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"DON’T QUIT – DON’T GIVE UP “

ACTS 18:9 - 13

Ac 18:9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
12 ¶ And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,
13 Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

Paul, that struggling and itinerant preacher of the early church entered sometimes into an impetuous and even hostile and Hellenistic environment. He navigated God’s Gospel through an over arching Greek culture. He was a most interesting figure. His strategy was one even the best preachers of today could benefit. Paul taught us to do two things at one time:

· First, he taught us how to be sensitive to the culture
· And at the same time, he taught us how to be true to the glorious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ

Paul raises the notion for us today, that there is an acceptable balance between being conscious of culture and being integrious to God’s Holy Writ at the same time. As leaders of our various churches, we need to continue to ask ourselves from time to time, how did he do this. Because right now in our own religious landscape of this twenty-first century it appears: When you turn on the television or listen to the radio and hear across the airwaves some of Christianity’s most popular preachers. It seems as if they are being sensitive to the culture. But I am not so sure if they are all together close to the precepts of the Gospel.

Well, Paul the tent maker from Tarsus taught us at least one valuable lesson in ministry. The lesson is, even in our suffering, we must know our audience. Yes, Paul always knew his audience. He knew their background; he knew their taste; he knew their jargon and he knew their sensitivity.

As a matter of fact, it was Paul who knew the language of the upper middle-class of the Greek crowd at Berea. It was Paul that preached to and then mingled with the common people at the synagogue in Thessalonica. In Ephesus he was with Timotheus and they held daily discussions there in the hallow halls of academia. He knew his audience.

You could find Paul and Silas speaking the language of their fellow inmates and correctional officers, outside a jail cell in Philippi. I tell you, Paul knew his audience. There in Athens, the seat of Greek culture, he would make evangelical contacts with the Epicureans and the Stoic philosophers. Who oftentimes over intellectualize trivial theories and hypotheses. And it was there on Mars Hill that Paul introduced them to the ‘Unknown God’. He made known His name. His name is Jesus the Christ. I tell you, Paul knew his audience.

However, in this twenty-first century, a new audience in the church confronts us. And we are wise to continue to take the time to know the different audiences we address Sunday after Sunday.

· We have a new audience that wants to be entertained more than they want to worship.
· We have an audience that wants to hear more about politics than the Gospel.
· We have an audience that loves ‘Hip-Hop’ more than the hymnbook.

We have a difference audience and unless we know our audience, we will have a difficult time making disciples for Christ.

Yes, Paul said, “we need to know our audience”. And sometimes it becomes overwhelming; sometimes it makes you weary; and sometimes it wears you out. If you are any thing like Paul, you will become tire of trying to meet the needs of every audience you have in your pastorate and in your ministry.

However, what I like about the scripture, even when we are discouraged and at a low point; God has a fresh revelation and God has a fresh word that will inspire us to keep on going. While Paul was in Corinth God told him, “Paul, Don’t Quit and Don’t Give Up”. Because I have some people that already belong to me and they are in the city.

Let me stick a pen here and speak a word of encouragement. In spite of the many cultural, socio-economic, political, and military challenges we face as a people and as a nation, “Don’t Quit and Don’t Give Up”. We are not alone. God has others standing with us that belong to Him and they are right here in this city.

Just when Paul was contemplating leaving his mission; God designed a divine plan that was orchestrated in the nitrate mist of the nocturnal skies; and in a dream He comes and tell Paul, “To stay for a while; all you got to do is hang out for a while right where you are and teach and preach my Gospel”. And you shall receive the victory.

Fellow pastors, although they may not have walked down the aisles of our churches; but if we will just stay for a while; in due season they will come down.

· Sometime, we quit too soon and we don’t stay long enough
· Sometime, we don’t wait for God’s providence to fulfill itself
· Sometime, all we need to do is stay for a while and He will bring it to past

So, I want to encourage one and all as we approach this advent season. Regardless of the circumstances:

· Stay for a while and you will reap a harvest of blessings if you faint not
· Stay for a while and God will fulfill your hope, your dream, and your vision
· Stay for a while and you will find that it is already done
· Stay for a while and God will bring gang-bangors to the love of Jesus
· Stay for a while and God will bring drug dealers and dope addicts to the love of Jesus
· Stay for a while and that education ministry will already happen
· He will step in if you hang out for a while
· If you stay for a while the economy will rebound
· If you wait for Him He will direct heavenly trusses and build His Kingdom right here on earth
· That is, if you stay for a while
· That is, if you hang out for a while
· That is, if you chill for a while

God will bring it to past and Jesus will make everything all right. Therefore, “Don’t Quit and Don’t Give Up”. I want you to know, Jesus never quit and he never gave up. For the record is:

Jesus hung around on planet earth for 33½ years. He was tried in a kangaroo court. They found no fault in Him. But the crowd shouted, “crucify Him”. So, one Friday evening, they hung Him out on a skull shaped hill called Calvary - from the sixth to the ninth hour.

Then He died, surely, He died on Calvary for our sins. He hung out in a borrowed tomb for three whole days. Then early Sunday morning He got up out of the grave with all power in his hands. Forty days after His resurrection He ascended home to His Father. But before leaving He promised to send us the ‘Comforter’ in the person of the Holy Spirit. Also, He promised to return. Will you be ready?

Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah

A MAGNIFICENT MINORITY

LUKE 17:11 - 19

11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

In the Gospel according to Luke Chapter 17 and verses 15 – 19, Jesus enters a town that has no name. The population is only ten and the status is diseased.

He enters a town that has no name. There are only ten people living there and every body in the town is sick.

And I believe today if the Lord would take the time to go to a town where the population is only ten and where every body is sick. I just believe that he will stop by your house and my house.

Jesus enters this village and ten men meet him - ten men who have become companions in their misery. They stand at the proper distance and they say the proper thing, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us”.

They call him Jesus – because they recognize his person

The call him Master - because they recognize his position

Doctor C. A. W. Clark said:

“That a thoughtful head with always lead to a thankful heart”

These men lift up their voices and they cry: “Jesus Master, have mercy on us”. It’s interesting to note that they don’t bother to give the Lord their name. But they simply cry out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us”.

And the bible says, Jesus simply said to them, “Go show yourselves to the priest,” and all ten men started on their way. And Luke says, as they went on their way all ten men were cleansed.

But then he says:

“And one of them - when he saw - that he was healed - turned back - and with a loud voice - glorified God. And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks…”

All ten got cleansed but only one came back with a warranted word of thanksgiving. The story goes there was a family that gathered around the dinner table for their Thanksgiving meal.

A five-year-old boy when he began to express words of thanks. He began thanking God for the turkey they were about to partake. He thanks God for the farm on which the turkey was raised. He then thanks God for the farmer who raised the turkey.

He went on to thank God for the man who drove the truck who took the turkey from the farm to the market. He thanks God for the woman at the grocery store that rang up the turkey. He thanks God for his mother who labored in preparing the turkey.

After all of that he asked, “Did I leave anyone out?” His older brother rather sarcastically replied, “yes, just one, God”. And the five year old not willing to be out done by his older brother said, Oh, I was about to get to him. The essence of what gratitude is all about is wrapped in whether or not we never get back to Jesus.

All ten men were cleansed but only one came back to give him thanks. Now the question is, what brought him back?

When you read the text nine did exactly as they were instructed. But the one that came back receives the greater blessing. For Jesus says to him:

“Arise, go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole”

All ten were healed but only one was able to perceive it. So, the text suggests that gratitude does not ground itself in what has happened to you. But in the way you perceive what has happened to you.

“Two water buckets were sitting on the side of a well. One of those water buckets said to the other, ‘you know it really grieves me to know that every day I leave this well full, but I come back empty’. The other water bucket said, ‘you know, every day I shout, because I come here empty but I leave full”’.

Therefore, it’s not what happens to you, but it’s the way you perceive what has happened to you. That which begin as perception – Must then grow - into Proclamation

The bible says:

“…When he saw when he perceived that he was healed - turned back and with a loud voice - glorified God. And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks…”

You must learn how to verbalize your gratitude. For the bible clearly states:

“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so”

The bible says:

“Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord”

If you know that you are a recipient of God’s blessings, then you ought to verbalize your gratitude. That which begins with Perception – and grows into Proclamation – must culminate into Prostration.

The bible says, he falls at the Master’s feet, “giving him thanks…” A genuine sense of gratitude will leave you in a posture of humility.

When you realize that you owe God a debt that you can never repay, it leaves you in a posture of humility. The bible says, he falls at the Master’s feet: “giving him thanks and he was a Samaritan”.

What does Jesus do, Jesus ask the question:

“Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?”

The only time in the New Testament that we read about anything ever taking Jesus by surprise was the ingratitude of these nine men.

Jesus was not surprised by the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.

He was not surprised when they arrested him in the garden of Gethsemane.

He wasn’t even surprised when they nailed him to an old rugged cross-on Cavalry.

Perhaps if the nine had returned and this Samaritan had continued on his way, then Jesus would not have been surprised. However, the word says the one who came back was a Samaritan, and he was the one most unlikely to give the Lord thanks.

I don’t know how you feel about it, nevertheless, when I think about his goodness and all that he’s done for me; my soul cries yes.

The Thanksgiving holiday is on the horizon. It is the time of year when many families in America will be celebrating Thanksgiving. But sometimes Thanksgiving seems to lose its sincerity. However, Thanksgiving for the Christian is not an event. It is part of God's will for our lives.

Thanksgiving is not something we are; thanksgiving is something we do. It is thanksgiving that flows from the heart independent of people or things but instead, it is totally dependent on the living relationship we have with God through Christ in prayer.

Thanksgiving and prayer go hand in hand, in fact, our prayers ought to be filled with Thanksgiving. You can make Thanksgiving very special this year by giving voice to thanks, by making your presence known in your local church and by praying to God and being thankful in your prayers.

Today I challenge you to think about the relationship you have with a loving Father. Think about his grace, his compassion, and his abiding care. Rediscover the joy of knowing that he has reached out to you. Experience him through the spirit of prayer and then you will find the satisfaction of real Thanksgiving.

"A SURE CURE FOR FAILURE”

Luke 5:1-11

Lu 5:1 ¶ And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

"And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake".

This story as recorded in the fifth chapter of the Book of St. Luke is a very familiar story to all bible readers and hearers.

It is a story, whereby, Jesus’ disciples had experienced a rather disappointing evening at the office. It was on this occasion that they had toiled all night but caught nothing. They experienced a night of failure in their lives.

May I say, these men were not rookies, they were not journeymen but they were master fishermen. They knew the location of every prime fishing spot upon the Galilean Sea.

They knew the type of bait and tackle and gear to use. They knew when to fish and where to fish in order to get a big draught. By all means, these men were experienced fishermen. They were fishermen by trade.

However, according to the text, these men who were expert fishermen had toiled all night long. And by their own admission, they had caught nothing. They simply failed in their endeavors.

We are familiar with failure. I believe at one time or another each of us have failed at something. Failure has come knocking on our doors.

We have failed somewhere along the way. Even when we have tried to do our level best, we’ve failed. And when we failed, not if we failed but when we failed, it was God who rescued us. If it wasn’t God, who was it.

So, all of us have experienced failure at some point and if you haven’t, just live on. The person who has never failed is the one who has never taken on a challenge.

The text says, these men had toiled all night and they had failed. Our failures can cause us great pain. Failures can be paralyzing. They can be debilitating.

Failure can crush ones spirit. Failure can try ones soul. Failure can rob us of our courage. Failures write an ugly line across our face.

I am here to remind you that failure is a part of life. There is nothing wrong with failure. It simply indicates you tried.

However, some have tried in the wrong way and your world came crashing down around you. But if you pick yourself up and try right and keep on trying. If you hold out, deliverance will surely come. Yeah, “You can make it, if you try”

Somebody asked Thomas Edison, “Why are you knocking yourself out trying to invent a light bulb. Don’t you realize you have already tried 99 times and failed. Why don’t you just give up?”

Thomas Edison response was, “You see, I have learned 99 times how not to make the light bulb. So, I won’t give up. I am going to keep on trying. And perhaps, on my one hundredth attempt, I’ll learn how to be successful.

I am a firm believer, everything that happens to us is not good. But God is able to fix it so:

“Everything (will) work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”. - Romans 8:28

Oftentimes, when failures come, many are unable to function or think straight. It can really get you down; it can throw you for a loop. But since failure is a part of life and it is something we are all familiar with, we shouldn’t allow it to get us down.

It has been noted that over fifteen thousand people in America commit suicide each year. When the record is checked and analyzed as to why they have committed suicide. Written on the pages of the archives is simply, they failed. Due to failures in life, sadly, they opted to commit suicide.

But before you get there, I stopped by to tell you, “There is ‘A Sure Cure for Failure’”.

Things like failure, disappointments, fear, worry and frustrations are all enemies of ones mind. They have a way of running up our blood pressure, upsetting our nervous system and stopping us in our tracks.

Yes, we must admit we have failed at something in life. But thanks be to God, He keeps on making a way. Oh yeah, failure will come our way but God knows how to help us over come failure and there is “A Sure Cure for Failure”.

And it is found in our text today as recorded in the book of St. Luke. Yes, these men admitted they had failed at trying to catch fish. Peter, James, John, and Andrew after toiling all night in an attempt to catch fish had failed miserably.

But finally, Jesus shows up and ask these men who were fishermen by trade, “Do you have any meat?” Notice, He didn’t ask them, “Were they having any luck.

Jesus understood that luck was for those who want to take a chance; luck is for the dice thrower; luck is for the gamblers; ‘lady luck’ is for the lottery player; it is for the person without faith in God. Those of us who are Christians shouldn’t believe in luck. But we are to have faith in God who is able to deliver us.

Peter, James, and John were fishermen by trade and they were saying to Jesus, “we have failed miserably. We have toiled all night and we have nothing to show for it”.

Well, I see something here. First of all, perhaps, the reason they were having problems and had caught nothing. Is because they were toiling at the wrong time. They were toiling at night.

And John 9:4 tells us, “We must work the work of him that sent us while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work”.

Not only were they toiling at night but they were toiling at night without Jesus. And it’s an awful thing to toil day or night without Jesus by your side.

They were fishermen by trade, they had been toiling all night and caught nothing. And Jesus shows up the next morning and says, “Brethren, do you have any meat”. They hang their heads in despair and said, “Lord, we have caught nothing”.

Jesus did not shame them, He did not scold them, and He did not discourage them. But Jesus said to those men who had messed up, who had failed miserably, “That’s alright, it’s morning time and I’m on board your life. Get back into the boat, launch out into the deep, and let’s try it again”.

“The Sure Cure for Failure” is, you must be willing to launch out and try, try, again. Simon Peter said, “Master we have toiled all night and have taken nothing. But nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net”.

Nevertheless, is a powerful word in this text. Nevertheless, those men were willing to follow Jesus all the way. If you want “A Sure Cure for Failure” in your life:

1. You must be willing to, “Launch Out and Try, Try, Again”; .and

2. You must be willing to say, “Nevertheless, At Thy Word”.

· At God’s word: Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.
· At God’s word: He went to a hill called Calvary and died for our sins.
· At God’s word: He is coming back again for His Church.

If you yearn for “A Sure Cure for Failure”, make room for Jesus today in your life. He loves you and desires to be the Captain of your soul. Will you bring Him on board because He is “A Sure Cure for Failure”.

THE RESURRECTION TRUTH

... A MESSAGE FOR ALL MEN!!

Blessed Resurrection Day! From the pastor and staff of the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church.

I often sit and ponder the reality that all men will not get into heaven, because all men will not respond to the life-changing, eternal life-giving message of the gospel.
I also spend some time thinking about the fact that all men include the billion plus Muslims around the world. All men also includes the billion plus Chinese who for the most part reject the love of Christ. I also think of the emerging country of India and its billion plus population. They represent all men. And there is the controversy related to the Jews and how some Christian leaders give the people of Israel "a pass" because of some special dispensation they have. They represent all men.
I carry in my Bible a reality reminder of death and life. The statistics are somewhat dated, but they are close. In the USA, we register one birth every seven seconds, and there is a death recorded every 12 seconds. It occurs to me that many of the children born are to non-Christian families, and many who pass away do so as non-Christians. They represent all men.
I walk through airports, and sit in packed stadiums. I eat in crowded restaurants, and travel busy highways. I have the opportunity to look deep into the eyes of my countrymen and wonder, if life would end for them this day, would they enter into the safety of our Lord's arms. They represent all men.
And then I hear a prominent American pastor stutter over the question, "Do all men need to accept Jesus Christ as Savior to get into heaven?" And my spirit sinks.
Embrace these words:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever (all men) believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
"I write these things to you who believe (all men) in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13).
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men (all men) by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
"But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us (all men) alive with Christ when we were dead in transgression — it is by grace you (all men) have been saved" (Eph. 2:4).
There are so many more scriptures. It came to me today that most of you, as you stand before your people, cannot do much about all men — but you can do something about those you encounter and those to whom you proclaim the "unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph. 3:5). Preach the truth — Jesus Christ alive and available to all men.
BLESSED RESURRECTION DAY! —HBL

THE HUMOR OF JESUS

ISAIAH 61:1-3

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

by Ron Forseth
General Editor
SermonCentral.com

The Spirit of the LORD has anointed Jesus:
"To preach good news to the poor.
To bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion-
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair."


Does Jesus make you laugh? Have you ever thought about what is at the root laughter? At least with the laughter I'm talking about, I think it springs up from joy. Joy is hard to beat-and joy is hardly more prevalent than when we laugh. Jesus is The Joy Giver. I love it when he gives me joy. I very much enjoy sharing his joy with others. And I find they like it when I do. Joy is contagious, often accompanied by this thing called laughter. Sometimes joy is reflected in a slight grin. Sometimes it's a chuckle. And sometimes it's a gut-busting belly laugh that we can't even contain. Jesus gives us laughter.

I experience joy when I watch Jesus in action. I experience it when I listen to Jesus. And I particularly experience joy when I pass along to others the joy he's given me. What a privilege it is to make others laugh.

I find it humorous when Jesus intervenes in an awful situation and overrules the grief he encounters. One of my favorites is in Luke 7. Jesus is headed into town with his disciples and a big bunch of people. At the same time, a funeral procession with another bunch of people is headed out to the graveyard on the edge of town. A mother limps alongside the casket of her beloved son. Her heart is shredded to pieces as she carries the hellish grief of her unimaginable loss. Enter Jesus. He stops the procession and chooses to reverse the irreversible. Young man, get up! What? Get up? You have got to be kidding. No, he's not. The dead boy gets up. Jesus smiles a smile of love to the woman and gives the boy back to her. At first there was shock. Then there was comfort. Then there was joy-overwhelming joy provided by The Joy Giver. That story has often made me laugh. Stopping a funeral procession and raising the deceased. It had to be fun for Jesus to trade the ashes of grief for the oil of gladness. It’s philanthropy from another solar system. Forget the brand-new gift car. Forget the gift house. We're talking dreaming the unimaginable, getting back our dead. A resurrection. Replacing grief with joy. And this is just the beginning for those of us who believe. Go Jesus!


GIVING "IT" ALL AWAY
Matthew 26:15

"And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver".

Remember the situation when Judas was confronted by the chief priests and the elders? They were plotting to kill Jesus and were looking for a middle man to help them get what they wanted. Judas asked them, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?".
With the transaction of 30 pieces of silver, Judas gave it all away - his life, his ministry, his reputation, and his soul. He just gave it all away.
Reading the news this week, it saddened me to see how a great athlete like Michael Vick and a highly regarded NBA official like Tim Donaghy could just give it all away. They have destroyed their reputations and embarrassed their professions for "thirty pieces of silver." In many ways, Elvis Presley (who is also getting some press this week) did the same thing. He gave his life away because of drugs and other related weaknesses. Thirty years later, people still listen to this gifted performer and wonder what might have been had he not have given it all away.
Satan and the forces of evil stand before you with an offer you must refuse. "The wages of sin" can cast a shadow that covers your whole ministerial history. We must be willing to count the cost of our words and deeds. When we are tempted, our defense is always the whole armor of God, "that we might stand against the devil's schemes" (Eph. 6:11). We cannot risk our ministries for "thirty pieces of silver."
"In everything, set them an example by doing what is (right) good" (Titus 2:7).
Be blessed and be a blessing! -HBL


GOD'S PROMISES FOR TOUGH TIMES

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1
"I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:4
"The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him." Nahum 1:7
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy paths acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5,6
"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want." Psalm 23:1
"Humble yourselves therefore unto the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time:
Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:6,7
"Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel." Isaiah 30:29
"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." Isaiah 40:31
"Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." Isaiah 26:3
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness." Isaiah 41:10
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee," Isaiah 43:2
"Be careful for nothing; but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6,7
"In God I have put my trust: I will not be afraid what men can do unto me." Psalm 56:11
"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Psalm 27:14
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord." Romans 6:23

"But God commanded His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:11, 12
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans


MAYONNAISE JAR

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full.. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full.

The students responded with a unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions -- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else ~ the small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
So... Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.
Take a ride into the country side.
Enjoy the sunset.
Look at the moon.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.
"Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."


PRAYER:

May today be all that you need it to be today. May the peace of God and the freshness of the Holy Spirit rest in your thoughts, rule in your dreams tonight and conquer all your fears.

May God manifest himself today in ways that you have never experienced. May your joys be fulfilled, your dreams be closer and your prayers be answered.

I pray that faith enters a new height for you; I pray that your territory is enlarged and I pray that you step into your destiny within the ministry. I pray for peace, health, happiness and true and undying love for God.

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of reward. Make sure you pray, and pray believing that God will answer.


SIMPLE PRAYING
Remember when the Psalmist David wrote, "Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth" (Ps. 86:11). He was probably referring to the things he learned both through experience and meditation after he had prayed. He seemed to keep asking God to "Hear my prayer."
I learn a lot through my private prayer life, especially when I can just grow quiet and talk to the Father as a son would talk. Do you? It's after the prayer when I reflect on our conversation that I most often "hear" from God, or at least find direction.

When I pray I find myself somewhat removed from the norm of my everyday activity. All formality aside, I just communicate my feelings and often my frustration. In the end I don't ask for much. I just talk and then when it is over (my part), I listen.
There were a lot of years I was guided by the "A-C-T-S" formula for praying. But as the years have passed, my time with the Lord is less emotional, not as animated, and much more conversational. I still wonder why we make such a "show" of prayer in public and why we need to pray so predictably.

I read again today Matthew, Chapter 6, and our Lord's instruction regarding simple prayer. Remember what He said, before He taught them how to pray?

"And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. Here's what I want you to do: find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace" (Matt. 6:6). - The Message

I know a lot of you don't like The Message. But in my case, Matt. 6:6 says it the way I need to hear it. It will say about the same in whatever Bible you read. Keep it simple!

Thursday, May 3rd , is the National Day of Prayer. Hopefully, it will be a beautiful day for you.
Oh, and to David's point, God listens when His children humbly and faithfully seek His face. - HBL


Principles are the Bottom Line

Methods are many,
Principles are few.
Methods always change,
Principles never do.

"Principle" means "a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine or assumption". The word comes from the Latin principium which means "beginning". If you go back to beginnings and build on principles, you will always be up-to-date and in step with what God is doing. Living by this philosophy simplified my life. These principles help me evaluate men and ministries on the basis of the principles that motivate them.

1. God makes a worker, then he uses that worker to make a work.
2. To ignore character is to abandon the foundation of ministry.
3. Apart from character, ministry is only religious activity or, even worse, religious business.
4. Today society evaluates a man's worth by the number of people who work for him. Ministry is too sacred to be motivated by gain and too difficult to be motivated by duty.
5. We are first servants, then rulers.
6. All that God does is ultimately for his glory.
7. The Word of God and prayer have always been God's most important tools for ministry.
8. We tend to depend too much on training, talents and experience.
9. The best textbooks on ministry are the four Gospels.

Ministry must never be static. God has made us, and God continues to make us. The excitement and joy should not just be demonstrated in the preaching of the Word, for every true ministry is born of God and can enjoy God's blessing.

Adapted from a Warren Wiersbe article titled Principles are The Bottom Line, Leadership, Winter 1980


Religious Literacy
Just as schools teach reading, writing and arithmetic, Boston University’s Stephen Prothero thinks religion ought to become the "4th R" of American education. He notes although 90% of people in the U.S. claim they are Christian, only a few know anything about religion. Only 10% of American teens can name all 5 major world religions while 15% cannot name even one. About two-thirds of adult Americans believe the Bible holds the answers to all or most of life's basic questions, yet only half can name one of the four gospels and most do not know the first book in the Bible is Genesis. Prothero stresses the importance of having at least a general knowledge of religion to better confront the domestic and foreign challenges facing the U.S.

Religious Liberty, Stephen Prothero, Harper Collins, 2007


Our Greatest Need

"If our greatest need had been information,
God would have sent us an educator.
If our greatest need had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist.
If our greatest need had been money,
God would have sent us an economist.
If our greatest need had been pleasure,
God would have sent us an entertainer.
But our greatest need was forgiveness,
So God sent us a Savior!"

Chuck Swindoll, The Grace Awakening


THE LORD'S BASEBALL GAME

Freddy and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord's team was playing Satan's team.

The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate named 'Love.'

Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because " Love never fails."

The next batter was named Faith , who also got a single because Faith works with Love .

The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom . Satan wound up and threw the first pitch.

Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked because he never swings at what Satan throws.

The bases were now loaded. The Lord then turned to Freddy and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace . Freddy said, "He sure doesn't look like much!"

Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace .
Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen! But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by.

He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; the roaring crowds went wild as the ball continued over the fence . . .. for a home run !

The Lord's team won!

The Lord then asked Freddy if he knew why Love , Faith and Godly Wisdom could get on base but couldn't win the game. Freddy answered that he didn't know why.

The Lord explained, "If your love , faith and wisdom had won the game, you would think you had done it by yourself. Love , Faith and Wisdom will get you on base but only My Grace can get you Home :

'For by Grace are you saved, it is a gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Psalm 84:11, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly."

I do Love God. He is my source of existence and Savior. He keeps me functioning each and everyday. Without Him, I am nothing, but with him:

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

Please paste the following link(s) into your web browser and listen to the words and song of inspiration - ENJOY - BE BLESSED!!!

http://wandascountryhome.com/

The Five Finger Prayer

This is so neat. I had never heard this before. This is beautiful - and it is surely worth making the 5 finger prayer a part of our lives.

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, social workers, doctors, lawyers and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for pastors, the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You can not pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger - the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you". Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

If you decide to send this to a friend, you might brighten someone's day! Pass this on to someone special...

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.