High Thinking

Colossians 3:1-2  - "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth."  

The mind is an awesome instrument of God. Yet He places it in frail humans. We are given control over what we think and how we react to those thoughts.  Mental images flood our mind, often driven by those things we chose to observe with our eyes and ears.  That is why Paul taught so strongly of the importance of keeping our minds focused on God and His Kingdom.  

Science says that we use only about 10% of our mental ability.  That's probably a good thing when it comes to the things of God, because we surely would be unable to comprehend the vastness of His love for us.  I Corinthians 2:9 says, "...Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."  Yet we all too often choose to dwell on those things which cause us the most pain and sorrow.  Yes, they are a part of life, but so is Heaven.  And soon this life will be over and Heaven's never-ending joy will consume us. 

So when you mind turns to thoughts uncomfortable, ask the Holy Spirit to help you look on things of God, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured His cross...and yours.  (Hebrews 12:2)

The Gifts

Well, the greens are hung, the first Advent candle has been lit, and the Christmas parade is tonight.  There will be fire trucks, police cars, bands, dancers, floats of all kinds, plenty of candy to catch, and of course, Santa Clause. Next week we'll have special suppers and performances, another Advent candle to light and messages about the coming of the Christ Child.  As we draw even closer to the big day, the shopping frenzy kicks in as diving prices and pushy kids make our trips to the store even more frustrating. We have worked feverishly to make sure everything is just right for the big day; that everyone gets just what they want and that it is wrapped properly. Hopefully, we have accomplished our task of pleasing everyone with our efforts.

The giving of gifts dates back obviously to the visit of the Magi at the home of Christ.  Yes, their gifts were well chosen and pricey.  But that was okay, because the only one receiving gifts that night was the child.  Mary, Joseph, their relatives and friends...no one else got a thing.  All attention was centered on the young child Jesus.  Much effort and sacrifice was made to get the gifts to him.  And the gifts were personally suited for His divine nature.  There were no returns, no exchanges, no "didn't fit" excuses.

If we were to chose to give our best gift first to Christ this Christmas, what would it be?  A monetary gift through the church, a supply of goods for a needy family, an offer of service to someone less fortunate...any of these would be worthy of the Christ.  He truly is the Reason for the Season. So let's just make sure we make Him the recipient of that best gift.  Whatever that may be, give it to Him with love from your heart and all the other gifts you give and receive will have much better meaning.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Thanksgiving Wishes

MAY THE JOYS OF FAMILY, FEASTING

AND FELLOWSHIP

ENHANCE THE CELEBRATION OF GOD'S GOODNESS TO US ALL

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE

Life's Storms

As I write this, Hurricane Sandy is crashing into the Mid and Northern Atlantic seaboard, causing major havoc in places like Washington, DC, the New Jersey coast, and New York City.  Mandatory evacuations have been ordered and major flooding is expected in areas that have never experienced such before.  Subways and commuter buses, railways and tunnels have all been shut down and schools are closed as people prepare for this super storm. Fifty million people will be in it's path. Twelve to fifteen million people have been told to stay at home to prevent more tragic results. Politicians have cancelled their campaign stops, the President has returned to the White House to keep a close watch on the devastation and to give the orders for disaster relief workers to move in on the heels of the storm.

Storms are a part of life.  The ability to survive the impact is determined by the preparations we have made.  While nature's storms call for a build-up of provisions and necessary essentials, there are many other storms that require different types of preparedness.  Storms of the heart call for the assurance of love from others; storms of the mind call for constant reminders of the goodness of God; storms of uncertainty call for a long look into the Word to find places where God's abiding presence is made real. The turbulent winds of our health require a knowledge of God's desire to heal. Fear and loneliness are best encountered when we realize that we are never alone.

Maintenance workers, clean-up crews and utility teams will certainly have their hands full for the next week or two.  Hurricane Sandy is sure to leave a huge mess in places that have been unscathed by such storms before.  But while these crews are prepared, they still must wait until the storm is over before they can begin the clean-up process.  When personal storms hit our lives, God is already at work.  We must simply open His Word to discover ways of coping with our disaster.  Two of the greatest passages that give us hope are Psalm 23 and John 14:1-6.  Here are a few more...


Isaiah 12:2
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. (NIV)

Isaiah 49:13
Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. (NIV)

Isaiah 57:1-2Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die.

Jeremiah 1:8
"Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

Lamentations 3:25
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;

Micah 7:7
But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Mark 5:36
Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, "Don't be afraid; just believe."

Luke 12:7
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

John 14:1
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 16:7
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Hebrews 13:6

So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"


Stay safe and know that God loves you!

Right Here

It is a beautiful early fall day as I make my way to the office.  My usual fast-food breakfast stop adds a new twist this morning as I run into an old high school classmate that I haven't seen since graduation some 43 years ago.  My normal five minute stop turns into a 45 minute reunion. We talk about old times, catch up on each other's lives, the children, grandchildren and such. It is almost as if we had lived on the same block. Then, as fast as we had met, we depart again into our own little worlds, vowing to stay in touch.  Will we ever see each other again?  Who knows...but chances are we will cross paths somewhere; after all we live just four miles apart.

Often we treat Jesus that way.  In the daily routine of our lives we sometimes bump into Him.  It may have been a while since the two of us communicated, but now circumstances have brought us face to face again.  We feel the need to remind Him of our past and current situation, hoping He will understand why we have not  called.  Soon we feel comfortable, like old friends with Him.  But then, as quickly as life brought us together, we turn and depart. We vow to "stay in touch" while He says, "I'm right here; call me."  Not fully understanding the location of "right here" we struggle down life's pathway.  Sure enough, there comes a time when we need Him again.  We call and discover that "right here" is closer than we expected.

Isn't it great to have a friend like Jesus!

Don't Even Think About It!

A few days ago I came home after a very long and tiring day.  I got a cold glass of tea and headed straight for my recliner.  As I approached the living room, I heard a small voice say, "Papa, don't sit there; don't even think about sitting in that chair!" It was the demanding voice of my 4-year old granddaughter as she came diving into the seat. I explained that I was very tired and needed my chair, but she would have nothing to do with my explanation.  "I'm watching cartoons and this is my chair now!"

Needless to say, I was laughing inside but tried to appear furious outside.  It didn't work.  I found myself foolishly arguing with a 4-year old. . .and losing.  And the more I argued, the madder I got.  Having lost the confrontation, I stomped my way back to my bedroom to lie down.  My wife finally came in and reminded me of how ridiculous I had appeared.  I sat up on the bed and saw a beautiful head of golden hair just off to my side.  My granddaughter looked up at me and said, "Papa, you can sit in my chair if I can sit in your lap."  Of course I melted like butter at the equator. We both went into the living room, she crawled up in my lap and I was reaching for the remote when I heard, "Papa, don't even think of changing that channel!"

The still small voice of God so often speaks to us as we search for comfort and peace in our busy lives.  He not only is willing to share our good times, but is also willing to offer an encouraging word and a strong arm in our times of greatest need.  We can rest in the shelter of His love as He speaks to us about our day, our tomorrow and our life in general.  Rest in the arms of Jesus. . .but leave the remote alone.  Let Him be in control.

God alone is our "still small voice."  (I Kings 19:12)

ASK !

My body aches; my mind is confused; my heart is torn; I don't know what to do!

Why is that I can muster the strength, courage and wisdom to pray for someone else, but when I need prayer, I find it difficult to impossible to express my self to God?  Well, here are some thoughts about a few people from the Bible who found the ability to ask from God, and received life-changing answers.

Ask the woman reaching through the crowd to touch Him, how it felt to finally be so pure and clean.

Ask the blind man what it's like to see a sunrise; Ask the lame man how it feels to walk again.

Ask the leper to describe his brand new body; Ask the dumb to speak in words so loud and clear.

Ask the hungry to explain the marriage supper; Ask the deaf about that new sound in his ear.

Ask the woman at the well receiving water filled with life; Ask the widow from the little town of Nain.

From inside a dark and lonely tomb where death once held command;
                    Ask Lazarus what it's like to live again.

Ask the sinner how it feels to have his sins all wash away
                   by the blood that flowed down Calvary's mountainside;

And he'll tell you of a peace that fills his weary, troubled soul,
                  when in the Rock of Ages he can hide.

So no matter what you're facing come tomorrow; when you feel alone and just can't make it through;

There is one who knows about your pain and sorrow;

Ask the Lord to lay His healing hand on you.


My prayers are with you.  Will you pray for me?

Good Words to Great Leaders

Psalm 121:1  "I look up to the mountains  -  does my help come from there?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." (NLT)

A few weeks ago, I participated in what will probably be my final week of summer camp. It is time for the younger generation, who has a closer connection to the mind and heart of kids, to take the reins of leadership. I am going to miss my duties as preacher, teacher, musician, life coach, counselor, bus driver, and clown.  I will especially miss the moments on the front porch talking into the early morning hours with teenagers who are struggling to understand life. I'll miss the wonderful nights of worship and campfires where we have seen hundreds come to know Christ.  I'll miss the beautiful sounds of childhood laughter as friends spend quality time together, and the late night rap sessions with other counselors...in the kitchen. (You knew there would have to be food involved in my sorrow somewhere!)

To the new leaders, your responsibility now becomes much greater.  You must set the standards of quality ministry for which this week has always been known. And that standard will never be higher than the life you live during the other 51 weeks of your year.  You are not the shining stars, the talented wonders, the magnificent teachers; rather you are the builders of young lives, the encouragers of future dreams, the strengtheners of youthful faith, the menders of childhood mistakes, performing your calling while standing on the solid foundation of the Word of God.  

For many of your kids, this week is the only spiritual encounter they have during the year.  Always be aware of and ready to listen to their hurts, their dreams, wishes, desires and hopes.  To you, their words may sound trite and unrealistic.  But remember, as Bryant has always said, "It's not about you...it's all about the kids and their future with Jesus.   Never forget that you were once a kid looking for something yourself.  My generation assisted you.  So help your kids to find what you now possess.   Always point them to Someone a little higher up.  They are looking for what you have found. 

Love you all,
Buddy

Handling Adversity

This week's devotional comes from Mrs. Terry Ford of the Little Rock OFWB Church in Lucama, NC.  

Do not be afraid of sudden panic or of the storm that strikes the wicked; for the Lord will be your confidence.  Proverbs 3:25-26.

My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble.  James 1:2

Having Trouble – On the surface it may seem like a contradiction to be happy when we are in trouble.  Why would we be happy when things aren’t going our way?  God understands this.  But He also wants us to begin to see things from his perspective.  In the Bible, we read the story of Paul and Silas, who were beaten and thrown into prison.  Rather than get depressed, they threw a party.  While singing songs of joy, an earthquake loosened their chains and threw open the prison door.  Moments later, the prison guard was on his knees before them asking them how to get what they had.  What did they have?  They had God’s eternal perspective on their temporary troubles.

God shows undeserved kindness to everyone…You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm.  I Peter 5:10.

Beep, Beep, Beep

This morning my awakening was the closing scene of a dream.  I don't remember all of the assorted details of the dream; I was lying down to rest after a day of rigorous activity which included grand-kids, golf balls, balloons, a fishing pole and a yard rake.  (I know, don't ask...I'll try to lay off the Chinese food for a while!)  As quickly as I laid my head on the pillow, I heard the distinctive beep, beep, beep of a dump truck in reverse.  The beep was my alarm clock, the dump truck was my granddaughter using the bed for a trampoline. Suddenly I found myself having some morning fun time with my 3-year old princess.


Often our daily lives appear to be just as garbled.  There seems to be little meaning in what we do and fewer rewards for our accomplishments.  We try to rest and put those days behind us only to be awaken by the call and confusion of yet another day. But there is a solution.  While we are not really able to control our dreams, we can control much of what comes into our mind when we are awake.  Colossians 3:2 instructs us to think on the things which are above, those Heavenly things of God, and not on the things of earth, the fears, frustrations and agonies of everyday life. And while we cannot always control our circumstances, we can control how we respond to them.  


As we start our new day, let's make a conscious effort to respond positively to the unforeseen, yet unalterable situations of life.  Proceed with confidence through your day, knowing that God is marking your pathway and guiding your footsteps.  And when you lay down tonight may you rest in the comforting knowledge of His presence...but watch out for dump trucks, and lay off the Chinese food!!

Defining Worship

John 4:24  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

Grant Ethridge of Hampton, Virginia* tells of an old deacon who once prayed, "Lord, please let something happen today that is not printed in the bulletin."  It is the desire of God that we worship Him with our inner most self.  Rituals, formality and traditions are all good as they point us to the unchanging nature of God.  However, I believe it is in the heart of God that we allow our spirits to interact with His during this process we call church.

In comments on John 4:24, Ethridge states that, "Some churches have enthusiasm without truth."  It is important that our worship offers our praise and adoration of God and not just a display of someone else's  talents.  The congregation is looking for a Word from Heaven, not Hollywood.  When we worship with our spirits touching God's Spirit, the result will be an emotional acknowledgment of His majesty.  Otherwise we will have an hour of frustrated exercise that leaves souls tired, yet still hungry.

As we step into our pulpits or settle into our pews next Sunday, let's make sure we are truly seeking an encounter with God.  He knows our needs, wants and desires...and when we have prepared ourselves to receive, He is more than willing to give.  If you are a preacher, preach the Word.  If you are a hearer, receive the Word.  Then, when the "worship service" is over, take what you have preached and what you have heard and worship Him in spirit, truth and deed every day

*Devotional Prayer Book, page 141.  C. 2009 Thomas Nelson, Inc. ISBN-13: 9778-1-4041-1394-7

A New Day

Have you ever worked hard and long to prepare for a big event?  Then the day came, the activity took place, excitement filled the air, hearts were stirred, people were motivated......and then it was over.  The music died, the crowd drifted away, the lights were dimmed, and nothing was left but the clean-up.  The event had been a tremendous success, people seemed excited and happy, there were plenty of smiles, hugs and handshakes...everything was great!  That is until the reality of tomorrow sets in.  Life goes on even when the party's over.  With the rising sun will come another day filled with a totally different activity.  It's called "work."

It is truly amazing how God weaves into our daily lives those moments of excitement and even mirth. Yet surrounding each festive occasion are the days of toil and responsibility left to us by Adam, our earthly father.  And so we must live our lives groping for the few opportunities to forget our troubles and be happy, or we can choose to receive each day as a gift from God, remembering His Word in Psalm 118:24; "This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

Hey, come on  -  SMILE!! Yeah, the party may be over...but His Light is still shining and a brand new day has begun. Enjoy it!

Entering God's Will

You know God is speaking to you, through His Word, during prayer, in a sermon or conversation with a friend,  but you just need that extra little convincing before you turn your thoughts into action.  And that is not always easy to do.  Sometimes when the voice of God is determined, we have to make the decision to listen and obey or hear it and retreat. Let's look at a few characters from the Scriptures to determine how they responded to the voice of God.

Noah  -  Built the ark, preached for 120 years with no converts except his family, and was ridiculed by the masses the whole time...but he and his family alone survived the great flood.

Abraham  -  Left the land of Ur, a place of comfort to him, to go to an unknown place, displaying total obedience to God.  He became the Father of the Jewish nation.

David  -  Fought Goliath, flirted with Bathsheba, murdered her husband, had his sin exposed and repented, and became a man after God's own heart.

Peter  -  Often opened mouth and inserted foot, denied Christ 3 times, yet preached on the day of Pentecost where 1000's received salvation.

Jesus - yes, Jesus.  In his flesh he cried out for God to remove the pain of death from the cross...but submitted to the will of God.

Sometimes we simply need to exit our will and desires so that God's will can take control of our lives.

Luke 22:42

Working for God with Enjoyment

This week the 100th Annual Session of the Original Free Will Baptist Convention meets to conduct the business of this great denomination.  Our history is filled with great men and women of God who have given there lives in the service of the King. They have also left those of us who remain a tremendous heritage to love and appreciate.  The theme for our week is "Working for God with Enjoyment" (I Peter 4:13  -  "But rejoice, since you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.").

We will relive some of that history through pictures, videos, sermons, workshops and fellowship with those who have lived it; but we will also cast our vision for the future in the hopes that those in attendance will reach out and catch the excitement of young men and women who are beginning to make their mark in the history of the church.  Join us if you can.  

Are you excited about your future?  Does your vision for tomorrow include fellowship with and inspiration from God?  Are you grateful for the life He has given you and the opportunities you have had to serve Him?  If so, let's share our heritage with those following, and do so with the kind of enthusiasm and reality that will inspire the next generation to work for God with enjoyment as well.

Mom! Mom!

Hey, Mom, I'm home!  What's for supper?  Have you washed my new jeans yet?  Did Susie call?  Mom!  Mom!

I guess every mother that has raised a family has heard those shouts from her children as they come in from school, play or work.  I see two very significant thoughts in the bleating of the babies.  First, there is the fact that you, mom, are needed.  The shouts are just an acknowledgment of the need.  And that need is constant, whether you are a stay-at-home mom or one who goes to an outside job everyday.  The kids see your time as a valuable commodity as long as it doesn't "hold up the show."  After all, Johnny has got to have his jeans.  And although they don't say it often enough, they really do approve of your presence.  The empty supper plate may have to be proof enough for now.

The second thought is that you, mom, really care.  You wouldn't be chef, chauffeur, maid, and mom if you didn't care. Even when the frustrating moments of motherhood swoop in like a dark cloud, you still care. When the kids, and dad, take you for granted, you still care.  When the afternoon nap is interrupted by the call of the soccer field, you still care.  When everyone else's needs have to be met before even considering yours, you still care.  And that's why you are "MOM".  We do love you, even though you hardly ever hear it.  Thanks, mom, for being there for us, and for caring.  You remind us of what Jesus must have been like...full of special love.

And one more thing mom...while you're up would you get me a sandwich...and some tea!

Jesus - The Servant

Have you ever felt as though your work for God has gone unnoticed and unheeded?  Do you find yourself physically, mentally and spiritually drained with nothing to show for your efforts?  Well, lift up your head...you are not alone.  Jesus Christ felt the same way, and it's recorded long before His incarnation and His crucifixion.

Isaiah 49:1-7 is a stirring account of how the Son of God dealt with His agony eons before it ever took place.  His preparation brought Him power and protection while His humanity listened to His valid complaints.  Yet His love-driven task was to provide opportunity for Israel, and us, to be restored to fellowship with God.  As a result He has been crowned King of Kings and is the object of the Christian's worship.

The desired direction of your service to God and mankind was known to Him long before your were created.  In John 15:16, Jesus says to his disciples, "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain..."  Our call to servanthood is a call to be like Christ...servants to Him and one another, bearers of fruit, and more than conquerors in Jesus' army.

Be blessed, O servant of God!

What If?

Matthew 28:20  "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

What if, God couldn't take time to bless you today because we couldn't take time to thank Him yesterday?

What if God decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we didn't follow Him today?

What if we never saw another flower bloom because we grumbled when God sent the rain?

What if God didn't talk to us today because we failed to recognize it as His day?

What if God took away our Bible today because we did not read it yesterday?

What if God took away his message because we failed to listen to His messenger?

What if God didn't send His only begotten Son because He wanted us to pay the price for our sin?

What if the door of the church was closed because we did not open the door of our heart?

What if God stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others?

What if God would not hear us today because we would not listen to Him yesterday?

What if God answered our prayers the way we answer His call to service?

What if God met our needs the way we give Him our lives?

--Adapted (Used by permission)

David's Praise

Eugene Peterson proclaims David's praise of God in the following way:

I lift you high in praise, my God, O my King! and I'll bless your name into eternity. I'll bless you every day, and keep it up from now to eternity. God is magnificent; he can never be praised enough. There are no boundaries to his greatness. Generation after generation stands in awe of your work; each one tells stories of your mighty acts. Your beauty and splendor have everyone talking; I compose songs on your wonders. Your marvelous doings are headline news;  I could write a book full of the details of your greatness. The fame of your goodness spreads across the country; your righteousness is on everyone's lips. God is all mercy and grace—not quick to anger, is rich in love. God is good to one and all; everything he does is suffused with grace. Creation and creatures applaud you, God; your holy people bless you.They talk about the glories of your rule, they exclaim over your splendor, Letting the world know of your power for good, the lavish splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is a kingdom eternal; you never get voted out of office.  God always does what he says, and is gracious in everything he does. God gives a hand to those down on their luck, gives a fresh start to those ready to quit. All eyes are on you, expectant; you give them their meals on time. Generous to a fault, you lavish your favor on all creatures. Everything God does is right— the trademark on all his works is love. (Psalm 145:1-17 Msg.)


Now that's the God I want to worship.  That's the God who will take care of me. . .and you.

A Moment I Will Always Remember

Psalm 23  -  "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters, He restoreth my soul..."

He told his daughters, "I just want to go home."  The aged gentleman had just spent two weeks in the hospital with major heart issues.  Each one had been successfully and miraculously corrected, but now his 87-year-old body was shutting down.  As I visited with him it was very evident that he knew of his fate and simply wanted to spend his final hours in the comfort of his own home.

In my years of ministry, I have watched that scene unfold on many occasions.  But this day's visit spoke strongly of God's presence in this brother's life.  As I stood by his bed at the hospital, my reading of Psalm 23 was made more real as I watched his lips move with every word.  As he mouthed the words, "...yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me...", his tightening grip on my hand spoke of his confidence and trust in the power of God.  His weakened but solid "Amen" capped a moment this pastor will never forget.

Days later doctors gave their approval and a transport vehicle made the 45-minute trip to the "green pastures and still waters" so familiar to this servant.  With the medics gone, this God-loving man received blessings from those daughters...and a couple of hours later, from the comfort of his earthly home, angels ushered him into the presence of the Almighty.

I trust that the Lord is your shepherd.  Your journey through the valley of the shadow can be one of peace and comfort, knowing that God is holding you in His arms.  Find your peace today.  Invite Christ into your heart.  It will be a moment you will  remember for eternity.

Wow! He Really Is Alive!!

I doubt if many people will read this...but I believe that some will.  Let's see, doubt becomes belief.  Kinda sounds like a guy named Thomas.

Jesus had visited the disciples on the evening of His resurrection, but Thomas was not among them.  The disciples were excited about seeing the Lord, but Thomas refused to believe unless he could see and touch Him. About a week later Jesus appeared to the disciples again and doubting Tom was present. John 20 records a stirring scene as Jesus calls for Thomas to feel the marks in His hands and side.  Baffled, amazed, yet totally believing Thomas proclaims Christ to be his Lord and his God.  His belief was real and his faith got a good boost of spiritual energy.

Jesus then said that Thomas believed because he saw, but others are blessed because they believe even though they have not seen. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says that "We walk by faith and not by sight."  May we never forget that Christ is alive and though we may not see Him with our eyes, we can know He is near because of our faith in Him and our trust in God's Holy Word.

If Only the Stone Could Speak

People came from miles around just to stand on Calvary's hill.
As Jesus hung there, some cried in despair, "Is this our Father's will?"
Some laughed, some cried as tears filled their eyes, and death won its final race.
As the day turned to gloom, they borrowed a tomb and the great stone was rolled in place.

For two lonely days inside of that grave, Satan laughed at the Father's dear Son;
His body lay cold behind that old stone; Satan knew that a victory was won.
In the garden outside soldiers guarded with pride the great stone that covered the door.
For it still had to hide the war raging inside, but only a few hours more.

On the third day we're told, Mary came from her home to the garden to visit her Lord.
As she walked down the hill in the morning so still her heart cried, yet she spoke not a word.
Then to her surprise, right in front of her eyes sat an angel where Jesus had laid;
It was then that she knew all He told her was true, for the great stone had been rolled away!

If only the stone could speak, what would it say.
What wonders it must have seen with Christ in the grave.
For two lonely days it held our Lord in a tomb;
But on the third day, the stone was rolled away, Heaven's Flower did bloom.

B.Sasser / Ty Corbett  c. 1984,  Four In Christ Quartet Ministries

Sharon's Rose

For the next several weeks, I hope you will enjoy original songs, sans the music, that speak of the Crucifixion, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus.  Be blessed.


SHARON'S ROSE

They led Him to a barren spot, Golgotha was its name;
They nailed Him to a rugged cross and hung Him there in shame.
And from His hands and feet and side, a healing river flowed;
And on His head they placed a crown of thorns upon the Rose.

Our sins are sometimes many, we cause Him so much shame;
But every time we come to him, His love remains the same.
That precious blood can cleanse you purer than the whitest snow,
And cause you to remember all the thorns on Sharon's Rose.

He's the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star;
The precious Son of David, this blessed Child of God.
The stars in all the heavens upon His head will glow.
There'll never be a crown of thorns again on Sharon's Rose.

B. Sasser, Chestnut Mound Music, Inc., c. 1983

The Simplicity of Salvation

John 3:16  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."


Nicodemus, a trusted leader of Israel, came to Jesus to determine who He was and what was His purpose.  He already knew that Jesus had a Godly origin, as he had observed many miracles being performed.  But now he wanted to know more.


When Jesus said, "You must be born again.", Nicodemus had no clue as to what he meant. His great knowledge tried to complicate the process of salvation.  Surely a retreat into your mother's womb for a rebirth was not possible.  Jesus probably smiled as he watched Nicodemus' brow wrinkle with questions.  Jesus then spoke of the undeniable, yet unseen wind, its origin and its destination. If Nicodemus couldn't understand this, how could he understand the ways of God.


O.K.  If I cannot understand the ways of God, how can I be born again.  Herein lies the simplicity.  You don't have to understand it, just accept in your heart this simple truth...Jesus loves you enough to die for you.  He wants you to be His child.  Accept Him as your Savior...and you will be "Born Again."  


Yes, it is just that simple.  Do it today.  

Spring Forward

Well, did you?  If you didn't, its one hour later than you think. Daylight savings time first appeared in the U.S. in 1918 as the government's way of "saving time." The concept was to give America an extra hour of quality daylight. So at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, everyone awoke to run their clocks forward to 3:00 a.m., right?

Time is the one commodity we all have the same amount of.  No matter how you slice the clock, everyone gets 24 hours in a day. Ephesians 5:16 says that we are to "redeem the time...", making the best use of the time we have.  We should use our days to serve God by serving one another, presenting His gospel through our lives.

Luke 19:13 gives the key words to an amazing story, "Occupy 'till I come."  Stay busy, invest what I have given you, make the most of what you have, never give up, walk by faith.  Read the passage and discover how serious God is about how we spend our time. His rewards for our faithfulness are far beyond measure.

So now you have a little extra daylight for a few months.  No more time, just extra light.  Let's make sure we are using those "free" moments being the light of the world (Matthew 5:14) and offering our praise to God for being our Light in this world of darkness.

Power in the Name

I gave the names of our hymns for Sunday to our musicians earlier this week. I then asked my piano player if she could figure out what my message was about. She had no problem answering that question.  The songs were "Glory to His Name", Blessed Be the Name", and "There's Something About That Name".

Scriptures abound that describe the mighty power in the name of Jesus. There is healing, blessings, and assurance...all in His Name.   Faith, mercy, hope, provision, peace, forgiveness, joy, gladness,  and so much more are promised to those who believe in the one called Jesus.   God the Father is glorified when the name of Jesus is spoken.

But the power of God is display best when a sinner calls upon the name of Jesus and receives salvation.  John 20:31 says, "But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in His Name."

Have you called upon Him to give you eternal life?  Please do!  You can only receive it through the power of His Name.
 

Don't Give It Up - Pour It Out

By definition, Lent  is "the 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday (Feb. 22 this year) until Easter observed by Christians as a season of fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter."  Often people choose to "give up" something of significance or that would be a sacrifice for this period, in order to draw nearer to God.  So what are you setting aside for the next 40 days?  At the prodding of some of my co-workers, I have chosen to withdraw myself from the great southern thirst quencher, sweet tea!  For this I will surely need God's strength.

As His appointment with the death drew near, Christ made sure that His followers saw the cross as the focal point of His love. Scripture resounds with the reality of His sacrifice.  His love is almost always given in direct correlation to the cross.  Romans 5:8, Ephesians 5:2,  I John 3:16, Revelation 1:5 and many other references demonstrate that Jesus not only gave up His life, but He also poured out His love. Even from the cross His words overflowed with love.

Let's do the same for the next 40 days.  Since bragging about our lenten "sacrifice" is certainly inappropriate,  let us instead do all we can to pour out the love of God to everyone we meet. The handshake, smile, kind word or deed may be just the refreshment someone needs.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.    John 3:16

Lord, Help Me !!

The disciples of Jesus were eager to learn from Him.  In Luke 11:1 their request was "Lord, teach us to pray..."  They were aware of their weaknesses and they saw the results of the prayers of John's disciples.  When we call out to God for this kind of help, we must be prepared to receive from Him and be willing to use what we receive to benefit ourselves and others. There are several areas of help from God that we should consistently desire.

1.  Help me to be teachable  -  the disciples had a desire to learn and listened intently.

2.  Help me to be thoughtful  -  In Luke 10, Mary was putting first things first.  Martha was thinking only of herself.  Jesus approved of Mary's consideration of others, but not of the things that troubled Martha.

3.  Help me to be tactful  -  Proverbs 25:11 says "A word fitly spoken is like apple of gold in pictures of silver."  We should seek the wisdom to know when, how, and what to say, when to keep quiet and how to control the "tone" of our voices.

4.  Help me to be timely  -  Jesus called for a "daily" following in Luke 9:23.  We should learn to be available when needed, to have the right attitude and to do our very best as we serve others.

Lord, help me to work hard as your child to represent you when I am needed.  May I work diligently with other Christians to carry on the work of your Kingdom here on earth.  Amen.

The Big L

Candy and flowers, cards and kisses...yep, it's Valentine's Week. The men are on their best behavior and the ladies are anxiously waiting for that special night out. Or maybe you are shipping the kids away for an evening and spending some special quality time together at home with a nice candlelight supper and some soft music. No matter how we express it, this week is all about what McLean Stephenson on an episode of M.A.S.H. called "The Big L".

Who supplies our love?  I John 4:7-8 says the the source of love is God and that His entire being consists of love.  We cannot love others without God loving us, and God's love for us is displayed in our love for others.  Confusing?  Not really.  Just remember that the special love you feel for someone else is a result of the eternal make-up of God.  He loves you, you love Him, you love others, others love you.

Display your love for God, not with a card but with a life of praise.  Show you love for others, including that special someone, by allowing God's love to flow from you...kinda like a warm brownie covered with hot chocolate sauce over a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a cherry on top!  Ooooo!  Have a wonderful Valentine's week.

The God Blog!

Ever thought about blogging God?  It's more likely than you think.  Our problem is that the interaction is often one-sided.  We do all the blogging and never give God a chance to blog back.  He hears it all and we hear very little of the blessings, peace, mercy, love and forgiveness waiting on His side of the blog.

Okay...you get it by now.  "Our God blog" our prayer time.  So often our prayers consist of questions, complaints, requests, more questions...and very little "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10).  God wants to speak to us and has so much to share.  But we often "hog the blog" with our self-serving desires so that He finds little opportunity to respond.  Remember, prayer, like blogging is a two-way conversation.  Give God a chance to speak...through His Word, through music, through meditation, through the words of caring friends.

 U may even begin to look 4ward to your daily interactions.

Hey, God...ILY!  Ttyl8ter!

Hurry Up and Slow Down

Philippians 4:13  -  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Why are we amazed at  how little gets accomplished when we make so little effort to complete the task?  We all have lists of things we hope to accomplish, loads of duties to perform, lots of stuff that needs to be completed; yet instead of the "list of loads of stuff" getting smaller, it just seems to grow.  Contentment, which should be a handrail for Christians, has now become frustration as we wonder how we will ever finish our responsibilities.

The Apostle Paul is instructing the Philippian church in the art of "slowing down".  A very rough paraphrase of 4:11-13 could read, "Hey folks, I have learned to take each day as it comes.  My peace is from my Provider, not my circumstance.  Yes, I may be hungry one day and full the next; I've known the joy of possessions and the agony of emptiness. But just remember, God is with us and His strength will keep us going."

Learning to live moment by moment with God, we are able to exhume tidbits of peace from our daily lives.  In those moments of peace we find the strength to move upon the mountains of the undone. And when the tasks are performed one at a time, we will find a much more manageable mountain facing us tomorrow.  So hurry up and slow down...and enjoy life to the fullest.

 

Sturdy Shoes

There are many days in life when the road we travel becomes difficult to navigate.  So many distractions, so little time, too many interruptions, or maybe just poor planning often takes our mind away from the day's goals.  We start out with great expectations of walking in the center of God's will, but then "things happen." A phone call or text message brings bad news, the car breaks down, a friend is ill...the rocks on our road make the journey anything but enjoyable.

Ephesians 6:15 (KJV) describes a part of the armor of God as "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace."  To "shod" in the original text means to bind or tie on.  The word "preparation" means to have a firm footing.. The "gospel" of course, is the Word of God. Weaving other passages of Scripture, the apostle Paul would be saying, "Keep God's Word so tightly bound to your heart that when the intense moments of life happen, you will always be able to give a solid word from a sure foundation."


And always remember God's promise in Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV), "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified... for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”


Thought for the Week: "If your journey with God takes you through rocky ground, He will always provide sturdy shoes."    A. MacLauren

The Junk Drawers

Over the Christmas and New Years holidays I spent a lot of time in the house fighting a severe cold. On several afternoons I sat on the edge of my bed and tackled the "junk drawers" in my night stand. To my amazement I discovered two things.  One, the drawers definitely carried the correct name. I found stuff that had been gathering dust for many years...key chains, paper clips, old sports rule books, cut golf balls, a few sermon notes (kept those), box matches, batteries, a dozen pens and pencils, five cassettes, and an 8-track tape of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap. Most of these items hadn't seen daylight in ages so I decided to deposit them in the circular file.

Secondly, I discovered that once I had eliminated the clutter, there was a lot of room for more important things like T-shirts, socks, handkerchiefs, sweaters, gloves, etc.

Life is like that.  It often gets bogged down with things we don't need or want, but for some reason we just hang on to them...old habits, resentment, unrealized dreams, unfulfilled potential.  Yet when we decide to throw out that garbage, we find room for the more comforting things life offers...peace, contentment, caring, love.

However, I did find one thing that I decided to keep because it brought back wonderful memories while keeping my ego in check; a 1971 picture me in an off-the-rack size 38 regular suit!!  I chuckled...no I broke down and laughed.  But I decided to keep the photo, along with the T-shirts and socks - and a new pair of jogging shoes! It just seemed like the right thing to do.

2 Corinthians 5:17  -  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

Finding Daily Strength

Lord, this coming week is loaded! How can things get so busy so early in the year?  There's work to be done, kids to raise, classes to attend, meals to prepare, meetings to conduct, bills to pay, plus the boss wants the end-of-the-year reports on his desk a.s.a.p.!  Lord, what am I going to do?

We've all been there.  And don't you just love it when some spiritual giant steps into the middle of your misery with religious rhetoric and says,  "This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24)!  Problem is, the giant's right.  Every day allowed to us by God is a day worthy of our greatest praise.  We too often become so absorbed in our busyness that we lose sight of the Source of our daily strength. Our earliest morning task should be to find peace and joy in Him so we can enjoy the vigorous day ahead.

So before tomorrow's hectic schedule kicks in, make an early appointment with God.  His office is always open and His mercies are new every morning.

I'm Right 'Cheer!

Before He was known as Andy Taylor, the sheriff of Mayberry, a struggling young actor named Andy Griffith found comedic genius in a parody of Shakespeare's famous line, "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?" Griffith's classic response was, "I'm right 'cheer!" 

It's a new year, and we're right here!  Time has taken all of the struggles of last year into the past, and we are proceeding ever-so-slowly in search of answers to questions like, "What's next?"..."Where are we going?"...and even "Where are we?"  Well, let me say it again, "We're right here!"  And that's a good thing.

Let me explain.  If I'm right here, then God is right here too.  Wherever I am He is also.  Joshua 1:5 and Hebrews 13:5 both tell us that He will never leave us.  Whether it's a mighty warrior leading God's children out of the wilderness or a great apostle teaching on contentment, the promise is the same.  Jesus, our Emmanuel, is truly "God with us."

So step into this brand new, never-before-known time with boldness and confidence. Understand that your contentment comes from knowing that when you cry out "Almighty God, where are you?", He calmly answers with a warm, loving smile, "I'm right 'cheer!"