"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21 KJV) 

 Blessings are being stored up for you! 

 “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2 KJV)

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (Matt. 25:21 NIV)

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12 NIV)

Good things are prepared!

“However, as it is written: What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived — the things God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Cor 2:9 NIV)

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Col. 3:23 NIV)

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3 NIV)

Eternal life is to know God

Most of the time, when someone thinks about what it means to have “eternal life”, they are thinking of the most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16, which says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” They think “eternal life” is just about God sending Jesus so people can live forever. This is certainly true, living forever is a a big part of it! But, in another verse, John 13:3, Jesus defined “eternal life” as much more than just living forever! He said, “eternal life is to know God and Jesus Christ”. It's about having a personal relationship with God!

We may know Him!

“That I may know him and the power of his resurrection…” (Phil. 3:10a ESV)

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” (2 Peter 3:18 ESV)

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book.” (Psalms 139:13-16 NIV)

You were born special!

You are a winner! You were born that way! It's really true! At conception you won an incredible race against millions of little “competitors” who were racing towards the goal of conception and you got there first! Just think about the odds of that! On the day you were conceived you were already a big winner! Not only that, but God was part of the process! The Bible says He “created your inmost being” and “knit you together in your mother’s womb”. And what He did there is described as “wonderful”. Wow!

Therefore...

Whenever someone asks how you are, you can honestly answer with complete confidence, “I am wonderful! I am a winner!”

And God has plans for you!

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” (Eph. 2:10 ESV)

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 3:9-10 ESV)

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:16-18 NIV)

Have you ever gotten discouraged?

I have. Lots of times! Usually it's because something negative has happened beyond my control. Recently I was working on a complicated computer project and suddenly the program crashed and took all my work with it. I stared at the screen in disbelief and was discouraged to have lost so much hard work. But, I realized that I couldn't do anything about it. So, I took a deep breath, asked God for help, and just started over. I eventually finished the project and it's now history. 

It happens to everybody!

Truth is, everyone has something negative happen now and then. It can't be avoided. As long as you live on planet earth there will be discouraging moments. But, you can’t allow them to control you. You must recognize them for what they are and deal with them as quickly and positively as you can.

They are temporary!

The Bible reminds us that the troubles we see are only momentary and we must look past them towards what is permanent - to the things that are eternal. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory.” (2 Cor. 4:17 NIV). 

When troubles come, call on God!

“And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” (Psalm 50:15 ESV)

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matt 7:7 ESV)

Don't give up!

“Through hard work, perseverance and a faith in God, you can live your dreams.” – Dr. Ben Carson

 “Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated.” (Deut. 34:7 NASB)

On the last day of Moses’ life He climbed a mountain. The Bible says his eyes and body were still strong on the day he died! Why then did he die? Because it was his time to die. Even so, he died in good health!

We have a better covenant than Moses had!

“But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.” (Heb. 8:6 NIV)

We don't know how long we will live or at what age we will die, but we can claim promises for long life and good health!

“With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:16 ESV)

“You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. None shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.” (Ex. 23:25-26 ESV)

“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” (3 John 1:2 ESV)

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” (Psalm 92:12-15 NIV)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”  (John 14:1 NIV)

In this passage of Scripture, Jesus gives some important instructions to His disciples shortly before He is to be crucified. He knows they are about to experience a huge crisis. Their leader is about to be arrested, publicly tortured, placed on a cross, die and be buried! They are about to be scattered and everything they have been taught is about to be tested.

Maintain control!

Jesus tells them to do two important things. First, not to panic (Do not let not your hearts be troubled), and secondly, to believe in Him (You believe in God; believe also in Me.”

Trust in God's Word!

You trust in God by putting your trust in His written Word because God and his Word are the same. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 NIV)

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12 NIV)

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matt. 7:24 NIV)

 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10 NIV)

Have you ever been lost?

I have been lost many times over the years! I'm sure glad they finally invented GPS systems, which I depend on a lot! When I was growing up my family used to jokingly say, “Mike could get lost at a picnic.” They were probably right. When I was about five, I was with my dad and big brother David, in San Francisco. Dad stopped at a department store downtown and parked right in front of the entrance. We went inside together and walked around looking at things. Somehow I got separated from them. It was a large store and I still remember clearly how afraid I felt when I realized they were no longer near me. I looked around the store but could not find them.  Eventually I remembered that we had parked in front of the entrance, so I found the door and headed out to the street to find our car. It was gone! I didn't know what to do and sat down on the curb and cried. I was sure they had left without me. Then a woman walked over to me and asked what was wrong. I told her I couldn't find my daddy. She saw a policeman on a motorcycle and called him over.  At that moment out of the store walked my dad and brother! I jumped up and happily ran to them. They had been looking for me. All along. I was so relieved to see them! When I told my daddy that the car was not where he had parked it, he explained that the big store had several entrances that looked exactly alike, and I had come out the wrong one. The car was exactly where it had been all along.

Jesus told lots of stories about lost and found things

The parable of the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10), and the parable of the lost sheep, (Luke 15:3-7) are two examples about lost and found things that Jesus spoke about. And, of course, I can't leave out the story of the prodigal son, about the young man who had left his father deliberately, and was seemingly lost to the world. But, he finally came to his senses, headed back home and there found his father, who had been watching all along for his return. The lost boy had been found and the father welcomed him back home with a party (Luke 15:11-32). Jesus said this is an example of how God is towards us.

God is happy when you return to Him!

“Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the LORD Almighty.” (Zach. 1:3 NIV)

 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” (Prov. 18:21 ESV)

“I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:3 NIV)

“If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.” (Psalm 91:9-10 NIV)

Control what you let come out of your mouth!

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (Eph. 4:29 ESV)

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Prov. 15:1 ESV)

It comes from your heart!

“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart...” (Matt. 15:18 ESV)

Your words can bring healing

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”  (Prov. 16:24 ESV)

“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Prov. 12:18 ESV)

You will someday give an account for every word you speak

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.” (Matt. 12:36 ESV)

 “Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.” (Jos. 21:45 NLT)

“Soon I will die, going the way of everything on earth. Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the LORD your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!” (Jos. 23:14 NLT)

“Praise the LORD who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses.” (1 Kings 8:56 NLT)

Not one Word has failed!

“For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The LORD always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.” (Psalm 145:13)

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” (Heb. 10:23 NIV)

 A costly sacrifice for us!

“You never hear Jesus say in Pilate’s judgement hall one word that would let you imagine that He was sorry that He had undertaken so costly a sacrifice for us. When His hands are pierced, when He is parched with fever, His tongue dried up like a shard of pottery, when His whole body is dissolved into the dust of death, you never hear a groan or a shriek that looks like Jesus is going back on His commitment.” – Charles Spurgeon