Appointment

Yesterday started off like most days, in a hurry to get to my first appointment. When I arrived I was a few minutes late, but that was alright for someone had not gotten up yet. I hurried with my work for another appointment awaited me with an hour drive ahead of me. I had prayed that morning and asked God to use me to encourage someone who was in need of a touch from our heavenly Father. The business man was coming out the door when he made his way over to where I was. We made some small talk and then we started talking. He began to tell me about some troubles he was having. I told him that I had a friend that was in the same business and that he should call him for I knew that he would love to give him some advice. The man had a kind heart and wanted to treat people right but as it happens so many times people seem to take advantage of a good hearted person. I told him that my friend had had the same problem and we had just talked about it earlier in the week and I told him what he told me. That is when he looked up at me and said God just used you for you are the third person that has told me the same thing using the same words. He began to talk to me and opened up. I told him that I had just read a book on leadership and to me it has been the best book I think I have ever read. I began to tell him about what the author had said and the examples that he had used. We talked for over an hour and when he was leaving I still had about 20 minutes of work to get done. I felt I needed to pray with him so I asked him if I could pray with him before he went to work. He said please do, so right there in his driveway I prayed with him. I told you all that for I believe that every day God has an appointment for me I don’t know with whom or where or what time but I must be ready to recognize the appointment and take the time and allow God to work through me. Sometimes it’s a morning appointment, other times it’s an afternoon appointment and at other times it is evening or late night appointments. Sometimes they are like yesterday morning easy to recognize at other times they are so small that I have to look back over my day to see when and where they were. I am convinced that God wants to use me in the lives of others and I want Him too. God’s not looking for the brightest light on the tree He’s looking for those who want to be used. We can come up with one excuse after another for what we don’t have; I don’t have a college education you might say. I am glad Peter didn’t think like that. You say I’m not trained. I am glad the woman that Jesus met at the well didn’t have that attitude. I have never had anybody say to me when I asked if I could pray with them, have you been trained or what college did you attend? No, not one, ever! Jesus talked about compelling people to come in that his house might be full. He talked about charity and how that charity would suffer long and how it was kind and that it showed no envy. I don’t know about you but I’m already excited about tomorrow; Stop, Look and Listen to those around you and let God use you in the lives of others.

P.S. Next week I will be in Rockford Illinois at the Reformer Unanimous conference. I will not be writing any blogs next week. Please pray that God will help my wife and me as well as our assistance director and his wife become better equipped for the work God has called us to do.

Unknown

I was thinking about what most people were afraid of so I googled "what are most humans afraid of.” There I found that some were afraid of "reality," some said making "mistakes," one said "Michael Jackson," the "dark," being "controlled" and many more. The number one fear was "Death" and the number one reason was because it's "unknown." the word death is mentioned 342 times in the Bible and in those 342 times can we really say it’s unknown? Can something be talked about that much and we say we know nothing about it? I think not. We read of one man dying and finding himself in a placed called hell. We read of another man dying and finding himself in a placed called paradise. We read of another man being told that today you're going to paradise. Do we just write these accounts of death off and say it is unknown? Oh, that's right one must believe in the Bible to believe these accounts. What if your boss told you 342 times about one thing would you be able to say you didn’t know anything about it; it’s unknown to you? Would it be of any interest to you to know why one man went to paradise and one man went to hell? What made the difference? Was one a good person and the other just rotten to the bone? What's interesting about these two is that one man had plenty of money and the other had nothing. One had plenty to eat and the other had none. Do you think it could be what these men put their trust in that made the difference? There is nothing wrong with having money and nice things as long as a person doesn’t put their trust in them. This is what we know, one man had plenty in his life time many years ago and died and went to hell. The other man had nothing many years ago and today has more than enough. You'll find this story in the book of Luke chapter 16 verses 19-31. The answer to the unknown is found here.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

The unknown is found in Jesus.

I.D.

Desmond Lamont Bishop is an American football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers. He was drafted by the Packers in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. The year he was a linebacker for the Super Bowl champion he missed what could have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to the White House and meet the President of the United States! His team did meet the President but Desmond took a nap on the team bus. Why? All because he inadvertently left his I.D. on the plane, and the Secret Service wasn't about to make any exceptions on letting someone close to the President. No I.D., no White House, no President. I guess our I.D. is more important than we think for our I.D. tells who we really are.

Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Matthew 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

Matthew 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Do you see the problem? No I.D. Desmond had an I.D. but he forgot it and therefore no President, his team mates got to see the President and the reason why, they had an I.D. One day we’ll take our last breath on this earth and knowing Jesus is important but Jesus knowing you, is far more important. Who does your I.D. say you are?

Matthew 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Does your fruit line up with who you say you are?

Me

Me; Webster says it means “the objective case of I, answering to the oblique cases of ego, in Latin. [L. mihi.] Follow me; give to me; go with me. “The term me refers to I or self; me can become selfish when everything isn’t all about me. In the case of the prodigal son; the younger brother has returned home. Yes, he has lived a life of disgrace, blew all his money on wasteful living and who knows what all he has done. His father is so glad to see him. He thought that he must have been dead.  He kills the fatted calf, places shoes on his feet and a ring on his finger. This father is happy, so happy that he shows it. Then comes the older brother to the house and as he nears he hears music, dancing and people rejoicing. There’s his dad with a smile ear to ear. Then the older brother says “What is going on here?” Haven’t you heard your brother has returned and your Dad is excited for he thought he was dead but he is alive?

Luke 15:27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

Luke 15:28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

Luke 15:29  And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

When this older brother sees and hears what’s going on he refuses to take part in the festivity, and he began to feel sorry for himself. When his father comes out to talk with him he tells him about the many years that he has been a faithful son in his service and that he has never done what his younger brother had done. Then he tells his Dad that he had never once given him a party like this with his friends.  Oh my, the poor oh me is shining forth big time; Dad you just don’t love me do you, must have been running around in his me mind.  We are to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. I must have read this account so fast that I missed where the older brother was weeping over the wrong choice that his brother had made. Oh no; the selfish me’s don’t weep over others they just weep over themselves. We are not to be “Me” people.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

It’s not about ME it’s about others and it is all about HIM (Jesus) and when we get hung up on me we lose touch with what’s important. Here you come, you good faithful servant; what’s this music and dancing over another that has just gotten that promotion now how do you feel? 

Prepare

Proverbs 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, [is] from the LORD.

As I read that verse the word "preparations" and the word "heart" caught my eye. Webster says the word "preparation" means The act or operation of preparing or fitting for a particular purpose, use, service or condition; The state of being prepared or in readiness;

Then the word "heart" now I wouldn't think that the meaning of that word would be this meaning "A muscular viscus, which is the primary organ of the blood's motion in an animal body,"

I don't know about you but I can't ever remember getting up and preparing my primary organ for the blood flow for the day. I think the word heart in this verse means feelings, intellect and the center. We can prepare our heart for defense when the attacks come, for they will come you can rest assure. We prepare for a lot of things, in a few months   we well prepare for a Thanksgiving meal. Many are already preparing for Christmas day. We prepare to go to work, go on a weekend trip, vacation, a cruise, we prepare for the day we will retire and on and on we go preparing for who knows what. Joseph had a prepare heart on a day that was going to change his life forever no matter what he did.

Genesis 39:7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

Genesis 39:8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what [is] with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

Genesis 39:9 [There is] none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou [art] his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Joseph, even when he had the opportunity to do wrong he didn't, because he had prepared his heart to do right before God. The day Joseph made the choice to do right he went to prison for doing right. At first though one may think wow what a way to be awarded for doing the right thing. God used prison to get him to a greater place in his life. So it is in our own lives, we must prepare our hearts so that when the time comes we will be prepared for our defense. We must prepare our heart with the word of God so when we speak, our words will mirror what we have hid in our in from the Word of God.

Holes in the Heart

Have you ever fallen into a hole? I am sure you have at one time or another. There are also holes in the human heart and a hole in the heart is serious business. Thank God, there are surgeons with the ability to fix those. When it comes to emotional holes and spiritual holes in the human heart, it’s amazing how many people are walking around with that heart condition untreated. Like its physical equivalent, a hole in our spiritual heart will greatly limit what our life could be and one day it could cost us our life. There is good news though! There is a surgeon who repairs the spiritual hole in the human heart. His Name is Dr. Jesus and we can read about Him in John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. The last night with His disciples before He is taken, He sees that His disciples have troubled hearts. He says don’t let your inner man be troubled.  He then tells them the reason why they shouldn’t.  Do you boys believe in God? Then believe in me also. Then He goes on to tell them “I am leaving for a little while to go prepare a place for you and then I am coming to get you and you will be where I am.”  Here we have it; no matter how bad things get the child of God has something to look forward to. When you fall into the holes in life, you can stay there or you can learn from the hole and trust Him to avoid them or better yet walk down a different street.

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters by Portia Nelson

Chapter I.

I walk down the street.

There's a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I fall in.

I am lost...I am helpless;

It isn't my fault.

It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter II.

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I pretend I don't see it.

I fall in again.

I can't believe I am in the same place;

But it isn't my fault.

It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter III.

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I see it is there.

I still fall in....it's a habit.

My eyes are open.

I know where I am.

It is my fault.

I get out immediately.

Chapter IV.

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

Chapter V.

I walk down a different street.

Pretty good image for the Christian experience, isn’t it?  Wouldn’t it be great if we could all learn from the “holes” in life and NOT repeat the inevitable one-way ticket back to the bottom?  Instead of blaming, instead of succumbing to habit, if we could trust the Lord to guide us to a new “walk” in life, our lives would be different.

                                         “Don’t look where you fall, But where you slipped”

Just Like Them

I often tell those that are in our addiction program that they can have as much as they want or as little as they are satisfied with. The same is true for everyone but I'm afraid we are satisfied too many times with the little more so than the much. Could it be because the much seems at the moment too hard to obtain? Maybe someone has told you that you can't do a certain thing. They may even say that they have known many who have tried but they all failed and the same will be true for you. Don't you just love talking with those great encouragers? Nay Sayers are what I call them, they are always the ones who do little and want everyone to be just like them. I read a story not long ago; the story takes place back in the 1920's.  There was a well known wealthy industrialist who purchased a zoo. It wasn’t a public zoo or even a private zoo; it was his personal zoo on his estate for his pleasure. One day, he heard about a rare and beautiful type of gazelle from Africa that wasn’t showcased in any zoo; he had to have it. He planned an expedition to Africa for the sole purpose of bringing home this rare Gazelle. When they landed they made contact with the natives to learn about this Gazelle and it’s where a bout’s. Over and over he was told, “You’ll never catch one. They’re too fast and too strong. You can shoot and kill them from a distance but you’ll never get close enough to take one alive.” He told a reporter who was on the safari with him, “Don’t listen to them; I’ll get as many of them as I want! And it won’t be a problem.” He first located a herd, he poured sweet feed on the ground in an open area in the middle of the night and left. The next night, he scattered the feed again. For two weeks, he spread the feed, night after night. The Gazelle’s came and ate every night. On the first night of the third week, he scattered the feed and put an eight foot post into the ground twenty feet away. The night after, he scattered the feed and put another post into the ground twenty feet in the opposite direction. Every night, he added a post. Then he started putting boards between the posts while scattering the feed. Six weeks went by and he continued adding posts and boards until he had a corral built around the feed. Every night the Gazelle’s found the gaps between the posts until finally he watched the entire herd squeeze through the final gap. He moved in behind them and nailed the last board into place. The Gazelle’s were trapped inside the corral. He chose the Gazelle’s he wanted to take to his zoo and let the others go. When he was asked how he knew how to catch the Gazelle’s he said “I treat animals the same way I treat people: I give them what they want. I give them food and shelter. In exchange, they give me their beauty and their freedom.” Stop and think are you trading your beauty and freedom to help someone else fulfill their dreams?

Is that not what Adam and Eve did? Traded their freedom for what, more knowledge? King David lowered his standards for one costly night with beautiful Bathsheba. Judas sold himself for 30 pieces of silver. Be careful for what you think you may want?

Happy

I want to tell you of a man that I know and how God used him. My intentions are to excite you and encourage you. This man gave his life to the Lord at a young age. As he got older his love for the Lord began to become weak in his teenage years. Later in life he found himself back in Church, not regular but at least he was coming. Then his attendance became weaker and weaker; that's what happens when you become weak. It will happen to me and it will happen to you, you see our enemy is interested in a slow fade. This young man finds himself working a job that was dangerous. One night he was in an accident on his job, he was hurt but it could have killed him. That night the Lord spoke to him, he quit his job and got back into Church. Before long he met a Christian young lady, they were married and he soon found himself Pastoring a Church. I got to know him after he had left that Church. What amazed me is he went out and found himself another ministry that kept him busy preaching in a nursing home for years. While still preaching at the nursing home God led him to become an Assistant Pastor for 17 years; God allowed him to become very successful while there. The Pastor said for 17 years he worked hard never one time did I ever hear him say that won’t work or we need to do it this way. He was faithful and for 17 years we never had a cross word or a disagreement. Today this man is Senior Pastor of a very strong Church. What did it take for this young Christian to change from being lukewarm to glowing hot? Was it that he was almost crushed to death? That may have played a part in it to start with but this young man took God seriously and at His Word. Once he came to the conclusion that God had saved him and called him for a purpose he never looked back. He was happy Pastoring, he was happy preaching in the nursing home, he was happy being associate for 17 years and today he is happy being the Senior Pastor. Reminds me of what Paul said;

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content. You may be asking yourself this question “Why isn't God using me?" One reason you may think you are too good for the nursing home ministry or the street corner ministry, or the jail, or the prison ministry or even working with those who have addictions. Whatever the case if you become content sitting and waiting you may spend the rest of your life doing nothing or little for God. My advice is find a ministry and to go to work and then watch God work in your life. 

Where's Your Treasure

 First time we read the word treasure in the Bible it has to do with money or wealth.

Genesis 43:23 And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

When we think of treasure does your mind think of wealth of some type? There was a story of a man who was told that he could have all the land he could walk around in one day, from daylight to dark. He started at first light with this once in a life time opportunity. As the sun began to rise his craving to have more caused him to quicken his pace. Just a little faster he told himself and he could have more, he kept pushing himself until his body and muscles began to cry for him to quit but he would not. At the end of the day they gave him his land, but it only measured six feet by two feet. Now think with me for a moment we may allow the greed to have more, push us to the point that we miss what is really important. We can spend long hours away from home and miss our children growing up; for they are going to grow up whether we are there or not. We can be so busy that we show our wife little or no attention and that’s not good. We can have the big house, fancy car, designer clothes and anything else we want and miss what really matters. The biggest treasure could be right in front of you. A young boy and his father had planned to go fishing, the plans were made and the son was more than excited. The day they were to go the Dad just didn’t feel up to it. He calls his son to the side and told him that he just wasn’t feeling that well and would it be alright if they planned another day. The boy said sure but you could tell that he was disappointed but if his Dad wasn’t feeling good then it would be for the best. About an hour later the phone rang and his Dad answered it. The voice of a friend asked what he was doing and if he wanted to go play 18 holes of golf to which the Dad said sure and off he went. Now what was important going fishing with your son or playing golf with a friend? Answer; going fishing with your son and spending time with your treasure! I remember coming home after working 12 to 14 hours. As I pulled into the driveway my younger son would be shooting baskets with his basketball. I would park and walk to where he was and say want to get beat? We would play for a while and I would cheat and he would laugh and we had a great time just father and son. He was once asked to write what he enjoyed doing and he wrote “I love shooting hoops with my Dad he makes me laugh and we have a good time.” To tell you the truth when I got home I wanted to go inside and sit down but I told myself that I will not always have this opportunity. So I played and little did I know how much that would mean to him. What a treasure of a memory I have and it’s priceless. Don’t spend all your time on the race trace go sit in the bleacher with your family while you can. 

Handling Fear 2

Like I promised on yesterday; how did Jesus' disciples handle the fear that was to be upon them?

Matthew 8:23 And when he (Jesus) was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

Now finally they are safe and have entered into the ship with Jesus; you couldn't be any saver could you? We read the next verse and notice what it doesn't say "and behold a great rainbow was seen in the sky, a flock of doves were in happy formation, the sea like glass calm as a cruise on the Caribbean. No, that's not what we are told. That's how many think; now that I am saved and one of God's children things will be great. Never another heart break, always money in the bank account; never, ever will there be unhappiness in my life. Wait, before you get to carried way thinking nothing ever again will go wrong in my life read:

John 16:33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Christians have heart attacks, battle addictions, bury their Children, we have incurable diseases, we face fears, and we also die! Here these disciples are and all is well until we read the next verse;

Matthew 8:24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
What was it, a "Great Tempest?" Remember this tempest is at earthquake proportions; it was being agitated from side to side and thrown up and down. Are you getting the picture? Water is coming on board and things look real bad. Then comes the question where is Jesus? Know where they find Him? Asleep! Then with a voice to get over all the sounds at sea, the storm and the screaming of the disciples this is what we read.

Matthew 8:25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. They don't ask Jesus for Strength; they don't ask Him to still the storm; they don't ask Him for Knowledge or Wisdom; they don't ask if He is aware of the Storm. No! No! They now have doubts about Jesus and His character: Don't you care we are going to perish. That is what Fear Does, it clouds our confidence in the Goodness of God and it confuses our control. "Do something, do something, will somebody please do something! Fear dulls our Miracle Memory! These disciples have let what they saw and heard before the storm slip from their minds it's now Lord, Save us, we perish. As I read that I wonder how many times I have let the fears of today rob me of the blessing I had on yesterday and the day before that. Fear can cause us not to remember the past and focus on the present. I am reminded of what John 10:10 tells me:

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I must say he does a great job at it but you and I must not forget the rest of that verse for it says something of much importance I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Jesus had control during the storm just as He will have during our storms.

Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. I don't want you to think that fear does not have a purpose, for it does. Signs, read Danger high voltage, No smoking while you are pumping gas, stay away from the edge, swift currents, rip tides…. Fear is not sin; but it can lead to sin. Too many medicate fear with anger, Alcohol, self starvation, drugs; unhealthy fear is not from God

2Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Fear will always be around but don't you invite it in. When I was about 10 years old I went with a bunch of neighborhood boys to the theater to see a movie about Frankenstein and that afternoon I allowed fear to enter in. Life for years to come would never be the same. I became afraid of the dark, the man in Red, and any one that was dead. And just as you're thinking right now "that's crazy, why were you so fearful of something that was nothing.” That's the same way Jesus felt toward His disciples and He said so,”Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?”

Handling Fear 1

If I could sum up in one word why most of us have problems, why we depend on mood altering drugs more than any other generation in history. 23 million Americans battle with Addictions every day and lose, 2 Million people will begin abusing prescription drugs this year alone, 10 % of America’s youth abuse drugs on a Regular basis, 30% of youth under 21 have used alcohol in the last year, 31% of Fundamental Pastors admit to viewing internet pornography in the last year, 69% of Christian school students forsake their faith after graduation. That one word would be “FEAR!” So why are we so afraid?  Could it be we are afraid of catching the swine flu? Is it the fear of being sued? The fear of going Broke? Is it the fear of that mole on your neck being cancerous? The sound of the clock as it ticks telling you your last day on earth is nearing?  Fear robs us of our happiness for you can’t be happy and afraid at the same time. You can’t think clear and be afraid and you can’t be confident and be afraid. What had His Disciples just heard & seen? They had just been taught ASK you say what in the world is ASK?

Matthew 7:7 Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  They had just seen a Leper made clean;

Matthew 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

Matthew 8:3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. They had just seen the centurion put great faith in the Lord Jesus;

Matthew 8:5-13   they had just seen Peter’s mother-n-law healed of a fever by the touch of His Hand; 

Matthew 8:14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

Matthew 8:15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. Now that these disciples had heard and seen all of these things did it do them any good? Let’s see!

Mathew 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

Matthew 8:24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. I am interested in that word “TEMPEST” Strong says the Greek word used is seismos sice-mos' From G4579; (seiō si'-o Apparently a primary verb; to rock (vibrate, properly sideways or to and fro), that is, (generally) to agitate (in any direction; cause to tremble); figuratively to throw into a tremor (of fear or concern): - move, quake, shake.) a commotion, that is, (of the air) a gale, (of the ground) an earthquake: - earthquake, tempest. 14 X that word sice-mos' is used in the N.T. In every other time the word is used the word Earthquake is used. So out of 14 X’s it is only used as tempest once. I think Matthew was trying to get the message across to us that the storm was in earthquake proportions. What fear are you dealing with that is at earthquake proportions? Are you dealing with it yourself or are you allowing the Lord to handle it and putting it into His hands? I’ll show you tomorrow how His disciples handled it.