August 2024: Rise Higher

I want us to rise higher in the understanding of who we are in Christ! No matter what is going on around us or in our own lives, if we keep our focus on Jesus, He will see us through! All around are wars and rumors of wars, floods, tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, and many other devastating things. I live in northern California where one raging fire has grown to the size of the city of Los Angeles, and sadly, as of now, it is only 14% contained. That is just one fire and there are many burning right now, taking people’s homes and livelihoods. Difficult times for so many.

Rise Higher

The Bible tells us all about these things! The disciples asked then, and we as followers of Christ ask now, what are the signs of Your coming? And Jesus answered and said to them: Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places…. Matthew 24:4-7.   

We are living in these verses, but it also tells us in Matthew 24:13,  But he who endures to the end shall be saved. This is a great verse in our manual for success (Bible) because it gives us instructions on how to survive all the stuff coming at us and around us!


Endure: The word endure means to have fortitude, to persevere. We have the Holy Spirit to show us how to do that and to be a witness to the gospel and the power of the Lord during it all. Jesus is coming back, and we are to live expecting His return and to be ready!


Saved: The word saved means to save, deliver or protect, heal, preserve, do well, and to be whole. What a promise but we must believe and expect, knowing that through it all we shall come through with Jesus, bringing others to the kingdom of God, and not as victims but as VICTORS!


So, no matter what is happening, we look up and focus on what truly matters, and that is eternity, not the temporal! God will make a message out of all this mess! We stand firm and steadfast knowing our Jesus will make a way when there seems to be no way. Each child of God should be bringing hope to others because we have the only hope there is and His name is Jesus!


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