Monday, January 31, 2011

Monday morning and back to the routine! Psalm 5:3; 143:8

Good morning everyone,
I'm sure all of you have standard things you do daily called your routine.  Routine is defined as, 'A prescribed detail course of action to be followed regularly; a standard procedure.  In order to feel as though we accomplish the things we need and want to get done, there needs to be some semblance of a routine.  If you don't have that in place, chaos or leaving things undone seems to become the norm.  All of us need a good routine so that we have time to do the things that are important.  If we approach everything as little mountains to climb instead of an Everest, the more likely we will accomplish what we started and not leave it undone.  Is part of your routine spending the first few moments that you wake up with the Lord?  If not, why not?  You know, we spend a lot of time spinning our wheels and getting very little done.  Ask the Lord to show you how to free up your heart and mind so that you can spend it with Him.  Before you know it, that will become your 'new' routine!  We sometimes hear legitimate warnings about allowing routines to turn into ruts.  But the Bible indicates that having set times for certain things is good.  David indicated that morning was the right time for him to praise God and ask for his direction (Psalm 5:3; 143:8).  Daniel prayed three times a day and not even the threat of death made him change his routine (Daniel 6:10).  Make it a priority to spend time with the Lord and before you know it, God will reveal the things that are important for you to accomplish and it will become your 'new' routine!
Your brother in Christ,

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Limitations! Only for the here and now! 2 Corinthians 12:9

Good morning everyone,
I pray that you all woke this morning praising the One that gave you the breath that you just breathed!  Sometimes we look at limitations as those things that hold us back or those things we find ourselves not being able to do.  Have you ever considered maybe you can't do something because ultimately that isn't God's plan?  Also, we decide a lot of times that we can't do it even before we try it.  Yesterday I found myself being a plumber of sorts when Deb and I installed a reverse osmosis water system.  We installed it and to this point it seems to be working properly.  Yeah!  The next time you attempt something, don't let the frustrations of the directions get you down.  Have someone by your side to direct you through the confusing parts so that you have 2 minds working instead of just your own.  Always remember, and this I've learned the hard way:  you always have the Holy Spirit with you to consult with you when the directions are as clear as mud!   He can help you remain calm when you want to through the extra parts in the trash!  And if all else fails, maybe the job is for someone more qualified.  More than anything, when it comes to things concerning our Spiritual well being, Jesus says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, 'My gracious favor is all you need.  My power works best in your weakness'.  Paul responds, 'So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.'  Whatever crosses your path,
Christ is there to assist and carry you through every situation.  Include Him in all you do!
Your brother in Christ,

Saturday, January 29, 2011

What light are you being drawn to? Matt 5:14-16

Good morning everyone,
A light is only as bright as the source from which it comes!  The more the wattage, the brighter the light!  Jesus is the Light of the world and He wants to shine through you so that all will know who He is!!  In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus says, "You are the light of the world---like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.  Don't hide your light under a basket!  Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all.  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father.'  We have access to the best source of light possible so that we can be the beacon that Jesus wants us to be!  Tapping into that source starts with showing others what Christ has done for us.  We hide our light by (1) being quiet when we should speak, (2) going along with the crowd, (3) denying the light, (4) letting sin dim our light, (5) not explaining our light to others, or (6) ignoring the needs of others.  Be a beacon of truth and don't shut your light off from the rest of the world.  1 John 1:5-7 says, 'This is the message He has given us to announce to you:  God is light and there is no darkness in Him at all.  So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in Spiritual darkness.  We are not living in the truth.  But if we are living in the light of God's presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.'  It all starts by getting plugged into the source!  May God richly Bless you as you spend time in fellowship with Him!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Friday, January 28, 2011

Assurance is much more than for the now! Luke 21:14-19

Good morning everyone,
Luke 21:14-19 tells not to worry about how to answer the charges against us.  He will give us the right words and wisdom that none of our opponents will be able to reply!  Even the people closest to us---our parents, brothers, relatives, and friends---they will betray us.  And some of us will be killed.  And anyone who doesn't stand for the Lord will hate us because of our allegiance to Him.  But in the end not a hair of our head will perish!  By standing firm, we will win our souls.  Woo Hoo!  Jesus warned that in the coming persecutions His followers would be betrayed by their family members and friends.  Christians of every age have had to face this possibility.  It is reassuring to know that even when we feel completely abandoned, the Holy Spirit will stay with us.  He will comfort us, protect us, and give us the words we need.  This assurance can give us the courage and hope to stand firm for Christ no matter how difficult the situation.  My prayer for you today is for you to realize that you are part of the Masters plan and He wants you to know that when we do anything in His name, He will never leave us to do it on our own!  That is a promise that you can take to the bank!  Assurance that we can have an eternity with Him no matter what we encounter now is all the assurance we need!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Feelings of inadequacies-Exodus 4:10-12

Good morning everyone,
Have you ever experienced the feeling that you were not the right person for the job or the Lord was trying to show you one direction but you were headed in the opposite direction?  If we are really honest, we probably have all been in situations where we have had feelings of inadequacy.  In Exodus 4:10 Moses pleaded with the Lord.  'O Lord, I'm just not a good speaker.  I never have been, and I'm not now, even after you have spoken to me.  I'm clumsy with words.'  My first experience of public speaking in Speech 101 was a nightmare.  I was petrified to get up in front of people and talk to a class of 30 or 40.  The Lord took that experience and taught me volumes from that failure.  Exodus 4:11-12 says, 'Who makes mouths?' the Lord asked him.  'Who makes people so they can speak or not speak, hear or not hear, see or not see?  Is it not I, the Lord?  Now go, and do as I have told you.  I will help you speak well, and I will tell you what to say.'  How many times do we do the same thing over and over again the same way expecting different results without consulting the One who created us?  By the way, I've heard it said that is the definition of insanity.  We make excuses for not consulting the best consultant ever because we think we know the answer or the problem is too frivolous to bother Him!  Hog wash!!  There is no problem too big or too small to not include Him!  If we were to stop and direct our thoughts and actions toward Him, we would need a lot less pills and Dr. Phil's in our lives!  He created you to be something different and unusual but more importantly He created you to be 'Special!'  The Lord didn't create your feelings of inadequacy!  Those are straight from satan himself.  When you are having a bad 'hair' day and you just can't seem to snap out of it, I encourage you to ask the Lord to speak to you in that moment so that He can give you a sense that He is in charge!  Isaiah 40:31 says it best:  'But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength.  They will fly high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint.' 
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Wake up and celebrate! Romans 6:23

Good morning everyone,
Is it enough to just be alive and breathing or is there more to this life?  Do you struggle with who you are or do you have a firm grip on your purpose?  What is the consistency of items on your bucket list and is the list of things you want to accomplish changing as you get older?  My prayer for you today is for you to realize just how important you are and to get your mind to thinking about the priorities that you have in your life.  First of all, what does the Bible say about being alive in Christ?  The Bible teaches that those who accept Christ through faith are new creations.  We are changed and renewed to be more like Christ.  Woo Hoo!  God has made us alive in Christ so we can worship Him and live according to His purpose.  Romans 6:1-3 says, 'What shall we say, then?  Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means!  We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?  Or don't you know that all who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?'  Romans 6:23 says, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.'  Romans 8:10 says, 'But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your Spirit is alive because of righteousness.'  Ephesians 2:4-5 says, 'But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.'  Whatever condition you find yourself in, Jesus can use your story to honor His kingdom because He created you and He wants others to know Him through you!  Have you ever thought you were that important?  Well you are!  Instead of reading book after book to determine what purpose you are here for, consider the fact that God made you very unique and He is really the only One who can identify your 'purpose'!  Psalm 37:4,7 says, 'Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him, and He shall bring it to pass....Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.'   As you grow closer and closer to the Lord (relationships take an effort on your part and remember He always has time for you), you will find that your priorities and the things you want to accomplish will be more in line with the One who created you!        
Your brother in Christ
p

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Slow down and see what God is saying! Proverbs 16:32

Good morning everyone,
Have you ever heard the 59th Street Bridge Song by Simon and Garfunkel?  The first lyrics of the song tell us to, 'Slow down, you move too fast.  You got to make the morning last.'  Well have you ever thought that maybe the Lord is trying to get your attention sometimes for you to slow down but you keep on ignoring Him?  Well this morning was a prime example of that very thing!  I started out on the 91 freeway to go to work over in Santa Ana and of course the traffic was heavy.  My car wanted to dart in and about like the other cars were doing but each time I wanted to follow suit, something held me back!  In Proverbs 16:32, we are told, 'It is better to be patient than powerful; it is better to have self-control than to conquer a city.'  On at least 4 occasions, I was tempted to take off like a rocket when that inner small still voice (Holy Spirit) told me to maintain and hold back!  For good reason because each time there was a trooper watching my every move!  To the point they would follow me for a period of time before leaving me behind and looking for their next 'speeder!'  It could be possible because Deborah and I just had this conversation about when she drives my car, she gets much better gas mileage.  Ha!  So that may of kept me from bolting but I really think that the Lord wanted my attention and the Holy Spirit told me to slow down and enjoy the ride in spending it rejoicing with Them!  Let me know about your experiences.  I'll bet He will speak to you also!  
Your brother in the Lord,

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Destroy or be destroyed! Matthew 15:17-20

Good morning everyone,
Jesus talks about what really destroys a person in Matthew 15:17-20 when He says, 'Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes out the body.  But evil words come from an evil heart and defile the person who says them.  For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all other sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.  These are what defile you.  Eating with unwashed hands could never defile you and make you unacceptable to God.'  So many times we are concerned about the outward appearance that we present instead of the internal condition of the heart.  If we don't realize that the only hope for our defiled heart is Jesus himself, then we face being destroyed and lost forever.  The devil wants to destroy the image of God in our life or another way to describe it; he wants to distort any image of Christ shining through us.  James 4:12 says, 'God alone, who made the law, can rightly judge among us. He alone has the power to save or to destroy.  So what right do you have to condemn your neighbor?'  My prayer for you today is that you destroy the evil that Satan trys to throw your way before it can ever be a threat by asking in Jesus name to have it removed!  To do that, ask the Holy Spirit to direct every thought that you encounter so that your thoughts will be pleasing aroma to the Father! 
Your brother in Christ,
p

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Endurance-Life is a marathon and not a sprint! Hebrews 12:1-2

Good morning everyone,
As I write to you this morning, pray for several of my co-workers today because it is winter wonderland here in Missouri and they will be traveling.  As I was sitting here putting my thoughts together for the devotional, I thought of the phrase that I have heard many times before:  Life is a marathon instead of a sprint!  Hebrews 12:1-2 specifically addresses this with these words:  'Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a hugh crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress.  And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.'  If you are still pumping blood through your veins and you are still sucking air through those nostrils, God is not through with you yet!  You are and always will be the apple of His eye because He created you and He did not mess up when He breathed life into you.  So be thankful for who you are and praise Him for giving you the opportunity of continuing to be in the marathon.  If you find yourself in a situation that literally stinks and light at the end of the tunnel seems dim at best, thank Him that He chose you to endure through it because He chose you for the job.  If you can do that, thankfulness will be your gift back to Him.  Remember, He endured the cross and that cross was for you and me! 
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Encouragement-Can change someones life!

Good morning everyone,
Encouragement is something everyone needs and a lot of us feel it is something we very seldom ever receive and so it is very difficult to give out!  The old adage of what you receive in typically is what you give out is not stretching the truth one bit!  Webster defines encouragement as to incite, support, promote, reward, or to give an increase of confidence.  The Scripture defines it to strengthen or stimulate; to instill with courage.  In Romans 12:8, Paul says if your gift is to encourage others, do it!  We've all been given the ability to do certain things well.  For those of us who have been given the ability to encourage, don't try to hold on to it, but instead give it out and that just might be the start of something good!  We live in a demanding world starting with our jobs, our responbilities at home, financial responsibilities and the list goes on and on!  The last thing any one of us needs to hear is discouraging words from the ones that are closest to us.  Of course, when we receive negative criticism, most of the time our human instinct is to fire back with the same negativity.  The next time someone comes down on you hard, try and respond back in a positive way!  Ask the Lord to give you the strength to respond in a way that is pleasing to Him. Give them a dose of kindness and see what happens.  You really don't know the extent of what is going on inside their day until you take the time to listen.  Maybe they are just fed up with life because they feel like they don't have anybody where venting is allowed.  I don't want you to be a marriage counselor but just more understanding.  The most encouraging hope you can ever give someone who feels discouraged is 1 Peter 1:5-6.  'And God, in His mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting Him.  It will be revealed on the last day for all to see.  So be truly glad!  There is a wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.'  When no one else is around to give you encouraging words when you need it most, ask the One who gave you life to send someone your way! 
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Surprises-1 Thessalonians 5:4

Good morning everyone,
Surprises!  Some people like surprises and some people don't.  At some point in your life, you probably have been surprised or if not, sometime in the future you probably will be!  Surprises come in all shapes and sizes.  You just found out you got a job promotion, a pay raise, lost your job, had a birthday party (the one that some don't like because it reminds them of how old they are), found out you are going to have a baby, been asked to marry someone, and the list goes on and on!  The definition of a surprise according to Webster is, 'A taking unawares or an attack without warning.'  To be completely surprised, you never saw it coming!  1 Thessalonians 5:4 says, 'But you aren't in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won't be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.'  He has already warned us to be ready!  Mark 13:32-33 says, 'However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself.  Only the Father knows.  And since you don't know when they will happen, stay alert and keep watch.'  Encouragement for the day is to embrace surprises and be ready for things that really matter and when the Lord says, 'Well done good and faithful servant', pray that He is having that conversation with you!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Monday, January 17, 2011

Happiness-Psalm 17:15

Hey everyone,
I read an interesting article yesterday while flying on Southwest airlines and I would like to share with you my 2 cents.  The article was on happiness and it was interesting because it never indicated, in my opinion, what "Happiness Is" other than a positive attitude or something that you create!  Well in my opinion there is so much more to happiness than it just being about you.  In 2009 alone, more than 650 books with the word "happiness" in their titles or subtitles were published.  People were interviewed from all walks of life and here are some of their happy stats:  managers who praise their employees just one more time each day can raise productivity; people who just thought about watching their favorite movie raised their endorphin levels by 27 percent; almost 40 percent of people surveyed said that catching up with their loved ones after work was the happiest time of their day; unhappy employees stay home an average of 1.25 more days per month than happy employees; and those of us surrounded by family and friends are 50 percent less likely to die at an early  age than those of us with no social life.  Adam says happiness is growing his own carrots, Justin says his laptop provides him happiness, Ana says playing and watching soccer provides her happiness, Emma's bulldog, Gary's martini, and the list goes on and on.  The article goes on to say that people can be happy in a variety of ways---among them, by experiencing pleasure; being highly involved---engaged---in what one does at work or at play; having close and supportive relationships with family members, friends, and colleagues; and having a sense of purpose in life.  All these are good but are they not short lived?  What happens when Emma's dog dies or Ana doesn't like soccer anymore?  Greg Laurie says these things about happiness:  Happiness is so important to us as Americans that it is actually in our Declaration of Independence.  As you know, it states that among other things, we as Americans are "endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."  The Bible talks about happiness, but it defines it in an altogether different way than our culture does.  When we read the Word "happiness" in the Bible, it is speaking of something that is not self-contained.  In other words, you can experience happiness regardless of your circumstances.  The happiness the Bible advocates does not come from what you have.  It isn't dependent on whether things are going well.  It comes from who you know.  And the "who" I am referring to is the Lord himself.  A really happy person is hungry for the things of God.  You go and you have a good meal of Bible study and worship.  You dig in and are satisfied.  But you are hungry afterward and want to do it again.  That is a good sign, you see.  That is a sign of a happy person---a person who is walking with God.  We should be growing in faith.  We should be growing spiritually.  Blessed---or happy---are those who continually hunger and thirst for righteousness.  Are you satisfied with your Spiritual state right now?
Your brother in Christ,
p

Sunday, January 16, 2011

The Holy Spirit-Only He can give you a change of heart- Matt. 12:34-36; John 3:8

Hello and good morning everyone,
The Holy Spirit is the only hope for us to stay in line with how the Lord wants us to speak!  Matthew 12:34-36 tells us, 'You brood of snakes!  How could evil men like you speak what is good and right?  For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.  A good person produces good words, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart.  And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak.'  John 3:8 tells us, 'Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit.'  The Holy Spirit simply helps us to worship and keeps us on track to help us keep our eyes on Him and not get distracted.  He helps us understand the Bible and He prompts us to do what is right!  Jesus tells us in John 16:8-11 three important tasks of the Holy Spirit:  'And when He comes, He will convince the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment.  The world's sin is unbelief in Me.  Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see Me no more.  Judgment will come because the prince of this world has already been judged.'  Simply said, the Holy Spirit is our connection to the Father!  Throughout the course of a day, we make decisions based on the information we filter through our hearts.  Good info in, good results out!  Bad info in, bad choices out!  The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity setting up shop in our hearts.  When we come to know Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit is our gift to protect our hearts from making bad decisions.  Points to consider:  Jesus reminds us that what we say reveals what is in our hearts.  What kinds of words come from our mouth?  That is an indication of what is in your heart.  You can't solve your heart problem, however, just by cleaning up your speech.  You must allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with new attitudes and motives; then your speech will be cleansed at its source.
Your brother in Christ,

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Distractions are a constant struggle-Colossians 3:2

Hello everyone,
It seems as though around every corner, our minds race with the distractions that are in our path!  Retail has zoned in on getting our attention and using advertising that hits right at the heart of our salivary glands!  Many things come in various shapes and sizes that we crave to have in our possession.  Fast food gets us interested in an appetite when we aren't even hungry.  The electronic junky era has us owning the tv that virtually has people walking into the living room of our homes.  The list goes on and on of the many distractions that the modern age has introduced to us that makes it difficult to keep our priorities in check!  We buy things that we don't need but more importantly we justify buying things we can't afford.  Even if we can afford them, we buy more things on the spur of the moment than we ever have!  We skimp on our tithe to buy the speed boat that ends up taking us away on the weekends keeping us from worshipping the Lord who allowed us to have the boat!  Everything in moderation is our intent and before it is over, moderation gets left behind!  We justify that we need to get away because of the pressures we have created to pay for the things we can't afford to use.  Messed up thinking leads to messed up relationships!  Remember the days when you had less which means humility was something you really appreciated!  The more stuff we have, the easier it is to lose sight of what should be our priorities!  Colossians 3:2 says, 'Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.'   Everything you possess in this physical world has a life expectancy of a few minutes up to a few years and at max your lifetime.  We spend most of our income on things that don't make a hill of beans!  Everything you possess in Jesus Christ's Spiritual world lasts an eternity! Which one makes more sense for an investment?  If you want to talk about return on your investment, I would suggest option number 2!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

If you knew the day of your death-Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Good afternoon everyone,
I don't want to sound morbid, but I think it is very important to know that none of us really know the day that our death is going to happen.  In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, the author tells us everything has a season, a time for every activity under heaven; a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; a time to weap and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; a time to search and a time to count as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to be silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.  Since none of us know the time, don't you feel like you should always be ready?  You don't go to church stinky, do you?  You get cleaned up!  100% of us will eventually have to meet with our Creator at some point!  Don't wait till the last minute to get ready for that 'big day!'  Is there anybody that you have differences with that you need to settle the score?  Not in a vengeful way but in a Christ loving way!  Do the people that are closest to you really know how you feel about them?  If you had 24 hours left on this earth, what would you do?  Who would you spend it with and where would you spend it?  Life really should be about looking at our relationships and always looking at improving them.  Hurt feelings are hard to overcome as I can attest to my 21 year old son!  There are so many things that are hard to let go of and if you are hurt, it is hard to see through the forest for all the trees.  He says he has forgiven me, but his statements indicate that he is still very angry!  Prayerfully, I hope we can talk and work out our differences.  For all intensive purposes, you don't have control over what other people feel but you do have a choice on how you feel!  I use to be depressed because I wanted my children to respond in a way that would be pleasing to me!  I can not control another persons mind!  All I can do is trust that He will soften hearts and help where needed.  Don't wait till tomorrow to do what needs to be done now! 
Your brother in Christ,
Paul

Monday, January 10, 2011

Birthdays are a Blessing from God! Colossians 1:10

Hello everyone,
Wow!  What a day this has been.  I have put off joining facebook for the longest period of time.  I just felt as though I had no additional time to devote to any other projects or activities concerning the computer.  Well you only have your birthday once a year and in all my birthdays I have never received so many 'Happy Birthday' responses.  And being on the the road some 1500-2000 miles away from home, I had been dreading being by myself.  So a big thank you to Kelly Ferguson for getting me to join a number of months ago!  The Scripture you see at the top with the title is for my day!  'And we pray that in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way:  bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.'  Birthverse; Everyone has one.  What is yours?  What can you recite to draw you closer to the One who created you?  All you need to do is type in birthverse and it will take you to a link that will give you your own verse for you to claim!  I've been carrying an accountability coin in my pocket over the last couple of years that I received from a men's retreat and it has the same scripture on it!  God is so good!  If you look for the opportunities to further seek Him, He will open up the most incredible adventure you will ever go on!  I encourage each of you to get on board with me so that we can celebrate together!!!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Friendships-Proverbs 13:20, Proverbs 17:17

Hello and good morning to everyone,
       I've always been for the most part easy to get to know but friendships are something I've had a hard time developing.  For most of my life I've been what is called a 'fair weather' friend.  When times get tough and something pops up that makes me uncomfortable or something comes out that I just don't like about that person, I've run the other direction.  And you can't mix being a total partier during the week and clean up on Sunday in your best and expect God to be pleased.  Friendships should really be about accumulating friends over your lifetime that you can hold on to!  Who your friends are say much about you.  In Proverbs 13:20, we are told that whoever walks with the wise will become wise; whoever walks with fools will suffer harm.  Wow!  I've always liked folks who are the life of the party, but the problem is they seldom stick around after the party!  My choice of friends has definitely changed over the years.  The old phrase you can have your cake and eat it too is really a selfish idea because too much of a good thing is really a bad thing!!  I still like to be the life of the party but you know it is a different kind of party now!  My desire is to throw a party 365 days a year in honor of the One who has given me new life and that is Jesus Christ!  The friends he has sent me over the last 10 years are folks that I call  'the salt of the earth!'  I'm talking about you guys!  When my wife and I first got married, Deborah would ask me why I didn't stay in touch with my former friends!  The more I got to thinking about it, the more I realized the majority of the friendships I had over the 1st forty years of my life; they were those fair weather friends!  Great to be around but commitments were very shallow!  I want you to know that I cherish each and everyone of your friendships.  The Lord gave me a wife that sees through all the barriers that I try and put up and she has made me look at my real motives!  If my motives are about me, I'll disappoint 100% of the time.  If it is about others, I disappoint the people I love a lot less!  I've been reminded many times by you guys how to model being a friend.  When I've struggled, I had you hold my hand until I could stand on my own!   When I needed to cry, you've cryed with me!  When I've prayed, I seen the face of God smile down of each of you at different times.  When I lost my dad, I had your love to help me get through it!  When I've disappointed each of you, I've seen the face of God in how you've forgiven!  Thank you all for being in my family!  May we build on those friendships that are pleasing to Him! 
       Your brother in Christ,
       p

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Blessings upon Blessings-Numbers 6:24-26

Hello everyone,
Wow!  I want to start today's devotional with telling you how incredibly blessed I am!  I want to boast for my Lord and Savior.  There is nothing I do on my own that is any good but when I unselfishly do stuff in the name of Jesus Christ, I reap rewards beyond description.  Oh by the way, I hope you can say that for yourself also.  If you can't we need to talk or prayerfully by the end of this devotional, you will feel blessed as well!  Nothing and I mean nothing really happens by chance!  If something happens, it ultimately is about choices.  Some choices we make are good ones and some choices we make are not so good!   Yeah I know some things are not in our control but the next step is our choice.  When I get in the way and I don't listen for His 'still small voice', I usually go down a path that leads to trouble.  On the other hand, when I stay connected with Him, I have His hand on every minor or major thought that comes out of my very small brain.  A lot has happened since the Christmas Holidays started.  One of the blessings that has come about is the ability to be home and off the road for approximately 3 weeks; another is the opportunity to catch up on honey dos that have accumulated over time; getting to know my spouse intimately and learning her love language (no I'm not referring to sex);  and the list goes on and on!  I was recently hit from the rear in my brand new car and as I prepared to exit my car to investigate the damage, I was approached by the driver of the other car and he immediately apologized and in the pouring down rain, he actually witnessed to me as we exchanged information, inviting me to church.  In every situation you have a choice to be a shining light for Him or you can feel as though your world is spinning out of control.  When you have your next issue and you will, let me suggest that you trust that the Lord will steer you through it and teach you His wisdom along the way!  Numbers 6:24-26 tells us that there are 5 parts to an a blessing (asking God's divine favor to rest upon others):  'May the Lord bless you and protect you.  May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.  May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace.'  Now, don't you also feel blessed?
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

New Beginnings-Genesis 1:1; Numbers 20:1; 2 Samuel 12:20-24; Luke 23:38

Good morning everyone,
Everybody needs a 'fresh start' or a 'new beginning' and what better time to do that than right now!  Think of it as a clean slate with no junk in your backpack!  No unnecessary baggage to have to carry!!  Woo Hoo!  We are reminded of new beginnings all throughout the Bible:  Genesis 1:1 tells us that, 'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.'  Numbers 20:12 says that Moses disobeyed God's direct command and thus was not allowed to enter the Promised Land but that disobedience did not keep him from serving the Lord all the remainder of his days.  2 Samuel 12:20-24 tells us that David chose to worship the Lord instead of blaming Him over the death of his child.  In Luke 23:38, Jesus tells the people not to weep over what is happening to Him, but rather be concerned about what is going to happen to them!  In all these cases, there is a time of reflection and a time to start a fresh!  Each of us have choices to make in the days ahead.  I pray that each of you will consider spending your first moments of each day getting your instuctions from the One who cares about your new beginnings.  It doesn't matter what you've done or how much you've disappointed Him; it matters that you are willing to lay all your excuses aside and trust that He has important things for you to discover and even though you've disappointed Him time and time again, He is the 'Great Forgiver' and He can still use you.  
Your brother in Christ,
p

Monday, January 3, 2011

Intimacy with the Father-Genesis 2:25

Good afternoon to all,
Intimacy is a word that is so misunderstood!  In Genesis 2:25 it says, 'Now, although Adam and his wife were both naked, neither of them felt any shame.'  Have you ever noticed how a little child can run naked through a room full of strangers without embarrassment?  He is not aware of his nakedness, just as Adam and Eve were not embarrassed in their innocence.  But after Adam and Eve sinned, shame and awkwardness followed, creating barriers between themselves and God.  We often experience these same barriers in marriage.  Ideally a husband and wife have no barriers, feeling no embarrassment in exposing themselves to each other or to God.  But like Adam and Eve (3:7), we put on fig leaves (barriers) because we have areas we don't want our spouse, or God, to know about.  Why?  Then we hide, just as Adam and Eve hid from God.  What?  Hiding from God!!!  You can't hide from the Creator!  He knows every hideout you can imagine even though you may think you are the best 'hide and seek' contestant ever!  In marriage, lack of spiritual, emotional, and intellectual intimacy usually precedes a breakdown of physical intimacy.  In the same way, when we fail to expose our secret thoughts to God, we break our lines of communication with him.  Today is January 3, 2011 and I challenge each of you to be 'real' in the coming year!  If you are married, you owe your Lord and your spouse your honesty!  I'm holding myself accountable also!  Instead of feeling threatened and creating barriers, ask God to clear your heart of any obstacles.  Meet your spouse where they need to be met and reach out to them without any ulterior motives.  If you are single, you aren't off the hook either!  The Lord still needs your intimacy (honesty)!  The more we become crystal clear, the less space we have to hide things and the more we grow in our relationships and this pleases God!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Reconnecting or being connected-Ephesians 1:17-19

Hello and Happy New Years to all,
Connected is defined as affiliated, attached, related, coupled, linked, wired, or on-line!  If you lose connection, the signal is lost and a state of confusion or being lost can result.  A good signal on a GPS will usually get you to your destination by giving you instructions to secure that you get there in a timely fashion!  If that signal is lost, it will continue to try and search and dependent on whether or not it reestablishes a signal could determine if you stay lost or not!   That analogy works the same with relationships.  They take time and effort to make sure that they continue to grow.  The ones that you spend the most time with have the greatest tendency to be successful and stay connected.  Think about the relationships you have in your life and think about the following scripture:  'Ask God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you Spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.  I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future He has promised to those He called.  I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance He has given to His people.  I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of His power for us who believe Him.'  Jesus Christ wants to dine with you regularly and show you what relationships He wants you to be actively pursuing, so get your GPS signal from the One who will always keep you on course and keep you connected!!  This past weekend, Deborah and I reconnected in our relationship as we spent time together in the mountains of California and began sharing with each other what we wanted to see happen and how excited we were of what God has already done in our lives!  My prayer for each of you is to think about the relationships that are important in you life and ask God to show you which ones are really important and where He wants you to spend the majority of your time.  Of course, this starts with Him first!
Your brother in Christ,
p