Volume 6 Post/Email 5 – Daily Faith
by brian
The ELGUY internet ministry focuses on offering weekly encouragement to Christians. Every day is a gift from God. Each day is a chance to know Him personally and an opportunity to be used by Him in kingdom service.
Hebrews 3:12-14 reads, "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first."
Jehovah is an ever-present and ever-living God. He desires for us to know him within our heart.
Satan actively works to turn us away from a believing heart and obedient faith in Almighty God. Satan offers temptations and trials to destroy faith and harden hearts.
We must be aware of the power of sin and deceitfulness of sin while facing challenges and adversity in life.
I am mindful of the saying, "Life would be easy if it weren't so daily."
Daily encouragement is the remedy to Satan's schemes and sin's grip.
We all need encouragement and can all offer encouragement to others.
Daily faith in Christ is fundamental to a life of focus and fulfillment.
We have God's eternal favor through our union with Christ.
Experiencing oneness with Jesus is the grandest joy of life.
Sharing Christ with others is our eternal purpose and delight.
We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end.
Every day let God use you and your faith to encourage people.
Our daily lifestyle and daily conversations reveal our daily faith.
-Brian
Volume 6 Post/Email 3 – Christian Fellowship
by brian
Today (Sunday) has been a bundle of blessings for me. The time spent in worship this morning and evening were both edifying. My youngest brother joining Jamie and I for worship and lunch was a pleasant surprise. Visiting in a home this afternoon with 7 other Christians for visiting and prayer was encouraging. And the icing on the cake was spending almost 3 hours at JA this evening. After an hour of worship, we spent almost two more hours in fellowship. I was blessed by the many personal and positive conversations and quality time building closer relationships. I thank God this evening for my church family. James Avenue is a congregation with immeasurable love and heart.
I was especially uplifted toward the end of the evening by the 20 minutes or so of talking with and listening to Tim share with me more about the details of their journey with Caleb. When you consider the time that passed until the news could get to the top where there was cell phone service, to the forty minutes it took for the helicopter to arrive after the 911 call and all the critical time that passed, to the numerous scary occasions after Caleb came out of his coma concerning his brain and even liver, kidneys, etc., it is truly incredible to see him walking and playing [and "amening" 
] tonight at James Avenue. It all goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway), Caleb's story is one incredible testimony to the power of prayer. His healing and progress throughout the past 3 months is a tremendous encouragement and blessing to all of us. And as Larry mentioned tonight, seeing Tim and Tiffany's faith through this adversity is also a positive testimony and example for us.
I realize this elguy is a little more "informal", but I just decided to share some of the blessings of this day concerning the handiwork of God and a brief expression of my gratitude for times of fellowship and for Christian friendships.
-Brian
Volume 6 Post/Email 2 – Spiritual Healing
by brian
What I feel moved to mention today pertaining to a brief message of hope and application for elguy is on spiritual healing. Ultimately, this is what the church and Jesus is about. We all need the healing touch of Christ at our core. The spiritual darkness and inward struggle with sin we experience can always be healed by the Light! This week can be transformational if we will walk in the light (John 8:12 ; 1 John 1:7).
Wherever you are at on the path of spiritual recovery, accept my encouragement to pray privately and fervently this week about your life and sanctification. Be open while speaking (and listening) in your prayer closet to whatever change/repentance is needed and expected from Him.
When we seek, God responds. Whether through reading words in Scripture, words from a book or article based on Scripture, through prayer, people and conversations, etc. God is at work through the Holy Spirit opening eyes and restoring sight. When Jesus and the Comforter have our attention and cooperation they can do their work.
As we meditate upon our character, we should and must confess any identified struggles and sins. I John 1:9 promises that God will move to forgive AND CLEANSE US.
Will we join other saints across the globe this week in pursuing a closer walk with Christ?
-Brian
Volume 4 Post/Email 8 – Faith(#8)
by brian
As best biblical scholars can tell, Habakkuk was written in 607 B.C. just prior to the Bablyonian invasion and exile of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar. This event results in thousands of casualties and loss of freedom for the survivors.
The first 2 chapters describe a conversation between God and the prophet Habakkuk about why this is happening to all of Judah, including the "righteous".
Chapter 3 concludes with a prayer set to music (v.1, 19). The end of the prayer is a powerful expression of faith, as Habakkuk tells God that no matter how bad circumstances become, he will continue to rejoice in the Lord. May this reading bless us.
3:17-19 "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." For the director of music on my stringed instruments.
Reflection question: Would my current faith be described accurately as one of worship and rejoicing when circumstances are challenging or unpleasant?
-Brian
Volume 4 Post/Email 4 – Faith(#4)
by brian
Peter mentions (in 2 Peter 1:4) that God has given us "very great and precious promises."
In the last post I referenced the aspect of faith being precious, from Peter's opening statements in his first letter.
Now I want to highlight from Peter's opening statements in his second letter the aspect of his promises being precious.
God has promised us all that we need for this life and everlasting life. We can trust in his promises, even when our circumstances are negative, difficult, and even make us feel despair.
Faith in God's promises produces hope. The Bible is full of words of faith and encouragement for us. We have every reason to be optimistic!
Our future is as bright as the promises of God!
-Brian
Volume 3 Post/Email 10 – Discouragement
by brian
There are so many encouragers in my life, as I hope are in yours, and greater than all, is the encouragement of Scripture.
The next time you find yourself discouraged, read from God's Word.
Among several verses on the topic of encouragement, Romans 15:4 reads, "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
-Brian