"MY GREATEST TREASURE IS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD!"  For many years, I have shared that phrase in my training seminars as being the inscription that I want placed on my grave marker when God chooses to take me Home, as a testimony of His mercy and grace in my life.

Every single day, and every moment of that day, is completely under the sovereign , perfect, and all-wise control of my loving Father.  According to Psalm 40:1-3, He has brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, has set me on a rock, established my goings, and has put a new song of praise to God in my mouth.

According to 1 Peter 1:2-3, He has, through the triune Godhead, given me a living hope through the foreknowledge of the Father, the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, and the sacrificial obedience of the Son.
2 Peter 1:3 gives confidence and hope in that He has given all things that pertain to life and godliness through
the ministry of His Word and His Spirit.

Romans 8:28-29  encourages me that He works all things together toward the good end and purpose of my conformity to Christ, which is the ultimate goal of glorifying God. Thus, (vs. 32) In the light of His character and nature, shall He not freely give us all things?  Subsequently, there can be no conceivable reason for doubt, fear, disappointment or discouragement.

How important is the sovereignty of God?  It is my greatest treasure!!  I hope it is yours, as well!!

                                                       (C) 2014 NA Collins
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"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."  Matthew 22:37-39

When we consider the heart, mind, will and purpose of our Lord for His blood-bought children, this text gives clear direction for both our personal lives and practical ministries.

The first aspect is to love the Lord in the obediences of personal INTIMACY with Him.  The subsequent manifestation of that involvement ought to be seen in the ministry of practical INFLUENCE.

As we grow ever closer in our intimacy with Him, the reflection of His character and nature will begin to be seen in His love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness,goodness, faith, meekness and self-control ( see Galatians 5:22-23).  That image of Christ, given for others to see, becomes the influence for Christ to those who watch.

How often do we "get the cart before the horse", and strive for influence apart from intimacy?

At that point, we are actually ministering in the flesh, and find it both exhausting and often ineffective.

May God help us to focus on intimacy with Himself, and see His Spirit bring the influence of Christlikeness on those in whose world He has placed us as ambassadors for Him. Then, according to 1 Peter 3:15, we will " ... sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" Then our ministry influence will afford opportunities to evangelize the lost, exhort the wayward, and encourage the faithful.

   (C) 2014 N.A.Collins. Limited copy permission to one personal file copy

What is a crisis? Usually, is an individualized situation or circumstance that is unexpected, undesired, and for which I are ungrateful.  Often, it may be life- threatening, but it is always life-changing.

How can I, as a believer, think it through theologically?  Of course, I must start with asking the question, "What Saith the Scripture?"

When afraid, God teaches me to trust in Him, in Psalm 56:3.  When discouraged, he reminds  me to have all my expectations from Him,min Psalm 62:5. When my heart is burdened, I read in 1 Peter 5:7 that I am to cast all my care on Him.  When lonely, to remember He never leavs me or forsakes me, in Hebrews 13:5.  If feeling unappreciated, God comforts me in Colossians 3:24 that I serve the Lord Christ and rewards come from Him.

To move from instability to stability in the midst of crisis, I use the following seven verses progressively to stabilize my thinking:

Jeremiah 29:11 helps me focus on the character and nature of my God.

     "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

Romans 8:28-29 reminds me of His promise to me in everything.

      "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

Psalm 18:30a assures me of the integrity of His ways.

      "As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried:...

Psalm 62:5 causes me to refocus my perspective from a temporary one to an eternal one.

     "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him."

Psalm 37:3-7 give me steps to TRUST Him.

     "Trust in the Lord....Delight thyself also in the Lord.....Commit thy way unto the Lord; .....

       Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him:........"

2 Corinthians 10:5 brings my thoughts back into biblical focus.

     "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;..."

Psalm 119:133, on the basis of all the previous passages, help me to apply what I know.

      "Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me."

In crisis, as in all other times of my life, every thought, action and word must be submitted to the scrutiny of the Scriptures.

                 (C) 2014 N.A.Collins. Excerpts from THEOLOGY 9-1-1
                 (C) 2012 N.A.Collins                             
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