Good morning everyone,
When we pray, do we get in a hurry to expect answers in our time or in God's time? Remember, God has a different time line than we do! When we pray, God wants us in total communion with Him. Oswald Chambers reminds us that if we only take as answers those prayers that are visible to our senses, we are in a very elementary condition of grace. Read John 17 and find out what God is after for your life! When you pray, God expects you to give Him a chance to answer according to His will and that may take time. Don't go to God expecting answers according to your will or you will probably be disappointed! Exchange more than a Morse code for help or a last ditch effort and make prayer a regular part of your day. When you see any concern throughout the day, let God be the one to determine if the concern is worthy of prayer or not! You just lift it up to Him in Jesus name and then let your faith be grounded in trusting that His will is going to be done! Don't hinge your relationship on a slot machine but on the 'grounded' faith of a mustard seed. The closer you get to the Savior, the more you will see His divine nature at work! May God richly Bless each of you as you serve Him with your whole heart!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Dependent or Independent? 1 Corinthians 11:11-12
Good morning everyone,
As a nation, we just celebrated our 235th anniversary of freedom from oppression and from that comes our independence! There is an interesting contrast between that independence and our dependence on our Lord and Savior! Just like men and women who have died for you and I so that we could have the freedom that we enjoy, Jesus Christ died on the cross so that all could be free from their sins! There may come a day when we as a nation will no longer enjoy the independence to have the freedoms that we have so much enjoyed over those years. Regardless of who controls you while you are living and breathing, remember that no one can take away the gift that Jesus Christ gave you when He died on the cross. He gave you a reason to be dependent on Him so that you could have eternal life with the Father! A cross road of sorts for you to choose (independence) whom you will serve (dependence)? Think of a yo yo and how the string recoils and releases as the wrist twists and turns. Our Lord gives us a leash to explore and then a resting place when He pulls us back in to His bosom! Never too far but far enough for us to encourage others to be dependent on the One who gave His life for them! 'Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.'
Your brother in Christ,
p
As a nation, we just celebrated our 235th anniversary of freedom from oppression and from that comes our independence! There is an interesting contrast between that independence and our dependence on our Lord and Savior! Just like men and women who have died for you and I so that we could have the freedom that we enjoy, Jesus Christ died on the cross so that all could be free from their sins! There may come a day when we as a nation will no longer enjoy the independence to have the freedoms that we have so much enjoyed over those years. Regardless of who controls you while you are living and breathing, remember that no one can take away the gift that Jesus Christ gave you when He died on the cross. He gave you a reason to be dependent on Him so that you could have eternal life with the Father! A cross road of sorts for you to choose (independence) whom you will serve (dependence)? Think of a yo yo and how the string recoils and releases as the wrist twists and turns. Our Lord gives us a leash to explore and then a resting place when He pulls us back in to His bosom! Never too far but far enough for us to encourage others to be dependent on the One who gave His life for them! 'Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.'
Your brother in Christ,
p
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Are you vigilant about protecting your heart? Proverbs 4:23
Good morning everyone,
Proverbs 4:23 says, 'Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.' Well how do you do that? Psalm 91:14 says, 'Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My name.' How often do you call on the Lord? Is He your last ditch effort just to call upon when you are in the midst of a mess and you need bailing out, or is He your go to guy all the time? If He is your last ditch effort, how can you really know Him? Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a man who authored some 30 books in his 41 years of life. His heart was devoted to his Lord and Savior. In one of those books, Prayer-A Holy Occupation, he asks the question, 'What temptation do I continually give in to? Instead of praying, "Give me the strength to resist" (which God has already done), what might happen if I were to pray, "Give me the will to use the strength You have made available?" Sometimes we bang our head against the wall not using the brain that He has given us to limit the frustration that we are up against on a daily basis. More so, we allow satan to creep into our heart through the back door not protecting the very core of our soul! Our Father wants to dine with us and He wants to spend time with you to show you the ways that you can protect yourself from that happening! The result will flow forth 'springs of life!' God Bless each of you as you take time to show the Creator how important He is to you so that He can show you just how important you are to Him!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Proverbs 4:23 says, 'Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.' Well how do you do that? Psalm 91:14 says, 'Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My name.' How often do you call on the Lord? Is He your last ditch effort just to call upon when you are in the midst of a mess and you need bailing out, or is He your go to guy all the time? If He is your last ditch effort, how can you really know Him? Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a man who authored some 30 books in his 41 years of life. His heart was devoted to his Lord and Savior. In one of those books, Prayer-A Holy Occupation, he asks the question, 'What temptation do I continually give in to? Instead of praying, "Give me the strength to resist" (which God has already done), what might happen if I were to pray, "Give me the will to use the strength You have made available?" Sometimes we bang our head against the wall not using the brain that He has given us to limit the frustration that we are up against on a daily basis. More so, we allow satan to creep into our heart through the back door not protecting the very core of our soul! Our Father wants to dine with us and He wants to spend time with you to show you the ways that you can protect yourself from that happening! The result will flow forth 'springs of life!' God Bless each of you as you take time to show the Creator how important He is to you so that He can show you just how important you are to Him!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Monday, July 4, 2011
Celebrate today with Thanksgiving! Philippians 4:6-7
Hello everyone,
Let us enjoy this day and thank the Lord Jesus for the Independence that we so take for granted. Philippians 4:6-7 says, 'And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts, and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.' What are you thankful for today? Do you thank Him for all that He has done for you? Is your glass half empty most of the time or is it half full all of the time? Do you find ways and ask Him to show you ways of why you should be thankful? We can go along the path of life and not really ever extend our selves if we are not careful! Make a conscious effort to look for those things that you can be thankful for today and let that be the start of a beautiful thing. The more you praise and honor the Creator, the more your appreciation for the littlest things will come to be! You could be a great influence on people who have always viewed the messes instead of the masterpieces!
Your brother inn Christ,
p
Let us enjoy this day and thank the Lord Jesus for the Independence that we so take for granted. Philippians 4:6-7 says, 'And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts, and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.' What are you thankful for today? Do you thank Him for all that He has done for you? Is your glass half empty most of the time or is it half full all of the time? Do you find ways and ask Him to show you ways of why you should be thankful? We can go along the path of life and not really ever extend our selves if we are not careful! Make a conscious effort to look for those things that you can be thankful for today and let that be the start of a beautiful thing. The more you praise and honor the Creator, the more your appreciation for the littlest things will come to be! You could be a great influence on people who have always viewed the messes instead of the masterpieces!
Your brother inn Christ,
p
Sunday, July 3, 2011
The reason to celebrate! Colossians 2:16-17
Good morning everyone,
Do you celebrate because more of a tradition and because that is the way it has always been done or do you celebrate because of the root of the celebration? We are just getting ready to celebrate July 4, 2011 as the 235th year of freedom for our nation! Do we just enjoy the food, fellowship, fireworks and another reason to party, or do we stop and thank our Heavenly Father for why we are celebrating? When we have an anniversary of our marriage yearly, do we stop and thank our Father for another year of growing closer to Him and each other or do we just chalk it up to getting old together? Colossians 2:16-17 says, 'Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.' The part that really stands out to me in this passage is the word substance because really every good emotion or feeling of celebration that we exhibit really belongs to Jesus Christ. James 1:17 says, 'Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.' Celebrations, concerts, sporting events and the list goes on and on; they will come and go but, our Lord and Savior never changes. The point that He never changes should be what we focus on no matter what emotional state or mood that we occupy! Thank Him for being able to laugh and celebrate together and never forget that He is the One that allowed you to have those emotions and feelings. As you celebrate the 4th of July this year, remember that freedom comes at a price and the One who gave you the opportunity to enjoy that freedom is Jesus Christ when He paid the ultimate price by being nailed to the cross some 2000 years ago for you and me!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Do you celebrate because more of a tradition and because that is the way it has always been done or do you celebrate because of the root of the celebration? We are just getting ready to celebrate July 4, 2011 as the 235th year of freedom for our nation! Do we just enjoy the food, fellowship, fireworks and another reason to party, or do we stop and thank our Heavenly Father for why we are celebrating? When we have an anniversary of our marriage yearly, do we stop and thank our Father for another year of growing closer to Him and each other or do we just chalk it up to getting old together? Colossians 2:16-17 says, 'Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.' The part that really stands out to me in this passage is the word substance because really every good emotion or feeling of celebration that we exhibit really belongs to Jesus Christ. James 1:17 says, 'Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.' Celebrations, concerts, sporting events and the list goes on and on; they will come and go but, our Lord and Savior never changes. The point that He never changes should be what we focus on no matter what emotional state or mood that we occupy! Thank Him for being able to laugh and celebrate together and never forget that He is the One that allowed you to have those emotions and feelings. As you celebrate the 4th of July this year, remember that freedom comes at a price and the One who gave you the opportunity to enjoy that freedom is Jesus Christ when He paid the ultimate price by being nailed to the cross some 2000 years ago for you and me!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Friday, July 1, 2011
Where in the world do we find 'Opportunity?'Galatians 6:10
Hello again everyone,
Yes, I am still alive and I feel empty for not taking the time to send out a blog in the last two weeks. Please forgive me and pray that I will get back on track to get out the message that God has in store for me. In saying all of that, I do believe that there is a season for everything. Over the last couple of weeks, I've experienced a different kind of bonding with the Lord. He has asked me to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). That is very difficult for someone like me who is very task oriented. Galatians 6:10 says, 'So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.' My pastor has reminded me a number of times that God can use you in any place that He chooses! It isn't just in the places that we chose! We have a tendency to limit our ministry by thinking that once we have a spot that we feel comfortable in, we stop exploring for additional opportunities. In other words, we stop looking for opportunities that God places right before our eyes. He stretches us but we lose our elasticity! When we start seeing trials as blessings in our life, that is when we really truly grow in the Lord. Do everything you do as to the glory of the Lord! People are looking for answers. If you happen to cross their path (and nothing happens by chance) and you have something different to offer them, there is a 50/50 chance that they will listen. Looking at every opportunity from that prospective, if the Lord allows their ears to hear, their eyes to see, and their hearts to receive, then you have the opportunity to give them something that has been lacking and that is the gift of Jesus Christ!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Yes, I am still alive and I feel empty for not taking the time to send out a blog in the last two weeks. Please forgive me and pray that I will get back on track to get out the message that God has in store for me. In saying all of that, I do believe that there is a season for everything. Over the last couple of weeks, I've experienced a different kind of bonding with the Lord. He has asked me to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). That is very difficult for someone like me who is very task oriented. Galatians 6:10 says, 'So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.' My pastor has reminded me a number of times that God can use you in any place that He chooses! It isn't just in the places that we chose! We have a tendency to limit our ministry by thinking that once we have a spot that we feel comfortable in, we stop exploring for additional opportunities. In other words, we stop looking for opportunities that God places right before our eyes. He stretches us but we lose our elasticity! When we start seeing trials as blessings in our life, that is when we really truly grow in the Lord. Do everything you do as to the glory of the Lord! People are looking for answers. If you happen to cross their path (and nothing happens by chance) and you have something different to offer them, there is a 50/50 chance that they will listen. Looking at every opportunity from that prospective, if the Lord allows their ears to hear, their eyes to see, and their hearts to receive, then you have the opportunity to give them something that has been lacking and that is the gift of Jesus Christ!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Friday, June 17, 2011
Full and Rich! Proverbs 8:21
Good morning everyone,
Proverbs 8:21 says, 'bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love Me and making their treasuries full.' Yesterday I was listening to 'K-Love' and Patsy Clairmont did a spill on Women of Faith conferences. She is a Christian author and speaker that has an amazing heart for the Lord. She mentioned that she wants the women that attend the conferences to be full and rich! What a great and awesome thing to desire for all of us! If we are completely full of the Lord, we will be rich with much more than we can imagine. If we have His likeness, we will be the difference that He wants for us so that we can make a difference in this world. Continue to seek His face and before you know it, you will be a reflection of just who He is and an example for the world to follow! When I fill up my coffee cup, it seems to become empty in a short period of time. Think of that same cup as being continuously full of your favorite beverage! Just like that cup, seek His face so that your heart is full to overflowing. Any Christ likeness that overflows from your heart is allowable because that is what our Savior wants so that the world will see who He is! The next time you savor your favorite drink of choice, think of the richness of your heart being filled with Christ. He will not disappoint you and you will be amazed at how He will use you!
Your brother in Christ,
p
Proverbs 8:21 says, 'bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love Me and making their treasuries full.' Yesterday I was listening to 'K-Love' and Patsy Clairmont did a spill on Women of Faith conferences. She is a Christian author and speaker that has an amazing heart for the Lord. She mentioned that she wants the women that attend the conferences to be full and rich! What a great and awesome thing to desire for all of us! If we are completely full of the Lord, we will be rich with much more than we can imagine. If we have His likeness, we will be the difference that He wants for us so that we can make a difference in this world. Continue to seek His face and before you know it, you will be a reflection of just who He is and an example for the world to follow! When I fill up my coffee cup, it seems to become empty in a short period of time. Think of that same cup as being continuously full of your favorite beverage! Just like that cup, seek His face so that your heart is full to overflowing. Any Christ likeness that overflows from your heart is allowable because that is what our Savior wants so that the world will see who He is! The next time you savor your favorite drink of choice, think of the richness of your heart being filled with Christ. He will not disappoint you and you will be amazed at how He will use you!
Your brother in Christ,
p
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