Count Your Blessings

At this very moment, in this season of Thanksgiving, what are you most thankful for?  When asked to count your blessings, is your list endless? Most of us simply stop listing or writing at a point.  Have you ever felt consumed by the spirit of thanksgiving ... gratefulness ... appreciation ... gratitude?

Join me in counting your blessings, in naming them one by one -- life, living, long life ... God the Creator... faith … family ... friends ... spouse … gentleness ... children ... love ...jobs ... houses ... homes ... church ... school ... work ... rest and relaxation ... play ... health ... healing ...  co-workers... peace ... savings ... investments ... car(s) ... pensions ... parents ... wellness ... talents ... skills ... abilities ... gifts ... spiritual gifts ...  trouble ... knowledge  ... hard times ... prayer ... Jesus Christ, Lord, and Savior ... safe travel ... weather ... joy ... freedom ... soldiers positioned around the world for our freedom ... salvation ... forgiveness ... soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice ... government ... taxes ... witty inventions ... recreation ... vacation ... understanding ... material possessions ... Holy Spirit ... death ... the cross ... hope ... enough ... more than enough ... broadcast media ... holidays ... wisdom ... education ... kindness … humility …

Count your blessings, name them one by one.  Count your blessings, see what God has done.  Count your blessings, name them one by one.  Count your many blessings, see what God has done (taken from an old hymn, Count Your Blessings).

Dear Christian, How Faithful Are You? part two

"Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."

1 Corinthians 4:2

Dear Christian,

How faithful are you to study of God's Word? As a Christian, you are a disciple.  A disciple is a student of the Word.  Today, what is your grade as a student of the Word? A, B, C, D, F?  On a scale of 1-10, 10 high, how would you rate yourself as being faithful to study of the Word?  (____)  How would God rate your faithfulness?  Are the two ratings the same? 

The same message that Paul wrote to Timothy, he writes to us today in 1 Timothy 2:15.  "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  Have you chosen to be a student of the Word?  Do you present yourself prepared and ready for study?  When you show up at church for Sunday service or during the week for Bible study, do you show up prepared and ready for study?  Do you have with you your study tools -- i.e., Bible, pen, paper, phone, tablet, laptop? At some point after any church time of study, do you review the message through your personal notes, cd, dvd, blog, online notes, other?  Do you devote daily time to study of the Word?  How much time?

What are you willing to do differently moving forward?  How serious a student are you willing to be?  Remember, if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.

Dear Christian, How Faithful Are You?

"Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."

1 Corinthians 4:2

Dear Christian,

You know whether or not this letter is addressed to you.  Christians are those of us who wear the name of Christ, are called disciples, are known as students of the word, are saved, have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. 

How faithful are you?  Faithful to what, you may be thinking. Great question.  Today's focus is -- how faithful are you in prayer?  Are you a person of prayer? Test your "selfie".  On a scale of 1-10, 10 high, rate yourself on the question -- how faithful are you in prayer?  (____) Be honest, be very honest.  If God were rating your faithfulness in prayer on that same scale, what would His rating be?

Prayer is talking to God.  Prayer is having a conversation with God -- i.e., talking to God and then listening to Him.  What kinds of things do you say to God?  Prayer may be praise, worship, thanksgiving, fellowship, petitions, making known to God the desires of your heart, reminding God of His promises to you, interceding on behalf of others, and more.  Prayer also involves listening to God, taking the time to be quiet and still so as to hear from Him.  Pray all the time, pray continually, pray on every occasion, pray without ceasing, pray in every season.  Pray using the Word of God.  Pray using God's Word on purpose.

How faithful are you in prayer?  Now is the time to become more faithful in prayer.  Go ahead, get started.  Watch God "do exceedingly abundantly above all you can ask or imagine according to His power at work in you" (see Ephesians 3:20).

What Are You Saying?

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, ..."     Proverbs 18:21

 What are you saying?  Do your words bring life or death?  Are your words true or false?  Are they the truth or a lie?  Are your statements factual or truthful?  Did you know that the mind cannot distinguish between your figurative and your literal language?

 Could you be telling yourself sick? I need this like I need a hole in the head. You will be the death of me.  You make me sick.  That just breaks my heart.  I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders.  I can't bear it anymore.  I am pretty upset.  That was terribly nice.  I'm sorry, I feel so bad.  I feel terrible about that (an apology).  There's a knot in my stomach.  I'm a glutton for punishment.  My feet are killing me.  What you don't know won't hurt you.

 Could it be that it's not what happens that makes you sick, it's what you tell yourself about what happens that dis-eases you. That was a pain in the neck ... gives me a headache ... breaks my heart ... drives me crazy ... will give me a heart attack ... will be the death of me ... sets my teeth on edge ... makes my skin crawl ... is a bitter pill to swallow ... weighs on me ... is nerve wracking.

Are death and life really in the power of the tongue?  What are you saying?  Are your words different from God’s Words? Begin to speak more of God's Word, the truth. Replace your unhealthy thoughts and statements with healthy ones. 

Man's Ways vs God's Ways

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." 

Proverbs 14:12

My pastor often says "kill you so you won't kill you."  Think about it.  Are you willing to die to self? To your ungodly ways? To your unholy thoughts?  To the desires of your heart?  To worldly wisdom?  Do you really want to pay the price and suffer the consequences of following your ways instead of God's ways?

What is she talking about, you may be thinking.  I recently asked a group of women who participate in an early morning bible study "what are some of our ways that are contrary to God's ways"?  Their responses follow -- same sex marriage, not seeking God in all things, more than one wife -- bigotry,  people pleasers, handling anger, not turning the other cheek, living together but not married, parents killing their own children, not tithing, tithing on the net and not the gross, fornication, what we eat, children not respecting parents, parents not respecting children, spouses not respecting spouses, not putting God first ... making spontaneous moves, parents not speaking the things of God over their children, speaking negatively not positively, parents not living their lives before Christ, poverty, starving babies, adultery, idolatry, having other gods, being unequally yoked, double mindedness,  abortion.  Add your ways to the list.

Remember God's message to us that His ways and thoughts are not our ways and thoughts, that His ways and thoughts are higher than are ours (see Isaiah 55:8-9).  Though our ways seem right, they will only lead to death.  Stop killing yourself!  Change from your ways to God's ways!

My Brother's Keeper

I was recently reading an article by the executive director of the Birmingham Jewish Federation in which he wrote "all Jews are responsible for one another, we are taught."  Ummh, I thought how interesting.  My mind quickly took me to the age old question that Cain asked the LORD.  The LORD asked Cain where was his brother Abel.  Cain answered the LORD's question with a question -- "am I my brother's keeper?"

Am I my brother's keeper?  My response is probably not unlike your response.  Who is my brother?  How I answer the first question is dependent upon my response to the second question.  Ummh ... my third question -- so what does keeper mean?  The Hebrew word means to watch, guard, observe. The sense of the root of the word means to exercise great care over.  Ummh, more questions ... am I responsible for my brother ... how responsible ... to what degree am I really responsible for my brother?

Am I my brother's keeper?  Why can't the answer be simple and easy?  Why do I have to be concerned about those outside my house, my family, my circle?  Why do my brothers sometimes have to be so far away, so different from me, so coarse and crude and unkind and unkempt and unworthy and undeserving?  I must look to the Word, to Jesus' teachings, for my answers. Could my brother be a complete stranger like the one the Samaritan helped (see Luke 10:30-37)?  Am I expected to do all of that for a complete stranger?  Is Jesus serious when He says "whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me" (see Matthew 25:45)?  In verse 40, Jesus gives the reverse: "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

What say you?  Are you your brother's keeper?

 

Wisdom -- Yours or His?

Ask God for something, get the answer.  Ask God for something else, get the answer.  Ask God for healing.  Healing manifests.  Have another healing need.  Forget how God previously healed.  Which choice do you make?  Accept the diagnosis, live with the issue, follow the doctor's prescription, ignore God's prescription.  Why? Or, have you asked for a job, a mate, child(ren), friends, houses, land, church home, deliverance, victory, success, prosperity, etc.?  God answers your prayer.  Then you take God's answer for granted, it becomes commonplace, you may even abuse or walk away from His blessing.

Sometimes we do what I have chosen to call "the Solomon."  And you think, what is "the Solomon?" Shortly after Solomon became king of Israel, 1 Kings 3:5-15 records how God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said "ask for whatever you want me to give you."  Solomon asked for an understanding and discerning heart. God was so pleased at his request that he granted his request and added to it riches, honor, long life, all with no equal among kings.  King Solomon was held in awe and great esteem because people from near and far heard and saw that he had wisdom from God.  The Word says that he wrote over 3,000 proverbs more than 500 of which are recorded in the book of Proverbs.  In Proverbs 4:7, Solomon wrote that wisdom is supreme … the principal thing … the most important thing … the first thing, and we should get wisdom. 

Overtime, Solomon set out to study and explore by his wisdom all that was done under heaven.  Why did he choose his wisdom rather than godly wisdom? Many of his findings and conclusions are recorded in the book of Ecclesiastes.  The one who wrote in the Proverbs that wisdom is supreme, that it is the principal thing, wrote in Ecclesiastes that everything, including wisdom, is meaningless.  Why would Solomon ask to be granted godly wisdom, then turn away to explore everything under the sun by using his wisdom?  Are you doing "the Solomon" with your blessings? Are you applying godly wisdom or your human wisdom to the situations, circumstances, and relationships in your life?  Going forward, which will it be for you -- your wisdom or His wisdom?

Outside Your Comfort Zone, part 3

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten. Now, you're in your comfort zone.  Why not just keep things as they are?  Let sleeping dogs lie.  Why rock the boat?  Why ask for more? Why do anything differently?

I've been part of a 30 minute teaching and prayer conference call for the past four years known as Rise @ 5.  For the past two years, I've had the wonderful opportunity to teach on this call Monday through Thursday, week after week.  My comfort zone includes getting up between 4:30 - 4:40 every morning, bathroom break, brush my teeth, pray, turn on computer to my bible software wherein are my teaching notes, call the conference line at 4:58, say good morning.  Same routine, day after day, week after week, consistently for more than two years.  Out of nowhere came a Tuesday morning when I dialed the conference line # and got a busy signal.  Hung up, dialed again, got a busy signal, repeated this for several times.  God, what's going on?  I must do something different.  But what? I'm the teacher, got to get on the call. Finally got linked into the call through another person at 5:08.  Next day, same routine, and the same busy signal happened again.  Ooops, I need to go back to the same person who linked me into the call the day before.  She had difficulty, but we finally got on the call at 5:10.  Later than the day before, not good.  Third day comes and I remember that if I do what I've always done, I'll get what I've always gotten.  Followed the same routine except I made the call at 4:51, seven minutes earlier than usual.  Got on and was amazed at the number of callers who were likewise calling in earlier.  It is my understanding that before 5 o'clock, a dozen women were already on the call. 

So what's my take-away from the three day experience?  There is a time when we need to step outside our comfort zone, a time when we have to take a different approach, a time when we have to make a change.  Sometimes, we have to Proverbs 3:5-6 God.  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

 

Outside Your Comfort Zone, part 2

The Bible records so many stories of those who stepped outside of their comfort zones -- those places where they were most comfortable, the people with whom they were most comfortable, and the things they were most comfortable doing.

 Moses walked away from being the prince of Egypt during his first 40 years to being a keeper of sheep for a black man in Midian for 40 years, and onto becoming the deliverer and leader of his people during his last 40 years of life.  David stepped outside his comfort zone and went from being a shepherd boy to becoming the greatest king of Israel.  David was the least recognized by his father among his seven brothers.  He became a giant killer, then a renegade warrior  who King Saul chased and tried to kill for many years, onto serve as king of Israel for 40 years.   Ruth left the comfort of her homeland in Moab and her people to follow her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Bethlehem.  There she married Boaz, gave birth to a son named Obed who was the father of Jesse, the father of David.  This Gentile woman was named in the lineage of Jesus.

You too have a story to tell.  Remember an occasion when you stepped well outside your comfort zone ... when you did something you had never done before ... when God moved exceedingly abundantly above anything you could have asked for or even imagined ...  when you were more successful than you ever thought possible ... when you were more than a conqueror ... when the power of God worked mightily through you.  Don't just remember,  tell somebody, bless the Lord with your praise and thanksgiving.  Remember Psalm 34:1 -- "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth."  Step outside your comfort zone!!!

 

Outside Your Comfort Zone

Comfort zones -- those places where you are most comfortable, those people with whom you are most comfortable, those things with which you are most comfortable.  How did you respond the last time you were called upon or felt led to do something differently?  Stepping outside your comfort zone meant that you’d have to make a change.  How often do you find yourself resisting change?  Resisting doing something differently?  Resisting a move outside your comfort zone?

Consider Esther, the little Jewish girl whose identity was unknown as she married the king of Persia.  As queen, her cousin Mordecai called upon her to go before the king and save her people from destruction.  Facing this life or death challenge, she stepped outside of her comfort zone to go before the king without being called for.  If the king had not held out the golden scepter, she would have been killed instantly.  God moved on her behalf, and the rest is world history.

Consider Nehemiah, a Jewish exile in Persia, whose job was cupbearer to the king.  God purposed in his heart to go to Judah to rebuild the burned walls and broken down gates around Jerusalem.  Endowed with divine favor, Nehemiah stepped outside his comfort zone, received permission from the king to take a long leave of absence, was given considerable resources for the project, and faced great opposition and many trials.   Even so, the rebuilding project was completed in 52 days.  God moved on his behalf, and did more than Nehemiah could ever have asked or imagined.

Choose this day to step outside your comfort zone. Do what God has purposed and planned for you. Understand that if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.

Strengthen My Hands

Is there something going on with you that has caused you to feel weak?  Has your boss at work or your pastor at church asked you to do something that has presented considerable challenge to you?  Do you feel that you are literally stuck between a rock and a hard place?  Are you feeling that a particular situation is like six in one hand, a half dozen in the other?  Has God given you what seems like the impossible dream?  Does the mountain in your life seem too high to climb? Is there a giant standing in your way?  If you answered YES to one or more of these questions, God has a Word for you.  Open your eyes, look to see what the Lord is saying to you. Now, read on.  

 Nehemiah's story is told in the book that bears his name.  He described himself as the cupbearer to the king of Persia who resided in Susa.  The Lord placed on Nehemiah's heart a burning desire to join the returning exiles in Judah and Jerusalem, and to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem.  He was passionate and determined to restore the gates that had been burned 70 years earlier when Judah was taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.  Nehemiah was granted favor by the king who not only granted him a leave of absence to go to Judah, but gave him considerable timber, building supplies, and other resources.  Upon his arrival in Jerusalem, he found a people with a mind and heart to do this work.  And he also found enemies who did everything in their power to keep the walls from being rebuilt and the gates from being restored.  Some of the enemies that came against the people were outsiders.  But, guess what?  Some of the enemies were insiders, their friends and neighbors.

 So, no matter where you are, irregardless of what's going on, pray continually as Nehemiah did.  I describe one of his prayers as short and sweet, quick and to the point.  Nehemiah simply prayed "O God, strengthen my hands."  Let that become your prayer, "O God, strengthen my hands" (see Nehemiah 6:9).  Then watch God move “exceedingly abundantly above all you could ask or imagine according to the power at work in you” (see Ephesians 3:20-21).

 

How Big Is Your God? part 7

My pastor, Bishop Jim Lowe at The Guiding Light Church, has been encouraging us to step outside of ourselves, and to pull on God. He's asking us to know that we know that we know that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ever ask or imagine (see Ephesians 3:20). These messages are reminders to me to consider how big God is to me. Is God really able to do immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine? Can I really believe this? Can I truly expect more from God? Can I create new norms for me?

Consider Moses who God had climb Mt. Nebo when he was 120 years old. The amazing thing is that Moses climbed the mountain. Can you believe that? Do you know a 65 ... or 70 ... or 80 ... or 90 year old person? Would you ask, could you expect them to climb not even a mountain but a hill? However, Moses climbed the mountain, God showed him the promised land. Because his eyes were neither weak nor dim, he was able to see clearly the land that God had promised. He would not cross over into it, but he was able to see it.

What to me seems so unfair of God is that Moses climbed the mountain, saw the promised land, and then died. Why did he, at age 120, have to climb the mountain only to die? Wasn't that a bit much of God to require such a strenuous effort? Why couldn't Moses have just fallen asleep at the foot of the mountain? In Deuteronomy 34:7, we are also told that Moses' strength was not gone.

Moses' strength equaled his days. If God is no respecter of persons, can he do for you and me what he did for Moses? Can we not expect that our strength will = our days? Is your God big enough that you can expect and declare that your strength = your days? Is your God big enough that you will prophesy to others -- may your strength = your days? Is your God big enough that this becomes your new norm? May your strength = your days.

 

How Big Is Your God? part 6

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:

‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Zechariah 4:6

At first glance, prophetic writings from the Old Testament with next to impossible names to pronounce may not get our attention or may be difficult to understand.  Take a second glance and realize that the prophet Zechariah has been instructed by God to give a message to Zerubbabel, the governor of Jerusalem.  Zerubbabel had been among the first of the Jews to return to their homeland from having been in captivity, first in Babylon and then in Persia.  When he first returned to Jerusalem, he led a team in rebuilding the temple which had been destroyed by fire.  The foundation was laid, then the work stopped.  This message was given to Zerubbabel some 16 years later.  Yes, you've read correctly, work on the temple was left unfinished for 16 years.

Have you left a job or a task uncompleted for a long period of time? For 16 years?  For more than 16 years?  For less than 16 years?  What project ... task ... assignment ... relationship ... job ... work did you leave undone?  Have you purposed in your heart to do something, and then didn't do it?  Did you start something and then didn't finish it?

Could it be that the same message from God, given through the prophet Zechariah to Zerubbabel, is your message for today?  As you are challenged to return to the task left undone, you are reminded that the work can be accomplished not by your might, nor by your power, but by the Spirit of God. Remember that God is ready to help you, willing to help you, and is able to do immeasurably more for you than you could ever ask or imagine (see Ephesians 3:20).  Finally, remember that in all things, you are more than a conqueror (see Romans 8:37).

How Big Is Your God? part 5

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

Romans 8:37

How big is your God? Is he big enough for you to believe that in all things, you are more than conquerors?  Personalize the amazing words: I am more than a conqueror.  Now think about whatever it is you are going through at this very moment.  What obstacle is before you?  What burden are you encountering?  What sickness or disease seems to be getting the most of you?  What relationship is so out of order?  Are your finances upside down, inside out, topsy turvy? Are you on an emotional roller coaster? Is it that you just don’t know what else to say?  You don’t know where to turn?  You just don’t know what to do?

The Word of God says that in all these things, you don't merely conquer; you are more than a conqueror.  What does being more than a conqueror mean?  Stop! Look! Listen! It means that you have complete triumph ... you win a most thorough victory ... you have an overwhelming victory ... you are triumphantly victorious ... you conquer overwhelmingly.   

My brothers and sisters, please don't settle for something less than God's best.  Choose to be what God says you are.  It doesn't matter what you see.  It doesn't matter what you hear.  It doesn't matter what you think.  And it absolutely doesn't matter what you feel.  All that matters is what God says.  He says that in all these things, you are more than conquerors.

 

How Big Is Your God, part 4

Is your God bigger than any and all of your fears? God has said, in 2 Timothy 1:7, that He has not given us the spirit of fear. So if God has not given us the spirit of fear, where then has the spirit come from? To whom, through whom has this fear come? If not from God, then obviously from the enemy, the thief that comes to steal, kill and destroy (see John 10:10).

 

Consider your fears. What are those fears that keep you from achieving your divine potential? From accomplishing your God given purpose? From being all that you can do or be? Fear of people ... rejection, being told no ... lack, not enough ... money ... speaking in public, before a group ... embarrassment ... failure ... taking the first step ... . What are you afraid of? What makes you scared. What are you running away from? What makes you hesitant? What gives you pause?

 

After Job's great loss of all his children and their families, his wealth, and his health. he said that what he feared the most had come upon him (see Job 3:25-26). What were Job's fears?

 

Is your God bigger than your greatest fear? Is your God big enough to get you past all your fears? Is anything impossible for your God? Is anything too hard for your God? How big is your God? Since God has not given you the spirit of fear, what has he given? See 2 Timothy 1:7, for God has given you the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Is your God big enough for you to accept this truth and be made free from all your fears?

How Big Is Your God, part 3

When you are confronted with and challenged by the circumstances of life and living, how big is your God?  Consider the Apostle Paul who was called to be a witness ... a servant ... an evangelist ... a pastor ... an apostle to the nations.  The disciple, Ananias, was instructed to tell Paul (then Saul) that he would suffer many things for Jesus' sake.  Is your God big enough for you to accept and follow through with your purpose, your gifting, your calling when it involves suffering?  Is your God big enough for you to accept such a challenge, for you to go forward without hesitation, boldly, and confidently?

Is your God big enough that you never give up even when you have suffered greatly?  Can you imagine how big Paul's God was?  About midway his time of ministry, Paul reflected on the sufferings he has already endured for the Name of Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-29) -- 39 lashes from his own people on five different occasions ... beaten with rods three times ... stoned and left for dead once ... three times aboard a ship wrecked at sea ... and more?  Can you imagine this level of hardship and suffering?  When would you have stopped?   Would you have given up long before going through all of this suffering?  When is enough, enough?

Is your God big enough for you to keep on keeping on amid many trials and obstacles and sufferings?  Is your God as big to you as Paul's God was to him?  What has God called you to do?  What is your purpose in life?  How hard is your walk?  How difficult is your journey?

Paul believed and so he wrote words that encouraged him so that we may be encouraged -- "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

How Big Is Your God, part 2

On a recent Sunday afternoon, my sister, a couple of friends and I ate at a local restaurant. They left to go shopping in the mall area.  I left returning to church.  Driving on the interstate, pondering over things I had been asked to share during an upcoming meeting, I glanced over at the passenger seat.  Instantly I realized that only one item, my purse, was on the seat.  The second item, my Ipad, should have been there and wasn't.  My first thought was "Oh my God, I have left my Ipad at the restaurant, what do I do?"  I pulled off the interstate while both saying a prayer to God and reminding myself of two things.  The first, “there is nothing lost in Christ Jesus.”  And the second, “God has not given me a spirit of fear.”

I called my sister, explained what had happened, and asked her to go back to the restaurant to get my Ipad.  My next thought was, that's settled, I can go on to my church meeting.  Pulling back onto the interstate, I realized that I should also call the restaurant, and explain what happened. So I got off the interstate at the next exit, found the number and called the restaurant.  Explaining what had happened to the person answering the phone, she then placed me on hold while she checked.  The manager then came on the phone and placed me on hold a couple of times while he checked.  He finally reported to me that an Ipad had not been turned in and that the people at the table had not seen it. With a sense of finality, he took my name and number, promising to call should it be found.  I got back onto the interstate all the while telling God and reminding myself that “nothing is lost in Christ Jesus.”

My sister arrived and insisted on a recheck of the booth. Meanwhile, my friend called to tell me it wasn't found and that I should check to see if it were really in the car with me.  While talking to her, my sister called to let me know they had, per my direction, checked the wrong booth.  When they checked the one where we had actually been sitting, the Ipad was on the seat where I left it.  Seemingly, the people sitting there had not noticed it.   In just a few minutes, she called to let me know that she had it.  Praise the Lord!  Thank you Jesus!

When you are challenged by circumstances, how big is your God?

How Big Is Your God

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.   Ephesians 3:20-21

 

How big is your God?  Has God ever performed a miracle for you?  What's the biggest prayer request God has ever answered for you?  How often does God answer prayers for you?  How many prayers has God answered for you in the past three days?  Which of your lists is longer, your answered prayers list or your unanswered prayers list? How far away is God from you? How do you describe God to a young child?  How do you describe God to an unbeliever?  What do you want and have been afraid to ask God for it? What is your biggest dream?  What is your divine potential? What does God want from you while on this earth?  We were created to excel and not fail -- is that your truth? Is it the truth?  What have you last excelled in?  Are you being what God wants you to be?  Are you doing what God wants you to do?  Are you going the places God wants you to go? Yes. No. Why not? What or who do you need to be delivered from?

 What do you expect of your children?  For your children? Your grandchildren? Have you already prepared the best meal you can prepare?  Have you already run or walked the longest distance in the shortest time that you can run?  Have you done the most excellent work you can do?  Have you dreamed the biggest dream you can dream?  Have you learned all there is to learn about the work that you do?  Have you written all the poems, the books, the stories that God purposed for you to write?  Have you already been the most creative you can be?  Have you made the most sales you can make? Have you climbed your highest mountain? Have you accomplished your most impossible dream?  Have you already stretched as far as you can stretch? Have you already prayed your boldest prayer?

Remember that God has assured you that He is able to do for you immeasurably more … exceedingly abundantly above … superabundantly more than you could ever ask or imagine.  What are your limits with God?  Are you approaching them?  How big is your God? 

Have You Betrayed Jesus, part 2

Have you betrayed Jesus?  Your first thoughts might be in the form of questions. Who? Me? When? How? Your second round of thoughts might be like these.  I would never betray Jesus.  Well, I'm not perfect but I would not do something like betray Jesus.  And as you continue pondering the question, you might consider the meaning of betray or betrayal.  Betrayal is to be disloyal, act treacherously or deceitfully toward another, sell out, double cross, delude or mislead.

 Jesus has said that whatever you have done for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.  Conversely, He said that whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.  (See Matthew 25:40, 45.)  Though you have not betrayed Jesus Himself, what about His people?

 There are so many ways and occasions that we betray Jesus by our betrayal of others.  Did you file last year's tax return?  Did you lie on this year's return?  Do you pay your creditors ... on time ... as you agreed?  Have you borrowed money or things from family and friends, and never paid or given them back?  Are you paying back your student loan?  Have you left child care centers with unpaid balances?  In buffet lines, how much food do you get and not eat?  Have you left restaurants or cafeterias or other food places with extra napkins, serving utensils, ketchup, jelly, salt, pepper, sugar, etc.? Do you have unkept promises with your spouse ... children ... other family ... friends ... co-workers, employers ... employees? Have you spoken or acted unkindly toward another person?

 It really is the little foxes that spoil the vine.  Have you betrayed Jesus through your betrayal of others in what you consider little, seemingly inconsequential things and ways? Stop! Repent, turn away from those things and ways now.  Seek forgiveness.  Do unto others as you would have them do to you.  Please don't betray Jesus!

Have You Betrayed Jesus?

With great triumph, in full majesty, the victory of all victories, Jesus suffered, was crucified, buried, and then He got up.  We've celebrated another season of Easter, and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We've been reminded of the events leading up to the crucifixion beginning with the betrayal by one of His inner circle of 12 disciples, Judas Iscariot. And I had to think and consider if Judas' demons of greed and envy were any different from my own, or even yours.  Have I betrayed Jesus? Have you? When was my last betrayal? Why did I do it?  What about you?  You may even be thinking, what is betrayal?  Glad you asked.  Betrayal is to be disloyal, act treacherously or deceitfully toward another, sell out, double cross, delude or mislead.  What will it take for me to betray Jesus?  Is it 30 pieces of silver, as was the case with Judas?  Will I betray Jesus for more? Or even for less? Remember, if we betray one of the least of these, His people, we have betrayed Him.

Have I asked for forgiveness?  I wonder how things would have been different had Judas asked for forgiveness. Would Jesus have forgiven Judas' sins?  Could Judas have done things differently, so much so that he would not have taken his own life?

We've all been reminded of Jesus' prayer as He hung on that old rugged cross.  He said "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (See Luke 23:34.)  Who was Jesus praying for?  Was I included in that prayer? Were you? Yes, thank you Jesus.  All too often, we mindlessly do and say things that are so ungodly, so unbecoming a Christian, so unkind, so disobedient. We can and must ask for forgiveness.  Jesus has promised that He will forgive us in the same measure that we forgive others.  When you pray the Lord's prayer, be mindful of that condition -- "and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (see Matthew 6:12).

Pray Always

When it comes to prayer, we have so many questions? How often should I pray? When should I pray?  What should I pray?  Where should I pray?  In what position should I pray? What is prayer?  Will God answer my prayers?  Is there a right kind of prayer? And conversely, is there a wrong kind of prayer?  Why is prayer so hard?  Why is it so difficult for me to pray?

 Are any of these your questions?  Let's ask God the questions and see what He says.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, He says two or three words: "pray without ceasing" or "pray continually." Is God serious?  Yes. Does He really mean that? I think so.  A part of prayer is talking to God, so just maybe prayer is having a conversation with God. And that conversation takes place wherever I am.  Could it be that sometimes I'm praying 'unawares'?  So maybe I'd better pay more careful attention to the words that I'm speaking since I don't have to announce to God that I'm praying. He's ever hearing.  We could learn a lesson from Peter when He was walking on the water and began to sink.  In deep trouble and scared to no end, Peter's prayer was simply "Lord save me."

Another part of prayer is hearing from God. That requires getting still, stopping all activity, and listening.  There is a time when we really have to stop talking so that God can talk.  Don't know about you, but for me, that's challenging.  Again, have you ever wanted to hear from God but never stopped to listen to Him?

Philippians 4:6 is instructive where the point is made to pray in everything, every circumstance, every situation.  In Isaiah 45:11, God advises that we command Him concerning the work of His hands. So we ask God for our wants, desires, needs ... yes; and we command or tell God our wants, desires, needs ... yes.  So, pray always, pray about everything, pray all kinds of prayers. Talk to God ... listen to God.

Be Kind and Gentle to All

"Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."

Philippians 4:5

I recently saw the movie, Son of God.  And yes, it's worth seeing.  Man's inhumanity to man was all too evident from one scene to another, and especially so during the week of the Passion.  I was repeatedly reminded of how Jesus was always kind and gentle to all, no matter what was done or said to Him.  And more importantly how He expects you and me to do the same.  I thought, “really?”  You may be thinking, "now ain't that a mess?"

I couldn't miss how warmly and graciously Jesus embraced Judas when He knew that Judas was betraying Him with his hug and kiss. Jesus responded kindly and gently to Judas.  Shortly before the crucifixion, Jesus was greeted by the masses with shouts of "Hosanna."  A few days later, the same masses shouted "Crucify him, crucify him."  As He was being crucified, Jesus looked toward heaven and prayed, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

How kind and gentle must one be?  How kind and gentle can one be?  When the woman who was caught in the act of adultery was brought before Him, I couldn't help but notice how kindly and gently Jesus responded both to her and all of the men with rocks in hand, prepared to stone her to death. In His soft spoken manner, He kindly and gently said "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." 

I was further reminded of words often spoken by my pastor -- "life is choice driven, we live and we die by the choices we make."  I must choose to be obedient to the Word of God.  Jesus is my example, I can do as He did.  I must choose to be kind and gentle, not just to some but, to all.  Will you make the same choice?  Will you do the same?  Will you let your gentleness be evident to all?

 

Rejoice in The Lord

For most of my 25 year tenure as a member of The Guiding Light Church in Birmingham, I have spent time with families who have experienced the death of a loved one.  Sometimes the deceased would have been a member of the church, but more of the times, the deceased would have been an immediate family member of a church member.  Always the question before me -- what to say?  What words can I speak that will comfort? And strengthen? And ease the pain and the hurt?  In these situations, death is one or more of the following -- shocking ... feared ... a great loss ... hurtful ... painful ... scary ... unexpected ... too soon ... and so much more. 

I always knew and believed that nothing I could say really helped or even mattered.  These family members, my brothers and sisters, needed to hear a word from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  That word and that word only could I speak.  One passage of Scripture that I have used, probably more than any other, is the Apostle Paul's declaration that "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (see Philippians 4:7). This promise alone is great and wonderful, a tremendous blessing, powerful and amazing. 

Over a period of time, I came to realize that I needed to say more, that the listening ears needed to hear more.  And I was instructed to read backwards or upwards in the passage to verse 4 -- "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"  My thoughts ran wild -- can I say this?  How will people take this message at such a time as this?  Is this the time to tell people to rejoice?  Sometimes death had come because of a heinous crime, sometimes because of accidents in cars, on jobs, during vacation or other leisure activities, fires, drownings, and the like.  And my nagging question of God -- do You really want me to tell them to rejoice, and to rejoice always?  In the quietness, the still small voice of the Lord said "yes, this is a part of my path to peace."

 So while on your way to experiencing the peace of God which passes all understanding is this command from God Himself --  "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"  Need I say more?  Stop and think about this!