Alive to Shine

"And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above, and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." - Daniel 12:3

In Daniel 12:3 he uses the phrase "those who are wise." He is referring to those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior. The ultimate outcome of "those who are wise" will be that they will shine brightly like stars forever and ever. God is not in the business of making bad people good but He is in the business of making dead people alive. God doesn't make us alive just to be alive...He makes us alive to shine! I want to you to know that once you place your faith in Christ he makes you alive to shine. Not only to shine in this present life but you will shine like stars forever and ever in eternity. What an amazing eternity that will be.

*On November 19, 20, & 21 our 2nd Fall High School Retreat will take place at Skyview Ranch. This year's theme is "Alive to Shine" and we will be taking a deeper look at this. For more information visit www.alivetoshine.com or feel free to email me at travis@offthewallministry.com.

The Lust for Security

"Once we have set ourselves to be pilgrims and strangers on the earth, which is what Christians are meant to be, it is incongruous for us to continue to insist upon the sort of security the world tries to guarantee. Our security lies not in protecting ourselves from suffering, but in putting ourselves fully into the hands of God. The desire for physical and material security makes us sly and hard. No. We must be like little children. The child in its father's arms is not worried. It lies quietly at rest because it trusts its father. We disobey sometimes because we say it is impossible to do what God asks. Impossible? Perhaps what we mean is that it is impossible to do that and keep our security, impossible to obey without tremendous cost, or at least tremendous risk. Where, then, will we find safety? Is it likely that we will find it elsewhere than in the arms of the Father?"

- Elisabeth Elliot

Do you ever view yourself as an alien? What about a sojourner or exile? If you are a follower of Jesus Christ Scripture is clear that we are aliens here on this earth. Our citizenship is in heaven and we are ambassadors while on earth. This mindset is vitally important to grasp, especially in our American culture. When we start to view earth as home and lose an eternal mindset we hold on to things as our security, we strive for comfort, and we stop trusting God. Do you desire physical and material security? Ask God to help you place your life totally in the hands of God. It is when we lose all control that we see God in total control.

"Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul." - 1 Peter 2:11