Monday, May 30, 2011

Memorial Day! 1 John 3:16

Good morning everyone,
Today as a nation, we celebrate this day to remember all the ones who have come before us that have served to keep this nation 'a land of the free!'  That freedom has come at a price that is very hard to measure because many of those that have served did so with their life!  No other nation in the world has enjoyed the freedoms and opportunities that we have enjoyed!  As we celebrate today, help us to thank our Lord and Savior for the ultimate sacrifice that He gave by giving His Son as a 'sacrifice' for all.  When I think about all the men and women who have sacrificed their lives for you and I and they most likely didn't even know us personally, that blows my mind.  1 John 3:16 says, 'This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.'  Stop for a moment and thank the Savior for allowing you to live in the country with the most freedom on the planet!  May your day be filled with attitude of gratitude for God allowing you to live in such a time as this!  Remember our Savior and thank Him for the example of living out the definition of Love!!
Your brother in Christ,
p   

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Command is to love one another! 1 John 3:11

Good morning everyone,
It seems we find every reason under the sun to make our own rules up as we make our way through life without ever consulting the Book that gives us the really important principles about how to live!  One of those principles is really simple but we (myself included) really make it difficult.  1 John 3:11 says, 'For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning that we should love one another.'  We don't have to go out and create the model.  It has already been demonstrated through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  He perfected it and He was the forerunner for us to follow suit.  1 John 4:16-17 says, 'So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.  God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.  By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as He is so also are we in this world.'  It is a constant battle to love without expectations.  When we love because our hearts are in the right place, 'Amazing Love' will be the result.  In order for lost people to desire the love of Christ, we as Christians are commanded to demonstrate it!  Otherwise they get from us what they are already getting; false hope!  Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a heart that wants to love a world that is lost and disheartened!  Start that love at home and let it flow wherever you go so others will ask you why you have that extra 'twinkle' in your eye!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Monday, May 23, 2011

Disaster after disaster! Ezekiel 7:5

Good morning everyone,
I come to you today with a heavy heart and I feel like crying for all the folks that seem to have been effected by the recent onslaught of storms that have taken place.  Ezekiel 7:5 says, 'Thus says the Lord God. Disaster after disaster!  Behold it comes.  Disasters seem terrible for those that go through them but for the rest of us, we disconnect our feelings and emotions to a certain degree until they hit right in the middle of our own world.  Yesterday evening, a tornado hit very close to where 2 of my children live and their lives were spared.  89 other individuals (and the toll will likely be higher) were not as fortunate.  Businesses, homes, entire neighborhoods were completely destroyed.  The landscape of Joplin, Missouri looks like a war zone.  Pray for those folks that they will find peace and comfort in the Lord Jesus Christ.  My daughter Ariel is standing in line as I write this to you waiting to help with the clean up process.  Disasters are going to come!  Will you be ready when disaster hits your life?  Our only hope is in Jesus Christ.  We all could be gone in a flash!  No second chances!  Once dead, always dead!  While you have breath to breathe and blood pumping through those veins, pray that God will be the center of your universe.  Those 89 people were here one minute and gone the next!  They had no time to get ready.  Pray that the family members of the deceased will draw close to the Lord and commit their days to Him.
Your brother in Christ,
p

Thursday, May 19, 2011

He began a good work.......let Him finish it! Luke 14:30

Good morning everyone,
As I come to you this morning with what God has laid on my heart, I can't help but think about the incredible picture that God is painting for your life and mine.  Even before He created you, He knew that you were important enough (even in the big picture) to take the brush and complete each stroke even though He knows what it is going to look like when it is complete!  Does that not blow you away?  I know it does me.  A good building project takes a 'good foundation' or it will not stand for the long haul.  Luke 14:30 says, 'The natural man can build, but he will never be able to finish any Spiritual thing that he starts.'  It can't be finished because it is not being completed according to God's plans!  God created you so that you would realize this painting, this building project cannot be completed unless you allow Him to direct every stroke or allow Him to establish the foundation that will withstand the test of time!  All of our days are numbered and none of us know exactly how many we are going to get.  He does though and each one of them is important to Him regardless of what you think!  Instead of looking at today as another day of just getting through it, ask Him to reveal to you something that you haven't noticed lately.  Ask the Father to consume you with a new passion and wisdom to take the remaining days you have left and glorify Him.  You will be eternally thankful!!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Hungry for the Savior! Matthew 25:35

Good morning everyone,
So many people are hungry but they are not getting fed with food that is good for them!  As I sit here at Coco's this morning having a bite to eat, I'm reminded of how important our bodies need to be fed but that is only a temporary fix.  Each time we eat, our bodies use the calories we consume until we need to do the process all over.  If we stop eating, soon our bodies would stop functioning all together.  Our soul is the same way!  If we don't get fed Spiritually, our soul starts to wither and if ignored long enough, it will eventually die with our bodies.  As I have gone through the motions these last few weeks (everything has been a blur), I'm reminded of how God has never left my side even though I've not really had the opportunity to give Him the time that He needs.  Fortunately I had enough in my tank to recall those Scriptures and Promises to get me through those extremely busy times.  Deuteronomy 31:6 says, 'Be strong and courageous.  Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.  He will not leave you or forsake you.'  What a great promise!  It is really important to know that we all go through times that we have to go through the motions.  Is your tank full enough to get you through those times?  Ask the Lord to fill you up to the brim so that it will sustain you when you can't make sense of the things that are happening!  Matthew 25:35 says, 'For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.'  Pray for those that don't see a need for being filled up with the Savior.  Ask Him to touch their heart cords so that they can see the need to be hungry for the Savior!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Daniel was cast into the lions den! Daniel 6:16

Good morning everyone,
If we worship any god other than the One who created us, we are worshipping the wrong god!  In Daniel 6:16, we find Daniel being tossed into the lions den because he refused to worship those other gods.  'Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions.  The king declared to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!"  Daniel believed with his whole heart that God would deliver him, whether it was a physical rescue, a Spiritual rescue, or both!  He never hesitated in his conviction of serving the Almighty God.  Do you have that strong of conviction who you are serving?  God is the same today that He was yesterday and the same that He will be tomorrow!  If we are to serve Him with our whole heart, we need to ask Him to clean us up regularly(daily) or we lose sight of who He is!  No matter how pretty the picture is of the god that is being offered to you, if it ain't GOD, it is a lie!  Go out today and serve the 'Risen' Savior, because no matter the cost, the end result is your 'Reward' that lasts for an 'Eternity!'
Your brother in Christ,
p

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Where does time fly? Philippians 4:7

Good morning everyone,
It seems as though I've not been able to catch my breath lately and so the long work days have disallowed me from doing the blog and for that I apologize for the absence.  It doesn't change the fact that my heart goes out to you daily and I think of you often!  Even though we are absent from each other, may the peace of God still be with you!  Philippians 4:7 says, 'And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.'  No matter what whirlwind is happening in your life or will happen, know that God can provide that peace that passes all understanding!  Hallelujah!  Instead of fighting a fight that you will never win, let God's peace take you through any trial that you come up against.  And then never forget to praise Him all along the way because remember that everything you face now is temporal in the race for eternity!  God Bless each of you and keep fighting the 'Good Fight!'
Your brother in Christ,
p

Monday, May 9, 2011

Your heart should be treated as the treasure of the Kingdom! 1 Timothy 6:20

Hello everyone,
I was able to speak at the mens prayer breakfast on Saturday and I spoke about a very important topic especially in God's eyes; your heart!!  1 Timothy 6:20 says, 'O Timothy guard the deposit entrusted to you.  Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called 'knowledge' for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.'  Three words really stand out to me in that Scripture.  Guard is the first one because satan is out to seek and destroy and if we don't protect our heart by filling it to the brim with the knowledge of God, we will not be able to withstand his attacks!  Secondly, deposits are those things that you are filling up your heart with and if you are filling it with bad things then you have nothing to sink your teeth into to fight back!  And thirdly, swerving simply means not staying on course.  Verify everything that you hear by checking it with the Word of God!  If it doesn't match up, it is not good Spiritual food.  Your heart should be like a reservoir and not like a desert canal!  Think about this analogy:  Rains fall and fill a canal to the brim and even overflow its banks but as quickly as the rain stops, the canal quickly becomes empty because of the run off into its tributaries.  There is no way of storing the water for later use.  On the other hand, a reservoir is a dam of sorts that holds a large source of water to utilize as needed when the rains are far and in between.  The reservoir can continue to feed the canals even when the rains stop.  Your life source, your heart, is the reservoir of your soul.  The veins and arteries are the canals that feed your body.  They transport the rains (your blood) through your body so that we sustain life!  If your heart is not overflowing (not working) with love, joy, peace, patience (fruits of the Spirit), then the life source (your heart) will stop functioning like it was intended.  Think of your heart as a reservoir to hold the things of Christ and He wants the excess (runoff) to be a reflection to others so that they can see who Christ is in the way we live!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Friday, May 6, 2011

The importance of Fellowship! 1 Corinthians 1:9

Good morning everyone,
When you make the decision to follow Christ, you become a target for satan to attack!  Are you ready for the assault!?  Let me give you an example.  Have you ever been bated?  Someone comes into your presence and trys to get you to take the bate to see if you will continue to represent Christ or will you fall into the trap?  Your life has become magnified in how you are looked at!  Everyone of us likes attention but attention that pulls us into that trap that satan has set needs to be avoided at all costs.  If you are promised the world but it is going to compromise your 'walk', do a 180!  Gaining the whole world but losing your soul (Toby Mac/Kirk Franklin/Mandisa) is what satan wants!  Christ wants to protect you!  If He can save a soul, He has spent a fortune on you that can not be measured monetarily because the value is eternal.  As my friend 'Fergie' would say, 'don't be scared!'  Get yourself an accountability partner(brother/brother or sister/sister) and become crystal clear so nothing is more important than your soul!  Be totally honest with that brother/sister and realize that friendships that are Christ based endure even when you find out your brother/sister is a mess!  Your accountability partner should be like it describes in 1 Timothy 3:7.  'Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.'
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Joy Overflowing! John 15:11; 2 Corinthians 8:2

Good morning everyone,
Is your heart so full that it is overflowing with joy or does satan have you focusing on all the mishaps, the what ifs, the drama of life?  Jesus says in John 15:11, 'These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.'  The analogy of a glass full to the brim of anything doesn't allow any addition or it will overflow!  If you fill a heart with joy until it overflows, others will see the hope that they can have in Christ Jesus.  2 Corinthians 8:2 talks of the trials and extreme poverty that the Macedonian churches were going through and yet they still had overflowing joy!   Instead of complaining, their extreme poverty welled up into rich generosity!  What situation are you going through that you could choose to change your attitude so that Christ could begin to fill your heart with joy?  You see, many of you have situations that are Blessings to me because of the gratitude and joy that you demonstrate.  My heart goes out to some of you because you are trapped into believing satan's lie that God doesn't love you.  Whether you have extreme poverty and that could mean finances, health, or a combination, Jesus Christ wants you to shine even in the midst of that!  He wants to 'shine' through your situation even though it may seem hopeless at best.  If you can just shout out to the Lord right where you are at and ask Him to change your heart this minute, you will begin to see the transformation that He so badly wants for you!  Don't feel like you have to do the changing yourself or you will never do it because you can't do it!  It really is an over abundance of joy that Christ is giving to you and nothing that you can create.  Ask for that transfer right now and start living the life that the Savior intended for you. 
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

What if the Lord came to You? Would you recognize Him? Luke 24:13-35

Good morning everyone,
I was just reading a very recognizable scripture from Luke 24:13-35 titled 'On the Road to Emmaus.'  If Jesus Christ were in your presence, would you recognize Him?  I think a lot of us would say that we feel we would recognize Him but even those closest to Him didn't until their eyes were opened.  How many times in your life do you believe that you have actually entertained angels?  Hebrews 13:2 says, 'Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.'  When you have an opportunity to serve or be served, which option do you pick?  Matthew 20:28 says, 'even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.'  The perfect model for us is Jesus Christ, yet we spend much of our time being served instead of looking for an opportunity to serve.  Ask the Lord today to help you see and take actions when opportunities come about.  Don't get too busy to not see why you were made!  1 Peter 4:10 says, 'As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.'  Go forth in the precious name of Jesus and proclaim the example of His 'Gracious Love' and see what impact He wants you to make!  Be a reflection of who Jesus is so that others will realize that there is hope in Jesus Christ!
Your brother in Christ,
p   

Monday, May 2, 2011

Turn inconveniences into opportunities to praise! Galatians 6:10

Good evening everyone,
Travel this week was almost to a tee what the previous week was with one exception.  I flew to Corpus Christi from Dallas instead of driving.  Same bad windy, rainy, stormy weather with a little break in the action for us to be able to take off.  Previous 2 flights for the day were canceled and this was the last opportunity until tomorrow!  When we relax in His arms, regardless of how we get to where we are going, He will ultimately take care of us!  As I sat on the runway for approximately 1 1/2 hours waiting to hear the outcome, I couldn't help but think about having to drive another 7 hours down to Corpus Christi.  It is sort of crazy how satan has a tendency to mess with your mind reminding you of previous inconveniences.  What he doesn't know is how I had fellowship on the previous 7 hour trip with the Savior!  If the Father felt like I needed to drive another 7 hour trip with Him calling the shots, I had decided that He knew that I needed to spend more quality time with Him and I was okay with that!!  All around me, I could hear people grumbling and trying to explain to others on the phone why they were unable to fulfill their obligations.  For myself, I asked the Lord to use my time effectively for His glory so I read Scripture, did a Bible study and prepared for the men's Prayer breakfast this next Saturday!  Sometimes an inconvenience is really more of getting our attention and directing us to do what He wants and not what we want!  That 'still small voice' is the key with our walk with Him whether we are on a plane in a storm or in the middle of an oasis.  When you are inconvenienced, are you a complainer or do you look for an opportunity to praise Him!  Galatians 6:10 says, 'So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.' 
Your brother in Christ,
p