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Agur’s Prayer

This morning I will be preaching on Agur’s Prayer. I preached about him last week also and mentioned the sweet spot that Jesus want’s us to be in. Amen? 

Well, today the secret is revealed on how we can live in that sweet spot. Agur reveals it to us in his short prayer.

Proverbs 30:7-9 NIV (7) "Two things I ask of you, LORD; do not refuse me before I die: (8) Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. (9) Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

It is balance! 

If we have the attitude to ask for ONLY our daily bread and to NOT be rich OR poor, we have found balance. We have found true contentment and that brings happiness. 

True contentment opens our eyes to the gift Jesus has already given us. 

Recognizing our gift allows us to find purpose! That is the secret treasure we all want to discover, our purpose! Amen?

The secret to knowing our purpose here on earth is to embrace our gifts and use them to glorify God! It is as simple as that. 

If you dance, dance for the Lord. If you sing, sing for the Lord. If you make things, make them for the Lord. If you build, build the best for the Lord.

Listen, everyone has a gift! I had one person come to me and while trying to explain that he didn’t think there was anything that he could do for the Lord, he realized he could cut grass for the Lord. 

Since then, God has used him and his son in an outreach called Cuts 4 Christ to bring Glory to the Lord!

If you _________ then do __________ for the Lord. Amen?

Embrace your gift and do it for the Lord today!

Give God the Eraser

While on vacation in Indiana my wife and I made our last stop to visit my Aunt Clara. 

She had been diagnosed with cancer and the doctor’s said she did not have long to live.   

While sitting in the room with her, she explained all her plans to me.  She told me what dress she would be wearing at her funeral.  She explained where she was going to be buried.  She smiled as she talked about the songs that would be played.  She must have noticed the sadness on my face, and she reached over and patted my leg.

I looked at her and her eyes were shimmering with joy! she said, “Listen, Monty, I have made all my plans in pencil, but I have given God the eraser.”  

Wow!  What a revelation from God!  I was there to give her peace and comfort, but I received it from her instead!  

We can and should make plans in our lives. But, we must realize that God may change our plans.

Proverbs 16:9 NIV In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

Have you been making plans and then they suddenly get changed? It happens to all of us. But, God is the one in control, amen? His plans are better, amen?

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I have preached “Give God the Eraser” (link to sermon) many times since that visit with my Aunt Clara.

Won’t you give God the eraser today?

What’s Inside Is What Counts

We were driving along the highway the other day. I was looking out the window and as we passed by a “stone house” and I mentioned it looked nice. 

Tammy nodded, “It looks nice but its still a mobile home inside.” 

I nodded silently in agreement, “It still looks nice.” 

Tammy and I had watched the metamorphosis from mobile home to stone house take place years ago. No one going by now would ever know it is a mobile home. But inside it is still a mobile home.

I thought about the replica car kits we had looked at in the past. We have thought about building different ones. The roadster street road kit is one of my favorites! The most common kit we found readily available was built on S-10 chassis. That is right, a beautiful fiberglass molded body mounted on an S-10 chassis and you have a roadster! 

It looks nice but inside its really an S-10. But going down the road it looks really nice!

This reminds me of what Jesus said to the Scribes and Pharisees!

Matthew 23:27 NIV "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.

We can all take heed to those words. The whitewash, in our case at times, is our actions. We go to church, wear nice clothes, say nice things especially while at church. But inside, we are decaying in sin.

Matthew 23:28 NIV In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

God sees what is inside! 

And the best part is that God can change us from the inside out. Only God can do that!

If we try to change on our own, only the outside will be changed for the most part. 

But if you will submit to the Lord, he will turn your “make believe” mobile home into a stone home founded on the true cornerstone, Jesus Christ!

Have a bless day.

Guilt Got Your Tongue?

We were watching CSI last night. In the episode “Assume Nothing,” Nick talks with an old college buddy about the crime scene at the hotel. Next thing you know the information that he provides is on the news! 

When Nick sees the news his whole countenance changes. He suddenly is having anxiety issues anytime Gil Grissom (his boss) is in the vicinity. All his co-workers tell him to go tell Gil and get it over with. They say, “You think he doesn’t know anyway?”

You know that is a whole like us isn’t it? We let guilt fester up inside us bringing on a feeling of condemnation! 

If we were to just go to the father right away and say we are sorry, it would be much better, amen? 

A touch of guilt can bring a conviction from the Holy Spirit for correction, amen?

Are you on an emotional roller coaster because of guilt? 

Is your guilt just a touch being used of God to convict and bring correction? Or are you battling shame and self-condemnation?

Remember this, satan brings condemnation, the Holy Spirit never condemns!

Romans 8:1 says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Speak up today! Don’t let that guilt keep your tongue! You might as well tell the Lord anyway, you think he doesn’t already know? LOL.

Yep, Grissom knew that Nick had let the cat out of the bag all along. But Nick went days with anxiety building up, guilt festering more and more. All the while Grissom was just being Grissom.

Give it to Jesus today! He is waiting for you to.

Dead Til I Gets Me Coffee!

I was sipping on my coffee this morning and visiting with Jesus. I was asking for his guidance on what to share this morning as I do every morning. 

Then I looked at my favorite coffee cup. The skeleton pirate with hook and the saying “DEAD til I gets me coffee.” 

Right then Jesus reminded me that we are all dead until we get our coffee.

That is until we take what God offers to us which is C.O.F.F.E.E.

Christ Offers Forgiveness For Everyone Everywhere

What an awesome revelation this morning, amen? For everyone everywhere!

1 John 1:9 KJV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I encourage you this morning to pour yourself a cup of that spiritual COFFEE this morning and embrace the forgiveness waiting for you. I have!

Pray this prayer today. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm 51:1b-2)

What a way to start the day, amen? Start everyday with a fresh cup of COFFEE!

But don’t just get your cup and not tell anyone about how good it is. SHARE with everyone everywhere!

Pray this morning for all those that we should be praying for. All the corrupt politicians need our prayers! Can you imagine the state our country could be in if there was a revival in the white house? A revival from the white house down to our local public offices! 

They NEED that COFFEE, so pray hard for them all today.

Remodeling

This morning we are heading to a friend’s house to start on a remodeling project for their kitchen. Have you ever done any remodeling? 

It really becomes a mess quickly as you start destroying the old! As my friend said, “Today we start the demolishing.”

But this first step is necessary, before anything new can be built the old stuff has to be torn away. The old countertops and cabinets must come out. It is such a messy process that when you first start tearing down, you start to wonder if you should have ever started. LOL

Did you know that the same happens to us as Christians? Our old ways have to be demolished before the remodeling (regeneration) can begin.

Romans 6:6 KJV Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

You see, Paul is telling us that our old self must be torn down in order for the new to be built. Our destruction comes before our reconstruction, amen? 

You wouldn’t have new carpet installed over the twenty-year-old carpet that is already in your house, would you? 

No! It would be torn out and thrown away, then you would install the new, amen?

Just like today, we can’t install the new countertops and cabinets until the old is torn away, amen? 

That tearing down process can be painful. Romans says, “crucified with him” so don’t be surprised if the tearing down the old brings some discomfort, amen?

When trouble comes (notice I did not say if), that is when the Lord is allowing us to be torn down so we can be built back up new.

Finally, don’t forget the words in Psalm 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain…”

Pray this with me today. Yes Lord, tear me down and build me back up, oh Lord. Make me a new being, bringing glory and honor to you. Amen!

The Lost Goat

We had eaten supper. All the chores had been done. All of us were relaxing in the front room watching the television and enjoying the warmth from the fireplace. It was a peaceful evening, and we were all in our pajamas. A quiet scene came on the television and we could hear one of the goats bleating.

I looked at the boys and all three of them were looking at me. I looked over at Tammy as I heard the goat bleat again.

Tammy gasped, “Something is wrong!”

We all jumped up at the same time, got dressed, and headed for the back door. We gathered inside the goat barn. Pepper was the only goat not inside the safety of the barn. She was facing out into the darkness, bleating over and over. Within a few minutes we confirmed that the only goat missing was hers.

We tried to get her to walk down into the pasture with us, but she refused. It was her instinct to stay with the flock, where it was safe. 

Her mother instinct was to call out for her young, but her self-preservation instinct was to stay put.

We knew that if we left any kids out in the pasture that they would be dead in the morning. So, we loaded Pepper into the back of the pickup and headed down into the pasture. After driving for about a hundred yards, I stopped the truck and shut it off.

We sat there and let Pepper bleat. Then we would listen. There was silence until Pepper would bleat again. After a few minutes, I started the truck and pulled on down into the pasture another hundred yards and repeated the process.

After spending the better part of an hour, we were about as far from the barn as you could be. I shut off the vehicle again and waited. Pepper bleated and almost immediately we heard the kid bleating back at her.

The boys jumped out of the back of the truck with their flashlights and headed towards the bleating kid. After a couple more exchanges of mother-kid bleating, the boys found the kid. She was curled up for the night all by herself.

The reunion was one that I will never forget. We had returned to the barn in minutes and unloaded the two. I smiled as the kid was feeding and Pepper was licking at her little one. I smiled as I looked at Tammy.

Tammy was crying, “She is crying.”

I looked back at Pepper and she was crying! That was firsthand proof that animals do have emotions and can cry.

Do not ever let someone tell you that animals don’t have emotions. Pepper certainly loved her little one and was crying tears of joy, that her baby was back with her. We had many mothers cry for days after we sold their “children” to customers.

This little true story reminds me of a similar story in the Bible.

Matthew 18:12 NIV "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?

This story can be found in my latest book, “Lil Light’s Lessons”  Click on the link if you would like to purchase a book.

Have a blessed day.

The Sweet Spot!

Remember “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”?

Goldilocks breaks into the house of the three bears and tries three bowls of porridge, one is too hot, one is too cold, and the third is just right!

Goldilocks tries three chairs. One is too big the other too small but the third is just right.

Then being tired, she tried the three beds, one too hard, one too soft but the third is just right.

But we are left with the two-word worthy goal of how to do life, “just right.”

In other words: balance. Avoiding extremes. You might even call it “God’s sweet spot.” Doesn’t that sound like a nice way to live?

What is a sweet spot? Tennis players talk about a sweet spot on their racket where the ball jumps off with maximum velocity and precision, and no vibration. Golfers have a sweet spot on the club to hit the ball with as well.

Career counselors describe your sweet spot as the job where you do what you love, do it well, and get paid for it. Amen!
In the same way, there is a place God wants you to live. Where you’re living with purpose, not futility. Clarity, not chaos. Not running too fast or walking too slow. Not buying bigger and bigger houses, but not living in a cardboard box. In balance. In contentment. In God’s Sweet Spot. Amen?

I am doing a sermon this morning on the Agur’s prayer in Proverbs.

Here is Agur’s prayer in Proverbs 30:7-9 (NIV) (7) "Two things I ask of you, LORD; do not refuse me before I die: (8) Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. (9) Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

What a message for all of us today. Pray that prayer today. We don’t want riches or poverty, amen? Both can lead to a broken relationship with the Lord. We should pray and be thankful for our daily bread. Amen? 

When we truly want to live as in Agur’s prayer, we have found God’s sweet spot for us!

My prayers this morning is that you start living in that sweet spot today!

Let It Go!

I did a sermon recently titled Let It Go! Click here to watch the sermon

So many times, we find ourselves in a world of hurt because we just won’t let go. 

I guess that makes no better than the monkeys that get caught simply because they would not let go of the banana! 

It is nearly impossible to catch a monkey but with a simple little trap they become immobile. Monkeys just won’t let go of that snack they have in their hand even when they see trouble (man) coming! They will hold onto that “prize” to the end! What a shame, holding on to their own demise.

There is another story about a man with an expensive vase and he couldn’t get his hand out! He was frustrated and called a friend over to try and help him remove his hand without breaking the expensive vase. The friend got some Vaseline and put it on the stuck wrist. After trying for some time, he said, “I can’t believe this. It looks like we are going to have to break the vase to get your hand out.” 

The man replied, “Do you think it would help if I let go of my wallet?” 

On the other hand, there are certain things in our lives we simply need to let go of in order to grow in our walk with Christ. Amen? We have our hand in that spiritual vase holding onto things and we are in bondage.

Far too many people walk around with vases on their hands because they are holding onto baggage from years of mistakes, hurt, pain, bad choices, etc. 

In Jesus, there is no condemnation for our past mistakes because we are given the gift of eternal grace. It’s time to let go of all that stuff and learn to live free!  Amen?

Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV (31) Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (32) Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Let It Go and be free today!

If You Pray Why Worry?

After my first motorcycle accident, my brother-in-law at that time, gave me his old hot tub. He said it would be good for therapy. He was absolutely right! I have enjoyed a dip in the hot tub ever since and that was twenty plus years ago.

I enjoy a dip in the hot tub almost daily and Ethan, my little buddy, joins me most of the time. The other day I had changed into my swimming trunks and was about to head out when I noticed it was sprinkling. I looked at Ethan and told him that it was raining. He shrugged his shoulders and said, “Why worry. we are going to get wet anyway.”

I chuckled as I nodded, and we went out and enjoyed the hot water therapy. He was right, there was no reason not to go ahead and get in. No thunder or lightening just a fine mist coming down. LOL. The neighbors did look at us funny though, LOL. Ethan and I enjoyed our hot chocolate and the cold misting rain while soaking in the hot tub. Life was good, why worry, right?

Anyway, while I was in the hot tub, I thought that. Why worry is a good question isn’t it? I mean, if worrying was a sport, most of us would be the MVP on the team! Does that apply to you? Just asking.

It is so hard not to worry when troubles jeopardize our future. Seems like we have storms all around us daily, doesn’t it?

When we worry, we’re allowing our minds to dwell on circumstances that are, most of the time, out of our control. We find ourselves consumed over things that may never occur. Right?

We tend to worry about what matters the most to us but leave God out. It seems like during our times of worry we don’t trust that the Lord will help us or cares about our problems.

Are you stressed out right now? Maybe with some troubles at home or maybe at work? Are you looking for ways to “fix” it or maybe just be able to “cope” with it?

Just take a deep breath and ask the Lord to help you trust him. Yes! We must trust him before we can stop worrying. 

You have probably heard the saying, “If you pray why worry and if you worry why pray.” It is a good saying indeed. Think about it.

Proverbs 12:25 NIV Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

Trust in the Lord today, cast your cares on him, and let the word of God cheer you up today!

Matthew 11:28 NIV "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

He is waiting for you to lay your burdens down and trust in him. 

Get some rest today by giving it all to him. 

God bless ya’ll

PMCS

PMCS (Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services.) is done to catch things in the early stages BEFORE it becomes a major issue. Amen?

In the military we had to do a daily PMCS as well as weekly, monthly quarterly, semi-annual, annual and you know it, even Bi-annual checks, and services.  In the civilian world we have owners’ manuals that provide that same information.

Everyone reading this knows that if they don’t perform their PMCS on their vehicle or even our own physical body, we will be sorry later! Amen?

Well, we also have a spiritual “owner’s manual” for us. You know what it is? Yes, it is the Bible. It also spells out a PMCS we need to take heed to!

Prayer - Prayer is communication with God, amen? It is like checking your oil level first thing, amen? As you talk with God, your oil level automatically reaches the full line! Amen???

The purpose of prayer – (1) to worship God for who he is and what he has done, Amen? (2) Cultivate a personal relationship with him! You can’t build a relationship without prayer (talking) (3) Reflect on our daily activities and ask for guidance.   Amen?  (4) It expresses our faith in HIM!  (5) And of course, we pray to repent and receive HIS forgiveness.   Amen?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV (16) Rejoice always, (17) pray continually, (18) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Meditation is contemplation, thought, thinking, , pondering, consideration, reflection, , deliberation, study, brooding, mulling over, …..
The Benefits of Meditating (1) Give you or bring you Success (2) Make you Strong (3) Make you Courageous (4) cause you to live a righteous way of lifer! (5) Make you fruitful (6) give you wisdom (7) Make you see Jesus’ Glory!

Psalms 1:2 (KJV) reads - But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Communion is the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level. This is necessary for our growth.

So communion or fellowship with who? God first for sure. Amen? But, also with each other.   Amen?  The word tells us that if we have fellowship walking in the light with others, we are cleansed….

1 John 1:5-7 KJV (5) This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Service - Our service to the Lord, Amen? Our Fruits is our service, Amen?

Matthew 7:15-20 KJV (15) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (16) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. (18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

I am believing that all of you will remember to apply the PMCS into your spiritual lives, starting today!

That you build that intimate relationship with Jesus by communicating with him in PRAYER daily!  I also pray that God brings a desire on you and you spend time DAILY MEDITATING on the word of God bringing closer to him!  Then I ask God to help you COMMUNE with HIM and other like-minded brothers and sisters.  And last but certainly not least, that your SERVICE grows. Not in how much you do so much as in that you do what he wants you to do.   That’s when others will see the FRUIT in your life.  Amen?

Have a blessed day!

You on the Same Trails from Before?

Some people have asked me why I enjoy hiking a few trails more than once a year. Truth is there are some trails I hike several times during the year. Why?

To me as the season changes, the trails change with them. I always find plenty of new things every time out. Depending on the time of year, every place has a different “look.” Which makes it seem like a different trail and it brings a different experience.

Reading the same scriptures also tell us something different, depending on the “season” we are in. Amen? Reading the same verses when we are happy can bring us a different message when we are on the trail of sorrow or worry. Amen?

Today our family will be getting things ready for a canoe trip we are going on tomorrow. The excitement is building up with all of us as we gather the things that we need. But, it is the same paddling trail that we have been on before. So, why all the excitement?

One reason is that although it is the same paddling trail we have been on, we are planning on going further than before! 

Have you ever read a scripture that you have read before and then meditate on it? I mean really sit and ponder what it means and let the spirit bring a new revelation to you? You see, that true meditation on the same scripture that you read before brings a whole new experience to you! Amen?

Psalms 1:2 KJV But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

May you travel an old trail today and it bring you a new joy! God bless.

Hitting Your Mark

We are heading out to play some disc golf this morning and I am already getting enthusiastic about it! I am looking forward to hearing some chains! That is the chains on the baskets, amen? You may not play disc golf. You may not even know what disc golf is. But you do know what it is to hit the mark. And placing the plastic disc in the basket is hitting the mark!

We all want to hit our mark, right? Are you hitting yours? You hitting your personal mark in weight control or physical fitness? You hitting that personal mark with your family or friend relationship? What about that professional mark at work?

Hitting the mark is a term heard in just about any area of our life. A baseball pitcher is trying to hit his mark by placing the baseball in the catcher’s glove. The basketball player is trying to hit his mark by placing the ball through the hoop. The quarterback is trying to hit his mark by placing the football in the hands of the receiver. Amen? This morning my mark is eighteen eluding baskets!

But, hitting your mark is also heard in the work place. We all have periodic evaluations, and no one wants to hear from their boss that they didn’t hit the mark, right? Just about any laborer can tell you what “mark” they are expected to hit on a daily, monthly and even yearly basis, amen?

The more that is at stake the more important the mark becomes, amen? If this morning’s game was with a group and there was a thousand-dollar purse, then hitting the mark every time would be more important, right?

Well then, the most important mark we can strive to achieve is that eternal mark of a higher calling with the Lord, amen? Yes indeed! We must press on and run the race daily to hit the mark, amen?

Philippians 3:14 KJV I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

I pray each one of you get a spiritual hole in one today! Have a blessed one my brothers and sisters in  Christ.

Muscle Memory!

On the 21st I posted “Staying Strong.” The main idea of the blog was we must be consistent in the strength training to stay strong. 

Spiritually, we must also stay consistently in the word to stay strong in the Lord as well, amen?

Today, after only a week, things are looking up at the gym. I am progressing faster than I first thought I would! Praise God for Muscle Memory!

Due to the pandemic, many have had to take unscheduled breaks from the gym. Those breaks from training can be good for the body, but weeks and even months causes us to lose some strength as well as muscle size. Many people quit going to the gym all together because they get back into an old routine and can not motivate themselves to return.

As with all our physical events in life, there is a spiritual application. Nearly 50% of all Christians have quit going to church since the pandemic started. Why? 

Well, their spiritual muscles have atrophied, and they just don’t want to go back to that spiritual gym for a Holy Spirit workout! 
Many just don’t want to have to go through the pains of starting back up. You know, like getting up earlier, taking a shower, getting dressed, driving to the church. What a pain right?

You see, muscle memory is the act of committing a specific motor task into memory through repetition. Repetition! Sound familiar? We should be in the word and communicating with God all the time. Amen?

1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV Pray without ceasing.

This week, if you have been on an extended hiatus, I want to encourage you to start reading the word and talking to the Lord daily. 
You see, one secret to building our muscles back up quickly, if forced to take a break from the gym, is to be sure not to skimp on your protein intake. 

You see, once again, the spiritual application is to not skimp on the spiritual food that you need for your daily intake!

Acts 17:11 KJV These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

The good news is that it is not like we are starting from the beginning. The reason is because we have built up some spiritual muscle memory.

Once you start to communicate with God and start reading the word again, your spirit will be stirred and you will want to start going back to church.

I want to encourage all that are going to church to share this with someone you know that has been on a hiatus. 

Encourage them to start reading today and to pray. If you can, pray with them and make sure you pray FOR them the rest of this week.

Have a spiritual uplifting week my brothers and sisters in Christ! See you in Church, amen?

Cast Your Cares

This morning I am finishing up the series “Baggage” with the final sermon “Cast Your Cares.”

Some of the baggage we haul around with us gives us anxiety about things out of our control. When we feel anxious, instead of bottling it up and keeping it within us, we should cast it on Jesus and trust Him to handle it. Amen?

“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” - Psalm 55:22

Not only is today’s sermon and my blog on Casting your Cares away, but the daily verse from Bible You Version app was Psalm 55:22! I would say God is talking to each one of us this morning. Amen?

There is only one thing we must do before casting our cares on Jesus. That is to humble ourselves.

1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV (6) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (7) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Remember the story of Mary and Martha when Jesus came to visit? Martha was running through the house trying to get everything just right and then was irritated because Mary wasn’t helping. Can’t you get a visual of Jesus looking at Martha and shaking his head, “Martha, Martha….” She was worrying herself to an anxiety boil over! Jesus said to chill out and look at what is really important, amen?

Are you a Martha or are you a Mary?

Cast your cares on Jesus this morning and just lay at his feet and listen. He has something to tell you this morning.

Have a Blessed Day!

More Blessed to Give Than Receive

Acts 20:35 KJV I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

We all know that there is a blessing that comes from giving, right? 

But the greatest place that blessing comes from is prayer. 

The Lord renews our spirit while we are praying for others, amen? That refreshed feeling we have after we have finished praying for others. That is the renewing of our own spirit.

Paul gave us an example of such prayer in his letters by requesting grace and peace on the people. 

Grace is the reason for our salvation and that in itself brings us peace, amen?

We all pray for friends, neighbors and coworkers, etc, right?

 When we pray this morning, pray for all to receive grace and peace and that their love would grow within the community. 

Now, that would change this world one heart at a time, amen?

Grace and Peace Be With You

Faith Mobilizes, Fear Paralyzes

Our church motto is “Faith Mobilizes, Fear Paralyzes.” 

As Christians, we should have the faith to move mountains! Amen?

Matthew 17:20 KJV And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

You going through a storm right now? Is there a huge unknown in your life right now? Does the future look hopeless right now? 

Well, then it is time to move mountains, Amen? 

This is how Jesus wants us to live our lives. With the faith that moves mountains, Amen? 

He did not give us the spirit of fear! Amen?

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Amen? 

You say it but do you believe it? 

To be afraid is natural, it is an emotion of the flesh that we must have control over. 

Faith motivates you and with it you overcome the fear!

I don’t know what you are going through. But I do know that our God is bigger and having faith will bring you a fearless day, today!

So, I pray you have a fearless day today. God bless.

Staying Strong

Staying strong while strength training requires consistency! 

While working out in the gym the last three days I realized that the unscheduled break we had for just over a month has taken its toll! 

Yesterday it was even more revealing just how much I had regressed in my strength training!  I was sitting on the bench staring at a pair of 35’s (dumbbells) sitting on the floor at my feet. I was silently lost in thought as I just stared at them in utter disbelief. I was in a state of shock, I guess. You know that feeling you get when something is suddenly revealed to you physically and BAM, it hits you like a ton of bricks. 

Tammy snapped me out of my moment of a reality check when she asked, “Are you alright honey?” I looked up at her and she was standing there watching me as I glared at the dumbbells. I nodded to her as I explained that I was already tired. My muscles were letting me know they wanted to quit! She did not seem to understand why I appeared so discouraged about the situation.

I noticed her confusion and explained that I had been using heavier weights just over a month ago but there was no way I could use the heavier weights without hurting myself! 

Then she nodded in agreement and explained that she also could tell that she was struggling to accomplish what had become a normal routine for her a month ago. 

I got to share a little preview of this blog with my brother in Christ, Pastor Bill Trotter because he also was at the gym. He also had taken an unscheduled break from his routine at the gym and knew exactly what I was talking about. 

I told my brother that staying physically strong is a whole lot like growing strong in the Lord. If we take a break from reading the word, it won’t take long, and we soon develop dull ears. With that comes confusion and lack of understanding. The longer we go without consuming the word, the worse it gets until finally we need to relearn everything all over again!

Hebrews 5:11-14 KJV  (11) Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (12) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (13) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Just like strength training and working my way back up to heavier and heavier weights, I must stay in the word of GOD so that I don’t regress to only the milk! 

Let’s break bread together today with strong meat and wash it down with the milk! Amen? 

Stay strong in the Lord!

I’ll Hold Your Hand

I was sent an inspirational text from a brother in Christ yesterday that provoked me to write this devotional today. 

I remember when Ethan, my youngest boy, would quickly put his hand into mine and say, “I hold you hand daddy.” 

Anytime we were about to cross a road as we walked in town, he would quickly offer his hand every time.  He felt safe holding my hand. 

I felt safe with his hand in mine but not because he was holding onto my hand. It was because I was holding onto his hand. Amen? 

All you parents understand, don’t you? If our child was to get scared, distracted or just fall, they could lose their grip on our hand, right? 

But we hold onto their hand so even if they lose their grip, we will keep holding onto them.

Our Father in heaven does the same thing! HE holds our hand and no matter what we may go through. No matter what storms we may find ourselves in. No matter how bad our circumstances may be. HE will not let go of our hand. Amen?

Isaiah 41:13 KJV For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

He holds our hand to help us. 

So I want to encourage you today to hold on as tight as you can but also keep the faith because if you lose your grip in a storm, the LORD will hold on to your hand! Amen?

Have a blessed day

You Hot or Cold? Lukewarm?

Our church is currently doing the “War Room” Bible study and it has been very powerful indeed. 

The first session of the series has an elderly lady asking a younger one if she would say her prayer life was hot or cold?

The younger lady replied, “Not really hot nor cold, I guess you could say it is lukewarm.”

Then when the elderly woman brings their coffee back, the younger lady takes a sip and the coffee is room temperature! With shock on her face she asks, “You like your coffee at room temperature?”

The elderly lady smirked as she sipped on her coffee and said, “My coffee is hot, I like my coffee hot.” 

She had made her point and we all need to ask ourselves if we are hot or cold. Are we lukewarm?

Revelation 3:15-16 KJV (15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. (16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

God gets sick and vomits the lukewarm from his mouth!

With the things going on in this world and especially with the chaos and corruption in our government, it is easy to become lukewarm. But we have to turn up the heat now more than ever! That is not with negative social media posts showing our flesh and emotions but, on our knees, sincerely praying for them all.

This is a test from the Lord to see if we are hot! Don’t become a lukewarm believer just because a wicked king has been placed on the throne of our country! In fact, that is not scheduled until tomorrow. God could change all that in the blink of an eye! Remember that God is still on HIS Throne! Amen?

Hot Christians should be praying that the wicked king hears from God! Are you praying for the wicked king? 

I know we are all praying for the true servant that has been persecuted fervently for four years by the wicked puppets of the devil. But, I ask you again, are you praying for the wicked minion of satan that is supposed to take the “throne” tomorrow?

Hot Christians must pray hard for him and his own wicked minions. Pray hard that they hear God and a revival starts in the white house!

Proverbs 21:1 KJV The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

God can turn the king’s heart anyway he chooses, Amen? 

Can you imagine if all the HOT Christians were praying for a revival? The Saul that is about to take the “throne” would become a Paul! All things are possible with the Lord, Amen?

Let’s start today, by turning the hot water up and shut off the cold! Let’s pray for God to help us become really hot, amen? 

Because it is impossible to sincerely pray for a wicked king as a lukewarm believer. Just saying…

Have a really HOT DAY today, God bless Ya’ll