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The world has changed, and the change is certain to continue. Our feeling of security, both physical and economical, is not the same as it once was. And though our security may return for a season, it will surely fade with the next news report or economic downturn. And yet, there is hope!

Say the numbers 9-11 and nearly everyone in the world knows the exact reference – September 11th, 2001; a day of pure terror. Memorial pools of water now occupy the ground where two massive 110 story towers once stood. It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years. Like most of you I vividly remember watching the reports in disbelief. How could this happen, and what does it all mean? The world has changed.

On September 12th, 2001, I wrote a message which tried to bring some comfort and help turn our focus toward a loving God. In doing so it was necessary to help us take our eyes off the unstable security and pleasure of the world. The next three paragraphs are from that message.

1 Corinthians 7:29,31
“What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on…those who use the things of the world, {use them} as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.”

If there is any good to come out of the evil actions of yesterday, it will only be as we resolve to “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.” We must allow these images to firmly establish that “what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

It’s time we experience a true revival and do ALL as unto the Lord. We can no longer give our lives to what is temporary and passing away. It’s time we unashamedly worship Him and follow where He leads. It’s time we draw close to His presence and remember the eternal.

For several Sundays after 9-11 church attendance climbed to new highs. People were scared and confused, hoping to find answers with God. Unfortunately, it did not take long for this portion of life to return to “normal.” The questions faded and focus changed before any answers had the chance set; only a few would experience a true revival.

The world has changed and continues to change. And yet, there is hope! Of course, hope is found in the one thing which does not change. It is my prayer today that we would reflect back to a time when we were seeking answers, to a time when priorities seemed clear, to a time when our focus was on the eternal. Our life needs a revival. For the changes which lie ahead we will require a true and lasting revival. Let’s be careful to not allow our life to return to a normal which is distant from God. Let’s focus hard on what is lasting as we remember 9-11.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

In the last two messages, we’ve seen how the prophet Elijah was used to call the people of Israel back to worship of the One True God. We saw Elijah witness the mighty power of God but then become afraid and run into the desert when threatened by the Queen.

How would God handle His chosen prophet, His messenger who had been assigned to proclaim the Truth to the people of Israel? What would God say to Elijah, the man now crumpled under a tree wishing to die: “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life” (1 Kings 19:4).

1 Kings 19:5-6
“All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.’ He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.”

God could have chastised and rebuked Elijah. He could have answered with a loud thunder, “Am I not the God who rained down fire from Heaven and then blackened the sky with clouds? Have I not answer your prayers? How can you now doubt Me and wish to die because of your fear?”

Yes, God could have given His “How can you doubt Me?” speech, but He did not. Rather, God saw Elijah’s tired pain and showed simple compassion. He ministered to Elijah by sending an angel to give a gentle touch and bake a cake. The time would soon come for Elijah to rise and follow hard after God; but for now, God comforted Elijah and allowed for a very necessary rest.

We must continue to learn what it means to be a loving and caring Family. All who have been saved through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus have been “baptized by one Spirit into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13). And as members of “one body,” we must learn to effectively minister and truly help one another.

Very few circumstances require us to provide a complete solution. We usually must avoid trying to “fix” what we believe has been broken. Most often, our Brothers and Sisters simply need a friend who will listen and show they care by helping them rest and regain their strength. It’s amazing how many Spiritual truths are seen clear after a little cake and a good night of sleep.

So many of God’s children face pain, weariness, fears and frustration which keep them from experiencing the fullness of God’s joy and peace. But each of us can help ease the pain and lighten the load through biblical words of truth and encouragement…along with a gentle touch of compassion.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

Soon after entering the promised land of Canaan, the children of Israel forgot about God and all He had done. They soon began to worship the false gods of Baal and the love-goddess, Asherah. It seemed like every generation from that time forward was tempted into worshipping these false gods.

About five hundred years later, God rose up Elijah to be His chosen spokesman – His prophet. The Israelites were still being enticed to worship other gods, and the time had come for a direct confrontation between Elijah and the many false prophets of Baal: “Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal” (1 Kings 18:19).

Elijah and the false prophets were to pray to their respective gods, with the “winner” determined by how the prayers were answered: “You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire – He is God” (1 Kings 18:24). But prior to calling on the Lord, Elijah gave a challenge for the people of Israel to make a commitment.

1 Kings 18:21
“How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

Elijah prayed, and God answered with enough fire to remove any and all doubt. The people clearly saw the hand of the Lord and readily made their choice: “The Lord – He is God! The Lord – He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39).

We face the same challenge today. However, instead of two or three choices, we now have many gods which continually entice us into worship – many gods who desire our time and energy. The world offers a long list of “worthy” candidates – television, money, power, prestige, sex, drugs, food, sports, internet, education…the list goes on; “These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens” (Jeremiah 10:11). Who (or what) is truly worthy of our worship?

The challenge today is simple. If the Lord is God – follow Him. If we have recognized our sinful condition, repented of our sin and asked Jesus to be our Savior, then we must continue by being transformed into His likeness – we must follow Him. We cannot allow the “distractions” in life to become our god. We must devote our heart, soul, mind and strength to loving our Heavenly Father, and commit ourselves to whatever tasks He has given us to accomplish. Our choice is clear, and our response must be boldly decisive. The Lord is God – Follow Him!

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

My sister’s brain cancer was diagnosed last November when she was still forty-three years old. This situation is difficult to understand; and it is made even more perplexing when I remember that my mom died of skin cancer when she was only forty-three. Over the years, and more so in the last several months, I have often pondered my own life and asked the questions: “What if this day was my last? Would I have any regrets?”

John the Baptist discovered the uncertainty of each moment of life as he sat in prison.

I guess they call me “John the Baptist” because I preached a message of repentance and baptized with water while pointing the way to Jesus (John 1:31-33). “The Baptist” isn’t such a bad name. I could have been called “John the Wearer of Camel Hair” or “John the Eater of Locusts.”

King Herod must have been mad at me for exposing his sin of marrying his brother’s wife (Matthew 14:3-4). I sure wish I was back in the desert preaching, but God must have a plan for me here in prison. I think Herod actually likes me. He often listens to me talk and seems genuinely interested (Mark 6:20). It’s pretty loud in the palace tonight. They must be having quite a party.

Matthew 14:6-10

“On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, ‘Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.’ The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison.”

Wow, that was fast! No time to say good-bye or write letters to my friends – no time to even gather my thoughts – just, “lean over and put your neck on the block.” I sure wish I would have…..

No one knows when they will breathe their last. We may have sixty years or sixty minutes; but no matter how long we have, it will seem to pass in an instant – it amazes me how fast life passes by. The time to place our saving faith in Jesus is NOW! The time to restore relationships and encourage others with the gospel is NOW! The time to enjoy our family is NOW! And the time to praise God for His blessings and grace is absolutely NOW!!

Each of us enters this day with things we wish we could change, decisions and words which have not been honoring to God. But each of us also enters this day with the ability to begin, right this very moment, to live a life which glorifies God in all we do. Let’s begin today to live fully committed to following Christ. Let’s give Him our ALL and live toward an end which will leave no regrets.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel

God’s Daily Word Ministries

It’s been three and a half months since my last update on my sister. Nearly every day someone writes to tell me they are still praying for her. So first of all let me say thanks so much for your prayers! Her brain cancer has progressed and this will most likely be the last update message I write before she dies, but please know that the last nine months have been a wonderful and peace-filled blessing.

If you would like to read the history you can read the following:

http://www.gdwm.org/display_devo.asp?Counter=mess3090

http://www.gdwm.org/display_devo.asp?Counter=mess3049

http://www.gdwm.org/display_devo.asp?Counter=mess3013

http://www.gdwm.org/display_devo.asp?Counter=mess2997

My sister and her family made the transition from Australia to the US the end of May and they were able to stay at our home in Texas for two weeks during the first part of June. This was an incredible time. During her visit she was able to walk, with help, eat lots of anything she wished, carry full conversations, and we even made several trips to the local heated swimming pool where she swam many laps with the help of a floatation belt.

After she left our home, she and her family began a long trip with the intent of visiting family and seeing some of the sights in the western US. She made it as far as Los Angeles, California before becoming too weak to travel. She spent some time in hospitals in Los Angeles and Seattle before being transferred to Omaha, Nebraska where her family planned to settle. Once in Omaha she was almost immediately moved to a hospice care facility and given just weeks to live.

I am now sitting beside my baby sister, watching her sleep, knowing I will soon never watch her sleep again.

It’s been an interesting process over the last months as the family has had to think about, and ponder, death; but more importantly, to think about life. Thinking about the end of life, especially at an early age, causes one to consider what it really means to live.

1 John 4:10-11

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

My sister knew that God loved her and sent Jesus to die for her sin. But what she also knew, better than most, was that the way to live out God’s love was to love others in very real and tangible ways. We sometimes can become too evangelical, where our definition of love becomes limited to a message of the forgiveness of sin and an eternal bliss. Of course, this message is important, but the gospel, or “good news,” is actually much more; and even better! The gospel message is about forgiveness, but it is also about love and hope right now. It’s about peace and contentment, about restored relationships, fulfillment and true joy. The Good News is about a future salvation, but it’s also about a salvation which begins today!

The gospel caused my sister to tell people about Jesus; but it also caused her to pour herself into the lives of everyone she met. She had a sense of purpose that understood her role in bringing about a true gospel change in another life through love. And for my sister, this love meant getting involved at a level which cost her time, energy, and money. I have spent many years studying and writing about the gospel, but the last several months have shown me I have a lot to learn in order to live out the gospel according to my baby sister.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel

God’s Daily Word Ministries

God’s direction and timing is always perfect and always with a purpose – but it’s often with a purpose we may not initially see or understand. Even when we earnestly ask for direction through prayer and the study of His Word, God’s answers are usually not what we expect and are often perceived as slow in arriving. However, His direction and timing still remains, always perfect and always with a purpose.

God called Abraham to follow Him when Abraham was already seventy-five years old. But God blessed Abraham with great abundance and soon promised he would have many descendants; “I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted” (Genesis 13:16).

Although this was a wonderful promise from God, it certainly did not seem possible. Not only was Abraham an old man, but his wife, Sarah, had never been able to have children and was now long past the normal child bearing years. Therefore, when Sarah failed to become pregnant – when God’s promise was apparently going to be unfulfilled – she formulated a plan to “help” God.

Genesis 16:2

“The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.”

Since this was an accepted practice and seemed like a reasonable way to fulfill God’s promise, Abraham agreed. Not surprisingly, great tension soon developed between Sarah and her maidservant. This tension increased when Ishmael was born and even continues today with the unfortunate hostilities we see in the region of the Middle East. Abraham clearly heard the call and promise of God, but he became impatient with God’s timing and resorted to a worldly solution.

It was another thirteen years before God fulfilled His promise through the birth of Isaac. These were thirteen long years of waiting and wondering if God had forgotten…but God’s direction and timing is always perfect and always with a purpose. With Abraham one hundred years old and Sarah ninety, the birth of Isaac left no doubt that God was in complete control and guiding the events in Abraham’s life.

In a very real sense, we are foreigners in this place and time; “Aliens and strangers on earth” (Hebrews 11:13). We will never understand how all the pieces fit together until we stand before the Creator of the Universe. Until then, we must continue to love and worship Him with all our heart. We must continue to seek His face and ask His guidance for every step. We must continue to follow His direction and patiently trust His timing.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel

God’s Daily Word Ministries