You, like many others, feel "flustered", or "flabbergasted" or "frustrated" from time to time. Frustration comes in many ways with many names. Some of us get really frustrated with mechanical tasks which don't work right or fast enough. Working in a tight spot or without a clear view can "get to" even a talented and experienced technician on occasion. Confident and determined persons don't give in or give up the first time failure happens.

In the Christian life, things don't always appear to be turning out as we might wish. Sicknesses, unseasonal weather and bad storms, unexpected expenses or personal attacks from others who dislike or don't want to relate to us can cause stress and alarm.

One thing every Christian learns is patience in waiting on God's completion of His will and way with us.

There are only three, at the most, places in which the word "frustrate" occurs in the KJV AND EVEN LESS in other modern translations of the Greek and Hebrew. In Ezra 4:5 the Hebrew word "Haphar" from "parah" means to break or to make void. It is used for the efforts of enemies of Zerubbabel and the Jewish workers, who were rebuilding the temple and Jerusalem, to stop them from their work. Then in Isaiah 44:25 the same root word is used for Jehovah who makes vain and void the false and lying words of false sages and diviners, but who, on the other hand, confirms the prophecies of His own prophets who speak His words of truth. In the New Testament, Paul uses the Greek word "atheto", meaning to set aside or reject. This is in Gal. 2:21. The KJV translation here is "frustrate" for the setting aside of the gracious work of God in Christ for a supposed self-righteous keeping of the law. The KJV reads: "I do not frustrate the grace of God...."

A true follower of Jesus learns patience in trial and persistence in believing God's words of promise and hope. When we walk with the Lord, we find Him enabling us to do the "undoable" and to visualize the "unseeable", while ovecoming our fears within and without, for His perfect love banishes fear (see Lk. 21:19; Ro. 5:4; I Thess.1:3; James 1:3,4; I John 4:18).

In Christ Jesus our work and life is bound up in Him and His promises which never fail, for His words shall not fail.

Delays may occur and our time table may need to be changed. Sometimes we think we're not ready or we are past reaching our goals. Remember our one main goal is to be found in Christ and held by Him, while resting in that mighty hand. Just as the word "frustrate" is hardly found in the Bible, it need not appear in living our abundant life in Him.

REPENT/REPENTANCE

I think that this is one of the most important words in the Bible. The most used Greek word translated repent/repentance in the Bible is "metanoeo" which means repent or "metanoia" which means repentance. Both have a central idea of a changing of one's mindset. Webster's Dictionary gives a definition of feeling regret for a deed or an omission; contrition and sorrow for a deed.

In the Bible it means to change your heart and mind away from self to God and from sin to holiness.

Repentance comes when you realize and confess your sinfulness in light of God's righteous holiness. You see yourself in the light of truth from God.

Both Jesus and John The Baptist preached to the Jews their need of repentance. See Mt. 3:2, 4:17; Mk 1:5, 6:12; Lk. 13:3,4. The call to repentance was to all Jews, not just a few public sinners.

All people must repent of their selfish, sinful, worldly living, which includes all of sin's variety: sins against your parents and family, other people, yourself and God. This is a mindset darkened by sin.

Repenting towards God, and His eternal kingdom of heaven and earth, means you turn to trusting, by faith, in His saving grace in Christ Jesus.

The world is a perishing place and we are perishing with it in our flesh and sin. This is because of our sin and sins against each other and God.

Satan is already lost to hell's end, and without Christ, who has defeated Satan and the grave in His holiness, we, in our sins, will perish to hell's eternal end with Satan.

This is what Christ Jesus and the Bible plainly teach. We must turn from our carnal works, in our worldly frame of mind/thinking/motivation, to the mind of God found in Christ Jesus, who denied Himself and gave up His life, in the world, to save us from our own condemnation of and for sin. Christ Jesus was raised for our justification from our sins to free us to live a new life of "agape" love, in the Holy Spirit's presence within us. This is eternal life now and forever.

Hallelujah, I'm saved through Christ Jesus. I've changed my mind and do not trust in myself but in Christ Jesus, my risen living Lord. See John chapter 20.

FELLOWSHIP

HAVING FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER IS IMPORTANT TO EACH BELIEVER. WE SHARE OUR COMMON FAITH AND CHRISTIAN CONCERNS AS WE LIVE IN OUR INDIVIDUAL PLACE IN THE WORLD. SINCE WE ARE SALT AND LIGHT IN THE WORLD WE NEED THE MINISTRIES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH OUR FELLOWSHIP IN THE CHURCH ASSEMBLY. JESUS PROMISES TO BE IN OUR MIDST WHEN WE COME TOGETHER IN HIS NAME; (MT. 18:19,20 AND HEB. 10:25). When I think of fellowship I think of sharing with others in the things that I have. As Christians we have our central faith in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. That faith is constant in our lives as we live in our community and walk under the direction of the Holy Spirit of God. Therefore, we share the love of God which has been poured into our hearts. That love banishes hate and ill will towards our neighbor and our brothers in Christ. Our main purpose in the fellowship of Christ Jesus is to demonstrate His love one to another in relationships of never-ending support and prayer. See 1st John for the direction of our love in fellowship with each other. Together the body of Christ will share the fellowship of eternity with our Savior and King while reigning with Him in His glory with God our heavenly Father. "PRAISE THE LORD WHOSE MERCY ENDURES FOR EVER" --Psalm 136! Jesus in His teaching often used illustrative stories to convey a spiritual lesson. He also used personal examples of serving His Father and gracious giving to those who came for healing, cleansing, and mercy. To those who followed Him, Jesus promised greater blessings upon a disciple's advancement in fellowship with His sufferings according the will of His Father. . Our fellowship begins in Christ Jesus as our one Lord and through Christ to God, our heavenly Father. When we fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ, we are never alone and will never be lonely. He is always with us (John 14:18, Hebrews 13:5).

QUIETNESS

There are many distractions to our thoughts and activities. Sometimes it may seem we can't get anything finished or done. Demands upon our time and resources come down upon us daily. We get requests for financial support from many worthy works and Christian projects. We may feel paralyzed in confusion.

We need to step aside and ask direction from the Lord Jesus. A quiet time of prayerful consideration of what must be done and what we can personally do to meet the many needs calling for our time and finances.

While I sit quietly before the Lord Jesus and say: "Lord it is your work; we are all your instruments. You are the Lord of time and all of our resources. Take and use me with all my possessions and time, as you will. Show me your will and direct my way. Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ. Amen"

The Lord will take and use us, while blessing our resources and redeem our time gloriously.

I'm praying for your blessing and care through Christ Jesus my Lord.