Enjoy the Little Things – Matthew 19:14

But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 19:14

My daughter absolutely loves life; she is so enthralled with the smallest of things.  She enjoys all the little things in life that we take for granted and have long forgotten. She laughs at simple gestures, expresses love openly and is so amazed at a simple flower or picture.  She truly knows how to enjoy life to the fullest!

Why is it that when we become adults we complicate life so much that we rarely take time to truly enjoy it? We burden ourselves down with so many weights and cares that we may dread getting out of bed in the morning, we dread going to work or we are just depressed at life in general. The new day becomes another day in mediocrity; we stop living and start going through the motions of existence.   

Do we truly believe that Jesus wants us to live a life dull of flavor, colorless, tasteless: a miserable way of life?  I should hope not; He came to give us abundant life (John 10:10). We will have bad days, we will hurt, we will cry, we will feel pain, etc.  But what happened to finding the “silver lining”?  Christ loves us, and if we have a relationship with Him we have a Heavenly eternal home, where we will fellowship with God.  Yes, sometimes life can throw a lot at us; that does not mean we should stop smelling the roses. On the contrary, we should take time to stop and smell them more often!

God has given us a beautiful world, full of his wonderful creations.  Take time today to just enjoy.  Decide not to be too busy, and do not let the world, the devil, or yourself condemn you for it.  I promise you that my daughter is never to busy to stop what she is doing and enjoy blowing some bubbles with daddy.  Will you take the time to “blow bubbles” with the Father today?  

With a Grain of Salt- 1 John 4:1

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 (NKJV)

My dad advised me many times to “take everything with a grain of salt”. If I read something, heard something, saw something, or was told something I should always make sure it was true before I jumped fool-heartedly into it.  Dad was a man of deep wisdom who relied on God and His word (Bible) as a guide; he taught me to be much like the Christians from Berea and to search the scripture and to never believe anything that was contrary to it (Acts 17:10-11).

In the time of Paul there were many differences in doctrines and arguments in regard to God and Christianity; believers began to be swayed back and forth with teachings while confusion abounded.  Paul taught that we should stand firm in faith and not be moved by every wind of doctrine and that we should trust in the un-perverted doctrine of Jesus, found in scripture. 

Today we are faced with a world of doctrines, and although some are minute and can be disagreed upon, some undermine the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We must be careful who we listen to and what teachings and doctrines we take to heart; we should always heed my dad’s advice and take everything with a grain of salt and allow the Bible to serve as our ultimate guide. 

What do you believe? Have you taken it with a grain of salt? Or have you simply grabbed on to whatever feels or seems right to you now?  Make sure you test the spirits to see if they are of God. 

Psalm 1

Psalm Chapter One is one of my favorite. It is full of encouraging truth for those who follow God, and strict warnings for those who do not.

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Amazing Grace – Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Eph. 2:8-9 (NKJV)

We hear so often in church of grace; do we really know what it means?  The best illustration I have heard is this:

A child disobeyed his father and got caught.  The father decided that a weeks grounding would be fair; that is justice.  The father could tell that the son was authentically sorry for his disobedience so he chose not to punish him further; that is mercy. The father then decided to take the son out for ice cream; that is grace!   

You may have sung “Amazing Grace” many times, but have you ever taken time to stop and pay attention to the words?  Take time today to slowly read over the lyrics, and let the words sink in; it is a beautiful and true song that describes God’s “Amazing Grace”!

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

John Newton (1725-1807)

Are you ready for ice cream?

What I learned from Sam-I-Am - 2 Corinthians 4:1-2

And so, since God in his mercy has given us this wonderful ministry, we never give up. We reject all shameful and underhanded methods. We do not try to trick anyone, and we do not distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know that. 

2 Cor. 4:1-2

I was recently reading “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss to my daughter when I really thought deeply about what is going on in the book.  Sam-I-Am obviously loves green eggs and ham; he is so taken with the goodness of them that he has to share them.  Although he is faced with rejection time and time again, he continues to offer them to his friend; after all he knows that they are awesome!  Through his perseverance and urging they are finally accepted, and the outcome is truly inspiring: Wow, green eggs and ham really are great!

As God’s children we have something much greater to offer the world than green eggs and ham; we come bearing the message of a risen savior, who is a loving God.  We know that there is nothing better than a relationship with the living God, however there are many people around us who are blinded in darkness; they do not know, nor can they fathom the goodness that is in Christ.

If the blind are to ever see then we must testify to the light.  We must remind them time and time again of God’s love and desire to know them.  We must seek to model Christ to them that they can see Him in us, with hope that they will one day surrender to Him and taste of His righteousness. If they do we know that the reaction will be similar to that of the friend in “Green eggs and Ham”, they will thank us for not giving up, rejoice with us in Christ, and share in the distribution of the Gospel message.

Is it worth it to you to share the Gospel so passionately and to such great lengths? Is it worth your time? Is it worth the rejection and the loss of comfort? Most certainly! So I ask you, will you share Him here or there? Will you share Him anywhere? Will you share the Love of Christ to man? You can do it, I know you can!

Less of Me- John 3:30

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30 (NKJV)

In the beginning of the book “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren, he begins with a simple statement “It’s not about you.” This statement comes as a rude awakening to our natural point-of-view.  We want to believe and act like everything revolves around us and our personal agenda.  Even in doing good we twist and turn until we are patted on the back and glorified.  If we are to change our world for Christ we must first realize that the throne does not belong to us; it belongs to Him.

As we seek a closer relationship with God we begin to realize that life is so much more than our feelings and comfort.  God has a greater purpose that goes beyond the scope of our imagination. We must seek to lay aside our life, so that we can find true fulfillment in Him (Matt. 10:39). We must decrease our “me” centered mentality, so that His love and His will can grow and flourish in our life. 

The laying aside of self is not an easy process. It will not happen overnight and it is not a “get there and we are done” kind of thing. As long as we are here in our earthly body, we will wrestle with this “flesh”.  Therefore, we need to daily keep our bodies in subjection to Christ, and allow Him to strip away the many layers of selfishness and conceit (1 Cor. 9:27). Then when there is more of Him than there is of us, a difference will be made in the lives of others. Oh what great love and compassion we find when we allow the mind of Christ to overtake us!

“Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Hold o'er my being absolute sway! Fill with Thy Spirit 'till all shall see. Christ only, always, living in me.” Adelaide A. Pollard

Be Still- Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10

We often treat prayer as a monologue; ok God thanks for everything, this is what I want and need, please help so-and-so, talk to you soon, goodbye; oh and in Jesus name, Amen. We rush through our prayers like we rush through our lives and we do not allow God to move on our hearts and speak to us. We miss out on what prayer is all about: a conversation with God.  So God directs us to do what I have always had a problem doing: Just be quiet and listen. 

When you allow prayer to be a two way conversation, you will experience your relationship with Christ in a whole new way. God will speak to your heart; often he will speak, not like a great wind, or and earthquake, but with a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:11-12). He will guide you and direct you so that He may be exalted and glorified; humble yourself, be obedient to His voice, and witness miracles happen.

When you go to God in prayer today, be sure to have a conversation and not a monologue. Be still, and you will find out that He is still God and He still speaks!

Jonah vs. Ananias- 1 Samuel 15:22

So Samuel said: "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22

In the Bible we find the story of Jonah in the book that shares his name, and we find the story of Ananias in Acts Chapter 9.  Both of these men of God were given a similar mission by God.  Both men were reluctant to go on the mission; they did not want to go.  However, the men made a different choice when concerning God’s command and thus received different outcomes.

Jonah fled from God’s mission and found himself in the belly of a fish, which he compared to the pits of hell.  He spent three days in the fish, repented of his fleeing, was vomited up, and then he went and did what God had sent him to do.  Jonah after preaching to the Ninevites, watched them repent, and then went onto the mountain and waited for God to destroy them. He became angry when God spared them; he traded his joy in the situation for anger and misunderstanding. 

Ananias on the other hand trusted God and went and did what he was told to do; he did not suffer God’s punishment and corporal persuasion.  Ananias worshiped and praised God for the repentance of Saul; accepting Saul as a brother in Christ.  He received peace and joy from being used by God even though he was originally afraid and hesitant to go.

When God sends us to accomplish a task we have two options: We can choose to be obedient to God like Ananias and celebrate the workings of God in the lives of man.  Or we can be like Jonah and run from God, suffer pain and anguish, end up doing what God sent us to do in the first place, and missing out on joy and peace. 

Has God given you a specific task? Maybe He has called you to ministry.  Maybe He has put on your heart to share His word with someone. Maybe you need to go ask someone for forgiveness, or give your forgiveness. Whatever it is that God’s Spirit is directing you to do, you must make a choice; will you be a Jonah, or an Ananias? You decide

Courage in the Face of Fear – Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." Deut. 31:6 (NKJV)

Richard Wurmbrand was faced with a very difficult situation; he sat and watched as many of his fellow clergymen of the Soviet Union announced that Christianity and communism could coexist because they feared Joseph Stalin and the Communist regime.  Richard’s wife told him to wipe the shame from Jesus’ face, from the spit of the other ministers.  Wurmbrand knew he would pay dearly if he stood against Stalin, but with the encouragement of his wife and the love and strength of the Savior he proclaimed Jesus over the open radio broadcast.  He chose not to allow his fear to overtake him; he courageously stood despite the fear.  Wurmbrand did pay dearly for his witness; however many lives have been touched and souls added to the kingdom of God because he refused to let fear overtake him.

Although we are told many times in scripture to “fear not” we tend to hold on to this human emotion.  We stop talking about Jesus openly and sharing the true saving faith that is found in Him alone, because we are afraid of what people will think of us, or do to us.  We attempt to live a comfortable life; we will go wherever and whenever God sends us, as long as it is safe, we’re not too afraid, and we’re comfortable with it. We fear that God will take away our comfort and we withhold our full lives from Him.  We are guilty of watering down the Gospel and quenching the Spirit because of our fear (1 Thes. 5:14). 

If we buckle in the face of fear we limit our ability to grow as believers and followers of Christ; we set limits on our witness, and we will never experience the fullness of the mountain moving, life changing power of God here on Earth. We must instead stand in the face of fear, lean on the power of the Almighty God and press forward.  If we are the light of the world that Jesus said we are in Matthew 5:14, then the eternal state of the souls of men (i.e. our friends and family) depend on it; we must be courageous despite fear so that men can hear the “Good News” of Jesus Christ (2Cor. 4:3): He loves us, all of us, and He desires an eternal relationship with each one of us (John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9).

Are you allowing fear to stop you from doing the will of God? Maybe it is fear that you will lose comfort. Maybe it is a fear of persecution.  Or maybe it is a fear that you do not have the ability or the know-how.  Pray to God that you will have courage to stand in the face of fear, taking away its power, regardless of the outcome.  Remember, if you are His: He is with you ALWAYS and He will forsake you NEVER!

What are You Sowing? –Galatians 6:7

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Galatians 6:7

A farmer would never expect for beans to grow if he had sown a field of corn.  I would even go as far to say that if he did expect beans to grow that people would worry about his sanity.  So why is it that we think we can sow whatever we want and in turn reap abounding goodness and joy? Any farmer will tell you: You reap what you sow.

What are you sowing?  Are you sowing seeds of thanksgiving, peace, humility, selflessness, love, compassion, empathy, etc.?  Then you will reap those in return.  Or are you sowing pride, resentment, hatefulness, unrighteous anger, prejudice, selfishness, distrust, deceit, etc.? You will reap the same.  Be careful what you sow, lest you have no one to blame for your harvest but you.

Get in to God’s word, pray, spend time with believers, humble yourself before God and seek His will. Seek to sow Godliness; you may be surprised how plentiful the harvest will be.

Avoiding Phariseeisms- Matt. 16:6

Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." Matt. 16:6

It is sad that so many people are turned away from Jesus today because of the actions of church-goers.  Working in retail I discovered first hand that many of my problem customers where “Christians”; how unfortunate that they acted like Pharisees. When we set back and realize that we are the light of the world, we need to ask ourselves what the message is that we are sending.  Are we giving people a proper representation of our savior?

Christ’s teachings leave no room for arrogance, egocentrism, or hypocrisy. However, our sin nature makes it easy for us to fall into the practice of these Phariseeisms. We as Christians must realize that we have two natures: sinful (carnal) and spiritual. We must decide to feed one nature and in so doing starve the other; if we feed the sinful nature and give in to the desires of the flesh, the spirit will suffer and our witness will be marred.  However, if we will choose to feed the spirit through a closer walk with Jesus Christ (with prayer, Bible study, fellowshipping with believers, etc.) then we will starve and weaken the flesh. 

Phariseeisms are not born overnight; they are developed in earthly thinking, traditions, and selfishness.  They typically enter our lives in ways that seem innocent and harmless, and then they take root in our lives.  We need to ask God to help us review our hearts and attitudes, that we may remove any Phariseeisms that are growing in our lives; the longer they grow, the harder they are to eradicate.

Will you ask God to reveal to you anything in your life that is damaging your witness and pushing people away from Jesus Christ?  On deep review you may find that there are some habits and attitudes that need to go. Will you ask and allow God to strip any Phariseeisms from your life?  If you are to show people who Jesus truly is, you must!

Righteousness of the Pharisees- Matt. 5:20

For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 (NKJV)

The Pharisees were the Jewish religious order of Jesus’ day; people looked to them for answers and understanding of God’s will. They had become so proud and arrogant and puffed up with traditions and laws that they had drifted away from God; so much so that when the God they claimed they served came down as man, many of them completely missed Him.

The Pharisees became notorious for their “holier than thou” attitudes. They enjoyed being praised by men and showing their “righteousness” to the world.  They became so blinded by legalism and self-gratification that they did not realize they truly lacked a relationship with God at all.  Although they looked the part of holy ministers of God, their righteousness remained “filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6). 

Jesus warned that better be sure that we have a living relationship with God; it is only by His righteousness that we are saved.  It takes more than church attendance and a strict adhering to Biblical laws and principles to get to heaven. It must be more than a “going through the motions” religion; it must be a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.

A Joyful Noise – Psalms 100:1

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Psalms 100:1

Today will be short and sweet.  

Dwell on this thought: God wishes to hear from you today. He wants to hear you sing His praises.  Ask God to put a song in your heart that you can sing to Him; do not concern yourself with your ability or even who is listening.  Allow God to move in you, and sing out to Him; no matter your circumstances: Make a joyful noise unto the Lord! You will be surprised how this simple act will change the course of your day. 

All Things – Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

I recall a story I read somewhere about a man in a fancy European restaurant.  The man was telling a story at his table and vividly waving his hands; a waiter walked by with a tray of coffee and the man knocked the coffee from the tray and it splattered on the nice white wall of the fancy restaurant.  The man apologetically tried to clean the stain and pay for the damages; no matter how much he tried he could not make the stain disappear. It seemed like the stain would be a permanent ugly blemish on the wall. As the man and the staff of the restaurant fretted about what could be done a man stood from his seat, took out a permanent marker and began to turn the stain into a beautiful stag.  The man was a famous illustrator of animal portraits in Europe at the time; he took a horrible mishap and made it a beautiful piece of art.

In life we have many mishaps; through selfishness and sin we can make a big ugly mess of things. Sometimes we may be able to apologize and clean up the situation, but all too often we create permanent stains.  We start to lose hope and grumble in guilt and deep regret; we wish that we could take back our actions, but we cannot. The situation seems hopeless; the stain surely will always be there to haunt us.  Perhaps you are already thinking about an ugly stain that you have caused and cannot get rid of; listen closely: if we are God’s then He will cause ALL THINGS to work together for good!  Note that the verse does not say most things, or some things, or even all things that are not too big or too bad; it says all things.  God in His infinite power, wisdom, and love will take any ugly stain that is surrendered to Him, and use it for His glory; He is indeed that good!

Will you continue to carry the guilt and shame that you deserve for your failures; allowing them to remain ugly and good for nothing? Or will you allow God to take those failures and turn them into beautiful and Godly works?  How will He do it? I have the faintest idea, but I know that He will, because He said that He would; unlike us He always keeps His word!

The Perfect Bond- Colossians 3:14

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. Colossians 3:14

In the last few years of my dad’s life he went through a lot of changing. His brain surgeries gave him the typical symptoms of TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). He became paranoid, hyper emotional, suffered dementia, etc.  This was a rough time for my family, esp. my mom; she took the brunt of dad’s “mood swings” which happened often.  Although times were hard and my mom had to deal with no longer knowing the man she had been with for over 30 years, she never stopped loving him and she never left him.  When many people would have turned away because it was too hard or not worth it to them, she stuck it out; my mom love for dad reflects the true love of Jesus Christ (1Cor. 13).

The world tries to sell us a very different picture of love.  They wish us to believe that love is all tummy butterflies and happy feelings. They wish us to believe that love is getting someone some chocolate, a card and a teddy bear and receiving something in return.  Although these can be expressions of love, they are in no way love itself.

Love is the glue that holds everything together. Life will twist and tear out our lives; we will let our loved ones down, we will hurt them like no one else can and we will think that there is no hope. True love will hold together when everything else has fallen apart. Yes sometimes it will look shaggy and it may seem like it is about to be lost, but true love never fails (1Cor. 13:8).

God has shown us His love for us; He proved it through His son (Rom. 5:8). We should seek to gain and share true Christ-like love in our relationships. Love is not easy, it takes work and commitment; it is worth the effort.  Do not be fooled by the world, love is a servant not a master (John 15:13); it prefers to give than receive.

Will you seek today to show true Christ-like love?  Will you lay aside your self-centered ideas of love? Allow God to teach you what true love is all about!

Forgiveness vs. Trust- John 8:10-11

When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?"11She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." John 8:10-11

Once I hurt my wife’s feelings really badly. Now I am not talking about an everyday “ouch”; I hurt her to the depths of her heart and soul.  I betrayed her trust and hurt her emotionally like no one else could (just so I am clear and people do not speculate I did not cheat on my wife nor did I hit her); it shook the foundation of our marriage.  I broke down in tears with deep regret once I realized how I had emotionally hurt her, and ask for her forgiveness.  She seeing my remorse quickly forgave me, but it took a long time before she could trust me concerning that matter.  There is a difference between forgiveness and trust. 

Forgiveness is a gift; the price for it is paid for by another.  Forgiveness is the laying aside of all debts and forms of restitution and punishment as no longer owed; the slate is wiped clean.  When true forgiveness is offered and accepted it is a new beginning.

Trust on the other hand is something that must be earned.  When trust is broken it must be won back over time with true vigilance, honesty and integrity.  Trust is not built over night (though it can be destroyed that way).  To be trusted (esp. after losing trust) you must go through the fire, being patient and using every moment to prove yourself worthy. It can be a painstaking process but trust is not something to be taken lightly.

To help you better understand the difference between forgiveness and trust I will leave you with this example that was shared with me: If my brother steals money from me I will forgive him. However, the next time he comes to my house I will not leave my wallet on the table.   Forgiveness is free to the receiver; trust must be diligently earned.

Have you broken trust? Are you truly repentant? Accept forgiveness and then seek to earn the trust back again. It will take time; be patient and diligent. Always remember that as a child of God will use our mistakes that we turn over to Him for good, no matter the severity of the sin (Rom. 8:28). 

Talking to a Friend- Exodus 33:11a

So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Exodus 33:11a (NKJV)

Often we treat God as if He is far away.  We feel like when we talk to Him we need to make sure we say the correct words and talk in the right manner.  While it is true we need to show God reverence, we need to remember that we are also to give our earthly fathers similar reverential respect. God does not want us to be cold in our prayers; He wants us to be forthcoming and intimate. We should remember that we are talking to our Father, and He is our friend.

When discussing prayer I often encourage people to talk to God like they would talk to their earthly best friend. Let your guard down, open your heart and be brutally honest.  If you are mad a God you might as well tell Him; He already knows.  Holding that in will only cause you to harbor those feelings in your heart, which can lead to hatred and spite. If you are honest with God, it opens the conversation for Him to be honest with you.  He is always right and you will have to eat some crow, but getting it in the open is the first step to fixing the issue.

God loves you with a fatherly passion that surpasses our capacity to love: unconditionally.  Just like a good earthly father, He desires to hear from you often.  God knows what is going on and He knows the thoughts and dealings of your heart, but He would really like to hear it from you.  He desires a close personal relationship with you, and He cares about you.  So do not be afraid to talk to Him, if you are off key with your conversation I assure you He will let you know. If you try to hide feelings and thoughts from God you will only stop Him from being able to fix the problem and cause your relationship to suffer. 

If you will read in the Bible you will find that the people who were the closest to God, were the ones who were the most honest with Him; if they hurt they told Him, if they did not like His way they told Him, if they thought He was being unfair they told Him, etc. They held nothing back in their relationship with God. 

I urge you to pour out your heart to God today. If you have been holding back hurt, anger, or anything else, get it out in the open with God. Tell Him exactly how you feel; do not be afraid, for He loves you. 

Praying Together – Acts 21:5

When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. Acts 21:5

I love this verse; it describes such a beautiful picture of Christian love and fellowship.  They all followed them to the shore where they would depart, and they prayed together.  Not because of obligation or an empty “going through the motions”, but a true deep care and concern for one another. What a powerful example of fellowship and prayer.

In life we face many trials and it is easy to become discouraged.  There are few things as encouraging as having a fellow believer pray with you. It can be an overwhelming experience when you know that someone is lifting you up, right then and there to the almighty God of Heaven.  It is an even more moving when several people gather together in love and fellowship to pray for you and your ministry in Christ.

We know that as believers God hears our prayers and is moved with compassion toward us and our petitions; when we agree in prayer, mountains will be moved and lives changed forever. If we will humble ourselves, lay down our sins and pray, I firmly believe we will see “impossible” prayers answered. Many things are impossible with man, but with God all things are possible (Matt. 19:26). Prayer is simply direct communication with God; just remember it is a conversation, not a monologue: speak and listen!

When is the last time you stopped and prayed with someone?  There are few gifts as great as a personal prayer; you will find it will strengthen both the giver and receiver.  I challenge you to pray with someone today!

Step Away from the Line- James 1:14-15

14But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.15Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.  James 1:14-15 (NKJV)

My daughter has begun to test her limits. When I tell her not to touch something she will inch as close as she can without touching it.  Often enough the scenario ends with her getting into trouble; when you get that close to the line, you are bound to give in to the temptation.

Most of the time our sins start in the same way; we do not plan on sinning.  We know that sin is pleasurable (howbeit for a season; Heb. 11:25); so we get as close to it as we can in an attempt to reap part of its pleasure without the punishment. After all as long as we do not cross the line, we have not really done wrong. Right? We start to tease the line and before we know it we have crossed it; we usually end up neck deep in the sin by the time the pleasure starts to wear off and guilt and shame start to shine through.

Most people do not plan on having an affair; it usually starts with something innocent and progresses closer and closer to the line, until in the heat of passion: sin rears its ugly face as the line is crossed.  We err when we believe we are strong enough to get face-to-face with sin’s power of temptation, and then turn away.  We are a weak and we have within us a sin nature; we must stray as far as we can from sin, or we will certainly be snared by its trap.

How much sin could we avoid if we simply stopped trying to edge closer to the line? What if when we saw sin coming, we ran the other way?  We must realize that sin is not a toy or a game; sin is devastating and destructive.  Sin when fully matured will always bring forth one thing: death.

Will you stop teasing the line of sin?  Will you admit you are to weak to victoriously face sin?  Will you instead retreat to the arms of Christ?  We should never try to overcome temptation, we should run from it!

Through the Darkest Valleys- Daniel 3:16-18

My dad suffered from grand-mal seizures; he would go into full body muscle spasms and shake furiously on the ground.  It was a scary thing to watch and sometimes I would ask God why He allowed such a thing to happen to my dad; a God fearing Christian. However, my dad never doubted God; although some claimed a lack of faith kept him from being healed.  My dad would always stand firm with his response, “My God can take these seizures; if He wants to. But if He wants to use them for His glory, then so be it. He will heal me one day when I get home.”  God never healed dad of his seizures condition here on Earth; I believe have seen a glimpse of why He chose not to: So many lives have been touched (and are touched) by my dad’s unwavering faith. Dad chose to follow Jesus even if it meant going through the darkest valleys; he knew he was never alone!

16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.17If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.18But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." Daniel 3:16-18 (NKJV)

Shadrach, Meshack, and Abed-Nego found themselves faced with what appeared to be certain death.  They could have abandoned their stance and begged for their lives; turning their back on God’s way. Instead they stood firm in faith and told the King that God could chose to save them and be glorified or He could chose to let them die and be glorified; either way they would not relinquish their faith.  They chose to face the dark valley with God instead of their own way without Him.  They knew the probable outcome of their story, but it did not shake their faith and love for God. 

Are you going through a dark valley? Are you bruised and broken looking for answers?  As a believer in Christ we know that all things work together for good in our lives; fulfilling God’s purpose (Rom. 8:28).  Allow God to use you in whatever circumstances you are in; then you will lay hold on the peace of God that passes all understanding (Phil. 4:7). God will use those dark valleys to grow you and bring others to Him; He will be glorified! Remember, no matter what we face here on Earth, Heavens glories are much, much greater (Rom. 8:18).

Hope in Hopelessness -Psalm 23

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. Psalm 23 (NKJV)

For a lot of people, this is a very familiar section of scripture.  The scripture paints a beautiful picture of a Shepherd who is watching out for his sheep.  Sometimes at first in this passage I picture a little vulnerable lamb that is safeguarded by a kind overseeing man; smiling with his staff in hand as he gently directs the lamb.  The picture seems so peaceful and serene; what a perfect scenario; the author of this psalms must have had some easy peaceful life.  Urrrnnt (buzzer for an incorrect answer), wrong! 

We should not forget who wrote this psalm: David.  David certainly had a victorious life in God; after all God called him, “a man after my own heart” (Acts 13:22).  However, we would do well to remember that David’s life was far from a simple one; he faced a lion, a bear and a giant (1Sam. 17:37). King Saul whom he served wholeheartedly tried to kill him on several occasions; he was constantly on the run and having to hide.  After he took the throne he committed adultery, tried to lie his way out, had a man murdered and then married his wife.  His baby son died.  The story goes on and on; through sin, redemption, disappointment, and victory. David’s life was far from perfect, and rarely did he have earthly peace.

However, David had a deeper understanding of God and His grace and righteousness; we see this reflected in what has become known as the 23 Psalm. I hope the next time you read the 23 Psalm that you keep in mind that David’s life was not one of constant calm and serenity; it was a life much like ours: often hectic, confusing, painful, discouraging and full of turmoil. Although David faced many situations where he could have given up (and probably thought about it) he recognized that he was guarded and guided by the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11).

Does your world feel like it is crumbling down on top of you?  Are you at your wits end?  Do you feel like there is no hope and no escape?  I think we all find ourselves there at one time or another. Turn to the Good Shepherd and find hope in the 23 Psalm; a poem of hope and peace, through a life of trials and tribulation.

Seeking the Lost? – Matt 18:11-14

One day we got home from a family trip to Wal-Mart only to realize that my little girl was only wearing one boot.  We searched all over the van, but it was not there. The harsh realization hit us: it must be somewhere between the checkout counter and our parking space at Wal-Mart.  So I did the daddy thing, I got back in the van and went back to the store in search for the little brown boot.  I retraced our steps from the parking lot back into the store; still no boot.  I looked at the greeter with little hope and asked if anyone had turned in a little girls boot. She smiled and told me how she had discovered it and taken it to the service desk; there I found it, rejoiced and took it home!

For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Matt. 18:11-14 NKJV

As Christians we were once lost; separated by our sins from God.  Then Jesus stepped down off His throne, became a man, lived a perfect life and died and was resurrected to pay for our sins. When He called out to us we took the step toward Him; He came running toward us and swooped us up in His arms. We had been found and there was much rejoicing by God; there was a party throughout the heavens!

Now we are His sheep; He is still calling out and seeking those that are lost. He has fervently proven His undying love for us. He has gone the extra mile, weathered many pains so that the lost will not perish.  As believers we are the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27); it is our job to go throughout the world and spread the good news: Jesus is still calling for the lost to be found (Matt. 28:19-20, Rev. 22:17).  

What if we would go out and seek the lost with the voice of Christ? What if we would do so with Christ’s passion and intensity; even if it also costs us everything? 

Do you know? - 2Tim. 2:15

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)

I will be the first to admit that I have made my share of assumptions; I have at times taken for granted that the things I feel and the way I see is right, must be right. We should never put our trust in the way we feel; we will be misguided (Prov. 14:12). I have met several people (I was once one) who assume that Luke and Mark (writers of the Gospels according to Luke and Mark) were two of the twelve apostles? They were not; Luke was called the “beloved physician” and was a companion of the apostles and fellow believer in Jesus Christ.  Mark was the cousin of Barnabas, a believer who’s Gospel is thought by some to be based on Peter’s recollections. Neither one of them were one of the twelve apostles.  

Now you may think that not knowing who was and was not a member of the twelve apostles is not important. You may think that it is ok to just skim the scriptures and infer here and jump there; however this gives room for misinterpretations and false beliefs.  Paul urged Timothy to be diligent in showing himself approved. He told him to rightly divide the word of truth.  The word divide is translated from the word “Orthotomeo” (or-thot-om-eh'-o) a Greek term meaning, “to teach the truth directly and correctly”. Enable for Timothy to do this he had to lay aside assumptions and share the truth that he had heard of Paul and the apostles as well as Old Testament scripture.

Now we do not have the benefit of walking directly with Paul or the apostles, but we have been given the Holy Bible (Compilation of writings of man, divinely inspired by God) to guide us in sharing the word of truth.  We must read and study the scriptures, we must lay aside our own assumptions; diving deep into God’s word, so that we may find the truth within. Only then can we share the truth that is found in Jesus Christ, both directly and correctly.

If we are to be effective we must make it a point to set aside time on a daily basis to learn and grow in the word of God. God’s word has been given us as a guide; an instruction manual or “how to” book of life (Psalms 119:105).  It is of the utmost importance that we do not take it lightly; we should not assume that we will be given automatic knowledge and deep spiritual insight at conversion.  We also need to realize that it is not the solely the job of pastors and ministers to study and share the word of God. We should follow the example of the believers in Berea; they were commended for searching the scripture daily, to assure that what was preached to them was not contrary to God’s word (Acts 17:10-11).

Do you read the word of God daily? Do you take time to study the word; digging deeper into the contextual meanings?  There is no better time to start than today!

Vain Goals – Phil. 3:8

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ  Phil. 3:8 (NLT)

When I was in high school I lifted weights regularly.  My body over time went from being fragile and flabby; to stronger and more defined. I soon adopted a lofty goal; to bench press 300 lbs.  I believed in myself if I could bench press that much weight I would be considered strong and the girls would adore me.  I treasured the thought of being able to brag to others of my great feat.  I was on my way to reaching my goal; as I went from being able to lift barely 100 lbs to a nice 225 lbs.  I was 75 lbs away from realizing my goal when I injured my wrist during the last football game of my junior year; I have never been able to bench press over 235 lbs (and that hurt profusely!). For a while this fact crushed my spirit; until my wife (just a friend at the time) put it to me so clearly. “Girls don’t really care about that stuff!” 

In life we put so much emphasis on things of minimal importance.  We spend countless hours studying, practicing, and improving our skills at things like sports, business, finances, hobbies, games, etc.  We treasure these things and ideas so much that they become our life’s mission; if I can only reach a certain status, own enough stuff, have enough money, go enough places, experience enough; then I will be fulfilled. We seek so hard and fast after these goals that we lose sight of the things that are truly important: knowing God and making Him known.  Earthly treasures will all pass away, but heavenly riches will last forever (Matt 6:19-20). 

The Apostle Paul had a profound list of earthly accomplishments; he could have boasted about his greatness and the status that he obtained. However, he looked on earthly treasures as garbage when compared to a relationship with Jesus Christ. Status and possessions were no longer important to him; he considered them “worthless”! Paul did not want to be known as a great man who accomplished great things or owned great earthly riches; he wanted to be known as a man who had a living relationship with God! His life’s mission became to have a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, and to help others obtain and grow in their relationship with Jesus; everything else was vain.

What is your life’s mission?  Is it in earthly goals and measures?  Or is it in a relationship with Jesus Christ, and a desire to make Him known? 

It Was Me - Heb. 7:25

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing heever liveth to make intercession for them. Heb. 7:25

I leave you today with this simple poem.  

It Was Me

I’ve heard some people talking about forgiveness
Telling the story that Jesus came to save us
That He gave His life so I could be free
They must not know Lord, that it was me

It was me that caused Him to run that wretched race
It was me that smote His holy face
That drove spikes through precious hands
Openly mocked Your Son , made man

Opened up the book of Your word just the other day
I couldn’t believe what I heard it say
Jesus sacrificed His life so selflessly
To wipe away sin, but He can’t forgive me

It was me that mocked Him in His hour of shame
It was me that laughed at them who called his name
How could Jesus save someone so unworthy
You don’t understand God it was me

Now I can hear Him still calling out my name
Telling me that He sees all my doubt and shame
I don’t understand tell me how it could be
For He’s saying child it was me

It was Me that gave my life upon the cross
It was Me that chose to pay the cost
Now open up your eyes so you can see
I love you so much, It was me

No matter where you have been or what you have done; Jesus paid the price.  If someone pays the price for something, it belongs to them.  Start fresh with Jesus today!

Calling all Christians! - 1 Corinthians 1:11-13

I was discussing earlier today with a good friend of mine some differences in church doctrines.  It seems that we get so caught up on the little things that we allow walls to be built up between us as Christians.  We forget the true tasks at hand: worship God and reach others for Jesus Christ.  We must focus on these tasks that are of the utmost importance and agree to disagree on the things that are not (Phil. 1:27). 

Are you a Christian? If you have a relationship with Jesus Christ then you are my brother or sister; we are united in one family.  Now we may choose to worship different, we may listen to different music, we may even interpret some things in different ways; let us face it we are humans and we know in part (1Cor. 13:12) and we simply are not always going to get it right.  The important thing is we have faith in Jesus Christ and His death, burial and resurrection.  We get so caught up on the trivial things that we lose sight of the fact that people are dying and going to Hell all around us. 

What would happen if we were unified as believers? I am not saying that we all go to the same church, or that we all hold to one set of doctrinal beliefs.  I am saying what if we would all lay aside our differences and truly seek to reach the lost? What if we did not put so much emphasis on converting more people to our denomination and started winning souls for Jesus Christ? Just think if a whole city of churches worked together for this common goal of reaching people for Jesus and did not concern themselves with church numbers or affiliation, it would make such an impact for the kingdom of God in that City.   Now what if we would all follow suite?

How many people would come to know Jesus if they saw the walls of denominations fall (not the destruction of denominations) and true Christian love ignited (John 13:35).  What if our desire was to see people get saved no matter where they chose to go to church? We do not have to worship the same way, we do not have to sing the same songs, we do not have to follow traditions the same; we are different people.  Sometimes I like to shout amen, some people do not and that is ok.  We will express our worship differently; the important thing is we are worshiping Jesus Christ.   Paul told the Corinthians that he determined to know nothing among them but Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1Cor. 2:2); what if we would do the same!

I am thankful that I fellowship and share prayer request often with Christians friends of many denominations.  Some of my closest friends have different doctrinal beliefs then I do, but we serve the same Jesus; we do not concern ourselves with the little things.  Even when we discuss our differences, we try to do so without arguments and anger; sometimes we just have to agree to disagree about the issues of less importance. God has begun to break down some of these walls in my life; I hope you will let Him do the same in yours.

Let us worship God together, let us pray together, let us lay aside our differences and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ together; so that we can make an impact on our world for Him. Then we can go home and spend eternity together; there Jesus will wipe away all of our earthly misconceptions.  

You were made for Greatness - Gen 1:26a

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: Gen 1:26a 


You were made for greatness! God made you in His image and likeness. You were knit together and designed with a great purpose: to worship and glorify the your creator and just like the boundless universe around you and everything in it you were designed with greatness in mind. You were designed with purpose, with cause, you are an important individual in God's plan.

There is no one else just like you that has your exact abilities, passions and mind set. You were created to be you and no one else can fulfill your purpose. God has given you everything you need to acomplish great things. Now it is time for you to dig deep, clear away all of life's debris and seek the greatness that is found in God's purpose for your life.