savior Who is and forever will be Lord of Lords and King of Kings! May He cause His beautiful face to shine upon us! With love for every one of you, Debbie Reed-Parman

"Set your mind on things above"

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