Good morning brothers and sisters,
As you wake up this morning, ask yourselves this question: Is there anything really so important that I stress out about it prior to having to face it? Philippians 4:6 tells us, 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.' So as you wake up today know that God is ready to listen to any requests that you have so He can take it off of your plate! Don't you think it would be time well spent to spend the first few minutes of your day clearing your memory from what you may have worried about all night! All of us get overwhelmed at times by the weight of all the issues we are trying to handle. If you feel like your path is a maze before you even take your first step this morning, Proverbs 3:6 would probably be a good verse to remember. 'In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.' So when your own understanding seems to be muddled, recall Proverbs 3:5. 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.' Do you see any type of pattern yet? The Holy Spirit is your 'guide and helper!' Why do we try to do things on our own? It is futile. It is like trying to fight the most dangerous of all animals with our hands tied behind our backs. Philippians 4:13 tells you to remember that any situation alone is a lost cause! But with Christ, all things are possible! 'I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.' Brothers and sisters, I love you all and His verses assure you that His 'great love' is ready to embrace your every need. The proof is in the pudding!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Introducing those lost to Christ! John 4:13-14
Good morning everyone,
One of the most incredible opportunities for any of us to have while living on this earth is to introduce someone to Jesus Christ! There is not one individual that can't turn their life around by you offering what you have already been given!! It really is a simple offering but we make it very complicated. If you think back in your own life, you also were lost at one point before the Shepherd found you. Maybe it was someone like you that also was very nervous that told you about His great love because they wanted to share the 'Gift' with you! That brings to mind what needs to happen in every ones life and that is to be born again. You don't have to do anything special other than to live your life in a way that is pleasing to the Father. In John 4:13-14, Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." Many people never find that 'spring of living water' because they don't feel as though they have anything wrong with them that needs to be fixed. Well, I want you all to know that we are all broken in need of the Great Physician. Jesus asks us to plant seeds and He will take care of maturing those seeds into thriving plants. I pray that each of you are not shy when given the opportunity to reintroduce someone to the Christ that created them. Ask the Lord for boldness as you serve Him!
Your brother in Christ,
p
p.s. Thank you Sammie Cayton for giving me the inspiration for the blog this morning! I will forward Sammie's email to each of you with a video about a young lady speaking about re-introducing Christ!
One of the most incredible opportunities for any of us to have while living on this earth is to introduce someone to Jesus Christ! There is not one individual that can't turn their life around by you offering what you have already been given!! It really is a simple offering but we make it very complicated. If you think back in your own life, you also were lost at one point before the Shepherd found you. Maybe it was someone like you that also was very nervous that told you about His great love because they wanted to share the 'Gift' with you! That brings to mind what needs to happen in every ones life and that is to be born again. You don't have to do anything special other than to live your life in a way that is pleasing to the Father. In John 4:13-14, Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." Many people never find that 'spring of living water' because they don't feel as though they have anything wrong with them that needs to be fixed. Well, I want you all to know that we are all broken in need of the Great Physician. Jesus asks us to plant seeds and He will take care of maturing those seeds into thriving plants. I pray that each of you are not shy when given the opportunity to reintroduce someone to the Christ that created them. Ask the Lord for boldness as you serve Him!
Your brother in Christ,
p
p.s. Thank you Sammie Cayton for giving me the inspiration for the blog this morning! I will forward Sammie's email to each of you with a video about a young lady speaking about re-introducing Christ!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
When you have little control over your surroundings, does it effect your output? Hebrews 12:1-3
Hello to each of you,
In todays world, a lot of our daily activities have to be changed periodically because of the elements of surprise. In other words, we have little control over the external factors that potentially can determine how effective we are in our jobs. If failed appointments, changed schedules, and the like take you off course, how do you continue in a direction that helps you maintain a semblance of being effective? Hebrews 12:1-3 should be our model to emulate so that we can persevere even when it makes more common sense to give up! Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. If we use this Scripture as our model, our daily walk will stay closer to Thee, even when we want to throw in the towel! He may give you more than you can handle just so you will depend on Him and not on yourself!
Your brother in Christ,
p
In todays world, a lot of our daily activities have to be changed periodically because of the elements of surprise. In other words, we have little control over the external factors that potentially can determine how effective we are in our jobs. If failed appointments, changed schedules, and the like take you off course, how do you continue in a direction that helps you maintain a semblance of being effective? Hebrews 12:1-3 should be our model to emulate so that we can persevere even when it makes more common sense to give up! Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. If we use this Scripture as our model, our daily walk will stay closer to Thee, even when we want to throw in the towel! He may give you more than you can handle just so you will depend on Him and not on yourself!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Monday, February 7, 2011
The day after the Super Bowl! Psalm 149:4
Good morning everyone,
Monday morning and on the road again here in Indianapolis for the next three weeks or so before on to another city. For you sports fans, Super Bowl 45 was an exciting game down to the wire as everyone expected it to be. My day involved mostly traveling but I was able to watch most of the second half. Two really good teams slugged it out until the very end and Green Bay came out on top as the World Champion Green Bay Packers for 2011! Anytime there is a sporting event to determine a champion, the victory and time on top as the best is very short lived. As a society, we spend billions of dollars each year to determine who will be crowned champion for another year. The victory is sweet for the winner for the moment, but to stay on top is literally impossible. The other 31 teams are gunning for you the following year! The madness goes on and on from year to year. Did anyone ever give Jesus a trophy that signified He was Champion of the world even though He came to die for all so that all could spend an eternity with Him? As a mockery, the people that crucified Him, gave him a crown made of thorns. They beat Him and then they crucified Him to a tree and all He ever wanted to do was show His love for all! We place so much emphasis on sports that we make our team a 'god!' We elevate everyone of the 53 players on each team to a status that Jesus never publicly obtained! The Savior of the world came to live and die for you and me and all He ever got was abuse and ridicule! Instead of placing crowns on all the heads of these players, consider this; the victory for them is for a moment; the victory with Jesus is for an eternity! Crown the One who really cares where you spend it!! Psalm 149:4 says, 'For the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with victory.'
Your brother in Christ,
p
Monday morning and on the road again here in Indianapolis for the next three weeks or so before on to another city. For you sports fans, Super Bowl 45 was an exciting game down to the wire as everyone expected it to be. My day involved mostly traveling but I was able to watch most of the second half. Two really good teams slugged it out until the very end and Green Bay came out on top as the World Champion Green Bay Packers for 2011! Anytime there is a sporting event to determine a champion, the victory and time on top as the best is very short lived. As a society, we spend billions of dollars each year to determine who will be crowned champion for another year. The victory is sweet for the winner for the moment, but to stay on top is literally impossible. The other 31 teams are gunning for you the following year! The madness goes on and on from year to year. Did anyone ever give Jesus a trophy that signified He was Champion of the world even though He came to die for all so that all could spend an eternity with Him? As a mockery, the people that crucified Him, gave him a crown made of thorns. They beat Him and then they crucified Him to a tree and all He ever wanted to do was show His love for all! We place so much emphasis on sports that we make our team a 'god!' We elevate everyone of the 53 players on each team to a status that Jesus never publicly obtained! The Savior of the world came to live and die for you and me and all He ever got was abuse and ridicule! Instead of placing crowns on all the heads of these players, consider this; the victory for them is for a moment; the victory with Jesus is for an eternity! Crown the One who really cares where you spend it!! Psalm 149:4 says, 'For the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with victory.'
Your brother in Christ,
p
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Fear-How faith overcomes it! John 6:18-21
Good morning everyone,
Fear is defined as having reverential awe of God; to have a tender conscience; dread or alarm in facing danger; timidity. I would like to focus on reverential awe of God first and secondly on dread or alarm in facing danger. John 6:18-21 deals with both definitions. (18) Soon a gale swept down upon them as they rowed, and the sea grew very rough. (19) They were three or four miles out when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, (20) but He called out to them, "I am here! Don't be afraid." (21) Then they were eager to let Him in, and immediately the boat arrived at their destination! How many times do we wait until we are scared to death before we call out to the Lord? He doesn't want us to be in the middle of a mess before we recognize that we need His saving grace! When we completely trust in God, then we have defined faith at its core! I want all of you to know that it is not a matter of whether your faith will be tested; it is more about when! James 1:3-4 tells us that when your faith is tested, your endurance will grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. All of us go through times where we feel as though we are alone and no one really understands our problems. Instead of fearing those times, ask God to help your faith overcome them so that you will become strong in character and ready for anything!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Fear is defined as having reverential awe of God; to have a tender conscience; dread or alarm in facing danger; timidity. I would like to focus on reverential awe of God first and secondly on dread or alarm in facing danger. John 6:18-21 deals with both definitions. (18) Soon a gale swept down upon them as they rowed, and the sea grew very rough. (19) They were three or four miles out when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, (20) but He called out to them, "I am here! Don't be afraid." (21) Then they were eager to let Him in, and immediately the boat arrived at their destination! How many times do we wait until we are scared to death before we call out to the Lord? He doesn't want us to be in the middle of a mess before we recognize that we need His saving grace! When we completely trust in God, then we have defined faith at its core! I want all of you to know that it is not a matter of whether your faith will be tested; it is more about when! James 1:3-4 tells us that when your faith is tested, your endurance will grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. All of us go through times where we feel as though we are alone and no one really understands our problems. Instead of fearing those times, ask God to help your faith overcome them so that you will become strong in character and ready for anything!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Not finishing what you start! Hebrews 11:40
Good morning everyone,
Have you ever started something that you left half undone or you just decided it was too big of a project to be able to finish so you decided to walk away? Do you have a garage that has become an overpriced storage unit for all the things that you feel someday will be good for something? I think all of us have tried to tackle projects that are far bigger than we are capable of doing on our own if we are totally honest. The next time you decide on the spur of the moment to do something really big like tear out a wall to put in a bathroom or something of that nature, it probably is a good idea to have a plan before you start the demolition! I have a study course I began over a year and a half ago and it is still not complete. If it weren't for the fact that I had to pay for the course up front, it wouldn't matter so much. The fact is I paid almost $600 that I could be reimbursed for if I would just get motivated enough to finish what I started. Hebrews 11:40 tells us, 'For God had far better things in mind for us that would also benefit them, for they can't receive the prize at the end of the race until we finish the race.' I won't receive a reimbursement until I take the final exam and pass it. I can come up with all the excuses in the world but the fact is I haven't really tried to finish what I started completely. I will study for awhile and then all the distractions of life get in the way and before I know it, I'm another month down the road and still not finished. That is not being a good steward of what our Savior has provided! There may be certain things that you too need to hit head on and complete for yourself. My prayer today is that we all honor our Savior in doing what we say we will do and finish to completion what we start!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Have you ever started something that you left half undone or you just decided it was too big of a project to be able to finish so you decided to walk away? Do you have a garage that has become an overpriced storage unit for all the things that you feel someday will be good for something? I think all of us have tried to tackle projects that are far bigger than we are capable of doing on our own if we are totally honest. The next time you decide on the spur of the moment to do something really big like tear out a wall to put in a bathroom or something of that nature, it probably is a good idea to have a plan before you start the demolition! I have a study course I began over a year and a half ago and it is still not complete. If it weren't for the fact that I had to pay for the course up front, it wouldn't matter so much. The fact is I paid almost $600 that I could be reimbursed for if I would just get motivated enough to finish what I started. Hebrews 11:40 tells us, 'For God had far better things in mind for us that would also benefit them, for they can't receive the prize at the end of the race until we finish the race.' I won't receive a reimbursement until I take the final exam and pass it. I can come up with all the excuses in the world but the fact is I haven't really tried to finish what I started completely. I will study for awhile and then all the distractions of life get in the way and before I know it, I'm another month down the road and still not finished. That is not being a good steward of what our Savior has provided! There may be certain things that you too need to hit head on and complete for yourself. My prayer today is that we all honor our Savior in doing what we say we will do and finish to completion what we start!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Good Intentions-Matthew 21:28-31
Good morning everyone,
You can have the best intentions in the world, but if you fail to follow through with them, how do they benefit anyone? I ask that question because I too fail to follow through on the promises that I make from time to time! If that becomes a habit, then people start to doubt what your intentions are and your words become worth very little! In Matthew 21:28-31, Jesus tells the parable of the two sons. "But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' The son answered, 'No, I won't go,' but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, 'You go,' and he said, 'Yes sir, I will.' But he didn't go. Which of the two was obeying his father?" Lip service is of very little value if there is no follow through to doing what you say you will do! In my opinion, Jesus is saying that sometimes it is better to do when we don't want to than to not do what we promise we will do! The Holy Spirit reminds me often that I need to be the example of doing what I say I will do if I expect the same from others!
It is dangerous to pretend to obey God when our heart is far from Him because God knows our true intentions. Our actions must match our words.
Your brother in Christ,
p
You can have the best intentions in the world, but if you fail to follow through with them, how do they benefit anyone? I ask that question because I too fail to follow through on the promises that I make from time to time! If that becomes a habit, then people start to doubt what your intentions are and your words become worth very little! In Matthew 21:28-31, Jesus tells the parable of the two sons. "But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' The son answered, 'No, I won't go,' but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, 'You go,' and he said, 'Yes sir, I will.' But he didn't go. Which of the two was obeying his father?" Lip service is of very little value if there is no follow through to doing what you say you will do! In my opinion, Jesus is saying that sometimes it is better to do when we don't want to than to not do what we promise we will do! The Holy Spirit reminds me often that I need to be the example of doing what I say I will do if I expect the same from others!
It is dangerous to pretend to obey God when our heart is far from Him because God knows our true intentions. Our actions must match our words.
Your brother in Christ,
p
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