Our minds are sometimes clouded by internal wrangling . Seems like we are confronted every moment with decisions to be made.We are bombarded with deadlines.. We often to quickly trust our instincts, and our ability to discern, our own wisdom. But trust in ourselves along can make us vulnerable  Without the Lord as our guide and His Word as our compass, we can quickly get lost in the marshes of life. More often than not we had rather do things our way. However depending on the Lord is always the best choice to make. He who knows us best and loves us most will guide us through life…[Proverbs 3:5-6] 5- Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. 6-In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

This time of year is very special. It is the time of the final harvest before winter.The leaves will begin to turn as we get into fall of the year. It is a very beautiful season and my favorite. When we have harvested the final crops and are ready for winter there is a time of rest a time to enjoy what God has given us. I know that everyone is not a farmer but we all have a stake in the harvest. Look for the harvest moon this year and marvel at how beautiful God has made it. This time of harvest and gathering reminds me of a verse from Matthew 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest. We should always remember to work in Gods fields and work to gather in the lost.

Matthew 9:37-Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

Matthew 13:30-Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

Stop the world! I want to get off. This was an expression that we used to hear quite often a few years ago. In the midst of today’s crisis , we may feel like screaming such words and hoping that the blaring, confusing music of the world will fade out, and that there will be peace and tranquility. It is not likely to happen. Enoch, the man from the old testament, who walked with God. [Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.] Enoch didn’t try to stop the world. He solved his problem by learning to walk with God. The exceptional thing about Enoch’s walk was his delight in the things of the Lord. Look at a rainbow again. This time stand quietly in the stillness. Where is the beauty, the solitude, the tranquility, the peace of mind, the consciousness of Gods presence? These are the treasures that God has given to the Christian. God will make these treasures known to all who believe.

Do you believe Jesus is the only way to heaven? Jesus did! In light of His exclusive claims, C.S. Lewis famously said we must conclude one of three things about Jesus: He is a liar [because He is really not the only way], a lunatic [because He is speaking nonsense], or Lord [because he is telling the truth].We live in an age of tolerance, arrogance, and ignorance, but if we believe what the Bible says is true, we must confess the way to heaven is narrow-and through Jesus Christ alone. John told us in his Gospel Jesus came “full of grace and truth” [John 1:14]. He also told us Jesus is God’s special, exclusive provision and answer for humanity’s universal problem of sin and death. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son….” God loved the world in this way—-He sent His Son to bring us back to Himself. No Jesus is no liar or lunatic. He is Lord, and He is who He claims to be–the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 (NKJV)

 Christians in many countries today are suffering terrible persecution. In spite of that the gospel continues to spread among those who hearts the Lord has opened. We are told that more people have been killed for their faith in Jesus in the last century than in all of the rest of history. It’s really amazing how God keeps opening more hearts to the truth of the gospel even though new believers know they will suffer because of their decisions. Persecution has always been a possibility and often a probability for Christians. According to Jesus, persecution is normal for Godly believers who will suffer just as He did. The wise Gamaliel told the Sanhedrin that when it’s of God, not even persecution can stop the march of God’s kingdom. How faithful would we be to the Lord and His church if we knew their might be policemen waiting to arrest us the moment we stepped outside? Many Christians across the world face that choice on a daily basis.

But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. Acts 5:39

God’s people have always had enemies. To their distress or embarrassment , persecution has often backfired. Rather than diminishing the number of believers, it has tended to have the opposite effect the church has grown. In addition, persecution purifies. Torment a hypocrite and his true colors will bleed through. Only genuine believers remain steadfast when it becomes painful and costly to remain faithful. Under great force or pressure people pray more earnestly. God then provides grace sufficient to endure. As stress builds muscle, persecution tends to increase spiritual strength. Those who experience the sustaining grace of God in extreme suffering often become examples to inspire others.Only eternity will reveal the countless souls who came to faith through the testimonies of martyrs.

Exodus 1:12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. (KJV)