MY SOUL ASYLUM

On Location- TAKE A DIVE!

On Location - Take a Dive
by Ed Young

I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10).

How much do you matter to God?  Three parables in Luke 15 compare the value of a lost coin, a lost sheep and a lost son to the value God places on each human life.  In each case, these three things were highly valued and diligently sought after when lost.

And, in each case, there was much rejoicing when found. Jesus tells us that likewise, and in much greater measure, God and His angels rejoice over even one sinner who was lost and is found.  That's the reality of how much God loves you.

Hebrews 2:7 tells us, "God has crowned us with glory and honor."  We have the ability to live like royalty as sons and daughters of The King.  But first we must recognize that our crowns are broken because of sin, turn to Christ for forgiveness and trust Him to restore us to our royal position through the power of the cross.  Are you living up to the value God has placed on your life?

Take your flimsy and broken crown to the the feet of Jesus Christ, repent of your sins, and let him give you a new crown of eternal glory.  And start living like royalty!

Keeping our eyes on the prize..

PHILIPPIANS 3:14 KJV
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus.

What will really matter at the end of your life on earth?

Will what you are giving attention to now still be important
then?

Or, will you be filled with regret for what you did -- or
didn't do?

Distractions abound. TV, phone calls, web sites, books, movies.

It might be a good idea to stop and evaluate how you are
investing your time.

1 CORINTHIANS 9:24 NIV
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only
one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Run to win. Win what?

The true prize is to know God intimately and be His friend.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:18 NIV
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is
unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is
eternal.

One day, possibly soon, you will stand before God. Why not
order your life now based on that "final reckoning?"

A wise person would not invest everything in something
temporary. A wise person invests in something that will last.

*Lord, help me to keep my eyes on what is important
and lasting.

exhausted.

Are there times when you feel like you're being dragged along, you can't get a footing, you have nothing for an anchor, and you desperately need something that would bring stability into your life? Maybe something like a great big rock—with secure hand holds—nothing slippery or sharp—and a flat place where you could sit down or stand and observe the turbulence around you but be completely untouched?

How about those times when you wish you could run into an impenetrable fortress, slam the door, drop a heavy beam down that would keep anyone from opening the door, and you could just heave a sigh of relief and collapse? Sounds nice, doesn't it?

Perhaps you have longed for something to shield you from the hurts of your world? Something that would keep those ugly words, the rejection, or the tragedies in your life from hitting you and destroying you? "They hurt so badly! Where can I turn? What can I do?"

I love You, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield, my great and powerful Savior, my high tower.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18: 1-3

What have we left out of these verses? You are so right! "My great and powerful Savior!" This great and powerful Savior wants to be your Rock, your Fortress, your Deliverer, your Shield, and your High Tower.* As you stand on Him—your Rock—you can shiver as you see the turbulent waters reaching for you, but you're safe! You have an unshakable Foundation and He is right there with you! The door to your Fortress is always open for you and He loves to be your Hero—the One to deliver you from the perils of your world! He will shield you, protect you, and lead you safely to your High Tower.

Psalm 18: 1-3—memorize those verses. I have. In my Bible they are colored red, (for important), highlighted with yellow, in a box that I drew around them, and marked up with cross-references. Why? Because I need all of those things. And a human cannot possibly fulfill those needs, that's too much to expect from anyone in your circle. Only your Great and Mighty Savior can be all of those things for you.

The question is, do I allow Him to BE all of those things for me? Is He lying to me? Are those just "sometimes He is" verses? Can I possibly grasp His amazing role in my life? It is so incredible! I truly desire this. Show me, Lord.

I call upon the name of the Lord and I am saved...

But it isn't sacrificial bullocks or goats that I want from you. For all the animals of field and forest are mine! The cattle on a thousand hills! And all the birds upon the mountains! If I were hungry I would not mention it to you—for all the world is mine and everything in it. No, I don't need your sacrifices of flesh and blood. What I want from you

is your true thank; I want your promises fulfilled. I want you to trust Me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you, and you can give Me glory. (Psalm 50:9-15 TLB)