Tempted? Beware!

There is a principle I learned years ago that says something like this: When you are working diligently to live right, be careful, because Satan is about to attack! Another principle that is similar to that is this: Satan will attack you at your weakest point. He knows the buttons to push and he also knows when we are most vulnerable. There is a reason Peter wrote in his New Testament epistle, "Satan is like a lion, roaming about, seeking who he can devour."

I was ready for work, sitting in the living room checking my phone for texts, e-mail, and surfing Facebook and Twitter. Those sent me to a couple of articles to read. That, in itself, is innocent enough. But I sensed the temptation to go places I shouldn't go and see / read things that would not be profitable to me.

I silently breathed a prayer to God that He would shield me from the temptation. Then I clicked the Bible app on my phone. The Bible verse for today that popped up when it opened? James 4:17, "Therefore submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you." Yes, I clicked SHARE! I figured if the timing was right for me, it might be right for those who might see it on my Twitter feed or Facebook wall.

Perhaps you're reading this right now and you've been struggling with some sort of temptation. Maybe there is an habit that you've been trying to rid yourself of. Could there be an attitude you've been harboring that needs to be wiped out? Consider taking that to the Lord and leaving it with Him. It will be the best decision / commitment you ever made!

Going Home, the latest recording project by Trust Quartet, features a song called It's Almost Over. In fact, the title of the album is derived from some lyrics inside that song. Ann Ballard wrote the song and it was recorded by the Cathedrals in the 80s. Mark Trammel, a member of that Cathedrals group, re-recorded it with his own quartet a few years ago, and Trust could not turn down the opportunity to record it as well.

The song speaks about the time fast approaching when Jesus will return and take us home. To our eternal home! Life as we know it is almost over. The pain and struggles we have ~ almost done. The financial burdens and emotional junk ~ about through with it! Although the world doesn't seem to be getting any better, the fights and skirmishes continue, life as we know it is almost over.

Trust recorded that song during one of the very early sessions of the recording process. We left to continue our concert schedule until we could get back to the studio and work on the album some more. When we came back, our engineer / producer, Kevin Hunt, invited us to sit in the control room for a bit before taking our places in the studio. He told us that he had just received word that an uncle had passed away and he had been working on mixing this song. He went on to tell us a little bit about his uncle who knew the Lord and was so ready to see Jesus.  Kevin told us how he was a bit overcome with emotion as the Holy Spirit used this song to comfort him and speak to his hurting heart.

As we began to listen for the very first time to the recording, we were eager to hear what it sounded like. We were about to hear the results of hours and hours of work, so there was an excitement in the air. As the music began, there was talking among ourselves of how impressed we were with our collective efforts. The talking grew quiet as the message began to sink in. The excitement turned to tears of anticipation and joy as we, too, looked forward to the day when we'd see our loved ones who've gone on to be with Jesus. We began to hear this song again ~ for the first time in a long time. We had church that morning in the studio! In fact, I don't believe we've sang that song the same way again since we heard it then.

Take a listen to It's Almost Over and hear it for the first time again like we did that day in Ocala, FL.

Jesus: The Light of the World (Even YOUR World)

"I am the light of the world." Jesus made that claim during the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. During that holiday, Jewish women would gather to sing psalms while a huge menorah was lit in the Temple. It was enough light to be seen for miles. Some scholars believe that Jesus was using that menorah as an object lesson to get across His point that He was the light of the world rather than the menorah. As brightly as it shown, He was brighter! In our spiritually darkened world, Jesus is still the light that can break through the darkness!

I'm constantly amazed at the culture in which we live still grasping for hope. The difficulties and distractions that surround us can bring discouragement. But the solution for the world's problems is still Jesus. That may sound over-spiritual and over-simplified. It may come across as trite and trivial. But it IS truth! We must be reminded that His ways are not always our ways. We are not expected to always understand, but we are expected to trust.

The light that Jesus brings, gives life. The life that He gives is abundant. The life He gives is eternal. Are you tired of living in the darkened world? Are you longing for the Truth that is Jesus? Feel free to comment and share how Jesus has proven Himself to you. If you're still looking for a relationship with Him, leave me a comment and a way of contacting you, and I'll be happy to share how Jesus can be your personal light and hope.