Could It Be?

Could It Be? Could today be the day, tomorrow, next week? Who knows? Matthew 24:36 tells us that only, "The Father knows the day and the hour". The one thing you need to know is, are you ready? Well, are you? Are your family members and friends ready? Jesus return could be at any moment. That's why we need to have our "House in order" as they say. Is your house in order? Matthew 24:42-44 tells us to be ready. Live every moment, every day as though today could be the day.  Look around you. Have you seen the news lately? Just look at the turmoil in the middle east.  Look at all of the destruction lately caused by earthquakes and Tsunami waves, flooding in the US caused by heavy showers, the continuing moral decay in our society, our hard hit economy, world hunger and famines, and, many are turning a deaf ear to God and His Truth, just to name a few. The signs are there.  COULD IT BE? I don't know, only our Heavenly Father does. But this I do know. The rapture of God's children is closer now than it's ever been. Are you ready? Be watching.

Pride, "Deal Maker, or, Deal Breaker"?

PRIDE! If a poll were taken on one of the TOP sins that we deal with, and if we're honest, the sin of Pride would have to be at the top, (or very near it). Pride keeps us from saying those two words, "I'm sorry", or, "I was wrong". Small words maybe, but the impact of those words is HUGE! Pride keeps us from taking responsibility for our actions, pride is used in tearing down someone else, pride is having the last word, pride makes worthless excuses, and so on and so on.

Now don't take me wrong. Pride can be a good thing too. For example, taking PRIDE in ones work and doing it to the best of ones ability. Or, taking pride in ones relationship with the Lord and serving Him to the fullest! As Martha Stewart would say, "That's a good thing". I would say, "That's a GREAT thing!"

But the Pride that I am dealing with today is the kind of pride that destroys relationships and keeps us as Christians from restoring them. Too many times because of our PRIDE, relationships between children, spouses, in-laws and friends have been completely destroyed, broken forever!

If that kind of PRIDE is a PROBLEM in your life, and you realize that it is an area that needs cleaning in your spiritual closet, then let's just do it. Remember, this kind of sinful pride not only hurts your relationship with others, but more importantly, the Lord!

Here are some suggestions for dealing with sinful "PRIDE" and bringing restoration to a broken relationship.

1. Pray (Talk to God). Be honest with Him about your problem with pride. Let Him tear down your "Pride Problem".
2. Be the bigger person. Set your pride aside, be the bigger person and take the initiative to right the wrong. Even if it you are convinced that it's not YOUR FAULT! WOW, Imagine that.
3. Be willing to listen to the other person and hear them out. Whatever you do, communicate by listening too. Not just talking. And whatever you do, talk to each other gently. No arguing. God's Word tells us in Proverbs 15:1, "A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue rekindles a temper-fire. (From The Message Bible)
4. Respect each other, even if you "agree to disagree". Don't play the blame game.
5. Be willing to confess your part of the wrong. Take responsibilty for your part.
6. I like what Rick Warren says here: Attack the Problem, NOT the Person! WOW - How many times would our communication process have turned out much better had we heeded this suggestion? If nothing else, once again, you be the bigger person, the mature one, so to speak. Proverbs 16:21 "A wise, mature person is known for his understanding. The more pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is".
7. Do your part. Romans 12:18 tells us to, "Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody".
FINALLY, take your Bible and read Philippians 2:1-2. This will bring it all into perspective.
 So what will it be for you?   Pride, A "Deal Maker"?   or   A "Deal Breaker"?


Peace and Harmony to you all! Be blessed.

One Accord!

Last night, (Thursday) My wife and I, daughter McKenna and a couple of her friends attended Chris Tomlin's, "And if our God is for us" concert tour. Louie Giglio was also a part of the tour and was the evenings guest speaker. All I can say is what an amazing night of celebrating! But what also added to the splendor of the evening for me, was once again having the opportunity to come before the almighty throne of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ with like believers and PRAISING HIS HOLY NAME!! Looking around to see several thousand men, women, teenagers and children joining together with one purpose, and in, "One Accord" was a blessing, to say the least.

That brings me to my focus for today's thought which is this. How is it that with time being so precious, that we will literally stress and/or kill ourselves to attend any and everything, except church? These days it just seems like so many throw away every opportunity NOT to spend time with their Lord both in personal worship and yes, corporate worship.   Let me explain. Personal worship is that which we do through our quiet times with the Lord and also through the reading of His Word. A few ways in which you  can do a quiet time can be a time of prayer, a devotion, listening to a Christian song, or, a combination of all of these. Corporate worship is when we come together with other believers, such as on Sunday's when we gather together and worship HIM! Now I understand that there are times when you just don't feel like it. I know because I have been there a time or two myself. However, there is just one thing wrong with that kind of thinking. Worship is NOT ABOUT YOU OR ME. It's all about HIM! It's about the one who saved you by His blood. He paid the penalty for your sin! THAT ALONE should cause you to want to worship HIM! As Matt Redmon's song says, I'm coming back to the heart of Worship, and it's all about YOU! The Bible tells us that if we don't praise Him, then the rocks will cry out.

Last night was so amazing to be with other Christian believers. And as I like to say, just being a part of "Imperfect People, (like myself) Worshipping A Perfect God"!! Once again, we were all worshipping with one purpose and in, "ONE ACCORD"!  Christians, DO NOT throw away the freedom and the opportunity that you have to worship. Please understand. I know that there are those, and because of circumstances beyond their control, cannot actually come to church. HOWEVER, that is not the case for so many others. There are numerous excuses that  folks make about not going to church. A few include,  those that just don't feel that it is necessary to come to church because life is fine with them just as it is. That is until tragedy strikes that individual or their family. Then they can't get enough church. So please, don't rob God of your worshipping Him, even in the good times!  And yet, others don't come to church because they are just too busy or too tired. If one is too busy or too tired to find time to spend with God, then it is likely my friend that you may need to examine your priorities. You may have another reason, (or excuse) for not attending church. Remember however, It's not about YOU!  Hebrews 10:25 tells us, "Do not forsake the assembling, (or the gathering) together of other believers as some have done." So please dear fellow Christian, take time to worship our Lord and Savior. The blessings, the joy, the fellowship, the bonds that you make with others and the strength that you receive through personal and corporate worship is too countless to even measure. It's your choice. Use your choice wisely. Find your place of worship this Sunday and involve the whole family. I know that I look forward to worshipping this week, and, in "One Accord"!

Not SINLESS, but should SIN LESS!

This past weekend myself, my Pastor and another friend of ours went snake hunting. ( I know, some of you are thinking, you might be a redneck if....), Well anyway, we revisited a den from last year and what do you know? GOLD! There at that den were several rattlesnakes nestled beside each other, absorbing the sun. After scheming a plan, which was basically you go left, I'll go right and at the word go, we will each grab a snake with our tongs. So, here we go. 1,2,3, we each quickly grabbed the snake we were to get with our tongs and quickly put them in our bucket. After the hunt we then took them to a homemade pit and placed them inside of it to which we observed and studied their behavior. (Yes, observed and studied means amusing ourselves). At one point my Pastor and I each took turns holding one of the snakes. As I picked the snake up safely behind her head, I took my snake hook and opened it's mouth where immediately the snake wrapped her fangs around it and released a  couple of drops of venom. Upon seeing this, I realized that had that been me the snake bit,  just one small drop of it's venom would have had the power to poison my entire body, and at the very least, make  me extremely ill and would have sent me to the nearest doctor. You know, SIN is just like that. Sin is venom to the entire soul and body. A sin is a sin no matter how big or small you may think that it is. Like venom, sin corrupts the soul. It hurts our bodies and can cause those around us to stumble. It also hurts our relationship with God. God's Word says in Romans 6:12 -13, " Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.  Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness".  If that snake would have bitten me, my course of hope would have been to get to a doctor immediately. Likewise, the course of hope and our spiritual doctor for sin is Jesus Christ. HE and HE alone is the cure for our spiritual survival. 1 John 1:9 tells us that, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness". There is a saying, "Christians are not sinless, but should sin less!" Folks, empower yourselves with God's Word. Protect yourself against the venom of sin by hiding HIS Word in your heart.

Rescue 911

John Paton and his wife Mary were missionaries in the New Hebrides Islands. This tended to be a dangerous place because the natives there were known to be cannibals. One night as the Paton's were inside their home, angry natives came down to their house to burn it and to kill them.  Realizing this and filled with incredible fear, the Paton's began to pray non-stop through the night that God would protect and deliver them. As daylight broke, the Paton's were surprised to see that their attackers were no longer present. Several months later, the tribe's chief had become a Christian. Knowing this, Paton then approached the chief and asked why he and his natives on that long terror filled night, did not kill he and his wife, and burn down their house? The chief responded, "Tell me this. Who were all those men there with you and waiting outside of your home"? (Paton was perplexed as he knew that there was no one else there but he and his wife). The chief went on to explain to Paton that as they approached their home, he and the other natives became very afraid to attack because to their surprise, they saw hundreds of large men in garments shining with their swords drawn and circling the Paton's home. WOW!

You see, God  rescued the Paton's by sending guardian angels to protect them. (Tell me our God is not incredible)!!!! God is in the business of protecting and rescuing His children! The same God that sent His Son Jesus to RESCUE us from eternal damnation in Hell to those that will receive Him, is the same God that rescued the Paton's, and is the same God that will rescue you from your hurting, your fear and your problems! Now, I did not say that you won't have tough times, however, God is your protector and rescuer during those dark times, and He sends His angels to watch over you too. 

So when tough times come your way, do as the Paton's did. Do as Christians are suppose to do. Trust in Him! Stay focused on our God who SAVES! Pray, Pray PRAY! Seek His Word. Climb into His lap and rest in His arms. He loves YOU and understands. Don't ever forget that.

Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; Do not depend on your own understanding. In all thy ways seek Him, and He will make your paths straight". And I close with my favorite verse. Isaiah 40:31 which says, "They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

Remember, God WILL and DOES take care of you.

What's Love Got To Do With It?

In the 90's famous song artist Tina Turner recorded, "What's Love Got To Do With It". This song became a huge hit, (one of many for Tina Turner) and can still be heard today on radio stations nationwide. A few years ago I was preparing to preach in our evening worship service and used this song as the title for my message. When I think of  the song, "What's Love Got To Do With It", I am also reminded that  for Jesus Christ, "LOVE" has everything to do with it. So much so that it was HIS Agape Love, (Agape meaning unconditional) that took Him to the cross to die, and yes, pay the penalty for our sinful life! What an amazing love! A love so amazing that our Lord would go through the most painful, suffering and humiliating death, known as the Crucifiction. Death by the cross was the most cruel of deaths, and was used for the most serious of crimes and the worst of criminals. Of course Jesus had not committed any crime, nor was he a criminal. However, He became such so that we could know His unconditional love for us and experience a personal relationship with Him now, and forever!

Today is Valentines Day, a day that we celebrate "LOVE". May we also celebrate the "LOVE" that God showed to us through His Son Jesus Christ. When you tell the one you love, "Happy Valentines Day", wish Jesus the same. Celebrate His love by telling Christ that you "LOVE" Him.