F4S: 2013

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

What's your take on New Years and on all the Resolutions that go along with it?

May I Say, Please Have a Happy, Way-Blessed, Really Wonderful New Year in 2014... I So Hope It's Your Best One Yet! Really Want That For You and Yours. 

Bein' raised for many years in what seemed to me (don't get me wrong or be offended at all..) to be a dead kinda church that simply refused to expositionally, verse by verse minister n teach through the Bible as God tells leaders and pastors to do.. I learned well the message of Religion which said… Be better, do better and you might earn the favor of God.

It's New Years Eve today, and I've got some minutes free just to jot down a few ideas that I hope will challenge and edifying you. I don't know what is going on over there in your hometown, but we have lots of Missouri Tigers in town this week (almost got run over by a bunch of them after practice ended – yup, there I was in the middle of em with all their big numbered jerseys on. Tall guys. Big, Running past me. Had to laugh. Felt like I was down close to the cars at a North Texas NASCAR race).  

I hope they win. Perhaps this is Coach Gary Pinkel's top wish or New Years Resolution. Dunno. Did get to chat with, n help him a pinch recently. Nice guy. Like me, you can just imagine how he must feel now and pre-kickoff. It's a big game here in the South. And besides him, you know that many others have made ..and will make New Years Resolutions today.

Want ya to know.. I personally like prayerful determination, Spirit-led-goal-setting, discipline and confidence, but because of my upbringing.. I just don't get so thrilled about resolutions or determination if they leave out full dependence on the God of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ. I figure if He ain't Lord of all, He ain't Lord at all…in my life.

But I so want Him to be. Let's let the Lord be the Lord today and every day.  

You know how.. many people today say that they for sure can pull it off, but how much of it can they? How can they alone.. pull it off ..that which is truly wonderful or really excellent?

Can you and i really pull off what's good or fruitful on our own? Personally, me likes to get some help with pullin' stuff off in the will of God. And I want to challenge you to do that as well regarding the will of God for you.

I never look down on people who make resolutions—they just want to do better. But the Bible doesn't really say that we believer should make resolutions at the beginning of a new year, but God does urge us to examine our lives regularly, and to seek the Lord's help in becoming and doing better for His glory.  

The Word of God admonishes us with this: "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord" Lamentations 3:40.

Jesus in John 15:5 declares, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." 

Huh! You can do how much? Isn't it the Lord who gives us our next breath and the ability to breathe?

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." James 4:13-17 

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Psalm 23:1 

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 

It's of course good to plan, but know that God has the best plan. Now, juxtaposed to these words of truth above, and just for the fun of it.. let's check out some humorous New Years Resolutions that I know I can sure relate to..ones that make a good point. Perhaps you will enjoy them as well.  

EXERCISE
2007: I will get my weight down below 180.
2008: I will watch my calories until I get below 190.
2009: I will strictly follow my new diet until I get below 200.
2010: I will try to develop a realistic attitude about my weight.
2011: I will work out five days a week.
2012: I will work out three days a week.
2013: I will try to drive past a gym at least once a week.

FINANCES
2007: I will not spend my money frivolously.
2008: I will pay off my bank loan promptly.
2009: I will pay off my bank loans promptly.
2010: I will begin making a strong effort to be out of debt by 2011.
2011: I will be totally out of debt by 2012.
2012: I will try to pay off the debt interest by 2013.
2013: I will try to be out of the country by 2014.

Funny huh. Our intentions can be good, but we can fail even after we give it our very best. Now here is a bit of what God says about confidence.

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 esv

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7 

"So we can confidently say, ''The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:6 

"Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised." Hebrews 10:35-36

"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:6 


Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 

How do I want to encourage you .....you know, when it will seem like the whole world will be out there tonight partying their brains out? So many feel empty, guilty, afraid, forgotten, lonely, but tonight it will look like they all are having so much fun. Don't get me wrong, some indeed will be having fun. And some will be enjoying sin for a season, but it's so short-lived and the wages of it are death.

How? Well, I want to encourage you with these six things.. to (1.) Know God in a personal way and pray in faith to Him through Jesus His Son, asking for His kinda wisdom that's far superior, for His knowledge, His insight and His discernment (See James 1:5). And to (2.) Deny your fleshly nature and the world system that tells you to do what it tells you to do. Instead pray in the Spirit for the right application steps that come from the Word on how you will go about fulfilling the specific goals that the Lord gives to you regarding balance, His Great Commandment and Great Commission. Then (3.) Rely moment by moment on the Holy Spirit of God's to quicken, direct, anoint, strength, and help you pull it all off right ..in His perfect timing. Also (4.) Find a spiritual-minded, mature, born again accountability partner of the same gender who will listen to you, counsel perhaps, and even help to guide you with this good stuff. Please (5.) Don't become discouraged with yourself if there are occasional failures on your part. Just be quick to confess and repent if you sin, and then get back up again. Brush yourself off, and walk on with Jesus as Lord again avoiding places of temptation and people that love to fall into it. Never listen to the enemy Mr Lu-Cifer (the devil) or allow his loser-crowd (of fallen angels or even lost people who influence in a negative way). Don't let them point the finger to condemn you into quitting on the Lord. They like to push you to sin saying How will just a little bit hurt you? Come on, everyone is doing it…but then afterwards he likes to point his finger at you and say, Look at you hypocrite screw-up. You are such a shameful failure, so don't even call yourself a believer anymore and quit try to walk with God cuz you have proven that you can't do it. You've blow it too bad this time, and man, you call yourself a Christian do you? How totally lame you are.

No, just agree and say I can't do it ..on my own independantly, but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me..all things that God wants and calls me to do  by His Spirit. Yes, just listen to God's Word and His Spirit - they always agree with each other. Then, (6.) Obey the Lord and never become proud over any victories, or rebellious against His delegated or direct authority. Don't let the Prideful one, Satan, get you all puffed up, self-confident or vain in your thinking, but resist hi and walk on in God's will and remember to give God the glory when He gives you success in any area, or uses you in any way.

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Sunday, December 29, 2013

We can seek, we can pray and fully obey. When you watch world news.. Hey, no worries. Be thrilled cuz biblical prophecy is being fulfilled. And there are some things we can do. So no time for singin' the blues.

A lovely voice to hear, like a chime, a sorta chant sub- lime.. so wild n sweet, these words I'll keep n even repeat. It had rolled along th'unbroken song:  The wrong shall fail, the right'll pre- vail..with peace on earth, good- will to men. Christ'll remove all blight n make things right.

"He will be their peace." 

See 5|5micah.Bible  facebook.com/shareJesus

Thursday, December 26, 2013

There is a difference between knowing the good news and being the good news ..while following the Lord in lovingly passing it on.


Wednesday, December 25, 2013

I love all the colors of Christmas...especially the colors red and white!

Happy Birthday to You, Jesus! Lord, thank you for leaving Heaven to come here for us. 

Merry Christmas, Family. I hope that you have the most wonderful time of fellowship and rejoicing in the Son today. 

God the Son has never once stopped bein' good. I have many times.

Was with some four hundred sweet children last night as they were playing their kazoos and maracas and were singing Feliz Navidad with vigor and excitement! Yes, went to a Christmas Eve service and then on to visit at a Dallas hospital last night. Visiting. Listenin'. Talkin'..a 'lil. Prayed for em some. Listenin' some more. Met a few family members who were there to visit as well. Heard a few names...not really the place to ask their name. Liney reminded me of that. No phones, cams, recording devices of course...nothing you can carry is allowed in. Very respectful people. Some thanked us for stopping by. What kind of place is this, Lord, to spend Christmas Eve? This is just like the lowly places that You came to visit?  

Was a busy and blessed day. Grateful. Glad I have a mind ..what a blessing.. and that it all worked out today.

Just say no to drugs, and yes to Christ as Lord. Be filled with His comforting Spirit instead of that which gives ya a temporary buzz. What good has ever come from drinking much alcohol? I sure can't think of any. Heard about four young people dying cuz of it in San Clemente where I used to live.. this last week. So tragic!

What a contrast. One was a place of joy and Family and worship songs from the heart, but the second place was a place of separation from family members, and of anger, and of real craziness, and of some fights and blurry eyes from all the strong narcotics. 

So wish I could fix some things that seem unfixable. There are so many things I can't fix about this world, but I can continue to pray. 

Was so sad to see that some people there, due to repeated, lame, inferior personal choices, just weren't getting any better yet. But the Good News is that there is salvation, real wellness and restoration in Jesus Christ, who came into this world for stubborn people just like me. The Gospel is still the power of God ..even on Christmas Eve and Day in 2013.. no matter the place.  

We were singin'.. 

"Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright round yon virgin mother and child. 

Holy infant, so tender and mild, 

sleep in heavenly peace, 
sleep in heavenly peace." By Joseph Mohr

As kids, Lin and I used to sing Christmas song at church and elsewhere cuz everyone else was doing that. It was kinda the thing to do at this time of year, but not any more - it's more than that now. What magnificent Christmas carols of truth (not all are filled with truth from Scripture, but last night they were). What a magnificent Jesus! 

Just to stop and think about the wonder it all.. of that guiding star, of the shepherds, of the wise-men, of the virgin birth - wasn't just another birth in Israel. God Himself came here, He became a fetus, and then was born into a young, poor family to bless other poor families..and all families. 

How humble! How Kind. How gracious! Praise the Father for the birth of baby Jesus.

Praises to the Prince of Peace.. our one Redeemer and King who not only delivers us from ourselves, but from all the brokenness that an evil world can deposit into our families lives.

I just love the festive brightness, and joy, and all the colors of Christmas. Don't you? So mystical, so celebratory! What are the main colors? They are...
* Green - which represents the Promise of God's saving grace. Think about all the green we see at Christmas... in wreaths, in mistletoe ..as God and us too..hope for a kiss from loved ones, in the ever-green trees, in Christmas cookies, in wrapped up presents. You know how during wintertime when all seems to look so dead and dormant outside, well the color of green is the color that people way back in the day would put up to decorate with... because it represents new life, budding growth, eternal life, and a living hope. I love the color green!
The Bible says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.." 1 Pet. 1:3

And Liney's favorite Christmas verse also speaks of future hope: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end..." Isa. 9:6-7
* Red - which represents the Price of saving grace
"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world (and that describes the incarnation - the very first Christmas..but why?) to save sinners, of whom I am chief." ~ Paul (emph. mine)

Red reminds me of pure passion from above. Ever locate that fine crimson red line representing pure love through the Bible? God watches every move you make n knows your every thought every minute of every day.. cuz He loves you so much He can't take His eyes off ya! Therefore be red hot for Christ. Scarlet was the color of the cord that Rahab an outsider who had faith was told to display from her window if she and her family were to be saved when Jericho was destroyed (Josh. 2:17-21). When Pilate had condemned Jesus to be crucified the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and clothed him in a scarlet robe, twisted a crown of thorns and placed it upon His head. Thus they mocked Jesus claim to be a King saying "Hail, King of the Jews" (Matt. 27:27-30). Scarlet red is the colour of the beast and the clothing of the woman riding it as described in Revelation. This vision symbolises the corruption of true religion and represents a political and religious system that persecutes the true followers of Christ and represents all that is corrupt in God's sight (Revelation 17:3-6). In the Song of Solomon scarlet is used in the description of the beauty of the bride where we read "Your lips are like a strand of scarlet.." (Song 4:1-5). "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isa 1:18). Also see Ex. 26:1, 2 Chron. 3:14. The Hebrew word 'towla' (Masculine) and 'towle' (feminine) means scarlet or crimson. The Hebrew word 'karmiyl' means crimson, red or carmine. The Hebrew word 'shaniy' means scarlet or crimson. 'Shaniy' signifies the color obtained from the insect 'coccus ilicis'. The dried body of the female provides a coloring matter from which dye can be made and then used to color cloth scarlet or crimson. In the N.T. the Greek word 'kokkinos' means scarlet or scarlet colored.
* White - which represents the Product of saving grace. I love to get the clean linens out of the dryer after they have been washed clean - so warm! I was not so clean inside for 17 years, not at all. But because of the Cross, Christ washed me. Just had to turn and ask Him to. White is such a great color
The Psalmist prayed, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Ps. 51:7

God is gentle, concerned, caring and He clearly appeals to each of us sinners.. "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the Lord, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool." Isa. 1:18
* Gold - which represents the regal Purpose of saving grace. You know that there is a Kingdom and a King coming again. No more selfish presidents or other kinds of leaders leading us astray. How great will that be! We believers will be raptured to be with them and then He will return to this earth with us to rule and reign on earth for a thousand years. Yes, the color gold is kind of a precursor of Christ's coming Kingdom which you can be a part of. Today is a great day to make this the best Christmas you have ever experienced. Turn and trust the Jesus of Christmas right now! Remember the gifts that were brought to baby JesusWhy gold, frankincense, and myrrh? 
Gold. You know it was so valuable. Still is. It was what subjects ..if they ever got the chance.. would present to their kings. It was how they showed them respect. When the wise men presented gold, they were honoring Jesus with the very best they possessed, and they also were recognizing that Jesus was king. In both the Old Testament Tabernacle and the Temple, gold was used plentifully, so we see that gold is also associated with worship. And we are told that in the heavenly city we will "walk on streets of gold." (Revelation 21:21)

Frankincense represents Jesus' divinity. It is a very costly and fragrant gum distilled from a tree. It was used in worship, where it was burned as a pleasant offering to God. It also was used as medicine and as perfume. We don't burn frankincense in our church services, but our worship still should be pleasing to God. While frankincense represents sweetness, myrrh represents bitterness. Myrrh is an aromatic gum and is obtained from a tree in the same manner as frankincense. It is used chiefly in embalming the dead. (John 19:39).

Myrrh was brought as a gift to acknowledge the human suffering Jesus would experience as a man.
To summarize, gold was a gift for a king; frankincense was a gift for Jesus' divinity, and myrrh was a spice for His burial. Even though these gifts provided financial resources for the round trip Mary and Joseph took to Egypt, they were symbolic of the future roles of Jesus.
The Scriptures tell us.. "And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Matt. 2:11

"Christmas eve. and the sky was bright with a holy Light...twas the birthday of a King.." ~ Ann Kiemel Anderson

"How silently.... how silently... the wondrous Gift was given...our Lord, Emmanuel."

"Though millions have come, there's still room for one.. there's room at the Cross for you.."


Yeah, just thought I'd throw in this video from my pastor in SoCal as a bonus. Gotta run. Friends are arriving at our home for a big meal. Wish you could be here with us as well.  

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Thursday, December 19, 2013

Man, smoke in the eyes with all that flyin' ash, filth and stuff.. it can sting!

Why waste time and energy trying to become an expert in, or even in getting better at doing that which you really shouldn't be doing at all? It might have seemed like a no-brainer, a good idea, and God-idea at first, but did you ask God about it?  Who really wants to end up with nothin' but wood, hay, and stubble putting out filthy smoke in their eyes?

Dare ya if I may... Ask the Lord if He is enjoying being Lord in daily leading you, and if you are really keeping the main thing the main thing? Dead works are dead - they aren't blessed or used to bring forth any life.  

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

"Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames." 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 nlt 

"Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vainIt is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows...Psalm 127:1-2a


May I ask you a simple question? Are you currently a part of God's family - are you born again spiritually (see John 3:3)? Listen, you can be today. God loves you, He can forgive you no matter what you've done, and He has a specific plan for you life. Right now you can be. Ask Him. 

From the beginning of time, even though God lives outside of time, He has always really wanted a family. And guess what.. He so desires that you and your loved ones be part of that family rather than merely wear the family name. Oh yes He indeed does.  facebook.com/shareJesus

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Do your work diligently, wisely, and heartily, but not primarily for self alone.

"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all." ~ Cowpoke Proverb
"Hard work without talent is a shame, but talent without hard work is a tragedy." ~ Robert Half

In several 1st World nations, the people want all the benefits, vacations, perks, retirement plans etc.. on the front-end without paying for em on the front-end or on the back-end... and then they vote accordingly only to be disappointed by all the lies. 

Because my dad taught me right, I always told my boys as they were growing up: "Pay now, play later" ..a good watchword for life.. and not in visa versa order. You're always gunna pay. "There's no free lunch." Either on the front-end or on the back-end you will pay. So pay diligently on the front-end so you can enjoy playin' hard (or however you like to..) on the back-end.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.. 3.23col

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. 13.4pro

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. 14.23

The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor. 12.24pro

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might.. 9:10ecc

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. see 3.10-12two.thes,5|8one.tim.bible


Of all people who work, shouldn't a born-again Christian witness be a hard, smart worker? How many do you see in your world today?..or do you see cheats and sneaky thieves at the workplace? 


Sure he or she should be an honest, hard worker. It's simply a bright good witness for Jesus Christ in this dark world.. to be wisely diligent rather than lazy, negligent, or hard-working only when the boss is watching. It's a bad witness to be a thief on the job site. 

 

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Friday, December 13, 2013

The Message of Christmas is not "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."

No, no, but it is "Let us know, let us know, let us know..the Lord!" Yes, and it's "Let us biblically worship God" because He, Christ, is with us. And then in addition it's also about.. "Let us go, let us go, let us go (and He will if we will) ..so that we can share His Gospel with all. Sure, cuz He's close with us and we want everyone else to be with Him..forgiven..right and tight forever.

So with this in mind I really want to challenge you today with one of my favorite Psalms among all of the Psalms (and you know how they of course are all equally inspired by God. BTW: Psalm 119 goes right along with it). 

Blessed is the man who:
1) walks not - in ungodly counsel 2) stands not - in way of sinners 3) sits not - in seat of scoffers
Psalm 1:1
But his delight
4) "..in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night."
Psalm 1:2

And of course the natural outgrowth of that will be...
5) he loves the Lord, becomes like a well-watered tree that's fruitful and in "..whatever he does shall prosper."
Psalm 1:1
And this is in stark contrast to the unrighteous who sadly have no connection at all to the Word of God, and because the 
6) "ungodly are not so"
Psalm 1:4
We are inspired and motivated by the Holy Spirit to go witness in hopes that...
7) sinners (like me) will make it through the coming Judgement and enjoy great fellowship "in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous."
Psalm 1:5-5

"God's aim is that the nations - all nations - worship His Son." ~ John Piper

Since that is His aim, shouldn't it also be all His children's aim.. to fully reach all the nations?

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.." 1 Timothy 2:1

"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..'" Matthew 28:18-19 

"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!"  Psalm 67:1-7

It's my prayer today that you have the most blessed Christmas ever...and that we believers can do our best to daily keep Christ, His Great Commandment, and His Great Commission as our main focus today. We ain't better than any other sinner, but we are indeed better off. 

Thursday, December 12, 2013

We ain't done yet. Our mission here never ends as long as we are still suckin' air if ya will.

Jesus was born of a virgin to die.. so that we might really live, and so that others we know might also really live. He is love and so near "..and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." 

"Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.'" Matt. 1:23 nlt

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Isa. 7:14

Jesus came down to show us the Father. He, the living Word, is the very revelation of God to us and He alone is the only way for you into His holy heavn. No lie. He, the God-man, became flesh and dwelt among us. You can have a two-way relationship with Him cuz He is the way. Yup, Jesus came into this world to love and save sinners. And the cool thing - He ..even today.. chooses to use ordinary people like us in this. 

So our hearts are full, are blessed and joyous inside. we are totally stoked-out to the max cuz of the Cross, are even expectant, yes, just longin' to meet with and to hear from the Word today. And Jesus wants to commune with you too!

We still pray for biblical revival and awakening in this Land. How about you in your Land? We here in the U.S.A. look up and we expect from God good things. He can change us. Washington isn't our main focus. So we say glory to the Lamb that was slain and will reign forever! Feelin' so grateful. Have you drifted away some? Turn and come back to Christ now! Have you never been spiritually regenerated inside? Wanna be a part of God's excellent "addin' to His Church" kinda work? You can be.  

FYI: The next #HarvestAmerica.com simulcasted evangelistic arena event with @GregLaurie is tentatively scheduled for October 5th, from right here in #Dallas, #Texas! So excited 'bout it! Dallas has been the aim for several months now. You can pray even now for that. I'm so greatful for Jack Graham and so many pastors here who have really gone to bat for soul-winning in relation to this nationwide (and of course via the web worldwide) outreach. You probably already know that some 36,000 people heard the Gospel and clearly indicated that they made a profession of faith in Jesus through via Greg's various ministry channels. Let's help and see God do it again, but even more so. 

Evangelism a.k.a. 'soul-winning' if you will, this ain't some uber-exalted 'calling' that's reserved exclusively for an uber-special few 'paid professionals', you know, for 'those men of the cloth' with high-falutin degrees, for the so called anointed 'clergy experts' by themselves. No, no! Only One has ever been an expert in this area and that is Christ, but He hopes to use you and me. He alone can save people, so we should trust Him to through us. It's a calling for you today. Yes, this is for all spiritually born-again believers everywhere to take part in, and it's also a thrilling privilege just to let the Lord daily lead in this work! Please know Him well. Please make Him well known! You know that our time here is short. Go tell!"

"One of the greatest priorities of the church today is to mobilize the laity to do the work of evangelism." @BillyGraham

While glancing back from time to time makes us feel so thankful inside..just thinkin' 'bout what God has pulled off this year (and clearly He has been working in lives around us)..lookin' to Him for now, for today and looking forward is always more wooing and engaging for us. How come? Well, because, as Spirit-born believers in Jesus Christ, the Great Commission from Him has not yet seen closure. 

We ain't done yet. Our mission here never ends as long as we are still suckin' air if ya will. You be here, I'm here and there's a reason for that. Yes, as long as there are people on this planet who are spiritually dead inside - literally separated from the Bible Lord, we are called as Christ's ambassadors to reach out with God's passion to explain the Plan, to bring them His living hope according to the Scriptures! Many might not say it to you yet.. but I just want to say thank you for obeying Him in 2013, for bein' a shining witness for Christ in this dark world! Thanks gobs for sharing Christ's Message. May the Lord reward you for He is mindful and has not forgot your labor of love. May you have the most blessed Christmas and new year ever! Let's prayerfully advance in Him and into 2014 together! 

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isa. 53:6

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on Him." Jn. 3:36
Dear God, we celebrate this wonderful season because You sent Jesus to actually come here to be with us. And He wants to be close now as well. Father, we thank and praise You for this. Now please help us to be more aware of our Lord's presence. We desire to live 100 percent for you every day by the power of the Holy Spirit. Every hour we need You. And God, we have friends, coworkers, and relatives who still need to repent (turn around to You, to change) and to be born again of your Spirit. What is more important than that and our time here is so limited. God, as we remember our dear friend, Billy Graham today ..with his physical health now in decline, please touch and minister to him. Please give each of us Your strong love inside, Your anointing that breaks the yoke of bondage, and Your sense of urgency and rescuing attitude. Thank you so much for all the good examples You've given us in the Bible and in our world today. Help each of us to be a good example of holy and biblical evangelistic zeal. God, I pray that you would use, guide, and indeed aid Greg Laurie with Harvest America in 2014 like never before. Let many local churches be blessed because of our prayers and united efforts. We worship you today! Lord, please do use each of us today to be more effective, more fruitful, more impacting as wise witnesses for Christ.. in Jesus name. 

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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

This can be such an uber-busy time of year, but that doesn’t mean we need to get too busy for God.

Jesus isn't too busy. Never was. God is the same yesterday, today an forever. Jesus isn't anxious, or in a hurry, or all fretting-up-tight, or worked up any, but He does have time for you.

Perhaps you've been taught this, but Jesus wasn't ever slothful either. He was balanced. He had times here on earth where He was busy working hard for sure, but from looking closely at the Scriptures we can see He wasn't the type of person who always responded to inquires regarding His welfare with, "Busy, busy busy!  Man, every single day I've been so, SO busy.  In fact, it's been hard to catch up with myself."  Nope. 

And Christ wasn't tucked away isolated, out of reach in some ivory tower in the hill-country of Israel, just resting too much or there dealing solely with theories and thinking....which can also be good for people.

He was glad to enter and then emerge out of His quiet times of prayer with the Father. And guess what.. when He did, there was power in His ministry. He was on the go and about His Father's biz, and miracles where happening and lost people were turning and trusting in the Lord. There is nothing like being around someone who has spent time in prayer and where people are getting saved. It's so refreshing. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure that Jesus would get busy as well, but He deliberately took the time to stop, to listen attentively to individuals, to stoop down, to reach over and take the hand of a blind man, to heal him. 

"Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, 'I see men like trees, walking.' Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly." Mk. 8:22-25 nkjv

He was about His Father's biz…

"Since they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof over the place where Jesus was. Then they lowered the cot on which the paralyzed man was lying." Mark 2:4

About His Father's biz daily…

You know that King Jesus was never selfish, but He was kindly out there with the people, just touching the lepers...
Yes, those "filthy untouchables" as some liked to call them to order to warn others away from them.
He was there rightly touching or kissing a child's bruised and skinned-up knee. 
"Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children."
Can you see Him will all the kids? Smack (Kiss)! Yup, right there on the forehead. 

And then He's off ministering to a woman with an issue. 
Musta been such a drag to have that.
Can't even imagine.  
Ever run into ordinary people with needs on the streets, let me tell you something..so many of them suffer out there and have real issues.
We've all had our problems at times - people need the Lord. 
But Jesus kept helping, and teaching, and touching, and preaching, and talkin' heart to heart ..giving viable solutions to them.
….wiping a sweaty brow over here.
…calling a dead child back to life over there.
..healing the sick, and diseased, and infirmed....everyday folks that the He came across.
He didn't leave them in the same way as they were before they met Him. 
Hearing the truth in love just does that to a person. 

Jesus Christ was busy because He loved the Father and He sincerely cared about people He made. 

Busy yes, but not too busy for quiet time away, or for obedience to His Father.

He was about His Father's biz year after year but died young in the will of the Father…

Just to think about His proper pace, attitude, and those encounters. Yeah, like with that, "a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace." Lk. 8:43-48 kjv

The masses flocked to Him cuz of stuff grace like that. Can you imagine all those people, thousands just pushing and shoving ..just trying to get close to Jesus? But who do you know that wants to get near a woman or anybody with a twelve year long issue of any sort? Man, I know my old nature inside would speak up n say, "Yo Kurt, let's like go the other way quickly and get busy with something else dude."  But Jesus didn't ditch. He's not like me....but He's also teaching me/us to deny that old nature. That's how He is. 

Never forget that God never deliberately goes blind so to speak.. to the needs of the needy. He doesn't walk past or arrive late..even if it seems like He's late. No, He doesn't miss anyone with unfaltering-faith. Many so called "men of the cloth" back in the day...you know em as religious leaders...who merely have an outward appearance of godliness on the outside while they totally lack the Holy Spirit on the inside.. yes, they actually deny the power of God's Kingdom. Well, these guys would walk right on past, and on over to the other side of the road to avoid. Remember the story of the man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho who was attacked by robbers? Well, thank God for that good Samaritan guy who happened by and wouldn't piously bail-out.  

The Bible's wording is interesting and says that a priest after seeing the beat-up one just, "angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man."

Let's pray we can do better. Dear God, people near us watch us everyday to see where we "as Christians" will flub-up in Your name, but during this time of year where we celebrate Your birthday and all, please help us believers to be more like You, and more like that Samaritan man who took compassionate action. Empower us, anoint us, guide us. It's so important cuz we have loved ones who have yet to decide. Imprint on our minds a picture of that decent Samaritan man who gave that battered person on the road-side simple, "first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I'll pay you on my way back.'" Lk. 10:25-37. Help us to study those who are compassionate in You. Thanks Jesus.  

Now, every week and almost every day, my parents who are in the 70s and retired, are out of their house early and working with the sick, with the recovering, and with the dying. Dad says they do it as unto the Lord and I believe him. They've been to a lot of funerals of people dear to em, that they've intentionally made dear, but you know that can get hard and even old sometimes.

My wife Liney is the same way out in our neighborhood etc. She is so awesome. 

I feel proud of them in a good sense for all they do, for how God is working through each one of them. I pray that He will do that through me as well.   

Yup, I hear all their stories and it really challenges me to the bone. Jesus Himself is and was like that with hopeless people. People are still dear to Him and You are dear to Him even when you don't feel like it! He feels like your life matters and it does, and He indeed wants to bless you as you obey the promptings of His Holy Spirit even today. Do you know Him in a personal sorta way? Please know Christ

Believer, when you feel like getting too busy for God this holiday season, just quiet down your soul and meditate upon these words below...

"A faith without some doubts is like a human body with no antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask the hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience of tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic. A person's faith can collapse almost overnight if she failed over the years to listen patiently to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflection."  ~ Tim Keller

The Bible says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Rom. 12:2

The worldly, the spiritually lukewarm, the nominal, the carnally-minded, and the people who are merely religious are just too BUSY. Their full form of BUSY could honestly be listed as this:
Being
Under
Satan's cruel
Yoke

When we become too busy... 
Our Walk with God Diminishes
Our Physical Fatigue Increases..duh!
Our Relationships are Stretched
Our Health Can Suffer
Our Long-Term Effectiveness, Fruitfulness and Viability are Threatened

Real children of God are NOT too BUSY or lazy..or at least not too long like this before they stop to repent. Their full form of BUSY could be listed as this:
Being
Under
Savior's easier
Yoke


"For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." Matt. 11:30

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Mat. 11:28

"And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." 1 Jn. 2:17

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Ps. 46:10

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.." Eccl. 3:1-22

May we take the time to pray and also keep our eyes pealed for the sick, those recovering, and the dying all around us this holiday season. Like facebook.com/kurtwvs