Wow, here we are at the end of another year and decade. Looking back at this past year and even the last 10 years, I have to seriously ask myself am I closer to God then I was at those times? Have I become the Man of God I want to be or need to be? I know that we always have room for growth and always need to do more, but after 1 year much less 10 years I am really not sure I am where I should be. Don’t get me wrong, I love God with all my heart and desire to serve him above everything else, but am I really serving like I should? I always for some reason or another find myself comparing my life with that of David’s. Fortunately I have not committed a lot of the sins we read about during his life time, but I can relate to him and his walk with God. Someone who loves God with all his heart but yet coming up short at times. Throughout the Bible David is the only one referred to as “ A Man After God’s own heart” When Paul was preaching at Antioch he refers to the statement made by God concerning David: “ I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.” (Acts 13:22)
In reading about David and his life, you have to consider the attitude he took and how he approached his life. There were 5 areas of David’s life that ultimately brought him to the place where God acknowledged him and called him a Man after His own heart.
1. David loved the Word of God ( Psalm 119:47-48 )
2. David loved to Pray ( Psalm 116:1-2 )
3. David loved to Praise God ( Psalm 119:164 )
4. David loved unity among brethren ( Psalm 133:1 )
5. David hated every false way ( Psalm 119:104 )
Looking at those 5 areas, I sometimes question, if David was walking according to these 5 areas, then how was it that he found himself in the situations we have all come so familiar with. God was confident that David would be one that would do all He asked of Him.
All of these areas are key and are required to motivate each of us to be faithful to all that God may ask. Are we motivated to do all of God’s will?
As I look at myself first, I would like to encourage each of you to reflect on this last day of 2010 and find out for yourself if you are motivated to do ALL of God’s will. I truly believe that if we really want to see a revival and see God move like never before we all need to take these 5 areas and apply them directly to our lives and seek to be a Man or Woman who is motivated to do ALL that God ask of us.
We recently had an opportunity to do something that allowed us to bless another family. I cannot tell you how unbelievable it feels to know that you hear the voice of God. I did not hear him speak out my name or hear him direct me, but I knew in my heart what the right thing to do was because I have been preparing myself through Prayer and the Word.
“ Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven “ ( Matthew 7:21 )
I would like to encourage each of you to make 2011 the year that God says, “ …… is a Man or Woman after My own heart….. “
Can I Get a Witness?
Keith Fentress
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Real Change
If you watch TV at all, read the news paper or surf the web, it is hard to avoid seeing what is going on with the Dallas Cowboys and the season they are having. The beginning of the season started with such promise and hope, only to be the complete opposite. One of the most storied franchises in sports history are playing at their worst and each week we are reminded that there is something just not right and that is evident in the play on the field and the results at the end of each game. The dream of being the first team in NFL history to play in their own stadium in the Superbowl is all but over and now the team is faced with just trying to win a game. Each week, you hear the players , coaches and even the owner talking about how they are going to “right the ship” and the results just don’t end up being what they are preaching. They fix what is wrong in areas they have struggled the most in and they break down in other areas giving the same result as previous weeks…. A Loss. The organization is a proud organization and they have reason to be. Some of the greatest players and teams have proudly worn the Star on their helmets and have wowed us over the years. As a fan I have been disappointed this season not in the effort but in the results of what is taking place on the field of play. No matter how hard they try it seems that they just are not able to get it together and do what it takes to win a ballgame. With all the talent and experience they have, something needs to change…….
Have you ever felt in your walk with the Lord that you just were not getting it done and no matter how hard you tried things just don’t seem to go the way you planned or expected? I have been there…. I grew up with Parents who always showed me the right way to live and always gave me what I needed to be prepared for my walk with Christ. Did I always do what they said? No. but I tried.. Was that good enough? I don’t think so. Was it the fault of my parents? Of course not, that blame all falls on me. I had all the information, all the tools all the training and for some reason something was still missing…. I took for granted the gift that was given to me. Does that mean I did not love God or that I was not truly a Christian? Not at all, I just let other things, thoughts and distractions creep in until I was not totally focused on what God was calling me to do and how He wanted me to live.
Has God given up on me and moved onto the next candidate? I don’t believe God works that way. This past week our Pastor was continuing his series on Samson and during the message I realized something I had never seen before…. Samson repented and even though his life did not turn out the way it had been planned, he was still used by God to destroy more Philistines in one act than he had in his entire lifetime. All because he sincerely repented before God. Judges 16:28 “Then Samson called to the Lord and said, O Lord God, [ earnestly ] remember me, I pray You, and strengthen me, I pray You, only this once, O God, and let me have one vengeance upon the Philistines for both my eyes.” Even though Samson had fallen short of what God had planned for him, because he “Earnestly” Repented before God he was able to fulfill what God had called him to be. Thankfully we do not have to have our eyes gouged out or worse when we fall short of what God has called us to do or be. Just like the Dallas Cowboys need to find what it is that is keeping them from Victory, You and I both need to examine ourselves and seek God to find just what it is that has kept us from Victory ( Victory = God’s plan ). Most people who end up like this simply allow the little things to affect them greatly. Song of Solomon 2:15 “ the little foxes spoil the vine” Three things you can start doing today that will get you back on track and closer to what God has called you to do and be….
1. Pray – daily communication with God is paramount and essential to successfully walking with Him – 2 Timothy 1:3 “ I thank God whom I worship with a pure conscience, in the spirit of my fathers, when without ceasing I remember you night and day in my prayers” (Amplified version)
2. Read The Word – Daily reading of the Word and study of the Word. 2 Timothy 2:15 “ Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.”
3. Sharing your Faith - There is no better tool than showing people how God has transformed your life and sharing your experience is one of the most effective ways of Sharing your faith. John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me.”
Make these simple changes in your life and watch God perform above and beyond your understanding.
Can I Get a Witness?
K
Have you ever felt in your walk with the Lord that you just were not getting it done and no matter how hard you tried things just don’t seem to go the way you planned or expected? I have been there…. I grew up with Parents who always showed me the right way to live and always gave me what I needed to be prepared for my walk with Christ. Did I always do what they said? No. but I tried.. Was that good enough? I don’t think so. Was it the fault of my parents? Of course not, that blame all falls on me. I had all the information, all the tools all the training and for some reason something was still missing…. I took for granted the gift that was given to me. Does that mean I did not love God or that I was not truly a Christian? Not at all, I just let other things, thoughts and distractions creep in until I was not totally focused on what God was calling me to do and how He wanted me to live.
Has God given up on me and moved onto the next candidate? I don’t believe God works that way. This past week our Pastor was continuing his series on Samson and during the message I realized something I had never seen before…. Samson repented and even though his life did not turn out the way it had been planned, he was still used by God to destroy more Philistines in one act than he had in his entire lifetime. All because he sincerely repented before God. Judges 16:28 “Then Samson called to the Lord and said, O Lord God, [ earnestly ] remember me, I pray You, and strengthen me, I pray You, only this once, O God, and let me have one vengeance upon the Philistines for both my eyes.” Even though Samson had fallen short of what God had planned for him, because he “Earnestly” Repented before God he was able to fulfill what God had called him to be. Thankfully we do not have to have our eyes gouged out or worse when we fall short of what God has called us to do or be. Just like the Dallas Cowboys need to find what it is that is keeping them from Victory, You and I both need to examine ourselves and seek God to find just what it is that has kept us from Victory ( Victory = God’s plan ). Most people who end up like this simply allow the little things to affect them greatly. Song of Solomon 2:15 “ the little foxes spoil the vine” Three things you can start doing today that will get you back on track and closer to what God has called you to do and be….
1. Pray – daily communication with God is paramount and essential to successfully walking with Him – 2 Timothy 1:3 “ I thank God whom I worship with a pure conscience, in the spirit of my fathers, when without ceasing I remember you night and day in my prayers” (Amplified version)
2. Read The Word – Daily reading of the Word and study of the Word. 2 Timothy 2:15 “ Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.”
3. Sharing your Faith - There is no better tool than showing people how God has transformed your life and sharing your experience is one of the most effective ways of Sharing your faith. John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me.”
Make these simple changes in your life and watch God perform above and beyond your understanding.
Can I Get a Witness?
K
Friday, October 8, 2010
After God's Heart
I have once again come to a place in my life where I stop and ask myself… “Is this really where I am supposed to be at this point in my life?”
I used to think that was a bad place to be but after many years of walking through all types of situations I am confident that this is a good thing and is actually a healthy place to be. Life hands us many different things and how we choose to deal with them ultimately shape and mold who we are and how we are viewed by others. Now I know what others think is not how we should make our decisions, but it does tend to drive us into directions we normally would not have taken. We stop and think about where we are and at that time we make up our minds if we have been successful or if we have been a failure. The spectrum of my life has been one of happiness, frustration, joy, sorrow, uncertainty and fulfillment. When I graduated from Bible School, I was determined to turn the world upside down for Jesus. The problem with that was I was going to do it on my talents alone and hope God was coming along for the ride. Unfortunately for me I have always been one that was always able to just do things without much practice or study. I say “unfortunately “because looking back, I would have rather been a person who studied and practiced and put in the time required to make things right. You can only make it so far on “Talent and Ability “before you become useless.
My entire life growing up I knew I was called by God for the Ministry. I had been told time after time that I was going to be used by God and that I would do great things for the Kingdom of God. Problem is, I believed that to be true because I was so special and not because of any special gifting from God. I was blinded to the fact that to be a Great Man of God, I had to do things that required work, sacrifice and commitment. Now don’t get me wrong, I was taught by many around me, and especially those who were speaking into my life, My Parents, My Pastor and Youth Pastor how to properly live and prepare as a minister, but for some reason I found all that preparation and practice and studying to be something that I did not enjoy so I completely abandoned that way of doing things and Ministered, Sang and performed my duties as a pastor on my own natural abilities and talents. During that period of time it seemed to me that since things were going ok that way, why should I have to change? People were getting ministered to, people were getting saved even. I was so deceived and eventually, it took its toll. I was operating totally by the Grace of God not for my sake but for the sake of those I was responsible for. Ultimately I was left with talents and ability alone and I had no choice but to seek a regular job. Thanks to the Grace of God, He has always provided opportunities and I have been able to work and provide for my family. But there has always been something missing and I have refused to let go of that calling on my life. I can relate with David to some extent. I have not sunk as low as he did (committing murder and adultery) but in the grand scheme of things, Sin is Sin and God hates the planning and committing of Sin.
Proverbs 6:16-19 (King James Version)
16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Zechariah 8:17 (King James Version)
17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.
Psalm 5:5 (King James Version)
5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
I eventually found myself after many years of being out of full-time ministry that life was not so bad and I had allowed myself to accept my circumstances and just try to make the best of what I had and the situation I have driven my life to. One thing I have been able to do through the years of being frustrated, is realize it is because of me and the choices I made that I am where I am today. It is not God’s fault or anyone else but me. The few attempts I had made to put my foot back in the door of ministry, ended in failure. Again I tried to do it under my own ability and strength and not on the direction of the Holy Spirit. I had given up on the local church and believed that I could just work out what I needed to with God on my own. I had never stopped believing and I always knew that without God I had nothing and I believe because of that He chose to bless me with such a wonderful wife and family. I have a wife who has never given up on me and has never made me feel like I failed. Why did I deserve that? Only God knows but I am so grateful for her and now we have two very beautiful children who are the joy of our lives.
Something I had to realize…. I am responsible to my family first and have to be the Man God desires me to be as an example to them before I can be anything to anyone else. Learning that has been the key to overcoming the obstacles keeping me from ministry and the call of God on my life. I cannot do it on my own or under my own power. None of us can. Talent will only take you so far. What did God say about David? He was a man after God’s own heart. We have got to be about one thing. After God’s Heart!!! This is the base of which we all must start and continue to be. I have one desire... That is to Follow Christ and in doing that everything will be where it needs to be. I cannot look at what others are doing and their successes and wonder why I am not doing some of the same things knowing that is what I was and am called to do. I can only continue to Seek Him first and study the Word and prepare myself for that moment that the door opens again and I am able to be what God intended for me to be. God honors obedience and thankfully his Grace is sufficient when we do slip and fall. When you fail and you will, get up, brush yourself off and march forward. My daughter just got her first bicycle and is learning to ride. She was riding along and veered off the sidewalk into the grass and she fell over. After falling, she got up and looked at the bicycle and was not sure if she wanted to get back on and ride again. She was scared because she had veered off the path and it caused her to fall. She has to know that all she has to do is get back on the bicycle and keep trying. The same is for you and me. When we veer off the path and fall, we have to know that God is standing there with his hand stretched out just waiting for us to grab ahold so we can get off the ground and back on the path. I noticed when she was riding that she was going all over the place because she is not only trying to steer the bicycle but she is looking at all the things around her that are ultimately distracting her as she goes along the path. There are always going to be distractions as we walk further with God, but it is how we handle those distractions that will determine the outcome. Keep your eyes focused on the Prize. Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”.
Can I Get A Witness?
K
I used to think that was a bad place to be but after many years of walking through all types of situations I am confident that this is a good thing and is actually a healthy place to be. Life hands us many different things and how we choose to deal with them ultimately shape and mold who we are and how we are viewed by others. Now I know what others think is not how we should make our decisions, but it does tend to drive us into directions we normally would not have taken. We stop and think about where we are and at that time we make up our minds if we have been successful or if we have been a failure. The spectrum of my life has been one of happiness, frustration, joy, sorrow, uncertainty and fulfillment. When I graduated from Bible School, I was determined to turn the world upside down for Jesus. The problem with that was I was going to do it on my talents alone and hope God was coming along for the ride. Unfortunately for me I have always been one that was always able to just do things without much practice or study. I say “unfortunately “because looking back, I would have rather been a person who studied and practiced and put in the time required to make things right. You can only make it so far on “Talent and Ability “before you become useless.
My entire life growing up I knew I was called by God for the Ministry. I had been told time after time that I was going to be used by God and that I would do great things for the Kingdom of God. Problem is, I believed that to be true because I was so special and not because of any special gifting from God. I was blinded to the fact that to be a Great Man of God, I had to do things that required work, sacrifice and commitment. Now don’t get me wrong, I was taught by many around me, and especially those who were speaking into my life, My Parents, My Pastor and Youth Pastor how to properly live and prepare as a minister, but for some reason I found all that preparation and practice and studying to be something that I did not enjoy so I completely abandoned that way of doing things and Ministered, Sang and performed my duties as a pastor on my own natural abilities and talents. During that period of time it seemed to me that since things were going ok that way, why should I have to change? People were getting ministered to, people were getting saved even. I was so deceived and eventually, it took its toll. I was operating totally by the Grace of God not for my sake but for the sake of those I was responsible for. Ultimately I was left with talents and ability alone and I had no choice but to seek a regular job. Thanks to the Grace of God, He has always provided opportunities and I have been able to work and provide for my family. But there has always been something missing and I have refused to let go of that calling on my life. I can relate with David to some extent. I have not sunk as low as he did (committing murder and adultery) but in the grand scheme of things, Sin is Sin and God hates the planning and committing of Sin.
Proverbs 6:16-19 (King James Version)
16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Zechariah 8:17 (King James Version)
17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.
Psalm 5:5 (King James Version)
5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
I eventually found myself after many years of being out of full-time ministry that life was not so bad and I had allowed myself to accept my circumstances and just try to make the best of what I had and the situation I have driven my life to. One thing I have been able to do through the years of being frustrated, is realize it is because of me and the choices I made that I am where I am today. It is not God’s fault or anyone else but me. The few attempts I had made to put my foot back in the door of ministry, ended in failure. Again I tried to do it under my own ability and strength and not on the direction of the Holy Spirit. I had given up on the local church and believed that I could just work out what I needed to with God on my own. I had never stopped believing and I always knew that without God I had nothing and I believe because of that He chose to bless me with such a wonderful wife and family. I have a wife who has never given up on me and has never made me feel like I failed. Why did I deserve that? Only God knows but I am so grateful for her and now we have two very beautiful children who are the joy of our lives.
Something I had to realize…. I am responsible to my family first and have to be the Man God desires me to be as an example to them before I can be anything to anyone else. Learning that has been the key to overcoming the obstacles keeping me from ministry and the call of God on my life. I cannot do it on my own or under my own power. None of us can. Talent will only take you so far. What did God say about David? He was a man after God’s own heart. We have got to be about one thing. After God’s Heart!!! This is the base of which we all must start and continue to be. I have one desire... That is to Follow Christ and in doing that everything will be where it needs to be. I cannot look at what others are doing and their successes and wonder why I am not doing some of the same things knowing that is what I was and am called to do. I can only continue to Seek Him first and study the Word and prepare myself for that moment that the door opens again and I am able to be what God intended for me to be. God honors obedience and thankfully his Grace is sufficient when we do slip and fall. When you fail and you will, get up, brush yourself off and march forward. My daughter just got her first bicycle and is learning to ride. She was riding along and veered off the sidewalk into the grass and she fell over. After falling, she got up and looked at the bicycle and was not sure if she wanted to get back on and ride again. She was scared because she had veered off the path and it caused her to fall. She has to know that all she has to do is get back on the bicycle and keep trying. The same is for you and me. When we veer off the path and fall, we have to know that God is standing there with his hand stretched out just waiting for us to grab ahold so we can get off the ground and back on the path. I noticed when she was riding that she was going all over the place because she is not only trying to steer the bicycle but she is looking at all the things around her that are ultimately distracting her as she goes along the path. There are always going to be distractions as we walk further with God, but it is how we handle those distractions that will determine the outcome. Keep your eyes focused on the Prize. Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”.
Can I Get A Witness?
K
Monday, September 20, 2010
Simply Encourage
Having our two beautiful children has to be the most incredible thing I believe I have ever experienced. The sense of joy and excitement is a feeling I could live on for the rest of my life. There is something about the experience that brings a feeling that cannot be substituted by any other experience or substance.
My wife, while going through the pregnancy experience participated on a Forum where expectant mothers can post their comments and questions to other expectant mothers in an effort to get answers to whatever they might be going through or experiencing. It is interesting to read what others are experiencing along their journey at the same time you are and comparing those experiences. I believe this forum is designed to help ease concerns that one might have when they are not sure if what they are going through is normal or not. There is something about an informal setting like this that allows you to feel comfortable and ask just about anything. It is pretty incredible to read some of the replies to what people are asking: one woman reported gaining a certain amount of weight which seemed to be a high amount and the responses were unbelievable. Instead of showing sympathy, the replies were along the lines of “Oh, I have only gained 5 pounds, or I am not gaining much weigh, etc. The insensitivity of people amazes me.
This morning my wife told me that she had just read where a mother who had earlier been asking questions about different things had committed suicide. She was diagnosed with Postpartum Psychosis.
Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers (Acts 15:32).
We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith (1 Thessalonians 3:2).
Therefore encourage each other with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:25).
Follow God’s Example. Be an Encourager!
You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry (Psalm 10:17).
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (Romans 15:4).
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus (Romans 15:5).
Can I Get A Witness?
K
My wife, while going through the pregnancy experience participated on a Forum where expectant mothers can post their comments and questions to other expectant mothers in an effort to get answers to whatever they might be going through or experiencing. It is interesting to read what others are experiencing along their journey at the same time you are and comparing those experiences. I believe this forum is designed to help ease concerns that one might have when they are not sure if what they are going through is normal or not. There is something about an informal setting like this that allows you to feel comfortable and ask just about anything. It is pretty incredible to read some of the replies to what people are asking: one woman reported gaining a certain amount of weight which seemed to be a high amount and the responses were unbelievable. Instead of showing sympathy, the replies were along the lines of “Oh, I have only gained 5 pounds, or I am not gaining much weigh, etc. The insensitivity of people amazes me.
This morning my wife told me that she had just read where a mother who had earlier been asking questions about different things had committed suicide. She was diagnosed with Postpartum Psychosis.
Postpartum Psychosis is the most extreme form of postpartum mood disorders and one of the rarest. It is described as a period when the woman loses touch with reality, the disorder occurs in women who have recently given birth. Most who realize something is wrong neglect to speak to their Doctor about this or this disorder is misdiagnosed as postpartum depression and this prevents them from receiving the proper medical attention they need.
Looking back at her forum post, not one person responded to her questions. I cannot even come close to imagining the pain and confusion this woman must have been going through. Now her husband is left to try and understand and he is also going to have to raise his child alone and someday explain to his child what happened to its mother.
When my wife told me about this woman, my heart immediately broke and I began to weep for this woman, her Husband and child. Maybe if only someone had responded or reached out to this woman this situation would have had a different outcome. What a tragedy this is that could have been prevented if she had just reached out or someone had picked up on her despair.
This is just one example of how important it is for us as Christians to be so aware of what is actually going on around us. Even more now with the internet and exposure we have to so many more people. Instead of being afraid to comment or say something to people in need, a simple word of encouragement could go a long way in helping someone on their way to recovery. We see it all the time, When you ask someone how they are doing and they usually respond “ I’m Great “ or “Doing Good “ but we find online people saying truthfully what is on their mind. Especially on Facebook where people express what is on their minds during the day. Every once in a while you will see someone reaching out and truthfully telling the world they are not happy or they are going through something. Whether they are having a great day or a bad day, we can help by just encouraging them. What more do we need to step in and offer help? When people are stating they are having a Bad day, they are usually looking for support or at minimum just want to know people care. The majority of the time we are not dealing with people who are on the brink but you never know. You never know what a person is dealing with or what they are facing. The Next time you read or hear a person commenting on the bad day they are having or that things just are not going well for them, SPEAK UP and encourage them. That is an opportunity to share with them the Truth of the Gospel and how God has made a difference in your lives. Life is precious.
Your words have an impact.
The tongue has the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21).
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life (Proverbs 10:11).Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers (Acts 15:32).
We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith (1 Thessalonians 3:2).
Therefore encourage each other with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:25).
Follow God’s Example. Be an Encourager!
You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry (Psalm 10:17).
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (Romans 15:4).
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus (Romans 15:5).
Can I Get A Witness?
K
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Promise
It is amazing how your perspective changes when you have a child. Just over 4 years ago we had our first and it definitely changed how we did everything. You change your eating habits, sleep habits and even your social habits. It seems easier to say no to those opportunities to go out and do something that would take you away from spending time with your newborn and family. We were 13 years into our marriage when our daughter came along and as you can imagine there were a lot of habits that had to change. Our entire way of thinking changed about how we handled just about everything. You are now responsible for nurturing that child: Feeding, teaching and loving. The time that is spent in the first stages is the most critical. That is where your child learns the majority of the things they will need to grow even more as they get older. What this experience does for us is it gives us Clarity, Focus and Perspective. We think about things before we act and we consider not only ourselves but the well being of our child in just about every decision we make. This is your blood we are talking about here, and you do everything in your power to protect and make sure that child is safe.
Here we are just a little more than 4 years later and once again, we have been blessed with another child and that entire process while still going on with our first has begun again like it is the first time all over again. Schedules are changing, sleep patterns and the decisions we make down to the simplest are all based on our newborn. Having children has brought me closer to God and has made me realize just how much He really loves me. I could have never imagined I could love one being as much as I do much less two. There is a love like no other for a child and that in itself is a Gift from God. If we just take a moment to really realize the impact and importance of this role we play, we will just begin to see how God loves us and desires us to prosper.
The Word tells us in Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) that if you “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The Message translation says it as simple as it can be said: “Point your kids in the right direction- when they are old they won’t be lost.” There are two wonderful things that happen when you follow this proverb. Not only are you teaching your kids the right way to live, but you are living the way you are teaching. One thing to point out in this scripture…. It does not “ask”, it “Instructs “us to do this simple task. If you want your children to live a life of promise, then we must teach them the Word of God and as they grow in their relationship with God, they will be able to face situations and make the right decisions. This is a Win/Win for us and them. If we are doing what Proverbs 22:6 instructs us to do then we along with our children are walking as we should according to the Word of God. That delights the Lord! Psalms 147:11(KJV) says “the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. The Message version puts it like this: “Those who fear God get God’s attention; they can depend on his strength.” Fear of the Lord is having a feeling of reverence (respect) towards God, combined with awe (admiration) and fear of the punishment of disobedience. When I was young, I feared my father. I knew my father loved me and I loved my father, but I also feared my father because I knew if I disobeyed him, he would punish me. Having fear towards our Heavenly Father is similar.
I have accepted the challenge and will do my part to teach and train my children in the Word of God so that they may grow into the Children of God they are designed to be. It is never too late to start.
Can I Get A Witness?
K
Here we are just a little more than 4 years later and once again, we have been blessed with another child and that entire process while still going on with our first has begun again like it is the first time all over again. Schedules are changing, sleep patterns and the decisions we make down to the simplest are all based on our newborn. Having children has brought me closer to God and has made me realize just how much He really loves me. I could have never imagined I could love one being as much as I do much less two. There is a love like no other for a child and that in itself is a Gift from God. If we just take a moment to really realize the impact and importance of this role we play, we will just begin to see how God loves us and desires us to prosper.
The Word tells us in Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) that if you “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The Message translation says it as simple as it can be said: “Point your kids in the right direction- when they are old they won’t be lost.” There are two wonderful things that happen when you follow this proverb. Not only are you teaching your kids the right way to live, but you are living the way you are teaching. One thing to point out in this scripture…. It does not “ask”, it “Instructs “us to do this simple task. If you want your children to live a life of promise, then we must teach them the Word of God and as they grow in their relationship with God, they will be able to face situations and make the right decisions. This is a Win/Win for us and them. If we are doing what Proverbs 22:6 instructs us to do then we along with our children are walking as we should according to the Word of God. That delights the Lord! Psalms 147:11(KJV) says “the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. The Message version puts it like this: “Those who fear God get God’s attention; they can depend on his strength.” Fear of the Lord is having a feeling of reverence (respect) towards God, combined with awe (admiration) and fear of the punishment of disobedience. When I was young, I feared my father. I knew my father loved me and I loved my father, but I also feared my father because I knew if I disobeyed him, he would punish me. Having fear towards our Heavenly Father is similar.
I have accepted the challenge and will do my part to teach and train my children in the Word of God so that they may grow into the Children of God they are designed to be. It is never too late to start.
Can I Get A Witness?
K
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
IT IS OUR TIME !!
While I appreciate the event that took place on Saturday, August 28, 2010 at the Lincoln Memorial, I wish it had been an event the Church has put on instead of a Radio Talk show Host. This event was amazing to say the least. It is unfortunate that the Media refuses to acknowledge how powerful of an event this actually was and are refusing to give any fair accounting of the number of people that attended this Event. While I watched on TV I noticed a common theme throughout the entire Day. People were Smiling, happy and getting along. I felt like I was at a Christian event. Not a religious event but a Christian event. People put aside their “Religious “views and doctrines along with their political views. No one was there to campaign for any politician or promote a particular Church. It was simply people from all creeds, religions and race coming together for one purpose. That purpose was to focus on God and remind the country of the Intent of our Founding Fathers and their desire to have a country built on religious freedom. I did not hear anyone complaining about our Country or its leadership. I did hear in the closing prayer, thanks given to God for our President and the leadership of our country regardless of personal feelings. This was a day and an event that focused on restoring our Country’s Honor. Getting back to the foundation that our country was built on. A lot of people want to argue the fact that our country was built on Godly principles and both sides have plenty of ammunition. There are many letters written between our founding Fathers that leave no doubt that they believed in God and would draw from the Bible for direction and strength. We will always have the argument between those who believe the Country was built on Christian Values and those who do not. That is not the point. The point is People Need Jesus. PERIOD.
What I saw on Saturday was people from all different faith’s and backgrounds coming together for a common purpose and that purpose was to promote unity in an effort to bringing our country's focus back towards God. Why do we continually allow the secular world to continue to do what WE as Christians should be doing? Why are people turning to Oprah , or Tony Robbins or even Jillian Michaels for answers? They may be able to make them feel good, give them a car or make them lose weight, but they cannot offer salvation. That can only come from Jesus Christ, who was sent to this world as a sacrifice for our sins. He paid the ultimate price that we might have eternal life. We need a revolution in the Church. Stop sitting on your hands while the world goes to Hell. If your not ready , Get Ready, Spend time in prayer, in reading the Bible and as you build up your spirit you will find that sharing Jesus will be natural. What is in your Spirit will be what is coming out. It is no longer acceptable for us to just go to Church and talk about it. It is time We Walk the Walk. People are hungrier than ever and are looking for answers. Over 500,000 people showed up for a Non Christian event about Turning to God. WAKE UP CHURCH !!!!!!!!!!
Can I Get a Witness?
What I saw on Saturday was people from all different faith’s and backgrounds coming together for a common purpose and that purpose was to promote unity in an effort to bringing our country's focus back towards God. Why do we continually allow the secular world to continue to do what WE as Christians should be doing? Why are people turning to Oprah , or Tony Robbins or even Jillian Michaels for answers? They may be able to make them feel good, give them a car or make them lose weight, but they cannot offer salvation. That can only come from Jesus Christ, who was sent to this world as a sacrifice for our sins. He paid the ultimate price that we might have eternal life. We need a revolution in the Church. Stop sitting on your hands while the world goes to Hell. If your not ready , Get Ready, Spend time in prayer, in reading the Bible and as you build up your spirit you will find that sharing Jesus will be natural. What is in your Spirit will be what is coming out. It is no longer acceptable for us to just go to Church and talk about it. It is time We Walk the Walk. People are hungrier than ever and are looking for answers. Over 500,000 people showed up for a Non Christian event about Turning to God. WAKE UP CHURCH !!!!!!!!!!
Can I Get a Witness?
Thursday, August 19, 2010
The GOD Experience part 3
Finding that quiet place to communicate with God is not as easy as a lot of people make it out to be. With all the demands on our time these days it can feel like it is just another thing on our list. Having a list is not a bad thing, but time with God is not something you put on a list. What usually happens with your lists? They get lost, forgotten or too enormous and you just eventually forget about them. Take God off your list and make Him part of your regular day. Easier said than done, right? Getting this part is the critical piece to experiencing what God has for you and wants to do in your life.
Once you have come to that quiet place, our tendency is to start asking God for things and He does want us to come to him with our needs, but what He desires most is that we come to Him with worship and praise. You don’t have to be at church with a Full Worship Band and Worship leader to experience true Praise and Worship with God. Does not matter if you can sing, that is not what God is interested in. He desires your full attention and whatever sound you make is beautiful to Him. When we give our All to God and just worship Him, His presence will begin to fill the place you are in. You will begin to see Him clear and hear his voice. In Isaiah 6:1, Isaiah describes what he sees when he sees the Lord. “I saw the LORD sitting on the throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.” The purpose of our worship is to glorify, honor, praise, exalt and please God. When we worship we must show our adoration and loyalty to God for His grace in providing us with the way to escape the bondage of sin, so we can have salvation He so much wants to give each and every one of us. When we worship we come to Him humble and contrite, submitting fully to Him.
( from the interactive Bible http://www.bible.ca )
Jesus says in John 4:23-24, "But the hour is coming, and now is, when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." It doesn’t say we can worship God anyway we want, but we "must worship Him in spirit and in truth". The word "must" makes it absolute. There is no other way we can worship God and be acceptable to Him. The word "must", according to Webster, expresses "an obligation, a requirement, a necessity, a certainty, and something that must be done". When "must" is used it means that it is not optional. Here the word "must" is expressing that in spirit and in truth is the only way to acceptably worship God. God seeks true worshippers, and He identifies them as those who "worship Him in spirit and in truth". Worshipping God in spirit and in truth is a serious matter which must not be taken lightly. If we have any regard for our own souls, we will want to make sure we are worshipping God in spirit and in truth.
Worship is a time when we pay deep, sincere, awesome respect, love, and fear to the one who created us. Acts 17:24-25 says, "God who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives life, breath, and all things."
Worship should cause us to reflect on the majesty and graciousness of God and Christ, contrasted to our own unworthiness. God does not have to have our worship, but we must worship Him to please Him. Our singing, praying, studying His word, giving, and communion are designed by God to bring us closer to Him and to cause us to think more like He thinks, thus becoming more like Him. James 4:8 tells us to, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."
Our worship not only honors and magnifies God, but it is also for our own edification and strength. Worship helps us develop a God-like and Christ-like character. We become like unto those we admire and worship. When we worship God we tend to value what God values and gradually take on the characteristics and qualities of God, but never to His level. As Philippians 2:5 says, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ." How do we take on the mind of Christ? In Romans 12:2 we read, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." We renew our mind as we study and meditate on God’s word and worship Him.
When we worship God we develop such traits as forgiveness, tenderness, justice, righteousness, purity, kindness, and love. All of this is preparing us for eternal life in heaven with God and Christ. As we are told in Colossians 3:2 to, "Set your mind on things above, and not on things on the earth."
Do you want to live “The God Experience”? It all begins with you and how you approach the time you spend with Him. Give God your first and watch how your life will be blessed. If you just Dwell with God and let him work in your life, not only do you benefit but those around you will benefit. Allow God to be ever present in your Life and enjoy the Experience.
Can I Get A Witness?
K
Once you have come to that quiet place, our tendency is to start asking God for things and He does want us to come to him with our needs, but what He desires most is that we come to Him with worship and praise. You don’t have to be at church with a Full Worship Band and Worship leader to experience true Praise and Worship with God. Does not matter if you can sing, that is not what God is interested in. He desires your full attention and whatever sound you make is beautiful to Him. When we give our All to God and just worship Him, His presence will begin to fill the place you are in. You will begin to see Him clear and hear his voice. In Isaiah 6:1, Isaiah describes what he sees when he sees the Lord. “I saw the LORD sitting on the throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.” The purpose of our worship is to glorify, honor, praise, exalt and please God. When we worship we must show our adoration and loyalty to God for His grace in providing us with the way to escape the bondage of sin, so we can have salvation He so much wants to give each and every one of us. When we worship we come to Him humble and contrite, submitting fully to Him.
( from the interactive Bible http://www.bible.ca )
Jesus says in John 4:23-24, "But the hour is coming, and now is, when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." It doesn’t say we can worship God anyway we want, but we "must worship Him in spirit and in truth". The word "must" makes it absolute. There is no other way we can worship God and be acceptable to Him. The word "must", according to Webster, expresses "an obligation, a requirement, a necessity, a certainty, and something that must be done". When "must" is used it means that it is not optional. Here the word "must" is expressing that in spirit and in truth is the only way to acceptably worship God. God seeks true worshippers, and He identifies them as those who "worship Him in spirit and in truth". Worshipping God in spirit and in truth is a serious matter which must not be taken lightly. If we have any regard for our own souls, we will want to make sure we are worshipping God in spirit and in truth.
Worship is a time when we pay deep, sincere, awesome respect, love, and fear to the one who created us. Acts 17:24-25 says, "God who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives life, breath, and all things."
Worship should cause us to reflect on the majesty and graciousness of God and Christ, contrasted to our own unworthiness. God does not have to have our worship, but we must worship Him to please Him. Our singing, praying, studying His word, giving, and communion are designed by God to bring us closer to Him and to cause us to think more like He thinks, thus becoming more like Him. James 4:8 tells us to, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."
Our worship not only honors and magnifies God, but it is also for our own edification and strength. Worship helps us develop a God-like and Christ-like character. We become like unto those we admire and worship. When we worship God we tend to value what God values and gradually take on the characteristics and qualities of God, but never to His level. As Philippians 2:5 says, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ." How do we take on the mind of Christ? In Romans 12:2 we read, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." We renew our mind as we study and meditate on God’s word and worship Him.
When we worship God we develop such traits as forgiveness, tenderness, justice, righteousness, purity, kindness, and love. All of this is preparing us for eternal life in heaven with God and Christ. As we are told in Colossians 3:2 to, "Set your mind on things above, and not on things on the earth."
Do you want to live “The God Experience”? It all begins with you and how you approach the time you spend with Him. Give God your first and watch how your life will be blessed. If you just Dwell with God and let him work in your life, not only do you benefit but those around you will benefit. Allow God to be ever present in your Life and enjoy the Experience.
Can I Get A Witness?
K
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The GOD Experience part 2
In the first part of this 3 part discussion, I talked about finding that quite place to find God and experience what he has for you. How do you find that quite place? How do you Hear God’s voice and then know it is Him that is speaking to you? Hopefully by the time I have written the final words in this piece, we will have a better understanding and be that much closer to Experiencing God.
You always hear people say, “ I want to know Jesus more “ or “ I need to have a better walk with God “ and then that is all they do, just talk about it. Starting out, talking about what you want or need is the right first step, but dwelling there will only bring you frustration and then before you know it, you have stopped thinking about all together. That is exactly what the Enemy wants to happen. The Devil is a thief (John 10:10) and he only wants to distract you and steal the time you have set aside for God. He will find those things that distract you and will even have you believing that what you are doing is justified because it is a good thing you are doing. Just because something is good, does not make it right. In 1 Corinthians 10:23 Paul acknowledges that even though some things are ok, they are not good for him. “ All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” In the Amplified version it says, “All things are legitimate [permissible--and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].” Paul realized that he had to eliminate some things in his life if he wanted to have the kind of relationship with Christ that was required. That is the first step in growing in your walk with the Lord. Recognize those things that alter your thinking and turn your back on them. It may be difficult at the time but once you are free of that obstacle, you will realize how much easier it is to hear the voice of God. Psalm 46:10 says “Be still and know that I am God”. It is in that time of quietness where you will begin to hear the voice of God and you will get clarity.
My In-Laws have a Cottage North of us and we try to get up there as much as we can during the summer. It has this beautiful lake and it can be very relaxing. There is the incredible peace about the place at the earliest part of the mornings, where the water looks like glass and you can barely even hear the birds. That is the kind of quiet place I am talking about. Where you have nothing to distract you and you can hear yourself breathe. That is a quite place. It does not take long before people start getting out on the lake and then before you know it, it is not so quiet and peaceful. Finding that quiet time and sticking to it will go a long way in developing your relationship and walk with the Lord and those distractions will become less powerful.
I’m reminded of a song by Delirious, “I Want to Know You More “.
In the secret
in the quiet place
in the stillness You are there
in the secret
in the quiet hour i wait
only for You
'cuz i want to know you more
i want to know you
i want to hear your voice
i want to know you more
i want to touch you
i want to see your face
i want to know you more
i am reaching for the highest goal
that i might receive the prize
pressing onward
pushing every hindrance aside
out of my way
cuz i want to know you more
i want to know you
i want to hear your voice
i want to know you more
i want to touch you
i want to see your face
i want to know you more
Let’s find that Secret place and begin t know Him more.
( stay tuned for part 3 )
Can I Get A Witness?
k
You always hear people say, “ I want to know Jesus more “ or “ I need to have a better walk with God “ and then that is all they do, just talk about it. Starting out, talking about what you want or need is the right first step, but dwelling there will only bring you frustration and then before you know it, you have stopped thinking about all together. That is exactly what the Enemy wants to happen. The Devil is a thief (John 10:10) and he only wants to distract you and steal the time you have set aside for God. He will find those things that distract you and will even have you believing that what you are doing is justified because it is a good thing you are doing. Just because something is good, does not make it right. In 1 Corinthians 10:23 Paul acknowledges that even though some things are ok, they are not good for him. “ All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” In the Amplified version it says, “All things are legitimate [permissible--and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].” Paul realized that he had to eliminate some things in his life if he wanted to have the kind of relationship with Christ that was required. That is the first step in growing in your walk with the Lord. Recognize those things that alter your thinking and turn your back on them. It may be difficult at the time but once you are free of that obstacle, you will realize how much easier it is to hear the voice of God. Psalm 46:10 says “Be still and know that I am God”. It is in that time of quietness where you will begin to hear the voice of God and you will get clarity.
My In-Laws have a Cottage North of us and we try to get up there as much as we can during the summer. It has this beautiful lake and it can be very relaxing. There is the incredible peace about the place at the earliest part of the mornings, where the water looks like glass and you can barely even hear the birds. That is the kind of quiet place I am talking about. Where you have nothing to distract you and you can hear yourself breathe. That is a quite place. It does not take long before people start getting out on the lake and then before you know it, it is not so quiet and peaceful. Finding that quiet time and sticking to it will go a long way in developing your relationship and walk with the Lord and those distractions will become less powerful.
I’m reminded of a song by Delirious, “I Want to Know You More “.
In the secret
in the quiet place
in the stillness You are there
in the secret
in the quiet hour i wait
only for You
'cuz i want to know you more
i want to know you
i want to hear your voice
i want to know you more
i want to touch you
i want to see your face
i want to know you more
i am reaching for the highest goal
that i might receive the prize
pressing onward
pushing every hindrance aside
out of my way
cuz i want to know you more
i want to know you
i want to hear your voice
i want to know you more
i want to touch you
i want to see your face
i want to know you more
Let’s find that Secret place and begin t know Him more.
( stay tuned for part 3 )
Can I Get A Witness?
k
Monday, August 16, 2010
The GOD Experience part 1
Just recently I have been reminded on multiple occasions about the past and the many different times that God really spoke to me. As a Christian we always or at least I know I have and still do desire a “burning bush “moment. That moment where you know the voice you are hearing is God’s and what He is telling you is THE divine truth and for once have the clarity you have been searching for.
I remember one Sunday morning service in 1988 at the “Rock” in Minnesota, Bro Spencer Nordyke was in town and guest speaking to the youth group. He was talking about really hearing God’s voice and said if you really want to SEE Jesus just ask Him. He continued on to say.. “ just sit down on your bed and call out to God and ask him to show himself to you….” I can only imagine how many young people went home after that service and did just what I did. I went straight to my room, sat on my bed and cried out… “God, please show yourself to me!!!!” I waited and waited and waited until I figured God just wasn’t listening. Why wouldn’t He show up? Was I not worthy of His presence? Did I do it right? All of these questions were going through my head at the time and I wanted to figure out what I had to do to make it right so I could SEE God. I won’t sit here and tell you that I eventually saw God and we talked and all my questions were answered. But I can tell you that through the years God has Shown Himself to me in so many wonderful ways.
Have you ever heard the term “Camp Experience”? I attend Church kid’s and youth camps growing up. When you go to Church Camp you get away from your regular daily routines and for a week it’s just you, God and a 100 of your church friends. Typically there is a Guest Speaker and you are excited about what is going to happen that week. See, what happens is you go expecting to have an Experience with God and you don’t have the distractions of Home, TV, the internet or your non church friends. If any time was prime for God showing himself to us this definitely has to be it. I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, received healing of my eyesight and had many upon many incredible experiences that I will never forget at camp. Those were critical building blocks in my life. Not only did we experience God in ways we never expected but we also developed relationships with people that have lasted a lifetime. There is a bond you develop when you are “in the trenches “with your friends during times of prayer or at the altar. You discover things about yourself and your peers that are eye opening. When it is all over and you say your good byes and you take that bus ride back home, you are still riding the High of the experience. Then you get home; see all the things you left behind for a week and you very quickly settle back into your regular way of doing things. It does not take very long for you to start feeling this sense of longing for your friends and the “Camp “experience. Now you are back home and bored and trying to adjust back to having all those things that you had avoided during that week of camp. You don’t have to go to Camp to have this type of Experience.
Find that quite place where you can shut out all those things that easily distract you. Give God that time and call out to Him. Luke 11:9 says, (Amplified Bible) So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you.
God desires to commune with you; to have your full attention. Find that quite place and seek Him. Psalm 40:1 says, “I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” (stay tuned for part 2 )
Can I Get A Witness?
k
I remember one Sunday morning service in 1988 at the “Rock” in Minnesota, Bro Spencer Nordyke was in town and guest speaking to the youth group. He was talking about really hearing God’s voice and said if you really want to SEE Jesus just ask Him. He continued on to say.. “ just sit down on your bed and call out to God and ask him to show himself to you….” I can only imagine how many young people went home after that service and did just what I did. I went straight to my room, sat on my bed and cried out… “God, please show yourself to me!!!!” I waited and waited and waited until I figured God just wasn’t listening. Why wouldn’t He show up? Was I not worthy of His presence? Did I do it right? All of these questions were going through my head at the time and I wanted to figure out what I had to do to make it right so I could SEE God. I won’t sit here and tell you that I eventually saw God and we talked and all my questions were answered. But I can tell you that through the years God has Shown Himself to me in so many wonderful ways.
Have you ever heard the term “Camp Experience”? I attend Church kid’s and youth camps growing up. When you go to Church Camp you get away from your regular daily routines and for a week it’s just you, God and a 100 of your church friends. Typically there is a Guest Speaker and you are excited about what is going to happen that week. See, what happens is you go expecting to have an Experience with God and you don’t have the distractions of Home, TV, the internet or your non church friends. If any time was prime for God showing himself to us this definitely has to be it. I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, received healing of my eyesight and had many upon many incredible experiences that I will never forget at camp. Those were critical building blocks in my life. Not only did we experience God in ways we never expected but we also developed relationships with people that have lasted a lifetime. There is a bond you develop when you are “in the trenches “with your friends during times of prayer or at the altar. You discover things about yourself and your peers that are eye opening. When it is all over and you say your good byes and you take that bus ride back home, you are still riding the High of the experience. Then you get home; see all the things you left behind for a week and you very quickly settle back into your regular way of doing things. It does not take very long for you to start feeling this sense of longing for your friends and the “Camp “experience. Now you are back home and bored and trying to adjust back to having all those things that you had avoided during that week of camp. You don’t have to go to Camp to have this type of Experience.
Find that quite place where you can shut out all those things that easily distract you. Give God that time and call out to Him. Luke 11:9 says, (Amplified Bible) So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you.
God desires to commune with you; to have your full attention. Find that quite place and seek Him. Psalm 40:1 says, “I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” (stay tuned for part 2 )
Can I Get A Witness?
k
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Don't Hide Your Gift.
Growing up, my family was all musically inclined. My Mom and my sister played the piano and sang, my brother played the drums and sings a little and my Dad, well… he is really talented at listening to the radio. Very early I had an interest in singing and so I started singing with the church kids choirs and before I knew it I was doing solos and being used a lot in our Musicals. I can remember just like it was yesterday, our church had an Event downtown Shreveport, La and I had the big solo… “I Am a Promise“. The program was televised and the audience was packed. Of course as a child, it looked like a million people were in the audience. I really enjoyed that and seemed to have no problem singing in front of people. As I grew up there came more opportunities and I made a promise to myself…. I would only sing music that glorified God. There may have been a few exceptions here and there for a wedding or Musical but I have stayed true to what I promised God. I had the opportunity to Sing in Competitions, Bands, and Musical Groups and ultimately as Worship Minister at various churches.
There did come a point when I no longer had that “platform “ and over a period of time it seemed I would never sing in that capacity again. I felt like I was being punished somehow and I stopped singing publically and just attended church, not being involved at all. If I could not sing for God, I was not going to sing at all. That was pretty selfish of me at the time, because there were plenty opportunities for me to sing for God, but I refused to see them. I had opportunities at the church I attend and I performed in a few church plays and as a member of the choir and worship team. But something was missing. Even though I had the opportunities, I did not feel like I deserved to be there for whatever reason. It was like I had given up on the call that God placed on my life. That led to me not being in church at all for a period of time. Just because things don’t go the way we planned them, does not mean God has forsaken you or given up on your gift. ( Proverbs 18:16 (Amplified) “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men “) God had not given up on me or my gift; He was just waiting for me to stop hiding it. I was using excuses like work and family and other things that were there for me conveniently to have an excuse. I had to come to a place where I realized that what I had was a gift just that, something God had given to me, not something I had to earn or pay for but a gift. I realized that gift could no longer be placed in a box and placed on a shelf. So I asked once again to be considered as a member of our church worship team. Just in the very short few months I have been back singing have been some of the most incredible experiences in worship I have had even as a Leader of Worship.
God knows your heart and He knows your desires. He is the one that gives you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.” ) There is a renewed excitement about the gift that God has given me and this time, I am sharing that gift with Joy and Purpose.
David is a great example for us. Yes he did sin and some of the things he did where awful, but he always came back to God with a Heart of desire. Wherever you are, God is ready for you to come back with open arms. Just take that simple step forward and watch how God can use this experience in your life to bring Glory to God.
Can I Get A Witness?
k
There did come a point when I no longer had that “platform “ and over a period of time it seemed I would never sing in that capacity again. I felt like I was being punished somehow and I stopped singing publically and just attended church, not being involved at all. If I could not sing for God, I was not going to sing at all. That was pretty selfish of me at the time, because there were plenty opportunities for me to sing for God, but I refused to see them. I had opportunities at the church I attend and I performed in a few church plays and as a member of the choir and worship team. But something was missing. Even though I had the opportunities, I did not feel like I deserved to be there for whatever reason. It was like I had given up on the call that God placed on my life. That led to me not being in church at all for a period of time. Just because things don’t go the way we planned them, does not mean God has forsaken you or given up on your gift. ( Proverbs 18:16 (Amplified) “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men “) God had not given up on me or my gift; He was just waiting for me to stop hiding it. I was using excuses like work and family and other things that were there for me conveniently to have an excuse. I had to come to a place where I realized that what I had was a gift just that, something God had given to me, not something I had to earn or pay for but a gift. I realized that gift could no longer be placed in a box and placed on a shelf. So I asked once again to be considered as a member of our church worship team. Just in the very short few months I have been back singing have been some of the most incredible experiences in worship I have had even as a Leader of Worship.
God knows your heart and He knows your desires. He is the one that gives you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.” ) There is a renewed excitement about the gift that God has given me and this time, I am sharing that gift with Joy and Purpose.
David is a great example for us. Yes he did sin and some of the things he did where awful, but he always came back to God with a Heart of desire. Wherever you are, God is ready for you to come back with open arms. Just take that simple step forward and watch how God can use this experience in your life to bring Glory to God.
Can I Get A Witness?
k
Monday, August 9, 2010
Fear Not !
When I was a child, 8 or 9 we had our summer kid’s camp on the church grounds. It was an exciting time because this was the first year we were able to bring our bikes to camp. They had planned all types of events that we used our bikes for and I made sure I was prepared. Halfway through the week, my friends and I were up one night in the bathroom planning our attack on the girl’s cabin and there was a knock at the door. One of us opened the door very slowly expecting it to be one of our counselors telling us to get back into bed, but to our surprise, Horrid Surprise it was a ugly old man screaming at us. We bolted out of the bathroom and ran through the room till we found our sleeping bags and hid scared and shaking while the “ ugly old man “ stood in one of the doorways making noises and gestures that literally scared me speechless. I don’t know if I ever got back to sleep that night and the excitement I had in the earlier part of the week had turned to Complete Fear. All I could think about was that ugly old man re appearing while I was sleeping. For the rest of the camp, I went home at bedtime and returned in the mornings for the daily activities. It turns out that the “ Ugly Old Man “ was just one of the Teenagers who was wearing a Halloween mask going through the boys and girls cabins trying to scare them. Well, it worked on me. For quite some time following that incident, I had many issues with being afraid of the dark.
Now I am married and a Father and every night when I put my daughter to bed she asks me to stay with her till she falls asleep. She tells me that she is scared of the dark, and at first I thought, what is there to be scared of? I was then reminded of that night when I was so affected and I said to my daughter; of course I will stay in here with you. At some point in my life I had been set free of that fear and it was just as simple as God wrapping his arms around me and making me feel safe. When I am in my daughter’s room at night , she feels safe and is able to fall fast asleep, but when she is alone, she is worrying about what might be in there that she can’t see. I don’t have to say or do anything but be there. She goes from fear to comfort just knowing her Daddy is there and nothing is going to harm her.
God, our Father is there to protect and strengthen us if we will just trust and allow him to be Lord over our Lives. Just let go and Let God. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.”
There are many things that can cause fear in our lives and that is an area that the enemy wants to attack us the most. If he can get us to be afraid then we are vulnerable and our guard is down. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that “ God did not give us a spirit of fear ,but a spirit of power, love and sound mind ( the amplified version ) says, “ He has given us a spirit of power and love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control “
Imagine if David had been afraid when he faced the Lions or Bears that were attacking his sheep or even worse when he faced Goliath? He knew God has his back and he had nothing to be fearful of. He went into each situation with Boldness knowing that he was not alone. Just like David , we are never alone when we have a relationship with God. He desires to protect us and strengthen us. Psalms 46:1 ( Amplified ) says, “ GOD IS our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble."
Whatever obstacle you may be facing in your life, As a believer you have the assurance that God is there and He will protect, guide and strengthen you and you can Boldly say, “ I am not Afraid “
Can I Get a Witness?
k
Now I am married and a Father and every night when I put my daughter to bed she asks me to stay with her till she falls asleep. She tells me that she is scared of the dark, and at first I thought, what is there to be scared of? I was then reminded of that night when I was so affected and I said to my daughter; of course I will stay in here with you. At some point in my life I had been set free of that fear and it was just as simple as God wrapping his arms around me and making me feel safe. When I am in my daughter’s room at night , she feels safe and is able to fall fast asleep, but when she is alone, she is worrying about what might be in there that she can’t see. I don’t have to say or do anything but be there. She goes from fear to comfort just knowing her Daddy is there and nothing is going to harm her.
God, our Father is there to protect and strengthen us if we will just trust and allow him to be Lord over our Lives. Just let go and Let God. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.”
There are many things that can cause fear in our lives and that is an area that the enemy wants to attack us the most. If he can get us to be afraid then we are vulnerable and our guard is down. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that “ God did not give us a spirit of fear ,but a spirit of power, love and sound mind ( the amplified version ) says, “ He has given us a spirit of power and love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control “
Imagine if David had been afraid when he faced the Lions or Bears that were attacking his sheep or even worse when he faced Goliath? He knew God has his back and he had nothing to be fearful of. He went into each situation with Boldness knowing that he was not alone. Just like David , we are never alone when we have a relationship with God. He desires to protect us and strengthen us. Psalms 46:1 ( Amplified ) says, “ GOD IS our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble."
Whatever obstacle you may be facing in your life, As a believer you have the assurance that God is there and He will protect, guide and strengthen you and you can Boldly say, “ I am not Afraid “
Can I Get a Witness?
k
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Have YourSelf Committed!
Everything in Life requires some type of commitment. Relationships, Jobs, Family, even hobbies. All at various levels. Our Commitment levels predominantly determine our successes and our failures in just about everything we do. If you are not giving something your all, you cannot expect the results to be satisfactory. If you decide to go on a diet and continue to eat junk and don’t do any exorcise , you are fooling yourself in believing the result will be a positive one. A saying I heard onetime from a coach of mine in High School has stuck with me. He said “ You only get out what you put in. “ That rings so true. We fool ourselves into believing that we are going to somehow , some way get this fantastic result if we only give a little effort towards something we are trying to accomplish. DON’T BE FOOLED. If you want to accomplish a positive outcome , you have got to put forth the effort and your Commitment Level has to be high.
This week, NFL players will be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame, and one in particular, Jerry Rice is the epitome of commitment when it comes to being prepared and ready on the field. He showed up to practice before everyone, stayed after everyone was gone. He went to team meetings that he was not even scheduled to be at and participated in drills that were not something he was required to do. Why did he do all these things? He was Committed to his Team, His Coach and the organization that took a chance and drafted him out of a Small college. Because he did the things he was not required to do he now holds the majority of the All time Receiving records in the NFL. Even after back to back injuries he still returned at the top of his game to perform as good or better than his peers.
If someone can be that committed about their job , how much more should we be committed to God and his Word? The following was penned by a young pastor in Africa and tacked to a wall in his house. Could you have written these words?
Now, more than ever, we need to be committed to God and His Purpose in our Lives!
2 Timothy 1:11-12 (The Message)
This is the Message I've been set apart to proclaim as preacher, emissary, and teacher. It's also the cause of all this trouble I'm in. But I have no regrets. I couldn't be more sure of my ground—the One I've trusted in can take care of what he's trusted me to do right to the end.
Can I Get a Witness?
K
This week, NFL players will be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame, and one in particular, Jerry Rice is the epitome of commitment when it comes to being prepared and ready on the field. He showed up to practice before everyone, stayed after everyone was gone. He went to team meetings that he was not even scheduled to be at and participated in drills that were not something he was required to do. Why did he do all these things? He was Committed to his Team, His Coach and the organization that took a chance and drafted him out of a Small college. Because he did the things he was not required to do he now holds the majority of the All time Receiving records in the NFL. Even after back to back injuries he still returned at the top of his game to perform as good or better than his peers.
If someone can be that committed about their job , how much more should we be committed to God and his Word? The following was penned by a young pastor in Africa and tacked to a wall in his house. Could you have written these words?
My Commitment as a Christian
I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me--my banner will be clear!
Now, more than ever, we need to be committed to God and His Purpose in our Lives!
2 Timothy 1:11-12 (The Message)
This is the Message I've been set apart to proclaim as preacher, emissary, and teacher. It's also the cause of all this trouble I'm in. But I have no regrets. I couldn't be more sure of my ground—the One I've trusted in can take care of what he's trusted me to do right to the end.
Can I Get a Witness?
K
Monday, August 2, 2010
Back to Basics
A few weeks ago, my daughter and I were getting out of the car and heading into the church when she said so cheerfully, “ I just love church, it’s my favorite “. When is the last time you said that? I grew up in church and cannot remember a time when I was not in church. Has it always been Great? No, but if we only went to church when we feel like it, we probably would not be going very much. It seems like church get’s placed on the back burner these days behind School events, sports and leisure. When I was a kid, if we were not at church something was wrong. My fondest memories growing up had to do with an event or service at church and that is where I received the calling to the Ministry. Whether it was kid’s camp, Youth Camp , special meetings or just the basic’s of our regular Sunday and Wednesday services. The many drives to and from church were always filled with song. We never turned on the radio, we made our own music. It was always something we looked forward to. If I had the choice to pick between an event at Church or anything else, the majority of the time I would choose the Church Event, because that is where my family was, my friends and the people who had a real investment in my life.
Somewhere between that time in our lives and now we find ourselves not so connected, not so involved or sometimes even overwhelmed with everything and Church has become the least of our priorities, which leads to God being at the bottom . If church is near the bottom of our important things, then where is prayer and reading the Bible? Are they even existent? Have we replaced reading the Bible with television, prayer with chatting on the internet?
This past Sunday our Pastor spoke about getting back to our first love, having our Spiritual Hard Drives rebooted. Such a simple but needed word for this time. We tend to let things get in our way of communicating with God and the things that are necessary to enhancing our relationship with God and growing spiritually. We go to church for so many reasons, To get “ fed “ the Word of God, to Worship and fellowship. I have seen something I have never seen before over the past few months at church. The majority of our congregation staying after the Pastor has dismissed and continuing to Praise and Worship, or pray. We need to be hungry for God. We need to make ourselves more available to be used by God. If we do that, He will begin to use us in situations we had not even considered. Don’t you want the most you can get out of what God has for you? In 2nd Chronicles 7, God appears to Solomon and tells him He has heard his prayer and he tells Solomon, 14” If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”
It is my prayer today that we will do just that, 1st Humble ourselves before God, pray, seek even crave and turn from all those things that distract us and bog us down. I preached a sermon back in 1995 called, “ Clean your Room” it is so much easier to know what direction God is leading you if you don’t have things all over the place getting in your way. Find a quite place and take a few minutes to really ask God, what it is He would have you do, and then Listen.
Can I get a Witness?
K
Somewhere between that time in our lives and now we find ourselves not so connected, not so involved or sometimes even overwhelmed with everything and Church has become the least of our priorities, which leads to God being at the bottom . If church is near the bottom of our important things, then where is prayer and reading the Bible? Are they even existent? Have we replaced reading the Bible with television, prayer with chatting on the internet?
This past Sunday our Pastor spoke about getting back to our first love, having our Spiritual Hard Drives rebooted. Such a simple but needed word for this time. We tend to let things get in our way of communicating with God and the things that are necessary to enhancing our relationship with God and growing spiritually. We go to church for so many reasons, To get “ fed “ the Word of God, to Worship and fellowship. I have seen something I have never seen before over the past few months at church. The majority of our congregation staying after the Pastor has dismissed and continuing to Praise and Worship, or pray. We need to be hungry for God. We need to make ourselves more available to be used by God. If we do that, He will begin to use us in situations we had not even considered. Don’t you want the most you can get out of what God has for you? In 2nd Chronicles 7, God appears to Solomon and tells him He has heard his prayer and he tells Solomon, 14” If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”
It is my prayer today that we will do just that, 1st Humble ourselves before God, pray, seek even crave and turn from all those things that distract us and bog us down. I preached a sermon back in 1995 called, “ Clean your Room” it is so much easier to know what direction God is leading you if you don’t have things all over the place getting in your way. Find a quite place and take a few minutes to really ask God, what it is He would have you do, and then Listen.
Can I get a Witness?
K
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The Little Things
You always hear about all the things God is doing for people and wonder when is he going to do something for me? I have a friend who is serving God in Nairobi, Kenya and I just read where their Annual Budget was just met by their supporting churches. Praise God for providing for them. Now they can concentrate on Ministry and not have to worry about money. Seeing God take care of his people is always encouraging. But what about your needs? Do you ever find yourself asking God , where’s mine? When do I get my break, how long do I have to be like this? I am sure we have all been at some place in our lives where we have wondered if God even hears our prayers or knows what is going on with our lives.
This week God showed me just how much he loves me in the simplest form. My wife is pregnant with our 2nd child and we are eagerly awaiting his arrival. Graceanne is so excited to be a big Sister and can’t wait for the Dr. To pull her baby brother out of Mommy. ( I laugh every time she ask.. Is the Dr. going to pull my baby brother out of mommy today? ) Just a month ago Heidi was involved in a small accident that was enough to send her into pre term labor. We got to the hospital and they were able to stop the contractions and she was able to come home. Almost exactly 1 month later, she was getting ready for a meeting at work and headed out the door. She surprised us by being back home just 30 minutes later after she had found out the meeting had been cancelled due to the other party being stuck in court. Not very long after , she started feeling contractions and within 45 minutes had already almost 10. So we called our Dr. and we packed up and headed to the hospital. It did not take long for them to admit her and once again, they wanted to stop the contractions. She is 33 weeks and 4 days but they want her to at least go 34 weeks. After a few hours of contractions every 1-3 minutes, they finally slowed down and they took her off the drugs that were helping her. Once again, we were able to avoid a pre mature birth. Thank God.
At some point in this entire ordeal I stopped and had one of those moments where you realize all along that God knows who I am and knows exactly what I needed. That person being stuck in court was no coincidence and I am so grateful that God had his hand on Heidi and our little guy. If Heidi had been at her meeting, then everything would have been completely different and it would have been so much more difficult to get her to the hospital. “ His eye is on the Sparrow “ No matter how big or how small the issue you are facing, God knows exactly every detail and is as concerned about your small problem as he is with the biggest of problems. Thank God I am loved by a Heavenly Father that knows everything about me down to the number of hairs on my head. Instead of always wondering when you are going to get the Big Blessing… Be grateful for all the things God has done already.
Luke 12:6-7 (The Message)"What's the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don't be intimidated by all this bully talk. You're worth more than a million canaries.
Can I Get a Witness?
K
This week God showed me just how much he loves me in the simplest form. My wife is pregnant with our 2nd child and we are eagerly awaiting his arrival. Graceanne is so excited to be a big Sister and can’t wait for the Dr. To pull her baby brother out of Mommy. ( I laugh every time she ask.. Is the Dr. going to pull my baby brother out of mommy today? ) Just a month ago Heidi was involved in a small accident that was enough to send her into pre term labor. We got to the hospital and they were able to stop the contractions and she was able to come home. Almost exactly 1 month later, she was getting ready for a meeting at work and headed out the door. She surprised us by being back home just 30 minutes later after she had found out the meeting had been cancelled due to the other party being stuck in court. Not very long after , she started feeling contractions and within 45 minutes had already almost 10. So we called our Dr. and we packed up and headed to the hospital. It did not take long for them to admit her and once again, they wanted to stop the contractions. She is 33 weeks and 4 days but they want her to at least go 34 weeks. After a few hours of contractions every 1-3 minutes, they finally slowed down and they took her off the drugs that were helping her. Once again, we were able to avoid a pre mature birth. Thank God.
At some point in this entire ordeal I stopped and had one of those moments where you realize all along that God knows who I am and knows exactly what I needed. That person being stuck in court was no coincidence and I am so grateful that God had his hand on Heidi and our little guy. If Heidi had been at her meeting, then everything would have been completely different and it would have been so much more difficult to get her to the hospital. “ His eye is on the Sparrow “ No matter how big or how small the issue you are facing, God knows exactly every detail and is as concerned about your small problem as he is with the biggest of problems. Thank God I am loved by a Heavenly Father that knows everything about me down to the number of hairs on my head. Instead of always wondering when you are going to get the Big Blessing… Be grateful for all the things God has done already.
Luke 12:6-7 (The Message)"What's the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don't be intimidated by all this bully talk. You're worth more than a million canaries.
Can I Get a Witness?
K
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Do we need a Time out?
I start work early each morning, so I am typically the first one up. I am usually in my office for about an hour before I hear movement in the rest of the house and I always look forward to the beautiful, cheerful smile that greets me slowly opening my office door. It never fails, every morning, there she is with the most precious smile and she jumps into my lap and plays with the whiskers on my face telling me what she dreamed about or what she has planned for the day. What a special time that is for me each and every morning. Those of you that have children I hope can relate.
After a short time there is this wonderful peace in the house and it is something that is new only since Graceanne was born. It makes our mornings around here so special and I find myself during various parts of the day smiling or even giggling about what she did or said that morning. Then at some point during the day something changes and things are not so happy or easy going and it becomes a struggle. I immediately try to find that place of peace that we love so much and look forward to each morning, but that precious time has passed and the once quite, peaceful home becomes a place of tension and strife. The result of that usually ends up with a time out and some sort of punishment. She is the same little child that we both love and adore but something somewhere changes and then we have to find that place of peace once again.
How many of us do this exact same thing to God the Father? We greet Him in the morning with such praise and adoration and after a few hours in the day we are ignoring Him and even not acknowledging Him. As a parent we all know how that feels when our child seems to disregard everything we are saying or offering and we feel like they are never listening. I have not mastered making sure that the peace is kept in our house all day but I am finding that all we have to do to stay in accord with God is to walk as the scripture points us to do.
2nd Chronicles 7:14 ( The King James ) says “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
That simply means that as long as our Eyes are on Jesus we are more equipped to handle what obstacles we are faced with and we can focus more on strengthening our relationship with Him. The more I understood my Dad and what he expected of me the more I knew how to act so he did not have to ‘ adjust ‘ my attitude. But we are always needing an attitude adjustment, we are human , but by committing ourselves to God and continually communicating with Him, we have a better chance than not to succeed.
The really awesome thing about each day is that God gave us 24 hour days so that no matter what happened in the previous day we have the opportunity to learn from that and apply it to the next day and hopefully we make strides to improve on the previous day’s events.
Lamentations 3:22-24 ( The Message Translation ) ~
God's loyal love couldn't have run out,
his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over).
He's all I've got left.
Can I Get a Witness?
K
After a short time there is this wonderful peace in the house and it is something that is new only since Graceanne was born. It makes our mornings around here so special and I find myself during various parts of the day smiling or even giggling about what she did or said that morning. Then at some point during the day something changes and things are not so happy or easy going and it becomes a struggle. I immediately try to find that place of peace that we love so much and look forward to each morning, but that precious time has passed and the once quite, peaceful home becomes a place of tension and strife. The result of that usually ends up with a time out and some sort of punishment. She is the same little child that we both love and adore but something somewhere changes and then we have to find that place of peace once again.
How many of us do this exact same thing to God the Father? We greet Him in the morning with such praise and adoration and after a few hours in the day we are ignoring Him and even not acknowledging Him. As a parent we all know how that feels when our child seems to disregard everything we are saying or offering and we feel like they are never listening. I have not mastered making sure that the peace is kept in our house all day but I am finding that all we have to do to stay in accord with God is to walk as the scripture points us to do.
2nd Chronicles 7:14 ( The King James ) says “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
That simply means that as long as our Eyes are on Jesus we are more equipped to handle what obstacles we are faced with and we can focus more on strengthening our relationship with Him. The more I understood my Dad and what he expected of me the more I knew how to act so he did not have to ‘ adjust ‘ my attitude. But we are always needing an attitude adjustment, we are human , but by committing ourselves to God and continually communicating with Him, we have a better chance than not to succeed.
The really awesome thing about each day is that God gave us 24 hour days so that no matter what happened in the previous day we have the opportunity to learn from that and apply it to the next day and hopefully we make strides to improve on the previous day’s events.
Lamentations 3:22-24 ( The Message Translation ) ~
God's loyal love couldn't have run out,
his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over).
He's all I've got left.
Can I Get a Witness?
K
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Put down that Big Mac and Pray
When we were just kids my Mom and Dad brought home this new device called the Radar Range. A new marvel for that time and it was going to make life so much easier. Food can be heated up or even cooked in a fraction of the time a conventional oven would take. What a concept. Having this new tool would allow for us to spend less time dealing with food and devoting to other things like, cleaning our rooms, cutting the grass or doing whatever activity ( chore ) my parents could come up with. You remember the Radar Range? It did not have the cool LCD screens and multiple settings for the various types of food like the ones we have today. ( now called Microwave’s ) It had these Big Dials, one for regular cooking and the other for defrost. Because of this new technology, we were thrust into a new way of Living….. Until then we took things easy, never in any hurry to get somewhere and a bit more slow paced. Not a bad life if you ask me. I walked into the kitchen one day and there was my brother standing at the Radar Range and tapping his fingers waiting for the dial to turn to completion so he could eat. The Buzzer dinged and he opened the door and what he pulled out was not very appetizing……. He had decided he wanted some eggs and did not feel like taking the time to make them the normal way in a skillet on the stove. Well, when you place an egg in the microwave, it has a tendency to Explode , and that is exactly what happened. Of course he ate the eggs and continued to use the Radar Range for things he wanted NOW, regardless of how it looked or even tasted. It was fast and that was all that mattered.
We have this obsession with “ Fast Food “ and although it is convenient and a lot of it taste good, look at what it has done to us as a Nation. Over a period of time while achieving satisfaction in a quick and easy fashion, we have put our lives, bodies and even way of living at risk. As a result of this mentality we are unhealthy and always struggling with the way we look and feel.
Do we do the same thing to God? Are we always looking for that quick answer or easy solution to whatever it is we are going through? We want to only give him a few minutes if that a day and then we expect everything to be alright. God desires communion with us, He created us for that purpose among other reasons. When you take the time to really walk with God, communicate daily and seek Him, only then is your life going to turn around and truly reflect a life of blessing.
Ephesians 6:18 says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. “
If we just take a moment, slow down and really take the time to talk to God, and then really listen, our lives will see the result of that patience and commitment.
Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” The Message translation puts it this way…. ( Matthew 6:30-33 )” If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. “
Take time to really seek God and dig deeper and watch what He will do in your life as a result.
Can I get a Witness?
k
Friday, July 16, 2010
Preperation Breeds Success
Back in High School I participated in Sports, Football and Track. For some reason I enjoyed running , but didn’t fully understand at the time what it took to really run and do it right. I considered myself to be pretty fast and that was enough for me. We got together for our first practice and I could not believe all the things we had to do just to get to run. I did not want to “practice” I just wanted to run. Some how I made the track team and was placed on a few relays and some medium distance events. It didn’t take long and I began to grow very disinterested in “preparing” for the meets that we had during the week. I just wanted to get out there and Run. After only a few races I pulled something in my lower Back and that basically ended my career in Track. I had injured myself and blamed everything but me as the reason.
Preparation is the most important part of anything you can do. Without fully being aware of what you are getting involved in or conditioning yourself, you are setting yourself up for Failure. We men are notorious for not reading instructions or getting directions. We want to believe that we can do it on our own and we don’t need any assistance in order to get things right. Just last night, I was putting together a glider for my wife ( we are expecting our 2nd child in Sept ) and I took out the instructions and laid them on the floor only to just look at the pictures. About 10 minutes into the process I could not figure out why I was not able to get one of the arms to line up correctly. Well….. taking a moment to look at what the instructions actually said, I found that you are to not tighten the screws all the way so it is easier to connect everything . Missing that simple step added about 10 minutes to the whole process and some frustration on my part. I did get the glider together and my wife loves it, but I could have avoided some frustration if only I had read before acting.
God has given us a manual for our life, the Bible. The Book of answers… I know some people who will tell you it is the book of questions, but if you are reading the Word daily and seeking God, those questions will begin to become answers and you will then be at a place where you are putting things together correctly, going places without getting lost and being a help instead of a need.
Being Prepared is vital, especially in the times we live in. So many people are searching and in need of help and direction. I want to encourage each of you , to take a few minutes out of your day and “ Prepare “ yourselves for the day. You just may be the key to someone’s breakthrough.
Philippians 4:4-5 (The Message) Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!
Until next time, Let Go, Let God
k
Preparation is the most important part of anything you can do. Without fully being aware of what you are getting involved in or conditioning yourself, you are setting yourself up for Failure. We men are notorious for not reading instructions or getting directions. We want to believe that we can do it on our own and we don’t need any assistance in order to get things right. Just last night, I was putting together a glider for my wife ( we are expecting our 2nd child in Sept ) and I took out the instructions and laid them on the floor only to just look at the pictures. About 10 minutes into the process I could not figure out why I was not able to get one of the arms to line up correctly. Well….. taking a moment to look at what the instructions actually said, I found that you are to not tighten the screws all the way so it is easier to connect everything . Missing that simple step added about 10 minutes to the whole process and some frustration on my part. I did get the glider together and my wife loves it, but I could have avoided some frustration if only I had read before acting.
God has given us a manual for our life, the Bible. The Book of answers… I know some people who will tell you it is the book of questions, but if you are reading the Word daily and seeking God, those questions will begin to become answers and you will then be at a place where you are putting things together correctly, going places without getting lost and being a help instead of a need.
Being Prepared is vital, especially in the times we live in. So many people are searching and in need of help and direction. I want to encourage each of you , to take a few minutes out of your day and “ Prepare “ yourselves for the day. You just may be the key to someone’s breakthrough.
Philippians 4:4-5 (The Message) Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!
Until next time, Let Go, Let God
k
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Introduction
Well, I finally decided I had something to say and what better way than via a blog... Let's get one thing straight from the beginning. I have never and will never proclaim to be a genius or master of words. I completely depend on the Holy Spirit for direction and believe that the Bible is THE Word of God. Through my 43 years on this Earth I have been extremely blessed to have been raised by Godly Parents who taught me the Word of God. They never forced anything on me and their example proved to me that Living a Life in Christ was the path I was going to take in my life.
Through out my walk with Christ I have also been fortunate to have people in my life that have influenced me along the way. Bro Jack Moore, Pastor Nolan Logan, Pastor Steve Munds, Mike Stevens, Bob and Wanda Moon, Danny Perkins, Todd Cash, Steve Baker, David McNabb, Pastor John Jonas, Cindy Boyd, Pastor Mike Davis, Bob and Cheryl Grayson, Pastor Mac Hammond, Pastor Bobby Bogard, Pastor Keith Hulen, Richard Hanner, Dr. Lawrence Kennedy, Pastor Eddie Trice, Pastor Billy McCormick and Pastor Scott LeLaCheur. Each one of these very special people at one point in time were or are responsible for what has shaped me into what I am today. Either in the capacity of Pastor, Youth Pastor, Mentor, Music Minister and or Friend. Each of these people have planted in me truths, ideas, philosophies and opportunities. What a wealth of knowledge and information. Every day I can remember something they said or did and I pause and apply that knowledge to the situation I am in. I have this expansive wealth of knowledge to draw from and that makes me a very wealthy person. Have I always made the right decisions? No, and I will continue to make decisions that I should have thought through more, but more times than not , I will make decisions that work out for the good and because of that , I will move further along in my walk with the Lord.
All of that said to simply say this..... Embrace your Heritage and be grateful for what has brought you to the place you are in now. Even if you are not where you thought you should be or would be at this point and time in your life. Never think it is too late to make a difference or start something new. As we get older and go through experiences we gain knowledge and then can apply those experiences to what we are facing now. I have failed many times and would love to have those times back to make the right decisions. Unfortunately we cannot go back in time, but what we can do is Take Control now of whatever situation we are currently facing and ask our Heavenly Father for guidance through the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1 we see Jesus and His Disciples together for the last time on Earth and they are asking him about the Kingdom being restored to Israel at that moment. This is taken from " The Message "
6When they were together for the last time they asked, "Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?"
7-8He told them, "You don't get to know the time. Timing is the Father's business. What you'll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world."
9-11These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! They said, "You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left."
Jesus basically says, forget about that, What I have for you at this very moment is a gift. a Helper, a Guide... The Holy Spirit. Thank God for this gift. Having this gift allows us to make a difference.
(taken from my previous Face Book posting): Let the Holy Spirit guide you in everything you do. When you place your complete faith in the Holy Spirit ( God sent to be our Helper ) you will be able to do more than you could ever imagine. Let Him empower you to do Mighty things. It is hard to imagine us doing greater things than Jesus did , but that was his promise….. Just start by asking for strength and take the first step. Make A Difference !
until next time, Let go Let God.......
k
Through out my walk with Christ I have also been fortunate to have people in my life that have influenced me along the way. Bro Jack Moore, Pastor Nolan Logan, Pastor Steve Munds, Mike Stevens, Bob and Wanda Moon, Danny Perkins, Todd Cash, Steve Baker, David McNabb, Pastor John Jonas, Cindy Boyd, Pastor Mike Davis, Bob and Cheryl Grayson, Pastor Mac Hammond, Pastor Bobby Bogard, Pastor Keith Hulen, Richard Hanner, Dr. Lawrence Kennedy, Pastor Eddie Trice, Pastor Billy McCormick and Pastor Scott LeLaCheur. Each one of these very special people at one point in time were or are responsible for what has shaped me into what I am today. Either in the capacity of Pastor, Youth Pastor, Mentor, Music Minister and or Friend. Each of these people have planted in me truths, ideas, philosophies and opportunities. What a wealth of knowledge and information. Every day I can remember something they said or did and I pause and apply that knowledge to the situation I am in. I have this expansive wealth of knowledge to draw from and that makes me a very wealthy person. Have I always made the right decisions? No, and I will continue to make decisions that I should have thought through more, but more times than not , I will make decisions that work out for the good and because of that , I will move further along in my walk with the Lord.
All of that said to simply say this..... Embrace your Heritage and be grateful for what has brought you to the place you are in now. Even if you are not where you thought you should be or would be at this point and time in your life. Never think it is too late to make a difference or start something new. As we get older and go through experiences we gain knowledge and then can apply those experiences to what we are facing now. I have failed many times and would love to have those times back to make the right decisions. Unfortunately we cannot go back in time, but what we can do is Take Control now of whatever situation we are currently facing and ask our Heavenly Father for guidance through the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1 we see Jesus and His Disciples together for the last time on Earth and they are asking him about the Kingdom being restored to Israel at that moment. This is taken from " The Message "
6When they were together for the last time they asked, "Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?"
7-8He told them, "You don't get to know the time. Timing is the Father's business. What you'll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world."
9-11These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! They said, "You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left."
Jesus basically says, forget about that, What I have for you at this very moment is a gift. a Helper, a Guide... The Holy Spirit. Thank God for this gift. Having this gift allows us to make a difference.
(taken from my previous Face Book posting): Let the Holy Spirit guide you in everything you do. When you place your complete faith in the Holy Spirit ( God sent to be our Helper ) you will be able to do more than you could ever imagine. Let Him empower you to do Mighty things. It is hard to imagine us doing greater things than Jesus did , but that was his promise….. Just start by asking for strength and take the first step. Make A Difference !
until next time, Let go Let God.......
k
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