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Survival Kit

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KEEP THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE.

ETERNAL SURVIVAL WITH JESUS & OUR LOVED ONES IN HEAVEN IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HOW MANY MORTAL YEARS WE SPEND ON THIS EARTH.

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How will you spend your dash?
In the Building Your Own Theology course there is an exercise to draw a time line and put the date of your birth at one end and an estimated date of your death at the other end. The task was to then put a dot on the time line where you are today. Last year a resident theologian gave me a reading entitled "How will you spend your dash?". The author envisioned the way a person's life is dated on tombstones, in obituaries, in historical writings. The "dash" is the time between your birth and your death. Knowing that we make our own history in time, how will you spend your dash?"

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Pressure Develops Character

Bob Yandian, Pastor

A friend of mine used to work on offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico during the summer to make money for college. He tested all the pipe for the pipeline that came in to the rig. Pipes were rated to take a certain amount of pressure, but the drillers never took the manufacturer's word for it. My friend tested each pipe for oil pressure with water pressure to be sure it would not spring a leak under water.

One day he was cranking up the pressure to test a section of pipe when suddenly a stream of water shot out of an unseen crack. When it happened, he told me the Lord spoke to him and said, "The pressure did not create the crack. The pressure revealed it." My friend said that revelation changed his life forever.

In the same way, pressure doesn't create our weaknesses--it exposes them.

But that's when God's strength can flow through us. Character is developed through pressure.

In II Corinthians 12:10, the apostle Paul wrote, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Paul wasn't saying that when he was at his weakest, he was his strongest. He simply meant that when he realized his weakness, then God could strengthen him.

We all hate to be put under pressure. We want to run from it. But God sees the tests and trials that we go through in life as valuable. The apostle Peter described the trials of our faith as being "more precious than gold" (see I Peter 1:7).

So don't run from pressure.
This is how character is developed.

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Don't repeat the same mistakes over and over again.
Figure out what you're doing wrong and why you keep doing it.
"Know thyself and to thyself be true."

How to walk the "Walk of Survival"



FIRST OF ALL, PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD.
http://www.crossroad.to/Victory/Armor.htm tells you how to put on the Armor of God.

Ephesians 6:10-18

"Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints...."

THEN MAKE SURE YOU GO TO CHURCH!

It is so important to associate with other Christians.
It helps to keep you from temptations. Trust me on this one!
This is so very important for you to do.
I hope you listen. I didn't. That's why my life went haywire.

Don't go to bars and places like that,
because associating with sinners will cause YOU to screw up!

"When you go somewhere that you shouldn't, you disobey God and lose the breastplate of righteousness. You're never safe if you go somewhere Jesus wouldn't want you to go."
http://www.crossroad.to/Victory/Armor.htm

DAILY ACTIVITIES TO TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY



Get down on your knees every day and PRAY.

DAILY, ask for a fresh annointing of the Blood of Jesus
for you and each member of your family and all of your friends.

Always add to the end of prayers or when making prayer requests:
"In the Name of Jesus, by the Power of His Blood".

Read the Bible every day.

Rely on the Holy Spirit to strengthen you.

Rely on the Holy Spirit and God's Warrior Angels
to fight the principalities in the air for you.

Then, rely on God's Promises to help you and
thank Him for making those promises.

THOSE SPIRITUAL THINGS ARE ALL YOU NEED IN YOUR SURVIVAL KIT!

If you use them constantly, you will survive and have a HAPPY life.
Ignore this advice, and you will be very sorry.




My Declaration Of Faith for Today

Lord, I depend on Your strength to flow through me at all times.
[ The best Survival Kit of all! ]

ITEMS NEEDED

TOOTHPICK
To remind you to pick out the good qualities in others.
- Matthew 7:1

RUBBER BAND
To remind you to be flexible.
Things might not always go the way you want, but it will work out.
- Romans 8:28

BAND AID
To remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else's. -
Colossians 3:12-14

PENCIL
To remind you to list your blessings everyday.
- Ephesians 1:3

ERASER
To remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and it's okay.
- Genesis 50:15-21

CHEWING GUM
To remind you to stick with it, and you can accomplish anything.
- Philippians 4:13

MINT
To remind you that you are worth a mint.
- John 3:16-17

CANDY KISS
To remind you that everyone needs a kiss or a hug everyday.
- John 4:7

GREEN TEA BAG
To remind you to relax daily and go over your list of blessings.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Please, Jesus, don't let the circle be broken.

Bring all of my children and descendants to you.
So that they may SURVIVE THROUGHOUT ETERNITY.
I pray this in Your Name and by the Power of Your Blood.
Amen.