Wouldn't Trade Anything For This Journey

As I was getting ready this morning an old song came into my spirit. The course of the song says, "I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now. Gotta make it to heaven somehow; though the devil tempts me and tries to turn me around. He's offered everything thats got a name, all the wealth I want and worldly fame. I couldn't, no I WOULDN'T, take nothing for my journey now." Those are powerful words. It is true that the devil will do anything and everything to get us off track. We must make up our minds to follow through with what God has called us to do. We must press forward and not allow ourselves to become distracted with ourselves. We must remember that this journey is leading us to a desired destination. Heaven is before us, and all of the wonderful promises of God. It will be worth all of our trials and troubles once we walk through those gates and into the presence of the Lord for all eternity. Let us make up our minds today that there is nothing more desired than that. God bless.

Personal Epiphany

I had a revelation this morning, "I am not yet perfect." For those of you who know me personally, that may come as a surprise. LOL! Seriously though, I think sometimes we get so focused on what we see wrong with others that we forget what is wrong with us. Perhaps seeing the wrongs in others or the things that we don't agree with make us feel better about ourselves. Jesus, however, teaches us that we should look first at ourselves and fix what is wrong in us before we start looking for the wrong in others. I for one have issues, but don't we all. There are struggles in my life; daily temptations, aggravations, chores I don't want to do, and so on. I am not yet perfect in how I deal with them or how I overcome them. That is why I am so thankful for grace. The grace of God keeps me. The grace of God keeps us. Before we start judging others, lets take a look at ourselves first. May God keep us humble. God bless and have a great day.

Could We?.......

A friend of mine posted a question on Facebook this morning that really got me to thinking. The question was, "If Christ called to you today and asked you to leave everything behind and follow Him, could you?" This is a powerful question that has its base in the Gospels. Jesus came upon Peter, Andrew, James, and John fishing and called to them to follow Him, and the Bible says that they left the boats behind and started following. Jesus came upon Matthew working at the tax collection tables and we are told that Matthew as well left all to follow. However, there are other examples of those who could not leave everything and Jesus says of these that they are not fit for the Kingdom of God. It makes me wonder if there is anything in my life that is so important to me, that if He called me to leave it and move on into something else, would I go? I recently heard of a pastor of a large influential church that has accepted the call of the Lord to leave his church and go to a third world country and live among the poor for the next 3 years. He will be leaving a large home, nice cars, comfortable living, and a great church for the slums of India. Wow!! What if God called us to do something of this sort? I pray that I have not allowed myself to become so anchored to the things of my life, that I could not follow Him. Things come and go, but Christ is forever. Let us be anchored only to Him. God bless

Closing Thoughts for Memorial Day

It has been several weeks since my last post and alot has transpired in my life. I pray that all is well with each of you. As Memorial Day 2010 comes to a close here in the next few minutes, I wanted to sit and share some thoughts. First, I thank God for our liberty and freedom. I believe, much as our founding fathers did, that the creation of our nation was with providential care. I believe that God had his hands on us from the beginning. That doesn't mean that we as a nation has always done things the right way. We are human and humans make mistakes. When the revolution broke out in the late 1700's, one of the common cries given out by our soldiers was "No king but Jesus!" Second, I thank God that in every generation there are those who answer the call to serve in the military for the purpose of making our borders safe. It is not an easy life and many sacrifices have been made through our nations history. How often we forget that blood has been shed all over the world so that we could enjoy a cook out with family and friends today. Finally, I pray tonight not only for our soldiers, but also for all of the mothers and fathers, spouses and chilren that are also paying the price during this time in our nations history. May we never forget or take advantage of what has been afforded to us at the expense of someone else. God bless

Does It Matter?

The question that has been on my mind the last few days is, "How does my life matter?" What kind of difference am I making? Am I really enjoying my work? I have been reading through Ecclesiastes this week and it has really made me look at things with a new prospective. For instance it tells us that many of us are simply chasing the wind. We are working for things that bring no real happiness and peace. The things that we are giving our lives to will one day be gone and our life will have been in vain. However, if we give our lives to pursuing God, then we will have eternal rewards that never perish. I am concerned that alot of us, myself included, have given our lives to pursuing something that will eventually dissapoint us. Even within the church, we are guilty of this. We start out chasing God but get caught up in our jobs that we lose sight of Him and focus only on our duties. Eventually the "job" becomes unfulfilling and many get burned out. If you are in the "burned-out" place today then please stop where you are and regroup. Fall in love with God again and let Him remind you why you do what you do. Let it be about Him and not about us and our agendas. Only God can make your life meaningful again. God bless.

I Will Praise Him With JOY!

How do you praise God? From what emotions does your praise come? David tells us in Psalms 63:5, "I will praise Him with joyful lips." Joy is not the same thing as happiness. Happiness means that I need something to "happen" to make me happy. Not everything in life is going to happen the way I want it too. There are going to be situations to come up in my life that will not allow me to be happy. However, I can still have joy! Joy is not based on what happens, but what I know. Jeremiah 15:16 says, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD god of hosts." Jeremiah says that as he came to know God's words it brought Joy to his heart and life. I Peter 1:8 says, "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." You see, your joy is not based on what happens in your life, but Who and what you know. Jeremiah says that his joy came from knowing God's word and Peter says that it came through knowing Christ. Depression, anxiety, and fears all come to us based upon what has happened in our lives or what we anticipate to happen. These will keep us joyless and afraid. I encourage you today to look to Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. Cast your cares upon Him and learn of Him that He might give you rest. You see, "In His presence there is a FULLNESS of joy!" When was the last time you pressed your way into His presence? I pray for you today that your mourning and sorrow be turned to joy. God bless

Satisfied

Psalms 63:5 says, "My soul shall be satisfied." This entire Psalm is about the joy that the fellowship of the Lord brings to one's life. As David makes this statement, he is telling us that God alone has satisfied him. We live in a world where many are not satisfied. They are looking all over for that "thing" that will fill the void of their hearts. While there are many options that this world offers us, none of them will work. You can not make enough money, buy enough things, have enough sex, do enough drugs, drink enough, or go on enough vacations. There are many in the celebrity status that can get anything they want, but they still are not satisfied. How about you? Are you satisfied yet, or are you still trying to find that "thing"? You will not find it until you come to Jesus. The thing that so many are missing is the fellowship of the Lord in their lives. We were created to have relationship with Him and nothing can take the place of that. Many have died with the wealth of this world, but their souls were poor. I would rather be rich in Spirit, than to be rich with gold. I pray that each of us would reach a place of satisfaction with God. Meaning that we are so connected to Him, that we are no longer looking for other options. God bless and have a great day.

As Long As I Live

Today, I am going to continue to look at Psalms 63 and in particular verse 4. Here David says, "I will praise you as long as I live." I other words, "as long as there is breath in my body, I will praise you." David understood that his real life purpose was not to be king, though God had anointed him to be so. His lifes purpose was not to be a great military man, though he was. His life purpose was not be be wealthy, though he was. His lifes purpose was not to be popular, though he was that as well. David knew that the real reason for his existence was to praise God. David knew that God had created him for worship. David worshiped God by being a great king, military leader, family man, and so forth. Everything he had and did in life, he used as an opportunity to bless the name of the Lord. He knew that all he had in life had come from God and without Him he was nothing and had nothing. You see, some of us have it all wrong. We identify ourselves by our professions or possessions. We should identify ourselves by Who possesses us. Our reason for existence is not for us to just enjoy life and life's benefits, but to bless the Giver or life and His gifts to us. Don't waste another day praising yourself, begin to turn the praise to the one who really deserves it. Accept your calling and "bless the Lord." God bless

Better Than Life!

In Psalms 63:3, David prays to God and says, "Your Lovingkindness is BETTER than life." Wow! What a statment. In other words, without God's love life isn't worth living. There is nothing in this life better than God's love toward us. The Bible teaches us that God "so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son for us." It also says "while we were yet in sin, did Christ come and die for us." That is an awesome kind of love. Too many times we decide whether we are gonna show someone love or not based upon their treatment of us. That is not God's love. He loved us first and proved it through the Cross. You see, not only is His love better than life; but His love is life. Without His love shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, there is no life here or in the future. His love gives us our future hope. Christ in us is the hope of Glory according to the book of Colossians. How has His love impacted you? How has it made a difference in you? Think on these questions today and remember, you can't earn His love, He already has loved you. God bless

Oh I Want to See Him!

Yesterday we talked about David's craving and how we too should have a craving for the Lord. Today I want to go a little deeper and discuss how we should better identify the craving. In Psalms 63:2, David tells us more about his craving when he says, "to see your glory and your power, as I have seen you in the sanctuary." David at this time in his life is living in the wilderness. He does not have the opportunity to run to church everytime the doors are open because he is running from Saul and it could be dangerous for his life. David is looking back on the times church where the presence of God showed up and moved in a noticable way. David is longing to be in God's presence. David is wanting what he experienced in church to be experienced in his personal life as well. Too many of us only know God's presence in the church house setting. Too many of us engage in worship only when we are in church. However, one of the greatest aspects of the cross is that we can now experience God everyday in our personal settings. If we will venture out in prayer, praise, and worship, His presence will fill the environment around us. We do not have to wait for Sunday, or a revival, or even a Campmeeting! We can now, through faith in Christ, experience what David longed for. There is an old hymn entitled, "Oh I Want to See Him." This is one of my favorite old hymns. The third verse of the song says, "When in valleys low I look t'ward the mountain height, and behold my Savior there, leading in the fight, with a tender hand outstretched t'ward the valley low, guiding me, I can see, as I onward go." I can not help but believe that this is how David felt. He is in the valley of life, but as he looks toward the mountain he can see in his faith God standing there leading him in his fight. I want to see God and His glory in my personal life as well. May we as believers long for His presence everyday. God bless.

Cravings

Have you ever had a "mad" craving? What I mean by that is, have you ever wanted something so bad that you could taste it? Right now in the upstate of South Carolina where I live, strawberries are getting ripe. For me, that means homemade cobblers and cakes are around the corner, or at least I hope so. I can almost smell them cooking!!! I have a dear friend who "craves" coffee to the point that he plans his trips around Starbucks! In Psalms 63:1, David tells us of his craving. He says, "My soul thirts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water." Wow! Now that is a craving. As I read that this morning, I realize that I am lacking something in my own craving for God. You see, I desperately want it to be just like how David describes it. I want the longing and the passion. There is a sense of desperation in David's voice. He says to God, "I long for You." How long has it been since we "longed" for God. As I said, I have a friend that plans trip routes around Starbucks because he knows that every so often he can get his "fix." Shouldn't we plan our day around our times with God? Shouldn't we perhaps plan our times with God more intentionally instead of just whatever whenever? I pray that each of us get this kind of "craving" for God. The kind that causes to pursue Him with a wreckless abandon. God bless.

I Will Seek You Early

This morning we will continue to look at Psalms 63:1. In the next part of this verse, David says "early will I seek You." David is letting God know and reminded himself that God is his priority. By making it a point to go first to God, he is putting his life in the proper alignment. Too many of us today simply make God a part of our lives, but He is not a part He is the whole. If God is not our "life", then we are missing the point. When we put God in some area of our daily routine we will develope the habit of going to Him only when we have a need that can't be met by our own efforts. However, if we begin seeking Him early, as our priority, then we will trust Him with everything. The point of this Christian walk is to die to ourselves and live unto God. Paul tells us in Galatians chapter 2 that we are to be "crucified with Christ." That means that as we come to Him, we are to die so that He can live through us. If we have not "died" then we should. That's the only way this will work. David tells God that He will be the best part of His life and will get the very first part of his days. What are we giving God today? God bless

Oh God, Thou Art My God - Pt. 2

In my last post, I looked at the first part of the statement above. How that David is crying out to God as Elohim, the plural God. Meaning that David was relying upon Father, Son, Holy Ghost. Today, I want to look at the last part of the statement where David calls Him his God. First I want to ask you, is He your God? Have you made Him Lord of your life and ruler of your heart? If so, how does your life prove that? You see, David is not writing this when things are going well in his life, but he is writing while out in the wilderness running for his life. He is letting God know that his trust is still in Him. Second, the term used for God here is different from the one used in the first part. Here David calls Him "El." El in the Hebrew means "God of my strength." David is calling out to God as his strenght and hope. He desperatley needed God and knew that the only way he would survive what he was going through was by the strenght of God. Paul would write many years later to the church in Corinth and say that, "I am what I am by the grace of God." David and Paul both knew one thing, if it is not God who is keeping me, then no one is. Only God's strenght is able to keep us in this life and lead us to the next. Maybe you find yourself in a place where you need the strenght of God today. Don't give up. Cry out as David did and put your trust in Him. God bless.

Oh God, thou art my God

Psalms 63:1 starts out with the above phrase. Just looking at it as it is in english is powerful enough. David is declaring to God that he has given himself to God. He is professing God as his one and only. However, if we take a deeper look at this statment it becomes even more powerful and challenging. First he says, "Oh God." The name for God here is Elohim. Elohim is a Hebrew expression for God that is plural. It is the same name used for God as in Genesis 1:1. It gives reference to the Godhead. The Bible teaches us that there are three that bear record in heaven, Father, Son, Holy Ghost and that these three are one. When we make a confession of God, we can not just take part of God, we must profess and recieve all of Him. We need Him as our Father. Jesus teaches us to pray, "Our Father which is in heaven." He becomes the caring parent that watches over us. We need the Son. What would we be without the saving grace of the Son? Had Jesus not died for our sins, what a miserable state we would be in. We need the Holy Spirit. Jesus told us He would not leave us comfortless. He sent us the Holy Spirit as a Comforter to go with us and to lead us in this life. He empowers us to serve and do the Lord's work. You see, we need Elohim. We need everything that He is and all that He promises. Tomorrow we will look at the rest of this phrase. God bless and have a great day.

21 Days Complete

Well, our 21 days of fasting and prayer have come to and end. Over the last three weeks we have seen God do some powerful things in our church and in the lives of the people. Each week we have seen lives being changed in the altar as they came forward to make a decision for Christ. We have had several to be healed in their bodies. One of our ladies was put in the hospital with the doctors telling her that she was in need of a stint in her heart. When the docters went to prepare her the next morning for the procedure, the blockages were not there! One gentleman in our church had been told that he had bladder cancer. When they went in several weeks ago, he was told that they could not get it all and that they would need to schedule another surgery. He went back to the docter to schedule the surgery only to be told the cancer they saw before was no longer found in his body! Truely our God is a Savior and Healer! Over the last 21 days I have been reading over Psalms 63. This Psalms has become my prayer and starting tomorrow I will be blogging a series from this portion of scripture. As I bring this post to a close, I ask you to join me in prayer for little Eli Ayers. My cousin Ken and his wife Heather have been trying for years to have a baby. Just a few weeks ago their dreams came true, however the baby has been in the hospital and is very sick. Please pray that God will heal his lungs and make him whole. I know that He can. God bless

21 Day Break

Those of you who follow this blog has probably noticed that I have not been as consistent as I once was. I want to apologize to you for that. I intended this blog to be a resource for people who needed some direction, encouragment, and insight. I have not been faithful and I am sorry. I never want to come to this computer and just say something. I want to speak the heart of God each time. So, as part of my fast this year, I will be taking a 21 day break from blogging. I will be spending my time away from the internet and t.v. to spend more time with God. I pray that God will refresh me in all areas of my life and ministry, including this blog. During this time away, I will be praying for those who follow this page. I pray that God will do a work in all of our lives. We are living in some strange times and I feel as if the church needs to pray like never before. God bless and I'll see you in 21 days.

Loving This Time of Year

Spring has sprung! I love this time of year. Well most of the time. I love playing golf, basketball, wearing shorts, cooking out, swimming, and all of the fun stuff. I could, however, do without cutting the grass and just about any kind of work that has to be done. LOL! Seriously though, this is a great time to be alive. Easter is in just a few weeks and that is a big time for pastors and the church that they serve in. This is the time of year where we have an opportunity to speak to those who only come in during the "special" seasons. I pray that God will give a powerful message to each servant who takes the pulpit this Easter season. Also, my kids are getting older and they have a blast playing outside. I love to watch my oldest play baseball. My youngest already enjoys swinging a golf club. This is going to be a great spring/summer. What do you enjoy about this time of year? Get out and enjoy this wonderful season that God created for you. God bless

Why do you do what you do?

This question is for those of us who profess to have a relationship with Christ. Why do you go to church? Why do we pray or read our Bibles? Why do we help others? I found a verse in the Bible yesterday that caused me to spend some time in prayer over these same questions. The Bible says in 2 Chronicles 25:2 that Amaziah "did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart." In other words, he did the things that God required or would have wanted him to do, but all along his heart was wrong. He was doing these things with the wrong motives. Eventually his heart won out. After God helps him win a great victory over his enemies, he sets up idols to worship. This story reminded me of Matthew 7:21-23. In these verses, Jesus tells us that not everyone who comes before Him on that day calling Him Lord will enter into His presence. He tells us that there will be some who claim to have done His work yet He will not let them in. His response to them is that He never knew them. I have always read this word with a little fear if I may be honest with you. Even Paul said that he did not want to run this race showing others the way and then find himself to be disqualified at the end. I believe what Jesus is telling us in these verses is the same that we find in the life of Amaziah. We may at times be doing the things of God, yet not have a heart for God. The bottom line is that it is not the works but the condition of our heart. Where is your heart today? Have you and I given our hearts totally to Him, or are we holding part of it for ourselves? Let us be certain to give it all away today. God bless.

Perfect Conditions

Some of us wait on everything to be exactly perfect before we do anything. However, Ecclesiastes 11:4 says, "He that observes the wind shall not sow; and he that regards the clouds shall not reap." What Solomon is saying is, there is never going to be a perfect situation to do what God has called us to do. There will always be some opposition. There will always be something to cause us to want to wait or to doubt. We have to trust in God and go forward. I spoke with a lady from a local church here in Rock Hill this week about building in these tough economic times. She told me that her church had bought property several years ago and had actually sold the building they were worshipping in in anticipation of building on their newly aquired property. Then the economy bottomed out. So now they are worshipping in a rented location waiting for the "right" time. In talking to her I was reminded of our situation this time last year. We had to decide to go forward or wait and we decided to trust in what we felt the Lord telling us to do, so we built. We had been attempting to do something for several years and now things were finally coming together right when things around us were falling apart. However, we were able to get a loan with an excellent rate when banks were not lending to churches to build and we were able to have alot of things and time donated. My point is, when it is God's time, go for it. It may not seem like everything around you is going right, but if everything in you is, follow God. We the church must put our faith, not in the world around us, but in the God that we serve. God will do great things in those that trust Him. God bless

Feeling Nostalgic

I don't know exactly why, but here lately I have been looking back with great joy on the years gone by. I grew up in what would be considered a classical Pentecostal church. For those of you who don't understand what that means, let me help you. We sung out ouf the "old redback". Songs like "Victory in Jesus", "He Set Me Free", "Heaven's Jubilee", and "On the Battlefield." The ladies had hair that stood tall to heaven and the men were respectful and reverant. The worship was free and yet in order. They knew the presence of the Lord when it manifested and they were not afraid to celebrate Him. I miss those days. It seems that these days church is all about the entertainment. Sunday's have become nothing more than our day to show up and show off. While some go overboard, others don't even act like they want to be at church. Oh Lord send the Power just now!!! We need a move of God in a bad way. We need Him to show us the way back to Him. I don't believe that we need to go back to a certain way of dress or a certain style of music, but I do believe we need to go back to holiness. I believe that we need to get real with God and give our lives away to Him again. Oh how I long for a powerful move of the Holy Ghost in our church. I long for sinners to be convicted and saints to be reminded. Oh Lord send the Power just now!!!

Real Fellowship

Last night at church, we talked about "real" fellowship. The Bible teaches us that we are to be one body working together for His glory. The problem is, that so many of us attend churches that have a type of fellowship, but not real fellowship. Real fellowship is defined by four things. First, real fellowship is defined by authenticity. Authenticity means that you are genuine. That there is nothing fake about you and your relationship with Christ. There should be no put-ons in the church. One of the things that we hear people say about church and church people, is that we are hypocrites. The way to change that is to become genuine. Second, real fellowship is defined by mutuality. Mutuality means that we have all things in common. That we are more committed to giving to the needs of others than we are focused on our on personal needs. It means that we are here for each other. Third, real fellowship is defined by sympathy. We, like Chirst, are to be moved by compassion. Paul tells us in Colossians chapter 3, that we are to put on a heart of compassion. We are to care about others and bear there burdens and problems. Lastly, real fellowship is defined by mercy. We are to forgive those who have sinned and those who have hurt us. We are supposed to show mercy to those who have fallen rather than criticize them and push them out of our "groups". These are the same things that defined the ministry of Jesus and should define our ministries as well. If the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ would come together as one body, His blessings would flow through us and much could be accomplished. The church house should be a place where all feel welcome. God bless and have a great day.

I'm Back

My family and I just returned from a much needed break. We have been going hard since this time last year when we started the construction of our new facilities and it was so nice for me to get some alone time with my wife and kids. Nathan and I was able to get away by ourselves and have some dad and some time in the pool and on the mini-golf course. It snowed about 8 inches on tuesday and it was a beautiful sight. This time away allowed me to spend time in prayer and refocus. It refreshed me and has in a sense re-energized me. It reminded me how important it is for all of us to get away with God from time to time. We don't realize how the daily activities of day to day life can wear us down. I encourage you to do the same. You may not be able to get out of town, but you can block off a day for God. Begin by not making plans one saturday and just spend the day in prayer and Scripture. Learn again how to hear His voice while tuning out the chaos around you. This will do wonders for your faith. God bless and have a great day.

Are We Too Rich?

In Matthew chapter 19, the Bible tells us of a conversation between Jesus and a young man known only as a rich young ruler. All we know about this man is that he had "great" posessions and that he cared more for those things than he did God's Kingdom. He ask Jesus the question, "what must I do to get in?" Jesus responds, "follow the commandments." The rich young man says that he had already done those things at which Jesus responds and tells him to give everything he has away to the poor and follow Him. This caused the young man to be troubled and he walked away from Jesus. Some of us will read this passage in Matthew and feel like it doesn't apply to us because we are not rich. I beg to differ. You and I may not have financial prosperity, but we are all rich in something. The problem with the rich young man is that he could not give his life away. He could go through the motions of what it was to serve God, but he could not sell out. Some of us have too many things in our lives that are keeping us from being "sold out." Our job is too important for us to live too holy in the work place. Our friends mean so much too us that we don't want to cause friction with them by telling them about Jesus. Our hobbies are too much a part of our lives that we can't give them up for more time with the Father. Being sold out is not just a cool church song or a statment we can make with our lips. It is a lifestyle that Jesus has called us into. Don't make the mistake today of being "too rich for Heaven." God bless

Saturated Life

The word saturated means to be full and unable to absorb any more. I believe that is the life that God intends for us to live. The Bible says in Ephesians 5:18 that we are to be "filled with the Spirit." We should seek to be full of His presence in our lives. If we are full of Him, then there is no room left in us for the influences of the enemy. Galatians 5:25 says, "If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit." What this verse tells us is that if we are going to profess a Christian life then we are to live accordingly. As Christians, we profess to be influenced by the Holy Spirit. If that is our profession then let us live it out. We are to bear the fruit of the Spirit and minister in the gifts fo the Spirit. The only way to do this is to be fully connected to Christ. John chapter 15 tells us that He is the vine that we are to be connected to and that we recieve the ability to produce based on that connection. My prayer today is that we be fully connected to Christ and saturated by His Spirit. God bless

The Lost Disciplines

We have spent the last four Wednesday nights dealing with spiritual disciplines and how they will feed our hunger for the Lord. I believe that in some ways these disciplines have been forgotten by the church and so we have lost the power of a close relationship with the Lord. The first discipline is meditation. God tells Joshua to meditate on His law day and night and that if he does his ways will prosper. David tells us in Psalms chapter 1 that the blessed man meditates on Gods word. Isaac was meditating in a field when God brought his bride to him. Meditation focuses our mind on the Lord. In a day when there are so many things to distract our minds, meditation gives us our focus back. The second discipline is prayer. Prayer is the means by which we communicate with God. Prayer is broken down into four parts: communion, petition, intercession, and thanksgiving. The third discipline is study. Paul tells Timothy to study so that he can learn how God wants him to live. Study renews our minds and gives us knowledge. Jesus tells us in John chapter 8 that knowledge of truth gives us freedom. The fourth discipline is fasting. Fasting brings our whole body into subjection. Paul said that he beat his body into a place of subjection so that he would not be disqualified from this race of faith. As a whole these disciplines will cause one to be focused on the Lord, to communicate with Him, to know what He expects of us, and to be in obedience to His commands. With this comes the power of God in ones life. I pray that we the church will once again turn our whole selves to the Lord. God bless

Here's What's Happening At Friendship

I wanted to post today and give a little insight to whats going on here at Friendship. God is doing some awesome things! We finished our new sanctuary last September and we are already pushing 80% capacity. We have seen lives saved in the altars which is the most important thing. We have taken in new members and started some new ministries giving more people an opportunity to serve. April 1st we will start our 21 day fast here at the church. We will be joining together for 21 days of fasting and prayer. April 24th we will be having our first "Saturday Night Experience." Once a month we will be having a saturday night service with a focus of worshipping God first and bringing the community together as our second focus. A very good friend of mine, George Tallmage, will be coming in that weekend to bring the message. The "SNE" will be a contemporary service with passionate worship. I firmly believe that God is wanting to do some great things through His Church. Notice that I said "through." If we will allow ourselves to be empty vessels that He can fill and use, I believe that He will do some awesome things. Keep us in prayer as we make every effort to follow the Lord. God bless

Holiness

First, I want to begin this morning by telling my oldest son Nathan happy birthday. Four years ago today, Shea and I were in the hospital enjoying our first morning with our first born. I can not describe to you the emotions of that moment when for the first time, I laid my eyes on my son. I love him, and I pray that daily I can be the father he needs me to be, and that he will always see Jesus through my life.
Now, what does the word "holiness" mean to you. I am a member of a Pentecostal denomination here in the U.S. that now spans the globe. Our movement was birthed on the doctrine of holiness. I have been raised in this belief, that we as followers of God should seek a holy lifestyle. I have heard this message preached all of my life. However, yesterday, I heard one of the most convicting messages about holiness that I have ever heard before in my life. It taught me things that I had never looked at before. It made me realize yet again that I have not arrived yet. That I am still not perfect and that there is much to be done in me. I am so glad for God's grace today. I am so thankful that He continues each day to work in me and to work out of me those things that would hinder my relationship with Him. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:14, that we should "follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man will see the Lord." Are you pursuing a holy life today? Are you seeking Him in such a way that you are willing to lay things down that may grieve Him? Seek holiness today that you may see Him. God bless

What would we do without each other?

As I sit at my computer this morning, that is the question that is on my mind. So many people are trying to get by on their own. We can only make it so far by ourselves. We need each other. I know, and have no problem confessing, that others are strong where I am weak. There are things that I do well and I can help others in those areas, but there are areas where I have no idea what I am doing and I need someone to help. The ministry of the church will never succeed if we never let others get involved. Pastors, you must train those around you to do ministry. Don't be afraid that they will try and take your place. Its not yours anyway, it belongs to God. You are in the place that God appointed for you and if you stay obedient to Him, no matter what the enemy does or someone says, the gates of hell can't prevail against you. Also, don't be afraid to get involved with other churches and ministries. It is not about your church being the best, but about all of us fulfilling the Great Commission. As long as we divide up on Sunday's and do our own little things, we will never do the "BIG" things that God has called the Church to do. We can not succeed while divided, we must be in unity. Get out of you comfort zones today and let God expand your way of thinking so that we begin to think His thoughts. God bless

What Are We Chasing?

I sit down with an old friend this past weekend and spent some time talking about the Church. We talked about both the good and the bad that we see going on. One of the things that we both agreed concerned us was that some are chasing "cool" instead of Christ. I believe that we are in a season where some of the methods that we have been using in having "church" needs to be evaluated and possibly changed. Culture has changed but the Church seems to be stuck. Before you get all worked up, let me explain. The Message of the Church should never change. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is central to who we are and what we are called to do. There is no other name that men can call on and be saved. Also, we must continue to preach sanctification and a holy lifestyle. We must also preach and exhort the Church to seek the baptism of the Holy Ghost so that we may be empowered to reach the lost. These are things that cannot change, ever! However, there are some things that can. Music, for one, is changing. Every generation has a song to sing unto the Lord. I love the old hymns of the Church and still sing them, however, I love the new worship as well. If the song has the message of Jesus and His love and mercy for us, then sing it. Technology is bringing change to the Church. We can now use video intros and post live stream video's on the internet. These things are changing how "church" is done. My concern is that in developing new ways to reach the communities around us for Jesus, some have begun chasing "cool." For some it is important for them to be the most cutting edge, the most modern, or the most popular. If these are our motives for change, then our change is sin. Our motives should always be to glorify Him who has redeemed us and called us. It should never be about us. We must follow Him into what He wants the Church to be. We must allow Him to tell us how to do His work. Let us chase Christ and not the "cool." God bless

A Fractured Body

I have never had to experience a bone fracture, but I know people who have. They say that it is very painful. A fracture of the bone takes weeks, and sometimes longer, to heal. It does not go away overnight, and the effects can sometimes linger around for the rest of your life. I look around at the Church body and I see fractures. We have divided ourselves up to the point that we, I believe, are not accomplishing all that God would have us too. On the way to the church that I pastor, there are two churches sitting right across the street from one another. The other day as I was on my way to the office I felt something in my spirit that I had not before. As I passed between the two churches I began to feel the separation. You see, we have divided ourselves up by denominations and feel that the one we are apart of is the very best, and in some cases, we are the only ones that have it right. I wonder how God feels about our division. Paul says that we are to be one body. We are to be in unity. We are baptized by the same Spirit and under the same Headship. However, it appears that we have suffered some fractures. It is so bad, that we never fellowship with others who are outside our own church fellowship. How can we win our communities for Christ if we are not going to work together. We have bought in, as pastors, to the corporate way of thinking. It seems that we are trying to build successful businesses instead of a fellowship of disciples who will go out and do the Lord's work. We are competing with one another and keeping score. This is NOT God's will for His church. I believe that God is calling us to come together as a body once again. I believe that He wants to heal the fractures and deliver us from a cometitive spirit. The enemy has subtly led us away from God's intention for the Church. I am not saying that we should do away with denominations or merger all of our churches. I know that each local body has its own personality and every local church doesn't fit everybody. I know that the local church has a very important purpose. I just feel that we should be working together instead of against each other. The fractures are hurting our ability to do the Lord's work. May God heal the fractures and unify us again. God bless

Distracted by Ourselves

I recieved a response to one of my post the other day concerning things that are taking place in the church that are seem to be discouraging. Note, this is not about a particular church, but the church body at large. The concern was that too many parents and adults are so concerned about themselves that we are overlooking the spiritual needs of our children. It seems that kids are allowed to act up in church and be disrespectful during service and no one cares. We have in many ways become distracted by ourselves. Our children are paying a great price at our expense and I am concerned how we might be judged for how we have not paid them the attention that they need. When I was a kid I was not allowed to talk in church or to do anything that would distract or take away from the service. I was "encouraged" to listen you may say. We also had people in the church who had a burden for the church and spent their Sunday's teaching us on our level about the Lord. As a result to their efforts to teach us and show us Christ, I was baptized with the Holy Ghost at the age of 11 and called to preach. I thank God for those who put their needs last and focused on us kids. I pray that we as adults will not let this generation go to hell at our expense. I pray that we will understand our place and do the work of the Lord. If we do not train them now they will leave and never know the presence and power of the Lord. There was a generation of adults in Israel that thought only of themselves and overlooked the spiritual needs of thier children the results were a faithless generation after them. We must point our children to Jesus and teach them His ways. God bless

Small Things Cause Big Problems

Someone responded to my blog yesterday with the concern that we as Christians get too worked up over small things that don't really seem to matter. First let me say that I have learned that what may not seem important to me may be important to someone else and that we as believers are taught to think of others before ourselves. If I am not careful I can get so wrapped up in what I want or how I think that it should be, that I don't take in to consideration everyone else. Remember that Jesus came not thinking of Himself, but us. Second, I am amazed how we overlook the small things that God is doing every day in our lives while we wait on the "big" stuff to happen. While at the same time we get caught up and all worked up with the little stuff the devil uses to distract us. We are so far away at times from where we should be with the Lord, that we are easily distracted by "things" that have no eternal value. Churches all across America are have battles over the carpet color, styles of music, and what a preacher should wear in the pulpit, but what I don't see is the church weeping in the altars over the lost. Is it possible that we have allowed the devil to get us off track just a little. I have seen people declare their love for the church and profess how that they are right where God wants them and then allow something as small as not getting a phone call when they are out cause them to leave that same church. I am convinced that far too many are souled out to the idea of serving God instead of actually being souled out to God. A heart that is totally God's doesn't care whether there is carpet or sawdust. A heart that is totally God's doesn't care if the preacher is wearing a robe, a suit, or jeans, as long as the Word is coming from the Lord and feeding their soul. A heart that is totally God's doesn't think about themselves, but breaks for the lost and hurting. Let us quit following church and start following Christ!!! I actually saw a video the other day of a preacher telling someone to get the *** out of his church just because he did not have the same views of him on politics!!! This mentality in the church must come to an end. It is time for us to repent of our self-righteousness and ask the Lord to make our hearts His again. It is when we the church humble ourselves and repent and pray, that God will hear our cries and move on our land. Have a blessed day and keep the comments coming in. God bless

What Bothers You?

Yesterday I posted a blog about "Cussing Christian." In the my post I stated how that it concerned me how some seem to be compromising for the purpose of reaching others. As I went through the day and reflected back on some of the things that I had written, I began to wonder what some of you have concerns about. So today I'm asking you to post some comments below and tell me what you see going on in the Church that bothers you. When you look at the Church world, what concerns do you have? I will take your thoughts and over the next few days I will post on them. Don't worry, your names will never be mentioned. God bless

"Cussing" Christians

Is there even such a thing? Can someone be a "cussing" Christian? This is a term that I am hearing more and more. Let me just say from the beginning that I don't believe someone can truely be after the heart of God and have a habit of cussing. Let me explain. James chapter 3 deals with the fact that the tongue is the most unruley member of the body and the most difficult to control. We are reminded how that a horse is controled by a bridle and a ship by a small helm, but the tongue can cause great damage. We have all been in a situation where we have spoken hurtful things before we could stop ourselves. It seems that at times the tongue has a mind of its own. The only way the tongue can be controled is to have your heart full of God's Word and His Spirit. The Bible says that we speak what is in our hearts. If our hearts are full of God, then we will speak with His love. However, if we have filled our hearts with the things of this world and ignored our relationship with God, then how can we speak with His love. James chapter 3 tells us that we are not to curse and bless with the same tongue. We are not to bless the Lord and then curse our neighbors. Sweet and bitte water is not to flow from the same source. Now we can debate all day what is cursing and what is not, but the reality is that if it is offensive to someone it should not be spoken. We are the ambassadors of Christ. Meaning that we are to represent Him in all things. How am I representing Him when I speak? Would Jesus use these same words? In an effort to be "cool" and to reach a crowd, too many ministers of Christ are compromising in their language. This should not be so. Jesus never compromised for the purpose of reaching anyone. He always stayed true to the Fathers will and commandments. He never "toed" the line so to say. You and I do not have to compromise in any way to reach this world. If we show them the real Jesus that in it self will make the differnce. So watch what you say today and make sure that sweet water is flowing from your lips. Post your thoughts on this and lets have some dialoge. God bless

Excited About the Bible

When was the last time that you heard someone say that they were excited about reading their Bible? When was the last time that YOU were excited about spending time in God's Word? I must admit that I too, from time to time, get bogged down and it becomes like a chore instead of a passion. However, this is not the way God intends it to be. The Bible is so full of life and adventure. It is new everytime you pick it up. I am currently reading through Genesis again and it is blowing me away. I have had the Lord show me things that I had never seen before. It is simply amazing. We as believers MUST get excited about the Bible again. It is the Bread that sustains us and gives us hope. It feeds our faith and without faith we can not please God. I don't understand how someone can call themselves a Christian and never read their Bible or pray. It would be like being in a marriage and never being intimate with your spouse. I know that may make some of you uncomfortable, but it is the truth. If we are not in God's Word then we will be disconnected from Him. We will not know His voice, and we will miss His plans for us. This spiritual disconnect will one day lead to a spiritual divorce in which we find ourselves seperated from His presence. I know that we are not saved by works, we are saved by His grace. However, the Bible also says that faith without works is dead. Jesus said that the world would know us as His disciples by how we kept His word. If you and I are not in the Word, how then can we keep it and prove ourselves to be His disciples? Pray today that the Holy Spirit will give you a hunger for the Word and an excitement to go along with it. God bless

Handeling Our Enemies

Genesis 42:6-8

Imagine what it must have been like for Joseph to see his brothers for the first time since they sold him into slavery. All of the emotions and memories flooding back at one time. Have you, or do you have, someone in your life who has so terribly mistreated you that the very thought of them causes you to become sick to your stomach or overwhemingly angry. Joseph at this moment, because of the power he now has in Egypt, could have had all of them arrested and sentenced to death. He had the ability to repay them for all that they had before done to him. However, we find that revenge is not what God wants us to act on. Those who are really close to God's heart can't find it in them to make others "pay." They find a compassion within themselves that comes from the Holy Spirit.
The Bible tells us in I John 1:7 that we are to walk in the light as He is in the light. In other words, we are called to walk or live as Christ lived on earth. Jesus once told his disciples to love the one's who hated them and to pray for those who used them. What a concept! To actually treat someone who has done us so much wrong as if they had blessed us! Now realize, you or I either one can do this in our own selves. We need the Holy Spirit working in us to accomplish this. Philippians 2:13 says, "it is God who works in us both to will and to do His good pleasure." It is the Holy Spirit who must change the way we think and do things.
So, how did Joseph respond to seeing his brothers for the first time? The Bible says that he wept. After hiding his identity and putting them through a few things in order to get them to bring the whole family down to Egypt, he not only made sure that they were fed, but that they also had fields to raise their animals. He told them that he knew that they had meant evil for him, but that God had turned it out for good. He looked not at that one moment that caused his life to go on a downward spiral, but at the whole picture. The problem with most of us is that we tend to look at moments in our lives instead of the whole. God works in the whole. The Bible says that ALL things work out to the good. God takes all of the moments in our lives, both good and bad, and causes them to become a beautiful life. There are people in your life that you are avoiding because they have done you wrong. You do everything possible to forget that they exist, but Jesus came to rescue His enemies. We were at one time enemies to the love of God, but Jesus came while we were sinners, or enemies, to rescue us. Start praying for your enemies. Start looking for ways to reach out to them. Perhaps the Holy Spirit can use you to "feed" them the Bread of Life and see them give their hearts to the Lord.
Father God, I come to you this morning and I thank you for all of your blessings. I thank you that even though we could not get to church this morning, you have made ways for us to communicate and share the Word. I pray that you will help us to walk as you have walked. I pray that you will help us to deal with our enemies as you would and have. Give us the strength to be what you have called us to be. In Jesus name, Amen.

Snow Day!

Actually it is an ice day mingled with a little bit of snow. Here in Rock Hill, SC we have actually gotten some winter weather. Now that most of us will be shut up in the house today, how will we spend it? Some of us will make soup and just lay aroung. Some of us will play games and watch movies, and a few may even get outside for a little while. All of those things are great, and I will probably do a little of all of them. However, I challenge you to use this "down" time as an opportunity to spend a little extra time with God. We have been given this blessed opportunity to slow down today and rest. God has given us the time to just relax today and unwind. Some of you have been praying for God to help you give Him more time in your day. Here is your chance. Take some time today to curl up with your Bible and pray. Meditate on what you read and let the Holy Spirit speak to you. Enjoy your day and God bless.

Leaders in Training

Yesterday I posted on what I call the "leadership issue." I know that I may have sounded frustrated, but really I'm not. I realize that at the core, we all want the same thing, and that is to be used by God. Some have been called and some have been called to follow. Today, I want to speak to those who are leaders in training. I feel like I most identify with this level. Because of my position as senior pastor, I am a leader. However, I know that I have not arrived yet and that there is much to be learned. When I read in Genesis the story of Joseph, several things come to mind that I want to share today. First, don't get ahead of yourself and tell everybody what you feel the Lord is going to do in your life. When Joseph acted like this it brought resentment upon him from his own family. The Bible tells us that when Mary heard different things about Jesus from the angels and the shepherds, that she kept them to herself. We don't always have to talk when the Lord does. Second, expect some of those close to you to turn their back. Joseph was betrayed by his own brothers. They did not understand the fathers favor on him and they were jealous. Sometimes when others in the church see God's favor on you it will cause them to become jealous and act out. Third, suffering comes before success. Before Joseph could fully step into his destiny he suffered. More lies were told on Joseph and he ended up in a prison cell. Yet no matter what happened to him and no matter how low life got, he kept his faith in God and what God had told him. Because of this, God's favor was with him in the well, as a slave, and in the prison. Suffering helps to build our faith and trust in the Lord and His promises. To all of you who are in this training mode, walk it out in faith and let the Lord be your Teacher. God bless

The Leadership Issue

I am a young guy by most standards. I am 30 years old and have been in ministry for 11 years now, 6 of those as senior pastor at Friendship Church of God. I have noticed a trend among guys my age in ministry. They don't like leadership. They seem to have a hard time with the "older" guys who lead our movements. They seem to always have a better model of ministry that they believe would work better, and in some cases it may. However, we must remember that the Bible teaches us that all authority is given and granted by God. I hear guys talk about how long some have served and that they need to get out of the way so someone else can take the position. What they really mean is "get out of my way!" They fail to realize that those who lead us have gone through the same process that some of us are now going through. They also fail to realize that just because "they" want to be in leadership, doesn't mean that God wants them too. I may sound like I'm on a soap box today, and maybe I am, but I believe that we should follow the model in the Bible of Elisha who patiently waited on Elijah and even when it was time for Elijah to leave and Elisha to take over, Elisha was broken hearted and did not want his mentor to go. He was known as the man who "watered the hands of Elijah." The disciples were trained by Jesus himself to do "greater works" than what He had done, but at the ascension of Christ they too were broken hearted at the departure of their leader. They loved their leadership and Christ exalted them for it. The way to the top is not to push someone else out of the way, but to humbly serve and respect. I say, sit at the feet of Jesus and let His will for you play out. But what do I know, right. Have a great day and God bless

Out of Joint

Have you ever had a bone get out of joint? I have. I have always loved playing basketball, and one of the most common injuries probably a jammed finger or getting something knocked out of place. Whenever you suffer from one of these injuries the pain can effect the whole body. I remember the first time I jammed my finger, I thought that I had broke it. The pain was horrible and it started swelling immediately. I thought about that this morning and how that when we get out of God's will for our lives it has the same result. Whenever we are outside of God's plan for us it causes us "pain" in all areas of our lives. We get totally uncomfortable and easily frustrated at everything. In so many words we become miserable. Perhaps that is what is wrong with some of us. We have been unhappy for a while and can't seem to figure it out. We have been frustrated and can't explain it. We are not happy in our relationship with God and don't know what to do about it. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 13 that we are to examine ourselves and see where we are in the faith. We should examine our lives and give ourselves a spiritual "physical" to see what exactly is out of place. Get back in place today and watch the joy of the Lord fill your life. God bless.

Give It Your Best!

How much effort do you put into serving God? How much effort do you put into your job, or your marriage, etc? I went to watch my son play basketball this morning. He is on a 4 year old team that doesn't know all of the rules yet or how to really play the game. However, they knew enough to play and even made some baskets. During the game the coach served as the refs and gave constant instructions to the kids as they ran up and down the court. No matter whether they scored or turned the ball over, they were having fun. They were giving it their all. As I came home and began to think about the game, the Holy Spirit began to teach me. No matter how old we get, we are still learning. No matter how long we have been serving God, we are still learning. No matter how long we have been married, we are still learning. We never stop learning. To stop learning is to stop growing and caring. I did a funeral for a godly man this past week that was 91 years of age and he constantly told me he was still learning. As we go through life we have a coach/ref that is going up and down the court with us giving us instructions and keeping us in check as far as the rules go. He is the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that He would not leave us alone, but would send the Holy Spirit to go with us in this life. That doesn't mean that I won't make mistakes as I go, but it does mean that when I do, He is there to help. This morning as the kids were playing, they sometimes dribbled the ball and sometimes they kicked it. Whatever they were doing they gave it there best effort. That is my word to you today. Go give God your best. Go give your marriage and your family your best. Go to work or school this week and give it your best. God bless

Making a Difference

How are we making a difference in the lives of those around us? In Matthew chapter 8, we find that everywhere Jesus went, He was make a huge difference. Not only were individual lives changed, but in one instance, a whole area was affected. As I read this, I began to think about how that is how we are to be as well. We are the ambassodors of Christ. We are His representitives here on earth. We are to be His hands and feet. Jesus still wants to reach the lost, feed the poor, heal the sick, cast out devils, and restore the broken hearted around us. Every where we go, there are hurting people. There are those who really need to know that Jesus can do for them what He did for those in the Bible. He has not changed. However, He is looking for those who will allow Him to work through them. Do we have the kind of sold out relationship with Christ that will allow Him to use us as He wants too? Do we have the faith to follow Him anywhere to do His work? Do we think of others before we think of ourselves? As you go through this day, ponder those questions and let us start making a difference for Him. God bless

Remembering Clyde

As I sit at my desk this morning I am planning the message that I will deliver tomorrow at the memorial service of Clyde Smith. Clyde was 91 years old and had ministered the Gospel for over 60 years. He fought in Europe during WWII and lived through some of the toughest fought battles of the war. After coming home, he felt the call to ministry and gave his life to serving God. In the early 60's, he felt led to start a new church and with the help of a few others, my grandparents included, they started the Westside Church of God. At the age of 11 I was baptized with the Holy Ghost and called to preach this wonderful Gospel message in that church. All my life I had heard of this man named Clyde but had never met him. About five years ago his granddaughter started attending our church along with her family. It wasn't long before that name Clyde came up in conversation. I will never forget the morning that he pulled up for the first time in our parking lot. I even remember what he was wearing. When this elderly gentleman that I had never met before got out of his little truck and someone told me who it was, fear came over me. I quickly became very nervous. I was a young pastor who was still trying to find my way in ministry and here comes a "pro." I do not remember what I preached that morning, but I remember thinking, "I can't bomb this one." Thankfully, with a great deal of help from the Lord, the service must have went well, because Clyde and Ann have been with us ever since. He preached for me and prayed for me many times over the last few years. He would often tell me, "this is how it used to be in the church." We both had a passion for the move of the Holy Ghost in the lives of God's children. We both wanted lives to be saved and for those lives to walk everyday in His presence. Today, Clyde is closer to God than ever before. Though we miss him, we rejoice that he has seen his Friend. God bless

Praying for Haiti

Yesterday, the Holy Spirit truely convicted my heart. I have been aware of the circumstances in Haiti this week, and I have prayed for them. However, because the events did not directly affect me, I did not pray as I should have. I have been caught up this week in my own world. As I posted yesterday, one of my members became very ill this week and I spent alot of time with them and the family. This is not an excuse, just the reality. We often focus on the things that deal with us directly and not on the true need of others. Yesterday, I got hold of some photos that were from the ground there in the heart of the devastation and it rocked me. I had to repent for my failure to do what I as a believer am responsible to do. Many lives are in chaos right now. Families are still desperatly searching for loved ones in hope that they are okay. There are reports of crime as people are panicing about survival. They need the church to rise up in this hour. I am thankful for all of those who have gone to help and for all who have given to the relief efforts, but we at home here have a great responsibilty to pray. Not all of us can get on a plane and travel there to help. Not all of us can give large sums of money, but all of us who are born again, can pray and stand in the gap for them. Many there need the love of God to become real to them in this hour. Let us pray that the Gospel can go forth and reach the hearts of the masses. Let us pray that the relief will get there. Let us pray for the healing of a nation. God bless

But God!

I have not been able to post the last few days because I have spent much of that time at the hospital with one of my members. Tuesday morning, Clyde Smith was taken to Piedmont with chest pains and a sick stomach. By evening it was discovered that he had in fact had a mild heart attack. Wednesday he went in for some tests and we were told that there was nothing they could do because his heart was too weak. Clyde will be 92 the end of Febuary. He has lived through the battles of WWII and by all means has lived a full life. He has been a minister of the Gospel for over 60 years and has planted two churches in Rock Hill. He is a man that I admire and look up too. Wednesday night he took a turn for the worst and had to be put on a ventilator. They would have to shock his heart multiple times through the night and early morning. By yesterday morning the family decided not to take those measures anymore and to let life take its course. BUT GOD!!!!!! By lunch time yesterday his vitals were stable and last night they took him off the breathing machines. This morning he shook my hand and wept. The docters admit that it was the grace of God. the nurse said he has never seen anything like this before. I just want to remind you today that no one has the last say in your life but God. As long as we leave all things in His hands, He is able to keep us. There is not anything too hard for Him. I rejoice today that God is still in control!!!!

Radical Living

To be radical means that you are marked by a considerable departure from the usual or traditional. In other words, you are considered to be extreme. When I read the teachings of Christ, I notice that He was a radical. In Mark chapter 7 verse 13, He says that the "traditional" teachings of man had caused God's Word to have no effect in the lives of people. The purpose of a radical is to restore something to its original purpose. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17, "I have not come to do away with the law, but fulfill it." The intent and purpose of Christ was to restore lost humanity to a right relationship with the Father. To do that, He had to break up the traditional views of the religious. Being a radical means that you change the environment around you. Everywhere He went, there was change. I ask you today, are you and I living a radical faith? Are we making a difference like He would have us too? Begin by listening to His voice today and then following His Word. God bless

God Can Work IT Out!

As I read Genesis chapter 33 this morning, I was encouraged by how God worked out the meeting between Jacob and Esau. When Jacob had left home he was on Esau's hit list. Now they welcomed each other with an embrace. As a pastor, I face conflict scenarios alot. Situations where people, who are in the Body of Christ, who for whatever reason, can't get alone. There are sometimes family disputes and then there are disputes between friends. One thing that I have to remember is that each has their own side of things and somewhere in the middle of it all is the truth. Sometimes it seems like the issues will never work out and that divide is going to happen, but God is faithful. If we will remember to put all things in our lives into His hands, we will find out how able He is. There is not a situation you or I will face that He can not fix. Nothing is impossible for Him. I don't know what you are going through or facing right now, but God is able. Put it in His hands and watch Him work. God bless

Just on the Other Side!

As I sit at my computer this morning, I feel impressed to encourage some of you. As we go through life, sometimes a mountain pops up in front of us and seems to become an obstacle to where we are going. When this happens it seems to distract us from focusing on God and what He is doing in our lives. The mountain becomes so real to us, that eventually that is all we can see. In Genesis 22 a mountain comes up before Abraham. He finally has his son and everything seems to be going as God had said it would and then, BAM! Out of nowhere God instructs him to take Isaac up to the mountain and sacrifice him. However, Abraham's approach to this is much different than yours and mine. Where we would have complained or become fearful, Abraham simply obeys. He takes his son and tells his servants, "we are going to worship and then RETURN." Did you notice what he just said? He said that they were going to return. He was able to not just see the mountain, but that God was working on the other side. Don't focus on just the here and now. Look beyond this with your faith and know that there will be a ram in the thicket for you too. That God is working even when you don't see Him. He is always in control. God bless

So Much to Do, So Little Time

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with your schedule? Have you ever felt like you had more to do than there was time in the day? For many of us our lives are constantly in that mode. We go from day to day working as hard as we can, or as much as we feel like it, and most days seem to get nothing accomplished. Life becomes frustrating and we dread going to bed just because we know that tomorrow is coming and it will start all over again. So many people are not enjoying the life that God has given them. We have fogotten that each day is a gift from the Father and that it is to be lived to the fullest with joy. Quit complaining about your job and start praising God that in this economy, you have one. Quit rushing and just slow down and take it all in today. I know that you have alot to do, but whats the point if your gonna have a stroke from all the stress. Learn to have fun again in what you are doing. Learn to be a blessing instead of a problem. Learn to lean on Him again. There is an old hymn entitled "Leaning On the Everlasting Arms." The first verse says, "What Fellowship, what joy divine." I believe that is the first step to reclaiming your joy for each day; the fellowship we have with the Lord. Spend today with Him and He will give you joy. God bless

What Is Most Important?

Yesterday, I took part in a survey on Facebook where you ask your friends to describe you in one word. The goal is to find 20 people who can say flattering things about you. I must say that there were some nice things said about me. It allowed me to see into how others view my life. However, they only see a part of me, and that part is a very small one. You see, others only see into a small window or chapter to who we really are, yet it seems that we spend most of out time fixing up that room so that when they look in, they like what they see. The rest of the house may be a mess, but as long as others think that we have it together, then we are okay with that. We go around pretending to be something sometimes for the benefit of others. STOP! Let's stop worrying so much about what others think and put more focus on what God thinks. While others will only see into that small window of your life, God sees the whole of it. There is nothing hid from Him. When we stand before Him He will not ask others what they thought of us, He will only be concerned with what He saw and heard in our lives. Let us be more concerned with what He would say about us today. God bless

Start of a New Year

So, how did you spend the first day of not only a new year, but a new decade? My family and I made the rounds yesterday eating the traditional new years day meals. We spent the day just relaxing and enjoying each other. God has richly blessed us and I want to enjoy this year what God has given me. I am not one for making resolutions at the beginning of each year. They never seem to work for any of us. I realize that the only way I am going to change is by the grace of God. However, this year there are some things that I pray the Lord will help me improve in. I want to be more attentive to my family and spend more time with my kids. They are getting older and I can't wait to see Nathan play ball this year. I don't want to be all business and no pleasure. I believe that we are to take the ministry of the Lord seriously, but not so much that we die before our time. Too many ministry leaders are stressed out and killing themselves trying to succeed. That is not what God has called us to do. I encourage you leaders to focus on your strengths this year and allow the Lord to place others around you that can help where you are weak. You are not meant to do it all on your own. This ministy is the Lords and all its successes will be because of Him and not me. I am looking forward to some great times ahead and I pray the Lord's blessings upon you and yours. God bless