"Images" Read Genesis 1:27&28 & II Corthians 4:3&4

God put this word on my heart;"Image".As always I let Him show me what He wants us to know.The fact of the matters is we live in a world filled with images.These images mainly put our focus on ourselves and others.None of them really help us to focus on God!! The first thing God did when He created us was to give us an image. He loved us enough to give us "His own" image!! Now that was awesome,yet we have ran away from that image.Check this out...
This world has created so many images for us to be like.Hollywood gives us an image of what beauty and manliness should look like. They take a person and create a image for them and then call them Stars.So many people dream and want to become Stars because of their image.But is that image truly the image of God?
Growing up I dreamed of being like Bob Hayes of the Dallas Cowboys. Now I know I'm aging myself but to God be the glory!(smile)My parents bought me a whole uniform with jersey #22 and I thought I was all that and more!From then on I was hooked on Sports Stars and wanted to be like them.Television ads even told us we should be like "Mike",but is that image truly the image of God?
Society has put certain images before us that tell us if we have made it or not.I remember the sitcom "The Jefferson's" and the opening song "Moving on up to the Eastside"!! The "Eastside" would have been like any "side" but for the image it created.It is an image we all want to have, an image that says I've made it. I have a nice home,I have a luxury car or two or three. Don't get me wrong I believe God wants us to get to the "Eastside" but what image are we giving?Do we remember that there are still others back there on the "other" side?
There are so many images that we can choose to live by. Youngsters and their images of Rappers and Rockstars and even Drug dealers.Even in our Churches we sometimes find that we have to conform to certain "images". We have to dress a certain way and even talk a certain way to be accepted.Some of us even live in unhappy marriages just to keep up our images. Keeping up an image is hard because images are always changing!!There are always going to be new Stars,newer homes and cars and dress styles.Images in this world never stay the same.
That's what is so good about our God!! His image never has and never will change on us!! I don't need no Hollywood image because I know God's image is better! I dont need no Sport Star image when I know I serve a God that made every Star in the universe! I don't care what society thinks about me as long as I have Jesus on my side!! You don't KNOW what the Lord has done for me!!!There are times I don't reflect His image but thanks be to God for giving me a chance to be like Him!!There should be a television ad like this:"Being like Mike is ok,but being like God is so much BETTER!"It's truly time for us to put on the image of God, it is truly the "image" He wants us to live by.
"Father,let our lives be a reflection of you.We know this world is filled with so many images that tend to draw us away from you and put our focus on them.Forgive us when we do things to tarnish your image. We want to thank you for that image right now,in JESUS mighty name,AMEN!!!

"Gatorade Don't Have Nothing On GOD-ADE!" Read St.John 4:1-23

Years ago when I played football, Gatorade was just given to the starters on the team. If you weren't a starter you had to drink plain old water. Back then Gatorade cost alot more than it does today. It was used as a sort of reward and made people want to be and stay a starter on the team.
Today there are all sort of "Ades" to choose from. Powerade,G2,G3,and energy drinks that are advertised on television everyday. They are advertised in newspapers,magazines,billboards,and at bus stops.You can't miss them and because some star drinks it, we want to be seen drinking some too.
The fact of the matter is these drinks are designed to quench our thirst. They call Gatorade;"The Thirst Quencher!" As a nation,we spend millions of dollars trying to quench our physical thirst but what about our "spiritual thirst"?
In any sport there is some type of "physical" activity that works up a thrist "in" us.Working outside in the heat of the day will create a thrist "in" us.Eating can create a thrist "in" us.But what about our "spiritual thrist"?
You see alot of us don't care about our spirits being thristy.Alot of us don't exercise our spirits to create any thrist at all.We may go to church on Sunday and get a drink, but will that drink truly fulfill the thrist? If we are truly seeking to do the will of God then we should be filled with His water! We should be filled with His GOD-ADE!!
Todays passage has Jesus speaking to a woman at a well. She was there to draw out water for her home and Jesus asked her for a drink. In exchange for some well water ,Jesus was going to give her spirit filling,run around the church making,shout making,praise making,tell the whole world about JESUS making, WATER!! Some of that good old GOD-ADE!! Jesus said once she'd gotten a taste of His water she'd never thrist again.
Just like the woman,there was a time in my life when I had trouble understanding what Jesus meant. You see it was a reason Jesus chose that well for the meeting place. Just as we need water to "survive",we need the Holy Spirit to truly "live"!!The Holy Spirit should not just give life to us ,but also touch the lives of others around us. But we have to be thristy for it!! We have to not just want a drink ,we have to want the whole well! I'm here to tell you today that Gatorade don't have nothing on GOD-ADE!! GOD-ADE woke me up with a right mind today!! GOD-ADE whispered in my ear that EVERYTHING is going to be alright!! When trouble was in my way,GOD-ADE made me a way out of no way!! Gatorade don't have nothing on GOD-ADE!!!
There is someone out there that is wondering about,lost in this thing called life. They are tripping and falling all over the place, weaken by the journey. It's time to give God a chance and let Him give you water from His overflowing well,His Holy Spirit!!Someone else may have lost their thrist,it's time to go back to work!! It's time to get back active doing the things of God!
Psalm 34:8 reads:"O taste and see that the Lord is good:blessed is the man that trusteth in him."(kjv)I challenge you today to really get a taste of God,become active in His work. If you get thirsty remember that Gatorade don't have nothing on GOD-ADE!!!
"Father,we thank you for freely giving us water from your well.Your Holy Spirit can and will lead us and guide us into all truth.Help us to always remain thristy for your Word and your Spirit. In the mighty name of JESUS,Amen!!"

"Not The Problem But Apart Of God's Solution!!" Read The Book Of Jonah

What we precieve is not at all what God precieves. Truly we see things one way and God sees them in another way.Satan has a way of making us see and believe a lie. He will distort the truth,twist it, even cover it up with lies straight from hell. When God began to minister to me, He took me into the Book of Jonah. I'd known the story of Jonah and the whale since I was a kid but God showed me what He wanted me to see and I hope you see it too and apply His vision into your life.
We've been talking about identifying "the problem" when reading The Word of God and seeing how God solved the problem. God doesn't just solve our problems He delivers us from them!! When we look at Jonah aboard that ship,he was the problem! The storm was created because of him and it effected everyone onboard that ship. Jonah knew he was the problem and told the men to cast him into the sea,yet they still wanted to save Jonah! You see we can't save the Jonah's in our lives, only God can!!We can't truly fix our problems ,only God can!! There have been people in my life that have tried their best to save me and fix me but it never worked. We have to cast out our problems into the "Sea Of God's Love" and trust in Him to fix everything!
When Jonah entered the fish, he had truly been the problem for the men onboard that ship. After they cast him into the sea,the winds ceased it's blowing and the waves stopped beating against the ship. There was peace.When they cast Jonah into the sea, the problem wasn't theirs anymore, it became God's problem and God did something beautiful!! He put Jonah in a belly!! And when he came out he was not the problem anymore but apart of God's solution! God wanted Jonah to warn the people of Ninevah that if they didn't repent and change their ways that God would destroy the city. You see Jonah may have been a problem to the people on that ship but he was a blessing to the city of Ninevah! Sometimes it's hard to see and envision what God sees! In the eyes of God, Jonah "never" was a problem he was always apart of God's solution!!
I'm thankful today that God hasn't given up on me!I'm thankful that he hasn't give up on you too!! We have all had our time when we have been a problem to someone yet God has always had a Fish for us. He will never leave us or forsake us.He never looks at us through His own eyes but He looks at us through the loving eyes of Jesus! Someone today is feeling that they are the problem,that there is no way out of the belly, they feel like they will never be set free from all the problems they find themselves in. Jonah did two things that we must do to get out of the belly. First we must repent of our sins. Jonah showed God a true willingness to turn from his ways and turn to God's way. Secondly, Jonah was willing to praise God and thank Him even in the belly of the fish. Chapter 2 verse 9 states:"But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving" Jonah knew that to be set free; he had to get his praise on!!! Praising God will make satan leave you alone! He don't want to hear you praising God all the time! The praise of God is torment to him!! So get your praise on!!
Today let us start looking at our problems not as problems but as part of God's Solution!Don't be quick to give up on anyone. That same person that you have put down and cast out just my turn out to be a blessing for you!!!Not the problem but apart of the solution!!!
"Father, we thank you for all the solutions you have for our lives. Help us not to judge anyone or anything that you have created. Forgive us and help us to see you in everything and everyone! We love you with all of our heart, mind, and soul! In the mighty,mighty name of Jesus,AMEN!"

Grasshopper Christains Read Numbers 13: 23-33

Why is it that some Christains have so much success in life and others seen to struggle all the time? Why is it that some Churches are growing and growing and others are not? Why is it that in some Churches there are people being healed and in others there is just talk of healing? Why is it that some Churches are able to accept people as they are and some won't even let you in, if you aren't dressed right? Why, because some Christains and Churches don't look at the people around them but they look at the places that God wants to take them!! They don't think about what might happen, they just believe in what God said "will" happen!! They are not Grasshopper Christains!
Grasshopper Christains settle for less. They are satified with just getting by and not going to the boss and ask for a raise! I'm just a grasshopper in the bosses sight! They settle for a small membership when Jesus said in Mt.28:19 to "teach all nations" They are like grasshoppers to the world that really need to hear the Word of God! Grasshopper Christains just expect the pastor to pray for healings instead of the whole Church standing and agreeing in the most powerful name of JESUS!! They look at the disease as being bigger than the Word of God. Grasshopper Christains will look just at the outside of a person and not the inside. They talk about the way someone dresses and not how they can help to dress that person. They make the person look small to them , oh yeah, like a grasshopper! There are too many Grasshopper Christains and Minsters in God's Church today!! Too many of us are willing to settle for less when God wants us and His Church to have more!!
The passage today shows us two very different ways we can live as Christains. We can live as grasshoppers like most of the "spies" did, they lived in fear and was focusing on themselves and not on the Word and promises of God. God had promised to give them the land already but they focused on the "giants" instead of the Giant Word Of God!!! They wanted the easy way out. They were willing to settle for less. That's just what Grasshopper Christains do.
Joshua and Caleb on the other hand didn't focus on themselves or the "giants", but focused and believed in the Word and promises of God. They believed that if God was going to give them the land ,surely He'd give them victory over the "giants" too.
In God's Word there are many things He has promised and even given to us,yet we have just settled for less. We don't like dealing with the big issues that are facing God's Church today. It's time we stop being grasshoppers and start being "more than conquerors through him that loves us"(Romans8:37)God wants us to live in victory and wants us act like it too! God doesn't want no Grasshopper Christains, He wants some Giant Killing Christains!!
Which one are you??
"Father,help us to not be afaid of change, for sometimes that very change, can be your blessing for us. Help us to not just settle for less on our jobs and at our Churches and even in our homes. We love you and want to do your will but we can't do it alone, we need your help. Make us into Giant Killing Christains today!! In Jesus mighty name,AMEN"

And A Pinch Of Jesus! II Kings 4:38-41 & John 3:16

I love a good stew.I love mines with everything you can put in it. The more ingredients the more hearty the stew. In today's passage of scripture there was a great pot of pottage (stew) being made for the sons of the prophets. These prophets were basically in prophet's school and Elisha was the Headmaster. He told them set this great pot out and let's have a meal. It would be like a big crawfish boil today everyone going out and bringing some ingredient for the boil. The Bible goes on to state that one man gathered some "wild gourds"(squash) that was poisonous and not knowing this fact,added them to the pot. In other words he didn't do this thing on purpose. He was trying to do what was right and it ended up almost killing everyone including himself. The Bible states that they cried to Elisha saying "there is death in the pot".(kjv)Read Romans 6:23 and compare.
Now let's look at how Elisha solved this problem. The simple thing to do would be to pour out all the great pot of pottage and start all over again. They could have made sure no bad things or ingredients was put into the new pot. They could try and make things "good".But God doesn't work that way!
Verse 41 reads:"But he (Elisha) said,Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat.And there was no harm in the pot."(kjv) What did Elisha do in this situation? He didn't give up on the pot he just added another ingredient!!!All the work they had put into the stew would have been for nothing!!So he put a pinch of meal in the pot and the pottage gave life instead of death.
God did the same thing for us.(Read Jn.3:16) This world(pot) was full of death(sin) and He didn't throw the pottage(us) away,He just added another ingredient!! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!!!!
Sometimes our lives are just like that pot of pottage. We try to do everything right and then we are faced with the sin in our lives. We try and take the easy way out. We say if I just quit doing this or stop going there, then everything will be alright. If I leave her or him alone I won't have to deal with "my" sin. Let's just empty the pot out and start over again!!!!
God and Elisha showed us that sometimes it's not what we take out of our lives that brings us life but what we add to it!! We need to add a pinch of Jesus to our pot!! Every time sin threatens to take away the life and things that God has given you, it's time for another pinch of Jesus!! When you are at the end of you rope and can't seem to hold on any longer add a pinch of Jesus!! And if you need more than a pinch season your pottage to your taste!!
There is no easy way in life not to get to where God wants us to be. Sin is something we cannot overcome on our own, that is why God give us the ingredient we need; JESUS!! Add a pinch today!!!
"Father, we all have sins in our lives that we can't run away from. We can't just take the easy way out and throw them out, for they will still be there. Help us to turn to your son Jesus the main ingredient we need in this life. In Jesus name we pray,AMEN!"

Part III "Salvation-God's Love In Action"

We have been looking at how God wants us to act in any problem or situation. The example He used was the deliverance of the children of Israel from their bondage (problem) in Egypty.We all have found ourselves in situations that seems so hopeless. In this text the children of Israel found themselves between two choices. They could try and fix the problem themselves or return to Egypt or they could trust God to fix the problem. They could flee or they could take a stand and trust God and not focus on the problem. Sometimes we use all our energy trying to fix things that God has already fixed!We act as if God doesn't know or care about our problems and situations. We claim ownership of what(problems)that isn't even ours to owe. We lose our faith in God.
In the last part of this series God shows us why He wants us to "Fear not" and to "Stand still". It's like a math problem:Fear not + Stand still= Salvation and Deliverance. If we follow this equation to the letter something will happen. God takes ownership of our problems!! You see God wants to show us something. He wants to show us that He loves us!!
Lets look into the text and see God's love in action. Verse 13 says,"Fear ye not,stand still, and "see" the salvation of the Lord,which "He will show you" today.(kjv)You see if we have fear, it causes us to flee and if we flee, we can't stay still and see what the Lord has for us. God wants us to "see" His power,grace,mercy,healing,Love! Too many times we give in to the problem and not give into God. Too many times we try and fix things we can never fix without God's help. Too many times we run to people or to things searching for the answer when all we have to do is follow the equation! Here is the reason why we should follow the equation.
Verse 13 continues as follows:"for the Egyptians(problems) whom ye have seen today,ye shall see them again no more forever".(kjv) Forever!!God wants to not only fix your problem but He wants to fix it FOREVER!!You see we all have some types of "Egyptians" in our lives.We've tried to fix things our way and the problem still seems to be there. The Egyptians claimed ownership of the children of Israel.They didn't want to let them go, they wanted to possess them! That is just what satan wants too! He wants us to submitt to our problems. He wants to possess us with our problems.He wants us to claim ownership of our problems. When you own something it's up to you to fix it! He want us to go everywhere accept to God! Why? Because he knows that if we go to God the problem won't be our problem anymore!! Verse 14 reads:"The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."(kjv) How much of our lives have we given up trying to solve our own problems? How much pain have we endured because we ran before God showed us His answer?
God has given us an example in His Word of how we should deal with the Egyptians(problems) in our lives.He wants to show us His love in action. He wants us to trust Him in the smallest or largest problems. He wants to fight for you today. There is someone today that needs to know that God loves you and has not forgotten about your situation. "Fear not" and"Stand still" and "See" the salvation of the Lord!!!
Proverbs 3:5&6 gives us another "life equation" to follow. 5."Trust in the Lord with "all" thine heart;and lean "not" unto thine own understanding.(problem solving,feelings,emotions)6."In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."(kjv) God will solve our problems if we "trust" Him with them. Today make youself a promise to stop taking ownership of your problems and give them over to God. Don't you want to see what He can do with them!!!!!
"Father my prayer today is that someone recieve this Word of knowledge and comfort and hope.Help us to see that you are ready and willing to dispose of every problem and situation we face. Father, we know you love us because when sin became a problem for us, you sent your son Jesus to give us a permanent solution to that problem. We claim no ownership rights to to any of our problems but give all ownership rights over to Jesus the "Rock" of our salvation. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ,Amen".

Part II "Stand Still !" Exodus 14:13&14

Part II of this study deals with another command that Moses gave to the children of Israel. The first command was for them to "fear ye not". Anytime there is a problem or situation that we don't have an answer for, it can cause us to have fear. Fear that we are going to have to go through something that we don't want to go through. We may have to deal with something we just don't want to deal with. When we have tried everything we can do, then we turn to God hoping that He can fix our problems or situations. The thing we must know is that God is and will always be there with us in any situation we find ourselves in.That's why the second command Moses gave was "stand still".
Israel found themselves in what seemed like a hopeless situation. They were being chased by Pharaoh and they had nowhere to run or hide.The Red Sea was in front of them and they had no safe way of crossing it. It seemed like certain death either way. In this hopeless situation God showed us some keys to handling our problems "His way". Moses told them to "fear ye not" and to "stand still".
Standing still is hard to do if we are in fear of something.A big dog comes running down the street and we will run in the house! Some people can see a spider and jump in a chair. There are people that move around slow but let that fear kick in and see how fast they can run! But sometimes our running can make the problem worse!We can run and run and still end up facing the same problem! God knew that it was time for Israel to face their problem and the only way was for them to "stand still".
How many times have we ran in our lives thinking it would solve our problems. We have ran from job to job. We have ran from house to house and town to town.We have ran out of one relationship into another.We have ran to drugs,alcohol,sex and even gambling.We have even ran from church to church trying to find the one solution to our many problems.God has given us the answer here in the book of Exodus.
Exodus 14:14 Gives us the reason for us to "stand still" in the midst of our problems.It reads as follows:"The Lord shall fight for you,and ye shall hold your peace." In other words this is what Moses meant to say:"Stand still so you won't get in God's way!". How many times have we gotten in the way of God? Anytime we try and fix things on our own or anytime we take off running, we get in the way of God's plan for us!I had to learn the hard way about running when I ran from God!Instead of my life getting better it got worse. Things never fell into place and I always knew whatever I did just wouldn't workout.Then God took me to a place where I had to "stand still".
There is someone out there that is going through a rough time in their life. It seems like problems are jumping up everywhere. It seems like there is no way out of the situation that you find yourself in. My answer to you is to FEAR NOT and to STAND STILL! Believe that God is willing and able to bring you through anything that you are going through! This Word is for me too. I have been going through alot the last few years and now I have no choice but to "Stand still" It's hard sometimes to wait on God but if we do, He will fix things where the problem will never be a problem for you ever again. That is the next and last part of this lesson "God's Salvation and Deliverance".We serve an awesome God that can not only save us from ourselves and our problems but can deliver us too!But we have to follow His Word and "Fear not" and "Stand still". There is a song that says, "When you've done the best that you can.You just stand!". When everything seems hopeless!When everyone and everything seems against you!When the doctor says there is no hope! When you have done all that you can do,STAND STILL!!!God wants to bless you and give you something to shout about!!
"Father,there have been times in our lives when we just want to get away from our problems and situations. We don't want to face our problems and sometimes run to people and things we should not run to. Help us to run to you! Help us to trust in you, to lead us through our problems and situations in life.Forgive us when we fall weak and run and not stand still and wait on you.In the mighty name of Jesus we pray to you,AMEN!"

"DEALING WITH PROBLEMS GOD'S WAY " READ EXODUS 14;13

This will be a three part series on Exodus 14:13.In the first part of the passage,Moses gives them (Israel) some directions we all should live by when facing any problems that arise in our lives. As you know life is a series of problems,no one on this Earth lives a life problem free. The Bible starts out with a problem in the garden. When Adam and Eve seen they were naked, that was a problem.They tried to solve the problem with Fig Leaves! Every time we try to solve our problems without God,we are using Fig Leaves. In today's passage the children of Israel was faced with a problem which seemed hopeless to them. They were faced with a choice of solving their own problem or trusting in God to see them "through" the problem.The problem they faced was either go back to Egypt or to cross the Red Sea some how.To them both choices seem like certain death.There have been times in my life when I've felt the same way because of my fears.
God lead Moses and Israel out of Egypt to the edge of the Rea Sea. Everything was fine until they saw Pharaoh and his army.There was nowhere to run because there was a great sea in front of them and no time to make a way across it. Now I can imagine some of the solutions that may have been thought of. "We can try and build a boat to get across." "We can try and swim across." "We can try and go around to get across." Then there were the ones that said it would be easier just to go back to Egypt! The main thing that occurred was FEAR. The problem cause them to fear and fear will make us do things we normally wouldn't do.Fear was what made Adam and Eve sew those Fig Leaves and fear will cause us to sew some too!
Fear does several things to us because it makes us focus on the problem and not really the solution. My sister and I used to watch those old horror movies every Saturday when we were coming up. Sometimes I'd have a nightmare because I was focused on Dracula and not on the stake that was driven through his heart! Fear makes us want to run, it makes us want to do whatever it takes to resolve the problem. The first thing Moses told the children of Israel to do was to "fear not"!It probably didn't make any sense to them. "You must be crazy,Pharaoh is behind us and the Red Sea in front of us,nowhere to run and you say fear not!"
So how do we overcome our fears when the problems in life seem unbearable. When there doesn't seem like there is a way out.We have to turn our problems completely over to God.We have to trust that He has "already" fixed the problem. We have to remember all the other times that He brought us through the waters!(problems)You see Israel had forgotten what God had delivered them from. All they could focus on was the problem at hand. They forgot all the powerful signs and wonders God had use to free them in the first place. They became afraid because they had their focus on the problem and not on God!!
2 Timothy 1:7 reads: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;but of power,and of love, and of a sound mind."(kjv)Many times in life our problems have us fearing the worst. Some of us can't sleep because of them. We toss and turn all night and dread the coming morning. There maybe problems at home or at work. There maybe problems with health or even in your church. Whatever the problem, the first thing we must do is "fear not"! If you know God has made a way before, He will do it again if we just let Him. Someone today needs to know that no matter what the problem, God has a solution for it!Stop being afraid, trust God and give everything to Him in prayer!
"Father sometimes our fears keep us from waiting on your solutions to our problems. We run here and we run there trying to solve our own problems thinking we can do things without your help. Please forgive us for all the Fig Leaves we have sown in our lives and we ask you right now, in the name of Jesus, to take us "through" our problems! In Jesus name,AMEN!"
Next part II :"Stand Still"

"Expectations" Read Matthew 22:34-40

Expectations of ourselves and others is something we must deal with each day of our lives. We expect certain things from our wives and husbands. We expect certain things from our boyfriends or girlfriends. Our jobs have placed certain expectations on us to preform at a high level each day.There are even some family and friends that expect us to do what they think we should be doing for them. Every parent has expectations for their children.There are some that meet every expectation and more.Then there are the ones that just can't seem to meet any expectations at all. Is it them or could it really be us and our expectations that make others feel like failures?
I want to get personal with you for a minute. Since I was a baby there has been high expectations placed on me. I tried my best to live up to them. I studied hard,I played hard, but in the end I never really reached the expectations that I had,my parents or others had for me.For a long time I accepted the fact that my life was a failure. I couldn't keep a job. I couldn't keep any marriages. I couldn't stop drinking and drugging. You name it, I couldn't do it! I had become so accustom to failing that I'd fail before I even had a chance to fail! Just because I never reached those old expectations ,I felt like my whole life was a failure!
The Lord woke me up the other night with this one giant word "expectations".He showed me that sometimes our own expectations of ourselves and others can cause alot of pain and even anger! We hurt when we don't reach our expectations. Relationships can end because of our expectations. Jobs are lost because of not reaching certain expectations.We have even placed certain expectations on God. How many people have given up on God because they feel he hasn't done things they expect him to do?Who needs a God like that!We sometimes expect God to drop everything and tend to our needs."Lord, I have this really high cellphone bill I need help paying so I expect you to help me get it paid this week." The week passes and there is only a recording talking on that phone!Now that person becomes upset with God because he didn't meet their expectations! I can truthfully say that there have been times I've felt the same way about God. There have been times when I felt he didn't do what I expected him to do. I knew that I had a need that only he could help me with but he didn't seem to care. He left me out there to deal with it and to face my situation head on. I knew afterward that he was there the whole time.Every lost job, I learned something from it. I was blessed with three lovely kids from those failed marriages and have a loving,caring wife I've been with since 2001 . Every life experience has been a gift of knowledge that some will never have. All this from what I thought was failed expectations. We have expectations of God, but what about his expectations of us?
In today's passage,Jesus tells us what God expects from us. His "expectations" center on one word LOVE! God expects us to LOVE him with all our heart, all our soul, and all, our mind. How many of us meet this expectation? What is your love focused on right now? Next,God expects us to LOVE our neighbors like we love ourselves. Are you meeting that expectation in your life? Is there someone you know you can help but just aren't doing it? Do you find it hard to meet these "expectations"? If so, remember this message when someone doesn't meet the expectations "you have" for them!Don't let your own expectations cause someone to fall.Let LOVE be your "expectation" in life. Show your LOVE for God by showing someone, some LOVE TODAY!!
"Father if we could only try to fulfill your expectations for us, this world would be so much better for everyone. Forgives us if our expectations have caused others to fall.Let your LOVE work through us each and everyday! In Jesus mighty name,Amen."
P.S. I "expect" you to pass this and all messages along!(smile)

What Is Trying To Keep You From Jesus? Read Mark 5:24-34 & Luke 19:1-10

This is a fact! There will always be something or someone that will try to keep you from Jesus!The Gospels are full of stories where certain things or people were "in the way" of someone trying to get to Jesus.Mark 2:1-5,Mark 5:24-34 and Luke 19:1-10 are some examples. Read these passages and recognize what came between that person and Jesus.Now lets look at one of these passages and a situation that a man named Zaccheus found himself in. Read Luke 19:1-10.
Zaccheus had a few things going against him when he "sought to see Jesus". First he was a hated tax collector. During the time that Jesus was on Earth everyone hated the tax collector because almost everyone was poor and had nothing really to give. Secondly, Zaccheus was rich! He made good money as a tax collector and maybe his lifestyle showed it.He must have lived the life! Still with these things against him,he still wanted to see a man called Jesus. Surely he'd heard all the stories about the miracles.Surely he'd heard about the ministry of peace Jesus preached. Surely he just wanted to see just what everyone was going crazy about. Surely Jesus was just a man; so what's the the big deal about Jesus?
Zaccheus may have had somethings that may have kept him from Jesus but the main thing at the time was his height. The Bible says that Zaccheus was a short person and at that moment "the press" of people kept him from seeing Jesus. The press got in his way, the people got in his way. It didn't matter if he was short because if it wasn't for the "press or crowd" he could have clearly seen Jesus. So Zaccheus changed his position!He didn't just stay in a place where he knew he'd never be able to see Jesus. He moved, he changed,he repositioned himself!!
Take a look at your life today, this very moment. No matter if you are a good church going person or one that just believe.There is always going to be something or someone that will try to keep you from Jesus!Like Zaccheus;it's up to us to recognize what or who it is.He knew he was short and that the "press or crowd" would come between he and Jesus. He knew if he wanted to see Jesus he had to change his situation and position.What is "the press" in your life? It could be your job? It could be your husband or wife? It could be a family member or friend? It could be an illness or addiction? It's always going to be something!
Zacchesus recognized the problem and acted on it.He changed his position and placed himself where he could see Jesus. The amazing thing is that when he did ,Jesus knew where to look for him. Jesus knew he was in that tree! Zacchesus wanted to just get a look at Jesus, but Jesus wanted to do more!Jesus didn't just want Zacchesus to just see him! Jesus wanted Zacchesus to know him!Jesus wanted to bless him!!
There are times in our lives when we find it hard to see Jesus. We look at others from the outside and we see Zacchesus. We judge them and instead of helping them,we become apart of the "press"!We find it hard to believe that Jesus can be anywhere near that person or situation.In this Easter season when Christ "repositioned himself" and placed himself on a cross, can we be willing to do the same? Can we overcome our hatred of others and see the true love of Jesus? Christ wants to meet you and wants to be apart of every area of your life. He has "need" of you but can't use you because you have given into the "press". Let us make appoint to do whatever it takes to see Jesus in every area of our lives. Zacchesus did and what a blessing he recieved in return!!
"Father we sometimes allow our feelings and our situations keep us from seeing you in our lives. We sometimes become apart of the "press or crowd" that are keeping others from seeing you.Help us Father to see your son through everyone and everything.In the mighty name of Jesus,Amen!!"

"Time To Remove Those Training Wheels!" Read Deuteronomy 4:30&31

Something to think about...... I have many scars on my body. Every scar has it's own story.Like the ones on my elbows that came from a motorcycle accident. That one had me walking around looking like a Mummy! Then there is one of my very first and I guess my favorite scar. I call it my "learning how to ride a bike" scar.I hope you can relate to this one. This is my story.
One sunny day I was riding my bike up and down the sidewalk of our street in Port Arthur,Texas. I had a Christmas bike, a nice shiny,blue Schwinn,with training wheels.That bike was my heart,it was all I thought about. I'd come from school and do my reading(required by my parents)and then roll out my shiny new bike.This went on for months then one day my sister Gwen and I thought it was time to remove the training wheels!
Removing the training wheels has to rank high on the fear scale for kids.We all as kids had our nightmares and monsters and fears. We may have had a bully at school that gave us some fear.Some of us had a fear of dogs and even cats.One day I had to jump through our car window because of a dog chasing me! Good thing the window was down!There was alot of things out there to fear but none could top the fear I had of removing my training wheels.
Riding a bike is so easy with training wheels. I used to fly down the sidewalk,not worrying about a fall.The training wheels kept me upright. The training wheels gave me something I could lean on.The training wheels took away my fear of falling.
That sunny day when we removed my training wheels has effected my life today. You see the very thing I feared happened that day. I fell! I fell alot of times and one time busted my knee up. It lift a scar on my knee that reminds me of the day I took my training wheels off.I learned that falling is apart of life if I take my training wheels off.Since then I've fell plenty of times,but God has been there helping me back onto my feet.He keep telling me to get back on the bike!
Fear of falling will keep you from your blessings!No one likes to fail, no one likes to fall. So we walk through life on training wheels! You see it took faith in my sister for me to remove my training wheels that day. I believed that she would be there to catch me if I fell.We have to have that same faith and trust in God!We have to believe that He loves us too much to let us truly fail.
There is someone today that needs this message. They need to know it's time to remove those training wheels! Fear of falling(failing) is keeping you from your blessing! That idea you've had all these years but have been afraid to do,remove the training wheels!That person that God has been telling you to talk to,remove the training wheels!That business you been wanting to open,remove the training wheels! That house or car you been afraid to buy,remove those training wheels! If you have faith in God,remove those training wheels!
Even though my sister was there, I still fell,but she was there to help me up. She didn't hold me up all the time,she just gave me a good push and let me go. Isn't that what God wants to do for us? He can't wait until we take off our training wheels so He can give us a good push too! He can't wait until we put all our faith and trust in Him!
Today's passage paints a clear picture of how God feels about us. He said he "will not forsake thee", or "destroy thee". For those of you out there that are so close to your blessing,please take those training wheels off! Please place your faith in God!Put your trust in God,believing that even if you fall,He'll be there for you and with you!
After falling many times, I learned to ride my bike.Still there were times when I'd still fall. It was way more fun to ride without those training wheels.Our lives can be the same way if we just remove those training wheels!
"Father,there is so many things you want to do for us but we let our fears get in the way. Help us to fear not and place all our faith and trust in you. In the mighty,mighty name of Jesus,AMEN!"

What A Difference A Smile Can Make! Read Proverbs 17:22

God is so good that He places people in our lives when we really need them. I was feeling depressed the other day. You know, having one of those days where you find yourself asking the question,"why"? "Why Lord am I going through all this?" "Lord, you know I have all these needs,yet you aren't doing anything about it." "Lord, why we have to go through so much suffering?" "WHY LORD???" Have you every had one of those "why" days?
Just as I thought my day was a lost,I saw this man in a wheelchair. This man had no legs at all. Now I don't know how he lost his legs but I do know what he didn't lose. He didn't lose his smile! His smile drew my attention from his handicap and made me focus on him. Here was this man with a severe handicap but with so much joy in his spirit! Here was a person that had every right to be angry,mad,and sad about his situation, yet what a smile he had. He may have been missing somethings on the outside,but he had the right thing on the inside. What he had was a "merry heart" You see I didn't know this man ,but I knew a smile when I seen one!
Proverbs 17:22 states "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine : but a broken spirit drieth the bones."(kjv)
How many times have our dryness rubbed off on others? We walk around with ugly,smile-less faces!We walk around with sad, heavy hearts not realizing how truly,truly blessed we are to have legs at all!
The lesson I learned the other day is that a "merry heart" is like medicine not just for that person, but it's medicine for others too! That man's smile give me reason to smile too! His smile lifted me out of the funk I was in and gave me hope. His smile let me know that no matter how bad things my seem I should always have a reason to smile! What a difference a smile can make! Don't let satan take away your smile!!
"Father, there are times when we let satan take away our reasons to smile. We get so rapped up in ourselves that we forget just how truly,truly blessed we are. Let our smiles be like medicine to others as the man's smile was to me! In the mighty name of Jesus,AMEN!"

Caring ! The True Power Of Prayer!! Read 1 Peter 5:7

Jesus was at a wedding feast with his mom when she went to him saying that all the wine was gone. "They have no wine." said Mary his mother. Now let us look at this in another way. Could this have been a prayer request to Jesus? "Lord, I have no clothes." "Lord, I have no rent money." "Lord,I have no food in my house." "Lord,..................!!"
Last week I touched on this story of how Jesus turned water into wine. He doesn't do anything a little bit or halfway.He told the servants to fill the jars all the way to the brim. But it took Mary's "plea" to him for the miracle to even take place. Mary gave us an example of the power of prayer.
Number one; she knew who to pray to. She went to Jesus! She precieved there was a "need" and she went to the one person she believed could fill that "need".(Read John 14;13&14)
Number two; she interceded for the people at the wedding.Mary must have been touched by the situation and went to Jesus with her concerns and cares. We don't pray for others because we really don't care! We feel like we have enough going on in our own lives to spend time praying for someone else.(Read Ephesians 6:18)
Number three;she didn't give up! When Jesus said it wasn't his time yet, she just told the servants to do what he'd tell them to do! She didn't take "no" for an answer! She didn't give up on her prayers!She believed that Jesus would "feel" her need and act on it. She believed that Jesus cared!!(Read Luke 18:1-8)
Mary showed us in what is believed to be the first miracle preformed by Jesus that there is power in prayer! So much power that it changed water into wine! So much power it caused Blind men to see and the Deaf to Hear! It lead to the feeding of Five Thousand and the raising of a man called Lazarus! Oh, there is so much power in PRAYER! We just don't pray like we used to.We just don't care enough! Our forefathers and mothers knew about the power of prayer! I remember my late mother would get up every morning with her Bible in one hand and her old prayer beads in the other. That was her special time that she spent with the Lord. Do you take time to really get your prayer on? When is the last time you honestly prayed for someone that you knew needed the help of Jesus?To really pray we have to be concerned. To really pray we have to care!1 Peter 5:7 reads,"Casting all your care upon him;for "he careth" for you." He cares! If we care about our prayers then Jesus will too! Caring means not just going through the motions but praying with feeling and emotion and compassion for others!God is waiting to use His awesome power through Jesus,but we have to care! There is someone out there that needs you to start caring today, there is someone out there that needs some prayers, there is someone out there that needs some "water turned into wine",there is someone that needs us to care!
"Father, we know we sometimes just go through the motions in our prayer lives.There are times when we don't show just how truly important our prayers are to you.Help us to care and truly use the power of prayer! In the mighty name of Jesus,Amen!"
(Please read the verses given,thank you.)

Why Are You Just Settling For Peanuts? Read Luke 5:1-6

How many times in our lives do we just settle for peanuts? I mean we are happy with the little blessings that God sends our way. We are satisfied with just getting by,living from payday to payday. We are satisfied with eating the same foods over and over again. We are satisfied that we have money in our bank accounts just in case we may need it.Some of us dare not buy a new outfit or new shoes. We can't bring ourselves to give to that bum at the corner store not realizing that we "bum" from God everyday. That is what I call settling for peanuts!
We are children of an awesome God! He never settles for just peanuts! When Jesus turned the water into wine, He told the servant to fill the jars to the brim! Not just a little water, not just half way, not just peanuts,but all the way to the brim! Why do we always settle for peanuts? Could it be our lack of faith? Is it a lack of faith that keeps us living from payday to payday? Is it a lack of faith that keeps us from buying some new outfits or shoes that we know we need. Is it a lack of faith that keeps us from giving no matter who the person or church is?
I love today's passage because it is a challenge to us to stop fishing in shallow waters and step out into the deep. You see it's easy for us to operate in shallow waters.It's easy just to settle for peanuts. If something happens in shallow waters, we can just walk to shore, but when you are out in the deep, you can't make it alone! Out in the deep you need a Savior! Out in the deep you need a "Way" maker! Out in the deep you need someone that can calm the seas and walk on water! Out in the deep you can't just settle for peanuts!!Out in the deep you need JESUS!!
When Jesus told Simon Peter to : "Launch out into the deep,and let down your nets for a draught.(Lk.5:4 kjv)"it was truly a test of faith. You see Jesus didn't say let your "net" down, He said let your "nets" down!Too many times we just settle for one net. Jesus was not just settling for peanuts!!Peter had been fishing all night and had come up with nothing but peanuts,,but when he stepped out on faith and believed in the Word of Jesus,he stopped dealing with peanuts and started experiencing the true Power of God!
The other day I was praying and God put this in my Spirit. "Clarence,you been settling for peanuts when I have so much more for you! Why are you just settling for peanuts?" What He was saying to me is to stop just praying for the little things that He is "already doing for me" and start praying and believing in things that He wants to do for me!! He wants to take me into the "deep"!
Today I want you to know that God has so much more for you too! So stop settling for just peanuts!Let Him take you into the "deep"!
"Father,sometimes we don't truly realize how much you want to bless us. We become content with the "little blessing" when there are many "nets of blessings" you want to fill for us. Help us to move from just peanuts and into the "deep" with you! In the mighty name of Jesus Christ,Amen!"

Are You Hungry Enough? Read Deuteronomy 8:1-3 And Luke 15 : 11-17

Everyone know how it feels to be hungry. It's a feeling no one likes to feel. It makes us uncomfortable,and can be painful if not dealt with. I know how it feels to not have any food to eat. There was a time in my life when I was homeless because of an addiction to drugs and alcohol. I was just like The Prodigal son(Lk.15:11-17),everyday I lived for the "party" that the street life gave me. I partied so I couldn't feel my hunger pains.I knew that when I became hungry, the party would be over for me. I would have to deal with it before I could deal with anything else.Being hungry will humble you.
The Prodigal son in today's passage was willing to work for someone else rather than return home. He was ashamed of his actions, he'd rather feed the swine than humble himself before his father.You must know how truly low he had gotten because he was a Jew that believe that swine was unclean and didn't want to be nowhere near a pig!Being hungry will humble you! All he could think about was the food that was being eaten back home.It's like you being away for Christmas dinner. You can think about all the food being served at the table that you should be eating too! The turkey and dressing,pies and cakes and everything else! Being truly hungry will make you want to be back home.
I asked the question today:"Are you hungry enough?" We as Christians must have a hunger inside us that only can be filled by the Word of God.Deut.8:3 reads:"And he(God)humbled thee, and suffered thee to "hunger",and fed thee with manna,which thou knewest not,neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live."(kjv) You see it's easy to feed ourselves with natural food,but what about our spiritual food? How many times do we pick up a fork or spoon but never think of picking up the Word of God? How many times do we go out of our way just to get something to eat, yet won't pick up the Bible sitting right there in our home.It's time for us to get hungry!It's time for us to humble ourselves and return home to Jesus!He has a feast for us that no money can buy! His table is running over with everything we need to truly live an abundant life. But the only way you can be feed you must become hungry! Are you hungry enough?
Sometimes we would rather feed the "swine" the things we know are unclean,rather than get fed by the Lord.Sometimes it feels easier to deal with the "swine" then it is to deal with the Lord. We just are not hungry enough!It's time to get hungry!
"Father,help us to make it a point to not only feed our bodies, but to feed our souls as well,in the mighty name of Jesus,Amen

"It's Time For A Oil Change !" Read 1 John 1:9

I remember a time in my life when my father would check the oil before he'd drive our car. He'd open up the hood and take out the old rag he had hidden some place under the hood. He'd then pull out the "dip stick" and examine it. Sometimes he'd touch the oil on the stick to feel how thick it was. He was always concerned about that oil. He said if the oil wasn't right then the motor wouldn't run right and could destroy the motor. We couldn't afford a new car or motor, so Dad made it one of his missions in life to check the oil. Motor oil gets thick and gritty as it is used and will clog up your engine if not changed regularly. When it gets thick and gritty and dirty,it's time for a oil change.
Don't you know that we also must keep a check on our "spiritual oil". You see we sometimes get thick and gritty and dirty in our spirit life.When you find yourself jumping on people for no real reason; it's time for a oil change!When you find yourself always gossiping about others;it' time for a oil change!When you go to church and don't remember what the sermon was; it's time for a oil change!When you look at other peoples sins as being different then your own; it's time for a oil change!When you put your "wants" before the "needs" of others; it's time for a oil change!
It should be one of our missions in life to keep check of our "spiritual oil" daily. We sometimes let our sins stay with us until they make our lives feel thick,gritty and dirty. They tend to stop our "spiritual motors" and keep us from the joy and freedom of truly serving the Lord.It's time for a oil change!
So how do we change our "spiritual oil"? We confess!Confess!Confess!! We go to our mechanic name Jesus and say Lord I need a oil change today. Lord I know I haven't been running right lately, I haven't been doing some of the things I know you want me to do. Lord I haven't been treating people like you want me to treat them. Lord inside me, my soul feels thick,gritty, and dirty, I need a oil change!!!
Our passage today states;"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."(kjv)Some of us have been walking around with dirty oil way too long and it's time for a oil change. It's time to call up our mechanic,Jesus. He is willing to clean out that old oil and give you some brand new oil straight for heaven! "Heavenly Oil" that sounds like a really good name brand to me,won't you try some!!
"Father, we know we sometimes let our sins pile up on us and before we know it, our lives become gritty and dirty. We stop being the people you want us to be and stop doing the things you want us to do. Please forgive us Father for all our sins against you,in Jesus name,Amen."

Never Forget Your Dream ! Read Genesis 37:5

Here is something to think about. "There once was a child that dreamed a dream. The child told the dream to everyone. Through grammar school and high school, the dream was told.Some people laughed at the dream thinking it not possible,yet the child still held on to the dream.The child now grown and out of college, still told the dream. Then one day the dream that was told and told, for so many years, wasn't a dream anymore!"
The other night,the Lord woke me up with this one. "What happened to your dream, child?"We all have a dream. We envision certain things for our lives.Then something happens that take away our dream. We may have to drop out of school. We may get married and give up our dream. We may have to work and don't have the time to give our dream.We stop talking about our dream!
To have a dream,to have a vision, we must talk about it! It must be near to you everyday. In other word's,a dream is like a goal that we set for ourselves.Some of us are living unfulfilled lives because we have given up on our dream! Some of us walk around angry because we have given up on our dream!Some of us blame others because we have lost our dream! The real problem is that we stopped talking about it!
In today's passage Joseph dreamed a dream and he told his brothers the dream. He talked about his dream. He made it known to others. I remember telling others about my dream,but when certain things happened in my life,I gave up on my dream. I stopped talking about it. I gave up on God's power to make my dream happen!
Joseph dreamed many dreams and they all came true not because of his power but because of God's Power! That same power is still available for us today. It's never to late to have a dream and just like that child,one day it may not be a dream anymore!Today I ask you the same question the Lord asked me. "What happened to your dream,child?" Never forget your dream!!
"Father,you have given us all dreams,goals for our lives,something that makes us hungry for life. We know that life without dreams is not really life at all, and we thank you now for them. Lord help us to fulfill the dream and vision you have for our lives. In Jesus mighty name,Amen."

Thank God For His Mercy!! Read Lamentations 3:22-24 and St. Matthew 5:7

I am human; there are mornings when I don't get up with the Lord on my mind. There are somethings that I take to sleep with me that are still there when I wake up.During a given day, I sometimes get caught up with everything around me. I maybe thinking about what I'm going to eat tonight or where I'm going afterward. I may find myself focused on my family or the situations that seem to come out of no where.
Last week was one of those weeks where everything seemed to go wrong for me. I went to a store and lost my cellphone,a cellphone I'd just replaced.It happened so fast I couldn't believe it!! Then I came down with a bad "head cold" and we know how those can be. So I've been at the mercy of my wife, to help me through this time of trouble. Mercy is a word that we all must live by. Mercy is a action word!! Sometimes it's hard to show someone mercy. We tend to "want mercy" but find it hard to "give mercy". We tend to look at the person instead of the situation that person finds themselves in. We want them to hurt like we hurt! Why is it so hard to show others mercy? Because mercy has to come from the heart; it has to come from God.Thank God for His mercy!! Today's passage is one of hope for us all. First, it states that God's mercies never end. That means He is longsuffering toward us. When I don't spend time with Him ,He is still right there, willing to forgive me and show mercy to me.When I turn my back to Him, He is still there waiting to show me mercy. Secondly, the passage tells us that His mercies are "new" every morning! Isn't that awesome!Who likes drinking stale coffee every morning? No one! You get up and make a fresh pot. That's just what God does for us, He has a fresh pot of mercies for us everyday! He is willing to show us "new" mercy even when we don't deserve any mercy at all!
Everyday we have a chance to show some of that new mercy that God has given to us. The question is will you have the heart to show someone some mercy today?Can you forgive that person that you haven't had the heart to forgive?Are you willing to help someone that you know needs your help today? Can you show some mercy today?
"Father,sometimes we forget how much mercy you have shown us during our life time.We tend to take your mercy for granted. We even forget that if not for your grace and mercy we wouldn't be alive today. We thank you now for your everlasting grace, mercy and love!!In the mighty name of Jesus,Amen."

It's Time To Get Dirty! Read St. Matthew 9:35-38

It's Febuary and almost time to plant the spring gardens.Did you know that gardening is something God ordained us to do? Genesis 3:23 reads;"Therefore the Lord God sent him (Adam) forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken." God told Adam to "till" the ground, to create his own garden. To truly work in a garden you have to be willing to get "dirty".
My late father was a United Methodist minister. In the late 60's, he was given three churches in and around Jasper,Texas to minister. My father had services in town every Sunday morning, then he'd go to either Neilley Grove or Jamestown to preach. Those two churches were in the "country" as we called it. They were made up of people who lived off their land and most had farm animals and large gardens. They didn't have alot of money so sometimes they paid Dad food from their gardens. There were times that I would have to go and pick peas or dig up potatoes. It was a hard and dirty job harvesting in those gardens.
Did you know that we are living in one gigantic garden? In today's passage,Jesus told his disciples;"The harvest truly is plenteous,but the labourers are few" In other words there are alot of people ready to recieve the Word of God but not enough that are willing to get down and dirty to give it to them. Most of us have never had to harvest anything. We go to our stores and choose things that have been already harvested for us, we don't have to get dirty.
Everyday we are given the chance to get dirty . We are given the chance to bring the Good News to people whom are ready to be harvested.That is all The Lord wants us to do. He wants us to proclaim His word in this dirty, sin sick world. Every chance we get we should be at work in God's garden. There is pruning to do! There is weeding to do! There is watering to do!There is nurtering to do! It's time to get dirty!!!
One of the hardest things to do is to bear witness to the goodness of God. It's easy for us to talk about the harvest,but hard for us to be apart of it. You know the times God is leading you to speak a Word to someone you don't know or even care about.There has been many times that the Spirit has lead me to speak a Word to someone, but fear of rejection lead me not to. We just don't want to get "dirty". We are content with others doing the harvest just like we are when we go to the store.
Today I challenge you to be apart of the harvest! It's truly time to listen to the Holy Spirit and get "dirty" with the Lord!! The Lord will not send you on a suicide mission! He will be there with you, giving you the words to say.It's time to punch the clock and go to work for our Lord! It's time to get dirty!!!
"Father we pray today that we get deep down and dirty with you in your harvest. We don't want others doing our work that we can do ourselves. Forgive us when we fail to heed your Holy Spirit and bring your Word when you lead us to do so. This is our prayer in the name of Jesus,Amen!"

"Let's Move Some Stones!!" Read St. Matthew 28:18-20 and St. John 11:39-44

I was sitting here this morning thinking about what God wanted us to think on this weekend. Valentine's Day is Sunday and must of our focus this week has been on what to get for the ones we love. So I wanted to do something about love but God wanted me to show how He wants us to love each and everyday. He lead me to the story of Lazarus and a "stone".
We all know the story, how Jesus allowed one of his dearest friends to die before He came and raised him from the dead. Jesus did this more for the people around Lazarus than for Lazarus himself. He wanted their faith in the power of God to be increased. He did it for His disciples that had struggled with their own faith. He did it so that God could get all the Glory.
There is something that the Lord wants us to see in this passage that I'd never seen before.The "stone" is something I knew as coming between Lazarus and Jesus. In other words there is always something that will try to keep us from Jesus. This I'd known before but the Lord got a little more deeper with me about this "stone".
Jesus said"Take ye away the stone". Now we know that Lazarus couldn't take away the stone; he was dead. Surely Jesus could have done it Himself but He didn't. He gave that task to others that were just standing around, waiting to see what Jesus could do.
The fact of this matter was that Lazarus was dead! He could not remove that stone! How many people are out there dead in sins that can't remove the stone?? You see we don't want to mess with the dead. Some of us have dear friends and family that are dead in their sins but we are just like those people that stood around Lazarus grave.We are waiting for Jesus to move the stone, we are waiting to see if He can fix that person on His own. It's easy for us to just look!!
Jesus could have removed that "stone" but He wanted them to be involved in that situation.He wanted them to become "stone movers". He wants us also to be "stone movers" today. We must be as John the Baptist,paving the way to Jesus. We must carry the Word to those that are dead in sin and have no strentgh to move the "stones" that have come between them and Jesus.We must become "stone movers!!
This weekend as we focus on Valentine's Day let us also focus on the task that Jesus gave us. Let us show our love for Him by becoming "stone movers"! Isn't that what true love is all about; helping those that can't help themselves! Could it be that there is a "stone" in the way???
"Father, we thank you for involving us in your plan of salvation and deliverance. Help us not to just stand around and ignore those that are dead to sin but to help them move the stones that are keeping them from Jesus. We need your strength ,and courage to help us in this task. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray,Amen!"
"Now Let's Move Some Stones!!!"

Sometimes We Need A Rock In Our Heads Read 1 Samuel 17:1-11 and 17:48-51

Our ego's can kill us and things around us. Our ego's can give us a false preception of who we truly are. Our ego's can get us in alot of trouble! Don't believe me, just ask Goliath.
We all know the story of David the lowly sheperd boy going against the giant Goliath.Not only was Goliath big, but his ego was even bigger! His ego gave him a sense of false confidence in himself. There was no way that anyone or anything could bring him down. He just didn't know that sometimes God uses the small things, the lowly things, the simple things to bring our egos down. Sometimes all it takes is a Rock in our heads!
1 Peter 5:6 reads as follows:"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." How many times do we exalt ourselves over others? How many times do we put our ego's before the will of God. How many times do we take all the praise and don't give God any at all. How many times have we played Goliath in our lives?
The bible says that David used a sling and a stone to bring Goliath to the ground. Once on the ground David used Goliath's sword to cut Goliath's head off.The Rock didn't kill him it just grounded him. In other words, it took a rock in his head to humble and ground him. We too need a Rock in our heads, a Rock called Jesus!!A Rock that will help keep us humble and grounded.It's nothing wrong with have a Rock in your head if that Rock is Jesus! He is my Rock,my Bright and Morning Star,my Way out of no way, my Strength,my All and All!!
Don't let your ego ever get too big for God because you better look out!! There is a Rock aimed at your head! Thank God for His one and only Rock!
"Father, sometimes we forget from where you have taken us. We forget to humble ourselves before you in all things and sometimes let our ego's get in the way. Please forgive us and put your Rock in our heads to keep is grounded with your Love. In the mighty name of Jesus,Amen."

"Time To Put The Garbage Out" Read John 1:29 and Hebrews 12:1

Every Wednesday is garbage day at the Breaux"s house.With just my wife and I we don't have alot of garbage, but any amount still is garbage and must be rid of. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "garbage" as 1(a) food waste (b) discarded or use less material 2(a)trash (b)inaccurate or useless data. Wednesday is the day I get up and put the garbage out because it's the only day the city pick up trash in my neighborhood . If it was up to me, every day would be garbage day.
Years back I worked offshore and I was always going to some type of class. One time I had to go to New Orleans for a two day class. New Orleans is special because that is where my wife and I honeymooned, so she took off work and tagged along with me. We packed light and brought just what we needed for the trip. We didn't take anything extra and we sure didn't take along our garbage. No one takes along their trash on trips, it would stink up the place. Only a foolish person would even consider taking their garbage on a trip.
Did you know that life is like a trip or journey? The Bible uses the word "walk" to highlight this fact. So if life is a walk, we must learn to travel lightly. We wouldn't try to carry anything that wasn't important or needed for our journey. We would take only the things we felt was needed.We throw garbage away because it is use less to us. Surely we would never take any garbage with us but we do! Some of us are full of garbage and have been carrying it around with is for years! We remember every wrong that has been done to us. We just won't put that garbage out! We hold on to it and use it when someone else hurt us. The main things we don't let go is our "own" sins and shortcomings. We can't forgive ourselves for who we are,the life we have, and all the sins we have done. You know, those secret sins that we don't want anyone to know about. Those evil thoughts that we have inside that we dare not let out. Yes, we walk around everyday carrying that trash with us.
It's time we put the garbage out!! We have a "garbage man" that is willing to take our trash everyday. No matter how great, no matter how small, no matter how stinky or nasty, He is willing to take it! His name is Jesus!! Oh what a relief to know that I don't have to wait until Wednesday to put my garbage out! Oh what relief to know that I don't have to carry my garbage with me anymore, because it has been a heavy load upon me. All you have to do is call Him. Tell Him you need some garbage picked up.Tell Him you are tired of carrying around your garbage and that you are ready to put it out.He will come, but "you" have to make the call.
Wednesday has passed and I'll have to wait another week before I put the trash out again.Thank God I have someone I can call any day or anytime to pick up my garbage.Make your call today, right now, He will come. On that thought, I have a call to make my own self, it's time for me to put some garbage out!
"Father,thank you for giving us our own personal garbage man.His name is Jesus. We call on Jesus to take away all the garbage(sins) that we find ourselves carrying around everyday. We know if we call He will answer. In the mighty name of Jesus,Amen."

Mostly Cloudy With A Chance Of Blessings !! Read 1Kings17:1 and 18:41-45

I love to watch the weather forecast on televison. It's a habit I got years ago when I worked on railroad tracks for a living. Working outside, on those tracks, we always needed to know how the weather was going to be to plan the jobs from day to day. One of my main jobs was to make the plans so I'd tune in at night before bed and in the morning before work. I needed to know if it was going to be sunny or if it was going to be cloudy with a chance of rain.
In our natural lives rain is sometimes given a bad rap. Because of rain some people can't work. Rainy conditions have been blamed for many an accident and deaths.Rain can even make some people depressed.
Now in the biblical sense, the lack of rain was seen as God's judgement upon the land and the people.1Kings 17:1 talks about when the prophet Elijah passed on God's words concerning Ahab the then king of Israel.Ahab was the king that married Jezebel and she turned him and the people away from God. So the words from God was No Rain! Another way to look at it was God took away the clouds! Without clouds, there can be no rain. Without rain, streams and rivers dry up. Without rain, plants die, animals die, we die! Without clouds we miss our chance to be blessed.
There have been times in my life when everything seemed to be under a cloud. It seemed like every where I went the clouds followed me. Heavy dark clouds wieghting on my personal life, my spiriual life. Dark clouds seemed to be every where and I just couldn't find any daylight to run to.Do anyone out there know what I'm talking about? There maybe someone going through this season right now, looking to escape those clouds, but there seems to be no way out.Maybe it's time for us to not focus on the clouds, but what's inside them!! I have a "spiritual forecast" for you today:"It's mostly cloudy with a chance of blessings!!" Those same clouds that are hanging over you are the same clouds God can use to bless you. Just like in the natural world, the darker the cloud, the more rain it produces. In the spirit world the same thing goes too, the darker the clouds in our lives, the more blessings there are inside them.
Verse 45 of todays passage reads as follows:" And it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel."(kjv) If God was willing to pour out a blessing for an evil person like Ahab, surely He is willing pour one out for you.
Get your umbrella ready because the forecast is:"Mostly cloudy with a chance of BLESSINGS!!!"
"Father, help us look at the clouds in our lives as a chance for you to bless us. We know there was clouds as your Son hung on the cross and oh what a blesssing came from that! We pray in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen"

Pressure?? It's Just God Working On Your Dough!! Read Genesis 1: 1&2 and Romans 9 : 19-21

Pressure! Pressure is all around us. We awake everyday into a pressure driven world. Pressure at home. Pressure on our jobs. Pressure at school. Health issuses put alot of pressure on us. Relationships truly can put pressure on us. Our children can but alot of pressure on us. Pressure makes us make choices in our lives.
Genesis 1:2 states:" And the earth (you and I) was without form (shape-direction) and void (empty-hollow); and darkness was upon the face of the deep." Does this remind you of your life at one time or another. There was a time in my life when my life had no form and was empty and hollow. My life was just like a glob of my wife's biscuit dough.
Saturday is brunch day in the Breauxs' house. The one day I think my wife actually love getting up to cook. I think she uses me to test her recipes, and I'm a great lab rat! (smile) You should hear all the noise she makes as she gets the meal together. Pots clanging, mixer mixing,water running, alot of stuff going on in the kitchen!
One day I walked in the kitchen and on the counter was a glob of biscuit dough. It was just sitting there while my wife did other things. I looked at that dough and wondered how biscuits would come out of that mess! I watched as my wife took hold of the dough and begin to work on it. She squeezed and squeezed and squeezed it. She rolled it. She smashed it. She threw it down hard on the counter. She worked and worked on that dough, using all kinds of pressure to get the dough ready to become biscuits. She then took out the rolling pin and applied even more pressure to that dough, it wasn't a glob anymore. It wasn't without form or void. It was ready to become biscuits.
Sometimes it seems like our lives are a big glob of dough, with all the pressures of life bearing down on it from every angle. We walk around like everything is okay, yet in the inside there is a void that we can't fill. It's hard waking up and facing all the pressure but I want you to know this today. Pressure is just God working on your dough!
We are a work in progress! God uses pressure to mold us into the people He wants us to be. Not understanding God's pressure can make us make bad choices. Drugs, alcohol,adultery,bad financial decisions, the list goes on and on. Pressure, pressure, pressure! We must learn to accept pressure as a chance to grow. The truth is if we truly had faith in God there would be no pressure on us. We have to trust Him with our dough! He's trying to take us from glob to biscuit!
The brunch that day was great. The biscuits were light and tasty. My wife put alot of work and love into that dough and the results were amazing! If my wife can do amazing things with dough, think about what God can do with our dough!(lives) Just remember when pressure seems to be consuming your life: Don't worry, don't stress,it's just God working on your dough!
Father, help us to see your powerful hands molding us into the people you want us to be. Help us not to fight the pressure but to roll along with it. Help us to be your light and tasty biscuits in this sin sick world. In the mighty name of Jesus,AMEN

The Gift Of Tragedy - Read St. Matthew 14: 14

Tragedy is something we all must deal with in life. The events in Haiti is a good example to us of God's gift of tragedy. Now you must think I'm insane to make such a statement. How could anyone's pain and suffering be a gift? How could the death and displacement of so many be a gift?
There are three points I want to make about tragedy. First, tragedy humbles us. When something tragic occurs, it shows us just how really powerless we truly are. There was nothing we could do to prevent that earthquake. There was nothing we could do to stop our loved ones from dying. There is nothing we can do to prevent any tragedy. Tragedy gives us the gift of humility. The second thing tragedy does for us is the gift of prayer. Tragedy leads us to pray. We are drawn into a need for God in our lives. We know we are powerless but we believe He has all the power we need. We are lead to pray for people we may not have prayed for otherwise. We may not have anything to give, but we almost always pray! Tragedy almost always brings out the gift of prayer. The third and most important point is LOVE! Tragedy almost always brings out love and compassion. This one should be easy for us to see. Tragic events in our personal lives helps us to relate to the tragic events of others. We know how it feels to be in pain, we know how it feels to suffer. This brings out the best in us, it brings out God's gift of love. Sometimes, we become so caught up in our own stuff, that we forget about the stuff other people are going through. The world gets too busy with it's stuff and forget that countries like Haiti were suffering way before any tragedy took place! We are not humble, not praying, not loving!
Tragedy is a gift from God to help us become more like Him. In reading the passage today it was clear to me what tragedy did to Jesus. The Bible said He was "moved with compassion" and He "healed their sick". The tragedy of those people's lives "stirred" the Lords' spirit and "moved" Him into action! Let us do the same! We don't have to wait until a tragedy to become humble,or to pray and show love to others. We get that chance everyday!!
People have come together from all over the world to help Haiti in this tragedy. Could it be a gift from God?
"Father, help us to see you in everything. Help us to humble ourselves,to pray for, and have love and compassion for others before any tragedy occurs. Father we know that any tragedy can be a gift for us, that it may help us to grow more in your likeness. In Jesus Mighty name, Amen"

Use The Knowledge- Read Hosea 4: 6

We've all heard the saying "knowledge is power". From the time we enter this world until we die we are seeking knowledge. Just as a sponge soaks up water, our brains soak up every bit of knowledge it can get. We soak up both good and bad knowledge, for our brains just want knowledge. The older we get the more knowledge we have received. Also the older we get, the more likely we are to forget that same knowledge.
In today's passage God through Hosea made a statement to His people. Verse 6 states" My people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee,". This is one powerful message to us all. It states just how important "knowledge" is to God. The trick was the people had been given the knowledge! They had the Law of God. They had the stories of the Prophets of old. They had all the knowledge they needed! But there was just one problem, the same one we have today. Using the knowledge! How many times have we had knowledge, but just didn't use it? There are times in our lives where we can do what we know is right but we just don't do it. There also are times we should look out for others but we don't. There are times when we should be silent but we talk. There are times we just don't "use the knowledge"
As we start this new year, lets try our best to "use the knowledge". God has given us and continue to give us, all the knowledge we need. It's up to us to use it!
Father, help us to not ignore the knowledge you have given us in life and through your Glorious Word. Help us to "use the knowledge". In the awesome name of Jesus, Amen

"God's Special Place" Read- 2 Timothy 2: 15

Well another Sunday has passed and we have taken our Bibles and put them in their "special places". I think everyone has their "special place" for their Bibles. We take it and place it where we can see it and know where it's at, at all times. Some of us put all sorts of things in our Bible. You see people every Sunday open their Bible and stuff fall out of it! You may have even helped picking their things off the floor. Our Bibles even serves as our secret place to hide things. We put money or papers we deem valuable in our Bibles. It makes us feel secure because no one better mess with our Bibles! Better not touch it! Better not open it up! Better not read it! It's our Bibles, and we put it in it's own "special place" until Sunday. (smile)
Those things we store in our Bibles all have their own places. Just as those things have their own places, the Bible does too. It's a very , very special place that God created for it. That special place is "within us". We are God's special place where He wants to place His very special Word. How do we get His Word in us? 2 Timothy 2:15 gives us the answer. We must study to be approved! We must study to be able to pass the test! We are tested daily, how can we pass these test if we don't study? The answer to every test is in God's Word, but we have to study.
We all have our "special places" for our Bibles, but let us try to put the Bible in the place where God wants it: "within us". A very, very, "special place" to God.
"Father, gives the strength to study your Word so we can pass the tests that come into our lives." In Jesus name,AMEN

There's Nothing Like The Real Thing!- Read Romans 5:1-8

The other day I went to a beauty supply store with my wife. While in the store I saw somethings that disturbed me. There was so much fake stuff that it scared me! You know what I'm talking about. There isn't anything nowadays that can't be made to look real!There is fake jewelry, fake shoes, fake perfume, and my favorite; fake eggs and bacon. Now why would anyone do that to eggs and bacon! The word "imitation" has become almost as important as the word "real". Another word used today is "substitute". We substitute everything, even our teachers!
My wife wanted to bake a cake the other day so we went to H.E.B. to get some vanilla extract. I picked up a bottle but she told she want to use the "real" vanilla. She didn't want any part of her cake to be fake. Shouldn't we want our lives to be the same as Jacqueline"s cake? There's nothing like the real thing! There is nothing like my Jesus! There is No Substitute!
He is our Peace! He is our Strength! He is our Burden Bearer!He is our Joy and our Love! He is..... The Real Thing! No matter how we try to make our lives easier! No matter what we do to make ourselves feel good! No matter how we twist it and turn it, there is no substitute. The blood Jesus shed was real! The cross He died on was real! The love he has for us is real!
Everyday this world is getting faker and faker. It's getting to the point where we can't tell what is real or not real. We need to see through the lie into the truth. Just as Jacqueline wanted the real ingredients in her cake, we should want our lives filled with the love of Jesus! Now that's the "Real Thing"!
Father help us to be "real" to you, as you have been "real" to us.
In Jesus holy name, Amen

There's Still Meat On That Bone!! - Read St. John 5:1-9

Sometimes it's funny how God speaks to us. A few days ago I was sitting in our den indulging in one of my favorite pastimes; eating. I love to eat and I'd just finished cleaning some meat off a pork chop bone. I was about to throw the bone in the trash when I saw there was still meat on that bone. That's when God took over. How many times do we just give up on things? How many times have we given up on God? We take things that we consider useless and cast them aside. We find it's easier to give up, then to try to get all the meat off that bone. We don't want to fight for our marriage so we get a divorce. We don't want to fight for our jobs so we quit. We don't want to fight for our kids so we let the streets raise them. We give up on addicts and the less fortunate. We have no mercy on those bones. I want to tell you today that there's still meat on those bones!! Have faith in God!(Mark 11:22) Don't give up on people or things so easily. In the passage today, this man had been given up on, cast aside like a bone with no meat. But Jesus came and He saw some meat on that bone! He saw a chance to give God the glory! He saw a chance for a miracle! There are going to be times when you want to give up but remember this:"There's still meat on that bone!!
Father help us to see you in everyone and everything.
In Jesus name Amen!

Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark - Matthew 4:12-17

Mankind as a whole has had a fear of the dark. I remember as a kid I slept with a light on. That light stayed on until I over came my fear of darkness. Evil is almost always associated with darkness. Vampires and other creatures can only operate at night. Most crimes are committed at night. Darkness seems to feed our fears.
There are times in our lives when things seem the darkest. Sickness,finances,divorce,relationships with family and friends and death can all bring darkness into our lives. This darkness can cast a heavy shadow on us all, not just affecting us,but also the lives of others. Now come close and let me tell you a secret: "God does some of His best work in the Dark!!"
Genesis 1:2-3 states "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."(3)" And God said , let there be light: and there was light." There has to be darkness before there can be light, so don't be afraid of the Dark. Look around you and see what God created in darkness.Simply put, He created a miracle! We can rest assured that in our darkest times, God is there waiting to create a miracle for us as well! We just can't be afraid of the dark. King David may have said it best in Psalms 23:4 "Yea, though I walk through the valley (low spot) of the shadow (darkness) of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Darkness is coming, that is a fact of life, but we don't have to be afraid because we have a light named JESUS! Don't be afraid of the dark!
May God's Grace And Mercy Be With You Today And Always!