When someone says endorphins make you happy . . . so does meeting up with us here on the Bridge😉
Hi across the church!
Although you may have rising concerns (aside from flood waters and rain wreaking havoc in many areas) about all that is happening in the world, we’re here to welcome you to a peaceful evening.
Lately, we’ve been thinking a little bit about conviction and steeling ourselves for whatever comes. What conviction looks like:
When Joshua said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” -Joshua 24:15
When Paul said, “I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” -2 Timothy 1:12
Jesus had to steel himself for what He was about to go through. We know that we know what we know. (You can read it again.) We are fully convinced. We won’t turn back, we won’t turn back. We have been called to live our lives in full conviction, and we have to steel ourselves for what lies ahead in our pilgrimage.
Share this with a friend who looks at the news with one eye open. Take a peek at this instead.
Brother Nobles recently reminded us to not allow this condition to take away our peace. Our trust is in the one who brought us together in the first place. What have we done to keep our spiritual life thriving during this time?
Have we used this time to be keenly aware of ourselves?
Have we kept the Holy Ghost in us stirred up?
Have we kept our life on track?
The Inheritance We leave our children
God is breaking some things right now, but our trust is in Him, and we should be speaking of His glory. He is in control and His voice is over the waters. His voice is powerful. His voice is full of majesty—and His people hear the thunder.
“The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.” -Psalms 29:3-6
Do not seek the world’s peace. For example, do not say that the world told us to do something, and it worked. Seek HIS peace. What we do right now will have an effect on the generation to come. Let’s leave an inheritance to our children that we were as wise as a serpent and as harmless as a dove.
If You have gotten overwhelmed by this condition, call on God.
With more quiet time, we have had to deal with ourselves. The hardest time to find peace is when there are no distractions. Psalms 4 lets us know we should have more joy and peace than anyone else because we have the only hope that has ever been presented to this world. It goes beyond the veil and is the only real hope that exists.
Surviving Vs. thriving
Brother Nobles gave us a few ways to not just survive this condition, but to thrive.
- Thrive by keeping in check thoughts that keep you from Him. Keep the mindset of Philippians 4:4 -“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” Stay in a constant rejoicing spirit. When you forget, get back into it.
- Thrive by being profoundly thankful for everything through all of this time. Do not get lost in all that is going on, especially in the news.
- Thrive by seeking God to give you peace. “The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” -Numbers 6:22.
- Thrive by working while it is day—while we still have light. God can use this condition to bring people back. For some who genuinely lost their faith and lost their way—this event has woken them. It has shaken some people to their core and frightened them by how much this virus has changed their lives. Let’s be a light that draws them in. How else does God speak to this generation? How else does He reveal His Church if not through the lives of us, His people? We must always remember the reason we are here today, for “such a time as this”. We are visible demonstrations to the sea of people out there—of keeping the hope and power of God through all conditions.
- Thrive by not letting your heart be troubled (John 14). Magnify the Lord, and do not live in fear.
We offer our sincere hope for your health and safety, and we look forward to us all being back together — in every joyous sense of the word!
Goodnight, friends.
What a powerful message! “Hold your Peace” has been on my mind since Bro. Nobles recently opened that phrase in my understanding. Here in the south, “hold your peace” means “shut up” or “keep it to yourself” more like “hold your piece of mind” instead of “giving him or her a piece of your mind.” My eyes were opened to “peace” like the “peace” mentioned in Philippians 4:7 And the PEACE of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. That is the “peace” I want to hold! It is a treasure and I’m not willing to give it up. I’m sure the next time I hear that phrase, my mind will go to a different place of peace. ADDING STRENGTH TO STRENGTH!!!