Sunday, December 16, 2012

What mighty things are you grateful for? Luke 1:46-47

Good morning everyone,
As I awake this morning to start my day, I look out the window of my hotel in amazement that yet another day is to begin!  What happened yesterday is history; what happens today is really all that any of us are assured of having!  What happened some 2000 years ago to a small child is still a mystery and who is to say that He might not pick you as a participant in one of His present or future amazing feats.  Luke 1:46-47 says, And Mary said:  "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me---holy is His name."  Mary may have questioned why God picked her to be the mother of the Savior of the world but she was obedient in everything that He ask her to do.  Are you listening to Him to carry out what He is asking you?  If you are like Mary, you probably won't feel worthy of what He is probably going to ask you to do.  The real issue is missing the opportunity of a lifetime.  When we are given an opportunity that is definitely God directed and God's timing, we shouldn't question it!  Instead we should ask God how to carry it out to fruition.  Start by praising Him for the mighty things that He has done for you!  If you are having a mental block about blessings that He is responsible for, let me remind you of one of those.  Each one of you is a blessing in my life and I believe that none of you are happen chance that receive this devotional this morning.  Just like Mary, be available to the Lord first and foremost and then don't question His direction of where He takes you.  Just be willing to hold on by pulling up your boot straps and digging your heels tight into the stirrups!  He is ready to give you the ride of your earthly lifetime!  May God richly bless each of you as you discover how praising Him leads to connection to the One who really cares about your future!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Friday, December 14, 2012

Christmas all year long! Mark 12:43-44; Joshua 24:15

Good morning everyone,
It seems as though I've been hearing Christmas music even before Thanksgiving.  At heart, that is okay with me because it reminds me of a lot of old memories but it also is how I think we should be all year long!  Instead of making it a holiday that you remember about what you got, make an effort to make it a holiday about what you give.  I'm not necessarily talking about physical gifts; I'm talking about giving the gift of your heart.  Do you know how many people suffer this time of year for various reasons; loss of a loved one, homelessness, being alone, being hungry, separation due to miles, financial difficulties and the list goes on and on.  You will quickly forget about the previous gift you were given or you purchased, but I can guarantee you will not very quickly forget serving a homeless person a meal!  It has become very apparent that I have been given way more than I deserve and who knows for what reasons.  We can justify that we deserve things because we work hard for them and we manage our money like we think we should.  Do we manage it like the widow who gave all she had or do we use it to satisfy our own wants and desires.  Mark 12:43-44 says, Calling His disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on."  You may say to yourself that you have no idea where you can help out because there are many scam artists out there that misrepresent being needy.  Remember to ask God to provide you with a need that needs to be met and I promise you He will not steer you wrong!  Look at you own situation and praise Him for something you are thankful for and He will duplicate that blessing.  See, we all have difficulties that we could choose to focus on or we could praise Him for the air that we breathe!  He will multiply ever thankful praise in more ways than you can imagine.  Joshua 24:15 says, choose for yourself this day whom you will serve.  But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Thursday, December 13, 2012

No sense complaining or trying to run away! Jonah 1:10

Good morning everyone,
Sometimes sleep eludes me as well as it does many of you!  You have a choice of whether you lay there and be miserable wondering why you can't sleep or you do something.  Most of the time, I feel it is the Lord telling me to get up because He has work for me to do.  It is times like those that give me some of the best connecting times with Him that I've experienced.  For many years, I've fought restless nights because I thought it was eating too late or just too many thoughts running through my brain.  Sometimes it is one of those reasons but more so than not, it is His way of getting my attention.  He wants to spend time with me and if I'm not going to give Him the time of day during the day (which happens more than not), then He simply wakes me up for His 'special' time!  See, I can run from Him, but when I'm at my weakest, then He simply tells me He has me right where He wants me.  I'm too tired to elude Him and I find that I pour my heart out to Him in those moments.  There is no sense complaining about what is eventually the best thing for me.  It is ironic that we run, a lot of the times, from the things that are good for us.  Are you running from Him?  Moses tried to, David tried to, Jonah tried to and many other Biblical characters tried to.  Jonah 1:10 says, This terrified them and they asked, "What have you done?"  (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had told them so.)  It didn't make much sense because when they became tired of running, they finally decided to listen.  When they did, each of them had 'God life changing' moments!  Are you ready to stop complaining and start listening to Him more intently.  He is persistent and He will accomplish much through you if you will just spend time with Him.  Don't try and figure out the process.  He has a much better plan than the one you are conjuring up!  He knows you because He created you and He wants you to accomplish so much more in His name than you think you are capable of accomplishing.  Jeremiah 1:5 says, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.'  He doesn't make junk, so (as my wife would say), quit complaining and do something!
Your brother in Christ,
p  

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Plunge into the deep part! Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 25:10; 145:17

Good morning everyone,
When you go swimming, whether it be in a pool, a creek, a lake, or the ocean, do you plunge in or do you tip-toe into the water?  I know with my wife, if you can't see the bottom then you don't need to even get wet.  The mystery for some folks is just too much to handle.  For folks who are just plumb scared of the water, they stay as far as they can from the water.  When you ask Jesus into your heart and begin the relationship with Him, He doesn't want you to just tipsy-toe around.  He wants you to plunge in with all of your gusto.  Humanly, we have a tendency to check the temperature of the water before we decide if want to enter.  We do the same thing with our relationship with Him much of the time.  If it gets a little uncomfortable (hot or cold) in what needs to change about us, we have a tendency to want to retreat!  Anytime we enter into the water, we are going to be changed immediately, if we plunge in with our whole body.  You can't hold on to the things that are the old self because He wants to change you completely.  That right there folks is an extremely hard lesson for me because I live in a comfort zone with my income and life style that affords the things I think are important.  Does God have that same attitude toward my comfort?  I don't think so!  I'm learning life lesson #5000 as we speak or is it #5001?  To recklessly abandon my old ways, checking with Him first, and trusting that His ways are better than mine!  Deuteronomy 32:4 says, 'He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just.  A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.'  Stop depending on your own intellect to make your pathway smooth.  The more you allow intellect to rule in your decisions, the less you will rely on Him to make the impossible, possible!  
                            Trust and obey,
                            for there's no other way
                            to be happy in Jesus,
                            but to trust and obey.
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

What signs have you had lately? Isaiah 7:14

Good morning everyone,
Have you ever felt as though you were just going through the motions and wondering what the next step would need to be?  Sometimes I believe God puts us in that state so that we will depend on Him completely!  We have a choice to proceed in a manner that seems to be chaotic or we can surrender to the fact that we need help.  This past year has been a challenging year for the Hicks' family but it has been a year where I can see God moving in ways that I've never seen Him move before.  God is the Creator of solutions for every situation you are faced with if you will allow Him to work in and through you.  It may not be the route that you had intended to take for the solution but it can be the solution that will reveal His pure and perfect will.  Deborah and I have come to a cross-roads of sorts in our life, as I suppose a number of you have, and it is at those times that He stretches us in ways that we may not like how He twists us at the time, but the results are rewarding in His name.  When you are given signs from Him, do you trust His leadership or do you question Him too much and miss the opportunity that He is presenting to you?  When Mary was chosen by the Lord to be the mother of Jesus Christ, she was at a cross-roads of sorts in her own life.  Would she decide to get on board or would she say, 'Lord, not me!'  Isaiah 7:14 tells us, 'Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:  The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.'  See when God gives you a Godly job to complete, only God can help you complete it!  If you are placed with a situation that seems too much for you to handle, it is probably time to consider including Him in the decisions that you will be making.  My wife has tried to tell me for several years that the decisions we make are not wrong, even if they seem wrong to us, as long as they are done with Him benefiting from the decision.  May God richly bless each of you as you seek Him to make those changes that need to occur in your life!
Your brother in Christ,
p   

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Conversation about Creation! Matthew 6:26

Good morning everyone,
A few mornings ago I was headed to work when I noticed a bunch of birds sitting completely still on an electrical wire and I had these thoughts.  What are they thinking right now?  Are they concerned about where their next meal is coming from or do they worry about being cold tonight?  Immediately I thought of the Scripture in Matthew 6:26 and it says, 'Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?'  They don't worry about the things that they can't control.  How about you?  Do you sit around and worry yourself about the things that you can't control?  Do you consult Him regularly about helping you focus on the more important issues of the day?  He wants you to be aware of the things that He created just for you to notice and praise Him for doing it!  The next time you go outside, make sure and notice something that He created and ask Him to fill you with a sense of 'awe!'  Those little birds are plentiful and forgotten for the most part but I felt as though He said, 'they were important enough to create for your enjoyment so you better start paying more attention.'  Ask God to remind you, if you've forgotten, to be keenly aware of the detail that He has produced so you will be totally amazed!  And then remember the last of that verse because it really identifies how much He cares about you!
Your brother in Christ,
p      

Friday, November 16, 2012

Doing the things we don't want to do! Psalm 119:18

Good morning everyone,
None of us like to do things that are troublesome!  For the most part, I think most of us would prefer to do things that are desirable.  In other words, with the results having a positive outcome.  But if we really think about that scenario, it didn't exist with Jesus Christ.  He was always willing to do what no one else was willing to do.  If we would just stop and understand the magnitude of the place we are in, He will create the phrase, 'For a time such as this' in every situation we face.  If we really trusted Him every waking moment, we would not throw our arms up in disarray!  We would embrace each opportunity as a 'golden opportunity' to trust Him and for His perfect will to be completed!  We want to say, O Lord, if You would but take this bitter cup from me....His perfect will is secured in the things that we see as troubles and inconveniences!  He is your 'Azar' which means helper!  How much are we willing to understand?  If you are like me, I'm simply asking Him to let me know on a 'as needs basis!'  Anything else will be too much information or it will keep me distracted because my desire is to do the things that I don't want to do with a cause for Him that passes all understanding!  Psalm 119:18 says, 'Open mine eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.'  May He open up our mines so that we hear His voice and our hearts so that He can steal them away from the distractions of this world.  He will never leave you, nor will He forsake you!  
Your brother in Christ,
p
http://foodforthesoul-paul.blogspot.com/

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Simply amazing if God is your measure! Romans 12:3; Proverbs 11:2; Ephesians 4:13

Good morning everyone,
I really don't know where to begin because I'm not even sure where I've come from or where I'm headed.  I do know that God is with me and has been with me all along the way over these past few months.  As I talked with Deborah this morning, it became clear to me that God is simply amazing in any facet of life if you allow Him to be your measure!  Romans 12:3 says, 'For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:  Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.'  We have a tendency to measure our days on how much we have to deal with and from that, the results seem to effect our ebb and flow.  With God in control, every ebb and flow can brightly shine His character if we allow Him to use us as the vessel He created us to be!  Deborah reminded me that if God needs to keep you in a place that keeps you drawn to Him, then that is His will and that is good!  Proverbs 11:2 says, 'When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.'  Whatever He needs to do to me to keep me in the place that directs my attention to Him, that is where I want to be!!  Ephesians 4:13 says, 'until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.'  Brothers and sisters, I love each of you and let me encourage you to know that you have the same 'Blessed Assurance' available to you that has been given to me!  I'll leave you with the beautiful words of that song:
         Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. 
         Oh what a foretaste of glory divine.
         Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
         Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

         This is my story, this is my song.
         Praising my Savior, all the day long.
        
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom! Proverbs 9:10; Hebrews 2:14-15; 4:16

Good morning everyone,
When you fear something, do you really have a reason to fear it anyway?  God tells us that we should fear Him only!  Proverbs 9:10 tells us, 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.'  If you are like me, I can get in a tizy before I ever need to get in a tizy.  The same One who gave us confidence and assurance is the same One who can enable us to endure a situation that might otherwise cause us to implode.  When you feel as though you are about to unravel, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with His power to overcome.  If you don't ask, you are going to be frustrated and rung out without any sense of 'real calmness.'  Hebrews 4:16 tells us to approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.  If you fear death, ask Him to give you the power to overcome what satan has enslaved upon you.  Hebrews 2:14-15 says, 'Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death -that is, the devil - and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.'  See, if we trust Him with our life itself, death really has hold on us.  We can approach death with a whole new sense that life is continuing with the Savior!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Anything worth having is worth fighting for! Galatians 6:2

Good morning everyone,
Galatians 6:2 tells us that we are instructed to carry each other's burdens, and in this way we will fulfill the law of Christ.  Jesus Christ made each and everyone of us so that we would fight for His Kingdom.  Everyone matters to the Kingdom and He loves us so much that He set the table over 2000 years ago so that we would dine with Him at the most extravagant banquet that has ever been given.  He wants you and I to attend to show us His appreciation for the life that we lived for Him.  We make things difficult by saying we don't have time for Him daily because we get caught up in the busyness of the day.  We have a tendency to tell Him that we just simply don't have time.  That is unless we make the time!  When we get instructions from our employers, we either carry them out or we no longer work for that company.  It is as simple as that!  With Jesus, He gives us opportunity after opportunity to simply carry out His instructions.  If we start the day by spending time with Him, we are more likely to carry Him with us all day long.  Think for a moment about why you were created.  Whatever your thoughts are, it is much more than you can imagine!  See you are His creation and He doesn't create junk.  No matter what your past has been like, it doesn't have to determine your future!  Determine today that you want to make Him a priority and I promise you that you will see that you are worth fighting for!
Your brother in Christ,
p  

Friday, October 19, 2012

Are you finishing well? 2 Timothy 4:7

Good morning everyone,
Yes, I have been out of sorts as of late and I am moving forward on what is in reserve.  He tells us that He will carry us when we are out of gas!  2 Timothy 4:7 says, 'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.'  When it doesn't make sense for us to plunge forward, He gives us reason after reason why it makes sense to finish the race!  Not by just begrudgingly doing it, but doing it because of the faith that He gives us.  When your body wants to give up and just roll over, He is the One that can help you accomplish the details that you might say don't matter.  Remember, 2 Corinthians 6:7 reminds us that we are to walk by faith, not by sight.  In essence, Paul goes on to say that his body is finished and he is ready to be with the Lord, but he knows that he still has a job to accomplish for the Lord and as long as he is here, he is going to allow his faith to help him finish strong!  Don't we all need that sort of faith brothers and sisters?  Let me encourage you to approach each moment as a tipping point and ask God to fill you so that your decisions will be to lean toward His ways!  Choices are plentiful in any given day.  As we approach this day, ask Him to help you make the ones that please Him!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Why it makes sense to plunge forward! 1 John 5:3-5

Good afternoon everyone,
Today was one of those days that it probably made sense to stay in bed because I didn't really have the energy or stamina that I needed to make it through a long workday.  I have traveled non stop over the past couple of weeks and have not really had a lot of down time!  Sometimes it is best not questioning what we need to do; it is better to just plunge forward and trust that God will give you a new sense of vitality!  When we do that, amazing things happen.  He has a way of taking our minds off what we dread and placing them on getting our jobs done with an improved sense of gratitude!  When we realize that there is very little we can do to change the obvious, He seems to give us a whole new attitude adjustment.  He is always ready to work with us and show us ways we quickly have forgotten that existed.  We forget to include Him in our mayhem!  Plunging forward is really something that is contagious also because when you endure, others see your tired body still performing at levels that don't make sense.  The next time you want to give up, ask Him to give you a new sense of drive and direction.  Be ready though because He may have you complete the project in a much different way in which you intended.  1 John 5:3-5 says, 'In fact, this is love for God:  to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world?  Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.'
Go forth and endure for Christ knowing that He will be with you all along the way!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

There to break your fall! Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 9:9-10

Good morning everyone,
As I was preparing to start my work day yesterday, I had stopped by a fast food restaurant for a bit of lunch and as I turned to find a seat after ordering, I met a hostess face to face.  We both were startled, both stepping aside to avoid a collision.  As we did so, I became off balanced and another hostess caught me to upright me.  Her comment was that she at least was good for breaking someones fall.  I sort of laughed but that is exactly what our Lord and Savior does for us all the time.  Deuteronomy 33:27 tells us that the eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.  He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, 'Destroy them!'  Psalm 9:9-10 tells us that the Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.  God is the same yesterday that He will be today and what He will be tomorrow.  He never changes!  That means that we can trust Him to break our falls and upright us to a better position.  Ladies and gentlemen, you are blessed to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  You may know someone that is hurting and can't see past the hurt.  Encourage them with these verses to assure them that He is capable of carrying them when they can't go on!  Psalm 23 is a great chapter to share because it gives hope when all hope has been lost!  See, when we go through the darkest valley and realize that there is no evil to fear because God is with us, then we realize He is always with us!  May He comfort you this day as only He can!
Your brother in Christ,
p     

Monday, October 8, 2012

Choices! There are a lot of them but One is most important! Proverbs 19:23

Good morning everyone,
The choices we make everyday are numerous to say the least.  We don't usually even think of the impact that they play on who we are unless we have a regular exchange with the Lord Almighty.  The next section of this devotional is taken from a daily devotional I get from 'Family Life Today.' 
Fearing God means we reverence Him. We set Him apart and live our lives under His watchful eyes. To be sure, He is the God of love, but He is also the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come! He is a righteous Judge who should be feared. You and I are accountable to Him for the life we live and choices we make.
Do you fear men more than God? Are you preoccupied with what people think about you? Are you living your life for the grandstands of heaven or Earth? Only the fear of God is able to deliver you from the fear of man.
It was A. W. Tozer who said, "What you think about God is the most important thing you think." Knowing God--really knowing Him and who He is--calibrates all of life. He is the ultimate measurement because He is in control. When we see God as Creator, Maker, Redeemer, Judge, Consuming Fire, Sovereign King and the One who knows all things, we begin to practice His presence in our lives.
He is God. He is holy. And as fervently as He is to be loved, He should also be fiercely feared. He is worthy of it. And we are in need of fearing Him.
God wants to know you intimately and the closer you get to Him, the more you will find out that He is 100% trustworthy!  Your thoughts about Him determine what choices you will make.  Calibrating life means that you let Him fine tune you to His liking so that you operate in a manner that is pleasing to Him!  When we make wrong choices, and if we have Him as our calibrator, He is always ready to adjust us so that we are back in line with His way of thinking!  All of us are subject to the decisions we make daily and choosing Christ is the most important!  Proverbs 19:23 tells us that the fear of the Lord leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.  Don't fear what is temporal; fear what is eternal!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Thursday, October 4, 2012

A gaggle of geese, a raft of ducks! James 1:5-7

Good morning everyone,
Yesterday when I went to bed in Northern Minnesota, the temperature was 62 degrees.  This morning when I woke up, the wind was howling and the temperature had dropped to 37 degrees.  The hotel is on the Big Detroit Lake and the lake will be frozen over with 'ice houses' stationed all over it in less than 4 weeks!  Needless to say, people take their fishing here very serious.  As I look out upon the lake, I notice a gaggle of geese and a raft of ducks floating along trying to maneuver the wind blown waters.  It is interesting to say the least that birds have a tendency to stick together.  As the snow blows sideways, their closeness reminds me of how important it is for each of us to stick together with other like minded people.  God made us so that we can bear burdens together much better than trying to bear them alone.  The ducks and geese get it and they stick together to help the lesser ones to keep up.  We were made to help our brothers and sisters out and to pray for folks when they struggle and have lost their way!  Instead of giving up on the folks that have lost their way, consider that you were once lost before He found you.  Your encouragement may be the difference in whether or not someone finds their way back through the 'wind blown waters!'  Believe that you can make a difference in peoples lives and ask God to show you how to give encouragement!  James 1:5-7 says, 'If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.'
Your brother in Christ,
p  

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Truth! John 8:31-32

Good afternoon everyone,
If I were to ask each of you what your definition of truth is, what would your answer be?  This devotional goes out to a number of people and in asking, I probably would get a number of different answers.  If you plug the word truth into Bible Gateway, you will get approximately 137 different times that truth is used in Scripture.  I've often heard that truth is only as good as the object in which it is placed!  If you place it in ideas and suggestions, you end up with the result being the furthest thing from the truth!  Truth has been defined from an online dictionary as a verified or indisputable fact.  Biblical Truth (Absolute) is a word that is synonymous with Christ.  In John 8:31-32, Jesus is speaking to the disciples and He tells them if they hold to His teaching, then they are really His disciples.  Then they will know the truth, and the truth will set them free.  Are you set free or are you stumbling around trying to locate the truth?  We can get answers from many sources, but unless our 'go to' source is Christ, we are going to have let down after let down!  Let me encourage you to use God's example of truth in your walk and I think you will find that it will help you avoid obstacles and have less headaches.  Everyone of us has choices that determine the direction we are going to go on a daily basis and with Christ being our compass, He will keep us going the way of Truth! 
Your brother in Christ,

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Still reason to believe! John 11:25; Genesis 1:1; Revelation 22:13

Good morning everyone,
Have you noticed lately that science people have tried over and over again to discredit the very existence of God?  It is as if they are more qualified to make statements about creation than the Creator Himself!  I find it very sad that people for thousands of years have spent their whole life trying to disprove His existence when it makes more sense to experience the 'joy' of His existence! John 11:25 says, 'Anyone who believes in Me will live.'  If you believe part of the Bible, you are to believe all of Scripture!  Genesis 1:1 says, 'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth!'  Revelation 22:13 says, 'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.'  From the first of Scripture to the end, God identifies Himself as the Creator, the Beginning, and the End!  The main source of literature that you read should be Scripture so that you get your instruction as well as correct information.  Don't let the popular internet or other propaganda steer you into false truths!  May God richly Bless each of you as you dig into the best literature that will ever be written, 'The Holy Bible!'
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

You make all things work together for my good! 1 Corinthians 13

Good morning everyone,
A popular Christian song titled, 'Your Love Never Fails', comes to mind this morning and it has so many incredible lyrics that I decided to share some of them with you!  Nothing can separate, even if I ran away; Your love never fails!  You make all things work together for my good.  1 Corinthians 13 has often been penned as the love chapter of the Scriptures.  'If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing....'  Verse 8 echos the title of the song by saying, 'Love never fails.  But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  Ladies and gentlemen, your Lord and Savior has made it very simple.  We make it difficult!  Love requires for you and I to allow Him to change us from the inside out.  He teaches us how to release the selfishness, bitterness, greediness, and negative thoughts through a changed heart.  No one is ever too far from His amazing love!  Seek His face and you will find that He will continually be there to make all things work together for His good!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Friday, September 14, 2012

Sing it till you live it; Once you live it, keep singing it! Psalm 7:17; 30:12

Good morning everyone,
Sometimes it is hard to figure out whether you are coming or going.  My wife would say, 'Quit trying to figure it out and let Him determine the process.'  See, if we make ourselves available to the Savior, I believe He can change our minds when we are coming and we should be going!  Connection to the Savior is the key to determining our meaningful output on any given day.  Without it, we probably ought to stay in bed.  When you plug an appliance (that is operational) into a live electrical outlet, the minute you turn it on, it comes to life.  The minute we plug ourselves into the Savior, we come to life!  If you praise Him when it makes no human sense, you are praising Him on a Spiritual level that makes no sense in trying to figure out.  Sing it till you live it; Once you live it, keep singing it!  In Psalms, David repeatedly sings praises to the Lord.  Psalms 7:17 says, 'I will give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness; I will sing the praises of the Lord Most High.'  Psalm 30:12 says, 'that my heart may sing You praises and not be silent.  Lord my God, I will praise You forever.  David messed up a bunch of times, but he realized that by asking for forgiveness and giving praise to the Most High, God's grace was much bigger than his dilemmas!  Life is going to be hard to figure out at times but the Almighty is willing and ready to redirect your thoughts and actions back to Him!
Your brother in Christ,
p   

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Not forgetting to praise Him at all times! John 14:15-16

Good morning everyone,
It is an honor and priviledge to be one of His children!  John 14:15-16 says, "If you  love Me, you will keep my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another helper (the Holy Spirit) to be with you forever."  Jesus lived the example that we are to live while we are on this earth.  In order to carry that out, the Father has given us the Holy Spirit to help us and correct our walk as we stumble along!  The above verses are a request and a promise all wrapped up together to insure us that He will be with us forever.  No matter what you are going through, He is there to carry you through it.  Has anyone else stepped up to the plate and offered that same guarantee to you lately?  No one is capable of taking care of all of your needs like He can!  If that doesn't give you reason to praise Him, we need to talk.  Pastor Chuck Swindoll has a daily radio talk show and He recently asked the question, 'Do you ever have a dialogue with God's Word as you're reading it?'  In order that you personalize Scripture, insert your name.  God wants to reveal Himself to each of us so that you see the need for His guidance.  He literally can carry you through the valley of the shadow of death!  Don't you want that?  Praise Him in everything and see what happens!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

How important is prayer? Matthew 6:9-13

Good morning everyone,
Over the weekend, Pastor Bro. preached a sermon that gripped those in attendance with a sense of compassion but with urgency.  The Lord has gifted Him with preaching the Scripture with passion like very few that I've ever seen!  The things he shared with us were electrifying!  He quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson as saying, 'Prayer is contemplating life from the highest point of view!'  If we look at Matthew 6:9-13, we should see that Jesus taught the disciples how to pray and if Jesus taught it, we ought to implement it!  "Pray then, in this way:  Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen."  If He thought it was important enough to teach those closest to Him (His disciples) how to pray, don't you think that we should follow the same example that has already been set?  Ask Him to touch you in a way that will lead and guide you as you explore your relationship with Him.  The closer we draw to the Savior, the more He will give you guidance in knowing what you should pray about!
Your brother in Christ,
p         

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Level ground! Psalm 143:10; Colossians 3:16

Good morning everyone,
Do you ever feel as though the ride of life is anything but level?  It is kind of like flying an airplane.  You are going along smoothly and then you hit turbulence and you feel like you might lose anything that you just ate.  Psalm 143:10 tells us that we are supposed to ask the Lord to teach us His ways!  It says, 'Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.'  If we go through life and we only try and get direction when things get turbulent, what does that show about our dedication to Him?  He wants to build a relationship that is not always wanting but it is also giving.  This past week, I've dealt with mixed emotions about receiving God's direction.  At times, I've felt like He was hard to reach and at other times, I've felt like He assured me He was there but He was very quiet.  Cling to Him giving Him praise and ask Him for constant direction and see if your walk doesn't become more balanced!  Even when we don't hear Him respond, He wants to know the level of our dedication.  He wants you to seek His face at all times giving Him glory and honor while others are complaining.  Gratitude is an attitude that shows Him reverence!  Colossians 3:16 tells you to let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing with gratitude in your hearts.  He gave you a heart so that others might see Him revealed!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

To be an overcomer! Psalm 118:7

Good morning everyone,
As you go about your day, you may run into folks who seem to want to cause you heartache and pain.  For whatever reason, it seems as though you are a target for their ridicule.  Psalm 118:7 says, 'The Lord is for me among those who help me; therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.'  Even though it hurts when people throw accusations and ridicule at you, remember that God would prefer you to clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:13).  Most people expect you to bite back with the same hostility that they show you.  When you can respond like Christ would, it might just be that you have shown them a side that they have never seen.  Remember that many live in this world without any sign of love in their life.  They are constantly on the defence because they have been treated harshly themselves.  If we show love to a world that is dieing, God might have compassion on the lives of the people we run across.  When the opportunity presents itself, ask God to give you the compassion you need to offer to someone so that they receive it as a gift!  When we do something that the world is not familiar with, great things happen!  It could be an opportunity for you to share hope with someone who previously was hopeless.  You may have recently been down yourself, so remember that God uses our weaknesses to reveal His strengths!  Planting seeds is what Christ ask us to do!  He can show them how to overcome just like He showed you!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Thankfulness! Colossians 2:6-8

Good morning everyone,
When I think of the word thankfulness, I think about the richness of all the things I have received in this life that I really don't deserve.  When you meet someone and your life is better because of that introduction, then you start realizing just how beautiful life is meant to be.  Colossians 2:6-8 says, 'So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing in thankfulness.  See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow thinking and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.'  What are you really thankful for?  Is it the things of this world (fame and fortune) that you will be remembered for or is it the things of Christ that people will talk about when you're gone?  Some of you will say that you have very little to be thankful for and I would beg to differ!  Take your eyes off of your own problems for just a moment and place them on the Savior.  Read the above verse and ask yourself, 'Who am I living this life for?'  If the answer is anyone other than Jesus Christ, your life is going to end in disappointment!  Now I understand that we are all human and we are going to have disappointments as long as we occupy the body that Jesus gave us, but the bigger picture tells us that by being rooted in Him, the element of thankfulness will overcome those disappointments!
Your brother in Christ,
p   

Friday, August 31, 2012

Crystal clear! Revelation 22:1; Romans 7:18

Good morning everyone,
When you look through a dirty window, everything looks dingy and less attractive!  When you look through a freshly clean window, the objects that you see have beautiful clarity!  That is the same way sin is that is not dealt with in you life.  Sin has a way of making you a slave to the law of sin unless you allow Jesus Christ to deliver you from it!  It will always rule unless you ask Christ to rid the oxidation dinginess of your heart!  Revelation 22:1 says, 'Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.'  Paul tells us in Romans 7:18 that he knows that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  As long as you live this life brothers and sisters, the things that are tempting and sweet will be your demise unless you allow Jesus Christ to rule in your life.  Even when you fall, don't let that be the end.  Cry out for mercy and ask God to change you from the inside all the way out!  We are going to be tempted at times and feel as though we are no good, but it is at those times that He can make miracles out of your messes!  Grace is unmerited favor (undeserved) but that is exactly what the reward is for those that seek His face and serve Him with their whole heart.  David is a good example of a man who did many things wrong but showed how change could occur because His heart was bigger for God than his desires for serving satan!  Ask God to show you how He can make things more crystal clear for you to see what He wants you to accomplish this day! 
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

His affection is greater than our affliction! Psalm 31:7

Good morning everyone,
You might think that you are battling your afflictions on your own!  Think again!  Psalm 31:7 says, 'I will rejoice and be glad in Your loving kindness, because You have seen my affliction; You have known the troubles of my soul.'  Even before your afflictions begin, He knows they are coming and He is willing to carry you through them.  Some 2000 years ago, He nailed every possible affliction to the cross.  His intent in allowing afflictions is for you and I to realize the only solution is tied to our relationship to Him!  David Crowder sings 'How He Loves' and in that song, words to one of the verses describes the incredible affection that He has for each of us:                            
And He is jealous for me, loves like a hurricane, I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy
When all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions
Eclipsed by glory and I realize just how beautiful You are
And how great Your affections are for me
The closer we get to the Father, the more we realize just how much He cares for us.  Every turn you make in life can be a surprise that will trip you up unless you allow Him to be there to help you maneuver in and around those surprises.  May God richly Bless each of you as you seek His face!
Your brother in Christ,
p
             

Monday, August 27, 2012

What it means to be steadfast! Isaiah 26:3-4

Good morning everyone,
Isaiah 26:3-4 tells us that the steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.  Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.  Trusting when everything seems to fall apart is the hard part.  One of the definitions for steadfast is to be unwavering.  When we stand by His Word, we cannot be moved even in the midst of everything crashing down around us.  The more we place our faith in the Rock, the more we hold firm when it makes sense to give up!  It is not a matter of escaping problems or diverting around issues, but it is really about where you put your trust going through the midst of those issues.  When we trust Him completely, we will not be moved.  If you are up against obstacles that seem insurmountable, it is time for you to let Jesus turn those obstacles into opportunities for the Kingdom.  We look at problems and determine success by solving those problems.  He looks at success by how much we trust Him going through those problems reflecting His glory!  The more we trust Him, the more we reflect what it means to be steadfast. 
Your brother in Christ,
p

Friday, August 24, 2012

His promise is He will catch you! Psalm 94:18-19; Psalm 100:5

Good morning everyone,
Do you ever remember hearing someone say that there would be days like these?  For some of us, you probably feel like the phrase should say weeks, months, or even years!  When you get trapped in the mess that you face, it may very well feel as though you want to give up.  Psalm 94:18-19 describes to us His amazing love so we will continue to seek Him even more during those times.  'When I said, "My foot is slipping," Your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.  When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy.'  The more we tune in to His promises, the more they sustain us when we can't go on!  Life is going to throw you curve balls eventually.  Will you be ready to catch them?  Unfailing is defined as inexhaustible; endless; completely dependable.  What better promises can you be afforded?  Consolation is defined as the act of consoling; comfort; solace.  Psalm 100:5 says, 'For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.'
When you are up against your next challenge, remember these characteristics about his love: unfailing; endless; dependable; comforting.  Only the Lord Almighty can assure those promises and that kind of love!
Your brother in Christ,
p     

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Faith that holds; hope that endures; love that never fails! Psalm 42:8; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Colossians 1:23

Good morning everyone,
There are certain things that God expects from us, but in return He covers us with His amazing grace.  Psalm 42:8 says, 'By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me--a prayer to the God of my life.'  Matthew Henry comments that faith holds up the heart, notwithstanding, with hope that the day will dawn.  Sometimes I sleep so sound that I barely remember anything once I close my eyes.  Before I know it, I wake up to a new day.  Other times I seem as though I can't find a way to turn things off so that I get that peaceful rest.  When we allow our minds to race and focus on our issues, we are not allowing the Creator the opportunity to intercede.  Too many thoughts for me before bedtime will usually result in a restless night.  Faith and hope are extremely important elements of our makeup, but love is essential.  1 Corinthians 13:13 says, 'And now these three remain:  faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.'  Paul tells you in Colossians 1:23 for you to continue in your faith, be established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.  This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.  When we serve Him with our whole heart, those times of our minds racing will cease because He is now in control of everything we think.  Let me encourage you to start your day with His thoughts and give Him you thoughts throughout the day and see if it doesn't end with His thoughts. 
Your brother in Christ,
p

Saturday, August 18, 2012

A Southern Experience! Isaiah 49:10; Revelation 7:16

Good morning everyone,
You know hot is hot when you step outside from the cool indoors and immediately your breath is taken away.  Literally it feels as though you've stepped into an oven.  Humidity is a term very few understand until you visit the deep south on a very hot afternoon.  Then you have a different appreciation altogether for hot weather in Southern California.  Not that I want to go there, but I would anticipate from Scripture that hell is the kind of hot that would make me appreciate the hot humid days of Southern Florida.  Everything is relative when it comes down to appreciating something much much more when it is no longer available.  Scripture also refers to continually wanting your thirst quenched for those that are in hell.  Isaiah 49:10 says, 'They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them.  He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.'  Anything that is a discomfort in this world will quickly pass away.  Life is a temporary roller coaster with lots of ups and downs for the believer.  God is ready to help you with those ups and downs if you will let Him.  Every challenge you face is another way for you to grow closer to Him.  Everyday, you choose whom you will serve.  Start serving Him this day, the one that He has allowed you to live, and see how it can serve as the prequel for the life to come.  If you ever get discouraged to the point of wanting to give up, remember that it is a temporary discomfort.  It is also a place that most people have visited, or for the rest of us, a place we will eventually visit.  More importantly, remember that there is no point that He can't pull you back to Him!  He is ready to quench any and all discomforts and restore your soul!  Revelation 7:16 says, 'Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.  The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat.'
Your brother in Christ,
p

Friday, August 17, 2012

Time well spent! Ecclesiastes 3:1-3

Good morning everyone,
Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 tells us that there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:  a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build.  What season of life do you find yourself in?  Whatever season it is, He invites you to share it with Him!  See, He made you so that you would be dependant on Him.  The context of Ecclesiastes really goes on to say that it is all for nothing unless it is done for the Lord.  Everything that you are associated with in the physical sense has a very limited life expectancy, including yourself.  Over and over again I hear people say toward the end of their lives they wish that they had done things differently.  Life is humbling and as we near the end of our physical existence, we begin to see life in a whole different context.  Sports use to be my life and to go to a sporting event seem to be so exhilarating.  Those moments of exhilaration were so short lived and followed by bouts of let down.  As I age, relationships seem to have so much deeper meaning and my lack of relationships seems as though I've lost out!  If you gain the whole world and you lose your soul, what have you really gained?  When you spend time with your loved ones, are you really giving them your attention?  Let me encourage you to ask God to show you what is really important.  Time, while you are here, is the only asset that you can control how you spend it.  He wants first dibs so that He can change your heart so that you will see how He wants you to spend your days. 
Your brother in Christ,
p    

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Something much higher than our desires! 2 Corinthians 7:1; Titus 2:14

Good morning everyone,
2 Corinthians 7:1 says, "Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."  You've probably heard the phrase, 'if it feels good, do it!'  The problem with that statement is it doesn't take into consideration any reverence for God.  It stems from a very selfish viewpoint.  By you standing on His promises, you begin to see that your selfishness is something that needs to be controlled and the only way to do that is to let Him purify you!  See, the closer we get to God, the more we become eager to do what is good.  Titus 2:14 tells us that Jesus Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.  One of the definitions for contaminate is to make impure or unsuitable by contact.  That holds true whether you refer to the body or the spirit.  Transformation begins when you allow Jesus Christ to become your purifier!  Anytime you cut away the things that have hindered you in the past, there is going to be a resistance that you will need to give over to the One who can remove it for good!  Your thinking will become clearer.  Your heart will start to feel things like He feels.  Your ways will become His ways!  A lifetime of hindrances will become your past contaminates and His victories!  Let Him begin the process by you giving Him glory and honor in everything you do!
Your brother in Christ,
p  

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Who do you live for? Romans 14:7-9

Good morning everyone,
How important are each of His children?  According to scripture, you are important enough that Christ died for you but He also was raised from the dead for you!  Romans 14:7-9 tells us, 'For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.  If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord.  So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.  For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that He might be Lord of both the living and the dead.'  If He thinks that every hair on your head is important, how much more important is your very soul?  He created you to be so much more than you can imagine and He will never stop trying to get you to see that until He either comes back or until He takes you home!  His mission is accomplished when you give Him complete access to the very core of your soul.  That is very difficult unless you realize that access is connected to humility.  We resist because we feel as though we are weak if we are not in charge.  Pray that you will allow Him into those areas that you have previously blocked entrance and watch Him do amazing things!  The more you reveal to Him the areas that are weak, the more He will reveal to you His strengths!  He can take you right where you are at and start that process right now.  Don't think about it, just do it (Nike finally got something right)!  Thinking about serving Him is wasted time and too much thinking serves no one!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

How handy is He? Ephesians 2:10; Psalm 139:14

Good morning everyone,
According to Ephesians 2:10, we (you and I) are the result of His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  If you are struggling with your purpose, let me suggest that you write that Scripture down and input your name in place of we and us; example-Paul Allen Hicks is the result of God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God created in advance for Paul Allen Hicks to do.  Before He created you and I, He had already determined that we could be used to carry out His work!  Do you still not think you are that important in the scope of the big picture? Psalm 139:14 tells us we were knit together in our mother's womb.  When He knit us inside our mother's womb, the definition reveals that He formed or created, joined closely and firmly, and He wonderfully made us!  Your game plan was already decided before you were even born so that there would be no confusion.  Being connected to the Source is the most important key to determining whether that can be carried out.  Plug in today to the Power so that you can find out how He wants you to carry out the game plan that He has for you.  The Holy Spirit is waiting to guide and direct your actions and make them His own! 
Your brother in Christ,
p  

Thursday, August 9, 2012

How important are you? Luke 12:6-7; Psalm 139:13-16

Good morning everyone,
Have you forgotten how important you are?  Luke 12:6-7 reminds us by saying, 'Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?  Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.'  The intricacy of how God created the hairs on each head is amazing.  For instance, the average adult blonde has approximately 140,000 strands of hair, brunettes average 108,000 and redheads average 90,000 (more brainpowet though-hee hee).  The scripture reminds us that God numbered every hair on your head.  Yet, we seem to forget the exact detail that He put into our makeup!  God didn't make junk so be very careful when you compare yourself to your neighbor and wish that you looked like them.  Even if you don't consider yourself the next 'top model,' He does!  See, your worth is so much more than your appearance.  How you take care of that appearance is a different battle.  Many of you may struggle with self-esteem.  Psalm 139:13-16 reminds us and tells us how we were made:  'For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.'  Folks, if you read that scripture and still wish that you were somebody else, we need to talk!  Ask God to inject in you the definition of beauty and ask Him to give you a real sense of how He looks at you.  I think you will begin to see yourself in a whole new light!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Is humility really necessary? Psalm 149:4; Proverbs 11:2

Good morning everyone,
As I sit in the stillness this morning listening for signs of life, I'm reminded that God gives us the quiet times to really hear Him!  Before you get busy and as you try and clear the fogginess out of your brain, make sure that you take the time and give God the 10% percent that He deserves.  See, He doesn't just want you to donate 10% of your earnings; He wants 10% of you and that includes every facet of your life!  Is it easy making those changes when the demands of life are so high?  I don't think so unless it becomes your number 1 priority.  The first thing that is required is sometimes one of the hardest but it unveils the highest payoff!  I'm referring to the act of humility.  Psalm 149:4 says that the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with victory.  If we are to ever expect to build our relationship with the Father, we have to be willing to make the investment.  Proverbs 11:2 tells us that when pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.  The opposite of pride is humility and being humble shows that you are strong and not weak!  May God richly Bless each of you as you seek His face.   As you begin the transformation, you will see that there are many things that He will start to unveil to you.  Let us enjoy the journey together! 
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

No one else will do! Isaiah 33:22; Galatians 3:22

Good morning everyone,
When others judge you, size you up, tear you down, or mess with you, relish on what Isaiah 33:22 says:  "For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is He who will save us."  No one can take away what He has promised us.  Many people intimidate because they don't understand what grace is all about.  They intimidate because they are scared and they want to be in control.  If they are not in control, they feel as though they have lost the battle.  He tells us to give control over to Him so that He can use us according to His plan.  Galatians 3:22 reminds us that scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.  Once folks realize that they were made for so much more than their current situation, then they can release the things that control them.  If you have trouble letting go, it is time to dive in with your whole self.  It is impossible to let go of something that is going at warp speed and try and grab it back.  Yet, much of the time, that is what people try and do.  Their whole world is wrapped up in intimidation and manipulation.  Bitterness becomes their god and before they know it, it becomes their life.  Something that festers needs to be dealt with before it becomes the fabric of who you are.  If you have a problem with someone who you love, please don't let that problem become a tragedy.  Many times, relationships are ruined by too many issues that become major because they are never worked out.  As you start this day, ask God to replace those areas that have become hardened with His love and mercy!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Monday, August 6, 2012

When you are empty, He fills you up! Philippians 1:6

Good morning everyone,
This past weekend I felt as though I only had time to take care of the immediate need; no time to really just relax and enjoy the moment.  Even in the midst of chaos, there is joy if we allow Him to fill those chaotic moments!  Sometimes life goes so fast that you don't know how you are going to take your next step.  Somehow, you just pull yourself up by your bootstraps and trust that God will provide the ability.  After all, He tells us to trust Him through it all.  If it were all a cakewalk, why would we need Him?  As I flew back to Arkansas on Sunday, I sat on the plane contemplating the events that had just taken place.  I got home late on Friday night, had a Christian men's conference on Saturday morning, a date Saturday night with my wife, church on Sunday morning, lunch with Deborah and Ariel, and then back to the airport for a flight back to Arkansas.  Through all of I that, I had developed a head cold and I felt as though my tank was completely empty.  When we have exhausted all of the resources that He has provided us with, He will carry us across the finish line and smile because He knows that we did all we could.  Philippians 1:6 tells us that He who began a good work in you will carry it out to completion.  Folks, that completion for all intensive purposes may and probably will not be the way that you envisioned.  It doesn't matter!  Just remember, when you are faithful with the little you have, He is ready and able to make it count for so much more! 
Your brother in Christ,
p

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Don't just listen to it! Do it! James 1:22; Psalm 78:7-8

Good morning everyone,
We all like to hear good things.  Our minds and hearts have a way of hearing what they want to hear and discarding things that most likely are good for us.  In James 1:22, we are told to not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive ourselves.  We are to do what it says.  God gives us instructions and yet much of the time we don't carry those instructions out to fruition.  Why?  We are a stubborn people because we hear good things but we do what we want to do.  Many hours of anguish are the result of doing things our own way!  He is the great Perfecter and if He said it, then it is a good thing that we carry it out.  He tried to keep things simple; we make things difficult.  Psalm 78:7-8 gives us a great comparison of obedience vs being stubborn:  'Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but would keep His commands.  They would not be like their ancestors--a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to Him.'  The 'Blueprint' of all blueprints should be our instruction manual, yet most people use them as a paper weight to collect dust.  A worn out bible is usually owned by someone who is not!  Are you using your Bible (the inspired Word of God) for what it was intended?  Do you read Scripture and write down your thoughts of what you read?  The more we read Scripture, the more we can recall those promises to share with folks when battles and situations arise!  Instead of turning on something or someone when you first wake up, turn open the pages of His Word and ask Him to show you His promises so that you can have hope to share with others!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Bigger than what you see! Psalm 119:114

Good morning everyone,
When you do something, do you have a habit of looking at your own needs?  Do you see the bigger picture or do you see the 12" screen of your own life?  When I prepare to travel on a weekly basis, I usually try and leave on Monday morning (not too early) and return on Friday evening (not too late) so that I can have a nice weekend with my family.  In most situations, that formula doesn't hold up.  So traveling gets to be tiring and it feels as if it is constant.  Sometimes, it makes more sense staying at a location rather than traveling home on the weekend.  That leads to frustration and bouts of loneliness.  Solving the problems on my end don't necessarily solve the problems for the people counting on me to be home.  I'm learning to trust Him more and more because the bigger picture He can see whereas I see the very little picture.  Instead of clinging to my frustration and loneliness, I've traded them in for His love and compassion!  When you take your eyes off your immediate dilemma, you can see much clearer what He wants you to see!  Psalm 119:114 says, 'You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in Your word.'  When we place our heart in His hand, we make choices that go beyond what we can see!  When someone needs you to be their for them next time, rethink your needs for their needs.  God can reveal a much bigger picture for you to see than the little picture you have been seeing!  
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Out of the ordinary! Luke 15:11-32

Good morning everyone,
This past weekend, Pastor Bro. spoke on the prodigal son.  Luke 15:11-32 describes what that son experienced before he realized his ways!  He talked about it being highly unusual to distribute someones wealth before their death.  In the story of the prodigal son, the youngest son would have been entitled to 1/3 of the estate upon his fathers death.  But because he was anxious, he wanted it now!  How many times do you feel like you deserve something and on top of your greed, you want it now?  The father agreed to his sons request and the son went off and squandered it all in a short period of time.  He went from the penticle of the center of attention to the absolute lowest form of living as he rutted around with pigs.  Sometimes, when we get too big for our britches, the Father chooses to let us think and live like we don't need Him.  Detachment in a sense is 'tough love' because it makes us decide who we are going to serve.  Once we realize we are hopelessly lost, He comes to our rescue.  He came to his senses and ran back to his father asking forgivness and praying that he would be accepted.  Not only was he accepted; a party was given on his behalf because what was once lost is now found.    True repentance is to humbly turn to the Father and ask Him to forgive your sins!  We put off going to the Father because we don't know the reception we are going to receive.  John 1:18 reminds us that love covers many offenses.  He treats us as though we have never sinned; as though we have never been away.  1 Cor 13:4 tells us that love is patient, kind; not jealous, does not brag, and is not arrogant.  To have a change of heart and a change of mind can lead to a change of action!
Your brother in Christ,
p            

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Can you see it? Hebrews 11:1

Good morning everyone,
As you wake up today, I want you to consider what God has in store for you that you can not see!  Hebrews 11:1 says that faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  Even if you are not capable of doing something for the kingdom from a physical standpoint, ask God to show you how you can be used.  It may simply be calling someone to encourage them or it may be penning someone a letter.  If we feel as though we have nothing to give, we are completely missing opportunity after opportunity!  See, God wants you to seek Him when it is not convenient so that you can see things more clearly and from His prospective.  We are to trust Him when we can't see the road ahead of us because of the confidence that He gives us!  Will there ever be scary times ahead?  Sure!  Jeremiah 17:7 says, 'But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.'  See, when we do go through periods of doubt, we need to seek shelter in the One we can trust.  His track record of protection is 100% of the time if we truly trust Him!  To know Him is to close your eyes and still see Him, even in the scary times.
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

What it means to be a Christian! 1 Peter 4:16; 1 Peter 4:12

Good morning everyone,
To label yourself as a Christian does not free you from having obstacles in your life.  In fact, that can lead to suffering and ridicule just like Christ endured.  He never said it would be an easy road but He did assure us that it would be a road with great rewards.  To be a Christian says you are linked to Jesus Christ.  Linked means to be connected, associated with, or an extension of.  You can't be plugged into Jesus Christ and still be connected with the world's ways or you will short circuit.  1 Peter 4:16 says, 'However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.'  1 Peter 4:12 says, 'Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.'  See, when we become Christians, there could be ridicule and testing of all sorts to see if we really are genuine.  Think for a moment and recall what Christ endured on the cross!  He loved us so much that He gave His life for each one of us.  It wasn't a quick death.  It was slow, agonizing, painful and yet, He showed that the 'real reward' came from that suffering.  Are you willing to suffer, knowing that the same reward is available for you?  The world is changing and many of those changes don't include following Him!  Don't let the appeal of those changes steer you away from what He has called you to do!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Reason for needing to be clean! Matthew 8:1-13

Good morning everyone,
From unclean to clean; from unsaved to saved; from discouraged to encouraged.  Brother Kenny Culpepper preached this past weekend at the church I called home for the first 18 years of my life.  He spoke on the 4 R's of needing to be clean!  First, we need to recognize that we need to be clean; secondly, we need to request to be clean; thirdly, we need to receive our new set of clothes; finally, we need to go out and report it to those that we meet.  Matthew 8:1-13 is a great text for all of us to read to remind us of those steps.  Our testimony is vital so that others can see there is hope for them also!  Many people get close to realizing that they are in need of something much bigger than their past but are too stubborn to letting the above process work!  Have you ever thought about 'those days that almost never happened?'  Over the course of time, there have been many events that almost never happened.  One of the most famous is when Neil Armstrong (first man on the moon) was testing out a lunar landing craft just months before his famous moon walk.  He narrowly escaped death by ejecting out prior to it crashing and bursting into flames.  One of the people injured in the shooting massacre in Aurora, for all intensive purposes, should have died from a gun shot wound.  But because of a brain defect, a small canal diverted the bullet that had entered her brain.  God has huge plans for your life and regardless of the events that take place around you, He is ready to take you through a process so that you too can be clean!  Don't delay, because your day of reckoning may be sooner than you expect.  For the two above individuals, they have an opportunity to speak of His amazing grace!  Until God takes you home, you have that same opportunity!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Inspiration! What inspires you? Isaiah 41:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Good morning everyone,
Are you inspired?  All of us have something deep inside of us that God is ready to reveal so that the whole world can see!  Are you ready to know what it is?  Inspiration comes from knowing Him and having a passion to serve Him!  Even if you don't feel you have any inspiration, let me beg to differ with you.  Isaiah 41:10 tells us to not fear, for He is with us; to not be dismayed, for He is our God.  He will strengthen you and help you; He will uphold you with His righteous right hand.  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.'  When we do anything honoring our Lord and Savior, we will be inspired in ways we didn't know existed.  If you hope in the Lord, you have the foundation that really matters.  The definition of inspiration from a theological prospective is to have a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul.  God is ready to fill you with the things that really matter because He wants to use each of us to give hope to a world that has forgotten what it really means to be inspired from His prospective!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Even in work, praise His name! Psalm 33:1; 1 Chronicles 16:9

Good morning everyone,
As I was leaving the hotel for work yesterday morning, I ran past one of the employees as she was cleaning the room next to me.  I could hear Christian music playing and she appeared to be singing along with the tune.  I commented to make sure I heard correctly by asking her, 'Is that Christian music you're playing?'  Her response was, 'I'm not sure!'  I said, 'I liked it' and 'God Bless you.'  At that moment a huge smile appeared on her face and she said, 'Thank you!'  Isn't it sad that we can't shout from the roof tops that Jesus is Lord and Savior for all without fearing that someone will take offense?  We live in a world messed up and confused about who He is and what it means to be a Christian 24/7.  Go out today and live for Jesus and it just might be your day to encourage someone you come across.  Listen with that attentive ear that He gave you so hope can be your gift to someone in need!  Psalm 33:1 says, 'Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him.'  As long as you have breath to breathe, praise His name! 1 Chronicles 16:9 tells us to sing to Him, to sing praise to Him; to tell of His wonderful acts!  As you begin the journey that He has laid out before you today, make sure you ask Him how you fit into His schedule and not how He fits into your schedule!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Adversity and connectivity! Ephesians 6:13; Proverbs 3:26

Good morning everyone,
It has been sometime since I have written a devotional on the blog and I feel a little disconnected or like something is missing; yet, the last couple of weeks have brought me closer to my Lord and Savior.  There have been times of adversity and those times have created a greater connection to Him!  Have you ever felt as though you had a God moment and then it was followed by times of, for lack of words, a great 'void?'  In that period of void, we become vulnerable to satan and his schemes, so we need to be prepared.  Ephesians 6:13 says, 'Therefore, take up the full armour of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.'  It is not hard to stand firm when we are in His place.  It is difficult when we start the battle!  Recently Deborah had surgery, our daughter Ariel came to live with us, I had an MRI on my shoulder, my traveling has intensified, I'm in need of a second MRI, and in some ways life seems to be out of control; especially on the smaller scale!  But on the larger scale, those 'curve balls of life' have caused me to wait patiently so that I could hit 'head-on' what was not hittable!  They have brought me closer to my Lord and Savior, my wife, my children, and to each of you.  It has given me a sense of clarity and a sense of appreciation like never before.  When I see the immediate problem, God sees the solution.  Am I connected to Him well enough to see it also?  Proverbs 3:26 tells us that the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.  Realize that the closer you get to God, the more important it will be to have on His full armour!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Friday, June 29, 2012

When you start to rebuild your life, there will be opposition! Nehemiah 4:1-2

Good morning everyone, 
At some point in your life there will be brokeness and the only way to really repair that is to pick up the pieces and let God restore it His way!  We can choose to use the broken pieces and let God begin to use His creative power of restoration.  Choice is something that God gave each and everyone of us so that hopefully we would learn from our mistakes.  When we make a bad choice, He doesn't say that He is done with us!  Instead, He gives us an opportunity to rebuild from those mistakes.  Just be prepared that when you begin rebuilding your life His way, you will run into opposition.  For many years the walls around Jerusalem lay in ruins and Nehemiah set out to repair it.  As he began to rebuild the wall, the enemy began to taunt him.  When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed.  He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing?  Will they restore their wall?  Will they offer sacrifices?  Will they finish in a day?  Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble---burned as they are?"  We are all just a pile of rubble when we try and live our life on our own!  With God as our chief architect, He can create a magnificent structure that will sustain even the worst setback!  Having Him as our foundation is the key to overcoming any and all obstacles so that we carry on like He intended for us to do:  To be a shining light for the whole world to see!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Thursday, June 28, 2012

How patient is He with you? 2 Peter 3:9

Good morning everyone,
These last few days, I've ask the Lord to show me a better sense of what He is doing?  I'm not really testing Him; I'm simply trying to understand Him better.  This morning you may think God has given up on you, but I want to tell you He is just getting started.  You may think His patience has run out, but 2 Peter 3:9 should give you a new sense of hope!  It says, 'The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.'  As long as you have breath to breathe, He is willing to forgive all (not some) of your past mistakes and clean your slate.  There is nothing that you have done in your past that He is not willing and able to forgive you so that you can have a fresh start.  There is one requirement and that requirement is for you to approach Him and ask Him to forgive you.  Maybe He should have put the hammer down on you because others think of you as a 'low life', but God created you and He is able to change you in the blink of an eye so that He can still work out a miraculous ending even for the least of these!  Pride is the number one problem with asking God to forgive you and a lot of times that self inflicted injury is the one thing that seperates you from Him forever.  Proverbs 16:17-19 tells us, 'The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.  Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.  Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.'  Don't wait any longer; let history be made with you being a victory in His story.
Your brother in Christ,
p

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

I'm about to lose control and I like it! Matthew 16:25

Good morning everyone,
As I start today's devotional, I'm reminded of the beautiful thought of being drawn closer to Him.  What a precious feeling it is to know that He is in control when I lose it.  A number of years ago the Pointer Sisters sang a song entitled, 'I'm so excited!'
Even though they were not referring to the Savior in their song, I think there are several lines of the song that could relate to a relationship with the Lord.  First of all, God wants you to be excited about the relationship with Him.  In their deperate plea to want to know a certain person in the song, He wants to know you intimately.  As we draw closer and closer to Him, it is certain we will lose control of our life because we are no longer the one calling the shots!  See, you can't serve man and God.  Matthew 16:25 tells us, "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it."  Don't  hide the fact that God is doing something big in your life.  Ask Him to let you know Him, know Him, know Him, and keep asking Him.  He gets excited when you place Him as top priority in your life and then you too will lose control and the excitement will be incomprehensible!
Your brother in Christ,
p

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

When tugged in a direction, listen for His voice! John 14:16; 26

Good morning everyone,
The world tells us we only need to live by our instinct and we need to pursue our dreams like a whirlwind.  The results are selfishness, greed, and recklessness if we don't have a leader.  As I embark on my trip for the week to Laporte, Indiana, I'm intrigued by learning much about the Holy Spirit.  Do you realize what the Holy Spirit does for you?  John 14:16 tells us what Jesus says:  "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, the Holy Spirit, that He may be with you forever."  John 14:26 says, 'You have access to the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father has sent in His name, and He will teach you all things.'  Ladies and gentlemen, a couple of key words in these verses really stand out.  Forever is a really long time so we don't have to worry about losing that relationship.  Teach means to show us what is really important for us to retain because all things that He has for you are the most important!  The more we tune into the Holy Spirit, the more we will understand how we can be used for His purposes.  If we don't have the Leader, we may be successful in the worlds eyes, but we miss out on the true measure of success!  When it is all said and done, spending a life being directed by the Creator will identify how He can use even our messes and turn them into His masterpieces!
Your brother in Christ,
p