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Stand and Watch
Stand and Watch
The Lord has blessed with an awesome week. His presence and grace has moved me. I am so humbled by His constant presence and love.
This season of victory and revelation has strengthened all who believe and trust in His purpose.
When we focus our minds, our hearts, and our efforts, on His purpose for our lives. Things will change.
There will be a progressive movement in your life to establish influence in your world, and to help you embrace the awesome plan of God for you.
I want to thank everyone for your love and support. It is humbling to move forward with you all, in the greatness of God.
I want to share some thoughts titled “Stand and Watch”
Psalms 46:1-11
1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
This Psalm was written by the sons of Korah. It is a Psalm of Consolation. Written when Israel was facing a very destructive enemy. They were consoled by the thought of God’s might and protection. God has the ability to shatter all the weapons the enemy can form against them.
There is a general consensus that the enemy they were facing was, Sennacherib. He was a ruthless and cruel leader of the Assyrians.
This Psalm speaks of God being accessible. It speaks of His grace and love for His people. It has a prophetic word for the destruction of their enemies. With a constant assurance that God is with them.
With all of this I want to focus on verse 10.
Psalms 46:10
“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Amplified
“Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”
The phrase cease striving, or be still, simply means, “relax or let go”
God is saying I have to do this one Myself. What about Paul telling us we are fellow workers with God.
1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Hear this. Israel was in a no win without the Father. There are things throughout history, and even our lives that would be impossible for us.
“In these times man must stand detached, and all must be left to the hand of Almighty God.”
In 2 Chronicles Judah had been invaded by three different groups. The Prophet Jahaziel heard from the Lord, and said this.
2 Chronicles 20:17
You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.”
Moses had a similar word for the people.
Exodus 14:13-14
13 But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever.
14 The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”
In Jeremiah 15 God was very angry with His people. For 14 verses He revealed His anger, and His plans for their destruction.
“In verse 15, Jeremiah began to pray.”
He spoke of his faithfulness, and innocence. Even the prophet had issues that must be dealt with.
Jeremiah 15:19-21
19 Therefore, thus says the Lord, “If you return, then I will restore you—Before Me you will stand; And if you extract the precious from the worthless, You will become My spokesman. They for their part may turn to you, But as for you, you must not turn to them.
20 “Then I will make you to this people A fortified wall of bronze; And though they fight against you, They will not prevail over you; For I am with you to save you And deliver you,” declares the Lord.
21 “So I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked,
And I will redeem you from the grasp of the violent.”
This sentence interested me from v19. “And if you extract the precious from the worthless, You will become My spokesman.”
Extract, “to go out, come out, exit. Precious, “valuable, prized, weighty, splendid, highly valued.” Worthless, “vile, insignificant.”
“God is speaking to Jeremiah’s thoughts and speech.”
Your speech and your character make you relevant. Jeremiah had lost His influence from complaining about God’s people. God said He would restore Jeremiah if he would look beyond the junk, and see the value.
Paul said this to three different churches.
Romans 14:19
So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
To fully embrace the character traits expected of us we must have a review from time to time. Reviewing our thoughts and our words.
Do they honor God?
Do they speak of faith?
Do our words and our thoughts bring light and salt to our world?
Blessings to all, and I pray you have a great week.
#lovewins #hopelives
The Lord Is Near
The Lord is Near
God is great, and He is greatly to be praised. We are in an awesome season of the presence of the Lord. I believe that He is positioning some of His churches, in this region and state, to create an atmosphere relevant to revival.
When true revival comes, brought on by repentance within the church, it will burn like a fire. The fire will spread to other areas as well.
It is the way it has always been.
Mother’s day, is an amazing day of honor and tribute. It is a day we give tribute to our mothers who have passed on. We also honor the moms who are still with us.
My mom was awesome. She was my strongest advocate. She was also, funny, opinionated, and loud.
She would often speak without thinking. These traits worked well with my dad. He was quiet, and simply listened when she got on a rant.
I took after my dad. “Not”
In the Bible there was a woman named Hannah. Her husband had another wife as well. This other wife had children but Hannah had not given birth. Yet she was Elkanah’s favorite wife.
1 Samuel 1:9-11 NASB
9 Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the door post of the temple of the Lord.
10 She, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.
11 She made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.”
Hannah dedicated her son to the service of the lord, and Samuel became a prophet in Israel. The prophet that anointed David king.
I know this sounds weird but it has always sort of made me think of my mom. She gave birth to me , 3 months short of her 44th birthday. Because of her age, I was supposed to have died before birth.
To make this very long story short, one day I asked mom if she had dedicated me to the Lord.
This was her reply. There was a very well known Pastor, named J.C Hibbard. He Pastored the Gospel Lighthouse in Oak Cliff. He had hundreds in his congregation. Mom watched him on tv. On a Sunday morning she wrapped me up, took a bus, and walked in his church, all the way to the pulpit, during his sermon. He stopped preaching and asked mom what she needed.
She wanted him to dedicate me to the Lord. He fulfilled her request, mom left and came home.
Her love and courage will be with me always.
She felt the person who laid hands on me, and prayed, should be someone with anointing. Someone she had a connection with.
I want to move from this, and share some words of encouragement.
Philippians 4:5-7
5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Amp
5 Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near.
6 Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.
7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
There are four words that moved me. “The Lord is Near.”
The word Lord from the Greek means, He to whom a person or things belongs, the possessor or disposer of a thing. The word near means, near of place or position, those who are near access to God.
There are those who believe this passage is referring to the second coming of Christ. “I do not believe this.”
Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, (and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”)
I believe the Apostle was confirming these words of Christ.
He will be with us in the end, but He is with us now. He is near when we need Him. Every step, every season, of our lives.
It is His goodness that we embrace, as we walk out our purpose. What an awesome Father.
#lovewins #hopelives
Greater Love, The More Excellent Way
Greater Love, The More Excellent Way
This is one of those days when all I could think about was the awesome love of God. His love was manifested throughout the Bible, but never more significantly than these words from our Lord.
John 15:12-13
12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
Verse 12 presents a problem from time to time.
“Don’t sit there with your smug religious attitude. Thinking that you haven’t had a problem loving someone in the way Christ loves you.” LOL
I say this with a humorous tone. I would suspect that all of us humans have met someone in our life that presented us with a challenge. The challenge being, how will I love this person, like Christ loved me.
Just so you know, God most likely puts these people in our lives from time to time, to teach us. He is teaching us to look beyond personalities and see people like He sees them.
Teaching us to forgive, as He forgives. “Forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
In verse 13 our Lord really raised the bar. He loved us so much that He gave His life for us.
Love was never meant to be used as a tool to hurt and confuse people. I hear those 5 famous words, taken out of context all the time. People will say they have the right to condemn others because they are, “speaking the truth in love.”
This approach has turned more people away from Christ, than it has ever brought to Him.
Jesus also said this.
John 3:16-17
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
Note. God sent His Son because He loved. The Son didn’t come to judge, He came to save. Why?
BECAUSE HE LOVED.
I have a passion for this. With all my heart I believe that when you reveal God’s love to a sinner it becomes a seed in their heart. It will grow as it is watered, and will reach a season where this soul can be harvested.
It is so much easier to embrace someone that loves you.
This is why 8000 souls came to Christ in the 1st few chapters of Acts.
Peter preached the story of Jesus. The sin He recognized was simply unbelief. All sin stems from that same principle today. People don’t believe that God loves them, because many times the message is one of judgment and condemnation.
It is not God’s anger, but His goodness, that leads men to repentance.
The Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthian church chapter 12 had some great instruction for the church. He taught on spiritual gifts and the function of the body of Christ. Ending with the function of ministry and spiritual gifts as well.
Then He made this statement.
1 Corinthians 12:31
But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.
That excellent is found in its’ entirety in Chapter 13. I will close with the first and last verse. Read the whole chapter when you get a chance.
1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Be blessed as you follow Christ and remember this.
#lovewins and #hopelives
In His Image
In His Image
I am so thankful for Amazing Life Church. I love what God is doing, and the faithfulness of all those who have joined with His purpose.
It is my sincere belief that God is positioning this church, along with specific individuals within, to bring change to the world.
Everyone has a place in the process. No wall of conquest will stand attack, if there is a break in it.
Last week some thoughts came to mind that weren’t in my notes. I remember saying that God believes in you, even if you don’t believe in yourself. That prompted me to find some reasons why God believes in you.
Psalms 8:1-9
1 O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
2 From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries,
To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?
5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!
6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
7 All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field,
8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!
David understood Kingdom authority and dominion. Would God give us that kind of power and authority if He did not believe in us. Believe that with faith and confidence in Him, we can do all things.
This is David talking. Where did he get this idea? How about the voice of God?
Genesis 1:26-27
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Now we understand that like Him, in His image, to mean His character. His dominion. His authority.
God believes in us, because He made us in His image. Not only that, He made us with the capacity to be like Him.
Why are we afraid to accept this? There are probably two significant answers. 1St, we don’t feel worthy. That is across the board. David did not feel worthy.
The solution is not becoming worthy, we never will. The solution for this answer is faith. Believing what God said.
“He Believes in us”
The second thing we fear is accountability. Some people in ministry fear accountability so much they will not even accept the title for the role they have acknowledged in the church.
I have heard a lot about revival lately. It is always associated with the lost being saved. That is absolutely a result of great revivals. It is however, not how true revival begins.
Dead and dying churches, with a dead message, catch the eye of God. People who are tired of seeing the world get their loved ones because a message of death is more important than life.
These saints begin to pray. There is usually a small nucleus of prayer warriors in churches everywhere. Their prayers move in synergy with people that have prayed these same heart felt prayers for generations.
Revival will begin with repentance. Repentance within the church, for their failure to tell the story of Jesus. Wrapped up in their pride, and complacency. Neglecting their community. Neglecting the supernatural. This process has happened many times over the history of the church.
Revival is the catalyst to make the church relevant again. Focusing on the mission of the Gospel. Embracing our communities, and the world with the love and grace of God.
Being the light and salt we were called and anointed to be.
Back to Genesis. In His image.
Sin became an obstacle to this kind of authority. Yet there were instances throughout the OT where men and women of God walked in Kingdom authority. How about today?
“God still believes in us”
2 Corinthians 5:16-18
16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled,(return to favor) us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. (Literally, means exchange.)
Our relationship will help others make the exchange as well.
Colossians 1:19-22
19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,
20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.
“Reconcile and reconciled, brought back to former state of harmony.”
If you have followed Christ, you are walking, “In His Image.”
There is a call for the power of prayer, and the constant need for humility.
God believes in you!!! Will you believe in yourself?
#lovewins #hopelives
Not in Vain
Not in Vain
Much is being said today about the church and its influence in the world. Many are expecting a revival in America. I have been praying, along with others for several years, that an awakening would move across this land.
It is needed. People are often confused about revival. Revival is for the church. Of course in great revivals people will come to know Christ as their Savior. Still, it comes, God sends it, when the church is found in repentance for the darkness it has embraced.
When I speak of darkness, I simply mean that often the light of Christ is diminished in the church world. With all the hate filled rhetoric streaming from pulpits. Diving into the politics of the world. Fighting over theology and interpretation.
The only message that will change a heart is shrouded in the darkness of opinion and anger.
Of course this is not true across the board. Even those caught in this web of darkness are good people. Still they move forward with the whims of the majority, and leave behind the most important story from the Bible.
The story of Jesus. His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
I know, if you have read one of my blogs, or one of many Facebook posts, you have heard this before.
I see an awesome change taking place in ministry.
Change is occurring in the message from many pulpits and organizations across this awesome country.
Jesus is alive. He loves everyone. You can not live like you want when you come to Christ. We know that, and teach that.
Over the years I have come to realize that people will change when they know they are loved.
When you convince someone of the great love that God has for them. When they embrace it, things will change. People will repent and turn to follow Christ.
I love the church. Still we must be aware of the influence we embrace. The message we give. The church must be willing to repent.
Repent from such things as growing cold in our praise and prayer. Repent for our lack of forgiveness, and our religious self righteousness.
Repent for rejecting the needs of our community. Even if all you can do is pray. You must shine in the place that God has planted you.
Somehow from the very beginning I moved away from my original thoughts. Still, they have become relevant now.
Over 2000 years the church has weathered every storm. From persecutions, poverty, religion, disease.
It has never been perfect, “only in heart”. Still we move forward in glory at times. At other times in repentance.
With our ups and our downs we keep moving. Shining the light of Christ. The light that reveals His love for us, and our need for Him.
Paul gave the Corinthian church this encouragement.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
I love this stuff.
Have a blessed day and keep on working for the Lord. Some plant, some water, some reap. Everyone has a part in this wonderful movement.
The church of our Lord Jesus Christ.
#lovewins #hopelives
Consider Your Calling
Consider Your calling
Many times people find themselves struggling over their role in the Kingdom of God. Often the struggle they have is determining what their role is.
Most want to do something to further the Gospel, and there are many possibilities.
There are two things that every Christian must embrace to further the Kingdom, and build God’s church.
I can not say that one of these is more important than the other. Here they are.
Pray. Prayer is our connection with the Father. Maintaining that connection is paramount in defining our role, and holding up others in their roles as Christians. What ever your place in ministry or life. Prayer must be the focus daily.
Consistent, persistent prayer is key to knowing the purpose of God for your life. It will also move the hand of God to work in other lives that you intercede in prayer for.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always;
17 pray without ceasing;
18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
The second principle we must embrace is telling our story. Throughout the ages, from Apostles to church fathers. From the average Christian to those in five fold ministry, the story of Jesus is the catalyst for building the church. Local and global.
Telling about Jesus. His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension, is the story that built the early church.
Telling your story, what He has done for you , is the one on one principle that changes lives for Christ.
I know this sounds simple, and it is. Yet there are many who have moved away from this most effective way to build the church.
Instead, preaching punishment and fear.
Some people say that preaching Jesus is an attempt to placate people. Nothing is further from the truth.
Jesus did not die on the cross to fill the caverns of hell as many proclaim. He died that we might live for ever in the Kingdom of God.
Christ was driven by an altruism. We must have the same heart as He did. An unselfish desire to change our world and bring hope and peace to people who live in darkness.
The only way to cancel darkness is to turn on the light.
I will close these short thoughts , as your consider your calling with some words from the Apostle Paul.
1 Corinthians 1:26-30
26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;
27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,
29 so that no man may boast before God.
30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
Have a great day.
#lovewins #hopelives #bewise
Seasoned For Your Purpose
Seasoned For Your Purpose
God is a good God. It is His goodness that leads people to repentance. His goodness moves us to walk in His purpose for our lives.
Knowing that His love is everlasting and unconditional. This kind of assurance should propel us forward into a close, and even closer relationship with Him.
I love the Lord, and I love the church. This one, and everyone, that exists to further the Gospel and declare the wonders of God.
It is His story that drives me, not mine. I am not called to promote myself. I am called to shine His light.
I want to share some thoughts titled, “Seasoned For Your Purpose”
Mark 9:38-42 NASB
38 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.”
39 But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.
40 For he who is not against us is for us.
41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.
42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.
I think what stands out to me in these passages, is the Lord’s complete confidence in those who believe in Him.
Even declaring how important these little, unknown servants are, and the harsh rebuke those who offended them would receive.
In the next few verses, Mark 43-48 there comes a stern warning. I will summarize.
If you hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. If your eye causes you to stumble, pull it out. Better to enter into the Kingdom of God with one hand, or one foot, or one eye. Than to have both, and enter into hell.
Pretty tough. What is He really saying?
I believe that Jesus is emphasizing the importance of three things that occur in our lives, most everyday.
What we touch, where we go, and what we see.
When God gave instruction to Adam and Eve about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, He said this. In Genesis 3:3. “You shall not eat from it, or touch it, or you will die.”
He threw them out of the Garden. Commanded them to work the ground from which they came.
What you touch matters. Today it has a much broader meaning.
The Lord told Joshua this.
Joshua 1:3 NASB
Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.
Where you walk is your inheritance. Where you go matters.
Psalms 26:12 NASB
My foot stands on a level place; In the congregations I shall bless the Lord.
Psalms 94:18 NASB
If I should say, “My foot has slipped,” Your lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up.
Where your feet take you matters!!
It matters what you see. Jesus said this.
Matthew 6:22-23 NASB
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.
23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
What you touch,where you walk, and what you see.
I want to go back to Mark 9 and read the last two verses. The Lord shared these warnings for our good. Following these principles will strengthen our faith and our relationship with Him. Christ ended the chapter this way.
Mark 9:49-50 NASB
49 “For everyone will be salted with fire.
50 Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
When we go through trials we are being salted in preservation. Not only for our lives. We are called to share this process with everyone.
When we follow Christ we begin a process. Our lives, thoughts, and actions are being refined. Changed, if you will to align with the will and purpose of God.
That process must also be the catalyst that makes us the light of the world. Sharing our story. The things we have conquered. The things that have preserved us for the Kingdom.
Don’t minimize your story. It will be the salt that changes another.
Our success generates success in others. That is the process of being salted.
Matthew 5:13 NASB
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
Colossians 4:6 NASB
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
“What we touch, where we go, what we see, salts our world with the love and grace of God.”
We are seasoned for purpose.
What about your purpose?
#lovewins #hopelives
Fear of Accountability
Fear of Accountability
Did you ever know someone who just couldn’t make a decision. No matter how hard you pressed they would never say yes or no. Never acknowledge their role in church or anything else.
The fear of making decisions, and acknowledging your purpose is generally tied to the fear of accountability.
I am no therapist. The conclusions I speak of are drawn from life experiences.
Early on in my Christian life I feared taking a position in church. Could I handle it? Was it God’s will? These questions and more arose because I was not yet sure of my role in the Kingdom of God.
I felt His call upon my life, but what did He really want.
With a lot of prayer and support from people who knew more than I did. I began to accept the responsibility of ministry and even the titles that go along with it.
Then that dreaded consequence came. Accountability.
Making mistakes is a given as we walk through life. Decisions made hastily, without prayer and consultation.
Whatever role you have in church, business, and life, there are consequences for the decisions you make. You will likely be held accountable for them.
Pastors and other ministries deal with this everyday. At least those who have accepted their role, and believe that they have a responsibility to their people, along with accountability to them and God as well.
Back to decisions. I want to share a couple of points from the book, “Futuring by Dr. Sam Chand.”
I highly recommend his books. Read everyone you can get your hands on. They are filled with relevant and important information on leadership and the church.
{1st-There are no future decisions. Only present decisions with future consequences.
This helps us connect today with tomorrow.
2nd-Most of today’s problems were yesterday’s decisions.
This helps us slow down in the decision making process.
Finally, Action takes place in the present, but it points towards the future.}
Awesome words from Dr. Sam Chand.
When we take the time to pray, seek counsel. Decisions become far less fearful to make. The fear of accountability will lose its hold on you.
Still there are those who will never acknowledge the role they are in. I will never really understand why.
When God called me to Pastor I have to be honest and admit I was afraid.
After so many years of being a youth leader, associate Pastor, teacher. After helping plant 3 churches in another area, 2 of which still exist. One for more than 30 years. The responsibility for this one was all on me, and my wonderful wife Betty.
What was my fear? It was accountability. Would it work, because I am not from this area? Would people come. Would we be relevant and useful to the community.
I want to be clear on something. Betty and I started Amazing Life Church from scratch. Our first service we had around 13 people. Only one was from another church, and He just came that one time for support.
We did not befriend people all over the county that went to other churches, only to get them to come to ours when we opened.
It was an act of faith. Propped up with courage, and a calling to fulfill God’s purpose for Betty and I, and our community.
God has blessed us with great people over the years. We are in our 14th year. This July will be the 10th year of our back to school bash. To this point we have put 3,800 backpacks in the hands of needy children. Along with school supplies and other items we could obtain.
So the question I asked myself when we felt the call, would we be relevant, was answered. Giving God the glory always.
My final thought is this. With God’s help and grace, Betty and I are accountable to God, ALC, and our community. It is a joy to listen to the voice of God as He directs, and fulfills.
Just so you know what this amazing lady looks like. I have included a picture in this post.
Have a great day. Be blessed as you follow Christ.
#lovewins #hopelives
Let us Pray
Let us Pray
I wanted to share some thoughts today on prayer. The kind of heartfelt prayer that moves the hand of God.
Prayer, prayed in the desert. The dry places of your life.
Prayer prayed in the garden, when you are facing your greatest trial.
Prayer prayed in your secret place, when your heart breaks for a loved one or friend. Helpless to meet their need, and knowing that only God can.
Over the years I have come to believe that prayer and passion must come together. Praying with an urgency. Someone you love needs help.
Praying with much love, for our world and our communities. Praying that God would move in our land, and in our churches. Love moves our hearts to break for the sins of the world. When this happens we must be moved to pray.
Jesus taught us to pray this way.
Matthew 6:9-13
9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread.
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’
Before I go further take note of verse 12.
You are asking God to treat you, like you treat others.
Jesus taught us to pray with Kingdom in mind. Pray with Kingdom authority. Prayer that will align us with God’s will.
Not prayer for God to align His will with ours. (Oh, I am sorry, did I say that?)
We should pray with the understanding that we will likely have to wait for the answer. If you have read the Bible you understand that.
With that said, we must be consistent in our prayers. Steadfast in the vision that God has given. Unwavering in faith, and confident that God will answer.
We live in a right now culture. In other words, God I need you to do this right now.
Often we feel discouraged, even let down, if the answer doesn’t come when we want it.
We must understand that God sees every event in our lives. He positions us. Prepares us to fulfill our purpose.
There are times when a need requiring prayer seems urgent. In need of an immediate answer. Someone is sick, facing a serious illness. We pray for healing.
A job is opening up that must be filled in a few days. We pray for God’s favor. Many times these urgent prayers will be answered.
Let me tell you why I believe that occurs. It is my sincere belief that these prayers are piggy backed on the faithful consistent prayers we have prayed every day. I know that seems to be an over simplification.
I believe that God honors our faithfulness to pray. When we are praying broadly, for our world, our region and community. When we pray consistently for God to move in our community. Praying for the harvest of souls. The anointing for ministry.
On and on. The unselfish prayers that we pray for others. The prayers of humility. Giving Him praise for what He has already done. In prayer worshiping Him for who He is.
He is a good God and He loves His children.
He will not always give us what we want.
He will always give us what is best for us. The answer that will move us forward in our purpose. Making a difference in our world.
Paul said this in several of his letters.
We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers.
Take notice of the word always. Remember to always pray. Pray with passion, In Jesus name.
Blessings to you.
#lovewins #hopelives.
It Is Worth The Wait
It Is Worth the Wait
It has been an awesome week. With all the things I have to get done I am making better use of my time. I am not there yet, I am however at least thinking about managing my time better.
I love it when those steeped in religion get a little upset about my take on the Gospel. With a very humble heart, I am reminded of the way the followers of religion treated Jesus.
He loved and respected all the people. He ministered to the poor and afflicted, along with the elite Jews and the Roman centurion. The diseased and the healthy.
He is truly no respecter of persons.
I want to begin with a familiar story found in Isaiah.
Isaiah 40:27-31
27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God”?
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.
29 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.
30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly,
31 Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
The first couple of scriptures is a complaint. Where is God? Why is it taking so long?
Then the prophet begins to talk about the strength and faithfulness of God. He reminds us that we grow weary but God does not.
Then there is verse 31.
Isaiah 40:31
Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
The word wait from the Hebrew means, “look for, hope, expect, wait or look eagerly for.”
The word gain, or renew in the KJV means, “to pass through, go through, grow up, and change.”
These few passages tell a story.
“They represent the collision of an unwearied God, and a fainting man.”
Paul shared in one verse a similar message to the Corinthian Church.
2 Corinthians 4:16
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
God is always working. “Don’t lose heart.”
As Jesus was about to ascend He left this command.
Acts 1:4
Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me.
The word wait from the Greek simply means, to wait for.
It is believed that they waited approx. 10 days in the upper room. In prayer before the fire of the Holy Spirit fell on them, and filled them.
“The things of God are worth waiting for.”
Luke 2:25-32
25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,
28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
In study I found some things about Simeon that interested me. His Father, Hillel, was a great Jewish scholar who founded the school of interpretation of the Law.
It is believed that Simeon had a son named Gamaliel who was the scholar who taught Paul the Law. In the middle of two renown students and teachers of the Law, a man who knew the law very well Himself. This Simeon, was looking for the Messiah.
This was not unusual. Every Jew wanted to see the Messiah. In fact, in the Jews daily prayers they prayed this. “May I see the consolation of Israel.”
The word see, from the Greek has several meanings. “To have sight, to look down, to look up, to see clearly.”
Luke 2:25 NASB
And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
Consolation means, “a calling near, exhortation, supplication, entreaty.”
Rabbis of the day used the word to define Messianic Salvation. They called the Messiah, the consoler, and the comforter.
The word looking, or waiting in the KJV is translated from the Greek word, pros-dekh’-om-ahee.
It means, to receive to one’s self, to admit in, to give access to one’s self. Used to expect: the fulfillment of promise.
All the Jews wanted to see Him. Few of them wanted to receive Him, embrace Him.
Verse 27 says that Simeon came in the Spirit to the Temple.
Even then God was directing those who wanted more than just to see Him. Simeon wanted to embrace Him.
I don’t want to just see Him.
I am looking for Him. Trusting in Him. Believing in His promises.
Have an amazing week. Blessed in the Spirit and favor of God.
#lovewins #hopelives