The Death of Absolutes? – by Brett Evans

We live in a world where absolutism is dying off, and it’s dying off quickly.

Seeds of relativism that were planted hundreds of years ago into the fertile gardens of philosophy, science and religion have germinated and grown into an unbridled harvest of confusion. Definitions are in flux and seem to change by the minute based on the trending opinion of the masses or, in some cases, by the innate proclivities of a few.

Gender, traditionally defined by biological certainties, is now defined by the subjective inclinations of the individual, regardless of biological restraints.

Marriage, once defined as a covenant-union between a man and a woman for the express purpose of preserving the integrity of a society, is now loosely defined as a union of two people, regardless of gender, for the express purpose of validating a sexual predisposition.

Morality. Good. Evil. Sexuality.

None of these words have clear definitions anymore and are subject to circumstance and individual interpretation, and the list of words being stripped of their unimpeachable definitions is growing every day.

There are, however, a few “truths” society at large has established as absolutes that cannot be questioned, and it should come as no surprise that many of these so-called absolutes are in direct conflict with the Judeo-Christian worldview. Darwinism (commonly called evolution) is one such concept.

Darwinism is the concept that all living things come from a common cell-like organism which was randomly and materialistically formed and, over time, evolved into every kind of plant, animal and human we see on earth today by natural selection. This concept is extra-Biblical and affords no cause from a Creator.

Darwinism has many scientific problems. If all living creatures were generated randomly then it is assumed (by most Darwinists) that the same must have happened with space, time, chemicals, galaxies, stars and planets, but the more scientists learn, the more they admit that these things happening spontaneously, even over billions of years, is a statistical impossibility. When scientists consider how fine-tuned the laws of physics are calibrated for life to exist, for example, they are left boggled at the idea that this could be the work of random materialism.

Many of the common “proofs” of evolution have been refuted by further scientific evidence or have been found to be flat-out unscientific and falsely propagated as truth. Carbon-dating, the fossil record, the Urey/Miller experiment, and the so-called “missing link” fossils are just a few commonly used proofs of evolution that have been disproved by science and history, and yet they are all taught as infallible proofs of evolution to this day.

Despite the scientific flaws of Darwinism, it is widely accepted as the truth. As a matter of fact, evolution is now implicitly suggested in the very use of the word “science,” so much so that to suggest evolution could be wrong is to slay the sacred cow of academia. It’s not only implicit to science but now also to psychology, economics and even—sadly—some religion. It is the very zeitgeist of academia and permeates every premise of every area of study.

If you challenge the notion, you’re likely to be ostracized. Professors have lost their tenure, students have been publicly lambasted and embarrassed, and professionals have been marginalized for simply challenging the premise of Darwinism and suggesting there may be a Creator. Celebrity talking heads like Richard Dawkins and Bill Nye pompously attack anyone who believes in a Creator by calling them fools and, worse, dangerous.

Bill Nye and Ken Ham face off in a 2014 Creationism vs. Evolution debate at The Creation Museum.
Bill Nye and Ken Ham face off in a 2014 Creationism vs. Evolution debate at The Creation Museum.

But, why? Why, when almost everything else is subject to individual interpretation, would society be so vehement about evolution? With just an ounce of discernment it’s easy to understand. The prince of this world (John 14:30) has come to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10) and does so with lies (John 8:44), and what better way to steal, kill and destroy someone’s hope, meaning and purpose in life than to “scientifically” prove there is no God? Paul wisely said that we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Cor 2:11), and one thing we know with confidence is that the enemy will use whatever weapon he can to destroy us—whether that’s relativism or by creating false absolutes like evolution.

Darwinism teaches a person they are paradoxically and simultaneously their own god and yet, at the same time, more worthless than an ant. The heroes in the story of Darwinism are chaos, random chance and death. Darwinism condones racism, abortion and genocide because the “weaker species” must die off in order for man to progress. Hitler, Mao Tse Tung, and Karl Marx all derived their political atrocities from this ideology that has accounted for hundreds of millions of murdered humans. It’s easy to see why the enemy wants to ensure this mindset remains the prevailing ideology of our day.

So, what can we as Christians do? 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” How are we to be sober and vigilant? We must first pay careful attention to our own thoughts. Have we accepted the concepts of evolution as truth? If so, we must examine ourselves and take inventory of those ideologies that aren’t of God and ask God to purge us of those mentalities. Secondly, we must make sure to proactively discuss these matters with our children. Our children are being indoctrinated with these concepts on a daily basis. We must teach them the ways of the Lord and true science that they may have confidence in what they know to be true.

Absolutism may be unfashionable in many respects, but the Devil knows that the deception of false absolutes like evolution are a powerful weapon of destruction, and he’ll do all he can to saturate this world with this contagion. But we can stand in peace and confidence knowing that the God we serve is the same yesterday, today and forever and that his Word is forever settled in heaven, and no one—not even Satan—can change that.

FAC Bible Quizzing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjEtpPEY0MY

What is Bible Quizzing?

A Scripture memorization program in which students form a very young age up through high school can learn a large number of specific verses over the course of about ten months. They form teams from their local church and compete with other Apostolic church teams from around the state playing a game that tests them on their knowledge of the Scriptures they’ve memorized. This year, the material we are covering is from Romans (Senior Division), James, 1 & 2 Peter, and 1 John (Juniors and Beginners).

Who can participate?

Students:
Any child ages 4-18 who can memorize a verse and answer a question. By the end of the Quiz year, with faithful dedication and support, the Seniors will have learned 433 verses, the Juniors 267, and the Beginners 175.

Parents:
The parents form the backbone of a successful Bible Quizzing team; they play a vital role in daily encouragement, accountability, and teaching, especially in the Beginner and Junior divisions.

Coaches:
The coaches work along with the parents, guiding the students through the process of memorizing, quoting, and playing the game. They officiate at weekly practice, inspiring and encouraging the team to do their best, together and individually. They lead the team at monthly district tournaments, and also at national.

Volunteers:
Also needed are support staff in various areas—adults who may not be parents nor feel the burden to coach, but are critical to the process, whether helping with the buzzer system or keeping score during practice, judging at tournaments, fundraising, carpooling to practices and tournaments, giving a donation to the program, or childcare.

All these are important components of a great Bible Quizzing experience.

When does the season begin?

Now! The students are encouraged to start memorizing their verses (King James Version, word-for-word) just as soon as they can. Practices will begin the first week in September.

Important Upcoming Dates

August 22, 10am-3pm: Bible Quizzing workshop at Apostolic Christian Church, 1532 Standish Ave, Indianapolis, IN.

September 26, 10am: District Tournament, at Covenant Christian Schools in Bloomington, IN

*check the Facebook page for updates on all quizzing events: Indiana District ALJC Bible Quizzing

WHY should we do Bible Quizzing?

Because it provides the structure for us to apply the mandate given by God in Deuteronomy 6: “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up…”

Families who commit themselves to Bible Quizzing find themselves quoting, talking, and studying Scripture together often throughout the day. The atmosphere of the home changes. The students surprise themselves and their parents with how much they can actually memorize. They make lifelong friends, they learn how to operate as a team, and their academic skills even improve. Most of all, their lives are changed forever by making the eternal Word of God a priority in their day.

You can’t spend time in the Word and it not affect you. You can’t commit these words to memory and not be changed. It is a powerful weapon in the hand of a mighty warrior—of any age—who has learned how to handle it. It is the means by which we can know our God. And if there’s ever been a day when the world needs people who know Him and who know the truth of His Word, it is today.

Live A Life Worth Duplicating

The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:9

Through the works of Paul you can learn a lot about how to model a life that will be pleasing to the Lord. It is through his passion, talents, and actions that he was able to plant churches, develop leaders, and encourage people to reach their maximum potential in God. Whenever I sit and read the many works that was done by his Holy Spirit lead efforts, I often find myself being marveled by the influence that God trusted him with. He often travelled to areas where others hadn’t heard the good news and ministered such profound truths that he converted thousands. How did he do it? Well the easy answer to that question is with God. However, while digging deeper into the text, I found some practical tips we can use to make sure, like Paul, we live a life worth duplicating.

Love Others

In the book of Philippians Paul demonstrated his unconditional love for people by sharing that he wanted what was best for them. The language used in the following scripture gives a clear indication of the depth of his relationships. To live like Christ we have to love like Christ.

Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.  Philippians 4:1

Believe In Others

Within the new testament there are many indications of Paul’s ability to grow and develop leaders of the churches he established. In his letters it is not rare to find words of encouragement and faith to those in the ministry.

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Philippians 1:6

Invest in Others

With each letter to the church Paul provided encouragement and love but he also provided instruction from his personal experience to shield others from the traps of the enemy. He gave of himself so that others may be blessed.

 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:2-5

How To Live A Life Worth Duplicating

1. Love others unconditionally – This means loving people without any rules or stipulations that they must do to earn your love.
2. Believe in others – People will often attempt to live up to the expectations you have of them if you are in a position of influence in their life. If you have this influence, see people not as who they are currently but who they can become in Christ.
3. Invest in others – Give to others without any expectation of return. Sacrifice your time, energy, experience, and money to help people get to the next level in their lives.

Living in this manner is a great way to start modeling a life like Christ. There is so much more to share but I’m curious of your thoughts about these three. How can we use these three to make a difference in the lives of the people we come in contact with?

 

 

5 Reasons You Need to Visit Faith Apostolic Church

FAC ServiceFaith Apostolic Church is a rapidly growing, multicultural, and multi-campus church serving the communities of Carmel and Sheridan Indiana. With a robust spirit lead worship experience, and powerful teaching and preaching, God has drawn over 13 nationalities to fellowship and praise under one roof. From our dedicated youth services, prayer meetings, small group bible studies, vacation bible school, and mission trips all over the world, people of all ages are being introduced to God, filled with His spirit, and being baptized in Jesus’ name.

In addition to salvation people are being miraculously freed from addiction, healed from sickness, loosed from mental and spiritual captivity, and transforming as they are consumed by the power and love of God.

If you are looking for a church home that will motivate, inspire, and challenge you to live a fulfilled and promising life in God, then Faith Apostolic Church is looking for you. If you’re still not convinced to come see for yourself, below are 5 reasons why you need to visit Faith Apostolic Church:

1. WE TEACH AND PREACH THE TRUTH

When we asked members what they loved about Faith Apostolic Church here’s what we heard:

“First of all, our Pastors are simply amazing. They teach the unadulterated word of God! No tricks or gimmicks.” -Meyette Shaness Griffith
“The preaching and teaching is on point!” -Linnea Evans
“We do not compromise on teaching the full truth and holiness.” Jean Janes
“Truth” – Jane Driesens

2. OUR PASTORS LOVE THE PEOPLE THEY LEAD

“Best Pastor in the universe.” -Kayla Partlow
“I love how the pastor and his beautiful wife will take you in and love you no matter what is in your past. And how they can make you understand that GOD forgives and truly loves HIS children.”- Carole Carlisle

3. OUR CONGREGATION IS WARM AND INVITING

“Aside from the fact that we experience a powerful move of God each time we are together, I LOVE how we all truly LOVE one another. It doesn’t matter what your background is, where you are from, what you look like, etc., we love the way God expects us to love. I truly love my church!” -Daniel/Leah Wirkkala
“I love how everyone is accepted and no matter their past or background, the love and warmth felt at FAC is like no other.” -Toby Carey
“Our church family is very loving & embracing of anyone who walks through the doors.” -Meyette Shaness Griffith

 4. GOD’S SPIRIT MOVES AT FAC ON ALL AGES

“OMG the youth ministry is phenomenal! My son comes home every Sunday and Wednesday talking non stop about what he’s learned.” D Cherie Jennings
“I love everything about FAC my pastors , leadership , discipleship , SuperChurch (youth ministry) , Prayer team, my entire church family.” -Tabatha Brown
I love the Spirit of God that you can feel every time we assemble together to worship. It’s amazing! -Pastor Matthew Ball

5. WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE

I can’t explain in words how excited we are to see a new face joining us in worship. We would love to pray for you, get to know you, and be a blessing to you and your family. We are confident that our ministry will add value to your life as it has done so many others. Here’s a few things current members are saying about what they love about FAC:

“I love everything!” -Steve Clardy
“No place I’d rather be! We love Everything and Everybody! Ladies bible study is a fav! I love that the spirit of God can move freely!”  -Shalonda Cheatham
“The praise team and the music!” -Kayla C

Now that you have read what everyone has had to say about Faith Apostolic Church it is time for you to come experience it for yourself. We will see you Sunday at 10 a.m. ET at the Carmel campus or at 2:42 in Sheridan. Click here for location information.

Stay connected with us:

Like us on Facebook
Follow Us on Instagram @faithapostolicchurch

 

Celebration of the Nations Service

photo8September is Celebration of Nations month at Faith Apostolic Church. All month long we are celebrating the multicultural diversity we enjoy in our church family.  It is that diversity in our congregation that is one of the first things guests notice when visiting our church.  Over the last few years, FAC has become a multicultural church with fifteen nationalities or cultures represented.  Guests also comment about the remarkable spirit of unity and love they sense among our members.  We believe it is miraculous that God has joined people with such different backgrounds into one unified body.  The unity in our congregation has been a catalyst to our growth and to the amazing presence of God that is felt when we gather to worship.

World MissionsOur cultural diversity has also mobilized our church to become a world missions force!  A large portion of our annual budget goes to fund missions projects around the world.  We are building orphanages in Africa, Haiti, Myanmar and India.  We are helping plant churches in Europe, South America, Cuba, Asia and the South Pacific.  Our church is truly making a global impact.

On Sunday, September 29th, at our Carmel campus, we will be celebrating the various nationalities represented in our church at our “Celebration of the Nations Service.”  We will be recognizing each nationality of our congregation, worshipping God in song and music from different parts of the world and enjoying the dynamic ministry of Missionary Jeremy Lang from India.  Jeremy Lang is a powerful preacher who has been mightily used of God in Asia and we are greatly anticipating his ministry at FAC. We will be serving an international dinner after the service in our multipurpose room featuring food from each culture represented in our church.

2008_Food3We invite you to come and be a part of our first ever Celebration of the Nations Service.  I know you will enjoy the multicultural flavored worship and the ministry of Missionary Jeremy Lang.  The dinner after service will be an exciting culinary experience. We hope to see you on September 29th at 10 am at our Carmel campus!

Let Your Light Shine in School

Let Your Light Shine in School

by: Roy Dobbs – Principal of Pike Preparatory Academy & Member of Faith Apostolic Church

Two girls with books (3)

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Mt 5:16)

 Some of the greatest times of a child’s life can take place at school. The activities, friendships, and events provide fond memories, but these memories are even better when they include academic success.  A child’s educational experience is a journey for which they must be prepared.  As parental figures we must all focus on the big picture and the impact that educational success will have on the lives of our children

Below are a series of tips and strategies to consider for both parents and students as we teach our children to let their lights shine in school.

 1.  Realize there are positive & negative influences in all school settings

Parents: Whether your child is entering kindergarten or going off to college, there will be influences in their path. On average, your child spends 6-7 hours of their alert time at school with one or multiple teachers. During this time they are surrounded by an array of people that can impact their lives forever.  Teach your children about positive and negative peer influence. Pray that God will send people into our child’s life that serve as positive influences. Remind your children that their associations will either help or hinder their lives.

Students: When selecting friends it is important to seek relationships with people who are in agreement with your spiritual and moral values.  In addition, your friends should share similar goals and aspirations as you.  If you do not align yourselves with people who want success for your life, you risk falling prey to negative peer influence.  Together you will succeed and support each other through the difficulties faced throughout high school.   High school should be among the most enjoyable years of your life.  If you form healthy friendships, you will enjoy fond memories for a lifetime.

 2.  Communication is the key

Parents:  Convey to your children the importance of communicating about school in the home. You cannot afford to be disconnected from the events and activities that take place during the 6-7 hours that your child is at school.  Communicate regularly by calling and emailing your child’s teacher.  Make it a point to visit school and the classroom throughout the school year.  Attend school functions and definitely plan to attend student-teacher conferences.  If you only talk to the teacher or visit the school when there is a problem, then your school involvement and communication is off base.  If you ever have a concern with what is going on at school, express it immediately with the appropriate school official in a tactful way.  Do not let your displeasure build up because you will most likely overreact in a way that you may later regret.

 Students: Communicate with your teachers in order to learn more about your classes and their expectations for your success.  Asking questions allows teachers to help you so never be ashamed or too proud to ask for help if you are uncertain about something.  If you do not feel comfortable asking questions during class, ask after class.  After all, this is your education and your life, and you should not play around with it.  Communication shows teachers that you care about your education; not surprisingly, they are more willing to help students who want to help themselves.

 3.  Develop Great Habits

ParentsTeach your children that the habits they form today will have either a positive or negative effect on their futures.

StudentsIf you want to become a great student, you must be willing to do what others won’t.  You cannot expect to get great results if you don’t develop great habits. You should practice developing certain skills until they become habitual. You need to develop good spiritual habits such as praying and reading your Bible.  In school you will need to develop good habits such as studying for tests, remaining organized, managing your time, getting ample sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising.  What you do during your school breaks and on weekends will also help you get ahead.  A great way to strengthen your knowledge is by reading, writing, studying, and developing the other essential skills on the weekends or on your school breaks.  If you want to be the best, you will have to work harder than everyone else.

4.   Make a Commitment to Excellence

Parents: Teach your children to do their personal best, and when they do, be prepared to accept it.  Your kids may not be great at everything, but they will great at something.

Students: Take advantage of all educational opportunities available to you at school and glorify God with your performance.  Your peers, teachers, school administrators, and the community will remember you for your legacy of academic achievement.  Strive to make the Honor or High Honor Roll, push yourself by taking advanced classes. 

School Kids DiversityIn addition to academic excellence, commit to getting involved in extracurricular activities.  You owe it to your school to get involved and contribute in other areas. Whether you are playing a sport, playing an instrument at school concerts, participating in a club, it will build character and make your school experience more memorable.  Achieving in the classroom and serving as a leader in your school makes you a role model for all to see.

Commit yourself to being a good citizen at school.  You cannot learn if you are constantly being put out of class, sent to the office, suspended, or expelled from school.  In most cases, the students who misbehave in school are also the ones who fail in school.  If you want to be Christ-like, you should focus on being a model citizen in your school.  Keep a clean discipline record and strive to be the example that would make God proud.

Our prayer: Heavenly father, I thank you for giving our children the opportunity to receive an education.  I pray that you give every parent wisdom, guidance, and patience in every situation involving their child’s education.  Our faith, hope, and trust will remain in you, Jesus, and we know that we can do all things through you.  Help our kids to connect with the right crowds, protect them from danger, and bless our educators as they strive to make a positive impact on our children.  God I pray that you inspire and strengthen our children as they let their lights shine in their schools, in Jesus name, Amen.

By: Roy K. Dobbs

*Roy Dobbs is also the founder of Young Men of Purpose – an organization that mentors troubled teens.  You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook:

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Vacation Bible School Begins July 16th, 2013

VBS11_LOGO_4cVacation Bible School begins July 16th

It’s summertime and that means Vacation Bible School at Faith Apostolic Church!  Our annual VBS is one of the highlights of the year at our church!  Not only is it an exciting week for our kids, but all teenage and adult volunteers have a blast helping with music, teaching, crafts, games and food.

This year’s theme is the Big Apple Adventure – where Faith and Life connect.  Kids ages 2-12 are going to love this theme that teaches Biblical concepts in a fun and engaging way.

Our VBS will be July 16th – 19th at 6pm nightly at Faith Apostolic Church.  It’s not too late to register your kids.  Please call the church office or email us to register.

 

The Arm of a Sower

Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

This is the verse that hung on my bedroom wall for years. Years before I knew God. It breathed hope into me.

It had been a gift, but in reality it was a seed.

A seed, stitched upon fabric stretched tightly across a wooden embroidery hoop and framed within an edging of lace. Hanging there by a nail, it embedded itself into the fabric of my life wrapping roots into my daily routine and around my day-to-day habits. I didn’t know it would cause a parching inside of me, create a drawing closer to those who have water flowing from their bellies. I wouldn’t have been able to understand the drawing of living waters at the well, but I began to feel it’s calling.

These perfect words spoke over me directly to the situation they would call me from. God’s timing is perfect, even when we can’t make sense of it. Years before I heard the calling He dropped it in my hands, a seed that planted in my heart and the soil of my life covered it. It lay there waiting, thirsty, calling.

 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

Matthew 13:24 (KJV)

The one who sowed that seed in my life must have considered my heart to be part of their field. A field someone else had plowed, another gathered stones from, and while yet another plucked weeds, and then so many more brought water. And God, being so gracious, caused growth at the right time.

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

1Corinthians 3:6 (KJV)

If I were to cast my eyes to my own field, what would I see but all the hearts of those whom I love around me? And, even when a heart seems to be completely closed to understanding, we cannot stop planting. Because there are times long before the ears are opened when the heart may be ready for a seed, and we must drop in a word so the breathe of God can begin to stir life into that heart.

Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (NIV)

5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

God implored the Israelites to completely immerse themselves within His word with all their body, spirit, and mind. I cannot take for granted the obvious effect this would have had to a foreigner. Though deaf to the voice of God, they would not be able to deny His presence in the lives of His followers. They would have been able to see it tied upon ones brow and hands, to see in the Israelites homes upon entering in past His holy word. They would even have heard it in the conversations of their children and as they all spoke to each other.

What would it be like to live a life so deeply steeped in scripture that it cannot be separated from who I am? This sets a desire in me to place scriptures in my house to be seen by a visitor as they walk through the places His words are present, perhaps chancing to collect a seed in passing. I want to scrawl out verses intended for blessing at the bottom of hand-written notes or pen one for encouragement on a note left for my waiter along with his tip. Tossing seed in my field, chancing growth.

Love calls out hope to people in the midst of their circumstances, but it needs a hand willing to deliver the message. Will you be that hand to deliver the seed?

Moving Forward

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14 (KJV)

They were small and barely noticeable, these two co-conspirators, as they stood at the counter huddled together. Their heads bent at a slight tilt toward each other as if they were drawing confidence from each another.

“Double cheeseburg-er!” called out the woman holding up a small yellow waxed paper wrapped sandwich from behind the counter. A hand shot up from the right side of the huddled mass and a small voice proclaimed, “here.”

In the madness of the lunch rush, the manager paused for a moment to let her gaze settle on the two boys standing before her. Passing off the sandwich to the clerk to be bagged, she followed with the order, “Give them two a couple of cookies for having to wait.” They hadn’t really waited; I knew that. They knew that, too. I looked carefully at her. She hadn’t rewarded them for waiting; it was for something more, something completely different.

Three things about them were obvious. One, they were going to share that burger. Two, they had no money for a drink or fries. And three, they were very nervous in that crowd of hunger-crazed adults. Still, they had been courageous in spite of their discomfort pushing through it to get something they wanted. Was that what she had seen? A couple of timid shaking kids who braved the mad lunch rush to share a burger? Perhaps she wanted to bolster their spirit? Or maybe she saw something of herself or someone close to her in them? I’m not sure, but whatever it was it hadn’t been enough to keep her interest as they turned to walk away. She didn’t get to see them beaming with the joy that replaced their anxiety, nor did she get to see the confident stride patterned in their steps as they strutted out the door. But, I did. And, indeed, their bravery had been rewarded.

It is a simple and yet so complicated thing that one of our biggest challenges will be to push past is our own apprehensions. At one time or another, any one of us may find ourselves in a similar circumstance. That place where our path to something promised or desired is blocked by fear or doubt making the battlefield within our mind.

There are times I find myself questioning the things that God has set before me. I sense the criticism rise up inside of me and often I agree with it. And yes, sometimes it is true. However, because I can’t see the way God does I should not be quick to doubt Him or the things He has promised. It simply means I should push past doubt or fear and move toward those things He has spoken.

The New Year has been ushered in and it has just begun gathering momentum. It will, without doubt, have its share of trials and challenges. And, just as those two boys had their discouragements to face I will also have days of feeling lost, days when I don’t have enough for the things ahead, and days when I feel incredibly small and totally insignificant. But, the thing I hope to carry into this New Year is to remember to find courage in the midst of my trial, because behind the scene the boss is working and if I can push through and make it to that place of standing before Him, my reward will be in His hand.

—Mindy Whipple