God Wants Our Attention

Dear child, I want your full attention; please do what I show you. Proverb 23:26 (Message)

These words strike the heart. They remind me of my mother’s words. My mother was a small—slightly round Cherokee woman with not a lot of this world’s education. What she lacked in education she made up in heart. My mother most always spoke from the heart. She always wanted me to listen to her heart. Mother loved people; she loved Jesus… many times she read of Him to me while I was sick. When she grew ill... my last words to her were of Him…

We are God’s children. He simply wants us to listen to his heart. His heart loves people. That is the message of the Gospel—that God loves people. So much so that he died to save them. Their response is to believe in him. Many have believed, many will not, this is an individual decision.

As God’s children we have an obligation to speak to the other children of this world about Jesus, to share our testimony of what he’s doing in our lives. What Jesus is doing in our lives is changing our hearts. This change is love--a love for all people.

As a child of God I’ve forgotten this love. Because of this my love for other people has cooled. Over the years I resigned myself to learning much about religion but showing very little love to those who need love. I’ve become comfortable in the lukewarmness of my own callused heart. That’s why I’ve written of repentance in past writings—my heart is seeking the full fruits of repentance…

These are uncomfortable words to write--I’m sure they are uncomfortable to read. But the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not one of comfort of the flesh but the purifying of the soul. I seek a pure heart before God. I’m seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness… (Matt. 6:33) I desire my full attention to be on God.

With all my heart I believe that our days on this earth are short—Christ’s return is imminent! All of our instruction, all of the good teaching that we’ve received is for a purpose and that is to work. We are blessed beyond our means; we can travel farther, faster… carry the Word electronically to people and places on this earth that before were unimaginable… “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." (Matt. 9:37-38)

O God, save who you can save! Father, in these closing days… may we hear your heart… may we obey your voice. Father, raise up workers who will go to those who want to hear your Good News! Help us to stop playing ‘church’ and to be your church on this earth!

Not Lacking of Any Good Thing

The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing. Psalm 34:10

The other day I rose early, got my cup of coffee and sat in front of the computer in preparation to write an encouraging word to my friends. Yet, this morning drifted into a stalemate as I looked at the blank form. I typed and then deleted. Nothing was coming to mind—coming to heart…

So, I did something that I should have done from the beginning… I prayed. I prayed, ‘Father, we both know that I can’t write anything unless you help me. I need you help. Use me to write a word of encouragement for your people. Show me what I’m doing wrong.’

He showed me this scripture: “The young lions do lack and suffer hunger”…

We need our quiet time with the Lord and in this I’ve been neglectful. We need those times to keep ‘the young lions’ at bay… or else the cares of this world will begin to strangle the Word of Life.

Yet, when we turn and seek the Lord with our hearts he will answer our prayer. He will turn even a bad situation into a good one. God will honor those who seek him.

Our Father in Heaven understands our day. He understands how busy our day can become. He understands the pressures that we are under. That’s why he gave us his Word, that’s why he gave us prayer.

His Word we can hide in our hearts and carry with us wherever we are. We can remember his Word in a moment and be refreshed. We can pray and be reminded of the closeness and the relationship that we have with a loving Father who loves us and understands us and who desires good for us and not lack or hunger…

Dear Father, thank you for your Word, thank you for the opportunity to come to you in prayer—that may be in the car, at the job, or at a meal with our family… but always in your wondrous presence!

Florida Beaches and God's Presence

One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship, beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches. I'd rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin. All sunshine and sovereign is GOD, generous in gifts and glory. He doesn't scrimp with his traveling companions. It's smooth sailing all the way with GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies. Psalm 84:11

You know while I was stationed in Florida I never got to the beach. I never took my shoes off and walked along the beach line. To me… it was not all that important. It was more important for me to work. I just could not envision myself playing while my wife was at home working—so I worked.

That and I wanted to be faithful in my writing, in my reading, and in my prayer life. Now I was not 100%--throughout my life I don’t think that I’ve ever been but you know I have no regrets… I helped out with the Eastside Calvary Church folks--cleaned their nursery--repaired apart of a closet--recorded a few songs on a CD--vacuumed what was needed... just helped out...

I had fun in Florida, without the sin, without the ‘fun in the sun’ with my head and my heart in study and worship of my heavenly Father. I’d rather be in a secret place with him—in worship with him—than enjoy any of the entertainment or joys of this world—for the world simply does not stack up compared to being in his presence!

A Sound Mind

2Tim 1:7 (KJS) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

The other evening Belinda and I turned on the t.v. and found... well nothing on worth watching. True, we don't have cable-so we are limited to 5 stations but of those five you would think that at 7 p.m. 'prime-time' that something worthwhile for the family would be on-something worth watching. Not!

Let's review these five options: option #1 - the Hispanic channel this is great for the Hispanic folks only we don't speak their language. Option #2-Dance America-or something like that-we both left that behind us a few generations ago... Option #3- Detectives who are solving a murder-well, we've seen about a hundred thousand of these so we opt out... Option #4-The pseuo-christian channel who are praying over hankerchiefs and asking for $100.00 donations--whatever! And finally Option #5-a special report on what is wrong with our President, the War, and our Country by the ultra liberals... o.k. it's time to rummage through the DVD's...

We seem to have a society bent on going crazy. If you listen to the radio too long... watch a little too much television... then you can feel the swirling pull of the world as it slithers downward.

There's always a 'new' gimmick, the 'hottest star' or the 'must have invention' but with a sound mind we can see through all of that as just another sales gimmick... another quick-rich gimmick that will flare up for a moment and then extinguish very rapidly... for us, dear friends the Word of God is our constant peace, our continual joy, and our source for a sound mind and calm heart during these days of continual change.

Wait on the Lord

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalm 27:14 (KJS)

If you are like me you have this need to be doing… Too often I find that I want a distraction on… such as the television, the radio, or some music… too little do I spend my time is complete silence.

There is a strength that comes in waiting on the Lord that in modern times we’ve all so neglected. We seem to like our entertainment… too much. We spend less time… waiting.

Courage and strength, calmness and peace, await the person who will wait on the Lord.

Forgiving the Past

Throughout my youth, I don't remember much good coming from my earthly Father. I remember a lot of pain. A lot of beatings. A lot of abuse. Whatever else happened during eight years of my childhood I simply cannot remember... I forgave my Father some 25 years ago but it took years. God had to show me part of what was in my Father's past... and in understanding that I understood him and therefore compassion was found in my heart and somehow... forgiveness.

I had to understand my Father as a human being created in the image of God and a fallen sinner--both all wrapped inside the person that every ounce of me learned to hate. Yet the hate for him... was eating at me every single day, it drove me and consumed me. Until on July 4th, 1977, on a warm afternoon--Christ became my Savior and one of the things I gave-up to him as I wept before that altar was my hatred for my Father... I followed the guidance of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13 "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before..."

My earthly Father is dead now-several years ago. My step-Father also passed away many years ago. Each Father's day there is a twinge of sadness at the relationship lost with both men. Yet, on this Father's Day and each one that I may be blessed to witness I look to the heavens and I wish my Heavenly Father a very Happy Father's Day and then as the day closes I close the memory on my earthy Fathers for another year--I close the book of memories and I open up today and like you--look forward and upward towards tomorrow!

If you have a Father you are blessed...

For many have lost theirs...

If you have a moment to show them your gratitude...

Do it now for later that moment may never occur again...

If you have hurt your Father...

Go to him... he'll forgive you...

If your Father's hurt you...

Forgive...

It is the greatest gift You can give this Father's Day...

Root of Bitterness

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled… [Hebrews 12:14-15]

Bitterness in the heart is like a nasty weed in a beautiful garden. Bitterness will feed, grow, spread, and produce buds of bitterness in other plants… in other lives. Bitterness comes from a hardened heart, a heart hardened by sin [Hebrews 3:13]. A heart un-repentive.

A bitter heart is easy to detect--just listen to the words… [Ephesians 4:31] followed by behavior unbecoming holiness—godliness—a heart bound by sin [Acts 8:23].

This heart can be released from these chains… but it takes brokenness. The pride must be crushed; hope in oneself must be extinguished, all reliance shattered. When this occurs, the Lord will come to the rescue [Psalm 34:18] and heal the wounds [Psalm 147:3].

Our heavenly Father cares more about us than we know. His attention is on each of us as we rise in the morning… as we go through our day… as we face trials and hardships. Obstacles along our daily pathway get our eyes off of ourselves and our surroundings and back on God and his ways. When we miss a pathway and then refuse to turn-a-round (repent) sin will harden our heart so that we can press on down a pathway that is not of the Lord’s choosing… but even there… even along that darkened pathway… our Father is watching and waiting for our hearts to turn to him-to turn around-and walk the broken pathway his way…

*a prayer~Father, our hearts our prone to bitterness. We easily become self-willed, proudful, and even arrogant. Thank you for sending obstacles our way! Thank you for trials and tests. Thank you for hardships, heartaches, lonliness, tears, and brokenness. We are your creation-we can do nothing on our own. We are thankful for mercy, for goodness, and for your love. Teach us to comfort others...

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise[Psalm 51:17].

Let Them Be Healed

Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Hebrews 12:12-13

Sometimes the body just has problems and it needs attention. Sometimes one or two or six surgeries are not enough…

This morning the Ortho-doc told me once again that another round of surgeries are needed for both my knees—as the saying goes trouble comes in twos or threes…

Yet, mine are fixable and I’m optimistic. So many others have not such an outlook…
I saw one sister in Christ this morning—her shoulders were stooped, her steps shuffled, her gaze—glazed over… many and various are the trials and tests that are occurring in her life and its effect harming her physically as well. What could I do but hopefully depart a few words of encouragement and some prayer—not much for a suffering soul…

There are many Christians who have their hands down… they are discouraged… their guard is down, and they are wounded. They stay away from churches because they found cliché’s and the felt the people were cold and aloof. They tried to get involved, tried to help out. Tried to make friends but they could not break into the well-built caste system so they just quit and stayed home. They need our prayer.

There are many lame. They’ve been kicked, injured, or harmed. It takes a great deal of effort to heal the harmed. More time is needed and it costs more. It’s not as glamorous and we have to get closer, pay more attention, and some times pick up the cost… but isn’t that what we’re called to do…

Are we not called to help heal the hurting? I worked as a medic for fifteen years prior to becoming a historian. I know a few things about healing. I know that it takes patience. I know that in our fast-paced world that patience is really hard to come by. I know that healing is not pretty. It seems that people who are healing—and therefore are covered with all kind of worldly stuff or attitudes (remember how many you had?) are pretty much kept at the back of the church—if they come at all. Why are'nt we concerned with these hurting folks anymore?

I mean, where’s the heart… of the church today?

Be of the same mind

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Rom 12:14-16

When we are hurting, we want someone to come along beside us and comfort us. That is what our heart truly wants. We may spew out words that are hurtful or that are damaging but it’s from the damage that’s occurred to our heart. The poison of the heart needs to come out and often it hurts others. We know this—we’ve all experienced this… in our lives…

When the human body is damaged, it produces a certain amount of productive fluid to surround the injury, to protect the injury. Emotionally we do much the same…

It was many years ago now that two young ministers came to my home and they began to work on my heart. Their instrument was the Word of God. They spent hours listening to me as I argued with them… until finally I asked them forcibly to leave my home. The debate was the bitterness of my heart…

I slept little that night as all I could do was weep, repent, and cry even more… the pain of many years of bitterness was pouring out of me. In the morning I couldn’t call both brothers fast enough and repeatedly repent… to this day… even now… I owe them both such a great debt of thanks.

For these brethren, these friends listened to my pain, my poison, and they did not blow me off but they cared, they loved, they endured, and they saved me and my family from greater damage! They went beyond reading the Word, preaching the Word; these men lived the Word and through it helped me.

While I was in Florida over the last four months, I meet a young man who was having some life difficulties. This twenty something young man had more stress occurring at one time than I’ve ever had in my life… after a while he came under a suicidal watch. God allowed me to spend many hours talking with this young man, praying with him and after a while, he re-dedicated his life to Christ. Then he picked up a phone, called the police, and told them where his lawless sister was at—that was tough but it was the right thing to do. He wept as I did through that decision and many, many other difficult ones but afterwards his life was coming together and with it peace was taking shape. The little that I helped him was due to the many, many people that have helped me… through the many people that helped them… through Christ who is our foundation.

When we are down… we need a friend. When we are down… we need comfort.

God has on so many occasions given us comfort… help us to comfort those who need comfort… who need a friend.

Same Purpose

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Philippians 2:2-1

God ultimately has one purpose. That purpose is the salvation of mankind. That salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone. No other works are needed, prayers to no one else should be accomplished, and confession is only required between sinner and Christ, no priest need apply.

It is mankind and his attempt at religion--mankind and his perverse twisting of the scriptures that has created such a mess of religion that we see in the world today. God never intended multitudes of religions or beliefs.

There is only one belief, there is only one religion, and there is only one faith. These are declared in the Word of God. A Word that mankind will not read because it convicts the heart—and so it’s pages gathers dust…

Yet, in this writing there was a singular of purpose and that purpose ultimately was the salvation of souls. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be the agenda of many churches of our day, here in America. Many churches of our day seem more concerned with their building fund, with passing the plate, with attendance rolls, with remolding projects, with their cosmetics… they continually teach and train their people…I ask… for what? When will they ever send them forth? The world is dying all around us… some 80,000 people die in Asia every single day without ever hearing the Gospel preached… capable ministers sit under ministries for years—would not God call them elsewhere-does not God care for the poor of Asia, Africa, and China? No one ever speaks of our brothers and sisters in the prisons… why is this—are we ashamed of them?

Whatever happened to soul winning? What ever happened to preaching? What happened to missionary work in the field and to church planting and to taking the gospel throughout the world? Do not the poor deserve the gospel? Or is the gospel reserved for the rich and affluent? To whom did Christ preach to?

How do we Christians in America portray to the other Christians in the world the spirit of Jesus Christ? Do we have the same mind? Do we share our wealth with them or do we keep it for ourselves, did you know the average Christian in Asia makes around $242.00 a year. And you know what with all this speaking of money and poor and wealth and the such that’s really not the issue… what is the issue is Christians lack of care for other Christians and Christians lack of care for the world—it’s no wonder that the world dislikes us—they see right through us…

We so often declare that Jesus Christ is coming back soon… well, I ask… what are we doing about it… will he find us busy… about our Father’s business?

Please pray for our brothers and sisters in prison and those starving in Asia.

God is Justified (Psalm 51)

Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge. Psalm 51:4

When we sin and we all do—who do we sin against, who do we hurt?

It is a certainty that when we sin that we hurt someone--someone close to us. We hurt those who are closest to us the most because we trust them the most—we lean on them the most.

After the injury, when it comes time to restore a broken or a bruised relationship these are often the most painful to restore. The bruise is deep. The cut is deep. The pain so intense. Time and the salve of love are need for healing.

Yet, with the repentive heart, it is God that we’ve hurt the most. His eyes are ever on us, day and night. His heart is ever reaching… ever searching… for hearts that will serve him, love him, commune with him…

Our sin breaks the fellowship with God. Our stubborn will refuses to bow the knee and acknowledge that God truly is blameless, truly is justified, and trust is.

We miss the mark—the bull’s-eye of character modification that God desires to work in our lives when we sin.

Yet, who has not sinned? For all have sinned and came short of the glory of God Romans 3:23. We all have missed the mark. We all have broken our relationship with God or with others at some time in our lives.

God understands this and therefore has planned for this… by using sin to break our hearts and transforming our brokenness and using it to his greater glory.

I know my Transgression {Psalm 51}

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Psalm 51:3

The heart knows its own sin…

Yes, the heart knows its own sin so very well. As previously stated… the Spirit first whispers to our hearts our sin. The whisper fills our ears, our minds, our souls, and our being. The message is strong at first but as we ignore its urgings, the whispers grow fainter and fainter until they stop passing across the heart. The conscience is seared as with a hot-iron, the sin becomes a strong-hold in our life, and we become its captive.

That’s why morning… afternoon… evening… our minds can often be haunted, sometimes tormented--troubled due to some nagging sin-some lingering guilt-some wall of flesh that separates our hearts from that of Christ.

The solution is before us, a prayer of faith. A pray of repentance.

Heavenly Father, forgive us our sins.

Cleanse Me {Psalm 51}

"Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin" Psalm 51:2

We cannot make things right with God on our own. We cannot cleanse ourselves from our sin. We need help. We need a Savior. No great work on our part will suffice. No great deed or sacrifice will clear our slate before the eyes of Almighty God. We are helpless.

All that we can do is admit our sin. Admit our wrong doing. Admit our failure to walk righteous before him who is Holy, Righteous, who is God. We must admit our sin with no excuses. Excuses are not justified, we are responsible and no one else.

The Lamb of God, Him that was slain for our iniquities will cleanse us from all of our sin. Not some of them-all of them. Christ's ministry extends beyond the cross, the grave, and is with us today.

It is to those who know to do right and have not done so that Christ calls on. Repent and be broken--may our laughter be turned to tears, may we weep at our transgressions for truly our hearts tells us this is needed?

Father, lead us to repent.

Unfailing Love (Psalm 51)

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Psalm 51:1

We can never come to Christ’s throne unless we believe that his love is unfailing. His love will not fail you. His love will guide you, calm you, protect you, and lead you always to righteousness. Love will not fail.

His compassion draws us to him. The Spirit that he planted within us at our new birth tugs at our hearts to return to the paths of righteousness. His desire is to erase our transgressions from his sight. They are unsightly for they hinder the closeness of relationship that he desires.Christ wants a close relationship with you. You may or may not desire the closeness that he desires initially… but once you’ve spent time--such precious time with him, then nothing else matters, all else pales in view, the desires of your heart change.

The shine of new gadgets dims as the hearts desire turns to what God loves—people.This cannot occur unless first… we Christians… repent.This cannot occur unless we first believe in his love…

Godly Life

There seemingly is this over-powering plague that affects us who take up religion. For once we begin to read and learn of God, the more-it seems-that we disinterested in the subject of God's most intense interest--his people.

Sometimes we seem to thrive only on a feeling of religiousiousity while ommitting the diligence needed at work, the needs of the family, the daily cares of this life.

Yet, it is the cares of this life that God is interested in, for the cares affect his children. Nothing is more important to the Father of Heaven than his children. He will redirect all the cares of this life for the betterment of his children. In a moment we will rewrite the lines of tomorrow. He will move heaven and earth on the behalf of his children.

Any good Father on this earth would do the same. Any good Father would go to any length to provide for, care for, give to, and love his children and his wife. How much more is our Heavenly Father in Heaven?

Your Father in heaven knows your heart. He knows the lining of saddness that lingers--that is your history--he knows the longing that goes unforfilled. A longing for heaven, a longing for Him, a longing that goes unforfilled... that drives us daily to walk with him, speak for him, and live not the relgious life but a godly one.