My Unhurried Time Notes

Consecration

2012-01-30T20:56:00.000-05:00

Another essential truth for believers to comprehend and to practice is consecration.(Leviticus 8:33,34) Aaron and the priests were consecrated to the Lord and to His service. They actually spent 7 days in the tabernacle as a part of their consecration. In this way they were brought to the place of communion with God and the correct attitude for service.

Many people think that they need to rededicate themselves to the Lord when they really need to be consecrated to Him. The concept of re-dedication involves deciding to try harder to be good and serve the Lord, instead of getting off track. The problem with re-dedication is that no one can serve the Lord in his own power, and no one can get better by trying harder. We always fail when we just grit our teeth and say that we will never do that again, or we will always do the right thing.

Consecration is the answer. We are consecrated to God when we admit we can't live righteously by ourselves. Then, we give ourselves to the Lord fully and ask Him to take us and use us in His power and wisdom. Consecration means to be set apart from the world and set apart to His service. We cease doing things in the flesh, and we allow the Spirit to take control. It is the only way to live the Christian life successfully,

Tomorrow, I intend to read Leviticus 9-11.

Atonement

2012-01-29T20:37:00.000-05:00

Leviticus is a book of atonement. Many people do not understand the concept of atonement. They may think about forgiveness, but often, they do not completely grasp the full meaning of what it means to forgive another person or to be forgiven by someone else, either.(Leviticus 4:20) I believe we need to seek to apply these truths in our lives.

In the Old Testament the priest would offer the correct sacrifice for the specific sin the person had committed. Once the person confessed the sin and participated in the sacrifice his sin was forgiven. The sin was sent away. It was cleansed, so that God did not hold them responsible for that sin any more. Also, the sacrifice brought atonement for the sin. The person was "at-one" with God again. Atonement is "at-one-ment."

Our sins separate us from God.(Isaiah 59:1,2) This breaks our relationship to some degree, even if we believe in Him. For us to be restored, there must be the removal of the sin and the restoration of the close relationship. That is what was accomplished by the sacrificial system in the Old Testament.

Now, once we know Christ, our sins are forgiven by the blood of Christ shed for us on the cross. They are all sent away at once so God does not hold them against us any more. We are cleansed, and our standing before God is just like we had never sinned. However, when we sin after salvation, our sins still interrupt our close fellowship with God. He can't look upon our sin. He knows we are harboring sin in our heart. Therefore, we have to confess our sins specifically.(I John 1:9) Then, the sins are taken away from between us and God, and we are at one with Him once again.

Please, don't let your sins remain unconfessed, because God will not hear your prayers.(Psalms 66:18) You will not have the fullness of joy that comes from walking closely with Him. However, He waits like a Loving Father, ready to forgive and to walk with you.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Leviticus 6-8.

Pleasing God

2012-01-28T21:59:00.000-05:00

Of course, the Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God.(Hebrews 11:6) What exactly is faith? Faith is trusting God. If we really trust Him, we will do what He tells us to do. That shows that we trust Him. It is real live faith, not just a feeling of some kind. The children of Israel pleased God because they did exactly what He told them to do in building the Tabernacle.(Exodus 39:42,43)

Therefore, when the Tabernacle was all constructed, God moved in to live among them.(Exodus 40:34,35) The people could see His Presence because there was the cloud in the day time and the fire at night. It was a constant reminder that He was there. However, it was more than that. His glory or substance in the tabernacle was so strong that Moses could not go into the Tabernacle at first. He would have been overwhelmed by His majesty and power.

Then, as we read over into Leviticus, we can see how they were to continue to please God by offering their sacrifices in the right way. There was to be no leaven offered with any sacrifice. Leaven or yeast represented sin and how sin spreads. God was meaning that they needed to come to Him with clean hearts.(Leviticus 2:11) Also, every offering was to include salt.(Leviticus 2:13) Salt was a preservative. It reminded the people to preserve the truths of God to pass on to later generations, so they could know Him in truth, too.

Many of us will go to worship tomorrow. Will we be pleasing to God? Will we be able to go into the presence of God knowing we have done all that He commanded us to do this past week? Will we go with clean hearts? Will we be worshiping Him in Spirit and in Truth? It is not how loud we sing or say "Amen." It is how much we trust Him and walk with Him every day. When He sees that, He comes to us in glory and power, and we have a radical experience with the Living God. I pray that will happen for many of us tomorrow.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Leviticus 3-5.

A Good Problem To Have

2012-01-27T21:40:00.000-05:00

Moses called on the children of Israel to bring a free-will offering, so that the craftsmen would have enough materials for the Tabernacle. He emphasized that it was only to be done from a willing heart, and he told them what was needed. Then, the people came with their offerings.

It wasn't long before the workers came with a message for Moses, "... and they spoke to Moses saying, "The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the Lord commanded us to do."(Exodus 36:5) What a good problem to have! There was too much offering for the service which the Lord commanded. Oh that we could hear that announcement today.

They were building a dwelling place for God and a place of worship. That was a grand service. Today, we should not focus just on buildings, but on the ministry that is so necessary to reach the world for Christ. What if every pastor could come to the stage and tell the people, "Stop giving to International missions, because we have much more than enough to reach the world for Christ?" That would be a glorious day. The same is true for North American missions, our local Christian ministries and the ministries of each church. Wouldn't it be great to hear that we have much more than enough?

I believe God's plan for each believer to give ten percent of their income plus offerings for special needs would accomplish that goal, if each person gave from a willing heart and cheerfully to do the work of the Lord. I pray that one day we would have this problem in our churches.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 39-40 and Leviticus 1-2.

The Presence of the Lord

2012-01-26T20:48:00.000-05:00

When the children of Israel made the golden calf and worshiped it while Moses was still on the mountain with God, the Lord became very angry. He would have killed all of the people and started over with Moses. However, Moses interceded for his people. He urged God to have mercy on them. God is merciful, so He listened to Moses' prayer.

God's solution was a merciful solution. He decided not to destroy all of the people. He would send them up to the land that flowed with milk and honey, but He would not go with them. He was so angry with their sin that He thought He would stay away, so that He did not change His mind and kill them. This was merciful, but it was also unsatisfactory to Moses.

Moses told the Lord that if His Presence did not go with them to the Promised Land, they would not go. They would stay there with the Lord. Once Moses interceded for the people in that way, God relented and promised to go with them.(Exodus 33:14,15) Moses knew that life was empty without the Presence of God.

Have you come to experience the Presence of the Lord in your life. If not, you do not know what life can be like. It is totally different to know Him and to walk in the warmth and light of His Presence every day. I urge you to trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. Then, the Presence of the Lord will abide with you continually.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 35-38

God With Us

2012-01-25T22:59:00.000-05:00

God desires to be with us. Consider what that says about God's nature. He is a personal being. He is love, and He wants to be with us to show us His love. That reality about God sets Him apart from every idol or deity man has invented to worship.

God put Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, and He went down to walk with them each day. They had fellowship with their Creator, because He wanted to be with them. Everything went well until sin entered the picture. However, even the sins of man did not keep God from wanting to be with us.

God made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He promised Jacob that He would be with him everywhere he went. He sent Moses to lead the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt. Then, one of His first instructions for Moses was to build a Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was God with us. He lived in the holy place of the Tabernacle. His Presence was seen going with them in the wilderness by the cloud that led them by day and the fire that led them at night. God was with them.(Exodus 29:45,46)

Later the Temple was built, so God dwelt with His people. Finally, Jesus, Himself, was God with us. He came to be with us. When He left to go back to Heaven, He promised to send His Spirit to live in every believer. The Spirit is God with us. Our bodies are now the temple of God. That is how important you are to God. He longs to be with you.

All of that is true about God's heart to be with us. However, He never forces Himself on anyone. He will not come into your life until you trust Him as Lord and invite Him to come into your life as Lord of your life. Even after you know Him, as Lord, He waits each day to spend time with you. He doesn't force you to walk with Him and talk with Him. He longs for the day that we have the same desire to be with Him that He has to be with us.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 32-34.

Over His Heart

2012-01-24T19:59:00.000-05:00

God designed everything about the Tabernacle where the Israelites would worship Him in their journey to the Promised Land. He had shown Moses the plans when he went up Mount Sinai to meet with Him. Then, He told Moses to be sure to build it exactly like the plans given to him. Moses was faithful down to the smallest details.

Part of God's instructions were for the clothes of the priests who offered the sacrifices, and for Aaron, the High Priest, who would go into the Holy Place once a year to offer blood on the Mercy Seat to atone for the sins of all of the people. It was a fearful task to go into God's Presence. Aaron could be thinking about a lot of things when he approached God. However, the design of his breastplate caused him to make sure he always remembered the people to whom he was ministering. The breastplate had the names of the 12 sons of Israel positioned right over Aaron's heart. Isn't that a wonderful picture?

God is Love. He does what He does out of love. The High Priest was to serve in the same love for God's people. He was not merely to function as a priest; he was to give the sacrifice in love for all of the people in the 12 tribes. Now, Jesus is our High Priest. He offered the ultimate sacrifice of His own blood for our sins. Jesus did it all in love, as well. When He died on the cross all of the people of the world were on His mind and in His heart, because He was offering Himself in love for us.

Aaron's breastplate was a memorial before the Lord continually.(Exodus 28:29) Now, the Cross of Christ is a memorial before the Lord forever. The sinless Lamb of God was willing to give Himself out of love for each of us.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 29-31.

Doing The Words Of God

2012-01-23T21:45:00.000-05:00

When Moses delivered the words that God had told him to the children of Israel, the people responded with "one voice." They were united in their reply to Moses, when they affirmed, "All the words which the Lord has said we will do."(Exodus 24:3) This is a very significant answer for several reasons.

First of all, it shows that they knew they could not pick and choose what they would believe of God's Word. We cannot see the Bible like a cafeteria. God does not expect us to read through the Word and throw out what we don't want, while keeping the things that please us. Jesus told us when He came to earth, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."(Matthew 4:4) If we are to be blessed by the Lord, we must receive all of His Word and live by it in the power of His Spirit.

Also, we see in the answer of the Israelites that they realized the need to set the bar of obedience high in our own lives. They knew that when people seek to do as little as possible, they can't please the Lord. They said they would do "all" of His words, because they were committed to setting the bar very high. Holiness is striving to be like Jesus. We must do what is right, and we must stay away from what is wrong. We only do that when we do all of the words of God.

I pray that we will all respond to God like the Israelites did. I hope we will do this as individuals and as churches. There is no limit to what God could do with a church willing to make this affirmation. I would love to be a part of that, and I am so glad to be the pastor of a church which truly wants to do all of the Word of God. I pray that we will do it with all of our hearts.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 26-28.

The Test Of Your Beliefs

2012-01-22T20:33:00.000-05:00

Moses told the children of Israel that God had come to them to "test" them.(Exodus20:20) God made an unmistakable impression upon the Hebrews when they saw His Presence descend on Mount Sinai with thundering and lightening. They knew they were seeing God's power and receiving His message through Moses. All of this, together with the Passover and the Red Sea crossing on dry ground, was done so that God would see what they would do. That was their test.

We do what we believe. Our belief is not some mystical thing in our hearts. We behave based on what we believe to be true. If we believe God is alive, and He is the most powerful Being in the universe, we will worship Him. If we believe, we can't live righteously ourselves, but He will lead us and give us the power, then, we pray for God's direction and power. If we believe His Word is our food and His special revelation of His will to us, then, we read God's Word, and we do what He says. If we don't worship God, pray to God, and read His Word, we do not really believe in God. We do not trust Him. We are fooling ourselves that we have Jesus in our hearts. Jesus comes to live where He is Lord, and when He moves in, He makes a difference.

God revealed Himself to Israel, and He stepped back to see, if they would pass the test of faith and fear. He reveals Himself to us, and He watches to see if we trust Jesus and fear the Lord. He can tell by what we "do," not just by what we "say." If we fear God, we will be deterred from sin. If we love the Lord, we will keep His commandments. If we trust Him, we will obey His Word out of love. The test is what we do. Our faith is seen by what we do. Are we trusting Him or ourselves? Believe me, trusting Jesus is the only way to live in this world.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 23-25.

A Holy Group Of People

2012-01-21T19:09:00.000-05:00

God had an amazing purpose for the Hebrew people after He brought them out of their bondage in Egypt. He was not going to just give them a land and fulfill His other promises to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. His purpose was to reach the world through them. They were to obey His commands and be to Him "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."(Exodus 19:6) If they followed His desires, the whole world would come to see that He was the Only True God, like the Egyptians did.

Think about it. What does a priest do? He stands between God and the person who has come to connect with God through a sacrifice or through worship. The priest is able to lead the other person to the Lord, because he already knows the Lord, and he knows what it takes for others to know Him. Also, they were to be a holy nation. The word holy means "set apart." They were to be set apart from sin. They were to be different, because they did things God's way. The word nation means a "people group." It is not talking about government and boundaries around a land. It is a group of people who have common bonds. In this case the bond was to be their faith in God.

Sadly, the children of Israel did not fulfill their purpose. Instead, they were a poor witness most of the time, because they chose to neglect God's laws and follow the idols their neighbors worshiped, They led people away from the Lord. It broke God's heart.

The interesting thing about this truth is that the Bible says the same thing about us, as Christians.(I Peter 2:9) We are called to be a "royal priesthood, a holy nation." We are priests of the King of Kings, and we are a people group set apart for our Lord Jesus Christ. People should be able to see the difference, and we should be leading them to know Christ. I pray that we will not fail like the Israelites did, but it seems that is the case at the present time. We have our sights on so many other things, instead of God's purpose for us.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 20-22.

God's Great Work Of Deliverance

2012-01-20T22:11:00.000-05:00

God brought the Israelite slaves out of the most powerful country in the world through the Passover and the Red Sea. Both events made a huge impact on the people. When the people killed the lamb and ate it at midnight while the final plague struck the firstborn people and livestock of Egypt, they experienced a great work of deliverance. Then, just a short time later they walked through the Red Sea on dry ground and watched the Egyptian army drown in the waves. There was no doubt they had seen the hand of God deliver them. The result was that they feared the Lord and believed in Him.(Exodus 14:31)

These events have been called the salvation experience of Israel. Today, we have a similar experience that should lead us to the same result. We see the Lamb of God, Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins, so that death can't touch us. We have eternal life in Him. Then, when we trust Christ as Lord, we are born again. We become new creatures. The old man is dead and gone. We are delivered from the penalty of sin. Satan was defeated on the cross, and in the power of the Spirit we can live in victory every day. All of this should lead us to fear what the Lord can and will do to us, if we disobey or neglect His commands. Also, we should believe or trust Him once and for all, as well as every day of our lives. He is worthy of all of our trust.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 16-19.

Favor in Unfavorable Circumstances

2012-01-19T19:55:00.000-05:00

In Exodus 11:3 we find a very surprising statement, "And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people." As the Egyptians were being tormented by the 10 plagues, they were seeing the Israelites and Moses in a favorable manner. Even though they knew that the terrible circumstances they were enduring came because of Moses and his people, the Egyptians still saw Moses as a great person. How could this happen?

Well, first of all, I must say that the Bible clearly says that "the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians." The favor came because of God's power to influence people, even people who do not believe in Him. However, I believe it is because the unbelievers saw the way the people and Moses conducted themselves. Also, they were impressed by the power of God working miracles through Moses and protecting the Israelites. It was evident to the Egyptians that there was a big difference between Pharaoh and Moses, as well as between them and the Hebrews. God's Spirit helped them to see those things as a witness that the Lord is the One True and Living God.

The same thing happens today when unbelievers see a very sincere, moral follower of Jesus. They don't often change their belief, because they do not want to change their lifestyle, but they do have favor toward those true believers. One huge example is Billy Graham. Think of how many times unbelievers have heard him say, "the Bible says" this or that. They have even heard him speak about those who don't trust Christ going to Hell. However, they still respect him and give him favor. When an unbeliever gets in trouble, many times they go to the church for help. Why is that the case? They have favor toward Christians, and they believe they have a better chance of getting help from them than from others. People know genuine righteousness when they see it. They know the pure power of God, too. When they see those things, they know God is real, but they may not give in to Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 12-15.

A Sobering Reality

2012-01-18T12:22:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, God commissions us to speak to other people on His behalf. Stop, and let that sink in for a minute. That reality has a lot of implications for us and for others.

God sent Moses to speak to Pharaoh for Him. So the Lord said to Moses, "See I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron, your brother, shall be your prophet." (Exodus 7:1) Moses was to listen to God and deliver God's message in God's way to Pharaoh. He had Aaron to aid in this because of his lack of confidence in his ability to speak, but it was up to Moses to accomplish God's mission.

I am convinced that God does the same thing in the lives of believers today. We have to look no further than the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus was given "all authority" in heaven and on earth. In that authority He sent out His disciples to make disciples of all people groups in the world. Now, we are His mouthpiece, His hands, and His feet to share the gospel, to baptize, and to teach the new disciples to do the same things. Jesus goes with us, but He is not going to do it for us. Read those verses and see if that is not what they say.

Therefore, we are as God or Christ to the unbelievers around us.(II Corinthians 5:20) We must determine to represent Him well, and to deliver the message of Christ to all. Moses had a grand mission and so do we.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 9-11.

The Call Of God

2012-01-17T19:48:00.000-05:00

Moses had a very unusual experience in the desert with his sheep. He saw a bush that was burning, but it was not consumed. When he turned aside to see what was happening, God spoke to him. God knows how to get our attention, doesn't He? How did He get your attention? He reveals Himself to us all, but some of us don't turn aside to listen to Him.

When God calls, He is very specific. He told Moses He would send him to Pharaoh to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt.(Exodus 3:10) That was a daunting task. In fact, no human could do that on his own. It had to be done in God's power. When God calls, He always supplies the directions and the power. None of us can be saved from our sins, except by His power. No one can accomplish anything He calls us to do without His power. The great thing is that we can count on Him to supply whatever we need.

Moses made many excuses why he could not be the one to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He did not stop to consider with Whom he was speaking. He was hearing from the Creator of the universe, and the God who created him in his mother's womb. It wasn't very smart for Moses to argue with God, and it is not smart for us either. Finally, Moses agreed to go. It wasn't easy, but He trusted God. He was in for the ride of His life.

When God calls, I hope you will listen. He called me to trust Him as Lord of my life many times, and finally, when I was 14, I quit making excuses. It has led to a life beyond all of my expectations. Then, when I was 17, He gave me a clear call to be a preacher. I can't imagine doing anything else. My life has not been easy, but it has been blessed. That is what matters the most.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 6-8.

The Baby Wept

2012-01-16T21:03:00.000-05:00

Who can help but be compassionate toward a helpless, crying baby? The tears definitely touched the heart of Pharaoh's daughter as she went to the Nile river to bathe with her servants. She decided to break the rule laid down by her father to kill all of the male children of the Hebrews. She made an agreement to pay his mother to nurse him.(I think she probably knew the lady who was hired was his real mother.) Then, he eventually was raised in the family of Pharaoh and educated in his house. Only God could work out such a plan to save his servant.

Of course, I am referring to Moses, the one "drawn out of the water." In a way his parents obeyed Pharaoh. They did throw him into the Nile river. However, they put him in a lovingly prepared ark first. They put him where he would be discovered, and they sent his sister to watch. God did the rest. Moses not only lived, but he became one of the greatest leaders of all times. He was used by God to lead the children of Israel, Jacob's descendants, out of their bondage in Egypt.

God did not force Moses to cry, but He knows what babies do. He did not force Pharaoh's daughter to have compassion on the baby, but He knows the heart of a young lady. He didn't cause her to go against her father's orders, but He knew she would. He even knew that Pharaoh would listen to his daughter and raise him as a son in his house. God knows people. He knows every heart. He does not have to force us. He just has to work on us in His wisdom. We still have the choice to make. It adds to my reverence and respect for God when I see that He is so wise and powerful, He does not have to violate our wills to see His ultimate will done. He uses simple things like a baby's cry to change history and deliver His people from bondage. He is doing the same kind of things in our lives all of the time. All we need to do is to trust Him.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 3-5.

Promises Fulfilled

2012-01-15T20:52:00.000-05:00

By the time of Joseph we can clearly see how God was fulfilling His promises to Abraham. It took 25 years, but Abraham and Sarah had the son promised by God, Isaac. Then, Isaac was blessed by having his son Jacob to carry on the covenant God had made with him and his father. Jacob had 12 sons, and these sons were blessed to become the 12 tribes of Israel. During their stay in Egypt God multiplied them into a great nation of people. Finally, God led them back to the land God told Abraham that his descendants would possess. We can see how God was blessing Israel and cursing those who cursed Israel. It is amazing how God carries out His promises.

The one part of His promise to Abraham that took a little longer was the promise to make Abraham's descendants a blessing to all of the families of the earth. However, we see the beginning of God's fulfillment of that promise in Genesis 49:10, "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to Him shall be the obedience of the people." When Judah blessed his sons before his death, he had a special word for his son, Judah. He told him that kings and lawgivers would come from his family, until Shiloh comes. This is a clear reference to Jesus. He was of the tribe of Judah. He was of King David's line. He was a lawgiver in the sense that He showed us God's truth. He brought peace or rest, which is what Shiloh means, and the people were to obey Him. This is a great description of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would be a blessing to all of the families of the earth.

God keeps His promises. Jesus is our King, and when we obey Him, we are truly blessed. God is so good!

Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 50 and Exodus 1-2.

God's Purposes For Our Lives

2012-01-14T19:20:00.000-05:00

God has a plan for every person who ever lives. He desires for all to come to know Him in a personal relationship. Then, He has a plan laid out for the rest of their lives to fulfill His purposes.(Ephesians 2:10) Therefore, what we do is to be for God's glory, and it should be a positive impact on the lives of those around us. Once we know Him, we are citizens in His kingdom, and we have work to do for our Lord.

Joseph told us one of the main purposes in his life in Genesis 45:7. He was sent by God to Egypt, so that his family could live through the famine. They were saved from the famine by a great deliverance. They were taken out of Egypt 400 years later by a great deliverance. All of this was preparation of a posterity. That means all of the generations that came from Jacob's family, which finally brought the Lord Jesus into the world by the virgin Mary. This was God's great plan for all people to be reconciled to Him by the death, burial, and resurrection of the perfect God/Man, Jesus Christ.

The point I want to share tonight is that we all need to be faithful to follow the Lord like Joseph was, so we can find our purposes for being a believer, and we need to obey God. If we don't we can miss God's purposes. They do not come automatically. We have a choice. God doesn't force any one to do His will. Joseph was not a robot for God. If he had disobeyed God, then, the Lord would have raised up someone else to be the deliverer for the family of Jacob. The same is true for us. We can miss God's purposes, and we can miss the blessings that come from being used by God to do great things, if we fail to trust Him. God's purposes always get fulfilled, but we have to be faithful through all of the trials and triumphs of life, so that He can lead us to accomplish His perfect will.

What are God's purposes for your life? Have you found the main purpose He has for you? Do you realize He has many smaller purposes, too, like being a good father, mother, wife, husband, or parent? Think of the impact we have on our children. Think of how the lives of Joseph's wife and children were changed because of their godly husband and father. No matter who we are, when we know the Lord Jesus, we are a child of the King, and He has something important for us to do. Let's fulfill His purposes and see His great deliverances for us and our posterity.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 47-49.

God's Reward

2012-01-13T22:20:00.000-05:00

It took 13 years of patient faith before Joseph saw God's reason for all of his trials. Those years saw one problem after another come into his life. He was sold to Potiphar in Egypt. He was blessed by God, so that he became the steward of everything in Potiphar's estate. He was put in jail on false charges from his master's wife. While in jail, he told the butler and baker the meaning of their dreams. He plainly told them that it was God who gave him the interpretation. However, the butler forgot him, so he stayed in prison two more years. Then, he told Pharaoh the meaning of his dreams after the butler thought of Joseph. Then, and only then, was he elevated to second in command in Egypt. He was given a wife, and he had two sons. Joseph went from the pits of life to the pinnacle of life.

The names of his sons show how amazing God can be in our lives. His firstborn was Manasseh, which means "God has made me forget all my toil and my father's house." Then, the second son was Ephraim, which means "God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction." Only after his sons were born, and he was administering the resources of Egypt to overcome the great famine did he see his brothers coming to buy grain. He remembered his father's house. He saw why it had all happened to him. He was there to save his family and continue God's covenant with the descendants of Abraham.

Most people would have given up before the end of 13 years. Many would have become discouraged when the butler forgot them in prison. Joseph kept trusting and giving God credit for the blessings he received. Then, the reward was to be the second in command in the most powerful nation in the world at that time. The reward was to see the fulfillment of his dreams that his brothers would bow down to him. God's reward was so great that he forgot his toil and the abuse of his brothers. God's reward was given in a new land, he did not even have to go home to be blessed. God's ways are not our ways, they are much better.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 43-46.

Patience Is A Virtue

2012-01-12T21:16:00.000-05:00

Joseph's life contains many lessons for us, as believers. As I began reading his story in Genesis 37, I was reminded of his patience. For most of us it is very hard to develop patience. In Joseph's life and in our own lives patience is not produced over night. We can't just pray for patience and receive a huge dose. Patience comes by trusting God one day at a time no matter how difficult life's road becomes.

Joseph's brothers hated him. They envied him because Jacob loved him more than the rest of his sons. Finally, they sold him into slavery. They meant it for evil. They were taking out their hatred and envy of Joseph by getting rid of him. I can't imagine how much all of this must have hurt Joseph. Yet, he remained faithful to God. He did not give up on God because of the actions of people. He did not get angry with God for allowing these things to happen to him. He continued to live in righteousness, even in the worst of circumstances. He patiently waited for God to deliver him, and in the meantime he made the best of his situations in life.

Joseph's patience is a prescription for success in life. No matter how long God takes to work out His will for us, we must be assured it is His will, and it will come in His timing. We can't push God or require Him to give us something better. He is in control, so we submit and wait. All the while He continues to bless us while we suffer persecution and pain. He is with us all of the way. It doesn't matter how bad life gets, when we have the Lord to comfort and cheer us, we can wait on Him to bring us out of the crises of life.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 39-42

Spiritual Markers

2012-01-11T20:55:00.000-05:00

This morning I thought about Henry Blackaby's teaching on "spiritual markers" when I read Genesis 35:1, which says, "Then, God said to Jacob, Arise go up to Bethel and dwell there and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau, your brother."

All believers have times when God reveals Himself to us. The first is our salvation experience. After that, He speaks to us to call us into a particular ministry or to move us to another job. He shows us who to marry or where to go to college. In each case we receive a direct instruction from the Lord that leads us in a certain direction. We all need to take time to reflect on those times as our "spiritual markers" for our lives. Each one gives us a better view of where we have been and where God is leading us. It is a great blessing to look back to see how many times God had made Himself real to us and directed us so specifically.

That is why Jacob was called to go back to Bethel. It was his first spiritual marker, as he was fleeing from Esau. He met God. He trusted God, so He was saved. God promised to bless him and to bring him home. God did His part and Jacob followed. He went back to Bethel to "dwell" there and consider all God had done to bring him home and to make him into the person he had become. I believe this set the course for the rest of his life to continue to follow the Lord.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 36-38.

Do You Walk With A Limp?

2012-01-10T20:09:00.000-05:00

Jacob wrestled with God, and he walked with a limp the rest of his life. Many people would think that having to walk with a limp is a bad thing. I think it was a blessing to Jacob. Every step he took reminded him that he had been commended by God and blessed by God. Genesis 32:28 tells us, "And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed."

Jacob struggled with or "wrestled" with God the night before he met his estranged brother, Esau, who had vowed to kill him 20 years before, when Jacob tricked him out of his first-born blessing. Jacob was alone that night, because he had already sent all of his family members, herdsmen, and possessions across the ford of the Jabbok river. I believe he physically wrestled with the Lord Jesus, who had taken on a body temporarily to come and visit Jacob on this important night. This is referred to as a "pre-incarnation" visit of Jesus to the earth. There are several in the Old Testament.

During the struggle Jacob became aware that his guest was divine, so he asked for a blessing and for His name. He could not give his name, but the Lord did bless him. He changed his name from "Deceiver" to the "Prince of God." Jacob had turned from the deception in his earlier life, and he had lived in righteousness before Laban, even though Laban mistreated him. He remained true to the Lord, too. Therefore, God rewarded him by removing the stain of being a deceiver and making him the patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel. What a change! What a blessing!

In the process of wrestling with God the Lord touched the socket of his thigh, and that is what caused him to limp. Jacob would not let go of God. He steadfastly sought the blessing. He was fearful of his brother's anger, and he knew the only way to survive was by God's blessing. Jesus touched him, so that he would remember the power of God and the blessing that brought him home safely after 20 years in a strange land. He fulfilled the promise of God that Jacob received as he was leaving home, and he saw the ladder to heaven in his dream. God did not leave him. He brought him home, and he had made him a new person in the process.

God wants all of us to struggle with God and with men. He wants all of us to prevail like Jacob did. He desires to give each of us a new name, which will be written down in heaven, when we are born-again. At that moment we become a new person. The old passes away, and new things come by the grace of God. In the struggles of life we may be wounded, but our wounds will remind us of the power of God and His blessing. I pray that we all walk with a limp like Israel.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 33-35.

True Love

2012-01-09T21:54:00.000-05:00

Something mysterious happens when we fall in love with another person. This is especially true when it is the person we are to marry. Our lives change for the better in such a way that we know contentment in a way we have never experienced it before. It is enough to hear their voice on the phone or to simply be in the same room with them. Time seems to fly by, because we are consumed with the one we love.

Jacob experienced true love for Rachel. Genesis 29:20 puts it this way, "So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him, because of the love he had for her." It is a glorious feeling, but it is so much more than a feeling. It is a commitment. It is a oneness of heart and soul that brings two people together in real happiness. I pray that you have known true love.

God designed the marriage relationship of one man and one woman committed to each other as companions for life, as a little bit of heaven on earth. It is not all roses. That is not what I mean. I mean that when we experience true love, it gives us a glimpse into how much Christ loves us. It gives us a little taste of what we will experience in heaven, as we are able to love the Lord and other people with a perfect love. God is so good, and one of the best things He ever did was to give us the ability to give and to receive true love.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 30-32.

God's Wide Place

2012-01-08T21:10:00.000-05:00

Life is filled with a lot of stress. Many times we have conflicts with other people. It is hard to find a place of unity and cooperation with people. When we do it is a special blessing. God is able to make us fruitful when we find that place.

Isaac found that place for him and his family. He had gone through a period of time where his herdsmen struggled with the Philistine herdsmen. Isaac was seeking water for his flocks by re-digging the wells which Abraham had dug, but the Philistines stopped up. Each time his men were successful in re-digging a well, the Philistines would contend with them for the well. Isaac did not want to fight. He moved on to the next well, until he finally came to the well he named, Rehoboth. (Genesis 26:22) The word Rehoboth is a Hebrew word that means "wide place." Isaac came to a place that was big enough for him and the others to dwell in peace. They were able to cooperate together instead of struggling with each other. Isaac knew that made for a fruitful life. What a blessing!

Have you found your Rehoboth. or are you still in a conflict with those around you? Conflict is stressful, and it can be miserable. We can spend our time thinking about the problems, and we can be immobilized from doing God's will. I pray that you will keep going until you find God's wide place for you. I believe He has one for each of us, because He wants all of us to have a fruitful life. I have found mine, and I want to see more and more fruit for His glory.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 27-29.

The Ultimate Test

2012-01-07T21:20:00.000-05:00

Abraham passed the ultimate test of faith in God. When God called on him to sacrifice his son, Isaac, he did not waver. He obeyed God. The Bible does not even record any hesitation on Abraham's behalf. He simply trusted God.

Abraham put God before his son. In other words, God's will came before his children. If we truly honor God as Lord of our lives, this must be the case. He must come before our children and anyone else in our lives.

Also, Abraham did not argue about Isaac being the son of promise. He was the one born to him when he was 100 years old. It was a great miracle. How would God fulfill His promise if Abraham killed Isaac? Would He raise Isaac from the dead? Abraham did not argue. He trusted that God would do whatever it took. He told his servant that both of them would return, so he must have thought God was going to do something, but he did not know how God would work. That is real faith.

Abraham had faith that acted. He had faith with works. He had faith that put God before everyone else in the world. He passed the ultimate test. I wonder how we would do with the ultimate test?

Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 24-26.

Influencing Our Household

2012-01-06T19:38:00.000-05:00

I love it when I find verses that go along with what the Lord has been showing me in my studies of how to serve Him better. This morning I found Genesis 18:19. This verse reveals the purpose God has for people once they come to know Him. The amazing thing is that there are so many passages that say the exact same thing.

Abraham believed in the Lord, and he entered into a personal relationship with Him. God knew Him, and he knew God. God's purpose in that was to use Abraham to build His kingdom here on earth. The process begins with family and household. Abraham was told by God to command his children to keep the way of the Lord to do righteousness and justice. In other words, he was to show them how to believe in the Lord and to follow Him. However, it went farther than that. He was to influence his "household," as well. In Abraham's case his household was more than relatives. It was comprised of servants and those close to him. He was to influence those with whom he had a relationship. He had built in relationships which were the first ones for him to reach with the truth.

The same is true for us. We all have a household. It is family, but it is also co-workers, neighbors, and others with whom we deal on a regular basis. It is God's will for us to start by leading them in the way of the Lord. Then, we can help them reach their households, also. In this way the gospel spreads in a very natural way. This does not rule out sharing the gospel with others at all. It is just God's way of following our relationships to share the good news.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 20-23.

Our Reward

2012-01-05T21:25:00.000-05:00

There was a huge difference between Abraham and Lot. They were both rich. They had so many livestock that they had to separate, so there would be enough food and water for the animals. Abraham gave his nephew the opportunity to choose where he would go. It was an unselfish offer, but Lot was not unselfish. He chose the Jordan river valley, which was the prime area for livestock. All he could see was profit and getting more wealthy. He turned a blind eye to the extreme evil of Sodom and Gomorrah. In fact, he pitched his tent near Sodom and later moved into the city. As far as we can tell from the Bible, Lot was a believer. However, His focus was on an earthly reward instead of a spiritual reward.

Abraham, on the other hand, took what was left over after Lot's choice. God came to him and explained how He would make Abraham's descendants as the dust of the earth. God gave him victory over the kings who took Lot, his family, and his possessions. God told Abraham, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."(Genesis 15:1) Abraham was rich spiritually in his relationship with God, because of his faith.(Genesis 15:6) The earthly blessings were not the focus of his life. In fact, Abraham gave up the spoils of battle, because he did not want anyone to think he did it just to get more wealth.

As we continue to read about Abraham and Lot, you can judge who had the greatest reward for his life, Abraham or Lot. Then, think of the other people around you. I believe you will see that the ones with the spiritual rewards of a faithful life are much better off than the ones with the rewards of this world.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 16-19.

Faith

2012-01-04T16:21:00.000-05:00

Abraham is the Father of the faithful. Genesis 12:1-3 is the covenant God made with him, if he would be faithful to God. It is amazing to consider the faith of Abraham. He did not have the Bible, the Law, the Holy Spirit, or any other believers to walk with him except his wife and nephew, yet he remained faithful to obey the Lord for the rest of his life. He was not perfect, like we see from the trip to Egypt, but he was faithful. He made mistakes as we will see when we read about Hagar, but he was trying to trust God, even then, by having a son. Now, everyone looks back to the faith of Abraham as a model. We can all learn a lot from him.

Now, we all should be able to be even more faithful than Abraham. We do have the whole Bible to guide us. We have the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth and to empower us to do God's will. We have our church family, which is the Body of Christ, to encourage us and hold us accountable. We have every advantage to be faithful. Plus, we have so many faithful believers who have gone before us, as our examples.(Hebrews 11,12) Jesus told us we would be able to do greater things than He did, because He went to the Father, and He supplied the Holy Spirit for us.

Faith is essential. Without faith we can't become a Christian. Without faith we can't please God on a daily basis. Faith is simply trusting what God has revealed to us and living by it. That is what Abraham did, and that is what all of us should do.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 13-15.

Promises, Promises, and More Promises

2012-01-03T20:21:00.000-05:00

God made a promise to all people not to destroy the earth again after the great flood of Noah's time was over.(Genesis 8:22) He even gave us a sign to remind us of His promise. When the rainbow appears in the cloud, we remember his mercy. No matter how evil people become He will not destroy the earth until the end of time has come when He makes a new heaven and a new earth.

Promises from God are fantastic. You can always rely on Him to back them up. This promise in Genesis 8:22 is one of the first in the Bible. As we read through the Bible this year, or any time you are reading God's Word, make it a point to notice the promises and to put a mark by them. Maybe put a "P" in the margin of your Bible. I think you will be impressed by the multitudes of promises God has given people since the creation of the world.

Then, as you consider the promises, praise God for His faithfulness to His promises, and decide to live your life based on His promises to you. This is a good positive way to live the Christian life. Some people only think of the commands, which are partly negative. This can put us in the wrong frame of mind. When we live by the promises, we are always positive.

An example is God opposes the proud, but exalts the humble. That is a promise. It gives us a positive reason to be humble. Then, we know God will exalt us. Instead of thinking that God commands you to be humble no matter what, you can look at the promise associated with humility. It will be a great blessing for all of us to live by the promises of God and to see His faithfulness.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 10-12.

Walking With God

2012-01-02T18:58:00.001-05:00

God created man and woman in His image so He could have a relationship with them. God is love. He does not need a relationship with anyone, because He does not need anything. However, He desires to relate to people, so He can show His love in a personal way. He wants to walk with us through our lives and bless us with an abundant life. The question is, "Will we decide to walk with God?"

Walking with God is spending time with Him like Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden. The Bible tells us that they walked with Him in the cool of the day. Just think of it, the Eternal, All-Powerful God coming down to have close fellowship. He talked with them, and I am sure they could discuss anything. God wants to do the same thing for us today. That is why we have an "unhurried time" with Him each day. It is more than reading the Bible and praying. It is meeting with God to prepare for our day.

Walking with God is deciding to keep His commands. Adam and Eve decided to walk away from God by eating from the one tree that was forbidden. They walked with the devil. Then, they were kicked out of the garden. If we are serious about walking with God, we must keep His commands, whether they seem right to us or not. His commands are for our good.

Walking with God leads us to have concern for our family and friends. The Bible is clear that we can't love God and hate people. Cain broke his walk with God when he disobeyed God's rules for the sacrifices, got envious and angry with his brother, Abel, and killed his brother. Then, he was punished by wandering the rest of his life. He decided not to walk with God, so God let Him walk his way the rest of his life.

Finally, walking with God pleases God. When Enoch walked with God for years, God took him straight to heaven, so that he did not have to experience physical death. What a blessing! Enoch spent his life in a close relationship with God, and God took Him to heaven to be even closer to Him. I hope I am the kind of friend that God wants to have around Him that much.

I pray that we will decide to walk with God each day of 2012 and every day for the rest of eternity.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 7-9.

Love Has Everything To Do With It

2012-01-01T19:36:00.000-05:00

It is natural for us to think about starting a new year off the right way. It would be crazy to expect that we could have a good year, if we do the things we know are wrong. Therefore, it just makes sense that we would plan to do the right things and hope for a great year.

The problem comes in doing what we know is right. The world, the flesh, and the devil are fighting against us. It is the aim of the devil to use the world system and the desires and drives of our flesh to keep us from doing the right things and to lead us to do the wrong things. He is very good at this, so most people fail to do what they know is right. They even get discouraged and quit trying at times. It can be a depressing battle.

The key is love. Love is the most powerful motivation. When we love someone, we will go overboard to do what they want us to do. We gladly do whatever we can do to please them. I have seen it over and over with parents and their children, as well as the love of spouses. People who are in love do not have to be required to do the right things. They do them on their own, no matter how hard they become. Therefore, if we love the Lord as we should, it will cure our problem with doing the right things. We will do them out of love for our Lord. They will not be a burden at all.

The last key about love is to remember that love is a choice. You don't just love out of feelings or automatically. You choose to love a person. We have every reason to love Jesus. He loves us so much, He even died for us. He is perfect. He has our best interests at heart. He wants to give us a wonderful life. All we have to do is decide to love Him back. In fact, we decide to love Him more than anyone or anything else. We please Him before we please everyone else. Then, we will do the things we know are right and have a great year.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 4-6.

Reflecting On 2011

2011-12-31T21:15:00.000-05:00

I have spent part of my day reflecting on 2011. God has blessed me in so many ways that it is hard to count them all. Also, I can see where I need to make improvements with His help. Life is meant to be a continual growing process. I want to keep becoming more like Jesus every day until He takes me home.

My walk with the Lord has been consistent this year. I am seeing Him answer more and more prayers and show me more things. I praise God that I was able to have my unhurried time with Him each day. It is by far the best part of the day, as I pray and spend time with Jesus. I read through the Bible again, too. It is always fresh and exciting. I was able to help several people come to know the Lord, but I know that I must do better in 2012 to give my story and to share the good news of Jesus with more people. Also, I see that I must train people to multiply disciples. It is not an option for me.

Physically, I am doing well. God has blessed me to keep my weight down. For years I had to struggle with my weight, but this year it did not fluctuate more than five pounds, and I lost three pounds over the year. I was able to run more this year. I ran at least 150 times, and I covered almost 500 miles in the process. I am as strong now as I have every been in many ways. It is such a blessing when I think back to New Year's Eve 2003. I was having surgery for prostate cancer. God healed me, and He has made me stronger than before.

My family is walking with the Lord. Our church is doing well. God is so good! I am looking forward to walking with Him in 2012. I want to run the good race and finish my course. That is why we were created, to glorify God in all we say and do. It makes for a glorious life.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 1-3.

Searching For A Godly Wife

2011-12-30T21:58:00.000-05:00

It seems that every week I hear about people who are searching for a wife or a husband. It is a very important part of life. People go about it in many different ways. For most people it seems that they find someone to whom they are attracted for some reason, and they date for a while to discern what they ought to do. It can be a rewarding procedure, or it can be very frustrating. It can end in success or terrible failure. I would suggest another way to find a spouse that is based on my experience.

It was on this day "several" years ago that I met my wife Chris. I was not searching for a wife. In fact, I had prayed very specifically about three weeks before I met her that God would show me the person I should date without me having to ask her. I was young, and I did not stop to think about how hard of a request I was making to God. In reality, nothing is hard for God. That is why I wasn't looking, but He answered my prayer perfectly. I was invited to her birthday party by a friend. Then, my friend's girlfriend asked her to go out with me. The rest is history.

Therefore, my advice is not to search for a wife or a husband. Pray for God to supply the right one at the right time. Then, stay faithful and sensitive to what He is doing. He is very capable of bringing the right person to you. I believe He delights in our trust, and He desires for us to have the mate He has selected for us. Therefore, what better way to find that person? I know it has been a great blessing for me.(Proverbs 31:10)

Tomorrow, I will read in Genesis and Exodus to prepare my messages for 2012. Then, I will begin reading through the Bible again on January 1, 2012.

The Perfect Beginning

2011-12-29T20:23:00.000-05:00

How did God start His book? He began with the perfect beginning, because He is the Perfect God. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."(Genesis1:1)

Some people want to know where God came from. This verse gives them an answer. He did not come from anywhere. He has always been here. In the beginning before anyone or anything else was here, He was here. God did not have a beginning, so there is no explanation for where He came from. If anything had created God, it would be greater than God. That is impossible because God is the most powerful being in the universe.

Some people want proof for the existence of God. This verse gives them an answer. All that He created, the heavens and the earth, prove He exists. There is no other plausible explanation for an ordered universe except for an All-Wise Designer. The universe and the earth show His intelligence and His power. They prove His existence, because He shows Himself to all people through His creation.

Some people want to know why we need to worship God. This verse gives them an answer. God created everything, so He is the Landlord of the universe. He is the Owner. He is the CEO. He is Perfect, too. Therefore, He deserves all of our praise and worship. He is the Only God. All others are impostors.

This is the perfect beginning to the Perfect Book. God does not need to be defended. He can and will defend Himself. People may not accept Him or His Book, but it will not be because He does not reveal Himself to them. It will be their willful rejection of the Only True God.

Tomorrow, I intend to continue to read Genesis as I prepare my messages to preach through the Bible in 2012. I will begin reading through the Bible again on January 1, 2012.

Every Spiritual Blessing

2011-12-28T20:40:00.000-05:00

God has given every believer a great blessing. He has laid up "every spiritual blessing" for us in the heavenlies, the spiritual realm.(Ephesians 1:3) He has thought of everything we will need to live the Christian life after we come to know Christ, and He has put it away for us, so we will have it when we need it. Isn't that amazing? It is true, though. We should never lack anything we need to live for Him.(Psalm 23)

The problem is that many believers do not receive those blessings. They miss out, because they do not ask for them, or they ask for the wrong things. Also, they miss the blessings that have been laid up for them, if they are not trusting the Lord for what they need, but they are trusting their own power and intellect. Therefore, those believers do not reach their potential in life, and their blessings are left in the storehouse of God.

Imagine what will happen one day. We will have to stand before the Lord to give an account of our life to Him. What if we start complaining that we could have done better than we did, but we did not have what we needed. Then, the Lord calmly opens the door to our compartment in the storehouse, and He begins to show us everything that was available to us. That will put an end to our excuses, won't it? I pray that we will understand this spiritual reality and appropriate these blessings by faith, so that we have the abundant life God has planned for us.

Tomorrow, I intend to begin reading Genesis to meditate on it and prepare for my messages through the Bible this year.

Choices

2011-12-27T20:32:00.000-05:00

Our lives are shaped by the choices we make. God makes sure that there are consequences for bad choices, because He wants us to flee from sin's destruction. Also, He rewards the right choices we make. Consider Galatians 6:7-8, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life."

All bad choices are basically selfish choices which are guided by the flesh, our human desires and drives. These choices may bring temporary pleasure, but they do not satisfy for the long term. The need for more and more leads to addictions and many strange behaviors. In the end the person is consumed by the desires of the flesh and nothing else really matters.

The right choices are made when we follow the Spirit. The Holy Spirit leads us away from man's ways to the ways of God. It is hard to follow the Spirit at first, because the flesh is fighting Him all the way. However, it is possible to decide to follow the Spirit alone. Then, the war between the Spirit and the flesh is over.(Galatians 5:16,17)

However, one main choice governs the rest of the choices. Until we follow the Spirit's leadership to trust Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives, we are powerless to defeat the flesh. If we make that main choice, He gives us the desire and the ability to do His will from then on, if we continue to submit to Him and to follow the Spirit.(Philippians 2:13) The choice is up to you. Please, make the choice that leads to the abundant life.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Revelation 20-22.

The End of the Book

2011-12-26T19:36:00.000-05:00

I only have a few more chapters left to read, and I will be finished with reading through the Bible this year. It is always such a blessing, and this year was no different. God's Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. I can't imagine living without the whole counsel of God's Word.

Of course, I am reading the book of Revelation right now. It is great that God ends the Bible with a book that shows us how things on earth will turn out. We don't know exactly when the conclusion will come, but we know the way it will happen. It is a great comfort to know that we, as believers, will reign with Christ and spend eternity with Him.

The fact that always amazes me when I read Revelation is that the people know God exists. They even know that His judgments are true. However, they reject God and His Word. They would rather follow the Devil and the Antichrist, because they are so set on living life their own way. It is so sad to read time after time that the people would not repent even though they saw the truth.

It seems that the world we live in today is much like that. People reject the Bible who have never read it through. People see the truth of God's laws, but they would rather go their own way. There is every opportunity to turn to Christ, but the majority of the people refuse.

I want to issue a friendly challenge to all of us. First of all, let's make the commitment to read through the Bible in 2011. It doesn't take that much time each day. It is simply a matter of making it a priority. Then, let's ask God to show us the truth of His Word and reveal Himself to us. Finally, when we know He is communicating with us, let's respond in faith to trust Him and His Word. These three simple things could change the world in 2012.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Revelation 17-19.

Christmas Lessons

2011-12-25T18:30:00.000-05:00

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year because we make it a point to do certain things that are meaningful to us. There is really no reason we can't do them all year long.

As believers, we try to remember how much Jesus cares for us that He would leave Heaven and come down to live on earth. The incarnation shows the love of God and the determination to provide the solution for our sins. We say, "Jesus is the reason for the season." Jesus should be the reason we live every day, and we should live every day knowing His great love for us.

We send cards to friends and family. We send letters with news of the year. We make calls and visits to those who are special to us. In reality, we should make it a priority to nurture relationships every day. People are so much more important than things or money.

Finally, we give gifts to those we love. We are generous. In fact, some people spend too much money. They go overboard to show their love. If we were generous all year long, and we showed our love in simple acts of kindness all the time, we would not need to go overboard at Christmas. There are a million ways to show others we love them, besides buying presents once a year.

The people who practice the Christmas lessons all year long are the happiest and most satisfied people. They are enjoying the good things in life 365 days a year. I hope you are one of those people.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Revelation 14-16.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-24T21:07:00.001-05:00

Chris and I would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! It is our prayer that you are experiencing the joy that comes from knowing Christ in a loving relationship that is real and personal. The birth of Christ into this world which we celebrate at Christmas was God’s way of showing us once and for all that He loves each of us, and He has a desire to be personally involved in our lives.
Our family has been blessed in 2011, and I would like to share some of those blessings with you. All of the credit for everything goes to the Lord Jesus. We are in awe of His goodness, grace, and mercy toward us this year. The economy in Atlanta has been pretty bad this year, but God has more than provided for our church and for us. We have been healthy, except for the normal aches, pains, and colds. God is so good!
Lori, Jeff, Kade, and Avenly are doing well in Japan. Jeff and Lori are reaching out to their neighbors and acquaintances to share the Good News of Jesus with them and to start house churches. Please, pray for God to bless their witness. Kade has started first grade in Japanese school, so he is learning to speak and to write Japanese in addition to being home schooled in English. Avenly is growing up, and they have found a kindergarten for her to begin attending soon.
In May, Dixie became Mrs. Stacy White. Stacy is a fine Christian man, who loves the Lord, and who loves Dixie and Jacob. They have been fixing up Stacy’s house for their family. It is a challenge and a blessing. Dixie is still working at the children’s hospital as an RN and volunteering at the Pregnancy Resource Center, while Stacy does home repairs and remodeling. Jacob is growing leaps and bounds, as well as talking non-stop.
John and Gao Foua’s ministry to low income youth and their families in Aliquippa is still going well. Now, things will be a little different, because little Mercy Pangnou Jordan came into their lives on December 12, 2011. She is healthy and beautiful. We hope to see her in person before too long, but we will use Skype in the meantime.
Chris’ mother, Anne Bennett, is still staying with us and Chris’ sister, Kathy, on a rotating basis. My parents are doing well, even though Mom had another bad spell with her back this year and Dad had to have some tests done, too. They are much better now.
We are truly blessed. We are praying that God will bless you and your family with a wonderful 2012. We can keep up with each other on Facebook the rest of the year.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Revelation 11-13.

The Door of the Heart

2011-12-23T20:04:00.000-05:00

Symbolic language is the way we try to get across spiritual and philosophical truths. Some of the most meaningful stories contain powerful symbols, so that we can express concepts that concrete words fail to explain. The Bible is literally true, but at the same time, it contains symbolic language in places. Revelations 3:20 is one of those places that is dear to my heart. Bro. Arwood was led to use that word picture the day I finally trusted Christ as my Lord and Savior.

I don't remember the rest of the message that day, but I definitely recall the conclusion. Bro. Arwood tapped on the wooden pulpit to simulate knocking on a door. He assured the entire congregation that Christ was knocking to see who would let Him come into their lives as Lord. I did not know about everyone else, but I knew He was knocking on my heart's door. He wanted to be my Lord, and He was drawing me to give my life to Him, so we could dine together, we could have an eternal love relationship. At that moment I said yes, and I knew that He had been faithful to His promise. When I entrusted my life to Him, He came into my life to stay. It has been that way ever since. In fact, the fellowship gets better and better.

The best thing a person can ever do in this life is to respond to Jesus' knock with a heart of faith. Once He is Lord of your life, you will never be the same.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Revelation 7-10

Faithful Unto Death

2011-12-22T17:48:00.000-05:00

As I read Revelation 2:10 this morning, I was struck by the message. Jesus told the church at Smyrna that they should not fear the things they were about to suffer. Then, He told them that the devil was going to throw some of the believers into prison, so that they could be tested. That gives some people trouble, but it is true. The Lord gives Satan permission to cause us to suffer or to be put into prison or even to put us to death. He does it to test our faith. When we are faithful to Him, others see our faith, and the Lord gets the glory. Then, if we are faithful unto death, He gives us the crown of life.

We need to respond to suffering for Jesus the way the believers did in the book of Acts. They praised God that they were counted worthy to suffer for Jesus. They knew that it was a privilege and a blessing to be persecuted for Jesus' sake. The Lord looked down and chose them to suffer, because He knew they were able to endure it. He will not put on us more than we are able to bear. (I Corinthians 10:13) Then, He gave them special power to overcome Satan, when they trusted Him. This brought them very close to the Lord. When we suffer for the Lord it brings us close to Him and to the other believers who suffer with us. Therefore, suffering for Jesus is a blessing, not a curse.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Revelation 3-6.

Loving God

2011-12-21T20:49:00.000-05:00

We all need to understand the nature of what it means to love God. I John 5:3 explains it well, "For this is the love of God that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome." I hope you can see the progression of thought through this verse. Let me lay it out.

If we love God, we will keep His commandments. We will not keep them out of obligation, but because we love Him. When we love another person, it is natural for us to do what they ask us to do. We even do more than they ask, because of our love. This is true for the Lord as well.

Then, we will see that His commands are not a burden to keep, because we do them out of love and not obligation. This is the nature of real love.

Therefore, how can you check your love for God? Look at His commands; abide in His Word, pray without ceasing, love the brethren and love your enemies, share the Gospel with others, make disciples, love your wife, submit to your husband, and do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together with other believers for worship, to name just a few. Are any of those things burdensome to you? if so, it is a love problem. Obedience problems are love problems. Make sure you love the Lord with all your heart, and your obedience will be just fine.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Jude and Revelation 1-2.

Refreshing

2011-12-20T22:56:00.000-05:00

We started a family Christmas tradition three years ago when Lori, Jeff, Kade, and Avenly were here for Stateside Assignment. We went to Stone Mountain's Christmas. It was wonderful, because we were able to celebrate Christmas with the family in a public place and have the true meaning of Christmas presented loud and clear. What a blessing!

Last year we went back, because Jacob was bigger, and we had such a good time the previous year. We were not disappointed. We rode the train, which Jacob loves, and we heard the presentation of "The Gift" about half-way through the train ride around the mountain. Basically, it is a gospel presentation, complete with proclaiming Jesus as the Savior who redeems us from our sins.

We had a great time today, even with the rain. People treated us well. We enjoyed the shows and a nice meal together. The lights are beautiful. It is a very refreshing way to spend some family time at Christmas. I would recommend it to you.

Tomorrow, I intend to read I John 5, II John, and III John.

All These Things will be Dissolved

2011-12-19T22:24:00.000-05:00

I guess I shouldn't write about this at Christmas, but I am not trying to be harsh, just truthful. As I read the end of II Peter this morning, I came across the verses that remind us of God's plan for this world.(II Peter 3:10-13) The heavens and the earth will be burned up with a fervent heat, so God can create new heavens and a new earth. The new ones will not be stained by sin. They will be unaffected by the corruption that was brought into all of the creation by Adam and Eve's sin. God is not just going to save people from their sins and take them to heaven when they come to know Christ, He is going to rid the entire universe of the effects of sin. God hates sin that much.

"Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?"(II Peter 3:11) That is a great question, isn't it? If all of the material world and all of our material possessions are going to be burned up, what should we put our time and effort into in this life? Of course, the answer is that we should emphasize eternal things. What is eternal? People are eternal. Instead of investing in stuff, we should invest in the lives of people, so they can come to live eternally in heaven with the Lord, instead of in eternal punishment, separated from Him forever. It is the only endeavor in life that will endure to the new heavens and the new earth. That is what Jesus urged us all to do in the Sermon on the Mount. Let's not waste time on things that will be burned up. Let's invest in the souls of men and women, boys and girls.

Tomorrow, I intend to read I John 2-4.

Don't Pick Them Up Again

2011-12-18T21:14:00.000-05:00

I love to read I Peter 5:6-8 and to be reminded of how much God cares for each of us. The Lord cares, but we must do what He desires to receive all He has for us.

I Peter 5:6 reminds us to "humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." It is hard to be humble. We want to do things our way and in our time. However, if we want God's help, we must humble ourselves before Him and wait for His timing to be lifted up.

Then, we are to be "casting our cares upon Him, for He cares for you." We take our cares to Him and leave them there for Him to handle. We must not pick them up again after giving them to Him. That is not humble, and it is not really trusting in His power.

Finally, we have to remember that our adversary is the devil, and we can't defeat him by ourselves. If we try, we are doomed to fail. However, if we are trusting the Lord, we always have the power of God to use against Him, and he can't overcome the Lord's power.

Tomorrow, I intend to read II Peter 2-3 and I John 1.

Christopher Hitchens

2011-12-17T15:05:00.000-05:00

The other day I read the obituary of Christopher Hitchens, a well-known unbeliever, who wrote a book entitled, God Is Not Good. Since then I read one column by a political commentator on Mr. Hitchens and some of the reviews for his book on Amazon. I have not read his books or articles myself. I was just aware of his disdain for "religion" and God.

The reason I took time to read these things about Christopher Hitchens is that when I saw that he had died I was touched with sadness in my heart. It grieved me to think of his eternal destiny with no further chance of salvation.(Ezekiel 33:11) Even though the commentary I read said that he was a fun person to be around, who was respectful of those who were believers, he had made it very clear that he wanted nothing to do with God. When any person makes that decision, God respects it.

I suppose some people might be happy that he is dead. They think it is better for him to not be able to write and speak against God and Christianity any more. I do not think God thinks that way. He wants every unbeliever to repent and come to faith in Christ. God knows that salvation is not believing what people say. If I or Christopher Hitchens can talk someone into believing something or doing something, then, someone else can come along and talk them out of it. However, if a person truly meets God and begins an intimate love relationship with Him that is real and personal, no one can talk him out of that.

I guess I would agree with Christopher Hitchens on at least one thing. Religion is a terrible plague on humanity. If anyone trusts in a religion, he will be misled and have a false sense of security. That is why so many bad things have been done by religious people or in the name of religion. Those things are not done by the true believers who are truly Christians, "little Christs." None of us are perfect, but when we know Him, we are changed to be like our Lord and Savior, so all the world can see Him in us.

Tomorrow, I intend to read I Peter 4-5 and II Peter 1.

My Prayer Run This Morning

2011-12-16T22:55:00.000-05:00

I must say that ever since I started using my running time to pray for my neighbors and family, it has been a great blessing. Most of the time I pray for God to reveal Himself to them or give me an opportunity to share the gospel with them. However, this morning the Lord led me to pray specifically for all of my Christian neighbors. I believe we need to pray more for other believers.

The truth is that we all need to be in prayer and we need to be ready to share the Good News with everyone around us. If all believers were engaged in showing people the way to know Christ, we could see our world changed very quickly.

Why not take some time to prayer walk or prayer run? See what God does when you pray for your neighbors. See what He tells you to do in the process. It will be a great blessing.

Tomorrow, I intend to read James 5 and I Peter 1-3.

Doing The Right Thing

2011-12-15T20:47:00.000-05:00

As a pastor, I get asked for a lot of counsel. I am not a counselor, but I can give Biblical counsel. Most of the time people want to know, "What is the right thing to do?" I tell them the answer, and sometimes, they like it; sometimes, they don't.

If they are really searching for the right thing to do, they will find it in God's Word. He made it clear enough and complete enough, so that almost every time His Word contains the right thing to do. However, many times people do not really want to know the right thing. They only want someone to affirm what they want to do. In that case it doesn't matter how clear the Bible is, they will not accept the answer.

I have found that most people make decisions based on emotions and not by the Biblical principles. It is true that people do just about what they want to do. The problem is that emotions can fool you, and they can lead you astray from God's truth. The train of life should be led by the engine of facts, not the caboose of feelings. If we get those two switched around, we are in deep trouble. That is the position of a lot of people these days, because their goal is pleasure, not being responsible. They want their own way, not God's way. It is a very dangerous way to live.

Tomorrow, I intend to read James 1-4.

Christmas Laughter and Inspiration

2011-12-14T21:52:00.000-05:00

This evening we had our first Christmas variety show at NHBC, which was entitled Ho, Ho, Hosanna. It was a blast. It was so good to see people laugh and participate in the songs and acts. We had a large number of guests who were able to see that we are just "normal" folks who have a good time at church. I believe it will go a long way to relieve the fears of people who have never been to our church or to any church, for that matter.

Our society is suspicious of people we do not know. We have built up fear toward church, because of the terrible things in the news about some Christians and churches. Before we can share the gospel effectively with people who are very skeptical or afraid of us, we have to break the ice. We have to show them we are human like they are. We have to care enough to engage them on a personal level with care and compassion.

It is my prayer that the laughter did people good tonight. I pray that it paved the way for them to listen to the real meaning of Christmas, and even to take the chance on coming to church,

Tomorrow, I intend to read Hebrews 11-13.

Learning Obedience Through Suffering

2011-12-13T21:45:00.000-05:00

Last night I went into the sympathy Jesus has for us, because He experienced all of our temptations while He was in human flesh. Tonight, I want to add another dimension. Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered.(Hebrews 5:8) Every time the Father showed Jesus that He had to face an episode of suffering, He learned obedience by His experience. He was never disobedient, but He grew in His understanding of obedience when He was called on to suffer. He had to decide to take the suffering in the right attitude and fulfill the will of the Father. He did this all through His life on earth from birth to death.

In fact, Hebrews 5:9 tells us that after Jesus was matured or perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation. He did that when He died the worst death anyone ever had to experience. Not only did He endure the torture of the crucifixion, but He was crushed by the sins of the whole world being placed on Him, so that His eternal fellowship with the Father was broken, while He paid for those sins with His life's blood. Every suffering event in His life led up to this incredible suffering. He did not go to the Cross until He had learned obedience to the max. The Father prepared Him for our redemption through leading Him into suffering.

Since that is true for Jesus, it is even more true for us. We learn obedience each time we obey the Father by entering into a time of suffering, We know He allowed it, so we don't rebel. We simply obey. The more we obey, the more mature we become, so we can handle the huge times of suffering and be good witnesses for Jesus. Suffering has a glorious purpose. We learn obedience, and we bring glory to God more and more each time.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Hebrews 8-10.

Sympathy

2011-12-12T21:14:00.000-05:00

Christmas means Jesus can sympathize with our weaknesses. God who became man has experienced the weaknesses of human flesh in every way, yet He did not sin. The result of His incarnation was now He has a sincere sympathy for our weaknesses.(Hebrews 4:15)

Sympathy means to "feel with." When we hurt, He hurts with us. When we fail, He feels our frustration and disappointment. When we fall, He is there to pick us up. He has a special experiential understanding of being human, so He relates, and He cares on a personal level. What a wonderful Lord we have!

The result of Christ's sympathy for us is that we can have boldness to approach God's throne of grace.(Hebrews 4:16) We can seek mercy and grace without cringing and fearing His anger. In fact, He grants us grace and mercy in loving sympathy with great care for us. Therefore, do not hesitate to run to the Lord when you have a need, especially when you realize your need for Him as your Lord and Savior.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Hebrews 5-7.

Birth

2011-12-11T20:55:00.000-05:00

I think the actual birth of Jesus gets lost in the stories of Christmas. We think since He was God's Son and Mary was favored by God the birth process was easy. I have a feeling that is not the case. If she did ride a donkey from Jerusalem, she was probably very sore and tired of the bumpy ride. If she walked all the way, she was fatigued before the birth process began. Either way the birth of Jesus was probably very normal for the parents and the baby.

Can you remember the birth of your children? I can remember some of the details, but Chris keeps them all in her heart like Mary did. Each one was exciting and scary at the same time. There is a reason someone coined the phrase, "the miracle of birth." I can't imagine the wisdom of God to figure out how to make that all happen like it does. It is amazing.

With Lori we tried to be prepared because we were at least 30 minutes from the hospital in Waco. She can two weeks late, and Chris started the pains early in the morning. By the time we got in the car to go I realized that I was low on gasoline, so we stopped on the way. In my haste I spilled gas on my hand, and we had to smell it all the way to the hospital. Then, Lori almost came too early. She realized it wasn't her grandmother's birthday yet so she stopped and waited until after midnight to be born just for her. It was great but exhausting.

Dixie was born in the same hospital as Lori. We left early. I had plenty of gasoline that time. However, I was hungry, so we stopped, and I ate some lunch in front of Chris, who could not eat. That was not the best thing to do. I also left Chris at the hospital after Dixie was born to preach a revival service. That was worse than eating in front of her. The thing that even made it worse than ever was that the pediatrician who checked Dixie told Chris that Dixie had a fairly serious heart condition, and I wasn't there to comfort her until later. However, God answered our prayers and healed Dixie's heart. In fact, God used that diagnosis, so that our insurance paid a lot more than it would have.

John came in the middle of the night in February in Georgia. It was 17 degrees when we pulled up to DeKalb Medical Center. As soon as Chris stepped out her water broke, and she was freezing. The nurses warmed her up with heated blankets, and the doctor sped up John's birth so he could get to the office. In the process he forgot to check John's position. When we realized that John was "sunny side up" or face up, he had to make a forceps delivery. It was horrendous. I don't know how Chris made it, but John was fine.

I hope we all think about the fact that Jesus was "born" into this world in the normal way. He had parents who were new at taking care of a baby. They were far from home, in a stable. They had strangers show up to worship their baby, and they told them about angels. I imagine it was much like what we went through. I am glad the Lord was with them the same way He was with us. He brought us through the pain and learning how to care for this tiny gift from God just like He helped Mary and Joseph so long ago.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Hebrews 2-4.

Gift Giving

2011-12-10T20:30:00.002-05:00

At Christmas we think about gift giving. It is part of celebrating the birth of Jesus. We give our friends and family gifts in honor of the greatest gift of all, which is Jesus. Jesus came to the world, so that He could give Himself for our sins. Then, salvation is offered to all people in the world, if they will confess Jesus as Lord, after turning away from their own sins and doing things their own way. Titus 2:11 tells us that the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. Grace means a free gift. Jesus gave Himself freely, and He offers salvation by grace, as a free gift.

So what are we to do because we have received Christ’s free gift? We are the gift givers now. It is up to us to live as examples of what His grace can do for people. Therefore, we are to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, so we can live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age. We are proof that Jesus gives us the abundant life.

Finally, we are the ones to give the message of grace to others, so they can receive the free gift. It is our way of giving the greatest gift. If we do not give the gift away, many will never receive it. This is far more important than giving any Christmas gift. We are privileged to have this part in the plan of God. We should be joyful givers of the story of God’s grace.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Titus 3, Philemon, and Hebrews 1.

Sharing in the Sufferings for the Gospel

2011-12-09T22:05:00.000-05:00

II Timothy 1:7 has been one of my favorite verses for a long time. The Lord used it to speak to me when I was a junior in high school. On a Key Club trip to Washington D.C. I went to an African American Church, and the young seminary graduate who preached, used it as his text. He did a great job of expounding the meaning, and I was genuinely touched by God.

However, I must confess that somehow I missed verse 8 all these years. I guess I was too focused on the promises of the previous verse to see the call to suffering in verse 8. That is why Paul was telling Timothy he was not given fear by God, but he was given power, love, and a sound mind. He knew Timothy would need it in the sufferings for the gospel. Paul knew the joy of being able to glorify God by suffering for Him.

This week in my training seminar I heard an account of what new believers confess in China when they are baptized into Christ. Before they follow the Lord in baptism, they confess their faith and their willingness to suffer for Him. "If I am persecuted for my faith, I will do it for God's glory and in His power. If I am imprisoned, it will free me to do evangelism for Jesus in the prison. If I am put into solitary, I will be freed to meditate upon Christ and His Word. If I am called on to give my life for Jesus, I will be freed to go to Heaven with Him."

How can anything defeat that kind of faith? When we understand the fact that suffering frees us to serve the Lord and to glorify Him by our faithfulness through the suffering, we can resist any foe. We know we have God's power, love and sound mind at our disposal, and we know that no fear of the enemy comes from God. Therefore, we can and will be victorious, as we rely on Jesus.

Tomorrow, I intend to read II Timothy 3-4 and Titus 1-2.

Obedience That God Blesses

2011-12-08T20:28:00.000-05:00

Think of all of the Bible stories you know about people who obeyed God, and then, God blessed them in a great way. What were the characteristics of their obedience? Now, bring it one step closer to home. Think of people in history or people you know who have been blessed in a wonderful way for their obedience. What were the characteristics of their obedience? I believe there are common characteristics for the kind of obedience that God blesses greatly.

Abraham followed God to a country which God promised to give him, but of which God did not tell him the location before he left. Still, Abraham left immediately, even though he did not know where he was going to end up. He trusted that God would bless him, and God has been faithful just like He promised Abraham that He would be. (Genesis 12:1-3) Consider Jonathan attacking the Philistines, when the Israelite forces where vastly outnumbered and had no weapons except farm tools. He climbed a rock cliff with his armor bearer to attack the enemy. He killed 20 of the enemy, but because of his radical, immediate obedience, God gave them the victory over their enemies.

Think about Mary and Joseph and the Christmas story. Mary accepted the news of the virgin birth immediately upon hearing it from Gabriel, and she totally submitted herself to God as His hand-maid just as quickly. Joseph did the same thing as soon as he had the dream. He did not delay. He took Mary to be his wife, no matter what others would say. They were blessed to be the earthly parents of the Lord Jesus because of their radical, immediate obedience.

Today, I was told about the first missionary sent out by a group of Chinese house churches. The Lord called her at about midnight. The believers prayed for her, and took up a collection. Another lady volunteered to go with her. They both bought one way tickets to Myanmar, leaving the next morning and never coming home. God is blessing their work among the Burmese people, because of their obedience.

We should learn a lot from these examples. Lord, help us to practice radical, immediate obedience to you and your directions for us. We know it will result in glory for you and blessings upon us and those to whom we have the privilege of ministering.

Tomorrow, I intend to read I Timothy 5-6 and II Timothy 1-2.

Time Sensitive Commission

2011-12-07T20:43:00.001-05:00

This afternoon God spoke to my heart through our trainer in the seminar I am attending this week. It was something that is obvious, but easy to forget. Time matters when it comes to the Great Commission. Most of the time, I think about how many people need to hear the gospel, when I read the Great Commission. I contemplate how to accomplish that task. I try to bring it down to my personal responsibilities. However, I had been leaving out a huge part of the equation.

Every second that ticks away there is at least one person who dies without knowing Christ. Many of them never even heard the name of Jesus. At that moment they are lost forever. We will never be able to reach them, because our task was time sensitive, and we missed the deadline.

The Lord spoke to my heart that I must add the time factor to the Great Commission. It is my responsibility to do whatever it takes to carry out my part of the commission as quickly as possible, because every second counts. Every second is another soul lost for eternity. Since I started writing this post at least 1,000 people died without Christ. That is why all believers should make it a time sensitive commission for their lives, because it applies to all of us.

Tomorrow, I intend to read I Timothy 2-4.

Endvision

2011-12-06T16:52:00.000-05:00

Today, I want to talk about a new word. It is probably not in your dictionary yet. However, it has been coined by people who want us to think about what we want to see happen in our lives and in our society. Let me put it this way, "If we could experience what Jesus wanted for us in the next 10 years, what would our lives and our society be like in 2022?"

Ever since I became a Christian, I have had an endvision for myself and for my society. This guides my life in every area. I want to be like Jesus. It is my aim to follow His Spirit, obey His word, and flesh out the life of Christ in my own life. That is behind whatever I do every day. I believe this should be true for every believer.

My endvision for my society is that everyone will hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ and many of them will confess Him as Lord, just like what happened in the book of Acts. As a pastor I have worked and prayed to that end, but I have not been able to see it come to pass. This fact burdens my heart, and as long as I live, I will continue to seek God's will for me and for others to see this endvision come to pass. The Great Commission should be the purpose statement for every believer. We are to be making disciples as we go through our lives, and we are to be teaching them to observe all of the message of Jesus, so that they will make more disciples, too, and become like Jesus themselves.

I have one simple question for each of us today. What is your endvision and what are you doing to see it come to pass?

Tomorrow, I intend to read II Thessalonians 2-3 and I Timothy 1.

Rejoice in Our Differences

2011-12-05T22:30:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed that we are all different? Why do you suppose God did that? I believe that there is a lot of truth in the saying, "If two people agree on everything, one of them is unnecessary."

It does make it interesting when we have to deal with all types of people. It stresses out some people so much that they avoid those who are different, instead of working together. When they do that they miss the additional insights they could have had.

I think that Jesus made us different, so we could see life from every perspective and know that our way is not the only way. In fact, my way may not be the best way. I need to learn from others. That is what I try to do, and I encourage us all to do the same thing.

Tomorrow, I intend to read I Thessalonians 4-5 and II Thessalonians 1.

Available Power

2011-12-04T21:40:00.000-05:00

It is simply wrong for any believer to suffer from a lack of power to do God's will. This is a major problem from my perspective, though. Christians feel unable to do God's will. They feel unequipped and too weak spiritually. This is true because they misunderstand the Holy Spirit's power in their lives.

The virgin Mary was a humble, believing Jewish teenager, who experienced the power of God to overshadow her, so that she conceived and brought forth the sinless Son of God, Jesus Christ. She is not the exception, but an example of what the Spirit can do for a life fully submitted to Him and the will of God like Mary. Read it for yourself in Luke 1:26. Nothing is impossible with God, because of the Spirit's power, which is available to every believer.

Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1 has another example. He reveals to us that the same power that God worked in Jesus to raise Him from the dead is available to work in us, if we prayer earnestly to have it and to experience the Lord. This is the power of the Spirit. Now that every Christian has the Spirit living in us, we can have this power to do anything God wills for us.

The Spirit does not force Himself on us. We must be submitted to Him like Mary, and we must be praying for His power like Paul. Then, as we obey, we will see the marvelous power of the Spirit unleashed in our lives. It is available, but it may not be active. The key to releasing this available power is us. God is ready, willing, and able.

Tomorrow, I intend to read I Thessalonians 1-3.

Confidence

2011-12-03T22:30:00.000-05:00

It is good to have confidence in ourselves, if we have the right perspective. When we are confident, we know we have the ability to do something well. There is nothing wrong with being good at what we do. There is nothing wrong with being confident, when we are good at something.

We cross the line when we become proud because we are good at something. Pride puts the emphasis on us and our ability. Pride is giving ourselves credit for our own abilities and intellect. Pride leads us to fall into the trap of over-confidence and self-centeredness. It is a terrible sin.

However, we can and should realize that all of our abilities and intellect come from God. He designed us to be the way we are. If we are good at something, He should get all of the credit, not us. When we realize He is the source of all we have, we will never be proud, only grateful to God for His gifts to us. We can still be confident and humble at the same time. In fact, we are humbled to think that God would bless us in such wonderful ways. We are confident that how He made us was good. We can be confident in the abilities He gave us.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Colossians 2-4.

In The Heavenly Places

2011-12-02T22:26:00.000-05:00

I believe Paul uses the word "heavenlies" five times in the book of Ephesians. In Greek it is one word in the dative or locative case to show location. In English it is translated "in the heavenly places." What are the heavenlies? It is not talking about heaven, itself. It is a reference to the spiritual realm that is all around us all of the time. Most people do not even know it is there. This lack of knowledge of the heavenlies puts them at a distinct disadvantage in life.

There are thousands of angels and demons around us. They are in the heavenlies. They are fighting against each other, and they are trying to influence people here on earth to do the will of their master. Of course, Satan is the leader of the demons, and God is directing the angels. It is a huge spiritual war that effects everything we experience in life. That is why Ephesians 6:12 assures us that our struggle is not against "flesh and blood." The war is against the forces of Satan in this world. Yes, people are used by him to do his will, so we do have to realize his tactics. However, he is the force behind it all.

Once we realize this war is raging around us in the heavenlies, we can enter the battle by using the spiritual weapons and wearing God's armor. Christians have been given all we need to see Satan defeated in God's power. However, we have to put on the armor each day and stand against Satan in it like Paul instructs us in Ephesians 6:10-18. Without the "whole armor of God" Satan will find a crack in the armor. We must have all of the armor and employ the Word of God and prayer against him. Then, there is no way he can defeat us. If we don't fight with God's weapons and God's armor, we are no match for Satan.

Please, take note of this spiritual truth, trust Christ as your Lord, and live each day in the spiritual armor, fighting the good fight of faith with God's weapons. Your life will be so much better.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Philippians 2-4 and Colossians 1.

Exceedingly Abundantly

2011-12-01T19:59:00.000-05:00

There are not too many sentences that require two adverbs to express the message of the author. However, Ephesians 3:20 is one sentence in which that is true. The Holy Spirit led Paul to write, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think...."

I suppose he could have stopped at "Him who is able." God is able to do anything, except the wrong thing. The Holy Spirit could not stop there, though. He had to add the two adverbs to complete the true meaning. God is able to do "abundantly" above all we ask or think. He pours out His blessings in such massive quantities that we can only say that He does it abundantly. Wait! That is not enough yet. He is able to do "exceedingly" abundantly. God's abundance of blessings exceeds all we would ask or think. Isn't that an amazing reality about God's ability?

Now notice what it doesn't say. This sentence does not say that we can't think up more than we have received, or that we have not said things that exceed what we have experienced. Of course, we can always dream bigger and ask for more. This is not the meaning of this verse. It means that God is able to give us so much more than we ever ask for or say. He does that when we are living for Him and praying for His will to be done. His will for us is beyond anything we would ask or say ourselves. because He knows what we need better than we do. That is the bottom line for this verse.

I pray that you have experienced Ephesians 3:20 in your life. Stop and look back at all of the things you asked for or talked about. Then, think about what actually happened. If your life was truly blessed by God because of your love and commitment to Jesus Christ, you will see that the abundance of His blessings exceeds anything you conceived. I know that is true in my life, not because I have been so good, but because God is good! His amazing love endures forever.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Ephesians 4-6 and Philippians 1.

Hypocrisy

2011-11-30T22:43:00.000-05:00

Our world seems to be filled with hypocrisy. A Hypocrite is a person who says one thing, but then does the opposite. It is a person who puts on an outward appearance that doesn't match what is in his heart. A hypocrite is a person who is not being honest with other people, or even being honest with himself. It is a terrible way to live, because many people are turned off by hypocrisy.

The root cause of hypocrisy is wanting to please people. The hypocrite says and does whatever he thinks the people around him want. He wants people to think highly of him, so he tells them what they want to hear. The problem is that when they hear of his hypocrisy, they think very little of him in the end. It is a road to disaster.

We should all promise ourselves to be honest with ourselves, other people, and with God. We should look into our heart and see what is there. If it is sinful, we should repent and confess it, so we can be free of it. Then, we start living a life of honesty, making sure our words and actions match our heart. We begin to stop letting other people dictate our words and actions. We speak and act upon the truth, no matter the consequences. We conform to Christ's image. He is Truth, and He always acts in line with truth.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Ephesians 1-3.

Just Preacher Talk

2011-11-29T20:20:00.000-05:00

I did another funeral service this afternoon. It is always a challenge to make the service personal, comforting, and challenging, all at the same time. I pray that the Lord enabled us to do that today.

I dislike a funeral service in which the preacher doesn't give personal information about the deceased. I know we don't know the person every time, but that is no excuse. There is always the chance to talk with the family, so that details can be shared, as well as stories about their loved ones.

The service is about comfort. Funerals are sad. We miss the one who has died. We need the comfort of the Lord. That comes through the Spirit and the Word of God. I am so thankful for the Lord's guidance to the right Scripture passages that apply to that specific family and situation. The Word of God is alive and powerful!

Finally, I always share the gospel and challenge people to make sure they are ready for eternity. I try to be clear and direct, without being harsh. I know that many of the people in the audience do not go to church, or at least, they haven't been in a long time. I believe it would be a sin for me to speak at a funeral without sharing the plan of salvation and urging people to respond.

The Bible teaches that every person will stand before the Lord in a time of judgment after they die. This judgment is not about salvation. When we die, we have either trusted Christ as Lord, or we haven't. That part is sealed. The judgment will deal with the chances we have to do the right things in life and why we did not do them or we did them. I wonder how many unbelievers will say something like this when they stand before the Lord, "Yes, Lord, I heard the preacher share the gospel at those funerals, but I thought it was just "preacher talk."

Tomorrow, I intend to read Galatians 4-6.

5 Years of Bible Study and Growing Together

2011-11-28T20:54:00.000-05:00

Since the beginning of 2007 a group of men in our church have been meeting for Bible study at 5 AM on Monday mornings. The founder of the study was Dr. Kevin Forrester, who is also Major Kevin Forrester of the US Army. Kevin is a chaplain in the Army. He is presently serving our country and the Lord in Afghanistan. He and his wife Myra came to NHBC with their two children in 2006. Myra served as our pianist until they were transferred to Alabama. The Lord led Kevin to start the study of the Gospel of John in January 2007. He had to travel quite a bit, so Monday morning was his only time, and we met at 5 AM so all of the working men could get in a one hour study before leaving for work. Kevin did a great job, and it was a wonderful in-depth study of God's Word.

I picked up the teaching, when the Forrester's left, and we finished John before moving on to Luke. Now, we have spent 5 years in detailed exploration of the meaning and applications of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. It has been a great blessing for us all. However, it has also taken its toll on us physically, because of our busy schedules. Therefore, we are bringing this study to a close. This morning was our last time to meet at 5 AM on Monday. On Saturday, December 10, we will meet for breakfast and to finish up out study of Luke 24. We want this to be a reunion of all of the men who have been with us at any time over the last five years, plus any other men who want to join us. Then, in 2012 we will continue to meet on one Saturday a month, until the Lord leads us to a different format.

It is hard to get men together for fellowship and study on a regular basis. We are just not as relational as the ladies. This study has enabled us to form strong Christian friendships and accountability. We want to keep it going in different ways in the future. We can never have too much time of growing in the Lord and in our fellowship with other believers.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Galatians 1-3.

Accountability

2011-11-27T21:19:00.000-05:00

One sign of a very mature person is that he or she is willing to be voluntarily accountable to another person or another group of people. This shows a person who wants to break sinful habits and develop a fruitful lifestyle. This is especially true for a Christian person. It shows a serious desire to be like Jesus.

Think about the process. God knows everything we say and do, even in the privacy of our homes. He rewards or punishes us based on those words and actions, because He loves us, and He knows what will lead us to the best possible life. Most of us need help in breaking the strongholds Satan has built up in our lives over the years. We know our sins are damaging us, but we need a prayer/accountability partner to pray with us, and to ask us the hard questions. Then, if we are totally honest, and we want to become like Christ, that other person's objective view leads us to see every sin, confess it, and overcome it with the Spiritual weapons of prayer and the Word of God.(II Corinthians 10:3-6) Over time remarkable progress can be made. Sins that we thought we could never overcome are gone and forgotten. All of this comes by the power of the Spirit, but we have to cooperate with Him and other people to allow His wonderful work to be done in us.

I have an accountability partner. We meet on a weekly basis. I have always made myself accountable to the deacons and other leaders of the churches I have pastored. I encourage all of us, as believers, to enter into this type of relationship with another Christian, who loves us. It will be a great blessing to you.

Tomorrow, I intend to read II Corinthians 11-13.

Reconciliation

2011-11-26T18:59:00.000-05:00

Reconciliation is a big word for restoring a relationship with another person. People get upset with each other for many reasons, and then, it is very important for them to work it out, or their relationship can be destroyed forever. That is a very sad situation created by Satan. He loves to destroy relationships. We must be committed to reconciliation so Satan doesn't win.

It may be that we need to forgive or to ask for forgiveness. It may be that we need to communicate, because someone has received the wrong information. It may be that we need to heal from the hurt another caused us, or they may need to heal from the hurt we caused them. Whatever it is that is needed, it is worth the time and effort. God established us to be in relationship with other people, and when we are cut off from anyone, it hurts us.

Our main problem is that we need to be reconciled to God. Our sin comes between us and God. Jesus came to die for our sins. In fact, He took all of the sins of the world onto Himself and became sin for us, so He could die for our sins. His blood was the only thing that could pay the price required for God's justice to be satisfied. He did His part in the reconciliation, but we have to repent of our sins, and bow to Jesus as Lord. Then, we are reconciled to God. Our relationship with Him is just as if we never sinned. We are cleansed by the blood of Jesus, and through Him we are the children of God.

Tomorrow, I intend to read II Corinthians 8-10.

Glory

2011-11-25T19:54:00.000-05:00

We do not use the word "glory" very much any more. When we do, it is usually in a Christian context. We talk about giving God glory, which means we are praising Him for His perfect character and power. Sometimes, we talk about glory as in the brightness of a star or an angel. At other times, we refer to glory as a verb to say that we recognize the greatness of someone or something.

However, in II Corinthians 3:18 the word glory is used to denote the perfection of Jesus, "the glory of the Lord." It is also used to denote a stage of growth in our lives, as believers. We are transformed "from glory to glory." The Spirit is conforming us to the image of Christ, so that we become more and more like Him. This is God's goal for all believers.

The word picture of this verse is that we are looking into a mirror. When we look into the mirror, we see the glory of Jesus, His presence and His perfection. Then, the Spirit changes us into that image, one level of glory at a time. Our lives are to be a constant process of growth in becoming like our Lord Jesus.

The question to all of us is this, "How much are we beholding the glory of the Lord Jesus?" If we are not seeing Him by meditating on Him and the Word of God, we do not have a picture of what we are to ask the Spirit to do in us. Therefore, we must spend time each day abiding in Christ, and then, ask the Spirit to do His work in us to transform us into His likeness. The Spirit is happy to do this, but He won't force us. We must allow Him to have His way in us. Then, we will see continual progress in our lives.

Tomorrow, I intend to read II Corinthians 4-7

A Psalm 23 Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T19:39:00.000-05:00

I am so blessed that I can say with David, the Psalmist, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want." It is a great Thanksgiving Day, when there is nothing I need and nothing material that I want. God has met my needs so abundantly that I can be in perfect peace. It is more than enough to rest in Him and all of His provision.

I pray that all of you are having a Psalm 23 Thanksgiving, too. If you know Jesus, then your salvation and future is secure. If you have the Holy Spirit, you have all of the power and insight you need for life. If you had parents who loved you and led you to know Jesus, you know the family stability that God wants for us all. If you have the spouse God prepared for you, then you know the closest human relationship and the happiness it brings. If you have been blessed to have children, especially children who love Jesus like you, then you have been given a glimpse of the Father's desire for all people to know Him and to walk with Him. Every blessing of life comes from the Lord and shows us more of His goodness. He is certainly the Good Shepherd.

Tomorrow, I intend to read I Corinthians 16 and II Corinthians 1-3.

Thanksgiving Verse

2011-11-23T21:55:00.001-05:00

This morning I came across a good verse for Thanksgiving. I had not thought of it for Thanksgiving before, but it fits very well. We can put it with the Church Nursery verse, "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed."(I Corinthians 15:51)

The Thanksgiving verse is not quite as humorous, but it is meaningful. It says, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."(I Corinthians 10:31) Tomorrow, there will be a lot of eating, drinking, and whatever going on. Let's be determined that it will all be to the glory of God. After all, we are celebrating His blessings and provision for us. Let's not focus on ourselves, but on Him.

Then, at the end of the day, instead of just being full of food and drink, we can be full of gratitude for all He has done for us and for our families this past year.

Tomorrow, I intend to read I Corinthians 13-15.

Is Life Too Short?

2011-11-22T19:23:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I hear people say that life is too short. There are even catchy sayings about life being short like, "Life is short, so eat your dessert first." There was a movie with this theme. I did not see the movie, but it was entitled "The Bucket List." The bucket list was a list of all of things two men wanted to do before they died. I hear things like this all of the time. People believe that they need to try to experience certain things, because life is short.

I agree with this sentiment, but only in a limited way. I believe life "on earth" is short. Every human being has an eternal soul. Therefore, we will all live eternally. However, only a short part of that life will be here on earth. I think we should focus on the eternal nature of life, not the brevity of life on earth, when we decide what is important in life.

It is possible for a person to experience all types of pleasure and excitement for 100 years on earth, and then, experience torment for eternity. Is that a good trade off? I don't think so.

As believers, if we are focused on the brevity of life on earth, should we be trying to do everything on our bucket list and experience life on earth to the fullest? I don't think so. Since life is short, we should give ourselves fully to the Lord's will, so we can help as many people know Christ and go to Heaven for eternity as possible. That is why the apostle Paul said, "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more."(I Corinthians 9:19) He realized that the best experience we will ever have will come when we get to Heaven, see Jesus face to face, and hear Him say, Well done," as some people come to us and thank us for showing them Jesus and the way to eternal life through Him.

Tomorrow, I intend to read I Corinthians 10-12.

Our Thanksgiving Miracle

2011-11-21T19:53:00.000-05:00

The first Thanksgiving that Chris and I were married we took a trip from Waco, Texas to Memphis Tennessee. My Dad's side of the family always had a reunion at Thanksgiving because it came close to my grandmother's birthday. I really enjoyed those times, and I wanted to take Chris for the celebration. However, we had a lot of obstacles to overcome.

The starter on my 1963 Studebaker went out two days before we were to leave town. I consulted with friends and checked the junk yards, because I did not have time to order a rebuilt one. We found one at a junk yard, but it would not fit, because it was a different model that was too long to fit in the space. Therefore, I took it back to the man at the junk yard. He was not happy, but he returned my money. As we were talking, he took my old starter and put it on a very powerful battery. It turned over, but even he said it was dragging badly. I went home dejected.

I went in and laid on the bed. I was pretty tired and very sad that we could not make the trip. All of a sudden I had a thought. I believe it was from the Lord. I remembered that the started had worked when the man put it to that big battery pack, so I told Chris to get ready. I said that I was going outside to put the starter in, and if it started, we were going to go to Memphis without cutting the car off. I admit that was stupid and impulsive, but I have a tendency to be that way at times. When I got in the car, it started, so we loaded up and left.

We stopped for gas in Little Rock, Arkansas, but I did not turn off the ignition like I was supposed to. We made it to my aunt's house after driving all night. When we pulled into the driveway, the engine died, and it would not start again. However, God knew what was going to happen. My uncle's friend rebuilt starters for a side job. He rebuilt the starter as good as new for $12. I had paid the junk yard $35 for a used one. God is so good.

We got to enjoy the reunion and the meal with our family after all. It was partly because I was foolish enough to take the risk, believing God wanted us to go. Sure enough, He worked it out. In my book it was a Thanksgiving miracle. God is in the miracle business. We all need to trust Him enough to take risks, so we can see His power displayed in our lives.

Tomorrow, I intend to read I Corinthians 7-9.

Peace

2011-11-20T20:36:00.000-05:00

This Thanksgiving I want to express my gratitude to God for giving me peace. There are many great gifts, but it is near the top of the list. In a troubled world there is precious little peace, but with God He supplies it beyond our comprehension.

The economy is a concern. Many people need a job or a better job. There is uncertainty about our rising national debt. How can we pay back 15 trillion dollars? Families are in crisis mode. Everywhere we look we could point out more and more reasons to be stressed. However, the Lord has given me a peace that He is in control. I do not know the future, but I know the one who is deciding what will happen each step of the way. I know He loves me, and I can trust Him to bless me and to protect me. That doesn't mean that I won't suffer pain or loss or even be killed for my faith. The Lord assures me that no matter what I experience here, after one second in Heaven I will not remember it any more, and I will enjoy His presence perfectly forever. What a peace!

Tomorrow, I intend to read I Corinthians 4-6.

Perseverance, Character, and Hope

2011-11-19T17:49:00.000-05:00

I finished reading the book of Romans this morning, as I read through the Bible every year. I think it was Wednesday when I read Romans 5:3,4. I have seen several examples this week of how this truth applies in our lives.

These verses describe a process that must happen in life for us to see success in the spiritual sense. We must not let troubles crush us. In fact, we must rejoice when troubles come, because we know God can bring something good out of them. Troubles produce perseverance in our lives, if we do not give up, but we keep trusting the Lord to guide us and to strengthen us. The end result of the perseverance is character. We become better people. We do what is right even when others are not looking. We come to be strong in character, because we know God blesses our faithfulness to Him and our commitment to do what is right. All of that brings hope. We come to know that there is a light at the end of every tunnel into which God leads us, because He can and will bring us through. No matter how big the trial, we know God is bigger and stronger, so He can give us the victory.

These verses should confirm for us that as we keep going in the face of trouble God makes us stronger, as we trust Him and not ourselves. He gives us the strength, but we have to make the decision to follow Him and keep going. He builds the character, but we have to want to do right. He gives us the hope. That is His specialty. All in all, these verses give us the road map to a great life in the Lord.

Tomorrow, I intend to read I Corinthians 1-3.

Conformed Or Transformed

2011-11-18T20:47:00.000-05:00

People fall into two basic groups, those who conform and those who are transformed. I know that is simplistic, but it is true.

The pressure from the world is to conform. There is a lot of peer pressure to be like everyone else in how we dress, how we act, and how we talk. Businesses advertise to get us to want all of the same products and services, so we will be up to date. Many people have a fear of being different. They go to great lengths to conform and blend in with the crowd.

The Bible urges us to do the opposite.(Romans 12:2) God commands us not to be conformed to this world. His will is for us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. When we are transformed, we will live by God's perfect will, instead of the will of this world and the people around us. It is life at its best.

Jesus told us that there are two roads. The broad road is crowded with people headed to destruction. They are conforming to each other and the world, so they are missing God's way. God's way is the narrow road that leads to life. It is not crowded at all. Even though a lot of people say they want real life, they do not want to be different. They do not want to stay on the "straight and narrow" way. They think that life on the broad road is exciting. However, they find no peace or joy or real love. Their lives are empty of the things that matter. The folks on the narrow road have all of those things, because they all are God's will for us. When we go His way, He supplies them in abundance.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Romans 13-16.

Led By The Spirit

2011-11-17T21:59:00.000-05:00

I spoke to our elementary school students today in chapel using Romans 8:14 as our verse. It clearly says that those who are the sons of God are led by the Spirit. Christians are to be like Jesus. We are to be different from those who have not trusted Jesus as Lord of their lives. This truth is the key.

I asked the children to tell me why most people do what they do. One precious little girl said, "They do what they like to do." She hit the nail on the head. Those who are following the flesh and not the Spirit make their choices based on what they like. This leads to many bad choices and a lot of sin. However, the believer is led by the Spirit to do God's will. That makes a huge difference in our lives.

I was thinking today about when Chris and I got married. I was 19, and she was 18. I was still going to Baylor. We had no money. I made $45/week. What were we thinking? We were following what the Spirit was telling us to do. The proof is in the results of our decision. We have been happily married for 37 years. That did not happen, because we were compatible. It happened because the Spirit led us, and we followed His direction.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Romans 9-12.

Loving Jesus

2011-11-16T20:55:00.000-05:00

I was glad to be able to speak to a pastor friend of mine today. We don't get to see each other very often now, but we have known each other for 30 years. He is a great guy and a passionate preacher of God's Word.

I had called him to ask a question, but in the process of talking we asked about our families and our churches. It was great to hear that his family was doing well. However, what he said about his church was sobering. He is pastor of a great church that has reached a lot of people for the Lord. They have had 3 morning services to accommodate the folks who were coming. He told me that some people had left, and there were about 300 attending services now. He had spoken to another friend who had told him that a church changes folks every five years. People come and people go, so there is little stability in most churches. That is troubling to me, and I hope it is to all of us.

My friend told me that he tells his folks that they need to love Jesus with all of their hearts. It is not about the preacher; it is about Jesus. No church is perfect and for sure, no preacher is perfect. We need to set our hearts to love Jesus. That is where our stability will come from. Then, we will be able to stand the test of time, and not be one of those who comes and goes.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Romans 6-8.

Learning and Growing

2011-11-15T21:39:00.000-05:00

I have come to the conclusion that life is a learning and growing process. As much as I would like to be able to say that I have learned everything and I am fully mature, that is just not so. In fact, the more I learn and the more I grow, the more I can see there is so much more learning and growing to do. My aim is to keep learning and growing until I get to heaven.

In the process of life I have found that I have learned more from the painful events that from the joyful ones, and I have grown more from the defeats than from the victories. Isn't that strange? We tend to hate pain, but it helps us more than the pleasures. Shouldn't we embrace both the ups and the downs and learn from both. Could it be that when we learn from the pain, we experience it less and less, because we learn how to avoid it? Could it be that when we learn from defeats, we win more? I believe that with all of my heart.

Even though I have not learned it all, I know a lot more than I did when I was a teenager. Even though I have experienced a lot of defeats, I see more and more victories in life now. I see progress. That is what the Lord intends for each of us in every area of life.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Romans 3-5.

To Whom Do You Belong?

2011-11-14T20:44:00.000-05:00

Do you look at yourself as an independent person who is free from ownership of any other person? Do you see yourself as a free person or a type of slave? I believe this is an important question for each of us in light of what the Bible says. What do you think?

It is my opinion that most Americans pride themselves in being free, independent people who do not really answer to anyone else. At times, we say that we belong to our spouse, but that means we are joined by marriage, and we are faithful to our spouse. It doesn't usually mean that we are owned by our mate. Do you see what I mean? We think we are free to do whatever we want to do, within certain limits, but we basically belong to ourselves.

The Bible says that believers belong to God.(Acts 27:23,24) We have been bought by the blood of Jesus. We are bond slaves to Jesus, even though we are friends, as well. We would be nothing without Him, so when we come to know Christ, we give ourselves to Him. He made us. He gave us eternal life. He lives in us. We belong to Him. That knowledge totally changes how we think. We don't tell God what we are going to do. We ask Him what He wants us to do. We serve Him, because we owe Him our lives.

It is wonderful to have the security of knowing that we are in His hands. (John 10:28,29) He is preparing a place in heaven for us. We are His children and the sheep of His pasture. He will cherish us and care for us, so we can rest in His loving care.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 28 and Romans 1-2.

The Penn State Tragedy

2011-11-13T20:38:00.000-05:00

There has been a lot written the last few days about the things that have happened at Penn State University over the past few years. I think there is a lot for us to learn from this sad situation, and I do not intend to try to comment on all of those lessons. However, I do want to focus in on the real tragedy.

In Romans 1:18-32 the Lord shows the tragic spiral of sin. Once a person rejects the truth of God, they are subject to idolatry and perversions of the body and mind that God never intended when He created man. However, each of us has a choice. We can choose to follow God and His way, or we can go our own way. We will worship something. We will meet our needs in some way. We will rationalize our actions to make it seem that we are right. That downward spiral leads to the point that "knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them."(Romans 1:32)

Penn State is not any worse than other university in America. We live in a country where sin is rampant, and we see its effects all around us. In this one case we see an assistant football coach who evidently preyed upon young men. We should be saddened because of the destructive power of sin in his life and what it did to these young men. We should pray for each of them, because the only power that can cleanse such hurt and corruption is the blood of Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can take our brokenness and make something beautiful.

I urge all of us to realize that Jesus can break the downward spiral of sin, if we will turn from our way and trust Him as the Lord of All, and the Lord of our lives. He can make us a new creation. (II Corinthians 5:17) Old things can be put away, and He can make all things new.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 25-27.

The Whole Counsel Of God

2011-11-12T18:42:00.000-05:00

As I have read through the second half of the book of Acts, I have been impressed about how difficult it was for Paul in his ministry. Of course, there are lists of all of his tribulations in II Corinthians, but to read it in Acts shows a constant battle. Time after time he was imprisoned, beaten, and even stoned, because people disagreed with what he was preaching. I can't imagine how discouraging it could have been.

All of that being the case, Paul never changed his message. He never distorted the gospel. He continued to declare to everyone the "whole counsel of God." That is a good way to say that he never "pulled any punches." When he knew he might end up in jail or get physically attacked, he still delivered everything the Lord gave him to say. He never compromised for the sake of his comfort.

I believe we need to stand firm like Paul in the world today. People need to hear the whole counsel of God from His inerrant Word. We must be the consistent messengers of God's truth, all of the truth. Then, the world will see and hear the truth, so the Spirit can use it to draw them to Jesus.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 22-24.

How Strong Is Your Soul?

2011-11-11T20:40:00.000-05:00

My verse for today was Acts 14:22. It contains a clause with an important truth. It says that Paul and Barnabas were "strengthening the souls of the disciples." That leads me to the question, "How strong is your soul?" How does your soul need to be strengthened?

Every person has a soul. It is who we are as a person. I believe it is made up of our mind, our will, and our emotions. Therefore, if we are to have our souls strengthened, we would have to see our mind, will, and emotions become stronger.

We strengthen our minds when we add knowledge and we learn how to apply it according to God's wisdom. If we have little knowledge of God's Word, we will have a weak mind, because we will not have the truth we need to know God's will and to do God's will. Bible study makes our minds stronger, as well as praying for God to give us His wisdom.

Our will is the part of us that makes decisions. We need a strong will to be able to choose to do the right thing every time. To have a strong will, we must grow in our commitment and resolve to follow the Spirit. He will give us the strength to follow God's will, but we have to ask for it. We have to want it.

Finally, our emotions can be very weak and fleshly. It is only when our emotions are guided by the Spirit, and we exhibit the fruit of the Spirit that our emotions are strong. Then, we have strong, solid love, joy, peace, etc. Then, we are not a push over emotionally.

I pray that we will all do what it take to strengthen our souls, and be mature believers who can do God's will on a consistent basis.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 18-21.

Impacting Lostness

2011-11-10T22:17:00.000-05:00

The message of the Bible is clear. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father, except through Him.(John 14:6) Life is not about religion. It is about a relationship with God through knowing Jesus, as Lord and Savior.

I had a good conversation with Tommy Kennedy at lunch today about how we can reach people who have never gone to church and never really heard the Good News of Jesus. He is starting a unique ministry in Henry county called GSquared. It is His dream to see small groups of new believers meeting in homes all over our county and to see these groups multiply until everyone has the opportunity to know Jesus. He is not against church in the traditional sense. However, he knows we won't reach everyone through traditional churches in buildings. We have to move out into the communities where people live. It has to be a more "organic" movement.

Tommy's vision is much the same one that God has laid on my heart, but he is just not the pastor of a local church like I am. I believe God wants me to pursue this goal through our church. It will take all kinds of ministries to reach our world for Christ. It will take large, medium, and small traditional churches, as well as house churches and other non-traditional churches. We are not competing. We are all in the same quest. Our goal is not to grow a church. Our goal is to impact lostness to the point that multitudes come to know Christ and everyone has heard the Good News of Jesus.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 14-17.

Repent and Pray

2011-11-09T21:35:00.000-05:00

This morning I read Acts 8 and this evening I went over one short story in that chapter with the folks at prayer meeting. It was the story of Peter confronting Simon, the ex-sorcerer, when he offered to pay money to the apostles, if they would give him the ability to impart the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands.(Acts 8:18-24) Peter was pretty blunt in confronting this new believer, because of the poison of bitterness and the bondage of sin he saw in his request. He knew that Simon's heart was not right, so Peter gave him the only solution.

Peter told Simon to repent of his sin and to pray for God to forgive the intention of his heart. I believe this remedy applies to all who have an impure heart. First, that person must have a change of heart and mind, so that they change their actions. That is repentance. Anything less than that will not be accepted by God. Also, they need to pray for forgiveness. God will not listen to prayers for forgiveness, unless He sees repentance, because He knows we will just go right back to sinning in the same way. However, if we repent and we sincerely want God to forgive us, so that we don't commit that sin any more, He will forgive us. God wants to save us from our sins, not save us in our sins.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 11-13.

The Great Side-Tracker

2011-11-08T19:58:00.000-05:00

We have an idiom in English to get "side-tracked." I believe it must come from the railroads of our country. Trains have played a huge part in the development of the United States, and they still play a vital part in commerce and industry. There are thousands of railroad tracks that criss-cross our land. It is amazing to me that they can coordinate so many trains going in so many directions without having more accidents. The people who oversee the system must be very diligent, because I hardly ever hear of two trains crashing together.

The way I understand the railway system is this. There are main tracks, and there are side tracks. The main tracks go from city to city, from port to port, and from business to business. The side tracks are short tracks where trains can pull off for a while to get out of the way of another train. They don't lead to anywhere. They are dead ends. Therefore, we say we get side-tacked, when we get away from the purpose before us, and we do things that don't accomplish our goals. We get off of the main things of life, and we spend our time on the non-essentials, going nowhere.

The devil is the Great Side-Tracker. He knows that he could not get most of us, especially believers, to forsake our beliefs, but he can get us side-tracked, so that we spend our time and energy doing things that are not God's will for us. These might even be good things, but they are not the main things. We must not allow Satan to do this. We must stay focused on the narrow road and the Great Commission of Jesus. We must make the commitment to get off of the side track and to stay on the Lord's main track. Only then can we bear the fruit of seeing souls saved and lives changed.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 8-10.

Vengeance

2011-11-07T20:07:00.000-05:00

When we are hurt by another person, the first temptation is to strike back at that person. It is a selfish reaction. It is linked to pride. There is an element of anger most of the time. We tend to think that their actions make it right for us to get even. All of this plays into vengeance, and all of it is sinful.

The Bible is clear. God said, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay." Jesus said to turn the other cheek. Paul said to leave vengeance to the Lord, because He is the only perfect judge, and He always does the right thing at the right time. However, these admonitions go against our natural feelings and our human nature. It is very difficult to trust the Lord to stand up for us, but it is the best way.

Now, I want to make it clear that God does not oppose protecting ourselves and our families from harm. That is not the intent of these teachings. The reason we are not to take vengeance is that we will end up doing the wrong thing in selfishness, pride, or anger. We can be wise. We can stay away from those who hurt us, so they will not do further harm. All the while we are to pray for them. Jesus loves them, and we should show them that love, too. Just as Jesus forgave us, we can forgive them. Then, we wait for them to realize their sin and repent, so we can be reconciled. That doesn't always happen, but it is the best outcome.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 5-7.

My Church Family

2011-11-06T21:22:00.000-05:00

It is such a blessing to be the pastor of a church where I am part of the family. I talk to a lot of pastors, and I observe other churches. It seems that many times the pastor is the CEO of the church. He is over the "lay people." However, he isn't really one of them. He is "Ordained." That model of ministry has always turned me off. I have done my best to tell people that I am Stan. If you want to call me "Brother Stan" or "Pastor Stan" that is fine with me, but it is not necessary. I am a part of the body of Christ. I am a member of the family. Yes, I have been called and gifted to be a shepherd or pastor, but that is just my function in the body. Each member has a function, and we are all important.

The goal is to do God's will. The purpose is to fulfill the Great Commission. The object is to live by the Great Commandment. It takes us all to do these things, not just a few. I love the fact that NHBC really believes that. We aren't perfect, but we want to serve the Lord and do what it takes to see people come to Christ, while we love each other and the folks around us. I am so thankful for my church family.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 2-4.

Change

2011-11-05T19:49:00.000-04:00

Most people have a problem with change. We gravitate toward our comfort zone, and then we tend to stay there. If we encounter change, it usually makes us uncomfortable. Therefore, we shy away from it.

This is a big problem for us in our Christian lives. The Lord calls on us to be ready to change at any time. He wants us to always be making changes so we can be more like Jesus. Without change, we can't really follow His will. The Holy Spirit leads us to change, and He gives us the ability to change, but we have to cooperate with Him in the process. If we don't want to change, He doesn't force us.

I am realizing more and more that I have to throw out the way I have always done things. I have to ask the Lord every morning to show me how and what to do. Then, if it means a big change or a subtle change, I must embrace that change and rejoice in it, because it will lead to fruit. This is a challenge for me, because I am an habitual type of person. However, the Spirit can and will break that tendency, if I will let Him. That is what I want. I want to be willing to change every day, if that is what it takes to do His will and to be more like Jesus.

Tomorrow, I intend to read John 21-22 and Acts 1.

How We Love Jesus

2011-11-04T20:45:00.000-04:00

There are several verses in the Bible that tell us how to love Jesus. It all boils down to keeping His commandments.(John 14:21) It is not that we have a great feeling of affection for Him. It is a commitment to Him. Since we love Him, we want to please Him. The way we please Him is to keep His commandments.

God's Word is the commandments of God for us. It is not all commandments, but all of the commands in the Bible are God's commands for us. As we read His Word or hear it taught, we pick up on what God desires for us to do. Our love for Jesus compels us to obey, not out of duty, but out of sincere love. It is joyful submission.

The great thing is that when we keep His commandments, He manifests His love and Himself to us. We see what Jesus is like. We enjoy His presence. We hear His voice. It all comes because we love the One who loved us first and gave Himself for us in the greatest act of love in history.

Tomorrow, I intend to read John 16-19.

Unity

2011-11-03T20:49:00.000-04:00

There is a lot to be said for unity. God loves unity between believers. He wants us to experience the same unity that He has had with the Father forever.(John 17) Unity is a sign to the world that Jesus is Lord, and we are His disciples. We ought to strive for unity in the Spirit all of the time.

Unity can't come when we follow our own agendas and our own desires. Selfishness makes unity impossible. We will never fully experience unity until we all get on His agenda. God's way is the best. Once we realize that, it should be easy to give up on our own way and go His way. Then, we can be together in our purpose and actions.

Think of how division has brought harm to our world, our families, and even to our minds. The world has suffered through war after war, because of divisions between people. Marriages and families have been separated because people can't agree with each other. When we have a double-mind our lives are unstable, and we fail to accomplish what we ought to accomplish. Division destroys, while unity edifies.

Tomorrow, I intend to read John 12-15

Willful Disobedience

2011-11-02T21:55:00.000-04:00

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. No one is perfect. There are a lot of sayings to point out that people fail. We sin. We will not get to where we are free from sin, as long as we live in the flesh in this world. However, that is not the end of the story. We can't just willfully sin, and chalk it up to being human, or that we can't help it. We can help it.

There is huge difference between falling into a sin, and walking into it with our eyes wide open. It is one thing to be a weak young Christian, who is still struggling with some of our old habits, and a 20 year old Christian who decides to break God's Word, even though he knows better. When it comes to willful disobedience, God has to punish it severely. Think of the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. They willfully lied to the Holy Spirit and to their fellow believers. God struck them dead.

The truth is that we can be freed from our slavery to sin, if we trust Christ as Lord and Savior, and we grow in the power of the Spirit. We won't be fully perfect, but we will not willfully disobey God, because we have repented of sin, once and for all. We will not fall into sin very often, because we are controlled by the Spirit, and He warns us when we are about to be tempted, and we depend on Him to deliver us. Read Romans 6. It is plain that once we die to sin, we do not live in it any longer.

Willful disobedience should be a huge red flag in our lives that something is terribly wrong. We should make sure we are saved, and we should fully submit to the Lord, if we see an such behavior in our lives.

Tomorrow, I intend to read John 9-11.

Fear

2011-11-01T19:25:00.000-04:00

I did the lesson for our Good News Club today at the elementary school near our church. We had 36 children learning God's Word and having a great time. The lesson was on how fear affected David and Saul. I believe it was good for the children to hear. It is important for all of us.

Fear can cause us to sin. When we are afraid of someone or something, we are tempted to lie to protect ourselves, or we are tempted to make our own plans to protect ourselves. Either way we for get to trust the Lord and live in His victory. We must overcome fear in His power.

The verse for the lesson was II Timothy 1:7. It tells us that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind. What a fantastic truth! We must not allow fear to grip us, and we must not think fear comes from God. He does not give us fear, Satan does. He gives us power to overcome fear. He gives us love that is always faithful, and He gives us self-control so we can follow Him. If we receive His gifts, we can always do away with fear and follow His will, instead of giving in to sin.

Tomorrow, I intend to read John 6-8.

Seeking God

2011-10-31T22:16:00.000-04:00

I can remember God seeking me at very young age. I would lay on my bed, and I would know that He was communicating with my heart. I would go to church, and the Holy Spirit would touch me through the teaching or preaching. I can say with certainty that God sought me, even when I was not seeking Him. Then, when I read the Bible, I see that is how He works with everyone. He takes the initiative.

However, I meet people who tell me that they try to seek God, but they do not hear from Him or find Him? What is the problem? Why would they not hear from God, when they are seeking Him? I am sure it is a complex question to answer, and I can't exhaust the possibilities. I can say that there must be a problem in the way they are listening or in the way they are putting God to the test. In other words, they are looking for the god they have made up in their own mind, or they are looking for God to do what they want Him to do. When they can't find this type of God, or they can't get Him to do their will, they conclude they can't find God.

I have found God to be Love and to be faithful. Therefore, I do not think He is ignoring them. I don't think He is not listening to them. He just can't answer those types of prayers, because He is the Lord, not the servant. He is Himself, and He will not change to fit anyone's desires. He is honest with us, and we need to honestly respond when He calls out to us. I believe that is why children hear from God. They make no demands. They have no prejudices. They truly want to know who God is, and He shows them. I praise the Lord for working that way in my life.

Tomorrow, I intend to read John 3-5.

Getting Fed The Word

2011-10-30T20:30:00.000-04:00

Most Sundays I get to feed the Word of God to folks. Today was one of those rare times when I got to be fed by others. It is always a joy whether it is Steve Smith at NHBC, or it is in another church fellowship. I love to listen to the speaker and to the Holy Spirit.

Our Bible study lesson this morning was on forgiveness. We had a good leader, and we watched a video, too. One of the good quotes was very memorable to me. The speaker on the video said, "Resentment and bitterness draw demons the way garbage draws flies." That is kind of a gross mental picture, but it makes the point well. We are all damaged when we allow anger to grow in our lives until it becomes bitterness and a grudge against another person. Our desire to hurt the other person does not hurt them, but it hurts us. Our leader said when we want vengeance, "It is like drinking poison and expecting it to harm the other person. The only solution is to ask the Lord to help us release others from anything they owe us and forgive them.

Then, the message in the worship service was on loving our enemies. This is a unique message of Jesus to us, as His disciples. He is trying to get us to be like Him. The pastor asked us to consider who are our enemies or people we do not like very much and pray for them. Then, we can ask God to show us how to serve them, so we can be reconciled. I believe he hit the nail on the head. We ought to be different from the world by loving those who don't love us, because Jesus loves everyone. We should love everyone, too.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Luke 24 and John 1-2.

What Is Your Authority?

2011-10-29T19:10:00.000-04:00

Every time we face a decision we have to decide what authority we will follow to make the choice before us. What authority do you use? Do you have multiple sources of authority or one? It is a very important matter for each of us. It determines what we do in our lives.

Some people use logic as their authority. They consider the problem they face. Then, they lay out all of the options available to them. As they view all of them, they choose the one that seems to have the most strengths and the least weaknesses. This is pretty much trial and error. We do not have enough knowledge to foresee all of the possibilities, so we end up making the wrong choice many times.

Some people decide on the basis of emotion. They do not want to feel badly, and they do not want others to feel badly, so they always choose the feel good solution. Others try to choose on the basis of love. The trouble with this approach is that we have to have the right understanding of love in every instance. What definition of love do we use? It is very subjective, so that you can do what seems best to you.

Some people go by their experience. In fact, there is a saying that "experience is the only teacher." That is not the truth. Of course, we can learn in other ways. However, when we base our decisions on experience, again, we are limited in the options we consider, because our experience is limited.

There is only one way to make the right decision every time. We must base our decisions on an infallible, inerrant authority. Some people do not believe that we have such a source of authority. However, I beg to differ with them. Anyone who makes an objective study of the Bible will find that it is God's revelation of Himself and His ways to us. Since our way of thinking and acting is not the same as His, we must have the Bible to guide us.(Isaiah 55:8,9) I have found that the Bible has a direct teaching or principle for about 90% of our decisions. Then, for the other decisions we can discern the heart and mind of God from the stories in the Bible and from the Spirit's leading in our hearts based on what the Bible says. It is an excellent way to make every decision, because we trust God, and we trust what He has shown us to be the truth in the Bible. Then, we can know we are depending on the proper authority, and we can know that God will bless our decision.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Luke 21-23.

Jesus is Lord Of All

2011-10-28T20:20:00.000-04:00

I believe that Jesus is the Lord of all. Therefore, I believe He is worthy of all of our devotion in every area of life.(Luke 14:33) Jesus told us that if we do not forsake all for Him, we cannot be His disciple. That sounds drastic to some people, but it is very logical if Jesus is Lord.

To Whom do we owe our lives and our existence? Jesus. From Whom does everything come that we are blessed to have? Jesus. How are we delivered from our sins and set free to have eternal life? Jesus. It is obvious that since we owe everything to Him, we should forsake all for Him.

Life is not about us. It is about how much glory we can give to the One who gave Himself for us, so we can have real life.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Luke 17-20.

Stay Ready For Eternity

2011-10-27T21:10:00.000-04:00

My verse for today is Luke 12:40. It is an admonition to be ready, because we do not know when Jesus will come again. He will come when we do not expect Him, unless we are in tune with God, and we are ready to go at any time.

This is true of Jesus' coming in the rapture, and it is true for us going to be with Him when we die. It is absolutely essential that we are ready for eternity all of the time. We never know when we will step from this life into the eternal realm, and there are no second chances after we die. The moment our heart stops or the moment the trumpet sounds for His coming, we are either ready or not. We need to stay ready.

To be ready for eternity is to know Jesus in a personal love relationship. He is the Only Way to the Father and to heaven. If you do not know Him, I urge you to trust Him as Lord and Savior of your life right now. Listen to what the Spirit is saying, and respond in faith to His call. It means life or death for eternity.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Luke 13-16.

Following Jesus

2011-10-26T21:50:00.000-04:00

I love to hear Henry Blackaby teach the Bible and share what God has shown him over the years. Once I heard him say that Jesus is not obligated to follow us around. The fact is we can walk away from Jesus. We can choose to go the wrong way. It is up to us to decide to follow Him.(Luke 9:23)

As I read what Jesus said in the New Testament, His emphasis was on trusting Him and following Him. He did not talk about being saved like we do. He spoke about being born again by the Spirit. His message of salvation was all about life change. We decide to trust Him, so that we do not go our way but His way, and we are forever changed, a new person by His power.

That is the message of Luke 9:23-24. We lose our life, and we have it saved by Him. We decide to follow Him by denying ourselves and dying to our desires. What a radical message, but it is Jesus' message to all of us.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Luke 10-12.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

2011-10-25T22:08:00.000-04:00

Psalm 139 gives us insights into how God created us in such a wonderful way. I know; I see it in my life all of the time. Mondays are busy days for me. Of course, they follow Sundays, which are very busy as well. Still, the Lord gives me strength and stamina each week to continue in all He wants me to do.

Yesterday, I got up at 3:45 AM, as usual, to prepare for our Men's Bible Study at 5 AM. We had a great time of study from Luke 23. Then, I spent my time with the Lord. I ran my 3.2 miles, and I dressed for the memorial service. The service went well, as did the meal for the family after the service. I went home for a short time, and returned for visitation in our community. Chris Ward and I made 2 good visits.

I went home to help my Chris with some of her work, and it lasted all night. I slept for one hour, but she did not sleep at all. Then, today God gave me the strength to stay awake all day long. I did not get tired or weary. What an amazing God we serve. He designed our bodies and our minds to endure such stress and periods without much sleep. He knew just what He was doing, and I praise Him.

Now, I will sleep very well, so Good Night, and God bless each of you.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Luke 7-9.

Life More Abundant

2011-10-24T20:58:00.000-04:00

Jesus did not come into this world simply to provide for the forgiveness of our sins, as important as that is. He came that we may have life, and that we may have it more abundantly.(John 10:10b) Jesus has a wonderful plan for each of us. He loves us dearly, and He desires for us to have eternal life that is abundant in His blessings. He died on the Cross to pay for our sins and to die in our place, so that we could be reconciled to Holy God. Then, He could adopt us into His family, and we could follow His way, which is that abundant life.

Unfortunately, there is another part of this story and this verse. The thief (Satan) comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy. His aim is to wreck our lives and lead us to destruction. If we listen to him and go his way, we will experience the worst life has for us, instead of God's blessings.

When we read John 10:10 we see that the choice is ours. We "may" have life and have it more abundantly. Jesus did His part. Have you done your part? Have you turned from your ways and your sins, and trusted Christ as Lord of your life? If so, you "may" begin that abundant life with Christ, as you walk with Him.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Luke 4-6.

Amens From Jacob

2011-10-23T20:17:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday we had the regular meeting of our senior adult group at NHBC, the Young Hearts. We had a wonderful chili lunch and great fellowship, as usual. The leader had asked me to sing, so Jerry and I had practiced several songs for the occasion. It was a blessing for me to be able to share and to make a joyful noise.

The extra added plus was that Chris brought Jacob since Dixie was working that day. He did great! He had a good time greeting people and playing. He even sat in his seat and ate his food. Believe me, there are times when that doesn't happen. Maybe, it was better this time since he was the only child.

When Jerry and I began our songs, Jacob loved hearing Jerry play the guitar. Then, when the first song ended, he let out a hearty "Amen." Several folks laughed, and one asked me, "How did you teach him that?" I simply replied that it was not a matter of us teaching him that. He picked it up on his own. That is what kids do. We were all amazed that he continued in the same way for all of the songs. There was no squirming or crying, only "amens." It warmed my heart to hear the little guy, and to think that he enjoyed the songs of God and shouting his joyful response. Oh that we all could have innocent hearts of praise for the Lord!

Tomorrow, I intend to read Luke 1-3.