Be Being Filled Up

…understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. —Ephesians 5:17-18, nlt

Are you lacking something, or better yet ..Someone that makes your life alright? Please be immersed in the loving Spirit from above! Why not; what do you have to lose? Hey, it wasn't me who commanded that you and me be filled to overflowing with the Comforter. God is the One who wants you filled and empowered to serve and witness of His greatness! Yes and He kept it very simple for us saying, "be filled with the Spirit."

I'm sure that you already know how any pet sin, besetting sin, hidden sin—any unconfessed sin of any kind, or any hard-hearted resistance to God's supreme authority can impede the "flow" of His life within and through us. Man, we all must learn to deal with sin quickly, before it deals with us ..and puts us on the other side of the lawn. If we do not deal with it, then, our spiritual lives while here will basically become shipwrecked, stagnant, inverted, wasted. We will indeed lose our spiritual attractiveness in the Kingdom and our real usefulness for others. Perhaps you have walked with the Lord a long time, but lately you've noticed that you're lacking that joy and that unique refreshing that literally draws people to Jesus Christ. Hey, no prob, you can regain that first-love passion again as you get alone to draw close and to get real with Him.

The Spirit has come and He is the source of power that we can receive. —Branon

You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me. —Acts 1:8

Like to read Kurt's entire devo ..or perhaps some basic Bible doctrine regarding this topic? Go for it!

Got or Want a Perfect Father?

Liney and I had a wonderful time today as I was invited to minister to some long time friends in Carrollton. Great group of people who really know the Word, so I've got to be.. as always.. very careful to be accurate when I seek to build them up. The Lord helped me deal with a missions passage, Psalm 67. LOTS OF FUN! Their lead pastor's name is Carl and we are praying for him, for his wife Cindy, and for his father ...who have all had some health challenges lately. Yes, please do join us in praying for Max, the dad as well. In St. Charles LA, the doctors just found a tumor in his colon that could be cancerous. We are trusting that God will touch Max, this whole family, and the church that Carl leads. Thank you!

Need A Perfect Father?

So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into his family—calling him "Father, dear Father." —Romans 8:15, nlt

You can have the perfect Father today! So whatcha waitin' for? Perhaps you didn't grow up with the most wonderful of all father figures.. or maybe you've grown up and feel that the father you had ..was just excellent! Either way, you can have a good Father who will care for you now.

Personally, I hope you were never hurt, neglected or wounded by your father. I trust that you honor, love, and feel respect your father too, but if not, then God is there for you to help you in every way. He is indeed there to help you either way.

Is your earthly father still alive? Do you have a close relationship with him, where you converse about everyday matters etc?

I am so grateful for the hard working father and mother that I had while growing up. Life wasn't always easy for my family, but I don't ever remember lacking.

What in the world makes you and me feel that we can do without a close conversational kind of relationship with our heavenly Father? Do you mind if I ask you.. Do you currently have a prayer life where you regularly steal away to be alone with your heavenly Father? Man, it's through Jesus Christ alone and through being brutally honest prayer ..in His Name (just talkin' it all through with Him) as you address your Father God.. that we each can come into a personal, intimate relationship with God.

"You received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba,' Father" —niv

Faith shines brightest in a childlike heart, from a Father who cares.

Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. —Matthew 18:3

It's true! Read more so I can explain...

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Pogo Does Dallas

Liney and I recently received a text message from "Pogo," a former California biker pastor of mine about a Dallas showing of his new docudrama movie called, Lost Boy: The Next Chapter (as did countless of his other dear Facebook / Twitter buds who also got it).

You see, Greg Laurie leads this tiny little struggling church on the backside of the desert there called Harvest Christian Fellowship ..that.. well lets say had more than 15,000 people in active attendance by 2003 and has really grown since then. He's not really some success guru, he just cares about a lot of people. More about him later.. you probably already know him from his wonderful stadium crusades or radio program called, A New Beginning.

Anyway, that message informed us that, "The bald eagle had landed" meaning Greg who is in fact somewhat folically challenged by his own admission (..denial ain't a river running through Egypt), along with his son Jonathan had just arrived here in the Big D and they were headed off to the location were we "the viewers" were to go meet them. Hey, we joined in out of curiosity.

Was the movie lame and a total waste of everyone's time?

No, on the contrary, it actually was pretty cool. In fact, I really think that you, your family members, and friends would do well to see or get Lost Boy: The Next Chapter. Liney and I had a chance to briefly thank Greg for it too... but what's important now is that you check it out and tell me or better yet, Pogo - that's his nickname, what you really think. I know that's what he would like, because it might just make your day like it did ours.

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Let's Keep Spreading The Gospel With Social Media!

Should Christian's isolate themselves from unbelievers and potential tools for evangelism or rather lovingly infiltrate and employ them for the highest purpose? Should fishers fish uncompromisingly with tools and bait that the fish like—where they gather and are biting.. if you will?

Let's prayerfully use all the effective tools that we can to do things with excellence ..as unto the Lord!

"He (Jesus) said to them, 'The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'" —Luke 10:2

"World evangelization in this generation!" —The Urgent Cry of the Student Volunteer Movement

The net—it's for fishing; it's not primarily for decorating and making things look nice …at least that's what a true angler would tell you. What do you use the net for? What other social networks do you use?

Did you know that today is Facebook's 5th birthday and they are leading social networks globally with over 220 million members? Happy Birthday Facebook and congratulations founder, Mr. Mark Zuckerberg! Thank you for this tool! With all due respect, I encourage you as well to also become a Christian and fisher of men with Facebook today ..if you are not yet one. God would really like that bookoos!

Why don't we choose to be more concerned for people and use this tool to get the greatest Message out farther?

Inside Facebook blogger Justin Smith was quoted saying that "Facebook members must be growing by 600,000 or 700,000 users per day." Statistics firms like Nielsen, ComScore, and Compete.com all show us that Facebook's U.S. user count will indeed overtake MySpace in the States this year.

Here are a few more Facebook stats to consider:

• The average FB user has connected with 120 friends on the site
• More than 15 million users update their statuses at least once each day
• More than 3.5 million users become fans of 'Pages" each day
• There's more than 850 million photos uploaded to this site each month
• More than 24 million pieces of content (web links, news stories, blog posts, notes, photos, etc.) are shared each month
* More than half of Facebook users are outside of colleges
* The fastest growing demographic is those 25 years old and older
* 2.6 billion minutes are spent on Facebook each day (worldwide)
* There are more than 2 million events created in FB each month
* There are more than 19 million active user groups existing on the site

Those people each have needs that God wants to meet. And we Christians should have a sense of urgency and compassion in helping them ..without ever becoming pushy. I'm convinced we need to use every proper technological means available to us for respectfully getting the Message out today! Our time is so limited.

"For with God nothing will be impossible." —Jesus, Luke 1:37

"The church that does not evangelize will fossilize!" —Oswald J. Smith

"Consider the call from the throne above, 'Go ye,' and from round about, 'Come over and help us,' and even the call from the damned souls below, 'Send Lazarus to my brothers, that they come not to this place.' Impelled, then, by these voices, I dare not stay home." —Jim Elliot

"Whatever we do, it is because Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live." —Paul, 2 Corinthians 5:14, nlt

I'm certainly far from being an expert, I am merely a learner, a bibliophile, a servant wanting to help more lost people. And I want to do my part so I can spend eternity visiting with and "poking" all my FB and other buds up in heaven.

Billy Graham said, "The evangelistic harvest is always urgent. The destiny of men, women, and nations is always being decided. Every generation is strategic. We are not responsible for the past generation, and we cannot bear full responsibility for the next one. But we do have our generation. God will hold us responsible as to how well we fulfill our responsibilities to this age and take advantage of our opportunities."

You have your field. I have mine. Let's believe and roll up our sleeves together to do the work! You have a testimony. You know Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the entire world and then came out of that hole in the dirt. So climb out of the hole you are in and start telling people. Go public with Him—out into the harvest fields and tell It.. movin' It from theory to the pavement, then take It to the people with wisdom. Head knowledge alone and circling the wagons isn't enough. Let's apply the truth we've heard, "For we are laborers together with God..." (1 Cor. 3:9).

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46 Words That Literally Make A Marriage Sing!

Happy Valentines Day!

Married guys, it's imperative that we don't miss Valentines Day! Are you looking forward to this day arriving? Man, I proposed to my beautiful wife Liney 27 years ago on that day. How could I forget. It was in the evening after dining at the Chanticleer (which is now called the Terrace Café in Dallas) and it was while strolling through Colorado Park by the lake.. which she later claimed has a bad reputation and is called "muggers park." Who knew?

She was more nervous than I was. But (after I trusted Christ in '77), this was the second greatest decision of my entire life! Amazingly, Liney says the very same thing about this decision.

We were both Bible students at the time and after V-day we didn't really have the guts to tell our parents for weeks that we were actually engaged, because she and I had only met each other seven weeks prior, at a Dallas Porn-protest at the City Hall. We knew with such a short about of time, they would wonder about the strength of our mutual commitment. What parent wouldn't; was I a young idot or what?

Hey, don't laugh… I knew deep down in "my knower" (in my once dead but now alive human spirit) that she was the one and besides... hormones can be a pretty strong factor to fight against when you're only 23 years old and away at college.

Christ indeed gets all the credit for us still being together today, because I'm just plain hard to handle! We had some strong disagreements in the first year (yup, full on verbal fights, strife and all). I'm pretty thickheaded. And I'd usually say during those times of adjustment and friction. "Hey, I'm going on a walk to cool down." It was funny one time, because she ran out of our cheap apartment that was filled with used Salvation Army furniture after me, then she grabbed me by my shoulder, whipped me around real fast and said, "Hey, you aren't leaving me!"

You know what.. I'm still very intrigued with Liney too. I call her "the tall brunette". She is so real, so blunt with her dry wit.. so humble, yet a real challenge with that snotty look on her face. She has always made me feel like a million bucks too, showing such respect for me in public.. as if I deserve it. Ha! She knows how to appeal when I'm wrong as well. This young lady is still intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally AWAKE! Yes, she knows far more than I do that is for sure (..very well read). And her no-nonsense personality just drives me nuts, because she is out to impress no mere human. When people first meet us together, they normally always like her much better than me 'cause I can be a bit "flighty" (..allegedly AD-Hugely-H-D ..but I never let a doc confirm this silly accusation from my three boys. Why give them more ammo-fodder to work with?

Q: Are you a single Christian but called to be married? Thank the Lord for His precise timing and continue to pray about discovering the right one as you seek Christ first. Listen, you can fully trust Jesus, but I also advise waiting longer than seven weeks to pop the question. God is so there for you to meet all your needs if you will let Him. Remember how God charged the daughters of Jerusalem by the gazelles and by the does of the field, "..do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases" (Sgs. 3:5).

Are you single but and not called to be married? Thank the Lord—He is more than enough!

Are you married today? Thank the Lord ..He is so there for you too.. to give you more and more love for each other as you pursue Christ with 100% commentment!

Gotta a cool marriage verse for you here below (..but at the same time I wanna discourage all singles who read it and kinda like to dream.. to not do their dreaming while lying down somewhere together. Don't trust your flesh or be igNEeRt now.. and you who get tempted, know who you are and what I mean. See Eph. 5:3, Col. 3:5). We all could get tempted and fall if we are not depending on the Holy Spirit!

God says, "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken" (Eccl. 4:9-12).

Q: Is Christ the third strand to add supernatural strength in your marriage cord of love? You can't decide for your spouse to become a full-on Christian, but you yourself can be right now! Turn from all wrong doin's and invite Christ in. Then you can pray daily for your mate. In fact, imitate and honest praying together, without ever hurting each other in prayer time ..or in trying to manipulate each other in that can be hugely beneficial! All you married people out there in this sex/youth crazed society hear this: Nothing promotes intimacy and the best sex more than fervent prayer together in the Spirit. Sex in marriage (and only in your marriage relationship) was God's good idea and it should never be merely relegated to some mere physical act! Christ needs to be a part of every area of your life as Lord. The Bible says...

"Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery" (Heb. 13:4, nlt).

So many people might think you are totally backwards and non-progressive if you seek for the old paths today regarding purity in and before marriage (seeking God by prayer and in the Bible), but remember.. you don't want what so many would be progresive thinkers out in the world have (not to condemn any divorced people here. Why leave a destructive wake of divorces or ripped up relationships behind you? Why potentially have adult kids one day that hate your guts, but love the new spouse of their other parent? Why risk getting aids, STDs, lawsuits, huge court costs, terrible heart ache, wounds, scars, complications in future relationships etc). Hey, worry not what others might think of you! Only what God thinks of you matters. It's because you will have to one day answer to Him ..with those "progresive thinkers"--the other people absent.

Here Are 46 Words That Make A Marriage Sing!

* I was so wrong (repent, hang a permanent U-turn from it)!

* It's my fault (take responsibility for your mess ups)!

* I am sorry (and be that way enough to change)!

* Please forgive me (and you too forgive all).

* How can I make it right (seek out godly counsel if you need to)?

* Yes Buttercup (mine's kinda humorous; inject your own pet name here).

* I love you (look your spouse in the eyes, and let your life match the words)!

* I've decided it's time to put the Word of God first (regardless of what they do)!

* How might I serve or help you gain what you need?

Married dude, in preparation for V-day, please go out and do something special like buying some flowers, candy or do somethin' to celebrate and have a wonderful day with your wife! Years ago, as a student I used to work as the head concierge at the four-star Adolphus Hotel downtown. That was before going overseas with my wife and kids as a cross cultural missionary, but I distinctly remember one new husband calling me back then, because he wanted to have his hotel bathtub in his suite literally filled up with small Jello cubes before his arrival. Man, what a request to hear, but I made it happen for this young couple and I didn't ask too many questions either. How creative and interesting. I've got tons of those lover stories too (not the details of course.. didn't want those). Sometimes a groom would call me to have rose pedals strewn all over their bed and the floor of their hotel suite. And I would have our housemen set out scented candles burning (now they have the kind without fire too..) before the couple arrived so the man could carry his bride over the threshold into a romantic setting and all. Why am I even talking about this stuff? What am I saying? Well, we married Christians live for and serve thee loving "Creator of the entire universe" and we marvel at the beauty of His handywork all around us when out in nature, and yet we often lack basic creative ideas. We could be brave, ask, and make an effort to spice up our mates life some couldn't we? Sure! We of all people, should be the most creative and loving people on this planet, especially when it comes to romance huh. Yes, chivalrous, selfless romance first started in God's heart so talk with Him about it. If you are saved, then you are a part of the bride of Christ. And your duty and mine while down here, is also to be a blessing and help gather others into Christ's body. As a groom I am to follow the example of the heavenly Groom, because my marriage should reflect His love and glory--that's being a good witness to those around me. The giving kind of love in my marriage really needs to clearly reflect the love of Christ for His own Church. Happy V-day! Go for it husbands—you already know what to do. Shine for Him, and rejoice in the wife of your youth!

Be An Encourager Rather Than A Discourager!

I enjoy encouraging people rather than discouraging them.. or at least being part of an effort to see encouragement happen. How about you? I want to be better at it too.

Paul was like that when he said, "…we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the Gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith" (1 Thess. 3:2, nkjv).

Love isn't God, but God is indeed love so I like to hang out with God a lot—they say you become like the person you are close to. I also like to hang out with gentle and loving kind of people who enjoy encouraging others. I can't abide discouraging, hyper-negative people very long, but there are times when I must deal with them just like there are times when you too must interact with them. The nail comes with the hammer, the weed comes with the field, the fleas come with the dog.

Check out for a moment what Paul said, in 2 Corinthians 1:2-4, "Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."

You knew that discouragement often leads a person into failures and an assortment of other wrong-doin's didn't ya? You knew that the word "comfort" could be used interchangeably with the words consolation, solace and encouragement right? You knew that our God is the God of all comfort and encouragement didn't you? You knew that the devil isn't about those things at all. Oh no! He loves to lie, deceive, confuse, condemn, depress, kill, accuse, oppress and greatly discourage people. He is to this day a very evil-minded, religious person.

You know what.. some of my friends and I came out of very religious churches that were led by spiritually blind, spiritually dead, mean-spirited men who strongly pushed good works but acted just like the harsh hypocritical Pharisees of old. They didn't practice what they preached and were like white washed tombs filled with decomposing bones (see Matt. 23:27). You remember how those religious folk were the very ones who gave Christ the most trouble when He walked down here on this planet. They were full of themselves.. way-arrogant, insensitive, vindictive, hard-hearted people who would never care at all if they hurt Christ ..or even murdered Him. They didn't care if they hurt his followers either.

You knew that God never changes ..or learns any thing new right? You know how the Pharisees are also the same yesterday today and forever ..didn't you? I don't mean that they are the same as God by any means.. I simply mean they refuse to change. Sad! I'm willing to change, 'cause I have a long ways to go (thanks friends for putting up with me so long!). Are you willing to change.. or be changed into the person you were always meant to be? What's encouraging to me is the fact that Jesus Christ was never hypocritical.. not even one time. How can you not fall head over heals in love long-term with a personality like that?

I have a Christian friend who refers to himself as a "recovering Pharisee." I love it.. he sees his weakness. I wish we all could get the log out of our own eye before we start trying to extract the twig from another person's eye (OK.. I guess I've started preaching again on my soapbox). But why don't we have those kind of "religious support groups" today.. "Hi, my name is George and I'm a Pharisee." And the crowd responds, "Hi, George! Here's 12 steps and a big Book." You and I have probably never heard anyone confess, "Hey man, I've really been religious lately" (and I'm not talking about pure religion in caring for the orphans or widows here). Hopefully you have never been like the Pharisees before, but there have unfortunately been times when you and I in either small ways or large ..have also acted the hypocrite. We have all sinned! Yup, it really all started with Adam and Eve. And most people recognize and will admit that there have been times when they haven't lived up to who they say they are or should be. I really hate hypocrisy, but I'm glad that Christ is helping me to hate it even more. There's always room for personal growth until I hate it to the same degree as He hates it.. and love sinners and saints to the same degree as He does.

Please know that God ain't religious. May I ask you.. do you have a personal relationship with this tender-hearted God of all comfort, compassion and encouragement? You can! I came to Him because I discovered what He was really like and I never want to be religious ..or a hypocrite.

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