Higher Ground

I woke up this morning and was remembering a colonel that I served under while I was stationed at Ft. Irwin California. He would finish every address with these words, “See you on the high ground.” Being a Calvary Scout I understood what that meant from a military perspective. When you wanted to get a good look around you would climb as high as you could without going over the crest and silhouetting yourself against the open sky. I have climbed trees and some really high points of rock to look into a clearing and see what might lie ahead. The view you get always brings perspective and some truth about your situation but the climb can be hard.

I never truly understood what he was really talking about until years later when I got accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. In 1 Timothy 3:14-16, is a place to start that understanding Paul shares what we are should be doing as we wait on Jesus return,

“¹⁴ These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; ¹⁵ but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. ¹⁶ And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.”

What I have highlighted is very important to what I am trying to share the pillar is a strong solid structure that is there to support and hold everything in place when you combine it with the ground as a foundation for what we believe we find it an unmovable place to be. It will survive and stand against many an attack. I don’t know about you but I find assurance in that idea that God has a place that I can go and it is already defended and as long as I am willing to stay there I can be safe.

In closing we will make many choices about things; we are always deciding on what we will allow in our lives. I remember hearing people tell others who had been wronged to be the better person or take the higher ground. I want you to understand that when we are grounded in God’s word and we use it to make our choices. We will always make better choices. I never asked the colonel I served what he really meant when he would say, “See you on the high ground.” But today I would bet he meant for us to live a life that glorified God so that one day we would all be in the presence of our God most High. Have a blessed day and may God’s grace shine on you today and everyday as you follow Him.

What are people seeing?

In Mark 10:43-45 James and John have just asked for the seats at Jesus right and left when he comes into his power and position. This starts a debate between the disciples as to who is greatest and Jesus tells them this; “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served , but to serve and give his life –a  ransom for many” You know many times I have wondered what I was supposed to do in my life. I believe in what Jesus told the apostles and I think you should consider it.

One of the books I have just finished is about Billy Graham and his leadership style. It contains a lot of stories about him and how he treats people friends, employees and even those who do not like him.  It talks about how he dealt with his failures and how he empowered those whom he had influence over. But one story really struck me it was about a man who came to speak at one of the crusades and was recovering from the flu. He was eating dinner with Billy and the rest and shared he was still feeling the effects from the flu and Billy told him something he could buy at a drug store that would help. An hour after the dinner broke up there was a knock on his hotel door and there stood Billy with a sack with the medicine in it. He had gone and gotten it for him. It shows the servant heart that Billy Graham has. Little acts like that have encouraged 1000’s of people who work with and for him to do more for others.

What sort of example do you present first with your children around and secondly with friends? I want you to take a minute today and ask yourself what sort of example I may be setting for those who know me; about being a servant. Do my actions match my talk or do I need to start doing more for others. I have never worked with a great leader who was afraid to get their hands dirty. Especially when they needed to teach me how to do something; we must model servanthood if we want those coming up to continue on in God’s work. It is believed that 88% of our youth leave the church by the time they are 18 years of age. If parents and churches instill a servants heart in these same young people that drops to 4% it is vital that children today see models of servants if the church is to continue and grow. Pray that God will give you a servant’s heart. It is so much more important than you realize.

Giving to God and Family

                I woke up today thankful for all the stuff God has given me in my life. And as I was studying I came across this scripture and it spoke to me about what God expects from me. It is Mark 12:41-44 and it is the widow’s two mites.

⁴¹ Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴² But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

⁴³ Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴ They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

            You know God really does not require a lot from you and me. He desires that we serve him and share the gospel with others. He desires for us to be willing to serve him wherever he leads us. Many times we are like the rich people who in an act of show; we come to church on Sunday morning so when people ask we can say, yes I go to church. I was once told that most of the people who claim to be Christians are CEO’s that means they attend church at Christmas, Easter and other Occasions that are Special. I want to tell you a relationship like that will leave you hurting when trouble comes your way. You will not have assurance of where you stand and what you believe in. I can testify to that in my own life so I am not speaking out of turn. I once heard a man explain this scripture in a simple way. Giving is not about the amount but about the sacrifice. How we give our money is only a small part of being an effective Christian witness. How we spend our time and other resources is most important. I understand schedules and outside activities time with your family but if your family time does not reflect Jesus in some way how will you deal with your kids when they start going crazy. Yes they will; we all did and so will our children. Take time to invest Jesus in their lives. That way when they are struggling through life or God forbid something happens you can have assurance in their destination. I hope you all have a blessed day and reflect on how much you are willing to give God are you sacrificing for him or are you just showing off to satisfy yourself and those who are watching. I pray God bless you as you go through your day.

Do you trust God with your Life?

I was sitting here studying and looked at Facebook and realized how many times we put stuff out there for everyone to read but would not ever tell half of the people we have listed as friends. Then I got to wondering how many of us take that same amount of time talking to God about the trial or problem we are currently facing. I am guilty of it too so I am not casting stones just asking a question. God’s word tells us in Proverbs 3:5-6 that we are to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.” I can’t tell you why something is occurring in your life today; all I can tell you is, He is preparing you for more than you currently have right now.  Many times I have taken for granted the blessings he has brought into my life through trials I have been through.  I can only tell you that had I not known Jesus some of those trials would have taken my life from me. Because I had someone to help me carry the load I was able to come through it with understanding and a new desire to serve Him better.

            Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 10:16-22, what was going to happen to them as they chose to follow him. “¹⁶ “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. ¹⁸ On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, ²⁰ for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. ²¹ “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. ²² You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” You might think this is a little harsh in some cases but this was what occurred to every apostle and in the end it cost all but John their lives. I would guess that not a one of them would have lived or died another way. They were sold out to God’s plan. We talk about our short trials that we have in our lives and never give thought to the real possibilities that are available to us each day. All it requires is that we trust in Him. May God bless you; wherever you are in this crazy thing we all call life.

Can We See the Big Picture

I want to share this story with you this morning. It comes from one of my textbooks but it was really good so and it makes this point really well.

A holy man is having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, “Lord I would like to know what heaven and hell are like.” The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors, and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large, round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man’s mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly and appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms, and each was able to reach into the pot of stew and take out a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back to their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, “You have seen Hell.

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was a large round table, with a large pot of stew that made the holy man’s mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, “I do not understand.”

“It is simple,” said the Lord. “It requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed one another, while the greedy think only of themselves.”

That’s good you have to admit it. We find an example of this in Joshua 1:1-11, Moses has died and God is now going to use Joshua to lead the people.

¹ After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: ² “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. ³ I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. ⁴ Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. ⁵ No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. ⁶ Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

⁷ “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

¹⁰ So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: ¹¹ “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.’”

Moses had taken the time to train Joshua for what laid ahead. In doing so he was able to be used by God. We must as Christians be willing to train others to carry on the work that we are doing. Scripture teaches us to bear one another up and to live worthy of our calling. Without opportunities to grow we will never be able to do the work when it comes our time. We must be willing to share our calling with the next generation so that the Church can still do its work. Sometimes that means letting someone else learn from you. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

God wants it all!

In Genesis 22-4-14, “⁴ On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. ⁵ He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”

⁶ Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, ⁷ Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

⁸ Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

⁹ When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰ Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. ¹¹ But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

¹² “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

¹³ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

                Do you trust God with everything or do you spend your day relying on the best effort you can produce to try to get everything done. I can relate in some ways to what Abraham was going through as he traveled the three days to this mountain where God had told him to take his son and to sacrifice him.   The real question for you is would your faith be enough to follow God to this point. Is your faith enough to follow God down to your neighbor’s house and share the gospel with them? Is your faith in God strong enough to talk to your coworkers about him? We think God has placed so much responsibility on us in the little things we do for Him when in reality He has not asked you to do but one thing that is to be a faithful witness to his power in your life.

                I highlighted a spot in the text Abraham new who he served and understood that God was able to deliver on every promise that He had made. He understood that if he took Isaac’s Life then God would give him another son to fulfill the promises. He understood one thing above all things that God was in control and that his best option was to follow Him wherever He was leading. Today we have that same choice to make. Do you trust God to see you through the tough times in your life? If so I will leave you with the words of Jesus found in Mark 8:34-35, “³⁴ Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save their life^[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.

                I can only share with you what I believe is the truth. That if you are willing to obey the word of God and follow wherever he is leading the blessings and promises are yours for the receiving. Now I will tell you trials will still come but you no longer have to face them alone and with the Holy Spirit on your side the load is much easier to carry. Have a blessed day in the Lord and may His blessing shower upon you like rain.

What do you believe in?

In John 3:16, “¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” You know this is the first verse of scripture many of us learned it is very simple and if you know what you are saying can use it to evangelize individuals. The part of it I want to talk about is I believe the real key to our being a Christian. “Whoever believes”, the key is belief. When we fail to believe in any part of what God’s word teaches us we weaken the believability of the rest of His word. Yes I am saying it is an all or none decision. If you believe that Jesus was the Son of God then to understand the importance of His coming and dying is found in the fact that we are sinful and lost without Him in our lives. If we fail to believe any part of the plan that God began when he forced Adam and Eve from the garden until the day that Christ has promised to return than what do you place your trust in. Without belief all the promises of the Bible are just words on a page.

                Let me share the story of Jean Francois Gravelet, he was called the great Blondin, this was the first man to walk a tight rope across the gorge at Niagara Falls. This was a feat that he has accomplished several times and with different restrictions he has done it blindfolded; with leg irons on; ridden a bicycle across and he has even carried his manager across on his back. But there is a report of him pushing a wheel barrel across and as he began he asked if the people believed he could do it. They all screamed yes. He went out and back and asked if they believed he could do it with a man in the wheel barrow. They all screamed yes. He looked into the crowd and asked one last question. Who was going to be first? It was not that he desired them to believe on his ability but he desired to see someone trust in his ability. That is the difference in type of belief that it takes to have a relationship with Jesus. We must believe in Him not about him. The devil knows he exists and trembles and the mention of his name but he does not believe in him.

                God’s word is so powerful that if we believe in what it says we can have everlasting life. It enables us to change situations that we never could do on our own. Through the word the Holy Spirit enables us to use the gifts God has given to man. But all of this hangs on the balance of do you believe it to be true. In 2 Timothy 3:16, “¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. To truly understand God’s design for your life you must spend time in His presence by reading His word, listening to the Holy Spirit and praying for understanding and wisdom. God is more than capable of giving you all your needs. Have a blessed day and may God bless wherever your shadow falls today.

Do we ignore God?

                This parable that is found in Matthew 25:1-13 Jesus was describing what the His second coming was going to be like.

¹ “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴ The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵ The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. ⁶ “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ ⁷ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. ¹¹ “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ ¹² “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ ¹³ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Are you busy with what God has called you too? I was looking at this and I realized that yes there are ten virgins who have heard the news and are waiting on his arrival. But only five of them were prepared for him to be delayed. I know you have probable heard if you have been around church for even two weeks that Jesus is coming back. The parable talks about those who are not prepared and those who are just waiting. Many have heard the gospel and even attend church on a regular basis. The problem is they do not want or are not given any more to do than to sit there and wait. Notice the warning Jesus gives at the end of the parable.

In James 1:22-25 we are told to be doers of the word, “²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. We are called to apply God’s word to everything we do from what we read to what we watch on TV. To relationships we have with others and with our families. I know we talk about being raptured but God calls people to meet him every day. Some will be welcomed home and others will live in turmoil we forever more. Please don’t sit by unprepared for what He has warned us about in His word. We must be about His business. Remember 1048 people experience death in the world every minute. Many of them have never excepting Jesus as their savior if you think about the percentages there is a chance that 2/3 of them are headed to hell. Because they have either never heard the gospel or they do not believe.  I know that is hard to hear but we are called to do more than sit on the pew on Sunday morning. As Brother Gary has said if al God called you to was salvation he would have called you home after you were saved. Have a blessed day ask God to help you be a doer today. God Bless you as you are obedient to His word today.

Are you working for God?

I ask that question because many times I meet people who profess to be Christians but there is very little fruit if any in their lives. When Jesus was truly begining to minister we find in Luke 10:1-11 that He has commissioned 72 disciples to go before him and prepare the way. There is a lesson here for us who are now his disciples.

¹ After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. ² He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. ³ Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. ⁴ Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. ⁵ “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. ⁸ “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. ⁹ Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ (NIV)

            What has happened here is God has given authority and power to these so that they could perform the functions required to prepare the harvest that would come. As Christians today we also work to prepare the harvest. The same functions apply to our lives and ministry.

1. Prepare: as we pray for the lost we are preparing for the Holy Spirit to move on the lives of those we pray for. (vs.1)

2. Participating: We are involved because the sowing and watering are part of the harvest.(vs.2)

3. Praying: Releases the power of God into situations. (v.2)

4. Trusting: As we walk in obedience we learn to trust Jesus and the plans He has for us. (Vs.3-5)

5. Networking: As we walk we meet others who help and support us to do Kingdom work. (vs. 6)

6. Releasing: We are allowed to give to support the needs of God’s people to further the harvest. (Vs. 7-8)

7. Leading: You are empowered to lead meeting needs that others have not met, leading to preparation for the harvest. (vs. 9)

8. Inviting: We are instructed to verbally invite people to be part of God’s Kingdom. (Vs. 10-12)

I underlined a few words that you must see God provides for manifestations of His glory to strengthen the believers and convict the unbelievers. More on that later right now I want you to understand God has set divine appointments for you each day. You just need to be willing to open your heart and mind to the needs of those around you. That requires you turn loose of some of the me stuff you have in your hands and begin abiding in Jesus for your needs. Have a blessed and Jesus filled day as you walk the walk.

Who should we be serving?

The parable of the Good Samaritan helps us to know how we should be treating one another. It is found in Luke 10:30-37, “In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ ³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” ³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

When we walk through our days do we take time to look and listen to those around us? Or do we live are lives like racehorses going as fast as we can with blinders on so all that we see is the goal at the end. Have you ever watched a horse race? We have gotten in the habit of watching the Kentucky Derby every year. The one thing I have noticed is that the jockeys who ride the horses do something I had never seen before. As they are riding the race there is a lot of dirt and dust stirred by the horses so the jockeys were goggles. Now they don’t wear just one pair they may wear as many as 12 pairs depending on what they believe the conditions are. But as each set gets were they can’t see through them they rip them away and look at the track with a clear vision. Maybe some of us who have been in the race a while need to pull the goggles off and get a fresh view.  It is easy to get centered on our own wants and desires but I am learning the best way to see your own needs meet is to minister to others and God will in turn bless you. Take time today to look at your situation and ask God to give you his vision for it. I can promise you it is far better than anything you or I can imagine. Have a blessed day in the Lord and may His promises be new to you each day.

Are we listening?

I have to start out by asking a question. Have you ever in your prayer time just stopped and listened? I need you to be honest; when you are in your prayer time do you ever just get to the point that there is silence. Your mind stops making or throwing requests out. If not begin to work on that. Our prayer time and our devotional time should be about listening more than asking. Scripture gives us an example of what is important.

Luke 10:38-42

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

            Jesus understood what was happening and what was important. He knew that one day something He said and Mary heard would make all the difference in her world. When we look at scripture we understand why it was important for Mary to listen this is the sister of Lazarus who shortly thereafter dies. You can read that in Luke 11 When we take time to listen God is preparing us for the trials we are going to go through even if we can’t imagine what they are.  I know it is hard not to have a list of requests when you pray but begin slowly and try to listen focusing on what God is trying to tell you. Instead of a list of demands of things you want and may not need. I pray God blesses you today and everyday as you walk in His light.

Who do you abide in?

Who and what do you abide in?

I was wondering if any of us realize just how important time alone with God really is. We are normal human beings and as each day passes we attempt to do so much more than God has designed for us to do in our own strength. We often take for granted that Jesus was human like us and had to spend time alone with His Father to do the works that he did. In John 5:19, “I assure you: The son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way.”  Do you want more power in your life? First it will require you looking for where God is working and joining Him in what he has in motion. Secondly it requires continuous interaction with God. You must always look at every situation with God’s eyes that was what Jesus did. He could see where God was at work and He went there. It was not always easy and in the end He hung from a cross for you and me.

He did not leave us alone though He sent a helper in the Holy Spirit and His word has survived every attempt for the devil to destroy it. In John 8:31, “If you continue in in My word you really are My disciples.”  I know for many of us it is not easy to find time to seriously get into God’s word but the rewards are worth the sacrifice. The more time you spend with God the more you will understand about who you are in Him.

Do you abide in Christ?

1.       Reading God’s word

2.       Praying that total depends on God

3.       Seeking God’s plan for serving

4.       Obeying God rather than people

5.       Listening to God and the wise counsel He has around you

6.       Trusting in God when your world has gone to pieces

These are just a few things you should see in those who have chosen to abide in Jesus.  They are not all but just an Idea of how to get started. Let me leave you with this scripture from John 15:1-8, “¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. ⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” We are just part of the overall body of Christ we are bound to Jesus as we go through our lives when we cut ourselves off from Him we become lifeless and produce no fruit. Have a blessed day. I recommend you spend more time with God than it takes to read a devotional if you really want to experience who He is.

Are We There Yet

1 Corinthian 12:4-7, “⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. ⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

            I believe it is time for us to discuss where the power for ministry really comes from. As we go about our daily lives we take in food and water to maintain our body’s ability to produce energy which we in turn use to complete our daily tasks. When we fail to take in nourishment our bodies do something that I find unique they begin to adjust to the lack of supply and our metabolism slows down. Unless you do certain things, slowly your body can adjust to the decrease without any real changes to your wellbeing as it waits on you to eat again. When we fail to eat again our body begins to shut down until death comes. People have gone as long as 74 days without eating before the body finally gives up. I tell you this because if our body requires nourishment so also does are souls.

            I have to ask you what you are feeding your soul. Are you spending time in God’s word? Are you spending time with other Christians in fellowship and worship? I know we sometimes have that person at church that we really don’t like or maybe we don’t like the music or can’t believe that guy is a teacher. Yeah I have used those same excuses but I have also come to understand it is my relationship to Jesus that should be most important. People will always let you down and possible rub you the wrong way. How we respond to that testifies to our relationship with Jesus. As believers we must come together to worship God and to build one another up. Scripture tells us to, “Bare one another’s burdens” we cannot do that if we never talk to one another. If we do not have relationships with one another than we will never trust each other with our burdens. I say that because for the Holy Spirit to bless us and work through us we need to allow relationships for him to work through.

            We are all gifted with different gifts but we all serve the same God. God has given you those gifts first for the edification or building up of the body of believers. Secondly He has given them as a sign to unbelievers that He is real and that He has a work going on in the world. Are we going to be observers or participants? I promise you the Holy Spirit will provide the power to overcome this world and all the trials we endure. Have a blessed day and hope to see you in church Sunday morning.

All Aboard

The conductor cries, “All Aboard”

Acts 11:1-4, “¹ The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. ² So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him ³ and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” ⁴ Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story.”

            I recommend you take a few minutes and read either the account here in chapter 11 or the full account in Acts 10. The devotional version is, God called Peter to go to the Gentiles and while he was there God allowed the Holy Spirit to work salvation in them. Before Peter was called only the Jews had been evangelized. This was new territory and not everyone was excited about the change.

^{Acts 11:18} When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

            Richard Leach makes a statement in, Ministering to Others, that I wanted to share, “Not everyone wants to make immediate changes. There are always early adopters, middle adopters, late adopters and never adopters.” When change comes to a group of people like it has in our own church we will see those same groups. I only can tell you that if you are of the never adopter mindset this may not be the place for you. I still love you and will continue to lift you up in prayer. I am a phone call or text message away when you are in need. To those who stay it really is important that we not bad mouth those who leave. God is always at work. If you are one who choose to go also choose your words wisely about why. We often forget others are watching that need Jesus and when they see us arguing, they are the ones who lose out. As an example we have several large churches in our area they are not for me. But every time I see friends of mine who go there I praise God that they are in church. If it was not for that mega church down the way they may not go at all.  It gives me hope that the seeds have been planted and God will bring a harvest.

^Acts11:19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. ²⁰ Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. ²¹ The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

            That was what happened at Antioch. Shortly after Stephen was stoned to death the persecution of the church began and individuals of the church began to preach Jesus outside of Jerusalem. And many came to believe both Jews and Gentiles. Today we need to find a way to get out from behind the walls of our churches but we need to go prepared to face a hurting world. God has a place for each of us to serve I have been in three churches since I accepted Christ. God has taught me and used me in a different way every time.

^{Acts 11:22} News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³ When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. ²⁴ He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

            God chooses certain people at certain times to do his work. Each of us as we are filled with the Holy Spirit is so much more capable of meeting the trials of this world than we are by ourselves. Need to clarify something when you accepted Jesus the Holy Spirit comes to seal you and dwell in you. How much affect He has is based on your willingness to let go of the control of your life.

^{Acts 11:25} Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, ²⁶ and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

            I believe one of the worst things we do as Christians is fail to work together to advance God’s kingdom. Society teaches that we need to work individually to attain a goal that brings personal satisfaction. So we will struggle with an issue instead of reaching out to someone else that has the answer or means to reach a solution. I can only imagine how pleased God would be to see us working together for His glory. When God calls, “All Aboard” where will you be. Have a Blessed and safe day.

Unique and with a Purpose

God created us each unique and with a purpose.

1 Corinthians 12:” ¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by  one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many”

                Paul teaches a very simple concept here the day you and I accepted Jesus as our Lord and savior we became a partner with Him and all the others who are also believers in Him. Now what we have to try to recognize is God did not create us all the same to start with and just because we are now all working towards the one goal of serving Him we are still separate and distinct from each other in our abilities and gifts that the Spirit has bestowed on us. Gary said something last night that I have just recently really begun to understand. The Holy Spirit comes and goes in each believer as He is welcome or as need to meet the needs of the body. When the gifts of the Spirit are at work it is dependent on our openness to Him and also our desire to be used by Him to meet a need. That is why every person who calls on the name of Jesus for salvation has a part to play in the lives of the other believers. Never allow the Devil to tell you that you are not important. You might be the hand that God uses to bring healing to a body, or the foot that walks a brother or sister through the loss of a loved one.

1 Corinthians 12:24-26, “²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

                We all have are parts to play and God empowers us for that moment as He sees the need. The question is are you and I willing to be the vessels He wants to use? He cannot come where He is not welcome. He cannot settle in a place that has no room for him. We must decide what we really desire and are we going to allow God to have control of our bodies and in so doing give him the ability to throw out the stuff that keeps us from serving Him. Folks I was addicted to pornography for 25 years I gave my control to God and He took away the desire to even look at it. He has replaced it with a desire to share His glory with all of those around me. It is not something I can do on my own I tried I had to release it and allow God to be God. He sent His Holy Spirit and made the changes that I was never able to do. I am praying He will continue to use me in a new and mighty way as I walk with Him. You too can have all God has to offer but you have to allow him to come in and you will have to be willing to let go of the stuff that keeps you from serving Him.

In closing we are all given gifts from the spirit first for the edification of the church and secondly as a testimony to unbelievers.  Hebrews 2:4,” ⁴ God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” God wants to use you are you willing to let Him?

Disciple or friend

                I want to share something about the story of the Samaritan woman at the well that is found in John 4. Jesus and the woman are not the only characters mentioned we also have the disciples. I am afraid to say I and most of us today are a lot more like them than we are Jesus. Jesus was busy meeting a need and doing the father’s work. But because of prejudice and lack of vision they could not see the work he was doing. All they wanted to do was eat their food and move on to Galilee. They wanted no part in Samaritans. They could only see what was convenient for them not the opportunities that God has given them.

 John 4:27-38, “²⁷ Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” ²⁸ Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, ²⁹ “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” ³⁰ They came out of the town and made their way toward him. ³¹ Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, at something.”³² But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” ³³ Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” ³⁴ “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. ³⁵ Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. ³⁶ Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. ³⁷ Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. ³⁸ I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

I decided to add the scripture because I wanted you to read it. We do not want to be like the disciples; who for whatever reason, could not see that every person they came into contact with had worth in God’s eyes. If you don’t believe that than I challenge to change your thinking Scripture tells us, “²⁷ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Gen 1:27) If for no other reason we should love every person we meet. I challenge you to be more like the four men in this testimony found in Mark 2: 3-5. “³ Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. ⁴ Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. ⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” They loved their friend so much they carried him to Jesus because they understood he was the only one who could bring salvation to him. DO we care enough for those around us to carry them to Jesus or are we just too busy with the world to show them He cares? Love you all and praying God does a beautiful work in you today.

Are we equipped to serve?

Ephesians 4:11-12, “¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up”

Have you ever tried to share Jesus with someone and just felt like you were first not worthy to do it and secondly not equipped about how to do it. Well I can only say welcome to the church today. The fact is on average only 5% of Christians ever share their faith. That is over their life time. So if you have 100 people in attendance on Sunday morning only 5 of them have ever shared their faith that counts your pastor and staff in that hundred. Part of that is caused by a lack of education about what we are to do after we except Christ the other factor comes from our separation from the world. The idea that I am saved and that is all we are called to do is wrong. Once you except Christ you are a new creation and you also have a new job and that is sharing the Good News with others.

            I have taken to writing these devotionals in a hope that you all can benefit from all the schooling and equipping I have to go through to follow God’s calling on my life. We must try to obtain understanding of God’s plan and how we all fit into it. We need to look at what gifts God has given us and learn how to apply them in our daily lives and when God presents opportunities. 1 Corinthians 12:4-8, “⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. ⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” We all have different gifts but are in one body and all those gifts are to be used to glorify God and to edify the church. Edify is another term for build up or to teach we are called to be equipped for the work God has for each one of us. And he has made provisions with in the church to do just that but once we begin training we must apply what we learn or it is useless.

Just a side not as I close Dr. David Wheeler is one of the professors I have at Liberty he was sharing a story in one of the books I am reading about his church’s desire to go out and play softball. This resounded with me as we close the softball season but are looking at a bowling team this year. When they came to him about it he loved the idea but he required that they play in the beer league instead of the church league. His staff had some problems at first but as senior pastor; he one with the argument if Jesus played softball where would he play. He would not be sitting at the ball park with those that were saved but out reaching the lost were they were. He shared they won the season over all but more importantly three families from one of the other teams excepted Christ and are active in that church today. It reminded me that if we never go where the lost people are; we will never be able to reach them. You may not realize how many people around you are lost take time today to pray that God show you those around you and begin praying for their salvation and that God would begin a work in their hearts. Love you all and praying for you every moment.

Ministry is working together.

Good morning I hope this finds you all well today and I want to start by asking forgiveness. I was looking at what I wanted to share today and realized that some may not be receptive to it. Especially if in some way I may have offended you or over stepped my bounds and said something that has hurt your feelings. If so I apologize and I hope you can forgive me for however I might have wronged you. The reason I needed to do that was I want to share how important it is for us to work together in ministry.

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12,

⁷ Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: 

⁸ There was a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
“and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
a miserable business!

⁹ Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰ If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
¹² Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

We are all given gifts by God so that we may do his work. Many times we try to do things that are not within our gifts and refuse to allow others to help us because we are afraid that someone else will do it better than we can. I hope you know that most of your great ministers and even business men are not gifted in every area. I have to tell you that if that is what you are afraid of you need to understand God gives you the vision for your ministry. Billy Graham will go down in history as one of the greatest speakers and evangelist of all times, but he did not work alone. He worked with a team he sought out those who could and would add to his call to minister to the lost. You must try to be willing to give others the opportunity to grow in Jesus and learn through doing. I learned something while I was in the Army that I have carried into every area of my life. When someone gives you a task it is your responsibility to complete it now you can delegate the work but not the responsibility. No matter whom you work with the responsibility remains on you. The scripture tells us something important; we need one another to do God’s work in the world. First we must start within our own church and then we must tear down the walls and begin working with other churches to reach into our community, state, nation and to the ends of the Earth. When we were in Tuscaloosa we went as the Men and Women in Action but we worked with Samaritan’s Purse every day. They had resources they just needed the manpower. Had they not been there we still could have worked but it made the load much easier to carry with their support. If God has laid a ministry on your heart and you are not sure how to go about doing it than find a few people and ask them to pray with you. If we need no other support we need prayer in every step we take as we attempt to serve God. I pray that God blesses you today and that He puts a desire within you to step out of your comfort zone and into His zone and follow where ever he leads today.

Movement is Key to the plan.

John 4: Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman

¹ Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— ² although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. ³ So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. ⁴ Now he had to go through Samaria. ⁵ So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. ⁶ Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. ⁷ When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” ⁸ (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) ⁹ The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) ¹⁰ Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” ¹¹ “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? ¹² Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” ¹³ Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” ¹⁵ The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” ¹⁶ He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” ¹⁷ “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. ¹⁸ The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” ¹⁹ “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. ²⁰ Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” ²¹ “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. ²² You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. ²³ Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. ²⁴ God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” ²⁵ The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” ²⁶ Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” ²⁷ Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” ²⁸ Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, ²⁹ “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” ³⁰ They came out of the town and made their way toward him. ³¹ Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” ³² But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” ³³ Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” ³⁴ “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. ³⁵ Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. ³⁶ Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. ³⁷ Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. ³⁸ I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

Many Samaritans Believe

³⁹ Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” ⁴⁰ So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. ⁴¹ And because of his words many more became believers.⁴² They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

Last week I shared that all ministry needs to have a plan. We need to be listening to the Holy Spirit so we can see the critical need of those God has sent our way. As we try to determine what the best way to meet those needs is we must be in prayer.  We must be in prayer listening to the spirit as He guides us to meet those needs. Many times we make plans that sound really good or even look good on paper but we fail to do the most important part of any plan. We fail to act!  Hopefully you read John 4 this week. It is about the Samaritan women and how Jesus went out of his way to be at the well when she got there. We see him setting aside bias and social norms by speaking to her. He listens and reveals understanding about her needs. She is so moved she goes and brings others to hear him and they come to believe not because of what she said but because they have heard him themselves. Jesus had a plan just like many of us do the only real difference is He was not afraid to act on it. If you notice the disciples did not understand the plan. To be honest they were not even a part of it. They had their social blinders on; they refused to understand what Jesus was telling them. So the failed to act upon the opportunity they had been given. Most of the time we are like them; we make plans to do things and fail to be move on them. I am talking to myself also.  We need to be farsighted enough that we can see what God wants for us and those we come in contact with but near sighted enough to meet the needs of those around us. Have a blessed day.