Would You Be Invited? – John 2:1-2

1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee.  Jesus' mother was there, 
2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.
– John 2:1-2

Would You Be Invited?
As Christians, it is our responsibility to show the light of Christ to the rest of the world.  From everything I have read in the Bible, Jesus was a fun guy to be around.  He liked to tell great stories, He liked to work hard, He liked to go fishing, He served His friends by feeding them, He enjoyed a good stroll, He wasn't judgmental, and He always had compassion for people – even the people nobody else cared about.  It's no wonder that he would be invited to eat with sinners, to stay at their home, and to be invited to the most important of celebrations – the joining of a new couple in marriage.  People just wanted Him around – I'm sure He just made every gathering better.

How about you?  How about me?  Are we good to have around?  Do we make the atmosphere better wherever we are?  Oh, I know that at church we are all at our best and we love everybody, but what about when we are not at church?  Would your coworkers invite you to their parties and gatherings?  Here's the kicker – would you go?  Would you be willing to subject yourself to crude language and possible drunkenness?  Would you be the life of the party or would you make everyone feel uneasy because they know you are a "Christian?"

"What would Jesus do" is a popular saying these days but we need to apply it in all situations because if You take the Bible as truth (and I know you do), then Jesus would be the guy at the party that everyone wants to talk to.  He would be serving the dip and starting the conga line, and finding chairs for all the ladies.  He would be helping to clean up after everyone else has gone home, and He would be the first one on the next invitation list.

I think we need to start being a part of this world.  Otherwise, how is anyone going to see Love in action?  How is the myth that Christians are uptight and no fun going to be busted if we keep ourselves safely cocooned within the Christian community?  The bible tells us that we need to shine our light from the hilltops but for some reason we hide ourselves away and the only light we shine is towards those who already have their own light.  We need to be willing to let our light expose us to some things that maybe we are uncomfortable with so that Jesus can be shared – with everybody.

I'm not suggesting that we go out drinking and partying all night, but I am saying that we need to be such positive forces in our circles of influence that our un-churched coworkers and acquaintances want to be around us and they want their friends to get to know us.  We should be such a good thing, maybe the only good thing, in their lives that they would make it a point to add us on their invitation lists.  When we can do that, then we will show Jesus the way He deserves to be shown – as The God who loves people and desires to be involved in every aspect of their lives.

Prayer
Father thank You for the example that Jesus set for us to follow.  I pray that I can be a very good influence in the lives of my coworkers and friends.  Forgive me for not being willing to expose myself to things outside the church.  How selfish I have been!  Thank You for opening my eyes so that I can see that this world needs to see You through my willingness to be there.  Help me to love like You love so that the light of Christ can shine brightly in my life - for everyone.

Have a blessed day and a great weekend everyone!

– Richard

Reach Up! – 2 Corinthians 1:8

9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
– 2 Corinthians 1:8

Reach Up!
When I was a kid, my brothers and my friends and I would all gather in front of my house and we would sit on the curb on summer evenings and we would play the "cut" game.  We would all take turns "cutting each other down" to see who could come up with the funniest "cut" line.  It was ALWAYS funny when someone else was the target (not so much when it was my turn), so when it was my friend Alex' turn, someone came up with this line in reference to how short he was (and he was VERY short):  Alex is so short - he has to look UP to see DOWN!

For some reason, that line has always stayed with me and it came to my mind again when I was doing my devotion time this morning and I read this scripture.  In order to have to look up to see down, a person would have to be at a real low point – I mean rock bottom – having to look THROUGH themselves in order to see themselves. I picture it as someone who has been slammed down so hard that the force has jammed their top side down past their bottom side, and now they are inverted by the shear power of the slam.

Ever felt that way?  I have.  What did you do when it happened?  Did you wallow around in the muck of your own self pity like I used to do?  I was a champion at it – oh, poor me . . . I might as well not even exist because nobody loves me . . . wah, wah, wah – whine, whine, whine – boo-hoo, boo-hoo!

So what changed for me?  One day, when I was in a particularly low-low-low spot (I had to get a step ladder so that I could climb to a place where I could look up to see down), I noticed that despite my best efforts to convince them otherwise, nobody would climb down to join me in my pity party.  So instead of trying to see down, I decided to look up to see up.  I decided to cry out to Jesus.  You know what?  He reached down and He pulled me out of my despair.  He changed my heart and He changed my mind.  He changed the way I looked at my situations.

Notice that I didn't say He changed my situations.  We are ALWAYS going to have situations.  We are always going to face adversity and we will ALL always have to go through our trials.  He changed my attitude and my outlook when I am facing those situations, and adversities, and trials.  He let me know that when my world comes crashing down around me and I am feeling pressed down to a point where I feel as if I've been handed a death sentence, all I have to do is look up – and reach out – and call on Him.  He raises dead people up, and He can, and will reach down to you, and He will be your portion in time of need.

He is Jesus!  He is the risen King!  He is Lord, and He loves you so very much!  So next time you are feeling your world crashing in around you, look up to see Jesus – HE IS ALL YOU NEED!

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for always being there when I call Your name.  Thank You for being the one constant in my life, and for showing me the way to overcome my trials.  I pray for my brothers and sisters who are going through adversity right now.  I ask Lord, that You would put an urgency in their heart to look up.  Compel them to reach out and take hold of Your hand.  Show them that they can move up out of despair, and into the abundance of Your wonderful blessing. 

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard 

The Heart Matters – Proverbs 4:20-23

20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.   

21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;

22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.

23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

– Proverbs 4:20-23

The Heart Matters

The condition of our heart - the things that we hold most dear, will determine the course and the outcome of our lives.  What are you hiding in your heart? 

People see the heart as many different things, depending on how they view the world.  To a doctor or scientist, the heart is an organ; to a romantic, the heart is what controls love; if you are a poet, the heart can be a central theme to all emotion;  if you are a pessimist, the heart brings pain and disappointment as it will only be broken over and over again. 

But if you are a Christian, the heart is the only thing in this world (spiritually speaking) that we have complete control over.   The scripture today  tells us that we have the power to keep the Word of God within our hearts.  It goes on to say that above ALL else, we are to guard our heart because it is the wellspring of life.   What life is it referring to?  It is speaking of the abundance of life in Jesus – a life filled with the grace, forgiveness, and the power of God.  A life filled with peace and joy – a life of faith that will bring about change in this world.  It is talking about your life and my life.

So how do we guard our heart?  How do we take control and tap into that wellspring of life?  It all starts with God's Word and how it is applied in your life.  Do you believe God's Word?  Really?  All of it?  Are you sure?  How much time are you devoting to it?  Is it collecting more dust than fingerprints?  It ALL starts with God's Word so if we don't absorb it every day; if we don't meditate on it throughout our day; if we don't apply it with every beat of our heart, then it is going to be difficult to tap into that wellspring.

God has given us a list – a road map if you will, to that wellspring of life.

1. Pay attention

2. Listen closely

3. Don't let it out of your sight

4. Keep it within your heart

5. Guard your heart

I find it interesting that He says we are to "listen closely" and then He tells us to not let what we just listened to "out of our sight."  To me that means that we are to LISTEN to what God is trying to tells us by READING His Word – not by listening to what someone else has learned or is trying to teach us.  Don't get me wrong, I love to listen to good preaching.  I love to gather nuggets of wisdom that God has given to someone else – I have learned so much that way and it has brought me closer to God.  But God wants to speak to us directly.  He wants to whisper the things that are only meant for us – like a father with a son or daughter sitting on his lap;  the father leans in and whispers something to the child which makes their eyes light up, and a big smile crosses their face.  In turn, the father's eyes light up and both he and the child share a special moment – a time of bonding and relationship.  THAT'S what God wants to do with each one of us. 

He wants you leaning in close so He can share the secrets of your life – the very thing that taps into your wellspring so that YOU can bond with HIM and deepen your relationship.  THAT's how you can begin to guard your heart.  Let God speak to you directly through the reading of His Word.  Ask Him to reveal those gems of knowledge that will bring life to your tired soul; healing to your ailing body; peace to your troubled mind.  It's an active thing and it requires discipline at first – but in a short time you will desire more and more of the refreshing water that comes from the deep wellspring of His Words of Life.  You won't be able to get enough of God's Word – you will thirst for it, and you will be more than satisfied as you dig in and discover your very own wellspring, designed especially for you by God, who loves you so much!

Prayer

Father I thank You for giving Your Word to us.  I know that there have been far too many times when I have taken It for granted and I let my Bible sit on a shelf, unopened and unused.  How foolish I have been!  Your very Word Refreshes my heart, and I will actively and fiercely guard it so that I can tap into the life that You have designed for me.  I thank You for speaking directly to me and giving me the wisdom I need to navigate through my day.  Lord, I pray for my brothers and sisters who might be struggling with reading Your Word.  Help them to see that Your Word holds the key to an abundant life . . . in You.

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard 

Laughter - It's the Very Best Medicine! – Genesis 21:6

6 Sarah said, God has blessed me with laughter and all who get the news will laugh with me!

– Genesis 21:6

Laughter – It's the Very Best Medicine!

Sarah had two laughs – one was in quiet disbelief, but the one that mattered resulted from the miracle that God gave her – a son.  I think God was laughing harder than Sarah when He saw the joy that was flowing out of her.  He knew how she would react to His blessing, and I have to believe that as the end of her pregnancy drew near, He was beside Himself with excited anticipation to see her face light up when she first gazed upon the face of her newborn.

Have you ever laughed to yourself in disbelief at a promise that God has given you?  It doesn't have to be a personal visit and an audible promise, but what about the promises from His Word?  Have you ever thought to yourself, 

"I know the Bible says that I can have victory over my sin – but I just can't hep myself – I've been at it for too long and it's just too hard to change."  

Or how about, 

"I know the Bible says that I can move mountains with a little faith – but that's just crazy!  It must be for someone else because I could never do that."  

Here's one more, 

"I know the Bible says that I can be healed, but I don't really think I can."

Our faith is so small and incomplete sometimes but when God decides to move – when He sets His mind to pour out  a blessing, you will be overflowing with joy and your laughter will not be contained.  He will be glorified by it and others will see and hear the joy of the Lord and they will be drawn to you because of what He has done.  It is then your job to proclaim His goodness and His grace so that they can come to know Him as you do.

So stop doubting.  In fact, if you must doubt something, doubt your doubt.  God can and will do miracles in your life.  He will bring joy from your mourning, and laughter from your tears.  He will do what He promises in His Word and He will be overjoyed with your joy.  Our God is good and He wants to bless you today.  So when He does, laugh so the whole earth can laugh with you.

Prayer

Father I thank You for being so faithful to attend to my needs.  It is so humbling to know that You care so much for me and I am so insignificant and unworthy of your attention.  You bless me everyday, and I know that sometimes I don't acknowledge all that You do for me, and for that I am so sorry.  I pray that I can be a blessing to someone today - that I can laugh with a holy laughter so that they can see and hear how great You are!  You are my joy and I will proclaim You with my laughter!

Have a blessed day everyone!

-Richard

The Devil likes to Fish! – James 4:7

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

– James 4:7

The Devil likes to Fish!

My brother and I used to go fishing all the time when I lived in Dallas.  We would get up so early and we'd be on the lake at sunup.  We had some good times but at first it was just plain frustrating.  You see, before I moved to Dallas, my brother used to tell me about all the fish he would catch – sometimes 30 to 40 in one day!  I don't care who you are – that's good fishing.  The frustrating things is that when I moved and we started fishing together, we didn't catch anything – nothin – nada – zilch – zero!  I began to question his stories of abundant fishing.

After about a month or so of getting "skunked" every outing, we decided to change our bait.  We switched to live minnows on a double rig – in no time we were catching limits of hybrid and small striped bass.  Fishing was fun! 

As we had more and more success, we moved on to Black Bass and we learned all we could about how to catch them – we bought topographic maps that showed the underwater structure where they lived, we could see where water channels and deep  pools were located so we could strategize our trips.  We checked out the different lures and techniques and we learned what was effective and what wasn't.  Soon we were catching good size keepers.  I really miss those days fishing with my brother!

The enemy uses the same techniques on us – trying to lure us into sin by presenting us with things that are appealing and seem good.  He knows what whets our appetites and he watches our reactions to each attempt.  He is patient and quiet, and he knows just how to dangle that hook right in front of our faces so that when we get hooked, we don't even realize what has happened.

The Bible tells us to be big, mature fish (Christians).  A fish only gets big and mature by avoiding the temptation of the lure – in fact, most times, when a lure is dropped in the water, the mature fish will swim the other way.  It won't try to get a closer look (it has already seen others get yanked out of the water too many times), it won't dance around the lure or even try to smell it - the mature fish knows that the lure means danger and it avoids it at all cost.

As you run away from sin, the devil will try to find less experienced fish to prey on – oh, don't be fooled – he will NEVER leave you alone because he wants to bag the trophy fish, but he will turn his attention elsewhere until you make a mistake and he will try out a brand new and shiny lure to get you when you are at your weakest.

So if the devil won't ever completely leave us alone, what chance do we have to get big and fat (so to speak)?  The key is to stay where the devil won't go – in the Word.  You have to be so into God's Word that the devil will run away when you come around.  The power of the Word is such that the enemy MUST flee, he has no choice.  You also have to put on your armor every day – the day you forget is when a dart will come flying in from a distance and you will be vulnerable to attack.

The Word of God and the Armor of God – the best things to put in any tackle box!

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your Word.  I submit myself to You today and I ask that You lead me in the way that I should go.  I look to You for every direction and I submit every thought and every action to You.  I need Your Word to protect me against the attacks of the enemy and I will put on my armor every day so that I can stand with my brother and sisters against his attacks.  Thank You Father!

Have a blessed day my Brothers!

– Richard

You Just Gotta Do It! – Philippians 3:13

13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,...
– Philippians 3:13

You Just Gotta Do It!
There are a lot of distractions in our lives and sometimes, it seems that we try to address all of them at the same time.  Distractions aren't necessarily a bad thing but in order to bring things into perspective, I think I should probably use another word or phrase . . . how about "GottaDos" – yeah, GottaDos, we've got a lot of them don't we?

I mean think about it – what do you GottaDo today?  For some of us, the list would take a couple of pages and if there were more hours in a day, we would probably keep adding those GottaDos.  It's absolutely exhausting sometimes isn't it?  GottaDo this, GottaDo that, GottaGo here, GottaStop there, GottaBuy this (and that), GottaGo to work (work has it's own set of GottaDos), GottaPut gas in the car, GottaPay the bills, GottaCall the plumber, GottaGet a hair cut, GottaWater the plants, Gotta, Gotta, Gotta . . . Good Grief!

While some of those things are important, they can distract us from the one thing we really GottaDo.  We can make ourselves so busy that we don't have time for the Lord.  Our time with Him should be the number one GottaDo in our lives and everything else should only come AFTER we have spent some time loving on Him, and ministering to Him, and letting Him Minister to us.  This one GottaDo is His way of ministering to us and giving us direction for our lives.  This one thing . . . this one GottaDo, will get us past the stresses and pressures of the day, and it will help us get perspective on and for our lives, so that we can be effective witnesses for the kingdom.  It will help us heal past hurts, and it will allows us to find grace in our hearts, and forgive the people who have hurt us.  It will also help us to find the grace to forgive ourselves (wouldn't that be nice?).  This one GottaDo is the key to successfully having the time, resources, energy, and desire, to take care of all the other "things" in our lives.  

Are you hurting? GottaDo Jesus!  

Are you sick? GottaDo Jesus!  

Are you still looking for work? GottaDo Jesus!  

Whatever and wherever you are in your life, the One and Only thing you GottaDo, is spend time with Jesus.  He will help you take care of everything else.

What do you GottaDo today?  Have you done it yet?

Prayer
Lord Jesus, I know that I have not given You the time that I need to lately.  I have busied myself with so many other things that I have neglected my time with You and I am so sorry.  Please forgive my petty and seflish desires.  Lord, I will not neglect You anymore – I will spend time with You first, and if I run out of time to do some things as a result then so be it – I know that there is nothing more important than spending my time with You.  Thank You Lord for being patient with me and for opening Your arms wide for me to come running into each and every day – I will no longer leave You standing with empty arms.

Have a blessed day everyone!

-Richard

Blending Our Voices – Romans 15:5-6

5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 

6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
– Romans 15:5-6

Blending Our Voices
Our God is the God of endurance and encouragement – and boy do we need Him!  In a world that emphasizes promoting individual accomplishments, the Bible tells us that we need each other, so that together, we can glorify God.  It is clear to me though, that in order to be able to do that, we need to be in God's Word everyday, so that we can take advantage of His encouragement; to keep on enduring . . . together, and to put aside our own agendas and ideas of how the world should revolve.  The key is to strive towards harmonious living in unity with Jesus.  It isn't about you, and it isn't about me - it's about you and me IN Christ - that's how we will glorify our Father.

This has always been tough for me because I have always been a by-myself kind of guy.  I have always found it easier to handle things on my own so that I can have control over how things are done.  I guess I just like to have things done a certain way, and of course my way is always the right way (NOT!).  Letting go of pride in my life is not easy, but I am finding that as I move out of my comfort zone and I try to participate in ministries and in things like small groups, Bible studies, and other church activities, I am able to see that if Christ is the center of our efforts, the group thrives and the small part that I can play helps to make it all work.  God can then move and He is glorified through the concerted efforts of the group, and not the individual efforts of the group members.  It takes everyone working together to be successful, and in that, the individuals are then ministered to – by the other members.  It really is a wonderful concert and we are all designed by our Father to work best as members in His orchestra.

Prayer
Father I thank You for helping me to let go of my pride and to be a small part of something bigger than myself.  I am learning how to let go of my own ideas of how things should work and I am growing in You because of my relationships with other people.  I pray that as I continue to join myself to others, that I can bring peace and harmony to the relationships and that together we can grow in You and learn how to live, united in Christ.  

Have an awesome day everyone!

–Richard

Grace Is For Everyone – Ephesians 2:4-9

4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 

5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 

6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 

7 in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, to us in Christ Jesus. expressed in His kindness 

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – 

9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

- Ephesians 2:4-9

Grace Is For Everyone

Do you ever think about Grace?   God's Grace in particular?  It's something I've been thinking a lot about lately.  I still have trouble sometimes, trying to rationalize why God sent Grace my way.  I mean, I am nothing - and I certainly don't deserve it - especially back before I was first saved . . . I REALLY didn't deserve it then, but He chose to gift it to me anyway.  He still gifts it my way, every second, of every moment, of every day.

I am so humbled and so in awe of how God continues to work in my life, and I know that I'll never be able to justify it.  I can however, "gift" Grace to someone else.  I can choose to show grace throughout my day to those who don't know the love of our Father - and even to those who do.  Sometimes I forget that I am supposed to reflect His Love to those around us.  A BIG part of that love is Grace.

Believe me, I know how difficult it can be.  That so-and-so zipping in and out of traffic on the freeway; the guy who took the parking place - even though it was clearly meant for someone else;  the kid in the car who has his sub-woofer thumping hip-hop so loud that it is shaking everyone else's car;  the girl gabbing on-and-on about absolutely nothing so that everyone on the bus is now a part of her conversation;  the coworker who is not pulling their weight;  the fast-food clerk who just can't seem to get the order right; the inconsiderate person who brought their crying baby to the movie theater...and on-and-on the list goes.  All those people who annoy us and make our lives a little less "convenient" - yep, they deserve grace too.

I know I have been the person stealing a parking spot, or playing the stereo too loud, or doing something to annoy someone else, so I really don't have a right to complain . . . but I do.  I do it way too often sometimes.  The Lord has really shown me that I need to be less annoyed with people, and start showing them Grace and Love and Kindness.  I need to always be mindful that I am His child ONLY because He FIRST loved me.  I am, and always will be, undeserving of our Father's Love, and the Grace He so freely gives me, and I have no right to treat anyone as if I hold some sort of position over them.  I am nothing, therefore I should be gracious to all.

Prayer

Father, please forgive my ungrateful heart.  Thank You for reminding me that You are the reason for the very breath and life in me.  Thank You for showing me that the best way to reflect who You are is to show Grace and Mercy and Kindness and Love to those around me.  I pray that I can start today to not show impatience, or be annoyed, or pass judgment on anyone and I ask for the help of Your Holy Spirit because on my own, I know that I will fail.  But Lord, with Your help I can do anything!

Have a blessed day everyone!

- Richard

Our Days Are Numbered! – Psalm 90:12

12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
– Psalm 90:12

Our Days Are Numbered!
How many days do we have left to serve the Lord?  One!  That's it!  THIS day is all we have!  In fact, we don't even know that we will have the whole day do we? When I look at it that way (and really, there is no other way to look at it), I must admit I find myself a bit panicked.  I mean, after all, there is so much more that I want to DO to show God that I love Him.  There are so many more ministries to help out in and so much more teaching to soak up in my attempt to know Him better.  What a fool I am.

God can take me right now if He wants to and based on my understanding of the condition of my heart, I am in no way ready.  Oh I'm sure I would see Him and be welcomed into His kingdom, but I'm thinking I might try to sneak past the gates to heaven like a dog with its tail between its legs – moving quickly and as silently as possible so as not to be noticed by all the angels and saints.  You see, in MY mind, I want to strut into heaven – head held high and chest pushed out. You know, walking tall and proud because of the way I made it in to heaven - walking with the assurance that me and Jesus are pals and I don't need to be checked at the door because of my VIP status . . . PLEASE!

It's a sober wake up call to know that today is all I have to make a difference in this world.  Just today.  Now God willing, I will get to play out this one day scenario for many years to come, but I just can't count on that anymore.  I look at my life and I wonder what my obituary would read like – not the one here on earth, but the one in the Eternity Herald – you know, the one the angels read in which all the newcomers are announced.  I think they (the Eternity Herald obits) read something like this:

Johnny A. Mann
Johnny left earth on such-and-such a day and is expected to pass through our Pearly Gates any time now.  Johnny was best known in his earthly life for the way he always made sure everyone around him knew our Lord.  He was a man who loved Jesus and because of that, he loved living his life! Johnny openly shared God's Word with boldness, but with grace, and he genuinely cared about his brothers and sisters on earth.  He comes to us in the same humility as he lived his life.  Because of Johnny's love of sharing the Gospel, hundreds of souls will now be joining us soon.  Let's all welcome Johnny into our new family!   (It would show a picture of Johnny with a giant ear-to-ear grin getting a big hug from Jesus at the Pearly Gates).

What would mine read like?  Not quite as successful as Johnny's I'm afraid.  Oh I've had my moments – and those moments are getting more and more frequent.  But there is still too much of the sinner in me.  There is still the me that is STILL sometimes scared to share the Lord at work; there is the me that STILL get's angry in traffic, and the me that STILL doubts, and STILL worries.  there's the critical me, and the cynical me, and the self-righteous me, and the me that spends more time watching TV than reading God's Word.  OUCH!

I know there will be much rejoicing when my time comes to walk through Heaven's gates but I also know there is so much more living for Jesus that I can be taking advantage of – right here – right now!  It won't get me any special favors in Heaven and I know that no amount of ANYTHING that I can do has guaranteed my spot.  It's ALL about grace and forgiveness and God's eternal love for me (for us), but at the same time, there is so much to be done for the kingdom.  As one if it's warriors and as one if it's heirs, I have a responsibility to "be about my Father's business" and there is no better time than right now to have the urgency to do it.

One day - just today – that's all.  How about you?  Have you been taking your time for granted?  I know it's hard not to because we all think we are going to live a long time, but there is nothing to guarantee that we will.  We read about it every day and we see it on the news – every day – people taken out of this world just-like-that!  Maybe it's time we start living like there's no tomorrow – like we are going to see Jesus tomorrow.  The urgency of our lives is now!  Let's start living like it!

Prayer
Father, forgive my assumption that I can take the time to live for You tomorrow.  I know that I have no guarantee that I will live past the next few minutes and I need to make sharing Your Word THE priority in my life.  Help me Lord to find that urgency within myself.  I have always been a procrastinator and kind of lazy when it comes to my walk – but You already know that.  Please help me to change Lord, help me to have the boldness to share Your love with everyone.  Help me Lord.

I pray God's blessing over all of you!

–Richard 

Hearing From The Holy Spirit – John 16:13

13 When, however, the Spirit comes, who reveals the truth about God, he will lead you into all the truth.  He will not speak on his own authority, but he will speak of what he hears and will tell you of things to come. 
– John 16:13 (Good News Translation)

Hearing From The Holy Spirit
Early on in my Christianity, I was sitting in a Sunday night service at the AG church where I was saved.  The pastor changed things up a bit and asked members of the congregation to share what God had been doing in their lives.  I heard story after story of God's goodness and His grace but what I found most interesting was the stories told of how God spoke to someone or told them to do something.  It seemed that almost everyone was hearing from God and I was concerned because I hadn't heard God speak to me yet - I was hurt because I didn't have the relationship with God that others did.  Then an elderly man who was considered a pillar of the church stood up and in his slow Texas drawl said "You know, y'all have been jawing 'bout how God told you to do this and spoke to you about that . . .well," he continued, "I've been a Christian pert near all my life, and I ain't never heard God speak to me in an audible voice."  He went on to say, "Y'all gotta be careful 'bout how'ya spin yer tales so that the new folks in this here congregation won't be 'spectin to hear from God ever time they git down on their knees!"

It was almost like he knew how discouraged I had become listening to everyone's wonderful experiences with God.  After the service I went up to him and thanked him for sharing his wisdom and I explained how I was feeling.  He took me under his wing and over the next couple of years, he taught me how to hear from God, but most importantly, he taught me how to listen for God.  I'll be forever grateful to him for sharing his time and his wisdom with me.

I think that lots of people get discouraged sometimes because they don't hear from God, or they aren't sure that what they are feeling is from God.  I can understand where they are coming from and I don't think the church does enough to help people acquire the skills they need to listen for God, so that when the Spirit does speak to them, they can know in their "knower" that it is from God.

The key, is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Having that special relationship with Him and being able to commune with Him is so important to being able to hear what He is saying.  The Holy Spirit is our helper and He was sent to guide is through our lives and so we need to see Him as our confidant – our closest friend – the one we can ALWAYS count on.  We need to learn to trust Him and to consult with Him about every detail in our life so that we get used to the relationship.  The Holy Spirit of our God is the only way we are going to get through the rigors of our lives and stay on the narrow path to the Father.  If Jesus is The Way to the Father, then the Holy Spirit is the GPS that keeps us on the right path.

So how does He speak to us?  Through little feelings in our stomachs; through sudden thoughts; through other people's wisdom and example; through dreams and visions - He speaks to us in all kind of ways, so we need to start acknowledging Him and by doing so, the clarity with which He communicates with us will increase.  


Thank Him for finding your lost keys; thank Him for remembering to complete the task that has been eluding you; thank Him for helping you throughout your day! As you learn to acknowledge Him, His voice will become apparent and you will soon know His voice like a child knows its mother's.

God wants to speak to you - and He does it through the Holy Spirit.  Are you listening today?

Prayer
Father, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to us in order to speak wisdom and joy and peace and to give us Your direction.  How lost we all would be without Him.  Help us to learn how to listen for His voice so that when He does speak - when You speak, we are able to hear Your plan for our lives.  Father, You always know what we need and You always tell us how to achieve the success and to get over the failures in our lives, and You do it through the gift of Your Holy Spirit - Thank You for Your gift!

Have a blessed day everyone!

-Richard

I'm NOT "That Guy" Anymore – Genesis 32:27-28

27 And he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." 

28 Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed."
– Genesis 32:27-28

I'm NOT "That Guy" Anymore
Last night I wasn't feeling very well and I was home by myself – so I took the opportunity to have some quiet time with the Lord. In our conversation, He took me all the way back to the events that led up to my accepting His invitation to join Him in this brand new life.  It was kinda cool to relive the way He carefully designed each step of the way so that I could go from despair to a new excitement and a zeal for my new life. I recalled how after the excitement and joy of giving my life to Jesus had a chance to calm down a bit, He came to me and asked "what is your name?" . . . with a sly smile on His face.

I knew my name of course, but I could no longer associate it with the person I was before.  I could imagine Him nodding and smiling as I tried to go through all of the old ways of describing me:
Liar
Thief
Coward
Drug Addict
Sneak
Sex Addict
Damaged
Abused

Angry

Violent

Stupid

No-Good

Worthless

No-Account

Failure

Weakling

Untrustworthy
Flawed
Scarred
Sinner

He was smiling because He knew that that old man didn't exist anymore.  He smiled because He could hardly contain His excitement as I came to the realization that I was walking from death into blessing and that my future was paved with light and grace.  I was about to start on a new journey with Jesus and my new name was Hope, and Peace, and Friend, and Forgiven, and, and Redeemed, and Victorious!  I was a living example of God's Grace in Christ.

I can sometimes forget about that experience – especially when I'm going through tough times.  I can see the old me in the rear-view mirror, you know - appearing larger than I really was, and I know that if I'm not careful to guard the quiet places in my heart, the enemy will find a way to work his way back in.  I am so thankful that Jesus' love is so strong that it keeps me refreshed.  And in Him,  I can keep moving forward and the enemy can just keep chasing me – because I am riding with Jesus, and He doesn't even have a rear-view mirror.

Take some time to remember your salvation experience today.  Thank God for taking the time to wrestle with you as you made the decision to accept Jesus into your heart.  Thank Him that you are no longer who you used to be and the new you is wonderful and marvelous and full of joy and light.  Claim the blessings that are yours and hold your head high because you are a child of God!  Share the Joy of the Lord with someone today!

Prayer
Father,  Thank You for giving me a new name and a new identity.  I pray that I never forget the depths of where I came because I know that it will keep my rejoicing fresh and new each day.  Help me to stay focused on You as I go about the busyness of today – I want to show others just a small portion of the love You showed me.

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard

I Hope So! – 1 Peter 1:13

13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
– 1 Peter 1:13

I Hope So!
Hope is one of those catch-all words that can mean a lot of different things depending on who is hoping, and what they are hoping for.  As Christians, there is only one hope for us – or at least that's what it should be.

When I was a kid I used to hope for a lot of things.  Most of them would never come true but I hoped for them anyway.  Like most kids in our country, I was preoccupied with material things and satisfying my need for "stuff."  I used to wish and hope and dream and plan about things that I would never realize.  I remember one time hoping that I would be a millionaire so that I could buy myself a fire truck.  I was 6 at the time and if I remember correctly, the year before I hoped I could BE a fire truck!  That just shows the kind of silly things my imagination put priority on.

God built the need to hope in us.  So even though as kids we all hoped for silly things (I know I'm not the only one), it was because of the wonderful gift of hope that our Father in heaven, in His infinite wisdom, blessed us with.  He knew that one day, we would come to realize the fullness of the meaning of hope, and the one true reason He birthed it in us.  I believe He sits in eager anticipation of that Aha! moment when each of us recognizes Christ as our Savior and our one true Hope.

So understanding the hope that we now have, the bible tells us to prepare our minds for action and to keep sober in spirit!  Keep hoping and realize what and who you are – in Him!  The resurrected Christ is our King, and our Way to the Father, and we are given this blessed hope because He first loved us and called us to Himself!  It is nothing that we did or could ever do – it is only by grace that we were given this precious gift.

He is our eternal Life and our proclamation of Glory!  We need to share our hope with a world that has none – or that is hoping for material or worldly things.  We need to show them the difference that they can have in their lives by displaying the hope that we have!  We should be beacons of hope that will lead those with lost or misguided hope, to the Hope and to the Light of Christ!

Prayer
Father, I am so thankful for the hope that You have given me, in the gift of Christ.  Lord Jesus, you are my reason for being and my hope for the day when I will be with You in eternity.  You have brought joy to my life and I am forever grateful.  I pray that I can share that same hope with those who you bring across my path and that I never pass on an opportunity to share the Hope that I have in You!

Have a blessed day everyone!

–Richard 

Blue Light Special! – Psalm 104:33-34

33 I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD.
    –Psalm 104:33-34

Blue Light Special!

What do you do when you are feeling blue?  Some people like to shop, treating themselves to something nice in order to pick themselves up.  Some people like to eat . . . but we all know the consequences of that trap.  Some people like to wallow in their misery and even use it to seek validation from others who feel sorry for them.

I have found that the very best way to overcome the blues is to praise God.  It works every time.  There is absolutely no way you can continue to feel bad after you have poured out your heart to the Lord in song.

Can't sing you say?  No problem – there are lots of good worship CDs or you can download music from the internet.  There's also the radio if you happen to be a low-tech kind of person.  And even if you couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, God doesn't care what you sound like.  Sing your praises to Him, off-key and at the top of your lungs. Be proud of that awful voice of yours and make sure the neighbors can hear too!  They might just find Jesus (you never know!).

The point is that it doesn't matter the abilities you do or don't have, it doesn't matter where you are, it doesn't matter how bad you feel, and it doesn't even matter if you make up the words as you go along – the point is to sing.  Sing praises to God with everything that is in you!  He will hear you and He will minister to you as you minister to Him.  And even if it's just for a few minutes that you feel better about your situation, a few minutes can be a wonderful start to turning your focus off of your situation and back on to Him and how wonderful He is and the marvelous things He has done in your life and will continue to do.

Let's face it, we all go through times of depression and doubt – it's one of the many tools the enemy uses to take our focus off of our Savior.  It's recognizing when those time are upon us and conditioning ourselves to react positively by having a praise plan at the ready.  We do it for other disasters right?  How many of you have an earthquake kit?  How many know exactly what to do if the tornado sirens should sound?  Like boy scouts, we are prepared for just about any emergency – except for when the enemy attacks.  It's time to create your Emergency Blue Light Preparedness Kit (EBLPK for short).

1. Pick out 4 or 5 of your favorite praise and worship songs - about 30 minutes worth.
2. Burn them on to a CD or download them as a group or album to your mp3 player.
3. Learn all the words to the songs (typing or writing them out will help you learn them quickly).
4. Put the CD and written lyrics in an envelope and put it in your night stand or somewhere you can easily find them (in case of emergency).
5. Do a few "fire drills." 

Walk through exactly what you will do the next time you start to feel depressed or you feel doubtful that God is with you, or even when you aren't feeling well and the enemy is putting fear into your head of what the ailment might be. Take out your EBLPK and go to the exact spot where you will listen to the music and sing along.  It might be a comfortable chair, it could be a spot in your back yard or even taking a walk – this practice will be beneficial because you will be able to jump right in when the actual "emergency" comes.

This might all feel silly to you but it really shouldn't.  As effective Christians we should be proactive in our faith and always be at the ready for when the enemy comes prowling around.  Give it a try, it might just save you from wallowing around in the pit of despair as you Rejoice In The Lord!

Prayer
Father, I pray for all my brothers and sisters who are going through tough physical and emotional times right now.  I ask that You wrap them in the warmth of Your loving Spirit and place in their hearts the urgency to praise You.  Remind them of all of the wonderful things You have done in their lives and put a new song in their hearts.  Help them to put aside any feelings of inadequacy so that they can sing praises to You with total abandon.  I thank You for the joy You bring to me whenever I sing of Your love and faithfulness and i will continue to sing - all the days of my life!

Have an awesome day everyone!

–Richard

13 It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free - signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. 

14 This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life. 

- Ephesians 1: 13-14

Signed - Sealed - Delivered!

Have you ever had to get anything ready for shipping?  Perhaps a special Christmas gift that is going cross country?  You make sure that the contents are securely packed and protected with either styrofoam peanuts or bubble-wrap or some other form of protection.  You take extra care in filling out the shipping form, checking the address 2 or 3 times to make sure you got it right - then you take care to make sure it is sealed properly so that no one can tamper with  it . . . and then after paying for the extra insurance, you hand it over to the delivery service.  After getting the tracking number you daily check the package's progress until it arrives safely at its destination.  All this just for a package!

Not UPS, FedEx, DHS, USPS nor anyone else can even come close to the care and security that our Father and Savior have taken in making sure that you get to heaven.  He put you in the perfect package to make the life-long journey;  He protected you with the Holy Spirit, who wraps Himself around you every day, and every step, and every breath, so that you make it through to your final destination;  He sealed it with His blood so that no one and no "thing" can destroy you.  He did such a great job that your place in heaven is already prepared and waiting for your arrival - it's not a question of if you will arrive, but when.

So take heart - know that you are on your way!  Have confidence that as long as you keep your eyes on Him, our Lord and Savior will not allow the enemy to steal your joy.  Keep looking towards heaven and keep walking in your eternal tennis shoes;  keep singing praises to our Father and proclaiming His unconditional Love to everyone you meet;  keep sharing your heart with Him and letting Him be a part of your daily walk;  keep on living because you are instrumental in bringing others into the kingdom.  He wants to use you by letting others see His light shining through you - they will be drawn to you like moths to a flame  because the love of Christ pours out of you and everything you do.  You have been purchased and your destination has been sealed and signed for - and your destination is guaranteed!

Prayer

Father I thank You for choosing me to share Your kingdom with.  What a joy it is to know that I will be in Your presence and praising You as we stroll through streets of gold and fields of silk and pearls.  Your love humbles me and I know that if I can show someone just a portion of Your grace and forgiveness that they will be joining us in paradise.  Help me Lord to keep my eyes fixed on you and to not focus on the daily problems that will always be a part of this life - I know that You make everything better and that my problems are only temporary.  Thank You Lord!

Have a blessed day my Brothers!

-Richard 

You Have It In You! – Philippians 4: 11-13

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 
13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 

– Philippians 4: 11-13 

You Have It In You!

What kinds of challenges are you facing in your life?  Are there obstacles that seem to just come faster and faster like some out-of-control video game?  Have you reached the point where giving up is looking like a pretty good option?  Well where are you going to turn to get you past this trial?  How are you going to find the strength to come out victorious?  Who do you turn to for help?  What is your next move?

The obvious answer is to call out to your Father in heaven and ask for the Holy Spirit to give you the strength and the wisdom to overcome.  The not so obvious answer is that after seeking the Father's face, to look within yourself.  Find the you that is there when you are at your best.  Dig deep, dig hard, and dig until you find the strength and the spirit that God created you with.  The human spirit that He, in His glorious wisdom, so generously poured into you so that you could realize how special you really are and how awesome He created you.

God will help you and the Holy Spirit will give you wisdom and power from on high, and Jesus has given you the grace and love to remain humble, but in the end, our Triune God wants you to show the entire world the wonder that you are.  God did not create us to be weak and powerless - He created us with an incredible potential to overcome - to reach unreachable heights - to defeat the giants of this world, and to push beyond our familiar selves.  He gave each of us His seal of approval and He called us "good."

You and I are amazing and powerful beings - but we need to come to that realization of, and have the faith to know that God said it - and it is true - no ifs, ands, or buts about it!.  Just take a minute to reflect on all the things that you have made it through - God was there through it all.  Yes, the Holy Spirit also gave you the wisdom you needed to make right decisions, and yes, our Lord Jesus has saved you and He set your feet firmly on solid ground.  But you lived through it.  You survived.  You overcame because of the human spirit that our wonderful Father created inside of you.  You honored the power and the wisdom and the love of God by not giving up.

So now, in the midst of your trial, in the make-it-or-break-it time of your life, recall your victories and start praising God for creating you with the ability to walk through it all -  full of hope, full of joy, and full of life!

Prayer

Father I am so thankful for the human spirit that You designed me with.  You are constantly showing me that I can do anything as long as I put my faith and trust in you.  Each time I have had to reach deep and realize the strength that You have given me in order to walk when You told me to walk or to act when You told me to act, I have gained more confidence in You.  I know that it is not in my own abilities but by drawing close to you that those abilities become supernatural.  I am able to overcome anything the world throws at me - because You created me to live a victorious life!

Have a blessed day everyone!

-Richard