Pressing Forward in 2008

Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Looking back, would you have ever imagined all of the things that have happened in the course of one year? At the end of each year, I like to take time to reflect on the major events that happened. It helps me to see the hand of God leading me through valleys and up mountains. At the beginning of the year, I preached a message entitled “Blessings from Heaven in 2007.” Certainly, we have all been blessed in many different ways. For me, God gave me a deeper understanding of life by giving me a wife and a home. He also taught me how well He comforts His children during the loss of a church member and grandparents. Every year has challenges and God’s greatest desire for us is that we may know and understand Him (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

It would be easy for us to grow stagnant and paralyzed by the events of 2007. Some people will want to live in the past and forget there is much more to learn in the present and future. Everyday is an opportunity to learn which creates vitality in a person’s life. Have you noticed that those who refuse to learn often are bitter and mad? Be careful not to be paralyzed by the fear of the future or in your present condition. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever (Hebrews 13:8). Remember the Psalmist’s words, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalms 23:4).

With yesterday behind, we have a fresh start to make a difference in this world for the glory of God. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). He was telling us that He was fully persuaded that His life was in the hands of God. He feared God above all others and was totally committed to do what He asked of him while he was on earth. The Apostle Paul was powerfully motivated by the Holy Spirit. He knew that he had been saved by God’s grace. He knew that he had a home awaiting him in heaven with the Lord for all of eternity. He knew that there was a place called Hell where every person who did not repent of their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ would live eternally separated from God in torment. With heaven awaiting him, he knew that he could not waste a moment being paralyzed by the things of the world. He knew God and realized that the only hope for the lost world was the good news that Jesus came to saved people from their sins!

As 2008 approaches, where does God fit into your plans for this year? Are you confident in your salvation? Are you sure that you have peace with God in your heart? Being born again is where life begins. I hear many people say that they have been saved or born again maybe once, twice or three times, but their lives are filled with a lack of love for God and His church. You can only be saved once and the evidence is a changed life. God gives you a new heart and new start. He also promises you an eternal home with Him when this life is over (1 Peter 1:3-4). Where does this leave us? If you know that you have made peace with God and that you have an eternal home awaiting you in heaven, what are you going to do with the time that God blesses you with?

Time. Everyone thinks that they will grow old and slowly pass away. Some do and some do not. The writer of Proverbs 27:1 reminds us, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for you know not what a day may bring forth.” Whatever amount of time that you and I have left, it should be devoted to growing closer to the One who holds tomorrow, living as Jesus would each day and helping those who are in need around us. Until our Lord Jesus Christ returns, let’s press on to make His name great in 2008!

The Real Meaning of Christmas

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:1, 14)

Are you beginning to feel the surge of the Christmas rush? For many, the Christmas rush began the first day after Thanksgiving. The shopping malls began to extend their hours by opening up early for those crazy enough to get up for the morning specials, and now they are staying open late for the last minute shoppers. You can literally shop yourself to exhaustion. The weeks before Thanksgiving and Christmas are turning into a spectacle of lights with credit cards getting maxed out and tons of presents under the tree. According to society, the climatic moment is only a few days away.

What if every home on the corner didn’t have any lights hanging? What if you were going through a difficult time financially and could only afford to buy your meals this Christmas? What if you had someone in the hospital or had lost a loved during this year that was not going to be at the family gathering? Could you still have a Merry Christmas? If your standards of Christmas are based solely on the next few days of joy and excitement, then the Christmas message has been lost in your home. Every child loves to get presents and to know that they are loved. Parents love being able to give their children their needs and a few of their wants. These next few days are precious moments where families become close, love begins to abound and the hustle and bustle seems to cease for a few days. However, what will you and I be doing on December 26th when the celebration is over?

The real meaning of Christmas is not found in the city lights of Main Street but in a lowly manger. God had been speaking throughout the years that a Messiah would be born who would take away the sins of the people. He promised Adam and Eve that the seed of the woman would crush the head of Satan. He later promised Abraham that in his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. God promised King David that his throne would be established forever. This promised person would be born by a virgin birth. He would also be born in Bethlehem. His name would be called Immanuel meaning “God with us”! God had dwelt with the children of Israel in the tabernacle and the Temple, but now He would come to dwell with us. What an overwhelming thought that the God of all Creation would take on the form of man!

As the Son of God entered the world, He came for a specific purpose. He came that we might know God. First Timothy 2:5 says, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Although you and I have failed miserably in living up to God’s standard of holiness, God in His mercy and grace sent His only begotten son to this earth to wear the sinner’s crown. He came to bear our sins. From his birth in a manger, he was showing us that He was the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Through His birth, sinless life and death, we can now be reconciled to God. The greatest thing about God’s gift to man is that you do not have to have a dime in your pocket. God does not look on the outward appearance but directly at your heart. “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalms 34:18).

The birth of Christ changes everything. Its truth can bring hope to the hopeless, possibilities to the impossible and peace to the hearts of men. When the Christmas rush ends, remember that everyday is a day to celebrate the greatest gift—eternal life through Jesus Christ, God’s Son!

A Name above All Others

Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Have you ever been interested in studying your ancestry to find out all of the people that you have descended from? For most children, they could care less about anyone beyond the grandparents that spoil them and the parents that feed them. All those outside the immediate family are only blurs that you might see occasionally at a family reunion or on a holiday. Studying your family lines may seem to be a boring task, but much can be learned from studying your descendents.

In the Gospel of Matthew, the New Testament opens up with a list of names that seem to be a mile long. If you happen to read through the Bible on a yearly basis, you probably skip over the genealogies because this person begat this one and that person begat that one and then they died. It could be very monotonous reading unless you look a little deeper to get the full meaning. Every name has a special significance. In Proverbs 22:1 we learn “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.” We can either have a good name or a bad name, and how we live our lives will shape the only precious thing that we will leave behind.

The first name that we notice in Matthew’s genealogy is Abraham. He was the father of faith though he came from a pagan home (Joshua 24:2). He believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness (Gal 3:6). The next name is Isaac. He is well known for asking Abraham, “Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:7)? Abraham told him that God would provide Himself a lamb. Third, Jacob grew up as a deceiver most of his life until he became a believer when He saw the ladder from Heaven one night (Genesis 28). He went on to father the twelve tribes of Israel. The forth person on the list is Judah. He had two illegitimate sons with Tamar the harlot. This might be getting a little too graphic. Let’s go a little further. Rahab is listed in verse 5. She was the harlot who hid the spies that Joshua had sent into Jericho. She had heard of the living God of Israel, was converted and her family was rescued from destruction. Another questionable person is Ruth. She was a former pagan who married an Israelite, lost her husband, and eventually was redeemed by a man named Boaz to become the grandmother of King David. God’s grace was working in the activities of these lives to bring about His promises in the fulfillment of His Son’s coming to earth.

The point of the genealogy is to prove that the bloodline of Jesus came through King David and Abraham. He was the promised seed that God told Abraham “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 22:18). God later promised to David that He would establish the throne of His Kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:13). All the promises were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. His name is above all others. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Whether you are like Abraham who lived in a home that didn’t worship God or like David who believed yet failed God many times, let’s respond with faith and humility this Christmas saying, “Who am I, O LORD my God?” What can we give to God in exchange for His great love for us? Your name does matter in the eyes of God. The most important place it can be written down is in the Lamb’s Book of Life which records all those who have been saved by God’s grace. Many may look at your family tree one day and only see a blemished past, but it is how God sees you that will forever last.

The Holy Spirit: My Direction

(9-25-03 Dallas, TX 9:30AM)
Romans 8”14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Where is it coming from?
I can’t see it nor hear
My mind is numbed
By the presence that’s near

As the wind bloweth
I can see the effects
As a paddle roweth
It continues to direct

Where am I going?
What am I doing?
Slowly falling in Love
With my God who is wooing

Hear am I, send me
Is my earnest plea
I want to go forth
To every nation
East, West, South, and North

I beg thee to allow those fires within to spread
This world is too full of the walking dead
They need a Savior
To be born again into your favor

An experience
The repentance from sin’s obedience
Everyone must pass through the same portal
For man is just a mortal

We are desperate, longing moral agents
Seeking to win the World’s pageant
Many times forgetting about the Heavenly display
Too consumed in ourselves
We forget to pray

Master, forgive our land
Allow me to stand
In the midst of the Truth
That my soul may be soothed

I can’t hold your power within
For my vessel may break
Instead help me to win the souls of man
For their lives are at stake

I long to be a Moses, a John, or Paul
Everyone must know who loves them
The most of all

My God
My Creator
My Reconciliator
My Redeemer
My Sustainer
My Heartbreak Healer
My Soul Filler
My High Tower
My Only Power
My God of all gods
My Great I AM
My Horn of Salvation
My God saving tribes from every tongue and nation

The “my’s” may sound selfish
But I want to share
He loves you more than I
Trust Him, I dare

He will transform your life
By renewing your mind
Replaced with a heart so pure
That the outside will shine

His countenance upon you is unexplainable
Undeniable
Mr. Reliable
In every trial

I beg you to trust
In life this is a must
To have peace, hope, and love
Coming from the Holy Dove

Do you understand this occurrence?
It’s more than a resurgence
Is your mind is reflection?
Of the Holy Spirit: My Direction

Reconciled

Romans 3:23-24 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

Have you ever thought that you were good enough to get into heaven on your own? You may have always been raised up under solid gospel preaching, however, the majority of people today think that if they buy a few gifts for others at Christmas and give a little money to charity then their good works are enough to inherit them an eternity with God. In fact, one reason some do these good deeds are only to appease their own conscience from a god they have created in their mind. In the end, good people at best are covering up their guilty heart and mind with the “fig leaves of man-centered works” which has been the fashion from the beginning.

It does not take us very long to realize how good we actually are. When was the last time you balanced your checkbook? I have always tried to be good about keeping an accurate written record about what I have spent each day. Every time I buy something, I try to immediately write it down so that I will not forget. This can often be difficult when using the debit card that allows money to flow freely. This week, I finally sat down and began to balance my financial situation. While using electronic banking, I began to scroll down the list to find about seven transactions that I had totally forgotten about. The bank was telling the truth, and in my weak memory, I had to find a way to make reconciliation.

In Luke 18, a certain ruler asked Jesus, “Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus questioned him, “Why do you call me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.” You might think Jesus was trying to say that He was not good in this passage; however, He was actually questioning the heart of the ruler. Jesus went on to ask him about five of the Ten Commandments. The ruler told Jesus that he had kept them from his youth up. Jesus said, “Yet you lack one thing: sell all that you have, and distribute unto the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.” The ruler went away sorrowful because he was rich. His idol was money. The goodness he thought he had was a false image of reality much like my unbalanced checkbook.

Can you imagine trying to live a perfect life everyday? It is impossible. No matter how hard we may try to do good and right, we still come miserably short. Jesus said in Matthew 12:36, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” I thought balancing my checkbook was going to be a scary picture, but the day that God asks every man to give an account of their lives will be horrifying if they have not made preparations. It will be impossible to argue with God, just like it is impossible to argue with the bank when everything is recorded with dates, times and places of transactions.
Where does this leave us today? We have a major problem between God’s standards and ours. There is a mighty gulf that must be crossed. Even with our best efforts, we come so short.

What can we do? When I realized that I had missed the mark in my checkbook, I turned to my savings account and transferred enough money to cover all my mistakes. In God’s economy, we can’t repay the debts of our sins. They are too great, but what a promise we have in Jesus Christ “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled” (Colossians 1:20a, 21) This truth compels us to confess our mistakes, turn to God’s revealed truth and worship Him in humble submission for His saving grace!

Preparing for Thanksgiving

November 24, 2004 (thoughts from Thanksgiving Day)

Psalms 136:1-3 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Another day has come. Another breath has been breathed. Another day to be thankful for all that God has done, is doing, and will do. Another day to bask in His presence. Another chance to think about our troops away from home fighting for our freedom. Another visit with friends and family around the dinner table. Another opportunity to go to work and share with other employees. Another chance to learn. Another day to love.........

As I awoke this morning and began thinking about my "another's," I have found myself blessed. If you will only you will stop and think about it, you will find the same. You may have gotten out of the bed this morning stressed about school, work, all the family that is coming in or not coming in, how you were going to get everything cooked in time, the house clean, or maybe you will be driving across the country and are anxious to get on the road. Take a moment out of your day and think about the joys of your life. Our Heavenly Father has relayed this message to us through the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:6 "Be careful(anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Today, you may have a greater need that will not be satisfied with family and friends getting together. Your heart may be burdened for someone sick or maybe this is the first holiday season without someone special in your family. Don't lose heart but rejoice in the gift of life all around you and remember those who have passed with great joy and comfort. Don't let something so small distract you from the purpose of this holiday- Prayer and Praise!

In the first Thanksgiving Proclamation, George Washington wrote: A National Thanksgiving. Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God; to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly implore His protection and favor; Whereas both Houses of Congress have , by their joint committee, requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer; to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness;

Be reminded this day where every good and perfect gift comes from: Almighty God! His Son Jesus Christ has made a way by which you and I can know Him. That is more than enough to be thankful for. Our hearts need to bow themselves this day, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.(Rev 7:12)

Unexpected Obstacles

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:3-5

Do you remember the days when you and your friends had an old-fashioned pillow fight? The kind where everyone was slinging at each other around the bedroom, and you were trying to be sneaky by having allies on your side. These provided a great amount of simple fun for every body until that one person got hurt and the fun and games had to stop. I can remember bracing for those moments when you were toe to toe with the opponent. If you were ready, the jolt from the pillow in the pillow case wasn’t that bad, because your feet were firmly planted. However, do you remember those blows that took you off guard and left you out of breath and stunned. Those got your attention and woke you up to reality. There is a real enemy out to get you.

Have you found yourself lately in a place where you are facing unexpected obstacles? Things that you didn’t know was coming. The best place to be when trials come is prepared through a daily discipline of prayer, accountability and in God’s Word. The Apostle Paul told the Ephesians to “take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:17-18). Paul instructed us to put on the whole armor of God, to realize that there was a real enemy (not of flesh and blood) to fight, and to be on the offensive with the Word of God and prayer. His advice was to be ready for what is coming. “Yes, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).

We must also know that not one sparrow falls to the ground without our heavenly Father knowing about it (Matthew 10:29). Have you seen how many birds are flying around lately? This should give us great confidence that God has a perfect plan for everything that comes into our life. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). There are unnecessary troubles and trials that we can bring on ourselves that are our own fault. If we over spend our budgets, we are doomed for financial crisis. If we do not use words correctly when speaking to others, we can hurt feelings and destroy friendships in the process. We must take responsibility for our own actions and pay the consequences when we make the wrong choices. However, if your trial is simply out of your hands, know that God is so close and has His hand like the potter’s molding and shaping the heart of the vessel for His glory.

The diamonds of the world are not found on the surface of the ground, but in the deep places of the earth, where time and pressure have been applied. Our LORD doesn’t want you to be common, unattractive spiritually or drowned by the culture, but He has a desire to mold you into the image of Jesus Christ. Trials tend to have different affects. Sometimes, they make you stronger, because you are ready for them. At other times, they can reveal to you and me the weak spots of our lives that need to be guarded carefully. We must never let our guard down, but “be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Our obstacles are not unexpected if we are able to see the One who sees it all. We are no longer dealing with pillow cases and slumber parties but real life where lives are at stake each day. “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might” (Ephesians 6:10).

A Candle Lit in Darkness

(12:20AM Nashville, TN 12-31-03 I turned off all of the lights and watched the candle burn to remind me of Christ)

Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

The candle light in darkness glows
In stillness it flames and let’s you know
There’s always hope to carry on
For the new morn will come and darkness gone

The sun does rise with brightest light
Walking in the day there is no fright
Every action is exposed from head to toe
It’s easy to find your way and how to go

Darkness can be a driving evil depressing many men
If you haven’t been forgiven you’re trapped in it’s sin
Lost within the empty space of the heart
Look up to Jesus and ask for a new start

He gladly wants to meet your need
Come with repentance and the smallest faith of seed
Then too your candle can light up the night
You can sit and stare, what a beautiful sight!

Afraid of the Dark?

2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Growing up, I was afraid of the dark. I always had to have my door open, in case something jumped out of my closet or came out from under my bed. I was easily afraid for some reason. Our house was right beside the highway, and I guess I was scared that someone might stop by and peck on my window in the middle of the night. The reality of this ever happening in the small rural town that I grew up in was highly unlikely, but for a child with an imagination that wandered, I needed security. My parents understood my childish ways completely and probably wanted me to quit waking them up in the middle of the night and wanting to sleep with them. And so, they purchased a night light for the bathroom right down the hall. With all of the lights off in the middle of the night, I could glance down the hall and feel secure and safe while I drifted off to sleep.

Have you realized that being afraid of the dark is still a great problem with adults? I thought that growing up would take away some of the fear of the darkness of the night. It has in a physical sense. My wife can tell you how I have trained myself to walk through the house in the middle of the night with no lights on and check all of the doors. I enjoy being able to avoid the obstacles; however, I do sometimes fear stubbing my toe when I stray off my path. The physical darkness today is nothing compared to the spiritual darkness that looms all around. Death is on every person’s trail. Sin and sickness weigh us down and many people live like there is no hope.

Just the other day, I talked with a 19 year old young man who told me that he didn’t think that he would live another year. He was raised in the projects, orphaned and was plunging down a sinful spiral of drugs, alcohol and sexual promiscuity. He was like a child without any hope. He didn’t have any parents to turn to or a night-light that could help him feel safe and secure. I asked him if he had ever heard or understood the gospel. He told me that he didn’t, and by the time I ended sharing the Word of God, he had a smile on his face. He had a glimmer of hope as I shared with him about the Light of the World— Jesus Christ. Only God knows the young man’s heart…

Where can we find security and safety with everything that is going on around us? We can trust and believe in Hebrews 4:13 which says, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” God sees everything, and in knowing Christ, we do not have to be afraid of any of our tomorrows. “His word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalms 119:105). “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

If you have lost your way, remember that we have a night-light to direct us through the darkness. It’s alive and is a great source of security and safety. The closer you get to it the greater your ability to see what is really going on in life. Don’t forget that your life may be a night-light that directs other to the source of light, life and love. In John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

Voice Box

(10-2-03 Dallas, TX 9:20AM)

Exodus 4:10-12 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say

My voice box has been shattered
As he continues to batter
My new living tissue
For He’s about to issue

My voice has been taken away
That His may come to stay
May the Word of God speak
For this vessel is too weak

Put the coal from off your fire
Onto my lips as power
Let the Word flow from within
Shedding light on mankind’s sin

For we have all fallen
Being equals our God is calling
Us to that strange land
In Sweet Beulah, let me stand

To proclaim its goodness
That shines into the wilderness
Being fed by your manna
Lift hands up to Glad Hosanna

Lord, I thank you that you have taken my voice
That now my heart can rejoice
For lip service was not enough to suffice
And now I have your sacrifice

A heart of praise for all your days
For a journey up ahead my blood has paid
You have no expenses to worry over
Just graze in the fields of my clover

For I am the Great Shepherd of the flock
And I AM controlling your voice box
Don’t worry about the time of standing true
For my Holy Spirit will speak to you

Turn up the amps and speakers loud
For in a few moments you’ll speak to crowds
The Joy of the Lord is your strength
So in confidence stand instead of clay’s weak

I know you may be wondering why
Don’t worry I have heard your cry
For it’s my voice that calls people to repentance
Yours can only count the attendance

I am the voice from within the bush
With flames of fire and winds that rush
The Word of God will speak through
That’s why I took the voice box from you

Trampled On

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12).

Saddened, I stooped down to pick up what was left of the brochure my church had made to pass out at the Pumpkin Festival at a near-by park. Some of the people of our church thought it would be a great idea to share Christ with others on a dark night both physically and spiritually. There were probably between two or three thousand children and adults that passed by our booth with open bags seeking a treat to enjoy later on in the night and weeks to come. The costumes ranged from a little boy dressed as an old man with a cane to numerous Spidermen and Princesses. It was quite a show to observe as we proclaimed Jesus—A fisher of men.

Have you ever seen someone not respect something of great value? A brochure doesn’t seem like much until your name or image is on it. Then, it becomes something you want to protect and have others respect. I noticed there was a trash can about three booths down, full of our brochures and many others. Let’s take this a step further by thinking of the American flag. Have you ever seen someone burning it or letting it drag on the ground? Immediately, the sense of patriotism rises up in your heart and you are ready for action. The brochure’s paper and the flag’s thread are nothing special until they are written upon or interwoven to create an emblem which bears an underlying spirit.

I wonder how God feels about how we have turned life, which is of great value in His sight, into something we do not protect or even respect that well. It must grieve His heart daily to see the way people treat other people, all of whom bear His image. Lives today are literally and metaphorically being thrown into trash cans through physical, verbal and substance abuse. Does anybody seem to care? God does…

His image is on every human being that is alive today. We have all at some point thrown part of our lives away to various sins. We have fallen short of His glory and found ourselves miring in the mud. He could stand to look at us face to face, and He was not able to cover His face with a mask. He came to reveal reality as stated in 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” He was hung on an emblem that many wear around their necks. It has been looked down upon, ridiculed, been despised and rejected, yet it is still the emblem on which our Savior died. Three nails, two pieces of wood, thread and a piece of paper have a lot in common, that is, they are just common items we see almost everyday. However, the spirit behind them makes all the difference.

As I walked across the grass and noticed the church brochure that had been trampled under foot, I was compelled to pick it up, dust it off and carry it proudly because of what the church meant to me. The dust and shoe prints couldn’t keep me from bending down and rescuing it from further disgrace. God our Father felt the same way. When Jesus had been beaten, bruised for our iniquities, hung on the cross innocently and buried, God in His justice had to raise Christ from the dead. He has done the same for all who have come to Him through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. What a great hope we have! If you have been mistreated, disrespected, unappreciated, or despised for the name of Christ, you are blessed.

A Lost Friend

(written July 30, 2003 at Mcferrin’s Revival)

My heart is swelling
Because Jesus saved
The Holy Spirit indwelling

One moment, I feel as if I could float
By your sacrifice, precious blood, I gloat
Another moment my soul feels like a hungry rock
It’s heavy

My hand
Barely has strength to pen
My thoughts
If you would do as you ought
We could both feel a greater peace
For me, rejoice
Just to hear a new babe’s voice
For you—
The world’s greatest gift
Salvation
Peace deep within
Victory wins
Nailed is your sin
To the Cross
You shall never be lost
Again

Please listen my friend
Pay attention
The preacher is preaching…
The Holy Spirit beckoning…
A trembling heart
You can’t just believe in part
Surrender it all
On your knees please fall
Call out to my Savior
He’s waiting
Why stand debating?

You know something’s wrong
On Him, you long
Don’t stand in pride?!
You never can hide
You’re naked
Your heart is exposed—
Through your flesh
Sin and God
Does not mesh
You must choose
Jesus
Why do you want to loose?

You’re lost
What does this cost?
A broken and a contrite heart
Repentance
Faith
Trusting only in His grace
Works will not suffice
Money, precious stones, are not enough for this price

You have to realize
I have no hope, turn thy eyes
To Jesus
Come unto Him
Just are you are
Vulnerable
A sinner
Alone
No home
I
Guilty
So filthy
Shaking hands and quivering heart, black
Don’t fight back

Listen
His love beckons
Mercy and Hope
A new life in moments, seconds
They all want you
What will you do?

Trample his blood
This gets you unquenchable fire
Never more a flood
God has promised
He wants to save
Before the foundation of the world
He made a way
Why do you stand and sway?

The thief on the left
Or on the right
Choose Paradise tonight
On Him call
Fall
Give up your mind, emotion, and will
From Satan, your own soul, steal

I want you to go with me
I’m heaven bound
A sinner, I am, God’s Son found
Please heed
You have the deepest need
A born again experience
It only makes sense.

Aromatherapy

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. (2 Corinthians 2:14-16b)

Do certain smells catch your attention? Have you ever waked up in your home to the aroma of fresh ground coffee brewing? What about the smells you encounter when visiting a friends home for dinner? If your home is like mine, my wife wants everything clean and candles burning as visitors come over. The first impression is always hard to overcome. Do you ever like going to Starbucks to smell the coffee, the mall to be invigorated by the German roasted nut stand, or Bath and Body Works to find something refreshing? The beauty captured in sweet aromas is something we often take but can’t be overlooked.

While visiting a local prison, I was caught off guard as was going through checkpoint. A group of women were signing in, and I had just left a room of men. As I turned the corner, I was immediately taken into a flower garden until I realized it was just lotion on one of the ladies’ hands. The smell caught my attention and left my mind wondering who it was that smelled so good. Whenever you get a sniff, you want to take a closer look. The power of smell also has an amazing ability to cross time. Have you ever been to a restaurant and it seemed like you were in your grandmother’s kitchen? Aromas infiltrate the mind and leave lasting impressions.

In the scriptures above, the imagery that Paul made was to a Roman general who had just come back from battle. As he was welcomed home, Rome gave him a public parade filled with pomp, glory and a great deal of incense to honor the hero. While he entered the town in triumph his soldiers and officers would also enjoy the praise; however, the slaves and captives knew their lives would end in death with each step closer to an arena filled with wild beasts. The smell captured the attention of everyone and could not be overlooked. For the victorious, the aromas brought joy and delight, but the captives could smell the sentence of death.
The Apostle Paul was saying that Christ had “also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14b-15). In Christ, we are able to triumph because He has conquered sin, death and the devil. Although we are two thousand years away from His death, Christ offering in the fire of God’s vengeance and wrath against sin is still producing a sweet smelling savor unto God the Father. Our lives should bear this aroma of victory and draw attention to the Victor, who after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12b).

As Christians, we should be a source of aromatherapy to those around us. According to Wikipedia, “Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicines that uses volatile liquid plant materials, known as essential oils and other scented compounds from plants for the purpose of affecting a person's mood or health.” The way we live, act and talk should speak of the goodness and graciousness of our God to those who are taking each step closer to death. Christ’s life in us should alter and overcome the stench of sin and death. There is a big difference between an open grave or dead man walking and someone who is overflowing with the presence of the Holy Spirit. Let’s remember our Victor, Jesus Christ, and continue offering our prayers that ascend to heaven as sweet aromas unto God. The smell of your earthly tabernacle of clay will leave a great impression that will last for years. Be careful what your life is emitting!

Masters or Servants?

“But which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? “But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’? “He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done” (NASB).

Have you ever been to a restaurant and had a horrible experience with the person waiting on you? Did it leave a bad taste in your mouth even though the food was delicious? Whether we want to say it or not, we are actually paying for the service and the food when we go out and eat. Often, we have high expectations on the waiters and waitresses, because we want to have an enjoyable experience with our friends and family. The best waiters always seem to be the one’s who have everything out on time, keep your drinks filled up, and are at your beckon call when it’s time to get the bill. They are the one’s who stay in the shadows, get very little recognition, and do a job well done. This is what they are supposed to do, which is their reasonable service…

Recently, I visited a local fast food restaurant and was observant as I approached the counter to order my lunch. The young lady behind the counter was yawning, and it seemed that she was about to fall asleep as she typed in our order. I felt sorry for her because she seemed to have been up all night or under the influence of some substance whether it was drugs or alcohol. As she yawned continuously and moved around slowly for a 16-17 year old, I noticed what impact she was having on the rest of the crew. The lady at the window was being patient and kind but needed help. She was calling out to the other employees and asking when the other co-workers were coming off of break. Everything seemed to be hindered by this young ladies choice the night before. Eventually, we got our meal and sat down with family to enjoy it. We were happy to have our food and it eased the experience, until we were ready to leave. As we walked out, the young lady was laying on the front sidewalk waiting for someone to pick her up.

Have you ever considered the service that you are giving to the Lord Jesus Christ? It is easy to consider Him Savior because He has delivered us from the penalty on sin, but it can be difficult calling Him Lord when we want to be the Master. We are trained in our society to be in control of everything in our lives. We are the master when we go to the restaurant, department store, grocery store and many other places, because we have the money which gives us the power. We also have many people who are climbing up the education ladder and obtaining Associates, Bachelors, Masters and doctorate degrees which also give people the power to use knowledge and obtain influence. Money and Education are valuable assets that we all need in order to survive, but that is not what brings greatness in the eyes of the Lord.

As Jesus’ disciples were walking on the road one day, they began discussing who was the greatest among themselves. Jesus knew what they were saying, and told them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35b). We must realize that the Kingdom Life is totally different from what the world says. God desires His children to be servants who are ready at His Spirit’s call, awake to His Presence, actively serving where He plants you, and understanding that it’s your duty and privilege to serve the Lord with the life, talents, and energy that His grace supplies. You can’t work to be saved, because it is all by God’s grace, but you must work out your salvation with fear and trembling. The Hebrew writer reminds us, For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints” (Hebrews 6:10). With this in mind, how well are you waiting on Jesus Christ?

An Unrecognizable Face

Matthew 7:21-22 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Have you ever been at a social gathering and saw someone that you knew their face, but for some reason, you could not recall their name? It can make for an awkward situation when you come into contact with that person. During the whole conversation, your brain is being scrolled to find the name so that you can find comfort and put the other person at ease. Sometimes, it never comes until you humble yourself and ask for their name. It would be nice to have a memory that could recall every face and every name that you have ever come into contact with, but vitamins and memory games only work for a very few.

Throughout life, there will be many unrecognizable faces that we come into contact with. Some of the people you see you may actually know while others may only be a look alike. With the masses of people around today, it is easy to get lost in the crowd and overlooked especially in the city. However, have you ever visited your family, neighborhood or maybe your hometown and didn’t receive the attention that you thought you would? I can remember how sad my heart was when I went to the grocery store that I worked in for five years through high school and college and was barely recognized. I walked in expecting everyone to know who I was and wanted them to remember my name. This was not the case, because so much had changed…

Can you imagine how Jesus must have felt when He came to this earth? John 1:11 says, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” The One who created all, sustains all and gives life to all was rejected and despised. Our Creator had an unrecognizable face, because people had grown so distant and cold toward His heart and honestly didn’t want to see Him. The face and name that everyone should have known and been able to relate to was mistreated and abused though innocent of any sin and guilty of pure love. Isaiah 52:14 says, “Just as many were astonished at you, My people, so His appearance was marred more than any man and His form more than the sons of men (NASB).”

Even though, many did not and still do not recognize Jesus as the Son of God, He promised, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12). ” Although you may have forgotten the name of your Creator, please save yourself the shame and embarrassment by being humble and asking for His name on this side of eternity.

The Proverb writer asked, “Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name? Surely you know” (30:4)! There are many today who are familiar with the name of Jesus Christ and use it to make a profit, but they have never been formally introduced and born again. He is the only way to Heaven and wants to give you peace before you wake up in eternity and realize you had forgotten His name on earth. Acts 4:12 explains, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heav en given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Let’s be like the Apostle Paul who became friends with Christ and told young Timothy, “nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Timothy 1:12b).

A Day in Autumn

(10-15-03 Dallas, TX 1:32PM)

A passionate sweet seduction
Like the autumn air
Caressing me with instruction
To live in God’s dear care

He’ll hold you up
When no one is around
Letting you drink from his cup
Poured in to fill, then spilt to the ground

His skies are clear
With never a cloud
That I may walk as a mir’
Amongst any crowd

His love is like the sun
Beaming into my face
It’s not another pun
But a symbol of hanging grace

His mercy is like the rain
Falling when skies are gray
Reminding that He’s taken my pain
Just talk to Him in prayer by day

His peace feels like the coolest gentle breeze
Filling me throughout
As the wind blows through the trees
Lifting them up from pout

His joy is like the littlest child
Playing with a brand new toy
Laughing and untamed from wild
Peculiar, set apart, kingdom employed

He is exalted with kindness
Helping every man
Forever my Highness
Helping me to stand

As the cloud in sky does float
Standing still or blown
In Jesus’ redemptive power I’ll gloat
While bowing in love at His throne

Encompassed and ravished by rarest beauty
Enjoying everyday He brings
Will be my duty
As this living sacrifice as chime does sing

Some things never change…

For I am the LORD, I change not; Malachi 3:6a

As a little child, I can remember going to school vividly. My younger sister would wait outside the door for the bus in cold or hot weather while I sat inside on the couch watching Gilligan’s Island re-runs on TBS. She would usually tap on the screen door, and it was time to make a run for it. The big yellow bus was there every day at the same time to take me to the same school to see the same teachers. Life was easy with a schedule of school, dinner with the family at 5, and the rest of the evening spent playing kick-ball, tag, hide-n-go-seek, or riding bicycles. It seemed that life never changed that much. Mom and Dad were always there. My teachers always cared and my grandparents were always waiting on the weekend to pick me and my sister up to share their love by spoiling us.

What has happened since those days? Just as the nights are beginning to get cooler and leaves are starting to turn various colors, our lives are constantly changing through the seasons. We grow older, hopefully wiser, and slow down to appreciate each passing day. I can still go back to my hometown and visit the school. Many of the same teachers still fill the hall; however, there are many that have already come and gone. The place that I thought was so secure and structured as a child has evolved and been replaced with unfamiliar faces. In light of all these changes, there must be some way to find comfort and stability as time swiftly passes us by.

While growing up, I learned the song, “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.” Therefore, I would like to direct your attention today to God’s eternal truths. In the Bible, I have found five men who over the course of 2,000 years have given an accurate picture of the throne of God and the One who sits on it. The first was Moses who saw the Lord in His glory on Mount Sinai as the people of Israel had just agreed to do all that God had commanded. God wanted a people that He could lavish His love on. Just like you and me, it didn’t take long for them to rebel as Moses’ stayed up in the mountain for 40 days and nights. Secondly, Isaiah wrote, “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. (6:1)” When He saw the glory of God, he saw his sinfulness and was ready to serve God by proclaiming, “Here am I, send me.” Third, Ezekiel caught a glimpse of God’s throne saying, “And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it” (1:26). Daniel was also privileged as he explained, “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire (7:9). Finally, John the Revelator wrote, “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (4:10-11).

These are five men who explained the same thing over a two thousand year time frame. God is still on the throne and in control. What a glorious truth we have before us! Though everything continues to change day to day, we have One who never changes. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever (Hebrews 13:8). Though fall is here, some things never change.

An Inconvenient Truth

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 3:19-21 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Have you ever had something embarrassing happen to you and you couldn’t bring yourself to admit it to anyone else? Isn’t it difficult to come out and confess that you may be wrong about something? Growing up, my dad placed a magnet on our refrigerator that said, “Hire a teenager while they still know everything.” We often feel like we are always right in every situation and sometimes find it hard to humble ourselves for the sake of truth. Most of the time, we can be like little children who will tell every story except for the truth.

While visiting the Red Cross one day, I can remember an incident that really opened my eyes to telling the truth. I had just signed in after reading the manual for those who donate blood. Before I could get to my seat, the nurse called me back. The only problem that I had was that I needed to use the restroom. I asked her if I could go quickly, and I did. Within 90 seconds, I had gone to the rest room and returned. The nurse responded, “That was fast. Did you make sure that you washed your hands?” She was laughing and making a joke out of it, but immediately, I said, “Of course, I washed my hands.” However, deep within, I knew that I had just told a lie, and I was caught by my conscience.

Over the past few weeks, Jesus has been teaching me that I need to watch my mouth and actions so that I do not lie to others. In Hebrews we read, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Ch. 4:12-13). My heart had been pierced by God’s Word even though it was of small significance or consequence. God sees everything in my heart whether I deny it or not. Everyday, we can hide behind a smile, but our hearts can be so far from God.

Why do you think there is so much evil in the world today? Men and women just like me and you had rather lie about the truth rather than face the truth. God spoke to my heart and said if I can lie about the small things then it will be easy to lie about bigger things. Lying must be taken out at the root. Instead of allowing my conscience to be weighed down by the guilt, I asked the nurse to step aside so that I could speak to her. She was caught off guard when I told her that I had not washed my hands before entering the office. She easily forgave me, and my heart was set free. Though the consequence for this lie was small, it was large enough that Jesus had to die on the cross for my sins. James 2:10 says, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

If you have ever told a single lie, you are in need of God’s grace and forgiveness. Instead of walking around with guilt over your past, pain in your present and hopelessness in your future, go to Jesus, the way, the truth and the life, seeking restoration and peace. He has promised, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Sometimes, the truth seems rather inconvenient for a time; however, I had rather repent and be changed by God’s grace than to wake up at the end of my life and realize I had lived one big lie. As for me, I am resting in Christ’s finish work on the cross and remembering to wash my hands daily.

Breaking the Ice!

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Have you ever had excruciating pain that made you drop to your knees and you didn’t know how to handle it? Sometimes the burdens of life can weigh us down and bring us to our knees. The pain that I am talking about is not always the physical pain that many may deal with everyday. Below the surface, everyone is dealing with a degree of pain in his or her soul. What is the solution to the pain and suffering in the world and where can we look to find healing?

This morning I was able to understand what it is like to go through a painful physical experience. I visited the prison where the Nashville Striders held a race for the inmates and free world people. The half marathon consisted of 38 laps around a 1/3 of a mile track. When the race began, the runners were excited about this new adventure. Some allowed adrenaline to carry them along until it ran out, and they had to walk for part of the race. Others kept a slow and steady pace to finish the race. After 10 to 15 laps, our bodies were beginning to warm up and calve muscles were feeling the pounding step by step. We had only completed a third of the race, and my body was telling me to stop and give up. Have you ever felt the pain inside yourself, in marriage, in parenting, or in the workplace and wanted to throw your hands up?

If you are honest with your heart, we have all felt this way in our lives. Everyone is dealing with life, and we are prone to look at the circumstances all around and want to give up and quit. As I thought about the pain while I was running, it seemed to pound like a throbbing headache. Then, I learned a few valuable lessons that I would like to share.

While focusing on myself, I was beginning to feel the pain was unbearable. I felt like I was the only one hurting until I raised my head and noticed that there were many all around who was struggling with the same issue. At the time, I didn’t need to hear that I had not trained enough, eaten healthy enough, or stretched enough, because that would not help my current situation. I needed good news right where I was. Being critical and complaining would hinder instead of help. I was thirsty and ready for my parched tongue to be quenched. Do you realize that many people that you walk by today are starving for a genuine relationship with God, but they do not know where to look? Our passage of scripture reminds us who we are to look to—Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. When the children of Israel found themselves bitten by the snakes in the wilderness (Numbers 21), they wanted God to take away the snakes but He gave them the remedy instead. While many were in pain and dying, God told Moses to make a brazen serpent and hold it high. All those who looked by faith lived.

Do you want to live today? Pain and suffering is something that we are going to have to deal with everyday, yet Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). As we look to Jesus, we must remember that we can’t live our spiritual lives apart from His Body- the Church. While finishing the race, it was the encouragement of others from all backgrounds in life both in ethnicity and economic status that compelled me to finished strong. By being honest with the pain, the ice was broken which forged a fellowship that ended at the finish line with a warm embrace and job well done! Stay encouraged and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus!

Ahhhhhhh…..

Romans 15:32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
1 Corinthians 16:18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.
2 Corinthians 7:13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
2 Timothy 1:16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
Philemon 1:7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

Is there anything better than a long rain after months of draught? What about a cold glass of water while working in the heat of the summer? How about good news that you have been waiting on for years? There are two things you must notice why contemplating these questions. First of all, there must be a source of refreshment, and secondly the recipient must have a sense of anticipation. The ground dries and cracks because it yearns to be refreshed. Your mouth can also become thirsty in the hot sun under a burden of work and the first drink makes you go “ahhhhh.” It’s like good news that your ears have been waiting to hear!

Do you think that God wants us to always be in a drought in our spiritual lives where we are running to every mirage this world has to offer. He doesn’t want us to be fooled by the mirage of life but wants our souls to rest in His oasis. He longs for us to be drinking from the Spiritual Rock who is Christ. When the children of Israel were out in the desert and complaining to Moses, God told him to take his staff and strike the rock so that water would pour out and give the 2-3 million people water. What abundance! Do you remember when Christ was pierced and blood and water flowed from His side. His grace and spiritual refreshment is available to all. However, we must look in the right place.

While Jesus was waiting by the well in John 4, a Samaritan woman approached the well to draw some water. She was quite the sinner. She had had five husbands and the one that she was with at the time was not her husband. Her life was a wreck and she would have fit into the unapproachable category that the church has established today. Jesus didn’t come for the whole but those who were broken and thirsty. Jesus asked her for a drink even though the Jews had nothing to do with the Samaritans. He told her “Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13-14). Her soul was empty and parched. She came thirsty but left overflowing with the grace God.

Once a broken cistern, the Samaritan woman became a force in her community as she allowed the life of Jesus to flow through her to the other parched souls around her. She had believed what Jesus said in John 7:37-38, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” Do you believe the same today? Many are still living their lives all dammed up. Some people are still dead in sin. They wouldn’t know what living water tastes like, because their taste buds have not been awakened. Others, who claim to be Christians, are not surrendering their will on a daily basis. Every now and then, their soul might praise God on Sunday and be refreshed. However, the mirage of worldly pleasure still looks appealing instead of getting lost in the river of the Holy Spirit’s power.

Yesterday while at the mission, I met a guy named Martin who had just began walking with Christ on a daily basis. He is a butcher at a local market, and he told me that he was tired of the marijuana and sexual addiction. A few months ago, Jesus really began speaking to his heart and he began to change. He no longer wanted to sin, and instead of being a taker; he wanted to be a giver. With overwhelming joy, this 6-foot strong man was wiping down tables, smiling and sharing the name of Christ with the parched souls all around. I couldn’t help but want to be around him as God’s love radiated from His heart. The only way that we can prove that there is a God in Heaven is by how we love. Has their been a change in your heart, and if so, are you being the person that make everyone go aughhh or ahhhhhhhhhhh?

A Water Hose

(12-31-03 Nashville, TN 12:33PM)

Lying in the yard
Of no earthly use
Entangled in itself
What are you?

A piece of green plastic
Hidden in disguise
Lacking any power
Alone in sun but why?

I want to be connected
That something may flow
Sick of my laziness
Can my contents create a glow?

Only when hooked to the source
My streams enable you
To glisten in radiance
Like the fallen morning dew

Refreshing others around
Is a greater cause
Than lying dormant
Never getting applause

For being a tool
In the Garden of life
I feel most happy
Instead of pouting in strife

Simply asking for more pressure
Sprinkling on dying souls
Savior, do you work
I’m just a water hose

His Mercy Endures Forever

September 5, 2007

Psalms 136:1-9 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

What if you and I got exactly what we deserved? Have you ever thought about what you might deserve considering the things that you and I have done in our past. What if you were paid based on how hard your job actually was physically? For many of us, we would be paid very little while working in the air conditioning, shuffling a few papers and directing other people. What if everything in life was fair and you reaped exactly what you sowed? What kind of return would you have on your life at the end of it? If life were nothing more than a balancing act of good and bad, how would you do in the end.

While looking into the law of God, I have been noticing the fairness and justice of God. You should try reading the Book of the Covenant found in Exodus 20-23 sometime and see how serious God was with the various aspects of life. He protected life and love life because in Him is where we find life. The law was an expression of the heart of God. Do you remember your parents telling you to be home at a certain time? What about cleaning your plate, taking you to church, and correcting you when you were wrong. They were setting the example, because they knew what was best for us. They didn’t want us out late, because normally that led to trouble. They wanted us to eat healthy, so that we would be strong. They hopefully took you to church to teach you the truth and made you a better person by lovingly correcting you. Now, how do you think you would have survived if you received what you deserved by the way you acted?

Everyone wants to say that they were good enough and acted like a precious angel. I tried to convince myself of that even though my parents often reminded me of the many times I had a smart mouth, rebellious spirit, and wandered away. Facing the reality of myself was difficult, because my actions reflected my heart. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Many today are looking for a religion or religious practices to change the exterior, but that will never be enough. In the end, the vessel may be polished on the outside, but the heart will be as hard as a stone. There must be a change or else you will get exactly what you deserve at the end of life-- condemnation based on the Law and separation from God for eternity.

The Apostle Paul said in Romans 7:9-13 “I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.” What Paul is saying is that when He got a true look at himself through the eyes of God, he found himself to be dead, condemned and a wretched man. Have you ever taken a true look at yourself and thought what do I deserve?

I am glad today that the Spirit of God revealed to me the essence of my heart. He showed me who I really was as I tried to live on my own. Every person who is ever converted must see the broken law in his or her heart, feel sorrow over their sin and realize Jesus gave His life on their behalf. The cross can be a lonely and dark place where you stand before God and give an account. He shows us what we deserved. Look at His Son who He pierced on our behalf. Someone got what sin deserved. Jesus bore our cross, died in our shame, and shed His precious blood that our sins could be washed as white as snow. The work is finished, but it must be experienced in your heart. While waiting at the prison today, a mother was watching for her son to get out after 7 years. She purchased him a brand new wardrobe and could barely wait to see him. I thought of the following verse of song, “once like a bird in prison I dwelt, no freedom from the sorrow I felt; but Jesus came and listened to me and glory to God, He set me free!”

With Peace, He Wants to Bless

(September 5, 2007 Charles C Bass Prison)

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Lost, alone, condemned to die
Then I saw myself in His eye
Mercy came running to rescue me
He found me underneath the old rugged tree

Looking up, I cried in shame
Realizing this life was not a game
Hearing, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”
In my heart He said, I love you

Glory to God in the Highest, my heart exclaimed
Jesus Christ, the Lord eternally reigns
Do you know him, your mouth confessed?
A wretched sinner, with peace, He wants to bless

Jesus

(7-2-03)

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11

Flesh enclosed with completeness
Would someday provide my sweetness
What a Master Plan?
The Son of God—
A man

To leave his Heavenly Home
And on this wicked Earth to roam
A Nomad
No place to lay his head

Nothing compared
To what was up there
Yet LOVE brought Him down
He came as if not to make a sound

Born in a manger
My stranger
The prophets foretold of this night
The Kings of the Earth to be in fright
The wise men saw the star
They came with gifts, traversed afar

Just as a babe
He brought amazing joy
Not just because He was a baby boy
His mother and father somewhat knew in part
Just what was their little son
About to start
What would my Jesus do?
For He was their Savior, too

As he continued to grow
He never did anything to put on a show
Even at the age of 12
He was full of purpose
Just doing the Father’s business
At the Temple
How simple?
Why do people waist most of there life?
They fill it with everything but Love—
Strife
For this little boy knew
Exactly what he came to do

Not much is recorded
Until Jesus was 30
Yet the Word of God says
All of the books in the world couldn’t hold the works—
His

At 30, his stage was set
By John the Baptist preaching repentance
You see, Jesus was baptized
So I could understand through spiritual eyes
An example.

His ministry began
He came to save the lost from sin.
Reconcile
Restore a relationship
Between man and God
A gap had been created by sin
Only He could trod

Please read slowly and keep
This gap in mind
As I continue to rhyme

This gulf of space
Would be mended with all-sufficient grace

As the Lord continued to walk in His sandals
Satan tempted, but the Son of God, properly handled
Turn the stones to bread……….
Jump from the pinnacle of the Temple………
Fall down and worship at my feet…
Satan continued to repeat—
Just as he does to you and I
Maybe the words not the same
But the shameless prince continues to play games

Too bad, he cannot win
What is concealed within!
Christ continued to roam
Yet never alone
Masses of people continued to gather
What was the matter?
There souls needed something more
They longed, hungered, until His words—
They began to adore
They burned
As He spoke
Directly to the heart they cut
Or healed
That all prophesy might be fulfilled

He made the lowly crippled
To walk
The blinded eyes
To see
The diseased, lonely, and curious cried,
“Please deliver me”
Christ’s words,
Always spoken with power
Could have even saved
The world’s biggest coward

He came to heal
The Spirit come and seal
The dead to be raised
So His Father would be praised

He was the Light
In the darkest night
The Bread of Life
The Good Shepherd
The Way
The Truth
The Life
Many names He called himself
But many ears were closed, deaf

The people refused to hear
What he had to say
They thought they had it figured out, yet disarrayed
His people thought He was coming as a strong, mighty king
But only to provide His kingdom
With a beautiful engagement ring
The Holy Spirit
A Promise

A stumbling block to some
But the Savior of the deaf, blind, and dumb
The legalists, Pharisees, and hypocrites
Questioned, mocked, and spit
Later on, even the wise man Gamaliel said,
These works if not of God
Will soon die out, dead
Yet Christ came to give life
Not destroy
He wanted all to know His joy
He continued to be despised, rejected, and abused—
Just for me and you

Imagine.
This gap was so wide
That He was beaten, even torn in His hide
He was probably slapped in His face
His own people called Him a disgrace
They parted his garments

He walked the road to Calvary
Alone
Just Him
The cross on His back
“Crucify Him”
The people yelled.
He fell

Ever so weak in His flesh
Yet life deep within
Jesus continued to walk
A substitute for our sin
As he made it to the top of the mount
The soldiers grabbed Him
“King of the Jews” was shouted

On the cross
He lay His life down
His arms outstretched
Love demonstrated at its best
Nailed were his feet and hands
Of which His body was to rest

A Crown of Thorns
Used His head to pierce
As they dropped His cross
In the Earth, it pounded, something fierce

He hung
The River of Life was flowing
His precious blood
A Sacrifice was showing
He said, “I thirst”
All prophecies were being fulfilled
On the little hill

The Earth became dark
Quakes began to happen
God turned His eyes from His Son
Sin cursed in death, no more to trappen

It was being defeated
Death, Hell, and the Grave
He preached to the spirits
All in paradise about to rave

He was taken down
Not a bone was broken
Wrapped in linen, sin was choken
They laid his body in a brand new tomb
He was dead, no hope
Many did assume

As the Light broke on that Third Day
The Son rose
No grave was able to hold
His body in the ground
His disciples, He did astound

The risen Christ continued on His way
Almost over was his brief stay
He was going Home
To sit by His Father on the throne

But before His ascension
He was seen by many
So there would be no dissension

He did rise
Into the skies
The plan was completed
Satan’s head bruised
Yet still conceited

We now have a High Priest
He knows our sorrows
We will never be tempted too much—
That we can’t make it to tomorrow

He is always there
You can talk to Him in prayer
He mediates for us all
If you do not know Him, please call

He loves you more than you can imagine
Remember the gap He filled
All that you could be made real
No more a dead man
But alive
To live more like him you would begin to strive

To me, He’s no more a stranger—
But a friend
“I will be with you always even till the end”
His name is Jesus
My sweet completeness!

Let us reason together…

Isaiah 1:18-20 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Malachi 4:4-6 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

How many times when you were growing up did your dad tell you “I told you so?” For some reason, it always seemed that your parents had the ability to look beyond what you could see and point out the good and bad in your decisions. It almost never failed, our parents were almost all of the time right, and you hated that at the time. With a rebellious heart, a child wants to be right and know everything. Do you think we carry this same attitude into the way we live our Christian life?
Today, I met a young man who was raised in the church, attended youth groups, went to conferences and tried to live as a Christian through high school. He was now 21 years old and told me that he had really experience the grace of God and had been saved. However, he allowed a few things to creep in that began leading him astray from the right path. From a few sips of alcohol, a few puffs of marijuana and a few moves, he now finds himself in rehab trying to make things right with God and hopefully will be restored to his family. How can a child get in this predicament? Are parent’s loving their children like they should and holding them accountable for their actions or are many afraid to hurt their feelings and disregard correction. Recently, I heard the quote, “Who ever tells you the most truth is your greatest friend.” Could this brief lapse have been stopped if someone would have paid close attention and showed that they cared? I think so…

Another man that I would like to describe to you was about 50+. For the sake of this devotion, I will call him the professor. He is now carrying around a dictionary and using words that I have never heard of. With laughter and joy in his heart, he is being easily amused by the taste of food, the uniqueness of the English language and most importantly growing in a relationship with Jesus Christ. He is a rare find. Simple joys fill his heart. He told me that it is amazing what God has provided His children. With excitement, he told me that he has just sobered up after being in bondage to drugs for 30 years. He said that the world never seemed brighter than it does today. He said he had a lot of catching up to do, since he wasted possibly two-thirds of his life. Though he paid the consequences for his actions, I wonder if the influences of a few people who cared could have made a difference.

With these two scenarios in mind, can you think of someone that you could reach out to and try to help? With divorce rates as they are, both parents working to keep up with the Jones’, and the influence of an irresponsible culture, it is vitally important to build strong homes and provide stability for your children and others to see. Just going to church, having a family Bible, and providing for the family’s needs is not enough, everyone needs to be connected, accountable and growing deeper in God’s love.

In our Christian life, it is so easy to go astray when not in connection with God in prayer, worship and in fellowship with His people. Jesus is the vitality of your life and the only Rock on which to stand. Knowing Him brings conviction, correction, courage and comfort through all of life. God loves his children so much that His watchful eye is always on us. He is always looking ahead because He knows your present and future. If you give Him your present today, you won’t have to wake up weeks, months or years later and hear, “I told you so!” Let us come together with God. Let us draw near with a heart full of assurance and seek His face today that we might know how to live by His word and help some lost or straying soul in need. When you are close to God, you begin to hate sin and love the sinner even more. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

Be Still My Soul

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” 15And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. 16But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 17And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” Exodus 14:13-18
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Have you ever found yourself in a place where you just needed to be reminded of God’s truth that He has always been in control, watches every step we take, delivers us from all harm and leads us into the paths of righteousness. I was looking at the old hymn, “Be Still, My Soul” and was reminded that I need to be quieted that I may listen to the still small voice of God. The first line of the song goes like this: “Be still, my soul! The Lord is on thy side; Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change He faithfully will remain. Be still, my soul! Thy best, thy heavenly Friend thro’ thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”

Now let’s look briefly at the above passage of scripture. Can you imagine what the people of Israel must have felt like after passing through the blood of Passover and being delivered from Egypt? They were probably in awe of God’s power revealed in the killing of the firstborn son, amazed at the plunder that they made of Egypt, and excited that they were finally free from the bondage of Egyptian slavery. However, this did not last long. Whenever another difficult task came up, doubt filled their hearts and they were ready to turn on Moses and return to the place they had despised. Have you ever felt like you have been led to a place where you could handle the circumstances? Everything was out of control and you didn’t have the power to do anything.

Hopefully, you can find yourself in this situation today, because God is ready to reveal His power. He wants to quiet your complaining and make you realize that He is reigning as Sovereign King. In America, it is easy to try to wiggle ourselves out of hard situations except for the problems of sickness and death. These are the only two things that tend to sober our minds and help us look up. If there is a financial problem, we can always go to the bank or max out a credit card to buy time. If there is a problem in your marriage, Satan will paint a pretty picture of greener pastures that are only a mirage of deceit and rips everything apart. This is happening in Christian homes as much as in unbeliever’s homes. If a church has a problem, there are enough of them around to run down the street to avoid the situation and never have to deal with the real issues. Do you think that this will build spiritual maturity and instill faith?

The people of Israel found themselves before a Red Sea and being chased by their enemies. It wasn’t a three feet deep marsh that they were facing. It would have been a greater miracle for God to drown the Egyptians in three foot of water than to split the Red Sea. Theses people needed a miracle. They needed someone who had power to save. They needed the One who had moved in power before the Pharaoh with the mighty miracles. There was only One to turn to. Moses told them five things. Do not be afraid, because doubt destroys faith every time. Secondly, he said, “stand still”. Don’t try to wiggle your way out of situations that God has placed you in. Look to Him to fight your battles and bring deliverance. Third, He said to see the salvation of the Lord. How can you know a God who you have never seen work? God desires that you experience His power. You must be a witness in order to be a witness. Fourthly, He said to hold your peace. Sometimes, we need to quit talking and quiet our soul. In the noise of this world, we can easily spend years never hearing from God, because our spiritual ears become dull of hearing. The last thing he told them was to go forward. Their faith was activated when they took the first step and crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. They didn’t wade through water or walk through mud puddles. God opened the door, and they experienced the peace that surpassed all understanding.

Are you ready to experience God’s power in your life? He constantly wants to show Himself strong that He might get glory in every situation of your life. If you notice in the book of Exodus, only the people of Israel were kept safe from God’s power. They had passed through the blood of which is a picture of the cross and experienced God’s deliverance through the Red Sea of which is a shadow of the Resurrection. Can you say like Paul, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11). Be still, my soul! The hour is hastening on, when we shall be forever with the Lord, when disappointment, grief and fear are gone, sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. Be still my soul! When change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Talking to Me

(10-7-04 Hendersonville, TN 1:07AM)

As we walked and talked
I smiled and listened
When you told me to speak
The Son did glisten

Upon the leaves of the trees
Even shining on my face
An expression of love to all
To share Your Majestic Grace

Never knowing what the next moment holds
Walking in great expectations
An adventure to unravel
A gift of Divine relations

Crossing paths with other pilgrims
Encouraging those in need
Lifting up the name of Jesus
Sowing the most excellent seed

The Good News of Salvation
Ushering in another day
Eternity with truth and peace
Where the lion and lamb will play

Only thoughts at this moment
Though one day I shall see
Why you took away my sorrow
And began talking directly to me

To Alaska and back in 25 hours

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Psalms 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart.

Have you ever found yourself between a rock and a hard place, and you didn’t know how everything would come out in the end? Throughout the Bible, we find many occurrences of God’s deliverance right on time. Have you ever thought of Noah building the ark while the destruction of the world was eminent? What about Abraham when he was about to sacrifice his own son before God? How about Moses standing before the Red Sea with possibly a million or two people looking at him for deliverance? What about the night that you found yourself to be lost in sin and the conviction of God was weighing on your heart? Often, God will take us to the end of ourselves (our ideas, plans, capabilities and strength) to reveal His Awesome power.

Let me set you up with the scenario I faced last week. I had been led by the Spirit of God to go on a mission trip to Alaska with a 79 year old man who wouldn’t travel alone. We were to leave on Thursday for Anchorage to help in a series of lectures on Evangelism and Missions. God had spoken and convinced my heart about two weeks ago that this was His will for me. I have only been married for about 5 months, and this was going to be hard on my wife and I to be separated for six days. You might be laughing that our young love desires for us to be so close. It does and I am glad that I look forward to being with her every moment that our jobs do not take us away. Even then, a call can inspire each of us to strive for excellence as we are working for the Lord. Are you getting a picture of what I was about to face in order to do the will of the Lord? The best is yet to come.

My grandfather had been in the hospital for about two weeks and was getting worse. This is the man that I have looked up to all my life. He has taught me the word of God by teaching at church and by living it out. He is probably the closest man to my heart in my family. I loved him so much. On Tuesday before the trip, the family was called in to spend the last few hours with him. I was able to go last Wednesday and visit while our family gathered around his bed singing hymns of praise and reading the Word of God. It wasn’t a pretty picture watching the man I had almost immortalized slowly pay the debt of sin—death. However, my strength came in knowing what awaited him after his last breath. I left Wednesday with a burdened heart for my family and yet was still convinced of God’s will to leave for Alaska. Every possible circumstance that I could imagine was against me. I knew I had to get the 79 year old to Alaska, leave my wife for a few days and miss the last few hours of my grandfather’s life even though some in my family thought I was crazy. When God speaks, we must listen regardless of the circumstances.

On Thursday morning, I received a call from my family that my grandfather wasn’t doing any better and that it could be anytime. Still persuaded, I left my wife and met my friend to leave for the airport. We flew from Nashville to Minneapolis and on to Anchorage. It was almost 9PM our time when we arrived. We were met by two brethren and taken to their home for a meal. We were able to fellowship during the meal and encourage each other in the scriptures. After three hours and weary eyes, we prepared for bed. I noticed on my cell phone that I had missed a few calls. I retrieved the voice mails that notified me that my grandfather had left us to be with the Lord. Like Peter who was sinking on the water, I prayed, “Lord direct me.” The 79 year old was now in bed. I felt my mission was complete. I looked for flights back home and there just so happened to be one in two hours. I called Northwest and booked the flight at 3:30 AM CST. After six hours in Alaska, I can say that I have been there, done that and even bought a T-shirt in the airport to prove it. I arrived home at 12:35PM on Friday.

Many friends and family came by for visitation, and I was able to help preach my grandfather’s funeral on Sunday at 3PM. During the morning service, I was thinking about what I would have been doing if still in Alaska. I had prepared a lesson to teach in Sunday school, and the minister (in TN) preached from the same scriptures that I was suppose to teach on in Alaska. God comforted my heart and showed me how big that He was. During the afternoon, the funeral lasted an hour and a half with singing, prayers and preaching. There were many in the crowd who were not prepared to meet the Lord. We concluded the services at the church’s cemetery where my grandfather served as deacon for 40-50 years.

The pastor asked me to preach at the opening night of their revival at 7PM. Though tired and weary, God’s grace was sufficient and His Spirit was moving in the hearts of everyone in the church. As we walked in, it reminded me of the old days where the church was so full that the windows had to be raised, so that everyone could hear and see. The singing was powerful and the Lord enabled me to preach a message on The Great Divide from Luke 16:19-31. My eighteen-year old cousin who had been convicted at the funeral sat on the front row. During the invitation, she came to the altar, sought the Lord, and was gloriously saved through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Time and circumstance are not just haphazard events that corner us in our lives. God’s timing is perfect and will work all things out for His good purpose as we wait on His deliverance. He is all-powerful, and if He is on your side, who can be against you? I guess I write this week to show you the Amazing God that all true believers in Jesus Christ serve. I also write at length for healing of my own heart. Now, I can relate better to those who have lost some of the most precious people in their lives. Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He is not far off but is a very present help in time of trouble, pain, sorrow or distress. His ways are perfect and He is truly an all-sufficient Savior. Grace and peace to each of you!

Comforted by the Father of Mercies