As each story was shared, I was reminded of the struggle that Sarah and the kids would have without a father and was grieved and moved to the point of tears. And yet, in my heart I knew that he is with Jesus and the struggle was over for him.

The day progressed and more conversation ensued. The tone of the day moved from sorrow to sorrow mingled with joy as we began recounting the stories of those who had already been encouraged by Jacob and Sarah’s story. The conversation continued to pick up momentum from person to person.

As we gathered together in Sarah’s home, there was an atmosphere of strength and hope, knowing the we are not grieving without hope. Jacob is now in an amazing place with His Savior and his legacy and even his death has created a platform to reach and encourage thousands of others.

For the believer death is not the end. Jesus’ finished work at the cross conquered death once and for all and our God has the power to cause ALL things to work together for good. Death has been turned to victory to him who believes.

As I sit at breakfast pondering my time here, I’m blessed beyond measure. For I have an amazing wife who made this trip possible. I am surround by the closest brothers in Christ I have ever known. I am filled with hope that cannot be quenched by death. I have the opportunity to love the body of Christ. I have a Savior who has given me the victory over death.

Reflection

We often have been taught to not talk about or think about death and yet it is a part of this life we live. We must not fear it but instead understand how Jesus has overcome it and how God can cause it to work for good.

How has Jesus overcome death?

Do you believe that death is not the end?

How might God cause even death to be used for good?

Prayer

Father, expand our minds to understand your victory through Christ and Your power to cause all things to work together for good. May our eyes see the marvelous work of Your hands as You turn mourning to joy. Comfort our hearts and gird or minds for the sake of the gospel and Your children. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

@brianfriedl

#deathisnottheend

#Jesushasovercome

#Godisstillgood

We have the privilege of looking back with New Testament in hand and rejoicing for what will take place on Sunday. We have hope in in His victory. For He swallowed up death and removed our reproach. We are now His children! As the song says, “Once an enemy, now seated at His table, Jesus Thank You”

And yet holding on to this joy is a fight. We look around us and we see children being murdered by their mothers, every manifestation of hate and perversion you can think of, depression and depravity rampant. We must not forget the promises that have been given us that are yet to come. There will be a day of no more tears, no more pain, where all has been reconciled to Him. He keeps His promises. As we look back to His victory, we also look forward to the completion of all His promises. We must not look to our situation, but keep our eyes fixed on Him!

Reflection

What things are you struggling with today that are keeping you from having joy?

What promises has Our Father given you that give you hope in the days ahead?

Meditate on these promises daily-morning, noon, and night.

Prayer

Father, Your plan is perfect and Your promises are true. Help keep our eyes fixed on You and trust in Your promises. While this world seems out of control, we know You are above all things and nothing is impossible with You. Encourage us through Your word today as we walk through darkness being Your light. We ask all of these things in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

@brianfriedl

#truthtalk4life

#lookingbacklookingforward

The cheering and laughter reached its peak at one point, and the gym filled with elated Vikings fans. There was no need to ask what happened as all of them began to tell of the last moments of the game. I heard things like “Never give up”, “You gotta pay attention!”, and “You’ll” have to catch it on replay”.

I began thinking about how watching a game on replay is different since you already know the outcome. My mind then wandered to how the Christian life is kind of like that. We already know the ultimate outcome. During a replay, you are still tempted to ride an emotional rollercoaster, but the knowledge of victory grounds us.

Should this not also be the case in the Christian life? When we see the LORD’s name being profaned? When babies are being slaughtered without regard? When marriage has lost its sacred design? Have we forgotten that Christ’s FINISHED work on the cross has purchased our freedom and guaranteed our victory for all eternity? We need not put our hope in the systems of this world. We are children of the One True Living God who has sealed His promise of victory with the Holy Spirit that lives in us.

While we may be tempted, we must remember we know the ending of this story. We need not get emotionally distraught. We may feel behind “in the game” of life, but the game is not over yet. Hold fast to the One we know has the victory. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but we do know that when this life is over, our Victory is sure in Him!

Reflection

Spend some time searching for verses that confirm victory is the LORD’s.

Meditate on what that means for you.

Ask The Holy Spirit to remind you swiftly of Jesus’ victory when you are getting lost in the emotion of the struggle.

Prayer

Father, You are seated on the throne and have the victory! May our minds be grounded in that love-driven Victory, that we may bring You honor and glory in every thought and action. Guard our minds from the temptation to fear the waves. Instead fix our eyes on Jesus, that we may see Your perfect love cast out that fear and lead us on to victory in Him. Amen!

Look at the showdown with Goliath. This giant doesn’t taunt just Israel but God Himself.  The text says in 1 Samuel 17, “when all the men of Israel saw him, the fled and were greatly afraid”. So what was it the pushed David beyond fear? Listen to his own words:

“Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,” 

~ ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭17:45-46‬ ‭NASB‬‬

We know the end of this story and it doesn’t end well for Goliath.  See the pattern?

Passion for name >>> LORD gives Victory

Looking further into 2 Samuel 7, we see God interacting with David and making His covenant with him.  At the same time, God gently realigns David vision of building the temple.  The end result is a prayer to God and again lifting the name in verse 23:

“And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, before Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods?”

~ ‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭7:23‬ ‭NASB‬‬

David from a place of humility is exulted and just as in the case of his battle with Goliath, victory follows. 

Reflection

What giants are you facing today?

Is your focus on your own strength or upholding the name of the LORD?

Where do you think David’s passion for the name of the LORD came from?

Prayer

Father, for You are mighty and Your name is deserving of all our praise.  Give us an genuine passion for You and for Your name; that every victory will be in Your strength and for Your glory.  In Jesus’ name, Amen!

#truthtalk4life

#knowlivespeaktruth

@brianfriedl

This “Be the best” attitude worked great until I was made aware of my sin. My attempt to overcome it was in vain.  The harder I tried to do away with it, the more I longed for it. I wish I could say I learned this truth from scripture quickly.  Unfortunately, that is not the case. 

After wearing myself into the ground, I finally understood that I must surrender to have victory.  For Jesus has overcome the enemy. I simply need to surrender and trust in Him.  I wouldn’t need this reminder just once but every day of my life I must revisit this truth. 

Reflection

Are you struggling in your own strength to wage war in your flesh?

Why are you fighting the battles that have already been won? 

Simply surrender and seek to know and love your Savior more deeply each day.  Bathe in His word today!

Prayer

Gracious God, You are our victory.  You go before us as a consuming fire, overpowering our enemies with Your righteous hand.  Help us to trust in Your victory at the cross. In the name of Jesus, Amen!

 God’s plan for you is victory; however, It must be accomplished His way and He requires your surrender. It begins with your motivation. Is your motivation born out of a love for Him and for His glory? Or perhaps is it for you to not have to feel the guilt and shame any longer? 

Reflection

Read Galatians 5:1-14 and take an honest look at yourself today. Adjust your motivation.. Spend time in His word today. Let Him reveal to you the depths of what He has done….Love Him for His glory and you will be on the path to victory…
Prayer

Father, teach us to long for and love you. Help us to see your love for us and let that stir our desire to glorify you.  We know that victory follows surrender.  Remove any pride in us and let us live in Your victory, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

No weapon formed against us shall prosper for we are His children; joint heirs with Christ.  His Spirit testifies with ours that this is so.  He has apportioned His victory to us.  For He became sin that we might become the righteousness of God.  His love is never failing!

Holy is the name of the LORD, perfect and true.  It is above every name and at it every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is LORD.  He is worthy of our praise.  May our lips be filled with that praise and thanksgiving to His precious name.  For 2017 is His, along with the victory over our enemies!

#truthtalk4life #knowlivespeaktruth

@brianfriedl

I was reminded that our enemy, satan, is much like a four-year-old with scissors. He comes to steal,kill, and destroy.  I’m certain that as my son clipped the plants, cutting off their lifeline, he rejoiced in the control and power he had.  Satan rejoices as well in the destruction of his hands and the exercising of his power.

Furthermore, I find, like Paul, that the same evil is present in me. The struggle is real! My inner man desires to do what God wills and delights in His law and yet my flesh desires the very opposite. Who will deliver me from this body of death?  Only one has the power to do that. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Personal Reflection

When evil is done against us, it’s easy for us to get angry, Let us not forget evil is present in each of us. It is only in Christ that can it can be conquered. While my heart grieves over the damage done by my sin and the sins of others, I am so thankful for the victory of the cross, and that one day we will be in a place with no more sin or sadness, but instead complete and total joy! May this truth bring you joy even in the present!

Prayer Focus

Father, though the struggle is real, we know there is victory and your son Jesus Christ. May this truth guide our minds to joy and peace today. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. May we live in your kingdom now and forever more, in the name of Jesus, amen!

@brianfriedl

#StealKillDestroy #VictoryInJesus #TruthTalk4Life

In the other packs where no seed starts were yet, I watered them(the weeds)for multiple days. Was I hoping that that would grow into something other than a weed? Was I just too lazy to pull them?  Did I not take enough time to examine closely?

While I laughed I realized that we do the same thing with sin in our lives.  We are watering weeds that will suck the nutrients out of the good part of our lives.  We should not be surprised that our garden(spiritual life) is lacking if we are not willing to pull the weeds (sin).  The Bible is clear that we are to make no provision for the flesh(Romans 13:14)

In short, stop feeding the weeds of sin in your life! Stop giving them the provision they need to grow.  

Personal Reflection

What weeds are you harboring in your life right now?   A good test is to ask yourself what am I doing that makes me feel disqualified to serve the LORD after I do it?   

Read Romans 13:13-14

Now is the time to confess, repent and pull those weeds!

Prayer Focus

Father we confess that we have been feeding the weeds of sin in our lives.  Give us the strength and desire to pull them out that your fruit would flourish to its fullest potential.  We fully trust that all this is possible and will be done in the Name of Jesus, Amen!

#makenoprovisionfortheflesh #pulltheweeds #truthtalk4life

@brianfriedl

There have been many ups and downs and even times where I longed for he Egypt of my past life.  Yet God remained and continues to remain patient, steadfast and faithful to show me a better way.  He has never ceased to teach me of the sufficiency I have in Christ.   May my lips praise him forever!

Personal Reflection

Reflect today on God’s victory in Christ for you and His faithfulness.  If you have trouble recalling. Find someone involved in your life that could help.  It’s incredibly healthy to spend time remembering your Egypt as well as the freedom and victory you now have!

Prayer Focus

LORD we praise you with our whole hearts for your victory in Jesus!  You have brought us out of bondage and given us sonship. You are mighty, faithful, and your compassion never ends.  May our lips praise you now and forever more! In Jesus Name, Amen!

@brianfriedl

#victoryinJesus #freedomforever #truthtalk4life