End of the World

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." 2 Corinthians 6:17

All variations of worrying thrive on end of the world thinking.  In other words, our emotions convince us that an undesirable outcome results in annihilation. We ask ourselves:

-What if they don’t like me?

-What if they reject me?

-What if I don’t fit in with the crowd?

None of these things result in the end of the world, but if we convince ourselves that they do, we will irrationally fear the outcomes and give our fears control over us.  The truth is, we are inefficient at correctly predicting how future situations will make us feel.  In fact, most of the time we avoid consciously thinking about it all together, which only perpetuates our subconscious fears and clouds our imagination.

So ask yourself: “If disaster should strike, and my fear of being rejected comes true, what are some constructive ways I could cope and move forward with my life?”

Sit down and think about how you will feel after rejection, how you will allow yourself to be upset for a short while, and then how you will begin the process of growing from the experience and moving on.  Just doing this exercise will help you to feel less fear around the possibility of someone thinking poorly of you.  And you’ll gradually begin to realize what other people think about you really doesn’t matter that much, but what God thinks and the confidence you place in Him matters the most.

Don't be afraid. God is in control. It's NOT the end of the world!

How Do You See Yourself

As much as we want individuality, we worry about what others think more than we want to think. Often we make bad decisions because we want to please others more than we realize. 

But...

People will think what they want to think.  You can’t control them.  No matter how carefully you choose your words and mannerisms, there’s always a good chance they’ll be misinterpreted and twisted upside down by someone.  Does this really matter in the grand scheme of things?  No, it doesn’t.

What does matter is how you see yourself.

So when you’re making big decisions, make a habit of staying 100% true to your values and convictions.  Never be ashamed of doing what feels right.

To help you implement this positive habit, start by listing things that are important to you when it comes to building your character and living your life honorably.  For example:

-Honesty

-Dependability

-Self-respect

-Self-discipline

-Compassion

-Character

-Positivity

Having a list like this to reference will give you an opportunity to consciously invoke your handpicked behaviors in place of doing something random simply for the purpose of validation from your peers.  While it may sound overly simplistic, most people never take the time to actually decide what is important to them when it comes to their self-image – they let others decide for them.  Don't be one of them.

We Might Not Be Perfect

Just a few weeks ago I was looking out on the woods that are around my house as I walked through my yard. It seemed so strange to see how the trees looked on this cold February morning. Their trunks were twisted, wet, and gnarled. They were full of chipped bark and dead limbs. They seemed almost ugly and as far from perfect as you could get. Still, I knew that in just a few weeks they would be alive again with bright, green leaves and in a few months after that they would be full of beautiful colors that would delight the heart and uplift the soul.

Thinking about this made me smile and reminded me that you don't have to be perfect in order to live a blessed life. God knows that I am far from perfect myself. I make mistakes every single day of my life. I am still a gnarled, empty, tree trunk much of the time. I do try, however, moment by moment and choice by choice to live a godly life. I do try each day to choose to share the love and joy of Christ. I do try to grow in holiness with God more and more as I travel the path of life. I think, in fact, one of the best moments in my life was the moment that I decided to stop trying to please everyone and to just live in His love and joy while sharing all the gifts that God gave me. 
We all need to stop trying to please everybody. We all need to stop judging ourselves and just love ourselves. We all need to give up on living a perfect life and enjoy living a godly and beautiful life. Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be, how much you can love, what you can accomplish. or what your potential is.  Let us all live the good news within us then. Let us all grow some bright, green leaves of love in our lives. Let us all share the beautiful colors of peace and joy from our hearts and souls with everyone everywhere. We might not be perfect, but we can still bless the world with the best within us and with the gifts God gives us.

Though the earth may change

"Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change." 

Psalm 46:2

My highest good is always unfolding because God has an eternal plan.

Circumstances change. Plans get interrupted. Life takes unexpected turns. Even so, I remain calm and unshaken as I stand on the solid ground of faith, knowing that my highest good is unfolding and as yet not revealed.

Beneath every outer change is the unchanging Truth of God, which is stable, unvarying, and consistent. In God, nothing is ever lost. In God, there is enough power and strength to meet any life experience. In God, I know I am not alone and I maintain the courage and will to embrace all that life offers.

As conditions change, I am flexible, moving through times of transformation with ease and grace. I expect the manifestation of my highest good, and I embrace whatever form it may take. What I can't handle He can. I will not be afraid of what the future holds because it's in His hands.

I have found that many people will accept seconds rather than make the changes needed to keep them fresh and trusting God. To mimic an old saying, "they will ride a dead horse into the ground" before accepting the necessary changes that could make them relevant. I refuse to be afraid of change or think that change is always bad. God is real and so is life and change is going to come whether we like it or not. It's what we do with it that makes the difference.


"In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?" 

Psalms 56:4 NKJV

 

Seconds

Exercising your soul doesn’t require heavy weights, expensive machines, or gym club memberships. It just requires a willing heart and a giving spirit. In fact, some of the best soul exercises I know can be done in 5 seconds or less. They always leave you feeling better than when you started them and they can be done anytime of the day as well. Best of all they help get your soul fit not just for here but for Heaven as well.

Here are just a few of my favorite 5 second soul strengtheners. Feel free to try them all and then to try out some of your own as well. There is no limit to what you can do to build a healthy soul. You can:
-give someone a hug, share a smile.
-hold a purring cat.
-pet a friendly dog.
-glance joyfully at the sun setting over the hills.
-hum a happy song.
-read an uplifting passage from an inspiring book.
-smell a flower.
-listen to a bird sing.
-share a kind word.
-think a positive thought.
-pray for someone.
-wave at a neighbor.
-laugh at a good joke.
-tell someone you love them.
-tickle a child.
-touch a loved one, look them in the eye, and listen to them.

Most of all you can take those 5 seconds to say, "I love you God and I thank you for my life here." Have fun exercising your soul then. Five seconds may not seem like a long time, but it is long enough to share some love, spread some joy, change a life, and make Heaven smile.

You Are Special

Your presence, is a present to the world.

You're unique and one of a kind.

Your life can be, what you want it to be.

Take the days, just one at a time.

Count your blessings, not your troubles.

You'll make it through, whatever comes along.

Within you, are so many answers.

Understand, have courage, be strong.

Don't put limits on yourself.

So many dreams, are waiting to be realized.

Decisions are too important, to leave to chance.

Reach for your peak, your goal and your prize.

Nothing wastes more energy, than worrying.

The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.

Don't take things too seriously.

Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

Remember, that a little love goes a long way.

Remember, that a lot of love goes forever.

Remember, that friendship is a wise investment.

Life's treasures, are people... together.

Realize, that it's never too late.

Do ordinary things, in a extraordinary way.

Have health, hope and happiness.

Take the time, to wish upon a star.

And don't ever forget for even a day just how very special you are!
 

Just Give Up....

Just give up.....

-Pretending that you have to be who you used to be. When times get tough, our worst battle is often between what we remember and what we presently feel.  Thus, one of the hardest decisions you will ever have to make is when to stay put and struggle harder or when to take your memories and move on.  Sometimes you have to step outside of the person you’ve been, and remember the person you were meant to be, the person you are capable of being, and the person you truly are today.

-Berating yourself for everything you aren’t. Being kind to yourself in thoughts, words and actions is as important as being kind to others.  Extend yourself this courtesy.  Love yourself – your real self.  Work through your fears (dive deep), your insecurities (speak honestly and loudly), and your anger (scream into the pillow – not into the mirror, nor the people you care about; they don’t deserve it.)  Instead of hurting yourself by hiding from your problems, help yourself grow beyond them.  That’s what self-care is all about.  It’s about facing the inner issues that make you believe that you are less than you are.  It’s learning to see that you are already beautiful.  Not because you’re blind to your shortcomings, but because you know they have to be there to balance out your strengths. 

-Regretting, and holding on to, what happened in the past. When you stay stuck in regret of the life you think you should have had, you end up missing the beauty of what you do have.  Not all the puzzle pieces of life will seem to fit together at first, but in time you’ll realize they do, perfectly.  So thank the things that didn’t work out, because they just made room for the things that will.  And thank the ones who walked away from you, because they just made room for the ones who won’t.  As they say, every new beginning comes from another beginning’s end.

-Getting caught up in the negativity surrounding you. To be positive in negative times is not just foolish optimism.  It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of tragedy, but also of success, sacrifice, courage, kindness, and growth.  What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine how well we live.  If we look only for the worst, it destroys our capacity to do our best work.  If we remember those times and places, and there are many, in which people have behaved magnificently, and things have gone well, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning world in a different direction.  And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to sit around and wait for some grandiose and perfect future.  The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live right now as we think we should live, in defiance of all the negativity around us, is in itself an amazing victory.

-Thinking that everyone else has it so much easier than you. When times get really tough, remember this simple truth: Nothing that’s worthwhile is ever easy.  And when you’re struggling with something that’s important to you, and you feel like your life isn’t fair, look at all the people around you and realize that every single person you see is struggling with something, and to them, it’s just as hard as what you’re going through.

I'm Not Nearly As Old As I Used To Be

Joseph Mazzella shared this story on his blog:

The grocery store is a great place to get food for your body, but I have found out recently that it can be an even better place to find food for your heart, soul, and mind. This happened the other day as I was walking through the local store to get some oatmeal. Two elderly ladies were standing by the fruit section catching up on old times. The first one jokingly asked her older friend how old she was now. The older lady answered loudly and to everyone’s delight: "Honey, I’m not nearly as old as I used to be." Everyone within ear shot laughed when they heard this including me. I realized too as I was walking out of the grocery store that I am not nearly as old as I used to be either.

I am not nearly as old as I used to be when I constantly worried about my bills and how I was going to pay them. Now I just trust in God and I always seem to have more than enough. I am not nearly as old as I used to be when I fretted about my weight and my thinning and graying hair. Now I just look in the mirror and smile. The body may look a little older, but the soul on the inside is younger than ever. I am not nearly as old as I used to be when I was always judging others, being angry with them, or worrying about what they thought of me. Now I just do my best to judge noone, love everyone, and share my joy with the world. Life I have found is too short to live any other way.

You don’t have to be as old as you used to be either. God made all of us both ageless and forever young. By choosing love, joy, and oneness with God you can always keep growing younger and younger on the inside. By sharing that love and joy you can give your youth, energy, and vitality to the world. By living from your soul you can stop counting your birthdays, start living for eternity, and always know that you will never again be as old as you used to be.

Don't Always Think The Worst

Having her hair done at a West Hempstead, NY, beauty parlor, a woman told a cautionary tale about racial prejudice. The story deserves a wider audience.

On a recent weekend in Atlantic City the woman related, she won a bucketful of quarters at a slot machine. She took a break from the slots for dinner with her husband in the hotel dining room. But first she would stash the quarters in her room. I'll be right back and we'll go to eat," she told her husband and she carried the coin-laden bucket to the elevator.

As she was about to walk into the elevator she noticed two men already aboard. Both were black.

One of them was big... Very big... An intimidating figure. The woman froze. Her first thought was: These two are going to rob me. Her next thought was: Don't be a bigot, they look like perfectly nice gentlemen, But racial stereotypes are powerful, and fear immobilized her.

She stood and stared at the two men. She felt anxious, flustered, ashamed. She hoped they didn't read her mind but knew they surely did; her hesitation about joining them on the elevator was all too obvious. Her face burned. She couldn't just stand there, so with a mighty effort of will she picked up one foot and stepped forward and followed with the other foot and was on the elevator.

Avoiding eye contact, she turned around stiffly and faced the elevator doors as they closed. A second passed, and then another second, and then another. The elevator didn't move. Panic consumed her. My God, she thought, I'm trapped and about to be robbed! Her heart plummeted. Perspiration poured from every pore. Then one of the men said, "Hit the floor." Instinct told her: Do what they tell you. The bucket of quarters flew upwards as she threw out her arms and collapsed on the elevator carpet. A shower of coins rained down on her. Take my money and spare me, she prayed.

More seconds passed. She heard one of the men say politely, "Ma'am, if you'll just tell us what floor you're going to, we'll push the button".

The one who said it had a little trouble getting the words out. He was trying mightily to hold in a belly laugh. She lifted her head and looked up at the two men. They reached down to help her up. Confused, she struggled to her feet. "When I told my man here to hit the floor," one of the men, the average sized one, told her, "I meant that he should hit the elevator button for our floor. I didn't mean for you to hit the floor, ma'am. He spoke genially. He bit his lip. It was obvious he was having a hard time not laughing. She thought: My God, what a spectacle I've made of myself. She was too humiliated to speak. She wanted to blurt out an apology, but words failed her. How do you apologize to two perfectly respectable gentlemen for behaving as though they were robbing you? She didn't know.

The three of them gathered up the strewn quarters and refilled her bucket. When the elevator arrived at her floor they insisted on walking her to her room. She seemed a little unsteady on her feet, and they were afraid she might not make it down the corridor. At her door they bid her good evening. As she slipped into her room she could hear them laughing while they walked back to the elevator.

The woman brushed herself off. She pulled herself together and went downstairs for dinner with her husband. The next morning flowers were delivered to her room - a dozen roses. Attached to each rose was a crisp one hundred dollar bill. A card said: "Thanks for the best laugh we've had in years".

It was signed, Eddie Murphy and Bodyguard.

The Power Of One

One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.

One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal.

One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room.
One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh will conquer gloom.

One step must start each journey,
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.

One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what's true.
One life can make the difference,
You see, IT'S UP TO YOU!

You Say

YOU SAY:  'It's impossible'
GOD SAYS:  All things are possible
BIBLE VERSES:  Luke 18:27

YOU SAY:  'I'm too tired'
GOD SAYS:  I will give you rest
BIBLE VERSES:  Matthew 11:28-30

YOU SAY:  'Nobody really loves me'
GOD SAYS:  I love you
BIBLE VERSES:  John 3:1 6 & John 3:34

YOU SAY:  'I can't go on'
GOD SAYS:  My grace is sufficient
BIBLE VERSES:  II Corinthians 12:9 , Psalm 91:15

YOU SAY:  'I can't figure things out'
GOD SAYS:  I will direct your steps
BIBLE VERSES:  Proverbs 3:5- 6

YOU SAY:  'I can't do it'
GOD SAYS:  You can do all things
BIBLE VERSES:  Philippians 4:13

YOU SAY:  'I'm not able'
GOD SAYS:  I am able
BIBLE VERSES:  II Corinthians 9:8

YOU SAY:  'It's not worth it'
GOD SAYS:  It will be worth it
BIBLE VERSES:  Roman 8:28

YOU SAY:  'I can't forgive myself'
GOD SAYS:  I Forgive you
BIBLE VERSES:  I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1

YOU SAY:  'I can't manage'
GOD SAYS:  I will supply all your needs
BIBLE VERSES:  Philippians 4:19

YOU SAY:  'I'm afraid'
GOD SAYS:  I have not given you a spirit of fear
BIBLE VERSES:  II Timothy 1:7

YOU SAY:  'I'm always worried and frustrated'
GOD SAYS:  Cast all your cares on ME
BIBLE VERSES:  I Peter 5:7

YOU SAY:  'I'm not smart enough'
GOD SAYS:  I give you wisdom
BIBLE VERSES:  I Corinthians 1:30

YOU SAY:  'I feel all alone'
GOD SAYS:  I will never leave you or forsake you
BIBLE VERSES:  Hebrews 13:5

An Awesome Destiny

The truth of this is in God's promise to the children of Israel in Jeremiah 29:11:

"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

As children into the family of God, we can take hold of that promise for our lives as well. God's desire for each of His children is only ever for good. We can be assured that the destiny we have ahead of us is going to be one that is rich because of His unfailing love toward us.

Somewhere along the line though, we've equated prominence in ministry as being a measure of true success. We may never say that, but it often underlies a lot of our thinking. Yet, how many people are working out their Christian lives quietly but steadily, serving God in the every day little things that come their way? In the Father's eyes, these quiet achievers are precious treasures and they are most definitely, the backbone of the Church.

Destiny isn't just for those who are in the public eye, and in the same way, it isn't just for the young. We all live in God's good promises toward us every single day, whether we're the youngest or oldest of the saints. There is never an age where we can say that we're too old to serve the Lord (or too young for that matter).
Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church."
(1 Corinthians 14:12 NIV)

Whether God's plan for you involves speaking in churches around the world and leading countless thousands to the Lord, or is to raise a family of men and women who are strong in faith and service, be assured that you are living out the Father's awesome destiny for your life. Whether you're to be a missionary and see whole villages converted as God works through you, or act as a missionary to your neighborhood, shining Christ's light into the darkness around you, be confident that you're walking in the awesome destiny God has designed just for you.

God knows the plans that He has for your life. They're all laid out and ready for us to step into. He's just waiting for us to show four things that will let Him know we're ready to follow:

Availability - Willingness - Obedience - Position.

-Availability says, "Here I am Lord"

-Willingness says, "Send me!"

-Obedience says, "Let it be as You say!"

-Position asks, "Where do You want me to go and what do You want me to do?"

So, who has an awesome destiny? YOU!

Faith Guide For Believers

Although things are not perfect

Because of trial or pain

Continue in thanksgiving

Do not begin to blame

Even when the times are hard

Fierce winds are bound to blow

God is forever able

Hold on to what you know

Imagine life without His love

Joy would cease to be

Keep thanking Him for all the things

Love imparts to thee

Move out of "Camp Complaining"

No weapon that is known

On earth can yield the power

Praise can do alone

Quit looking at the future

Redeem the time at hand

Start every day with worship

To "thank" is a command

Until we see Him coming

Victorious in the sky

We'll run the race with gratitude

Xalting God most high

Yes, there'll be good times and there will be bad, but...

Zion waits in glory... where none are ever sad!

The Open Window

When people say God doesn't shut the door without opening the window, I think I know what they mean and I would like to share it with you. When it seems like life has dealt you a bad hand, maybe it is for a reason. I know of someone that grew up in an abused home and was moved around a lot. At times she wanted to give up but she had a very special friend that would not let her. Every now and then a ray of sunshine would appear in her life, just enough to keep her going and just as she began seeing the calm after the storm the ultimate tragedy happened.

Her best friend was killed in an accident, "What else can I tolerate?" she asked. She began searching for a new beginning and every door was shut in her face. One day she spoke to the pastor of her church and pleaded for answers. She asked him, "Why am I being punished, I had parents that didn't love me, all the kids in school always laughed at me and wouldn't be my friend because I was withdrawn and shy, and the one person that showed me love is gone.

I thought "God was a good god." The pastor, taking into consideration the stability of the young lady responded by saying to her, "You have to have faith and trust in yourself before you can see what God has in the works for you." She made the biggest decision of her life that day. She would gain her faith back by helping others so she volunteered at a local hospital where her duties were to look in on terminally ill patients. She found comfort in talking to them and listening to them . She was confused how someone so ill could be in such good spirits but she learned something from working there.

No matter what road you are on, as long as you have faith, the road will be a pleasant journey. It may be difficult for awhile, but just hang in there. God has a window that He's about to open in your life.

Reach Upward

"Ye, though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil."

The journey each of us walks is not always a meadow full of flowers. Sometimes it is a journey up a mountain, loose rocks and steep inclines. We so often loose sight of the beautiful scenery because of our attempts to hold on. We have to struggle with many things in this world that makes us feel alone.

Arthritis grips us tight and wrenches pain from within. Diabetes cuts our feelings ulcerates our skin. Cancer files away at the cells of our body and leaves us weak. Blindness takes away our vision and paints our world black. Mental disabilities hold our thoughts and leave us in a lonely room. Cruelty of others cuts our hearts and leaves us feeling empty. 
But we were born to celebrate and  to reach up and believe. We were born to rejoice and to lift our hands through life. We were born to sing and to praise God with our voice. We were born to love with a spirit of gentleness. We were born to share and to be a blessing to those around us.

Reach up with anticipation and believe for that is God's dream. Lift your hands with praise and live for that is God's purpose. Paint your world with psalms and melodies for that is God's compassion. Hold on with gentleness for that is God's love. Bless those around you for you are God's gift. 

You are no less than a flower planted by angels and nurtured by the hands of God. Don't look down, which is the easy thing to do when life gets tough. Reach up and don't be afraid for the Lord is on your side.

Can You Say Smile?

I once read that the muscles of the face are capable of over 250,000 different combinations of expressions. And one of the most useful is a smile. And though I'm a fan of kissing, I appreciate that smiling is still one of the best things I can do with my lips. 

Sometimes I read something that is so true I know I will never forget it. One of those gems is from someone who said, "A smile across the aisle of a bus in the morning could save a suicide later in the day." Over the years, I've come to realize the magnitude and truth in that statement. People need the healing medicine of the heart that just a smile, even from strangers, provides. In fact, we all need it. And for some folks, that medicine can save a life. 

It appears to me that some of the healthiest people around seem to spend less time trying to scratch an itch to be loved, and more time looking for people to reach out to. These are the ones who are most likely to smile across the aisle of a bus. They understand that everyone is fighting some kind of battle, even if they hide it well. And if they were to express their personal life mission, it might include something like, "I try to always love the people I encounter along life's path." 

They never say they can't make a difference. They never say they have nothing to contribute. They always know that, even if they have nothing else, they can always give a smile, spontaneously and sincerely. A smile may not seem like much, but it can be a warm blanket on a cold night. And for a while, anyway, it can soothe the itch to be loved.  My smile may not save a life, but it might save a day. It's still one of the best things I can do with my lips.

Trespass

I saw a sign in a church parking lot. It read: "Parking for Church Use Only. Violators will be towed." I wondered if it might be more effective if some humor were used: "Parking for Church Use Only. Violators will be baptized and expected to tithe." That should clear the lot. I heard of one church that posted a sign that read, "We forgive those who trespass against us; but they will be towed all the same." 

We've all had people trespass against us in one way or another. And we have each done our share of trespassing. The dictionary defines trespassing as any offense, transgression or error against others. Trespassing covers a huge territory. Though not always intentionally, I know I’ve trespassed plenty over the years and more people than I can remember have trespassed against me. 

In his book Lee: The Last Years, author Charles Flood reports that after the American Civil War, Confederate General Robert E. Lee visited a Kentucky lady who took him to the remains of a grand old tree in front of her house. There she bitterly cried that its limbs and trunk had been destroyed by Union artillery fire. She looked to Lee for a word condemning the North or at least sympathizing with her loss. 

After a brief silence, the general said, "Cut it down, my dear Madam, and forget it." He seemed to know that as long as she continued to recount her losses, she'd never get over them. She had to release the North from her debt in order to find anything like happiness again. 

There’s a lot I have had to cut down and forget. I believe it’s the only way ahead. It’s the only way to really live after loss, hurt or insult. Cut it down and forget it.  People will always trespass against us. But there comes a time to cut the tree down and forget it. For in the end, I’ve discovered that only when I fully release others from my debt am I able to build the happy and productive life I want. And though cutting that tree down is rarely my first impulse, but it is my best final response to those who trespass against me.

God Will Never

Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble."

(1) God will never forsake us because His power will always be greater than the assault of the enemy.

Isaiah 59:19 “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.”  

(2) God will never forsake those who seek after Him.

Psalm 9:10 "And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You."

(3) God will never forsake us because of our age.

Psalm 37:25 "I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread."

 

(4) God will never forsake us because of our position in Him.

Psalm 94:14 "For the LORD will not cast off His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance."

(5) God will never forsake us because of His vow to us.

Hebrews 13:5b "For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

(6) God will never forsake us because He is our constant refuge in the day of our trouble.

Psalm 59:16 "But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble."

Worship (Part 2)

-Worship should never be about reaching an emotional high.

Psalm 100:4 " Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name."

When people seek an "emotional high" from worship and don’t get it, they are disappointed and start blaming the song service, the preacher, or something or somebody else.  Where in the Bible can we go to show that our worship is designed to please the worshipper more than please God? The desire to have an experience or an encounter of emotionalism only gives little regard to what God says in the Bible about giving Him the praise and thanksgiving.

-Worship should never be offered without commitment.

Psalm 100:5 " For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

-Our worship to God requires a personal commitment on our part.  

Deuteronomy 6:5 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

People had rather worship Christ as a babe in a manger than Christ as their crucified savior.  Their worshipping Christ as a babe in a manger requires no commitment on their part.  They feel they can put Him in a box and live the rest of the year as they please.  

-Worshipping Christ as our crucified Savior requires more than just a personal commitment. It requires a complete change of our lifestyle and a willingness to do all that He says. 

Matthew 10:37 " He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."

-Our commitment to worship means we understand that Jesus has forgiven all of our sins, past, present, and future. 

Colossians 2:13-15 " And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

-Our commitment to worship means God has given you His Spirit to enable you to live in a way that pleases Him. 

Galatians 5:25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” 

In Spirit

Worshipping God "in spirit" means with reverence, attentiveness, and having the right purpose of honoring God, while understanding what we are doing.  Hebrews 12:28-29 says, "Let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.  For our God is a consuming fire."  Our worship must glorify God.  1 Corinthians 6:20 says, "For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."

     In order to worship God in the right spirit, we must take time before worship to make ready our hearts and emotions so we will be in the proper frame of mind.  We read in Psalms 89:7, "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him."  Our worship must show great reverence toward God.  He is our creator and He holds our eternal destiny in His hands.  We must strive to please Him.  We should not have to rush or hurry to worship, arriving late but should always plan to be there early enough so we can be in a worshipful attitude and spirit.  Our mind must be ready, attentive, and alert.

In showing reverence and respect to God, we will not be indifferent, inattentive, and taking lightly that which should be considered serious.  Worship to God is holy.  Our character in worship must also be holy.  In 1 Peter 1:15-16 we read, "But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in your conduct, because it is written, Be holy for I am holy."  Slouching over, sleeping, playing with babies, squirming, unnecessary talking, and passing notes all show disrespect in worshipping God.  Worship which is insincere, that is not from the heart, is vain, useless, and unacceptable to God.  Jesus says, "This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me" (Mark 7:6).  Active participation will tend to get rid of our lack of interest and inattentiveness.

Reverence is not having a long face, folded hands, or a put on look of piety.  Worship is a time of joy for us.  It is a time of offering thanks, adoration, love, praying, singing praises to God, feeding on His word, and proclaiming Christ to the world in partaking of the Lord’s Supper.

 

 

Worship

Worship should never be just a spectator event. 

Psalm 100:1, 2 "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing."

Hebrews 13:5 " By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."

Much worship today has digressed to be no more than entertainment for people.  If we have choirs just to sing to us or concerts just to entertain us, we are not worshipping God; but we have become the spectators who are being entertained.  We dare not become spectators, because in worship it is God who is the spectator. People have the roles reversed.  People expect divine will to conform to what seems right in their own eyes.  

Proverbs 12:15 "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise."

Sadly, the emphasis is how can the worship service be made more entertaining to people to draw a crowd and please themselves and not God. In worship we must be the participants, not just observers. 

Worship to God should never be to please men.

Psalm 100:3 " Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."

Galatians 1:10 " For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." 

Many people seem to think that God will accept anything they offer and be glad to get it. 

-To pervert and corrupt worship in trying to please and gratify ourselves is nothing short of blasphemy.  

-Worship is God-centered not man-centered.  When our worship is to please God instead of ourselves, then and only then will our worship be much more meaningful, spiritually uplifting, and acceptable to God.

Failure

After more than 40 plus years in pastoral work, I am sure now that failure is integral to Christian ministry and making us into a Champion for Christ. It was for Jesus in His ministry: 

-He failed with the young ruler.

-He failed in Nazareth because of the people's unbelief.

-He failed with Judas Iscariot.

-He failed with the bulk of His fellow countrymen.

-He failed with the religious leadership.

-He failed with nine of the ten lepers.

-He failed with Pontius Pilate.

Yet in the face of repeated failure, Jesus taught us to be champions because He remained steadfast in the love of His Father and kept His Father's Word. 

These events in His ministry were not mistakes: 

-He took the risk of being open with people with the love of God. Many responded favorably, but many did not. 

-He ministered in unusual ways that went against what most religious people thought should be.

-He lived what He said and said what He lived.

-He was the faith, but He walked by faith and taught us how to do the same.

If, then, we live in the love of God and listen to the Word of God, we will meet constant failure. It will be tempting, because we live in such a results-dominated society, to see failure as reprehensible and therefore to be avoided. One way to avoid failure is to call it a mistake and then to try to eliminate any mistakes, to make sure we get things right and that we succeed. Many local churches base their activities on such priorities and virtually reject anything that is at all risky, because "we cannot afford to make mistakes." 

He was a sixth-grade dropout, a farmhand, an army mule-tender, a locomotive fireman, a railroad worker, an aspiring lawyer, an insurance salesman, a ferryboat entrepreneur, a tire salesman, an amateur obstetrician, an (unsuccessful) political candidate, a gas station operator, a motel operator and finally, a restaurateur. 

It was his recipe and method of frying chicken that earned him the title of Colonel and he sold his first franchise in 1952 to Mr. Leon "Pete" Harmon in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was a long way from his Corbin, Kentucky home. It was Mr. Harmon that painted the now famous name "Kentucky Fried Chicken" on his State Street cafe and began to sell the chicken by the bucketful. It was also Mr. Harmon that created the first paper bucket filled with 14 pieces of chicken, mashed potatoes, rolls, and gravy, which sold then for $3.50. 

Nobody would have considered Colonel Harland David Sanders as a champion of business when he had so many failures in life. But he never gave up and in spite of all his failures his name and memory lives on.

A Champion for Christ understands that failure is not the end, just the beginning to a closer walk with God.

Been There Before

If life were easy we would be tempted to think we don’t need God’s grace. If the sky were always blue, we wouldn't cry out to God in desperation. Hard times break us of our self-reliance, expose our weakness, and show us our need for God.

James mentions a crown of life in James 1:12. Surely one part of it is the “abundant life” Jesus promised to those who follow him (John 10:10). But the biggest part comes when we finally get to heaven. It is a reward from Jesus himself for enduring hardship in this life.

When hard times come, we can know that God is at work in our trials for our benefit and for his glory. To say that is to say nothing more than the words of Romans 8:28. For the children of God, “all things” do indeed work together for good. Sometimes we will see it; often we will simply have to take it by faith. But it is true whether we believe it or not.

Understanding The Journey

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever."

Psalms 111:10 

When it comes to understanding what God is doing in the world, we are like ants on a famous painting. We crawl across the dark brown and think all of life is dark brown. Then we hit green and think, ’”Oh, this is better. Now all is green.” But soon comes the dark blue and then a splash of yellow, a streak of red, and then another patch of brown. On we journey, from one color to another, never realizing that God is actually painting a masterpiece in our lives using all the colors of the palette.

One day we will discover that every color had its place, had a reason, nothing was wasted or out of place. Just as there is a time and a season for everything, there is also a color for every stage of life’s journey. When the painting is finished, we will discover that we were part of his masterpiece from the very beginning.

Take Me To The Cross

During one of his sermons Billy Graham told the story of a patrolman on night duty in a town in northern England.  As he walked the streets, he heard a quivering sob. Shining his flashlight into the darkness, he saw a little boy in the shadows sitting on a doorstep and tears were running down his cheek. The child said, “I’m lost. Please take me home.” And the policeman began naming street after street, trying to help the boy remember where he lived. He named the shops and the hotels in the area but the little boy could give him no clue.

Then he remembered that at the center of the town there was a church with a large white cross that towered above the rest of the city. The policeman pointed to the cross and said, “Do you live anywhere near that place?” The little boy’s face immediately brightened up. He said, “Yes, sir. Take me to the cross and I can find my way home.”

All that we believe, all that we have, all that we hope for is found in the cross of Christ. Go to the cross and you will find your way home to God.

Are you weak? So am I.
Are you needy? So am I.
Are you guilty? So am I.
Are you frail? So am I.
Are you like dust? So am I.

And God says to us, his weak, needy, guilty, frail, dusty children, “I know you through and through, and I love you anyway. Come to me. Rest in me. Make me your Rock.” God’s mercy in Christ is more than enough for all of us. Amen.

The Message Of Easter

The message of Easter is all powerful today.

What a reunion that must have been when Creator embraced Creator and said, "Well done Son. Welcome home." What a wonderful thing to see the bloody Passover Lamb of Good Friday crowned with glory and honor, and handed the scepter of all the universe. Then He took His place at the right hand of His father.

But it is also wonderful to hear Jesus say, "I want others to be with me, Father. I want others to share my glory. I want my gladness in your glory to overflow like a mountain spring and become the gladness of others. I want my joy in you to be in them and their joy to be full forever and ever."

On Easter Sunday morning Jesus blew the lock off the prison of death and gloom and returned to the gladness of God. With that he put his sanction on the pursuit of happiness and he opened the way for sinners to find never-ending satisfaction at the fountain of the glory of his grace.

From the right hand of God he speaks to everyone of us today and invites us to the never-ending banquet: 

John 6:35"I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst."

John 11:25, 26 " I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 

Where do you stand with God this Easter Sunday? Jesus is alive and ready to make intercession for you. Will you receive Him this day?

Good News

There’s good news from the graveyard this morning.

Good news that the tomb is empty.

Good news that Jesus rose from the dead.

Good news that the Devil couldn’t hold him.

Good news that death has lost its sting.

Good news that the grave has lost its victory.

Good news that we need not fear death any more.

As far as I know my heart this morning, I am not afraid to die.

Not because I am especially brave. For I am not.

But I know what’s on the other side.

My Lord has come back and told me what I can expect.

I don’t have anything to worry about.

If you hear that I have died tonight, when you bury me,

Stick up a sign that says, “Temporary residence.”

I’m coming back up. You can count on it.

I say that without any sense of pride or boasting. For my resurrection does not depend on me.

It does not depend on my good deeds.

It does not depend on any merit in me at all.

It depends solely and wholly on my Lord Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead on Easter Sunday morning. He promised that if I would trust in him, someday I would rise with him. I’ve staked my entire life on that promise. If it’s not true, I have no other hope.

But it is true. That’s why I don’t plan on staying dead forever. 

We Shall Live Again

Jesus said of his church that the gates of hell would not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). How can that be since we are all going to die someday? The answer is, the churchdoesn’t depend on mortal men. It is built on the word and promise of Jesus Christ who is the Living One, who was dead and is now alive forevermore, who holds the keys of death and Hades in his hand. 

Death cannot keep its prey,

Jesus my Savior.

He tore the bars away,

Jesus my Lord.

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes.

He arose a victor from the dark domain

And He lives forever with His saints to reign.

He arose, He arose, Hallelujah, Christ Arose.

That is our assurance. That is our hope. Death cannot win in the end. Death has been defeated. And the day is coming when death itself will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14). Death was defeated when Jesus rose from the dead, and one day death will be no more. 

So let the people of God rejoice. Jesus is alive! Though we die, we will not stay dead. The gates of hell will not prevail. Satan has the gates, but Jesus has the keys.

Will You Believe?

All that Christianity asks is that men be consistent with themselves. Sift the evidence, judge the record, examine the testimony, and then come to your conclusion. It’s all right to doubt, but don’t let your doubts keep you away from the truth.

Jesus himself asked this question of those who come to him, “What do you think of Christ? Whose Son is he?” Before you answer, here is the evidence for you to consider. Go to the tombs of the founders of the great world religions. Call the roll:

Mohammed … … “Here”

Buddha … … … ."Here”

Confucius … … . ."Here”

Moses … … … . . “Here”

Jesus Christ … . . . 

No answer because he is not there. The tomb is empty! Doubt if you will, but the tomb is still empty because he is not there. He is risen, just as he said. In the early church Christians greeted each other this way: One would say, “He is risen.” Another would answer, “He is risen indeed.” It is true and we have staked our lives upon it!

Can a person who calls himself a Christian ever doubt the resurrection? The answer must be yes for the ones who knew him best and loved him most doubted at the first, but we cannot leave the matter there. Thomas realized who Jesus was and said, “My Lord and my God.” Then John said, “These things are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life in his name.” (John 20:31) 

No one can remain neutral forever. You can bring your doubts to the empty tomb, but you have to make a choice! You can’t stay on the fence forever. Doubting is no sin, but at some point you’ve got to stop doubting and start believing. Either you believe or you don’t! 

Easter Sunday morning is a wonderful day to make a choice. It’s a great day to stop doubting and start believing. You know that Jesus died, there is no doubt about that. You know that he died for you. You know that he rose from the dead. The question God is asking you is very simple: What have you done with my Son?

Jesus said, “Stop doubting and believe.”

He Never Said A Word

Isaiah 53:7 "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Sometimes you are known by what you don't say. In this case, Isaiah prophesied that Christ would not open his mouth to defend himself, even in the face of certain death. Hundreds of years later that came true when he stood in front of his accusers:

“But Jesus kept silent” (Matthew 26:63).

“He did not answer” (Matthew 27:12).

“But he kept silent and did not answer” (Mark 14:61).

“But Jesus made no further answer” (Mark 15:5).

“But he answered him nothing” (Luke 23:9).

“But Jesus gave him no answer” (John 19:9).

 

 

When Jesus stood before Pilate and Caiaphas, he would not defend himself, and he did not try to explain himself. In the case of Caiaphas, his mind was already made up. Pilate’s situation was different. Because he was confused about Jesus’ true identity, he did not have a bias against him. But even with Pilate, Jesus would only speak in order to force him to make a decision, not to enter into a debate with him.

Pilate had to decide what to do with Jesus. In that sense, he stands for all of us. Once Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent, he should have let him go. But he didn’t. We can speculate about Pilate’s motives for hours, but in the end he could not wash his hands of the guilt of Jesus’ blood. Jesus spoke to him only to help him come to a decision. Once he knew the truth (that Jesus was innocent), the Lord had nothing more to say to him.

 

 

When Peter wrote to the beleaguered, scattered, persecuted Christians in the first century, he used this passage as an example for how to respond when you are attacked for your faith:

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:21-23).

 

According to Peter, following Jesus means that sometimes we will suffer even when we have done nothing wrong. The greatest honor for any Christian is to be like Jesus. When we suffer unjustly, we share in a tiny portion of what happened to him. Though he did no wrong, he was betrayed, tried, denied and crucified. Though he never sinned, he was hated by the power brokers who plotted to kill him. The same thing will happen to us. People close to us will disappoint us, and some will turn against us.

 

How will we respond?

 

Peter points to Jesus and says, “He did not retaliate.” When we are insulted, our natural inclination is to return an insult for an insult. But Jesus chose a better way. As the old spiritual puts it, “He never said a mumblin’ word.” When he stood before Pilate and Herod, and when he faced the jeering mob, he uttered no insults, he made no threats.

-When they scourged him, he didn’t retaliate.

-When the soldiers put the crown of thorns on his head, he didn’t curse at them.

-When they drove the nails in his hands and feet, he didn’t threaten them.

-When the bystanders spat at him, he didn’t spit back.

-When they swore at him, he didn’t swear back.

 

 

You find out what you really believe when others mistreat you. Sometimes the real test of your faith is what you don’t do. Sometimes you’ll be a better Christian by not saying anything at all.

When you are mistreated, repeat these four sentences:

-It’s not about me.

-It’s not about now.

-It’s all about God.

-It’s all about eternity.

As you read these words, I encourage you to stop right now and say those four sentences out loud. Write them down on a card, and put the card where you can see it. Try repeating those sentences every day for a week so that the truth will be tattooed on your soul.

Let me ask you a question: Do you think Jesus was a helpless victim that day at Calvary? He was the Son of God. He had the power to call down a legion of angels to set him free. He had but to say the word and all of heaven would come to his aid. But he never said that word.