Elijah

My son Elijah is now five months old! Wow! Time flys when you are having fun! I am praying that Elijah will continue to grow and understand he is a sinner and that he needs Jesus.

2 Samuel 21

This morning I read in 2 Samuel 21. It was interesting to me that there was a famine in the land of Israel for three years. Some how David was able to realize that there was a connection to a problem with a people group. David sought the Lord on the problem and the Lord told him it was because of Saul, that he was a bloodthirsty man. So David immediately took care of the problem. Also I read about how David and his men took care of all the Philistine giants. Pretty neat to read about a battle where the big guys lose! David seems to be a humble man though. The men in his army told him that he was not going to go with them to battle because he was growing faint. I think he might have been getting older and they wanted to protect their king. I believe that it took a lot of humility to not argue, question, or complain about this command. I mean he was the king of Israel. Humble king. This is the way I need to live my life. Humility is not easy. When you think you are humble it is at that point that you are no longer humble. My prayer is that God would help me to see more ways that I need to be humble.

Press ON!

My God

We truly have an amazing God! I studied a lot about God during my time in college in different doctrine classes. Now it seems in my life that I don't know what to do next, but I have been reminded and encouraged about three different things about God.
The first thing that I have been reminded of about God is the He is immutable. Malachi 3:6, James 1:17, Hebrews 6:18 tell us the God never changes. God's purpose will never change (Isaiah 46:9-10). God's word never changes (Psalm 119:89). God's attributes, who God is, never change (Malachi 3:6). This is great to know that God never changes and is completly consistent!! No matter what happens or changes in my life I can always know that God will always be the same and never change!! WOW!!
The second thing I have been reminded of about God is that He is omniscient. God knows everything. God knows our hearts (Psalm 139:1-6). God knows our burdens and wants (Exodus 3:7; Matthew 6:8). God knows the future (Jeremiah 29:11). This is great to know that God knows everything! No matter what happens to me I can trust and rely on God because He knows everything!! WOW!!
The third thing I have been reminded of about God is that He is in control. God is in control of Satan (Job 1:6-12). God is in control of nature (Mark 4:35-41). God is in control of our lives (Romans 8:28-29). This so great to know that God is in control! I don't have to rely on myself knowing that God is in control! I can leave it to Him!! WOW!!
This is what I have been encouraged with from God's Word lately. I pray that it challenges you to know and praise our God more for who He is!! We truly have an awesome and amazing God! All praise belongs to God!!

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Save in the Cross of Jesus

Easter was Sunday. We had a great day at Church! Maggie and I had the opportunity to sing in the choir. We sang "Save In The Cross Of Jesus". It was taken from Galatians 6:14 "But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." As a who has put his faith and trust in what Jesus did on the cross and that He rose again from the grave. I am saved in the cross of Jesus and this song says we have nothing to boast in except, save in the cross of Jesus. I, we, did nothing that could save ourselves. It was totally a God thing! I pray that it may never be that boast except, save in the cross of Jesus! It was a great day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus! Praise the Lord!

Press ON!

Grilling in the Wind

This week some of the men of our church have been working on the roof of our church. They have been doing a great job! Today Maggie, Elijah, and I decided to grill hamburgers for them for lunch. Maggie made rice-crispy bars, baked beans, and brought chips and carrots. I grilled the burgers in the wind. WOW! Grilling when it is really windy is not easy work! Elijah laid on the floor and played with his truck and book. It was a great time to serve God by serving these men, who are serving God! I was super excited to have Maggie help with it! I love her!
After we got all the things washed and put away; we went to a local park. We then took a nice walk together! It was a beautiful day! It was fun to spend time outside with Maggie and Elijah! I can't wait till he can run around with me!
Praise God for a great day! Praise God for a great opportunity to serve Him!

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Doctrinal Statement Revised

Today I went through and revised my doctrinal statement. I was pretty suprised that after going over it, with two others, that most of it was alright. I just needed some help in areas and was not just given the answers but was forced to decide for myself what I believe. I am excited about getting this done and printed, but realize that now I need to others to read through it and make sure there are not spelling errors or grammer errors. I believe that every should know what they believe and, if they desire, to type it out. This makes people actually say what they believe instead of trying to decide when they are in a tough time in their lives. This has not been easy but very rewarding to me in that I know what I believe. What about you?

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2 Samuel 11

I read in 2 Samuel 11 this morning for my devotions. This is the chapter where David makes choices that effect the rest of his life and the lives of others; when David takes Bathsheba and kills Uriah. It was very interesting that David made what seemed like a insignificant decision to not go to battle, but that was what the kings were supposed to do. So he was neglecting his duties as king and stayed home. For some reason he went for a walk on the roof and saw a beautiful women across the way. David's self control was thrown off the roof, was out of control. He then made the choice to take her knowing that she was married to Uriah. This choice he made the made him make another choice to try to get Uriah to go home and be with his wife. But Uriah was a man of integrity. He knew that his fellow men in the army we still fighting and living in tents, how then could he go to his home and be with his wife. David then tried to get him drunk, but to no avail. So David came up with a wicked plan. He wrote a letter to the leader of the army and told him to put Uriah at the fiercest part of the battle and then retreat a little. He sent the letter by the hand of Uriah!! Wow! So the result of David's choices were that he killed Uriah, got Bathsheba pregnant, has a child on the way, and most of all he displeased the Lord! WOW! The choices David made not only effected him but Uriah, Bathsheba, the child, but God!
I need to be living in such way that my choices please the Lord. Throughout this passage David was making choice to please himself. David stayed home from battle to please himself. David saw and took Bathsheba to please himself. David killed Uriah to allow himself to be pleased. David was so focused on himself that he was not pleasing God. The choices that I make in daily life need to be focused on pleasing God not myself.

Press ON!

Hello

Hello, My name is Daniel Cox. I am starting this blog to help me express some of my desires to daily, moment by moment press on in life. I have kind of made this the "unofficial" motto for my life. It comes from Philippians 3:12-14, "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." I want always be focused on the goal! Forget those things behind strain for what lies ahead and press on! My prayer is that this will be an encouragement and a challenge to me and you. Enjoy!

Press ON!