Monday, February 28, 2011

Obedience when it is seems impossible! Matthew 26:37-38

Good evening to all,
Sometimes it takes more than just trusting to do what you know you have to do!  Have you ever felt as though the pressure on you to remain obedient is just too much?  The next time you feel that way, read Matthew 26:37-38 to give you strength to remember what our Lord and Savior went through!  (37) He took Peter and Zebedee's two sons, James and John, and He began to be filled with anguish and deep distress.  (38) He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.  Stay here and watch with me."  There were three things that caused Jesus to be in great anguish.  (1) His approaching physical pain; (2) separation from the Father; and (3) death for the sins of the world.  Even though His divine course was set, in His human nature, He still struggled.  Hebrews 5:7-9 says, 'While Jesus was here on earth, He offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could deliver Him out of death.  And God heard His prayers because of His reverence for God.  So even though Jesus was God's Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered.  In this way, God qualified Him as a perfect High Priest, and He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him.  Jesus was human just like you and I and because of that, He can relate to your suffering.  That trusting that I talked about opening up this evening has to be coupled with action in our relationship that we have with the Father because He is the source of our strength.  We learn obedience the same way that He did and that is letting God be your pilot and not just your co-pilot!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Be Still and Know that I am God! Psalm 46:10

Good morning everyone,
Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still (silent-New Living Translation) and know that I am God!  I will be honored by every nation.  I will be honored throughout the world."  War and destruction are inevitable, but so is God's final victory.  At that time, all will stand quietly before the Lord Almighty.  How proper, then, for us to be still now, reverently honoring Him and His power and majesty.  Take time each day to be still and to exalt God.  Most of us have to be doing something in order to feel as though we are accomplishing something.  God doesn't necessarily want us doing something all the time.  He really wants our attention so that He can give us His instructions.  If we are faithful in the 'little stuff' that we do, the more He will trust us to handle the 'big stuff!'  Hebrews 3:14 says, "For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ".  Isn't that exciting?  Remember life is a marathon, not a sprint!  Verse 15 says, But never forget the warning.  "Today you must listen to His voice.  Don't harden your hearts against Him as Israel did when they rebelled."  Remember that His timing is 'perfect timing.'  Psalm 95:7 says, "for He is our God.  We are the people He watches over, the sheep under His care.  Oh, that you would listen to His voice today!"  Romans 15:6 is a good verse for all of us to follow to be obedient to our Creator.  "Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."  Today, choose to honor our Lord by exalting Him in everything that you do!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Friday, February 25, 2011

Giving Up is not an Option! Matthew 9:22

Good morning everyone,
Matthew 9:22 tells us that there was a woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years with little or no hope in sight.  That is until Jesus came by her and because of her faith, she believed she could be healed by just touching His robe.  Wow!!  Jesus turned around and said to her, "Daughter, be encouraged!  Your faith has made you well."  And the woman was healed at that moment.  When you feel like giving up, who do you turn to?  Is your faith strong enough to get you through those times of doubt that we all go through?  Sometimes we have to take our eyes off of our self to see what someone else is going through for you to realize your dilemma is not that bad!  Does the Lord have to hit you over the head a number of times before He gets your attention?   We serve a God that wants our every thought whether they are good are bad so the Holy Spirit can help you decide what to chuck and what you should hold on to!  God can change your situation regardless of how long you've had to put up with it!  The woman in the verse was considered unclean.  For 12 years, she had been considered one of the 'untouchables' and had not been able to lead a normal life.  But Jesus changed that and restored her.  Sometimes we are tempted to give up on people or situations that have not changed for many years.  God can change what seems unchangeable, giving new purpose and hope.  That includes you and me!!!  If you ever get to that point where you feel no one understands, let me encourage you to cry out to the One who does understand and that is your Lord and Savior!  Also, encourage each other because your path just might go across someone else that is ready to give up!  Give them what you've already been given!
Your brother in Christ,
p   

Thursday, February 24, 2011

'Pressing On!' Philippians 3:12-14

Good morning to all,
When you feel like you can't go on, what verses do you lean on to help you stay on the straight and narrow?  I was in Vegas over the weekend as a bystander while Deborah attended a Speech conference!  We both decided quickly that being on the strip is not a good place to be.  Many different ways of promoting women in sexual ways that is just not right.  Since I'm not a gambler, and I don't appreciate young girls being sold for sex, I became very bored very quickly.  We both decided that if you're not crazy and a gambler when you get to Vegas, by the time you leave, you are for sure!  Ha!  Since it was raining when we arrived, I wasn't able to run out doors so I thought I would go down to the workout facility and utilize my time in a good way.  Well it cost $25 a day to go to the workout facility so I decided I would use the Internet to complete my expense reports for the week but that was a charge of $14 daily.  Even to send an envelope was a surcharge of $6.  'Sin City' is the title that Vegas has and for just reason.  People say that they go to Vegas for business but I'm not sure what kind of business.  It is a city that never sleeps and as I left to fly back to Indianapolis, I was sadden by all the distractions that I saw while visiting.  Deborah even commented that she was tired when she left especially needing to replenish her hearing because of the loud noises 24/7!  Being gone from home for 1 week makes me homesick but this time I will have been gone for 3 weeks and I'm in need of replenishment, restoration and spending time with the fellowship at 'Living Truth!'  When you are tired and you want to give up, use the verses in Philippians 3:12-14 to help you maintain your walk.  'I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection!  But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be.  No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing:  Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.  I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.' 
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

When the rains come, are you ready to weather the storm? Matthew 7:25

Hello everyone,
Do you feel like it is always raining on you?  If so, do you have the 'foundation' that you need in order to weather the storm?  I'm sure a lot of you feel as though one storm is barely over before the next deluge hits!  Matthew 7:25 tells us that the rains came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the Rock!  Is your foundation on the Rock?  There have been times that all of us were ready to throw in the towel and say the words, 'I quit.'  A great verse to help you persevere when you want to give up is Romans
5:2-4 which reads, 'through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Rain that constantly beats on you has a tendency to wear you down so put on the full armour of God so that you can endure the storm!  1 Thessalonians 1:3 says, 'We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.'  May each of you hold on to that hope even when it doesn't make sense and that endurance will reveal the 'Son' in a way that you've never seen Him before!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Humbling Ourselves in Honor of the King! II Chronicles 7:14

Good evening everyone,
I've been so busy that my schedule has me doing the devotional in the evening for the present time instead of the morning.  I prefer to get up and do this the first thing but God has me doing it when He wants and for good reason.  When I have too much time on our hands, I've learned that I get  distracted by the things that take me away from worshipping Him!  That point is really the main focus of the devotional this evening.  If He wants you to quit doing something that is not good for you, He will let You know.  Are you willing to listen to Him for that still small voice so that the Holy Spirit can steer you back on course?  II Chronicles 7:14 is a great verse for each of us to read daily to answer the question, 'Are we willing to humble ourselves in honor of the King?'
The verse reads, 'If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.'  In fact that would be the best verse for our entire country to follow for healing and restoration.  One of the devotional recipents, Terry Harbin, did a sermon including this verse but reminds us that this verse is not a 'get out of jail free card.'  Instead it should be a verse that we model our lives around and pray that we live in a way that is worthy of Him!  God is in the business to restore souls!  There are four conditions for forgiveness:  (1) Humble yourself by admitting your sins, (2) pray to God, asking for forgiveness, (3) seek God continually, and (4) turn from your sinful behavior.  True repentance is more than talk-it is changed behavior.  Whether we sin individually or as a nation, following these steps will lead to forgiveness.  God will answer our earnest prayers!
Your brother in Christ,
p   

Monday, February 21, 2011

Pray Without Ceasing! 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Good evening everyone,
Prayer is the most untapped source of power on the planet.  When we think about 'without ceasing,' we think about nonstop.  Literally that would be impossible to physically pray nonstop.  But what the Scripture is referring to is about relationship!  The New King James version of 1 Thessalonians 5:17 is closer in verbiage to relationship than literally praying nonstop when it says, 'keep on praying.'  To pray without ceasing is to serve the Lord with all your heart and live in a continual state of awareness that God is good and He is with you.  Your ongoing conversation with Him throughout the day is the prayer that He wants, not your wish list!  Mark 1:35 says, 'The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray.'  Jesus took time to pray.  Finding time to pray is not easy, especially with all the distractions that we face, but prayer is the vital link between us and God.  Like Jesus, we must break away from others to talk with God, even if we have to get up very early in the morning to do it.  Prayer involves growing in intimacy with God.  May God richly bless you as you experience your prayer life becoming a natural routine instead of a last ditch effort crying for help.
Your brother in Christ,
p

Sunday, February 20, 2011

70 X 7-Matthew 18:21-22

Good morning brothers and sisters,
As I awake this Sunday morning, I pray that all of you have spent time with the Father and have gotten your instructions for the direction He wants you to head!  There is a Christian song on the radio these days titled 7 times 70 times by Chris August and it really is the core of Matthew 18:21-22.  Then Peter came to Him and asked, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me?  Seven times?"  "No," Jesus replied, "seventy times seven!"  A couple of lines in the song addresses the need for forgiveness!  'I'll do what it takes to make it right' and the power of healing that goes along with forgiveness when he sings, 'there's healing here in this house.'  Google it and be Blessed (7 x 70)!  Seven is the perfect number!  After all the Lord created the entire heavens and the earth and all of humanity in six days and rested on the seventh!  There is completeness in the number seven.  We are to forgive our brother 70 x 7 which represents an unlimited number of times!  Who do you need to go to and ask for forgiveness?  Colossians 3:13 says, 'Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one and then forgive as the Lord forgave you.'  It seems that we often forget that we have been forgiven many times more than we deserve yet we hold others on a higher level of accountability than we do ourselves!  As you continue your day, ask God to reveal to you just who might be the one you need to connect with so that you can 'make it right!' 
Your brother in Christ,
p

Friday, February 18, 2011

Roughed Up But Still Standing-Romans 8:38-39

Good morning everyone,
Have you ever felt as though you were under water in need of coming up quickly for air and if you didn't, you were going to pass out?  Sometimes the pressure that we put ourselves under or the demands of what others expect is just about too much to handle!  There have been some incredible moments these last few days in encouraging others and seeing God work, but there have been times that I felt as though I wanted to throw in the towel.
One of those moments was when I was at a work location with a co-worker and it seemed as though our work site had changed and one department was telling us where to work and another was saying something totally different.  One of the Chancellors was left standing for a period of time at the original location that we were supposed to meet.  Out of frustration I voiced my concern about the disorganization and those comments were taken out of context.  Before I knew it, I was having to say an apology for something that I didn't totally understand!  Interestingly enough, at first when I was approached by my case manager, I was offended and hurt.  I didn't feel as though I had said anything wrong but after praying about it, I responded to the offended party in an email and they took the apology genuinely.  The moment I sent the apology, the Holy Spirit ministered to me and comfort immediately consumed me.  Isn't it amazing when we do it in Jesus name, good things happen?  If we do it for any other reason even if we think it is for the right reason, people are still hurt in the end.  An apology in Jesus name, whether the offended party accepts it or not, is an apology that our Father accepts.  Isn't He the One that we need to please anyway?  Pleasing the Father is the most important thing that you will do today because He is the One that loves you even when you mess up!  Romans 8:38-39 says, 'And I am convinced that nothing can ever seperate us from God's love.  Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can seperate us from God's love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to seperate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.' 
Your brother in Christ,
p

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Is your audience One? Deuteronomy 10:12

Good morning everyone,
Do you pick and choose who you want to have as your brothers and sisters?  Well physically, we don't have a say in the matter!  It was decided for us by the Creator.  And the family that we choose to be a part of to fellowship with where we worship is hopefully decided by our Creator also!  Did you consult the Father where you worship or did you just randomly do it like we do so many things?  Shouldn't the Father decide who your adopted family should be?  He knows who needs to be loved more than you do!  In other words since we can't change who we are physically related to and since our Lord is the One who decided, why should we complain!  Rejoice in your earthly family and ask the 'Audience of One' how should you minister to them?  On the other hand, those closest to us are as different as the snow flakes that fall but in the family of God, we can all play a distinct an important role.  You do have control over where you worship and those are the folks that you've been adopted into, so praise God that a group of people who barely know you were willing to accept you for the brokenness that you are!  Isn't it time to accept your birth family for who they are and be the Light that Jesus ask you to be instead of complaining about all the mess!  Even some of Jesus' family denied Him so why do we think that it is strange that we have relatives that don't believe?  Shouldn't it be our job to commit to praying for them daily and ask God to make those prayers fruitful?  Do your work willingly as though you were serving the Lord and not for yourself?  Thank Him for both of your families, your birth family and your adopted family, and get to work serving the One who gave you life everlasting!  Deuteronomy 10:12 says, 'And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.'
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Hope for the Hopeless-1 John 3:11

Good morning everyone,
1 John 3:11 says, 'For this is the message from the beginning:  We should love one another.'  We don't have a choice to pick and choose who we want to love!  We should love one another.  Period; end of sentence!  Now I know some folks are just plain hard to love but our Creator instructs us to love even the hard ones to love.  Have you ever considered that maybe, just maybe, the person that you encounter may have had a terrible past and they don't know how to love.  It may take your special touch to show them how to love.  Hebrews 6:11 says, 'Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.'  As long as you have breath to breathe and blood is pumping through your veins, you are instructed to give hope to the hopeless.  Why?  Just think about the box you live in and if someone else had not shown you the kind of love I'm talking about, you would still be trapped!  Celebrate and ask God to show you how He wants you to proceed with the path that He has mapped out for you!  When He gives you the opportunity, the hope that you give someone may be the difference that they need to be free from the trap that has bound them.  Consider also that this is something much bigger than who you are and with His assistance, all things are possible.  Hebrews 6:19 says, 'This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.  It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary.'  If someone is lost, beat up, been thrown out or been tossed around, how do they know anything about love unless we show them?  No you are right in saying that you can not love so and so.  Paul, they are just not lovable!  But with God's hand on You, even the worst of the worst have hope!  Go out today in Jesus name and ask Him to show you where to begin!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Refusing to do nothing! Luke 9:23

Dear friends,
If you are God's chosen, what are you willing to do to prove that 'Love?'  By the way, anyone willing (not necessarily able) to take up their cross and follow Him daily; they are the ones that are God's chosen.  Our Savior didn't make it so tough for us to follow Him that we had to be a rocket scientist.  In fact, He made it very simple to commit to Him.  We seem to chose to take a different route many times that are not consistent with that simplicity.  We either aren't ready at the moment because we have a need to experience life still and that doesn't include Him or we refuse to do anything so it looks as though we don't know any better!  He continually waits at the door of your heart that He is knocking on to see if you are willing to begin the relationship.  We resist because we are stubborn and we feel that we will be considered weak if we become dependent on anyone other than ourselves!  Denying yourself is the real battle that you face.  Jesus tells us in Luke 9:23, "Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me."  We establish many bad habits that we cling to and for what reason?  They all cause us to be miserable in the end!  He wants to cleanse us completely of all that baggage.  When you release anything that has held you captive, you will find 'true freedom!'  Begin the journey by asking God to remove anything that blocks the relationship between you and Him!  Next, ask Him to give you the freedom that you so desire to live in your life!  By the way, He wants that even more than you do!!
It all starts by giving Him your attention before you even have your first cup of coffee each day!  
Your brother in Christ,

Monday, February 14, 2011

The Art of Apologizing-1 Corinthians 6:1-11; Romans 6:6; Luke 9:23

Good morning everyone,
Yesterday evening was a real treat because I was able to be included in our 'home builders meeting' via skype.  A few technical issues but because of modern technology, including a cell phone, we were able to pull it off.  For any of you who don't know what home builders is, let me explain.  Ever other weekend on Sunday afternoon, Deborah and I have had the distinct pleasure of facilitating a couples group on building stronger marriages.  We are covering a book on 'The Five Languages of Apology'.  Because I think it is so important not only for couples, and because I feel apology is one of the hardest things for humans to do, I would like to give you a summation of what we discussed and maybe it will help you.  When you apologize from the heart, you crucify the issue to the cross!  The conclusion to an apology is 'I was wrong;' 'Can you please forgive me?'  When you ask for forgiveness and admit that you were wrong, you are turning away from that wrong and essentially asking Jesus for mercy whether or not the person forgives you.  We specifically talked about expressing regret.  'Expressing Regret' is the Apology Language that zeros in on emotional hurt.  It is an admission of guilt and shame for causing pain to another person.  For those who listen for 'Expressing Regret' apologies, a simple 'I'm sorry' is all they look for.  There is no need for explanation or 'pay back' provided the apology has truly come from the heart.  Expressing regret is a powerful Apology language because it gets right to the point.  It doesn't make excuses or attempt to deflect blame.  Above all, 'Expressing Regret' takes ownership of the wrong.  For that reason, 'Expressing Regret' is understood as a sincere commitment to repair and rebuild the relationship.  It speaks most clearly when the person offering the apology reflects sincerity not only verbally, but also through body language.  Unflinching eye contact and a gentle, but firm touch are two ways that body language can underscore sincerity.  We all are prone to saying things or doing something that is hurtful to other people.  Afterall, we are human!  Romans 6:6 says it best!  We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.  Don't delay what you need to do any longer.  Go to your brother or sister and ask for forgiveness!  You don't need to carry that baggage any longer and the freedom you will feel will be 'life saving!'
Your brother in Christ,

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Blessings for God's People-Joel 3:16-18

Good morning to all,
As I awake today, I'm reminded of God's Blessings throughout my life.  Even when I've been unresponsive to His call, He has continued to protect and watch over me.  God's chosen ones have been persecuted from the very beginning and they will be persecuted until His return!  In Joel 3:16-18, He assures us that His people will be Blessed upon that return.  (16) The Lord's voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth will shake.  But the Lord will be a refuge for His people, a strong fortress for the people of Israel.  (17) "Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, live in Zion, My holy mountain.  Jerusalem will be holy forever, and foreign armies will never conquer her again.  (18) In that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk.  Water will fill the streambeds of Judah, and a fountain will burst forth from the Lord's Temple, watering the arid valley of acacias.  The here and now is only temporary and it is the preliminary stage for what is to come.  Christ assures His children that no matter what they go through (trials and tribulations), they will ultimately be with Him in paradise!  When you feel life is just too much for you and you want to quit, remember that He is ready to help you endure.  I can't think of a better way to Bless His people than to assure them that physical mess is just temporary and Spiritual reward is waiting!  He wants you to be Blessed way beyond your own imagination.  1 Peter 1:6 says it best:  So be truly glad.  There is a wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.  In closing today, I pray that you realize life is full of preparation (whether you like it or not) to prepare you for what is to come.  Stay close to Thee so that you begin to see the correlation between the now and the Blessings of your Lord and Savior!!!
Your brother in Christ,
p

p.s. Remember:  The past is history;
                           The future is a mystery;
                           Now is a gift!
                           That's why its called the 'Present!'

Saturday, February 12, 2011

What does it mean to grow up in Him? Ephesians 4:15

Hello and good morning,
Everyday that becomes a reality, we should ask ourselves are we maturing in a way that is pleasing to the Father?  Ephesians 4:15 (NIV) reminds us; 'Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into to Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.'  Pryor to that, Ephesians 4:13 (New Living Translation) tells us that, 'This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.  Life is a process!  Our Lord made us all very similar with very distinct differences.  A lot of us look very similar in that you probably have a twin unrelated to you in this world!  Physically there is no difference down to every nook and cranny of your structure.  But the personalty of even identical twins ranges from mild to extreme differences.  No two snow flakes are exactly alike as no two individuals are exactly alike!  When you start wishing that you look different than what you are and for folks who have all this plastic surgery, I think those people are very disillusioned!  They have forgotten who made them and the fact that we are in a temporary body!  This is the makeup our Creator gave us for the party here!  Instead of spending a whole lot of time on how we look physically, why don't we spend time on how we can Spiritually grow closer to Christ.  Your Spiritual makeup is the secret to your well being, not your physical makeup.  You can ask anyone who has had multiple plastic surgeries and most will tell you that they still feel empty or they expect to have more because in reality they can't stand the sight of looking older.  News alert!!!  We are all going to die!  There is no stopping reality!  You are in a temporary body and accept what your Creator has loaned you and know that this time on earth is really your Spiritual education for why He made you! 
Your brother in Christ,
p   

Friday, February 11, 2011

Having a servants attitude! Mark 10:42-45

Good morning everyone,
All through the New Testament Scriptures, we see Bible verses about being a servant.  One of the things that really stands out about Jesus to me is the fact that He said he came to serve and not be served.  Do you have that kind of servant hood attitude?  The model for us all to follow is Jesus and to me that is real!  He didn't come to earth in human form to live a life so that we could not follow His example.  On the contrary; He came to be our example so that we could have life more abundantly.  In Mark 10:42-45, Jesus called them to Him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  But it shall not be so among you.  But whosoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."  How many leaders do you know that are willing to be servants?  Or I should say if you want to be a leader, are you willing to be a servant?  The leaders that I know and respect are the ones who don't mind getting dirty and they have never lost touch from where they once came.  They still relate to issues and concerns for the people they serve.  Ironically a good leader serves because they care for people and not because they want to dictate with a bunch of demands.  Whether you want to believe this or not, we are all called to serve!  Whatever capacity you find yourself in, use Galatians 5:13 as your guide.  You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.  May God richly Bless you as you humbly serve the One who gave His life as the ultimate sacrifice for you!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Are you anxious about anything today? Philippians 4:6

Good morning brothers and sisters,
As you wake up this morning, ask yourselves this question:  Is there anything really so important that I stress out about it prior to having to face it?  Philippians 4:6 tells us, 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.'  So as you wake up today know that God is ready to listen to any requests that you have so He can take it off of your plate!  Don't you think it would be time well spent to spend the first few minutes of your day clearing your memory from what you may have worried about all night!  All of us get overwhelmed at times by the weight of all the issues we are trying to handle.  If you feel like your path is a maze before you even take your first step this morning, Proverbs 3:6 would probably be a good verse to remember.  'In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.'  So when your own understanding seems to be muddled, recall Proverbs 3:5.  'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.'  Do you see any type of pattern yet?  The Holy Spirit is your 'guide and helper!'   Why do we try to do things on our own?  It is futile.  It is like trying to fight the most dangerous of all animals with our hands tied behind our backs.  Philippians 4:13 tells you to remember that any situation alone is a lost cause!  But with Christ, all things are possible!  'I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.'  Brothers and sisters, I love you all and His verses assure you that His 'great love' is ready to embrace your every need.  The proof is in the pudding!    
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Introducing those lost to Christ! John 4:13-14

Good morning everyone,
One of the most incredible opportunities for any of us to have while living on this earth is to introduce someone to Jesus Christ!  There is not one individual that can't turn their life around by you offering what you have already been given!!  It really is a simple offering but we make it very complicated.  If you think back in your own life, you also were lost at one point before the Shepherd found you.  Maybe it was someone like you that also was very nervous that told you about His great love because they wanted to share the 'Gift' with you!  That brings to mind what needs to happen in every ones life and that is to be born again.  You don't have to do anything special other than to live your life in a way that is pleasing to the Father.  In John 4:13-14, Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.  But the water I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."  Many people never find that 'spring of living water' because they don't feel as though they have anything wrong with them that needs to be fixed.  Well, I want you all to know that we are all broken in need of the Great Physician.  Jesus asks us to plant seeds and He will take care of maturing those seeds into thriving plants.  I pray that each of you are not shy when given the opportunity to reintroduce someone to the Christ that created them.  Ask the Lord for boldness as you serve Him!
Your brother in Christ,

p.s. Thank you Sammie Cayton for giving me the inspiration for the blog this morning!  I will forward Sammie's email to each of you with a video about a young lady speaking about re-introducing Christ! 

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

When you have little control over your surroundings, does it effect your output? Hebrews 12:1-3

Hello to each of you,
In todays world, a lot of our daily activities have to be changed periodically because of the elements of surprise.  In other words, we have little control over the external factors that potentially can determine how effective we are in our jobs.  If failed appointments, changed schedules, and the like take you off course, how do you continue in a direction that helps you maintain a semblance of being effective? Hebrews 12:1-3 should be our model to emulate so that we can persevere even when it makes more common sense to give up!  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. If we use this Scripture as our model, our daily walk will stay closer to Thee, even when we want to throw in the towel!  He may give you more than you can handle just so you will depend on Him and not on yourself! 
Your brother in Christ,
p  

Monday, February 7, 2011

The day after the Super Bowl! Psalm 149:4

Good morning everyone,
Monday morning and on the road again here in Indianapolis for the next three weeks or so before on to another city.  For you sports fans, Super Bowl 45 was an exciting game down to the wire as everyone expected it to be.  My day involved mostly traveling but I was able to watch most of the second half.  Two really good teams slugged it out until the very end and Green Bay came out on top as the World Champion Green Bay Packers for 2011!  Anytime there is a sporting event to determine a champion, the victory and time on top as the best is very short lived.  As a society, we spend billions of dollars each year to determine who will be crowned champion for another year.  The victory is sweet for the winner for the moment, but to stay on top is literally impossible.  The other 31 teams are gunning for you the following year!  The madness goes on and on from year to year.  Did anyone ever give Jesus a trophy that signified He was Champion of the world even though He came to die for all so that all could spend an eternity with Him?  As a mockery, the people that crucified Him, gave him a crown made of thorns.  They beat Him and then they crucified Him to a tree and all He ever wanted to do was show His love for all!  We place so much emphasis on sports that we make our team a 'god!'  We elevate everyone of the 53 players on each team to a status that Jesus never publicly obtained!  The Savior of the world came to live and die for you and me and all He ever got was abuse and ridicule!  Instead of placing crowns on all the heads of these players, consider this; the victory for them is for a moment; the victory with Jesus is for an eternity!  Crown the One who really cares where you spend it!!  Psalm 149:4 says, 'For the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with victory.' 
Your brother in Christ,
p

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Fear-How faith overcomes it! John 6:18-21

Good morning everyone,
Fear is defined as having reverential awe of God; to have a tender conscience; dread or alarm in facing danger; timidity.  I would like to focus on reverential awe of God first and secondly on dread or alarm in facing danger.  John 6:18-21 deals with both definitions.  (18) Soon a gale swept down upon them as they rowed, and the sea grew very rough.  (19) They were three or four miles out when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat.  They were terrified, (20) but He called out to them, "I am here!  Don't be afraid."  (21) Then they were eager to let Him in, and immediately the boat arrived at their destination!  How many times do we wait until we are scared to death before we call out to the Lord?  He doesn't want us to be in the middle of a mess before we recognize that we need His saving grace!  When we completely trust in God, then we have defined faith at its core!  I want all of you to know that it is not a matter of whether your faith will be tested; it is more about when!  James 1:3-4 tells us that when your faith is tested, your endurance will grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.  All of us go through times where we feel as though we are alone and no one really understands our problems.  Instead of fearing those times, ask God to help your faith overcome them so that you will become strong in character and ready for anything!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Not finishing what you start! Hebrews 11:40

Good morning everyone,
Have you ever started something that you left half undone or you just decided it was too big of a project to be able to finish so you decided to walk away?  Do you have a garage that has become an overpriced storage unit for all the things that you feel someday will be good for something?  I think all of us have tried to tackle projects that are far bigger than we are capable of doing on our own if we are totally honest.  The next time you decide on the spur of the moment to do something really big like tear out a wall to put in a bathroom or something of that nature, it probably is a good idea to have a plan before you start the demolition!  I have a study course I began over a year and a half ago and it is still not complete.  If it weren't for the fact that I had to pay for the course up front, it wouldn't matter so much.  The fact is I paid almost $600 that I could be reimbursed for if I would just get motivated enough to finish what I started.  Hebrews 11:40 tells us, 'For God had far better things in mind for us that would also benefit them, for they can't receive the prize at the end of the race until we finish the race.'  I won't receive a reimbursement until I take the final exam and pass it.  I can come up with all the excuses in the world  but the fact is I haven't really tried to finish what I started completely.  I will study for awhile and then all the distractions of life get in the way and before I know it, I'm another month down the road and still not finished.  That is not being a good steward of what our Savior has provided!  There may be certain things that you too need to hit head on and complete for yourself.  My prayer today is that we all honor our Savior in doing what we say we will do and finish to completion what we start!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Good Intentions-Matthew 21:28-31

Good morning everyone,
You can have the best intentions in the world, but if you fail to follow through with them, how do they benefit anyone?  I ask that question because I too fail to follow through on the promises that I make from time to time!   If that becomes a habit, then people start to doubt what your intentions are and your words become worth very little!  In Matthew 21:28-31, Jesus tells the parable of the two sons.  "But what do you think about this?  A man with two sons told the older boy, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'  The son answered, 'No, I won't go,' but later he changed his mind and went anyway.  Then the father told the other son, 'You go,' and he said, 'Yes sir, I will.'  But he didn't go.  Which of the two was obeying his father?"  Lip service is of very little value if there is no follow through to doing what you say you will do!  In my opinion, Jesus is saying that sometimes it is better to do when we don't want to than to not do what we promise we will do!  The Holy Spirit reminds me often that I need to be the example of doing what I say I will do if I expect the same from others!
It is dangerous to pretend to obey God when our heart is far from Him because God knows our true intentions. Our actions must match our words.
Your brother in Christ,
p