Forget to Pray?

There are days when we forget to talk to God.  Sometimes those days might run into a month or more.  We know He’s there, but when things are going well, we often forget to pray. When things are bad, we're found kneeling against our beds, rocking on our knees with our hands pressed firmly together, hoping He’ll listen to us, if just for a moment. After all, He is a busy, busy man tending his flocks.

Each day, God sends us a gentle reminder that He is still with us. He lets us know He still walks with us, an encourages us to minister to all of His precious flock. He is in the soft wind as it whispers around us, even though we may not talked to Him in many days. And, best of all, through His unlimited love, He shows us how He works in mysterious ways.  God will always show up and send us gentle reminders that He is still with us, even though the chips are down and things seem like they are falling apart.

Yes, God is always there, even if we sometimes forget to pray. He will quietly send us a gentle message, as He did today or will tomorrow, to remind us that He is still there. He will give us a new start and a new purpose when it's seems we have lost our way even when we forget to pray.

Reaching a milestone

Well, yesterday my brother Dennis turned 55. That means that me at 60, Dennis at 55, and David at 50 have all reached places in our lives we didn't think that we would reach. When you are a kid 60 seems impossible. We were taught all our lives that the Lord would come before the world reached the shape that it is in today and would all three probably never see those ages. But folks He hasn't returned yet for His bride, so here we are.

We are all three as different as night and day, with different opinions, thoughts, and fancies, I have always loved my music and playing and singing, while Dennis and David have loved hunting and outdoor life. We all three love playing ball with Dad or each other. In fact Dennis could have turned pro if he had wanted that lifestyle. I had a chance to just pursue music rather than ministry, while David decided that a career in medicine was where he needed to be after struggling with that decision for a long time.

Dennis at 55 and David at 50 seem rather strange to me. I still remember when they were born and also remember having to babysit as the older brother for both of them. I still remember the fights we had, the laughs we laughed, and the sorrows we shared. I remember our agreements and disagreements, our times of sharing, and our times of parting over the years over things good and bad. I still remember the shock we were all in when God took Dad home and the aftermath of dealing with that loss.

All and all I can say life has been good to us three. We have a great Mom who still watches over us, our families who we care deeply about, and our loved ones that we can depend on. It makes this life's journey better the older that we get.

So to my little brother, Happy Birthday and may God's richest blessings be upon you.

Planting The Seed

God decides what will grow and what will not. He plants the seeds of faith, hope, love, joy, and happiness in our lives. Who are we to say that this seed will grow and that will not? He plants the seed in your mind that in the early stages appears as a foolish dream, a lofty hope of success and happiness. That seed is His plan for you.

Matthew 13:32 "Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

Only God decides which seeds will grow and which will wither or be eaten by the birds. Either way, each and every seed serves a purpose. You are a seed in God's plan for the world. You may appear to yourself and others as "pitted, dried up,and useless", but God is the great Sower of seeds.

He holds you in His hand today and sees all of your tomorrows. You may become the greatest or the smallest plant in His garden. However, it totally depends on how you water, fertilize and care for what He has created.

Right now God is holding you in His hand just like you held the seed. He closes his eyes and sees a vision of hope, success, happiness and as he fast forwards He can see the impact you will make on all the tomorrows you hold inside. The difference here is, God has given us the gift of choice. You are His seed and the gardener. How you grow depends on the choices you make, the care you give and your faith in His plan for you. You do your part and He will do His.

The Fall Of A Church

Have you ever wondered why people glory in the fall of a church? It beats me, but regardless of denomination if people get upset at the pastor, a church member, or a denomination they pack up their bags and leave the church. BUT, they really don't leave. Big church, little church, medium size church-it doesn't really matter-They just seem to glory in seeing the church they have left go through spiritual, financial, and emotional turmoil and then further it's demise by doing all they can outwardly to attack it just as they did inwardly while they were there.

I spoke with a pastor the other day who had gone to a new assignment. Because of the reputation of the church in the past I knew who the church bosses and been and how many family members they had involved in that church for years. They had left that church they had ruled under the administration of another pastor because he wouldn't let them, but had made it known that as soon as a new one came in they were returning to the church they had been members of for over 30 years. In fact, when the new pastor came in one of the first calls he received was from the patriarch of that family. He begin to voice his displeasure about the former pastor and was saying on the phone how he hoped this new one he was talking to was going to be a much better fit. The conversation was going well until my friend told him if you didn't like your former pastor you won't like me because I peach very similar to him. Well from that point on the conversation went downhill.

Long story short, they were still members of that church, but had been attending another one for over two years just waiting for the opportunity to see a change of pastor so they could go back and do what they had always done at the church they had never moved their membership from-complain, fuss, and complain some more. Yet while they were gone they never moved their membership, always knew church business sometimes even before the pastor, and always had something negative to say about the present pastor or someone in the congregation. I will tell you what I told someone the other day and I mean this sincerely, "If we can't get along with each other down here, one or neither of us will be together up there with the Lord."

Why would I say that? Because if we believe the Bible is true we have to love another to get there, and loving one another doesn't mean we gossip or LIE about our brethren down here. I have on membership our church over 600 people (Nope don't get paid on this amount) and most folks don't even know who half of them our. Some have left the church and are serving in leadership roles in other places and haven't been a part of my church for years, but never have transferred or removed their names from the membership roll. It's amazing to me how these folks always seem to know what is happening around my church and in my life before I do. They must have a direct connection with the other guy, and not God, because most of what I hear isn't even true. Yet, the damage control I've had to do in my ministry is absolutely crazy because of "Christians" who physically leave a church, but emotionally or spiritually still want to keep the pot stirring.

Can I just say this-When you leave a church leave it alone. You can pray for it, but don't try to destroy it. If you can't say something good about it, then say nothing at all. Oh yes, and make sure your facts are factual before you say anything. It would sure make my job and other pastors jobs a lot easier.  One more thing, if you leave a place transfer your membership and stop trying to have your name on two rolls. It should would stop membership inflation and would certainly help every church to have an accurate read on their constituency. One way we could do that is to have every church send the tithe and offering a person gives to the church they are attending while they are members of another church. Man, I guarantee that would keep our treasurers busy for awhile.

Too many of our pastors, their families, and churches are suffering because people want their cake and desire to eat it too. You can't serve God and mammon at the same time. Be honest with yourself. Keep your heart right with God and leave the church you left alone. If your heart is condemned because you left it, then return to it and make things right. You just might find out the truth you were searching for was right there all along.

Tune In

The sweet voice of God constantly speaks into the heart, soul, and mind of the believer. He is always ready to talk to us in these quiet moments of prayer. He is always ready to bless us with His peace. He is always ready to guide us with His wisdom. He is waiting patiently to fill us with His love, power, and precious anointing. He is waiting patiently to show us how we can love each other as well. He is waiting patiently to give us joy. 

We must take the time each day to tune into God. Turn off the television, silence the cell phone, and shut down the computer. Sit down in the quiet, close our eyes and open our hearts. Breath slowly and deeply and gently pray to God for His love and His guidance. Then just listen. You will be amazed at the thoughts that come into your mind, the peace that comes into your heart, and the love that fills your soul. You will be amazed at how tuning into God can tune up your life on a daily basis.

Get Mad At The Devil

You don't have to put up with one more second of the devil's harassment.

The Lord Jesus has already defeated him on Calvary's Cross. As long as you are positioned in Jesus today, you can tread and trample on Satan's head.

So it's time to rise up in holy indignation and take back all that the enemy has stolen from you, your family, and your church. 

It's time like never before to rise up as members of the Militant Army of God and take a stand against the enemy and his attacks and wiles that he has set against us and our families. We, as the Body of Christ, do not have to be pushed around, oppressed, harassed, or intimidated by the devil any longer. 

Because we trust in God, we triumph in Him. We are directed by His wisdom, strengthened by His power, and made safe and victorious through His promises. We act under His authority and by His help - "Through Thee will we push down our enemies: through Thy name..." (Psalm 44:5).

We are a people who have placed all of our hope and confidence in the Lord. Resultantly, we do victoriously -"Through God we shall do valiantly..."(Psalm 60:12; Psalm 108:13).

We have Jesus on our side. Therefore, we make, gain, or gather strength for the battle, are bold, courageous, and victorious, and do great and valiant acts and achieve victory.

Stop crying and feeling sorry for yourself! It's not a time to be a wimp! It's time for war! Get your armor on and go to battle this day!

Happy Birthday Shane

35 years ago today at precisely 8:26 a.m. the doctor came out and told me, "It's a boy!" Shane has been our pride and joy for 35 years. Our lives would not have been the same without him. In fact, he will probably forget all the joy he has brought us over the years more than we will. Our lives would not have been complete without our "miracle" boy.

Many of you know that Becky's on her 5th Pacemaker. Shane was born in between her first and second heart episode, the second being when her first pacer was installed. That's why Shane has no brothers or sisters. It was too risky for us to try to have another baby. So we are just thankful for the son that we do have.

We are proud of his accomplishments, his generosity, his work ethic, and his beautiful family. God gave him a wonderful wife in Candace and gave us four great grandkids through them.
We don't have much in this world, but we have a legacy that we can leave behind because the Lord gave us our miracle baby. We could never praise him enough for that.



Happy Birthday Son-We Love You more than you will ever know.

Mom and Dad

Trouble, Trouble, Trouble

Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. (Job 14:1 KJV)

One of the things we should realize is that even though we are faithful Christians, troubles will come and battles will have to be fought. Job 14:1 teaches, "Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble." Seeing that all of us fit this description, that means none of us are exempt from troubles. In fact, Job says our days will be full of trouble. Due to the condition of this world, brought about by sin, our lives are full of trouble. As Christians, we must recognize this and deal with it the best we can. We must realize that the world, as created by God, is the best world it can be to accomplish God's purpose in our lives, and we must learn to trust Him and realize that the circumstances we are facing will work out for our good and the good of others who may be involved.

One of the things that I believe will help us in facing troubles and overcoming them, is that we can use the experiences we have faced to help others when they face the same kinds of things. Now some people face troubles but they never use their experiences to help others. But one of the best ways to consider the troubles we face in life in a positive way, is to realize that we can use the things we have learned in these experiences to help others.

 

I don't really know what it's like to lose a spouse, for example, but some of you know what it's like. When someone loses a spouse, you know how to comfort them far better than I do, because you've been through it. Those who have had family problems know what others who are having those kinds of problems are going through and can help better than those who have not faced those kinds of things. We may not know what to say in every case or even what to do about a given situation, but we can listen, we can sympathize, and we can offer comfort and support.

Since we have to face these troubles in life because none of us are exempt let's use these experiences to help others get through similar circumstances. Let's use these experiences to glorify God and help those in need deal with their troubles.

In Memory of Horace Mauldin

One of the greatest Christian gentlemen and songwriters has received his reward. Horace Mauldin was one of the strongest musical influences on the Church of God in its glorious history. The impact of his songs have blessed thousands of people around the world. When The Lord called him home there was a great reward awaiting him.

Years ago I got to play guitar on a live recording of the Youth Choir on Friday night at Youth Camp. Steve played the bass and I played rhythm guitar. Roosevelt Miller directed the choir. Brother Horace and Brother Gerald Lee helped to engineer and record the songs. I still have that single today 44 years later. It wasn't until 26 years ago when my dad died that I discovered my name was listed in the credits as the guitarist on that record. Brother Horace did not have to do that back then, but he was always good at encouraging young ministers to express and utilize their talents for The Lord.

He will be sorely missed here in this life, but the song lives on. I featured the Mauldin Family this past June during Camp Meeting on

my podcasts. The recordings will remind us of those days gone by and hopefully when we have finished this earthly race we will get to hear that tenor voice again.

My prayers go out to Joan, Steve, and Russell, along with their families. The gates have swung open one last time and Brother Horace has made it in.

Farewell for now, but I will see you again.

Let It Go

When you struggle with things in life you are often told to "Hold on." "Holding on" seems like the logical thing to do. Sometimes it just isn't possible. Sometimes it's just wrong. Sometimes we need to let go. 

Many people say, "I can't hold on any more. I need desperately to let go. I need to distance myself from things in the present and in particular things of the past." 

That's probably the hardest and toughest part. Letting go of things of the present is easier. They are happening now. You can influence or control the outcome. You can wake up today and say, "I'm going to stop smoking!" and actually begin. You can stand in front of a mirror and see things that can be changed today. Your weight, the way you dress, your hairstyle and your attitude. But letting go of the past, now that's a challenge. 

We carry with us way too many things of the past. We flash back in seconds to a memory we apparently can't let go of. At the same time it's a memory we can't do a thing about. It's done. It's over. We can't change it. We need to let go. 

Perhaps you find yourself spending time thinking about the way things were. Maybe you are longing for the "good old days." You're holding onto pleasant memories, moments that made you who you are today. That's fine. It's a part of the fabric of you. 

Maybe you are holding on to things of the past that are not so pleasant. Things you did, said, had done to you and it is stealing away the precious time you have now. You are holding onto destructive things that you should let go of. 

You are not just holding on, you are holding yourself captive. Letting go of the rope would free your hands making them available to embrace someone, something more important. The fall won't kill you. It will heal you. 

Things of the present should be held onto unless they are out of your control and you have no influence over them. If you cannot change or influence it, then it is simply not worth worrying about. Let go. The only real thing you should hold onto is your faith and the love you give and the love you get.

Not Relevant Any More

If we are guilty of any thing in the church world today it is that we follow trends in religion that people say make us relevant. I never thought the day would come when I would be considered old-fashioned because I like a blended worship service and still enjoy and use all kinds of gospel music in my church. A dear friend of mine told me that what I was doing wouldn't be considered trend setting and I probably would never grow beyond a certain point because the music that I do wasn't hip and I still wore a suit and tie to preach in on Sunday morning.

Well, I am 60 years old now, but I still consider myself pretty hip (LOL)! I remember when I first started doing blended worship music and people thought I was a wild and crazy guy. It's amazing what 25 years and others following only the seeker friendly mentality will do to a guy. I remember when I was one of the first preachers since our founding fathers day to have a beard and not get crucified. I remember when I was helping people find worship music before it was worship music and singing choruses before there were choruses to sing. I've been doing this for a long time and maybe I remember some things about worship that many people choose not to accept any more.

So can I ask you something, not being sarcastic, but just brutally honest:

-Can you remember the day when people in the congregation sang because they enjoyed singing along with the song leader and choir and not because that became the trendy thing to do? How many folks do you know just stand and listen rather than stand and worship today?

-Can you remember when we in the Church of God were known for our choir music, worship music, and our instrumentation? Whether it was good or bad we made an impression on people because of our hunger and desire for the Holy Ghost to move on us and through us.

-Can you remember when worship didn't center on a production, a team, or the latest trend, but solely on the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ?

What I'm saying is there is room in God's Kingdom work for every style and every type of worship. Call me old fashioned if you want to, but I still believe that where two or three are gathered in His name, He is right in the middle of it all.  Maybe you don't have a super duper, all expenses paid, worship team or band. Maybe you don't have the most elaborate music or media presentation. Maybe you don't appeal to the masses and some people think you are out of date. My opinion is simply we are not doing this thing called church for the trend setters, we are doing it for God. Which ever way you do it, if you do it for Him, you will be blessed.

So don't get discouraged when somebody tells you that your dated or not relevant anymore. If you are doing your best and trying your hardest to please Him, somehow I believe He will show up. And you know what? That's all He expects from you and I.

So folks, let's just have church and do God's thing. It might not please the masses, but if it pleases Him praise God for it. Oh yes, one more thing-Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right.

Which Kind Of Christian Are You?

When you are a little desperate, you wonder why God lets you endure so much. I have asked that question many times when going through a battle or a tough time, but I don't want to be a fair-weather Christian. A fair weather Christian seems to believe and even honestly thinks when all is well God is good, but then blames God and turns against Him when stormy or bad weather comes into their life.  I don’t want that to be said of me in spite of my most desperate moments.

There's a second type of believer that clings to a buoy in stormy weather, but floats carefree along in calm waters, with no concern about Jesus when all is well.  You have probably heard about Christians like this. God is only important when they need Him, but not at any other time. 

The third type of Christian is the kind I want to be and hope to be most of the time.  This type is thankful for blessings and turns to God with thanks for all the good things in life.  When things sour, they turn to God for direction and when God says, “No” they try to understand;  and through all times and all disturbances, no matter what happens, they have the peace of the presence of the Lord in their lives.

Which kind of Christian are you?

Who are you listening too?

 There once was a bunch of tiny frogs who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the to see the race and cheer on the contestants.

The race began and honestly, no-one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. You heard statements such as:

"Oh, WAY too difficult!!"

"They will NEVER make it to the top".

"Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"

The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one except for those who in a fresh tempo were climbing higher and higher...

The crowd continued to yell

"It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!"

More tiny frogs got tired and gave up, but one continued higher and higher and higher.

This one wouldn't give up!

At the end, everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top! Then all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?

A contestant asked the tiny frog how the one who succeeded had found the strength to reach the goal? The winner was deaf!

The Pastor's Wife

No one in the church family is more vulnerable than the pastor’s wife. She is the key figure in the life of the pastor and plays the biggest role in his success or failure. I am fully aware that in some churches the pastor is a woman. In such cases, what follows would also pertain to her household. Many churches treat her as an unpaid employee, an uncalled assistant pastor, an always-available office volunteer, a biblical expert and a psychological whiz. She is almost always a reliable helper as well as an under-appreciated servant.

You might not think so, but she is the most vulnerable person in the building. That is to say, she is the single most likely person to become the victim of malicious gossip, sneaky innuendo, impossible expectations and pastoral frustrations.

The pastor’s wife can be hurt in a hundred ways—through attacks on her husband, her children, herself. Her pain is magnified by one great reality: She cannot fight back. She cannot give a certain member a piece of her mind for criticizing the pastor’s children, cannot straighten out the person who is making life miserable for her husband, cannot stand up and say the finances are not sufficient to meet the family's needs, or try to get the repair work done on the parsonage on the meger budget she was given. She has to take it in silence, most of the time.

It takes the best Christian in the church to be a pastor’s wife and pull it off. And that’s the problem: In most cases, she’s pretty much the same kind of Christian as everyone else. When the enemy attacks, she bleeds. The pastor’s wife has no say-so in how the church is run and receives no pay, yet she has a lot to do with whether her husband gets called to that church and succeeds once he arrives.

The pastor’s wife occupies no official position, was not the object of a church vote, and gives no regular reports to the congregation on anything. And yet, no one person in the church is more influential in making the pastor a success—or a resounding failure—than she.

What do we owe to the pastor’s wife?

1. We owe her the right to be herself and not what we think she should be.

2. We owe her our love and gratitude for all that she does.

3. We owe her our love and prayers because she needs strength from God just like the pastor.

4. We owe her our responsible care to make sure the needs of her family are met.

5. We owe it to the pastor and his wife to speak up. Sometimes they just need somebody to stand by their side.

6.  We owe them the same thing we owe the Lord: faithful obedience to Christ.

A Nobody

Archibald Campbell was a nobody. He was one of the thousands of Americans living in Revolutionary War times. No tv stars will ever tell us how it was "200 years ago today" with Archibald Campbell. Archibald Campbell was a school teacher.

All he did was teach the boys around Fredericksburg, Va. He tossed out ideas to them. He made his boys read and think. He challenged their imaginations. He was an insignificant school teacher that few people remember.

Do you ever feel like a nobody? Only daydreams succeed for some people. Are you one of them?

Greatness is destined for the very few. Earthshaking accomplishments might not be your fate. The only way your name would get into a history book is if you put it there....inside the front cover, with your address!

There may be thousands of names in somebody's "Who's Who" book, but there are billions of nobodies that make a society social, a religion practcal, and a life liveable. Without the nobodies who live their faiths everyday, work their jobs with pride and conscience, and really try to "love their neighbor as themselves," no society could survive and no great cause could prevail.

The truth is that nobody is a nobody in God's eyes. Everybody is a somebody. In fact, everybody is a somebody special. God wouldn't send His Son to die for a bunch of nobodies. Neither would he entrust a mission so great to nobodies. We are all somebody special.

In the church that I pastor there is a plaque that someone donated. I often read it when I think I am the "World's Greatest Nobody."

The familiar quotation reads: "I am only one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do I ought to do and what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do."

If all so-called nobodies could do this, we'd all feel like the somebodies we really are. Yes, Archibald Campbell was a nobody. But his life was not wasted. No one remembers Archibald Campbell, but no one will forget three of his pupils.... George Washington, James Madison and James Monroe.

Doing the best you can for God

"With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free." (Ephesians 6:7, 8 KJV)

We read in Genesis 4:2-5 that God looked on with favor to Abel, but was not happy with Cain’s offering. Why? Because Cain didn’t bring his best. Cain didn’t bring excellence. To excel is to do better or to improve. Cain didn’t do that and God couldn’t accept his gift with favor.

Read on and see that Cain got really upset with this turn of events. God asks him why his face is so downcast and warns him that if he wallows in his self pity, sin is waiting at his door and will become his new master. He also tells him that if he does the right thing, it will be accepted.

Here’s the key to this verse-the right thing is our best. God expects our best. Why? Because He’s given us every good thing to work with and He knows that if we bring our best, we’ll feel good, others will feel good and we’ll be encouraged to keep doing better.

If you’ve ever been involved in team work, you’ll know what it’s like when someone doesn’t pull their weight, but you’ll also know what a pleasure it is to have someone who excels in their role in the team. If we excel, if we strive for excellence in using our gifts to meet the needs of others, the whole group will improve and everyone will benefit.

Another point that comes from Ephesians is this: When we aim to please people, we do just enough to impress them. However, God is not interested in 'just enough'! That's why we are encouraged in this verse to do everything that we do, as if we are doing it for God, because then we will do our best!

I don't know what you're facing in lifetoday, but our God does. So let me encourage you this morning to face each new and/or old challenge with the mindset that you are doing what you do for God, and not for anyone else. You will find that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, your selfish and flesh-motivated ideas and acts will fade away and you'll be left with God's strength, God's authority and God's power to make that changes that you need to make!

Seven things to remember

Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it or work around it.

Some won’t appreciate what you say or do, but as long as you speak honestly from the heart, you’ll be fine. This is not a perfect world. This is not a perfect life. But life loves the person who dares to live it by being real.

Sometimes in life, we tend to run so fast that we don’t notice God running with us. We only notice Him when we fall, yet He stops, carries us and says, “Finish the race my child.”

Always remember that God only makes happy endings. If it’s not happy, then, it’s not yet the end. Live by love and hope, there is always something to look forward to. God bless.

Put God on top of everything today and let Him take charge of all your plans. Then you’ll see how beautiful His ways are and His unending love.

People continue to get their goals in spite of pain, tears, heartbreaks, because pain made them strong, tears made them brave, heartbreak made them wise.

If you want to know how much God loves you, try to catch every single raindrop. The ones you catch is how much you love God and the ones you miss is how much God loves you.

Look Up

I am grateful for God's Word today. It has taught me a truth that I will hold close to my heart forever. Whenever you need to see the road ahead clearly, look up! Too often in our lives we keep the eyes of our souls looking down at the ground. When we do the world seems like a scary, discouraging, and depressing place. When we raise our eyes up to Heaven, though, our vision becomes breathtakingly clear. 

-We see that God loves us. 

-We see that this is God’s world. 

-We see that life is good and when we help others we make it even better. 

-We see that no matter what each day may throw at us, we can face it with a loving heart and a joyful spirit. 
So whenever your life seems blurry then, look up! Whenever your life seems frightening or overwhelming, look up! Whenever you aren’t sure what you should do, look up! God is in Heaven, but He is in your heart as well. Open the eyes of your soul and see clearly just how much God loves you and just how much you can love as well.

Fear

Fear is the most used and the most effective of the storms in the devils toolbox. Most fears are small fears.

-Fear is False Evidence Appearing Real.

-Fear is a perversion of faith. 

-Fear is faith in failure.

-Fear is based on assumption. Faith is based on what we believe in.

Proverbs 23:7 "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he."

Job 3:25 "For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me."

Fear produces 2 reactions:

-You run away.

-You become paralyzed. Paralysis is what the Devil wants to happen. This keeps us from being a doer of the Word.

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

God has given us weapons to fight the storms that fear brings. We must receive them to use them.

Faithful

I don’t think we can ever talk enough about the faithfulness of God. It’s the starting place of any big prayer or act of faith.

If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2:13

But I also believe that there’s another side to the connection between our faith and God’s faithfulness that we can’t afford to ignore. God is faithful even if we are faithless. But God shows His faithfulness in a special way towards those who show their faith in Him.

I’m not talking out of both sides of my mouth. It’s simple, really. God is always faithful. But it’s the people who step out in faith that have the opportunity to see God come through for them and move in ways that those who are faithless don’t.

While the Bible is clear that God’s faithfulness is the solid ground of our faith, it’s also clear that our faith gives God a way to display His faithfulness.

God would have remained faithful if Moses had remained in the desert, herding sheep. But because Moses had the faith to be God’s representative before Pharaoh, he had a front row seat to the 10 plagues and the parting of the Red Sea. He saw God's faithfulness firsthand.

God would have remained faithful if Daniel hadn’t had the courage to keep praying to God when he was told not to. But because Daniel had the faith to persist, he had a close view of God’s faithfulness in the lions’ den.

God would have remained faithful if Peter hadn’t walked on water. But because Peter had the faith to step out of the boat, he got to see Jesus’ faithfulness in a way the other disciples didn’t.

Maybe we could sum it up like this:
God has demonstrated His past faithfulness to give us a foundation for our faith.
Now show God your faith. And He’ll show you His faithfulness.

Not because you would have earned it. But because you would have put yourself in a position to see it.

Pray big.
Dream big.
Take big steps of faith.

Because of how you’ve seen God’s faithfulness in the past. And because you want to see Him show His faithfulness in ways you haven’t seen yet in the future.

Overcoming the devil

John received the key to overcoming Satan. Jesus told John that the "brethren" overcame the devil "by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony" and by completely dedicating themselves to Christ, even if it meant martyrdom (Rev. 12:11).

-What has the "blood of the Lamb" to do with overcoming the devil?                              

By shedding His precious holy blood on Calvary's cross, Jesus broke Satan's hold on mankind. Satan had us bound by sin, but Jesus "freed us from our sins by His blood" (Rev. 1:5). It is Christ's blood that redeemed us (1 Pet. 1:19). By His own blood He obtained eternal redemption for us (Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:12).

-Never minimize the value of the blood of Christ.                                                         

The world may ridicule what it calls, our "bloody religion", but it is this precious blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all our sins (1 John 1:7). It is this blood that brought us to God (Eph. 2:13) and justifies us before God (Rom. 5:9). Christ's shed blood is the evidence to Satan and to the world, of our complete redemption. The full price has been paid to set us free from sin and Satan. His authority over us has been broken. The shed blood of Christ certifies His victory over Satan. Our claim to be under the "blood" declares Christ as our victorious leader. We should not hesitate to flaunt that in the devil's face.

Our testimony about what?                                                                                            

About our identity with Christ. We are no longer our own, for we have been bought with a price. We belong to Him, and the price He paid was His own blood, His life (1 Cor. 6:19,20; 1 Pet. 1:19). This calls for publicly declaring our identity with Christ. We need not be ashamed to declare Him as our Savior before the whole world. By testifying to the transforming power of Christ in our lives we become spiritually more effective. Our bond with Christ is made stronger. By testifying of Christ's power to save, to heal, to help, and to sustain, Satan's efforts to trip us up becomes fruitless. By witnessing about Christ to the unsaved the devil's stronghold is broken.

We need to acquaint ourselves with God's Word and give testimony as to its verification. Jesus defeated Satan when tempted in the wilderness, by using the Scriptures to rebuff the tempter. The more we dedicate ourselves to Christ, the weaker become the thrusts of the devil. Paul said, "For me to live is Christ." When he realized how vulnerable he was to temptation he cried out, "Who shall deliver me?" In the next breath he answered his own question with, "I thank God, through Jesus our Lord!" (Romans 7:24, 25).

Rejecting self in behalf of Christ is required of Christians. Jesus said that if we wanted to follow Him it would mean, "denying our selves." It means setting our mind and affections on "things above." It calls for loving Christ to the point of being willing to sacrifice life itself for Him. In the face of such dedication the devil doesn't have a chance.

Don't under estimate the devil.                                                                                           

-Be aware that he has evil designs on our lives. He hates us.-Be aware -- that the devil was defeated by Jesus at Calvary and at the tomb. Christ has the "keys of death and hell."
-Remember that "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." With Christ, we will defeat the devil in our daily encounters. "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13).
-"Resist the devil and he will flee from you!" (James 4:7) "Withstand the devil steadfastly by your faith" (1 Pet.5:9). Do it in the name of Jesus, and on the authority of His blood. Let us audibly declare our faith in God's Word, which never fails. -Rebuke the devil in Jesus name, reminding him that we are God's redeemed children.
-Loving Christ more than anything, will give us a boldness and an authority over the devil. Walking with Christ leaves the devil powerless.

Satan is clever, a great liar, even setting himself as an "angel of light." But this need not deceive God's people. We must thoroughly acquaint ourselves with God's Word. It will show us we are God's children; -- it will reveal the devil as a deceiver, a vicious enemy, -- and the Word will give us faith, confidence and boldness to oppose the devil. Jesus tells His followers, "Fear not!" "Neither give place to the devil" "Stand against the wiles of the devil." "Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
God's people need not fear the devil or be intimidated by him if they walk with Christ and boldly declare their affiliation with Him through His blood. This also calls for "denying ourselves, taking up our cross" and following Christ (Mat. 16:24).
Victory is ours! -- "and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and loved not their lives unto the death."

There are two great verses that tell us our Good God wants good for us. I know there are many more, but these two come with the conditions.

O fear the LORD, you His saints;
For to those who fear Him there is no want.
The young lions do lack and suffer hunger;
But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.
Psalm 34:9-10  

For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Psalm 84:11 

Now from these verses we see that there are conditions for the good things of God.
I’m not telling you to be religious. I’m not saying we need to simply follow rules. The rule we follow is to keep in step with the Spirit.  I’m not agreeing with a mindset that says, “You’re not good enough to receive the good things of God.” He really does love us. The conditions are for those who:

• Fear the Lord
• Seek the Lord
• Walk uprightly (do what’s right)

We can’t assume we know what we need to do to fear the Lord, seek the Lord, and even walk uprightly. Do a search online for “fear the Lord” and you’ll get some theologians tell you there is no such thing as forgiveness and others say that since perfect love casts out all fear, there is no reason we need to fear God today even though the fear of the Lord is many times mentioned in the New Testament.

Search the Bible for “seek the Lord” and be surprised when it’s hard to find what you expect to find. Most expect things like “pray longer, pray louder” and especially “fast.” Some of those the Bible includes, but God is much more concerned with attitude than action.

Can we really do what’s right in a world that says, “What’s right for you, isn’t right for me?” The only way we can is to see what the Bible says is right, agree with God He knows what’s best for our own good, and do what He says when He tells us to do it. Yes, we need to keep in step with the Spirit.

The Eight Feeling Shuffle

My dad taught me that you live and die for your church. In spite of dealing with stuff everywhere he served he did it with dignity and dillegence. He died at a young age still loving God and serving the church. It is with his training, and that of Pastors Bobby Johnson and I. C. Morris, Jr., that I have learned to persevere in spite of what people say or do to me, my family, or my church. It IS very difficult when you have to deal with drama all the time, but my call to God and my church family is important to me.

I have experienced calamity after calamity with our church building at my current pastorate, which tells me since the devil hasn't been able to kill me (3 heart attacks in 4 years) physically, hasn't destroyed my reputation or integrity (even though he has tried with people I have served and loved), he knows how to dig and dig until he finds your weak spot. Satan knows my love for my church, and after attacking my congregation physically and financially this past year, now he goes again after our building. 

I can tell you it's been a long time since I've felt as bad as I did yesterday after discovering the damage. I felt a little (very little, but a little) like Job. How could this happen after I had just thanked the Lord 2 hours before that we had no damage because of the freezing cold? After spending all week dealing with HVAC issues and trying to solve them now this happens? God- where are You?

I went through my pity party and the 8 feeling shuffle. Maybe you have been there when you feel your world us turned upside down.

The Eight Feeling shuffle seems like reality when your life is turned upside down. It goes like this:

1. It feels/seems like you are all alone
2. It feels/seems like God is not good. (At least not to you)
3. Your fears begin to multiply. (You fear everything but God)
4. It feels/seems like God has abandoned you or is unaware of your situation.

5. It seems like God doesn’t see or hear my cries for help.
6. It feels/seems like God is at best far away (Distant).
7. It feels/seems like God isn’t fair.

8. It feels/seems like this will never get better. (No hope for future)

Yes, I was there yesterday, but the Lord directed me to Psalm 69 this morning. When I read this my mind and heart were quickened by God. Here's what it says:

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God. For the Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners. Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein. For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession. The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein. (Psalms 69:30-36 KJV) 

When everything feels like it's upside down, He's still in control. Sometimes God lets the devil do things to remind us that He still has the final say so. The Lord will bring us through and will bring us out. He is still my God in the time of trouble and is still yours to. Just trust Him and see Him put everything back in order as it should be. Your world maybe upside down today, but God can put it right side up again. Trust Him and see.

Don't

Don't ever be reluctant to show your feelings when you're happy, give in to them.
When you're not, live with it.

Don't ever be afraid to try to make things better. You might be surprised at the results.

Don't ever take the weight of the world on your shoulders.
 
Don't ever feel threatened by the future, just take life one day at a time.

Don't ever feel guilty about the past because what's done is done. Learn from any mistakes you might have made.

Don't ever feel that you are alone for there is always somebody there for you to reach out to.

Don't ever forget that you can achieve as many of the things you can imagine. It's not as hard as it seems.

Don't ever stop loving, don't ever stop believing, and for goodness sake-don't ever stop dreaming your dreams.

Love is

1. "Love is that first feeling you feel before all the bad stuff gets in the way."
   
2. "When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."
   
   
3. "When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth."
   
   
4. "Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."
   
   
5. "Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."
   
   
6. "Love is when someone hurts you. And you get so mad but you don't yell at them because you know it would hurt their feelings."
   
   
7. "Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
   
   
8. "Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
   
   
9. "Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."
   
   
10. "When you tell someone something bad about yourself and you're scared they won't love you anymore. But then you get surprised because not only do they still love you, they love you even more."
    
    
11. "Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it every day."
    
    
12. "Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
    
    
13. "During my piano recital, I was on a stage and scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."
    
    
14. "My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."
    
    
15. "Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken."
    
    
16. "Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
    
    
17. "Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
    
    
18. "You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."

Learn from Your Mistakes

Everyone fails at certain goals. 

That doesn’t mean you’re a failure. The path to success normally includes failures along the way. Accept a failure as a learning opportunity. Perhaps you just need to try again with a different approach. Or maybe you’re having an internal struggle that you need help with. It takes humility and courage to learn from your mistakes and to ask for help. So if that’s what you need to do then do it with your head held high. Just remember these folks:

-Winston Churchill failed the sixth grade. He was defeated in every public office role he ran for.
-Thomas Edison's teachers told him he was "too stupid to learn anything."

-Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because he "lacked imagination and had no good ideas."

-Albert Einstein didn't speak until age four and didn't read until age seven. His teachers labeled him "slow" and "mentally handicapped."

-After his first film, Harrison Ford underwhelmed the producer and was told he would probably never succeed.
-Dr. Seuss' first book was rejected by 27 different publishers.

-Henry Ford's first auto company went out of business.

Don't let mistakes from yesterday slow you down. Press on!

Second Chance

We all need a second chance now and again. I have a friend who is not a very good golfer, which is probably why his favorite thing about golf is "taking a mulligan." You know what a mulligan is, don’t you? If your first shot on the first hole is a bad one then you just pull out another golf ball, tee it up, and smile, "I’ll take a mulligan!" That means you’re starting over. You get a second chance to hit a good shot and your first shot doesn’t count against you!

That’s what God is like. When we hit a bad shot in the game of life He gives us a mulligan. He says, "Go ahead and try again." You sinned. I forgive you. You didn’t give your best. Here’s another chance. God is always ready to give us another chance when we ask for it. And we need to do the same with ourselves and with others. We need to join God in being patient and forgiving and resilient. Try again!

Now is a good time to try again. A new year can be a new beginning. Even if it isn’t the start of a new year when you’re reading this article you can make a fresh start. "I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation," we’re encouraged by the Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 6:2). Right now is a good time to ask yourself, "What do I need to improve about my life?"

There are no good excuses for not seeking to improve ourselves. We all have problems to address and things we need to work on. We all have opportunities of one kind or another. To do our best with what we have is what life is about. When we do we will hear our Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your master’s happiness!" (Matthew 25:21).

A New Season

Intercession always proceeds what God is doing to break yesterday from our lives. We need to respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to align ourselves with His mind and connect with His heart. As we come into agreement with God through His intercessory call to us, He will propel us out of desolation and into prophetic fulfillment.

Intercession is defined as "reaching or meeting someone to pressure them strongly to change a situation." Hebrews 7:25 states of Jesus, "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

The Spirit of God will co-labor with us and reveal our way out of yesterday. But we must pray until we gain the strategy for moving forward and taking a stand against the enemy, who will seek to keep us bound. God will not only break us out of our wilderness, He will cleanse, renew and restore us to a place of communion with Him.

It’s a new season and it’s time to change.  You can’t continue doing the same thing from your past in your present and expect new results.  It’s time to step outside of your comfort zone, it’s time to die to your selfish desires and submit to the will and desires of God.  He wants to push you to a new level and you can’t get there if you don’t allow yourself to be changed!!!

It’s a new season and God has some new things waiting for you, but you have to walk in your season.  Like the lyrics to the song “New Season” says, “It’s a new season, it’s a new day.A fresh anointing is flowing my way.”  God will provide you a fresh anointing for the new season that you are in.  Stop trying to recycle the anointing from last season.  God has something FRESH and new for you! 

Are you ready to step into your new season?  If you are then you must realize it’s time to change!  You can no longer operate in the same manner.  God wants to do something drastic in your life.  Are you ready to change?

You don't have to settle

You don’t have to settle, it’s simply a choice you make every day.  If you feel like you’re running in place there’s a good chance you’re tolerating things you shouldn’t be.  It’s time to reclaim your life.

Starting now, stop tolerating…

1. People who bring you down. Relationships should help you, not hurt you.  Spend time with nice people who are smart, driven and likeminded.
2. A work environment or career field you hate. Don’t settle on the first or second career field you dabble in.  Keep searching.  Eventually you will find work you love to do.  If you catch yourself working hard and loving every minute of it, don’t stop.  You’re on to something big.  Because hard work ain’t hard when you concentrate on your passions.
3. Your own negativity. Be aware of your mental self-talk.  We all talk silently to ourselves in our heads, but we aren’t always conscious of what we’re saying or how it’s affecting us.  Start listening to your thoughts.  If you hear negative thoughts, stop and replace them with positive thoughts.
4. Unnecessary miscommunication. Say what you mean.  Mean what you say.  Speak clearly.  Ask questions.  Clarify things until you understand them.
5. A disorganized living and working space. Clear the clutter.  Get rid of stuff you don’t use.  
6. Your own tardiness. Get up 30 minutes earlier so you don’t have to rush around like a mad man.  That 30 minutes will help you avoid speeding tickets, tardiness and other unnecessary headaches.
7. Pressure to fit in with the crowd. Oftentimes, the only reason others want you to fit in is that once you do they can ignore you and go about their business.  Don’t conform.  Be you, because that’s the only person you can be.
8. An unhealthy body. Your health is your life.  Don’t let it go.  Eat right, exercise and get an annual physical check-up.  
9. Fear of change. Life is change.  Every day is different.  Every day is a new beginning and a new ending.  Embrace it and make the best of it.
10. All work and no play. Enjoy yourself and have a little fun while you can.  If you’re smiling, you’re doing something right.
11. People or beauty ads that make you feel inadequate. Good looks attracts the eyes.  Personality attracts the heart.  Be proud to be you.  You are already beautiful.
12. Not getting enough sleep. A tired mind is rarely productive.
13. Doing the same exact thing over and over again. You are the sum of your life experiences.  The more you experience, the more interesting your life story gets.
14. Personal greed. Don’t let greed and deceit get the best of you.  Greed will bury even the lucky eventually.
15. A mounting pile of debt. Always live well below your means.  Don’t buy stuff you don’t need.  Always sleep on big purchases.  Create a budget and savings plan and stick to them.  
16. Dishonesty. Living a life of honesty creates peace of mind, and peace of mind is priceless.  Period.  Don’t be dishonest and don’t put up with people who are.
17. Infidelity. Intimate relationships are a sacred bond – a circle of trust.  If both parties aren’t 100% onboard the relationship isn’t worth fighting for.
18. An unsafe home. If you don’t feel safe at home you’ll never feel safe anywhere.  Build a loving household in a safe area that you are proud to call ‘home.’
19. Being unprepared. Life is unpredictable.  And there’s a big difference between being scared and being prepared.  Always be prepared.
20. Inaction. Either you’re going to take action and seize new opportunities or someone else will.  You can’t change anything or make any sort of progress by sitting back and thinking about it.

Be Still And Know

Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God." 

God’s people are commanded to “be still” in this verse. This Word gives a solemn duty to those in a covenant relationship with God, Israel in the Old Testament, but today, it is given to Christians. What does it mean when God’s own are commanded to “be still”? This is not given to restrict the mobility of God’s people. The duty represents a spiritual attitude that ought to characterize those to whom God’s unfailing promises have been given.

The word translated “be still” comes from the Hebrew term raphah. This word is found in various forms in the Old Testament, with different shades of meaning. It refers to that which is slack, or to let drop, or in some instances, to be disheartened or weak. When used of a person (as opposed to some inanimate object) it often has a negative connotation.

Interestingly, “be weak” is here commanded. In other contexts, those who let their hands “drop” from work are condemned. Those who are disheartened are commanded to take courage. In contexts where “being still” is condemned, we find that certain obligations were being neglected, and God’s people were admonished to take initiative to fulfill their duties.

Sadly, there are those who are far from “still”; they “do all the work” and give God none of the credit. They believe that by “lifting up their hands” and by “taking courage,” they can survive and thrive by the sweat of their own brow. They can do it all on their own, without any divine dependence. While we must take the initiative to fulfill our responsibilities and live our lives, the uncertainties of living in a world of sin and woe will continually challenge us. Personal initiative is no substitute for reliance upon God.

This command to “be still” forces us to think on two things: that we are finite, and that God is infinite. That being the case, we need to drop our hands, go limp, relax, and “chill out.” Christian people ought to “come, behold the works of Jehovah,” (v. 8) that we may enjoy a calm confidence in him who gave us his Son.

“Shall he not also with him freely give us all things?” Paul reasoned (Romans 8:32). Psalm 46:10 encourages us to reflect on what God can do in the face of what we are unable to do.

Spiritual serenity, the psalmist admits, ought to be cultivated in spite of the shaking mountains and agitated waters (vv. 2-3; i.e., figures for the difficulties we face in life). This spiritual calm, that God commands, does not come from a lack of troubles; it derives from a steady, deep reflection on the ways God has intervened in history on behalf of his people (cf. Romans 15:4).

So as your world crumbles around you, the call from Scripture is: don’t flinch in faith in God. Stand still, not because of a self-made confidence, not because you are the most composed person in the face of disaster, not because “you’ve seen it all.” Be still because of what you know about God. It is “God’s past” that provides calm for “our future.” Know that he is God! Know it, not merely intellectually, but practically, spiritually, and emotionally. He is your God. He is the ruler of kingdoms of this earth and the all-powerful Creator of the Universe.

If you are the last man or woman standing, be still. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth do change” (Psalm 46:1-2a).

Happy New Year!

The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13b, 14 "...but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

It is my prayer that you have a very Happy and Blessed New Year. Obviously, the past is behind us. We can't undo it even if we wanted to, but we can start the New Year with hope and purpose, keeping in mind this thought, "And I said to the one who stood at the gate of the year, 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the Unknown.' And he replied, 'Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.'"

I couldn't think of a better way to start the New Year with God's help. This is my prayer for you in 2014:
-Let this coming year be better than all the others.
-Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time. -Call up a forgotten friend.
-Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories.
-Vow not to make a promise you don't think you can keep.
-Walk tall, and smile more. You'll look ten years younger.
-Don't be afraid to say, 'I love you.' Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world.^"

As each year rapidly passes I'm becoming more aware of the fact that life is short for all of us. So be sure to make 2010 an investment in eternal values knowing that, in the words of the poet, we have "Only one life 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for another New Year in which to serve you. Please help me to invest it wisely in eternal values so that when I stand before you face to face, I will hear your welcome words: 'Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.' Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."