Saturday, April 30, 2011

Hope in a 'Risen Savior!' Philippians 1:21

Good Friday morning to all,
A week ago yesterday was the day set aside for celebrating 'Good Friday!'  When we think about 'Good Friday', I'm reminded of how much our Savior suffered on that day for all of mankind!  Death was the result of all the beating but death was not the end!  1 Corinthians 15:55 says, 'Death is swallowed up in victory.  Oh death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?'  After He died, Jesus continued to do what He said He was going to do and that should give us the best 'Hope' on the planet.  He arose on the third day!  Fortunately, our Lord did not stay in the tomb!  When He was nailed to the cross, He died and nailed to that 'old rugged cross' every sin that mankind has committed, is committing and will commit.  On the third day, He arose again to give every human being an opportunity to live for Him!  His resurrection was a sign that even death could not keep Him in the grave and He showed His 
'Great Love' as an example of dieing to self and resurrecting to newness of life.  Every human being needs to die to self before they can have the gift of eternal life with the Savior.  If He hadn't risen, their would be no hope!  Do you realize the magnitude of what is at stake?  Your entire eternity is riding on your choice to serve the risen Savior or to continue to serve your own selfish ways!  If I told you that serving Christ comes with a price but that price has already been paid in full, what would you say?  The debt is much more than monetary value.  It has eternal value!  Live today and celebrate the fact that your future lies in a 'Risen Savior!'  He is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Philippians 1:21 says, 'For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.'  Live for Christ and you will live for eternity!!!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Friday, April 29, 2011

The intersection of abandon and abound! Romans 6:1-2

Good morning everyone,
Romans 6:1-2 says, 'What shall we say then?  Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?  By no means!  How can we who died to sin still live in it?'  The 'old self' is gone and the 'new self' is reflected in who we are in Christ Jesus!  When we think about the ones that set the example for us to live like Christ, Paul immediately comes to mind.  You are talking about someone who did a complete 180 and abandoned that old self to sin and methodically lived out his days for Christ!  Did he struggle with doing things that reminded him of his old self?  Sure he did, but instead of focusing on the past, Philippians 3:13b-14 says, 'forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.'  He didn't waller in the mud!  He didn't let satan dictate his calling!  Instead he sought the face of Jesus with 'wild abandonment!'  Do you struggle with doing the things you don't want to do?  Well if we are honest, we probably all do.  But the beautiful thing of following Christ is He removed all that old baggage you were carrying and He didn't intend for you to take it back.  He wants you to trust Him with your whole heart and know that He is there when you stumble.  He is there to help you regain your balance and plunge forward in Jesus name!   1Thessalonians 3:12-13 says, 'and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.'   Brothers and sisters, He made you to serve others and show them the love of Christ!  Get out there, don't look back, and serve with 'wild abandonment!'
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Is Jesus truly Lord of your life? Psalm 18:25-30

Good morning everyone,
When you start thinking about what you are thankful for, what is the first thing that comes to mind?  This morning, it is though God has given me a new sense of direction.  When everything is taken away, even if it is for a brief period, the situation has a tendency to put everything in prospective.  When God touches you with His still small voice, do you listen or do you chalk it up to indigestion?  He wants to desperately touch you in a way that you see the immediate need to do a 180 degree turn in your life.  I say desperately because either you do those 180's or you end up going in the wrong direction.  Are you going in the wrong direction?  Let me give you a sense of where I'm going with this devotional.  Every time I open up completely and let the Lord direct my thoughts and actions, I am amazed at the results.  The biggest honor, privilege, and sense of awe is not tied to what I physically own or do but it is in the work of the Holy Spirit through my life and the lives of the people I care for and love!  When I make right decisions, it is evident in seeing God work in and through me!  Wednesday morning I was able to pray with my best friend (Deborah), my beloved daughter Ariel and hear from my dear friends Todd and Gary and share my story of how God gave me a choice of either complaining about my displaced luggage or take the mess and turning it into something beautiful.  The more we allow Him to fill us up, the less room satan has any place to roam around and distort the 'Truth!'  As I'm writing this devotional, I'm honored to have over 100 individuals that I send this to daily!  It is my desire that the Lord give me 1000's to encourage and steer to Him.  We all have choices and may it be your choice to serve Him today.  Ariel shared this scripture with me on Wednesday morning and I really want you folks to listen to the 'Mighty' and 'Powerful' words of encouragement it offers.  Psalm 18:25-30 says, 'With the merciful You show Yourself merciful; with the blameless man You show Yourself blameless; with the purified You show Yourself pure; and with the crooked You make Yourself seem tortuous.  For You save a humble people, but the haughty eyes You bring down.  For it is You who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.  For by You I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.  This God---His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.'  May we all seek His as we prioritize Him to be Master of our lives!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Remain Faithful with the Little that You have! Luke 16:10-13

Good morning everyone,
God is so good not just some of the time but all of the time!  It is amazing to me to see His hand at work when we are without.  When I didn't have luggage for a day and a half, I came to the realization how much I appreciate clean clothes and the effects of toiletry items.  Everyday, I get up and shower, put on a fresh set of washed clothes, and the list goes on and on of the things that I take for granted.  It is amazing how the last 36 hours has reminded me about how so many folks wear the same clothes over and over again.  They don't have the convenience of a freshly laundried shirt that is neatly pressed.  In fact, taking a warm shower and having soap and shampoo are very seldom.  Sometimes I take two showers or more a day depending on how smelly I get.  These last 36 hours have been like a whirlwind, but the Lord who created me, has never been closer.  Sometimes the distractions that we view as conveniences keep us from giving Him the attention He wants so badly!  When you have little, you focus in on the immediate much more than when you have plenty!  I was able to tell everyone I spoke with yesterday about how the Lord got me to Corpus Christi safely and that He gave me strength and alertness that my tired and weary body should not of had.  He allowed me to have an extremely successful day even though the amount of sleep I got was minimal!  Instead of me complaining about my poor situation, I let Him use me to show everyone about His 'Great Love!'  Luke 16:10-13 tells us, 'One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.  If then you have not been faithful in the uprighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?  And if you have not been faithful in that which is anothers, who will give you that which is your own?  No servant can serve two masters, for either he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and money.'  Remember the following:
       Happy moments, praise God!
       Difficult moments, seek God!
       Quiet moments, worship God!
       Painful moments, trust God!
       Every moment, thank God!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

When Life seems like a Whirlwind! Nahum 1:3

Good morning everyone,
I have so many things to share with you that it is hard to know where to start!  I got up on Monday morning early to prepare to go to the airport not realizing this day was going to be different than most.  I usually travel out of Ontario but this Monday I had to leave out of LAX in Los Angeles.  On a good day, it takes approximately 2 hours to drive and turn in a rental.  I left home at 5:30 a.m. and arrived at LAX around 9 a.m.  The roads were packed and the security lines were out the door of the terminal and down the street.  I walked up to the gate as they were beginning to board the plane for a 10:05 a.m. departure.  The plane left as scheduled and as we approached DFW (Dallas Fort Worth), storms in the area made us circle for approximately 1 hour.  We still couldn't land so we were diverted to Oklahoma City to refuel.  Stayed in Oklahoma City for approximately 1 hour before returning to DFW and in turn missed my connecting flight to Corpus Christi.  The next plane for me to take was 6:00 p.m. Tuesday evening because of all the back up list of passengers.   I knew that I needed to be in Corpus Christi for a 10:00 a.m. meeting on Tuesday morning.  The only alternative was to get a rental car and drive the approximate 425 miles.  By this time I knew that it would take more than my abilities to pull that off but God is so faithful and at 2:00 a.m. Tuesday morning I pulled into Corpus at my hotel.  Moral of the story!  God gives strength to the powerless.  God told me that He would protect me and He also told me that there were a bunch of people that needed to hear about His Love here in Corpus Christi, Texas.  That they were important and that if I weren't here, then they may not get the opportunity to hear about their benefits.  Sometimes we need to realize that a much greater 'Power' is in control than the power that we possess.  When life seems like a whirlwind, let the One who can calm the storm take over!  Nahum 1:3 says, 'The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.  His way is in the whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.'  With a power that great, the storms of your life are a piece of cake for Him to calm!  Give them to Him so whatever comes your way, He will shine through!!!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Friday, April 22, 2011

Prayer for Spiritual Strength! Ephesians 3:19-20

Good morning everyone,
As I awoke this morning, I received a phone call from my daughter Ariel (a great blessing) and we prayed about some medical tests that she is going to have later today.  Would you please keep her in your prayers?  She is going to have an ultrasound on her neck where there appears to be some lumps.  I was directed to Ephesians 3:19-20 which reads, 'and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.'  Wow!  Those verses are powerful because even when we don't understand what is going on around us, He does.  When we see through His eyes, how much more does He clarify what may have seemed cloudy?  If we are filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit, what happens to the overflow?  I get excited to think about the overflow being His reflection.  When we live a life according to Him, we are the seed of Hope for those that don't know Him!  To surpass knowledge means you might not understand everything that is going on and for just reason. Don't question why things are the way they are but instead ask Him to use you so others can see Him at work through you!!!  Ask Him today to allow you to be the generator of light and hope for those who are lost and need to seek the 'Power' that will save!!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Circumcise your heart! Philippians 3:3

Good morning everyone,
When you think of circumcision, you might think of a surgical procedure that is used for religious, cultural or health reasons.  It involves an incision of sorts but instead of the physical aspect,  I want to focus on the Spiritual aspect!  Philippians 3:3 says, 'For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.'  Colossians 2:11 says, 'In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ.'  Christ Jesus doesn't care about you using your body to identify the connection with Him near as much as He wants you to let Him take a scalpel to your heart and cut out anything that keeps you from Him.  He wants to transform your heart so that you are connected with Him by the core of who you are and not how you look!  So many of us get tied up in our physical looks and we overlook the beauty of a 'circumcised heart.!  Have you ever met someone that has, what I call, an inner beauty that makes them much more attractive than their physical makeup.  When we truly open up our heart letting Christ cut away all the clutter with His 'Spiritual scalpel', then we see life in a whole different perspective!  Ask God to fillet your heart so that He can perform 'open heart surgery' on you so you can connect with folks in a way that is pleasing to Him.  You will never be the same!!!  Woo Hoo!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Lost in translation! Hebrews 13:8

Good morning everyone,
Modern technology is moving faster than I ever thought possible.  The telephone is one of the many electronics that amazes me when I think back over the past 45 years or so!  Not only can we use our telephone to talk on, but that same tool can be used to email, use as an answering machine, receive text messages, have Internet access, play games, use as a flashlight and the possibilities go on and on.  What was a very basic instrument to communicate on has now become a complex work station to help you determine whether you want to respond or not!  You had no idea who was on the other end of the phone line up until the invention of the answering machine so you simply had to pick up the phone when it rang or you missed the opportunity to personally connect.  The invention of all of this modern technology has its down side because even though we can do so much more, we seem to have lost the personal side of connecting with people.  I can pick and choose who I want to have a conversation with and sometimes that means I can ignore someone if I make that choice!  What if the Lord decided to do that to ignore you when you decided to pray?  Fortunately He doesn't do that!  He doesn't decide which prayer He is going to listen to.  Simply said He has not lost any communication skills in the passing of time!  Hallelujah!  When your phone rings next time, consider the fact that the person who is calling you, maybe they need to talk because maybe they are in a situation that pushing them to voice mail may be like pushing them over the edge!  Think about it!  Has modern technology changed who you are and the way you 'personally connect' with people?  Fortunately Jesus has not changed one bit!  Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  
Your brother in Christ,
p  

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Spiritual Warfare! Ephesians 6:11

Good morning everyone,
If I were to ask you this question, what would you say, "Are we in the middle of Spiritual Warfare?"  The enemy (satan) is alive and is ready to attack and destroy if you do not put on the full armour of God!  Ephesians 6:11 says, "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."  It is a constant battle and if you want the life and freedom that Jesus offers, you are going to have to be prepared.  The closer you get to Jesus Christ, the more satan is going to attack your very core.  Galatians 5:1 tells us, "For freedom, Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery."  Sometimes we as Christians go through what I call a cyclical latter approach in our relationship with our Savior.  Think back for a moment with where you've hence come.  Before you knew Christ, you did as you pleased when you wanted and you answered to no higher power.  In the rat race of things, you saw an emptiness that was not being filled in your life and you got fed up with being fed up.  Christ was pulling on your heart strings to ask you to let Him in so He could be Lord of your life.  Whether you did this at an early age, you did it recently, or you are considering it now; once you ask Jesus into your life, don't think like most; that things are going to get easier.  Let me tell you, that is a lie!!  The more you surrender to the Savior, the more satan wants to steal you away!  Your future has been made secure, but that doesn't mean that it is going to be a walk in the park.  When people live a life that is not committed to the Savior, satan has you where he wants you and that place is called 'limbo.'  Limbo is not really committed to anything.  Not preparing, after you've made the decision to follow Christ, allows that craziness of going in circles and up and downs in your relationship!  Putting on the full armour allows you to resist the things that satan says you can't live without!  With every victory, the attacker will come at you and overtake you unless you have the 'Sword' drawn!  Choose this day whom you will serve.  But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15). 
Your brother in Christ,
p

Saturday, April 16, 2011

In need of open heart surgery! Psalm 147:3

Good morning everyone,
In the book Walking the Dead by John Eldredge, he talks about all of us having broken hearts!  It doesn't take a major assault like sexual abuse to create a broken heart.  Many good people assume they haven't any real brokenness because they haven't endured the horrors they read about in the paper or watch on TV.  If Jesus is not dwelling in your heart, then you are in need of heart surgery!  Matthew 13:15 says, "For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.  Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them."  The Great Physician wants to hear you say that you need Him to dwell in your whole heart.  Psalm 147:3 says, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."  The heart is really the center piece where our physical and spiritual meet!  Over the course of the life of an individual who lives 75 years, an average heart will pump approximately 52,012,500 gallons of blood.  Without it pumping, you are done physically.  Over the course of the life of an individual who lives 75 years and refuses to have 'Spiritual' heart surgery, they are done forever!  Ask the Lord to perform open heart surgery on you today and let Him consume your whole heart!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Friday, April 15, 2011

Greetings! Romans 1:1-7

Good morning everyone,
Everyone of Paul's letters start with a greeting and he identifies himself as either a servant, an apostle or both.  Each time he addresses the people he is writing to, he lets them know that he has been sent by God and he is writing because he loves them.  His heart is revealed in the closing lines of each greeting by saying, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."  He is literally reassuring them who sent him so they will know that he is authentic!  Anything and everything that you need to know to grow in your Christian walk is included in his letters.  I just had the most amazing conversation with my daughter Ariel and we both agreed that all the letters that he wrote are examples of how our heart should be for this world.  Paul was not a man ashamed of representing our Lord and Savior.  He got right to the meat of the matter in letting people know what he was about and who he served!  Can you say that for yourself?  Who do you serve?  In Romans 1:16, he says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes."  The key words in that verse deal with choice.  Not a single person in this world is left out of that opportunity if they will only believe.  That same offer is for you and me.  Choose this day whom you will serve and don't hesitate in showing how much God loves you.  Paul the apostle is sending you his greeting as well as Paul the devotional writer!  My heart goes out to each one of you today as I write this devotional and my encouragement to you is to stop this very moment what you are doing so that you can say a quick 'Thank You' to the Father!  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Your brother in Christ,

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Walking in the Light! 1 John 1:5-10

Good morning everyone,
Have you ever tried to get around in the dark?  I frequently stay in different hotels around the country and some nights I'll wake up and forget where I'm visiting!  For a brief moment, it is a very strange feeling.  We familiarize ourselves with the path that leads to the restroom at home so we can turn on the light to see but on the road I've found myself in some strange spots.  Unable to find a light switch to get my bearings, I've been frustrated to the point of having to ask God to show me the way.  For God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all.  If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the Truth.  But if we walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the Truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.  Why do we wait until it is a last ditch effort to ask God to turn on the Light?  He is the Light and if we have Him dwelling inside of us, then that illumination will guide us and we won't be frustrated!  We won't end up in places we don't recognize!  Ask Him to be your 'Guiding Light' today so that you will become a reflection of who He is!!  Who knows, it just may be the difference that helps someone else find their way to the Light!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

You can't outgive the Giver! Isaiah 40:29

Good morning everyone,
I want to remind everyone this morning that He gives hope to the hopeless!  And that means that we all were hopeless before we came to know Him.  But even then, sometimes we struggle with the issues that we have to deal with and satan trys to put doubt in our beliefs.  This morning, my good friend and brother in the Lord, Scott Arnold is in the hospital.  Yesterday, he developed symptoms that would be consistent with having a heart attack.  This morning he hangs in the balance and I reach out to you to ask you all to pray for healing!  Scott is a man after God's own heart and to know Scott makes you a better person.  I don't know of a person that loves the Lord more than he does.  It is obvious when you get to know Scott that Jesus is his best friend.  He makes me want to have a heart for the Lord like he does.  Isaiah 40:29 says, "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength."  Pray that Scott's strength will be renewed as it says in Isaiah 40:31, "But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not faint."  Even when our life hangs in the balance, You are the One that we run to Father.  Our physical health is temporary but You are eternal.  Thank You that we have You to seek and with that is the reward for spending eternity with You.  Thank You for giving so much through the man You created in Scott Arnold.  May we all continue to seek Your face like Scott does!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom! Proverbs 3:13

Good morning everyone,
It seems more and more we get caught up in the rat race of life in how we measure our worth!  Why is it that we let the world dictate how we think instead of letting the Word of God be our guide?  In Proverbs 3:1, we are instructed to trust in the Lord with our whole heart.  "My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments."  3:13-14 says, "Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain for her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold."  He doesn't say that the man or woman with the most toys gets a free trip to heaven.  In fact the more toys you have, the more distractions you have.  Have you ever been in a situation where you were in way over your head?  And then someone gave you Godly advice and the weight was immediately removed!  We try so many different ways before we try God's way and every time we do that, we are going to be frustrated.  But when we try it God's way, the result may not turn out the way we thought it would, but it is the way that turns out best.  If someone wants to give you advice, test it with scripture so that you are not trying another lost cause.  The result will be as it says in Proverbs 3:21, "My son, do not lose sight of these--keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck."  One of my favorite songs by Toby Mac says I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul!  Are we after wealth that will last forever or we after wealth that will dissipate?  Ask God for wisdom by seeking His face and getting to know the One who cares about what you are building for your future! 
Your brother in Christ,
p

Monday, April 11, 2011

Don't be ashamed! 2 Timothy 1:8

Good morning everyone,
If there was ever a reversal of the way one lived his life, Paul is the perfect example.  He went from persecuting those that believe to being the one who was persecuted.  His conversion and conviction were so dramatic that He encouraged other believers to not be ashamed even to the point of death.  Consider it a joy!  In 2 Timothy 1:8-9, he encourages Timothy by saying, "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began."  Wow!  Even before time began, God had a purpose and you were included in that purpose!  Hallelujah!  If the Creator can take time to make you an important part of history, can you not speak boldly for Him and not be ashamed about Him?  I don't know about you, but I'm ready to serve the One who loved me so much that He gave His life up for me!  Father God, help all of your children to not be shy or ashamed of who you are but help us to be bold in sharing the gospel and loving people where they are!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Friday, April 8, 2011

Obedience produces deep roots! Colossians 2:6-7

Good morning everyone,
Last night as I closed my eyes, I was thankful that it was time for rest!  Have you ever been so tired that you closed your eyes and you were out like a light!  Evidently the electricity went off and in the middle of the night (probably early morning) I rolled over and saw that it was 12:00 a.m.  I smiled because I thought to myself that I can still get 4 1/2 hours more of sleep before the alarm.  After tossing and turning later on I looked and the clock still read 12:00.  Gut feeling told me that it was much later than that.  It was and I overslept about an hour and fifteen minutes yet I still ended up on time for work.  The point of all this confusion is really about how God knows what you need and if a little extra sleep is it, then He will make it available and still keep you on course.  His ways far exceed anything we can comprehend even when it doesn't make sense to us.  Our obedience to Him is required so that our roots will grow down into Him and draw up norishment from Him (Colossians 2:6-7).  If we are faithful in the little things that we do, He will help us to grow in our faith and be strong and vigorous in the truth that we have been taught.  Paul ends by telling us to let our thanksgiving overflow for all He has done.  Go out today in Jesus name and show what the deep roots of God's Love is all about!!!!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Thursday, April 7, 2011

What in the world is happening with all the Chaos? Isaiah 34:11

Good morning everyone,
Chaos seems to be happening all around us and it seems as though one tragedy is happening after another!  Do you become numb about it or do you take time to pray for the folks involved?  Our world and the exact location that it sits in is mind boggling to understand how we exist!  Just a few degrees tilted differently or a few miles closer to the sun, we would either freeze to death or burn up.  When someone says that they believe that we are just a 'big bang' in the making, I wonder if they ever take time to realize how silly that sounds!  Everything and I mean everything is as precise as He sees fit in order to allow there to be life at all!  For someone to think that it just happens without the Creator being involved, it makes me wonder why they would choose to think that way!  Our world is ever shifting, adjusting and changing and sometimes we get caught in the middle of that and the result is loss of life!  How important is it to be connected to the Source that allowed you to have the last breath that you breathed?  We are all living on borrowed time and if you believe what the Holy Bible says, you better get ready to meet Him face to face!  Maybe just maybe, chaos is allowed so that He can get our attention!   Is He getting yours?  We live so independent of Him until we need something or until there is chaos and then we wonder how and why things happen?  Sometimes we spend too much time trying to figure out things we will never figure out.  Trust Him to show you what is important so you will know how to spend your time!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Hands and Feet! 1 John 4:17

Good morning everyone,
We were made for something much greater than you can even imagine!  Symbolic of who He is, He has ask us to be an example of His hands and His feet!  Audio Adrenaline sings the song titled 'Hands and Feet' and it is one of my favorites.  The lyrics go as such:
     An image flashed across the TV screen
          Another broken heart comes in to view
         I saw the pain and I turned my back
          Why can't I do the things I want to?
         I'm willing yet I'm so afraid
          You give me strength
         When I say

                      (Chorus)
         I want to be your hands
         I want to be your feet
         I'll go where you send me
         I'll go where you send me
                      (Repeat)

         And I try, yeah I try
          To touch the world like
         You touched my life
          And I find my way
         To be your hands

         I've abandoned every selfish thought
          I've surrendered everything I've got
         You can have everything I am
          And perfect everything I'm not
         I'm willing, I'm not afraid
          You give me strength when I say
                      
                      (Chorus)

He wants to take you as you are, broken and wounded, scared and afraid, because He can use anybody to build His kingdom.  If you can imagine for a minute, even with all your previous mess ups, He can still use you to spread the same love that He represents!  No, you don't have to get all gussied up before the process begins.  If you are willing and not scared (famous words of John Ferguson), then ask the Lord to use you right where you are at and let the process begin and live a life worthy of the Lord!  Can you imagine having Him touch you when you are face to face with Him hearing these words, "Well done good and faithful servant!" 1 John 4:17 says, "And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.  So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face Him with confidence because we are like Christ here in this world." 
Your brother in Christ,
p   
            

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Don't ever stop praising the Savior! Psalm 30:11-12

Hello everyone,
All of us were created so that we can live a life worthy of Him!  Will we ever duplicate 100% of the example that Jesus Christ lived?  No way, but that should not allow us to slack on giving an effort less than 100%.  None of us know exactly how long we are going to be on this earth but all of us have been given this moment!  Can you imagine how pleased the Lord will be when you leave this place if you are praising Him even in the face of death!  As I look around at the things that are happening right before my eyes, I see friends and loved ones who are dealing with much on their plate.  Some have recently died and others are facing their mortality as I write this devotional.  In fact, if I were to sound like the writings in Ecclesiastes, everything is of no value unless it is of service for the King!  We spend much of our time building our personal wealth and for what reason?  Some of the loved ones that I see going through those trials are really at a loss.  They simply don't want to acknowledge the true sickness they have and that is Spiritual sickness.  I frequently remind myself that the time I have left is less than the time I had yesterday!  For the Christian, physical life is a vapor in the expanse of eternity and it is the growing stage into becoming a mature disciple of Jesus Christ!  Ask the Father to help you to never stop praising Him so that it will encourage others to want what you have already been given!  Remember to let God turn your wailing into dancing; your sackcloth to be removed and it to be replaced with joy and for your heart to sing praises and to not be silent.  Praise the Lord forever!  Psalm 30:11-12  
Your brother in Christ,
p

Monday, April 4, 2011

Don't waver! That is our instuction! Hebrews 10:23-24, 31, 35-36

Good morning everyone,
I know all you have felt at times or maybe even right now you feel as though you have nothing to hold on to to give you the confident assurance of hope that Jesus promises!  Verse 23 says, 'Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.'  No matter how many people have let you down in your life, Jesus will do as He has already promised!  You can take it to the bank and really that is worth a lifetime of living in itself.  Verse 24 goes on to say, 'Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.'  There is a warning that He gives us in verse 31 and that is, 'It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.'  In this verse He is referring to the judgment that will fall on those who have rejected God's mercy.  Verses 35-36 give us the answer to what we need now so that we can win the race of endurance.  'Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens.  Remember the great reward it brings you!  Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God's will.  Then you will receive all that He has promised.'  I don't know about you, but that promise is better than anything anyone can ever give you while living on planet earth.  Remember His promise is eternal.  All other promises will fade away! 
Your brother in Christ,
p

Friday, April 1, 2011

Do you feel as though your ministry is important? Mark 16:20

Good morning everyone,
If you look at all the early missionaries of the church, we could name Phillip, Peter, John, Paul, Barnabas, John Mark, Silas, Timothy, Luke, Apollos, Erastus and many others.  They too were just ordinary people like you and I with an exceptional story to tell.  God sent them out to share with everyone about His incredible 'love story!'  It really is no different today.  If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you too have been commissioned to tell the story!  Have you ever thought about yourself being a missionary?  All you have to do is share what Jesus has done for you.  You don't have to bang people over the head with a stick, but Jesus wants you to encourage the discouraged, love the unloved, and take time with people who are short on time.  Don't think of all the reasons you have to not minister.  Think of all the reasons that you should give the same hope that Jesus gave you!  For the next person you meet today, ask the Holy Spirit to give you the words to say that opens a door to share about His miraculous love!  And then think about meeting that same person when you meet Jesus face to face!  Make Him smile today about the way in which you present yourself!  You are a disciple of Jesus Christ brothers and sisters!
Your brother in Christ,
p