Another keep to overcoming impossible situations is this:  We have to learn to Resist Discouragement!

This can be very difficult because when we are in those situations we typically emotional and vulnerable and Satan will use that to attack us and kicks us when we are down.  To make things worse, we are also our toughest critic and we can become very hard on ourselves.

Thus, the discouragement comes poring down on us, we feel trapped, crippled, like there is no way out!  We've all been there and I know Paul must have felt that same way, but he kept on going and never let anything stop him. Even when Paul and Barnabas had their blowout he didn't let it stop him.

Paul's attitude reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Winston Churchill "What do you do when you are going through hell?  You just keep going." 

Jesus wants us to keep on going but through his power not ours.  Now this is different than saying "Just Suck It Up."  In order to just keep going we need to keep our perspective focused on Jesus, focus on the reward, and we must resist the discouragement.

Today I’d love for you to take some time thinking about Resisting Discouragement while reading these verses.

Galatians 6:9 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

Psalms 94:18-19 I cried out, "I'm slipping!" and your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

Philippians 1:6 And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.

Pray:

Ask God for the Strength and persistence to resist the discouragement when we are facing impossible situations.

Ask God for the help to see ourselves as a new creation, the way God sees.  And to resist the discouragement that we put on ourselves.  We are a NEW CREATION that Jesus is still working on!

One of Paul's great motivators in life is this...he was always focused on the reward.  When Paul was facing unthinkable situations, whether it was opposition, imprisonment, or even physical abuse, he understood what he was going through was worth it.  In every situation he remained focused on that reward, though he didn't know what the exact reward would be, Paul knew it would glorify God.  So often Paul was able to that reward right away.  On Sunday we talked about Paul and Silas had been beaten and thrown into jail, what was that reward?  God sent an earth quake and released them from their chains.  But that wasn't the reward.  Paul stopped the Jailer from killing himself, he lead him and his family to Christ and then baptized them all.

When we are facing troubles that seem impossible to get through we must REMAIN FOCUSED ON THE REWARD.  God is wanting to do something great through our pain and trouble! 

Today I want you to think about a time in your past where it seemed like there was now way to get through it, yet Jesus pulled you through.  God is a master at turning pain into gain and he never wastes a hurt.  So take some time and think about that and then I'd love for you to read these verses and maybe even memorize one or both of them so you can have them in your mind when you need them.

1 Corinthians  9:24-26 24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.

Hebrews 6:12 12 Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

Pray:
Thank God for the times he pulled you through the impossible times in your life. 
Thank Him for his faithfulness and ask him to help you to stay focused on the reward.
Lastly, thank him in advance for the reward He has planned for you with the situation you are in.

Good morning everyone!

Just read this passage and see if this is not something we hear all the time today!!

Acts 17:22-23

²²Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. ²³ For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

One of the most common conversations I have with people, even those who say they are christian, is people believing that there are many different ways into heaven and that not just one is correct or could be correct. This has to have been what Paul discussed the most in Athens, how would he turn a whole community from polytheistic to a monotheistic community! Put Paul also had a in, because they were already worshiping an unknown God he has the opportunity to use this to teach them about the one true God.

Have a great frieday everyone!

In addition to today video here is a special request from Doug Elliott

Asking for Prayers as I'm preparing to for the funeral of United States Marine Corpsman Corporal Jordan R. Stanton while in combat in Afghanistan. My heart is so heavy this morning and yet so overwhelmed by the with Pride that I get to honor Jordan and our Lord today.

I ask you to specifically pray:

- For Jordan's Mother, Father, and three brothers.

- For Jordan's beautiful fiancée Julie.

- For his two teammates that Jordan saved in his sacrifice and who are injured but alive.

- For his fellow teammates of the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force who are still in combat as we speak

- For all of our military fighting to serve and protect our country.

Members of the United States Armed forces I thank you for your service. You will never receive the recognition you deserve for your service. I pray you all know and experience God's love. I pray that you know your service speaks to the very heart of God. Who loves his children and fights to bring us closer to him. Jesus tells us in John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Thank you Marines for being willing and considering it an honor to sacrifice for protecting what you so dearly loved, for Freedom and the United States of America.

Semper Fi Marines and thank you for being "Always Faithful"

Good morning everyone and welcome to your Rock Irvine Daily!

   This week we are jumping back into the book Acts starting with Acts 17! 

It Acts 17:1- 9, Paul and and Silas head into Thessalonica and Paul heads right to the synagogue which is his stand procedure. It says that he spent 3 Sabbaths or 3 Sundays in the church debating with the Jews and the Rabbis about how Jesus is The Christ which was prophesied in the Old Testament.  Paul converts some Jews and also Gentiles but upsets others in the synagogue and like similar towns they go to the leaders and try to have them imprisoned or killed.

    I love the consistency of Paul in each part of this book! Every time he goes to the synagogues and pulls right from the scriptures so show the Jews how Jesus is the Christ. I hope that we all understand how revolutionary and how controversial this topic was at the time. The Messiah that had been prophesied for thousands of years had finally come and Paul is telling these Jews that they had missed Him but this grace abouts over all!

   This week we have had great tragedy in the world and my request today is that you take a few minutes and pray for all those that have been impacted by what happened in Japan. Also pray for all those that are traveling to Japan to help in the rescue efforts and provide food and water for those that are in need. A great tragedy has happened over see and we need to keep them in our prayers constantly right now.

Have a great Monday!

    I get in conversation often with people who are stressing about every day things in life and I always end up going to the same point. What it comes down to is there is no point. Obviously there are things that stress us and cause us to have bad days and rough times and that is just part of living but if you can get past that and look at the big picture God is in control! Life is not easy, never was and never will be. Therefor praise God for all that we have and all that is to come! We move through life with one Goal in mind which is to fulfil Gods purpose by Loving him and one another.

Today spend a few minutes in prayer thanking God for life and all of the tragedy which make us grow and also all of the great things that He has offered to us!

Phil 4:6-7

 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Luke 15:4-5

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

      This verse was on my mind this morning so I though I would share my thoughts. Jesus tells this parable when the pharisees are questioning him about hanging out with sinner, and the point being how important each and every person is to the kingdom of God and once that person receives Christ we should rejoice as the Kingdom of God rejoices.  That being said I feel like we miss this on so many levels today as Christians, we get so comfortable with ourselves and with the people around us that we loose focus of the big picture. I was reading one of Doug Fields books last night and he mentioned a ministry that he knew of which only catered to those that were within his core circle and the ministry never grew and flourished because of its inward focus. I feel like that's where we get stuck, its so comfortable and cozy in our little circle we forget about the amazing joy that can come about when we finally find our lost sheep and we pick them up and carry them back to the heard.

Spend a few minutes today and think about who your lost sheep is. Let's find that person and pick them up and carry them rejoicing this week.

Have a great Tuesday!