RU Strong

Joy

2012-01-30T06:33:00.000-05:00

Joy! Iread where that means Jesus, Others, Yourself.One person said that we should put Jesus first and that is true and then othersbefore yourself. Now that is where the problems start; you see we all from whenwe were just small children had a favorite word we used "mine." Welike ourselves! We want the best seat, the name brand clothes, the perfect bodyand we want to be the first one in line. I think you get the picture. We wantwhat's best for ourselves, could that be called being selfish? Sure it is, God gave Adam one command:

Genesis 2:16 And the LORD God commandedthe man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of theknowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thoueatest thereof thou shalt surely die. God tells Adam that he isnot to do just one thing and all is well until Adam sees that what was wrongmight just better himself; so Adam decided to be selfish. He takes of the treeGod told him that he couldn’t have, and why did Adam do such a thing? Hethought that it would make life better for him and he would be wise but insteadhe now is kicked out of a perfect garden for his selfishness. You and I havethe same problem we say things like ‘everybody else gets to……. I want, I wantand I want it for myself. I remember when I was a kid and it was time to sharewith my brother my wise mother would have one of us cut the item and then theother would get to choose first. It didn’t matter which one of us was doing thecutting we made sure that the other one didn’t get a bigger piece. No, ourproblem was selfishness. This week we will all have an opportunity to dosomething for someone else that we ourselves would rather do. Why not offer itto another and not be selfish. Jesus was always doing and giving Himself forothers; let’s be more like Jesus this week.

Miracles

2012-01-27T04:42:00.000-05:00

Do you still believe in Miracles? Webster says theword means In theology, an event or effect contrary to theestablished constitution and course of things, or a deviation from the knownlaws of nature; a supernatural event. Miracles can be wrought only by Almightypower, as when Christ healed lepers, saying, "I will, be thou clean,"or calmed the tempest, "Peace, be still." Many are missing real miracles all around thembecause they are looking for the white to be turned to black. It is wonderful to hear that the growth thedoctors were about to operate on has suddenly disappeared. The person that wastold that without a miracle they will never walk on their own again is soonwalking. If those are the things that constitute a real miracle then we may neverexperience a miracle. Let’s look at the meaning a little closer for I’m sure weall understood the end where a leper is no long a leper. In the meaning of theword miracle we read this “adeviation from the known laws of nature” Is thatnot what happened when David went to meet the Goliath did he not deviate fromwhat was normally done rocks instead of a spear. David decided to do somethingdifferent, trust in God and use what was familiar to him. You know the rest ofthe story God blessed and honored David because David put his trust and faithin God and brought honor to His Name.

1Samuel 17:37 David said moreover(likewise), The LORD that delivered me out of the pawof the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the handof this Philistine. David never madeanyone think that he could defeat Goliath but it would be the Lord and when itwas all said and done David still gave God the credit.

1Samuel 17:46 This day will theLORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine headfrom thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this dayunto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a Godin Israel.

1Samuel 17:47 And all this assemblyshall know that the LORD saveth notwith sword and spear: for thebattle is the LORD'S,and he will give you into our hands.

Thereare miracles all around us. I just don’t think we are looking or are aware ofthem. There is a man in South Carolina that a few years ago had an awful drugproblem; he had lost almost everything he had, right down to his family. Todaythat same man is a walking miracle he’s hasn’t had any drugs in awhile, hisfamily is back together, he and his family are in Church and if you knowanything about Reformers Unanimous then you’ll know him. Talk to him long andhe will give God all the honor and glory for what has happened in his life. I remember the first night I met him; I’llnever forget that night. He talked, I listened and he made no since at all forall that was coming from his lips were words not sentences with subjects, justwords. God allowed me to see Him work a miracle in his life. No, he wasn’t in awheel chair and got out and started walking. No, his life was all messed up andGod kept him from crashing and burning. From time to time my phone will ringand I will hear his voice on the other end and he’ll say “I was thinking aboutyou and wanted to call you and tell you I love you.” Now I would love to takethe credit for all that has been done in his life but it was not me; it was andstill is our great God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to whom all the honorand glory belongs. Tonight I’ll meetwith a group of people; some have drug issues others have alcohol issues, somehave anger issues and some have sex issues. I love it because when we all ( didyou catch that word all) walk through those doors we are all on the same level.There will be men and women there that have no education while others there arewell educated. We will come together as a group and allow God to work on eachof us and when the night is done we will give Him the honor and praise for allHe has done not us but HIM! God has given me the opportunity and the privilegeto see Him work miracles in others. Quit looking for thelumps, humps and the bumps to disappear for there are miracles standing allaround each of us. Have a blessed weekend and find your way to Church thisSunday for you may get to see a miracle in progress.

Lost

2012-01-25T06:14:00.001-05:00

It was a day that I was with my mother in thisdepartment store; she was shopping when something caught my eye. I began to paymore attention to it than where my mother was. Why she was just right overthere or so I thought. When I went to where I thought she was she was gone.Fear gripped my heart so I began to look for her not realizing I was moving inthe wrong direction. Some predicament I have gotten myself into, it wasn’t longbefore the tears came and the look on my face must have been noticeable foranother adult soon asked me if I had lost my mother. She knew exactly what todo and went right to a sales person and asked for her help. The sales personasked me what my name was and then she spoke it into the loud speaker and toldmy mother where she could find me. Soon my mother came to get me; boy was Iglad to see her. With that little adventure of mine I would like to share withyou 5-things about being lost.

First, being lost can be a really frightening thing tothose who suddenly realize just how lost they truly are. I wasn’t frighteneduntil I realized I was lost.

Second, somebody somewhere needs to hear the cries of thosewho are lost and crying out for help. I wonder how many I pass by each day thatneed my help and are crying for it?

Third, upon hearing those cries, somebody needs to dosomething to help those that are crying even when it doesn't fit into theirplans for the day.

Fourth, getting on their level and speaking in words theycan understand is vital if one is serious about bringing the lost back to thefather. My Sunday School Teacher saidthat in our class not long ago; “meet them where they are at and take them towhere they need to go.”

fifth, delivering them safe and secure in the father'spresence is the goal. Our task isn't over until that has occurred. Or in mycase mother! I’m glad someone saw and heard my cry then responded to my need. Ibelieve that every day God has an appointment for me the problem is I don’tknow who it is with neither do I know what time of day it is. I just know thatsomewhere God has someone that needs His help and He is going to use me. My jobis to be on the outlook for those He sends my way. Heard any crying lately? It’s just outside your door. Listen for a minute; you'll hearit.

The Plan

2012-01-24T06:36:00.001-05:00

Theproblem looked unsolvable; with the only solvable thing about the problem thatJoshua faced was God telling Joshua that He wanted them to overtake Jericho. Atbest, that is only a comforting thought if you don’t trust God to start with. Waitthis isn’t the same crowd of people that refused to go into Kadeshbarnea theones that said repeatedly “would to God we had died in the land of Egypt!” Nothis is their children and now it’s time for them to put their trust in God.The problem looks unsolvable; what’s the plan? Are you ready to see what Godtells His people who are trusting in Him. Here’s the Plan;

Joshua6:3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, andgo round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

Joshua6:4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets oframs' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and thepriests shall blow with the trumpets.

Joshua6:5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blastwith the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all thepeople shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall downflat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

Uh,didn’t we forget something here? Like the weapons! All I read there wassomething about trumpets and some great shouting. Now I want you to think abouthow you would feel if you had been in that crowd and heard that! What would you be thinking? If trusting Godis your answer you might be saying “ok, let’s go.” If not you would havethought it was the craziest plan you had ever heard. Now you and I have theprivilege of reading the before and after and we might just think, just trustGod for He will take care of you. But when you and I face a Jericho (somethingthat seems unsolvable or impossible) do we say the same thing about ourdifficulty? We’re not reading this and we sure don’t know the outcome. I had aclose friend, he and his wife found out that they were going to have theirfirst baby; boy were they excited. Unfortunately their excitement turned intohorror one day at the doctor’s office. The doctor told them that their babywould not live and the best thing for them was to abort the child. They wereshocked to say the least for neither one thought that was the right thing todo. Then it got more complicated when the doctor told them that if they didn’tabort the child that his wife’s life would be in great danger. They would notonly lose the child but his wife stood a great possibility of dying whiletrying to deliver the baby. They had time to think about it but the doctorwanted to make sure they understood. Many gave them advice and many advisedthem to abort the baby. He and his wife began to pray and I do mean pray; noneof this God is great stuff but really pray. My close friend told me that hiswife had a dream that the doctor was wrong and the baby was fine so she decidedto go the full term. That is what she did and the labor was hard she deliveredthe baby and the doctor was half right the baby lived a short time and thendied. My close friend, after making sure his wife was alright went to where thebaby was picked her up, held her tight in his arms and began to sing I’ll meetyou in the morning. They trusted God! No, it didn’t turn out like they wouldhave liked it to but had they listened to those who only saw the surface theywould have never experienced what God wanted to teach them. In just a few yearsthey would face another life or death matter. You see God brings you and I to ourJericho’s so that we may learn to trust Him. Because the Israelites followedGod’s plan they too later in their journey were able to put more trust in God.Are you facing a Jericho? Then pray, seek God’s face andput your trust in Him for He loves you more than you could ever imagine. Themore trust you put in God the more you’ll trust Him!

Problem

2012-01-23T06:06:00.000-05:00

The problem was so large that I couldn’t come up withan answer in my little tin cup mind. I know what I’ll do I’ll call someone muchwiser that I; but no one I called answered their phone. I remember feeling sodiscouraged and helpless; I remember going to a Wendy’s restaurant getting asmall frosty and sitting on the outside wall. There I asked God what shall I doabout this matter please speak to my heart and let me know what to do. He didand it all worked out perfectly and God let me know that it was by His hand. I havethought back on that day many times, God didn’t allow me to get any advice, Hemade sure no one answered their phones that day, Hewanted me to come to Him and He wanted me to see His mighty hand at work. Foras the song says;

“Aboveall, you can ask or think According to, power That worketh through you and me
God is able to do just what he said he would do
He's gonna fullfill every promise to you
Don't give up on God, cause he won't give up on you
He's Able”

That’sthe problem that Joshua faced; Jericho was shut up and no one went in and noone came out.

Joshua 6:1 Now Jericho wasstraitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and nonecame in.

Joshua 6:2 And the LORD saidunto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, andthe mighty men of valour. Godtells Joshua that He wants them to overtake Jericho. Now from man’s point ofview here is a problem that is impossible.

Joshua 5:6 For the children ofIsrael walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that weremen of war, which came out ofEgypt, were consumed, becausethey obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he wouldnot shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he wouldgive us, a land that floweth with milk and honey. Ok,God says I want you to take a city that is well able to fight because it hassoldiers. The children of Israel had walked 40 years in the wilderness and nowall the soldiers were dead. God asked Joshua to take a well protected city thathas men well able to fight with men who were not soldiers and knew nothingabout battle. Now that’s a problem; if you look at it from man’s point of view.God in no way wants His people to think that they havedone this on their own and on tomorrow we see the plan that only God could makework. I hope you have a blessed week and be kind to one another.

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even asGod for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Don’tforget what Christ has done for YOU!

The Woman

2012-01-20T05:28:00.001-05:00

Iread this story and just wanted to share. There was an elderly woman travelingon a trip when her tire went flat. While she was sitting in her car thinkingabout what she was going to do she heard a tap at her window. When she turnedto see who had tapped she saw a young man and was frightened, but the young mancalmed her fears by saying “I’m here to help you ma’am. Why don’t you wait inthe car where it’s warm? By the way, my name is Bryan.” There was no way shecould have changed her own tire. Bryan had the spare tire on and the jack downin less than ten minutes. As he was tightening the lug nuts, the woman rolleddown her window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St.Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn’t thank him enough forcoming to her aid. Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The woman askedhow much she owed him. Any price would have been all right with her. She couldonly think of the awful things that might have happened if Bryan hadn’tstopped. Bryan never thought twice about asking for money, even though he couldhave used some financial help. He just told the woman that changing a tire wasnot a job to him; it was a matter of helping someone in need. He told the womanthat if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone whoneeded help, she could give that person the assistance they needed. “And whenyou do,” think of me. Bryan waited until the woman started her car and droveoff. It had been a cold and depressingday, but Bryan felt good as he headed home. A few miles down the road the womansaw a small diner. The small diner didn’t look like much, she went in to grab abite to eat and take the chill of before she made the last leg of her triphome. Her waitress brought a clean towel for the woman to dry her wet hair. Shehad a sweet smile, one that couldn’t be erased, even though she had been on herfeet all day. The woman noticed that the waitress was pregnant. She wonderedhow someone who seemingly had so little could be so generous and kind to astranger. Then the woman remembered Bryan and after shefinished her meal, she gave the waitress a $100 bill. While the waitress wentto get change, the woman slipped quietly out the door. When the waitress cameback to the table, she noticed something written on a napkin. When she pickedit up to read it, she noticed four $100 bills that had been left underneath it.There were tears in the waitress’s eyes when she read what the woman hadwritten: “You don’t owe me anything. I’ve been there, too. Somebody nice helpedme out, the way I’m helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here iswhat you do: don’t let this chain of love end with you.” That night when thewaitress got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about themoney and what the woman had written. How could the woman have known how muchshe and her husband needed that money? With the baby due in a month, she knewhow worried her husband was. As he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him asoft kiss and whispered softly, “everything’s going to be all right. I love youBryan.

Luk 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, presseddown, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to youagain.

Control

2012-01-19T06:47:00.001-05:00

Have you ever heard the phrase “out of control?” Have you ever wondered what that meant? Webster says the word control means: To overpower; to subject to authority; to counteract; to have under command. To have under command so to be out of control would be to not have in command to be overpowered. In Mark chapter 5 we find Jesus being a Psychiatrist, Gynecologist and Pediatrician. He is in control of three different people first there is a man bound in chains abusing himself and a victim of delusions. Then there is a woman who has become the object of a weakening disease that she had carried for 12 years. When the chapter closes we see a little girl that is dead and Jesus restores her life. In all three of these cases we see that Jesus has control over demons, as well as disease but Jesus also has control over death. In all three of these Jesus has control to overpower the demons, He had authority over a disease that was hopeless and then Jesus had the command of life. Well, He has the same power to day as He did then for the Bible says in:

Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; We have seen a man that was hell bound, a woman that was helpless and a young girl that was hopeless. And the answer in all three cases was JESUS! What’s the answer in mine and your lives? The same as it was in days gone by JESUS!

Good

2012-01-18T06:14:00.001-05:00

Thispast Saturday afternoon I was with some friends when one of them gave me acard. It was a card that was gold in color and it had a square in the middle ofit about the size of a thumb. It read “are you a good person place thumb insquare and press for 10 seconds if you are a good person it will turn green.”To the left of the card it had a green color and then it got lighter; I justassumed that it worked off your body heat. I had a ruler something similar tothe card and you press your thumb in a square and it would tell you if you werestressed; I thought the card was like that. As I began to press the card afriend said that I might have to hold it for at least 20 second. I just figuredhe had already done this and he had to hold it a little longer himself; for hewas a good person in my eyes. Well, I didn’t expect the square to be greenmaybe a light green. As I raised my thumb it had not changed colors at all.Well, we all, including myself like to think we are a good person, we treatpeople fair and do good things. Webster says the word good means Valid; legally firm; not weak or defective; havingstrength adequate to its support; as a good title; a good deed; a good claim,sound; not weak, false or fallacious. Legally firm, not weak ordefective; wait a minute here on whose standards? If we go by God’s standardsthen I’m going to come up short. The reasoning behind that is God says not touse His name in vain; I am guilty. He said to honor our parents and I am guiltyagain. He said thy shalt not lie and I am guilty there too. God tells us not tocovet, not to lust; in my standards I’m a good person if we go by God’sstandards then I’m not. If in our court systems the guilty are punished, thenwhat about God? He will have to punish the guilty too. In our society if aperson pays his debt he can be returned back into society. This is not truewith God He says that we are not to lie, steal, kill, commit adultery and weare not to covet. Now that I have broken the law of God I am guilty; what’s thepunishment?

Romans3:12……thereis none that doeth good, no, not one.

Romans6:23 For the wages of sin is death It’s true we arenot as good as we would like to believe and each one of us have sinned,therefore that makes us guilty before a righteous and Holy God. I am gratefulthat God made a provision of each of us and that provision is Jesus Christ.Jesus came and did what you and I couldn’t He lived a perfect life not oneunkind word slipped out of His mouth not one unclean thought went through Hismind, not one time was He unkind to Joseph or His mother. That made Him able topay the supreme price He gave His life so that you and I could have life. As Romans 6:23 goes on to say “butthe gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”Just like any other gift you must except it; He knocks at our hearts door butyou must open it, just like you would for anyone else to come in. We deserve thepunishment but Jesus took our punishment so that you andI might have life and have it more abundantly. It’s a gift for each of us totake; this is a no brainer and if for some reason we think we are good enoughthen we will have messed up big time and have to pay the price; eternaldeath.

Unforgiving

2012-01-17T06:20:00.001-05:00

Youmay have decided to read through your Bible in the year 2012 if so may I saythat you will not be sorry for doing so. As you read you will see words like“forgiveness” it will not be on every page but you will see it for it ismentioned 7 times. You will also see the word “forgiving” you will have to lookcloser for it for it is only mention 4 times. Then you will see the word “Forgiven”it will be easier to find for you will see it 42 times. You will also see theword “forgive” and you will find in 56 times. Now I have told you basicallyabout the word forgive but there are some other words that you will not find. Nowherein the Bible will you find these words Unforgiven, Unforgiving and Unforgotten;wonder why? I heard it said that “tohave an unforgiving heart is like taking poison and expecting someone else todie.” How true that is, someone says something or does something to us and werefuse to forgive them and we allow that bitterness to grow in our heart over aperiod of time. It never hurts the one that has done us wrong it only hurts theone holding the grudge. There have been times in my life that others have nottreated me right. I remember a few years back a man owed me some money, he keptpromising to pay me but he never did. I didn’t realize it at first but Iallowed a root of bitterness to infiltrate my heart and every opportunity I hadI told others how I had been mistreated. The Lord began to deal with my heartabout the matter. I remember one day as I was about to tell another about myexperience with this gentleman the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said“don’t say anything.” I am sorry to sayI just could not resist the opportunity to share my bitterness so I did. Thenthere came another time to share my bitterness and the same thing happened butthis time I kept my mouth shut. The Lord was teaching me a very value lesson inforgiveness. After all that He has forgiven me for how could I be so angry andhold bitterness in my heart and then be so happy to destroy this man in frontof others. What if the Lord did that to me? Every time the Lord had anopportunity that He would belittle me in front of others, how would that makeme feel? Well, He wants me to have a forgiving heart. Could that be the reasonhe didn’t mention any words with a “un” on the wordforgive? He didn’t allow the word unforgotten because He didn’t want you or Ito think that He had forgotten anyone of us. So that day I learned that wherethere is no wood the fire will go out.

Proverbs26:20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where thereis no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

Ephesians4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evilspeaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Ephesians4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. If I willforgive others the way Christ forgave me my words will not be hurtful or angryand I will not be a talebearer or one that spreads gossip.

10520641

2012-01-16T07:42:00.000-05:00

Finished;we see that word all the time and think little of it. We see it after we havefinished downloading a computer program on our computer. We see it at an eventwhere there is a finish line. We see it at sporting events we attend or watch on televisionand it comes to an end or finish.

Genesis5:5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirtyyears: and he died. Or he finished! Ten million, five hundred twenty,six hundred and forty one finished in the year 2011. If you are reading thisthen you’re not one of the finishers yet.

Webstersays the word “finish” means To arrive at theend of.

Hebrews12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great acloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth soeasily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is setbefore us, Do you see the picture that is painted before us? We enter thestadium and there is a crowd of people that are witnessing what we will do. Weare prepared for this race we had gotten rid of the weight and the sin thatwill easily set us back and now we are to run with patience the race before us.Now what are we to be looking at as we run this race? Will we run looking atthose in the crowded stadium? Will we run looking at the runners, runningbeside us? Oh no, it will be the finish line or in this case it will be thefinisher, the one who has already set the pace and has endured the cross; Jesus!

Hebrews12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of ourfaith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising theshame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. When youand I near the finish line of this lifeit really will not matter how much money we have in the bank, if our bills areall paid, why it won’t even matter about our health; for we know that’s shot.When we get close to our finish line the only thing that will matter is what wehave done for Jesus Christ.

Romans14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set atnought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.For we shall all stand, does that mean “ALL” I think then it is very importanthow we run in this race of life. Paul said in:

2Timothy4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course,I have kept the faith: Did you notice what Paul didn’t say? He didn’tsay he won but finished, he didn’t say he came in first place but that hefinished and in the process of finishing he says he kept the faith. Yes it’strue that 10,520,641 finished their course last year:wonder how many kept the faith? Have a blessed week and stop and really seewhat important!

Plumbing

2012-01-13T06:36:00.003-05:00

I read a news letter that a friend of mine in thePlumbing business placed on the internet. They put it there hoping that all whoread it will pay attention and go keep their pipes from freezing. Here is whatthey said in short form. We see it every winter. People forget or simplyneglect to take protective steps regarding their home's plumbing system inadvance of cold weather. We get called after the damage is done. The repairscan get expensive. Here's what you can do to prevent emergency calls to us thiswinter. Disconnect Garden Hoses, Close Dripping External Faucets, CloseInterior Shut off Valves to Outside Faucets, Cover Exposed Faucets, and WrapExposed Pipes. That is great advice and if we would do that we might just saveourselves some problems. There was a word used in what they said that willprevent their readers from escaping this oncoming disaster. That word is“neglect.” Webster says the word means To omit bycarelessness or design; to forbear to do, use, employ, promote or attend to; as,to neglect duty or business; Ionly found the word “neglect” used 3-times in the Bible. The last time it wasused was in the book of Hebrews and this is how it read.

Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape,if we neglect so greatsalvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmedunto us by them that heard him;

How shall we escape frozen pipes if we neglect to payattention to what we are advised. We wake up to go to work and we find that ourwater pipes are frozen. Not only does that cost us time off work but then wepay the plumber for our neglect. All of this could have been prevented; couldwe do the same thing about our salvation? How does one think they will escape therighteous judgment of God, and eternal punishment if we neglect the greatsalvation that has been provided for each of us? In other words “what are youthinking?” How will we escape punishmentif we reject the important message, the message thatJesus came to save sinners. Luke 19:10 For theSon of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

1Timothy 1:15 This is afaithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom Iam chief.

Who is a sinner? Am I one? I’ll let you answer thatand it’s real easy to answer. Have you ever stolen anything in your life? Evertold a lie? Ever had a wrong thought? The Apostle Paul found out that he toowas a sinner.

Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid.Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except thelaw had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Romans 7:8 But sin, takingoccasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. (longingfor that which is forbidden) For without the law sin was dead. Paul said Iwouldn't have recognized sin if those laws hadn't shown it to me. Sin made mehave all kinds of wrong desires and clearly, without laws there is no sin it’sdead. Here’s what the law says

Exo 20:3 Thoushalt have no other gods before me.

Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not makeunto thee any graven image

Exo 20:7 Thoushalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain;

Exo 20:8 Rememberthe sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Exo 20:12 Honourthy father and thy mother:

Exo 20:13 Thoushalt not kill.

Exo 20:14 Thoushalt not commit adultery.

Exo 20:15 Thoushalt not steal.

Exo 20:16 Thoushalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Exo 20:17 Thoushalt not covet thy neighbour's house,

Don’t neglect your responsibility, admit you’re asinner and ask Jesus to come into your heart NOW! Don’t NELGLECT! See you Monday!

Building A Relationship

2012-01-12T04:55:00.001-05:00

Thispast weekend my wife and I went to see some very close friends in the state ofIndiana. It was a nice trip and time well spent. My mother and father-n-lawwent with us and also our favorite daughter. Our daughter has a close friendthat lives there and they were looking forward to seeing each other as well asspending time together. Now I wrote all that to say this; my daughter and herfriend text every day telling each other about what’s going on in their lives.Now it has been over a year since they have seen each other but by way oftexting they have kept in touch. As I thought about their relationship I got tothinking about her texting her friend is like our praying to our HeavenlyFather. You see my daughter doesn’t see her friend she just talks to her by wayof text. You and I don’t see our Heavenly Father but we should be talking toHim on a daily basis. It’s like the Apostle Paul said;

2Corinthains 5:8 We are confident, Isay, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present withthe Lord. “We are confident” have you ever stopped to wonder why Paulsaid he was having full belief; trusting; relying; fully assured? Could it bethat he spent time in prayer talking with his Heavenly Father? I think so! But he didn’t stop there he said he waswilling to be absent from my body so that I might be present with the Lord. Nowwhy would anyone want to spend time or live with someone they didn’t know? Mywife had always wanted to spend the night at a bed and breakfast. On our 37anniversary I arranged a trip that included just that. To me it was like goingto someone’s home you didn’t know and spending the night there and then eatingbreakfast with people you didn’t know. That’s all I got to say about that. If aperson was to go to heaven that didn’t read their Bible, talk with theirHeavenly Father or spend time getting to know our Heavenly Father. I think youmight hear questions like what did you say your name was again? Obadiah! Andyou say that there was a book in the Bible that was named after you? Well,maybe you can help me I am looking for my Heavenly Father? That’s just how itwill be if we don’t spend time in prayer and allowing our Heavenly Father tolead and guide us. How foolish to think like that. My daughter was glad to see her friendbecause although she hadn’t seen her in over a year she had been talking withher all that time and strengthening their relationship. We do the same when wepray and read our Bibles, we build a relationship with our Heavenly Father andif we aren’t doing that then there’s no relationship.

John 10:27 My sheep hear myvoice, and I know them, and they follow me: Because we have been talkingto each other.

As I journey through the land,singing as I go,
Pointing souls to Calvary—to the crimson flow,
Many arrows pierce my soul from without, within;
But my Lord leads me on, through Him I must win.

When in service for my Lord dark maybe the night,
But I’ll cling more close to Him, He will give me light;
Satan’s snares may vex my soul, turn my thoughts aside;
But my Lord goes ahead, leads whate’er betide.

When in valleys low I look toward themountain height,
And behold my Savior there, leading in the fight,
With a tender hand outstretched toward the valley low,
Guiding me, I can see, as I onward go.

When before me billows rise from themighty deep,
Then my Lord directs my bark; He doth safely keep,
And He leads me gently on through this world below;
He’s a real Friend to me, oh, I love Him so.

Oh, I want to see Him, look upon Hisface,
There to sing forever of His saving grace;
On the streets of glory let me lift my voice,
Cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice.

Do you really want to see HIM? Do youreally want to look upon HIS face?

Finger Printed

2012-01-11T06:26:00.000-05:00

Mywife read me a story that she received by email. It was about a lady that hadall kinds of Christian sayings on the back of her car. For instance "whatwould Jesus do?" and "Follow me to Sunday School!" I thinkyou get the idea. She approached a turning light hoping she could get underit before it changed. It was not to be for there was a man in front of her thatdecided to stop for the light. At that point this lady started yelling and wavingher hands in frustration; she was just all upset. That is when she heard a tapat her window; it was a police officer. He asked her to get out of her vehicleand proceeded to handcuff her and take her down to the Police Station where shewas then finger printed, a mug shot taken and locked up. After a few hours shewas set free and the police officer told her had made a mistake. I hope youunderstand; after reading the verbiage all over your vehicle I was sure thatthis vehicle must be stolen. I am sorry my assumption was wrong. After she had read that to me I was remindedof the day that happened to me. I used to wear a pin; don't remember what itread but the day came I took it off because of my actions. I learned somethingthat day and it was I don't need a pin or a sticker on my vehicle to let othersknow who I represent. I just need to let my life and actions speak forthemselves for I'm an ambassador for Christ not perfect just one thatrepresents the Lord Jesus Christ in my life. Nothing wrong with a pin or asticker but there is much more than that and that’s living each day for theLord and a pin or a sticker will not help me there. I realized that day that nomatter how hard I think I have overcame the flesh it is still there and it mayjust rise up when things go wrong.

Romans7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the bodyof this death?

Romans7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with themind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Ifthe Apostle Paul had problems with his flesh then it should not be a surprisethat I should have some of the same problems with my flesh. So when you or I thinkthat we have become the super Christian then it may be time for us to see thatwe’re not where we think we are.

Chasing

2012-01-10T07:13:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, late in the afternoon, I noticed a rainbow and Iremembered a childhood experience. When I was a young boy I always heard thatthere was a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. One day after a small rainas I was returning home from a childhood adventure I noticed a rainbow. Itlooked like the end was just inside a patch of woods so I quickly decided to gocheck it out. As I walked toward that rainbow's end I noticed I could not quitesee the end but none the less I headed in that direction. The thoughts of joyfilled my mind at how proud my Mom and Dad would be when I would get to thefront door and I finally say "would someone please come help me with thispot of gold please." As I got into that patch of woods the end of thatrainbow moved. Not far just a little bitbut once again the end could not be seen. None the less I headed once againtoward the end until the rainbow finally dissipated and there were no more rainbows,no end and no pot of gold. Go ahead and laugh because as I thought about thatday I too laughed. That's fine for a childhood experience but if I were to dothat as an adult you would think I was a nut and rightly so. I'm afraid that there are too many adults thathave childish adulthood experiences. What is that you may ask? The Bible saysthis in:

1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spakeas a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became aman, I put away childish things. When I was child I talked as a childand I had rainbow experiences because I thought as a child. When I became anadult I should have put childish things away. Unfortunately now I find myselfchasing after dreams that seem as real as the pot of gold at the end of therainbow and just about the time I get to them they diminish. It’s the new job,the bigger pay check or the promotion. Just like that pot of gold that I thoughtwould have made my Mom and Dad happy that I was chasing after. What I failed torealize was that my Mon and Dad were already happy with me and the pot of goldwould not have made them love or like me anymore. That is the same with ourHeavenly Father He’s not going to love you or me more because we do bigger andgreater things. Have a big pay check or are the President of the company, no Hejust loves His children. We can never win His love by what we do; a pot of goldwill not cause Him to love you and me any more. Just like when I was a child I wouldhave been in a real mess without my Mom and Dad and a pot of gold was nothing. Soit is with you and I we would be in a real mess without our Heavenly Father andnothing could or should take His place. So today just enjoy the love from ourHeavenly Father for He really does love His children.

Years Later

2012-01-06T00:43:00.001-05:00

My wonderful wifeand I are in Nashville, you see tomorrow is our wedding anniversary. The year1969 the date December 31 and I was downtown Atlanta on the fifth floor of theGeorgian Terrace Hotel at a New Years Eve Party when I and a young girl firstgot together. We had a few dates and then it happened on January the fifth aswe were sitting in the parking lot of Walker High School where she and I hadboth graduated. I asked her to marry me and I never expected to hear her sayyes but she did. I had spent one year in the military by now and didn't know myfuture, in less than two weeks I would be back in Minnesota and who knows whereand when they would ship me out. Jacob has to wait for 7 years and thenanother 7; I only had to wait 7 days. OnMay I, 1970 I received orders that were not my choice. A tour of duty withouther may I say that was tough, would this marriage survive? Only married fourmonths and now we will be apart; we hadn’t planned for this at all. Do you haveany idea what the chances of this marriage working out were? Well, we made it throughthe military and then it got real bad and we were headed for a break up itseemed. Then it happened, it wasn't planned but it happened just the same, Iasked the Lord to come into my heart, forgive me of my sins and He did; and mylife changed in a day forever. January 7, 2012 we will celebrate 42years together and today she is still the love of my life. I think about herlove for me in the day time when we are apart, I look forward to come home toher each night my desire is to spend as much time with her I as I can. Here isthe secret:

Proverbs 5:19Let her be as theloving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and bethou ravished always with her love. When a husband is ravished withloving his wife then his heart will never wonder. I am glad for the day theLord saved me for on that day He not only changed me eternally but gave life totwo more children. By the way my mother-n-law and father-n-law are here with usand it was my idea. I love them too. In 1968 I and some of my buddies werehaving fun. As we drove by his home I leaned out the car window and hosed himdown with water it was funny until he caught up with us. He has long forgivenme for that but I am thinking about repeating that while we are together and refreshinghis memory; just kidding I would never do such a thing. We have a wonderfulrelationship. Life is good when you have those around you who love you. Tellsomeone you love them as well as show them and mean it. Go to Church thisweekend and just remember while you are there that the Lord loves you.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave hisonly begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but haveeverlasting life. See you next week.

Protection

2012-01-05T07:07:00.001-05:00

LikeI said on yesterday, I want you to see in all this just how much God loves Hischildren. We saw first a prayer answered and God had a plan. Then it was God’sPower, today I want you to see God’s protection and presence. Their prayer hadbeen answered and they’re on their way; it was a time to enjoy their new foundfreedom. Then it happened Pharaoh changed his mind and decided to go bring theIsraelites back

Exodus14:5…. Why have we donethis, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

Exodus14:6 And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:Here is where Pharaoh made a fatal mistake. Off he goes with his chariots andsoldiers to bring back the Israelites, but he and his men would never return.

Exodus14:10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted uptheir eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were soreafraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.

Exodus14:11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no gravesin Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thoudealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?

Exodus14:12 Is not this the word thatwe did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians?For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that weshould die in the wilderness. After all they had seen of how God hadprotected then now for some reason they think they’re all on their own. Israelnow finds themselves in a place that is hopeless and from a human standpoint itis. Mountains on both sides of them, the Red Sea blocking their way in front ofthem Pharaoh and his great army coming up behind them. God takes what’simpossible to man and shows them that nothing is impossible with God. God opensup the Red Sea

Exodus14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORDcaused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and madethe sea dry land, and the waters were divided. Israel enters in on dry ground and rightbehind them goes Pharaoh and his army.

Exodus14:23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to themidst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and hishorsemen. Not a good plan as it began to get light God had plans forPharaoh and his men.

Exodus14:24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORDlooked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of thecloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,

Exodus14:25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave themheavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; forthe LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians. Now all of a sudden itwasn’t about bringing Israel back it was save our necks. It was too late theyhad gone too far.

Exodus14:26 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over thesea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots,and upon their horsemen. Here’s what I want you to see; not one time dowe ever see God not caring and providing for His children. No matter what theysaid or did God never left them but protected them with His power and His presence.Do you not think He’ll do the same for you and I?

Hebrews13:5 Let your conversation bewithout covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for hehath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Our heavenlyFather knows how we feel and where we are at all times. You and I must trustHim with all our heart.

Free at Last

2012-01-04T07:08:00.002-05:00

Onyesterday we saw God answering prayer with a plan for His people. Let’s looktoday at how they responded. God has answered the prayer of His people and theyare on their way free from bondage, no more making bricks. I can hear them nowFree, Free, Free at last. Moses had gone before Pharaoh and asked him to let mypeople go more than once but Pharaoh refused and refused. God sent plague after plague and Pharaoh time after timeasked Moses to go before God and remove the plague and then when God wouldremove the Plague then Pharaoh went right back to being as he has been in thepast. Now the one I thought was interesting was the plague of frogs. Frogs areeverywhere; in the river, in the house, in their bed, in their ovens. You nameit and there were frogs.

Exodus 8:9 And Moses said untoPharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants,and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, thatthey may remain in the river only? Pharaoh answered

Exodus8:10 And he said, Tomorrow. Do what? Tomorrow, why not now! Do you enjoy having frogs in your bed? Thechildren of Israel witness frogs, flies, pestilence, hail, darkness and otherplagues, in other words they witness firsthand the power of God. Then came thenight they were to put the blood on the door post. That night the Lord waslooking for blood on the door post and where there was no blood then the firstborn died. When that night came this is what we read.

Exodus 12:30 And Pharaoh rose upin the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there wasnot a house where there was not one dead. Pharaohthen called for Moses and told him and his people to get out and take everythingthey own with them. They left and God has answered the Children of Israel’sprayer and has now delivered them from Egypt and hard bondage. Moses told themthat this is a night to be much remembered, it is a night that you will tellyour children about and they will tell their children and it will be remembered.It was all because of what we read early in the book of Exodus that God heardthe prayer of His own.

Exodus3:7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of mypeople which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of theirtaskmasters; for I know their sorrows; I didn’t read of any praising orthanksgiving when they were delivered from Egypt. That is strange; not one word of thanksgivingand no hands were raised in praise. None. I’ll finish up on tomorrow for theresomething I want you to see in all of this. It is justhow much God loves His children. Have a great day!

Delivered

2012-01-03T07:22:00.000-05:00

If you are reading this today then you have made it intothe year 2012 and may I say welcome and Happy New Year. You and I have a newstart, there’s nothing we can do about the mistakes of 2011 they are gone eventhough the fruit may still exist. What will you do in this New Year? If you didwhat you did in 2011 then don’t expect different results for they will be thesame. No matter where you find yourself today I want to encourage you with theWord of our Lord and what He has already told us. The difficulties we findourselves in sometimes are that we get our eyes on ourselves and our problemsand not on the Lord and His Power. There were a group of people in the OldTestament that found themselves in the poor oh me category all because Godanswered their prayer. We find God bringing the children of Israel out of Egyptas an answer to their prayers, but also along with answering their prayers Healso had a plan that He set before them.

Exodus 13:17 And it came to pass,when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through theway of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for Godsaid, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return toEgypt:

Exodus 13:18 But God led thepeople about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and thechildren of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

Out of bondage and free at last God has heard andanswered their prayers. All is good, all is well and no more worries. That is whatwe would all like to think as we start this New Year off but may I remind youthat there will be some problems ahead of each of us. How will we handle them?Will we try to handle them ourselves or will we pray and ask God to handlethem? When God answers will we take Him at His word or will we complain? I wantus to see what happened to this group of people that God delivered from Egypt andsee if we find ourselves doing some of the same things. We may learn from theirmistakes for as we see in:

1Corinthain 10:6 Now these things wereour examples. Webster tells us that an “example” is Apattern; a copy; a mode; that which is proposed to be imitated.Here are some examples that we are not to imitate, copy or pattern. We should not live by the examples that they set forthey were plain; I’ll show you tomorrow why.

Different Result

2011-12-30T07:36:00.001-05:00

The year 2011 isalmost over, only hours left. For some the year 2011 has been a great year forothers it has not been so good. As we face this New Year we all are in hopesthat this New Year will be a great one. To some this New Year will be as thelast because if you keep doing the same things you’re going to keep getting thesame results. Some will say themselves that in the New Year that they willspend more time with their families, some will say to themselves that theywould like to quit doing some bad habit. There are many things that we tellourselves that we would love to do but words are easily spoken but toaccomplish those words, wishes and desires it takes work as well as commitment.Before this New Years starts off ask yourself some questions; How did I getwhere I’m at today? How will I get to where I want to be in the oncoming year? In Proverbs chapter 27 and verse 8 we readthese words “As a bird that wandereth from her nest, sois a man that wandereth from his place.” The word “wander” means To rove; toramble here and there without any certain course or object in view; as, towander over the fields; to wander about the town, or about the country. Men maysometimes wander for amusement or exercise. Persons sometimes wander becausethey have no home and are wretched, and sometimes because they have nooccupation. One who wanders begins to do so with no course or objectin view and doesn’t plan on getting off track but in their wondering they losesight of where they should be. The bird that wonders from their nest leaves itsplace of security and puts himself in the place of possible danger. So is theman that wonders from his place of security he also puts himself in the placeof possible danger. It is true that birds of a feather flock together. We hangaround with those we feel comfortable around because we enjoy the same type ofthings. If we are going to be different in this New Year then we’ll have tocommit to living our lives much differently. One day I was told somethingwonderful that help me tremendously; it was very simple but it took laying downmy pride. I was told if I wanted to be stronger than I must know my weaknesses.That is where pride comes in for we all like to think we are strong in allareas of our lives. Then after you understand your weaknesses surround yourselfwith men who are strong where you are weak. This isn’t an easy task because ofour pride but understanding pride will help us; so what is pride? Here are afew verses to help.

Proverbs 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly iswisdom.

Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride comethcontention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goethbefore destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride bringsshame, contention, and destruction and on top of all that the Lord hates pride;out of seven things mentioned that He hates the first one is “pride.”

Proverbs 6:16 These six thingsdoth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Proverbs 6:17 A proud look, a lyingtongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Asthe New Year come in what in our lives what will go out? Just remember to get differentresults you must do something different or you’ll keep getting the sameresults.

Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride shallbring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. Dosomething different or expect the as results. See you next year!!

No Discounts

2011-12-29T08:07:00.000-05:00

After the Allied forces stormed ashore at Normandy onD-Day, charging into deadly German fire and land mines, General Eisenhowersaid, "There are no victories at discount prices." It was true atNormandy. It's true in following Jesus. Beginning at the cross, it has alwaysbeen expensive and victorious. The hymn writer nailed it when he said:"Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease, when othersfought to win the prize and sailed through bloody seas?" We all know that Freedom is not free butneither is our Faith in Jesus Christ Free. Abel’s Faith cost him his life.

Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offeredunto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witnessthat he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yetspeaketh. Enoch’s Faith changedhis walk.

Heb 11:5 Byfaith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found,because God had translated him: for before his translation he had thistestimony, that he pleased God. Noah’s Faithchanged his work.

Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, beingwarned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark tothe saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heirof the righteousness which is by faith. Abraham’s Faith changed his obedience.

Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham,when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for aninheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Many try to justfit in, don’t rock the boat, may I remind you that if our Faith is not worthliving it may not be much in our dying. Each day that you and I live we movecloser to our last day; all the way through the Bible we read such verses asthese

Gen 49:33 And when Jacob hadmade an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, andyielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

Gen 47:28 And Jacob lived inthe land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundredforty and seven years.

That day comesfor all one day you may hear the lump in your breast is…. You have a….in your….andit inoperable. One of my good friends got that news when he was 36 and we buriedhim in 1988 you may ask how was his faith? The last time I went to see him I went for the purpose of encouraginghim but instead he encouraged me with his great faith. Its one thing to look atdeath’s door afar off but it’s another to be able to reach out and touch it andsay with Job

Job 1:21 And said, Naked cameI out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, andthe LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Has your faith in Christ changed your life? Faith is not freeand a Faith that can’t change you may not be Faith at all for there are no discountswith Faith. As we come closer to the end of this year make up your mind that youwill be different in the New Year and start in that direction today.

Imagination and Thoughts

2011-12-28T07:10:00.000-05:00

Adamand Eve hid after doing wrong. A parent may walk into a room where their childhas been eating chocolate and ask them “have you been eating any candy” to whichthey might answer “no.” What they hadn’t realized is that there was chocolateall over their face. That is what is going on here.

Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that thewickedness of man was great in the earth, and that everyimagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Thefirst thing we notice is “God Saw” there is no hiding from the eyes of God.

Proverbs15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding theevil and the good.

Whatdid God see? “The wickedness of man;” Webster says the word “wickedness” means Departure from the rules of the divine law; evil dispositionor practices; immorality; crime; sin; sinfulness; corrupt manners Wickednessgenerally signifies evil practices. God is watching mankinddeparting from His divine law doing evil practices, corrupt manners and crime.We are told that this is no small matter for He uses the word “great.” How didit become so wicked and immoral? It started in their imagination and then thereimagination moved into their thoughts; we may call it premeditated (to think about and revolve in the mind beforehand)then into their heart

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in hisheart, so is he: Then it becomes an action only evilcontinually. Does it really matter what we are thinking? I would say so! Lookat

Genesis6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth,and it grieved him at his heart. Did you notice what the wickedness, theimagination and thoughts did to God? It grieved Him; Webster say the wordgrieve means (To give pain of mind to; to afflict; towound the feelings. Nothing grieves a parent like the conduct of a profligatechild.) Our thoughts and imaginations do affect God. After allthat God has done for mankind we cause Him to become heartbroken because of ourimaginations and thoughts. When the imaginations slip into our mind if we don’tdismiss them then they will become thoughts and then the thoughts will becomeactions. Here is how to deal withimaginations

2Corinthian10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exaltethitself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thoughtto the obedience of Christ;

It’sour wrong and stinking thinking that breaks the heart of God so the thoughtmust die before it becomes an imagination for if it becomes an imagination itwill not be long before it becomes an action? There it is; get those imaginations out of our head before they turninto evil actions. Then there is our heart? What’s in our heart? If you don’tknow it will soon come out your mouth.

Matthew12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak goodthings? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be inyou, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Wheredo you think we might find the mind of God? Do you think that reading our Biblewould help? For our Bible will tell us all we need to know about the Lord JesusChrist.

Isaiah26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mindis stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

What Happen to We

2011-12-27T07:34:00.001-05:00

Gen 27:8 Now therefore, my son, obeymy voice according to that which I command thee.

Gen 27:9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me fromthence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thyfather, such as he loveth:

Gen 27:13……only obey my voice, and gofetch me them.

Gen 27:45 Until thy brother's anger turn away fromthee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send,and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in oneday?

Inthese few verses we read of a mother instructing her son to betray and lie tohis dad. Jacob’s mother Rebekah tells Jacob to obey her voice and commands himto do wrong. Rebekah had all the answers and it all seemed to work just fine indeceiving Jacob’s dad Isaac. Jacob was able by the advice of his mother to foolfour of Isaac’s senses but not his hearing. I don’t think Rebekah realize theresults this would all bring.

Gen 27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessingwherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days ofmourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. What happened next should teach us allsomething very valuable. Up to now it was Rebekah telling Jacob to obey hervoice and her commands and Jacob obeyed his mother. One time he did questionher:

Gen 27:12 My father peradventure will feel me, and Ishall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not ablessing. But Rebekah responded:

Gen 27:13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me bethy curse, my son: only obey my voice,

When Esau said he hated his brother andhad decided to kill him as soon as their father died Rebekah tells Jacob to:

Gen 27:43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; andarise, flee Then notice whatRebekah said:

Do what, flee away until your brother’sanger turns away from you Jacob and he forgets what you have done unto him.Wait, would it not have been correct for her to have said “flee Jacob untilEsau’s anger is turned away and he forgets what WE have done into him.” Jacobwas not innocent, by no means, but it was his mother that instructed him to dowrong. I am sure we have all been in a similar situation where we wereinstructed and when all went wrong the use of a personal pronoun came into use.I remember many years ago my brother and I were with our cousin and she didsomething wrong. She instructed us to tell a lie and that she would do the same.She then added under no circumstances were we to change our story. My brotherand I were not in any kind of trouble at all but to help her I decided to staywith the story. My mother started in on me and asked me what had happened so Itold her the story my cousin had told me to tell. All went well for awhile butthen my mother said you might as well tell the truth for we know what happened.She then said that my cousin had already told what had happened and if I wouldtell them I would be in no trouble. Oh yea right! I had seen this kind of stuffon TV where a police officer would tryto get one person to tell on another; not me I’m not falling for that trick forI remember the words “under no circumstances.” Did she really think I wouldcrack under this kind of questioning? Tell the truth son my mother said towhich I said I am telling the truth. Then my mother said you are not in anytrouble but if you keep tell me these lies then I’ll have to punish you. Yearight another trick for me to rat out on my cousin no way and the word“CIRCUMSTANCES” rang that much louder in my head. Then my mother began tellingme what had happened and the only way she could have done that was that mycousin had broken down and told the truth. She was in no trouble because shetold the truth and I got punished for telling a lie trying to protect her;instead of “we” it became me. Well so much for stuff one can learn on TV. As we get closer to facing the New Year letus remind ourselves to learn from the Scriptures byreading them daily. It’s a New Year, put the old one behind you the best youcan and put change into the New Year. Have a great last week of 2011.

Seeing Him

2011-12-23T07:32:00.001-05:00

Ralphie,a young boy growing up in the '40's, dreams of owning a Red Rider BB gun. Hesets out to convince the world this is the perfect gift. Along the way, he runsinto opposition from his parents, his teacher, and even good 'ol Santa Claushimself. We may not be a Ralphie desiring a BB gun but I’m sure we have at onetime or another desired to have something and went about convincing others thatit would be the perfect gift. We can read of those in our Bibles that had somedesires to see the perfect gift; there was Simeon; Luke 2:25 And, behold, therewas a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man wasjust and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost wasupon him. He said “Can I stay alive until I see him?” There were theWise Men; Matthew2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days ofHerod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem. Theysaid “we aren’t stopping until we find him.” Then there were the Shepherds;

Luke2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from theminto heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even untoBethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath madeknown unto us. They said “Let’s go…. Let’s see.” I love what we read inthe book of Hebrew chapter 11 and verse 6 But without faith it is impossible toplease him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and thathe is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. The last three words“diligently seek him” should encourage each of us. Webster says this about theword “diligently” With steady application and care; withindustry or assiduity; not carelessly; not negligently. It couldbe like a Christmas gift as you find yourself with steady application and carelooking for it. Don’t be satisfied with angels or contentwith stars. Seek Him out as the Shepherds did. Worship Him as the wise men did.Long for Him as Simeon did. In other words do whatever it takes to see Christthis Christmas. Raphie finally got his BB gun. The Wise men were able to givetheir gifts to Jesus. The Shepherds didn’t stop until they found Him. Christmasis a wonderful time so don’t get so caught up in the lights, trees, presentsand people that you miss the most important part “JESUS.” Make sure you seeHIM! Have a great Christmas and enjoy the time together with your family andwe’ll talk again on Tuesday December 27 may the blessing of our Lord and Saviorbe with each of you this Christmas season. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Joyous Christmas

2011-12-21T06:31:00.001-05:00

Act20:35 I have shewed you all things,how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the wordsof the Lord Jesus, how he said, It ismore blessed to give than to receive.

Christmas time is a time of giving aswell as receiving. Which is the better of the two? Giving or Receiving? Well weall like to receive but where do we find the most joy. We may receive a nicegift but sooner or later that gift will lose its shine and become useless. Nowwhen we give from a true heart we will never forget the joy or the smile on theface of the one that received. Let me explain; there was a young man thatreceived a nice gift from his brother one Christmas. It was a nice car and theyoung man was proud to have received such a gift. One night after work as theyoung man approached his car he saw a poor and raggedly clothed youngsterwalking around his car admiring it. The young boy asked “is this your car?” Theanswer came back “Yes, my brother gave it to me as a Christmas gift.” “You meanthis car didn’t cost you anything?” “Yes, it was a gift.” The young boythen said, “You know what I wish? I wish that I could give my brother a carlike this for Christmas.” “Would you like for me to take you for a ride in it?”“Oh yes, I’d love that.” So off they went for a short ride around town after awhile the young boy said “would you mind driving in front of my house?” Theyoung boy said, “There’s my house would you stop for a moment.” The young boyopened the door, ran to his front door went in and then soon came back. He wasnot alone, when he came back he was carrying his crippled brother. He sat himdown and pointed to the car and said “There she is Buddy, just like I told you.His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn’t cost him a cent. SomedayI’m gonna give you one just like it. Then you can ride me around and see foryourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I’ve been tryingto tell you about.” The older man got out of his car, picked up that crippledyoung boy and put him in the front seat. He told hisbrother to get in the back seat as the three of them began a memorable joyousChristmas ride. The joy is not in receiving but giving, for this is the way toreal JOY. J is for Jesus first; O is for others and Y is last for yourself.Like I said the shine will one day be outdated by something new but the joy ofgiving will never dull. It’s like Jesus said it’s more blessed to GIVE than toreceive.

Train Whistle

2011-12-20T05:02:00.002-05:00

I read a true story of ayoung man away at college for his first year. His very first night as he beganto fall asleep in his dorm he was suddenly awakened by the sound of a trainwhistle. It sounded as if it was coming right through his room and as he lookedout the window of his dorm he found that the railroad tracks were right next tohis room. It was hard to fall asleep at first but as time went on he found thatthe roaring of the train and its whistle were not even noticed anymore. It’sstrange how we can become so accustomed to something that we don’t even knowthe difference. Could that be said about Christmas? When I was a young boy wesang about Christmas and about the birth of the Savior. There were the songs ofRudolf the red nose reindeer, Jingle bells and a few others but most of thesongs were of the Christ of Christmas. Christmas was a time for family; Iremember our home was full of family members that I might only see at Christmastime. The cake, the coffee [oh, we kids didn’t get any coffee] but the cakes weate plenty of. It was an exciting time of the year and it was all based onJesus and His birth in Bethlehem. Then came the Happy Holidays; sure it was ahappy time of the year but it was Christmas. Over the years just like that trainand whistle many have just gotten used to the idea and have said to themselveswhat difference does it really make. Maybe none to some but to me there is alot of difference between Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Christmas is moreof a Holy Day than a holiday. It’s a time of being grateful for what God hasgiven us than just a day away from work. It’s still MERRY CHRISTMAS to me andthe whistle and the train is still loud and clear. Thank you Lord for your blessingsat this time of year when we can once again think of your love toward us andyour great gift to us; Jesus!

No Light Left On

2011-12-19T07:05:00.000-05:00

Does the name Tom Bodett mean anything to you? Tom is the first and only spokesperson Motel 6 has ever had. Tom always closes the Motel ad by saying “And we’ll leave the light on for you.” My wife, our first born son that was 4 month old and I had taken off on an unplanned trip to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. When we arrived we found to our surprise that there were no Motel rooms available I mean there was no light left on for us. We were in some kind of trouble; the heat was beating down and we were sweating while warning bottles by the car heater; let me tell you that was no fun at all. By the time that Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem they found that there was no Tom Bodett and the light was off at the inn “there was no room for them in the inn.” So Mary and Joseph had to make do

Luke 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; (A trough or box in which fodder is laid for cattle, or the place in which horses and cattle are fed.) Do you know what is amazing about the fix they found themselves in? There was not one word of complaining; Joseph is not saying how could I have been so foolish not to have had a room or a place; for this is my home town. Is that what we are told?

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

Luke 2:2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

Luke 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. Joseph was born in Bethlehem and this was the city where he belonged. There was no family that took them in, no friends not even an old childhood buddy. There is not one word of complaining no feeling sorry for themselves; none. Have you ever thought why? The answer is simple because the night is not about the hardship of Joseph and Mary but all about the Lord Jesus Christ. The taxing and the travelling was not what this night was about. It’s not about poor old Mary it is all about Jesus. Could we say the same? It’s not about you and I, it’s not about our hardships and it’s not even about the good things that have happened to each of us. It is about Jesus. When we build our life around all the bad the sad and the sorrowful as well as the good we are missing the most important part and that is Jesus? For it’s all about Him!

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

Sweetest Name I know,

Fills my every longing,

Keeps me singing as I go.

Have a great week as you lift up the name of Jesus and not your problems!

Prejudice, Pride and Opinions

2011-12-16T07:51:00.000-05:00

His name wasKen and he talked to me one night in the back of a trailer about a man namedJesus. I politely listened until he was through then I made him a promise thatI would without a doubt go to Church the following Sunday; which I did. Couldanything good come out of a talk from the back of an eighteen wheeler? That’skind of what Nathanael said about Nazareth.

John1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing comeout of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Nazareth was somean a place, that it seems it was even despised by its neighbors, the Galileansthemselves, for Nathaniel was from Galilee. Nathanael said himself “cananything good come out of Nazareth?” Surely the Messiah would never come fromthere; He more than likely would come from Jerusalem, Hebron or some otherprominent city. Not Nazareth, you must be kidding! Here is a good lesson onalmost letting prejudice, pride and opinions cause you to miss the mostimportant date of your life. What if I would have let my unbelief and opinionand false assumptions prevent me from doing as I said? Really would the Saviorof mankind come riding on a donkey? Really would the Lord Jesus be in a BaptistChurch I mean I had been in the Methodist Church from childhood. Can I say it’snot a Denomination? It’s Jesus and Hemay well come riding on a Donkey or in the back of a trailer or in a SundayMorning Service. Phillip said to Nathaniel come see and Nathaniel did and in sodoing he saw Jesus. Ken said to me come and see and I did and I saw Jesus. Butbetter than Nathaniel and I seeing Jesus, Jesus saw theboth of us. You are going to have to get past your prejudice, pride andopinions and let Jesus see you! Sundays coming why not go and see! Thanks Ken for sharing that night over 38years ago in the back of that trailer as we loaded it to go to another state.On that night you filled my head with things about Jesus and two days laterJesus found me and invited me into His family and I am eternally grateful. By the way Ken, wherever you are I’ll be backin Church this Sunday you can count on it and once again let me say thank youfor caring for me.

Hesitating

2011-12-15T07:49:00.002-05:00

Out of all theanimals I think the squirrel has to be the one that does the most hesitating.Let me explain; I have noticed while driving that the squirrel will startacross the road and have plenty of time to get out of the way of the oncoming vehicle.But as he gets in the middle of the road he can’t seem to make up his mind andstarts back to where he came from but then for some reason changes his mind andreturns. While he is out in the middle of the roadway doing all that hesitatinghe gets ran over. All that could have been prevented if he had not hesitated. The squirrel started but couldn’t make up hislittle mind. We may have all hesitated at times or maybe think that God couldnever use us. We use the excuses that we don’t have the education, we are tooold, not good with people, my speech is not what it should be, I could neverstand before a crowd of people and on and on the excuses come. What about Abraham?God calls him out of a dead pagan religion and he became the father of faith. Moseswas watching sheep when God call him and he almost missed what God wanted himto do by his hesitating. Then there was David the runt, the eighth son of thefamily. No one was even thinking about him, but God saw a King when everyoneelse saw a runt. It’s not what everyone else sees that important but what Godsees. Never under estimate the power ofa personal word from God! Never hesitate to say yes to God’s plan for yourlife! God will do the impossible with the improbable. What’s God done in yourlife?

How Far Will You Go

2011-12-14T06:18:00.001-05:00

Ihave a good friend that lives in the state of Indiana and when he comes down heand his family like to go to Stone Mountain. Now they drive over 450 miles todo so, I only live about 20 miles from the Mountain and the only time I go iswhen they are here. It’s funny that you can live so close to something andalmost never go while others drive 100’s of miles to see it. In Luke Chapter 2and verse 1 we read And it came to pass in those days,that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should betaxed. Then we read in verse 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city ofNazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David,which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

Luke2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great withchild. From Nazareth to Bethlehem was about 80 miles; normally it wouldtake about 4 days to make that trip. But Mary nearing her pregnancy term andriding a donkey it would require more than 4 days for fear of a miscarriage. Soit took probably a week or more to make the trip. After a week or more Josephand Mary finally arrived in Bethlehem now can you imagine the people that werethere? I mean didn’t we just read that the whole world should be taxed. Nowthere was somewhat of a break not everyone went to Bethlehem.

Luke2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.None the less I’m sure there were people all over Bethlehem. Joseph and Maryhad traveled 80 or so miles to pay taxes but while they were there baby Jesuswas born. The Sheppard’s traveled only a short distance to see Jesus. Herod the king gathered all the chief priestsand scribes and demanded where Christ should be born and they said unto him, inBethlehem of Judaea. Now what is interesting about that is Herod didn’t takethe time to go about 5 miles to see Jesus and neither did the chief priest andscribes. Jesus wasn’t all that interesting to the King or the Religious leadersof that day. My friends drive 450 miles to see Stone Mountain I will not drive20. Joseph and Mary take a week to go and pay taxes but the Priest and Scribeswill not walk 5 miles. Many get in their cars and driveto Church just to hear about Jesus while others head off somewhere else. Iwonder how important Jesus is to each of us? If we had been in Bethlehem thenight Jesus was born would we have went after we had heard the good news fromthe shepherds?

Luke2:16 And they(shepherds) came withhaste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

Luke2:17 And when they had seen it, (baby Jesus) they (the shepherds) made known abroad the saying which was toldthem concerning this child.

Luke2:11 For unto you is born this dayin the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Which are moreimportant paying taxes or seeing Jesus? Which one do we do the most pay taxesor hear about Jesus?

Birthday

2011-12-13T06:58:00.000-05:00

Birthdaysare wonderful and if you don’t think so just try missing one. When you are akid, it’s a wonderful time with your friends, the cake and ice cream and thebest part of all; the Gifts. But what if all your friends and family all cameto gather and no one wished you a Happy Birthday and when they sang HappyBirthday they didn’t put your name in the song. What if everyone bought eachother gifts and no one had one for you? I think you might have a question ortwo like why did you sing Happy Birthday and not use my name! Then someone said“well we didn’t want to offend anyone or hurt someone else’s feelings by doingso.” “Why didn’t you give a gift to me; it was my Birthday?” Someone elsereplied “we knew it was your birthday but we wanted others to know how much weloved them so we bought them gifts.” You might say that would be just awful ifthat were to really happen. Have you stopped to think how many treat Christmas?It’s not Merry Christmas but HappyHolidays. We hear songs without the mention of Jesus, Christ, God, Emanuelinstead we hear songs talking about Grandma got ran over by a reindeer. Idecided to go to the internet and typed in Best Christmas songs and this aresome of the titles of the top 40. Country Christmas, Rudolph The Red-NosedReindeer, Run Rudolph Run, Please Come Home For Christmas, Wonderful Christmas time.Whatever happened to Away in a Manger, Joy to the World, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, O Little Town of Bethlehem , We Three Kings?Christmas time is the time we are to remise about when Jesus our Lord andSavior was born and that He was born to save sinners which we all are.

Matthew2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days ofHerod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Matthew2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for wehave seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Luke2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him inswaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for themin the inn.

Luke2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name wasSimeon;

Luke2:28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Luke2: 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thyword:

Luke2:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Hello, it’s notHappy Holidays or anything else it’s Merry Christmas it has always been MerryChristmas and I say Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus! I guess I’m overqualified to work at some places. Butthat’s ok for LORD YOU'RE THE BEST THING, THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME

YOU BEEN MY FRIEND,FOR SO LONG

YOU WHERE RIGHT,AND I WAS WRONG

I CAN'T REPAY,YOU ALL THE LOVE,YOU GIVEN ME

YOU WHERE MY FRIEND,WHEN NO ONE CARED

I WAS ALONE,BUT YOU WHERE THERE

LORD YOU'RE THE BEST THING,THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME

( Chorus )

I OWE IT ALL TO YOU LORD,ALL I HAVE IS YOU LORD

SO TAKE MY LIFE,MAKE IT WHAT,YOU HAVE IT BE

FOR I'M YOUR CHILD,AND YOUR MY FATHER

I'M THE CLAY,AND YOUR THE POTTER

LORD YOU'RE THE BEST THING,THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME

Here's Your Sign

2011-12-12T07:11:00.000-05:00

My Dad worked forthe railroad and I have heard him say 1000’s of time when you come to arailroad crossing always Stop, Look and Listen. There are signs put at railroad crossings thatread Stop, Look, Listen and Live. The sign tells us that it would be a goodmeasure on our part that if we want to keep living that we should Stop at the crossing.Then the sign tells us to Look and make sure that there is not a trainingcoming before we cross the tracks. We should do one more thing and that wouldbe to use our ears and listen; just one last measure to be completely sure thatthere is no train coming. If we make this a practice when we approach a railroadcrossing then our chances of living will increase 100%. As I read Luke chapter2 and verse 12 these thoughts came to my mind.

Andthis shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped inswaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Did you see thatword “sign” If we back up a few verses I think it will help us to understand alittle more about the sign?

Luke2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in thefield, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Luke2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the gloryof the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Luke2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bringyou good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Luke2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,which is Christ the Lord.

Shepherds if youwill go to the city of Bethlehem you will find great joy; notice not just joybut great joy. Then in verse 11 there is a personal pronoun used “you” so thissign is now personally for you shepherds. Let’s assume that you are in a hurryto get somewhere. Up ahead you see a railroad crossing so you began to look andyou see no train coming, so you decide to just to go across the tracks. Thenyou see a sign that says Stop, Look, Listen and LIVE so at that point yourethink and stop at the crossing. You hadn’t been stopped no more than a fewseconds when you notice a train coming into the crossing had you not havestopped you would have been killed. Now aren’t you thankful that someone put asign up for you to see. Now was that sign at that moment for everyone or was itthere just for you? That’s what Christmas is Stop and see Jesus in a manger,Look and see what He is there for and then Listen as He reaches out to you forthat is what verse 10 said. ”I bring you good tidingsof great joy, which shall be to all people.” Not only is it personal butit includes all people and therefore Jesus did come into this world for allpeople “For God so loved the world that He gave”and that my friend includes you. Be joyful for unto you a Savior is born. Nowhave a good week and tell someone today MERRY CHRISTMAS! Oh by the way knowingJesus is a 100% to having eternal life Stop, Look, Listen and Live.

Faithful

2011-12-09T06:34:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he thatmaketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

Whatis a faithful man? Webster says this about the word “faithful”

1. Firm in adherence tothe truth and to the duties of religion.

2. Firmly adhering toduty; of true fidelity; loyal; true to allegiance; as a faithful subject.

3. Constant in theperformance of duties or services; exact in attending to commands; as afaithful servant.

Itnot only means “faithfulness,” but firmness, steadiness, stability,steadfastness and devotion. The verse tells us that a faithful man shall aboundwith blessings. Could this be because the faithful man is firm, he is alsosteady; does that mean you can count on him? The verse then goes on andcompares one that is haste to be rich. Could this be greed or covetousness orboth? Greed will always place a priority on materialism instead of God’sapproval of our life. When one set their eyes on materialism they become proneto do things that are unethical or illegal. I was called into my boss’s officesome years back and he began to talk to me about how I had the ability to movehigher in the organization and wanted me to listen to some cassette tapes (thatwas before cd’s.) At first I wasexcited and couldn’t wait to listen to the tapes. As I left that morning I putthe first tape in and began to listen to it. I couldn’t believe what I washearing the voice on the tape was telling me to use people for my benefit. Ionly listened to a few minutes of that tape and turned it off. I took the tapeback to my boss and told him that I didn’t have the abilities that he thought Idid for I could never do what was on those tapes. He then said that if I didn’tlearn how to separate business and Church I would be a poor man with greatabilities. Is it okay to lie to get what you want? Is that learning to separatebusiness from Church? If so count me out for there is a verse that rings in myears that tells me that I will have to give an account.

Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account ofhimself to God. Ihave enough already to give an account for I don’t think I want to add to itwith something I know is wrong.

Exodus 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.

Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bearfalse witness against thy neighbour.

Exodus20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt notcovet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor hisox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. If I lieto get what I want then that’s stealing and it all began when I coveted, whichis a desire or wish for, with eagerness; to desire earnestly to obtain orpossess. Now we have a choice we can be faithful or we can make haste but making haste says we shall not be innocentwhich means you’re guilty. It takes work to be faithful but we were born liars.

Psa 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray assoon as they be born, speaking lies. Be faithful and be in your placethis Sunday and have a great weekend.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Freedom

2011-12-08T07:30:00.001-05:00

It was 70 yearsago yesterday that Pearl Harbor was attacked. More than 2,400 Americans werekilled and hundreds were wounded. Dozens of Navy vessels were sunk ordestroyed. I wanted to remind each of us that freedom is not free it is verycostly. I also wanted to remind each of us at this Christmas season to pray forour soldiers on active duty. I can from personal experience remember being awayat Christmas time on active duty. There was no tree, presents,but there was also no family and it was a very sad time. So why not today juststop and pray and be thankful for our soldiers. We can thank our soldiers for protectingour country and our freedoms so we can enjoy a Christmas with our families.

Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer………..withthanksgiving; Can you hear the silence cry of our Soldiers?

1Thessalonians 5:25 Brethren, pray forus.

Two of my grandchildren’s dad on Thanksgiving day; somewhere in Afghanistan 20 foot away a mortarcame in on them. I thank God they were not killed but the noise from the explosionhas caused hearing problems; the next day back in combat. Please pray for hissafety along with his fellow soldiers that their hearing will return. This newshas not been good for his children. This is just one case of all that is goingon so you and I can live in freedom. Have a blessed day and be grateful forwhere you are and what you have.

What Do You See

2011-12-07T07:26:00.001-05:00

Ayoung girl that had Down syndrome was out with her mom and dad when they passedby a homeless man. The alcohol and the body odor were horrible, but the younggirl looked past by all of the things others see and went over and gave the mana hug. As they embraced the tears streamed down the man’s face and it was allbecause of an act of affection. We might say well I’m glad I’m not that way;that’s the problem we don’t look at ourselves like that. Really we haven’t doneanything real bad, after all I’m a pretty good person. In who’s eyes? This iswhat the Bible has to say about our goodness.

Isaiah64:6 But we are all asan unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses areas filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like thewind, have taken us away.

Romans3:10 As it is written, Thereis none righteous, no, not one:

Romans3:11 There is nonethat understandeth, there is none thatseeketh after God.

Romans3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together becomeunprofitable; there is none thatdoeth good, no, not one.

Weare not as hard on ourselves as we might be with someone else. I use to workwith my Father-n-Law and loved those years we worked together. He didremodeling work and when he figured a job he always got what was needed andthere was little room for error. One day I cut a piece of trim wrong and when Itold him what I had done he said that we were not going to have enough tofinish the job and I felt bad about my mistake. A few jobs later he made amistake and he just brushed it off. I then got to thinking about when I hadmade a similar mistake, so I asked him why he got so upset with me and not withhimself. He just looked at me and said oh it’s different when I do it. Could itbe that’s how we view our wrongs? Whenwe read about Jesus He went to those others refused to; thebroken hearted, the lonely, the confused, the harlots, the lepers, the coldhearted but He saw something different than what met the eyes He look past allthat and saw the heart.

1Samuel16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance,or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as manseeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD lookethon the heart.

WhenHe found you and I we were like the man the little girl saw and hugged for shedidn’t see the outside she saw the inside. What do we see when we see others?

Be a Barney

2011-12-06T07:35:00.001-05:00

I love to watch the old episodes of the Andy GriffithShow. Don Knotts played my favorite character; Deputy Barney Fife. There wasone episode when Barney joined the Mayberry choir but there was only oneproblem Barney could barely hold a note. The truth of the matter is that he wastone deaf, but he didn’t let that slow him down one bit. He sang his heart outas if he was God’s gift to the tenor section. I don’t know about you but I liketo sing when I am all by myself. There was one morning that I was singing goingup the road and I like Barney got to thinking that I wasn’t all that bad. Onemorning I decided to record my wonderful singing so I could listen to it andreassure myself that I really was fairly good. I started singing in the truckthat morning and after I felt that I was warned up I reached over and turned onthe recording machine. I started singing as if 100’s of people were listening Imean why not sing to 100’s. Then it became time to listen to my master piece; Irewound the tape and hit play. The sound that began to come out of that smallmachine was some of the most awful sounds I think I have ever heard. Whathappened? Well, I had convinced myself that I could do something that I couldnever do; I think I might be tone deaf. Why would I like doing something that Ican’t do? There are two words I would like to look at that I think will helpexplain. The first word “joyful” Webster says that it means “Full of joy;very glad“ the next word is “noise” and Webster says it means ” Sound of anykind, or proceeding from any cause, as the sound made by the organs of speech,by the wings of an insect, the rushing of the wind, or the roaring of the sea,of cannon or thunder, a low sound, a high sound, &c.; a word of generalsignification.” Now what is so interesting about that is that thefirst time we find those words used together in the same verse is in

Psalms 66:1 Make a joyful noise unto God, all yelands: Make a joyful noise unto God; know what? We can all do that wedon’t have to have any music ability at all to make a noise and when we aremaking that noise we can be joyful as we do it unto God.

Psalms 95:1 O come, let us singunto the LORD: let us make a joyfulnoise to the rock of our salvation.

Psalms 95:2 Let us come beforehis presence with thanksgiving, and makea joyful noise unto him with psalms.

Psalms 98:4 Make a joyful noiseunto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Psalms 100:1 A Psalm of praise. Make a joyfulnoise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Anybody can do that so come on; be a Barney Fife and do the very best you can even if itsounds like a noise, just make that noise joyful.

Useful

2011-12-05T07:26:00.000-05:00

I wake up in the morning running and lay down at nighttired from the race of the day. I don’t like to hear anybody say that they haveoutlived their usefulness. What kind of talk is that? The day we outlive ourusefulness we will be looking at Jesus. If you live long enough you are goingto get old and we can’t prevent that. In John Chapter 10 and verse 10 we readthese words; “The thief cometh not, but for to steal,and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that theymight have it more abundantly.“ Now remember a thief comes when we’renot expecting him, the thief comes when no one is at home. Could it be that justmaybe the thief has convinced you that you are too old and the days ofopportunity have passed you by? You say I’m too old, let me ask you how old wouldyou be if you did nothing? I am gladeveryone doesn’t feel like they have outlived their usefulness; because thisworld would surely have missed out on some great and grand achievements. Haveyou ever heard the name Harlan Sanders? He didn’t retire at 65 instead he tookhis Social Security checks and a family recipe and began franchisingrestaurants to serve his fried chicken. You might know him as Colonel Sandersand Kentucky Fried Chicken. I am afraid that many of life’s treasures remainhidden from you and I simply because we never search for them or think we havebecome too old and useless. Hog wash, don’t you believe that for one minute.Moses was 80 years old and God came to him and said I have a job for you Moses.I want you to lead my people out of the bondage of Pharaoh down in the land ofEgypt.

Exodus 7:7 And Moses was fourscore years (80) old, and Aaron fourscoreand three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh. Has someone older inyour life ever made a real impact in it? When I was 40 I began to spend a lotof time with men that were 75 and up and they taught me so much about courageand strength. They said things like “I’m still breathing I’m still living.”There was a man who was 75 years old and we became great friends; God used meto lead him to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We were good friends untilhis death in May 2002 he was 82 years old. I’ll never forget him that is forsure, I spent hours with him and listened to him talk. He worked at a leadplant all his life; he was strong as an ox and he taught me so much for he hadgreat wisdom. Never have the attitude that you’re useless for that is the enemywanting to steal your joy, kill your drive and destroy your great usefulness. Don’tlet him do it to you. What if my friend Alvin would have had that attitude? Hewould have robbed me of all he taught me. Quit letting those attitudes invadeyour mind and be a help and a blessing to someone this week. Find an olderperson and spend some time with them. I’m not 40 anymore but I still have agood friend who is 77; I love it. I have sat and talked with men who were survivorsof Iwo Jima and Pearl Harbor, what a history lesson. So who has the Lordallowed you to cross paths with that hasn’t decided notto think they were useless; aren’t you grateful. Now you be a light in someone’s life and share.

Designer Destiny

2011-12-02T06:59:00.001-05:00

Yourdesigner destiny; now that is some fancy talk for we live in a world ofdesigner shoes and clothing. Go to one of those fancy stores and buy yourselfsome designer jeans full of holes and torn up one side and down the otherstarting at only $85.00 per pair. I’mnot talking about designer clothing I am talking about a life designed by theMaster Himself. You may be successful and cheered by men but is it important toGod? You see the real truth is we want to please and do what our heavenlyFather wants us to do but we have more questions than answers. Listen to whatGod said to Jeremiah then how Jeremiah responded to God.

Jeremiah1:4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Jeremiah1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and beforethou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained theea prophet unto the nations.

Godtells Jeremiah that before he was formed and before he was born that He had sethim aside and ordained him a prophet to the nations. But Jeremiah has somethingto say about that.

Jeremiah1:6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak: for I ama child. Is that not just like you and I; “Lord I can’t.” Have you eversaid that? Oh it’s true Lord I do have this burning in my heart to serve youbut to be honest I’m afraid. To follow the Lord to your designer destiny youmay have to defy the drumbeat of this culture we live in. You may be calledfoolish for you will have to proceed by faith, trusting in the Lord and not aplan. Oh, I would follow the Lord if I knew how I was going to……….. I talkedwith my best friend last night he is now Pastor of a wonderful church and isright where God wants him. After I hung the phone up with him I began to thinkabout how God has brought him along. He was Pastor of a Church and felt likeGod would have him resign and leave; now this was over 20 years ago. He hadthis burning desire to preach so he goes down to the nursing home and ask themif he could come and sing and preach they said ok. He began to preach there andthen he went to a Church as an associate Pastor and did both for a long time.Working a full time job, preaching at a nursing home and associate Pastor and Inever heard him complaining. He was doing what was in hisheart to do and was happy? Now years later he is Pastor of a successful church.Oh he still works his full time job but God has opened many doors for himbecause of his faithfulness and love for the Lord. Could God be stirring your soul and trying tomove you to where you were born to be and to do what you were born to do. Itmay be different from what you’re doing now. Should we be afraid or should webe obedient? Does the obedience look risky? Think about it this way there is nosuch thing as risky obedience only risky disobedience. Oh, test the waters myfriend and see that the Lord is good and will provide. No, don’t go quit yourjob just yet but you will find happiness in what our heavenly Father has designedjust for you. Now have a great weekend and be sure to be in Church this Sunday.I am excited about hearing my Sunday School Teacher for he is the best bothsides of the Mississippi. Then I want to hear my Pastor preach on thatUnshakable Christian Life. See you Monday!!!

Warning

2011-12-01T07:04:00.001-05:00

Fromtime to time we see signs that read “WARNING” then the words may follow whichtell us to “KEEP OUT.” I was working with a man years ago; when I was doingelectrical work. He was in a room that had a sign on the door which read “WARNINGHIGH VOLTAGE.” He was doing some work in that room but he being an electricianhad just gotten too comfortable being around electricity everyday and thoughtthat the ‘WARNING HIGH VOLTAGE’ didn’t really apply to him. He had entered theroom with a big screw driver sticking out of his back pocket. He leaned over towork on something and must have forgotten about the screw driver in his backpocket. That is when the screw driver touched some high voltage wires andsparks went flying all around. When he shorted the wires out it kicked the mainbreaker and shut off all the electricity in an 8 story building, He would havebeen cooked had that not happened. That’s the problem we get too comfortable inlife and don’t realize the warning signs and area’s we allow ourselves to enter.Warnings are on a pack of cigarettes and other tobacco products and they areput there in an effort to warn the public of the harmful effects of smoking.Unfortunately many fly by that warning and pay little or no attention to it. OnT.V. we are introduced to different drugs that will help us if this or that iswrong with us but then they tell us that it may cause blood clots, vomiting,cardiovascular problems and in rare cases heart failure or heart attack andeven death. And you want me to take this to get better? What sounds wrong withthis advice? There are all kinds orwarning sign around you and I. We know we should get our life in order but Ihave plenty of time I am only 36, 42, 51…..and we put off what we know we needto do. Go to Church, give our heart to Christ, be sure that our sins areforgiven and be assured of our heavenly home. Many put off the inevitable in hopesthey have more time. One day time will be no more for death is coming to all ofus and the hour and the day we know not.

Proverbs 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowestnot what a day may bring forth.

That’sa “WARNING” telling you and I that we may not be here tomorrow. There is a signthat says “WARNING HELL FIRE” now no one really expects to find themselves therebut the Bible warns us not to harden our hearts.

Hebrews 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear hisvoice, harden not your hearts,…….

Hebrews 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day,after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, hardennot your hearts.

No one expects or plans to go to hell but theBible teaches us that Hell is getting larger:

Isa 5:14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouthwithout measure:…..

What’s the ‘WARNING”? Don’t get toocomfortable living in this world without Jesus for death has crept up on manyand caught them unexpected and not ready. Don’t be like the disciples:

Acts 1:11 ……… Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? thissame Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in likemanner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Luk 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at anhour when ye think not.

Are you “READY”?

Forgive

2011-11-30T07:13:00.000-05:00

If you were asked the question would you rather be forgivenor would you rather our wrongs were just forgotten? On the surface forgottensound really good doesn’t it? There are many that can’t and want forget thewrongs done to them; let me just stop here and say we have all been done wrong.Someone has abused you in some way or another, said wrong things about you andeven tried to destroy your character and you can’t forget the hurt that it hascaused you and your family. Get even is what you may really want to do. A fewyears back there was a man whose wife had had an affair with another man. Hewas upset at them both I spend over an hour or so talking with him aboutcontaining his anger. I don’t know how many times I used the word forgive inour conversation but when all was said and done he told me this. The man thathas chosen to have this affair with my wife has destroyed our home but tonighthe can be very thankful to you. I said in what way could he be thankful to me Idon’t even know who he is. Then he told me this story; I was waiting untillater tonight for if you were to walk over to where my truck is parked and youwere to look in the back you would find 5 gallons of gasoline which I was going to burn down his house with. Whatdoes Webster have to say about these two words?

Forget- To lose the remembranceof; to let go from the memory.

Forgive-To pardon;to remit, as an offense or debt; to overlook an offense, and treat the offenderas not guilty. The original and proper phrase is to forgive the offense, to sendit away, to reject it, that is, not to impute it, [put it to] the offender. Butby an easy transition, we also use the phrase, to forgive the person offending.

My mother liveswith my wife and I and she has Alzheimer’s and she has forgotten a lot that haswent on in her life, she just can’t remember anything about parts of her life.It’s awful not to be able to remember. One day she walked into the room with apicture in her hand and asked if this was a picture of my brother, as I lookedat the picture is was not my brother but my dad her husband of 38 years; it’sawful not to remember. You and I may one day have the same problem but to behonesty I had much rather forgive than to forget. That is what God Does Hedoesn’t forget He forgives.

Psalms 103:12 As far as the east isfrom the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Hebrews 8: 12 For I will be merciful totheir unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Hebrews 10:17 And their sins andiniquities will I remember no more.

Remember toforgive is to treat and offender as not guilty if we were able to forget thenwe would not remember anything about it at all. But for you and I to forgivetake our will power. God who can never forget says that He chooses not toremember our sins; He could if He wanted to but He say I chose not to remembertheir sins and iniquities no more. Aren’t you glad you are in the family forGod? You know that is exactly what our heavenly Father wants you and I to do.

Luke 11:4 And forgive us oursins; for we also forgiveevery one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliverus from evil. While we lay awakeat night not forgiving that person or persons. As we hold on to all thatbitterness we have allowed, as it builds up against them they are at home fastasleep. Instead of getting revenge and staying bitter why not just forgive andhave peace for that is what God did for each one of us; He “FORGAVE.” To forgive the person offending.

Being Rich

2011-11-29T07:24:00.001-05:00

You want to be rich. Perhaps you planto be very wealthy some day. At the very least, being wealthy gets you: financial freedom, Holidaysanywhere, a great home, funding your pastimes and passions, Good suits, greathealth care, gold teeth, feel free to substitute your own desires. Personally,how about an island? Having a lot of money has its drawbacks, especially if youget rich overnight. Money doesn’t make you happy for even Rich people getdepressed, just like the middle classes. True, there’s no evidence that moneyactually makes you unhappy but it could distract you from fixing your realproblems. Money can’t buy the love of yourfriends and family. I’m not telling you anything that you don’t alreadyknow but I want you to see the result of being rich and being very poor inhopes that you can really see the importance of what real wealth really is. We will pick up in Luke chapter16 where we meet Mr. Rich and Mr. Poor;

Luke16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple andfine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

Luke16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laidat his gate, full of sores,

Inthese two verses I noticed that Mr. Rich has no name and he has no desire orwants in this world, neither. Then Mr. Poor on the other hand is given a name“Lazarus” we also find that Mr. Poor or Lazarus has some health issues he wasfull of sores. Now after reading just those two verses I tell you which one Iwould rather be and that is Mr. Rich guy. But as we get further into this I seesomething else that would cause me to change my mind.

Luke16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried bythe angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;Now we began to see something else that enters the picture they both die. Mr.Rich is buried but Mr. Poor or Lazarus is carried by angels; wait a minute canI change my mind here on which one I had rather have been? I choose Mr. Poorguy. Something happens to Mr. Rich that his money can’t fix?

Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seethAbraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Now things are different Mr. Rich isin the torments of hell and Mr. Poor is in Abraham’s bosom; sounds to me like Mr.Poor is far better off. The tables are kind of reversed. You may consideryourself poor in this life but my friend your wealth comes later and for muchlonger. Mr. Rich, wealthy indeed but decided not the wayof Christ, but Lazarus jumped on the opportunity and now he is so glad he did.If you have Jesus then you are in good shape and if you don’t my prayer is thatyou will invite Him into your heart today. It is simple just ask Him to forgiveyou of your sin and accept Him as your Savior and He will do the rest.

Written in Stone

2011-11-28T06:56:00.001-05:00

Iam sure that you have heard the phrase “carved in stone or written in stone.”When we say something like that we mean it’s there forever or it can’t bechanged. As I was working one day last week I went back a place where a man wasgrinding off the letters on a big piece of stone. As I saw that going on thethought came to my mind “written in stone.” I am not sure what they wereremoving from that piece of stone but here was something that had been writtenin stone and it was being removed. I guess being written in stone or carved instone isn’t good enough, it’s not permanent after all. It’s just a figure ofspeech. Now is there anything that is written that can’t be removed? I thinkthere is! No, it’s not something written on some paper somewhere locked up in avery safe place. No, it’s in a much safer place than that. Where you might ask?The answer is so simple; in the palms of the hands. Oh no you might say for Ihave done that and then wasn’t thinking and washed my hands clean and what Iwrote was gone forever. Oh no, I’m not talking about mine or your palms butsomeone’s palms where they will never be washed away. What do you think?

Isa49:13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth intosinging, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will havemercy upon his afflicted.

Isa49:14 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hathforgotten me.

Isa49:15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should nothave compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I notforget thee.

Isa49:16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;thy walls are continually before me.

Idon’t understand how God can write names in His palms but there are a lot ofthings I don’t understand. I like the continually before Him. The Lord comfortsHis people, He has mercy and He will never forget His children because He hasgraven them upon the palms of his hands. His big loving hands to love you and Icontinually as He comforts us. Now there is another thing we can be thankfulfor. I hope you have a great week and tell someone what you would like someoneto tell you. A pat on the back, a kind wordof encouragement, nice job or good work now go to it andmake it a great week for someone.

Thanks

2011-11-23T07:07:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving Day is tomorrow but we should be thankfulon a daily basis. You might ask how in the world do you expect me to bethankful on a daily basis. With all that is going on I think I might be able tobe thankful once a week or so. Oh I am so sorry to hear that you just lost yourmate? I didn’t lose my mate you might say; no! Well then you have something tobe Thankful for. They tell me you have cancer; I’m so sorry to hear the badnews. Wait you might say I don’t have cancer either. Well then there issomething else for you to be thankful for. I met a young man this past weekendthat amazed me, he was legally blind. Blind in one eye and had tunnel vision inthe other eye. I spent a little time with him and not one time did he complainor say poor me. But instead he went about his business with joy and gladness. Idid say at one time that he scared me for I thought he was going to walk off aplatform. He just laughed and said oh no I have the lay out here don’t worry.He was thankful for all he had and showed it. What a joy it was just to bearound him. So we should give thanksdaily.

Psa118:1 O give thanks untothe LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.

1Co 15:57 Butthanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord JesusChrist.

1Co 15:58 Therefore,my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the workof the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

WHENI LOOK AROUND AND SEE

THE GOOD THINGS HE DOES FOR ME

I KNOW I'M UNWORTHY OF THEM ALL

BUT HIS BLESSINGS HE FREELY GIVES

I OWE MY LIFE TO HIM

I'VE GOT SO MUCH TO THINK HIM FOR.

CHORUS :

AND I'VE GOT SO MUCH TO THANK HIM FOR

SO MUCH TO PRAISE HIM FOR

WELL YOU SEE NOW HE'S BEEN SO GOOD TO ME

AND WHEN I THINK OF WHAT HE'S DONE

AND WHERE HE BROUGHT ME FROM

I'VE GOT SO MUCH TO THANK HIM FOR

VERSE 2 :

AND SOMETIMES WHILE ON THIS WAY

I KNEEL I STOP AND SAY

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR ME

ONE DAY I'LL REACH SWEET HEAVENS SHORE

OH PLEASE JUST LET ME KNEEL ONCE MORE

I'VE GOT SO MUCH TO THANK HIM FOR

Havea very Thankful Thanksgiving and be thankful for what we do have and I’ll writesome more Monday.

Unbelievable

2011-11-22T07:15:00.001-05:00

As we saw on yesterday he wasforgiven of a debt he could never repay; 3 billion 820 million dollars worth ofsilver. He had to have been happy; you would think. But what happens next isunbelievable for this same forgiven man goes out and finds one of his fellowservants that owed him money; 100 pence which equals 3200 dollars in silver.Now remember this servant has just been forgive himself, what do you think hedid?

Matthew 18:28 Butthe same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed himan hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by thethroat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. He does what? Took him bythe throat and commands him to pay up.

Matthew 18:29 Andhis fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Havepatience with me, and I will pay thee all. Sounds just like whatsomeone else had said; but no he refused to treat his servant buddy in the samemanner in which he had been treated himself but instead cast him into prisontill he could pay.

Matthew 18:30 And hewould not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

Don’t forget what we are being taughthere it’s about forgiveness. You see when our King the Lord Jesus Christforgave us it was a debt that we could never repay. It wasn’t a debt of moneybut a debt of sin and He cast our sins as far as the east is from the westnever to be remembered no more.

Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is fromthe west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful totheir unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember nomore.

God in His great mercy wherein Heloved us when we were dead in our sins.

Ephesians 2:4 ButGod, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Ephesians 2:5 Evenwhen we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace yeare saved;) We should because of what the God has done for usforgive one another. Remember our debt was 3 billion 820 million in silver andwhy shouldn’t we forgive our brother, sister, mother, dad, aunt, uncle,grandchild the ones we work with and even that person who did us so wrong. Ifwe will keep in focus what we have been forgiven of then a little 3,200 dollarsin will be easy to forgive; I would think wouldn’t you?

Forgiven

2011-11-21T06:55:00.001-05:00

Have you ever asked yourself the question should I forgivethis person again? I mean how many times should I forgive them anyway? Well,Jesus was asked that same question and the answer He gave was astounding. ThenHe gives an example of forgiveness that we each should follow and learn. Forthe next two days I want to touch on this matter of forgiving one another, fortoo many are not willing to forgive and in return their unwillingness toforgive hurts them. The question Jesus was asked.

Matthew18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall mybrother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

Hisanswer

Matthew18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I saynot unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

ThenJesus gives His disciples as well as you and I an example of what forgivenessis.

Matthew18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certainking, which would take account of his servants.

Matthew18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him,which owed him ten thousand talents.

Matthew18:25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him tobe sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to bemade.

Matthew18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying,Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Matthew18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, andloosed him, and forgave him the debt.

Nowas we read that we see a King, Servants and then one Servant in particular thathad misused his stewardship. Now as I read that, I see a number that meansreally nothing to me except it is a large number 10,000 talents. I really don’tknow what a talent is. I was reading and one man took the time to explain it ina way I could understand for he broke the 10, 000 talents down into silver.This is what he had to say; the worth of 10,000 talents in silver was 3-billion820 million dollars. Now if that is so or not is not the point; the point isthat here is a number larger than this man could pay. We are told in the nextverse that “he had not to pay” he couldn’t pay so he fell down and asked for theKing to have patience with him. His lord was so moved with compassion for thisman that he forgave him of all his debt. Do What? Forgave him; he didn’t sethim up on a payment plan he just forgave him his debt of 3 billion 820 million.Don’t get so wrapped up in the money issue that you forget what the Lord istrying to teach us. It’s not the money the lesson is on forgiveness. You seeyou and I owe more than we could ever repay but the Lord is willing to forgiveeach of us of all the wrong we have done to Him. The first time we see thatword “forgive” in the New Testament is in:

Matthew 6:12 And forgive us ourdebts, as we forgive our debtors. Wesee that we are to ask God to forgive us as we forgive others. In the verses wejust read we see we see the Master forgive what his servant could never repayand wants him to do the same.

Shritless

2011-11-18T05:22:00.001-05:00

Iknow you have heard or may have even used this expression “give the shirt offyour back.” I have heard it said many times but I had never known anyone totake off their shirt and give their shirt to anyone else. Recently I wasreading and I read where this man did such a thing. He was in a Laundromatwaiting for his clothes to dry when a homeless man came in shirtless; themanager told him he would have to leave. I guess there was a sign saying noshirts, no shoes, no Laundromat. Anyways this man took off his shirt and gaveit to the homeless guy and then headed out to his car where his wife waswaiting. She couldn’t believe her eyes and asked him what in the world was hedoing shirtless? He told her that he had just given his away to a homeless guyand needed a clean shirt. Has anyone ever taken off their shirt and offered itto you? You probably said no, but wait just a minute they have; you say theyhave? Sure His name was Jesus.

Matthew27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, castinglots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They partedmy garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. Jesusgave His shirt off His back so you and I could have eternal life. Yes, we doknow someone who took their shirt off their back for you and His name is Jesus.Don’t forget to be in Church this Sunday He’s not asking for your shirt He justwants to have a relationship with you.

P.S.Don’t forget tonight Reformers Unanimous Addiction Program is hosting MilesPike and we will be blessed with some good Southern Gospel Music. There is nocharge and the Doors open at 6:45 Victory Baptist Church 88 Brand Rd. Loganville GA I’ll see you there! Check him out at http://milespikemusic.com

Alone

2011-11-17T07:31:00.000-05:00

I worked with a man who was a greatsalesman, he had become top salesman and no one could out do him in sales.Every month he was the top salesman; it didn’t matter small accounts to bigaccounts he’d sell them. He always had a smile on his face and a spring in hisstep; he seemed to be so happy and then one day he went home and shot himself.No one ever understood why he would do something like that but many have donethe same thing. In April of 1970 top Hollywood actress Inger Stevens, abeautiful blond on a very successful TV series and in movies. She was one ofthe most dateable and the most dated women in Hollywood and one day she tookher own life. She wrote in a suicide note "I have felt so alone." What?She's got guys who want to be with her, she's got so many friends; popular,successful woman. You couldn't tell it, but she felt so alone. Maybe that waswhat was wrong with the salesman he just felt all alone. I don’t know if youhave ever felt all alone. I remember my first place of duty after basictraining. I had traveled most of the day with layovers in Chicago, Minneapolis-Saint Paul and finally I arrivedat a little airport in Duluth, Minnesota where a sergeant was waiting to pick me up and take me to the base. Itwas a week before Christmas, cold wasn’t the word and snow, more than I hadever seen in my life. This would be my first white Christmas. I was taken to abarrack, put out and left all alone; I knew no one, 18 years old and allalone. Know what? Jesus knows how itfeels to be all alone for He too was left alone.

Matthew 27:46 And about the ninthhour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that isto say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Jesus; God's onlySon, was experiencing total loneliness. You know why? So you and I would neverhave to.

John 14:18 I will not leave youcomfortless: I will come to you.

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and becontent with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee,nor forsake thee. Jesus haspromised to not leave us comfortless and He said He will never leave us orforsake us. When loneliness tries to creep up on you and I, and the enemy tries to destroy us with loneliness just remindyourself of this verse.

1John 4:4 Ye are of God, littlechildren, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than hethat is in the world. Now is that not something to make you glad!

No Discount

2011-11-16T07:32:00.001-05:00

As we quickly approach what they called blackFriday one of the biggest shopping times of the year with unheard discounts.Many will race all over town and beyond to save those few dollars on thediscount prices. They will stand at the door waiting for them to open, thenpush, shove, and fight if needs be just to have that one idem. There is nothing wrong for wanting andgetting a discount but as I thought about that there are some things that wereally don’t want a discount on. What about a discount on open heart surgeryfor being the first for the newest heart doctor? You can save a lot of money. Idon’t think I am interested; there are just some things that I really don’twant a discount on. As I get closer to Thanksgiving Day I am reminded that our Christianitywas not cheap or discounted. There is a place in Rome that is called theCatacombs, caverns beneath the streets where some of the first Christians hidfrom the Roman soldiers who wanted to take them to their execution forbelieving in Christ. In those caverns walls one can see the ancient symbols oftheir faith. There you can see the cross and the sign of the fish carved in thewalls still there as a silent testimony to their faithfulness. Here they buriedcountless loved ones who'd been torn to pieces by the lions in the Coliseum allbecause they would not renounce Christ for Caesar. These men and women took their faith very seriously. Jesus made it clear no discount disciples!

Luke14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me,cannot be my disciple.

Luke9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will comeafter me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Somewhere we've gotten the ideathat following Jesus just means going to some of His meetings, believing Hisbeliefs, throwing a little money His way, maybe taking on a couple of jobs forHim, and maybe even being called a couple of names because of Him. If the pricetag gets much higher, we start to complain, to feel sorry for ourselves, andthink about quitting. We are here today because of some real disciples refusedto quit, no matter what the cost. Because of a Savior who refused to quit, evenwhen it meant the agony and humiliation of a cross. Taking up a cross means expensivechoices Jesus didn’t take the cheap way out.

Matthew26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and heshall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? Bypass the cross, the pain, thehumility, the shame, all the name calling O how easy. But NO Jesus took up Hiscross and followed His Fathers will and suffered dearly so that you and I canhave a home in heaven. Quit looking down, start looking up for ladies andgentleman this isn’t it there is so much more.

1Corinthians2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath preparedfor them that love him.

Our Salvation wasn’t cheap or discounted solet us not insult the Man Christ Jesus who bore our sins

1Corinthians15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I alsoreceived, how that Christ died for oursins according to the scriptures;

Galatains1:4 Who gave himself for oursins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, accordingto the will of God and our Father:

Hebrews1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the expressimage of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when hehad by himself purged our sins,sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

1Peter2:24 Who his own self bare oursins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, shouldlive unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Revelation1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, andthe first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Untohim that loved us, and washed us from oursins in his own blood, Take notice our faith is very, veryexpensive; no discount here!

Remember

2011-11-15T07:17:00.001-05:00

There are some things worth remembering and then thereare some things we hope we never remember. I have noticed the older I get theless likely I am to remember some things. My wife will ask me to do somethingand I will have all intentions of doing it and then I forget all about it. Idon’t do that on purpose but I just don’t remember to do it. I can remember thevery first time I saw my wife; not knowing that she would one day be my wife;what a great day that was. I can remember what was going on the day my oldestson was born. I can remember what was going on when my daughter was born. Iremember what was going on the day my youngest son was born, there was a lothappening then; he was the first baby I ever saw come into this world. What anexperience; I’ll never forget it. There are many things I can remember but youknow there are some things that if we don’t keep them close in our mind theymay not mean as much to us. I believe many affairs would never have happened hadthose persons remembered and refreshed their minds with their mates. All thatbeing said I want to think about what the Lord told us to do.

1Corinthians 11:23 For I have receivedof the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the samenight in which he was betrayed took bread:

1Corinthians 11:24 And when he had giventhanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which isbroken for you: this do inremembrance of me.

1Corinthians 11:25 After the same manneralso he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the newtestament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

1Corinthians 11:26 For as often as yeeat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

The Lord says I want you to do this and when you takepart of the Lords Supper I want you to remember what it stands for. As you takethe bread I want you to remember my body that was broken for you. Did you getit, not everybody but “YOU” I want you to remember it was for you? Then I wantyou to take the cup and I want “YOU” to remember that it was my blood that wasshed for you and every time you do this REMEMBER what has been done for “YOU.”I am afraid we can get so busy with our daily activities that we just forgetwhat all the Lord has done for us. There needs to be a time we stop what we aredoing and remember His goodness to us and what He has done for us. In otherwords turn off the junk in your life and remember theLord.

Deep Thinking

2011-11-14T06:48:00.001-05:00

Idon’t know if you have ever studied another language or not but every languageis different. There is not a word for word or phrase for phrase cross over. Iremember being down in Niagara preaching with a translator when I made thisstatement “ Sin will take you farther than you want to go and keep you longerthan you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” The translator stopped and looked at me andsaid I can’t translate that the way you said it in Spanish. The New Testamentwas written in Greek and translated into English so there are many words whichlook the same but mean something else. I would like to give you some exampleson the word “MIND.” The first time wesee the word mind is in Matthew chapter 22 and verse 37 and it reads like this Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God withall thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

TheGreek word is dianoia and is pronounced Dee-an’-oy-ah and it means “Deep Thought.”Now Jesus said unto this lawyer which asked Him this question

Matthew22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? “Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thyheart, all thy soul and with all thy deep thinking. We should not just thinklightly about the Lord Jesus about what He has done and is doing. Our mindsshould be thankful and grateful for what He has done and what He is doing somuch that we should put great thought into it. Another place we find the word “mind” is in:

Mar 5:15 And they come toJesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion,sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

The phrase “in his right mind” is sōphroneō andpronounced so-fron-eh'-o and it means “Sound Mind.” Anyone who has beenpossessed with the devil and come to Jesus will be found in his right mind;don’t you think so? When people have a right mind do others become afraid? Asyou and I face this week that is ahead of us why not havesome deep thoughts about Jesus for it will cause you and I to have a soundmind. Have a great week.

Nine or One

2011-11-11T06:45:00.001-05:00

Luke 17:11 And itcame to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

Luke 17:12 And ashe entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers,which stood afar off:

Luke 17:13 Andthey lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

Luke 17:14 Andwhen he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto thepriests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

Luke 17:15 Andone of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voiceglorified God,

Luke 17:16 Andfell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was aSamaritan.

Luke 17:17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? butwhere are the nine?

As we read those verses there should be a few thingsthat jump out at us. Jesus was on Hisway to Jerusalem and as He traveled toward Jerusalem He passed through themidst; what does that mean? Webster saysthis Thephrase, in the midst, often signifies involved in, surrounded or overwhelmedby, or in the thickest part, or in the depths of; as in the midst ofafflictions, troubles or cares; in the midst of gospel light; in the midst ofthe ocean; in the midst of civil dissensions. MIDST, adv. In the middle. Here wesee Jesus passing through the middle of Samaria and Galilee. We also see 10 menin the middle of their leprosy already pronounced unclean by the religious oftheir day, they had to leave their families, and no one wanted anything to dowith these men for they didn’t want to catch what they had. Know what? Who isthis we see coming? It’s Jesus to the rescue. Did you notice He didn’t seem tocare about their problems but wanted to help in the middle of their troubles?With their weak voices they cried as loud as they could while the crowd passedby and all of a sudden we read “And when he [Jesus]saw them “ Jesus onceagain takes time out of His busy day to spend it with those others hadforgotten about. Before this day is over there are 10 men healed of a deadlydisease. You would think that these ten men that had no hope would havereturned to say thanks; but only one of them did. Now I really don’t understandthe reasoning behind the other nine; but wait a minute I must stop and askmyself are there whole days I let slip by and not one time say thank you Lord?When all is well do I forget? Maybe you have heard talk like this we are living in bad times many are withoutwork, losing their homes and on and on it goes. Why not stop and be thankfulfor what we do have and we may realize that things are all that bad. You knowthey are still running three shifts at many places, department stores arestoring up for the Christmas sales; so I guess many people are still buying.Put me in the class of the one not the nine for I am thankful for every day theLord give me, for my health; I would rather have health than wealth, a familythan fame, and I just want to say thank you Lord for what you have giving me. Iwill thank Him today with my voice I will lift Him up today for His goodness tome and just the moment I think all is bad I will remember the day that HE FOUNDME with all my troubles and problems. He put me in His family and called meSon. Excuse me while I lift my hands and wipe the tears from my eyes for I haveso much to thank Him for! I’ll see some of you tonight at the Reformersmeeting, I’ll see some of you on Saturday as we work together helping others andI’ll see many of you at Church this Sunday as we lift our voices in praise. Forthe those I want be able to see just stop, look around and see the treasures that’s all around you; here comes one nowrunning down the hall calling your name, Mommy or Daddy don’t you want to justthank and praise HIM for His goodness to you? Or would you rather talk abouthow bad things are? It’s how you look at it nine or one.

Dwelling Place

2011-11-10T06:52:00.000-05:00

When we werechildren we more than likely memorized this prayer.

Matthew 6:9……….. Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thyname.

Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thywill be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:11 Give us this day ourdaily bread.

Matthew 6:12 And forgive us ourdebts, as we forgive our debtors.

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not intotemptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power,and the glory, for ever. Amen. AsChurch members we recited it. As students we may have studied it. In theseverses we have been provided more than a model for prayer, we have a model forliving. These words do more than tell us what to say to God; they tell us howto exist with God. Psalms 90:1 wesee a prayer of Moses the man of God and this is what he had to say Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Moses didn’tsay in his generation but in all “generations;” and that my friend includes thegeneration that you and I are living in.

Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; Moses usedthe words “dwelling place” let’s look at that for a moment. Webster said that DWELL'ING-PLACE means The place ofresidence. In other words “Our Home!” There are some things about our home that’slike no other place. Our home is a place that is private not just anyone getsto come and go. We can relax and be comfortable and not worry what others mightthink. It’s a place where we can talk Freely, it’s a place where we can tellhow we Feel, it’s a place where we can talk about our Failures and not bejudged . As you and I come to the Lord; our heavenly Father we can have thisattitude because it should be a place that is familiar to us because it’s adwelling place a place we spend time. Gods desire to be our Dwelling place Godis not interested in being a weekend getaway or a Sunday cabin or a summercottage. I’m afraid that too many times we think of God as a deity to discuss,but not a place to dwell. We think of God as a mysterious miracle worker, andnot a house to live in. We think of God as a creator to call on, not a home toreside in. When God led the children of Israel through the wilderness, Hedidn’t just appear once a day and then abandon them. No! He was seen in thepresents of the cloud by day and in the night in the fire; God never left Hischildren. He never leaves us now

Matthew 28:20 Teaching them toobserve all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with youalway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation bewithout covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for hehath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. There may be days we go without thinking ofHim, but there is never a moment when He is not thinking of you and I. Think I’llgo to my familiar place and talk with Him for a while He’s waiting at the doorfor me. I almost forgot He asked about you; go by and talk with Him today Hewould love to spend time with you too.

Doubt

2011-11-09T06:35:00.000-05:00

If I were tosay Doubting Thomas most everyone would know who I was referring to.

John 20:24 But Thomas, one ofthe twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

John 20:25 The other disciplestherefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except Ishall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the printof the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

Here was a man by the name of Thomas who missed seeingJesus. Thomas had for whatever reason decided not to be with the rest of theother disciples that Sunday night. Hehad witnessed the Lord dying so when he heard the news that Jesus was alive itwas just more than he could believe so he said I just can’t believe. This iswhat the word doubt means:

Doubt- To question, or holdquestionable; to withhold assent from; to hesitate to believe; as, I have heardthe story, but I doubt the truth of it.

Have you ever heard of doubting Zacharias? He asked“how shall I know”

Luke 1:18 And Zacharias saidunto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wifewell stricken in years. Becauseof his doubt Zacharias was made speechlessand was not able to hear for nine months. What can we learn here? Doubt inGod’s ability or His Word will hinder us from doing our best for Christ. Howcan you or I be motivated to put God’s Word into practice if we doubt it or don’t believe it. Doubt says I’m not totallyconvinced. I’m not sure this is true. I don’t know if I can trust what I haveheard. If I don’t see it I will not believe it. Sounds good until you put theword “faith” in front of you. I love it when it’s put this way

Roman 10:17 So then faith comethby hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

So to built up our faith we are going to have to hearGod’s Word. Where would one go to hear the Word of God? What about the Churchhouse? The more you and I hear the Word of God the less likely we are to doubtwhat God says.

Lamp, Law, Light and Life

2011-11-08T06:05:00.000-05:00

As I was reading in my Biblein the book of Proverbs something caught my eye; I think because of thealliteration.

Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law islight; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: Do you see those L’s? Lamp, Law, Light andLife; then I read that verse over and over and here iswhat the Lord showed me.

For the commandment {Acommand; a mandate; an order or injunction given by authority; charge;precept.} Is a lamp { A vessel for containing oil to be burned by means ofa wick; or a light, a burning wick inserted in a vessel of oil.} and the law {Arule, particularly an established or permanent rule, prescribed by the supremepower of a state to its subjects, for regulating their actions, particularlytheir social actions.} is light {Thatethereal agent or matter which makes objects perceptible to the sense ofseeing,} and reproofs ofinstruction {Preceptsconveying knowledge.} are the way of life{in man, that state of being in which thesoul and body are united.} Here iswhat I wrote to help me understand that verse. For the mandate or order fromGod is a vessel being burned by the established permanent rule prescribed byGod with the agent of His Holy Word which gives the precepts that conveyknowledge which gives life in man by which the soul, body and spirit of man areunited.

God's word is a lamp which gives light toHis law and that light becomes a path that I should take daily. God’s Word isamazing if we will take the time to understand God will reveal or open it up toeach of us.

Make a Difference

2011-11-07T06:21:00.002-05:00

Can “you” make a difference? The raceof life is different from any race we will ever be in. Why? Because we neverknow where the finish line is until we are crossing it. I have no idea when or where my race willcome to an end. I do know this; I am closer to the finish line than I have everbeen. Can one person make a difference? Can one Teacher, Preacher, Dad or Mommake a difference? Can you say I have made a difference in someone else’s life?Whether we think we have or not we have; that difference can be a good one or abad one, but we have all made a difference in someone’s life. We can make a difference at any age. In John6 we read of a young boy who made a difference. If you take the time to read that chapter you will find that there is ayoung man that had came to hear Jesus. This young man came prepared; he broughta lunch that his mother had prepared for him. Little did that young man knowthat on that day he would have the opportunity to make a difference in over5000 people’s lives? Wait a minute that was then what about now? I would saythat young man has made a difference in who knows how many lives; he made adifference in mine what about yours? Here we see this young man willing to giveup what little he had to the Lord Jesus who in return made much of it and isstill making much of it. I’m afraid that too many times we get all confused andmiss making a real difference. What do I mean by getting confused you may ask?We live in a day when we can never earn enough to make us happy. Women seem tothink that they are never beautiful enough. The gadgets we have are nevermodern enough. Our houses are never furnished enough. Our relationships arenever romantic enough. It seems that our life is never full enough. Are wereally content?

1Timothy 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewithcontent.

Hebrews 13:5 Let yourconversation be without covetousness; and be content with suchthings as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Making a difference; can you think of someonewho has made a real difference in your life? There was a man I once knew whohad a wife and three children. They didn’t have much money; they drove astation wagon that was more than 10 years old at the time. They were contentwith what they had; but something happened and I’m not sure what. All of asudden he wanted more, in other words he became discontent with what he had. Hedecided he needed a newer car then he became unhappy with his wife and decidedto have an affair which caused his marriage to fall apart. The affair wasn’tenough so he had another one and then another one. Then he found himself allalone and I wondered what happened to the happy content man that use to ridearound with a smile on his face. He made a difference in my life. You may saywhat? I learned from him that things don’t make you happy and neither do otherwomen. You see there will never be another woman on the face of this earth thatwill love me like my wife; so why would I not be content with what we havetogether? This week think about the happiest people you know and then try tofind out what makes them so happy. Let those people make a difference in yourlife or you might be that happy person that makes adifference in someone’s life. Have agreat week and be content with what you have!

Undeveloped

2011-11-04T06:18:00.002-04:00

Rememberwhen we had to take our pictures somewhere to have them developed? That wassomething we did way back when, now we can send picture across the internet wecan see then as soon as we take them; we’ve came along way. If something backthen went wrong like the picture for whatever reason got undeveloped that wouldbe a real lost. I am afraid that now we are seeing and witnessing someunderdeveloped Christians. They never experience what they could haveexperienced they always miss God's best. They are choked by worries, anxieties,things they're afraid of. They're choked by chasing what money can buy. They'rechoked by focusing their energies on their own pleasure, their own feelinggood. They find themselves in a self made forest looking for a way out butblurred by their underdeveloped Christian life. They get undeveloped becausethey're just not hungry for the Bible any more. They're not hungry for timewith Jesus. They're not hungry for church; for spiritual input; for Christianfellowship. They used to have an appetite, where did it go? It could be andunbalanced interest or a concern has taken over and crowded out any room forGod’s Word in their life. It could be a hobby that has taken over, it could bethe television or the internet. That’s what happened to Thomas, you see he gotinvolved in something and missed meeting with his Christian brothers andbecause of whatever got his attention he missed seeing Jesus.

John20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not withthem when Jesus came. An unbalanced interest or concern took precedenceand Thomas was not where he should have been on that Sunday night. Have youmissed a Sunday night service? Maybe aWednesday night? It could have been one that you needed to be there for but youthought something was far more important. That’s how people get undeveloped bynot reading their Bibles, not praying; my Pastor said something about prayerthis past Wednesday night that I really needed to hear he said “the person withno prayer list has no means of keeping up with what they are praying for. “ Myfriend that was worth the trip and the time for me to be there just to hearthat because that developed me just a little bit more. Do you have a spiritualappetite problem? Could it be all that junk food that’s filling you up?Developing takes time and spending time with the Lord is priceless. I hope youhave a great weekend and don’t rob yourself of a blessing that God may havejust for you by not showing up at Church this Sunday.

Ghost

2011-11-03T07:34:00.000-04:00

Halloween is nowover, the so called haunted houses have all closed up shop for the year and allthe ghost and goblins are gone for another year. But wait there is the storiesof ghost that have been seen and then there’s that TV show that goes to differentplaces and find ghost activity. Well I don’t know all about that but to tellyou the truth I just don’t believe that there are any ghost to start withalthough I do believe in ghosts. That sounds like a misnomer, I know but I amnot talking about ghost that are in some abandoned house but the ghost of thepast. They're the memories and the regrets of the things that we wish we hadn'tdone. The guilt, the shame we feel because of the people we've hurt, the damagewe've done, the dark things we've done. But may we not forget that Christ cameinto this world to save sinners.

1Timothy 1:15 This is afaithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into theworld to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Who is a sinners you may ask, well letthe Bible tell us

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned,and come short of the glory of God; For “ALL” have sinned that’s simple,all have sinned and with that one word all includes everyone of us. John Newtonwrote a hymn most everyone knows it’s called “Amazing Grace” and has become oneof the most recognizable songs on the world. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I oncewas lost, but now I'm found; was blind but now I see." John that oldslave trader remembered two things #1- that he was a great sinner and #2-thatChrist is a great Savior. When the ghost of our past began to haunt us rememberthat if we know Christ as our personal savior that we were once were lost andbecause we were, we all were guilty of doing the dark things, regretful things,shameful things, hurtful things and damaging things. But because of God’sAmazing Grace a person as wretched as I can be forgiven because of the greatGod that came looking for me and found me; He was there all the time but I wasblind to His presents. Just as John was as he wrote these words.

Revelation 5:2 And I saw a strongangel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and toloose the seals thereof?

Revelation 5:3 And no man in heaven,nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither tolook thereon.

Revelation 5:4 And I wept much,because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to lookthereon.

Revelation 5:5 And one of the elderssaith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root ofDavid, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Revelation 5:6 And I beheld, and,lo, in the midst of thethrone and of the four beasts, and inthe midst of the elders, stooda Lamb as it had been slain,

Isn’t that just likeJesus He was there all the time and reveled Himself just in time. When the ghost of our past try to makethemselves known remember these words Forgiven, Forgiven, Forgiven!!!!

Psalms 130:3 If thou, LORD,shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

Psalms 130:4 But there isforgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

We deserve theeternal death penalty the Bible says that sin carries. But God loved us so muchthat He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to give His life in exchangefor yours; to do the dying for all the sinning you've ever done. And the Biblesays, "Everyone who believes in (Jesus) receives forgiveness of sinsthrough His name." That's my hope; that's your hope of being deliveredfrom the ghosts of your past. Realizingwe're great sinners, and realizing that Christ is a great Savior.

Gratitude

2011-11-02T07:40:00.000-04:00

Gratitude willchange your Attitude. The word Gratitude means an emotion of the heart, excitedby a favor or benefit received; a sentiment of kindness or good will towards abenefactor; thankfulness.

We all havestorms come through our lives and we must never allow our storms to rain onothers parades. I read a story not long ago that told of a man by the name ofJack having a bad day. He had a flat tire on the way to work that cost him anhour of work. Then his electric saw quit, and then his pickup truck refused tostart. Another man by the name of Ed asked if he could take him home, to whichhe was told he could. As Ed was driving him home he noticed that Jack just satthere in a stony silence. When they arrived at his home he was asked if hewould like to come in and meet his family. As they walked toward the frontdoor, Jack paused at a small tree, touching tips of the branches with bothhands. When he opened the door, Jack underwent an amazing transformation. Hisface lit up with a smile as he hugged his two small children and gave his wifea kiss. As Jack walked Ed back to his car they went back by that tree, Edstopped and asked Jack about what he had seen earlier. Jack said "Oh,that's my trouble tree." I know I can't keep from having troubles butthere is one thing for sure, those troubles don't belong in that house with mywife and children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I comehome. Then in the morning I pick them up again. But you know when I come out inthe morning to pick them up, there are not nearly as many as I remember hangingup the night before. That's what we all need a trouble tree like Jack had soour attitude could change before our troubles rubbed off on others. We couldalso have a Glad List or a Gratitude List it too will change our attitude. Itwould be easy to make one; here are a few things I am glad for. #1- I'm glad Ihave a home to come to each night.

#2- I'm glad Ihave a loving wife I get to spend time with. #3- I'm glad I have 3 wonderfulchildren that love me. #4- I'm glad I have grandchildren that love me. #5 - I'mglad I have a dog that loves to see me coming. If you stop and think about itwe have more to rejoice over than the troubles that come our way.

Proverbs 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

Proverbs 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Proverbs 3:3 Letnot mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thyneck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

Proverbs 3:4 Soshalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 3:5 Trustin the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not untothine own understanding.

Proverbs 3:6 Inall thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thypaths.

Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Proverbs 3:8 Itshall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Proverbs 3:9 Honourthe LORD with thy substance, and with the first fruitsof all thine increase:

Proverbs 3:10 So shall thy barns be filledwith plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Now that I'm inthe Family of God I should not forget God's law; by putting them in my heartfor good keepings. As David said long ago Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid inmine heart, that I might not sin against thee. The promise is that mylife will be longer and peace will be added to me. I must be careful for thereis a possibility that I could allow His mercy and truth to forsake me. In orderfor that not to happen I must hide God's word in my heart and then I will findfavor and good understanding with God and also with man. By doing this I willbe able to trust in the Lord and not my own understanding. I will acknowledgethe Lord and He will direct my paths so that I will not become wise in my owneyes. Therefore I will depart from evil and will honor the Lord with mysubstance and all my increase. Because I am no longer depending on myself butthe Lord, my barns will have plenty and I will have more joy than I thoughtpossible.

Cheerful

2011-11-01T07:16:00.002-04:00

Inthe Bible we find the phrase "Be of Good Cheer" 7 times. We need tosee more people with Good Cheer for too many are sad when they need to be glad.You may say that you don't have anything to be cheerful about. But I would haveyou think in the other direction; we have much to be Cheerful about. Here arejust a few examples; we have a wonderful book called the Bible to be Cheerfulabout. We have a salvation to be cheerful about, a mate to be cheerful about,could you be cheerful about your job? If you are not then quit for others arewaiting in line to get one; someone would love to have yours. But then thenegative comes which says how do I really know the Bible is a book to becheerful about for I haven't tried another. How can I be cheerful about mysalvation when I am having all kind of problems going on in my life? How can Ibe cheerful about my mate I haven't tried another. Here is where you have to becareful because the enemy wants to minimize what you have and maximize what youdon't have. Billboards are put in places along the highway to get yourattention to show you what you need or what will make your life much better ifonly you would pay the cost. Many people then go for what they think will makethem cheerful only to find out that because of the time and money, they findthat the cheerfulness promised them, has not came at all, instead ofcheerfulness it becomes sadness of the heart. That's what temptation is, it'slike the billboard on the highway but it's placed in our minds to show us whatwe are missing. So our enemy comes with temptations and temptations are not sinno more than a billboard can charge you money by just being on the side of theroad. It becomes sin when we allow it to take over.
James 1:12 Blessed {Happy} is the man that endureth {take patiently} temptation:for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hathpromised to them that love him.

James 1:13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for Godcannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

James1:14 But every man is tempted, when he isdrawn away of his own lust, andenticed.
{entrapped}

James1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, itbringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

James1:15 Do not err, my beloved brethren. The billboard called temptation comesto our weak area and then we are entrapped by our own lust and then our lustcaptures us then we fall into our temptation. But it all started with thatbillboard which minimized what we already had so it could maximize what wedon't have. Thinking this will bring us cheerfulness we indulge only to findthat it doesn't bring cheerfulness at all. So today learn what Paul learnedlong ago Phillippians 4:11 Not that Ispeak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. May I say today be content and when the temptation comes you will beable to be cheerful in what you already have.

Far Away

2011-10-31T06:05:00.001-04:00

There was a man that had two sonsthat he loved very much. His younger son came to him one day and said, “Father,I have been doing some thinking. You are in great health and if things keepgoing the way they are I will not get to enjoy what’s coming to me like I wouldlike to. So if you don’t mind I would like for you to give me my inheritance.”Now the father was understanding and divided his living up among his two sons. In a few days the younger songot his things together and off he went to a place far away. He began to enjoy his inheritance but hewasted it on living wildly. Before he knew it, it was all gone and he hadnothing. He went out looking for work and all he could find was a job feedingpigs. It wasn’t long before he foundhimself eating from the pig trough. He realized that he wasn’t cared for andfelt unwanted. He began to think abouthow his father treated his hired servants and how he fed them with plenty toeat. He felt unworthy to return as his son but he began to think if he were toreturn home and tell his father that he had sinned. That he was no more worthyto be called his son and asked him for a job being a hired servant surely hewould hire him. As he topped the hill and could see his father’s house in thefar distance he noticed that someone was running toward him as he looked closerhe noticed that it was his father. When his father reached him he wrapped hisloving arms around him and began to kiss him. That is when his son spoke up andsaid “Father, I have sinned and am no more worthy to be called your son.” Hisfather continued as though he had not heard a word his son had said. He toldhis servants to bring forth the best robe and put it on his son. He told hisservants to kill the fatted calf and let us eat and be merry for my son wasdead and he is alive again; he was lost and is found and they began to bemerry. You can find that story in theBible in Luke chapter 15 starting at verse 11 though verse 24. You may havethought that sounds a lot like me for whatever reason you have been gone awayfrom the Lord. You think that He wouldn’t take you back as that young man felt.May I say that our heavenly Father will also wrap His loving arms around youand do the same for you? Why not come to Him today andsee if what I have told you is not true.

Look Up

2011-10-27T05:17:00.001-04:00

A lot of my lifeI have spend looking down because of my profession in the Pest ControlIndustry. I read of a man who one day found fifty cents and from then on hewalked with his head down. After 28 years with his head down he found 27,000buttons, 287 worn out fountain pens, several tie pins, and $2.64 because he walked with his head down. So whatdid I learn from that story? There is just no profit in looking down. So we should keep looking up. There was a manby the name of Joshua in the Old Testament he looked up and saw a Job that wastoo big for him. There were two and halfmillion people that God had given him the responsibility to lead and it was abig job. In Joshua chapter 5 verse 13 we read

And itcame to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood aman over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went untohim, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

When Joshualifted up his eyes he not only saw a job that was too big for him but he alsosaw Jesus. Oh no, you might say for Jesus wasn’t born yet. May I remind youthat Jesus did not start at Bethlehem for Jesus appeared many times as theangel of the Lord in the Old Testament? You may today be looking at a job tobig for you, there is more on you than you know what to with; do you know whatthe answer is? It’s JESUS!

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of ourfaith; who for the joy that was setbefore him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the righthand of the throne of God.

The choice isyours look down and find nothing of value or look up and see Jesus the one ofgreat value.

By the way haveyou done anything nice for someone yet? Just for a minute think of all the nice thingsGod has done for you this week! Now thank Him.

Wee Little Man

2011-10-26T06:42:00.000-04:00

Wewrote on “little things on yesterday and I want to continue writing on littlethings today. There were some little people in the Bible that picturessomething very interesting. Years ago when I was teaching in Jr. Church I wouldsing a song about Zacchaeus

Zacchaeus wasa wee little man
And a wee little man was he
He climbed up in a sycamore tree
For the Lord he wanted to see
And as the Savior passed that way
He looked up in that tree
And He said, “Zacchaeus, you come down!
For I’m going to your house today
For I’m going to your house to stay”

Youcan read about Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10 most everyone knows about Zacchaeus andhow he climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus as He passed by. We mayhave read through it so fast that we missed some things. Did you happen tonotice who passed through Jericho? Luke 19:1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

That’simportant for it didn’t read The Lord Jesus but just Jesus could it be for thisreason

Matthew1:21 And she shall bringforth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his peoplefrom their sins.

Sohere we see a little man who pictures the sinner and God’s provision for him;JESUS! Zacchaeus had become successful in life, he was rich, but the sad thingwas he had never met Jesus. Success may blind and riches may cause one to losesight of spiritual needs. This man Zacchaeus climbed a tree so he could see andwhen he did he heard words that changed him. The reason I know that is becauseof this verse

Luke19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord,the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyman by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. Here we see a rich man doing what? Giving hiswealth away; half my goods I give to the poor and I’m willing to pay back four times as much as I have taken wrongly. I’d say Zacchaeusgave his life to the Lord. As fast as Zacchaeus came onto the pages ofScripture he leaves just as fast but with something better than riches he hadJesus

Proverbs23:5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for richescertainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

Onemust set his eyes on Jesus the one who is willing and wanting to save us fromour sins.

Haveyou done something nice for someone yet?

Little Things

2011-10-25T06:29:00.001-04:00

Thereis a song that is named “Little Is Much When God Is In It” and this ishow the verses read

1.In the harvest field now ripened

There'sa work for all to do;

Hark!the voice of God is calling

Tothe harvest calling you.

2.In the mad rush of the broad way,

Inthe hurry and the strife,

Tellof Jesus' love and mercy,

Giveto them the Word of Life.

3.Does the place you're called to labor

Seemtoo small and little known?

Itis great if God is in it,

AndHe'll not forget His own.

4.Are you laid aside from service,

Bodyworn from toil and care?

Youcan still be in the battle,

Inthe sacred place of prayer.

5.When the conflict here is ended

Andour race on earth is run,

Hewill say, if we are faithful,

"Welcomehome, My child well done!"

Chorus:

Littleis much when God is in it!

Labornot for wealth or fame.

There'sa crown and you can win it,

Ifyou go in Jesus' Name.

Haveyou noticed we live in a world that talks about big things, super things.There’s the Super bowl for football, the World Series for baseball then there’sthe Super Wal-Mart, Big things, Super things, Great things. This world is sostressed out on being the biggest and the greatest that it has just becomecommon place that it has rolled over into our Churches. We hear things like “A giantfor God”, “A modern day Paul” and now we have Super Churches. How sad it hasbecome when we measure success with how big it has become. Have we forgottenthat David watched over a “little flock”

1Samuel17:28 And Eliab his eldestbrother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled againstDavid, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou leftthose few sheep in thewilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou artcome down that thou mightest see the battle. And Nehemiah with few men.

Nehemiah2:12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my Godhad put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast withme, save the beast that I rode upon.

Whatabout the small drops of rain?

Job36:27 For he maketh smallthe drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapourthereof:

Haveyou ever stopped to think that our lives are made up of little things; littleduties, little trails and little pleasures. It was the little prayers thatmoved our Lord “Lord save me” “Lord remember me” what would you have me to doLord.” The little mite, the little lily, the little cup of cool water, littlesparrow, a little child of His knew to show the greatness of little things. Sothe song is right little is much when God is in it. I’ll write some more onlittle things tomorrow have a blessed day and like yesterday do a littlesomething nice for someone today.

Appetites

2011-10-24T07:49:00.001-04:00

When we think of the word appetite we think of eating food. Thatis one meaning for it; a physical desire for food but the word appetite goesmuch further than that. It also means a desire or liking for something. Nowthat something could be anything from Wine to Wealth and much, much more; adesire or liking for something. As I read Proverbs chapter 23 I realized a fewappetites; the first appetite I noticed was the appetite of wealth

Pro 23:5 Wilt thou set thineeyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings;they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. The appetite for wealth will destroy your relationshipwith your family and friends. Don’t let your appetites over take you; neitherlook at others for they may appear to be having and living a fine life. Withinthey are not happy at all for real happiness is found in the Lord. Let yourappetite be for the Lord as for food a must for the day and you will soon seethat it will enlarge you. Another appetite I noticed was an appetite for women

Pro 23:27 For a whore isa deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.

Pro 23:28She also lieth in wait as for a prey, andincreaseth the transgressors among men.

Be careful for Lust for it will also ruin relationships anddestroy your family. When things are bad and you’re feeling low that is when towatch out for the danger of lust. Its pleasures only last for a minute but the results will last yourlife time. It’s not a red light but a red flag. Then I noticed another appetiteand it was the appetite for wine

Pro 23:29Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions?Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?

Pro 23:30They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seekmixed wine.

Wine not only destroys relationships with family and friendsbut it also destroys much more. It destroys your health and makes you lookolder than you are and when you are intoxicated it will not be long before youfind yourself all alone for no one wants to be around you when you are in thatshape.

Hope you have a great week and say something nice to someonetoday.

Facing the Unbelievable

2011-10-21T07:14:00.000-04:00

The story you areabout to read is almost unbelievable. It is about a young man namedKyle Maynard a regular guy with a love to compete. That fire to competehelped him to contend for the Georgia state high school wrestling championshipin 2004. So what, my friends, friends, brothers cousin did that! Well the onething that set Kyle apart was he was born with no arms or legs. His arms endedat his elbows and his legs at his knees. Now that's what set Kyle Maynard apartfrom everyone he wrestled. Kyle had a wonderful break in life; he had amom and a dad that were determined to raise a normal child. That's right I saidnormal! They insisted that he learn to feed himself and play with theother kids like any other child would do. His grandmother was a source ofinspiration too and would often take him to the grocery store where shewould instill a sense of confidence by encouraging him to sit up and look folksin the eye and smile. Kyle was fitted with prosthetic devices at a youngage, but realized that they were too restrictive. He wanted to be free toplay just like the other kids and those devices kept him from doing so. Soundslike David when he faced Goliath, King Saul gave David his armor to wear butDavid said

1Samuel 17:38 And Saul armed Davidwith his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed himwith a coat of mail.

1Samuel 17:39 And David girded hissword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it.And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them.And David put them off him.

Kyle started wrestling in the sixth grade. Helost his first 35 matches in a row. But Kyle dug deep and found the confidenceto continue; remember Kyle didn't like losing. One might say he should bethankful for just being able to do what he is doing. No! Kyle was not justsatisfied with being on the team he wanted more. With the support of his fatherand a former wrestler, he learned to train with weights andbecame very strong and learned some moves unique to his strengths. Kylewon 35 times on the varsity squad and qualified for the state championship. Inthe state tournament, Kyle won his first three matches and had to face hisfinal opponent with a broken nose. Kyle did not win the statechampionship. Kyle graduated high school and went on to wrestle at theUniversity of Georgia where he inspired others. You see ladies and Gentlemenit's not what happens to YOU, but how you react to it that matters. So, tell meagain what's going wrong in your life? Anyone can quite, give up and many do theysay I just can’t go on or I’ve had it I’m done. What type of attitude is that?It’s an attitude that is depending totally upon you; read and understand. Davidtook HIS staff, David Chose HIMSELF five smooth stone, David put them in HISshepherd’s bag and HIS sling was in his hand. David has prepared himself forthe battle that he was facing but what he says next tells me where his strengthwas and it wasn’t in himself.

1Samuel 17:45 Then said David tothe Philistine, (Goliath) Thou comest to me witha sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God ofthe armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

1Samuel 17:46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and Iwill give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowlsof the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth;that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

1Samuel 17:47 And all this assemblyshall know that the LORD saveth notwith sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he willgive you into our hands.

If you are tryingto figure it all out; what’s our next move, where do we go from here? Stop andask yourself are you depending on you and what you can do or are you dependingon God and what God can do through you.

Don’t forget toget to Church early so you can get a good seat up front; I’m sure you don’twant to miss out on anything.

Leadership

2011-10-20T07:31:00.000-04:00

FormerAttorney General John Ashcroft's godly father tried to prepare him for life inthe Nation’s Capital after his son's election to the United States Senate. Hesaid, "John, the culture of Washington is a culture of arrogance. (By theway, most power-centers are.) The culture of Jesus is a culture of humility.Don't get sucked into the culture of arrogance." Success; who doesn’t want to be successful intheir careers, in being a parent or at anything we do. I remember a man sayingthat he had a book on his desk about Ronald Regan and leadership and he said “Ithink that if I were to read that book that I would learn something aboutleadership that I could incorporate into my life that would make me a betterleader.”

Let’s take a look at the greatest leader thatever walked the face of this earth and see what made Him great and I am sure wecan learn something from Him that will help us be a better leader.

Mark10:42 But Jesus called them (disciples) to him, and smith untothem, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exerciselordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

Mark10:43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be greatamong you, shall be your minister:

Mark10:44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest,shall be servant of all.

Mark10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, butto minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Jesustaught that you can earn your authority in people's lives by serving them, byputting them first and by helping them succeed. Jesus told his disciples if youwant to be the chief then you’re going to have to be a servant. Now he wasn’ttalking about starting at the bottom and working your way up, He was speakingof humbling yourself then He gave an example. Jesus said I didn’t come into this world so that others could serve mebut I came to give my life for others. In the book Good to Great written by JimCollins he researched eleven of the most effective companies in the UnitedStates, and then they pursued this question: "What specifically makesthese companies so different?" Here is what he and his teamdiscovered. The CEOs who led them were humble leaders, highly focused,sometimes driven people but known for being gracious. Would you not say thatJesus was highly focused?

Luke2:49….. wist ye not that I must be about myFather's business?

Bottomline Jesus said don’t be like those that exercise lordship over others but beservants. When the successful leader do something right, they walk over to awindow and point to all the reasons out there (especially all the other people)that are the reasons for their success. When they do something wrong, they walkto a mirror and they assume the blame themselves. The less effective leaders doit just the other way around. When things go wrong they point out the windowfor excuses and explanations; when things are going right, they go to themirror to admire the one who deserves the credit. Jesus said “it shall not beso among you.” I know the more we know about Jesus the more we can learn about goodleadership, for 2000 years after He returned to glory He still has those whoare giving their lives for Him.

ZingZiegler says” You can have everything in life you want, if you will just helpother people get what they want.”

Time Well Spent

2011-10-19T06:42:00.000-04:00

Ihave spent some time learning Psalms Chapter 107 and verses 8 & 9. I wrotethese two verses on an index card and put that card in my pocket. Every time Ihad a free moment I would look at them then I would repeat those verses overand over until I could say them without looking at the card. For over a week Ihave let those verses sink down in my heart. Years ago I learned something veryvaluable to me from my oldest son that I have never forgotten. He would spendhours upon hours in his room studying when he was in college; he was studyingto be an Electrical Engineer. One day Iasked him why he spent that much time studying, that is when he told me this“Dad, I don’t want to know how it worksI want to know what makes it work and why.” So with that same attitude I don’t want tojust learn how to say a verse I want God to teach me to know that verse. Whatis the use of knowing a Bible verses and not knowing what they mean. Here arethe two verses I put on that index card.

Psalms107:8 Oh that menwould praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderfulworks to the children of men!

Psalms107:9 For he satisfieth thelonging soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Nowhere is what God let me see in those two verses. Oh, that I might give thanks for His kindnessand His actions toward the children of men. He grants my desires and wishes which gives mea desire to want to spend more time with Him. He then keeps filling my hungry soul with Hisgoodness.

Ittook me over a week for the Lord to show me that, but may I say the time Ispent with Him was priceless.

Vision

2011-10-18T06:53:00.000-04:00

Is what you are, want or trying to do a Dream or a Vision? Dreams very rarely come true. We all have dreams and we talk about them but we do nothing about them. Last week I sent a text to a good friend of mine which Pastors in North Carolina; it was his birthday and I sent him a happy birthday wish. I then texted him back and told him I was going to go get my plane and fly up and take him out for lunch. I then told him that I couldn’t for I just dreamed of having an airplane. That is all that it is; a dream for I have never made an effort to have an airplane but I have wanted one all my life. Now a Vision is much more than a dream or a good idea that only stirs the soul to a temporary endeavor. A Vision is the ability to see it, the faith to believe it, the courage to do it, and the hope to endure until it happens.

So what would you say you had? A dream, a good idea or a vision? A good idea is easy to let go and a dream can be easily forgotten but a vision is seen, believed and an endurance until you see it completed

Recognition

2011-10-17T06:45:00.001-04:00

Therewas a young lady in the Church that I pastored for a number of years. Thisyoung lady would year after year write and put our Bible School together. Everyyear she did a wonderful job doing with it. She would make sure everything wasin its place and that each night everything ran smoothly. Now you would havenever known that she had anything to really do with the Bible School at all,her husband would take the lead each night. She didn’t want any recognition atall but without her it would have never happened. Now you will find two peopleof the same character in 2 Kings Chapter 5 and without these two unknown peoplea man by the name of Naaman would have been in a world of trouble. First thisman Naaman was a great man with his master, and honorable, a very courageousvaliant man but he had a major problem, he had leprosy. We read in

2Kings5:2 And the Syrians had gone out bycompanies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a littlemaid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.

2Kings5:3 And she said untoher mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is inSamaria! For he would recover him of his leprosy.

Sohere we see a young lady making a big difference in another life and we don’teven know her name. She gets recognition every time we read this verse but whois she? We don’t know. This young lady had all the confidence in the world whenshe spoke. “My God is with the prophet and if Naaman would go and see him hewill recover him of his leprosy.” This young girl didn’t say God might or theprophet might but he would. So off Naaman goes when he gets there he is verydisappointed because things didn’t go the way he thought they would. Theprophet didn’t even take time to come to the door to see him but instead senthim word of where to go and what he had to do to be made clean.

2Kings5:10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and washin Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shaltbe clean.

Well,Naaman didn’t like what he was told to do at all.

2Kings5:11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, Ithought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of theLORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

Our thinking will sometimes get us intotrouble. Naaman was mad and upset. He thought that the prophet should have comeout and performed some great show striking his hand over the place and then hisleprosy would just disappear. This did not happen and he was told to dosomething he didn’t want to do. He was told to get in the dirty Jordan Riverand dip or be bathed 7 times and he would be healed. Naaman almost returned thesame way he left but here comes another unknown as far as we are concerned.

2Kings5:13 And his servantscame near, and spake unto him, and said, my father, if the prophet hadbid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? Howmuch rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

Theservant said to Naaman now if the prophet would have told you to do some greatthing you would have done it. No, he tells you to do something simple and yourefuse; what’s wrong with you? I am afraid that too many times we are lookingfor things to happen the way we think they should and with some type ofexposure. I think we should listen more to the ones who aren’t looking for sometype of pat on the back and by the same token we should be those who giveadvice not wanting to be recognized for what we have done. What do you think?Maybe this week we could help someone or give some Godlyadvice not wanting anything in return; no pat on the back or our name brought upin any way but just making a difference in the life of another. Have a blessedweek for it is great to be alive.

Personal Problems

2011-10-14T06:06:00.001-04:00

A 27-year-oldreporter, named Jayson Blair, who worked for the New Your Times learned tofabricate comments as well as concoct scenes. He stole material from othernewspapers and wire services. He selected details from photographs to createthe impression he had been somewhere or seen someone, when he had not. Mr. Blair resigned from The Times May 1,after apologizing and citing "personal problems." When caught up with there is always an answerwhy you have been doing the wrong you were doing. How about mismanaging yourresponsibilities; how does that sound? The word Management means- the act or art of managing : theconducting or supervising of something (as a business) Whilesome may mismanage there are others who do well at managing. What about thingsthat aren’t seen? For instance managing our thoughts; for many that’s unthought-of. While I was thinking about that I thoughtabout What Would Jesus Do? Did He haveto manage His thoughts? One day on amountain side Jesus feed 5000 plus people; we hear preaching on that but whatabout what happened right after that?

John6: 14 Then those men, when they had seen themiracle that Jesus did, said, this is of a truth that prophet that should comeinto the world.

John6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and takehim by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himselfalone.

Theyare going to make Jesus King and what does He do? Departs into a mountain to bealone. That isn’t a good thought or a good thing, one would think. Now that’s athought that needs to be supervised; which one of us wouldn’t like to enjoyroyalty? No, Jesus got into thought management. He saw that in their enthusiasmthese men were about to grab Him and make Him king, so He quickly slips off. Thenthere was the time a Dad approached Jesus in a crowd of people and asked Him tocome to his house for his little girl was at the point of death. “Come and laythy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.” When Jesus getsthere, He is greeted with bad news at the door; the daughter is dead. Jesussaid, “Oh no, this girl is not dead but sleeping,” and when He said that theylaughed at Him. Jesus, like you and I is faced with a moment of humiliation. Sohow does He act? He refuses to receive it and put them all outside.

Mark 5:39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, why make ye this ado,and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

Mark5:40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them allout, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were withhim, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

Thiskind of thing was not allowed in the house nor in the mind of Christ. Jesusguarded His heart. We must be careful what we think because our thoughts run ourlife. Mind management is important we must not let our thoughts run wild. Havea good weekend, get to Church early and get a good seat.

Dishonesty

2011-10-13T06:50:00.000-04:00

Has anyone ever been dishonest with you? Iremember many years ago I went looking to buy a car. I was stationed in Duluth,Minnesota and it gets cold up there. On this day the weather wasn’t real badand after looking for a short while( the first place I stopped) I found a car.I told the man that I would be back in a few days to buy the car, he agreed andoff I went to get the money. In a few days I returned just like I said with themoney but on this day the weather had really turned cold and the car would notstart. After pulling it around the block for about 10 minutes, it refused tostart and I decided not to buy that car. The car salesman began to explain tome about the great deal I was letting slip through my hands; he used the phrase,a cherry of a deal. The car was a piece of junk and the man was not beinghonest with me at all, as a matter of fact he was being dishonest with me. Theword dishonesty means lack ofhonesty or integrity : disposition to defraud or deceive. I reada survey that stated that more people say they have cheated on their marriagepartners than on their tax returns or expense accounts. It went on to say thatmore than half say if their tax returns were audited, they would probably owethe government money. Nearly half predict that if they scratched another car inthe parking lot, they would drive away without leaving a note. Is it that wejust don’t like the truth? I can remember not telling the truth because Ithought that a lie would be better. The only problem with that is I would haveto cover one lie up with another and before long I would forget what lies I hadtold. The truth is never like that at all, the truth is the truth and you don’thave to tell one truth and then cover it up with another truth.

John8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If yecontinue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

John8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Ifyou know the truth the truth will make you free but too many times we toleratedishonesty and for what? More money out of a bad deal, we flatter the boss, weexaggerate the truth and a bunch of other things but it all boils down to liesand being dishonest. The business man who fixes something that’s not broke, therepair man replaces a part that does not need replacing, the car salesman whosales a car knowing it has problems but makes out like it is in tip top shape.It is all being dishonest and not telling the truth. Remember it’s the truththat makes free and if we are going to be made free we will have to be truthfulabout everything.