Words of Encouragement

Wildflowers

2011-04-01T10:24:00.004-05:00

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? - Matthew 6:30, NLT

With Spring finally here, the wonderful wildflowers are beginning to clothe the grass of the fields with a beautiful array of colors. My mom always loved flowers, so whenever I didn’t have the chance to pick up a bouquet and bring them home to her, I would often notice wildflowers as I jogged down the country roads near her house. There were always a lot of beautiful flowers that decorated the roadway. From orange tiger lilies to bright yellow buttercups, their beauty brought cheer to places that are often overlooked.

Have you ever considered how wonderful the Omniscient God is? The simple scripture above reminds us to trust God for the cares of this life. There is not a single detail that goes unnoticed in His sight. He always knows what He is doing in our lives even when we do not recognize Him like we should. He has everything covered in our lives. He just wants us to learn to trust Him more and more each day with even the simple details of life. He doesn’t want us to worry about anything.

Let’s think for a moment about the difference between God and us. He cares for and beautifully clothes the ground with wildflowers that we often overlook. He provides these small pleasures for His glory and our enjoyment. There are wildflowers scattered throughout the continents which man’s eye will never see; however, He sees everything in all places and all times with infinite knowledge. All of His creation gives testimony to Him and His unfailing love. On the other hand, we worry over the smallest of details that will never ever happen. Worry consumes our minds, drains our energy, and narrows our vision which points us to our meager strength and abilities. Our lives would be more beautiful than the wildflowers if we would enjoy God by turning toward His Son, allow His radiating Presence to fill our lives, and reflect His glory with all the colors of Light’s spectrum- red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

If God clothes the grass of the field that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you who will live forever either in heaven or hell. Everyone in the world can testify that God is the Creator. All of creation amplifies this fact. However, this creation is destined for the fire (2 Peter 3:12-13). And yes, God is going to establish a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells. All people will not be there. Will you?

You may be able to enjoy the wildflowers of this earth but overlook the purpose of their creation. Even the wildflowers have been place on the earth to remind us of the beauty and sweet aroma of God’s Son Jesus Christ who wore the sinner’s crown and emanated the glory of God on the cross. Through His death and resurrection, you and I can know (have a relationship with) him as Creator and be given new life from Christ the Redeemer. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Enjoy the Son, springtime, and the surety of His faithful provisions. Have faith!

Life is a Vapor

2010-12-06T11:33:00.002-06:00

James 4:13-14 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"-- yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Have you ever considered how short life is? It is here one day and gone the next. Every moment someone is being born and someone is dying on this planet. In a sense, the world is full of life which is regenerated minute by minute. Someone’s breath is taken away at the sight of a newborn child and another is taken away due to death. Even during the past few seconds of writing, lives have entered and exited this life. There must be more to life than a futile cycle that lasts moments and then is over. If life were only a ride at the county fair that is filled with a few ups and downs and a few thrills along the way, then this life would be a sad existence.

I am glad to tell you that life is but a vapor. It seems that just yesterday, I was waking up in my bedroom as mom yelled down the hall saying, “The bus is coming soon. It’s time for school.” It seems like yesterday that I drove a car for the first time. It was but yesterday when I got up from my college dorm and walked to class in the cold wintry air. It was yesterday when I got married and said “I do!” It seems like yesterday when dad and mom took their last breath. These moments are passing quickly. They are gone as soon as they are made. New moments must be made minute by minute and hour by hour, because this life is a vapor compared to the ocean of eternity!

In the midst of our short years, there is One who inhabits eternity. His name is Holy (Isa. 57:15). He sets upon the circle of the earth and looks down upon man as if we are but grasshoppers (Isa. 40:22). He looks as the nations as a drop in the bucket or dust on the scales (Isa. 40:15). He has measured the waters of the planet in the hollow of His hand (Isa. 40:12). He has scattered the stars in place and measured the heavens with His mighty hand. He knows all the star’s names, just balls of spectacular and illuminating gas (Isa. 40:26). How much more does He know you and see your every move as your years go passing by.

Will you stop and consider how powerless and weak we are? Time can not be stopped from passing. We can not keep our heart beating or our lungs inflated, but life is given as a gift. We exist for a purpose. Revelation 4:11 reminds us, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Are you giving the Creator honor and glory with your moments and hours? Are you enjoying the gift of His Son who came to get involved in our lives by dying on the cross for our sins and providing a way for us to be saved, know God, and love Him forever? Are you drinking down the moments filled with the things that matter most in this life—worshipping God individually, in your marriage, family, church, and community? Your life is slowly evaporating in the presence of the Son of God. What will He say when your breath is taken away and you have realized that life was a vapor? It is here one day and gone the next! Soak it up and use is wisely for the glory of God!

Thanksgiving Meditation

2010-11-23T12:14:00.002-06:00

King in Greatest Exaltation

Philippians 2:5-11 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.

Ultimate humiliation
That the God of all creation
Would put on the flesh of man
Just to understand

Before time existed
He knew man resisted
To worship someone higher
For we wanted all the power

Instead they gained nothing
But toil, strife, and envying
Destroying man’s purity of heart
Now needing a new start

That’s why Jesus came to us
To save us from the lowly dust
Born of the Virgin Mary
A King coming humbly so contrary

To the animals all around
Gnashing when He did confound
The wise with foolish simplicity
Showing them to be…

Who they are inside
No longer to hide
Because God’s Light has exposed
Hearts that are so cold

That’s why Jesus came to bleed
For all mankind to be freed
From the bondage of sin
And so, He spoke to the wind

Peace be still as time paused
On Calvary, He gained no applause
For facing the wickedness of man
The mirror was in His hand

Showing us what man’s heart contained
Caused His to melt and flow like rain
In agony and anguish He did hang
Plunging to the darkest depths, now to reign

That’s why Jesus hates our pride
It gives man a place to hide
Behind the bars of His very soul
He doesn’t want to be let go

Until the loneliness and guilt
Leave a cold heart without a quilt
And there’s no place to run
But to the only begotten Son

Bowing at the foot of the cross
Realizing in darkness, he is so lost
Reaching up for mercy and grace
Now longing to see His face

The eyes that burn like fire
For His Spirit contains the purest desire
The countenance of His face does show
The reflection of His very soul

Though marred on earth physically
Beauty shown so plain spiritually
His emotions were strained to extreme
That His life could produce a living stream

The water of life now flows in abundance
Because we have a second chance
To see the God of all Creation
Jesus Christ—King in Greatest Exaltation

The Purpose of the Law

2010-11-19T10:19:00.000-06:00

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:24

The other day I stopped by the YMCA in downtown Nashville. I usually visit there maybe once a month, so I have never purchase the monthly parking pass for eight dollars. I usually try to find a place along the road and fill the parking meter with change to rent the parking space for about an hour. As I got out of the truck, I noticed the parking meter was flashing. I inserted a couple of dollars worth of coins to buy an hour of parking time. For every quarter, you can buy ten minutes. A dime will buy four minutes and a nickel two minutes. I had accumulated one hour and four minutes on the meter. I knew I had one solid hour to work out and get back to the truck in the allotted time.

When I went into the facility, I kept my eye on the clock as the minutes passed. After working out on the cardio machine, I went to the free weights and did a few reps. As time slowly passed, I realized I had about ten to fifteen minutes left to get to my truck. I went to the locker room, changed, and grabbed my bag to return to the truck in much relief knowing I had exercised for the day.

As soon as I exited through the front doors, I saw a man standing beside my truck. He was dressed in blue, had a badge, and had arrived there in a golf cart with a flashing light. He was hired by Metro to parole the parking meters across town. I ran to my truck and asked him what the problem was. He said he was writing me a ticket for a parking violation. I told him that could not be possible. I had purchased the time, and I had kept up with it while working out. Even if the meter was flashing it could have only been doing so for two to four minutes which was the equivalent to a nickel or dime.

Immediately, I tried to explain my case to him. I tried to explain that I had arrived one hour prior and put my money in the meter. I was not trying to be dishonest. I even had a witness who was patrolling the YMCA parking garage. I had asked to get change from him for a dollar. He watched the scene unfold. I pleaded for grace, and he told me he was only doing his job. He said he drove up, saw the meter flashing, and began writing the ticket for one hundred times greater than the actual time would have cost me (one dime compared to $11 for parking violation.) If effect, he said the law is the law and is no respecter of persons. I tried to talk with the law and negotiate, but he said, “Sorry boss, you will have to take that up with the Davidson County Court system if you want to contest this.”

I was stuck with a fine in my hand, a flashing meter, and a witness who could only testify to my effort to keep the law. The law is the law and my time had run out in his eyes. I was a little angry, disgusted, and silenced as my mind thought of a thousand ways to justify myself (the meter was wrong, the clocks were not in sync in the YMCA, someone held me up, etc). Romans 3:19 says, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” I could contest it, but I knew I was guilty. He saw what he saw, and my plea for grace would not work with the law. The law had to be fulfilled, and I had no plea.

Let me remind you briefly, the law is the schoolmaster that points us to the only One who has dotted every “i” and crossed every “t” of the law’s demand—Jesus Christ. Oh, what a Savior who would take upon my sin and your sin and bear it alone at the cross of Calvary. He died to bear the wrathful consequences of billions of offenses against the Righteous Judge in the high court of heaven. He died to uphold God’s justice and to enable believers in Jesus to be justified in His sight.

My hope today is that you are not depending on your own goodness or works in the eyes of men to get you into heaven. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). Men and women of this earth will not be given the opportunity to testify to God on your behalf about the good deeds you may have done. Your goodness is not enough. God’s verdict already stands. Romans 3:10 says, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” If you haven’t already received pardon, grace, and forgiveness, run to Christ before your time runs out. You do not want to face the Lawgiver and Judge of the whole earth without a plea.

Dear believer, do you remember the day the law tracked you down? Do you remember when your heart was racing and you knew of your guilt? Do you remember when you felt the drawing power of the Holy Spirit who convicted you of sin, opened your eyes to Christ, and enabled you to say Abba Father with a heart full of peace? Do you remember the hour you first believed? The law fulfilled its purpose and gospel of Jesus Christ became the greatest message and love story you had ever heard. Now, God is with you both now and forevermore. Rejoice and be thankful!

The Story Behind the Names

2010-05-24T11:10:00.010-05:00

As I sit quietly in the hospital room with Jenna and our newborn son, I am reminded of God's faithfulness and miracle-working power. Three years ago when Jenna and I were married, I never dreamed of having 3 sons by age 30; however, the Lord in His soveriegn plan knew exactly what He was doing. For that I am truly thankful.

Our first three years of marriage have been filled with pain, grief, joy and blessing. The Lord has given and taken away. First, He saw fit to take Jenna's Nana (July 07), my Granddaddy (August 07), our first child (February 08), my dad (May 08) and my mom (March 09). It is on days like today in the quietness of a hospital room that I wish they were all here to celebrate with us. I like to imagine Jenna's Nana holding Samuel, mom holding Daniel, and my dad patting me on the shoulder and saying welcome to fatherhood. I can hear the faint echos of what my dad might be saying, "Son, now you will know why I loved you the way I did."

Although I can't audible hear their voices or whispers, I am thankful to have a Heavenly Father who has been with me through the funerals and the births. Life is full of cycles. We are born, grow up, grow out, grow old, and then go the way of all men. It is a blessing to know we can escape this cycle and enjoy eternal life.

Jenna and I have three children. Our first, who we lost through miscarriage, was named Ethan Caleb. We gave him this name because Ethan was a singer and writer in the Bible. First Chronicles 15:19 says, "So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;" We knew that our first child though never making it outside the womb was fearfully and wondefully made in the image of God. He was taken directly into the presence of the LORD. I can imagine him singing unto the Lord for His mercy and grace. Ethan wrote Psalm 89. In the first verse, he writes, "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations." God is merciful and faithful to all generations, and Ethan's life reminds us of God's graciousness. His middle name was Caleb. As you know, Caleb and Joshua were the only two people who came out of Egypt and entered the Promised Land. Caleb had great faith, and the Lord reward Him for it. Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Our second child was going to be named Elijah Thomas. We liked this name, yet during the 8th month of Jenna's pregnancy, my mother passed away of a heart attack at 48 years of age. A few weeks afterward, the Lord began speaking to my heart about our child's name. I kept hearing Daniel. At first, I kept this to myself, because I knew Jenna liked the other name and would have thought I was crazy for wanting to change his name. We already had 3-4 things monogrammed. Yes, the expensive diaper bag was one of them.

When I began researching name meanings, I discovered that Daniel means "My God is Judge." This was so true in our case. Hebrews 9:27-28 says, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." God is the Judge of all the earth and because of Adam's transgression, every person will someday die. As a young child, you never really think about it, but within two years, Nana, Grandaddy, Ethan, Dad, and Mom had met the just penalty for sin--death. I am glad to report they were all overcomers through the blood of the Lamb. They all had testimonies of saving faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." It also meant a lot to Jenna when she found out her grandparents were going to name their first child Daniel if it were a boy. Her Nana and Pop had two girls, so the name was never used until our Daniel was born.

Daniel's middle name is Benjamin. This is a Johnson family name. My dad's middle name was Benjamin. My granddaddy's first name was Bennie, and my great grandfather's first name was Benjamin. When Rachel was dying with Jacob's second son by her (Gen. 35:18), she named her son, Benoni, which means "son of my sorrow or son of my strength." Jacob named him Benjamin which means, "son of the right hand."

Daniel Benjamin is our first son we have been able to hold. Everytime I look into his face and call his name, I hope I am reminded of "My God is Judge" and "Son of my Right Hand." Within his name, I am reminded of God's grace through redemption. All men have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We all stand before a Righteous Judge without one plea, yet God sent His Son Jesus from His right hand to die for the sins of man. In Jesus, God righteousness stands, His justice is satisfied, and sinful people like Nana, Granddaddy, Ethan, Dad, and Mom can by faith be pardoned and justified in God's presence (Romans 3:26). This Jesus is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen (Jude 1:24-25).

After Daniel was born, we were consumed with taking care of him. We actually couldn't believe we had a child. He was born 6 weeks after my mom passed away, and his presence helped heal my heart from the grief and pain of losing my parents. There were still days of grief and disappointment, but his sweet face brightened our home. The Lord used Daniel to heal Jenna's heart as well. After our first miscarriage, we never knew if we would have any children. We were both concerned and heartbroken. She took it much harder than I did, and for four months after losing Ethan, she was devastated. After researching online, she found a book called Hannah's Hope. It dealt with problems of infertility, miscarriage, and the loss of children. The book worked wonders on Jenna's heart, and it helped allow some light to poke through the dark clouds which surrounded her.

Four months after Daniel's birth, I had a sense that we might be ready for another child. I joked with Jenna as Daniel was crying about having another child. In some ways, I have learned that kidding each other about having children is not always the best. There are many who would love to have children. Those who never have any problems getting pregnant do not really understand the full blessings of having children. Some choose to not have children. Some couples graciously adopt and provide a wonderful picture of God's unconditional love.Others get pregnant easily, wait 9 months, and deliver like it is a breeze. My heart has grown more sensitive through our process of loss and birth, and I will continue to learn more as our children grow. I do want to remind you of how fragile life is. God is ultimately the Giver and Sustainer of life.

Throughout this pregnancy, we have been reminded of Hannah's hope. We could have never imagined having two living sons now. Two years ago, I wondered about the options we had in raising a family. There are many children who get neglected, are in orphan's homes, and are in need of adoption. Like Hannah, we prayed and the Lord answered. During this pregnancy, Jenna was in the hosptital 5 times (one stay lasted 7 days), on bedrest 17 days, and in a wreck which totaled our car. There were so many prayers lifted up for this child. Hannah in First Samuel 1:27 said, "For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:" God heard so many of our prayers for protection, peace, and provision. Samuel means "heard or asked of God or God's hears." We are thankful we serve a God who hears and answers prayers!

Samuel's middle name is Levi. Of course, you know this was the third child of Jacob, and we consider Samuel our third child. Levi's family was also the people God chose to be in charge of His worship. It was the Levites who were in charge of taking care of the tabernacle. Within this tribe, God chose Aaron and His family to be the priests. The Levites were not given any land when the Promised Land was divided, because God was their portion. Levi means "united or joined." Daniel and Samuel are very close in age, and we pray they both will grow up close to each other, close to us, and most importantly to God.

For those who may have wondered, these are the stories behind our son's names. Parenting is an incredbile responsibility. As a dad, it is my job to reflect the glory of our heavenly Father to our family, and the love and intimacy of Jesus Christ to my wife. May God bless you and your families as you are witnesses of His goodness and grace. Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them(Psalms 127:3-5a)!

The Faithfulness of God

2010-05-06T16:11:00.008-05:00

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:9

It has been two years since I stopped writing my weekly "Word of Encouragement". On May 8, 2008, I got some of the most shocking news of my life. My dad had passed away during an afternoon nap at 48 years of age; it turned my world upside down. How could my dad, who I had looked up to for so long, be gone just that fast? I preached his funeral, because it was something I felt had to do. God had called me into the ministry in 2003, and my dad had presented me before the ordained brethren at my ordination in 2005. He was also the Best Man at my wedding in 2007, and he was in the audience when I was inducted into the Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame on May 3^rd just five days before he was gone.

Over the past two years, I have felt like I have become weaker and weaker, while God has become stronger and stronger. I wanted to be the one encouraging others all the time, but I became the one who needed encouragement. I thought I was strong and independent, yet I have been held up by so many people through prayer and friendship. I thought I had it all together-- marriage, a home, and a good job. However, I realized that in brokenness I could see God more clearly. Instead of looking to the tall idols of self-sufficiency and independence, I was forced to the ground on my knees in despair. I truly thought I was doing better about a year after dad passed. Then, I faced reality once more when 10 months later mom passed on March 9^th, 2009. It was a hard hit and broke my heart once more.

It is so difficult during times when death and devastation come our way. There are many ways to deal with this type of pain; it can be covered up, ran from, or faced head on. Over the past few days, I have been watching the news in Nashville, and it has been a devastating sight. From washed-out city streets and flooded buildings to destroyed homes and lost family members, our cities and communities have been overwhelmed with loss and heart ache. Whether you have been impacted directly or not, it has been heart-breaking to watch the images from the flood throughout Tennessee.

While homes are being gutted and photos are being sifted through, I want to remind you that God is there. When you feel like you can’t take it another day, God is there to hold you up. When you feel like falling on your knees in shock and amazement, God the Father is there. He’s there at the loss of a parent. He is there when the storms are raging, and He’s there when the sun is shining bright. He is the Eternal God who rules and reigns over time and eternity. He knows the pain and grief so many are facing at this very hour; He is reaching out to them through the hands and feet of those all around. Most importantly, my friend, I want you to know that He is there when know one else is and can give you peace in the midst of chaos. God is FAITHFUL, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer

Gracious Father in heaven, we come to you as individuals, families, cities, counties, a state, nation, and world. We need your grace and strength. We thank you for sending your Son Jesus Christ into this world that we could be able to know you, to have our sins forgiven, and to experience the peace of having a restored relationship with You. Although we know that many hate your Son, we love Jesus Christ because he died for our sins and appeased your wrath against us. Thank you for your glorious salvation!

Although we know many ignore or are angry at You, we know that You are good and your mercy endures forever. Father help us at this time to love our neighbor as ourselves, love our enemies, bless them that curse us, do good to them that hate us, and pray for them which despitefully use us, and persecute us; Father may we reflect Your grace, goodness and love to others. We know you make the sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and send rain on the just and on the unjust. During this time of devastation, help your children to minister to the needs of others and may unbelievers see your power, grace, and love and come to Jesus for salvation! In Christ’s name and for His Glory! Amen.

Milk and Me

2009-11-14T12:24:00.009-06:00

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. (1 Peter 2:2)

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abides for ever. (1 John 2:15-17)

Do you remember the days when life was simple? The only thing you did was depend on your parents to do everything for you such as giving you a bottle, picking you up when you cried, and rocking you to sleep at bedtime. Actually, I cannot remember many of these moments very well. However, I do recall eating supper around the family table, telling mom and dad about tough situations at school, and being able to go to bed, sleeping peacefully in the security of my parents’ home. Looking back, it was a joyful time because my parents provided all of my needs and simply asked me to obey. How much easier could it get than that? Life then was simple.

Now, with a six-month-old in the house, I am relearning valuable lessons about loving God and family. Most mornings, I wait for Daniel to start crying when he is waking up in his crib. When I hear that he is stirring, I walk to his bedroom and bend down for his reaching arms. He normally has the brightest expression on his face when he sees me. It is in this moment I realize that all he wants is his mother or me. His love is raw, real, powerful, and intimate, and I know he is completely depending on me for everything. Once he is secure in my arms, the next thing he wants is a bottle of fresh milk. Of course, I give him what he needs and desires, as he rests in my arms.

As he continues to grow, he is beginning to enjoy watching cartoons, playing with remote controls, and exploring the world in which he lives through crawling. Sometimes, he gets distracted from me with the door stop or something on the coffee table, but at the end of the day, all he wants is milk and me, as he says, “da-da.”

Are you still depending on your heavenly Father every day? He was there the day you were “born again” into His family. He has provided for you every single day before and since then. Have you lost touch with Him? Have you forgotten that He is your “Abba, Father”? If so, let Him know how much have missed His intimate fellowship and are thankful for the gift of his Son. His Son died that we may live, and it is in Jesus Christ where we see the glory and reflection of the Father. Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39).

Keep looking up to Him as the Psalmist reminds us, “I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalms 121:1-2). As you look up to the Father, may “the LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace” (Numbers 6:24-26). Knowing Jesus is sweeter than the radiating smile of a newborn babe reflecting from the face of a loving father.

Reversed Roles

2009-08-21T18:44:00.011-05:00

Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Today, Jenna and I took Daniel to his four month check-up. The nurses and doctors were busy taking his temperature, measuring his height and weight, and giving him his shots. He is growing by the minute and so is my appreciation for my parents. Every time, Jenna and I find ourselves spending time with, feeding, or buying something for Daniel. I am reminded of how much love my parent’s had for me when I was learning to roll over, squeal, and fight my sleep. I guess the roles have reversed a little in 29 years.

Also, I write today because I feel like over the past 2 years, my role in sending out encouragement has changed. I have received so much encouragement from so many of you. You all probably know that my greatest mentor, granddaddy (78), passed away two years ago this month. My dad (48) followed him 9 months later and never spent a Father’s Day without his dad. Then, my mom, who spent only one anniversary without my dad, passed away 10 months later. And so, the Words of Encouragement that began in August of 2003 quit flowing around May of 2008. It has been difficult for me to write down anything of encouragement. Words would not come in the dark silence.

Throughout the past year, I have continued to preach and teach God’s Word at various places. You may have seen me at church and wondered, “How are you really doing?” Honestly, it has been difficult. I can remember the first time I wanted to call Mom after she passed. Jenna and I had just left the doctor to see how Daniel was growing in the womb. I wanted to call and tell her how well Daniel (then Elijah) was doing and that he would be here with us in a month or so. It was a hard hit. There have also been many days when I needed advice on fixing something around the house. The first person I thought of was Dad. I picked up the phone many times, but I forgot he wasn’t there anymore. There have been times that I desired to talk to granddaddy about the Scriptures, but the closest I can get is looking at his shadowbox in my office that contains his Bible opened to Romans 8, his reading glasses, and a couple sets of notes on Prayer and Christ’s birth.

I guess I write today to let you know how much I appreciate your encouragement. Maybe, this is why I had to be in a place of silence for so long. I needed to see the ministry of biblical encouragement. I was busy writing emails every week, and the Lord wanted to give me a direct lesson on how much people need each other and their encouragement. Life can be tough at times but it is never out of the reach of God’s providence and His sovereign hand. Plus, I found it written in one of Fanny Crosby’s biographies that she experienced a time of silence in her life. Well, she only wrote more than 8,000 hymns in her lifetime, and she started at 43 years of age. Whatever your age, we can all learn to be a better encourager to others, because you never know when the roles may be reversed.

Mom and Dad's love for God and their 30+ years of marriage has been a great foundation to build my family upon. Thanks Mom and Dad for giving me an example to live by now that I am a husband and father!

Newness of Life

2009-03-21T23:47:00.004-05:00

Originally Written on February 26, 2009

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:1-4

Could you imagine living in a prison cell for 8 years? Everyday, you wake up and put on the same clothes as everyone else. There are three meals a day prepared for you, and during visits, a vending machine is prized like a steak from Outback. Visitors come for weekly visits, but other than the guards and staff, there is little contact with the “free world.” Not to mention, there is a great separation between the two worlds. Actually, two 12-foot-tall fences with razor, barbed-wire defeat any hopes of escape.

About 4 and a half years ago, I was privileged to be connected with a man inside the prison through the Men of Valor prison ministry in Nashville, Tennessee. I did not know what to expect when I walked into the prison for the first time. Actually, I was claustrophobic, and the guards, metal detector, and sound of the two heavy-weight, metal doors frightened me. I knew I was on foreign soil even though still in Nashville. As I walked to the table where I was matched up with a numbered inmate, I realized the guy across the table looked so much like me. He was 25, and I was 24. Other than his clothes, I would have never pictured him as “one of them.”

He had made a mistake in his life. He sinned against God and man and was doing his time to pay for the consequences of his actions. Just this Tuesday, his sentence was up. After visiting him weekly over the past few years, I stood behind the barbed-wire fence and watched him walk into the building. With guards on both sides of him, I saw the radiance of his smile, the joy of his heart, and the first step in the newness of life. He even had brand-new clothes on. He left all the old ones behind. I waited as he cleared the portal, and we embraced for the first time as a free men. He had not seen a world without fences or guards. He had been confined but could now run free through the parking lot. He had been separated from family and friends, and now they could freely embrace and shed tears of joy and laughter.

The first thing he wanted was real food. His family and mine celebrated this amazing day, and I sat back and laughed within as I saw him devour an appetizer, gourmet burger and fries, and a huge piece of chocolate cake. It was a joyful day that I will never forget. I believe he has learned his lesson and will never return back to prison. There will always be risks involved, and the consequences of sin should never be diminished. However, every man needs hope.

There are so many people simply “doing time” these days. They are easy to recognize. They are confined only to this world in which we live, and they never give thought to eternity. They are entrapped and enslaved by sin without any hope in the world.

Unless… Jesus, who entered our world, lived a righteous life and died an atoning death, rescues them. I am thankful today that I am more than a number within the 6 billion-plus people in the world. The Lord knows them that are his (2 Timothy 2:19c). I am thankful Jesus and men who have preached the gospel didn’t overlook me as “one of them.” I am thankful that God initiates contact with sinners and delivers them from sin. I am thankful that Jesus wasn’t afraid of the shame and reproach He would bear on the sinner’s behalf, although he despised it (Hebrews 12:2). I am thankful He fulfilled Proverbs 17:15 which says, “He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.” I am thankful that Jesus is the door of salvation. I am thankful for the new clothes of salvation. May we ever wear a garment of praise to Jesus. I am thankful for His forgiveness and warm embrace which is peace to the soul. I am thankful for the good things God has given us to explore. I am thankful to be free…

Charles Wesley eloquently portrayed the joy of salvation and the newness of life in the last three stanzas of his hymn, “And Can It Be that I Should Gain:”

He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace,
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race:'
Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Walking in Newness of Life,
Brian Johnson

Catching Your Breath

2009-03-21T23:46:00.002-05:00

Originally Written on February 18, 2009

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Isaiah 40:28-29

Have you ever been winded? I am talking about that feeling when you start walking up a flight of steps and begin losing your breath. Maybe, like me, you have not played your favorite sport in a while and find that you can’t move as fast as you used to. You used to be able to run like the wind, but now, you just need some wind. This is not to mention the day-after effects of strenuous exercise. Can you feel me now?

Why is it so hard to start exercising and get moving in the right direction? Honestly, it can be painful and involves sacrifice. We would rather sit and eat. It is comforting and nourishing, but are you ready to be empowered? I am not talking about just physically; we need to be empowered spiritually.

Jesus wants us to be healthy Christians. He knows we need rest, so He tells us, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He knows we like to try to run ahead, so he tells us, “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD” (Psalms 27:14). He knows we have a hard time listening to instructions, so he tells us, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalms 46:10a). He also knows we like to run away from spiritual responsibilities, so he tells his disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23b). He knows right where we are, and He uses life to get us right where He wants us to be—like Him.

Getting healthy spiritually will not happen overnight. There is not a magic pill that can be taken to reduce the weight of mixed priorities or exercise for you. It takes daily discipline which is both personal and private yet public and practical.

Here are some ways to keep you from getting winded and out of shape spiritually:
· Read 5 pages each day in your Bible (if your Bible has 1500 pages, you can read all of God’s Word in less than 1 year). Whatever works for you.
· Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Make prayer as essential as breathing.
· Get encouraged by other believers at church. They may be winded too!
· Examine your heart for clogged arteries. Don’t allow unresolved conflicts to go unchecked which could be between you and God or someone else; the Great Physician already sees your heart.
· Give generously- Time, attention, money, talents
· Train others in following Christ- Teach unbelievers and believers the value of a cross-centered life!
· Focus on the goal! – “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” (Hebrews 12:1b-2).

It may be difficult to start exercising your physical body and your faith. Start off small and stay focused. You have a cross to carry one step at a time. Daily discipline can be demanding, but remember Psalms 34:5, “Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”

Shaping Up,
Brian Johnson

Cleaning Up

2009-03-21T23:40:00.002-05:00

Originally Written on December 10, 2008

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves
from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1

When I was a kid, the worst chore I was ever given was to clean my room. You would think that I could have figured out that if I would attempt to keep things clean, dusted and vacuumed, that having that assignment wouldn't be so terrible. BUT, it was... Every single time, I would throw a tantrum at the idea of having to do it.

That phase lasted up until I was in middle school. I continued with the feeling of disgust over cleaning my room. Oh, and in high school too. I would have friends coming over, and at the last minute, I would be shoving things into my two closets and under my bed. It was an awful habit, I must admit.

The alarming part of this is that I still dislike having to clean. You would think the feeling would change what with having my own house and getting married and having a child on the way. BUT it hasn't. I could not tell you if you asked me to inform you on all the things under our bed right now. My closet is shameful, and the soon-to-be nursery closet is the most atrocious thing I have ever seen. You seriously cannot see the wall, carpet, or ceiling; it is packed that tight.

Life is like that sometimes. We have so many things we like holding onto rather than getting rid of them or just cleaning them out. We pride ourselves in hiding our dirt. It is sad but painstakingly true. In Psalm 24, it is evident that we need to get busy with cleaning up... "Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart..." I know I am taking it a bit out of context, but in all seriousness, I think it somewhat applies. How can we live clean lives if not ALL of us is clean? I just don't think it is possible.

With that in mind, I have started cleaning. Maybe it's because I realize I have a baby on the way and I've GOT to make room for him. Maybe it’s because I am tired of all the things I have held onto and realize it is time to make the break. Maybe it's because I have learned that THIS WORLD is not my home, and as the old hymn says, "I'm just a-passing through." The less I have here, the better off I will be when it is my time to go.

It isn’t just my house that needs cleaning. If I would be willing to admit it, I would have to say that my heart could use some dusting as well. My life is not as spotless as the recently-cleaned bookshelves. There are some relationships that need to be tended to, and there are emotions I have been carrying that need to be trashed. I want to be the one who isn’t just cleansed physically and emotionally, but spiritually as well. The person I am is not always the person God intended me to be when He cleaned me up that day on April 10, 1994. It is obvious that I have some housework and major heart work to do.

It's time to clean out the closets and clean up from underneath the bed. It's time to rid myself of things – feelings, emotions, tendencies - I do not need. It's time to realize that God has given me more than enough to live on, and there are those who need these things more than me. So, I'm giving in and cleaning up...

Coming Clean,
Jenna Johnson

To Our Faithful Friends,
We would like to apologize for not writing you sooner. The Lord has been giving us our own “words of encouragement,” and we are delighted to share them with you when the Lord allows. Please keep us in your prayers, as you and yours are in ours. Thank you for understanding, and may God richly bless you during this joyous holiday season.
Until We Write Again,
Brian and Jenna

A Constant Change

2009-03-21T23:37:00.002-05:00

Originally Written on November 4, 2008

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

It did not seem like much at the time it was planted, but it has grown to show me how constant my Lord tends to be. As a friend left the bush beside our house, I never imagined it would actually do what he said it would... The small, green leaves seemed so insignificant that I doubted they would ever take change like he promised. Yet, I watched and waited, and last year, it did nothing. It remained the same, hunter green and never changed in size. I was almost disappointed when this "special" bush did not change before my eyes. Of course, I never took the initiative to water it or prune the plant, but I just expected something to happen.

I am not usually that fond of change, but at the same time, it happens all around me. I have changed hair colors, phone numbers, and cities. I have changed cars, jobs, and relationships more often than I will ever admit. I have made new best friends, began shopping at different stores, and completely changed the ways I think throughout the years. In just two short years, God has transformed me from a single, outspoken teacher to a married, stay-at-home, soon-to-be mother, and not all of these changes have been easy to accept.

Expecting change is one thing, but having it happen without knowing how to handle it is another. I am reminded of Abraham when the Lord told him that his barren wife, Sarah, would give birth in Genesis 17 and 18. He fell on his face, laughed, and doubted the change the Lord promised. Sarah also laughed within herself at the idea of becoming pregnant in her old age. Though they had been told, Abraham and Sarah seemed astounded when she bore Isaac (Gen 21:6-7). Never has change been an easy thing to accept, even when you are waiting for it.

Hannah prayed for change. Though her womb was closed, she went year after year praying for a child. Hannah even vowed that if the LORD of hosts would grant her a son, “…then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life (1 Samuel 1:11).” Did Hannah realize what she was promising? After pleading years for a child, would she willingly give it away? We all know that she did (in the latter portion of 1 Samuel 1). She begged for change and received it. She waited for change and cherished it. She longed for change and loved it.

No matter how change comes, it is never what we expect, and its outcome is not always what we planned. However, while waiting on our burning bush, which never seemed to bring forth the change I was hoping for, I have learned that God is in the midst of the changes we seek or are given. He promised that He Himself would never change. Daniel said, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons… He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding (Daniel 2:20-21).” Though things around us are changing, we can be confident in knowing that the Lord will give spiritual guidance to those who seek Him.

As I looked outside this afternoon, I saw the most beautiful thing… change. In it, I saw how faultlessly and timely the Lord moves. The leaves were a bright red, and just like Moses before his burning bush, I stood in awe of the wonder of change and the beauty of a constant God.

Finding My Consistency in Christ,
Jenna Johnson

Getting Your Hands Dirty

2008-09-25T11:13:00.001-05:00

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 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 1:1-4, 14

Last week, my wife and I were privileged to go to the hospital and visit friends who had their first child. I was amazed at the responsibility of a child and thought through some of the differences a child would bring into someone’s life. When we arrived in the room, I was able to hold her while she quietly slept and occasionally yawned. She was easy to handle but quite fragile. There was a lot of attention being focused on this little girl. I kept my eyes on her most of the time while talking to the family. It was a precious moment! After a while, she was stirred to emotion and began crying. Of course, my wife had her in her arms by that point; I had already passed her off right before the cries started. It wasn’t long until she seemed to be at ease. She was quiet and still but emitted a little bit of odor. My wife graciously handed the baby over to her father, and he inspected her. There was a mess to be cleaned up; It was personal, private, and obvious.

Have you ever thought about how we treat relationships at times? It is easy to be friends with someone who always responds the way you want them to. It is easy to get to know someone who has the same interests, job, socio-economic status, cultural background, and ideas on life. What is hard is to engage and take initiative in building relationships with those who are different. Of course, relationships are built over time, vary in levels of trust, and at times can be tested. Should we walk away so easily when relationships get messy? There is a part of us that wants to be separated, isolated, and unchanging. However, there is also a part of us that yearns for contact. With contact, there will be conflict at times, yet we must change according to truth and adapt to show that we care. This is the only way to grow in the context of a community.

Have you ever thought about what God looked down on when He saw us walking around and living in our sin? He could have said, “I do not want to get involved in the mess they have created for themselves.” He could have remained distant, silent, and uninvolved, yet He didn’t. Galatians tells us, “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” We were condemned by the law. It exposed the personal, private, and obvious sins in our messy lives. Like helpless babies, we are unable to do anything for ourselves. Actually, Paul told the Ephesians that they were dead men walking (Eph. 2:1-3).

However in spite of our filth, Jesus entered the world we live in. He got his hands and feet dirty. He felt the desert air on his face. He felt the sun beaming down. He rode on filthy donkeys, wore dusty sandals, and built things as a carpenter. He loved on children, rebuked false professors, and showed grace to the repentant. He calmed the disciples’ fears on the sea. He was betrayed by one of them, Judas Iscariot, and saddened by the rejection of one of his closest friends, Peter. He loved by initiating contact with sinners in their messes. He loved by confronting men and women with truth. He loved by never compromising his character—the nature of his Father that He declared and came to reveal (Hebrews 1:1-3). He loved on the cross by dying for the way, truth, and life. He entered our world so we might be born again and see His (John 3:1-6).

Jesus was the Word made flesh. He lived among real people in a real time and was full of grace and truth. He proved that God loved the world not in thought only, but in sacrificial action. He chose to love us, so He might display the greatness of His glorious grace. In His extravagant love, based on truth, He revealed the grace-filled life and died for the church—a community connected in Him and bearing the cross with grace, truth, and love. The church is not of this world. We are seated in heavenly places with Christ (Eph. 1:3), but we must love, be incarnate, and be His body to those who are wallowing in their mess. Who is it that you need to reach out to and love? Who can you show Christ to? Pray. Act (Don’t pass your opportunities on to someone else!). Live in the power of the Spirit. Enjoy God’s presence in being part of the body of Christ.

Alive in the Word,
Brian Johnson

The Pruning Process

2008-09-18T12:56:00.001-05:00

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
John 15:1-8

Have you ever had the green thumb and tried to grow something? Sometimes, it can be harder than you think. This time last year, I sowed my yard with grass after tilling up the whole thing. Some of it came up, and some of it didn’t. The soil, weather, and maintenance all had a factor in the growth process. What about house plants? Have you ever tried keeping those things alive? Recently, one of our house plants was demoted to the patio in the back yard. It is a big peace lily and was attracting too many bugs, according to my wife. I wondered if it would survive the sun and weather…

Over time, the weather has been nice to the plant. It has received some rain from time to time, and we have watered it on occasion. The main problem has not been with the surroundings of the weather, but the sun has beamed down on it and scorched many of its leaves. I have painfully watched this over the past few weeks. Finally, I decided to trim the scorched leaves and see if it would survive. I took my pruning scissors and cut off almost every stem that had browned. The plant looked greener, but it also looked like a mess. The only thing that would be able to sustain it now would be a strong root system.

Did you know that our life in Christ is like a plant or a vine? Christ is the vine, and His Father is the vinedresser. This means that Christ is all we need! Without a connection to the root, there will be no spiritual growth or fruit to prove a real work of God. Secondly, the Father is always in control of the growth. He sees the root of our hearts and knows if we are really connected with Jesus Christ. He knows what is producing fruit and what is producing green leaves. Do you remember when Jesus cursed the fig tree? He was looking for fruit on it, and in Israel, and He only saw the external religious system based on self-righteousness. He cursed it, because it did not produce organic and spiritual fruit of the Spirit— love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Next, the Father removes all of the “fluffy stuff” that is not producing real fruit. There is much activity going on today in the name of Christ, but I wonder how much of it is directed by the Holy Spirit and saturated in the Word of God. Then, all of the branches of activity and growth, that are not Christ-centered and God-honoring, are cast into the fire and burned. Man is not saved by works of righteousness, and the evidence of a fruitful, Spirit-filled life reveals a true connection to Christ! Lastly, we have the promise of answered prayer if we abide in Christ. God answers our prayer to display His glory, strengthen our faith, and show the world the reality of abiding in and following Him.

Are you rooted and built up in Christ today? As I went out to water my rugged-looking plant on the patio this morning, I noticed new growth had taken place in just a few days. The pruned stems were dying on the end, but the roots were providing nutrients for fresh, green growth. All of the ugly, brown leaves were hindering the plant. Once they were pruned, new life came out from the base of the plant. There is also a flower budding from the center. It still is not the prettiest plant in the world, but it is vibrant, healthy, and growing. Sometimes, our life can look messy from a distance, but God is producing new growth by pruning the areas of our lives that contain “fluffy stuff” in comparison with eternity. As He prunes, He is adding substance and depth to our hearts which produces fruit, more fruit, and much fruit. First John 2:17 reminds us, “And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abides for ever.”

Being pruned,
Brian Johnson

The Joy of Perspective

2008-09-12T15:00:00.001-05:00

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:44-46

Perspectives or the way that you look at things affect every aspect of your life. If you look at your bank account and see it dwindling because of gas prices today, you might get depressed. However if you look at the innocence of a child and their zest for life, you might be able to find joy no matter what is going on in your life. The streams of true joy run deep, and they can only be found in one place—God‘s presence. The Psalmist reminds us, “You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (16:11).

What kind of perspective on life have you had lately? Recently, a friend invited me to visit with a man who had moved from Africa to Nashville, Tennessee. He greeted us at the door with a smile and joy in his heart that we had stopped by. As I walked into his apartment, I noticed that he had a kitchen table, a couch, and a lot of empty space for his family of three. There were two perspectives that were clashing. In my view of comfort and ease, I wondered how he could be so happy. This alone made me ask a lot of questions about where he found his joy. He told me of a man who had visited his village in Africa and was spreading the Good News about Jesus. At first, he rejected the man, but the more that he heard the Gospel the more it affected him. As a result of the preacher sharing the Gospel, he was born again by God’s Spirit and began walking with Jesus. This was the source of his joy, happiness and peace.

After learning about his salvation experience, he showed me pictures of where he came from in Liberia, Africa. The roads were made of dirt, some gravel and very little pavement. The homes were built out of bamboo with leaves on the roof and a mixture of mud was used as mortar. He lived in a small place where they grew their own food and survived off the land. The basic mode of transportation was two feet or a bicycle if you were really blessed. He said you could easily walk 10-15 miles in a day. With my perspective being opened up to another culture, my friend informed me of a place he wanted to take the man to get some used furniture. We were able to drive to a benevolence center and pick out a few things—a full mattress, a fold-up single mattress, a few pillows, 3 wooden chairs, an old office desk and a couple of blankets. These items were able to meet his basic needs, and they were free. They didn’t seem like much to us, but it would be the comparison of taking an American to American Signature Home and saying, “Get what you want!” He was happy and overjoyed!

With my perspectives refocused, I came home realizing how blessed and spoiled I can be. I live in an air-conditioned home filled with furniture, books, food in the cabinets, clothes in the closet, running water, and ice. There are so many things that surround us and bring us comfort yet are we really comforted? Are we really happy? Are we really joyful? A.W. Tozer, in The Pursuit of God, speaks about the Blessedness of Possessing Nothing. He uses Abraham offer of Isaac as a backdrop to say, “After that bitter and blessed experience I think the words my and mine never again had the same meaning for Abraham. The sense of possession which they connote was gone from his heart. Things had been cast out forever. They had now become external to the man. His inner heart was free from them. The world said, ‘Abraham is rich,’ but the aged patriarch only smiled. He could not explain it, but he knew that he owned nothing, that his real treasures were inward and eternal.”

Are your real treasures inward and eternal? Are you like the man who treated the kingdom of heaven like a treasure and sold all that he had to buy it with joy? Or like the merchant who was searching for great pearls and after finding one sold all he had to possess it? This is not saying that the kingdom of heaven can be purchased. The way has already been purchased. It is revealing the point that knowing Christ, the King of the kingdom, is priceless and abandonment to Him provides rich joy and real perspective on this life that we live!

When He Speaks

2008-09-04T17:57:00.001-05:00

A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9

For three days, I worked diligently on a painting that would be given to an expectant mother. I watched as the colors fell into place and became one of the most unique things I had ever done. The baby's name soon was creatively decorated onto the canvas, and finally, the decision on which scripture to use was finalized. As I wrote the bright pink verse on the pink and green polka dotted canvas, I did not know then how true they would be for me in the next few days...

Just a week before I began this gift, I had applied and been accepted to Western Kentucky University's online Master's Program in Elementary Education. I was overjoyed at the possibility of pursuing a purpose in my life. The door opened for me so quickly to go back to college; I never once took the time to really pray it through. It just seemed as if it were the right thing to do.

In my heart though, I believe I knew better. Just like the pink and green dots so brilliantly corresponded, a teacher with a year off should take the time to get her Master's degree. Or so I thought. We joke about it now, but my husband questioned me one afternoon about going back to school. The anxiety about it was overwhelming me, and with such clarity and conviction, I told him, "I would rather be a mother, than have a Master's."

For the past nine months, I have longed for a child. In December of 2007, when I learned we were in fact pregnant with our first child, I knew God was answering my prayers. Just two short months later, when that same God took the baby into His arms, I asked Him over and over why it had to be this way when He had just given me all that I wanted. When we didn't get pregnant in the next few months and knowing I would not be teaching in any school in the upcoming fall, we decided that God wanted us to further our education. I shared the information with family after being accepted, and as excited as they all were, my dad said the most peculiar words after learning of the news, “I thought you were calling to tell me you were pregnant." He even seemed disappointed (don't take this wrong because my father would love to see me graduate again).

I'll be honest... I was too. Two years ago when I graduated from Western, I was so thankful to be leaving and had no intentions of going back. God seems to have His own ideas and plans, and He actually wasn't keeping them from me. You see, as I was busy making my own plans to head back to school, God was speaking His plans for me loud and clear through paintings, family, and in my heart. I would not be going back to school because 1) the cost is currently too expensive, and 2) we are pregnant with our second child.

Now, I don't know the specific plans God has for me, and I'm not sure that I will ever meet this child that is within me. What I do know is that, through the steady sound of a heartbeat on an ultrasound monitor, God speaks clearly. He speaks directly. He speaks with great wisdom. When He speaks, we must listen. Our lives are not our own, and our decisions are not ours to make. So with a humble heart, I write to express my deepest apologies for misinforming you about my returning to college, and I meekly ask you to pray for us as we anticipate the plans God has for our future...

The bright pink words on the canvas stand out now. They are so plain yet now incredibly beautiful, as I know that God was using them to speak to my heart. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." How awesome it is when God speaks!

Listening to Him,
Jenna Johnson
(See the “Bright Pink Canvas” here.)

Could You Pass the Salt?

2008-08-26T15:11:00.001-05:00

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men."
Matthew 5:13

Can you tell the difference between something that is salty and something that is not? If you would like to experiment, you should come to my house for dinner one night, and then let me take you to my grandmother’s house where things are well-seasoned. My wife and I experiment almost every night in the kitchen, and our green beans, peas, and other meals taste nothing like my grandmother’s. She enjoys using fat back, bacon grease, and cast iron skillets. Her meals have flavor to savor while ours can be bland and taste like they have just come out of a frozen bag or can. Often, they do.

Now that you are hungry, let’s transition this thought to what Jesus was saying in Matthew 5:13. He wasn’t talking about food with flavoring or seasoning, but he was giving a profound illustration of what the character of Christ in the life of a believer should be. There is plenty to do, but God’s first priority for His children is to be—like Christ. He wasn’t worried about whether you were going to the most popular church down the road, had the coolest Bible cover in Sunday school, or lived on the streets. He is concerned about who you are…

Since my wife and I are learning to cook, we often take breaks by going out to eat. A few weeks ago we stopped at Captain D’s. As we were driving in, I noticed a young lady who was taking out the trash. She had the biggest smile of anyone that I have ever seen while doing the dirty work. I couldn’t help but stop and ask her what was making her smile so much. She told me she knew Jesus and that everyday was a blessing. This was not the first time I had seen her. The previous week she was wearing the same smile while working behind the counter with rude customers. She was consistent, vibrant, and full of flavor. I left her presence wanting to know more about her relationship with Jesus.

Does your influence leave others wanting to know more about Jesus? At a recent baseball game, I purchased a bag of roasted peanuts. Do you know how expensive things are at sporting events? I normally try to be conservative in spending, but I could not help but pay $5 for a drink. The salt on the peanuts was delicious, but it created an incredible, mouth-watering yearning for something to drink. This is the whole purpose of being Christ-like. We do not have the power to save anyone, because the Holy Spirit must work on and melt the hearts of men. However, God can use those who are really connected with Christ to create a thirst and hunger for the eternal life that we possess in Jesus. Revelation 22:17 says, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” We are not called to be water, but salty lives that create soul-wrenching thirsts.

How do we get salty? First, we must realize that there is no cookie-cutter Christian. God works on everyone in His own way, and we are not to look like everyone else. We are to look like Christ. We are not to be like pre-assorted, canned, and bagged vegetables. Many today think if they can go to the most-marketed church that they will automatically become salty. You can be in the biggest and best church, and be savorless because you might be Savior-less. The character of Christ only comes by knowing the Person of Christ. Have you met him? Secondly, saltiness comes when the Word of God becomes the key ingredient in your life. The savorless and powerless are more concern with culture than with being a Christian. I fail often, but I am glad that God is still cooking on me. If you see me and find that my spiritual tastes are bland, could you please pass the salt and direct me to Christ?

Tasting and Knowing the Christ is good,
Brian Johnson

Waters Gone By

2008-08-23T19:57:00.001-05:00

Then surely you could lift up your face without shame; yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear; Because you would forget your misery, and remember it as waters that have passed away, And your life would be brighter than noonday. Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.
Job 11:15-17

Just a week ago, I had been accepted to Western Kentucky University’s Graduate program. I was anxious and spent time preparing for my upcoming classes. That was only seven days ago.

Just a month ago, I sat in a church in West Tennessee completely filled with the Spirit. I witnessed praises and testimonies, hearts being changed, and lost being saved. Only thirty days since then.

Just six months ago, I lay on a hospital bed singing Amazing Grace, as I waited for my doctor to arrive with the same news he had told me two days before. Only six months ago, my child went to Heaven.

Just a year ago, my husband drove me to the Emergency Room as the pain in my lower abdomen increased. We waited hours to find out I had a ruptured cyst, and I would be missing a week or more of teaching Kindergarten. Just a year ago…

Just five years ago, I was starting my third year of college at WKU after having had a car wreck the year before. Just ten years ago, I was starting high school at Greenbrier and was busy trying to fit in. Just twenty years ago, I was starting Kindergarten at Watauga Elementary with white-blonde hair and snaggle teeth. All of this seems like yesterday, and yet so much has changed since then.

At five years old, I could have never guessed that God would completely guide my life these twenty years later. I wouldn’t be able to understand why I couldn’t go back to Graduate School or how I would come to marry a preacher. I would have been saddened to know of the death of my own baby, and I couldn’t imagine being a teacher missing school. I couldn’t picture the journey I would take to get to college or the years I would spend trying to make lifelong friends in high school. I could only see what was right in front of me.

Yet God knew. He had designed every year for me. He knew exactly how my hair would grow and why I didn’t need braces as a young child. God was there in my teenage years when I wasn’t making the friends I wanted because they weren’t the ones I would need. He also was there that afternoon on my lunch break as my head collided with the windshield, and He helped me to gain the courage to head back to Western. He planned my wedding and realized my first year of marriage wouldn’t be easy. He specifically intended for my miscarriage to teach me the blessing of children. God put me in churches to help me realize my responsibilities as a Christian and that sitting in my pew wasn’t enough. He also had that acceptance letter sent to my door, and He saw me when I didn’t pray about going back to school. God knew the changes that would take place.

In the times where everything changes, we are able to see God move. We are able to put the past behind us and realize they are simply as the waters gone by. Our futures look brighter when we are able to put in perspective the fact that God is in complete control, and that “All things work together for good to them that love the Lord… (Romans 8:28).” God knows the plans for your life, and no matter how rough they may be, He knows which stream He will take you down. He understands that there are rocks along the way, but the beauty that lies ahead of you is worth the wait.

Riding His Waves,
Jenna Johnson

Leap of Faith

2008-08-07T11:11:00.001-05:00

Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.”
John 9:10-11

Jumping into puddles was SO easy when I was a child. It would thrill me, after each storm, to run through these little miracles God had left behind. The mud and the drops that splattered onto my legs never bothered me at all. Turns out I'm not a child anymore, and the truth is every spot irritates me to no end.

The mud on my legs has been quite evident lately. It's been no question to those of you who know me well what it is I've been covered with. You know how my heart aches and what it is I've been longing for, and yet none of those things have come to pass. The puddles continue to pile up around me, and my heart longs for an escape from them all.

Instead of taking these "acts of God" head on, I've tiptoed around them. I've been so scared of getting dirty. I've been clinging to my clean clothes and worrying that the stains that may have found themselves splattered into my life would never come out.

The stains life leaves behind usually cannot be washed away. As they settle into the fabric of who we are, God has no intention of you doing His laundry. He simply uses each spot as a testament of who He is and how faithful we are. Will we spend load after load trying to rid ourselves of these blots, or will we simply trust that He is God and has a special purpose for each blemish?

With all of this in mind, I have quickly learned that each puddle is made for me. I can either run straight through it, wallow in the mud, or tiptoe around the water. There aren't many other options... Dirty may be the only way I can come out, but dirty is what I am, a simple sinner saved by God's grace. God is using the mud to clean me up. Romans 8:28 says that, "All things work together for good to them that love God..." ALL THINGS. Every single puddle. Each spot of mud. He uses them all.

Instead of spending my days avoiding the puddles that life brings me, I should take them head on, full force, and wait for the cleaning. I've realized that maybe God hasn't intended for me to have exactly what I want. All these things I've been stained with are preparing me for the future, and right now is not the future. What God had in store for my life was a brand new puddle, and it's going to take a lot of mud to get through.

I'm plunging straight into college. Not motherhood, not teaching, not housework... College.

I have applied to an Online Elementary Education Master's program from Western Kentucky University and if accepted, will begin classes on Monday, August 25th. Yes, it sounds strange. It's probably crossed your mind that I just washed my hands of teaching a little over three months ago... But God wasn't completely finished. He wanted me to go back, get my hands dirty, and love learning all over again. Here it is, one of the biggest puddles I've faced, and yet the only way around this one is a leap of faith...

One Step at a Time,
Jenna Johnson

Resistance Training

2008-07-30T14:58:00.001-05:00

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Have you ever seen anything implemented in your life and begin to make a change? I can remember one of the first times that my basketball coach told the team to run down to a nearby graveyard and back. It was less than a mile down the road and was part of our conditioning. It seemed like 10 miles in those days, because my lungs and heart were not in that good of shape. After a while, I could tell the changes that were taking place in my body and I was actually becoming healthier and faster. What used to be a dread became a delight, because I was able to sense the freedom of running like the wind.

Change is often difficult to overcome in our lives. We can get set in our ways, cold, and indifferent. We had rather sit still and enjoy the same patterns that we have always been in. When it comes to the Gospel, we are always subject to change. The Gospel can not set idle in our lives. It will impact us and tear down every comfortable wall we have in our hearts when the Holy Spirit implants the engrafted Word and begins a work in our heart. When God begins a work in our heart, we repent and change according to His will. Actually, true salvation is a miracle of change where a dead man who is lost in sin is quickened and made alive in Christ. The Gospel has power and permeates every aspect of our lives.

While helping in revival services this past week, I watched the Gospel have it affect on many hearts. There was a 13-year old boy who heard the truth last Monday and came quickly to the altar of prayer. Within 15 minutes, Jesus saved his soul, and he said his burden of sin and condemnation had gone away. The boy who came into the church with his head down and little to say left with a smile and joy in his heart, because his sins were forgiven. The young girls and boys who played outside noticed the change immediately saying, “He’s acting like a different person!” God’s grace, mercy and peace will make a person a new creation.

The second situation that occurred was between two men who used to be at odds against each other on the streets. One of the men had been saved and called into the ministry. He was full of the Spirit as he testified to what God had been doing in his life. He had only preached a few times, and he said that in many pulpits, he felt like he was being judged by his past. He said many in the congregation didn’t seem to appreciate what God had done in his life, because they couldn’t see past the old person he used to be. He emphatically said that the old man that he once was dead, because Christ had saved his soul. The song leader, formerly being an investigator, was blessed to see God’s work and reminded him that he used to be after him while creating havoc in the streets. God’s grace had reached into his life and changed him from the inside out. After this testimony, a man in his 30s stood up in the back of the church and confessed that he used to despise the man. Apparently, they had confrontations on the street. He openly asked forgiveness from the Lord and the man who at he had been at odds with. Without hesitation, they met each other in the middle of the aisle, embraced, and were reconciled through the power of the Gospel.

How is the Gospel of Jesus Christ impacting your life today? Is there anything different in your life in comparison to the rest of the world? The Gospel of grace is life-changing. I do not mean that it changes your life once and you are saved and done. Salvation begins at a point in your life when you repent, have faith in Christ, and are declared righteous on the merits of Christ alone. Many think this is the beginning and end. However, this is only the starting point of everlasting life. At this point, you begin to life! You will not be able to walk close to Jesus and not be changed. How long has it been since you felt the pains of change? When I starting running to be conditioned to play basketball, everything in me wanted to rebel and quit. I had been used to walking. Sometimes, the Lord wants to take us to the next level through discipline that we may be able to run the race that is set before us more effectively!

Potential Servants

2008-07-16T15:42:00.001-05:00

For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption.
Acts 13:36

Have you ever seen the potential in something that someone else has been unable to see? I can remember one of the first houses I looked at when I began searching for a home. It was located in a nice area in Nashville, Tennessee, yet was going to be moved to another location. The home could have been bought at a cheap price, placed on a nice plot of land, then remodeled and bricked. I was almost sold on the deal when my imagination began roaming, and I thought of the wife and children that may make the house a home. It had great potential. The only problem was if I would be willing to pay the price. Initial costs, remodeling, time, and sweat…

Over the past few days, my eyes have been opened up to lives that possess great potential. At the women’s prison on Sunday, there was a young lady sitting in the middle of the crowd who was moved by the message from Psalms 1. It was comparing and contrasting the life of the righteous and the wicked. It explained the progression of sin from walking in the wrong crowd, standing in the way of sinners and then sitting in the seat of the scornful. I am sure that she never imagined sitting in prison when she was learning her multiplication tables in 3rd grade. However, she had been drifting through life like chaff in the wind. She didn’t have any stability, security or satisfaction? Who knows where she would have been if someone had been around to see the potential in her life and direct her to Jesus? On Sunday, tears fell from her eyes as she heard of the hope and life that is found in Jesus Christ.

At the mission, a young man named Martel, 24, sat across the table eating his lunch consisting of fried chicken, slaw, carrots, bread and cheesecake to sweet to eat. He ate it anyway but couldn’t’ handle a second one. He was from Detroit, Michigan. He had moved to Nashville to attend Tennessee State University before getting in trouble and quitting school. He was now on the streets for a short while before deciding what he was going to do next. He shared with me a little about his life and the wake-up call he received when his brother died in May from a gun-shot wound. He realized that life was not all about the money, and the stuff he had been doing. After watching God provide for his daily needs in a miraculous way, he told me that he began searching for truth. His mom and grandmother told him where to look so he turned to the Word of God. He had so many questions about God’s Word and could quote from his hand-held New Testament better than many that sit in the church pews each Sunday. He shared gospel lyrics that he had written and said that he wanted to continue to study God’s Word to know Him better. God was at work and blessed our fellowship. I saw in him a vibrant, fresh, and inquisitive heart behind the camouflage shirt and khaki pants. He’s on rock bottom from a worldly perspective, but rock bottom is not bad when you are standing on the ROCK of Jesus Christ!

During a youth weekend, I noticed the crowd of young people from various states gathering to worship and serve the Lord. Though many of them wore shirts, ties and dresses and came from established families, I saw a real hunger for God’s Word and a yearning to live successful lives for the glory of God. Success is not measured by dollar figures, homes and cars, but by a life devoted to God’s service. These young people longed to see the lost saved, church alive and Jesus exalted. Worldly success is temporary while godly success lasts in eternity. We live each day in between the two, and it is important to measure which we are impacting the most. These young men and women have been privileged with a godly home, church and strong foundation and are reaping the benefits. In Luke 10:2 Jesus said unto his disciples, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.”

Whether you have been in jail, been homeless or lived a stable home life, there is great hope for anyone who will turn to Jesus casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). Life is not picture perfect, but can leave us shattered, battered and bruised. Though I walked away from the house and thought the price was too much to pay, I am thankful that Jesus saw my ruined sinful condition, made me a new creation, and filled me with His Spirit that my heart would be a sanctuary for Him to dwell in! If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31b) Are you living at your full potential?

Who Am I

2008-07-08T18:19:00.001-05:00

I am Yours, save me; for I have sought Your precepts.
Psalm 119:94

The facts are all there… Just ask my mom, she will tell you exactly who I am. Her opinions melted and broke my heart as she described her thoughts of me. It is not everyday you call your loved ones and ask them to tell you what they think of you. However, as I listened to a familiar Casting Crowns’ song today, I was intrigued to know what others thought.

If you did not know me as a child, let my mother tell you what I was like. She claims I was energetic and entertaining, singing songs and getting the attention of others as much as possible. She explained that I was self-confident and a leader among my friends. Mom said that I loved sports (I don’t remember this), and I was my daddy’s girl. Learning came easy for me; I was smart but not studious. I loved church and the friends I made there, but who I was continued to change despite what I was being taught in God’s house.

As a teenager, one who had been saved and was a child of God, I had changed a bit. As my mother spoke today, it seemed simple for her to describe me and also point out negative terms to depict who I was in those years. I was driven to excel, and it did not matter to me how I got to the top as long as I did. I was involved – if there was a club to be in or a gathering of teens to meet up with, I was there. My mom relates that I was self-centered and a manipulator – I seemed to get whatever I wanted with no effort. Just after I had been saved, I started acting as one who did not know Christ at all.

Hearing these descriptions from my mom really pierced my heart, knowing that they were true. It seemed to hurt my mom as she spoke of me in this manner, and I understood the pain I had caused her. Still, I imagined how God felt about me at that time, how I must have broken his heart as He watched me become the person I was. Would He even want to claim me as His own?

Grace was involved in my life. I cannot tell you how or when I noticed who I was becoming, but God told me who I was. It is never easy when God rebukes you for your wrongdoings and who you are. It became clear that I was a person who was difficult to love. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions (Ephesians 2:4-5a).”

The eyes of a parent can see things others cannot. When I asked my mom to portray me as I am today, she smiled; I could just hear it in her voice. She said, “You have become a servant to others instead of worrying over pleasing yourself.” Is this the way God sees me too? He is my Father; does He think of me the way my mom does? “You are a teacher and a writer who is creative, responsible, gifted, and resourceful; you use your talents for the benefits of others. You are focused on God’s work and not your own.” My hope is that others see me for who I am just as God does, not for what I do. “…For God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance but the LORD looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7b).” Who I am is not who I used to be. Do you hear it? It is the smile of a Father who can be pleased with His child.

Completely His,
Jenna Johnson

Challenged

2008-07-02T13:47:00.000-05:00

Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. (Jude 1:3 NASB)

At 5 years old, I graduated from a tricycle to a bike that had training wheels. I can remember the first ride in the front yard of our house. Every body (Dad, Mom and my sister) was watching to see if I could make it. It was like watching a fawn trying to take it’s for steps, or maybe like a baby bird that was just learning how to fly. Of course, as you could guess, the momentous occasion of peddling the bike by myself ended in 30 seconds or so. I was on the ground, but ready to get back up again. Have you ever felt like this when it comes to sharing your faith with someone else? Unsure, unstable, and winging every word you say. You don’t have to be.

Yesterday while at the mission, I watched something unfold from the distance that inspired me. First, there was a homeless guy named Raymond who has visited 49 states and 4 Canadian provinces. He is in his early 60s. He is tall, toothless, yet talented with words. Second, there was a group of high school students participating in a mission’s outreach program called M-Fuge. They are living at a local college and reaching out into the community of Nashville at various ministries. They are right out of school for the summer, saturated by the world, yet willing to serve. As the students began preparing the trays for those eating, Raymond comes in and begins questioning them. He says, “Are you really Christians or are you just pretending?” With a smile and a laugh, he realizes that he has taken these high school students off guard. How would this make you feel if you were asked this question? The girls respond to some of his questions to defend themselves about why they are there to serve. They responded, “We are trying to do good that God’s light may shine through us.” Before everyone gets into the cafeteria, he asks them, “What can God do for a sinner like me?” He told them to hold that thought, and he would be back after lunch was served.

Taken back, the girls talk among themselves and then disperse to meet and greet some of the homeless that are coming in for lunch. On this day, there are not as many people eating at the mission, because it is the first of the month. Many get there checks, and the day on the street is called, “Dope Day!” In a week or so, the money will have been spent on drugs, alcohol and women. They always come back looking for help in a few weeks. Raymond seems to be clear headed and often has a smile on his face. He comes back after lunch and begins questioning the young girl’s faith about Jesus, salvation, the One True God, and how to deal with sin. He probes them for answers about this great salvation that they speak of. He acts like he doesn’t understand anything about the gospel of Jesus Christ. One young girl is drilled about how she knows this is real. She gets so frustrated and almost mad as he refuses to believe her answers. They take Raymond to the Scriptures and try to explain John 3:16 and God’s amazing love in giving his own Son as our Substitute and ultimate Sacrifice. He said, “I get it.” He then asks, “Do you know what 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us?” All of their Bibles were on the bus, so one of the chaperones pulled his from his backpack and allow the girl to read, “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Behind his worn clothing and toothless but priceless smile, he explained the purity and purpose of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He talked about the sinfulness of man, the imputed righteousness of Christ, the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and the joys of eternal life. He told the girls that his hope was in Christ and that he was following Him. A High School Junior named Baillee said, “I knew it!” As we all walked away, we learned the valuable lesson of not just knowing what you believe but making sure your beliefs line up with Scripture. Eventually, you and I will be faced with people where the rubber meets the road. Will you be able to stand, ride or fall? It all depends on how much training you have done in your front yard at home!

Digesting Truth

2008-06-26T11:58:00.000-05:00

2 Corinthians 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Swallowing things have never been that hard for me. From childhood thinking watermelon seeds would grow in my stomach to an 8th grader who could inhale two Big Mac’s with fries on family road trips to visit relatives during the summer, I have never had much of a problem eating, swallowing and digesting. However, how you ever had a friend who would have a lump in their throat when it came time to swallow medicine that they needed? I remember a friend who refused to take what the doctor had prescribed to make him better. Only after much pleading and coaxing would he swallow the antidote.

Do you ever feel like life isn’t treating you fair? Your 1, 5, and 10 year plan has not worked out just the way that you wanted it to. After leaving college six years ago, my plans were to become a successful business man and hopefully being in the six figures by age 30 or 35. My goals were to have my family in a place of financial comfort where we wouldn’t have to think about making payments week to week or month to month. I wanted security in the temporal things of life. Then, I met Jesus on April 7, 2003. After shattering the self-sufficient and invisible view I had of my self, He showed me my depravity and sinfulness. At 2:20 in the morning, He regenerated my heart, and I was justified by faith in His work of redemption. That night, I picked up my cross and have been walking ever since.

Over the past year, I have been able to walk with Jesus through the valley of the shadow of death by losing my grandfather (77), our first hopes of a child (6 weeks, 1day), and my dad (48) a month ago. Though He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, He has been my best friend (Isaiah 53:3). He’s listened to my groaning, reminded me where they are, and comforted me on my first Father’s day and birthday without them. Over and over again, He reminds me that this life is not about my comfort. This life is so short and so fragile. You really could be here one day and gone the next. I guess in losing these close family members, I have been able to walk to the edge of eternity and begin grasping what Jesus meant by “eternal life.” My eyes have been opened, heart is being renewed, and mind is in awe of God who is Sovereign. He is so intricately detailing your life that you would be amazed at all the work He is doing behind the scenes to conform you into the image of His dear Son.

Even with this year of grief, I just got back from a 12-day Biblical Tour of Israel. This was planned last August, and the LORD knew exactly what I needed to get away and get closer to Him, His Word and the Land on which He placed His Name. Jesus was fully God and fully man. He walked with real people, in a real place, at a real time. We saw the ruins of the towns that Jesus ministered in around the Sea of Galilee, took a boat on the waters that He stilled, and walked in synagogues that He would have entered. We saw the gates and walls that Nehemiah restored in Jerusalem, the platform of the Temple, the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane. However, my favorite places were the Place of the Skull where Jesus died for our sins and the Garden Tomb that was completely empty. It’s hard to swallow the truth that God would love us so much that He would give His only begotten Son as the sacrifice for our sin. What a sorrowful and bitter cup of sin He drank on our behalf, but remember the victory of the third day! I do not know what trial you are going through right now, but I can point you to the One who can help you say, “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing!”

Salt on an Open Wound

2008-06-19T20:37:00.000-05:00

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalms 147:3

There was a time in my life when a mixture of salt and water was the cure to everything. My dad would often bring me a glass when I had lost a tooth, caught a stomach bug, or cut my lip. When I was little, I did not realize that, upon taking a drink, the concoction would burn at the very touch, but as I grew older, I knew when I saw that golden Tupperware cup that I was in for some hurting.

I will admit that despite the burn, it was not long after drinking dad’s remedy that the cut or sore was almost completely healed. After running from him, I would complain for an hour about how bad it tasted and how angry I was that he had made me do such a thing. I never could understand that in the moments I swallowed the salt water, I was in a process of healing, and in time the awful taste it brought would be just a memory.

Since then, I have been made to drink that “salty water” again. The Lord has passed me a cup that I never want to drink from again. The sting from this wound feels as though it will never heal, and I am forced to feel the agony of when the salt hits the scar. This is a cut that is deeper than the surface of skin: the memory of a child.

For months I have been through the injuries and scar that losing a child leaves. I have ached upon hearing of others’ pregnancies and tasted the teardrops that this memory brings, none of which have felt as if my heart is mended. In fact, I recently ran from a friend that shared my due date as I saw her growing stomach among a crowd a people. My wound is still there.

It is easy to say we are past the hurts that lie within our hearts, but the truth is that we are allowed to hurt and to grieve. There are reasons for all of these as stated in Ecclesiastes 3:1, 3-4, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven… A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” God understands our sorrow, and He Himself knows our pain. Yet I cannot understand the immensity of His hurt as He allowed His only Son to die in my place on the cross (John 17).

I do not know what hurts you are holding onto, and I cannot understand what aches within your heart. However, I do know that if you will allow Him, God can pour salt into your wounds and heal you. Mark 9:50 states, “Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” If we are to be the “salt of the earth,” we must be more like Christ. When we face these circumstances, God is able to instill Christ-like characteristics in us as we draw closer to Him. Each moment is an opportunity for God to restore your injuries in a way that will glorify Him. Please do not step away from your Heavenly Father when He offers “a cup of salt and water”; He is making you new again.

Hurting yet Healing,
Jenna Johnson

Words of Encouragement Email: johnsonwordsofencouragement@gmail.com

Who's the Fool?

2008-06-04T01:30:00.000-05:00

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” (Proverbs 12:15)

"Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God." (1 Corinthians 3:18-19)

Approximately fifty years old with gray hair. A white, collared shirt with black pants and boots. Dark eyes and a friendly smile. A tragic situation, needing help. What could I give a man who had just this day lost his father and had learned his mother was hit by a car? The desperation was looming on his face, and I knew I had the capability of giving him what he wanted: fifty-six dollars.

Of course, my immediate reaction was to help; I had seen my husband offer assistance to many. However, I also felt a “tug” at my heart as if God was speaking to me. After the man mentioned my husband’s name and claimed he knew what we had been going through, I quickly felt as though I was supposed to know this person standing in front of me. Standing in the church parking lot for our fundraising yard sale, I wrote a check to the church clerk for cash, and then, without hesitation, I handed the man $56 to assist with his travel expenses. I told him I would be praying for him and to please contact Brian when he learned of his mother’s condition.

It is fair to say that I will never hear from this stranger again. After his black truck left the church parking lot, my phone rang. Brian was calling from Israel, and I jumped right into questioning him about this “familiar” character. To my disgust, Brian informed me that he did not know the old man, that he had never talked to him before, and that it sounded as if I had been fooled. I cried as I hung up the phone, without even realizing why, but my heart grieved within me.

Driving away with tears in my eyes, I could not understand why a person would do such a thing to someone, especially one at church! Many of us would look at the deceitful old man as a fool (and we may be right), but personally, I cannot blame anyone without looking at myself first.

Upon questioning my actions, a small thought came to me; it was clear that I had played the part of the fool that day. You may be wondering, “How?” Let me explain, it seems at times when, at our weakest, the devil Himself can creep into our lives. This time was mine. I was:
· Hungry (from not eating lunch),
· Angry (that I was forced into an uncomfortable situation),
· Lonely (with Brian away in Israel), and
· Tired (having not slept well).
It is in moments like these, we always need to HALT. It was a perfect day for the devil to have his way. Without prayerfully considering what to do, I reacted hurriedly, thus the reasoning behind the outcome I faced. Proverbs states, “So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding… For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:2, 6).” Had I simply stopped and realized that my heart was grieved because God was speaking the truth over the situation, I would have “HALTed” and asked the Lord for wisdom.

What areas in your life are you playing the fool? How often do you find yourself looking back wondering how you could have done things differently? It is sometimes challenging for us when put in situations to ask of and use God’s wisdom because we are fools. It is through the knowledge of the Lord that we are made wise. Make certain you HALT; let God provide you with His wisdom.

Working on Spiritual Wisdom,
Jenna R. Johnson
Jennarjohnson@yahoo.com and http://jennarjohnson.blogspot.com/
Visit Words of Encouragement on the Web.

P.S. – Brian and the group will be returning from Israel on Saturday, June 7th. Please remember them in prayer as they travel home. Thank you for your love, prayers, and support!

Silence!

2008-05-28T01:28:00.000-05:00

“Stand in awe, and sin not; commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.” (Psalm 4:4)

The clock had already passed ten. My car was not yet in the driveway. It was parked among other teenagers’ cars as we all blatantly skipped curfew. We sat and talked for hours and the laughter and discussions we had are still fresh in my mind. That thrill of staying out late was something I longed for, but the fear that overwhelmed me on the ride home vanquished the fun I just had.

From the road, I could see that the lights were turned off in the house. As I drove up the driveway, the gravel beneath the tires seemed as loud as thunder. I quickly dimmed the lights and quietly turned the lock in the back door where I heard no sound. I rounded the corner towards the stairs, and there he was, sitting in the dark in the chair beside the steps.

The silence in the room was frightening, and his voice was stern as he prompted me to get in bed. The walk up the staircase was difficult; my knees were weak and my heart was pounding. As anxious as one could be, I rolled into bed in the clothes I had been wearing so as to not keep him up any longer… Neither of us would get any sleep. The shrill of laughter and chatter was gone, and I was forced to listen to the silence. It was the last thing I wanted to hear, so I would turn on the radio until he, right below me on the first floor, said to turn it off. My father wanted me to think about my actions in the deafening stillness.

Our Heavenly Father can silence us as well, whether we have earned it or not. My mind wanders to when Jesus was on the cross of Calvary. Luke 23:35-37 says, “And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.” Not once did Jesus reply to their loud attempts to ridicule him. He was silent. His thoughts were on doing the Father’s will (Luke 23:34).

Why is it so hard for me to be quiet, to simply stop doing, and start listening? Here I am in a season of complete silence, no Kindergarteners screaming or whistles blowing, and yet I cannot sit still. As Brian prepared to leave for Israel, he wrote me a letter which I opened today as his flight took off. It was evident to me that my Father wants me to hear Him as I read what Brian had written, “…Please use this quiet time to get closer to the Lord rather than running around aimlessly…” Above the noise, the daily rush, and my constant need to be going, God spoke loud and clear, and now, here I sit, in a quiet house, waiting for what He might do next.

Hushed and humbled,
Jenna Johnson
Jennarjohnson@yahoo.com

P.S. – Please continue to cover Brian and the group in prayer as they embark on a 12 day tour of Israel. I will be filling in for him while he is away. He is to return on June 7th. Contact me with any questions or concerns.

Heaven

2008-05-25T01:27:00.000-05:00

Revelation 21:3-5 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Recently, I visited a 97-year old man who welcomed me into his apartment (or old-folks home as he would call it) with a song. Apparently, he had been singing before I got there and was filled with the thoughts of his future home. He was singing, “Someday when I travel my last mile here, the call will be coming for me, I’ll enter the life-boat that will be near to carry me over the sea, He’ll hold to my hand.” What a blessed thought to know that we should have nothing at all to fear in this life. The Apostle Paul told young Timothy, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Knowing Christ is the greatest comfort for every age-group, economic status, and nationality. As strangers and pilgrims in this wilderness of the world, we know that we have a home that is prepared for us someday.

Growing up as a child, we were always occupied by what we would be when we grew up. I know that my great ideas of having a wife, children, home and a few pets was all that I really thought about. Now, that the Lord has blessed me with a few of those things, I occasionally set back and think about all that there is to come, and “why am I here”? Romans 8:18 reminds us, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Many today are living for the here and now and have lost an eternal perspective. “The god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” Christian brother or sister, we have much work to do while we are here. “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2).

The Apostle Paul reminds us of our great purpose in Christ in Philippians 1:21-25 saying, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith (NASB).” After losing my father a week ago, a baby to miscarriage, a grandfather, and my wife’s grandmother during this past year, my heart is strengthen by the eternal truths of God’s Word and energized by the Spirit to exalt Christ everyday while I am here on this earth. There is only One who holds the keys to death and hell and sits at the right hand of the Majesty on High. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand (John 10:27-29). Like the 97-year old saint who was singing, we can rest secured that Jesus is holding us and will bring us safely through the valleys and over the mountains of life. One day, we’ll make it home to the other side where there is no more death, sorrow, crying or pain. It will be worth it all.

Life is temporary
This sounds so contrary in the world’s eyes
Everyone gets too attached
Each other they begin to despise
Some have great wealth, some fortune, some fame
Others are poor, or lonely, a no name
It really does not matter.
I’m only here for stay.
I stop, look, then go my way.
I am on a continual path, to my real home—Heaven.

I can do all things through Christ!

2008-05-14T11:00:00.000-05:00

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Unexpected trials… Have you ever had any that made you want to stay in bed and forget everything that was going on around you? Often, our lives can be like the dreams that we wake up to in the morning and are glad they were only in our mind. If you live very long, you will face trials that you see coming on the horizon, and some will drop down like tornados to test the strength of your faith in Christ. Some people look at trials as horrible times of tragedy, but I am learning that trials come into our lives to give us a clearer view of God’s greatness, power and strength. I can see why James wrote, “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” (1:2-4NASB)

The Lord never promised that life would be easy. He did promise believers that he would always be with us. Even on the brink of Jesus’ death on the cross, He reminded his disciples, “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). This morning I barely wanted to get out of bed, and then I remembered in my meditations the greatness of God and His tender strength. God’s word began welling up inside me and the clouds of pain and hurt went away. For many of you who may not know or have forgotten, life is but a vapor. One week ago, my dad was home with my mother, and this morning he is at home with the Lord.

Last week’s Words of Encouragement was entitled “Role Models.” One of my favorite role models is my dad. I think that is the way it should be. I even was able to tell him that just a few days before his death. Let me give you a brief wake up call! My dad went to sleep last Thursday afternoon and never woke up. He must have had a heart attack in his sleep. What a glorious way to pass from this life to the next! He was 48 years old and had been married to my mom for 31 years. They had never known any one else. From the outside looking in, this seems like a tragedy, but from a 27-year old son’s perspective, it is a tremendous blessing! As I preached my Dad’s funeral, I told our family and friends that I was either heartless or there was power in the word of God.

Growing up, I never had any doubts about where my dad stood with the Lord. Being a son, I was able to read the open book of his life. I saw the weaknesses and the strengths. My dad often spoke of being saved at a revival service at his home church in August of 1977. He liked to sing and would often sing a song, “Do you know how it feels?” In the song, he questioned the congregation on the sincerity of their salvation. My father knew God and lived out the truth. He took our family to church, gave me the eye at the end of the pew (this often meant discipline after church), taught me the value of hard work, and how to love a wife. This morning I listened to a song that he had recorded entitled, “If Tomorrow Never Comes.” It basically says that he hoped that he lived everyday letting people know how much he loved them! When you love with all your heart, you can die with a clean slate and little or no regrets.

My last encounter with my dad was at a basketball banquet last week where I grew up. At the close of the evening, we departed with warm embrace and an “I love you.” I guess I write today to those hurting hearts that are beaten down by life. I am reminded of a 17th century poet named John Donne. He wrote two poems that strengthen me. They are “Batter My Heart Three- Person’d God” and “Death, Be Not Proud.” My wife and I have lost her Nana in July, my Granddaddy (Dad’s dad) in August, Ethan Caleb (our baby we lost due to a miscarriage) in February, and Daddy on May 8th. My heart is broken, bruised, shattered and battered yet growing stronger everyday. I have never felt God so close in my life. He is with me, and He is with you. Death can not stop a child of God. It can only motivate us to glory in the cross, be gripped by grace, and overcome all obstacles. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians saying, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:55-58 NASB) Please do not be defeated, discouraged or doubting, but determined to keep pressing on toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus!

Role Models

2008-05-07T14:55:00.000-05:00

Judges 2:10-11 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:

Where would you be today without a Christian influence in your life? Can you imagine growing up without hearing the Gospel? Most of us are blessed beyond compare with godly men and women in our families and to live in a place where there is no one sharing the Gospel seems so distant and unheard of. While talking with a man from California yesterday, I came to realize how blessed I truly have been. He began telling me about his life of sitting around with friends and smoking crack and drinking alcohol. He said he thought this was the normal thing to do, because he never really had anyone around who was a Christian. As I briefly shared the Gospel and explained the guilt and shame that he was experiencing, he was amazed that God could forgive him. He couldn’t understand why Jesus had died on the cross for sinners like you and me.

In the book of Judges, we read about what happens when there is no one to replace the leaders of the past generation. When Joshua led the children of Israel, they were faithful to the Lord. Even after he died, the elders who had seen the great works of God were able to keep the people focused on serving the Lord. However somewhere in between these generations, people quit speaking of God and living for him. Maybe they assumed that everyone would be fine by finding there own way. Basically, they began to compromise and allow the world to infiltrate there lives through intermarriage with the Canaanites which led to them serving Baal and Ashtaroth. Baal was the Canaanite god who was called “the lord of heaven”. He was the farm god of rain and the storm. The worship practices included animal sacrifices, ritual meals where they would offer food to the gods and sensual dances. Ashtaroth, a sacred prostitute, was the goddess of sex and war. With these false gods, the children of Israel were led into sin, sin and more sin. They looked for prosperity instead of the Person of God and promiscuity instead of purity until the oppression became too great, and they began to pray in repentance and anguish.

The days of Judges were dark and dreary, but God’s faithfulness always shone through by raising up a leader who would deliver the people from their oppressors. This would last a while until the Judge died, and the people returned to their wicked ways. Four times we read, “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). We are living in these days today. God is being attacked more and more and disregarded as Ruler of the Universe. The Bible is scrutinized and dulled down by man’s opinions and the Church of Jesus Christ is hidden among the tares of false professors. What an opportunity to live for and reflect the glory of God!

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians saying, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain” (Philippians 2:14-16 NKJV). The Philippians were following Christ and had the example of Paul to remind them. Paul told them to live pure and holy that they might shine forth like stars in the country sky. Like runners in a race, he desired to pass the baton, the word of life, to the next generation who was coming along. Today, you have been placed in providential places to be a spiritual leader to those around you. Do you see someone wandering in the darkness of sin or drifting away from Christ? Don’t be afraid of reaching out and showing them that you care. You may be the very person that God uses to be an index finger pointing others to the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world!

Me

2008-04-30T16:16:00.000-05:00

Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

(written 12-03-04 Hendersonville, TN 3:54PM)

Who keeps my heart beating?
My lungs full of breath?
My mind full of imagination?
Who holds the key of death?

In reality, I have no control
Over this life that I live
At any moment it could stop
If God decided not to give

The next breath that I breathe
Is a blessing in disguise
When I grab it, it’s gone
Before my very eyes

I would like to hoard enough
To control my number of days
But my hands are too small
So I lift them in praise!

To the Giver of Life
In Him all things move and be
What a precious gift I have!
Me

Touching lives

2008-04-30T16:15:00.001-05:00

Matthew 8:1-4 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Can you think of someone who has touched your life throughout the years? What was it about them that made them so great? Was it the time they spent with you, encouragement, or something they may have done that meant so much? We all have been on the outside looking in at some point in our lives and needed someone to reach out with a welcoming and loving hand.

In the scriptures above, we find a man who was a leper. A leper in the days of Jesus had a serious disease that would eventually lead to death. There was no cure. It involved sores on the skin that would spread all over the body. As a result, the leper would be an outcast to society. They were defiled and had to stay away from everyone else. They lived a life of isolation. What a great picture of sin in our day. It is infectious and spreads to everyone around leading to defilement and isolation. In the end, the loneliness, guilt and brokenness can drive a person to their knees looking for hope and comfort. Have you ever been at this point in your life? I know I have!

The focus of these verses is the healing power of Jesus Christ. This man probably had not been touched in years. His body was probably sensitive, dirty and aching. However, Jesus not only listened to the broken hearted man but also touched him where it hurt the most. What a picture of grace we see in Christ! He has the power to touch sin-defiled souls and say be clean. Nothing can compare to His touch and His Words. Did you notice how fast he was cleansed? Immediately…

We must never underestimate the power of Christ to impact those who are separated from God and dead in their sins. The apostle Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). He also told the Colossians, “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person”(4:5-6).

We, the Church, are the body of Christ. He desires that we touch the untouchables with His truth and love. As I teach and preach each week, I can’t help but wonder how good of a job we are doing at stepping outside of our comfort zones, lending a helping hand, and sharing Christ’s compassion. It is easy to be like the Pharisees and look away in disgust over the spiritual leprosy that infects our society. We are commanded to live at high moral standards and be separated from sin, but on almost every page of scripture, I find Jesus full of grace and truth in the middle of publicans and sinners.

Today while visiting the prison, I began looking around at the ages of some of the young men. They could not have been much older than twenty. I wondered where their parents, friends, teachers, coaches and pastors may have been. I know these are the people who touched me the most and directed me in life. Although some will choose to remain a spiritual leper, let’s be careful to listen, open enough to care and willing to share the truth of God’s Word each day! Only eternity will tell how many lives Christ has touched through you!

Side Roads

2008-04-23T21:25:00.000-05:00

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Have you ever been frustrated with the path you are on in life and seemed like you were going no where? The other day while travelling from Bowling Green, Kentucky to White House, TN, my wife and I were slowed down to bumper to bumper traffic for what seemed to be miles of waiting. The interstate had been shut down and all of the traffic was redirected to a nearby highway. Immediately, we began thinking of all of the alternate routes that we could take to try to bypass the situation. Our impatience and determination to get ahead of everyone took over because we were ready to be home. It was late at night, and we really wanted to rest and relax at home. Instead of waiting with everyone else on the detour to another exit on the interstate, we decided to keep moving faster down the road. Our friends were behind us and sat through the traffic.

After some consideration on our own, we headed down the highway where there was no traffic. The only problem was that we drove about 20-25 miles out of the way. While finding ourselves in the midst of nothing but roads and farmland, I decided to call our friends who had sat through the traffic. They had made it back to the interstate and were 10 miles down the road. We would have been in front of them if we had waited in line with everyone else. With wasted gas and wasted time, we were left frustrated, tired and ready for bed.

Does this sound like your spiritual life? Are you always trying to get ahead of God instead of waiting for Him to deliver you in the right time? It is so easy for us to lose the discipline of waiting on God and try to make things happen in our own power. This sounds a lot like the Israelites who wandered in the desert for 40 years, because they didn’t have the faith to believe that God’s way was the best way. God used the wilderness to teach them to move when He told them to move and stay put when He told them to stay put. One of the greatest dangers in the Christian life is moving forward without the blessing of God. While in the desert, the Lord led the children of Israel with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. Today, the Holy Spirit indwells and directs the believer with the Word of God into the purposes that God has planned for your life. Grow where you are planted until the Lord asks you to go somewhere else.

There are many successful people that live religious and moral lives by the world’s standards, yet are driving down side roads that lead nowhere in comparison to eternity. The attraction of fortune and fame or a better way of life can be devastating on the eternal impact we can make for the cause of Christ. God often uses circumstances to slow us down and enable us to hear the His voice. Jesus said in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” It is easy for us to stray away sometimes and allow our ears to get dull of hearing God’s Word. If you find yourself in a quiet place in your heart crowded with people, listen because God wants to speak to you and prepare you for the road ahead. If you fail to listen now, your frustrations may lead you astray until you realize that time and energy has been wasted and God’s way is the best.

Prayer is the key to staying in the center of God’s will. My wife and I were tired and ready to be home. We allowed our impatience and frustration of sitting in traffic to overwhelm us and take over. We didn’t want to slow down and therefore wasted time. The world tells us, “Faster, faster, we need another master.” Jesus says in Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Let the Spirit of God navigate your life and you will always be where you need to be no matter what time it is day or night!

Access

2008-04-16T16:34:00.000-05:00

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Have you ever thought about the great freedom that you have to access things all around? Growing up, I wanted access to the cabinets at home that were securely guarded by my mother. I couldn’t eat sweets all day and especially before supper. Occasionally, she would grant me the privilege of getting a snack before supper. I can remember having my own key to my parent’s house and being amazed that they would entrust me with it. Later, I was given keys to a car at sixteen years old. Can you remember the power and freedom that you enjoyed? About a year ago, I was able to get a key that would give access to me and my wife’s first house. There is definitely power in having access!

My mom is no longer guarding the cabinets, and I can lick the bowl of yellow cake batter without her watching over me. It seems that I have also lost the awe of entering my parent’s home, driving my car and entering our home anytime. Accessing these things is part of everyday life. They become mundane. The privilege of being able to get into the cabinets at will and having a key to my parent’s home, a car to drive and a home to sleep in each night has turned into a right that I think I sometimes deserve. These blessings are easily taken for granted. Even the freedom to access my bank account with a debit card loses its luster when I look at the account balance.

With our accounts of sin being settled with God at Calvary and with the realization of true conversion in the heart, we are given peace with God through Jesus Christ. We are adopted into the family of God and become His sons and daughters. Have you ever seen a loving Father turn away his son or daughter when they come to them with a question or desire? We have an amazing privilege today to go to God in prayer and access His wisdom, nurture, love and truth for every situation. It is not a right that we deserve or have earned. It is all of grace. We never have to worry about the account running low, because He is able to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. He is the Creator of the earth, above all things and is watching over His children. Have you forgotten about the gift and privilege of prayer?

Today, we have the power to access about anything that we want. From the power of buying books to getting on the internet, we can retrieve any kind of information that we desire. With good relationships with people, you can access many homes. However, the only way to access Heaven is through Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” Do you understand the greatness of the One who allows God’s people to access heaven? Though millions of people are praying today at different times, only those who are conversing with God through Jesus Christ are being heard. There is only one true God. How great of a revival do you think God would send if His people would pray and seek His face?

God’s promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14 gives the challenge, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” The power that is needed in the church today is a result in God’s children knowing their Father in heaven. Daniel 11:32b says, “But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” Are you looking for strength, wisdom, understanding and courage? It is only found in Christ. “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (Ephesians 2:18)

There’s Something about that Name

2008-04-09T15:03:00.000-05:00

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Have you ever been in close contact with someone who is famous and been overwhelmed with awe and joy? The giddiness, excitement and rush can cause you to do some crazy things. In Junior High, Miss Tennessee came to our school to support the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program. When she walked the halls with the crown and beauty, I could have melted and especially when she handed each student an award for completing the program. During my senior year of high school, my basketball coach took us to an NBA game between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. I was in an arena of giants, and one of my friends got his own souvenir from the trash can. It was a cup that his favorite player had taken a drink from. Recently, I met Lennox Lewis (an amazing boxer) in the airport, Dierks Bentley (a country music singer) at a prayer breakfast, and saw John MacArthur (a Bible expositor) speak in person. For some reason, there was a sense of joy, excitement and respect which arose in my heart.

If you have ever come into contact with someone like this, I am sure that you acted the same way. Nervous, intimidated and scared to say a word, because whatever you say may make you sound ignorant. The moment is awkward for both parties. They don’t know you at all, and you seem to know everything about them from a distance. If only we could capture the same awe, reverence and love for the greatest person who ever walked on this earth—Jesus Christ. These men and women have been lifted up because of the gifts that they possess. Some look beautiful. Some can slam dunk any way you would like for them to. Some can box any man. Some are amazing singers. Some are amazing teachers. However with all of their gifts and their revenue combined, none can compare to Jesus!

There is something about His name that has echoed through the halls of history. The bookstores are full with pages refuting the beauty, historicity, significance, teachings, miracles, power, love, sacrifice and claims of the Christ who lived in Galilee two thousand years ago. He’s approachable, but beware, He knows everything about you. He leaves no room for hypocrisy, is not influenced by money or power, and hates the pride of men. When you come into His presence, you will immediately be humbled by His grace and left speechless by His glory! Though He inhabits eternity, he resides in the hearts of the lowly who need His mercy to make it each day. He saves all who come to him by faith with a repentant heart. From the most arrogant church member who has never met him to the homeless drunk on the street, He shares His gift of salvation. Have you really met him?

Five years ago this week, I found myself to be trapped in religious traditions, lost, lonely and broken inside. I was crying on my bed in the middle of the night, desperate, willing to change, in need of forgiveness and yearning for peace. I had no where to go and no where to turn. The Lord came looking for me, and he found me in the darkness of my sin. He picked me up, began carrying me, and now He’s teaching me to walk by faith and not by sight. He has never left me since, but corrects me often. The glamour, prestige and excitement of meeting these big-named people has drifted away with time. They left their impression for a moment, but Christ has captivated and will captivate me for eternity. My heart is still giddy and full of joy and excitement. As I realize and understand more about Jesus each day, I stand amazed that He would speak to someone like you and me!

If you are out there…

2008-04-01T16:08:00.000-05:00

Hebrews 4:13 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.

Have you ever wondered if there are any more honest people left in the world? For some reason, we are not living in the world that my grandfather would tell me about. He often spoke of his dad being the kind of man that would fill his merchant’s baskets full of grain, would shake it down and continue filling until it was full and overflowing. He wanted to be honest and give each person that came into his mill a quality product for an honest price. Also, the days of only needing screen doors with latches are overshadowed by our homes with security systems whether it’s a dog or an elaborate alarm device, dead bolts, and weapons to defend against any intruder. We can definitely tell that people live like there is no God who will judge every action and word spoken.

During this past week, my wife and I decided to get away for a few days to celebrate our anniversary during her spring break. We were excited to have the bags packed; reservations made, and were ready to get on the road. The trip was going great, and when we were about 20 miles from our destination, we stopped for gas and enjoyed our lunch together. Everyone was happy until we stopped at a bookstore nearly 10 miles down the road, and I realized that my debit card was missing. I checked and rechecked my checkbook but to no avail. This would not have been so bad if I hadn’t already lost my Driver’s License earlier in the week. My wife had already encouraged me to get a wallet or something to keep up with everything. In the past 17 years, I have only had one wallet and didn’t use it very much. The atmosphere went from happiness to fear and frustration. I had already been a victim of identity theft in October of 2005, of which is just now getting cleared up, and I definitely didn’t want to go through that process again.

Have you ever had to retrace your steps and think of where you may have lost something? This is the journey we embarked on. It only took 10 minutes to go back to where we last stopped, but it seemed like an hour. I had a receipt in my pocket from the restaurant and decided to call them on the way. They searched the dining room and didn’t see anything. The lump in my throat grew bigger especially when I knew our first anniversary trip was in jeopardy. Finally, we made it back to the gas station, and in desperation, I approached the counter and asked if anyone had turned in a debit card. What is the likelihood of someone finding a debit card and not trying to use it for themselves? The employees asked me my name and wanted to see my driver’s license (my brand new one). From under the counter, they pulled out my card and said an older gentleman found it out in the parking lot. What relief flooded my heart! I could not help but praise Christ for the honesty of the man and protection of my name.

There are still honest people out there who desire to walk in the truth (3 John 1:4). Whether this man knew the Lord, I do not know. However, he did reveal that he feared a future judgment. Proverbs 9:10 reminds us, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Everyday, we live under the Sovereign rule of Almighty God. Hebrews 1:3 speaks of Christ and reminds us of His Majesty, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” God knows, sees, and hears all things. How should we live in light of God’s holiness and righteousness? For those who are out there living to please the Lord Jesus Christ, I say thank you in advance for blessing others by being right, honest and fair.

Wedding Vows

2008-03-24T12:07:00.000-05:00

(3-29-07 Hendersonville, TN at the Spear’s 5:45AM)

Divine Providence has led me to this place
Our broken roads have been filled with grace
To prove to ourselves and God above
That He alone can sustain love

And so, in this divine moment
I rest in Christ’s atonement
For He set me free from the bondage of sin
At the cross, His Presence transcends

Uniting my heart to yours in His Soveriegn will
I promise to love you in valleys or highest hills
Vowing my heart before God to you
With the eternal words, “I do!”

I know you were made just for me
For this reason, I’ll not neglect my bended knee
You are a gift from God showing favor to this man
Mine to be before time began

For richer, poorer, till death do we part
Jenna Renee will be stamped into my heart
Never to leave nor forsake a love so real
With these simple words, this covenant I seal.

A Celebration of Marriage

2008-03-24T12:05:00.000-05:00

Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Have you ever been mesmerized by looking into the marriage of a husband and a wife? Growing up, this captured my mind so often. There was something about the holiness of God within my parents that I respected, revered and was amazed at how they worked everything out. Every morning, my mom would prepare breakfast for my dad and me and my sister. She would kiss him everyday before he left for work and would welcome him every evening when he came home. Their bedroom was for the most part off-limits unless invited in to. They ran the home together with distinct roles and brought their children up in the admonition of the Lord.

One of the greatest object lessons in the Christian faith is the institution of marriage. God ordained marriage between man and woman in the Garden of Eden, blessed it and told them to be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth and have dominion. For the past year, I have been learning what this is all about. On March 31, 2007, I exchanged vows with and entered into a covenant marriage with the young woman that God had brought to me. We did not sign a contract, but we covenanted together to be husband and wife until death do we part. These were strong words that were spoken and are not to be taken lightly. If I broke my word, I would be striking against the character of God in me. Today, this seems to be the norm, and it causes tragic consequences for the relational stability of both the spouses and the children that are involved. Sin destroys and distorts the beauty of everything God created, however, He has provided the cure for the death and destruction that it brings—Jesus Christ. In Christ, all things can be made new and restored to its magnificence and beauty!

Over the past year, I have learned a lesson that I would like to remind and share with you. First, the foundational characteristic of any good home is that it exists to glorify God. This first begins with each individual in the home having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. With the Holy Scriptures being the standard to live by, there is a greater authority to go to instead of each other’s personal opinion. Searching out the truth and living by it causes our hearts to change, adapt and be purified as the Holy Spirit speaks in the home. You might ask, “How does this work in the home?” Have you ever gotten mad or upset at your spouse? If you have been married for 3 months or longer, this has happened. If we want to have a peaceful home, then the situation must be discussed and resolved in a loving way. Living a Christ-centered life will cause you to apologize and forgive your spouse. Keep a clean slate with the Lord and your spouse. This will greatly benefit your ability to sleep at night! I have never slept well when I left everything festering inside. The situation only gets worse in the morning and hearts begin to harden. Jesus said in Matthew 19:8, “Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.”

Living by the Word of God changes everything! If I want to fully worship God then things must be right individually with the Lord and with my spouse. This involves good communication (prayer), financial sense (stewardship of resources), and every other area of my life. The greatest part of marriage is that it reminds us that we are works in progress. If we are not progressing in love and godliness then there must be a breakdown somewhere. In some ways, marriage has trapped me because I can’t worship God and be mad at my wife. Actually, marriage has freed me from the self-righteousness that I sometimes think I possess. God reminds me often of my sinfulness as my character is reflected by my spouse. It humbles me and shows me that I need His grace more and more each day to be all that He wants me to be. If we can get it right in the home, then the church will be holy instead of hypocritical and our children will be disciplined instead of disillusioned. May God bless your marriage or singleness. His design for both is that we be pure and holy before Him in love!

Can I get a witness?

2008-03-20T12:37:00.002-05:00

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Have you ever been the person who had to see something before they believed it? Naturally, we are skeptics, and it is good to some degree to be able to properly assess situations and people. We learned this rather easily with our friends growing up. In Junior High Basketball, the cool thing was to be able to slap the bottom of the backboard when doing a lay up or to touch the bottom of the net. What lofty goals we had back then! Of course, everyone would talk their game until we actually got on the court and were put to the test. Many were all talk including myself sometimes, yet a few backed up their words with their actions leaving everyone else mesmerized and wanting to say “I believe you now.”

As I have been studying through the Gospels during the past few weeks, fresh realities have been flowing from the Word. In John 2:19 Christ spoke, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”The Jews were confounded, because the actual temple in Jerusalem had taken 46 years to rebuild. They questioned and didn’t understand that Jesus was speaking about his body. These words were weighty, and the full reality of them had not been realized. He even told his disciples on the night of His betrayal, “But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee” (Matthew 26:32). The possibilities seemed to be more impossible with each passing moment. He was betrayed by Judas, arrested, treated with injustice, and the disciples hope of a reigning King seemed to be lost.

During Christ’s first trial, he told Annas, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret (John 18:20). Jesus didn’t hide anything. He didn’t have anything to hide. When Caiaphas, the high priest, questioned if He was the Son of God, Jesus answered, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 26:64). During the forth trial, Pilate asked Him if he was the King of the Jews. Jesus responded, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37). Have you heard his voice? He spoke these words just a few hours before He was crucified for God’s glory and our redemption.

Almost five years ago, I would have told you this was a true story and that I believed what Jesus said in theory. Being raised in a home that feared God, I grew up hearing these truths over and over. Like the Jews, I was a skeptic and kept church at a distance from the daily realities of life. Work, play, and church were at times compartmentalized. After a while, simple truths, straight forward answers and conviction began to infiltrate my heart as I realized that I could not shake the claims of this Man of Galilee. Finally, I surrendered and God’s grace and peace flooded my soul. With this new life, I have seen my love for sin and the things of the world diminish. Jesus is all I need to live everyday.

Just as He promised, Jesus met His disciples in Galilee after being raised from the dead. He gathered His flock, promised them the power of the Spirit and ascended to Heaven. While the disciples watched, the angels asked, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11) Ten days later in an upper room praying, the church was given power and men stood with boldness and wisdom from above proclaiming the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Although the basketball courts will be watched by millions today with the beginning of March madness, Psalms 84:10 reminds us, “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”No longer am I mesmerized by mere men slapping back boards and hanging on rims to show their talents, but on Christ who hung on a cross and rose again to save the souls of men. God proved His love through giving His Son. I believe Him now. Can I get a witness?

A Simple Penny

2008-03-04T15:45:00.000-06:00

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You. (Psalms 139:17-18)

What kind of intimate moments do you share with Christ? Are there little things in your life that make you look up and realize that He has been watching over and protecting you ever day? It is a great blessing to be a child of God and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. It is not something that is just written on paper, but it is a living reality. He is so gracious to speak in the small moments of our lives. I heard a story about a preacher a few years ago who made a deal with God. This was the simple deal that he made in his heart with the Lord. Every time he saw a penny on the ground whether it was on heads or tails, he would pick it up and think about the innumerable thoughts that God thinks toward His children everyday.

One day, the old preacher was getting a little tired and weary and needed a good boost. Of course if you are a true child of God born from above by the Spirit of God, we must realize that our Lord Jesus will give us the sustaining grace that we need for every moment of every day. The old preacher needed a little reminder, and as he was shaking hands with the congregation one Sunday outside the church, he came to a little girl who had found a penny on the ground and wanted to share it with her pastor. The old preacher was elated by that little penny, because it had more worth than a cent and pointed him to the eternal truths of God’s holy word. God’s thoughts toward us are deeper than the oceans, higher than the sky and vast as the grains of sand of the earth. Isaiah 26:3-4 reminds us, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusts in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:”

Over the past few years, I have used this same reminder in my own life. Every time I find a simple penny that has been dropped, thrown by the wayside, or buried in dirt, I pick it up and remind myself that my Heavenly Father is watching over me and caring for me as His son. I realize not everyone will understand what it means to be a child of God. It comes through repentance of sins and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who died, was buried and was raised to complete the work of redemption. It is not enough to know the facts but actually know Christ personally. I was born by God’s Spirit on April 7, 2003 in my bedroom one night when my heart was convicted and condemned by my sin. That night I found peace for my troubled soul. Ever since then, I have tried to walk with the Lord though failing often. A simple penny reminds me of God’s abundant grace to pardon guilty and common sinners like you and me.

I am learning more and more that Christ is concerned with every area of our lives and truly is Lord and Savior. Recently, I have been trying to find a different car for my wife. With gas prices going up, we wanted to get into a more economical one. After much prayer on when, where and what to buy, I found one that would fit our needs. Of course, I had to go through all of the talks with the sales managers to get a fixed price. We went back and forth a few times, and finally, I gave them my final offer. The salesman went to talk with his manager and came back with a smile and bad news. He told me that they couldn’t reach my final price no matter how they worked it. He said, “every time we put the numbers in the computer, we were left with a one cent difference.” He placed a penny on the desk, and I laughed inside when I told him I would take the car. What a wonderful joy to have a Lord and Savior so near!

The Real Thing

2008-02-27T17:06:00.001-06:00

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 1 John 5:20

How easy is it to distinguish between the real thing and an imitation? We have spent most of our lives learning how to discern the genuine versus the fake. Do you remember growing up as a child and going to the grocery store with your parents and being able to choose your canned drinks for the week? I can’t remember the brand, but I do know they were about 20-25 cents per can. Out of the orange, grape, and ginger ale, my sister and I would normally have a few colas mixed in. At the time, I didn’t know the difference between cola or Coca-Cola. I can also remember the few times that my dad would make sure that he purchased Velveeta instead of Easy Cheese. Some generic items were OK for a family on a fixed budget, but some choices had to be made for the real deal.

Have you ever thought about the real thing and imitation in your choices of a church home or even in your own spiritual life? I can tell you by experience that it is much better trying to be the real thing than pretending to walk with God. I have written often of the 13 years that I professed to be a Christian, because I walked the church aisle and was baptized. I was only a pretender and faked my way through church services and a Christian university, yet God saw my heart and His message of truth cut me like a knife and has changed my life forever. There is no comparison to the past 5 years of my life since Jesus Christ has rescued me from my sin, hell and one day will deliver me through death. Glory be to God! Even though I know I have eternal life in Christ Jesus based completely on His grace, do you? Are you that confident that you are the real thing—born of God’s Spirit with a new heart, fresh eyes and a desire to see God glorified in all of your life?

The other day I was visiting a local school and was involved in a conversation with a man who said that he put his time in on Sunday but left Wednesday night for backsliders and others more interested in the Christian faith. Most of what he said was in jest, but I have learned that many things people say jokingly reveal the true nature of their heart. This is not just one instance. You could ask ten people today what they think of Jesus Christ, and you would probably get 8 different answers. Hopefully, two or three out of the ten are true disciples who cling to Christ for their very life, strength, support and reason for living. He is not the icing on the cake to my happy and comfortable American Christian life. He is the substance, source and superlative Savior of my soul. What message is being sent through your relationship with the Almighty God through Jesus Christ?

People are confused today about what it means to be a Christian. Primetime television dismisses the reality of a Holy God by portraying beautiful pictures of every immorality that God abhors. God’s name is slung through the mud and is even allowed to be mention as long as Jesus Christ is not honored and glorified as God’s Son. Christian television even portrays Christ as being something we should add to our health, wealth and prosperity. We are living in dangerous and superficial times. How can we discern truth from error or the real and genuine from the false and fake? We need spiritual discernment. As children, we were able to tell the difference between generic cola and Coca-Cola or Velveeta cheese or Easy Cheese. In the same way as children of God, we can’t replace heart-felt times of prayer with 30 seconds of saying grace before meals, diligent Bible Study for 3 hours on the X-Box, and fellowship with the saints for hours at the social club of your choice. Either Christ is everything or He is nothing at all! Even children can tell the difference.

Where Could I Go?

2008-02-21T14:05:00.000-06:00

Isaiah 40:28-31 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Have you ever had something that has happened in your life that has knocked the breath out of you? Has anything ever been taken away from you in an instant and changed your life forever? Everyday, we are vulnerable to life altering changes. Life is fragile and should never be taken for granted. Job 1:21 reminds us, “Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job clearly reminds us that whether life is going good or seems to be going bad, we must praise the LORD because He is in control.

During this past week, my wife and I have been recovering from losing our first child due to a miscarriage. This is something that is quite common, however, you never really want to go through it. We had a rough sketch of plans that would carry us through this year. By September, our lives would be changing and sleeping patterns taken away. The joy of having a child and the thoughts of being parents was fresh and exciting. However within a few days, all of those dreams, at least for now, were shattered. This is real life, and we must trust that God’s timing and plans are perfect.

Have you ever found yourself in this boat with your marriage, children, job or school? Though life is fragile and changes, Malachi 3:6a says, “For I am the LORD, I change not.” In Psalms 18:1-2 the writer proclaims, “I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” When Jesus began to speak hard things, many wanted to turn from him and walk away. Many did. However, Jesus asked the twelve disciples, will you also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? you have the words of eternal life (John 6:67-68).

Where can we go in times of trouble and heartache? The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort” ( 2 Corinthians 1:3). He has counted and named every star in space (Psalms 147:4). He feeds and knows every sparrow that falls to the ground (Matthew 10:29). He looks into the womb of a woman and has power to give life in the darkness. Most importantly, He stepped out of Glory, wrapped Himself in human flesh, lived a sinless life and humbled himself to heal man’s broken and sinful hearts by dying on a rugged cross. In him was life; and the life was the light of men (John 1:4).

What a joy it is to be loved and cared for by the one who stretched the heavens in space, scattered the stars, and told the sun, moon and earth where to stand! Though we often can find ourselves faint or out of breath in our spiritual life, look up because help is on the way. Jesus has promised that He will never leave those who have put their trust in Him. There are times that we must stop, reflect and be reminded that, “ 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). A mighty refuge is our God! Glory be to the God Most High!

Little by Little

2008-02-13T14:23:00.000-06:00

“The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, for the wild beasts would grow too numerous for you. (Deuteronomy 7:22 NASB)

Do you have big dreams, goals and plans that you would like to see worked out in your life? Are you yearning for a better church, marriage, family life, or education? You may have lost everything in the storms that swept through the Southeast last week and desire a rebuilt home and life after the destruction. We all have these big plans and dreams that seem so far out, but they are achievable if centered in God’s will. Romans 8:31 says, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses prepares three speeches to the new generation that is about to go in and possess the Promised Land. If you will remember, the generation that came out of Egypt was not willing to walk by faith and trust God to deliver them in battle with the people of Canaan. They refused to fight the good fight of faith. The rebellious Israelites wandered in the wilderness until all of the people 20 years and older died off. They had wasted so much precious time in disobedience. Now, they are standing so close to the fulfillment of God’s promises.

How many times do we seem to get this far in our Christian lives? We are at a stand still where God begins to remind us of what He has done in our past, what He can do now, and what He is going to do in the future? This is a place where we get in over our heads. Life is not about us anymore, and we can’t control it. Facing Israel were seven nations that were greater and mightier, and as soon as they began their march into the Promised Land, they were going to be faced with obstacles. This is where we all like to hide, run or retreat. However this is where the Apostle Paul says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). As a Christian today, we are in no place to back down, let up, retreat, lose heart, or lose focus. Lives are at stake everyday, and we can make a difference!

Will all of the world be won for Christ in one day? Can your church be built strong to glorify God in an hour? Can your marriage climb back to the top where intimacy, open communication, joy and selfless love were more important than money, achievements, and bigger homes? Can families be restored to unity and harmony where love resounds and warmth abounds? God has a method for us to reclaim the ground that we may have lost in battle. John 10:10 reminds us, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” As the children of Israel were told to go in and possess the land, God would defend, defeat, and deliver their enemies into their hands little by little. He could have done it all at once, but they learned to depend and trust in the Lord for their source of strength and life.

What are you facing today that seems to be an impenetrable wall or a mountain too high to cross? Do not let the fear of opposition stop you from the work that God has for you! Be diligent in Bible study, persistent in prayer, focused on giving our Heavenly Father glory and little by little He will bless your obedience, put to shame your enemies, and prove the skeptics wrong. Until unbelievers in Jesus Christ see the evidence of your faith, they will remain in doubt that there is a God in Heaven who judges righteously over all mankind and is worthy of all our praise and adoration. Don’t be discouraged or overwhelmed by the size of the task, but be encouraged that God will give sufficient grace to all who ask!

A Love Letter

2008-02-07T11:30:00.000-06:00

“Put me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. “Many waters cannot quench love, nor will rivers overflow it; if a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, it would be utterly despised.” (Songs of Solomon 8:6-7 NASB)

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and I am sure that you have been thinking about what you are going to give that special someone. Can you remember what it was like in elementary school when this day came around? My parents were accustomed to going to Wal-Mart every Friday Night after my dad came home from work. It was our shopping night and the night that I most often got in trouble for wandering around the store and trying to get $5 out of my dad for a toy. However when this time of year came around, my parents found it amusing I am sure that I wanted to buy a box of $2 cards and share them with my classmates. I loved to give, and most importantly at that time, get a card in return. Everyone in the class shared and was happy when the cards were placed on their desk. It was exciting, freeing and a rush of child-like love at least for one-hour on one day of the year!

Love letters have been passed around for hundreds of years. There is not a single one of us that has not received or written one to a high school sweetheart or to your husband or wife. Even before Shakespeare’s play of Romeo and Juliet, love has been a powerful force. Love unites and draws people together to the point of death but hatred divides and scatters. Have you ever seen a love that was as strong as death? The greatest story of love and redemption has been written by God when He revealed His love through the sacrificial and substitutionary death of His Son, Jesus Christ, on our behalf. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). He came to die on the cross that He might restore those who repent of their sins and trust Him by faith. His love letter was not written with ink from a pen, but with His precious blood that was spilt on Calvary’s cross.

The love of God for mankind goes beyond just saving us from the torments of Hell. Hell was prepared for the devil and His angels, yet those who continue to hate God and His Son will spend eternity there as well. Salvation by grace through faith saves us from ourselves and the sin that separated us from experiencing the priceless pleasure of God’s extravagant love. We can know God’s love today and be with Him for all of eternity. John 1:12 says, “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:”

What do you think will make Heaven, Heaven? Will it be the gates of pearl or streets of gold? What about God’s throne or the sapphire, jasper, or emerald walls of the new city? If you are only looking for the gold and jewels of heaven then you have missed the point. Heaven will be heaven because God is there dwelling among His people. It will be filled with people from every kindred, tongue, people and nation. Oh, how we need God’s grace and love that we might share this good news with our enemies, acquaintances, friends and family members. If you find yourself needing to be lifted up and loved, read God’s love letter to you, remember what He has done on the cross and the promises He’s made and write an encouraging letter to someone else. Giving liberates the heart and whoever said that showing love has to be confined to one day. Remember its not the monetary price that you pay but the depth of your heart that you reveal.

Looking into the Third World

2008-02-01T15:21:00.000-06:00

Psalms 67:4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.

Have you ever been somewhere that made you appreciate what you really had and opened your eyes to your blessings? It is easy to compare ourselves with others. For example, I have had the privilege during this life to visit people who are very rich materially that live in $250,000 homes and up. From the exterior, people with these living standards are looked upon as being rich or grossly in debt. Is it the material things that matter most in this life? Jesus said in Luke 12:15, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.”

Over the past week, I was able to travel with a team of nine people to the heart of Jamaica. You may think that this would definitely be a mission trip that you would want to go on considering the beaches and the pictures you may have seen on television. What they don’t show you is the real lives of the people living beyond the fences of the beautiful resorts. Our team travelled three hours up winding roads on the edge of mountains into the heart of the island. The views were some of the most beautiful I had ever seen. As we arrived at the church, we found ourselves in the middle of no where it seemed, yet there was life all around.

I compare the living standard to that of my great grandparents. Most of the homes were made of concrete blocks with tin roofs and were only big enough to meet their needs. They did not have a lot of excess but survived with the daily bread that the Lord provided. Most of them were slim, because they ate to survive and not to hide their pain and loneliness. The sense of community was strong and the children enjoyed playing outside together. They walked to school or had to get a ride in a taxi. They had to retrieve their water in jugs and barrels and carry it to their homes. Most of them were not privileged to have hot showers, television or computers and life went on.

I was touched the most by our visit to the new home of a young married couple named Samantha and Lennox. There home was a concrete, one-roomed house that was 14 X 20 feet or 280 square feet. The family of four lived in this house. The bedroom was on one side and the kitchen was on the other. They were happy and had our group over to pray in their house. They were workers for the Lord and Lennox served as deacon at the mission which was located in their back yard. The church building was painted yellow and blue. It consisted of ply-wood, 4 X 4’s, 2 X 4’s, a zinc or tin roof, gravel for the floor, two lights and wooden benches. On the exterior, it didn’t seem like much, however the gospel is proclaimed there faithfully each week and lives are being changed. The revival services were more spiritual than many that I have been to in the States, because their focus was on worshipping Christ Jesus and seeing souls saved by the grace of God before it is too late. There was a greater urgency to prepare to meet their Maker and these people realized that life was not all about the things they possessed.

If you could take a look into the lives of these people, you would find that they were rich beyond compare. It wasn’t a perfect place, but I was able to get a glimpse of the things that are most important—serving God with all our lives, sharing the hope found in Christ with unbelievers, loving the local church, building strong homes, and living with eternity in mind everyday. This only touches the surface, but I hope it allows you to see God’s love for all people and helps you live a simple life that glorifies Him in every way.

Honest to God

2008-01-22T14:17:00.000-06:00

1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous

When I was ten or eleven, my mom was constantly telling me not to throw the football in the house. Of course, it was almost irresistible to be able to do it and get away with it. One day, the absolute worst happened. After airing the football through the living room, it landed on a shelf where my grandmother’s antique figurine had been placed. With mom in the kitchen, I had a little time to buy, and so I assessed the problem and realized that a piece had broken off. I knew where my dad stored the super glue and immediately began fixing it back to normal. It was a success and the only person that knew about it was me. I was paranoid for months until my sister was playing in the house and knocked the same figurine over. Can you imagine what happened? Of course, she broke it and was the one to get in trouble.

Have you ever gotten away with something that you knew was wrong? At the beginning, you might find yourself relieved that no one else caught you. However, the conscience records our wrong doings and eventually our sin will find us out even though we may be able to hide it for a little while. Over the process of time, our conscience will not be so quick to feel the guilt if we continue to get away with our sin. First Timothy 4:2b speaks of men “having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” A clear and cleansed conscience is one of the greatest gifts a man can have, but many today carry guilt and remorse instead of finding forgiveness.

This morning, I was trying to do something special for my wife. It is her birthday, and I thought that I would take her to breakfast and to work to spend a little extra time with her. Of course, the roads were busy and I decided to take a back road. I have driven this road a hundred times and had become acquainted with every curve. Like usual, we were a little pressed for time, and I was not paying attention to my speed. I was going about 46. However around one of the curves, I saw blue lights. I immediately looked at the speedometer and realized it was me. I had been caught. My heart began racing, and I could not believe that this could be happening on my wife’s birthday. I was trying to be good, but good wasn’t good enough.

Between ages sixteen to eighteen, I knew that one of the most dreadful things that could happen would be to explain to my dad that I had gotten a speeding ticket. I knew that he would be disappointed and the citation would cost me. Now, I have no one to watch my every action. My parents are no longer responsible for my actions. They trained me in what’s right and wrong and now I realize that God sees everything. When I sin or do wrong, I am disappointing my heavenly Father whether the occurrence happens in open daylight or in the dark.

It takes more than good intentions to please God. I desired to please my wife this morning, but I still got caught. Are you serving a god that is only good but it not just, holy and fair? In reality, we can’t be good enough to please God. His law is holy, and we all have broken it. Do you know how I felt when I got caught by the officer? Convicted… Can you imagine how I really felt when my sister got in trouble for something I had done? I felt horrible and was ready to confess. Second Corinthians 5:21 reminds us, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” You and I are the reason that Jesus died on the cross. It’s humbling to know that He paid our penalty of sin and allows us to live to reveal His grace. That’s good news!

A Real Friend

2008-01-10T13:34:00.001-06:00

Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

Have you ever had someone come up and tell you that you still have the sticker with the size of your pants on the back of your leg? Has anyone ever told you that you had food stuck in your teeth or something hanging out of your nose? Of course, you could not help but to get a little embarrassed. However, did you see the person’s concern that they had for you? In many ways, we would like to find these things out for ourselves and be self-preserved, yet everyday, we need a help from our friends.

What is a real friend? They might be described as someone you like to spend time with, a person who has the same interests and hobbies, or someone you can share your real self to without fear. True friendship goes beyond someone you can hang out with or share a common interest for comforts sake. True friendship takes time to build and must have the foundational element of truthfulness and transparency.

While visiting a place where I speak regularly the other day, I came across two men who were older than me that had some advice that might help me. They told me that they were at the devotional that I led a few weeks ago. They have heard me speak many times and gave me some constructive criticism on how I could improve. At first, my heart wanted to say, “How dare you for trying to correct me?” This is often our first instinct from the smallest child to the person who is fifty and still working under a boss. Immediately, we want to justify ourselves. It is so hard for us to take correction. Proverbs 3:11 reminds us, “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:” Also Proverbs 9:9 teaches, “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” Instead of justifying ourselves, it is of greater importance for us to evaluate if the statement is true. If so, we should accept it graciously and be thankful that someone would love us enough to carefully point out our mistakes.

After the conversation, I began thinking about what the two men told me. It really stuck with me and lingered in my mind for a few days. I realized that they were right, and God was trying to help me to be a better speaker by listening to their advice. This is why real friends are so important. They will tell you the truth in love even though it sometimes hurts. In the end, truth is the only thing that has the power to set us free.

In the U. S., we have one of the greatest privileges of hearing the truth of God’s word proclaimed. The reason that many fail to go to church is simply because they do not want to hear the truth about their sinful lives. Where would we be today without men and women who are more concerned for truth than the feelings of those comfortable at heart. Genuine love “rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). A real friend will be the one who will tell you the most truth. Do you remember the Apostle Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus? He thought he had it all together. He was even ready to have men and women of God arrested until Jesus spoke to his sinful heart. His heart was broken, yet God gloriously saved him. At the end of his life First Timothy 4:16-17a records, “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me.” Today, we have a friend who sticks closer than any brother—Jesus Christ. He loves you and me but will make us uncomfortable about ourselves with the truth His Word reveals.

Pivotal Years

2008-01-03T11:00:00.001-06:00

Exodus 40:17 And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.

A lot can happen in a year. Over the past few days, I have tried to sit back and reflect over the different joys, heartaches, challenges and tragedies that have filled 2007. I have tried to write some of them down, so I can go back and remember the great things that God has done. Many times, it is very easy to forget the blessings that God has given us and begin to complain when something difficult comes along. If we are in the right relationship with God, it will not matter what happens in 2008. We can be empowered by God to press on, learn lessons about life and grow closer to the One who holds eternity in His hands. As the first few days of 2008 pass, we are like Abraham who went out not knowing where He was going, yet He trusted God to provide and protect him and his family.

In the book of Exodus, I found a remarkable scripture that reminded me of what the Israelites did on the first day of the second year after being rescued from Egyptian bondage. In the previous year, God had heard their prayers and groaning by sending a deliverer to lead them out of slavery. Moses was commanded by God to go before Pharaoh and demand that His people be let go! Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and God began sending the plagues on Egypt to get the Pharaoh’s attention. It didn’t get to him until the last plague took the life of his first born son. The Israelites who were prepared to go, left Egypt with spoils, and followed the leadership of Moses. Where did it get them? They were standing before roadblock number one—the Red Sea. With the enemy closing in, God made a way where there seemed to be no way. Of course, the people of God praised Him for the great things he had done, yet a few days later, they complained about the bitter water at Marah. Then, the people were getting hungry, and God sent them manna. Later, they went to war against Amalek and God sent them victory. They spent three months travelling to Mount Sinai. While there Moses spent more than 80 nights on the mountain as he received the Law and instructions for building the tabernacle. Despite the awesome sight of God descending upon Mount Sinai with thunders, lightning and a thick cloud, the people still rebelled by making a golden calf. God was infuriated and ready to consume them, but Moses interceded on there behalf. Within the next six months, the people constructed the pieces of the tabernacle, and it was raised up on the first day of the second year.

With one year of miracles behind them, Moses was commanded by God to take a census in the book of Numbers and arrange the tribes around the central place of worship—the tabernacle. He numbered the men starting from age twenty and up who were able to go to war. With God’s presence with them, an army that was ready to march, and a promise that God was going to give them a land, it seemed that everything was going their way. However after seeing the obstacles that lied ahead, the children of Israel drowned out the two courageous spies and leadership of Moses and decided not to walk in faith and possess the land that God had promised. They forfeited God’s blessings and wasted many precious years, because they were not willing to obey the word of the Lord.

Wasted time can never be bought back. It is gone. Do you realize that 2008 may be a pivotal year for you? There will be obstacles to overcome. God does not want us to retreat but remember His faithfulness, center your life in Him, and walk by faith and not by sight. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Be courageous and faithful in 2008!

Pressing Forward in 2008

2007-12-27T10:33:00.000-06:00

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

2007-12-20T10:58:00.000-06:00

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

2007-12-13T09:49:00.000-06:00

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

2007-11-29T09:52:00.001-06:00

(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

2007-11-29T09:46:00.000-06:00

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

2007-11-14T12:08:00.000-06:00

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

2007-11-14T11:46:00.001-06:00

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

2007-11-08T08:14:00.000-06:00

(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?

2007-11-08T08:12:00.001-06:00

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

2007-11-02T08:35:00.000-05:00

(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

2007-11-01T19:05:00.000-05:00

“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

2007-10-25T14:49:00.000-05:00

(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

2007-10-25T14:46:00.000-05:00

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?

2007-10-16T14:18:00.000-05:00

“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

2007-10-10T12:02:00.000-05:00

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

2007-10-04T10:43:00.001-05:00

(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…

2007-10-04T10:41:00.001-05:00

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

2007-09-27T10:56:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-09-19T16:49:00.001-05:00

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…..

2007-09-13T16:37:00.000-05:00

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

2007-09-12T16:39:00.001-05:00

(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

2007-09-05T16:37:00.000-05:00

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

2007-09-05T16:36:00.000-05:00

(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

2007-08-31T22:18:00.000-05:00

(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…

2007-08-30T16:28:00.000-05:00

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

2007-08-22T14:39:00.000-05:00

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

2007-08-22T14:37:00.000-05:00

(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

2007-08-15T14:22:00.000-05:00

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

In Heaven Places, We Did Sit

2007-08-15T14:18:00.000-05:00

(8-13-07 Clarksburg, TN 9:25AM)

Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet

In the Spirit on the Lord’s Day
Is the best way I can describe
The Sunday we buried my grandfather
A pillar and strength in the church though his body disguised

He was weak but worshipped like Jacob on his staff
If he could have been there
He would have been so proud
To see the church, like a burning bush on fire

From the moment we arrived
The church was ready to honor
Jesus Christ, God’s Son
Clay’s only true Potter

As the piano set the pace
Our voices blended in exaltation
Preaching was powerful about being fishers of men
Directing all to the Desire of All Nations

With a God-centered day at hand
The Presence of the Almighty would bless
Seeing one join the church of the Living God
Another new-born babe did confess

The blessings were not over
We had just gotten a taste
Of sitting in Heavenly places
Through God’s Amazing Grace

To the funeral home we had to go
Knowing the death of a saint is precious in Your sight
The people gathered
Through the preaching, the fish began to fight

God was calling some to repentance
Others to a closer walk with Thee
Some to be comforted from grief
All of come follow Me

After the message was over
Everyone took their last glance
Saddened, crying and weeping
While they closed the casket

The processional led us
To the grave sight at New Liberty
Where the day had begun
In blessed unity

The Spirit carried us
All the daylong
As God’s glory was revealed
And our hearts were full of song

We dispersed for a little while
After grandaddy’s body was laid to rest
For revival meetings were starting
We hadn’t seen the best

A few minutes before service started
On holy ground the men did pray
The Spirit’s love filled our hearts
Preparing the way

Like the olden days
People were sitting side by side
In the house of the righteous
No sinner could hide

Expounding from the Word of God
The preacher did his best
The Holy Spirit was there
Knocking on many chests

When the invitation was given
The saints began to move
A little lost girl came to the altar
God did prove

The weight of sin is devastating
Leaving a heart wrestling over the Great Divide
Condemned and alone, she went down
But was raised to say, I’m alive

Born of the Spirit of God above
A smile radiated from her soul
Knowing God’s forgiveness was real
Her heart was washed white as snow

It will be a day
I’ll never forget
When one was buried, one born, one confessed and one joined
At New Liberty Church in heavenly places we did sit

Suffering Joyfully

2007-08-01T16:24:00.000-05:00

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
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 1 Peter 3:18

Have you ever wondered why there is so much suffering in the world around us? From a common cold, laying in a nursing home or the wars that rage around the world, suffering is something that you and me are touched with everyday. We often like to shield ourselves from it, but it is inevitable that it will eventually catch up to you. Right now, you may be physically fit, mentally sharp and emotionally together. However, what would happen to you spiritually if suffering came knocking on your door. Would your life break into pieces or would you stand firm on the solid rock of Christ.

Last week, my eyes were opened to suffering in the simplest of ways to the point of intense pain. About mid-week, my wife became ill with a cold/allergies. This lasted for a few days and eventually went away after it had run its course. A simple cold is the result of sin that brought forth the dying process through the fall of man. Can you imagine what life will be like in the presence of our Creator without the worries of getting colds, headaches or any forms of sickness? What a day that will be!

I was also able to visit the nursing home where the smells are not the typical kinds that come from a Glade plug in or the new oils that fill our homes with sweet aromas. A few steps within the doors bring you to the reality of life. Everyone will eventually grow old and get into the shape where they can barely take care of themselves. While visiting for a little while, I walked into the room of two women. One was lying in her bed flat on her back, and the other was sitting upright in her chair. I went by to visit and tried to encourage them, however they encouraged me. They began telling me about when they were young, how God had saved them, how they loved to sing hymns, and hear the Word of God preached. They were no longer able to get out and about like they used to, but were excited to see a visitor. After hearing about their love for music, we began singing a couple of hymns. It was as if their whole bodies, eyes and voices perked up as they began thinking about heaven and being free from the body of sin and death. Even in the midst of getting old, suffering, and often being alone, they could find comfort in God’s Word, which brought their hearts great delight.

Last, one of the hardest things that I have ever had to witness is the aging of my grandfather. Throughout the years, the 6-foot 220lb man has been immortalized in my eyes. He has been the one who has taught me much of the Word of God. When I needed advice, I would go to him. He always was there to buy my sports gear, spoil me with pizza, and carry me to the park to play tennis. Now, he is resting in the hospital unable to walk or eat whole food. His body is writhing in pain from many hard years of labor and the arthritis that has crumbled his body to a height of 5’6” or so. Suffering is very real to him, but scripture still illuminates his mind. As I read Romans 8 to him last week, He quoted many of the scriptures as his source of strength. Before departing the hospital, I told him that I wasn’t sure if I could make it home again to visit him, but I would see him on the other side. He smiled in pain saying, “we have a great hope don’t we!” When you have Christ in you, you have the hope of glory! (Col 1:27)

Certainly, it is difficult to think about the pain of others and even us, yet deep down you and I are facing some degree of suffering everyday. Your body might be sore when you wake up in the morning. You might be suffering mentally or physically due to marital, financial, or parenting problems. Possibly, you might be suffering for doing good and sharing the name of Christ. Whatever the case may be, we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Let’s look 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).