In God's Time

This morning as I set out to endure my morning commute, I noticed that being less critical of my fellow commuters could be profitable. A closer look at the way people were driving and their approach to the stop and go of the dreaded popular route was enlightening. There were those who casually moved along and often aroused the frustrations of those who left home a little later than planned. There were those who were on time and excepted the monotony of the daily grind. But in the midst of it all, the one who could not stand the fact that some one was going just a little faster and seemed to be gaining more progress stood out the most.

I can attest to the fact that it is almost painful to watch someone else move through what I see as an obstacle without any opposition. Some drivers just seem to make the right decisions at the right times. It seems as if they traverse through traffic like a skilled butcher, slicing through the most difficult areas and only making turns and adjustments when necessary. They make much more progress with so little effort.

In the body of Christ the danger of comparison causes us to draw unfair conclusions. No one is able to come to the Father without going through Christ. Christ stated in Luke 9:23 "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." True progress is in the cross. The more of our cross we bare the closer we are to standing in the foot steps of Christ. The footsteps of Christ lead to the throne of God. Frederick Douglas on August 4, 1857 in his address on West India Emancipation stated, "If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightening. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters." http://www.africandiasporastudies.com/downloads/syllabus005.pdf

Let's not avoid the weight of the cross and the agitation of the pressure on our shoulders. God has a plan for our lives and will move us towards that plan when we except the obstacles along the way as points to ponder and not traps to hinder. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Gal. 6:9 Trust God in all situations even when it seems as if no progress is being made, stand still and see His deliverance. May God bless and keep you.

Thank you for listening.

Hear Him

There are many things we can say about our savior Jesus Christ. He is good and has done many wonderful things. He still heals, delivers, restores and saves. His ultimate desire is that no one is lost, and everyone would believe in Him and as a result be saved. Salvation is the center of His will for mankind and the purpose of the gifts of the five fold ministry given to the church. There is power in having faith in Jesus and security in trusting His will for our lives.

He took three of His disciples to a place to witness His transfiguration. The experience was so amazing that the disciples wanted to build tabernacles in honor of those present. As they stood in awe of what they were seeing and not knowing how they should respond or even if a response was warranted, they wanted to do something that would be considered a proper reaction. The only thing they could think of was to erect a structure to mark the spot.

We as believers have been given the power to erect a spiritual structure to mark the spot of an amazing act of Christ. Everyone changed by the power of faith in Jesus Christ has had a transfiguration experience. As we remember where He brought us from and the things from which we have been delivered, we realize He has transfigured before our very own eyes. I didn't know Him like I know Him today. I was bound by sin and had no real sense of how He was able to help me deal with life in general. When I came to Him in faith I found that He was no longer just a name I would use as a gesture of surprise or a vain response to an unexpected truth learned. He became alive in me and I became alive in Him. He transfigured before me and as a result I transfigured before Him. I am new because of Him and I have erected a mental tabernacle in His honor.

My testimony is an honor to Jesus. It marks the spot that He changed before me. When I was delivered from alcohol addiction He showed me a part of Him I had not seen before. When I changed my mind and how I viewed myself I found that it was only because of Him. My testimony is a tabernacle to Christ and He will ever be honored in me.

I was shown that Peter, John and James had to be secure in Christ's diety in order for them to be confident in their ministry. This is why it was important for them to be on the Mount of transfiguration. It wasn't about what they saw, but about what they believed. It is often said that seeing is believing. The event taking place before the eyes of these disciples was capable of giving them a proper perspective. Even though they saw they could not understand. The Father's voice from heaven instructed them to hear. Too often we are more concerned with what we see. My testimony gives me the confidence to hear the word of Christ and trust Him for a favorable outcome despite the presence of things that would make it look otherwise.

My prayer is that every reader will be able to look at what Christ has done in their lives and trust Him to reveal more and more of Himself that will give confidence in His call to repentance, deliverance and walk in His saving grace. God bless and keep you.

Thank you for listening.

Failure Is Not An Option

When life throws you lemons, make lemon aide. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. If at first you don't succeed, try again. This is the, "Pep Talk" of those sent to stimulate the desire to achieve. We all need an advocate. There must be a support mechanism in place for the believer poised for destiny. In lieu of what was just stated, we sometimes get the opposite. Have you ever been discouraged? Has there ever been a time when all you seem to do is miss the mark? Sure, everyone has traveled this road at one time or another. Dealing with the reality of missing the mark and getting back on track to being the overcomer our faith creates is a huge challenge for some, if not many. The Word of God tells us to be of good cheer during times of tribulation (John 16:33). Christ said, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." Those words insinuate pain and disappointment. Do you mean I have to live this way, and just be happy with having trouble all of my life? where is the joy? There are many trials and storms in the sea of life for the believer. The amazing thing is that we have access to a reassurance that extends beyond our most dreadful situation. The words, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. If we strive to be like Christ we will surely endure pain and disappointment but we will know we have fellowship with Him because we will have peace in knowing it is all to worth the wait to become and overcomer.

In The Absence of Trouble

During times of low activity and calm spiritual seas there is much work to be done. We sometimes get lulled into a since of comfort. That comfort makes us feel like we are ready for a spiritual hiatus. Christ encourages His disciples to watch and pray. Even in times that seem to be peaceful there are dangers to be sure.

If we examine the tactics used by most active military groups around the world. Anyone who is aware of a standing army realizes there are certain things that must become second nature to the soldier in order for him to be effective in a real combat situation.

Weapons' training is the most important skill developed by a soldier. If a soldier is unable to properly use his weapons then he is considered a non-treat and easily rendered defenseless and captured or even killed. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have been given the armor of God to keep us during times of battle. If we fail to use them properly, our inadequacies could cause a major disruption to the flow of a ministry and even the church. It is important that we realize we have weapons for the purpose of offensive and well as defensive movements.

Even during times of peace there is a move of God. As believers, we must stand and be ready to launch an attack on the enemy. Too often we are taking a defensive stance and are only willing to prepare for battle when trouble comes. We need to be ready. We converse or preach about taking things back more often than we do about securing the things in our possession. Once Israel came into the land they rebuilt the walls. If you have been battle tested you are well aware of the need to have high walls around you and yours. Things get worn after years of use and need to be mended and or repaired. The tools we have been given by the Spirit of God have to be maintained so that they are able to endure the test of time. We have to hold on to our faith. Faith protects the most vital parts of our ministry effectiveness. Without faith it is impossible to please Him (Heb.11:6). We have to secure our peace because it is the mental ability used to hear clearly and respond correctly. Knowing that we are in constant need of counsel gives us the drive to seek the place of communion with the Lord. These things get worn by use and need to be inspected and tested for their preparedness. Everything needs to be "oiled". All of our weaponry has to be used in order to get a renewal and signed decree of affirmation. This is true because, only God can validate who we are.

The battle ground is established the moment we attempt to move close to the Lord. Our weaponry must be ready and we must be skillful in our use of it. Otherwise we will fall short and maybe only get a portion of the blessing. The Syrophoenician woman said, "Even the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from the master's table."(Matt.15:27) I like that but, we are heirs, even joint heirs with Christ. (Rom. 8:17) There is a seat at the table for us. We don't have to except the crumbs or even the leftovers. We can eat fresh bread and drink of the water the flows from the fountain new every morning.

We must always be prepared for the inevitable confrontation with the enemy. There are offensive and defensive tactics that can only be learned by spending time with the Lord. The enemy is lurking in the shadows waiting for us to start appreciating the silence and the still of the waters. He wants us to be relaxed by the calm winds. Don't give him the opportunity to launch a successful attack. We are a necessary part of the Church and called to uphold the standards of relationship that give the world a glimpse into the Kingdom of God. Don't put down the armor of God and the spiritual weaponry designed to make us ready for Kingdom building tasks that glorify God. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1Peter3:15) May God bless and keep you.

Thank you for listening.

Fit To Be Tried

As an athlete trains for a season full of challenges and prepares himself mentally and physically for the struggles that lie ahead, we as believers are encouraged to be ready for the test of faith. There are common misconceptions amongst believers today and the promotion of what some consider the "prosperity gospel" is a prime suspect in the case of wrong thinking. The church as a whole has the responsibility of encouraging its members to hold fast to the faith that brought them into relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

I have been a believer most of my life, but I have only been a confessed believer for a little over 11 years. That is to say that I have not been committed to my belief as long as I have acknowledged being a believer. This matters because there are believers that have not accepted the faith because they are confused by the teachings and the promises of wealth and success in every endeavor. We fail to emphasize that success and wealth are not measured by the same set of weights in the Kingdom of God. The believer must be tried and brought to a place of total submission before what one could consider success is ever realized.

The Body of Christ consists of persons of varying levels of faith and maturity. Those of us who take on the responsibility to encourage brothers and sisters who are struggling with right and wrong know this well. We often fail to admit there are real spiritual wrestling matches going on in the hearts and minds of the confessed believer. Hebrews 11:6 states, "Without faith it is impossible to please God." But for someone who is taught to believe that his or her material possessions are a measure of faith, this is a difficult concept to grasp. There are people who work hard every day. They have gone to school and have done all of the things society and even the church says is the right thing to do. They are educated and without a job. They have been told to reach up or out to grab a hold of God's promises only to find that this approach is not effective for one hundred percent of the church. We are taught that Christ died for all. This is true. We are taught that Christ has no respect of person. This is true also. So, why does this act work for some and not all.

1Peter 5:10 states, "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." We omit being tried. The sports drink Gatorade is marketed under the slogan that it is a "thirst quencher". This drink is supposed to provide vital nutrients for the athlete. This athlete that has exerted himself to the point of being depleted of something he needs. The electrolytes and minerals that satisfy his thirsts are provided. The book of Ruth chapter 1 gives us a story of a man named Elimelech who had a wife named Naomi and two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. The Word tells us that there was a famine in the land and as a result he took his family to live in a country called Moab. Elimelech left the city of Bethlehemjuda. There was a shortage of sustenance. This shortage was enough to make Elimelech feel that moving to a different country would solve the families issues. It is easy to identify with a new convert that has been told that everything they need is right here in the Body of Christ. This information is given without telling them to, "read the print". The word tells us that if we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him. This is the reward of choosing Christ. I want to as the Apostle Paul states it in Phil. 3:10, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;" This part is left out because it is not as appealing to most as it is good to some. Psalm 119:71 states, It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."

The church has to begin to speak the truth in every aspect of its teaching so as to not lose those we gain under false pretenses. Only the truth can make us free. The Word has to be preached and given to keep those who are wrestling daily with the issues of life. It only becomes worse when they are taught to measure their righteousness by their possessions and not by their character. If we are to achieve the spiritual success we hear of from pulpits around the world we have to be willing to exert ourselves to the point of being depleted of the unrighteous deeds that hinder our walk. It is really good that we are afflicted because we learn His ways and understand His sovereignty through the trials of life. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.(Psalm 34:19)

Thank you for listening.

Getting Over Wait

The trouble with time is that we have to experience it in order to determine if it was well spent. Have you ever planned something and had great expectations for it? It turns out, you enjoy it immensely and never want that period in time to pass. Or instead, you planned and in the end you find that period of time was so ghastly that it really wasn't worth a single moment. We are encouraged to manage our perceptions of time. Basing our future on the events of our pasts is not a wise thing to do. The past is time spent. The present is our, right now. The future is time we hope to experience. The management of these three can place an individual in somewhat of a quandary. As a result there must be a mediator that teaches and encourages us to keep things in perspective. The past is just that, the past. Our present is the gateway into our future and should be seen as the stepping stones that help us to build a tower of praise unto our God. The future holds the key to the promise we unlock with obedience to the will of the one who has called us to relationship with Him. The past and even the present is filled with experiences that have given us the tools to shape how we perceive tomorrow. The scripture tells us in Romans that after having done a thing we gain what we call experience. Hoping to do a thing we wait for an opportunity. So, our past experiences and future opportunities collide with expectations that are consumed by wonder. Is it going to be worth the time and effort? Have I gained enough experience to be able to take full advantage of this opportunity. The stage changes and all of the outside influences of what has happened is bottled up into the mind and become about "me". How long before I am able to have, go, to come out and or do. Hear this passage of scripture:Luke 10:38-42 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. In this passage Martha the sister of Lazarus complained about the fact that she was shorthanded and would have liked to get some assistance from her sister Mary. Her tasks were noble in that she was serving others. Time must have been an issue as she felt there was so much to do. Obviously her sister had other things in mind and was alert to the presence of a better opportunity. Not considering the urgency of our existence causes a respite in our pursuit of the future. I can't side-step the fact that there are promises awaiting every believer and each of us has to work out our own salvation. We can't wait for the past to be erased or our right now to be something other than it is. The future is coming, and so is our Lord. How will will he find you working? Are you focused on the things that last or on the things that satisfy your since of self worth? He said, "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." (Rev. 22:12) Are you ready? God bless and keep you.

Thank you for listening.

Why Cry Wolf?

The other day I heard a maintenance man say the he had disarmed a smoke detector. For some reason the detector was in a constant state of alarm. When it should have been triggered by external circumstances due to faulty internals it was alarming based on the brokenness inside. There may have been a short in the circuit that allows power to flow through the device. The story of the shepherd boy speaks to being in a constant state of alarm.

The little shepherd boy kept his flock at the foot of a mountain near a dark forest. The boy was lonely and devised a plan to get attention by crying wolf. The first time he sounded the alarm the villagers came out to assist him. The second time he cried out the villagers again came out to his aid. He cried out a third time when there was an actual emergency and the people didn't respond. This is all due to his being in a constant state of alarm, thus manipulating the people to satisfy his own desires.

I have noticed through my own set of circumstances that sometimes our spirits can be in a state of alarm. The constant feeling of need causes discontentment with circumstances and will not allow us to see the presence of God and trust in His ability to keep and protect. The feeling of loneliness is only perceived. Patience has to have its place in our lives. There are three areas of our walk that can bring things into perspective. The willingness to wait, the ability to trust and a desire to put away our own thoughts.

We are told in Isaiah 40:31, "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Sometimes waiting for the promises of God can cause us to get tired. This verse assures us that these things happen. The book of Deuteronomy 20:3 states, "And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;" When we approach the time of trouble and have to do battle with the things that hinder us sometimes we can look at past failures and concede defeat. The Lord urges us to not allow our past failures to paint a picture of loss but to trust in Him and see His salvation as we approach the battle of redemption. The book of Proverbs 3:5 by the grace of God and Solomon's wisdom tells us to, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." The way we think has everything to do with the way we come out of a trial. The story of the Hebrew boys in the book of Daniel chapter 3 shows us just how God desires to move in our lives. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were faced with the challenge of bowing down to an idol god or to be cast into the burning fiery furnace. They responded to the opposition, King Nebuchadnezzar with the confidence of faith. "The God we serve is able to deliver us." As a result they were cast into the fire and were brought out unharmed. We are told in the scriptures that their clothes did not smell of smoke and their hair was not singed. In other words they did not look like what they went through.

We have to gain the confidence to know that we are called to go through for the glory of God and that He will not allow us to suffer beyond our ability to stand. If we take a closer look at the scriptures mentioned Isaiah 40:31 lets us know that we are actually being delivered while we are in the midst of the trial. The scripture tells those that wait, they will renew their strength. This is a confidence builder that gives us a promise that we will be renewed while in the state of waiting. There is no need for our hearts to troubled because He has already overcome. As a result we are victorious. When our thoughts change our attitudes concede victory and we glorify the Father which is in heaven through the power the moves within us. No longer does the brokenness of the past hinder the flow of Christ's love and forgiveness. Our spirits are comforted by His grace and mercy. Goodness and Mercy shall follow the believer all the days of his life. God bless and keep you. Thank you for listening.

On Broken Pieces

The requirement to have some credential that validates our ability to speak on a topic has made speaking out a declaration of war. I am reminded of a Bible story in the book of Acts Chapter 27. The story speaks of men traveling in a ship. They started on their journey while the threat of bad weather was looming in the atmosphere. Instead of heeding the visible warnings of the sky they were determine to reach their destination. While out on the sea a storm arose and it seemed as if they were not going to make it. Some became frantic and wanted to leave the ship in an attempt to find safety on land. While the situation became more and more desperate there was one who had an insight that was not shared with his shipmates. The Apostle Paul was told by and angel of God that he had been given all of the people in the ship and that no lives would be lost. He told the captain that in order for them to be saved they must remain on the ship. All stayed in the ship.

Finally the storm subsided and the sun returned. They were able to visualize a landing place that would provide safety from the rough seas. They allowed the ship to run aground and employed all of the men to depart the ship and move towards the shore. During the exchange they understood the difference of abilities among the men. They told those who were able to swim to do so. Others were carried in the small boats. The rest were told to use the broken pieces of the ship.

Good and bad choices are made in life. Sometimes we make commitments to destinations that may not be right for the times. Truthfully we all get stuck in these situations. We even allow ourselves to get so far removed from safety that it really makes less since to go back. Having a destination and a desire to reach it does not warrant placing ourselves or other people in danger. We should always count the cost. But if ever stuck and resources are few we must assess our abilities and press forward. When I consider the men that had to resort to the use of the fragments of the ship, I am reminded of the Rudyard Kipling poem "IF" that states, "If you can watch the things you've given your life to broken and stoop and build them up again with worn out tools." http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/kipling_ind.html Sometimes not being privy to the best of things places one in a precarious situation. There is always an alternative we just have to use what is left. God bless you and thank you for listening.

The Hour Now Is

Acts 1:10-11

And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

The message of Christ is still being preached in the earth and hearts are being turned towards Him. There is much work to be done and He is still on His way back. Let us be mindful of His return and be found working when we see Him face to face.