Good Friday morning to all,
A week ago yesterday was the day set aside for celebrating 'Good Friday!' When we think about 'Good Friday', I'm reminded of how much our Savior suffered on that day for all of mankind! Death was the result of all the beating but death was not the end! 1 Corinthians 15:55 says, 'Death is swallowed up in victory. Oh death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' After He died, Jesus continued to do what He said He was going to do and that should give us the best 'Hope' on the planet. He arose on the third day! Fortunately, our Lord did not stay in the tomb! When He was nailed to the cross, He died and nailed to that 'old rugged cross' every sin that mankind has committed, is committing and will commit. On the third day, He arose again to give every human being an opportunity to live for Him! His resurrection was a sign that even death could not keep Him in the grave and He showed His
'Great Love' as an example of dieing to self and resurrecting to newness of life. Every human being needs to die to self before they can have the gift of eternal life with the Savior. If He hadn't risen, their would be no hope! Do you realize the magnitude of what is at stake? Your entire eternity is riding on your choice to serve the risen Savior or to continue to serve your own selfish ways! If I told you that serving Christ comes with a price but that price has already been paid in full, what would you say? The debt is much more than monetary value. It has eternal value! Live today and celebrate the fact that your future lies in a 'Risen Savior!' He is risen! He is risen indeed! Philippians 1:21 says, 'For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.' Live for Christ and you will live for eternity!!!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
The intersection of abandon and abound! Romans 6:1-2
Good morning everyone,
Romans 6:1-2 says, 'What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?' The 'old self' is gone and the 'new self' is reflected in who we are in Christ Jesus! When we think about the ones that set the example for us to live like Christ, Paul immediately comes to mind. You are talking about someone who did a complete 180 and abandoned that old self to sin and methodically lived out his days for Christ! Did he struggle with doing things that reminded him of his old self? Sure he did, but instead of focusing on the past, Philippians 3:13b-14 says, 'forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.' He didn't waller in the mud! He didn't let satan dictate his calling! Instead he sought the face of Jesus with 'wild abandonment!' Do you struggle with doing the things you don't want to do? Well if we are honest, we probably all do. But the beautiful thing of following Christ is He removed all that old baggage you were carrying and He didn't intend for you to take it back. He wants you to trust Him with your whole heart and know that He is there when you stumble. He is there to help you regain your balance and plunge forward in Jesus name! 1Thessalonians 3:12-13 says, 'and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.' Brothers and sisters, He made you to serve others and show them the love of Christ! Get out there, don't look back, and serve with 'wild abandonment!'
Your brother in Christ,
p
Romans 6:1-2 says, 'What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?' The 'old self' is gone and the 'new self' is reflected in who we are in Christ Jesus! When we think about the ones that set the example for us to live like Christ, Paul immediately comes to mind. You are talking about someone who did a complete 180 and abandoned that old self to sin and methodically lived out his days for Christ! Did he struggle with doing things that reminded him of his old self? Sure he did, but instead of focusing on the past, Philippians 3:13b-14 says, 'forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.' He didn't waller in the mud! He didn't let satan dictate his calling! Instead he sought the face of Jesus with 'wild abandonment!' Do you struggle with doing the things you don't want to do? Well if we are honest, we probably all do. But the beautiful thing of following Christ is He removed all that old baggage you were carrying and He didn't intend for you to take it back. He wants you to trust Him with your whole heart and know that He is there when you stumble. He is there to help you regain your balance and plunge forward in Jesus name! 1Thessalonians 3:12-13 says, 'and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.' Brothers and sisters, He made you to serve others and show them the love of Christ! Get out there, don't look back, and serve with 'wild abandonment!'
Your brother in Christ,
p
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Is Jesus truly Lord of your life? Psalm 18:25-30
Good morning everyone,
When you start thinking about what you are thankful for, what is the first thing that comes to mind? This morning, it is though God has given me a new sense of direction. When everything is taken away, even if it is for a brief period, the situation has a tendency to put everything in prospective. When God touches you with His still small voice, do you listen or do you chalk it up to indigestion? He wants to desperately touch you in a way that you see the immediate need to do a 180 degree turn in your life. I say desperately because either you do those 180's or you end up going in the wrong direction. Are you going in the wrong direction? Let me give you a sense of where I'm going with this devotional. Every time I open up completely and let the Lord direct my thoughts and actions, I am amazed at the results. The biggest honor, privilege, and sense of awe is not tied to what I physically own or do but it is in the work of the Holy Spirit through my life and the lives of the people I care for and love! When I make right decisions, it is evident in seeing God work in and through me! Wednesday morning I was able to pray with my best friend (Deborah), my beloved daughter Ariel and hear from my dear friends Todd and Gary and share my story of how God gave me a choice of either complaining about my displaced luggage or take the mess and turning it into something beautiful. The more we allow Him to fill us up, the less room satan has any place to roam around and distort the 'Truth!' As I'm writing this devotional, I'm honored to have over 100 individuals that I send this to daily! It is my desire that the Lord give me 1000's to encourage and steer to Him. We all have choices and may it be your choice to serve Him today. Ariel shared this scripture with me on Wednesday morning and I really want you folks to listen to the 'Mighty' and 'Powerful' words of encouragement it offers. Psalm 18:25-30 says, 'With the merciful You show Yourself merciful; with the blameless man You show Yourself blameless; with the purified You show Yourself pure; and with the crooked You make Yourself seem tortuous. For You save a humble people, but the haughty eyes You bring down. For it is You who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God---His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.' May we all seek His as we prioritize Him to be Master of our lives!
Your brother in Christ,
p
When you start thinking about what you are thankful for, what is the first thing that comes to mind? This morning, it is though God has given me a new sense of direction. When everything is taken away, even if it is for a brief period, the situation has a tendency to put everything in prospective. When God touches you with His still small voice, do you listen or do you chalk it up to indigestion? He wants to desperately touch you in a way that you see the immediate need to do a 180 degree turn in your life. I say desperately because either you do those 180's or you end up going in the wrong direction. Are you going in the wrong direction? Let me give you a sense of where I'm going with this devotional. Every time I open up completely and let the Lord direct my thoughts and actions, I am amazed at the results. The biggest honor, privilege, and sense of awe is not tied to what I physically own or do but it is in the work of the Holy Spirit through my life and the lives of the people I care for and love! When I make right decisions, it is evident in seeing God work in and through me! Wednesday morning I was able to pray with my best friend (Deborah), my beloved daughter Ariel and hear from my dear friends Todd and Gary and share my story of how God gave me a choice of either complaining about my displaced luggage or take the mess and turning it into something beautiful. The more we allow Him to fill us up, the less room satan has any place to roam around and distort the 'Truth!' As I'm writing this devotional, I'm honored to have over 100 individuals that I send this to daily! It is my desire that the Lord give me 1000's to encourage and steer to Him. We all have choices and may it be your choice to serve Him today. Ariel shared this scripture with me on Wednesday morning and I really want you folks to listen to the 'Mighty' and 'Powerful' words of encouragement it offers. Psalm 18:25-30 says, 'With the merciful You show Yourself merciful; with the blameless man You show Yourself blameless; with the purified You show Yourself pure; and with the crooked You make Yourself seem tortuous. For You save a humble people, but the haughty eyes You bring down. For it is You who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God---His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.' May we all seek His as we prioritize Him to be Master of our lives!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Remain Faithful with the Little that You have! Luke 16:10-13
Good morning everyone,
God is so good not just some of the time but all of the time! It is amazing to me to see His hand at work when we are without. When I didn't have luggage for a day and a half, I came to the realization how much I appreciate clean clothes and the effects of toiletry items. Everyday, I get up and shower, put on a fresh set of washed clothes, and the list goes on and on of the things that I take for granted. It is amazing how the last 36 hours has reminded me about how so many folks wear the same clothes over and over again. They don't have the convenience of a freshly laundried shirt that is neatly pressed. In fact, taking a warm shower and having soap and shampoo are very seldom. Sometimes I take two showers or more a day depending on how smelly I get. These last 36 hours have been like a whirlwind, but the Lord who created me, has never been closer. Sometimes the distractions that we view as conveniences keep us from giving Him the attention He wants so badly! When you have little, you focus in on the immediate much more than when you have plenty! I was able to tell everyone I spoke with yesterday about how the Lord got me to Corpus Christi safely and that He gave me strength and alertness that my tired and weary body should not of had. He allowed me to have an extremely successful day even though the amount of sleep I got was minimal! Instead of me complaining about my poor situation, I let Him use me to show everyone about His 'Great Love!' Luke 16:10-13 tells us, 'One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the uprighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is anothers, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.' Remember the following:
Happy moments, praise God!
Difficult moments, seek God!
Quiet moments, worship God!
Painful moments, trust God!
Every moment, thank God!
Your brother in Christ,
p
God is so good not just some of the time but all of the time! It is amazing to me to see His hand at work when we are without. When I didn't have luggage for a day and a half, I came to the realization how much I appreciate clean clothes and the effects of toiletry items. Everyday, I get up and shower, put on a fresh set of washed clothes, and the list goes on and on of the things that I take for granted. It is amazing how the last 36 hours has reminded me about how so many folks wear the same clothes over and over again. They don't have the convenience of a freshly laundried shirt that is neatly pressed. In fact, taking a warm shower and having soap and shampoo are very seldom. Sometimes I take two showers or more a day depending on how smelly I get. These last 36 hours have been like a whirlwind, but the Lord who created me, has never been closer. Sometimes the distractions that we view as conveniences keep us from giving Him the attention He wants so badly! When you have little, you focus in on the immediate much more than when you have plenty! I was able to tell everyone I spoke with yesterday about how the Lord got me to Corpus Christi safely and that He gave me strength and alertness that my tired and weary body should not of had. He allowed me to have an extremely successful day even though the amount of sleep I got was minimal! Instead of me complaining about my poor situation, I let Him use me to show everyone about His 'Great Love!' Luke 16:10-13 tells us, 'One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the uprighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is anothers, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.' Remember the following:
Happy moments, praise God!
Difficult moments, seek God!
Quiet moments, worship God!
Painful moments, trust God!
Every moment, thank God!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
When Life seems like a Whirlwind! Nahum 1:3
Good morning everyone,
I have so many things to share with you that it is hard to know where to start! I got up on Monday morning early to prepare to go to the airport not realizing this day was going to be different than most. I usually travel out of Ontario but this Monday I had to leave out of LAX in Los Angeles. On a good day, it takes approximately 2 hours to drive and turn in a rental. I left home at 5:30 a.m. and arrived at LAX around 9 a.m. The roads were packed and the security lines were out the door of the terminal and down the street. I walked up to the gate as they were beginning to board the plane for a 10:05 a.m. departure. The plane left as scheduled and as we approached DFW (Dallas Fort Worth), storms in the area made us circle for approximately 1 hour. We still couldn't land so we were diverted to Oklahoma City to refuel. Stayed in Oklahoma City for approximately 1 hour before returning to DFW and in turn missed my connecting flight to Corpus Christi. The next plane for me to take was 6:00 p.m. Tuesday evening because of all the back up list of passengers. I knew that I needed to be in Corpus Christi for a 10:00 a.m. meeting on Tuesday morning. The only alternative was to get a rental car and drive the approximate 425 miles. By this time I knew that it would take more than my abilities to pull that off but God is so faithful and at 2:00 a.m. Tuesday morning I pulled into Corpus at my hotel. Moral of the story! God gives strength to the powerless. God told me that He would protect me and He also told me that there were a bunch of people that needed to hear about His Love here in Corpus Christi, Texas. That they were important and that if I weren't here, then they may not get the opportunity to hear about their benefits. Sometimes we need to realize that a much greater 'Power' is in control than the power that we possess. When life seems like a whirlwind, let the One who can calm the storm take over! Nahum 1:3 says, 'The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in the whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.' With a power that great, the storms of your life are a piece of cake for Him to calm! Give them to Him so whatever comes your way, He will shine through!!!
Your brother in Christ,
p
I have so many things to share with you that it is hard to know where to start! I got up on Monday morning early to prepare to go to the airport not realizing this day was going to be different than most. I usually travel out of Ontario but this Monday I had to leave out of LAX in Los Angeles. On a good day, it takes approximately 2 hours to drive and turn in a rental. I left home at 5:30 a.m. and arrived at LAX around 9 a.m. The roads were packed and the security lines were out the door of the terminal and down the street. I walked up to the gate as they were beginning to board the plane for a 10:05 a.m. departure. The plane left as scheduled and as we approached DFW (Dallas Fort Worth), storms in the area made us circle for approximately 1 hour. We still couldn't land so we were diverted to Oklahoma City to refuel. Stayed in Oklahoma City for approximately 1 hour before returning to DFW and in turn missed my connecting flight to Corpus Christi. The next plane for me to take was 6:00 p.m. Tuesday evening because of all the back up list of passengers. I knew that I needed to be in Corpus Christi for a 10:00 a.m. meeting on Tuesday morning. The only alternative was to get a rental car and drive the approximate 425 miles. By this time I knew that it would take more than my abilities to pull that off but God is so faithful and at 2:00 a.m. Tuesday morning I pulled into Corpus at my hotel. Moral of the story! God gives strength to the powerless. God told me that He would protect me and He also told me that there were a bunch of people that needed to hear about His Love here in Corpus Christi, Texas. That they were important and that if I weren't here, then they may not get the opportunity to hear about their benefits. Sometimes we need to realize that a much greater 'Power' is in control than the power that we possess. When life seems like a whirlwind, let the One who can calm the storm take over! Nahum 1:3 says, 'The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in the whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.' With a power that great, the storms of your life are a piece of cake for Him to calm! Give them to Him so whatever comes your way, He will shine through!!!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Friday, April 22, 2011
Prayer for Spiritual Strength! Ephesians 3:19-20
Good morning everyone,
As I awoke this morning, I received a phone call from my daughter Ariel (a great blessing) and we prayed about some medical tests that she is going to have later today. Would you please keep her in your prayers? She is going to have an ultrasound on her neck where there appears to be some lumps. I was directed to Ephesians 3:19-20 which reads, 'and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.' Wow! Those verses are powerful because even when we don't understand what is going on around us, He does. When we see through His eyes, how much more does He clarify what may have seemed cloudy? If we are filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit, what happens to the overflow? I get excited to think about the overflow being His reflection. When we live a life according to Him, we are the seed of Hope for those that don't know Him! To surpass knowledge means you might not understand everything that is going on and for just reason. Don't question why things are the way they are but instead ask Him to use you so others can see Him at work through you!!! Ask Him today to allow you to be the generator of light and hope for those who are lost and need to seek the 'Power' that will save!!
Your brother in Christ,
p
As I awoke this morning, I received a phone call from my daughter Ariel (a great blessing) and we prayed about some medical tests that she is going to have later today. Would you please keep her in your prayers? She is going to have an ultrasound on her neck where there appears to be some lumps. I was directed to Ephesians 3:19-20 which reads, 'and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.' Wow! Those verses are powerful because even when we don't understand what is going on around us, He does. When we see through His eyes, how much more does He clarify what may have seemed cloudy? If we are filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit, what happens to the overflow? I get excited to think about the overflow being His reflection. When we live a life according to Him, we are the seed of Hope for those that don't know Him! To surpass knowledge means you might not understand everything that is going on and for just reason. Don't question why things are the way they are but instead ask Him to use you so others can see Him at work through you!!! Ask Him today to allow you to be the generator of light and hope for those who are lost and need to seek the 'Power' that will save!!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Circumcise your heart! Philippians 3:3
Good morning everyone,
When you think of circumcision, you might think of a surgical procedure that is used for religious, cultural or health reasons. It involves an incision of sorts but instead of the physical aspect, I want to focus on the Spiritual aspect! Philippians 3:3 says, 'For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.' Colossians 2:11 says, 'In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ.' Christ Jesus doesn't care about you using your body to identify the connection with Him near as much as He wants you to let Him take a scalpel to your heart and cut out anything that keeps you from Him. He wants to transform your heart so that you are connected with Him by the core of who you are and not how you look! So many of us get tied up in our physical looks and we overlook the beauty of a 'circumcised heart.! Have you ever met someone that has, what I call, an inner beauty that makes them much more attractive than their physical makeup. When we truly open up our heart letting Christ cut away all the clutter with His 'Spiritual scalpel', then we see life in a whole different perspective! Ask God to fillet your heart so that He can perform 'open heart surgery' on you so you can connect with folks in a way that is pleasing to Him. You will never be the same!!! Woo Hoo!
Your brother in Christ,
p
When you think of circumcision, you might think of a surgical procedure that is used for religious, cultural or health reasons. It involves an incision of sorts but instead of the physical aspect, I want to focus on the Spiritual aspect! Philippians 3:3 says, 'For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.' Colossians 2:11 says, 'In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ.' Christ Jesus doesn't care about you using your body to identify the connection with Him near as much as He wants you to let Him take a scalpel to your heart and cut out anything that keeps you from Him. He wants to transform your heart so that you are connected with Him by the core of who you are and not how you look! So many of us get tied up in our physical looks and we overlook the beauty of a 'circumcised heart.! Have you ever met someone that has, what I call, an inner beauty that makes them much more attractive than their physical makeup. When we truly open up our heart letting Christ cut away all the clutter with His 'Spiritual scalpel', then we see life in a whole different perspective! Ask God to fillet your heart so that He can perform 'open heart surgery' on you so you can connect with folks in a way that is pleasing to Him. You will never be the same!!! Woo Hoo!
Your brother in Christ,
p
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