No one likes to “be put to the test”. We feel like that were being judged especially when it happens by man. But I can tell you that our faith is on trial every day. And sometimes our faith has to be tried by fire. Difficult times come in the Lord may be working on us and through us to show others his glory and power by our difficult times. As the three Hebrew boys withstood the flames and were rescued by their faith in God (Christ), so do we at times have to push through the flames and come through unscathed.

I believe we all desire to achieve 100% accuracy and everything that we set out to do in our life or job. But we all fall short of that knowing that none of us are perfect. We should take care not to judge others for their falling short of 100% because we know the Bible says for all have send and come short of the glory of God. You see, 100% accuracy is set at Jesus when it comes to our Christian walk. We should strive but we know that we fall short. Others do as well and we should strive to help put them back on track when we can but without being judgmental knowing that we too will be judged by the same law. Let’s work together to help each other strive for the hundred percent mark but give mercy and grace when we miss.

Gods word may be difficult at times but with the power of the Holy Spirit we can work through those hard times and begin to see God‘s word be knit together and unfold before us in a way that we’ve never seen it before. To do so, we have to search the Scriptures and we should do so when it comes to understanding the division that the truth may cause. You and I cannot be in unison with the world but we should strive to keep the peace amongst the brethren.

Each of us has a time in life for a major change may take place. It may be moving away from home. It may be getting married. It may be a job or a change in jobs. Either way change comes and sometimes it’s very difficult to deal with. But we need to make one major change: that’s our choice to follow Christ. But when we make that decision and we are changed, that’s only the beginning of the changing process as a Christian. You and I have to make decisions and choices every day and so we really have to change a little at a time because we truly are a work in progress. Allow God to intervene in your life so that you may make changes that will be to the good and glorify the Father in heaven.

Leadership. What is your definition? Good leaders versus effective leaders? Effective leaders will convince others to follow them even if it’s down the wrong path! One example? Pharaoh. He was effective, but not good! Who is both? I believe Christ will fit the bill for being both good and effective when it comes to leadership. He said I am the way the truth and the life… So he’s going to lead us in the paths of righteousness. The crown of glory is waiting for those Christian leaders who stepped up and took the reins and lead the church and the Christian in the direction of sound biblical teaching. What will the next generation be when it comes to leaders?I believe a lot of that is up to the leaders of today.

The fourth of the five crowns of which we are speaking of is the crown of life. You see, if we make the right choice to follow Christ, we will have eternal life. But I also know that as we endure the Temptations and difficulties of this life, Christ will have a specific award for us. It is the crown of life. But it takes us to endure, to push through in hard times, in times of criticism. So, let’s ensure “ten days”, that periods of struggles we all face and receive the crown of life - eternal life.

Every day we should seek after what’s best for our lives for our families lives. But I’m afraid sometimes we’re looking in the wrong places what what we need. Our desire should be to seek Jesus and His teachings, and His ways. Even more so, in this upside down world, we should be looking for the return of Jesus because He said he would come quickly. Who knows when that will be.

Good news is always something we desire. The world we live in today doesn’t always bring that good news. But I know for a fact that the saving of a soul is some of the best news that you could ever hear! Our job as Christians- no our desire as Christians should be to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ and as a result, there’s yet another crown at the end of the race - The crown of rejoicing or, the soul winners crown. The soul is far more important that the crown so let’s strive to tell the story that someone may come to accept Christ today!

We all have many functions and jobs in this life. Really there’s none more important than that of friend. But we also wear the hats of Daddy, Mama, employee, Christian, etc. This reminded me of a topic in the Bible about crowns. The Bible speaks of five crowns or awards that we will be given for our Christian service. One in particular is the incorruptible crown or the victors crown. This speaks of our desire to know and to give God’s word to others and that will take work and discipline. All describes it as running a race and that we should strive for the prize at the end of the run.

We all sometimes wake up with an attitude of “not today”. Our minds are just not thinking in the right order and our bodies don’t seem to want to follow. We waiver in our thoughts and our actions usually because of something emotional but it could also be physical. Either way we are just sometimes unstable in our actions. But we serve a God that is constant. Unwavering. Truthful. God continued His promises to Moses when Joshua took over as leader. Nothing around Moses or Joshua deterred the Lord from keeping His plan; so you and I serve an unwavering dependable God who doesn’t “wake up” some days on the wrong side of the bed!