I'm BACKKKKKKKKKKK

After a long aparent absence I’m back! I’m been just simply burning it at both end for months now. But I simply want to share a word about our 21 day fast. When you study the Scriptures, you’ll find that when people fasted it was for a purpose — not just a religious exercise. Daniel fasted from the king’s foods and wine because they had been offered to the Babylonian gods and he didn’t want to defile his body. He later prayed and fasted to “encourage” the prophesied release from captivity for the Israelites from Babylon. And in his third recorded fast, Daniel was seeking solace for the great pressure he felt because of a dream he had experienced.

In the New Testament, people would fast when they needed guidance or answers to prayers. Many times, when the Scripture used the words “by prayer and supplication” it likely referred to fasting.

As continue our Daniel Fast, what has been our purpose? Think about it and I will see you tomorrow!

Thank You!

Today is Sunday, July 20th...Day 12 of our 21 day Daniel fast & my 16th Pastoral Anniversary. Its been a full day.

We've made it over half way (12 of 21 thank the a Lord)! As I shared earliers fasting is a spiritual discipline that was practiced by some of the greatest men and women of the Bible. What a privilege it is to be apart of a Church like Greater Bethel that teaches the discipline and then promotes opportunities to practice and please God. Fasting allows us to say to God that we want less of us and more of Him. As we continue to as God to make us and mold us into a worshiping, studying, loving, praying, giving & willing Church know that you are participating in one of the most spiritual things you could do.

16 years ago I was voted as pastor of the Greater Bethel Church becoming the Co-Pastor of the church as well as only the second pastor ever. With mix emotion I began the journey to becoming the senior pastor-teacher of a church that lives up to her name (GREATER Bethel). I am proud to have been chosen by God to participate in the amazing things He is doing.

Its also a special day because my pastor, 1st Vice President of the National Baptist Congress of Christian, President of the Oklahoma Baptist State Convention, President of the Baptist Minister's Associations, President of the Concern Clergy for spiritual renewal and pastor of the Fairview Baptist Church (just to mention a few lets just suffice it to say he is president of everything) came to preach. Words can't express the joy to have him share the over 50 years of wisdom and experience with our young progressive growing church. Armed with is wife of 45 years he simply just lost his mind..."What the preacher really wants" using Romans 10:1-3.

Let me finally say THANK YOU to the Greatest Church in the world. There is a development of a culture that understands the biblical mandate to care for her pastor. That has made these last few celebrations much more enjoyable. The gifts are greatly appreciated and humbling as well. From the bottom of my heart the kindness and sacrifice of the people is amazing.

Now, we must turn our attention to our building project (2.7 Million Dollars) that God has called us to and for. We are months from completion and there are many important things we must do. 1. We must close out one capital stewardship campaign and start another that will allow us open at a God honoring way. 2. We must adapt and adopt "CHANGE" as a way of life. 3. We must make prayer priority...Jesus says "My house should be call the house of prayer."

Please join me in saying to God "Whatever It Takes!"

Wednesday, July 16th - Where Commitment Leads

Where did the commitment that Mary and Joseph made take this young couple?

Their commitment let them to Egypt. Because King Herod was trying to kill the baby King they had to flee their homeland. It wasn’t always convenient - all fun and games - to have Jesus as their son. The truth is, their commitments made their lives better.... but not easy. Commitments are not always convenient!

Their commitment led them to a temple. The temple where they lost Jesus when He was 12 years old. They lost the Son of God. (Or they at least thought that they had!) Their great commitment led to a tremendous feeling of having let God down. Some people are afraid to make commitments because they feel they won’t be able to keep them perfectly. Let me give you this one straight… you’re right, you won’t! But those who are afraid of stumbling never get in the race.

Her commitment led to being involved in Jesus’ first miracle. Mary was the one that encouraged that miracle! Opportunity is being in the right place at the right time so that God can use you in His way. You can’t always schedule God’s will, sometimes it’s just a matter of being available. Mary’s commitment made her available.

Her commitment led to the foot of a cross. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was there at the cross. Can you imagine the emotions that must have nearly burst her heart? She knew that Jesus was God’s Son. But Jesus was also her son. She had nursed and cared for Him as a baby - and now He was being tortured on a cross. Trust sometimes leads to a broken heart [Can I get a witness?].

Her commitment led to the upper room. In Acts we’re told of the new church starting in an upper room. Not many people realize that Mary was there when that new church started. She saw the resurrected Jesus. She witnessed the beginning of His church that would change the world. In the end, her life of commitment led to a fulfillment of God’s promise that she could have never imagined.

Family Discussion Question: Where is your commitment leading you right now?

Monday, July 14th - The Character of Commitment Found In Mary

“How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?” Luke 1:34 (NIV)

“For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37 (NIV)

“I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.” Luke 1:38 (NIV)

Perhaps the greatest commitment made by any human being was the commitment that Mary made to trust God’s will in giving birth to His Son. How would you react if told you were to bear the Son of God? We see in Mary's reaction not anything strange at all; in fact, something very familiar. She acted like many of us today when we come face to face with the fact that Jesus has come into the world... that Jesus is willing to come into our world. Mary goes through three stages... confusion, questions, commitment.

Mary begins with Confusion
She was confused, because she didn't understand who God was. Her great fear made her want to draw away. The angel helps her to understand, helps us to see: if you're afraid of God, you don't understand who He is. God’s angel clears up our confusion by saying, “Don't be afraid.” How needed those words are in so many of our lives. Fear, in pushing us away from God, is pulling our lives apart. “You will give birth to a son.” Truth calmed her fear and changed it to wonder.

Mary moves from Confusion to Questions
Mary was saying, “Lord, I'm not qualified.” She had as good a reason to say that as anyone in history. What the angel was telling her was impossible! However good or poor the excuse, the lesson that's needed is the same: stop looking at yourself and start looking at God. “How will this be?” Go ahead and ask! God answers our questions. He helps us with our doubts.

Mary moves from Questions to Commitment
In verse 38 you see an attitude in Mary that shines for us. Commitment seems to leap from the page as you read this verse. She makes her decision, “Be it done to me.” William Barclay writes that the world’s commonest prayer is, “Thy will be changed.” Mary refused the world's commonest prayer and prayed the world's greatest prayer: “Thy will be done.”

Family Discussion Question: From confusion, to questions, to commitment; a journey that millions have taken when faced with that baby in a manger. Where do you need to take the next step in that journey today?

Friday, July 11th - Rebuilding A Commitment

“I answered them by saying, "The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.” Nehemiah 2:20 (NIV)

We are a society desperately in need of the art of rebuilding. I’m not talking about houses and cars. We need to perfect the art of rebuilding relationships: rebuilding marriages, families and friendships. We need to learn how to rebuild hope and rebuild trust and rebuild our ability to make commitments. The promise in Nehemiah 2:20 answers the question, “What makes you into a rebuilder?” Today, I want you to let this promise encourage you to rebuild an important commitment in your life.

1. There is Expectation - “the God of heaven will give us success”

It is our relationship with God that grows us into expectant people. God is perfectly powerful. He is the God of all the heavens. He can accomplish whatever dream or vision He puts in my heart. Success is a gift of God!

2. There is Dedication - “we His servants”

Nehemiah said an encyclopedia full about what it takes to be a rebuilder in these few words. He had chosen to be a servant of God. Self-centered people never do a very good job of rebuilding. They may even think they have good intentions, but the truth is they become more “Rearrangers” than “Rebuilders”. They try to rearrange to suit their needs rather than rebuild for God's glory.

3. There is Determination - “will start rebuilding”

What’s the number one reason why rebuilding does not occur? Lack of determination to start! Who's going to start? Will you start in your marriage, with your kids, in your ministry and in your church? Say to yourself, “I will start” Come on, become a rebuilder! Stop relaxing, rebuild!! Stop retreating, rebuild! It may be a relationship, maybe a commitment. Determine to start today.

Family discussion question: What’s one place where you could start to practice this art of rebuilding?

Thursday, July 10th - The Ups and Downs of The Escalator of Commitment

As I made my way down the escalator of hotel I thought to myself…life as a believer in this world is somewhat like walking up a down escalator. As long as you keep moving ahead with your commitments, your fine but when you stand still, you find yourself moving in the wrong direction!

The book of Second Kings is about a time in Israel’s history when the escalator was moving down very quickly. During this time there were three kings who stood out for their commitment to faith even in the toughest of times: Joash, Hezekiah and Josiah. They each have some great lessons to teach us for our tough times about the commitments we can make to keep moving ahead.

Joash repaired the temple in 2nd Kings 12. He rebuilt the place of worship! The place of worship must remain strong in our lives if we're to swim upstream without being washed down or worn out. I’m talking about more than just attending a worship service, but giving your attention to worship. Joash's experience reminds us of a vital truth regarding keeping worship at the center of our inner lives. We have to be willing to pay the price. It takes time... valuable time, to worship the Lord.

Hezekiah in 2nd Kings 18 removed the “High Places,” the places of false worship. A growing faith comes when we deal with the destructive and the distracting influences in our lives. Look at how Hezekiah dealt with such places. He removed, smashed, cut down and broke them into pieces! There was no compromise... they were completely dealt with. You can't deal with “high places” with halfway measures. It takes commitment.

Josiah rediscovered God’s Word in chapters 22-23. Even if you haven’t picked up your Bible for awhile, you probably know where it is. That's better than the people of Israel had done. They had literally lost the Lord’s law. When Josiah rediscovered and read it everything changed. You may need to make a rediscovery of your own; to rediscover the meaning of God's word for your daily life. Start reading it again as if your very life depends upon it... it does!

Family Discussion Question: Whose example do you most need right now: Joash, Hezekiah or Josiah?

Wednesday, July 9th - A Commitment To Your New Life

Today, we begin our 21 day spiritual fast. Based on Daniel 10:2, 3 “In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.”

Fact about Daniel Fast:
Days: 21
Duration: July 9th – July 30th
Prayer Request:
“Lord, make us into a…
· Worshipping Church
· Studying Church
· Loving Church
· Praying Church
· Willing Church

“Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking, because you were all called together in one body to have peace. Always be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 (NCV)

How on earth do heavenly minded people act? What does the new life Christ gives us look like? Colossians 3:12-17 outlines for us the daily commitments that are a part of the new life that we live as believers in Jesus.

We’re called to put on the love of Christ. Love others as Jesus loved them? Every day? Paul reminds us of three truths about ourselves that give us a foundation and strength for loving others. I am a chosen person. By God… for a purpose. I am a holy person. People who love others aren’t constantly trying to prove themselves. I am a dearly loved person, dearly loved by God. In order to love I MUST KNOW that I am loved.

We’re ruled by the peace of Christ. To rule is an athletic term which means to umpire. The umpire is the one who has the final say. Who has the final say in your daily attitudes and decisions? Is it the worries of the world or the peace of Christ? We all struggle with allowing our anxieties and worries control our lives. Paul reminds us in these verses that one of the secrets to changing our focus is found in expressing our thankfulness to God.

We’re indwelt with the Word of Christ. God’s Word dwells in us as we hear, read, study, memorize, meditate and apply His Word. But we’re reminded in Colossians three that it dwells in us richly as we teach and encourage others with what it says.

We do everything in the name of Christ. Everything, from shopping for groceries to office staff meetings to writing letters to returning phone calls to homework, we are called to do everything in the name of the Lord. How does this look like? Do we say, “In the name of Christ I buy this sandwich or fill this car with $4.00 gas…?? Billy Graham’s wife Ruth used to have a sign over her kitchen sink that read, “Divine services held here three times a day.” Washing dishes can be an act of worship if you do it in the name of the Lord. To do something in God’s name means you focus on both your purpose for Him and His presence with you.

Tuesday, July 8th - Commitments That Last!

“... but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

Today, I’m excited about sharing my life verse as we continue to look at the idea of commitment….Isaiah 40:31. If I had a nickel for every time I heard “It'll never last.” Three little words so easy to say, and yet the results are so devastating! Those three little words will…tempt you to give up on a dream, cause you to wonder if it’s really worth it, start you to thinking if the struggle of faith can be won. Those three little words will cause you to ponder quitting, giving up, bailing out, and just simply tossing in the towel? If you ever struggled with any of the above then Isaiah 40 is for you.

Isaiah 40 contains one of the most beautiful expressions in all of the Bible of the power and nature of God. What is Isaiah sharing in this verse? Our ability to last, our ability to hang in there through the storms comes from Him who makes and calms the storms. Our ability to endure through the long wait and long night comes from Him who has been here forever. God's Word stands forever... I can last, if I'll stand on His Word! God's has measured the waters in His hand... I can last, if I'll put myself in His hands! The Lord is the everlasting God... I can last, if I'll make Him my everlasting Lord!

When you hope, your commitments will last! That is the promise that God makes to us in these verses. Your strength will renew.

· You’ll soar - like an eagle. Renewed strength is the ability to dream again.
· You’ll run - and not be weary. Renewed strength is the ability to strive again.
· You’ll walk - and not faint. Renewed strength is the ability to endure again.

Family discussion question: Share what are you having a hard time waiting for right now? Now, join together in prayer.

Mondy, July 7th - God's Promise Of Direction

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

God’s purpose must be built in to the direction and decisions of everyday life. Here in Proverbs three are three commitments of life that ready you for the decisions of life. They build a lifestyle that enjoys God’s daily direction.

Determine your Director - “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart.”
This simple phrase encourages us to ask two of life’s most important questions. First, who am I trusting? Is it myself, my fears, my friends? Or... is it the Lord. Second, how am I trusting. We’re encouraged to trust with all our heart. Half hearted trust is no trust at all.

Detect your Detractor - “Lean not on your own understanding”.
Leaning on own understanding is a major reason for directionless living. How do you avoid the temptation to lean on only yourself? A few suggestions….Take time with your decisions. Someone has wisely said, “It is an old and ironic habit of human beings to run faster when we have lost our way.” Talk to God about your decisions. Here's the acid test for determining which way you’re leaning: how often do you talk to God?

Declare your Delight - “In all your ways acknowledge Him.”
Acknowledge means to let others know. Declare your delight. Personally... in your devotional life take time to tell the Lord you appreciate Him. Publicly... in your witnessing life tell others your appreciate the Lord.

Acknowledge Him! And the promise is, God will direct your paths. Not might, or could.... but will. How can I know God’s will for my life? How can I know what decision God would have me to make? If you’ll work on determining and detecting and declaring, God will do the directing!

Family discussion question: Have each person in your family answer the question, “the decision that I’m facing right now that I would most like to have God’s direction in is.......”

Friday, July 4th - Making Home A Place Of Service

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

Today, is the 4th of July the official family holiday and with that in mind I want to share a thought about the Home. If one of God’s most important calls to us is the call to be a servant, doesn’t it make sense that we need to incorporate that service into our daily lives. That means being a servant where we work. That means being a servant in our own homes. If we don’t serve those with whom we spend the most time, those whom we love the most, then servant hood is half hearted at best. How can I be a servant at home? Here’s a few ideas suggested by Galatians chapter 5.

Survey your Home
Ask yourself: is my home a place of indulgence, or service? You see, an opportunity to serve is also always an opportunity to indulge. Nowhere is that as true as in the home. Nowhere is our human tendency towards selfishness seen so clearly as in the home. What are you doing with your opportunities? Are you taking advantage of your family? Of their work by your laziness? Of their forgiveness by your anger? Of their giving by your taking?

Surrender your Heart
Servants surrender their heart to the guidance of God’s Spirit. What makes me into this servant type of person? God's Spirit! Some specific surrenders need to happen in your heart for your home to become a place of service. Wait a minute, you might be thinking. Isn’t this church stuff. What does the Holy Spirit have to do with my family? Everything! Eph. 5:18 tells us, “Be filled with the Spirit,” and then spends the rest of the chapter talking about what that does in our families!

Being filled with the Spirit gives us the power to make those specific surrenders that make a family strong. He enables us to surrender our plans and our agendas and our desire to have OUR needs met in order to love others. Your family life does not have to be determined by how you were raised, not if you surrender. It does not have to be governed by how it has been, not if you surrender. It does not have to be limited to what it is now, not if you surrender.

Family Discussion Question: Where is it difficult for you to surrender yourself to God’s daily direction?

Thursday, July 3rd - What Does Real Servanthood Look Like?

“After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” John 13:5 (NIV)

Today, I want to share one of the most fascinating passages of scriptures for me in all the Bible…John 13:5. There is a feeling in the thirteenth chapter of John that we are there for one of the most significant events in history.

What’s your picture of the atmosphere in the upper room where Jesus and his disciples met the night before Jesus died? Maybe it’s much like the one I had hushed tones and a holy glow. Now, let me shatter that vision with a hefty dose of reality in the Pastor G remix. We come in to excited noises. The disciples are expecting Jesus to make His move to take over soon and began to build His earthly kingdom, and they'll go with Him to the very top. They talk about what that will be like and what that will look like. You can just imagine them dreaming. Suddenly the volume increases. No longer excitement, but argument.

Which would be the greatest?! The argument really began when they walked into the room. No one took time to wash the other’s feet. With thoughts of greatness on their minds, they had no time for an activity usually assigned to slaves. The fact that greatness is measured with the yard stick of service had not yet registered with them.

There sits Jesus, hardly noticed as the others argue. I’m going to be the greatest. No, I’m going to be the greatest. The saga continues to mount as the voice get louder and louder. No one sees Him get up and walk to the other side of the room. A few notices as he takes off His robe and pours a basin of water. Stunned silence overtakes them all as Jesus comes to each disciple and begins to wash his feet.

Jesus washed their feet. [That shouts me every time!] God human flesh washed dirty feet. Scrubbing dusty toes - now that's love made practical! Real love is an action, not a feeling. Everything was ready for someone to serve: the pitcher was there, the wash basin was there, the linen cloth was there. It just took a person to take it up.

We hear Jesus say, “You should wash one another’s feet.” What does it mean to wash the feet of a disciple today? Ask yourself, why did Jesus wash the disciple’s feet? It wasn’t a religious ceremony, that’s for sure! He washed their feet because their feet were dirty!! How do you wash other’s feet? What does that mean? DO something that somebody else needs.

Family Discussion Question: Who in your own family needs their feet washed today? Who has a practical need that you could all be a part of meeting? What can you do today to make a difference in somebody’s life?

Wednesday, July 2nd - The Cost of A Vision

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHARONDA

(My Oldest Daughter)

“My life is being given as an offering to God, and the time has come for me to leave this life. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:6-7 (NCV)

Today, I want to talk to you about the cost of a “VISION”! Is it worth it? Visionary, purposeful living is not always easy. It not only requires a measure of personal discipline, it also includes real opposition and problems! But I here you still asking, “Is it worth it”? I want to do my best to try to answer that by looking at Second Timothy where Paul finds himself writing while on death row, knowing he will be executed in a few days – its dark and it doesn't seem that the Lord will intervene this time. Now, that will make anybody wonder if “it’s really worth it”. As he looked back across the years, Paul was able to state three indefinable, exciting qualities that had marked his life because of his vision.

Paul identified His Overcoming Spirit - “I have fought the good fight”
Life is a battle. God’s purpose enables you to overcome. The words Paul uses here have the sense of “I did it!” You can sense the finality and the victory in these words. Vision changes a defeated spirit into an overcoming spirit... a fearful spirit into an overcoming spirit… an angry spirit into an overcoming spirit… a compromising spirit into an overcoming spirit.

Paul identified His Staying Power - “I have finished the race”
Life is a marathon. More people's faith has been defeated by the details of everyday living than by the big battles of life. God’s purpose enables you to endure. The key for Paul wasn't being first, it was finishing. For Paul life was not a matter of competition, but of completion! Now, this might sound a bit harsh but if you will receive with the right spirit it will bless and transform you life. Here it is, stop spending so much time trying to beat those around you in the 100 yard dashes and run the race set before you with energy and excitement.

Paul identified His Abundant Life - “I have kept the faith”
Life is a gift. It is a wonderful gift, but challenging one as well. Remember as a child getting that first little puppy. Your parents sat you down and said, “Now you have to walk it, train it, and feed it.” You quickly discovered that the puppy was just a gift but it was a responsibility! The word Paul uses for “kept” relates to the responsibility of a servant left in charge of a household in the absence of his master. Some people are overwhelmed by life and others are overjoyed by life. Vision is both gift and responsibility that should be enjoyed.

Family Discussion Question: What does life feel more like to you right now: a battle, a marathon or a gift?

Tuesday, July 1st - Keeping Your Purpose Alive

“Solomon, my son, get to know the God of your fathers. Worship and serve him with a clean heart and a willing mind, for the Lord sees every heart and understands and knows every thought. If you seek him, you will find him; but if you forsake him, he will permanently throw you aside.” 1 Chronicles 28:9 (Living)

What does a burned out light bulb, an empty toothpaste tube and a broken record have in common. They all out live their usefulness. People never outlive their usefulness! Now we all feel burned out, empty and even broken at times, but don’t let that fool you. You’ve got more to offer than a toothpaste tube! You cannot outlast your usefulness!!

One of the major causes of a lack of drive is a lack of purpose. Life seems empty when it is without purpose. Sometimes we run out of purpose long before we run out of energy. How can I renew the sense of purpose in my life? In 1 Chronicles 28 David shows us how to refresh our purpose when we come to a crossroads.

Involve your heart 1 Chronicles 28:9

Real purpose has to involve more that the merely routine - you have to have your heart in it! If the purpose is being imposed from outside it has the feel of pressure. If the purpose is welling up from inside it has the feel of real promise and enthusiasm. Some of you are caught in the Twilight Zone between wanting and willing. Give God a willing heart.

Inspect your plan 1 Chronicles 28:19

Ask yourself: are my plans big enough? Are they bigger than your comfort? David's plan for his life went beyond comfort in his life. I talk to a lot of people who's greatest plan is personal comfort. That's not big enough!! Are your plans bigger than your desires? Have you discovered the surprising fact that even if you got everything you desired, it wouldn't be big enough?

Invest your resources

When a purpose catches a hold of your heart and life you become willing to invest yourself in it! David invested his own resources! About 20 billion dollars in gold and silver - no small investment. It's one thing to use someone else’s resources, quite another thing to invest your own. Purpose has a personal price!

Family Discussion: What’s the biggest plan you feel God has for your life?

Friday, June 27th - You Can Make A Difference

“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.” John 15:5 (NIV)

Have you ever asked yourself “can I make a difference?” We all have but we can only make a difference when the difference maker Jesus is in our life. When this happens we won’t be satisfied with just making a living, we must make a life, we must feel that we're making a difference! Just bring home a paycheck isn’t satisfying. Even if the paycheck is 100,000 a month it won't satisfy. [Right now somebody is saying “I'd like to try!”) But the truth is, there is something so uniquely designed in us that cause you to need to make a difference. Jesus gives us a promise that tells us the secret to really making a difference in this world. The secret is “abiding in Christ.” What does that mean? There are 4 aspects of abiding in John 15.

· Being aware of how much you need Him.

· Allow His word to mold your life. ­ ­

· Seek to please God.

· Ask for His help through prayer.

Significance is not a contest - you don't win it in competition with others. Importance is a wonderful gift given by God's love. People who make a difference in this life are people who live the joy of being chosen by God - of being important to God Himself. You are Jesus’ friend. Jesus starts John 15 calling us branches and ends up calling us friends. When you see Jesus as a friend it turns your thinking upside down. It's much easier to face trouble when you have a friend beside you. You're likely to stay attached to someone you know is your friend. And, when it comes to asking, it's always easier to ask a friend. Your life is meant to count! You are chosen to be significant: to bear “fruit that will last.” Lasting fruit means changed lives, new hope, and real impact upon people's hurts. It is drawing people's attention to the eternal love of God, changing someone's eternal destiny by introducing them to the opportunity we all have to place faith in Jesus Christ.

Family Discussion Question: You are Jesus friend! What’s something you could do to treat Jesus like your best friend today?

Thursday, June 26th - The Purpose Driven Life Of Jacob

“By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.” Hebrews 11:21 (NIV)

Jacob! Have you ever thought…it’s all in the name? His name means “schemer.” He was a brother who always had an angle. He cheated his own family out of birthrights, inheritances and land. But here he is in Hebrews 11, commended for his faith! Jacob was the man who wrestled with God. Jacob wrestled his way to a great faith. What are you wrestling with right now?

The Scheming Phase!
There were actually three phases to Jacob’s life. His early life was lived in the scheming phase. We can understand this. America is a nation of schemers.

The Wrestling Phase!
He spent his life trying to earn for himself what God wanted to give him as a gift. Then, after years of scheming and at the edge of disaster, came the wrestling phase. It lasted only one night but it changed Jacob’s life. He had a wrestling match…with God! When Jacob wrestles with God three things happen:

He brings him face to face with who he is: Jacob, a schemer. Jacob had to admit to God what he was really like. It's not that God didn’t know! He wants Jacob to confess the truth about himself.

He brings him face to face with who he can be: Israel. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, the man who would become a nation. He was the bearer of God's promise and his descendants would be as the stars. I don’t want you to miss this so let me give it to you straight we have too many “Jacob's” in this church and not enough “Israel's.” Too many who can tell God what’s wrong with them but haven't finished the story. What’s God’s new purpose for your life?

The Limping Phase!
He brings him face to face with who he can't be. Jacob tries to wrestle with God and win. Bad idea! God leaves him with a limp Jacob lives the rest of his life with a physical reminder of the fact that God is the boss. That’s the third phase, the limping phase. Jacob's limp was an every step reminder of his need for God.

Family Discussion Question: What is it in your life that reminds you of your need for God… every step of the way?

Children’s Activity: Put a small rock in your shoe and try to walk across the room. Remind your children that since a little thing like a rock can hamper us we should never pretend that we are so smart or strong we don’t need God.

Wednesday, June 25th - Noah A Man Driven By Purpose

“But Noah was a pleasure to the Lord. Here is the story of Noah: He was the only truly righteous man living on the earth at that time. He tried always to conduct his affairs according to God's will.” Genesis 6:8-9 (Living)

Where do you find the motivation to live out the purpose of God? One of the greatest examples of God-centered motivation in the Bible is found in the life of Noah. In his life lies the secret of a man who survives the disaster of his age. What motivated him?

When Noah built the ark he showed us the motivational power of obedience.

God gave Noah the directions and Noah followed them. I believe that the ark is a huge object lesson in obedience. Arks, temples and churches are built by people who trust God. Lives and hearts and families are built by people who trust God.

When Noah entered the ark he showed us the motivational power of trust.

He walked into the ark behind all of the animals and God shut the door. He shut it seven days before the first raindrop fell. While the sun was yet shining and the sky was blue, while the people around were still convinced that nothing was going to happen, God shut the door. What do you think Noah was thinking that first week? All he had to carry him through was his trust.

When Noah floated in the ark he shows us the motivational power of faithfulness.

The Bible says that Noah floated on the ark for 40 days. The rain fell for 40 days, but the actual time on the ark until the water receded was actually… 382 days! When you feel that God is taking too long to act and yet you keep on trusting, that’s faithfulness.

When Noah came out of the ark he shows us of the motivational power of worship.

The first thing Noah does when he leaves the ark is go give thanks to God. What would you want to do first after a year in an ark? One of life’s greatest motivators is found in taking the time to say thank you to God.

Prayer: Today my Obedience to God will motivate me to... My Trust in God will motivate me to... My Faithfulness towards God will motivate me to... My Worship of God will Motivate me to... [Fill-in what the Holy Spirit whispers to you].

Tuesday, June 24th - How To Build Purpose

“Stand up! I have chosen you to be my servant and my witness—you will tell people the things that you have seen and the things that I will show you. This is why I have come to you today.” Acts 26:16 (NCV)

Do you find your longing for a greater purpose and significance in life constantly being met by the realities of the boring routine of everyday living? It seems as if we are constantly ordering prime rib... and life keeps handing us bologna. Vision vanishes... and sadly we tell ourselves that's the only way it can be or that’s the way it’s meant to be. Many never become visionary because they expect it to appear full grown into their heads. Vision must be grown...it must be built.

You have to discover your purpose. The foundation for vision is God’s given purpose. You take the first step towards building a vision when you say to yourself “God has a specific purpose for my life.” [You ought to say it as an affirmation over and over for the rest of this week “God has a specific purpose for my life.”] Your God given life purpose will include an excellence in your God given relationships and the exercise of your God given gifts. You may discover it suddenly as Paul did on a Damascus road, or the discovery may dawn on you slowly but no less brightly.

You have to dare to dream. To dare to dream you must prepare to dream. We somehow get the idea that great things done in our world are done on the spur of the moment, an emotion overtakes us and we accomplish something wonderful. It takes time to dream! Paul spent 17 years in the desert after his vision of purpose, preparing. To dare to dream you must also share your dream. God's promptings are transformed into living purpose as we dare to share our dreams.

You have to focus with goals. Goals are a means for making specific the purpose of God. One of our problems is that our faith never gets specific. “What am I going to do and when am I going to do it?” God given goals are actually statements of faith. By the way, the best goals always grow out of our worship.

Family Discussion Question: What are goals do you need to set in order for you to carry out God’s purpose for your life, today?

Monday, June 23rd - A Plan For Your Future

"I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope." Jer 29:11 (NIV)

One of God’s most purpose filled promises is this great promise of His plan for our lives from Jeremiah 29. Purpose is impossible without a plan. A plan and a purpose are impossible without HOPE. How do you plan for the future? In order to have hope for your future you must start with God’s purpose. All the planning and scheduling in the world will not help if you do not have God’s purpose for your future right at its very root. When you start with God’s purpose you realize, “God has plans for me!”

God is planning right now for your prosperity!

That may or may not include material prosperity, the real focus here is on significance of life. Imagine God up in heaven with a sheet of paper in front of Him. Yes, that does take some imagination! Now imagine that the paper has your name on it. Under your name is the heading, “Plans for success and significance.” And finally imagine this - the paper is filled with ideas and goals and plans.

God is planning right now for your future!

Before we plan anything we should always ask “God, what are your plans for my future.” Our goal is not to get God to bless the future we’ve planned. Our desire should be to live out the future that He plans to bless us with.

God is planning right now for your hope!

However discouraging things may seem at times, God has a plan for your hope! He’s told us in advance, “I want to give you hope.” Even the worst of circumstances can give us hope by causing us to transfer our trust from this uncertain world to God’s certain future in eternity.

Family discussion question: How does this promise of God give you a new sense of hope in some particular area of your future?

Children’s Activity: This is a great verse to memorize. Why not work on it together as a family over the next week. Write it on a card and place it on your refrigerator to remind you.

Thursday, June 19th - The Servant's Survival Strategy

“You can be sure that the more we undergo sufferings for Christ, the more he will shower us with his comfort and encouragement.” 2 Cor 1:5 (TLB)

The world is full of survival manuals and instructions. You need them whenever you go into unfamiliar territory. Second Corinthians is a Servant's Survival Manual containing a Servant's Survival Strategy. Chapter 1 in the manual is, “How do servants deal with burdensome problems?” There are three steps, none of which can be ignored.

God pours out His comfort.

He cannot help Himself, it's His character to comfort. He is the God of compassion. He is the Father of all comfort. The word comfort here means “to come alongside and help.” God promises Himself to comfort His servants in difficult times.

We are filled with God’s comfort.

God makes comfort more than a word on a page, He makes it real in our lives. God's comfort comes in reaction to our circumstances. This is why worry is so devastating: we're trying to find the comfort before we've faced the circumstance. God’s comfort causes us to look back after the trouble is past and say, “I don't know how I survived that.”

Our comfort from God overflows to others.

We are comforted, so that we might comfort others. We may not always be able to figure out the reasons why a problem comes into our lives. But we can always see God work the miracle of transforming our sufferings into other’s comfort. God’s comfort is so magnificent that when He pours it out on us there is always enough that it overflows to others.

Family Discussion Question: What is one place in your life where God’s comfort has or could overflow from you to others?Family Activity: Show your children how God’s comfort overflows by filling up a glass with a gallon pitcher of water. Talk about the fact that because God is bigger than us He always has more help to give us than we will need.

Wednesday, June 18th - Becoming A Significant Servant, Pt. 2

Yesterday I gave you part 1, so here is Servant’s lesson #2: Outer victories mean nothing if I do not win the inner battle. You'd think that chapter 18 of 1 Kings contained the biggest battles of Elijah's life. He battled the powerful king Ahab, he battled 450 false prophets! But in chapter 19 he faces an even bigger battle, the battle within himself. He won the battles of 18 fairly easily, yet almost lost his life in the battle with himself in 19. In 1 Kings 19 Elijah gives clear expression to the kinds of inner battles which every true servant of God will inevitably have to face. See if you can feel Elijah...

“I want to run!”1 Kings 19:3

We often feel like running after a great victory. The combination of the physical and emotional fatigue often makes us feel like escaping when everyone else is celebrating, makes us sorrowful when everybody’s shouting. When we’re run down we want to run away.

“I've had enough!” 1 Kings 19:4

The feeling is, “I’ve reached my limit...I can’t go any further…I can’t take any more.” Often times we quit emotionally before we quit physically. We throw in the towel way before we throw in the towel.

“I'm all alone!” 1 Kings 19:10

The greatest inner battle is the battle of loneliness. When you decide that you're all alone the inner battle is lost. It is possible to have family and friends around and still feel lonely. Company is not always Companionship.

The inner victory for Elijah was won on 6 different fronts. So the next time you feel like running, feel run down or isolated. You need to remember what God told Elijah…

• You need rest! (v. 7)
• You must worship! (v. 8)
• You can tell someone! (v. 9-10)
• You need a fresh encounter with God! (v. 11-13)
• You are useful! ( v. 15-17)
• You aren't alone! (v. 18)

Here’s where I want us to hang our spiritual hats this morning on this idea of a fresh encounter with God. Elijah, who had already seen God in the fire and the storms, heard God this time in a gentle whisper. You might feel desperate to hear God’s voice right now. Keep listening! Elijah didn’t hear God the 1st or 2nd or even the 3rd time. But he was faithful to be where God wanted him to be and eventually heard God’s still small voice. What do you need to hear God whisper?

Pray this servant’s prayer: Lord, I want to serve you for the rest of my life. I pray that you would give to me the wisdom to rest when it’s needed, the desire to place a priority on worship, the courage to tell You about the problems I face, the inner confidence that I am useful to you and the assurance that I am never alone in serving you. I pray that I would regularly hear you speaking to me in fresh, new ways corporately as I sit under the teaching and preaching of my Pastor and privately as I sit quietly during my own study of scripture. In Jesus’ precious name AMEN!

Tuesday, June 17th - Becoming A Significant Servant

“Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.” James 5:17 (NIV)

How do we live the most significant life possible? We serve our way into significance. For most of us the words “significant” and “servant” do not go together. There is a man in the Old Testament book of Kings who can show us the way. His name… Elijah! One of the most significant things about Elijah is that he was like us. He was a man of awesome miracles, of powerful actions, and the book of James reminds us that he was just yet like us. Since he is like us we can learn from him some lessons about being a significant servant.

Servant Lesson #1: God is willing and able to meet all of my needs.

Significant servants make that confidence the launching pad of their lives and ministries. God is ABLE - He has the power. God is WILLING - He has the love.

In 1 Kings 17 Elijah learns this lesson beside a brook in the desolate Kirath Ravine. In order to teach him this lesson God does for Elijah what He regularly does for His servants. He reduces life to the basics. Elijah certainly was down to basics! All he had was the water the Lord sent and the food that God delivered… via the “Raven Parcel Service.” God used a raven to bring food to Elijah. God has help where we least expect it! He provides in ways that go beyond our narrow expectations. That’s what we learn when life is reduced to the basics.

The “basics” are simply this: a place of complete and total dependence upon God. In that place God reminds us: we depend on Him alone for all of our needs. Why does God put us in such places? Reducing life to the basics helps to refocus upon God. We recognize again just how dependent upon God we really are. Not our paycheck, not partners, not power, pleasure or prestige. God is the Father who graciously supplies all of our needs.

Pray this Servant’s Prayer: Everything in my life is there because you bring it to me Lord. I'm totally dependent upon you for everything! Every drink of water, every breath, and every bite of food! I commit the rest of my life to service to you! In Jesus’ precious name AMEN!

Family Activity: Make up some “God gave us this” stickers on post it notes and have your kids stick them all over your house to look at today.

Thursday, June 12th Success – Decisions Determines Destiny

“... I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He is thy life, and the length of thy days...." Deuteronomy 30:19b-20a

The text above is an episode in the history of Israel. What would happen to you if you were in the same valley of decision between these two mountains? Let me help by giving you some principles of choice as we look toward spiritual success.

First, You Are Free To Choose. Every day, God gives us the freedom to make choices about what we think is going to be good, or even best for us.
Second, You're Not Free Not To Choose. To decide not to choose is a choice. Am I making any sense? Let me make it very clear – to decide not to choose good is always a choice to choose evil. Jesus said, “He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad” Matthew 12:30. If you do not crown Jesus, you crucify Him. There is no middle ground.

Here's the third principle – You're Not Free To Choose The Consequences Of Your Choice. Let me illustrate.

Stand beside an open window on the tenth floor of a building. You're free to jump. Now, that's a foolish and crazy thing to do, but if nobody is there to restrain you, you can choose to do so. Stay in the room or jump out. Now, if you decide to jump, then you must be ready to face the consequences of that choice.

The fourth principle is You Are Free To Choose, But You're Not Free To Achieve. Now, what do I mean by that? Well, suppose I chose to achieve as a professional basketball player. Well, you look at my frame and you say to yourself, "How can he even hope of achieving success?" And you're probably right.

You see, I can make all the choices I want. I can even have all the hopes and dreams I want. But, I have to be realistic to see that I might not achieve success simply because I have chosen to do something.

Now, the fifth choice principle – A Big Choice Will Take Care Of A Lot Of Little Ones. Let me give you another illustration of this.

I am a man who has made up his mind that I am going to be loyal to my wife. I don't have to keep making that decision to be loyal to my wife. I've made that decision and that one big decision takes care of a lot of the other little decisions.

Sixth, God Has Already Chosen You, that you might choose Him. That's why we're called His elect. "We love him, because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Had God not first chosen us, we would never have the inclination to choose Him. Thank God for His sovereignty!

And lastly, The Day Of Choice Is Passing Away. Don't think that you have forever to make up your mind whether you're going to be a follower of Jesus Christ or not. Make your eternal salvation secure today.

CHOOSE JESUS BECAUSE ...

You can know immediate joy. Why wait to have joy when you can have it right now? I'd be a Christian if there were no heaven or hell for the joy that I have today in Christ.

You may die tonight. These may be the last words you ever read about salvation in Jesus Christ. After you die, there are no second chances to get saved. Choose life.

Jesus Christ is coming back. Matthew 24:24 says, "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." If you don't think He's coming, then that is a fulfillment of this verse because He's coming when you least expect Him.

Each time you decide against Him, you harden your heart. Hebrews 3:7-8 says, "Today if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts." A person becomes proficient at anything he does for a long time. You can become a professional Christ-denier.

Tuesday, June 10th Success is won in the Battle of the Mind

Let me first say that I apologize for the absence of yesterday’s blog. I was completely exhausted after a long weekend. I did make it through the Celtics and Lakers game [Go Boston], and then went off to sleep, so here enough for yesterday and today.

All of us fight battles – for some, it is the battle of the bulge; while for others, it is the battle of the wills in child rearing – and then, for some, the battle of the pocketbook. They seem to be with us always. But, did you know there is a battle much more deadly? It is the battle for the mind – a deadly war between God and Satan on the battleground of your mind. And this could be your call to arms.

If we are ever going to be successful we must understand four very important facts.

1. We Need To Understand the Warfare of Our Foe
Your enemy is not clothed in flesh (see Ephesians 6:12). The devil has secured himself in high places to war against you. And there is a deadly, invisible array of demonic hosts dedicated to the destruction of your thought life.

Satan’s desire is to conquer and control your thought life, and then make it a stronghold from which he can war against God. But, when God saved you, He gave you the mind of Christ. The devil wants to get your mind because he knows that if he can get your mind, he can pull you away from the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. We Need To Understand the Weakness of Our Flesh
We live in the flesh. We might as well admit it. All of us have problems, sicknesses, perplexities, and we suffer through the everyday things of life. Yet, we do not war against flesh and blood.

Our battle is against the devil himself and none of us can outwit or out war the devil. He mocks at our schemes. He ridicules our organization. The world thinks that education or government will win our battles. Or if we had a perfect environment in which to live, all our problems would be over.

We need to all remember that Adam and Eve got in trouble in the most perfect place on earth – the Garden of Eden. You’re not going to have a better environment than that! How did it happen? They were deceived. The devil messed with their mind.

3. We Need To Understand the Weapons of Our Fight
How are we going to pull down strongholds, imaginations, and high things like arrogance, ignorance, despair, bitterness, pride, and anger? Surely not with carnal weapons!

Instead, he tells us we are going to win because of the sovereignty of our Commander. Christ is our Commander and Chief. The devil has been trying to do all he can to win this war, but when Jesus Christ died at Calvary, he dropped the bomb on the devil. Read John 12:31

Secondly, we are going to win because we have the authority of our commission. Second Corinthians 3:8 tells us that God has given us authority. Jesus, Who’s won the war, has given us the power of attorney. Read Luke 10:19-20

Lastly, there is the certainty of our courage. Paul talks about himself being weak and his speech being shameful. He says, “I belong to Jesus Christ. He’s won the battle for me. He has given me authority, and because of that, I have courage to win this battle.” 2 Corinthians 10:8-11

Now, let me give you one final thought: Not only should you fight the battle and defeat the devil, but also you need to fill your mind with godly thoughts. Philippians 4:8-9 says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

4. We Need To Understand how to Center our minds upon Jesus.
And don’t let the devil take away your pure-hearted devotion to Him. If we stay in love with the Lord Jesus Christ, there won’t be any room for those filthy, dirty, wicked, lascivious, lustful, prideful thoughts that bombard us all. You see, God made us so that we can’t think two thoughts at one time. If we’re thinking what’s right, we can’t possibly be thinking what’s wrong.

Friday, June 6th Success – Do It Like David Did

1 Samuel 30: 6 “David was greatly distressed…But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.”

As we continue to look at this idea of biblical success, there isn’t any way around the issues of aggravation, frustration and depression. As God continues to move you from one level to another level there will certainly be new devils. So how do we handle the aggravation, frustration and depression on our way to the next level?

"When life gives you a lemon, just make lemonade”…we’ve all heard that but we all know that it is easier said than done. That’s a great way to face life’s hurts and disappointments. Though it is not healthy to be pessimistic, it is wise to realize you can’t change some things.

Even the best of well-ordered plans on our way to biblical success – don’t always work out the way we’ve planned them.

It might be that when you have done your best and given your all that someone will find something wrong with it or negative to say about it. Your good intentions could possibly be misunderstood. Or, you might sometime find yourself facing unkind people, unfaithful friends and undeserved critics – for whatever reason.

We all care about what people say and think about us. The question is do we care more about what people say about us than we do with what God says. There comes a time in everybody’s life that you have to make the decision to live your life for the King of kings and the Lord of lords! Let haters hate, let gossipers gossip and let talkers talk – YOU JUST DO YOU!

I know it get hard even when you do things right. So what do I do when I’m facing tough days, emotions and critics…Rest in the Strength of the Lord, just like David did. When you do God will overshadow you with His Love, His Mercy, His Strength, His Power and His Encouragement.

God has a plan for your life and discovering it is only the first step – you then have to be disciplined enough to see it through. Next time you feel like giving up or throwing in the spiritual towel – REST IN THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD JUST LIKE DAVID DID!

Thursday, June 5th Success – Things That REALLY Count

Do you consider yourself religious? Paul remembered the time when he was religious but he was lost. When God saved him, he discovered that in spite of his religion and legalism, he was bankrupt, blind and bound for hell. Not only did this truth change his life but he wanted it to change every person's life who counts religion as righteousness. Philippians 3:1-9 teaches us what we need to do to get our priorities straight.

The Bankruptcy Of The Religious Man
Paul took pride in his rituals, relationships, respectability, race, religion, and reputation and he discovered it was all bankrupt. Paul was proud of his rituals, including circumcision, which he had experienced to attain his religious status.

Paul took pride in his relationship with "the stock of Israel" - God's chosen people the Jews - and yet he was lost. The only relationship that will save you and I is the one we have through our Savior Jesus Christ!

The third way Paul could have had confidence in his flesh was in his respectability. Not only was he a circumcised Jew but he was also from the tribe of Benjamin. He had a family name and a family tradition to boost his worldly credentials.

The next description that Paul gives us about himself is his race. He said he was "a Hebrew of the Hebrews." That meant that his bloodline was clear of any interracial blood. Thankfully, God saves men, women, and children from every tribe, tongue and nation.

Another character quality (or should I say flaw) in which Paul could have taken pride was his religion. He said, "as touching the law, a Pharisee." The Pharisees were the strictest sect of the Jews.

And then there was the pride of reputation. Nobody in Paul's day could point a finger of blame at him. Now, he was not sinless. He was blameless in the eyes of men, but he was not sinless in the eyes of God.

The Blessedness of the Redeemed Man
The things that Paul counted as loss were not bad in and of themselves, they were mostly good. But a good thing is a bad thing if it keeps you from the best thing. The worse form of badness is human goodness when human goodness becomes a substitute for the new birth.

When Paul ceased from relying upon himself for salvation and turned to Jesus Christ, he found three things: a knowledge of Christ, a fellowship with Christ, and the righteousness of Christ.

A Knowledge Of Christ
Paul considered the knowledge of Christ to surpass anything he could ever attain on his own. But this isn't knowledge as in gaining information. Here, Paul used it to describe spiritual intimacy between himself and God.

Knowledge is more than just what we think inside our heads, it is what we experience in our heart in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Do you know Him? I mean really know Him? Not that Jesus died and rose again for people to be saved...but that He died and rose again for you to be saved and have an everlasting relationship with God.

A Fellowship with Christ
Paul said that he wanted to "be found in Him." Before Paul's conversion, he had religion. After his salvation, Paul had a relationship - the most important being the one he had with his Savior Jesus Christ.

I want to tell you that Jesus Christ is a wonderful friend. You don't have to say a word - just knowing He is there is enough. And knowing He loves you will bring inexpressible joy to your heart.

A Righteousness of Christ
The closer Paul drew to God, the greater his awareness of his own filthiness and need of the righteousness of Christ. Without the imputation of Christ's righteousness into our lives, we would have no relationship whatsoever with God. Paul understood this.

Our righteousness does not come by works. It is an imputed righteousness (see Romans 4:21-25). Imputed means to place on your account. It's like going to a department store and instead of telling them you want to charge your purchase; you tell them you want to impute it. It means the same thing - to put on your account.

When God looks at the ledger of our lives, He sees red - not in a bad way, but a good way. He sees the red, righteous, royal blood of His Son credited to our account and we are declared righteous before Him!

Wednesday, June 4th Success - A Life Overflowing

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water John 7:37-38

Do you consider your life stagnant or would you consider it overflowing? Perhaps it's time to stop enduring religion and start enjoying a relationship. You'll find then you will not just merely become a reservoir, but become a river. How does Jesus address this issue and what does He say about how to accomplish this?

The Well Of Salvation.

Jesus watched as the Jews celebrated one of their great feasts, the Feast of Tabernacles. At the climax of the festivities, the priest went down to the pool of Siloam and filled a golden pitcher with water. The people followed him leaping and dancing as the priest came back to the temple, he poured the water on the altar.

• They didn't realize that this Old Testament ceremony prophesied the Lord Jesus. In fact, Jesus Christ Himself was that Well of salvation, yet they were paying no attention to Him. In their midst was the very Water of Life, but they were too busy going through their ritual and religion to notice.

Jesus saw the ceremony and their ecstasy, but He knew it was only a ritual and religious exercise. Jesus knew after it was over-they would go back to their homes, and it would all be a memory. He could contain Himself no more, and He stood and literally shouted, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink."

The Well Of Life

Today, as then, we don't need religion; we need a personal, vital relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

• When Jesus stood up and cried, He said to them what He's saying to you, "Are you thirsty? Come to Me and drink." It is time we stopped enduring religion and started enjoying salvation.

It's amazing how many people today try to find their own answers. Some look for answers intellectually. Others look for answers in activity by working harder. Others search for an emotional experience but find they need more each time. Still others look for answers as the Pharisees did - in the way they live - primarily noted by what they don't do.

The Well Of The Thirsty

To find a relationship with Jesus, examine what He said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink." To whom not just empty, but thirsty.¾Jesus is speaking? He's speaking to thirsty people
• There are people who go to church on Sunday morning, but they don't go seeking God. I don't know how much of God you have, but you have all you want. You don't have more because you don't want more. Pray that God would give you a burning, blistering thirst, so that you would say, "I'm done with religion. I want reality. I am thirsty today for what is real!"
You also need to understand the source of that filling is Jesus - He was talking about Himself. Don't wait until you are better or stronger. You'll be like a man in quicksand. The more you struggle, the deeper you sink. Don't work your way to Him - He is the Way.

Holiness is not the way to Christ; Christ is the way to holiness. Bring Him your weaknesses, fears, failures, and heartaches. Jesus throws open His arms to you today and says, "Are you thirsty? Come to me."

Come And Drink

Not only do you come, you must drink - by faith. Many come to this point but stop.

• They say, "Yes, Christ is the answer," but they never really believe. Somehow they get it in the margins of their Bibles, in their notebooks, or in their heads; but they fail to get it in their hearts. Don't let that happen to you! You must drink, and you do it by faith. There comes a time when we need to believe Him and say, "My heart is thirsty for the blessing. I will receive the Lord Jesus. I take Him by faith."

Don't come so close, yet miss Him. Stop enduring religion, and start enjoying a relationship. Come and drink from the Living Water. Once you drink, there will be in you a river of living water. And when the river begins to flow out of you, there will be life where there once was death. There will be fruitfulness where there was barrenness. The Holy Spirit in your life will cause you to be a blessing and to receive a blessing.

Tuesday, June 3rd Success…God’s Way

Success God's way is determined as we pursue the will of God. Steven Olford, founder and lecturer of the Stephen Olford Institute for Biblical Preaching, said "it is our duty and it is our joy to find, to follow and to finish the will of God for our lives."

The first step in discovering success is to express a FULL DEPENDENCE on the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

Why do we find it difficult to trust the Lord? One reason is that we don't know Him well enough to trust Him. To know God is to love God. Then to love Him, is to trust Him. To trust Him, is to obey Him. And to obey Him, is to be blessed.

Another problem we have is that we can't let go of the situation for which we need to trust God. We want to do it ourselves. But, in order to be successful, we must turn everything over to Him. If He's worth part of it, He's worth all of it.

Let me say one final thing on this point. Don't be afraid of the will of God. But, what if He sends me to a remote village in a foreign country as a missionary? If He sends you there, then that's exactly where you'd want to be. Philippians 2:13 says “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

When you fully depend upon the Lord, then He will provide FAITHFUL DIRECTION. The last part of Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “He shall direct thy paths.” Either that's true or that's false.
Now, how will He direct your path?

First, He'll do it through His Word (see Psalm 119:105). The Word of God will show you the will of God.

Second, God will direct you through prayer (see Philippians 4:6-7). Not every question is answered in the Bible. Prayer is a two-way street. Let God talk to you.

Third, God will direct you by His providence. God closes doors and opens doors (see Revelation 3:8).

Now, let me close with this final word on success. When you fully depend upon the Lord, and He gives you direction, there will be a FORCEFUL DYNAMIC. Let's review the last phrase of Proverbs 3:6 one final time: "direct thy paths." This literally means that God will bulldoze a path in front of you. Not only does God show the way, but He also clears the way.

Henry Moorehouse, a stirring evangelist years ago, had a little girl who was crippled. When at home, she would lay her crutches aside and scoot around on the floor. One day after returning from a long trip, Moorehouse stepped inside his house and found his little girl sitting near the door.

She noticed he was carrying a big present and said, "Daddy, let me carry it to Momma." He tried to convince her she couldn't carry the present and take it to her mother, but she wouldn't give in. Finally he said, "Alright, here take it." She held it in her arms and said, "Now Daddy pick me up and take me to Momma."

Has God done that for you? He has carried me many times when He has given me a message, then picked me up and carried me through it. When you fully depend upon the Lord, He will direct your life, and He will be the driving force behind your success.

Family Discussion Question: Your success and the success of your family depends on you learning how to depend upon the Lord, faithfully follow His direction and He will be a driving force in order to secure your successful future. What is standing in the way of your greatest step toward your destiny? Spend time praying as a family for His direction.

Greater Bethel Church Is A GREAT CHURCH

I really don't have word to express how awesome today has been for me. The entire family was there the level of excitement was at an all time high, it was simply breath taking. Starting with Sunday morning...now that's how people who know God ought to have church. We literally shut-down NE 23rd Street as we convoyed to our new location. And the celebration was wonderful. It was the who-who list which shouldn't be over looked those state and city official came as a testimony of who and what we've have became as a church. It is not everyday that you can command a group of dignitaries like that in one place.

I want to ask that you will join me as we continue to "build THE church while building A church!" You're growth is our goal and we will hold it as our highest achievement as long as God allows me to lead the Greater Bethel Church Family. I love you!

The previous post is Monday's devotion!

Monday, June 2nd Four Qualities of Highly Successful People

“If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success.” Eccles. 10:10 (NIV)

John Maxwell, author of more than 30 leadership books and popular international speaker, spoke to 500 people at an Abilene Christian University luncheon Tuesday regarding the four things highly successful people do well.

Maxwell was the last of eight presenters in ACU's Centennial Speaker Series, which also included "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts, long-time sports commentator Pat Summerall, and MSNBC co-anchor Lester Holt.

First, Maxwell said, people who are highly successful are good at building relationships and have a way of getting along with people.

"Good relationship skills are the foundation of both leadership and success," he said. "Successful people relate emotionally, spiritually and intellectually with others."

He said both in the workplace and in their homes, people need to understand and practice the hammer principle: "never use a hammer to swat a fly off someone's forehead." In other words, don't overreact.

The second quality of highly successful people is that they equip, train and develop people, Maxwell said.

"Successful people understand that for their success to compound, it must include others," he said. "They must have the ability to gain buy-in. One is too small a number to achieve greatness."

The third quality is attitude. "Successful people have an uncommon attitude, especially about adversity," Maxwell explained. "It's not that they have fewer problems than less successful people; they just have the tenacity to work through obstacles and problems."

Maxwell added that "attitude is not everything, but it is the main thing – the difference maker. However, a great attitude cannot make up for incompetence."

Fourth, Maxwell said, “highly successful people are good leaders. They have a vision, and they understand that leadership is about influence – not title or position.

"People can lead wherever they are in the organization," he said. "They can lead up, across and down."

He encouraged individuals to prepare for future leadership opportunities now. He quoted his friend, longtime UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, who says, "When the opportunity comes, it's too late to prepare."

Family Discussion Question: What has God promised to do for you? Write down an idea or thought. Maybe you have a dream of business ownership, a pending marriage, strenghting a present marriage or simply getting out of debt. Whatever it is write it down and discuss it with family. Then touch and agee in prayer.

Remember: “Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 (NIV)

Friday, May 30th AN ABEL FAITH

"By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead." Heb 11:4 (NIV)

The best way to learn faith is from people. Why? Because faith is not so much a matter of what you know as of who you are, it's built not out of knowledge but out of relationships. Take Abel, the first faithful man. Three things happened to him because he had faith. They each point out how faith will affect our lives.

Faith affected his generosity. “He offered a better sacrifice.” What was better about Abel’s sacrifice? Cain offered but Abel offered his best. Faith adds up to a willingness to give your best to the Lord. You can trust Him with it!

Faith affected his relationships. “He was commended as righteous by God.” Righteous is a word about relationships, it points to being in right relationship with God. Preschoolers define it as being God's friend. Faith gave Abel a commendation for his relationship with God.

Faith affected his influence. “He still speaks” The most powerful tool you have for influencing this world is your faith. Why so powerful? Because actions and decisions based upon faith simply last longer. Cain may have cut Abel’s life short, but Abel’s faith still speaks! Want to make an impact? Seminars can sharpen your skills and organization can improve your opportunities and principles can enhance your planning... but it's all a drop in the bucket without faith. If you're mathematically minded: Impact = (Skills + Organization + Planning + “Whatever”) x Faith. Great skills times no faith equals zero impact. A few skills multiplied by a great faith adds up to incredible impact.

Family discussion question: Where could you “offer your best” to the Lord right now in one specific way?
Children’s activity: Have your children take an offering to church tonight or tomorrow. Put it in an envelope, on which they write (or write with them) “My best for the Lord”.

Thursday, May 29 True Dedication

With the excitement building around our upcoming ground-breaking celebration this weekend this is a great devotional. I can sense that God has begun to build THE church, while we build a church and I can’t wait to see US when He is done with us. Some of you right now are experiencing things that are unexpected but know that God is in control and is still on the throne. This weekend is going to be awesome! This may sound like I'm repeating myself and it's because I am. “So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the temple of the LORD." 1 Kings 8:63 (NIV)

What do we mean when we say dedication? To one person it may mean giving up a part of a football game to come to church on Sunday mornings, to another it may point to a decision to begin giving some of their money to the Lord's work, while to another it may add up to leaving all that they know to serve the Lord as a missionary in a foreign country. What does it mean to dedicate a temple, a church, a child... a life - to dedicate them to the Lord. In I Kings 8 Solomon dedicates the great Jerusalem Temple to the Lord, and in so doing teaches us some important lessons about the character of dedication.

Dedication means Open Declaration

Dedication is a public announcement of your intentions and commitments. Many see dedication as some inner commitment that no one can really see or understand. Not true... it is expressed in public commitments and public actions. Do you know when dedication begins to happen? When you begin to place your faith on the line in terms of public commitments. It's that willingness to declare to others that adds up to dedication.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship." Rom 12:1 (NIV)
Dedication means Sacrifice

They sacrificed an unbelievable amount that day! 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. That's a lot of T-bone steak and legs of lamb! Why? What could be the purpose of such sacrifices? What did sacrifices do for men that were so important to the Lord? Sacrifices are “A gift of trust to the Lord.” As they sacrificed they declared that they trusted God to take care of their needs. They were saying, “Instead of hoarding and declaring my trust in myself, I’ll give to you Lord to declare my trust in you.”

Dedication will inevitably involve some sacrifices. Sacrifice is ultimately an expression of trust in the Lord. You're willing to give something up because you trust Him more then that something.

Dedication means Praise

A significant part of dedication is praise to God. Solomon’s praise as he dedicated the temple centered on the fact that God had kept His promise. There is a specific praise that not only expresses, but actually increases our dedication to the Lord. The specific praise that grows our dedication is "Thank You Lord for your Faithfulness.” It is a praise that recognizes that all that we have comes as a result of God's promises to us... as a result of His faithfulness in our lives.

That type of praise recognizes that I can be dedicated to God because God is dedicated to me! He is dedicated to my joy, my peace, my growth. God has dedicated Himself to my personal happiness and fulfillment. How dedicated is He? "He who did not spare His own Son, how He not also along with Him will freely give us all things." (Romans 8:32)

"Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven and said: "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below--you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way." 1 Kings 8:22-23 (NIV)

Dedication means praise and sacrifice and open declaration. Today we learn one final truth about dedication from King Solomon

Dedication means Ministry

We cannot be dedicated to God without being dedicated to meeting the needs of the people He has made. Solemn dedicated this temple to the needs of the disappointed, depressed and the defeated, those besieged by sin and by loneliness, those involved in the battles and the prisons of life.

Too many make dedication the most impractical of things. It could never be lived, only talked about. Theirs is a dedication made up of myths and fables pie in the sky and dreams.

If you're striving to become more dedicated to the Lord it doesn't take you long to discover that there is a whole subculture in the Christian Community which says dedication is made up of spiritual sounding words, religion and rutuals. Dedication is built out of trusting God with the practical needs of your everyday life.

Dedication is expressed in ministry. It is expressed in what you choose to DO with your life to serve the Lord and the heart to serve the people He has made.

Family Discussion Question: What sacrifice would REALLLLLY stretch your dedication? Can you think of one simple ministry your family could do this week?

Children’s activity: Do a simple ministry project with your children this week. (Write a card to encourage someone, make cookies for somebody, go out an do something for someone who could never do anything for you in return or _________________________ you fill in the blank.)

Wednesday May 28 - FAITH’S FINAL EXAM

"Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people." Acts 6:8 (NIV)

Know how to recognize a priceless person? Just look at their price tag! You can see what a person is worth by looking at what it takes to buy them off. I wonder how you and I would do if we had to face “faith’s final exam.” It is an exam that only a few Christians down through the ages have had to face. It is a test that has only one soul searching question.

Stephen faced this test when he was being judged for his faith in Acts 6. Faith’s final exam is “Would I be willing to give up my life for what I believe?” We sing about giving our all to Jesus and tell Him that we’d offer our very life for him. But what if the threats were real? It’s an important test, for your attitude towards dying for your faith has much to say about how you’ll live your faith!

Take a look at Stephen, for example. He showed himself to be a priceless person, a person who would not back down in his faith no matter what the threat. Stephen became the first Christian to actually die for his faith. What was the secret to such a great faith? Acts 6 tells us that Stephen lived as a man “full of faith and the Holy Spirit.” He had answered faith’s final exam long before he faced the court that would condemn him. When our children where growing up we often didn’t family night that included a short bible illustrated lesson. One even we taught the kids that we’re all like tubes of toothpaste. When the squeeze is put on us what comes out is whatever we’re full of! This means that we don’t have to “cram” for the tests of faith. Let Christ fill your heart and mind, your decisions and actions... today!

Family Discussion Question: Where do you need to be “full of faith” today?
For younger children: Make up some “price tags” to show the real value of some of the things in your home. Have your kids tell you how much things like furniture and appliances are worth...make up a tag and put it on those things. Then, ask them to put a price tag on a Bible.... then on themselves. Remind them of the incalculable value of the Bible, of the tremendous value God places on them.

Deepening Your Family Devotional Experience During Time2Build

Dear Bethel Builders,

I’m excited about this journey (Time2Build campaign) and I hope you are as well. After this past weekend’s experience I know God is going to use this time to build our faith corporately and individually.

As promised the previous post is today’s devotion but in order to deepen our family devotional experience here is a few simple suggestions…

1. Choose a consistent time and place. Whether it’s at breakfast around the table or in your children’s rooms just before bedtime, having devotions at the same time and same place is the best way to be consistent. Choose the best time for your family and then don’t worry if you miss a day here or there.

2. Have different family members read the Scripture and devotion each day. This will give everyone a feeling that they’re a part of deciding to have family devotions.

3. After reading the devotions, take a minute to pray together. Talk to God about the needs in your family... the church...the world... your friends... those who need to find Christ... your work... your school...etc.

4. Be yourselves! It’s O.K. to laugh. Noise is not only allowable during devotions...it is a must. Let your children be themselves during times of devotion it’s amazing how much more they learn.

“You must love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and might. And you must think constantly about these commandments I am giving you today. You must teach them to your children and talk about them when you are at home or out for a walk; at bedtime and the first thing in the morning.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (TLB)

Tuesday May 26 - FAITH IS LIVING BEYOND THE ROUTINE

"What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead." Heb 11:1 (TLB)

Faith is the secret to “rut free living.”

We all know what it’s like to live in a rut. Too often what starts with great promise settles into a lifelong habit of routine. A couple gets married - yet somehow a promise of lifelong love turns into habit and routine. A business gets started - but before long the dream turns into a grind. A fresh and real commitment to Christ is made - yet you find yourself settling for the average life rather than the abundant life. Faith makes the difference! Faith helps us to handle the two main things that might push us into the rut of routine...

Life’s disappointments...
Disappointment can make us feel, “I guess that’s all there is... I’ll have to learn to settle for less.” Faith energizes us to look past our disappointments and to see God’s promises.

Life’s successes...
Disappointments can make us bitter... success can make us self-satisfied. A little success can be a dangerous thing! Faith has the power not only to help us with our struggles, but also our successes. Faith puts success in perspective. It reminds me that I’m not the source of the success - it is God who has given these gifts to me. It also helps me to see that I’m not the reason for the success. Of course, God is pleased with my happiness. But the ultimate reason for all He does in our lives is to show the world what He is like... to bring glory to Himself.

Family Discussion Question: Is disappointment or is success the greater challenge in your life right now?

Children’s activity: Show your children how “ingrained” a routine can become by having an “unroutine” day: Have everyone sit at different places when you eat or watch T.V... or sleep with your head at the foot of your bed. You come up with ideas.... have fun with this!