SORRY I FORGOT TO POST

6-27-08 – ANOINTED

2 Kings 13:20-21
20 Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. 21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. NIV
** Now that’s anointing! Can you imagine if the anointing of Elisha was so strong that it even lasted in his bones, what it was like when he was alive? It must have been an amazing thing to have met or been close to Elisha. Then along comes Jesus…. God in the flesh…. The very power and anointing of God IN THE FLESH! I can’t wait to stand face to face with Him! First reaction? I have no idea! I think I will more than likely wrap my arms around Him and just hold on to Him never wanting to let go. But I’ll probably just pass out. J Ok, got the picture? Now hear Jesus speak. “Anyone who has faith in Me will do what I’ve been doing AND even greater things because I go to the father.” Jesus was giving us a challenge. 1. If you believe in me then you will DO what I’ve been doing. 2. Don’t stop there, because I’ve given you enough power so when I leave you will be able to do GREATER things than I did. WOW! Are you ready?


6-28-08 – PROTECTION

2 Tim 4:18
18 Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly Kingdom. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen. NLT
** Deliverance…. Ah, such a great word to those who are bound. Here is a great promise not only to Paul but to us also. “deliver us from every evil work.” So what’s going on in your life that is evil? Call out to God and He has promised that He will deliver you from it. God will deliver all who are addicted to things and can’t get free….. come to Him. God will deliver you from diseases and sicknesses…… come to Him. He is faithful.


6-29-08 – WHERE ARE THE TRUE CHRISTIANS?

Titus 1:15-16
15 Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are defiled. 16 Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are despicable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good. NLT
** So many people claiming to be a Christian but when you watch their lives, there is no EVIDENCE of knowing God. As we go thru life we forget the meaning of the word Christian. Christian means “Christ Like,” or “To Be Like Christ.” I’m just not seeing that anymore in this world. I had a person just the other day say that he wished we could come up with another catchy word to express true Christians other than the word Christian. I guess we could go back to one of the originals… “Born Again.” Or a longer one but more direct… “Follower of Christ.” Either way, if you just hang around those FALSE so called Christians long enough, you will see that they are really not in it for Christ’s sake at all, they are in it for their selves.


6-30-08 – MAKE MYSELF PRAISE

Ps 104:1
1 Praise the LORD, I tell myself; O LORD my God, how great you are! NLT
Ps 104:33-34
33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! 34 May he be pleased by all these thoughts about him, for I rejoice in the LORD. NLT
** Ok, so sometimes I just have to make myself praise the Lord. Most of the time it comes easy and I enjoy it very very much. But I still live in this sinful flesh and when I give it a little slack, it tries to take over! I really love the verses above because not only does the writer say “I tell myself,” but he makes the declaration that he will praise God to the last breath. I also know that God is very pleased with those who choose to praise Him not only by the law but by relationship.

WHICH WAY DO I GO?

Jonah 1:3
3 But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction in order to get away from the LORD. NLT
** Which direction are you going? God’s way or the opposite way? As a pastor I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people running full blast the opposite direction of where God wants them to be. Sometimes their deliberate, and other times they just don’t know where to go, so instead of waiting for God to show them they just take off running. Each one of us need to find God’s direction for our lives and then run to Him. Run like there’s no tomorrow. Run like your life depends on it. Run so that when you’ve finished the race, He will be proud of you and reward you.

EAGER NOT TO PUNISH

Joel 2:13
13 Don't tear your clothing in your grief; instead, tear your hearts." Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful. He is not easily angered. He is filled with kindness and is eager not to punish you. NLT
** So I guess this messes up the thought that there is a God in heaven just sitting there ready to punish us for the next wrong thing we do. So many people think that God delights in punishing people, that He is like a child beater and just waits for us to mess up so He can delight in repaying us with evil things. I so glad that God is NOT like that! Here it says “He is FILLED with kindness and is eager NOT to punish you.” So, if something is filled with kindness, then I guess you can’t fit anything else in it? I mean if God is filled with kindness then He can’t be unkind….. I serve a wonderful God who delights in blessing me and giving me all kinds of wonderful things in this life AND prepares a place for me in heaven that will make this earthly dwelling look like junk! The LORD Jehovah, Jesus Christ, is an awesome God!

POST CATCH UP....

6-21-08 – THIS IS NOT RIGHT

2 Kings 7:8-9
8 When the lepers arrived at the edge of the camp, they went into one tent after another, eating, drinking wine, and carrying out silver and gold and clothing and hiding it. 9 Finally, they said to each other, "This is not right. This is wonderful news, and we aren't sharing it with anyone! NLT
** How often this is true with Christians. We are blessed beyond anyone else in the world because of the richness of knowing Christ, and yet we keep it to ourselves too often. I must try harder to share the good news with others I come in contact with. I pray that God will show me each day, someone who I can share the good news with. Thank you Lord Jesus for the Gospel you have given me. Thank you for showing me who to share this gospel with.


6-22-08 – OFFREINGS THAT COST

1 Chron 21:24
24 But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying what it is worth. I cannot take what is yours and give it to the LORD. I will not offer a burnt offering that has cost me nothing!" NLT
** David knew the secret to pleasing God. God is not pleased when we give offerings that don’t cost us something. I remember when I was a small child and during the offering time at church I would ask my dad if he would give me some money to give to the offering. He would pull out a dollar or a quarter and I would be so excited to give it. Of course it didn’t cost me anything. It wasn’t until later that I got my own job and worked hard for the money I made and then when I took my tithe or offering out of my wallet and placed it in the offering basket, there was more involved besides just putting money in the plate. I was actually giving of myself, my time spent was going into the offering in form of money. We should always give something that cost us something so our offering will be time well spent.


6-23-08 – PAID WELL

1 Tim 5:17-18
17 Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, "Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain." And in another place, "Those who work deserve their pay!" NLT
** It’s so good to know that God looks out for those who preach the gospel. Not only does it say that preachers should be paid, but that they should “be paid well.” I thank God for a church who honors me with a good salary. It’s an honor to serve them and teach them the word of God and of course I would do it without pay…. And have done it without pay, but I will say it is much easier to be able to spend all my time serving and studying. Thanks CFC for your faithfulness and honor.


6-24-08- TO OBEY OR NOT TO OBEY?

2 Chron 24:20
20 Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, "This is what God says: Why do you disobey the LORD's commands so that you cannot prosper? You have abandoned the LORD, and now he has abandoned you!" NLT
** To obey or not to obey, that is the question! Oh how easy it sounds but in the midst of making that decision to obey God or not there are so many choices. The question is easy it’s the answer that is so hard. Will I do what I want to do instead of what God wants me to do and suffer the consequences, or will I do what God wants me to do and see the blessing of God upon my life? The biggest question in life is and will always be “will I choose to obey God?” well….. will I?

ASK FOR MORE?

2 Kings 4:5-6
5 She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another one." But he replied, "There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing. NIV** I don’t know how many jars were filled up but I wonder if they would have kept bringing jars the ALL the jars would have been filled? I mean, lets just say that she filled a total of 30 jars. If she knew that all the jars would have been filled above and beyond 30, would she have searched high and low and went beyond just her friends to get more? How often we ask God for just the amount we need. What if we asked beyond ourselves? Suppose I need 4,000.00 a month to meet all my families needs and then some. Suppose I stopped asking for God to provide for us 4000 dollars a month and started asking for 5000 dollars a month so I could start giving 1000 dollars away to others in need? My needs PLUS others? Interesting concept huh?

FUNNY FRIDAY

After being away on business, Tim thought it would be nice to bring his wife a little gift. "How about some perfume?" he asked the cosmetics clerk.

She showed him a bottle costing $50.

"That's a bit much," said Tim, so she returned with a smaller bottle for $30.

"That's still quite a bit," Tim complained.

Growing annoyed, the clerk brought out a tiny $15 bottle.

"What I mean," said Tim, "is I'd like to see something really cheap."

The clerk handed him a mirror.

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY

6-19-08 – WHERE DID HE GO?

2 Kings 2:16-18
16 "Sir," they said, "just say the word and fifty of our strongest men will search the wilderness for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has left him on some mountain or in some valley."
"No," Elisha said, "don't send them." 17 But they kept urging him until he was embarrassed, and he finally said, "All right, send them." So fifty men searched for three days but did not find Elijah. 18 Elisha was still at Jericho when they returned. "Didn't I tell you not to go?" he asked. NLT** I’m wondering if these men wanted Elijah as the prophet over Elisha? They were so persistent to keep looking for him after he was taken up. So goes the circle of ministry life. One leader leaves and another takes over and the people are left with a leader that they may or may not approve of. Some congregations never accept the new pastor because of the greatness of the last pastor and boy do I feel sorry for the new pastor….. it’s difficult enough to have to lead a group of people more less to fill someone else’s shoes. As a pioneer pastor, I’ve not had to be compared to someone else until I merged our church with another sister church and became the Sr. pastor of both churches. Right off the bat I could see a comparison going on. I do want you to note that when Elijah left, he also left a double portion of the anointing with Elisha and after Elisha was done with his ministry, he had done twice as many miracles at Elijah did. Lord I pray for you anointing to lead this people to greatness. Not to be a good church, but to be a GREAT church.


6-18-08 – WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR

2 Chron 18:7 7 King Ahab replied, "There is still one prophet of the LORD, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but bad news for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah." NLT ** We want to hear from God and what Him to speak to us but like Ahab, we don’t want God to say things against the plans we have already made. The reason Michaiah always prophesied bad things against Ahab was because Ahab always walked away from the plans of God. We can blame God and His prophets, preachers, teachers and ministers for all the bad news we think they are bringing because of our disobedience to God or we can choose to follow God and obey Him and then when all His workers speak to us, it will be good news.

READ THE RED

Col 3:16
16 Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. NLT
** Christ’s words? Read the red letters in the bible (if your bible has the red letter edition… they mark every word Jesus Christ spoke in highlighted red). These are the exact words of Christ. In other words, read the whole 4 gospels… Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and you will read what Jesus says about live and living it to the fullest. Sometimes I just like to read the gospels over and over again. It makes me fall in love with Jesus again and again. It reminds me of how much Jesus loves us and all the things He did to purchase our salvation. If you read the red letters of the bible you will see that God is a God of love and that His desire is for no one to perish and no one to go to hell but that all people will be saved from an eternity with out Him.

GIVE AND GET

1 Kings 17:13-16
13 But Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid! Go ahead and cook that 'last meal,' but bake me a little loaf of bread first. Afterward there will still be enough food for you and your son. 14 For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be plenty of flour and oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!" 15 So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her son continued to eat from her supply of flour and oil for many days. 16 For no matter how much they used, there was always enough left in the containers, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah. NLT
** Recession? Fuel cost rising? So, why are you afraid? Are you listening to God? What is He saying? Can I give you a hint? “Don’t be afraid.” Serve Him first, give Him even the very last of what you have and He will make sure you will never run out of gas, food, clothes, finances. He is God you know. He created the earth by His breath and spoken word. He places each star in the sky for your pleasure and joy. HE IS BIG ENOUGH…. For? He is not the great has been but the GREAT I AM! What are you doing to bring blessing upon your household? Seek Him first and He will provide all you need in the time you need it.

LEAVING A LEGACY

1 Kings 16:30-33
30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him. 31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him.
NIV
** It’s obvious that Omri did not fear God at all! And even as I write about this in my journal, I’m watching the news on the TV here at this coffee shop and people are gathering from all over the world to San Francisco for same sex marriages. God will not let this go unpunished. This reminds me to pray even more for our leaders and our country. We are really in trouble IF we allow this kind of action to continue to take place. America has stopped fearing God. We have done evil things all in the name of “freedom” and people are and will not only loose their lives over it but will loose their eternity. God help us realize our sin and turn from our wicked ways and fear you again.

YOKEFELLOW

Phil 4:3
3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. NIV
** Who are you joined to in the work of God? Do they contend at your side? Are they followers of Christ? Each of us need people who we can trust to be yoked together with. I’m not talking about marriage but just being partners with other people both in friendship and business. (although I do believe you should NOT marry anyone who is not fully dedicated to Jesus Christ or you’re in for VERY rough waters and destined to sink right off the bat.). It’s already hard enough to just make it thru this life and even more when you are working hard in the kingdom of God. We each need to surround us with people who are fully dedicated to God and those who want to see Jesus filled in us.

KEEP LOOKING AHEAD

Phil 3:13-14
13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. NIV
** Ever notice that the rear view mirror in your car is smaller than the front window? You can’t drive safely by continually looking out the rear view mirror. Often times we get caught up looking at our past. How many times have I been trapped in the past by what I could have or would have done. Bury it! Just put it in the ground and walk away in the direction of the future! Stop looking back and wishing that life could have been better IF. Focus on the future and all that God has for you and all the great things you are and will be doing for Him.

HIS GOOD PLEASURE

Phil 2:13
13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. NASU
** Often times we forget what and who this life is all about. “HIS good pleasure.” It’s about Him not you. And the more we understand this the more he will bless us with all kinds of blessings. We must always remember though to seek first the kingdom of God and THEN all these things, (food, water and clothing) will be added unto us. We can be stubborn and think with our human nature and say things or think things like “if He blesses me, then I’ll serve Him.” But God does not work that way. Until we put Him FIRST in whatever we do, we will not see the FULL blessings God has for us. And we can ask why and He will just answer “Because I said so.” J

HEAVEN OR EARTH?

Phil 1:21-24
21 For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 Yet if I live, that means fruitful service for Christ. I really don't know which is better. 23 I'm torn between two desires: Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be far better for me, 24 but it is better for you that I live. NLT
** What is better? To die and be in heaven today or to stay alive and spend this day teaching, training and disciplining others? Paul is very clear on this. The best is to help others know more about Christ Jesus because heaven will not leave, it will always be waiting for us. I know most people don’t want to die anyway, but the place that Jesus has prepared for us far exceeds this earth that is so wonderful. That is why we need to stay focused on getting as many as we can saved and ready for heaven.

TEARS TUESDAY

Something to think about I sat in my seat of the Boeing 767 waiting for everyone to hurry and stow their carry-ons and grab a seat so we could start what I was sure to be a long , uneventful flight home. With the huge capacity and slow moving people taking their time to stuff luggage far too big for the overhead and never paying much attention to holding up the growing line behind them, I simply shook my head knowing that this flight was not starting out very well.
I was anxious to get home to see my loved ones so I was focused on "my" issues and just felt like standing up and yelling for some of these clowns to get their act together. I knew I couldn't say a word so I just thumbed thru the "Sky Mall" magazine from the seat pocket in front of me. You know it's really getting rough when you resort to the over priced, useless sky mall crap to break the monotony. With everyone finally seated, we just sat there with the cabin door open and no one in any hurry to get us going although we were well past the scheduled take off time. No wonder the airline industry is in trouble I told myself.
Just then, the attendant came on the intercom to inform us all that we were being delayed. The entire plane let out a collective groan. She resumed speaking to say "We are holding the aircraft for some very special people who are on their way to the plane and the delay shouldn't be more than 5 minutes. The word came after waiting six times as long as we were promised that "I" was finally going to be on my way home. Why the hoopla over "these" folks? I was expecting some celebrity or sport figure to be the reason for the hold up.........Just get their butts in a seat and lets hit the gas I thought.
The attendant came back on the speaker to announce in a loud and excited voice that we were being joined by several U. S. Marines returning home from Iraq!!! Just as they walked on board, the entire plane erupted into applause. The men were a bit taken by surprise by the 340 people cheering for them as they searched for their seats. They were having their hands shook and touched by almost everyone who was within an arm's distance of them as they passed down the aisle. One elderly woman kissed the hand of one of the Marines as he passed by her. The applause, whistles and cheering didn't stop for a long time. When we were finally airborne, "I" was not the only civilian checking his conscience as to the delays in "me" getting home, finding my easy chair, a cold beverage and the remote in my hand. These men had done for all of us and I had been complaining silently about "me" and "my" issues. I took for granted the everyday freedoms I enjoy and the conveniences of the American way of life I took for granted others paid the price for my ability to moan and complain about a few minutes delay to "me" those Heroes going home to their loved ones.
I attempted to get my selfish outlook back in order and minutes before we landed I suggested to the attendant that she announce over the speaker a request for everyone to remain in their seats until our hero's were allowed to gather theirthings and be first off the plane. The cheers and applause continued until the last Marine stepped off and we all rose to go about our too often taken for granted everyday freedoms......... I felt proud of them.
I felt it an honor and a privilege to be among the first to welcome them home and say Thank You for a job well done. I vowed that I will never forget that flight nor the lesson learned. I can't say it enough, THANK YOU to those Veterans and active servicemen and women who may read this and a prayer for those who cannot because they are no longer with us.
GOD BLESS AMERICA! WELCOME HOME! AND THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE !!!!!

ONLY YOU

Song 4:12
12 "You are like a private garden, my treasure, my bride! You are like a spring that no one else can drink from, a fountain of my own. NLT** “Private garden”… “Fountain of my own.” There is no other when you are united with someone. Often times people that are in marriage covenants and people who have made VOWS leave room for options “if something doesn’t work out.” There is a love presented here in verse 12 that needs to be carried out in our marriages today. “ONLY YOU” and that’s all there is…. No options, no one else to run to and NO DIVORICE! So now when problems come in your marriage what do you do? WORK IT OUT! I don’t even let my mind entertain anything else. There is not other woman to run to, so I only have one option…. Reconcile. This doesn’t mean that I don’t turn to other people for help (as long as it’s not the opposite sex… big trouble there.). Besides your marriage is worth it, and with Jesus on your side, who can be against you? Trust in Him and rely on Him and He will direct your paths. Talk to your pastor and / or a Godly counselor and submit to each other and get rid of all selfishness… there ya go!

LOVE AND RESPECT

Eph 5:33
33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. NLT** Again and again and again and again…. Not only does Paul say it twice but the words ring through our lives every day. “Love your wife as yourself and respect your husband.” There can be no greater thing than this in a marriage relationship. This is so simple and it doesn’t even need a whole lot of explanation. However the problem lies in stubbornness. Being stubborn to not put your wife first above yourself and being stubborn to not respect your husband. Yet notice it says HUSBAND and it says WIFE….. NOT husband and husband or wife and wife! It’s God’s plan from the very beginning and it will be God’s plan to the very end no matter how twisted people want to be, they will never please God living in a same sex relationship or marriage.

THE REASON FOR MINISTERS

Eph 4:12-13
12 Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, 13 until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ. NLT
** Ok, so here it is, after explaining what leaders God has placed in the church, Paul explains their responsibilities. EQUIP! To do what? To do God’s work. When I was in Alabama pasturing a church there, it seemed like most people not only believed that the pastor should always have a money making job outside of the church pasturing but also that the pastor was suppose to do all the work inside of the church too. If we wear the pastor out, then we’ll just take the next one that comes along. Meanwhile everyone just sat around having potlucks and doing nothing but either applauding the pastor for his great stamina or complained because he just couldn’t keep up. (I think this way of life is not just a Alabama thing but it stretched thru the USA). Ministers, take a deep breath and stay focused on the word. EQUIP them, PASTOR them don’t parent them. Give them tools to do the word and over see them well. If a person dies of starvation while sitting in a steakhouse all their lives, it’s because they are lazy not because they have lack of food.

DON'T LIMIT GOD

Eph 3:20
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, NIV
** The most important thing about his verse is “Now unto HIM who is ABLE….” Before we can receive anything from God we must believe HE is ABLE. Often times people run around worrying and being fearful because they just don’t know or don’t believe how great and powerful God really is. Whatever you are going thru today remember the words “He is able __________” and then fill in the blank.

ENJOY LIFE

Eccl 2:4-11
4 I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. 7 I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned great herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who lived in Jerusalem before me. 8 I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire!
9 So I became greater than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. And with it all, I remained clear-eyed so that I could evaluate all these things. 10 Anything I wanted, I took. I did not restrain myself from any joy. I even found great pleasure in hard work, an additional reward for all my labors. 11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless. It was like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. NLT
** Solomon had EVERYTHING anyone would ever want. You name it, he had it! And isn’t it true that almost everyone has run and is running after the very same things that Solomon had? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said or I’ve heard people say, “if I only had this or that then everything would be great.” Or, “what would you do with a million dollars?” Solomon had this AND that and he had much more than a million dollars and then more and yet his life as he describes above is so meaningless. But there is hope! Notice that in the next verse he finds real meaning to life:
Eccl 2:24-25 24 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that this pleasure is from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? NLTWithout God there is no pleasure or satisfaction… no wonder the rolling stones could get no satisfaction because they didn’t know the true and living God Jesus Christ. So as Solomon said “lives come and lives go” and the only things that really last are those things that are build upon God and His foundation…. Enjoy Life!

FUNNY FRIDAY

HONK IF YOU LOVE JESUS

Got a letter from Grandma the other day. She writes...

The other day I went up to a local Christian bookstore and saw a "Honk if you love Jesus" bumper sticker.

I was feeling particularly sassy that day because I had just come from a thrilling choir performance, followed by a thunderous prayer meeting, so I bought the sticker and put it on my bumper.

Boy, I'm glad I did! What an uplifting experience that followed!

I was stopped at a red light at a busy intersection, just lost in thought about the Lord and how good He is... and I didn't notice that the light had changed.

It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus because if he hadn't honked, I'd never have noticed!

I found that LOTS of people love Jesus! Why, while I was sitting there, the guy behind started honking like crazy, and then he leaned out of his window and screamed, "For the love of GOD! GO! GO! Jesus Christ, GO!"

What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus! Everyone started honking!

I just leaned out of my window and started waving and smiling at all these loving people. I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love!

There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a "sunny beach"...

I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air.

Then I asked my teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant, he said that it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something. Well, I've never met anyone from Hawaii, so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign back.

My grandson burst out laughing...why, even he was enjoying this religious experience!

A couple of the people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards me. I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended, but this is when I noticed the light had changed.

So, I waved to all my sisters and brothers grinning, and drove on through the intersection. I noticed I was the only car that got through the intersection before the light changed again and I felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared, so I slowed the car down, leaned out of the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away.

Praise the Lord for such wonderful folks!
Grandma

GOD IS BIGGER

Ps 33:6-7
6 The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.
7 He gave the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. NLT
** How amazing is our God! Nothing is too difficult to Him. No matter what problems you have, they are not to big for a God who created the whole world and by His Word He speaks and it is done. Just by His breath he created every star in the heavens. So many times I’ll get myself in some difficulty or trouble will come my way. At that time I have 2 options: #1 I can look and see how big my problems are or #2 I can look and see how big my God is. That’s exactly what happened to Peter when he got out of the boat and began to walk on the water to Jesus. He was doing just fine until he got his eyes off of Jesus and started looking at the wind and the waves. It was at that moment he began to sink. I want to encourage you today to keep your eyes on Jesus! It doesn’t matter how big the waves are or how strong the wind is, GOD IS BIGGER!

Pastor Dave

EVIL RULERS

Prov 28:12
12 When the godly succeed, everyone is glad. When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding. NLT
Prov 28:28
28 When the wicked take charge, people hide. When the wicked meet disaster, the godly multiply.
NLT
Prov 29:2
2 When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan. NLT** Election is coming up here in America and in a few short months we will elect a new president. Who will rule over us for the next 4 years? I do believe that if the Christians in this country would join together in unity we would bring into office ANYBODY we wanted there. The problem is, we usually can’t agree on who should be our leader. I believe that no matter what, we should put our unborn babies FIRST above everything else. We must vote to save their lives and allow them a choice to live and not die. So how do I vote? I’ve had people ask me if I’m pro-choice or pro-life. BOTH! How you ask? I believe everyone has a choice. But the problem is, we’ve placed the choice way after the deed. Let me explain. The choice doesn’t take place at the abortion clinic, it takes place when you CHOOSE to have sex. So yes I’m pro-choice in the context that you get to make the choice weather or not you are going to sleep with that person which could lead to giving birth to a baby. So in that context, abortion is not your right, it is a cover up of your wrong. And I am pro-life. Every unborn baby has the right to live, even if they have come into existence thru your error. This is not that difficult of a question to answer and anyone who serves God should realize the simple answer. Yes I know that rape happens and all the other things that go with this subject, but I know it’s far less that the pro-choice group is willing to admit. So who do I vote for? A man OR a woman, white OR black that stands up for the unborn babies that have a right to come into this world. Do they support abortion? Then I don’t vote for them for then I will partake in their sin as well. This not only goes for my vote for president but all other offices as well. Some might say, so your republican? No, I’m neither republican or democrat, I am whatever saves babies.

SELF CONTROL

Prov 25:28
28 A person without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls. NLT
** Oh how true this is. If we don’t practice self control we will never be protected. Often times I will find things in my life and will fast them because I want to keep myself under control. I definitely have a problem with self control. I love to eat and I find my self over and over again in the situation of eating all the time! I do feel like Paul who says “the things I want to do I don’t do and the things I don’t want to do, I end up doing…. What a wretched man that I am….” So I beat my body and I continually try to make it my slave so it will obey me and the word of God and not just do whatever it wants to. And yes because I find myself without self control, I also find myself in trouble because the enemy can come in and attack because there is no wall of protection in my life…. Lord help me keep my flesh in check and help me make the right decisions that will keep the walls of protection up and fortified.

TEARS TUESDAY (All the good things)

He was in the first third grade class I taught at Saint Mary's School in Morris, Minn. All 34 of my students were dear to me, but Mark Eklund was one in a million. Very neat in appearance, but had that happy-to-be-alive attitude that made even his occasional mischievousness delightful.
Mark talked incessantly. I had to remind him again and again that talking without permission was not acceptable. What impressed me so much, though, was his sincere response every time I had to correct him for misbehaving: "Thank you for correcting me, Sister!" I didn't know what to make of it at first, but before long I became accustomed to hearing it many times a day.
One morning my patience was growing thin when Mark talked once too often, and then I made a novice-teacher's mistake. I looked at him and said, "If you say one more word, I am going to tape your mouth shut!"
It wasn't ten seconds later when Chuck blurted out, "Mark is talking again." I hadn't asked any of the students to help me watch Mark, but since I had stated the punishment in front of the class, I had to act on it.
I remember the scene as if it had occurred this morning. I walked to my desk, very deliberately opened my drawer and took out a roll of masking tape. Without saying a word, I proceeded to Mark's desk, tore off two pieces of tape and made a big X with them over his mouth.
I then returned to the front of the room. As I glanced at Mark to see how he was doing he winked at me.
That did it! I started laughing. The class cheered as I walked back to Mark's desk, removed the tape and shrugged my shoulders. His first words were, "Thank you for correcting me, Sister."
At the end of the year I was asked to teach junior-high math. The years flew by, and before I knew it Mark was in my classroom again. He was more handsome than ever and just as polite. Since he had to listen carefully to my instructions in the "new math," he did not talk as much in ninth grade as he had in the third.
One Friday, things just didn't feel right. We had worked hard on a new concept all week, and I sensed that the students were frowning, frustrated with themselves--and edgy with one another. I had to stop this crankiness before it got out of hand. So I asked them to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then I told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.
It took the remainder of the class period to finish the assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed me the papers. Charlie smiled. Mark said, "Thank you for teaching me, Sister. Have a good weekend."
That Saturday, I wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and I listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday I gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" I heard whispered. "I never knew that meant anything to anyone!" "I didn't know others liked me so much!"
No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. I never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another again.
That group of students moved on. Several years later, after I returned from vacation, my parents met me at the airport. As we were driving home, Mother asked me the usual questions about the trip--the weather, my experiences in general. There was a light lull in the conversation. Mother gave Dad a sideways glance and I simply said, "Dad?" My father cleared his throat as he usually did before something important. "The Eklunds called last night," he began.
"Really?" I said. "I haven't heard from them in years. I wonder how Mark is."
Dad responded quietly. "Mark was killed in Vietnam," he said. "The funeral is tomorrow, and his parents would like it if you could attend." To this day I can still point to the exact spot on I-494 where Dad told me about Mark.
I had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. Mark looked so handsome, so mature. All I could think at that moment was, Mark, I would give all the masking tape in the world if only you would talk to me.
The church was packed with Mark's friends. Chuck's sister sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Why did it have to rain on the day of the funeral? It was difficult enough at the graveside. The pastor said the usual prayers, and the bugler played taps. One by one those who loved Mark took a last walk by the coffin and sprinkled it with holy water.
I was the last one to bless the coffin. As I stood there, one of the soldiers who had acted as pallbearer came up to me. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. I nodded as I continued to stare at the coffin. "Mark talked about you a lot," he said.
After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates headed to Chuck's farmhouse for lunch. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting for me. "We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it."
Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded, and refolded many times. I knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which I had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him. "Thank you so much for doing that" Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."
Mark's classmates started to gather around us. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home."
Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put this in our wedding album."
"I have mine too," Marilyn said. "It's in my diary."
Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet, and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry this with me at all times," Vicki said without batting an eyelash. "I think we all saved our lists."
That's when I finally sat down and cried. I cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

EVERY KNEE WILL BOW

Rom 14:11
11 It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,
'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'" NIV
** I just preached this verse yesterday! WOW this is a great verse IF you are a Jesus lover. There is salvation in no other person, place or thing than JESUS CHRIST! I don’t care who you are or where you came from, Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to heaven and there is none other nor no other way to be saved. If you don’t know Jesus, it’s time for you to meet Him. He died for your sins and He made a way for you to NOT to go to hell and be able to go to heaven FOREVER. God loves you so much that HE does not want you to go to hell, so He sent Jesus Christ to the earth to die for your sin. One day (and I believe it’s very soon) Jesus Christ is coming back for those who have given their lives to Him and He will take us to heaven to live with Him forever. Right now just ask Him to forgive you of your sins and ask Him to come and live inside you and you will be a Christian. If you have done this, then email me and I will help you with your next step in the Christian life.

Pastor Dave

DON'T BE NAKED

Rom 13:14
14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. NIV
** Without Jesus as our clothing, we stand naked! Have you ever had one of those dreams that you were running around in your underwear at work or school? Yea, well, maybe I’m the only weird one here but I know that during that dream, I was always self conscience about myself because I was naked! So goes when I’m not putting on Jesus FIRST everyday. I feel incomplete and embarrassed inside. If we would all put Him on as our priority, then we would be able to face each day with more confidence.