THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2,2010

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. (Mark 8:31 NRSV Bible)

I remember an old story about a court jester who was once given a wand by the nobleman he served. "Keep this," said the nobleman, until you find a greater fool than yourself." The jester put away the wand and kept it for many years. One day the nobleman lay dying. Calling the jester to his side, he said, "I am going on a long journey." The jester asked, "Where to?" The nobleman shrugged his shoulders. "For how long?" asked the jester. "Forever," replied the nobleman weakly. "What provisions have you made for your journey?" asked the jester. "None," answered the nobleman. "Then," said the jester, "take this," and he handed the nobleman his wand. "For you are a greater fool than I."

The nobleman was a fool because he had not prepared for his future. Jesus knew it was important to be prepared for the future. For only fools don't prepare for what is to come.

In our scripture reading today, Jesus is trying to prepare the disciples to be ready for what is to come. He directly says to them, I will be rejected, I will be killed, and after three days I will rise again. Jesus wanted the disciples to be prepared for what was to come. The road would not be easy. And Jesus did not want the disciples following him under false pretenses. Jesus wanted the disciples to be ready for the trials and suffering they would endure.

It is important that we ask ourselves if we are ready for what is to come, because if we take our faith seriously the road ahead will not be easy. It will be a great challenge. But, we can also be prepared for the future by developing our spiritual lives in connection with God through Jesus Christ. Are we prepared for what the future holds?

Dear God, thank you for this season of Lent. May I do all I can to truly be prepared for whatever the future holds. Amen.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26,2010

2 Corinthians 5:1 (New Living Translation)

1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.

Today Linda asked if I would meet her in the afternoon and be with her at her mothers side when the Priest comes to pray for her. I told her that I would. As you know, Linda & I are Protestant not Catholic, so I wasn't sure what to expect and I was very happily surprised and impressed, by how this 49 year old Priest handled the situation. He truly cared for Linda's mom. He prayed! He read Bible scriptures! We said the Lord's Prayer together! He held Linda's moms hand and told her that God is waiting for her and how she will be having very happy times soon! We don't know if Dorie could hear any of what was happening, but like the Priest, we knew her spirit was listening.

And how truly brave and loving my wife Linda is with all this happening. She has not once left her mom alone during the daytime hours, even though she knows her mom probably doesn't know she's there. She gets there about 9:00 AM and stays till about 4:15 PM and then heads to work from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM. her and her mom are very close! I am very proud of her!

Oh by the way, I helped the Priest out in a big way. He told us he is going to be gtone a few days to go home and celebrate his dads 79th birthday. He said his dad gets a big bang out of every once in a while calling his son Father Mac. I told him that when his dad does that he should answer with, "Yes my son!" He replied that he had never thought of that and thanked me because he was going to do that from now on. And then he started laughing, thinking about what his dad will do!

My friends and family, here is what Billy Graham has tosay about death!

Death, to the Christian, is the exchanging of a tent for a building. Here we are as pilgrims or gypsies, living in a frail, flimsy home; subject to disease, pain, and peril. But at death we exchange this crumbling, disintegrating tent for a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. The wandering wayfarer comes into his own at death and is given the title to a mansion which will never deteriorate nor crumble. Do you think that God, who has provided so amply for living, has made no provision for dying? The Bible says we are strangers in a foreign land. This world is not our home; our citizenship is in heaven. When a Christian dies, he goes into the presence of Christ. He goes to heaven to spend eternity with God.

Dear Lord, today keep me mindful that as Your child my real home is not on this earth, but that one day I will exchange this tent for a house made by You in heaven.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2010

A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power.
EPHESIANS 6:10

Ernie Banks, the Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer, is known not only for his accomplishments as a player but also for what he didn't accomplish. Even though Banks was one of the greatest players of his era and had a long and productive career, he never played in a World Series or a play-off game. While Banks delighted Cubs fans with his glove and his bat, his team became permanent residents of the National League cellar. Yet Banks played with the intensity of a champion, year in and year out. Recently in a radio interview he was asked how he could play at a peak level when there was little or no hope of playing in a World Series. He responded with a powerful statement: "You have to love the game itself and not love yourself in the game." Banks went on to explain that he loved the game of baseball so much that he had to give his best effort in every game.

It's easy to love the game when we're winning and being recognized. When the company is setting sales records, when the church is packed, when others are recognizing our achievements, it's easy to strive for excellence and have passion for the good and the godly. Yet in the years or the seasons of life when there are no awards, no bonuses, and little tangible success, it is tempting to allow the warmth of our spiritual passion to drop below body temperature. But God calls us to be steadfast in our spiritual passion every day, even when we feel like losers.

The apostle Paul's admonition to be strong is followed by his instruction to put on the whole armor of God. Changing Paul's metaphor from a battlefield setting to a ballpark, a loose paraphrase of this would be, "Be strong, and put on the uniform of champion every day!" I have to tell you, sometimes it is hard to put that uniform on. But by the end of every day, I'm so happy I did. Linda & I, in our entire lives, have never had soooo little money. Most of my visits to Churches around the country, our costs out number what we take in. But somehow, we do make enough to almost pay our bills. The ones we can't, go on a credit card. But we are both committed to working for the Lord. He always seems to provide us with enough to fulfill our needs! The good feeling that God has put into my heart, sure outweighs the big money I used to make playing in bars!!!!!!! THANK YOU LORD!

Let me ask you and answer honestly to yourself, Do you exhibit your spiritual passion even when there is no prospect of immediate reward?

Prayer
Lord, give me a passion for your kingdom every day—not just on the days I am perceived as a winner.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2010

Ephesians 4:29-32 (The Message)

29Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.

30Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.

31-32Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

Showing mercy to those who hurt us does not come naturally—it’s easier to get angry and remain that way. We justify our lack of forgiveness by pointing to the injustice that took place or harm that was done. But God commands us to be merciful (Luke 6:36). We, who have been shown divine mercy, are to practice a lifestyle of forgiveness.

So why don’t we obey? Sometimes our pride gets in the way. We become angry when treated with disrespect, passed over for a job opportunity, or ignored despite our accomplishments. At other times we get focused on other people’s refusal to change, and we withhold mercy until they improve their behavior. Then, some of us have been badly hurt or unjustly treated. Our minds are so filled with pain that we become stuck in the past. We cannot see how we can forgive.

An unforgiving attitude can have all sorts of unwanted consequences, including broken relationships, emotional bondage, and indifference toward the Lord. The longer we hold onto our anger, the more it will affect our fellowship with other people as well as with our heavenly Father. Over time, we may become bitter and hostile, which certainly does not fit who we are in Christ.

It is hard for us to pardon those who tell lies about us, treat us badly, or cause harm to our loved ones. And yet, their behavior towards us is not a reason to withhold mercy. God calls us to forgive just as He forgave us—and with His help, we can do just that.

The other day my mom called me and said she had visitors over at her house. They told her that Wild Bill can't find work around because he needs to learn new songs. And some of his preaching sounds like something you would hear in a bar. Mom wouldn't tell me who the people were, but I figured it out by knowing who had visited her in the last couple weeks. I wasn't upset for myself, but for my mom. Why would anyone say something like that to my 96 year old mother? The old WILD BILL started coming out in me, but the new Christian WILD BILL happily took over. I decided instead of retaliating, I would just forgive them. I felt great about doing so and I know God was pleased with the new me! If I would lost my temper with them, I would have had to lose it with the folks they run around with.

There are a lot of folks who don't like the way I preach, the way I talk, the way I act and so on. In fact, I had a old friend tell me today that I do treat my wife Linda pretty bad sometimes. I didn't say much about it. I thought I would ask Linda if I've been mean to her. But I'll wait till she's in a good mood and won't hit me with her 2 X 4 again and again and again and again! I guess when people quit talking about you, it means they don't care about you anymore! I just hope you all will forgive me for the things I do and the things I don't do!

Dearest Father in Heaven, let my prayer for today be PART of the prayer you taught all of us to say, "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." AMEN.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 2010

But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." (Matthew 16:23 NRSV Bible)

In a CALVIN AND HOBBES cartoon, Calvin says to Hobbes, "Let's push the car out of the garage. I can't budge it by myself." Hobbes replies, "I still think you should ask your Mom to move it." Then Calvin says, "Then she'd probably say no, and we won't have the garage for our clubhouse!" Hobbes answers: "But if we don't ask her, we'll get in trouble!" Calvin replies: "We won't get in trouble!" Hobbes says: "Every time you say that, we do." Calvin answers: "Mom wouldn't care about these things if she wouldn't keep finding out about them."
Parents have a way of finding out things their children do not want them to know. Jesus knew Peter's true loyalty. Jesus told Peter, "Get behind me." It sounds as if Jesus is saying, "Get lost, Peter!" He is not. Instead, Jesus is again calling Peter to be his disciple. "Get behind me," was a call for Peter to assume his proper place following Jesus. Jesus also says to us, "Get behind me. Follow me."

I remember reading about two lawyers who heard the call to be a disciple and follow Christ. At the conclusion of the service, they were attending, they did accept the challenge. The two lawyers practiced law together, so they decided to offer free legal services to needy people in their community. Their commitment to helping others, though, changed their lives in ways they did not expect. They soon gained new paying customers. Surprisingly, several people who had been delinquent with their bills suddenly paid them in full. "I suppose they didn't want to cheat lawyers who helped the needy," one lawyer explained.

I share this story with you, because being a disciple, does not mean we have to be a missionary or become a monk. It means we use the gifts' God has given us--to help others. It means we become a disciple to people who need lots of love and some hands on help.

Lord Jesus, may my hands be hands of action in doing your great work. In Jesus Name, Amen.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2010

For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. (John 13:15 NRSV Bible)

Choosing great persons for models is good advice for anybody. But who would be on your list? A few of us might choose Mother Teresa. Some may choose Martin Luther King, Jr., the Pope, or Billy Graham. But if you want to find someone who has done all things well our list would be mighty short.
Who shall we choose to follow? There is only one who achieved excellence in every area of life and that one was Jesus Christ. He lived well, he taught well, he died well. Beyond that, he rose triumphantly and lives with God forever. Christ is the one we celebrate today. Christ is the one we should model our lives after.

In a Peanuts cartoon, Snoopy sat droopy-eyed at the entrance of his dog house. He lamented, "Yesterday I was a dog. Today I'm a dog. Tomorrow I will still be a dog. There's so little hope for advancement!"

We are who we are, but we can be so much more by modeling our lives after Jesus Christ.

Dear God, how wonderful is the example of your son. May I do all I can to allow him to live through me. In Jesus Name, Amen.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2010

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. That who so ever not die but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 NRSV Bible)

Some of us seem to be more comfortable with an impersonal God. The idea of God's son having nail prints in his hands and feet because of God's great love for us is an idea many of us are not ready for.
I read a true and beautiful story in college about the courtship of Moses Mendelssohn, the grandfather of a great German composer. Moses was a small man with a mis-shaped, humped back. One day he visited a merchant in Hamburg who had a lovely daughter. Though Moses admired her greatly, she avoided him, seemingly afraid of his grotesque hump.

On the last day of his visit he went to tell her good-bye. Her face seemed to beam with beauty but when he entered, she cast her eyes to the floor. Moses' heart ached for her. After some small talk, he slowly drew to the subject that filled his mind. "Do you believe that marriages are made in Heaven?" he asked.

"Yes," replied the young woman. "And do you?"

"Of course," Moses answered. "I believe that at the birth of each child, the Lord says, 'That boy shall marry that girl.' But in my case, the Lord also added, 'But, his wife will have a terrible hump.'"

"At that moment I called, 'Oh Lord, that would be a tragedy for her. Please give me the humped back and let her be beautiful.'" The story ends when the young woman was so moved by his words that she reached for Moses' hand and later became his loving and faithful wife.

In trying to deal with the meaning of the cross on which Christ died, the early church came to understand that those nail prints in Jesus' hands and feet have been ours. But God so loved the world that he sent his own Son to bear the burden brought about by our sin.

Dear Jesus, thank you for bearing my burden of sin. Thank you God for personally loving me enough to send Jesus. May I invite you to live close to me each day. In Jesus Name, Amen.

MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010

John 14:11 (New International Version)
11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.

Anyone who has been around a three-year-old for any length of time knows one of their favorite words is, “why”. “Why is the sky blue?” “Why does Granny have wrinkles on her face?” “Why doesn’t the baby have teeth?” On and on the questions come. You try your best to give appropriate answers without abating their curiosity. If you make it too complicated, you will confuse them and may cause them to quit asking questions.

Would you like to ask God some questions? How about, “Why do people suffer?” “Why do little children die?” “How did you create the world?” Any explanation God could give would probably be beyond your understanding. God’s ways have never been perfectly clear. His ways are not our ways. His timing is not our timing.

As a parent you may tell your children, “You do not understand this now but, someday you will. Trust me.” I think that is what God says to you. Someday you will understand. For now, you only need to trust him with what is best for your life.

Today's Prayer: Heavenly Father, my questions for you are sincere. You know all things and in your wisdom, you have not given me all the answers. I know you are Almighty God and I can trust you in all circumstances.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010

(WILD BILL'S 65 BIRTHDAY!)

1 Corinthians 2:12 (The Message)

10-13The Spirit, not content to flit around on the surface, dives into the depths of God, and brings out what God planned all along. Who ever knows what you're thinking and planning except you yourself? The same with God—except that he not only knows what he's thinking, but he lets us in on it. God offers a full report on the gifts of life and salvation that he is giving us. We don't have to rely on the world's guesses and opinions. We didn't learn this by reading books or going to school; we learned it from God, who taught us person-to-person through Jesus, and we're passing it on to you in the same firsthand, personal way.

In a Ziggy cartoon, it shows Ziggy putting up a canvas to paint on. He stands in front of it waiting for an inspiration of something to paint. Finally, a light goes off in his head and the cartoon shows a light bulb with emphases right above his head. The next frame shows him painting his great inspiration. Then the last frame displays his painting, which is a light bulb.

In using our talents and abilities, our inspirations may be plain like Ziggy's, or they may be really innovative. The most important thing about our gifts from God is that we must use them to honor God.

I look around at other people and find myself wishing that I could the things they can do. Carpenters, teachers, bankers, police, firemen, etc. But all I've ever done is play music. Which I truly love doing. But two things have happened to me in the music world. Times have changed and I just turned 65 yesterday, August 1st! By times have changed, musicians are not used as much anymore. Just take a look at Churches. The key word in music in Churches these days is Karoake! It used to be the organist, pianist or guitar player accompanied the singers. No more!

And my turning 65 has not helped me in the music business! Clubs that do have bands are not looking to find older musicians to play for the younger crowds. And I have had Churches turn me down because I wouldn't fit in very well at there Church because they gear their Church to mostly younger people. But let me tell you something. There is 65 years of truly hot licks in these hands of mine on the piano, on the keyboard and on the guitar.And the youth musicians in the youth Churches I have been invited to, almost always come up to ask me to show them some of the hot licks. And we have a ball playing together. And when that happens, I am so happy that I'm not a carpenter, teacher, banker, policeman or fireman. And I just want to shout out............................
"GOD! THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME A MUSICIAN!"

Dear Jesus, thank you for the many gifts and blessings you give me. Move me to use those gifts to be in ministry to those in need of your love. In Jesus Name, Amen.

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2010

Proverbs 3:5-6 (The Message)
5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track.
Don't assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
your wine vats will brim over.
But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline;
don't sulk under his loving correction.
It's the child he loves that God corrects;
a father's delight is behind all this.

This Daily Devotion is going to be a little bit different from all my others. I hope you will enjoy and learn from it!

I don't know if I am the right guy to be sending you Daily Devotions. Sometimes I think I am the most confused Christian in this world. Sometimes I think that I am truly a great Christian. But most of the time I feel I am the most confused and undeserving Christian that God has in His flock. I do know one thing though. I love God with all my heart & soul. And I do believe He puts up with me because of that. But sometimes I think I react to things without God, thinking it's His will.

The latest being, moving to Phoenix. I even went so far as to move my motorhome down there with a lot of my instruments. I sent out about 300 sample CD's at the cost of $1.45 a piece, to Churches, RV Parks & Senior Living homes. You know how many I got back. ONE! But yet I keep getting these calls for my music in the Missoula and Montana area. But not from Churches! Weddings, Anniversaries, fund raisers, etc! It's starting to look to me, that I have a lot of unfinished business in Montana. Does God want me to stay here? I believe He does. (But I keep asking Him a few times a day)

I've been asked to play in a few bars. It is real tempting, but I don't believe I can. Am I wrong? I just feel as a man of God, it would be a sin to use my talent to bring people into bars where they can drink, gamble, listen to tasteless jokes, yes, and even be unfaithful to their spouse. I think the devil would love that if I would go back to my old life. Sorry devil! Once again, "GET BEHIND ME!"

I get the feeling that Churches aren't quite ready for me. I like to go to Churches and make people laugh. I like to get right in their faces about telling others a Jesus Christ our Savior. I like to tell them how gossip can make even the biggest Churches, crumble! But I am most comfortable with the talents God has given me for playing guitar, piano, keyboards and singing. Thank you God! Thank you God! But yet I've tried calling, I've tried e-mailing and my latest has been to send them a sample CD with about 23 songs on it. Has God not touched their heart to at least respond. I know pastors are busy. I know they probably get a lot of requests like mine. But mostly I keep thinking to myself, "Have I been hearing God all wrong about the music, when He really has completely different plans for me.

I have to perform in Devils Lake, North Dakota on August 4th. I sent an e-mail out to all Nazarene Churches in Montana and North Dakota asking if any of them could find time to let me perform at their Churches because it is a 900 mile trip for me to go to Devils Lake and without other Churches, It will be very costly for me. But I didn't receive an answer from anyone.

So I have decided, and yes I've talked to God about it, I will play Devils Lake and if I don't hear from other Churches, I will leave for Phoenix on August 8th and bring my motorhome and all my stuff back to Missoula. It just seems it is where God wants me. I will still play music a little bit around our area, but you are going to be shocked on what I will be doing for a living. Selling cars. The opportunity has come my way to work at one of the best car lots in our town. They know I am a Pastor, Christian and that God is in everything I do! And they still want me! Can a Christian sell cars?

Remember that I told you how I became a born again Christian on the back lot of Sanderson Ford in Phoenix, Arizona? It completely turned around the way I sold cars. The difference was, COMPLETE HONESTY with the customer and the dealership. I went from an average car salesman to a very outstanding car salesman. Out of 53 salesmen, when I became a Christian, I was always in the top 5 out of 53. But the biggest change was a $500.00 prize from Ford Motor Company, because I am the only person that received 100% cunstomer satisfaction from all my customers! I was presented that check from some big shot they flew out from Ford Motor Company!

So, if that is what God wants me to do, that's what I will do. I will probably start up my over 50,000 people Birthday Club again. But I will probably drop the free dinners from over 50 to about 5. But I will still be calling everyone for their birthday & anniversary. It will probably start up again in September.

God has a plan for me! God has a plan for you! We all just have to learn to be patient. He will let us know what He wants us to do in His own time! I'm going to be in a whole lot of prayer with Him everyday. (I hope He never hangs up on me!) I can just hear it now. I call Heaven and St. Peter answers the phone with, "God Bless You! What can I do for you?" And I tell Him that I want to speak to God! He puts his hand over the phone receiver and says to God, "It's that Wild Bill again"! And than I hear God in the background, "OH NO!" But in my heart I know that will never happen. God loves us sooooo much that He always has time for all of us!

Now you sort of know what is happening in my life. Yes, I have my discouraging times. But as long as I remember that God is always in charge, I can live through anything this life has to throw at me! God Bless All Of You!

Dear Jesus,
Please hear my prayer. I go along each day, trying to run my life my own way. I forget to let go and give you control.

I wonder why things aren't going the way I want them to go. I forget to stop and ask what you want, Lord. Please help me to give you control, Jesus. I want to follow you. I want what you desire for me.

Help me to realize that when you close one door, you open the one you want me to walk through. Help me also to realize that what I desire may not be what is meant for me, or what is best for me. Maybe it will lead me away from what your great plan is for me.

Lord, let me accept each day as a gift. Let me follow the path you choose for me. Help me to be thankful for what you give me and not to worry about my needs. I trust you will take care of all my needs. Remind me that my role is to care for those around me and focus on those who need my help.

Help me not to be judgmental, as we are all equal in God's eyes. Help me to see the good in all of your creations. Let me leave the judging to you, dear Jesus. Instead, I will concentrate on living to please you!

Help me, dear Jesus, be who and what you want me to be. Give me strength, faith and hope, and most of all, give me guidance each and every day. I let go and give you control.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2010

Psalm 111:4 (The Message)
Hallelujah! I give thanks to God with everything I've got—
Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation.
God's works are so great, worth
A lifetime of study—endless enjoyment!
Splendor and beauty mark his craft;
His generosity never gives out.
His miracles are his memorial—
This God of Grace, this God of Love.
He gave food to those who fear him,
He remembered to keep his ancient promise.
He proved to his people that he could do what he said:
Hand them the nations on a platter—a gift!
He manufactures truth and justice;
All his products are guaranteed to last—
Never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust-proof.
All that he makes and does is honest and true:
He paid the ransom for his people,
He ordered his Covenant kept forever.
He's so personal and holy, worthy of our respect.
The good life begins in the fear of God—
Do that and you'll know the blessing of God.
His Hallelujah lasts forever!

A farmer was showing his visiting citydwelling friend around his farm. “Watch this!” he said. He gave a whistle and his little dog came running from the house, herded the cattle into the corral, then latched the gate with her paw. “Wow, that’s some dog — what’s her name?” The forgetful farmer thought for a minute and then asked, “What do you call that red flower that smells good and has thorns on the stem?” “A rose?” “That’s it!” The farmer turned to his wife. “Hey Rose, what do we call this dog?”

Funny how we forget things, isn’t it? But I’m not so sure God finds it all that funny! When we read about the children of Israel and their journeys through the wilderness for forty years, we see how God provided wonderful miracles for them, feeding them daily with manna, guiding them by a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day, parting the Red Sea!

How is it, then, that they became so very hard hearted toward Him? Over time, I think those miracles just became commonplace and they began to take them for granted!

But then again when I look back on my life, I can’t really blame them. It happens to the best of us! God has done miracles in our lives and I’m sure he’s done many in each of yours as well! But we still get anxious when things aren’t going quite the way we hoped, don’t we? I'm sure you have seen my problem of being to anxious many times in my past Daily Devotions! But I am working on it!

Recall a miracle of God in your life. Remember the joy you felt? We need to relive that joy today! The miracle of God’s new birth in us and the many other miracles God has done are not ones to be quickly forgotten. We need to relive them daily!

We never want to become cold toward God! Let’s spend some time remembering the miracles He has done in our lives and strive to trust Him for the trials we face today!

Thank you, God for everything …
The big things and the small,
For “every good gift comes from God,”
The Giver of them all.

And all too often we accept
Without any thanks or praise,
The gifts God sends as blessings
Each day in many ways.

And so at this Thanksgiving time,
We offer up a prayer,
To thank You, God, for giving us
A lot more than our share.

First, thank You for the little things
That often come our way,
The things we take for granted,
But don’t mention when we pray.

The unexpected courtesy,
The thoughtful, kindly deed,
A hand reached out to help us
In the time of sudden need.

Oh, make us more aware, dear God,
Of little daily graces
That come to us with “sweet surprise”
From never-dreamed-of places.

Then, thank You for the “miracles”
We are much too blind to see,
And give us new awareness
Of our many gifts from Thee.

And help us to remember
That the key to life and living,
Is to make each prayer a prayer of thanks
And every day Thanksgiving!

THURSDAY, JULY 22, 2010

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

We often develop strategies, game-plans, life-plans – and then, at some obstacle or critical point, we say – “Just stick to the plan!” It’s usually good advice.

Life is always sending unexpected surprises, but praise God, nothing takes Him by surprise. He’s the master planner. Our family might turn against us, our friends let us down, illness, afflictions, problems and “situations” on every side…God still has a plan, for you, and for me.

Joseph is a prime example of life’s surprises. It took 13 years of endurance and character-building for him to fulfill this part of God’s plan. Sold as a slave into Egypt by his own brothers, betrayed and imprisoned, he must have wondered a lot where God was and what He was doing. But finally, as a prepared vessel, Joseph was placed in the highest position in the land, second only to Pharaoh, and commissioned to execute God’s plan for saving the world from famine. So the Lord had surprises of His own. Revealing himself to his brothers, Joseph summed it up beautifully: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, in order to bring it about as [it is] this day, to save many people alive. .” (Genesis 50:20)

When our situations are difficult to handle and downright impossible to explain, we need to remind ourselves that God said, “I know the plans I have for you.” Through these situations we discover how faithful and sovereign He truly is. He knows what we can handle and He will never give us more. When the test is completed, we come out with character, stronger in faith, more in love, more useful to Him, and ready……….. for our next test. (Oh yeah…)

I have to admit, lately I've really been torn into little pieces, wondering what it is God wants from me. All of a sudden, it seems He has opened sooooo many opportunites for me right here in my hometown, Missoula, Montana! But not long ago it seemed like everything was pointing to Phoenix, Arizona. I even moved my motorhome and my Harley down there, put our home up for sale and made plans to move down there. But like I said, the opportunities in Phoenix have sort of dried up, but the opportunites in Missoula are opening up. I am really confused. But I know that God will make things clear to me exactly in His time. I have no doubt about it. There was a reason He sent me to Phoenix. Someday I will know why. But in His time, not mine. I love You God!

The fact that we have problems is a sign that we also have a promise. It’s only a matter of time before God reveals His good intentions – so until then, let’s stick to the plan! His !!!

"Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be."

WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2010

1 John 2:1 (New International Version)

1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
Mark Twain noted that there is a principle difference between dogs and humans. Strange things do happen in the animal world, but not as often as in the world of humans.

A census worker, in the last census, approached a house in her territory very slowly? There was a fence around the house and the worker was terribly afraid of dogs. She opened the gate ever so quietly and hurried up to the house and rang the bell. She breathed a sigh of relief when the lady of the house opened the door. She felt safe now. Whereupon the lady of the house promptly bit her! It's true. The census worker required medical attention for a human bite. (I have been trying to break Linda of doing that! Just kidding!)

We know it is sometimes the nature of a dog to bite, but a human? What gets into us? Some would say, "The devil made me do it." But that is only passing the buck. As God's people, we are called to take full responsibility for our actions. I realize most of us don't have the problem of biting other people, but all of us have something that needs an adjustment. "Come to a sober and right mind, and sin no more," (1 Corinthians 15:34).

Dear God, reveal to me the things I need to correct for my spiritual health. In Jesus name, Amen.

THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2010

Galatians 1:22-24 (The Message)

21-24Then I began my ministry in the regions of Syria and Cilicia. After all that time and activity I was still unknown by face among the Christian churches in Judea. There was only this report: "That man who once persecuted us is now preaching the very message he used to try to destroy." Their response was to recognize and worship God because of me!

Notice in our scripture reading today that the people did not glorify Paul. They glorified God because they knew that real change comes as a gift from God.
There is a story of a Daddy Longleg that was trying to get free from a spider web under a chair. The Daddy Longleg had seven free legs and one leg that was caught in the web. The Daddy Longleg would pull and pull trying to free itself only it couldn't get enough traction on the slick concrete floor. So every time it would gain a little ground, it would slide back to the same place it started. This went on for about 5 minutes. The onlooker felt so sorry for the poor fellow he reached down and set him free.

We are much like that Daddy Longleg. We are trapped in sin. It may be only one little area of our life that we have not yet yielded to Christ. But like that Daddy Longleg we gain a little ground spiritually, only to slide back frustrated and disappointed in our inability to make any significant change. May we give our all to follow in the footsteps of our savior Jesus Christ.

Dear Jesus, guide me as I give my all to follow you. Amen.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2010

So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27 NRSV Bible)

Have you ever heard the phrase, "God doesn't make junk?" God can make a castle out of what we think is junk. In fact, God loves making castles out of what we think is junk. If there is anybody reading this today who feels like your life is nothing but junk, you are just the person God is looking for. You can make God's day. Let God turn what you think is junk into something beautiful and majestic.
There is a story of a doctor who tried to place a stethoscope on a little girl's heart, telling her that she wanted to listen to it.

"Oh, no!" the little girl protested. "My heart is in my back."

"Where did you get that idea?" the doctor asked.

"Well, when I do something good, Grandma pats me on the back and says, 'Bless your little heart.'"

Grandmas always seem to give their hearts to their grandchildren. God has given us God's heart through Jesus who turns our junk into a blessing.

Dear God, please continue to turn my junk into something beautiful. Amen.

TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2010

Romans 6:6 (The Message)

6-11Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin's every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did.

It is interesting to note that after Paul's conversion, he did not go immediately to Jerusalem. Instead he went away to Arabia and then returned to Damascus. It was three years before he went to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas (Peter) and the other Apostles. Evidently Paul needed time to assess what had taken place in his life. He needed time to work on developing Godly habits. To paraphrase Mark Twain: Habits can't be flung out the window; they have to be coaxed downstairs, a step at a time.
At a certain school board meeting, one of the prime targets of discussion was the untidiness and sloppy appearance of the janitor. The consensus was that he should be fired. However, a kindly older lady on the board pleaded on his behalf. "I hate to see the old fellow fired," she said. "He may be a little dirty and unkempt on the outside, but I'm sure he's clean and pure on the inside. Do we really have to discharge him?"

"Either that," replied the president of the board, "or turn him inside out." Maybe that's what some of us need. We need to be turned inside out. Changing old habits is not easy. And most of us fight such changes tooth and nail. The primary reason we are not everything Christ calls us to be is that we really would prefer to stay where we are. Change is possible if we allow Christ to transform us into the image of God.

God of all things, change me into what you want me to be, and move me from my comfort zone. Amen.

MONDAY, JULY 12, 2010

Matthew 25:18 (The Message)

The Story About Investment
14-18"It's also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master's investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master's money.

All of us have what we need to succeed in life. In the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon, Calvin says to Hobbes, "If you could have anything in the world right now, what would it be?" Hobbes starts thinking, and Calvin says, "Anything at all! What ever you want!" Hobbes finally says, "A sandwich." Calvin yells, "A sandwich? What kind of stupid wish is that? Talk about a failure of imagination! I'd ask for a trillion billion dollars, my own space shuttle, and a private continent!" The last frame of the cartoon shows Hobbes eating a sandwich while he says, "I got my wish."
Have you ever wanted some ability that someone else had? We often do that, but it is not necessary. Maybe we are just like the worker who received only one talent. The servant with one talent didn't have as much as the servant with five talents, but he had all he needed. If he had not buried his talent in the ground, he could have done great things with it.

All of us are gifted. All of us have what we need to succeed. God has created us differently so that different tasks will get done in this world. And all of us have a place where we fit in.

Dear Jesus, remind me often that I have an important place in your plan. Amen

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2010

Matthew 6:34 (The Message)

34"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes!

Do you know why many people worry? Worry is a substitute for faith. Worry does for some people what faith does for others. Have you heard anybody say, "Don't tell me it doesn't help to worry. Most of the things I worry about never happen!" They really mean it. Some people are genuinely concerned that if they fail to worry, that which they fear will happen.

In a Peanuts cartoon, Linus was talking to Charlie Brown and observed: "I guess it's wrong always to be worrying about tomorrow. Maybe we should think only about today." Charlie Brown replied, "No, that's giving up. I'm still hoping that yesterday will get better."

What we need to is to focus our attention on the things that are really important. Our families, for example. Many of us are more fortunate than we deserve with our families. We've got great kids though they may get on our nerves from time to time. Whether or not they still live at home. I know I am very thankful for Scott and Kory and my grandkids Cody & K.C. Because of a failed marriage, we don't get to see much of each other, but I still love them very much!

Jesus calls us to focus on what is really important. I don't know about you, but I'm going to stop worrying about tomorrow and practice living for today. It's going to be tough, but if the Bible says it, it can be done!

Dear Jesus, help me to grow in my faith as each day passes. And help me not to worry, but to focus on really important matters like my family and my relationship with you. Amen.

SUNDAY, JULY 4, 2010

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. James 2.10 NRSV Bible)

Henry Moorhouse tells of a lady who said to him, " I can't see how a person who has broken just one of the commandments can be as bad as another who has broken five or even all of them." Moorhouse explained to her that God had actually given only one law which consists of ten different parts. "Look at this watch of mine!" he said. "If you counted all its cogs, you would find many. If you ruined only one, you might leave the other parts in perfect condition, and yet this would be a broken watch and would no longer run."
The woman still couldn't see the point; so he said, "Suppose you were hanging over a canyon, suspended by a chain with ten links. If someone took a hammer and smashed every link, where would you go?" "To the bottom of the canyon, of course," she said. "But if he severed only one link, what would happen?" "Why, that would be just as bad," she said, "I'd still fall and be killed!" Suddenly she grasped the truth that whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

It is good to know that Jesus paid the price for our inablility to fulfull the whole law. God's love and grace abounds.

God of grace and love, help me to follow your commands of love. In Jesus name. Amen.

MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2010

A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power.
EPHESIANS 6:10

Ernie Banks, the Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer, is known not only for his accomplishments as a player but also for what he didn't accomplish. Even though Banks was one of the greatest players of his era and had a long and productive career, he never played in a World Series or a play-off game. While Banks delighted Cubs fans with his glove and his bat, his team became permanent residents of the National League cellar. Yet Banks played with the intensity of a champion, year in and year out. Recently in a radio interview he was asked how he could play at a peak level when there was little or no hope of playing in a World Series. He responded with a powerful statement: "You have to love the game itself and not love yourself in the game." Banks went on to explain that he loved the game of baseball so much that he had to give his best effort in every game.

It's easy to love the game when we're winning and being recognized. When the company is setting sales records, when the church is packed, when others are recognizing our achievements, it's easy to strive for excellence and have passion for the good and the godly. Yet in the years or the seasons of life when there are no awards, no bonuses, and little tangible success, it is tempting to allow the warmth of our spiritual passion to drop below body temperature. But God calls us to be steadfast in our spiritual passion every day, even when we feel like losers.

The apostle Paul's admonition to be strong is followed by his instruction to put on the whole armor of God. Changing Paul's metaphor from a battlefield setting to a ballpark, a loose paraphrase of this would be, "Be strong, and put on the uniform of champion every day!"

Reflection
Do I exhibit my spiritual passion even when there is no prospect of immediate reward?

Prayer
Lord, give me a passion for your kingdom every day—not just on the days I am perceived as a winner.

FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 2010

Proverbs 15:23 (The Message)
23 Congenial conversation—what a pleasure!
The right word at the right time—beautiful!

A modern parable has been written about the tools of the enemy that I believe we can really learn from.

“Some time ago, an advertisement appeared in which the devil was putting all his tools up for sale. On the day of public inspection, each one of his tools was marked with its selling price: Hatred, Envy, Jealousy, Doubt, Lying, Pride, and so on, were each on the block. Set apart, however, from all the rest of the pile, was a harmless-looking tool, well-worn, but priced very high — it was discouragement!

Someone asked the devil, ‘why is that one priced so high?’ He replied, ‘Ah, that one is more useful to me than all the rest. With it I can pry open a man’s heart and enter, when I cannot get near him with any other tools. Once inside, I can lead him any way I choose. The tool is very worn because I use it on almost everyone, since few people know it belongs to me.’”

The enemy loves to sow discouragement — but believers have a tool much more powerful — encouragement! We can speak a word into the lives of those who desperately need to hear it: to the college student adjusting to his new environment; to the missionary who may feel alone in the harvest field; to the disillusioned newlywed young couple; to the forgotten servants of God who labor in an obscure and difficult ministry; to the orphans and the widows; to all those who need to hear a word in due season!

We have the power in our lips to rekindle a discouraged soul. Let’s inspire one another with words of encouragement! It costs nothing, and reaps an eternal reward…”encourage one another daily, as you see the Day draw near. [Hebrews 10:25]

"Lord God, all that I am and everything I do comes from you, so I give it back to you. May I live only to do your will. May all my efforts have their beginning in you, and may they be brought to completion by your will.

Walk with me on the journey of faith, and guide me along the way. Show me your will, and give me the faith to trust and follow you. May the journey lead to heaven, and may I rest with you in peace forever.AMEN

THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2010

Acts 14:22 (The Message)

Plenty of Hard Times
21-22After proclaiming the Message in Derbe and establishing a strong core of disciples, they retraced their steps to Lystra, then Iconium, and then Antioch, putting muscle and sinew in the lives of the disciples, urging them to stick with what they had begun to believe and not quit, making it clear to them that it wouldn't be easy: "Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times."

When you read the Bible, put yourself and your cares into what God is telling you. Acts 14:22 could read for me, 21-22After proclaiming the Message in Victor, Missoula, Great Falls, North Dakota, Idaho, Washington and so on........When talking with God, you have to read each verse over and over again and asking God what it is that He wants you to learn in His words! In todays verse I know He is definitely telling me that things are not all going to be easy on my move to Phoenix.

I don’t know about you, but it seems that the tests we’re going through are getting harder and harder. Do you remember when you took tests in high school? At the time they may have seemed hard. But imagine if you had to take an elementary school test when you were in high school. You’d probably think – oh this is so simple.

So if it seems that the testing of your faith is more intense – it simply means that you’re graduating to new levels of faith! Our faith is being tested, and as we pass each “faith” test, we’re finding different means of being tested. I suppose in a few years, we’ll look back and think to ourselves – wow that was a hard test, but now it doesn’t look so difficult!

If you’re going through a tough time right now, be encouraged because it simply means that God is graduating you to new levels of faith! The harder the tests, the greater difficulty – the greater the reward, an increased blessing awaits you! Stay focused, stay alert and remember that God is trying to stretch your faith so that you can accomplish even more for His Kingdom!

Dear God! I know things aren't going to be easy and there will be some rough spots for me on this journey. But I will remember that your are with me everyday. What a honor to know You will be there when I need You! Help me to have the strength in the hard times knowing you will never give me more than I can handle and knowing the good time will outweigh the bad! Lord, Phoenix here I come knowing you will be with me every step mile of the way! AMEN!

TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2010

19-20And don't forget to pray for me. Pray that I'll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out. Ephesians 6:20 (The Message)

For over 10 years we’ve been covering Christian Persecution, and whenever I come across an amazing story of how a saint endured such hardships, it encourages me. I remember reading about Watchman Nee and his imprisonment. The Chinese government would change the guards at his cell daily for fear that Nee would lead them to the Lord. Their fears were justified—many of those guards did come to faith! Apparently Watchman Nee had learned a powerful lesson from the Apostle Paul.

In Paul’s letter to the Church in Ephesus, observe how he describes himself – an ambassador in chains. Locked away in a prison, Paul adamantly refuses to allow his circumstances to dictate or alter his identity. He may be in chains, but he remains the Lord’s ambassador.

Can you imagine Paul chained up in that dungeon, throwing up his hands saying, “That’s it; it’s over; I’m finished!?

Not on your life! Instead the apostle grows bolder as an ambassador; not intimidated or ashamed, because Paul isn’t chained in his Spirit, he’s only bound in the flesh. Remember how he concludes his letter to the Philippian Church declaring, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Don’t allow yourself to be defined by your past, or “chained” by your current circumstances. God has also called you to be an ambassador for Him. With so much work to be done, we ought to be growing even bolder, right in the midst of our trials and tribulations!

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2010

As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it.
(Luke 19.41 NRSV)

In reading this text we might ask the question, "Did Jesus Cry?" I once read that Ernie Campbell, a minister, took issue with the familiar Christmas lullaby (sometimes attributed to Martin Luther), which contains the words: "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head." The second verse is the one that caught his attention: "The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes. But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes." Campbell took issue with that verse.

Jesus was a normal child. Normal children cry. Campbell said: "It would be strange if He did not cry as a child...He did as a man!" And no picture of Jesus is complete without noticing the tear drops on His cheeks.

Palm Sunday should have been the happiest single day in Jesus' life. After all, the crowds had gone after Him. Crowds count for a lot with most ministers. We feel better when church attendance is up. We worry when church attendance is down. In John 12:19 the Pharisees murmur: "Look! The whole world has gone after him!" It seemed that way when Palm Sunday began. It looked as though His preaching ministry was to be crowned with success, after all!

But Jesus knew better. He knew how fickle the crowds were; He knew that, when push came to shove, He couldn't really count on the people; and that when the chips were down and the cross went up, all would forsake Him and flee, says Mark 14:50. The same people who on Palm Sunday, had waved Jesus in, on Good Friday waved Jesus out again. He who rode into town in triumph, was carried out of town on a cross.

How quick were the crowds to shout "Hosanna!" on Palm Sunday--but also how quick they were to shout, "Crucify Him!" on Good Friday, when He didn't fit into their notions of what a respectable Messiah should look and act like. Before the week was out, Jesus had been arrested, tried, whipped, humiliated, spat upon, cursed at, plotted against, crucified, dead, and buried. When He was born, there was no room for him in the Inn. When He died, there was no room for Him in the world.

I needed this devotion for today. I had soooo many friends when I had the Birthday Club. When I helped raise over $5,000,000.00 for charities here in Western montana, without accepting money in return. Jesus knew better. Now I know better too. He knew how fickle the crowds were; He knew that, when push came to shove, He couldn't really count on the people. Jesus, If it happens to you, who am I to say it shouldn't happen to me!

Is there lots of room in your heart for Jesus?

Dear Jesus, please live with me and may I always have plenty of room in my life for you. Amen.

SUNDAY, JUNE 13, 2010

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)

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

My friends, the Walker family from Yakima, Washington stayed at our house last night on their way through Missoula. I was telling them about the doubts I had about leaving for Phoenix. I just wasn't sure it was God's plan for me. Sometimes I'm just not sure I'm hearing God's plans or my own. While we were talking about this, I was going through the programs I had saved on TV so I could watch at a later time. I came across a Charles Stanley program. We decided to watch it. It turns out to be about how to be listening to God. He went on to tell how God talks to us through the Bible.

When the show was over, the Walkers decided to call it a night and go to bed. I decided to stay up and try a little bit of what Charles Stanley had talked about. So I went to God in prayer, asking Him to help me hear what it is He wants me to do about Phoenix. I went to this Bible site that I use to find different Bible verses. I put the word "commitment" in and hit the "Enter" on my computer and Jeremiah 29:11 pops up.
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Wow! I knew right away God was having a conversation with me. I read the verse over and over again. He was telling me, "Wild Bill, I have great plans for you! So grab your guitar and your piano and get ready to hit the road." "Bill, you have now broken through another barrier." "You have finally discovered the way to communicate with me." (From the Message Bible) I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

DOUBLE WOW!!!!! (RIGHT NOW I HAVE GOOSEBUMPS ON TOP OF GOOSEBUMPS!) Folks, you all have to decide to actually start listening to what God is saying. Not just reading what He is saying.......but listening, LISTENING, LISTENING, LISTENING!

This is another step closer to God. And what a great break through this is. Talking and listening to our Heavenly Father. I will be having a personal conversation with God every single day now.

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for bringing one more step closer to being in your arms. Thank you for teaching me how to add one more step to understanding what you want from me. That one more step is "Listening" to You! Help me to show others how to listen to what you say. It can only bring us all closer to you! Amen!

FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2010

Matthew 14:26-32 (The Message)

24-26Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o'clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. "A ghost!" they said, crying out in terror.

27But Jesus was quick to comfort them. "Courage, it's me. Don't be afraid."

28Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water."

29-30He said, "Come ahead."

Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!"

31Jesus didn't hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, "Faint-heart, what got into you?"

32-33The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, "This is it! You are God's Son for sure!"

Peter exhibited GREAT faith when he stepped out on the water… but then he allowed his immediate surroundings to hinder his walk! Peter’s faith began with a tremendous bold step, but it required a level of focus that he wasn’t used to. Follow through…. that was the problem; those pesky waves, and the way he usually thought about and experienced water; (not something that generally supports your feet)…

We all know what Peter should have done, right? Keep his eyes on the Lord, NOT the waves!!! That’s easy for us to say. But how many of us have ever stepped out of the boat? I didn’t notice any of the other disciples playing follow the leader with Peter.

I see two things from this: First, put a little adventure into your life; step out on the water; you might actually enjoy the exhilaration and really glorify God on the way. And secondly, If and when you do, learn from Peter’s mistake. Make sure you live life keeping your focus on the Lord (not on your own spiritual ambitions)…because you can be totally confident the waves will come, once you’re out of the boat. But watching the Lord of Life walking there with you will give you the vision to follow through.

I find this to be easier said than done as I get ready for my big move to Phoenix, Arizona on the 22nd! Oh, nothing will stop me from going because I know He wants me there. But will it bring my family to poverty? Will my wife Linda and my 96 year old mom be all right until they can join me? Can I keep my eyes focused on Jesus during the hard times or will I start sinking like Peter? Can I learn to wash my own clothes, keep my 26 foot motor home clean and tidy, make my own bed and wash and dry dishes or afford a maid to do these things for me? Now that I think of the housework, I think I would rather step out of the boat!

My Father In Heaven, help me to have more faith and trust in what I feel you are having me do in your service. Amen

THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010

Luke 17:5-6 (The Message)

5The apostles came up and said to the Master, "Give us more faith."

6But the Master said, "You don't need more faith. There is no 'more' or 'less' in faith. If you have a bare kernel of faith, say the size of a poppy seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, 'Go jump in the lake,' and it would do it.

The African Impala (an African antelope) are amazing creatures that can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance greater than 30 feet. Yet Impalas can be kept in a zoo inside an enclosure with a simple 3 foot wall. Why? Impalas will not jump if they can’t see where their feet will land. Do we have something in common with these antelopes? Able to take great leaps of faith, but refusing to do it unless we can see where we’ll land?

George Mueller said of faith, “Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends.”

In Biblical terms: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

True faith cannot see how the landing will occur…it simply leaps under the conviction that it WILL occur. Remember, Biblical faith begins where our power ends!

Sweet Jesus, I praise Your name and I shout out with joy for Your presence in my life, and for the anointing power of Your Holy Spirit which is helping me to go deeper in Your truths and soar higher in Your power. I turn my eyes to the heavens anticipating new wisdom and deeper insights into Your sacred truths.

I praise You that more and more each day, I am becoming more confident about who I am in You -- and I praise You that the kingdom You are establishing right now on this earth cannot be shaken. My heart is flooded with joy knowing that Your surrendered ones are being used in mighty ways right now, and that Your strength and power is being made available to each and every one of them.

My prayer today begins with a cry asking You to release from bondage those Christians who are leading defeated lives. I ask You to release them from their own tunnel vision that prevents them from seeing beyond their own individual circumstances. I pray, Jesus, that with every ounce of faith they have, they will come to understand who they are in You, and begin to exert their authority over the dark places that hold them captive in the night.

Feed them, I cry, with manna from heaven that fills their hunger and sustains them on their journey to the river of life where their thirst will be filled. Feed them with Your truths so they can grow stronger and be hope-filled. Fill them with hearts of praise for what You have already done for them, so they can join the chorus of praise now being lifted up.

Jesus, help all of us, regardless of our position, to step out in faith and take our rightful places. When we come under attack, remind us how much power we have over the stings and arrows Satan fires at us. We are not helpless, we are certainly not weak, we are children of the King and His rightful heirs. Turn our hearts toward worship, praise, and thanksgiving when we start to wallow in self pity, selfishness, or pride. You have already redeemed us, and Satan will one day eat the dust of our work as he is evicted from Your eternal kingdom. Remind us every day that we do not live by bread alone -- but by every word that You have spoken. Remind us that there are multitudes of people being drawn together by Your common cause, and in Your timing they will be mobilized into the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen. Every day is an opportunity to prepare ourselves -- every day is an opportunity to focus our minds and hearts on You and Your purposes -- and every day is a day we can hear Your still small voice share its secrets with us, helping us to resist evil, and focus on truth, righteousness, and holiness.

I pray for all who pray this prayer, that they will have holy and pure motivations wherever they are presently placed in the Body of Christ. I pray that like David, they will have hearts of worship as their sword and have security knowing that our God can do all things -- that nothing is impossible with Him. I pray they will lift their hearts to You so their spirit will touch Your heart. Let Your very real Presence in their lives become clear. I acknowledge You are our safety net, our security blanket, and I thank You for all the times past when You have saved us from harm. I anticipate with a grateful heart all the victories that are about to come!

I choose today to take refuge in You. I choose to fear the Lord and not man, and I choose obedience over willfulness and submission over pride. I am blessed beyond measure already, and I praise and thank You for all You have provided, knowing that we will lack no good thing as we seek You first above all else. To You be all the honor and glory! AMEN

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2010

Isaiah 66
Living Worship to God
1-2 God's Message: "Heaven's my throne,
earth is my footstool.
What sort of house could you build for me?
What holiday spot reserve for me?
I made all this! I own all this!"
God's Decree.
"But there is something I'm looking for:
a person simple and plain,
reverently responsive to what I say.

In our house we have an old lounge chair that has a built-in foot rest operated by a lever on the side. It’s my captain chair. It’s so comfortable that oftentimes our guests plop in the chair, kick up the foot-rest, and within minutes, fall asleep. As a matter of fact it happened last night!

The scripture says God’s captain chair, His throne, is in heaven… and his footstool is right here on earth! This planet is God’s footstool. That means everything – the mountains, the rivers, oceans, your home, under His feet…but, more than that, your problems, your worries, your fears – they are all under His feet as well!

So stop worrying and relax – give those problems over to God, kick up your feet, and rest in Him, realizing that every issue you’re dealing with is also truly under His feet, and that He never slumbers or sleeps.

Dear God, help me find the off switch of worry. In Jesus name, Amen.

MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2010

2 Corinthians 4:17

16-18So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

As believers, we are all called to transform the little world around us. C.S. Lewis offered a thoughtful perspective on remaining heavenly minded while continuing to make an impact in this present world. In Mere Christianity, he said. “Hope…means…a continual looking forward to the eternal world…it does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next…It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither.”

Being heavenly minded is not natural. It happens when we focus and meditate on the reality and wonderful hope of the world to come. When we do, we can bring a taste of heaven to the little world around us. So let’s not become complacent — but stay focused there, so we can be effective here… and soon enough we will hear the Lord saying, “Well, done thou good and faithful servant!”

Lord, God Almighty, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day. Defend us today by your mighty power, so that we may not fall into any sin, and that all our words may so proceed and all our thoughts and actions be so directed as to be always just in your sight. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2010

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
(John 14.6 NRSV)

Remember a few years ago when they polled people about various elements of the Bill of Rights? They discovered that a majority of Americans would not support many of our most basic rights if they were put to a vote. My guess is that the same thing would happen if we put many of Jesus' teachings to a vote among Christians. "Love your enemies. Turn the other cheek. Blessed are the poor." Would you vote for such sentiments? Many of us don't in our everyday lives.

There was a pop song back in the golden days of the televangelists that asked the question, "Would Jesus wear a Rolex?"

Where WOULD Jesus position himself today? Where would he stand on gun control? Or foreign aid? Or abortion? You call yourselves his followers, but do you really think he would vote as you would? Or would he be an embarrassment? Or better yet, would we be an embarrassment to him?

May we truly be Biblical people.

Lord Jesus, help me to be bold in following your ways. Amen.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2010

John 5:13 (New International Version)

13The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

A reporter once asked Will if he went to church. "All the time," Will replied as he wiped mud from his cowboy boots. "I find church happens all the time." The reporter wasn't sure he understood. He thought that Will misunderstood his question. So he asked, "What do you do on Sunday mornings at eleven o'clock? Do you attend a church service?" "Oh," Will responded, "You mean do I go to those steeples. I thought you wanted to know if I went to church."
Then Will invited the reporter to lunch with him. They drove for several miles until they arrived at a crossroad which featured a combination service station, convenience store, and restaurant. As they entered, the reporter noticed that the place was nearly empty, and they found a table in the middle of the restaurant. Just a few minutes later some construction workers entered and filled the tables. Now the reporter had hoped to continue their earlier conversation about church, but was unable to do so because people kept interrupting. One man thanked Will for performing his sister's wedding. Another man reminded Will to visit his mother in the hospital. A third asked Will if he would talk to his wife because they were having problems. For almost an hour people came and asked Will to perform the functions of a minister. And each time Will responded.

At one o'clock the restaurant was empty again as all the workers went back out to their jobs. Will silently finished his sandwich, "Well," he said to the reporter, "church is over for today. Let's go home."

I feel a lot like Will when I get calls to sing at funerals, when I receive prayer requests, when I'm asked to perform at Churches or auction at a benefit to help people, etc! My ministry is a lot different than most ministers, but I wouldn't change a thing about it. Afterall, who am I to change the plans that god has put before me!

Will & I might not fit many people's expectations for a minister. We would certainly not fit the job description of most congregations. We have a different kind of ministry. But then, so did Jesus.

Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus to heal my wounds. In Jesus name, Amen.

MONDAY, MAY 31, 2010

I Timothy 2:1-2
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority over you; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Have you ever thought about the difference between forgetting and remembering? Remembering is a conscious choice. It involves an effort on my part to pull from my memory bank thoughts and feelings previously deposited there. Forgetting . . . well, that just happens. I fail to send that birthday card to my friend, or I let the appointment with the dentist slip by. Oops! It happens more frequently than I’d like! How do I stop forgetting? I make that conscious effort to remember. Date books, To-Do lists, and sticky notes all help prompt me to bring to mind the things I need to do.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day here in the United States. It’s a conscious effort by our government to help us remember and honor those who fought and died for our country lest we forget the great price of our freedom. As we pause to remember them, let us not forget those who currently serve in our armed forces, and those who lead our country. Please take a few moments to pray for the provision of their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs. Pray for their protection, and ask God to bless their loved ones here at home.

Many of you reading this live outside of the U.S. Regardless of where you are tomorrow, take a moment to pray for those who lead your nation. Ask God to give wisdom and direction to those in authority. Thank Him for the blessings you have around you. Really, we need to do this more than just on one special day every year. We need to let every day be a memorial day. Are you forgetting to pray? Remember!

Lord, You have blessed us as a nation with great freedom and riches. Thank You for the abundance of these gifts. May we never forget Your kindness to us, no matter where we live.

SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2010

Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.
(1 Peter 4.10 NRSV)

I'm reminded of a comedy skit done by a youth group. There is only one character--a pastor on stage answering the telephone. It goes like this:
Pastor: Good morning. Yes, sir, may I help you?
Voice: Good morning, peace be with you.
Pastor: Huh? Oh, sir, if you're looking for assistance the Calvary Mission is just two blocks down on Madison.
Voice: I came to give you something.
Pastor: Oh, I see, sir, didn't you see the sign out front, "No Solicitors?" Now if you don't mind, I'm very busy.
Voice: No one should ever be too busy for me. I've come to speak to your people.
Pastor: Oh, uh, sir, just what group do you represent?
Voice: I've been sent by my Father. I have a message for them.
Pastor: Well, that's very nice, sir, but you see, we do have a rather full schedule of events here at our church. We can't just pop things in at the last minute.
Voice: They must hear me. I have so much to give them.
Pastor: Well, I'm very sorry, sir, but you see, our theme for this month is "God is great in 88." Now, I don't quite see how your subject would fit with ours. As I said, we are a very busy church...why just this week alone...let's see here...Monday we have softball practice and in the evening Sara Plimpton will be showing her wildlife slides. And Tuesday's out. Oh my! The senior citizens will be going roller skating. And then Wednesday, yes, we have the craft class and the men's prayer breakfast. Well, as you see we just don't have a thing; but listen, why don't you have your representative give us a contact later in the fall...maybe something will have opened up, sir, sir?

Jesus calls us, loves us, but then sends us out, gives us authority to be his missionaries. "No purse, no bag, no sandals," to shed our excess, and to travel his journey of faith with him, a journey that calls us to travel light--to uncomplicate, to simplify, to catch a kind of lovely naiveté once again.

I understand that Churches and Pastors are very busy, I know they get a lot of calls from folks just like me that have a message and a gift God has given us. But it is a gift from our Father in Heaven. A gift that He wants us to share with all others. Churches are houses of the Lord. We are messengers sent by God to share our testimony of love for Him.

I am sooooo excited that God has called me to move to Phoenix, Arizona. My wife and I have a great life here in Missoula, Montana. We thought we'd be living here until God called us home. But Phoenix, here we come! But not without a little worry! I sent out an e-mail to hundreds of Churches in Arizona, asking them if I would be welcome to stop by their Church, meet the Pastor and leave a FREE sample of my recordings. Than I sat by my computer and waited for all the invitations to start coming in. Afterall, God is sending me, so I will get a lot of invitations. It didn't take long and I got my first invitation from a Church in Flagstaff, Arizona. Talk about excited!!! It's been over a week now, and Flagstaff is the only invite I've had! I guess everyone is just too busy to meet a new visitor from Montana and sent by God! But I'm still moving down to Phoenix on June 22nd. I'll be living in my motorhome until our house sells and my wife can join me. I guess I'll have to just sit on the Church front steps until the Pastor swtop long enough to ask me, "Can I help you?" That's my opening!!!!!

Loving God, you never said it would be easy! But there is work to be done, so I'm in it for the long haul! In Jesus name, Amen.

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2010

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
(1 Corinthians 10.31 NRSV)

As a teenager Richard Foster spent a summer among the Eskimo people of Kotzebue, Alaska. It impressed Richard that the Eskimo Christians have "a deep sense of the wholeness of life, with no break between their prayer and their work." Richard went to Alaska on the adventure of helping to "build the first high school above the Arctic Circle." The work, however, was far from an adventure. It was hard, often backbreaking. One day he was trying to dig a trench for a sewer line, which was no easy task in the frozen tundra. An Eskimo man, whose face and hands displayed the leathery toughness of many winters, came by and watched him for a while. After some time passed the man spoke simply and profoundly. "You are digging a ditch to the glory of God," he said.

The words stuck with Richard. Beyond his Eskimo friend, no human being ever knew or cared whether he dug that ditch well or poorly. In time that ditch would be covered up and forgotten. But because of that man's words, Richard says, "I dug with all my might, for every shovelful of dirt was a prayer to God." Richard made the discovery that everything we do, whether great or small, we do for the glory of God.

Lord Jesus, may I glorify your name in all that I do, and please forgive me when I don’t. Amen.

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010

Hebrews 11:1-3 (The Message)
Faith in What We Don't See
1-2The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.
3By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, what we see created by what we don't see.

The apostle James challenges us to understand the connection between faith and obedience. In James 2:17, he writes that faith without works is dead. In other words, we cannot have unshakable beliefs without obeying.

Developing steadfast trust takes time. We are born spiritually through simple, childlike faith that receives Jesus as Savior. Convictions are nourished by a growing knowledge of God and a deepening confidence in Him. Experiencing His protection, provision, and power in moments of testing strengthens our beliefs. Each time Daniel’s loyalty was tested, he chose to depend on God. Sometimes the circumstances were thrust upon him—such as whether to eat food sacrificed to idols. At other times, he voluntarily initiated a difficult situation in order to help (Dan. 2:24). In each case, he followed God’s leading.

Hebrews 11 shows that obedience is critical to steadfast faith. Noah, when warned about things not seen, obeyed God and built the ark. At the Lord’s direction, Abraham left home to go to a place not yet known to him. The apostle Paul was planning to arrest Christians when he encountered the Savior. He did a complete turnaround—despite threats, beatings, and shipwrecks, he obeyed the Lord and preached the gospel.

Knowing and trusting God through His Son, experiencing His presence, and living obediently are the elements needed to develop an unshakable faith. Jesus Himself said that our work is to believe in Him (John 6:29). With the Holy Spirit’s help and our cooperation, each of us can have a Daniel-like faith.

This is exactly what I am going through right now.I will be moving to Phoenix in a couple weeks. Sure I have a little fear about it, but my faith in God knowing where I'm needed, is stronger than any fear I might have.I'm in real good company knowing what James, Daniel, Noah & Paul went through. Remember, Jesus Himself said that our work is to believe in Him (John 6:29). With the Holy Spirit's help and our cooperation, each of us can have a Daniel-like faith.

Sweet Jesus, I praise Your name and I shout out with joy for Your presence in my life, and for the anointing power of Your Holy Spirit which is helping me to go deeper in Your truths and soar higher in Your power. I turn my eyes to the heavens anticipating new wisdom and deeper insights into Your sacred truths.

I praise You that more and more each day, I am becoming more confident about who I am in You -- and I praise You that the kingdom You are establishing right now on this earth cannot be shaken. My heart is flooded with joy knowing that Your surrendered ones are being used in mighty ways right now, and that Your strength and power is being made available to each and every one of them.

My prayer today begins with a cry asking You to release from bondage those Christians who are leading defeated lives. I ask You to release them from their own tunnel vision that prevents them from seeing beyond their own individual circumstances. I pray, Jesus, that with every ounce of faith they have, they will come to understand who they are in You, and begin to exert their authority over the dark places that hold them captive in the night.

Feed them, I cry, with manna from heaven that fills their hunger and sustains them on their journey to the river of life where their thirst will be filled. Feed them with Your truths so they can grow stronger and be hope-filled. Fill them with hearts of praise for what You have already done for them, so they can join the chorus of praise now being lifted up.

Jesus, help all of us, regardless of our position, to step out in faith and take our rightful places. When we come under attack, remind us how much power we have over the stings and arrows Satan fires at us. We are not helpless, we are certainly not weak, we are children of the King and His rightful heirs. Turn our hearts toward worship, praise, and thanksgiving when we start to wallow in self pity, selfishness, or pride. You have already redeemed us, and Satan will one day eat the dust of our work as he is evicted from Your eternal kingdom. Remind us every day that we do not live by bread alone -- but by every word that You have spoken. Remind us that there are multitudes of people being drawn together by Your common cause, and in Your timing they will be mobilized into the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen. Every day is an opportunity to prepare ourselves -- every day is an opportunity to focus our minds and hearts on You and Your purposes -- and every day is a day we can hear Your still small voice share its secrets with us, helping us to resist evil, and focus on truth, righteousness, and holiness.

I pray for all who pray this prayer, that they will have holy and pure motivations wherever they are presently placed in the Body of Christ. I pray that like David, they will have hearts of worship as their sword and have security knowing that our God can do all things -- that nothing is impossible with Him. I pray they will lift their hearts to You so their spirit will touch Your heart. Let Your very real Presence in their lives become clear. I acknowledge You are our safety net, our security blanket, and I thank You for all the times past when You have saved us from harm. I anticipate with a grateful heart all the victories that are about to come!

I choose today to take refuge in You. I choose to fear the Lord and not man, and I choose obedience over willfulness and submission over pride. I am blessed beyond measure already, and I praise and thank You for all You have provided, knowing that we will lack no good thing as we seek You first above all else. To You be all the honor and glory!

Prayer of Faith – Making it Personal
Reflect: I have learned a very valuable lesson over the years -- that whenever I am about to sink in the pit of worry, I look upward and begin praising God for all I have already been given. Then, I claim victory over worry, confusion, and anxiety, and replace these emotions with gratitude and a thankful heart. I often have to do this several times a day, but I can guarantee it works. God responds to a grateful heart. He actually weeps over His brokenhearted kids. How can we not praise a God like this who gave everything He had to give, so we could have eternity with Him? His great power can sustain you no matter what your circumstances.

God Bless You All!

Wild Bill

MONDAY, MAY 24, 2010

Ephesians 1:13-14 (The Message) 13-14It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.

An owner of a small, crossroads store was appointed the local postmaster. But six months after his appointment, not one piece of mail had left the village. When concerned postal officials from Washington investigated, the local postmaster explained, "Well, it's simple; the bag ain't full yet."

Once there was a church board that decided it wanted its congregation to grow numerically. An evangelism committee was chosen. The first thing the committee did was read every book and article they could find on church growth. The second was to ask persons in the congregation what they thought of when they heard the word "evangelism."

They discovered that many people were unsure of what exactly evangelism is. Some had negative images, thinking evangelism is people in the street shouting "repent, repent, repent" or handing tracts out to strangers. It was something other churches did but not their church.

The evangelism committee was both surprised and challenged by the results of their informal survey. The committee understood evangelism as something Jesus commanded of all believers. They focused on Jesus' teaching: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19) Believing that the church should be always reaching out to others, they devised a plan to attract new people to their church.

Full of enthusiasm, they shared their plans with the congregation only to get a mixed reaction. Many of the members were like the postmaster who wouldn't deliver the mail until the bag was full. "Before we go after new members, we should try to win back members already on our rolls," some said. "I like the church the way it is now," said others. Someone summed it up best: "Who wants strangers in our church? We should just stick to our own."

May we not forget that Jesus is counting on you and me and our churches to help God’s people experience his saving love.

Dear Jesus, there is only one thing I can do with the awesome salvation and love you have given to me, share it. Amen.

FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2010

Isaiah 41:9-13 (The Message)

8-10"But you, Israel, are my servant. You're Jacob, my first choice,descendants of my good friend Abraham. I pulled you in from all over the world, called you in from every dark corner of the earth, Telling you, 'You're my servant, serving on my side.I've picked you. I haven't dropped you.' Don't panic. I'm with you.There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

11-13"Count on it: Everyone who had it in for you will end up out in the cold—real losers. Those who worked against you will end up empty-handed—
nothing to show for their lives. When you go out looking for your old adversaries you won't find them— Not a trace of your old enemies,
not even a memory. That's right. Because I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I'm not letting go. I'm telling you, 'Don't panic. I'm right here to help you.'

I recommend that believers underline Isaiah 41 in their Bibles and meditate on it often. When one of God’s people is seeking an anchor in turbulent times, this is the right passage for the job. Here, Isaiah writes about the source of Christians’ strength.

In verse 10 alone, the Lord promises strength, help, and protection. Moreover, He gives two commands: “do not fear” and “do not anxiously look about you.” Among Satan’s subtle and successful traps is the art of distraction. The Evil One knows that fear can choke faith. He works hard to make unsettling circumstances a person’s sole focus. Once a believer’s attention is diverted from God, natural human tendencies take over. In the absence of prayer and worship, anxiety and doubt grow unobstructed.

Staying focused on God can be hard. The flesh prefers to seek security by thinking through all possible angles: our tendency is to weigh what we think could happen against what “experts” say will happen, and then to evaluate possible ways of preventing our worst fears from coming true. Instead of becoming more confident, we begin to realize how powerless we are.Thankfully, we serve an almighty God who says, “Surely I will help you” (v. 10). You can count on Him.

When we focus on our circumstances, we’re actually choosing to feel anxiety and doubt. But these emotions don’t belong in a believer’s daily life. Instead, let’s decide to trust in the promises God has given us. He’s filled His Word with scriptural anchors to keep His children steady in the faith.

THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2010

2 Corinthians 4:17, 18 (New International Version)
17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

As believers, we are all called to transform the little world around us. C.S. Lewis offered a thoughtful perspective on remaining heavenly minded while continuing to make an impact in this present world. In Mere Christianity, he said. “Hope…means…a continual looking forward to the eternal world…it does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next…It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither.”

Being heavenly minded is not natural. It happens when we focus and meditate on the reality and wonderful hope of the world to come. When we do, we can bring a taste of heaven to the little world around us. So let’s not become complacent — but stay focused there, so we can be effective here… and soon enough we will hear the Lord saying, “Well, done thou good and faithful servant!”

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever. Amen!

New at www.wildbillsbc.com : Visitors since 7/4/09: 13833

DAILY DEVOTION: WHAT GREAT SUPER HERO OF THE BIBLE CONQUERED THE WORLD?

NEED A LAUGH: "God, how many years is 1000 earth years for you?"

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT: WHERE DID THE TERM, "YOU'RE FIRED" COME FROM!

WHAT'S FOR SUPPER: BACON CHEESEBURGER SALAD!

PICTURE OF THE DAY: I SAW THIS ON THE TITANTIC!

POLITICAL CARTOON OF THE DAY: LETTING THE AIR OUT OF THE DONKEY!

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2010

Matthew 5:48 (The Message)

48"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."

When a Michigan man entered the hospital for tests one day, he never would have guessed what the doctors would find. A routine chest x-ray revealed that the man’s heart was on the wrong side of his chest! Because of a rare reversed-organ condition, his heart was in the wrong place. This is a strange story indeed, although I think some of us suffer from this condition in a spiritual way.

Do you ever find yourself thinking you’re in a good place with the Lord? I haven’t done this sin or that sin in a long time. I’m doing much better in this area of my life than so and so is. I am in leadership in my church or ministry and and I think I’m a better Christian than the people I lead. You know what I’m talking about? We get to thinking we’re in a good place — a safe place — home free.

This safe place is a dangerous place! The reality is that Satan wants us to be content in where we are. He wants us to compare ourselves to others and feel we’ve arrived! But we haven’t! God wants us to continually strive to be more like Him! It is only when we come to a place of humility and dependence upon the Lord that we can have a heart that’s truly in the right place.

We need to daily examine ourselves to see if our hearts are where they need to be. Are we depending on God in every way? Are we constantly acknowledging that all we have and are is by His hand of mercy and grace? Let’s stop comparing ourselves to others and our pasts and strive for God’s perfection today!

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2010

John 16:33 (The Message)

31-33Jesus answered them, "Do you finally believe? In fact, you're about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I'm not abandoned. The Father is with me. I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."

In this world we will face all kinds of obstacles, trials and tribulations and we should be wary of any doctrines or teachings that say we shouldn’t have to face these things. Why? Because the Lord said we will have tribulations. So the encouragement He is giving is simply this: You’re going to face trials, but GOD is greater than any problem you will face in this world!

As problems present themselves, we should face them in the power of God and overcome them with Him -– because every problem is an opportunity to exhibit the love and power of God in our lives. And it’s often through these situations that the world gets our true testimony as believers in Him!

So, lift up your head, and don’t expect “no obstacles” in this life. Continue looking up, and be filled with His joy, because the Lord has already overcome this world and our problems, and we will experience that when we simply give them over to Him!

A PRAYER OF TRUST IN GOD-Psalm 31
O' God, I come to You in both humble faith and in prayer;
I come, and I lay before Your feet, my every burden and care.
Hear my gracious God, my cry to You. Hear me, as I pray.
Save me, and strengthen me. Please, always abide with me each day.

You O' God, are my rock. You are my shelter and my mighty fortress;
My comfort in times of sorrow. My peace in times of pain and distress.
O' my God, I trust in You! On Your divine promises, I shall firmly stand;
I belong to You. I am safe and secure in the palm of Your mighty hand.

Be my protection from the assaults and attacks from the devil and from sin;
And when my spirit grows weary, through Your Word and Spirit, revive me again.
O' my God, I trust in You! I call daily upon Your blessed holy name;
Let not my faith and trust in You be put to shame.

Praise the Lord! I will trust in You to keep me strong;
Guide me, O' Lord, and keep me from sin and all wrong.
O' my God, I trust in You! Keep me and hold me in Your tender love;
And when this journey is over, guide me safely to my home above.

SATURDAY, MAY 15, 2010

Genesis 32:28-29 (The Message) 28 The man said, "But no longer. Your name is no longer Jacob. From now on it's Israel (God-Wrestler); you've wrestled with God and you've come through." 29 Jacob asked, "And what's your name?" The man said, "Why do you want to know my name?" And then, right then and there, he blessed him.

I read a story this week of little Johnny who was having a terrific time on his first plane trip. He pushed every button in sight, ran through the aisles at top speed, and finally, he crashed into the stewardess as she was serving a tray of coffee.

Picking herself up, the stewardess grabbed young Johnny by the arm and stated as gently as she could force herself to. "Son, why don't you go outside and play?"

Little Johnny could not got outside of the plane and play even if he wanted too. And Jacob in our scripture reading today, certainly was not wrestling God for the fun of it.

I feel I've been wrestling with God a lot lately, but I am now finished and ready to do what He wants me to do. In June, I will be moving to Phoenix, Arizona. I feel this is where God wants me.I have many job offers, but I believe God wants me to continue going to Churches wherever they invite me.It was in Phoenix, Arizona where I became a born again Christian back in the 1990's. It was a 120 degree day that He first touched me in the back lot of Sanderson Ford in Glendale, Arizona! 120 DEGREES AND WHEN HE TOUCHED ME, I JUST ABOUT FROZE TO DEATH! I had goosebumps on top of goosebumps! It was a day I will never forget.HALLELUJAH! THANK YOU JESUS! AMEN!

Have you wrestled with God lately? Jacob sure did and was blessed. When we make God the center of our lives--we will be blessed too.

Loving God, may all I do be centered around my commitment to you. Please bless all that I do for your glory. In Jesus name, Amen.

FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2010

Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Every time I turn on the news it seems the new buzzword is – CHANGE! So how can we just shift gears and change? Let’s learn a lesson about basic automotive mechanics. Generally a car has between 4 and 5 gears. The first gear maximizes power in exchange for speed. As you move through the gears, you can continue to go faster, yet without using any more power, and before you know it – you have to look at the speedometer – cause nobody wants a speeding ticket!

So what can we learn from this? Do you want a breakthrough? Do you want a new direction? Then you need to take that first step! You need to put all your focus – all your energy into that first initial gear! Yes, it takes all your strength, and yet it seems like you’re moving sooo slow — but be encouraged, because once you start moving, you’ll be able to shift gears — and before you know it –- you’ll be sailing along, and even need to check to see if you’re speeding!

The first step is always the hardest — but it’s necessary for change! You can breakthrough with the power of God empowering you, so GO FOR IT! Put everything you’ve got into that first start. And just like driving, it’ll get easier; and before you know it — we might even have to issue you a speeding citation, just to slow you down a bit..! With so much work to be done, let’s not stay in neutral — let’s get in gear, and start shifting!

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain." So God granted him what he requested. I Chronicles 4:10 NKJV

THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2010

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

We often develop strategies, game-plans, life-plans – and then, at some obstacle or critical point, we say – “Just stick to the plan!” It’s usually good advice.

Life is always sending unexpected surprises, but praise God, nothing takes Him by surprise. He’s the master planner. Our family might turn against us, our friends let us down, illness, afflictions, problems and “situations” on every side…God still has a plan, for you, and for me.

Joseph is a prime example of life’s surprises. It took 13 years of endurance and character-building for him to fulfill this part of God’s plan. Sold as a slave into Egypt by his own brothers, betrayed and imprisoned, he must have wondered a lot where God was and what He was doing. But finally, as a prepared vessel, Joseph was placed in the highest position in the land, second only to Pharaoh, and commissioned to execute God’s plan for saving the world from famine. So the Lord had surprises of His own. Revealing himself to his brothers, Joseph summed it up beautifully: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, in order to bring it about as [it is] this day, to save many people alive. .” (Genesis 50:20)

When our situations are difficult to handle and downright impossible to explain, we need to remind ourselves that God said, “I know the plans I have for you.” Through these situations we discover how faithful and sovereign He truly is. He knows what we can handle and He will never give us more. When the test is completed, we come out with character, stronger in faith, more in love, more useful to Him, and ready……….. for our next test. (Oh yeah…)

The fact that we have problems is a sign that we also have a promise. It’s only a matter of time before God reveals His good intentions – so until then, let’s stick to the plan! His !!!

Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. (NKJV)

Gracious God, it’s so hard to wait. To wait for new things to happen in my life. To wait for you to answer my prayers. To wait for the open doors that may lead me into a new way of being. During the time of waiting, it seems that all I can think of is having what it is I am waiting for. At times I feel weary of asking and waiting, and I wonder if you really hear my prayers at all, if you are ignoring me, or if you are simply refusing to give me my heart’s desire. A part of me knows that you want my best, and that your time is not my time, but Lord, it is still so hard to wait. Deepen my trust, O Lord, during the times when my heart longs for what can only come in the fullness of time. Give me a calm assurance that your will for me is grander than anything I could ever imagine. Still my mind and heart in your love so that I am mindful of the grace you are draping around me every single day, every single moment. I ask this for the sake of your love.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12 , 2010

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
(John 3.16 NRSV)

A pastor was visiting some of his parishioners. He took his young daughter with him. As they visited an elderly couple, the man gave her a handful of peanuts. Expecting her to show a spirit of gratitude, the father asked his daughter, "Honey, what are you supposed to say?" Sincerely, and with her eyes fixed upon the man, she asked, "You got any more?"
That sounds like many of us. We accept God's gifts, never saying "thank you" but simply asking, "Have you got any more?" Yet God keeps giving. That is His nature.

Dear God, thank you! Amen.

God of love, thank you for your love that never ends. In Jesus name, Amen.

MONDAY, MAY 10 , 2010

Luke 19:10 (The Message)
9-10Jesus said, "Today is salvation day in this home! Here he is: Zacchaeus, son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost."

We read in Acts 2:42 that they devoted themselves "to the breaking of bread and the prayers." Prayer fueled the vitality of the early church. Prayer will also continue the vitality of our Christian journey.

I saw a news report of a church bulletin that read like this: "The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not afflicted with any church." I'm sure this was a typo. We should nonetheless be in prayer for those who don't attend church.

At the end of World War II, Robert Woodruff, president of Coca Cola declared, "In my generation it is my desire that everyone in the world have a taste of Coca Cola." Today Coca Cola is sold from the deserts of Africa to the interior of China. Why? Because Woodruff motivated his colleagues to reach their generation around the world for Coke.

Any healthy organization reaches out. We must reach out too, as we share our savior with a lost world.

Dear God, thank you for all the people who have reached out to me with the message of hope in Jesus Christ. Move me to share my savior in love for those who are in need of your hope. In Jesus name, Amen.

SUNDAY, MAY 9, 2010

“Honor your father and mother” -this is the first commandment with a promise: “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
(Ephesians 6.2-3 NRSV)

A man was boarding an airplane one day. As he came on board, he happened to notice that the head of the plane's cockpit flight crew was a woman.
As he found his seat, he noticed three persons sitting immediately behind him. One was a young boy about six or seven years of age. Next to him was a man in his early thirties. And next to the man was a woman in her early sixties.

The man could not help overhearing the conversation among these three persons as the plane made final plans for departure from the gate. It was not long before he realized that they were the woman pilot's family. The boy was her son. The man was her husband. And the older woman was her mother. Suddenly he realized why the family was on the plane. This was the first time the woman pilot had been the head of a flight crew! They were there to honor her promotion.

The plane taxied down the runway and poised itself for takeoff. The engines began to roar, and the plane gained speed quickly. Within seconds they were airborne. As the plane began to ascend the bank to the south, the six-year-old boy began to applaud! "Way to go, Mom. Way to go!"

Today, we applaud our Moms. "Way to go, Moms, way to go!" Truly, today's Mom deserves all the support and applause she can get. We need the faithfulness of our moms, and they need our faithfulness and love!

Loving God, bless our moms in a special way to show your great love for them. In Jesus name, Amen.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2010

Philippians 4:6-7, New International Version
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God wants to hear our prayers. But to keep them from becoming too self-focussed, God wants us to always remember to give thanks. It is so easy for us to turn prayer into a request line. We are the ones who are left bereft when thanksgiving and praise are robbed from our prayers. Without praise our hearts grow dim because all we think about are problems and prayer becomes a wish list.

I'm in my motel room right now in Phoenix, Arizona and it's hard to not be anxious about everything that is happening to me this week. I met yesterday with my old boss who owns restaurants here in the Valley of the Sun! He wants me to re-open one of his restaurants in Chandler and run it and play in it.I ran it for a few years back in the 90's.

I stopped by Sanderson Ford in Glendale to visit some old friends I met when I worked there 13 years ago. It's not only one of the biggest dealerships in Arizona, but it is truly unique in one peticular way. It is owned by a Christian family. They are the only dealership who will not open their dealershop on Sundays. And every other Saturday you must take off so you can spend a nice weekend with your family. This dealership is all about God and family. And the good thing is......they would like me to come back to work for them! I'm going out again today and visit more friends and Churches and am very excited about what God has in store for me today.

This is why it is sooooo hard for me not to be to anxious about these two things and whatever else comes my way today! Because now I have to take it to God in prayer. He will know what is best for me and where He needs me the most! It looks like mom & I will be able to return home in the next few days. And then, Linda & I will have a lot of talking and praying about our future and what God wants us doing.

I have a prayer request! Would all of you pray for us, that we will hear God and understand perfectly what He wants us to do! God Bless All Of You and what you have all meant to me! Our e-mail family of God!

Gracious God, I have so many reasons to praise you. In the face of trial and hardship I have your promises to reawaken my hope. In the moment of victory I have you to thank for my abilities. In the boredom of the routine, I have great joys in your surprises. Thank you God for being so great and yet so loving. In Jesus' name. Amen.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010

James 5:16 (The Message)

16-18Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.

As you know, I like to use our e-mail group to pray for others in need of prayer. I believe in the power of prayer and I think most of you do too! I ran across this little tid-bit and I wanted to share this with you.

Sometime back a cardiologist at a California hospital conducted an experiment in healing. The study included 393 seriously ill cardiac patients. From this group 192 were selected randomly for special treatment. The special treatment was prayer. Selected people around the country were asked to pray for each of these 192 patients. Their conditions were described in detail. The people praying were to focus their prayers toward "beneficial healing and quick recovery." The remaining patients were given the usual medical care without prayer.
Ten months later, the results revealed a startling conclusion. The patients who were prayed for experienced markedly fewer incidences of cardiac related infections, pulmonary edema and mortality than did the 201 patients not prayed for. It's important to note that the patients selected for prayer did not even know they were being prayed for. And the people praying had never met the patients for whom they were asking Divine help. To them they were just names. And yet, their prayers worked!

If prayer can accomplish so much at a distance, what might happen in our lives and our church if we were to pray for those close at hand?

Dear God, may I take the time to pray for those in need. In Jesus name, Amen!

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2010

Philippians 3:13-14 (The Message)

Focused on the Goal
12-14I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.

This Monday I will be packing up my wagon and heading for Tempe, Arizona! I'm not sure what is going to happen down there, but I do know God is telling me to get down there. I thought that God had set my plans to travel to Churches around the country, and that still might be His plan. But out of the blue a few days ago my old boss from Arizona called me and has a plan that very much interests me. He is a very good Christian man that owns quite a few restaurants. I worked for him when I lived down in Phoenix.

Lately he has been using his restaurants to tell others about God. I believe he wants to talk to me about helping him by using my talents. I've already told him about a couple of my ideas. One is to put Gospel song books on every table on Sunday's. When folks come in, they can yell out what song they want to hear, I play it and we all sing it. Another is to always have a "before we eat prayer" copy on every table, thanking God before people eat. If folks tell the waiter/waitress they read and said that prayer at their table, they get 10% off their meal. It just might get them into the habil of talking to God!

But I would definitely like all of you to put me on your prayer request, asking God to use me and to make it very clear so that this singin' cowboy from Montana can understand what it is He wants me to do! Please say a prayer for my wife Linda and my 95 year old mom, who are willing to go anywhere God leads me. By the way, my mom will be 96 years young May 21st and is still going strong! Thank you God!

Lord, there are marvelous things that I do not know, nor can I comprehend.
Lord, things that happen in my life, and things that happen in my friends lives.
Lord, I desire to be thankful, to appreciate everything that comes across my path.
Lord, so often life hurts, I get angry -- upset, I do not understand, yet Lord You ask me to be thankful for everything, and have faith – thank You.

Lord, help me to be thankful, when the rains come on the just and the unjust, that You care so much about me, that Your to chasten, to build character and godliness in me, to be a mirrored reflection of Your Son to reach others.

Lord, I thank You for mercy, for the hunger for righteousness, for forgiveness, for purity, for providing for my needs.

Lord, I thank You for prayer, That I can come before You and call You Father.
That I can cast my burdens on You.
Lord, I thank You for my heart, the treasure and light You placed in there -- the Holy Spirit.

Lord, help me to endeavor, to be thankful for everything.
Lord, it seems most of the time, what happens is about me.
Lord, I thank you that You gently remind me that the things are not about me, however, my life and what happens is more about You, Your will, and Your Kingdom.

Lord, I thank You, I praise You. Lord, in You I do find strength and courage to go on.
Lord, I thank You for the author and finisher of my faith – Jesus Christ and that in You is hope everlasting.

Lord, I thank You for the blood of Jesus, Your precious lamb.
Thank You Lord God!

In Jesus’ name, amen

SATURDAY, APRIL 24 , 2010

1 Peter 2:9-10 (The Message)

9-10But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

Whenever feelings of low self-worth threaten us with discouragement, we need to rely on the truth of God’s Word rather than our emotions. Today we are going to examine four phrases that describe how the Lord sees every believer.

•A Chosen Race. God chose you and me to be part of His kingdom and family because He wanted us. No one who has been specially selected by almighty God is insignificant.
•A Royal Priesthood. As believers, we are children of God and, therefore, part of a royal family. In other words, we are “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17). Just as Jesus fulfilled the roles of both king and priest, so God has also entrusted us with priestly responsibilities of worship and intercession for others.
•A Holy Nation. The church—or body of Christ—is a group of people who are holy, which means “set apart” for the purposes of God. Our lives are never meaningless, because living for the Lord is the greatest purpose one can have.
•A People for God’s Own Possession. You and I are the personal possessions of God (Deut. 14:2; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9). He so values each of us that He sent His Son to die in our place in order that we could be His.
Each of these descriptions shows the high value God places on you. Satan may whisper lies of condemnation and criticism, but he can’t change who you really are. Begin today to demonstrate the truth of Scripture by remembering your real identity and living out your high calling from the Lord.

Thank you God for creating ME!
In your womb I have been fashioned;
Your spirit dwells within me;
Truly I am wonderfully marvelously made!

From your love and wisdom have I come
To this place and time.
To me you have given talent and life and blessings.
To me you have given tasks given to no others.

With joy and gratitude
I celebrate my much-honored existence.
From ages past to eternity,
I have been included in your divine plan.

Thank you God for creating ME!

FRIDAY, APRIL 23 , 2010

Romans 15:13 (The Message)

7-13So reach out and welcome one another to God's glory. Jesus did it; now you do it! Jesus, staying true to God's purposes, reached out in a special way to the Jewish insiders so that the old ancestral promises would come true for them. As a result, the non-Jewish outsiders have been able to experience mercy and to show appreciation to God. Just think of all the Scriptures that will come true in what we do! For instance:

Then I'll join outsiders in a hymn-sing;
I'll sing to your name!
And this one:
Outsiders and insiders, rejoice together!
And again:
People of all nations, celebrate God!
All colors and races, give hearty praise!
And Isaiah's word:
There's the root of our ancestor Jesse,
breaking through the earth and growing tree tall,
Tall enough for everyone everywhere to see and take hope!
Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!

Every time I turn on the news it seems the new buzzword is – CHANGE! So how can we just shift gears and change? Let’s learn a lesson about basic automotive mechanics. Generally a car has between 4 and 5 gears. The first gear maximizes power in exchange for speed. As you move through the gears, you can continue to go faster, yet without using any more power, and before you know it – you have to look at the speedometer – cause nobody wants a speeding ticket!

So what can we learn from this? Do you want a breakthrough? Do you want a new direction? Then you need to take that first step! You need to put all your focus – all your energy into that first initial gear! Yes, it takes all your strength, and yet it seems like you’re moving sooo slow — but be encouraged, because once you start moving, you’ll be able to shift gears — and before you know it –- you’ll be sailing along, and even need to check to see if you’re speeding!

The first step is always the hardest — but it’s necessary for change! You can breakthrough with the power of God empowering you, so GO FOR IT! Put everything you’ve got into that first start. And just like driving, it’ll get easier; and before you know it — we might even have to issue you a speeding citation, just to slow you down a bit..! With so much work to be done, let’s not stay in neutral — let’s get in gear, and start shifting!

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half truths and superficial relationships, so that we may live deep within our heart.
May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that we may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain to joy.
May God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done. AMEN

That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. (Acts 10.37-38 NRSV)

I read about a report to a State Industrial Commission on a man injured while in the act of repairing a chimney. He says, "when I got to the building, I found that the hurricane had knocked some bricks off the top. So I rigged up a beam with a pulley at the top of the building and hoisted up a couple of barrels full of bricks. When I had fixed the chimney, there were a lot of bricks left over. I hoisted the barrel back up again and secured the line at the bottom, and then went and filled the barrel with extra bricks. Then I went to the bottom and cast off the line. Unfortunately, the barrel of bricks was heavier than I was, and before I knew what was happening, the barrel started down, jerking me off the ground. I decided to hang on and halfway up, I met the barrel coming down and received a severe blow on the shoulder. I then continued to the top, banging my head against the beam and getting my finger jammed in the pulley. When the barrel hit the ground, it burst its bottom, allowing the bricks to spill out. I was heavier than the empty barrel, and so I started down again at high speed. Halfway down, I met the barrel coming up and received a severe injury to my shins. When I hit the ground, I landed on the bricks, getting several painful cuts from the sharp edges. At this point I must have lost my presence of mind, because I let go of the line. The barrel then came down giving me another heavy blow on the head and putting me in the hospital." We are not exempt from the storms of life. They come at us from all directions.
What do we do with the storms of life? Become bitter? Hopefully, we will allow God to heal us.

God of love, heal me and draw me close to your healing love. Amen.

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010

Take counsel together, but it shall be brought to naught; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.
(Isaiah 8.10 NRSV)

They were shooting the movie "Yankee Doodle Dandy" on the day after Pearl Harbor. The cast listened as President Roosevelt announced on the radio that the United States was at war with Japan and Germany. At that point director Michael Curtiz came on the sound stage with Jimmy Cagney. They all listened in silence for the national anthem to finish. As the women dabbed tears from their eyes, and the men were deeply moved, Curtiz said in his best Hungarian accent:
"Now, boys and girls, we have work to do. We have bad news, but we have a wonderful story to tell the world. So let's put away sad things and begin."

That's our challenge, too. We remember with sadness and gratitude the sacrifices others have made in our behalf. Now we go out to tell the story that in tragedy God is with us. We are not alone.

Loving God, thank you for being with me through all of the ups and downs of life. And all my friends and family knows that Wild Bill definitely has his ups & downs! Amen

THURSDAY, APRIL 8 , 2010

They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.”
(John 4.42 NRSV)

Winston Churchill knew the difference between celebrities and heroes. In the summer of 1941, Sergeant James Allen Ward was awarded the Victoria Cross for climbing out onto the wing of his Wellington bomber at 13,000 feet above ground to extinguish a fire in the starboard engine. Secured only by a rope around his waist, he managed to smother the fire and return along the wing to the aircraft's cabin. Churchill, an admirer as well as a performer of swashbuckling exploits, summoned the shy New Zealander to 10 Downing Street. Ward, struck dumb with awe in Churchill's presence, was unable to answer the prime minister's questions. Churchill surveyed the unhappy hero with some compassion.
"You must feel very humble and awkward in my presence," he said.

"Yes, Sir," managed Ward.

"Then you can imagine how humble and awkward I feel in yours," returned Churchill.

I am sure the disciples felt the same way about Jesus.

Jesus is our savior!

Dear God, thank you for sending me Jesus to be my savior. Amen.

FRIDAY, APRIL 2 , 2010

Matthew 26:36-46 (New American Standard Bible)

The Garden of Gethsemane
36(A)Then Jesus came with them to a place called (B)Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
37And He took with Him (C)Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed.

38Then He said to them, "(D)My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and (E)keep watch with Me."

39And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let (F)this cup pass from Me; (G)yet not as I will, but as You will."

40And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "So, you men could not (H)keep watch with Me for one hour?

41"(I)Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; (J)the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

42He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this (K)cannot pass away unless I drink it, (L)Your will be done."

43Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

44And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.

45Then He came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, (M)the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46"Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!"

The garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives was one of the Lord’s favorite places to pray throughout His earthly ministry (Luke 22:39). But believers remember it best as the site of a great spiritual battle. The story of Jesus pleading with His Father is extremely meaningful to Christians, and one of the reasons is that the Lord looked so human. From the gospel’s description, we can see that Jesus, the God-man, experienced fear, anxiety, and dread as He prayed. In other words, He reacted to His imminent ordeal with feelings we can relate to and understand.

Satan taunts believers by telling them they can’t be like Jesus because He is God. But He was God cloaked in human flesh, which means that He experienced the world as we do. Yet He won every spiritual and life battle he faced. The secret to His success is what He did at Gethsemane. He secluded Himself and prayed until His will was fully surrendered to the Father. The battle was won on His knees.

Jesus left the garden a prisoner, but at the same time He walked out a winner. He accepted God’s will for His life, even though pain was a guarantee. Our Savior had been called to die, and He knew that the potential blessings and consequences were all in His Father’s hands.

Believers confront fearsome trials too. God uses these hardships to conform us to His Son’s image (Rom. 8:29). If we are to be like Jesus, we must learn from His actions. In the face of difficulty, we should seek God’s will, commit to following it, and leave the consequences in His almighty hands.

Jesus our advocate, in the darkness of Gethsemane You wept for us. Shedding tears of blood You shared our pain. Jesus our redeemer, on the way to the Cross You suffered for us. Tortured, spat upon and despised, You carried our burdens. Jesus our Saviour, on the hill of Calvary, You died for us. Crucified and hung upon a tree, You released us into freedom. Son of the living God, Redeemer, Saviour, Advocate, through the journey of suffering In the place of darkness,You overcame death forever and gave us new life. Amen

THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010

Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. (James 1.21 NRSV)

Richard F. Shepard in his book, In Enemy Waters, tells about two men he saw pummeling each other in a gutter where each had a car half-parked, one frontward, one backward, in a parking space. The irrationality of it all, he says, was emphasized by a sign in front of the parking place that said, "No Parking." Of course, the point wasn't that they were both trying to park in a no parking zone. The point was that they both were probably carrying around anger that was just waiting to erupt.
Anger is one of our human emotions. We need to make sure we work through those emotions.

Lord Jesus, help me to work through my emotions of anger when it hits me, so that I won’t take it out on one of your precious children. Amen.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2010

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
(Revelation 2.10 NRSV)

William Hinson tells about a breakfast he had with a man who had a very prosperous business. The businessman recently had become a Christian. It did not take him long to discover how costly this decision would be. He told his pastor of a very real dilemma he was now facing. "I have been engaged in price-fixing with some of my supposed competitors," he said. He went on to tell his pastor about rigging bids and how he and his friends profited from this scheme. "We have been putting our competitors out of business by keeping them from getting the big jobs," the businessman confessed.
"Now that I am a Christian," he said, "I cannot do that anymore, and I have told them I can't do it. They say that if I squeal, they will get the law on me because they have proof of my past involvement. They tell me that if I drop out, they will put me out of business, too." It was a real dilemma for the man. What should he do, change his business practices and risk going out of business or continue doing what he knows is wrong?

This man was convinced that his business practices went against Christian principles. He no longer went along with his friends' scheme and they were true to their word--they put him out of business. He eventually went broke. Tough decision! What would you have done? Take up a cross or work out a compromise? Be satisfied with being a Christian only by name or a true disciple of the master?

Dear God, forgive me, as I set my sights on being a true disciple. Amen.

TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2010

Matthew 26:36-46 (New International Version)

36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

42He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

45Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

Jesus journeyed into the deepest pit of despair hours before His crucifixion. In the garden of Gethsemane, He repeatedly prayed that “the cup” would pass away (Matt. 26:39). Christ was staring into a chalice of wrath and judgment that must have made His soul recoil (Is. 51:17). Mankind had filled it with the most depraved and evil deeds and thoughts they could conceive. According to Scripture, Jesus Christ did not just die for our sins; He became our sin (2 Cor. 5:21). The holy, perfect Lamb took on Himself all that was vile and dark.

Furthermore, Jesus knew the consequences of accepting mankind’s evil. God’s holiness prevented Him from being in the presence of sin. Therefore, the Father would have to separate Himself from the Son. Jesus had always enjoyed perfect oneness and relationship with God. To contemplate a wrenching rejection and separation must have been terrifying.

There was no question that Jesus would do God’s will. He would become sin and be separated from the Father, if that’s what was required to save mankind. For a while in the garden, He pleaded for another route to our redemption. However, when it was clear that the Father’s answer was “No, this is the only way,” Jesus obediently sacrificed Himself.

Jesus Christ sacrificed more than His life. He exchanged perfection for wickedness and holy union for separation. The Savior did this so we could be transformed into righteous men and women with an eternal future. No wonder all of heaven exalts Him (Rev. 5:11-14). We must do the same.

Lord, You have arisen forever
In my heart!

May the sunrise
Remind me to shine in Your light.

May the caress of a gentle breeze
Remind me of Your compassion.

May the fragrance of a flower
Remind me to blossom in Your love.

May the singing of birds
Bring a song of joy to my lips.

And in the closing of each day
May I remember to quietly pray.

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2010

Colossians 3:1 (The Message)

1-2 So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.

Mary Jo West wanted more than anything in the world to be the best at what she did. When she landed her first news anchor job at KOOL-TV in Phoenix, she was 24 years old and the city's first female anchor. At a young age she had everything she ever wanted. But then her life began falling apart. Working long hours she often went days without seeing her husband. He accused her of putting work above their relationship, which eventually led to the break-up of their marriage.

After six years, Mary Jo was offered a job with CBS News in New York. Network news was her dream come true. Now she was more driven than ever. She routinely worked 12-hour days. The program was a success, but she felt empty. Other than work, she says, she didn't have a life.

Early one morning she went to church to pray. She had grown up with a strong faith, she says, but it had been a long time since she'd talked to or listened to God. That morning she prayed, "God, what am I doing so far from home? I want to walk Your path, but I don't know how."

Within a year Mary Jo was back in Phoenix working at a rival television station. Things did not work out. The ratings went from bad to worse. Before too long Mary Jo was out of work. She found it difficult to find another job. She sat alone in her big house--lost. All her feelings of self-worth had come from her job; now she felt worthless.

In her lifelong quest to finish first, she had ended up dead last. Mary Jo began working as a volunteer at a local mission. She spent the next year as a volunteer, handing out diapers and bus tokens, dishing out hot meals and helping people find work or a bed for the night. It was during that year when she reached out to other people that she felt God's love as never before. She discovered God's love in the eyes of a man who cried as he thanked her for finding him a pair of size 13 boots so that he could finally get a job.

That year transformed Mary Jo West's life. She learned to rely on God and to keep her life in balance. "I don't have the glamour or the salary of my earlier jobs," she says, "but I do have something better: love, happiness, and peace of mind. That's God's idea of being first."

Maybe this is what i'm doing wrong. I often wonder if I'm doing what God wants me to do or what I want to do. I can just hear God up in Heaven......"When is that Wild Bill going to start doing what I want him to do? If I hear him screw up one more of my hymns, I might just end the world today!"
Dear Jesus, help me to find you and keep you in my life. Amen.

FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2010

Matthew 18:19 (The Message)

18-20"Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there."

Read those Bible verses above, once again! Do you ever wonder why I spill my heart out to each of you about the good things and the bad things in my life? I'm going to do things wrong and some things right. Your answers to me help me think and decide what is God's will. By being unified in what we do and e-mailing each other, God will be with us! And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there." I just want you to understand that I will do things wrong. And I hope you feel I'm doing a lot of things right. But we should all get together with someone and start talking about God! When that happens, God promises us He'll be there too!

It is important for us to understand that the church gets its power form being unified. Airing out our problems is important to building a unified community of God's people. Our church cannot be effective without our unity and support of one another. We are called to be one in the body of Christ. I remembering reading once about Henry Kissinger when he was a boy. In 1934, he grew up as a Jewish boy in Bavaria. His original name was Heinz, and he grew up learning well his religious teachings. One day, one of the bullies of his neighborhood caught up with the young Heinz. Instead of fighting, he talked his way out of the situation without anyone getting hurt. Henry Kissinger's talent of talking things out became important when he moved to the United States and became the great talker who brought peace to many areas of the world. His work brought unity, which helped the United States become even more effective in bringing peace to many places around the world.

Unity also brings more effectiveness to the church. Jesus, said our scripture reading today, "Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." When we agree on the things that we need, we build unity. Then God will give us the things that we need. Maybe not the things we want, but our needs will be met. And, our churches will become more effective in helping people experience God's forgiveness and love.

Lord Jesus, thank you for the great unity you bring to the church. Move me to do all I can to build unity in your holy church. Amen

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010

And it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
(Galatians 2:20 NRSV)

The only path to true success comes when we daily take up the cross of Jesus Christ. Even a self-centered generation knows that self-denial is the path to success. But listen. There is a catch. Self-denial will not bring us fulfillment if we only live for ourselves. We may say, "I am not doing this for my husband or my wife. I'm not doing this for my children. I am doing it for me." Fine. That may help you stay on your diet. That may help you keep up your studies. But it will not bring you ultimate fulfillment. Ultimate fulfillment comes only when we say, "I'm doing this for God and God's people." I heard once that our will and God's will is like this, "Imagine a person carrying two buckets, one of them filled with oil and one filled with water. Now they are completely filled so that you cannot pour the oil from its bucket into the water bucket because there is no room and besides oil and water don't mix.

Now imagine that one of these buckets is you and your will and your purpose and your plan for your life and the other is God's will and plan and purpose for your life. Before you can know God's will and plan and purpose for your life you're going to have to empty your bucket to receive what God has to give. Now whom do you trust the most to know where real purpose and joy, satisfaction, and peace lie with you, or with the heart of God?"

The key to truly successful living is to deny ourselves in order that God may fill us to overflowing with God's presence and power. As Paul said in Galatians 2:20, "and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me." There is the path to real success. If we who are followers of Jesus would learn that one simple truth, we could turn this world upside down.

Dear God, fill me with the saving power of Jesus Christ, as I pick up his cross of salvation everyday. Amen.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2010

Make vows to the LORD your God, and perform them; let all who are around him bring gifts to the one who is awesome.
(Psalm 76:11 NRSV)

I read a story that was about the very bashful young man who was hesitant about demonstrating his affection for his sweetheart. "Oh, but that I were an octopus," he said one night, "that I might wrap all eight arms around you." His impatient sweetheart replied, "Don't worry about having eight arms. Just make better use of the two arms you already have." That is what we must do in doing the work of Jesus Christ. We shouldn't worry about whether or not we have the gifts to follow. We simply need to use what gifts we have to follow Christ and to do God's will. Doing otherwise is simply a waste of time.

Dear God, may I realize more fully today the wonderful gifts you have given me. May I respond to your call in fulfilling your will for my life in touching your people with love and forgiveness. Amen.

TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2010

1 Corinthians 4:5 (The Message)

5So don't get ahead of the Master and jump to conclusions with your judgments before all the evidence is in. When he comes, he will bring out in the open and place in evidence all kinds of things we never even dreamed of—inner motives and purposes and prayers. Only then will any one of us get to hear the "Well done!" of God.

I came across this powerful story and wanted to share it with you.

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted them to learn to not judge things too quickly, so he sent them each on a quest to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. He sent his first son in the winter, his second in the spring, his third in summer and his youngest in the fall. When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no – it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed, he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

After hearing all his son’s responses, the wise father replied, “Sons, you are all right — because you have each seen only one season in the tree’s life. But you cannot judge a tree, or a person, or anything else by only one season. Most things can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons have come to pass”.

I think each of us has judged someone or something prematurely, and we have also probably experienced the pain of being judged that way. Lord, forgive us! We need to give each other the benefit of the doubt! We need to look closely enough and long enough to see the big picture before we rule things out. God does that for us all the time. There’s so much work to be done!

A few Pastor's judged me about the way I opened my services when I travel to Churches around the country. Some people on my e-mails judged me the same way. I had almost given up on my ministry. I started judging the folks who were judging me. It didn't take me long during my prayer time, that God told me I was doing the same thing now. I stopped and decided to keep going because of the things I want to do for God! I know I haven't done anything wrong. The devil never stops working on those who are praising the Lord! Sure it hurts when people hurt you, but we all must keep on, keeping on!

A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER

I asked God to take away my habit.
God said, No.
It is not for me to take away,
but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No.
His spirit is whole,
his body is only temporary

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No.
Patience is a byproduct of tribulations;
it isn't granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No.
I give you blessings;
Happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares
and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No.
You must grow on your own,
but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No.
I will give you life,
so that you may enjoy all things.

I ask God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said...Ahhhh,
finally you have the idea.

MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2010

If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
(Luke 9:23 NRSV)

Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz once said, "I've been on the top and I've been on the bottom. At Arkansas my first year, we won the Orange Bowl. Then everybody loved me. "They put me into the Arkansas Hall of Fame and issued a commemorative stamp in my honor. The next year we lost to Texas, and they had to take away the stamp, because people kept spitting on the wrong side of it. Life is full of highs and lows, and for many of us it is hard to be humble. But when we deny our own pleasures and desires, and put God first, then we begin to understand what is really important to be filled with God's desires of love and hope.
Jesus tells us today, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." The cross here is a very important symbol. Carrying the cross means we carry a burden of helping others, it means God is important, it means we have hope, it means we have forgiveness, it means we use our financial resources to help others, and it means we want to share God's love, forgiveness, and hope with our family, our friends, and our co-workers.

When we deny ourselves, we put God first.

Dear Jesus, you gave up so much for me. Now, guide me as I deny my wishes for yours. Amen.

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2010

Mark 8:32 (The Message)

30-32Jesus warned them to keep it quiet, not to breathe a word of it to anyone. He then began explaining things to them: "It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the elders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and after three days rise up alive." He said this simply and clearly so they couldn't miss it.

32-33But Peter grabbed him in protest. Turning and seeing his disciples wavering, wondering what to believe, Jesus confronted Peter. "Peter, get out of my way! Satan, get lost! You have no idea how God works.

I read a story once of a Sunday School class that was talking about heaven. A little girl said, "If you are good, you'll go to heaven." A little boy asked, "Where do you go if you are bad?"
The little girl replied emphatically, "To the principal's office."

Choosing to go God's way is not so much about being good or bad, but it does have a lot to do with who guides our lives God or our own desires.

In our scripture reading today, Peter says to Jesus, "You're crazy." You are not going to suffer and die. You see Peter and the disciples had a different idea about what the Messiah would be like. He saw the messiah as an earthly king or president, who would restore Israel's freedom and power. The disciples were looking for their own desires to be met, not God's desire that Jesus would become the savior of the world.

We are being asked today to choose who we will follow. There are many surveys that say lots people in our society believe in God. But belief in God does not constitute living God's way. For when we live God's way, we will be willing to suffer with those who suffer, and we will make sacrifices so that God's work will get done in and through the church.

This is a tough one for me. I'm trying to follow God completely, But am I actually doing things my way and not His? I sent an e-mail out to Pastors in the Northwest trying to explain how my Gospel Show works. I explained that in my opening how I tell everyone how neat it is that at every Church I go to I start by telling them how amazing it is that there is always someone I know. And then pre-arranged with the Pastor or parents I will ask for a young girl by name. Usually a girl from about eight years old to their teens. Now remember, I'm 64 years old. When she comes up front with me I ask her if she remembers me. She usually says no. I ask again. The answer is still no. That's when I tell her that her & I went to grade school together. She looks at me a little strange. Then I say, "You use to chase me around the playground, kissing me on the face." She turns a little red and everyone else is laughing. I even had one little girl right away say, "I remember, and one rainy day you & I road down the slide together!" That really made me laugh. It always ends with the girls giving me a hug and picking out one of my CD's for working with me.

I sent this story and more about my show to over 1000 Churches in Montana, the Dakota's, Washington, Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico, New England states and others. I received lots of e-mails from preachers that condemned me for exploiting little girls. Some even got into the pornography subject! One Church went as far as to say that my show would never fit into their Church with chasing little girls around and kissing them. WOW! I received a whole lot of e-mails from these states that only said, "UNSUBSCRIBE ME!" I think in one short e-mail, I wiped out a ministry that was just starting to really catch on. Who wants to be preached to by a child molester? My God, when do people stop judging? Now Churches are protecting their young children from me!

I pray that those of you who get my e-mail don't judge me to harshly. I know my ministry has probably gone down the tube. Was it because I was doing my own thing and not God's? I have spent the last five days laying in bed, praying and asking God what I should do. It has been hard on my family. I haven't even been able to talk to them about it. They will read about it the same time you do. I know I did nothing wrong and I always asked the Pastor or the parents for permission before I would do that part of my program. What I can't understand is, I played in the bars for over 30 years and never had anything like this happen to me. I go to the safety of God's Church..............................0h well.

I would like for you to pray for my ministry. Today I am going out doing the only thing that I'm really good at other than music. That is selling cars. I've always been good at that because of the honesty factor. I will always keep my Daily Devotion going, but if any of you want off my e-mail, I won't understand, but I will remove you.

Loving God, help me say yes to serving you in every way possible. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life; You stretch out Your hand against the anger of my foes, with Your right hand you save me. - Psalm 138:7 - AMEN!

SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2010

Hebrews 2:11 (The Message)

10-13It makes good sense that the God who got everything started and keeps everything going now completes the work by making the Salvation Pioneer perfect through suffering as he leads all these people to glory. Since the One who saves and those who are saved have a common origin, Jesus doesn't hesitate to treat them as family, saying, I'll tell my good friends, my brothers and sisters, all I know about you; I'll join them in worship and praise to you.
Again, he puts himself in the same family circle when he says, Even I live by placing my trust in God. And yet again, I'm here with the children God gave me.

Can you imagine what it would be like to be adopted by a king? No doubt your life would change drastically. How long would it take you to figure out the perks that come with such a privilege? What about the responsibilities? How amazed would you be each time the king introduced you as his son or sibling?

Is it a marvelous wonder to you that Jesus welcomes you as a full-fledged member of his family? When you became a Christian, Jesus embraced you as a brother/ sister. Are you proud of your association with him? Everything he has is offered to you. How much do you value that family relationship? Do you accept your family responsibilities? Do you enjoy being with your brothers and sisters in Christ?

The King of Kings and Lord of Lords claims you as brother/sister. You are God’s beloved child. Remarkable! It is an amazing thing!

The more traveling around the country and visiting and singing at all these Churches, meeting the Pastors and their families and meeting the congregation in each Church, the closer I feel to God and His families. It's sooooo good to be in the family of God. And I want to tell each and every one of you, "GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO I!"

Today's Prayer: Heavenly Father, how wonderful it is to call you “Abba”, Father! You have made me a part of your family through the sacrifice of your beloved Jesus. Thank you for your patience and mercy that allow me be loved and accepted in your household.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2010

Psalm 55:16-18 (The Message)
16-19 I call to God;
God will help me.
At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh
deep sighs—he hears, he rescues.
My life is well and whole, secure
in the middle of danger
Even while thousands
are lined up against me.
God hears it all, and from his judge's bench
puts them in their place.
But, set in their ways, they won't change;
they pay him no mind.

David frequently cried out to God with a heavy heart but notice his confident faith that, even in the midst of his deep distress, God would bring peace and comfort to his soul.

He suffered numerous painful betrayals and disloyalty by dear friends, close family members and royal associates. His children brought him grief. Many enemies battled against him. Yet, his faith in God never wavered. Through all of the heartache and distress he gave the glory for his physical, emotional and spiritual victories to God.

Has your heart experienced such deep soreness that you feel no one can help alleviate your pain yet when you cry out to God you find a peace that is beyond your understanding? It is true that God is faithful!

Praise God for his listening ear and this peace that cannot be found anywhere else except beneath his sheltering wings. It cannot be explained but, like David, you are surrounded with comfort and you are delivered.

Heavenly Father, you are the source of perfect peace that cannot be found in this world. I know I can always bring my cries to you and you will listen. My soul finds rest in your faithful and abundant grace.

Psalm 55:16-18 (The Message)
16-19 I call to God;
God will help me.
At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh
deep sighs—he hears, he rescues.
My life is well and whole, secure
in the middle of danger
Even while thousands
are lined up against me.
God hears it all, and from his judge's bench
puts them in their place.
But, set in their ways, they won't change;
they pay him no mind.

David frequently cried out to God with a heavy heart but notice his confident faith that, even in the midst of his deep distress, God would bring peace and comfort to his soul.

He suffered numerous painful betrayals and disloyalty by dear friends, close family members and royal associates. His children brought him grief. Many enemies battled against him. Yet, his faith in God never wavered. Through all of the heartache and distress he gave the glory for his physical, emotional and spiritual victories to God.

Has your heart experienced such deep soreness that you feel no one can help alleviate your pain yet when you cry out to God you find a peace that is beyond your understanding? It is true that God is faithful!

Praise God for his listening ear and this peace that cannot be found anywhere else except beneath his sheltering wings. It cannot be explained but, like David, you are surrounded with comfort and you are delivered.

Today's Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are the source of perfect peace that cannot be found in this world. I know I can always bring my cries to you and you will listen. My soul finds rest in your faithful and abundant grace

FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2010

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.
(Hebrews 12.1 NRSV)

If you are going to compete in the race of life, run to win. And that means committing yourself to a life of discipline. It means seeking to be all God has created you to be. It means knowing where you are going--focusing in on the tasks at hand. It means avoiding distractions. It means getting rid of any sin in your life and anything else that may serve as a hindrance. This is to show that there may be hindrances in our lives that may not necessarily be sinful. And it means running your race with the anticipation that you're not headed down a dead end street. You're running to cross God's finish line. Keep these rules in mind and you will finish a winner in everything you do.

Dear God, help me keep my focus on you, so that I can win the challenges of life for your honor and glory. Amen.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010

Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead... (Philippians 3.13 NRSV)

Some business people are now using the word, FEEDFORWARD. Think about that word for a moment: Feedforward, as opposed to the familiar word FEEDBACK. If you're running a business, feedback means when something goes wrong, you pick up the signal that all's not well, and you do something about it. You yell, you shout, you punish the "guilty" or whatever. The problem with feedback is it's always after the fact. You are being reactive instead of proactive. Why not try to anticipate rather than simply respond.
Watch a fast moving tennis match. The best players can't afford to wait until their opponent hits the ball to decide where they should be on the court. They have to anticipate where the ball will probably be hit, commit themselves to that part of the court, and be there. Or talk to an experienced fisherman; he'll tell you that chances of hooking a trout are far better if you see the fish coming at the dry fly, rather than waiting for the splash when the fish does hit it. Feedforward. Anticipation. Not always possible in tennis, trout fishing, business, or life, but better than feedback when you can do it.

Paul writes, "But one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Paul lived in anticipation about what God was doing in his life and in the world.

Dear God, may I be a feedforward servant for your kingdom of love. In Jesus Name. Amen.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2010

For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it.
(1 Corinthians 11.18 NRSV)

Arnold Prater has turned Paul's teaching into a parable: Once upon a time, he says, almost everybody was an ear. All the ears had a big convention and were having a wonderful time when a nose and a mouth walked in, sat down on the back row, and were very quiet. But soon the sergeant-at-arms walked over and said, "You fellows don't look like ears to me. I'm kicking you out." So the nose and the mouth left. But after a while the convention hall caught fire and destroyed all the ears because no noses were there to smell the smoke and no mouths were there to warn them the place was on fire!
A person who loses her sense of smell suffers. A person who loses his or her eyes has a much different view point. The same thing is true about members of Christ's body, the church. Every one of us is essential. Everyone is indispensable.

Lord Jesus, help me as I build up your church. Amen.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2010

Luke 23:33-34 (New International Version)
33When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Who were the “they” who crucified Jesus? The religious leaders? Pilate? The crowd? The soldiers? Satan? Among those, only one knew with certainty that Jesus was the Son of God. That one was Satan. He knew who Jesus was although he did not know Jesus’ death would mean his own demise.

Where do you think you would have stood that day? Would you have understood what you were doing if you had cried “Crucify him!”? Would you, like Pilate have refused to get involved in a “religious” dispute or, like the religious leaders, would you have been blinded by hatred? Perhaps, as a soldier, you would have apathetically followed orders. Maybe they didn’t have a clue or ignored the clues they were given.

Do you fully understand what happened that day to God’s beloved Son? If you do, it should change your life. Even then, there are days when you “don’t have a clue” how deeply your words or actions hurt the One who endured so much for you already. No one is more guilty of crucifying Jesus than you. Aren’t you glad you have a loving and merciful Savior who is willing to say, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Today's Prayer: Heavenly Father,I humbly ask your forgiveness for my transgressions against you and I am humbly grateful for your mercy and grace.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2010

2 Corinthians 2:14 (New International Version)

14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

This scripture makes an astounding promise – God ALWAYS leads us to triumph or victory! But can we ALWAYS count on this amazing word to be true?

We often receive emails from believers who are waiting or hoping for a victory of some kind in their lives. Many seem to be wondering, “Where is this this ‘always victory’ in my life?” Now think about it… wouldn’t it be impossible to gain victory over a thing if we already experienced victory each and every moment? It may sound obvious, but the fact is that in order to gain any victory, you must find yourself in a situation that is questionable, stressful ,and may even appear hopeless for a time. The promise is not that we will walk in a constant state of “victoriousness” (my term …but rather that in every situation God will lead us in triumph. We can’t even say we will always know what that will look like, but victory is the Lord’s irrevocable promise.

Victory is a promise of God, but never forget that it requires a battle…sometimes a very long one. True faith will stand on this promise in the face of every trial, challenge, or opposition…remembering that the greatest purpose of every victory is for manifesting the fragrance of our knowledge of Him…in every place!

Dear Heavenly Father,
Praise be given to Your Holy name for Your forbearance and mercy. You have dealt gently with Your children in love. You have been patient with me in my humanness and stubbornness.
Lord, through the work of Your Spirit, prompt me to be more jubilant in hope, more patient in times of trouble, and more consistent in my prayer life. Teach me, Lord, to wait with faith and expectancy, and may my trials be seen as times for growth in grace. Through Christ our Lord, I pray. Amen

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2010

Luke 19:12-13 (New International Version)
12He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.[a]'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.'

During the American Civil War in the 1860’s, a fierce battle took place at Altoona Pass. It was a key supply point for the Union Army, so the Confederate Army led by General Hood sought to take Altoona Pass which held over a million and a half rations. When Union General Sherman realized Hood’s plans, he dispatched General Corse along with 1,500 men to hold the city.

As the battle ensued, General Corse and his forces were forced into a small fort on a crest of a hill. The Northern army was being overwhelmed, with nearly half the men either killed or wounded in the battle. Things were looking extremely bleak, when in the distance from a mountain top twenty miles away a while flag was being waved, and those in the fort knew the message being sent, “Hold the fort; I am coming. W.T. Sherman.”

This sign gave the beleaguered army renewed strength to continue fighting the battle for another three hours until reinforcements finally arrived.

From this battle, a famous Christian song was written and its chorus is so eloquent for us today, “Hold the fort, for I am coming, Jesus signals still; Wave the answer back to heaven, By thy grace we will!”

In the midst of spiritual battles we can often feel besieged on every side – but HOLD THE FORT! Get some rest this week and renew your strength in the Lord for the victory is already won – we just need to continue fighting because He is coming! That's right! JESUS IS COMING!

Traditional version:
Now I lay me down to sleep;
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.

A more recent variant:
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord, my soul to keep;
Guide and guard me through the night
and wake me with the morning's light

Amen

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2010

And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
(Matthew 3.16 NRSV)

I love the story of Martin Luther who, on those dark and discouraging days that we all have, would say to himself over and over, "I am baptized. I am baptized." He affirmed that whatever was happening to him at the moment, he was a child of the covenant God had made with His people. Try that on one of your bad days. You might get surprising results.

We have been baptized. Think about the implications of that statement. If you haven't been baptized, call your preacher right away and get it done. If you don't have a preacher, call or e-mail me and I will get it done for you. I'll do anything to help you get closer and closer to our Lord!

God of love, I have be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2010

2 Timothy 2:25-26 (The Message)

22-26Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God's servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.

The story is told of a mother and child who watched lions from a barrier at the zoo. The mother told the child to stay back from the barrier but when she turned her eyes away for a moment, the child disobeyed; falling into the pit. She watched in horror as the lions began to maul her child. With strength beyond her own, she climbed over the barrier, grabbed her child and dragged him to safety.

What would you expect the mother to do at this point? Slap her child for disobeying? Get immediate help for her child, doing all she could to save him? Do nothing? Satan is a roaring lion, seeking those he can devour. (I Peter 5:8)

How do you respond to those who are being mauled by his evil?

Today's Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to respond in mercy as you have been merciful to me. Give me the strength and the wisdom to respond in love to those who need your mercy so badly.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2010

2 Corinthians 4:17, 18 (New International Version) 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

As believers, we are all called to transform the little world around us. C.S. Lewis offered a thoughtful perspective on remaining heavenly minded while continuing to make an impact in this present world. In Mere Christianity, he said. “Hope…means…a continual looking forward to the eternal world…it does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next…It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither.”

Being heavenly minded is not natural. It happens when we focus and meditate on the reality and wonderful hope of the world to come. When we do, we can bring a taste of heaven to the little world around us. So let’s not become complacent — but stay focused there, so we can be effective here… and soon enough we will hear the Lord saying, “Well, done thou good and faithful servant!”

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever. Amen

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2010

When the Odds Are Against You

Judges 7:1-8 (The Message)
1 Jerub-Baal (Gideon) got up early the next morning, all his troops right there with him. They set up camp at Harod's Spring. The camp of Midian was in the plain, north of them near the Hill of Moreh.

2-3 God said to Gideon, "You have too large an army with you. I can't turn Midian over to them like this—they'll take all the credit, saying, 'I did it all myself,' and forget about me. Make a public announcement: 'Anyone afraid, anyone who has any qualms at all, may leave Mount Gilead now and go home.'" Twenty-two companies headed for home. Ten companies were left.

4-5 God said to Gideon: "There are still too many. Take them down to the stream and I'll make a final cut. When I say, 'This one goes with you,' he'll go. When I say, 'This one doesn't go,' he won't go." So Gideon took the troops down to the stream.

5-6 God said to Gideon: "Everyone who laps with his tongue, the way a dog laps, set on one side. And everyone who kneels to drink, drinking with his face to the water, set to the other side." Three hundred lapped with their tongues from their cupped hands. All the rest knelt to drink.

7 God said to Gideon: "I'll use the three hundred men who lapped at the stream to save you and give Midian into your hands. All the rest may go home."

8 After Gideon took all their provisions and trumpets, he sent all the Israelites home. He took up his position with the three hundred. The camp of Midian stretched out below him in the valley.

The story of Gideon offers scriptural guidance for times when the odds are overwhelming and defeat seems imminent. No matter what your challenges are, the Lord is able to demonstrate His awesome power and deliver you.

God uses difficulty to build faith. Gideon was willing to believe God and go up against an army four times larger than his own. Trusting the Lord is a process which must be learned through experience. At times God takes the people He uses and places them in impossible situations—in that way, they discover that He is faithful. We may prefer to acquire faith by reading a book, but the Lord knows that the best classroom is a place of utter helplessness.

God may require us to do what seems unreasonable. The Israelites were already outnumbered, but the Lord instructed Gideon to reduce the army to a mere 300 men. That made the odds 450 to one! Although God’s ways may seem illogical to us, His wisdom and power are far greater than ours, and His plan can be trusted.

God leads us to do that which brings Him glory. The army was now so small that its men could in no way take credit for the victory. The Lord delights in demonstrating His awesome power and glory through our weakness and inadequacy.

Consider life’s challenges as opportunities for the Lord to build your faith and prepare you for ministry. He uses those who are willing to obey Him even when the task seems illogical or impossible. And He takes pleasure in showing His faithfulness to those who trust in Him regardless of the situation.

Heavenly Father, in my present need, help me to believe that You are aware of my anxiety and will do what is best for me. Give me the strength to trust You and put the present and future in Your Hands. Grant this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 , 2010

1 Kings 17:4; 1 Kings 17:7 (The Message)

1 Kings 17:4 God then told Elijah, "Get out of here, and fast. Head east and hide out at the Kerith Ravine on the other side of the Jordan River. You can drink fresh water from the brook; I've ordered the ravens to feed you."

1 Kings 17:7 Eventually the brook dried up because of the drought. Then God spoke to him: "Get up and go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I've instructed a woman who lives there, a widow, to feed you."

I believe we all have had a little of the same happen to us as Elijah did. I know it took a lot of waiting before God finally had me go out and Evangelize around the country like I am doing now. When I became a born Christian, my whole life changed. I stopped playing the bars and started a Birthday Club. The Birthday Club lasted 14 years and eventually broke me. There aren't many places a Christian can play music and so I became deep in debt. I was so confused about what God wanted me to do. I always had a lot of money and life was always so easy for me. But now I am broke! I didn't even have a raven bringing me bread! Let me tell you, I was scared. But a lot of prayers and keeping my faith, the Lord was getting me ready for what I am doing now. Traveling the country, playing my music and giving my testimony and showing people how much joy there is in being a Christian. I am still deep in debt, but now I know God will take care of my troubles and problems in this life as long as I trust in Him!

God sent Elijah to the isolated Kerith Ravine. Each day the ravens arrived with fresh bread and Elijah satisfied his thirst from the brook. God had a great mission for Elijah but this was a time of preparation. Here he would wait on God and listen for his next assignment.

Sounds like the life of Riley but how would you do with the waiting? What about the isolation? How long would it take for the uniqueness of fresh bread from the beak of a black bird to wear off? What about the once sparkling little brook drying up to a small trickle? Would you have been patient enough to wait on the Lord or would you have grabbed your walking stick and hiked out of the ravine looking for fresh water and a lamb kabob?

But God did not forget Elijah; when the brook dried up, he sent Elijah to a new location where the first thing he asked for was a little water and a piece of bread from a widow who had almost nothing . . . yet, in faith she supplied it and God provided.

God has a plan for you. He will reveal it at the perfect time when you patiently wait on him. In the meantime - enjoy the fresh bread of his word and satisfy the thirsting of your soul by drinking deeply from the well-spring of his hand.

Today's Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know you have plans for me. Forgive my anxiety as I wait; especially during periods where you seem to be invisible. I know those feelings are contrary to your truth. You know what is best for my good. Help me to listen to your steadfast Spirit and to ignore the taunting of Satan who has never done anything for my good!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2010

Psalm 37:1-8 (New International Version)
Of David.
1 [a] Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;

2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.

You may have heard God's promise to give you "the desires of your heart." But too quick a glance at Psalm 37:4 will lead only to frustration and disappointment. To understand the scope of God's awesome promise, we must explore the conditions He placed around this passage.

First, Psalm 37:1-2 tells us not to fret about or envy "evildoers." In other words, we shouldn't be consumed with the success of unrighteous people. God will deal with them. Your responsibility is to watch your own actions.

Next, verse three instructs us to "trust in the LORD," "do good," and "cultivate faithfulness." God is interested in our maturity. He wants to be able to trust us with life's major decisions, which usually relate to our deepest desires.

In verse four, we are clearly told to "delight… in the LORD." We should seek His desires. If we truly pursue God's good pleasure, our desires will fall right into place.

Then, verse five commands us to "commit [our] way to the LORD" and trust Him. When we focus our steps on His path, we know we're heading in the right direction. God will not bless our sinful missteps. Our duty is to keep to His purposeful plan.

Finally, verse seven calls us to "rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him." Remember, God's timing is perfect. If we see no immediate response to a faithful prayer, we must trust Him enough to wait on His flawless timing.

Are you frustrated by God's response to your desires? Pray through Psalm 37:1-8. Then, ask the Lord to bring your will perfectly in line with His.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Praise be given to Your Holy name for Your forbearance and mercy. You have dealt gently with Your children in love. You have been patient with me in my humanness and stubbornness.
Lord, through the work of Your Spirit, prompt me to be more jubilant in hope, more patient in times of trouble, and more consistent in my prayer life. Teach me, Lord, to wait with faith and expectancy, and may my trials be seen as times for growth in grace. Through Christ our Lord, I pray. Amen.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2010

Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”-not knowing what he said. (Luke 9.33 NRSV Bible)

Two Christians were roommates in college. One day they saw their pastor coming up the walk to their apartment. One of them yelled, "The pastor is coming." Seeing that they did not have time to straighten up the place, they fled to the back bedroom. The pastor knocked until they finally came to the door and invited him in. He came in laughing, saying, "The Scripture says that the wicked flee when no one is in chase." Is it true that many of us spend our lives fleeing from the best seat in the house because of some sense of inadequacy or the fear of not being acceptable?

When Jesus took Peter, James and John to a mountaintop, they experienced Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah. Peter was overwhelmed with the excitement. He interrupted the conversation and made a suggestion. He said, "Let's build three tabernacles here, one for each of you." (Luke 9.28-43) Peter wanted to stay there in the best seat in the house. As soon as Peter made the suggestion, a cloud covered them, and they heard a voice, "This is my Son. It is important that you listen to Him." When the cloud disappeared, only Jesus remained with the disciples. Immediately Jesus took them from the mountaintop to serve in the valley.

The best seat in the house is every Sunday at your Church. I know where Linda & I like to sit. In the first or second row from the preacher. I'm there to learn and worship God and I don't want to miss out on anything!

Dear God, help me to enjoy the best seat in the house which is by you. Amen.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010

Proverbs 18:10 (The Message)
10 God's name is a place of protection—
good people can run there and be safe.

“Hey sinner man, where you going to run to?” Remember that song? Where do you run when you are discouraged, frightened or ashamed? Far too often the tendency is to run in the opposite direction from the safe, strong shelter of the Lord. Adam and Eve did it. (Genesis. 3:10) Elijah did it. (I Kings. 19:5) Jonah did it. (Jonah 1:3) Those are only a few who tried to run away and hide from God.

As you well know, none of them were successful; all of them soon found themselves standing center stage in God’s spotlight.

You also can run from God but you cannot hide from him. You are as visible to him in your dark hiding place as you are in the sunshine. So why do you bother? Why not fall humbly in his open arms and accept the balm of his caress while resting safely in his love and grace.

Today's Prayer: Heavenly Father,thank you for your faithfulness. There is no better place to find comfort and refuge than in the shadow of your presence. How can I forget the peace I find there? Help me to choose that shelter as my permanent dwelling place.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2010

Luke 4:4 (The Message)

4Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: "It takes more than bread to really live."

Luke says, "The devil said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.'" Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'" The temptation here for Jesus is to simply be concerned only about his own physical needs. But for Jesus, his ministry involved much more than just taking care of his own needs. Jesus was called to feed people spiritually and to give up his life for everyone.
Are we tempted to live by bread alone? Do we only concern ourselves with our own physical needs and the things we want? To live as God's people means we are called to work on the spiritual dimension of our lives and those around us. To build a relationship with God involves working to deepen ourselves spiritually. There is much more to life than the things of this world.

There is a wonderful Peanuts cartoon where Linus comes to Lucy in a fit saying, "You buried my blanket. You can't do that! I'll die without that blanket! I'll be like a fish out of water! I'll die! I'll die! Tell me where you buried it! Tell me!" In the next section snoopy goes out in the yard and does some dog digging. Soon snoopy comes running to Linus with his blanket. Linus says, "My blanket! Oh, snoopy! You found it!! You found it! You found it! You found it! You found it!" Then snoopy, dozing on his doghouse says, "Every now and then I feel that my existence is justified."

Do we have such an attachment to our stuff, like Linus did with his blanket? Do we have such an overwhelming concern for the bread of life that we have lost sight of our spiritual needs?

Jesus said, "One does not live by bread alone."

Dear God, it is easy to get caught up in the things of this world. Remind me daily that what really matters is the state of my soul. Amen

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2010

Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Every time I turn on the news it seems the new buzzword is – CHANGE! So how can we just shift gears and change? Let’s learn a lesson about basic automotive mechanics. Generally a car has between 4 and 5 gears. The first gear maximizes power in exchange for speed. As you move through the gears, you can continue to go faster, yet without using any more power, and before you know it – you have to look at the speedometer – cause nobody wants a speeding ticket!

So what can we learn from this? Do you want a breakthrough? Do you want a new direction? Then you need to take that first step! You need to put all your focus – all your energy into that first initial gear! Yes, it takes all your strength, and yet it seems like you’re moving sooo slow — but be encouraged, because once you start moving, you’ll be able to shift gears — and before you know it –- you’ll be sailing along, and even need to check to see if you’re speeding!

The first step is always the hardest — but it’s necessary for change! You can breakthrough with the power of God empowering you, so GO FOR IT! Put everything you’ve got into that first start. And just like driving, it’ll get easier; and before you know it — we might even have to issue you a speeding citation, just to slow you down a bit..! With so much work to be done, let’s not stay in neutral — let’s get in gear, and start shifting!

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2010

Luke 24:49 (New International Version) 49I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

Knowing He was about to depart, Jesus left His disciples with a final command: stay in Jerusalem, and wait…for the promise. Of the thousands who had witnessed His miraculous ministry and heard His amazing teaching, and the hundreds that had actually seen Him after the resurrection, we read in Acts that only 120 stayed and tarried until the promise arrived. But these 120 were steadfast. They waited the full term…

What would have happened if they had left after the 4th day? Or the 6th day? Or the 9th day? They would have missed the promise and the amazing blessing that came with it. But those 120 believers stayed – they stayed and pressed in until the Holy Spirit came!

Do you want the fullness of the Spirit in your life? Continue pressing in. Wait with relentless faith and patience. Perseverance is often the critical factor in receiving the promises of God. Our Lord will fulfill every good promise in His perfect time.

Our most gracious and attentive Lord, help us to remember that you move in your time, knowing as only you know the perfect time and the perfect way to answer our prayers. The flower begins at seed—a seed we neither see nor understand. And gradually the seed sprouts, still deep within the damp earth, hidden from our vision. We may be tempted to believe it is not growing, and yet if we dig it up to calm our doubts, we will damage it and stunt its full blossom. Help us to be ever mindful, dear Father, that you have planted the seeds of peace for your children. Help us to continue to walk with you and know you more, growing ever stronger in our faith that what you have promised you will do, even when we do not yet have the physical evidence we seek.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010

This Daily Devotion was from Pastor Ned, who was one of 100's of Pastor's that I sent an e-mail to because of my discouragement from not hearing from the hundreds of Churches that I e-mail to. This e-mail definitely touched my heart. I feel God touched Pastor Ned's heart to send me this message. God Bless You and Thank You Pastor Ned! W.B.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (The Message)

5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track.
Don't assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
your wine vats will brim over.
But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline;
don't sulk under his loving correction.
It's the child he loves that God corrects;
a father's delight is behind all this.

Greetings Wild Bill,

God is always on time!! When Lazarus was sick Jesus waited two days to make the journey to his side and when He arrived He found Mary and Martha crying because Lazarus had died. Jesus was moved to tears and troubled in His spirit even though He knew He would raise Lazarus from his tomb. The crowd witnessed the power of God and the compassion of Christ.

The crowd that watches us in our difficult moments sees the same power and compassion as we wait upon Him for His time. Our life is a witness to the power and glory of the Father. Take heart my brother God is always on time and He will supply all your needs according to His riches and glory. Proverbs 3:5-6 will be an encouragement as you trust in His great and never ending mercy and grace.

New Life has no open dates at this time but we may have this Fall -around October we have a Fall Festival and I would like to consider you for this event. Other churches will call in His time but meantime you may pray about getting connected with teen events such as Acquire The Fire. They have a message and music to reach the teens -sorry I do not have their contact info.

I will pray for your ministry and trust God to provide all your needs.

Keep the fire burning

Pastor Ned

Prayer for Encouragement

I am no longer my own but yours,
Put me to what you will
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal
And now glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
You are mine and I am yours. So be it.
And this covenant now made on earth, let it be satisfied in heaven.

Amen

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2010

He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. (Psalm 25:9 NRSV Bible)

I remember a story of a Texas man who was bragging on the "bigness" of everything in Texas. He was surprised when an "Montana cowboy" stepped up and agreed with him. "Yes", said the Montanan, "that's right, everything's big in Texas! Why, I once knew a Texan who was so big they couldn't find a coffin big enough to bury him in when he died. "And what did they do?" asked the surprised Texan. "Well," came the answer, "they just let the air out of him, and buried him in a shoe box!"
Being humble puts us in our place and, at times, may cause us some pain. But being humble also puts God first and helps us receive eternal life.

Dear God, remind me daily of the great gift of humility. Amen.

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2010

One who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips. (Proverbs 24:26 NRSV Bible)

In a U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT/CNN poll, Americans said that the quality which they thought was most important in a friend was honesty. It was considered to be more than twice as important as sharing common interests or having a sense of humor.

Think how terrible it is to have a friend, or a child, or a parent, or a husband, or a wife, whom you cannot trust. What a tragedy.

If I were a young person considering a potential mate for marriage, the quality I would look for first is integrity. Can he or she be trusted? That might be the best argument for saying no to sex before marriage. If a young person can handle this temptation, then he or she can handle almost any integrity-buster that comes along. He or she is a person of character. When we cheat, we hurt people we love. When we are dishonest, we hurt the people we love. We hurt our God of all love.

I believe this is what keeps Linda & I in love. TRUST! I don't always share her opinions on certain things, but I do believe in her sincerity and honesty with me. Afterall, she can't always be right, because I know I am always right!!!!! (Just Kidding!)

Dear God, remind me always to be truly honest with you, with myself, and with all of your great people. Amen.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2010

If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. (Matthew 18:15 NRSV Bible)

Doctors tell us it is important to get rid of our anger. John Lewis, a labor leader who often spilled out his anger to President Roosevelt, lived vigorously to the age of eighty-one. Roosevelt, on the other hand, who kept his anger inside, live to be only sixty-three. Expressing our anger is important in living a long healthy life, as God's people.
Jesus tells us how to express our anger in our scripture reading, "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one."

Expressing our anger to someone else is important to our health. It is also important in maintaining a positive relationship with the person we are angry with. However, when we do talk to someone we are angry with, we should not unload on them. Our conversation should be a time of clearing the air and breaking down walls of hurt and separation.

In "Leadership" magazine, there was a cartoon that pictures a minister sitting with two obviously angry church members around a table in the minister's office. The caption reads, "With our current feelings, would anyone object to my praying with my eyes open?" Even a little humor can help our anger.

Loving God, I'm thankful that you are in control of your anger. Help me to clear the air with those I'm angry with. In Jesus name, Amen.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2010

Make vows to the LORD your God, and perform them; let all who are around him bring gifts to the one who is awesome. (Psalm 76:11 NRSV Bible)

I had a dream that I, being a very bashful man, I was hesitant about demonstrating my affection for Linda. "Oh, but that I were an octopus," I said one night, "that I might wrap all eight arms around you." But my impatient sweetheart Linda replied, "Wild Bill! Don't worry about having eight arms. Just make better use of the two arms you already have."
That is what we must do in doing the work of Jesus Christ. We shouldn't worry about whether or not we have the gifts to follow. We simply need to use what gifts we have to follow Christ and to do God's will.

Doing otherwise is simply a waste of time.

Dear God, may I realize more fully today the wonderful gifts you have given me. May I respond to your call in fulfilling your will for my life in touching your people with love and forgiveness. Amen

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7 , 2010

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 2:4 NRSV Bible)

The sign on the stage proclaimed, "The Motionless Man: Make Him Laugh. Win $100." The temptation was irresistible. For three hours boys and girls, men and women performed every antic and told every joke they could dream up. But Bill Fuqua, the Motionless Man, stood perfectly still.
Luis Palau in his book HEALTHY HABITS FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH, tells about Fuqua, the GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS champion at doing nothing. Fuqua, says Palau, appears so motionless during his routines at shopping malls and amusement parks that he's sometimes mistaken for a mannequin.

Fuqua discovered his unique talent at the age of fourteen while standing motionless in front of a Christmas tree as a joke. A woman touched him and exclaimed, "Oh, I thought it was a real person."

Doing nothing is really impossible--even for the Motionless Man. Fuqua attributes his feigned paralysis to hyper elastic skin, an extremely low pulse rate, and intense concentration. He may not laugh at your jokes, but he readily admits that he still has to breathe and blink--occasionally.

When I read about Bill Fuqua, the motionless man, and I thought about so many churches. So many congregations have mastered the art of doing nothing. We read about the church on the Day of Pentecost--the flames of fire, the sound of a mighty wind, the strange excitement that catches the attention of passers by. This is not the church as we know it! The church on the Day of Pentecost was a church that was chaotic and yet caring, tightly joined as a group, yet reaching out with extraordinary vigor. It was a church ablaze with the Holy Spirit.

How about us? Are we ablaze with the Holy Spirit?

Dear Jesus, set my heart on fire in doing your work. Amen

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2010

Deuteronomy 4:9-10 (The Message) 9 Just make sure you stay alert. Keep close watch over yourselves. Don't forget anything of what you've seen. Don't let your heart wander off. Stay vigilant as long as you live. Teach what you've seen and heard to your children and grandchildren. 10 That day when you stood before God, your God, at Horeb, God said to me, "Assemble the people in my presence to listen to my words so that they will learn to fear me in holy fear for as long as they live on the land, and then they will teach these same words to their children."

(A DAILY DEVOTION FROM DR. CHARLES STANLEY)
Our desire as Christian parents is to help our children mature into godly men and women. We want them to believe that God has a plan for them and that they are accountable to Him.

I remember teaching my children from a young age about these important truths, because I wanted biblical principles to shape their thinking and their choices. After explaining about God’s will, I told them they were accountable to the Lord for their behavior—as well as to their mother and me. If kids believe their only accountability is to parents, then when they are apart from Mom and Dad, they are likely to think that they don’t have to answer to anyone.

When my children objected to my decisions, I taught them to speak to their heavenly Father about it. Over time, they developed the habit of talking things over with Him. This training became very important in their teenage years. Instead of giving a quick no to some of their requests, I said, “Find out what God wants you to do. Whatever you two agree on, I will accept.” I knew this was risky, but I had to trust the Lord and give my children the opportunity to practice what I had been teaching them—that they are accountable to God.

Training in godliness begins before children establish a personal relationship with Christ. We should continue the process by modeling righteousness all through life. Kids need to know about the Lord’s plan for them and their accountability to Him. They also need parents who speak their name to God.

O God and Father, Creator and Preserver of all creation!

Give to our children the grace of Your Holy Spirit, that He may light within them that true fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom, and common sense, the following of which is a source of eternal praise. Bless them with true knowledge of You, keep them from all idolatry and false teaching. Enable them to grow in true saving faith and in all piety, and let those be with them to the end.

Grant to them a faithful, obedient, humble heart and intellect, that they might grow in years and in grace before God and before men. Plant in their hearts love for Your Divine Word, so that they might be pious during prayers and during divine services, that they might show respect for the servants of Your Word, and be sincere in their actions, modest in body, chaste in morals, honest in word, faithful in action, diligent in studies, happy to complete their tasks, and wise and just toward everyone. Preserve them from all temptations of this world, and grant that they not be perverted by bad company. Do not allow them to fall into uncleanness and unchastity, to cut short their own lives or to bring sorrow to others. In time of any danger, be their Protector. Ensure that we see in them not dishonor and disgrace, but honor and joy, so that the number of faithful might increase, and that they might be in heaven at Your Banquet, like heavenly olive shoots. May they, with all of the chosen, give You honor, praise, and glory through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2010

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19 NRSV Bible)

Peppermint Patty steps up to the store counter in a PEANUTS cartoon. She says, "Yes, sir . . . I need some school supplies . . . some pencils, some paper, a loose-leaf binder . . . and some answers ... I need a lot of answers ..." Don't we all?

Life is full of difficult questions. There are many things in life we do not understand. Many of us have a hard time understanding the Trinity--God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Even the finest theologians find themselves at a loss to explain it satisfactorily. Some use the analogy of the masks worn by actors in the old Greek tragedies. One actor wearing many masks can play many parts. But it is still just one actor.

Others have used the analogy of water. Under normal conditions, water, H2O, is a liquid, but freeze it and it becomes a solid. Heat it and it becomes steam. It is still H2O, whatever form it takes, but it can have three radically different forms.

The secret of us, in our understanding of the Trinity, is trust. We can either spend our lives making ourselves miserable about what does not make sense to us or we can live joyful lives based on trust in God. An ancient Chinese proverb says, "The bird does not sing because he has an answer; he sings because he has a song."

I may not be able to understand the mystery of God in three persons, but I can enjoy the incredible beauty of God the creator. I may not understand how the Bethlehem's babe "can in the Godhead be," as the song says, but I can read with awe the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. If anyone has ever lived closer to God than Jesus, I'm certainly not aware of it. I may not understand all there is to understand about that Comforter that Jesus said he would send us, but there have been times when that Comforter, the Holy Spirit, has enveloped me with love. I don't have to understand God in three persons in order to experience the grandeur of what those three persons can mean in my life. The secret of a successful life is not understanding but trust.

Lord Jesus, as you are a part of the Trinity, help me with my trust, as I seek to more fully understand you. Amen

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2009

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it. (Genesis 4:7 NRSV Bible)

Paul Harvey tells an amusing story about some airline baggage handlers who retrieved an animal carrier from the luggage bay of an airplane. As they removed the carrier, they made a gruesome discovery--the dog inside was dead. The baggage handlers panicked. They thought there might be lawsuits, and they might even lose their jobs. They told the woman passenger that her dog had been sent to another destination by mistake. They promised her they would find her dog and have it delivered to her. With that assurance, the woman went home.
The baggage handlers set out to find another dog to replace the one that had died. Finally, they found a dog that was a perfect match. They put the substitute dog in the animal carrier and sent it to the woman's address.

The woman took one look at the dog and exclaimed, "That's not my dog! My dog is dead. I was bringing her home for burial."

Yes, we make mistakes. Yes, we sin, but God loves us nonetheless. Of course, sin moves us away from God, but seeking forgives through prayer brings us closer to God's fulfilling love.

God of forgiveness, for too long I have carried around my baggage of sin that I have not let go of. Please forgive me. Please free me. In Jesus name, Amen.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2009

You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased. (Mark 1:11 NRSV Bible)

In our reading today, after Jesus was baptized, a voice comes from heaven and says, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." Jesus is God's son who has been given to us as a gift. It is through Jesus that we have been given an example of how to live. It is through Jesus that we are given salvation. It is through Jesus that we are given the example of how to receive God's love and share it.
Notice also that God says in our reading today, "With you I am well pleased." A good question to ask ourselves would be, "Is God pleased with us?"

In one of the PEANUTS cartoons, a little girl calls Charlie Brown on the telephone. "Marcie and I are about to leave for camp, Chuck," she says. "We're going to be swimming instructors." Marcie takes the phone and adds, "We just called to say goodbye, Charles. We are going to miss you. We love you."

Charlie Brown, stands by the phone with a grin on his face. Linus asks, "Who was that?" He answers, "I think it was a right number."

God believes that each of us is the right number, because God calls all of us to accept the gift of Jesus Christ and to follow in his footsteps.

Thank you, O God of love, for making me important enough to give me salvation through Jesus Christ. Amen.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2009

When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed." (Genesis 32:25-28 NRSV Bible)

Jacob was the son of Isaac who had two sons Esau and Jacob. Jacob is famous for clinching his brother Esau's heel at birth. Jacob also stole Esau's birthright which was very important part of the family structure in those days. Jacob went on to become known as the Father of Israel. In verse 28, God said to Jacob, "You shall not longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed."
Jacob had just sent some gifts to his brother Esau, so that he won't avenge Jacob for stealing his birthright. Jacob sends the caravan to Esau while he stays back by the river. This is where Jacob has a wrestling encounter with God.

Have you wrestled with God lately? In our scripture reading today, it says in verse 25, "Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak." In the next verse, we are given the indication that the man Jacob was wrestling with was God. For he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." It was a common belief that no one could see God face to face and still live, so the wrestling could not continue after daybreak or Jacob would die.

Wrestling is a very physical sport. It takes a lot of energy and focus. Our relationship with God also takes a lot of energy and focus. We need to wrestle with God from time to time. We need to work at building our connection to the one who gives us life. It is so easy to go through life and lose our focus of serving God. When we wrestle with the big issues of life, when we wrestle with ourselves, and when we wrestle with God, we learn a lot and are blessed. Jacob was blessed for not giving up. Jacob said in verse 26, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." And verse 29 says that God blessed Jacob.

Loving God, as I wrestle in my relationship with you, please bless me in your service. Amen

MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2009

Matthew 21:18-22 (New International Version)

The Fig Tree Withers
18Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered.
20When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked.

21Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

In Mark 9:17-26, we read about a father whose son was possessed by a demon. The man came to Jesus, asking Him to heal the boy, if it was possible. The Lord lovingly shared that He could accomplish anything if the man had faith. The dad responded, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

What a revealing statement. Even Christians will experience some doubt with regard to God’s ways, truth, or ability. Thankfully, He is gracious and meets His children where they are.

But the Bible is clear that doubt causes difficulty. First, it affects the believer’s fellowship with God. Second, disbelief thwarts one’s prayer life, as the Lord does not answer a doubting heart. Third, uncertainty can lead to dependence upon the flesh and, therefore, inhibits fruitful service. All of these can lead to discouragement.

Let’s explore how to overcome a lack of assurance. Prayerfully consider what causes you to question. For example, were you taught something untrue such as an “all law, no grace” understanding of God? Or perhaps there is not enough of His Word hidden in your heart. Now, recall a time when you trusted the Lord and He responded; remember how it felt to rely totally upon Him. And, most importantly, meditate upon Scripture.

God wants you to walk in the freedom of faith—full confidence in Him. This eliminates anxiety because the almighty, all-knowing, loving Father is able to guide, strengthen, and lead His children to victory. If you haven’t been living with belief, start today. Don’t miss out on His best!

Lord, I know not what I ought to ask of Thee, Thou only knowest what I need; Thou lovest me better than I know how to love myself. Father! Give to Thy child that with he himself knows not how to ask. I dare not ask either for crosses or consolations; I simply present myself before Thee. I open my heart to Thee. Behold my need, which I know not myself; see and do according to Thy tender mercy. Smile or heal, depress me, or raise me up; I adore all Thy purposes without knowing them: I am silent; I offer myself in sacrifice; I yield myself to Thee, I would have no other desire than to accomplish Thy will. Teach me to pray. Pray thyself in me.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2009

Let's not forget WHO is having a birthday today!
Dear Jesus, you are everything that I really need. Thank you! Amen.

To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:11 NRSV Bible)

Our scripture reading tells us God's answer to our deepest longing, "But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord."

This Christmas we need to follow Jesus Christ. Christ doesn't need a gift or a present from us. Jesus does want our presence. Jesus does want us to share. Jesus does want us to bring God's love to our family, friends, and neighbors. Jesus wants us to make a difference for God.

"To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord."

God of all, help me to do my best in fulfilling what Jesus would have me do. Amen

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2009

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5 NRSV Bible)

I remember a story of a little girl in Sunday School who was asked what she had learned from the story of Jesus changing water into wine at the wedding celebration at Cana. She answered: "It is always a good idea to have Jesus around." Children can give us some great wisdom in understanding life.
The reason we often track mud into our lives, and lean on crutches, and admire ourselves in mirrors, is that we won't allow the presence of God in Christ to be reflective in our everyday existence. Christmas is a celebration and a way of life-not a one day festival of getting what we want.

Loving God, help me to make the true meaning of Christmas a way of life all year long. Amen.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2009

John 16:28-33 (New American Standard Bible)

28"I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father."

29His disciples said, "Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech.

30"Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God."

31Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?

32"Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

33"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

Is it possible to be at peace when you have just received a “pink slip”? When your 16-year-old daughter discovers that she is pregnant? When your spouse says, “I don’t want to be married anymore”?

Is it possible to be at peace when you fall into a deep depression? Yes! God’s peace is available no matter how painful and hopeless your situation seems.

Peace is not gained by manipulating circumstances. Sometimes people think that if they could just rearrange their situation a bit, then life would be wonderful. That kind of self-reliance is both foolish and unbiblical. Fixing a problem outside of the Lord’s will might result in temporary calm, but lasting peace will continue to be elusive.

A tranquil heart is the result of trusting the Lord, no matter how messy life gets. Jesus warned that believers would have trouble on this earth, but He has overcome the world. In other words, we can have peace in spite of our trials. Although a storm of trouble rages around a believer, he can travel through it with a sense of serenity because Jesus walks alongside him. Thanks to his relationship with Christ, the believer receives all that he needs to face his trial—including courage, wisdom, guidance, and comfort.

Jesus promised peace for those who trust in Him. Thankfully, He also “delivers” on everything He promises. Our part is to take one day at a time and believe that God will carry us through. Divine peace and everything else that we need will follow our faith.

O' God, I come to You in both humble faith and in prayer;
I come, and I lay before Your feet, my every burden and care.
Hear my gracious God, my cry to You. Hear me, as I pray.
Save me, and strengthen me. Please, always abide with me each day.

You O' God, are my rock. You are my shelter and my mighty fortress;
My comfort in times of sorrow. My peace in times of pain and distress.
O' my God, I trust in You! On Your divine promises, I shall firmly stand;
I belong to You. I am safe and secure in the palm of Your mighty hand.

Be my protection from the assaults and attacks from the devil and from sin;
And when my spirit grows weary, through Your Word and Spirit, revive me again.
O' my God, I trust in You! I call daily upon Your blessed holy name;
Let not my faith and trust in You be put to shame.

Praise the Lord! I will trust in You to keep me strong;
Guide me, O' Lord, and keep me from sin and all wrong.
O' my God, I trust in You! Keep me and hold me in Your tender love;
And when this journey is over, guide me safely to my home above.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2009

Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:8 NRSV Bible)

I remember a story of a college freshman who decided it was about time she experienced her first college date. Her roommate, who was a senior, asked whether she preferred Southern boys or Northern boys. Since she was from South Dakota she was unaware of such nuances in the male gender and asked what the difference was.
Her roommate answered, "Southern boys are more romantic. They will take you walking in the moonlight and whisper sweet nothings in your ear. Northern boys are more active. They like to go places and do exciting things."

The girl pondered the contrast and then asked wistfully, "Could you please find me a Southern boy from as far North as possible?"

This story suggests an expectation we often have when we have to make a decision in our life. We love to have the best of both worlds. We love to have our cake and eat it too. However, I think we know that when we are forced to choose which direction we will take in life it frequently involves lots of challenges. It is rarely the best of both worlds. We have some tough decisions to make this Christmas too.

"What do you want for Christmas?" That is a question we often hear during this time of the year. But the question I want to ask is "What do you need for Christmas?"

God of peace, give me what I really need for Christmas. Amen

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2009

Ephesians 4:14 (The Message)

14-16No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

Toddlers are lovable and adorable one minute then, in the next minute, exhibit a severe case of the “terrible twos”. Because of their immaturity, they are easily influenced; sometimes for good, sometimes not.

Their maturity will developed over a period of time with the help of patient and loving parents and teachers until they are ready to take on the adult role.

God’s people mature spiritually much the same way. Are you a ‘baby’ Christian? Allow others to help you grow. If you have been blessed by others who have discipled you on your own spiritual journey, use your spiritual gifts to patiently and lovingly help others to deepen their relationship with Christ.

You know something, I, Wild Bill, feel I will never stop growing. I will always be learning more about having faith, love & understanding of God! And everytime I learn, I bring more happiness into my life by becoming closer to God. And when you stop growing closer to God, you had better take a real close look into your soul because something is wrong. Start by getting down on your knees and opening up your heart & soul to God in prayer!

Today's Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank you for those who lead me in my journey of faith. Thank you for your church and for the opportunity to participate in the spiritual journey; growing in my relationship with you and with others.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2009

Psalm 112:1 (New King James Version)
1 Praise the LORD!
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
Who delights greatly in His commandments.

There’s nothing we can do to earn God’s love, however if we want to experience His blessings we need to observe the qualifications that He’s given us in His Word. Psalm 112 details a whole list of blessings, but the key to receiving them is verse 1.

“Blessed is the man that fears (puts his trust, honors, in awe of His majesty) the Lord, and delights greatly in His commandments. (Takes pleasure in what God says and obeys Him).”

Adopt that attitude toward Him and be assured, blessings are on the way! Your offspring will be mighty on the earth (vs 2), wealth and riches shall be in your house (vs 3), even in darkness the light shall shine on you (vs 4), you shall not be shaken (vs 6) in the midst of evil you will have no fear of bad news because your heart is set upon Him (vs 7).

Now I don’t know about you, but I want to live in the blessings of God!

Let’s live a life that God will bless, honor the Lord with our whole heart, and delight in obeying Him!

"THE LORD'S PRAYER"

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,

FOR EVER. Amen (Matt 6:9-13)

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2009

Psalms 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

New Years Eve, I'm going to bringing in the new year with my wife Linda, my 95 year old mom, our grandtwins Kacy & Cody and Linda's son Brett & his girlfriend Melissa are flying in from Arizona. For the first time in over 40 years, I won't be playing music somewhere on New Year's Eve. This will be a very special New Years Eve for me! I would really enjoy having my sons Scott & Kory and their wives join us, but they have their own things happening. Buy sitting here, writing today's Daily Devotion, I jst can't believe how fast 2009 has flown by!

One thing given equally to every person, rich or poor – is time. In 2009, each of us lived 365 days, 8,760 hours and 525,600 minutes. How did you spend it? Reflecting over 2009, I am astounded how quickly the year seemed to pass – almost like the proverbial blink of an eye. And looking back over it has caused me to ask, am I really carefully managing my time…the one commodity I “spend”, that I can never buy back?

The psalmist expresses a timely request on our behalf…”Teach us to number our days”, so that every one of them truly counts for the Lord! We can’t change the past, but we can always improve our time management in the year to come. With so much work to be done, let’s apply our hearts to wisdom, and use our time wisely.

nsight: We cannot waste our time on Earth. We have a limited amount of time and must use it wisely. Take time to rest and enjoy some entertainment, but don't forget the things that are most important. Like Jesus Christ our Savior!

Prayer: "Dear Lord, bless us and remind us of the important things in our life. Help us to reserve plenty of time for You and for our family. Help us to avoid fruitless endeavors and to use our time wisely. Thank you for giving us so much time on Earth. Let us use it to bless You and others. Praise You for being good and giving us much more than we deserve. In Jesus' name, Amen."

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2009

Psalm 31:19-24 (The Message)
19-22 What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you, Ready and waiting for all who run to you to escape an unkind world. You hide them safely away from the opposition. As you slam the door on those oily, mocking faces, you silence the poisonous gossip. Blessed God! His love is the wonder of the world. Trapped by a siege, I panicked. "Out of sight, out of mind," I said. But you heard me say it, you heard and listened.
23 Love God, all you saints; God takes care of all who stay close to him, But he pays back in full those arrogant enough to go it alone.
24 Be brave. Be strong. Don't give up. Expect God to get here soon.

When life is pleasant, we find praising God easy because His kindness is abundantly evident. However, we may have difficulty recognizing pain and trouble as an expression of His loving care. In difficult times, we need to trust today’s Scriptures, which tell us that the Lord has stored up goodness for those who trust and obey Him.

If you feel that God is good only when your circumstances are enjoyable, then you misunderstand His nature and have become numb to the expression of His benevolence toward you. Those who have learned to know His character and trust His ways will be able to see evidence of His goodness in all situations.

I haven’t always felt that the Lord was being good. While I was growing up, my goal was to be obedient so He wouldn’t do anything bad to me. The difficult and painful situations in my life hindered my understanding of His goodness. Now as I look back, I can see His love and wisdom in allowing and using those trials to shape my character.

Today when God does something that I don’t like, I pour out my heart to Him. After seeking His perspective and listening, I am filled with gratitude and trust in His character. And then I am willing to accept His wise choice for my life.

We live under the umbrella of God’s goodness. When circumstances and feelings tell you otherwise, rely on what you know. Throughout the day, look for signs of His loving care for you. As your perspective changes, you will be able to see the signs of His goodness everywhere you turn.

Dear Lord, like one of the songs I sing in some of my concerts, "The God of the good times, is still God in the bad times." But sometimes I forget that sooner or later You'll make everything all right! It's sooooo easy to count on You when things are going right. But what we need to remember is that we need to still be very close to you in the bad times. In time you will make all things right! Amen!

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2009

17 The LORD your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."
(Zephaniah 3:17(NIV)

Have you ever had times of joy when you cannot be silent and your spirit simply bursts out in song? Singing is a natural form of expression for anyone who is the least bit musically inclined. Even those of you who cannot carry a tune in a bucket attempt to “sing along”. (Notice those people with iPod earbuds in their ears. They can’t keep quiet!)

Have you ever thought about God singing? Have you ever thought of him singing over you?

The next time you feel especially content and connected with God, picture him humming along with you. Lift up your voice and rejoice with him! He won’t even mind that you may be a bit off key.

Today's Prayer: : Heavenly Father, instill within my heart the joy of praising you and singing in harmony with your spirit. Thank you for the joyous gift of music

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2009

The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." (Luke 1:30 NRSV Bible)

The Christmas miracle began with God's blessing on Mary. Mary had been chosen by God to give birth to the Messiah, the Son of God. But what a strange miracle. In our society today, as it was in Mary's day, many assume that those who receive a miracle or who are favored by God will enjoy the good life: good social standing, wealth, and good health. Yet Mary, God's favored one, received the miracle of having a child out wedlock, and her child would later die on a criminal's cross.
Actually, our ideas of miracles and being in God's favor are often out of line with God's intentions. The Christmas miracle began with God's blessing on Mary, and Mary's miracle story reminds us of how God's miracles turns our norms upside down. God's miracles are about what we really need. Jesus is the most practical gift we can ever receive into our hearts and lives. Jesus is also the most practical gift we can share with others. After all, Jesus is about eternal salvation

A concerned little girl approached her father one day and said, "Daddy, I just don't believe it's right to ignore Jesus." The father, more than a little confused, answered, "I agree with you. We shouldn't ignore Jesus. But what made you think of that?" "Well, it's that Christmas song we sing at church. You know, the one that says, `O come let us ignore Him'."

Dear God, you have given me the greatest miracle in Jesus. May I live for him more and more and ignore him less and less. Amen.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2009

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18 NRSV Bible)

Perhaps what was most interesting thing about Mary's story to Joseph was the visit of an angel. In all his years Joseph had never even heard of anyone speaking with an angel, let alone seeing one face to face. Angels don't make a habit out of visiting humans. Or do they?
I remember reading about a minister who thought that one of his parishioners was an angel. His name was Phil, and he was a street person. Phil refused to stay in a shelter. When it got cold he would sit in the church. One night during Christmas, the church held a Christmas party after the service. The people were in the back of the church having cookies and coffee, when out of the church rose a magnificent voice, singing, "O Holy Night." It was of professional quality. Everyone rushed into the church to see who was there. "It was Phil and God," said the minister.

The Bible says, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." Maybe an angle is with you today.

God of our heavenly angels, thank you for sending your angels to touch me, heal me, and teach me. May I be an angel to all of your people. Amen

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009

2 Corinthians 4:17
16-18So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on theinside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

As believers, we are all called to transform the little world around us. C.S. Lewis offered a thoughtful perspective on remaining heavenly minded while continuing to make an impact in this present world. In Mere Christianity, he said. “Hope…means…a continual looking forward to the eternal world…it does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next…It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither.”

Being heavenly minded is not natural. It happens when we focus and meditate on the reality and wonderful hope of the world to come. When we do, we can bring a taste of heaven to the little world around us. So let’s not become complacent — but stay focused there, so we can be effective here… and soon enough we will hear the Lord saying, “Well, done thou good and faithful servant!”

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever. Amen

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3 , 2009

John 14:15-21 (The Message)
15-17"If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!
18-20"I will not leave you orphaned. I'm coming back. In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you're going to see me because I am alive and you're about to come alive. At that moment you will know absolutely that I'm in my Father, and you're in me, and I'm in you.
21"The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that's who loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and make myself plain to him."

I am convinced that if Christians truly understood what takes place during prayer, they’d call upon the Lord more often and with greater results. The believer’s prayer isn’t simply spoken into empty space; the Holy Spirit is there to guide us in offering God-centered requests, fill in the words we cannot say, and carry our needs before the Lord. This is really a great thing to know for ol' Wild Bill! I am always looking for the right words to speak while I am praying and they're not always there for me to find. That's when the Holy Spirit steps in!

The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity, so He knows the mind of God intimately (1 Cor. 2:11). Since He is as omniscient and omnipotent as the Father, He fully grasps the circumstance we are praying over—even the parts that remain unseen or utterly confusing to us. Also, the Spirit dwells within every believer and knows each one’s mind and heart. With this full knowledge, the Holy Spirit can carry out His responsibility to make our petitions match God’s desires. Toward that end, He speaks in our spirit and opens our mind to Scripture.

The fact that God gives His Spirit to all believers reveals the value He places on communication between Him and His children. Our Father provides the best possible Helper to ensure that we can be prayer warriors—wise, strong Christians need never feel guilty for being uncertain about how to pray. The indwelling Holy Spirit knows our needs and desires—as well as the mind of the Father and the details of every situation. He speaks to God on our behalf while teaching us to pray in accordance with His will.

So try what has worked for me. PRAY OFTEN! In the shower, in the car, while mowing the lawn, while shoveling the snow, while working, while playing. I pray often in my car, especially when Linda is driving! Praying is a habit every Christian should have. When I am alone, I talk to Jesus as if He was sitting right beside me. The more I pray, the more He IS right beside me. The more He is right beside me, the more I know He loves me!

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.

Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.

Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.

Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.

Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.

Amen.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2009

Romans 8:26-27 (The Message)

26-28Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

Christians need the Holy Spirit’s help in prayer. At times in our faith life, we will find that we cannot:

•Find the right words,
•Discern God’s will,
•Recognize what He is doing, or
•Grasp the complexity of a situation.
Periods of struggle in prayer are normal for believers. Few of us are as eloquent as the psalmist David—especially when we are confused, distressed, or weary. Today we’ll look at two biblical examples of prayer in challenging situations.

First, notice that in today’s Scripture, the apostle Paul admits to feeling weak in his prayer life. His well-known request was for God to remove a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7). Paul pleaded desperately—and probably with great effort—for relief. With the Spirit’s help, he came to understand the Lord’s call to endure in spite of pain.

And second, Jesus Christ agonized over the divine call to sacrifice His life at Calvary. Although He was committed to doing God’s will, He dreaded the immeasurable spiritual suffering that lay ahead. As He lay on the ground, the Savior uttered this urgent sentence: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39).

God knew we’d need help in prayer. With our limited human perspective, we cannot know all aspects of the situations facing us. But the Holy Spirit understands our needs and burdens—as well as the “big picture.” He carries our requests to God even when we can’t adequately express them.

Most Precious Lord Jesus, Gentle And Wonderful God, Truly Awesome And Ever-present Holy Spirit,
Precious Lord Jesus, I love you.
Many times I do not have the right words to speak.
Either I have remained silent when someone needed me to use words of love or I spoke but the words I used were not the words you would want me to use.
Please help me do better in the future.
I know my heart determines the kind of words I use.
Please help me change my heart so your words of love can come out of my mouth at the right time and in the right place.
Please help me turn my heart away from anything ungodly or anything sinful.
Please help me keep my heart in a state where I only want to say, think, and do what you want me to say, think, and do.
Please help me turn away from my old life of rebellion.
Please help me turn away from my old life of darkness.
In you I put all my faith, hope, and life.
All these things I humbly pray in the name of my most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, my Mighty God, and my Ever-present Holy Spirit upon whom I can rely.
Amen

Jesus said to them, "Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." (Mark 12:17 NRSV Bible)

On a can of room freshener there appeared these words: "Bring the clean, natural freshness of a country meadow indoors. Freshens the air in your home with a clean, back-to-nature scent--as refreshing as the summer grass and fragrant flowers of a country meadow." Following were these words: "WARNING: Inhaling the contents can be harmful or fatal." Those instructions remind me of some rhetoric coming out of Washington. That which smells sweet is not necessarily healthy. That which is popular is not necessarily true.
If you were to assess the situation in Jesus' day, wouldn't you say that Caesar had all the glory and Jesus had all the pain? Caesar had power, prominence, palaces. Jesus had no place to lay his head. Caesar could pass laws that would drastically affect the lives of men and women throughout his empire. Jesus could but tell stories and hope his listeners understood. With a wave of his hand Caesar could have a person put to death. Jesus died at the hands of the state. Yes, Caesar had the glory, and Jesus had the pain. But wait. That's not the end of the story. Caesar is in the grave. Jesus has been resurrected. Yes, Caesar was popular, but Jesus brought the truth. May we live in that truth!

God of all things, may I live in the truth of my savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2009

I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.
(Matthew 8:8 NRSV Bible)

The centurion was man of great humility. Jesus was persuaded by the testimony of the elders and went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him saying, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof . . . ." Can you believe this? Here is a Roman solider a man of wealth, power, and authority and he is saying to an itinerant Jewish teacher, "I am not worthy to have you come under my roof . . . ." He was a man of great humility.
Is there any quality more appealing in a woman or man than genuine humility? I'm not talking about low self-esteem that causes others to walk all over us. Certainly the centurion was no doormat. But he recognized Jesus' power and he was humbled.

One of my favorite stories is about a bald man who decided with his wife one night to go out to dinner and have a baby sitter to take care of their two little children.

While they were gone, the baby sitter got interested in a television program and wasn't watching the children very carefully. The little boy got into his father's electric shaver and shaved a big landing strip right down the middle of his head.

When his father came home, he was furious. He said, "Son! I told you never to play with my shaver. Now you are going to get a spanking!" Dad was just about to give his son a spanking when his son looked up at him and said, "Wait until you see sister!" Dad was horrified.

He went into the next room and there was their little four-year-old daughter with her hair shaved off. By this time dad was really furious. He grabbed up his son and said, "Now you are really going to get it."

Just as he lifted his hand his son looked up at him with tears in his eyes and said, "But Daddy! WE WERE JUST TRYING TO LOOK LIKE YOU!" I'm sure that little boy didn't get any punishment that night. A good person of God is humble.

Dear Jesus, through your humility you became my savior. May I also be humble for God's glory. Amen.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009

Deuteronomy 8:1-6 (New International Version)

Do Not Forget the LORD
1 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers. 2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.
6 Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and revering him.

The Bible should be the priority book in our literary diet. If we spent as much time in the Word as we do at the dinner table, our spirit and character would be strong and thriving. And no matter what our circumstances happened to be, we’d experience an inner joy. The satisfaction that comes from living an obedient life is not possible apart from Scripture.

In God’s Word, we find out how He thinks and what He does. We also discover the guiding principles for a successful life. After all, how can we trust God unless we know Him? And how can we be like Jesus unless we practice the habits He displays in Scripture?

God told the Israelites not to turn from His Word to the right or to the left. Only a straight route through His will would result in success, even when walled cities like Jericho stood in the way (Josh. 6:2). What this means in practical terms is that every time we must make a decision, we sift it through what we know of the Lord from Scripture. When we face a crisis, we dig into the Bible to answer the question, What would the Lord have me do? We do not live by reason, the opinion of others, or our own wisdom. Rather, we conform our minds, heart, and will to the biblical standard.

Bread will keep your stomach full, but your life will be empty without a holy daily meal that includes reading and meditation. Learn to recognize spiritual hunger pains, such as vague discontent or animosity toward the things of God—and quickly begin to feast on the Word.

Our Father, who art in heaven, sacred is Your Word. Your kingdom come, Your Words be heard on earth as they are in heaven. Give us today Your Sacred Word. Forgive our neglect of it in the past as we forgive those who neglect us. Lead us toward an encounter with You each time we delve into the Scriptures. For Your presence, Your power, and Your glory are ever present among us now and forever.
Amen

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009

Philippians 3:14 (The Message)

Focused on the Goal
12-14I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.

Boy, if this verse don't fit good ol' Wild Bill. I'm not saying I have it all together yet, but I'm working on it. jesus did reach out for me and I am on my way, reaching out for Christ to help me show the joy He has brought to me! I will never be an expert on all this, but I do have my eye on a goal. God wants me to become closer and closer to Jesus. The starters gun has sounded and off and running, and I'm not turning back for nobody.

For many of us, our hopes and dreams in life center around our jobs. That's not surprising. That's where we spend most of our time. Our jobs give us the resources for achieving our goals in life. It is natural that we should have dreams concerning our work. Research shows, however, that around age 45, those dreams begin to change. By then men begin to have some idea whether they are going to keep growing in their work or whether they have gone as far as they will go. If they conclude they have reached their limit--that there is no dream out there for them to pursue--they shift their dreams toward retirement. In fact, some of them retire then and there in their minds. That is why some men in the middle years of life, when they ought to be in their prime, become somewhat listless and begin feeling tired all the time. The problem is not physical. It's mental. They've lost their dream. Meanwhile women who have spent most of their adult lives as care givers are beginning to taste freedom for the first time. So while their husbands are winding down, many women are thinking about going back to school or starting their own business. How you feel about life is related to your sense of purpose.
Now, listen to Paul's words: "Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus."

Paul discovered there is no ceiling on discipleship. We can be better followers of Jesus at seventy than we are at forty. I'm now 64 and to think I can become closer & closer to Jesus as I grow older, makes me get goosebumps all over my body! We can be more loving, more joyous, more focused. The mistake many of us have made is taking our identity from our career rather than from Christ. If your dream is to be like Christ, you will never reach the point where you say, this is it. This is far as I can go.

Dear God, help me to press on to the goal you have given me. Amen

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009

Job 3:11—Why did I not die at birth? Why did I not perish when I came from the womb?

Eight major causes of depression:

Extreme disappointment. No one ever gets depressed when everything is going right. When you’ve hog money in the bank and everyone’s healthy and your sports car is running well, who needs God? But when things go bad, when your business goes upside down or your marriage begins to fall apart, or you begin to have problems with your children, or your health fails, then, suddenly you need God. Don’t be a crisis Christian. You need the Lord as a friend in all seasons. He’s not something you run to every time that Blue Cross-Blue shield can’t come through.

Lack of self-esteem. The Bible says to love neighbor as yourself. The point is this, if you don’t like yourself, you surely won’t like your neighbor.

Unfair comparisons. There’s not a verse in the Bible that says, “Compare yourselves one with the other.” Comparing yourself with someone else is unscriptural, ungodly and will always lead to depression. There will always be somebody in your profession better than you. There will always be a better doctor, a better lawyer, a better salesman. Be all you can be and forget it. There will always be somebody prettier than you or more handsome than you. E all you can be and then forget it. Your genetic code determines what you’re going to look like and that was determined the instant there was a conception in your mother’s body. If you had good-looking parents, you will be good looking, thus saith the Lord. But if you didn’t, you get to look like the rest of us.

Sense of being trapped. When you feel trapped in an intolerable situation—a bad marriage, a shaky business deal, a church crisis, a major illness—you will battle depression.

Unrealistic goals. You can be anything in life you want to be, but you can’t be everything. You can be a brain surgeon, or you can be a boxer, or you can be an author, but you can’t be all three of those at the same time. When you have unrealistic goals, you will constantly be frustrated. Do not try to do something God hasn’t equipped you to do.

Biological malfunction. You might need to go to the doctor and get a good physical examination.” Go to the doctor and after he'll balance out your hormones, and you'll be singing like a lark. Don’t destroy your physical body by trying to make it do what God didn’t equip it to do. If you make it live on junk food and make it live unreasonable hours, it will break down—and you can’t just go down to Sears and get some spare parts. So treat our physical body well because it is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Post Partum depression. Shortly after the birth of her child, the bubbly, bright, breezy mother sinks into the blues and the blahs. She cries about everything. She feels she’s going to hurt her baby. She thinks she’s not a good mother. That’s not true. It’s just an emotional response to what her body has gone through.

Hyperactivity. A super achiever gets to be 50 or 60 and your mind can still go 120, but your body can only go 40. And you react in frustration, refusing to slow down. You sink into depression thinking you’re a failure. Face it superman, you’ve reached the age of baldness, bifocals and bunions. It’s a wonderful time in life; it’s called reality.

God, life seems so bleak and useless right now. I don't have any energy. I have no ambition to do much of anything. I am really feeling down. I feel "down on" myself and "down on" everyone around me. Even as I pray, I don't sense your presence. I am going through the motions, knowing that you are still with me.
I know that I am sacred and precious but they are just words right now. I know that my life has been worthwhile, full of many wonderful people and experiences, much happiness and joy. I feel little of this right now. God, all I can do is affirm the goodness of life and try to hold on until the darkness is replaced by your light and love.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009

17 But I will restore you to health
and heal your wounds,'
declares the LORD,
'because you are called an outcast,
Zion for whom no one cares.'

It's that time of year again. Every year about this time, "DEPRESSION" jumps into my life and takes ahold of me. It happened last night. That's why there was no Daily Devotion in your email box today. But unlike times in the past, this morning I jumped right into my Bible and started pulling myself out of depression that I have fought all my life. A depression that makes me hurt myself and others around me. I'm going to spend a lot of these holidays helping others who have this same problem. By helping others, I know it will be helping me. So lets get started!

Depression is a serious medical condition that affects the mind and body. It is an illness, in the same way that diabetes, heart disease and cancer are illnesses. Depression is often caused by alcoholism, drug abuse, and other addictions. But not always!

Causes of depression
Genetics. Genetics play an important part in depression. It can run in families for generations.
Trauma and stress. Financial, Social, or even environmental problems, the breakup of a relationship, or the death of a loved one can cause depression.
Physical conditions. Serious medical conditions like heart disease, cancer, and HIV can contribute to depression, partly because of the physical weakness and stress they bring on.
Psychological disorders. Anxiety disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and substance abuse often appear along with depression.

Symptoms of a depression
Persistent sadness, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, feelings of guilt, feeling of worthlessness and helplessness. Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions Trouble sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping. Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts. Restlessness, irritability Persistent physical symptoms, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain, which do not respond to routine treatment.

Biblical view of depression
Friend, depression like any other sickness or diseases as mentioned in the Bible is curable. I believe what the doctors are doing is correct and you need to follow their advise. However, I do believe that Jesus Christ is also a GREAT PHYSICIAN. He is able to cure you of depression an set you free in His powerful name, Amen. I do take medicine for my depression.
But it still creeps into my life. Especially this time of year. That's when I go to God in prayer! In the Bible, David did the same thing. He didn't have medicine. But he did have God!

David

And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
David reached a single moment when He had lost everything, BUT the help out of this state; “He encouraged himself in the Lord”. Friend, as simple as this sounds, God is our only deliverer out of any depressive condition the devil would want to place us in.

Another Biblical character had the same problem that some of us have. Elijah even had suicidal tendencies. Take a look at what the Bible says about Elijah!

Elijah

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
Elijah, the great prophet that he was, had suicide tendencies. The solution however is found in “a still small voice”. The solution is to hear what is God saying. The still small voice. Let's pray to our Father in Heaven right now!

Prayer for those undergoing depression
God in Heaven, we pray for all those undergoing depression, that the Lord will work out Your perfect will in their situation and bring about healing in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen. We ask that Jesus Christ, You are The Great Physician, please heal all those that have undergoing depression, let the fire of God destroy all causes of infirmity. We speak peace to all the patients and ask the healing virtue of Our Lord God will flow through the brain, through every vein, tissue, cell, ligament and that healing will manifest. We believe that Gods desire is manifest in your life. His desire is written in 3 John 2 “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along”. We speak peace to all the families having which have someone undergoing depression. We speak uncommon provisions to cater for all the expenses needed to take care of the patients. We destroy every generational curses and declare that they will not continue but the blessings of God will overshadow each and every one of you. We are in agreement with Gods word in Jeremiah 30:17 “ But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds declares the LORD.” So be it, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2009

Running the Race of Faith

Hebrews 12:1-3 (The Message)

Discipline in a Long-Distance Race
1-3Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

The runners in a marathon must all follow a clearly marked course. Suppose one of the athletes decides to pick his own path. He keeps to the 26-mile race standard and sets his finish line in the same spot as the official one, but he runs through neighborhoods with fewer hills and across less crowded parks. His plan seems excellent to him, but when he crosses the finish line, there will be no medal or ribbon waiting.

What a silly thing for a person to do! Yet, believers fall into this very trap when they decide the course for their life instead of running the race God sets. By submitting to His will—doing what He says and going where He leads—we remain on the right path. But the moment we revert to our old habits and start making decisions based on our own wisdom, we go far afield.

For believers, the finish line is the same whether they run the race God's way or their own way—namely, heaven. However, the difference is what we have to show for all the energy expended getting there. No one wants to look back and say, "I didn't really accomplish anything of value." Regardless of how grand a legacy someone leaves, the only truly lasting and worthwhile deeds are those done for the Lord and in the power of His Spirit.

Thankfully, no matter how far off course we veer, the Holy Spirit is still present. He reminds us of the right path—as well as the power available to get back on it and persevere. Your route is set; your choice clear. Run the race set before you and finish well (Acts 20:24).

Father, You have promised to lead me in paths of righteousness. Help me to be willing to follow, even when I don't understand.

FROM WILD BILL! Yesterday I announced how I might start selling cars. It just seemed to me that God must want me to do that because of how the opening of selling cars just came up. Was God telling me this is what He wanted me to do? After much prayer and talking with one of my best friends, the answer to that question is a very huge "NO"! There is only one person who would benefit from me getting off coarse. SATAN! Who is the only one who would benefit from my stopping my Evangelism? SATAN! We all have to remember that God is not the only one talking to us. Just because you become a Christian and start working for God, doesn't mean satan stops talking to you. It's just the oposite. I have learned a very valuable lesson today. Get behind me devil! I am now and always will be following God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost!

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009

Matthew 23:6-7 (The Message)

4-7"Instead of giving you God's Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn't think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called 'Doctor' and 'Reverend.'

I remember a story of a family who went to their grandparent's house for dinner. After watching the man bow his head and speak in a soft voice, the girl asked her parents, "What did Mr. Bryan say to his plate?" Jesus asked a similar question concerning the leaders of his day. They spoke not prayers to God, but empty words trying to impress others and trying to appear successful.
Jesus said in our scripture reading today, "They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and have people call them rabbi." The religious leaders seemed to be more concerned about appearing to be successful than serving God's people.

I read once about James Moore, a minister, who was invited to participate in a "Career Day on Campus." He was to be part of a panel discussion. Panelists were to discuss, "How Faith Influences Your Choice of a Career." First, panelists were asked to introduce themselves and mention their particular vocations. It was all rather routine. One woman gave her name and said, "I'm an attorney." A man gave his name and said, "I'm in business and I own a computer company." A woman gave her name and said, "I'm in real estate." When it was Moore's turn he said, "I'm a minister." The person seated next to him was a doctor. The doctor's statement changed that mundane situation into a special and sacred moment.

He said, "We are here today to talk about vocation." He told them that the word vocation meant "calling." "Well," the doctor told them, "my calling is to be a Christian and one way to do that is through the practice of medicine."

James Moore reflected afterwards, the doctor's life was a success, but his priority was service. Jesus said, "All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted."

I am trying so hard to see what God has in store for me. Other than music, there are few things I feel good at. Except for one other. I used to be very good at selling cars and doing it with honesty and integrity. Today, Karl Tyler Chevrolet showed a huge interest in me becoming part of their team. I spent an about an hour speaking with them. I believe that after talking to them and listening to how they work, I would have no problem as a Christian, working there. It would mean that I start up the Birthday Club again. Not to the size it was before in free suppers, but calling everyone and giving them 4 or 5 free dinners around town. I would work mostly with Birthday Club friends and family. If God wants me to sell cars, my calling is to be a Christian and my way of doing this is to be a very, very honest automobile salesperson and doing what is best for those who trust me and not thinking only of myself!

Dear God, humble me, so that you will be honored. Amen.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2009

The last command that He gave them was this: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).

Until the final prayer in this Daily Devotion, the rest of this devotion will be what over 96% of Christians are telling others about Jesus! And that is...................................

NOTHING!

Dear Father in Heaven, Jesus last command was for Christians to go out and tell others about the "GOOD NEWS"! Why then are there only about 4% doing that? People will spend most of each and every day telling others about their families, themselves, their favorite sports team, the elk they shot, the fish they hooked and on & on & on. But they have trouble telling others about the most important reason they are here on earth. TELLING OTHERS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR, WHO LOVED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US ENOUGH TO DIE FOR US! I'm worried sick for each and every CHRISTIAN, that one of the questions at the Pearly Gates is, "How many others did you tell about Jesus!" Father I'm praying and asking you to start up a revival in our Churches and build a fire under our Preachers and Evangelists to start spending more time telling Christians what Jesus last command was. Let me ask all of you a question. If Jesus took the time and made His last command for us to tell others about being a Christian, DON'T YOU THINK IT MUST HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT? ONCE AGAIN.................................

The last command that He gave them was this: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).

Father, I pray all this because I love You and I worry about my brothers and sisters in Christ! AMEN!

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2009

Leviticus 24:8 (New International Version)
8 This bread is to be set out before the LORD regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant.

How is your commitment? There is a story going around that makes a powerful point about where many of us are right now. According to the story, Pope John Paul II needed a heart transplant. There was much concern throughout the Roman Catholic world. Everyone gathered outside the Vatican screaming and waving their hands. "Take my heart, Pope, take my heart!"
Well, the Pope didn't know what to do, so an idea popped into his head. He asked everyone to please be quiet for a few minutes and he told all of them that he was going to throw down a feather. Whoever the feather landed on, he would take their heart for the transplant. Pope John Paul II then threw the feather down upon the people. Everyone was still screaming and waving their hands, "Take my heart, Pope," but with one difference: they were leaning their heads back and blowing the feather back into the air. "Take my heart, Pope (blow), Take my heart (blow)."

I hope our actions will not be the same as these people. I hope we will make a true commitment to God everyday of our lives.

Dear God, you have always been committed to me. May I also be truly committed to you in all the days you give to me. Amen

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009

Proverbs 15:15 (The Message)

15 A miserable heart means a miserable life;
a cheerful heart fills the day with song

A new driver for an interstate trucking company was having a difficult time. He found the long cross-country trips extremely tiring. The older driver who traveled with him, however, seemed to thrive on those long trips. He always seemed to look as fresh at the end of the ride as he did at the beginning.

One day, the young man asked the older what his secret was. “Well, it’s really all in the way you look at it,” he replied. “While you went to work this morning, I went for a ride through the country.”

Our focus will determine whether life is work or a ride in the country. We are privileged to be here in this day and age. God is doing awesome things right before our eyes and He’s allowing us to take part!

Let’s get excited about taking a ride with the Lord today! He has great things to show us and teach us along the way!

Prayer to Love God above all Things
God, my Father,
may I love You in all things and above all things.
May I reach the joy which You have prepared for me in Heaven.
Nothing is good that is against Your Will,
and all that is good comes from Your Hand.
Place in my heart a desire to please You
and fill my mind with thoughts of Your Love,
so that I may grow in Your Wisdom and enjoy Your Peace.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2009

And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (I Corinthians 13:13 NRSV Bible)

Someone once reminded me, "The average pencil is seven inches long, and the eraser is only a quarter of an inch long - just in case you thought optimism was dead."
When we look at the troubles of our world and society, it may dampen our optimism, but today there is a great need for all of us to listen and follow God's call of love and peace.

Jesus certainly was saddened by the state of people's hearts and the condition of people's relationship with God. However, Jesus was clearly focused on God's ultimate plan of unconditional love. What greater hope and optimism can we have than when we focus on Christ, as the risen Savior, given in love!

Lord Jesus, help me to show your love each day by doing small acts of kindness. In your name I pray, Amen

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2009

1 Kings 19:9-10 (The Message)

8-9 He got up, ate and drank his fill, and set out. Nourished by that meal, he walked forty days and nights, all the way to the mountain of God, to Horeb. When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep.

Then the word of God came to him: "So Elijah, what are you doing here?"

10 "I've been working my heart out for the God-of-the-Angel-Armies," said Elijah. "The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me."

I remember a story of a shipwrecked sailor who was alone on a deserted island for several years. To his great relief, he spied a ship on the horizon. He built a great bonfire to catch the crew's attention. Soon the ship was dropping anchor off the little island and a small rescue boat was lowered into the water. One lone crewman was in the rescue boat. He was carrying an armful of newspapers. "Read these," he said to the sailor, "and decide whether you want to be rescued." We do live in a challenging period of time, but we cannot hide in the wilderness. That won't solve our problems. God knows that truth, and Elijah knew that too.

What we do does make a difference. I remember an old story about three friends, none of whom could swim, who were in a boat. When they got out to the middle of the lake one of them took out a drill and began boring a hole in the bottom of the boat. The other two shouted, "What are you doing?"

"Mind your own business," said the one with the drill. "I'm drilling this hole beneath my seat alone. It has nothing to do with you."

"But," shouted the other two men, "we are all in the same boat!"

What a true and important statement, "We are all in the same boat." Our boat is this wonderful earth God has given us to live on. What we do does make a difference and what we do can be good or bad for everyone else. We cannot just hide in the wilderness and mind our own business.

God has called us, like Elijah, to make a positive difference in the lives of other people.

Dear God, grant me the will to make a positive difference. Amen

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2009

Philippians 3:13-14 (The Message)

Focused on the Goal
12-14I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
As you all know, the last couple days I've really been excited about the interest that churches in the Northwest have shown in my Gospel Music Ministry. But than yesterday I received an e-mail that one of the churches decided to wait until spring!

Isn’t it the way it is sometimes? As soon as you make that leap and take on a responsibility that stretches your faith, the enemy comes and tries to find a way to hinder you from going forward with it!

But I have NO intention of allowing him to squelch my plans! We are pressing forward toward the “high calling of God in Christ Jesus!”

You don’t let him either! Has God been calling you to do something specific? Has He laid something on your heart to do and you keep being sidetracked with other things? Go do it! Don’t let anything stop you! There is FAR too much work to be done!!

Most Precious Lord Jesus, Gentle and Wonderful God, Truly Awesome and Ever-present Holy Spirit, Precious Lord Jesus, I love you.
Thank you for this time of worship and reflection.
Thank you for these moments we spend together as I seek your love and strength.
I love you Lord.
I need your strength to keep going in this present hour and in the days ahead.
I thank you for your sacrifice for me on the Cross.
From your sacrifice, knowing what you did for me, I draw strength and power to face the daily grind of my life.
During the coming days I will need your strength to do your will and to give your love to people who do not know you.
Help me find your strength to keep going so I can let your Light and Love shine out to others.
In your presence, I find my purpose for living even when I am weak.
In your kingdom, I am called to be your mature child upon this sphere.
Help me as I try to live out my faith no matter what I must face.
Touch the lives and hearts of everyone I pray for each day.
If you must make a choice between touching others or touching me, let others be touched before me.
All these things I humbly pray in the name of my most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, my Mighty God, and my Ever-present Holy Spirit upon whom I can rely.
Amen

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2009

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

We often develop strategies, game-plans, life-plans – and then, at some obstacle or critical point, we say – “Just stick to the plan!” It’s usually good advice.

Life is always sending unexpected surprises, but praise God, nothing takes Him by surprise. He’s the master planner. Our family might turn against us, our friends let us down, illness, afflictions, problems and “situations” on every side…God still has a plan, for you, and for me.

Joseph is a prime example of life’s surprises. It took 13 years of endurance and character-building for him to fulfill this part of God’s plan. Sold as a slave into Egypt by his own brothers, betrayed and imprisoned, he must have wondered a lot where God was and what He was doing. But finally, as a prepared vessel, Joseph was placed in the highest position in the land, second only to Pharaoh, and commissioned to execute God’s plan for saving the world from famine. So the Lord had surprises of His own. Revealing himself to his brothers, Joseph summed it up beautifully: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, in order to bring it about as [it is] this day, to save many people alive. .” (Genesis 50:20)

When our situations are difficult to handle and downright impossible to explain, we need to remind ourselves that God said, “I know the plans I have for you.” Through these situations we discover how faithful and sovereign He truly is. He knows what we can handle and He will never give us more. When the test is completed, we come out with character, stronger in faith, more in love, more useful to Him, and ready……….. for our next test. (Oh yeah…)

The fact that we have problems is a sign that we also have a promise. It’s only a matter of time before God reveals His good intentions – so until then, let’s stick to the plan! His !!!

Almighty God, father God, God of great mercy. I love and am grateful I can come before you knowing you eaccept me as your child whom you love.

Thank you so much dear Jesus that you are with me where ever I go. Like a child in his mother's arms I come to you. Take ownership of me, guide me, prompt me, teach me, and instruct me dear God in the way I should go. May your great plan for my life be fulfilled so I may be closer to you.

Thank you dear God for all you have done. Amen

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2009

Galatians 2:21 (The Message)

19-21What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.

Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

No church is perfect and the early church was no exception. Many conflicts were minor yet, some were major conflicts; especially this one over circumcision.

The basis for the foundation of the church is Christ; his death, burial and resurrection that leads to salvation through God’s grace. Some of the early Jewish Christians were requiring gentile converts to become Jews by circumcision before being able to become Christians. Paul rightly and strongly disagreed because to require circumcision would return believers to the Law rather than grace.

Christ died on the cross as a final atonement for your sins. There was no final atonement under the Law as sacrifices did not permanently remove sins but only rolled sins back. Praise God you are saved by his grace through Christ. He did not die in vain!

Today's Prayer: Heavenly Father, how great is your grace! I am grateful for the purity of the gospel you have preserved that I might partake of your precious gift of love and life.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009

John 16:33 (New International Version)

33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

In this world we will face all kinds of obstacles, trials and tribulations and we should be wary of any doctrines or teachings that say we shouldn’t have to face these things. Why? Because the Lord said we will have tribulations. So the encouragement He is giving is simply this: You’re going to face trials, but GOD is greater than any problem you will face in this world!

As problems present themselves, we should face them in the power of God and overcome them with Him -– because every problem is an opportunity to exhibit the love and power of God in our lives. And it’s often through these situations that the world gets our true testimony as believers in Him!

So, lift up your head, and don’t expect “no obstacles” in this life. Continue looking up, and be filled with His joy, because the Lord has already overcome this world and our problems, and we will experience that when we simply give them over to Him!

Precious Lord Jesus, Wonderful Holy Spirit, Awesome God, I love you.
You, Most High God, the All In All, are the power of all.
In our life, you are the light who shines in our hearts.
You are the one who leads us and guides us through the darkness of life.
When we are lost, you pour out your power on us and we find our way back to you.
Your love prevails over all suffering and pain.
Your love gives us new life when the old life seems to have slipped away.
Your tender mercy comes to soothe our hurt from our transgressions.
Your forgiveness is a healing touch for our broken hearts.
Your love restores us when pain comes and suffering tears us down.
Let us do your will each day.
Let us always give ourselves over to your desires for us.
In you, we find the power.
In you, we find the light.
In you, we find the life.
In you, we find redeeming love and hope until the beginning of the new age that is about to come.
All these things we humbly pray in the name of the most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, the Mighty God, and the Ever-present Holy Spirit upon whom we can rely.
Amen

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2009

Psams 3-7 "As I sink in despair, my spirit ebbing away,
you know how I'm feeling,
Know the danger I'm in,
the traps hidden in my path.
Look right, look left—
there's not a soul who cares what happens!
I'm up against it, with no exit—
bereft, left alone.
I cry out, God, call out:
'You're my last chance, my only hope for life!'
Oh listen, please listen;
I've never been this low.
Rescue me from those who are hunting me down;
I'm no match for them.
Get me out of this dungeon
so I can thank you in public.
Your people will form a circle around me
and you'll bring me showers of blessing!"

David, God’s beloved, spent much of his life in crisis. As King, he had many around him who were ready to betray him in a heartbeat. Rarely were there times of peace without the threat of death, destruction, conflict or betrayal. Yet, he always knew Yahweh was his comfort, his protector and his strength.

Did he have special divine powers? No, he was fully human. He simply had a strong faith in God. Whenever the pressure grew around him and his resolve weakened, he was reminded that God was his refuge. What lay beyond may not have been plain to David but he always knew that God could see it all clearly and would faithfully be there to provide all he needed.

You can trust God in the same way. When your spirit falters remember: God not only knows the road ahead but will light your way in the darkness that seems so overwhelming.

Today's Prayer:Heavenly Father, spiritual blindness swallows my faith and causes me to stumble in darkness. Thank you for the light of your faithfulness and the steadfast assurance of your promises that strengthen my trust and hope in you

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2009

1. Savior: A person who rescues another from harm, danger, or loss.

2. Hero: A person revered especially for noble courage.

3. Noble: possessing outstanding qualities

4. Revered: To regard with awe, deference, and devotion.

5. Deference: respect and esteem due a superior or an elder

Growing up, I used to think of Superman, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry as my heroes. However, as my relationship with Jesus continues to grow and I learn more and more about what he did, is doing, and will do for for all of us, I know that it is ONLY Jesus Christ who fulfills the definition of a true hero.

I wanted to know the difference between "SAVIOR" & "HERO" AND #1 & #2 LED ME TO #3, #4, & #5. What led me to start looking up these meanings is because I have never heard anyone, and I mean ANYONE say that Jesus is there hero. I have heard people say, John Wayne, Babe Ruth, Superman, Billy Graham, Abe Lincoln, George Washington and on & on. But never Jesus Christ my Savior. I'm sure, people have said it, but with the number of Christians in this world, it sure hasn't been said enough. I for one am going to say it and believe it all of the time. JESUS CHRIST MY SAVIOR IS MY HERO!

Now that I know and love Jesus, who else can even come close to measuring up to Him. The only true hero. Yes there are those who did great things. But they only did what God gave them the ability to do. That makes them great, but not a hero.

Dear God, there are people who have done great things because of the talent and the abilities You gave them. But there is only one person who walked this earth and did everything perfect. Next to Jesus, no other person that walked this earth, has ever come close to what Jesus was and what He did. I will always commend others who did great things, but when I'm asked, I will always say, "JESUS CHRIST WILL ALWAYS BE MY ONE AND ONLY SAVIOR AND MY HERO!"

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2009

Psalm 37:23-24 (New International Version)

23 If the LORD delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;

24 though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

God knows the path of life does not always follow level ground. He is vigilant as you navigate those rocky mountainous trails. In my case, it is the Rocky Mountains here in Missoula, Montana. But His hand is anxiously waiting to catch you whenever you stumble. It is delightful for him to watch as you successfully maneuver to the next level. He shares your joy as you learn to place your foot firmly, step by step.

Why is the climb important? Why not stay in the safe valley below? God alone knows the breathtaking majesty awaiting you at the end of the journey. Too many times I have been bullheaded and have tried to keep from making any change. My Birthday Club is one of those times. I felt I knew best and thought it was doing so much good for the community and the 50,000 folks that were in it. But instead it took Linda and I into a deep debt. But we have come a long way now in our understanding of what God wants from us. Sure, we have a big debt to pay. Yes we are putting our house up for sale. No, we don't know where God is going to lead us, but we trust in God with all our hearts and know that He will provide. Just today the Methodist Church booked me to play there Sunday morning Church service on November 15th.

So do you want to know what Linda and I are going to do for the rest of our lives? We're gonna grrasp God's hand and continue to climb. His loving hands find you in the deepest crevasses of your life! Sure, we're gonna miss our home. But God has a plan for us and I think He had to get my attention. And believe me, He has got it now!

Has He got your attention? Have you been following the path of life that He has made just for you? If not, are you ready to make the change and put God in the driver's seat? If you are, be sure to fasten your seat belt, because you are in for one Heavenly ride!

Heavenly Father, the terrain of the journey is often perilous but your presence provides the courage I need to climb the next step. When I am tempted to stop or go back you pull me forward. I can trust you because you know every inch of the pathway.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2009

Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. (1 Peter 1.21 NRSV Bible)

Several years ago, a friend and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. Arlene was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.

The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.

He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.

Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.

He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?

Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She causally mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.

A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?

"Look at it." He said. "Read what it says."

She read the words "United States of America."

"No, not that; read further."

"One cent?"

"No, keep reading ."

"In God we Trust?"

"Yes,"

"And?"

"And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!

Dear God, in you I trust. Amen.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2009

Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. (John 21:17 NRSV Bible)

Sociologist and evangelist Tony Campolo once spoke to a group and asked this question, "Is it a sin to own a BMW?" Then he added, "If Jesus had forty thousand dollars, would He buy a BMW or use that to feed or house the needy in the Third World?" Wow, that's a tough one. That's the kind of question we would prefer not to even think about. People get crucified for asking questions like that. It's a challenging question--even a disturbing one. One woman, however, was so struck by Campolo's talk that she wrote his ministry a check for the same amount that she paid for her new custom drapes. Her gift built three houses in Haiti.

It is so easy for us to forget who we are and what Christ has called us to be. It is so easy for us to become so preoccupied with our work, with our family, with our own needs that we forget our essential call to feed Christ's sheep. There are needy people all around us--needy for things but also needy for love and recognition and for a word of encouragement. Most of all, needy to know that God loves them. Who will share Christ's love with them if we don't?

Lord Jesus, thank you for feeding me. May I also work to feed others who need your love. In Jesus name, Amen

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2009

Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." (John 21:15 NRSV Bible)

A man went to see the doctor for his annual physical exam. When he came home later that afternoon, his wife asked him, "What did the doctor say?" He answered in a gruff voice, "He told me that if I want to stay healthy, I have to eat what I don't want, drink what I don't like, and do what I'd rather not do!"
Jesus tried to get the disciples to do the same thing. The disciples are sitting around a charcoal fire now. The disciples recognize their risen Lord, but still they are disconcerted by the recent chain of events. While they are lost in their thoughts the resurrected Christ takes some bread and breaks it and gives it to them. Then also the fish. Then he turns to Simon Peter and asks one of the most famous questions in the Scripture, "Simon Peter, do you love me?" Three times Christ asks Simon Peter this question--once for each time Peter denied him. "Lord, you know I love you," Peter replies. And after each reply, Jesus instructs Simon Peter to feed his lambs and then his sheep. This is Christ's way of focusing Simon Peter on his real mission in the world.

Go with me back to those earliest days when Jesus first recruited Andrew and Simon. He said he would make them fishers of men. Now he is challenging them to continue that journey on which they first embarked. Not that their prior lives as fishermen were unimportant, but from here on they would have a different kind of calling. Christ was asking them to forget themselves and to center their lives in ministry to others. That is a challenge that Jesus is still offering his disciples today.

Dear God, teach me to center my life on your ministry. In Jesus name, Amen.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2009

Acts 10:21 (The Message)

21Peter went down and said to the men, "I think I'm the man you're looking for. What's up?"

Whenever God has something he wants you to do for him, you can believe, he has already done his homework. In the beginning of Acts 10 you see that God had begun his work the previous day for Peter’s historic vision by sending an angel to Cornelius with the command to send for Peter.

Peter was in the process of absorbing the reality of God’s call for him to preach to the Gentiles when Cornelius’ servants knocked on his door. God was asking Peter to step far outside his comfort zone by going to this gentile home to preach the gospel. All Peter needed to do was obey God’s instructions. By opening the door of welcome to these gentile visitors he was using the keys Jesus had given him to open the door of the gospel’s salvation message for the gentile world.

Are you hesitating about a challenge God is presenting to you? Don’t wait any longer. Get up, get excited and get busy! You are in for the ride of your life and God will lead you!

Heavenly Father, I want to be your servant. I know that you see clearly where you want me to be and what you want me to do. All I need to do is obey by walking through your open door

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2009

Psalm 116:10 (The Message)
9-11 I'm striding in the presence of God,
alive in the land of the living!
I stayed faithful, though bedeviled,
and despite a ton of bad luck,
Despite giving up on the human race,
saying, "They're all liars and cheats."

We have two choices in dealing with the unexpected. We can become bitter, or we can allow the unexpected to enrich our lives. If we choose to allow the unexpected to enrich our lives, then how can we survive the pressure? I believe there is only one thing that can truly help us deal with all of the changes of life - our faith in God.
I would not be the person I am today without my faith in Jesus Christ. I would not have been able to handle all the ups and downs in my life with out God's love working in me. So, we must nurture our faith - no matter how much we have. Whether we have lots of faith or only a tiny bit, we must nurture it. We do this through worship, study, conversations with God, mutual support of one another, by helping those who need us, by giving our time, and by sharing our resources. The greatest growth in my faith has come from experiences of helping other people.

So, we must nurture our faith, which will help carry us through the unexpected twists and turns of life.

God of all, as I nurture my faith in you, please carry me through the unexpected hardships of life. In Jesus name, Amen.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2009

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

I suppose one of the hardest questions to answer is: “Why do I have to deal with so much adversity?!” As you know, I've been wondering about that a lot lately! Just trying to make people laugh!

Quite honestly, one of the best answers I’ve ever come across was written by C.S. Lewis in his book, Mere Christianity. Lewis likened God’s use of adversity to walking a dog. If the dog gets its leash wrapped around a pole and tries to continue running forward, he will only tighten the leash more. Both the dog and the owner are after the same end: forward motion. But the owner must resist the dog by pulling him opposite of the direction that he wants to go. The master, sharing the same intention, but understanding better than the dog where he really wants to go, takes an action precisely opposite to that of the dog’s will. It is in this way that God uses adversity!

We really don’t like being pulled and corrected by the Lord — but when we understand there’s a greater purpose involved, then we can pass through adversity with hope, expectation and steadfastness knowing these events are for our greater good!

Let’s learn from the trials and tribulations we go through because God has a purpose in them. We may not enjoy it, but when all’s said and done, enduring trials faithfully will produce perseverance, character, and hope. And hope will not disappoint us for the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit…[Romans 5:4-5] We truly can trust in the God who loves us with an everlasting love because He knows the direction we need to go, AND He knows exactly how to get us there!

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I pray for guidance, love, wisdom, strength, and patience for 2008. Lord I am starting a new career serving you by telling others about you in song.. Lord I pray that you will give me self confidence to hold my head high at all times, and to not be so self conscious when my humor goes awry. In your name I pray Lord, Amen.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009

Proverbs 17:22 (New International Version)

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

I came across a joke that’ll surely make you ladies laugh out loud — and you men too– that is, if you know what’s good for you, lol! That is, if you take it as it is meant and not what you think I meant.

A small-town couple was celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and their long, loving relationship had long been the talk of the town. For this special occasion, a local newspaper reporter paid them a visit to inquire as to the secret of their happy marriage.

“Well,” explained the husband, “it really all goes back to our honeymoon. We visited the Grand Canyon and took a trip down to the bottom of the canyon by pack mule. We hadn’t gone too far when my wife’s mule stumbled. My wife quietly said ‘That’s once.’ We proceeded a little farther when the mule stumbled again. Once more my wife quietly spoke: ‘That’s twice.’ We hadn’t gone a half-mile when the mule stumbled a third time. My wife promptly removed a revolver from her purse, hopped down off the beast, and shot the mule dead. I began to protest over her treatment of the mule when she looked at me and quietly said, ‘That’s once.”’

I hope you liked that. Now, I’ve heard that children laugh 300 to 400 times a day while we adults laugh only a mere 15! Believe it or not, experts say that laughing aids digestion, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases muscle flexion, boosts the immune system, triggers the release of endorphins which are the body’s natural painkillers, heals broken relationships and produces a general sense of well-being!

Let’s not take everything so very seriously! Like my setting up my bandstand across the street from your Church. Let’s start laughing at ourselves a little, and laughing at our enemy’s attempts to keep us burdened and oppressed! God has our victory –always! And there’s so much work to be done!

I spent too many years in a fake and phony atmosphere. I sent this little message to a Pastor who didn't see the humor in my "Setting Up A Bandstand Across The Street" e-mail.............
For twenty years I didn't find humor in anything. When I was twenty, I saw a brother shoot and kill his own brother. I had a drummer that committed suicide on Christmas Eve. I had a bass player that I had to let go because he was so hooked on drugs. He was shot to death a few days later trying to rob a Pharmacy. Or what about my friend who had been partying with me all day and on the way home we had a flat tire. He was killed changing that tire for me. Or how about another good friend who came to the bar I was playing at and partied till closing. Got on his motorcycle to go home and was killed about two blocks from the bar. Or how about my lifelong friend and bass player who died before I could tell him about Jesus? These type of stories have gone on & on throughout my life. The only thing that changed me was when Jesus came into my life. Now I use my sense of humor to not only help me forget about the old days but to put a smile on people's faces.

I will not apologize for my sense of humor. I will apologize for offending anybody that takes my humor wrong. But if I put a smile on just one persons face each day, I feel real good about what I'm doing for God!

May today there be peace within you.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing that you are a child of God.
Let His presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and to bask in the sun.
It is there for each and every one of you.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009

Ephesians 6:20 (The Message)

19-20And don't forget to pray for me. Pray that I'll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.

For over 10 years we’ve been covering Christian Persecution, and whenever I come across an amazing story of how a saint endured such hardships, it encourages me. I remember reading about Watchman Nee and his imprisonment. The Chinese government would change the guards at his cell daily for fear that Nee would lead them to the Lord. Their fears were justified—many of those guards did come to faith! Apparently Watchman Nee had learned a powerful lesson from the Apostle Paul.

In Paul’s letter to the Church in Ephesus, observe how he describes himself – an ambassador in chains. Locked away in a prison, Paul adamantly refuses to allow his circumstances to dictate or alter his identity. He may be in chains, but he remains the Lord’s ambassador.

Can you imagine Paul chained up in that dungeon, throwing up his hands saying, “That’s it; it’s over; I’m finished!?

Not on your life! Instead the apostle grows bolder as an ambassador; not intimidated or ashamed, because Paul isn’t chained in his Spirit, he’s only bound in the flesh. Remember how he concludes his letter to the Philippian Church declaring, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Don’t allow yourself to be defined by your past, or “chained” by your current circumstances. God has also called you to be an ambassador for Him. With so much work to be done, we ought to be growing even bolder, right in the midst of our trials and tribulations!

"Teach us how to pray," the disciples said to Jesus. (Luke 11, 1) He answered by teaching them the prayer we call the Our Father or The Lord's Prayer.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.

Amen

Only Jesus can see the true heart of God. There are many who still have an Old Testament view of God. God is a God of judgement, of vengeance, of wrath.
I don't know about you, but whenever I read this Bible verse, I always have to stop and thank God for being such a loving and caring God. Over and over and over again in my wild days, I turned my back on God for my own selfish reasons. But He never gave up on me. He never stopped loving me. I was lost, but I was found.

In the family of God the prodigal can always come home. The door is never locked. Why? Because Jesus showed us the heart of God. With his own shed blood he showed us how much God cares about sinners.

Dear Jesus, thank you for showing me the true heart of God. In Jesus name, Amen.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2009

The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy. (Galatians 1:23 NRSV Bible)

Why would Christ tell people to be born again, if there were no chance that such a phenomenon could occur? Why would the Scriptures time after time urge us to repent if repentance is really not possible?
In Galatians, Paul describes the change that took place in his own life. He tells his reader that he "persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it." That's important for us to understand. Paul, or Saul as he was known then, was an extremist, a radical. If he had lived today he might even have been a terrorist. And yet he changed. He changed so much that rather than continuing to persecute the Christian faith, he became the most influential Christian who ever lived. God even changed his name from Saul to Paul. Paul changed so thoroughly that this madman, this radical, this terrorist became the author of the most beautiful writing on the nature of love ever penned in 1 Corinthians 13, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal..." Can people change? If you believe the Bible, your answer would have to be yes.

The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy. (Galatians 1:23 NRSV Bible

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009

Mark 14:3 (New International Version)

3While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

This is the touching story of how Jesus was anointed before His crucifixion. But there’s one thing about this passaage that stood out to me as I read it again. Jesus was not anointed with ointment until the box of alabaster was broken! In the same way, we must be broken before the Lord so that His anointing can be poured out upon us to touch others!

We should never be ashamed to be broken. God will not deny a broken heart and a contrite spirit! When we humble ourselves in His sight and place our pride on the altar of sacrifice, it is then that God’s anointing will be greatest upon us. It will pour out of us like the ointment from that box — and we will be used greatly for His kingdom!

Let’s ask the Lord to break us where we need to be broken this week so that we might be anointed completely to do the great things He’s called us to do!

Dear Lord, I feel that I am broken. I'm trying soooo hard to serve you and do what I feel you want me to do with my music. Please Lord, take away this broken feeling I have and show me what it is you want of me. I want to do what it is you want of me. Make it so clear to me that even I will understand. I need you Lord and I truly want to serve you! Amen!

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff - they comfort me. (Psalms 23:4 NRSV Bible)

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There is a story of a family who was on their way home from church. The son asked his mom, "Is it true that we are made of dust like the minister said tonight?"

"Yes, darling," his mom replied.

"And is it true that we go back to dust again when we die?

"Yes, dear," his mother replied.

"Well, mom, when I said my prayers last night and looked under the bed, I saw someone who is either coming or going.

Life is a continuing process of coming and going. Are we ready for what life and death will bring us?

And Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power," (Mark 9:1).

Dear Jesus, may your kingdom come in my life, as I prepare my life for eternity. Amen

The centurion in our scripture reading today was a man of faith. He didn't feel worthy of Jesus' presence so he sends a message to Jesus, "Do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof... But say the word, and let my servant be healed . . . ." Did you get that? "Just say the word, Lord, and my servant will be healed." When Jesus heard this, Luke tells us, he marveled at him, and said to the multitude that followed him, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." And when those who had been sent returned to the centurion's house, they found the slave well.

A good man or woman of God will have faith in Jesus Christ. I remember a story of the new husband who looked at the results of his bride's first attempt at cooking breakfast and said glumly, "It isn't like Mom used to make."

Disappointed, she tried all the harder the next morning, producing a nicely cooked, attractive breakfast. He looked at it and muttered, "It just isn't like Mom used to make."

This went on for a number of mornings in succession. She would go to great lengths, sure she had created a tasty, well-prepared breakfast, only to be greeted with "It isn't like Mom used to make."

Finally she became so exasperated with his cruel comments that she decided to rebel. She deliberately fried the eggs until they were hard rubber, virtually cremated the bacon, burned the toast black, and overcooked the coffee until it was almost unfit to drink.

Her husband sat down at the table, looked at the food, and beamed, "Hey! Just like Mom used to make!"

People will always have different expectations of us who follow Jesus Christ, but just like the centurion, we must have faith in the one who has the greatest of all expectations.

Loving God, help my faith to grow, as I do all I can, with Jesus' help, to fulfill your great expectations. In Jesus name, Amen.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2009

So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. (Acts 2:41 NRSV Bible)

There is a legend that at the entrance to Heaven, two questions will be asked of everyone who comes seeking admittance. The first question is this: "Did you come alone?" And if, tragically, your answer is "Yes," the second question follows. "How could you?"

I don't want any church or Christian to be mistaken for a mannequin, do you? The answer to avoid being a mannequin is really quite easy: a commitment to fellowship, a commitment to prayer, a commitment to outreach, and a commitment to sharing Jesus Christ.

And remember: What is the longest word in the English language?

Smiles. There's a "mile" between the first and last letters!

With smiles and with joy may we bring life to our Christian faith.

Dear God, with joy I will do a better job of bringing life to my faith, as I share my savior, Jesus Christ. In Jesus name, Amen.

22 In my alarm I said,
"I am cut off from your sight!"
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help.

Psalm 31: 21-22(NIV)

The Psalmist had great faith, yet there were times when he felt God was nowhere in sight. You’ve had those spiritual blind spots in your life as well. How helpless and hollow the situation feels when God seems silent or invisible.

But notice the spark of faith that erupts from the depths of the Psalmist’s heart in the form of a cry for help. In his helplessness David called out for God’s mercy and found that God’s hearing is much more acute than his own sight.

Whenever your spiritual sight grows dim God’s love and mercy reaches down; far beyond the boundaries of your distress and fear. You can’t always trust your feelings but praise God, you can always trust him.

Today's Prayer:
Heavenly Father, forgive my spiritual blind spots. My hope is in you Lord and I trust fully in your promises. I am grateful that you are my refuge in times of trouble and my strength in times of weakness.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2009

2 Corinthians 10:12 (The Message)

12We're not, understand, putting ourselves in a league with those who boast that they're our superiors. We wouldn't dare do that. But in all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point.

An ancient legend tells of a king who walked into his garden one day to find almost everything withered and dying. After speaking to an oak near the gate, the king learned that he was troubled because he was not tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine overheard their conversation and added that she, too, was upset, for she could not bear delicious fruit like the pear tree. The pear tree heard his name and began to complain that he did not have the lovely odor of the spruce. And so it went throughout the entire garden.

Near the very edge of the garden grew a little daisy. As the king approached, he noticed her bright little face, full of life. “Well, little flower,” said the monarch, “I’m glad to find that there is at least one happy face in my garden.”

“Oh king,” she said, “I know I’m little, and not many people notice me, but one day I realized that you if planted me here, you must have had a good reason. So, your majesty, I’ve determined to be the best little flower I can be!”

Our King has planted a beautiful garden. Not one of us is greater than the next. It is his His perfection.

We must come to a place where we trust that God has a reason for creating us the way He has and has planted us in just the place he desired. Comparing ourselves with one another will only make us wither. When we become satisfied in His creation (that is us), that’s when we’ll find true happiness”.. and we will shine.

Let’s give God our all our disappointments and be determined to be the best that we can be for Him!

Father, I pray for who are struggling with challenges and disappointments

When they're disappointed that You haven't answered their prayers or haven't seemed to make any move to change things yet, forgive their impatience. Help them to live like the prophets of old, who were patient even when they had to suffer, and who didn't quit though they must have felt like it sometimes. Help these I'm praying for not to quit either.(James 5:10-11a)

Help them to trust You and believe that You care, that You haven't forgotten them--and You won't! When trouble comes their way, when they're facing tests and challenges, help them be willing to thank You in all circumstances, difficult as that is.(Nahum 1:7a; Isaiah 49:15b; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Ephesians 5:20)

Help them to love You with all their hearts, souls, and minds, for You cause all things to work together for our good when we love You and are called according to Your purpose. Help them realize that somehow You're fitting them into Your plans. Help their love for You to be as steadfast and unchanging as Your love for them.(Matthew 22:37; Romans 8:28, 38-39)

May they never question Your love, knowing it was settled once and forever at the cross. (1 John 4:10) In Jesus' name, amen

A very sad news story from Wales tells of a feud in a church looking for a new pastor. It reads: “Yesterday the two opposition groups both sent ministers to the pulpit. Both spoke simultaneously, each trying to shout above the other. Both called for hymns, and the congregation sang two—each side trying to drown out the other. Then the groups began shouting at each other. Bibles were raised in anger. The Sunday morning service turned into a bedlam. Through it all, the two preachers continued trying to out shout each other with their sermons.” Eventually a deacon called the police. Two officers came in shouting for the congregation to quiet down, and began to direct them to leave the premises immediately. The rivals filed out, still arguing.

Ugggh. I think we can all agree that this behavior is ridiculous. But how often do we rival with our brothers and sisters in the Lord? Yet the Lord’s second most important commandment remains: love your neighbor as yourself!

If we can’t sit at the same table down here, how will we ever be able to sit together at the glorious table with Him up there? Let’s work out our issues and strive to love one another as He has loved us. There’s soooo much work to be done!

Dear Heavenly Father. I humbly ask for the strength and wisdom to allow our love for each other to bloom. Reflecting your love on our faces and souls. Please grant us the patience and resolve to continue in your ways and to edify each other as we edify you. In your glory, I ask that our souls continue to grow to each other to become a family and as a family become one in your eyes.

I read a story of a Car and Carina who wished to honor the members of their court with a banquet. They sent out invitations and requested that the guests come with the invitations in their hands. When they arrived at the banquet the guests were surprised to discover that the guards did not look at their invitations at all. Instead they examined their hands. The guests wondered about this, but they were also curious to see who the Car and Carina would choose as the guest of honor to sit between them at the banquet. They were flabbergasted to see that it was the old scrub woman who had worked to keep the palace clean for years. The guards, having examined her hands, declared, "You have the proper credentials to be the guest of honor. We can see your love and loyalty in your hands."

This woman's love and loyalty was seen in her hands. In the same way, we can see Jesus' love and loyalty for us in the nail prints of his hands and feet. Take a look at your hands. What do you see?

Dear God, thank you for the hands you have given me. Even if my hands are missing, you have given me a job to do. May my hands demonstrate my love for you and for my neighbors. In Jesus name, Amen.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2009

For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. (Psalm 62:5 NRSV Bible)

In his book, THE LIGHT WITHIN YOU, John R. Claypool relates the very painful story of the loss of their young daughter to acute leukemia. Very quickly upon diagnosis of this dreaded disease, his daughter had been given a medicine that enabled her to go into a remission. For some time she was almost perfectly normal. Naturally, this created many hopes for her family. Had the diagnosis been a mistaken one? Had she experienced the miracle of divine healing for which her father and so many others had prayed?

It was not to be. All of these hopes came to an abrupt end, ironically, on Easter Sunday morning, when the old pains reappeared and she went into a severe relapse that involved hospitalization for some two weeks. Part of the time both of her eyes were swollen shut, and pain racked every part of her body. John Claypool reports that moving with her through those two weeks was an unspeakably draining experience. He found myself stretched in every way--physically exhausted, emotionally dissipated, his faith itself challenged as never before.

The worst moment of all, however, came one night when his daughter could get no relief, and she asked him, "When will this leukemia go away?" He answered, "I don't know, darling, but we are doing everything in our power to find an answer to cure it."

There was a long silence, and then she asked in the darkness, "Have you asked God when the leukemia will go away?" Her pastor/father hedged a bit and said, "You know, darling, how we have prayed again and again for God to help us." But she persisted: "Have you asked God when it will go away? What did He say?"

Claypool asks, "How do you respond to such childlike directness at a time when the heavens seem utterly silent...?"

You just can't find the answers for something like this. You can only go and make people realize that God has not left them. God's ways are not our ways! Some questions have no answers. Such times demand a measure of silence.

Dear Jesus, help me to walk faithfully in your footsteps, especially when God seems to be silent. I pray in your name. Amen.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2009

Isaiah 62:2-3 (New International Version)

2 The nations will see your righteousness,
and all kings your glory;
you will be called by a new name
that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.

3 You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand,
a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
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There are two themes that dominate the writings of all the great prophets. They are Judgement and Hope. As far as the prophets were concerned, Israel's greatness as a nation did not depend on its prosperity or its military might. They knew that a nation's character was more important than its cash reserves. They did not buy the prosperity Gospel. Israel's wealthy elite might "have it all," but they dare not call it the blessing of God if their hearts and their lives were corrupt. Thus the prophets pronounced judgement on Israel's sinfulness. Without righteousness and justice there will be a day of reckoning, they thundered. Things will not continue like this forever.

Their pronouncements of judgement, however, must be balanced by their messages of hope. They were not all gloom and doom. When Israel was hurting, when its people were still trying to sing the Lord's song in a strange land, when there was famine and pestilence and war throughout the country, the prophets again spoke up. Things will not be like this forever, they said. Hang in there. God will not forsake His own.

The same goes for all of us as Christians. Judgement and hope, God is always with us. It is our job to welcome God into our lives, no matter what situation we face! I've been facing some tough family situations the last few weeks. It has not been my best time as a Christian. To say I've lost my cool is an understatement. The old Wild Bill that I try to keep under control has come out a little too much lately. But look at todays devotion. In my prayers I asked God to cool my jets and make me more like "Sweet" William again. So todays Daily Devotion popped up in front of me from another site.

Folks, that is how the Lord works. I was supposed to play tonight at the Hunter's Glenn Retirement home, but I was so upset with what has been happening in my family. I called Hunter's Glenn and told them I would be in at a later date. That was when I went into my prayer time. The Lord sure granted my ask for help. This was one of those times that I asked God for help when things had gotten out of hand. I now know I had left Him out of these family problems. I should have invited Him to help me from the beginning. Oh, but not Wild Bill! I guess I thought I could handle all this myself. Boy if that isn't my old cowboy fighting mentality. It sneaks back into my life every once in awhile. I wish I could say it will never happen again. I hope with a lot of prayer and loving God more & more each day, that someday I will be able to say that!

Loving God, help me to call on you and walk with you in all of the ups and downs of life. In Jesus name, Amen.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

The Focus Prayer at the end of this Daily Devotion will be at the end of all my e-mails. Let's start saying this prayer together everyday! Wild Bill

The Message (MSG)
2 Corinthians 4:17
16-18So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

As believers, we are all called to transform the little world around us. C.S. Lewis offered a thoughtful perspective on remaining heavenly minded while continuing to make an impact in this present world. In Mere Christianity, he said. “Hope…means…a continual looking forward to the eternal world…it does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next…It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither.”

Being heavenly minded is not natural. It happens when we focus and meditate on the reality and wonderful hope of the world to come. When we do, we can bring a taste of heaven to the little world around us. So let’s not become complacent — but stay focused there, so we can be effective here… and soon enough we will hear the Lord saying, “Well, done thou good and faithful servant!”

a prayer for focus
God, help me to zero in.
Help me to cut out the nonsense, the distractions and the fluff.
I’m tired of time wasters and the things that pull me away from You.
The things that look good and seem important but only cause me to forget You.
Harmless things may not be so harmless.
Help me to discipline myself, discipline me.
Help me to filter out the things that don’t belong in my mind and my eyes and my ears.
I want to look at You. I want to clearly hear Your voice.
Be my Focus. Let me forget “my” focus.
Let me see You, nothing else will matter.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2009

Psalm 37:23-24 (The Message)
23-24 Stalwart walks in step with God;
his path blazed by God, he's happy.
If he stumbles, he's not down for long;
God has a grip on his hand.

Failure is never a pleasant feeling. It isn’t enjoyable to lose a job, see a relationship falter, or fail a test. But the disappointment we feel when we face defeat can be turned to joy if we look at it the right way!

Thomas Edison was busy working in his laboratory at 2 o’clock one morning when an assistant came into the room and noticed that the inventor was smiling broadly.

“Have you solved the problem?” he asked. “No,” replied Edison, “that experiment didn’t work at all. Now I can start over again.” Edison could have such a confident attitude because he knew that the road to success is often paved with disappointments that serve to extend the road — not to block it. Each failure brought him a little closer to success.

Living a life of victory is not about being perfect — because we are human — and will always make mistakes. The key is learning how to get up after we have fallen. It’s natural to make mistakes — but it’s supernatural to learn from those mistakes and move forward!

Father, please help me to learn from my mistakes

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2009

Proverbs 19:24-25(AMP):
26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son (daughter) who causes shame and brings reproach.
27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction only to ignore it and stray from the words of knowledge.

Great wisdom for young people can be found in the book of Proverbs. Verse 26 states that a son (or daughter) who wastes his father, and chases away his mother (will not listen to her) will cause the family shame and reproach. When we look at the dictionary definition of the word "waste", we can better understand what this means. Quoting from Webster's New World Dictionary the word "waste" means: (1.) to destroy; devastate; ruin (2.) to wear away; consume gradually; use up (3.) to make weak, feeble, wear away strength ....(4.) to use up or spend without real need, gain, or purpose; squander (5.) to fail to take proper advantage of (to waste an opportunity) (6.) (Slang) to kill, usually with violence; esp. to murder.

An evil child who continually rebels and comes against a good father's (mother's) instructions, in time, will begin to wear away his father and mother. Many parents who are vexed with unruly children become "worn out" in the process of trying to raise them. Children who do not take advantage of having godly parents will live to regret it in time. The Bible gives instructions to children to obey their parents and also admonishes the parent to raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:1-3:
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

These verses contain a promise to children. If children will honor and obey their parents things will go well for them and they will live a long life. Children who disobey take the risk of cutting their lives short as rebellion opens the door for evil things to happen to them. An example would be when parents tell their child not to smoke, drink alcohol, or take drugs. If the child then disobeys, the use of these substances will cut their lives short.

It is shocking in our world today that there are children who even murder their own parents. This kind of evil is demonic and can come about when children over a period of time rebel not only against their parents, but they also resist the rules of society and a hatred sets in their hearts that leads them to an act of horror of murdering their own parents.

These verses also tell fathers (and mothers) not to provoke their children to anger. This means we must use wisdom and love when we deal with our children and not treat them unfairly. It does not mean that they may not become angry when they are disciplined and spanked; however, their anger will be short lived when they are disciplined in love. This does not mean giving children their way in all the things they want to do; however, it does mean that a parent will not exchange angry shouts with their children and act as childish as the youngster. As parents, we need God's help to keep from resorting to angry outbursts where we become out of control. Uncontrolled anger begats uncontrolled anger.

Verse 27 of Proverbs also tells young people not to listen to the instructions of those who would cause them to stray from their parents instructions. The knowledge of good parents is a blessing, as it prevents the child from being hurt by evil advice. Young people are told to stay away from those who would give them knowledge and instruction that is bad. If children refuse to stay away from those who are hurting them , then the parents must take the action necessary for breaking up a relationship with someone who is a bad influence on their children. In doing so this will prevent the shame and reproach that the devil wants to bring upon a family. It will also prevent the enemy from hurting our children.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for our parents. Lord, it is a blessing to have parents who care about you. May we always honor them as You have told us to do. Lord, I pray for our young people; may they have respect and obedience toward their parents. Lord, help us to guard our mouths and speak only the things that are good and edifying. Let us all seek peace and be peace makers. Deliver us from any rebellion and may we walk in love with our families and our friends and co-workers. And Father, if we do have problems with a parent "s", help us to work at fixing the problem. If it can't be fixed, help us to forget the problem and began anew. If we can't began anew, help us to still respect your commandment that says, "Honor thy father and mother", so we are at least not disobeying your commandments and stop sinning every minute, every hour of every day by not forgiving, forgetting and not following your commandments. I ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

Luke 20:34-36 (The Message)
34-38Jesus said, "Marriage is a major preoccupation here, but not there. Those who are included in the resurrection of the dead will no longer be concerned with marriage nor, of course, with death. They will have better things to think about, if you can believe it. All ecstasies and intimacies then will be with God. Even Moses exclaimed about resurrection at the burning bush, saying, 'God: God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob!' God isn't the God of dead men, but of the living. To him all are alive."

Jesus was saying, in our scripture reading today, that you can't make assumptions about heaven on the basis of what life on earth is like. As wonderful as marriage is, you still can't compare it to the quality of relationship we will have in God's presence.

Humorist Garrison Keillor in his delightful descriptions of the people in his fictional hometown of Lake Woebegone, tells how difficult it will be for some of us to deal with the kind of perfection we will find in God's presence.

He writes, "My people aren't paradise people. We've lived in Minnesota all our lives and it took a lot out of us. My people aren't sure if we'll even like paradise: not sure that perfection is all it's cracked up to be. My people will arrive in heaven and stand just inside the gate, shuffling around. 'It's a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be,' we'll think. We'll say, 'No, thank you, we can't stay for eternity, we'll just sit and have a few minutes of bliss with you and then we have to get back.'"

We just can't imagine what it will be like in Heaven. No sin! No death! No worrying about money! I'll be playing guitar with Chet Atkins! Singing with Elvis! I'll have a trio with King David on the harp, Gabriel on the trumpet and me on the piano! Telling jokes and singing duets with Tennessee Ernie Ford! What a wonderful day that will be!

What are your dreams of Heaven? You need to dream those dreams because the day will come. Plus those dreams will keep you on the right path that leads to God!

Dear Jesus, please be in my life today and always, so that I may be made perfect in the sight of God. In your name I pray. Amen.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

1 Corinthians 4:5 (The Message)

5So don't get ahead of the Master and jump to conclusions with your judgments before all the evidence is in. When he comes, he will bring out in the open and place in evidence all kinds of things we never even dreamed of—inner motives and purposes and prayers. Only then will any one of us get to hear the "Well done!" of God

I came across this powerful story and wanted to share it with you.

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted them to learn to not judge things too quickly, so he sent them each on a quest to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. He sent his first son in the winter, his second in the spring, his third in summer and his youngest in the fall. When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no – it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed, he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

After hearing all his son’s responses, the wise father replied, “Sons, you are all right — because you have each seen only one season in the tree’s life. But you cannot judge a tree, or a person, or anything else by only one season. Most things can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons have come to pass”.

If you would still judge me by my "wild" days, you would say there is no doubt that Wild Bill is heading straight to hell. If I would have died in those days, you probably would have been right. But God wasn't giving up on me. Oh man, I'm so happy He didn't! He saw something in me that nobody including myself saw.

I think each of us has judged someone or something prematurely, and we have also probably experienced the pain of being judged that way. Lord, forgive us! We need to give each other the benefit of the doubt! We need to look closely enough and long enough to see the big picture before we rule things out. God does that for us all the time. There’s so much work to be done!

Lord, whatever my hand, mind, or tongue accomplishes today is only because of your power and wisdom. To you be all glory. Help me by reminding me that you will judge others and that is not for me to do. Remind me of your sustaining love, and give me peace. For Jesus' sake, hear me. Amen

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2009

2 Corinthians 4:17
16-18So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

As believers, we are all called to transform the little world around us. C.S. Lewis offered a thoughtful perspective on remaining heavenly minded while continuing to make an impact in this present world. In Mere Christianity, he said. “Hope…means…a continual looking forward to the eternal world…it does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next…It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither.”

Being heavenly minded is not natural. It happens when we focus and meditate on the reality and wonderful hope of the world to come. When we do, we can bring a taste of heaven to the little world around us. So let’s not become complacent — but stay focused there, so we can be effective here… and soon enough we will hear the Lord saying, “Well, done thou good and faithful servant!”

Father, help me to keep doing the work you have for me here on earth and my heart & soul on my eternal home in Heaven! Amen

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2009

Follow me and I will make you fish for people. (Mark 1:17 NRSV Bible)

When we first read the Bible about Jesus calling fishermen to be his disciples, we might ask, "Why did Jesus pick such ordinary, uneducated people to be his disciples." It seems that maybe Jesus would have been more successful if he had picked some well education leaders in the Jewish community and some Roman politicians in high places. Instead Jesus picked ordinary people. But there was a difference, Jesus saw the great potential in the ones he called. And more importantly, he saw them as important forces for building God's corporate management team and community.

I often think about being unworthy of what God has chosen me to do. There are so many that have more knowledge than I will ever have. There are those that play instruments and actually know what they are doing. I can't even tell you what the chords are that I am playing. There are those who can speak with big words. But I suppose I could too, if I could spell, pronounce and know what they mean. But still, God chose me to go out and tell others about the joy I have found when I accepted Jesus into my life.

We need to look at others and ourselves and see the great potential we all have in being an important force in God's community of faith. There are many ways in which we can fulfill our potential. The most important step to fulfilling our potential is by becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." That statement by Jesus says very clearly that his new disciples had the potential resources to serve God and God's people. He used their strengths and potential, as fishermen, to "fish for people." He will use us in the same way.

Dear God, help me to be a good fish and a good fisher of your children. In Jesus name, Amen.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

Psalm 29:1-2 (New King James Version)
A Psalm of David.
1 Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones,
Give unto the LORD glory and strength.
2 Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name;
Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Not a day goes by but what the Lord gives and gives and gives to you. His list of blessings and joys would amaze you if you could write all of them down.

Ascribe means to “give back”. How do you give back to someone who gives you everything you have? The only possible way would be to make something of all he has given to you, tangible or intangible, then, offer it back. God gives you love. You give back to him by loving him in return and loving others. This is not done from obligation but rather a loving, mutual exchange; his gift of love is transformed and generously returned to him simply because you want to communicate your love for him. You love him because he first loved you.

Tangible blessings can be used for ministry or given back through tithes and offerings. All credit should be given to God.

He is worthy of all your praise and worship. He is giving to you this very moment. What can you ascribe to him in return?

Today's Prayer:
Heavenly Father you are beyond generous with your gifts and blessings. May I not take any of these for granted and may my life be a testament to you and others of that generosity. Show me ways to be generous to you; to please you in ways that will communicate to you how much I love you.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

You know how I have talked about God always seems to wake me up early in the morning to talk to me. You know something? I'm soooo glad He does. If He talked to me just in the afternoon, I just might be too busy to listen. But at 3:00 in the morning, with no distractions, I listen.

Christianity took a little set back this week. A young pastor from Missoula, who took his dad's church of about 40 people and did an amazing job of taking that Church to over 1000 young people, was arrested in Minnesota for prostitution. First of all, I'm sure his wife and family could use all our prayers. So take the time right now, bow your head and say a prayer for them. And for him too! And at the end of your prayer, remember to ask God to forgive you for your own sins!

But for all Christians, we all need to remember this Bible verse. Everyone Has Sinned!
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). We have all sinned in the past. And we'll surely sin in the future, if God permits us to live. Although we strive for perfection, we occasionally fall short and sin. This is what happened to this pastor. He is going to have a very rough time in his life getting over this.

If I may, let me go to the Bible and change a few words to fit what this pastor has done and what some folks need to hear about forgiveness. Please read from John, verse 8 in the Bible!

8:1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman (Pastor) who had been caught in adultery, and placing her (him) in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman (Pastor) has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women (Pastors). So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her (him).” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman (Pastor) standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her (him), “Woman (Pastor), where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She (He) said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

WHOA! That means I'm not going to be the one to condemn this pastor. If I was going to be stoned for all my sins I am responsible for, they'd have to do it with dump trucks dumping their load on me! But I don't have to worry about it, because God forgave me! And He has forgiven you if you have asked Him! And He has forgiven this pastor if this pastor has asked Him! And do you know why He has forgiven all of us! Because His Son gave His life and shed His blood for each and everyone of us!

Let's all take a moment and say this prayer for only ourselves, and the second prayer for this young pastor!
“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2009

Philippians 2:5-8 (The Message)

5-8Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

Can you honestly say you have never felt the need for an attitude adjustment? It is hard to think of anyone who hasn’t had their share of “It’s all about me” moments.

That certainly was not Jesus’ attitude. In fact, Jesus’ position was that it was all about what God wanted him to do. It was about total submission. It was about giving up everything as he knew it, becoming nothing, becoming a mere human; the King of King becoming a humble servant. His was the highest example of humility and obedience. However, that was not the half of it . . . he did it all willingly; knowing it would lead to his death on a cross. Your Lord did all of that for you because you were condemned by your own sin.

So then, how should your attitude change: toward God, toward others, toward yourself? Perhaps it is time for some adjustments.

Today's Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I confess I have a long way to go to have the same attitude as Christ. Instead of humility, I have pride. Instead of obedience, I am rebellious; yet, you love me. Touch my life and change my heart that I may be more like Jesus

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2009

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. (I John 4:16 NRSV Bible)

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One of the important things Jesus does for us is shed light on the nature of God. He shows us in his own life what God is all about. An officer in the National Council of Churches was invited to help lead worship in a service to be televised from Israel some years ago. The service was beamed from a very old, small church under the care of a community of monks. The church was a bit run-down. It hadn't been modernized with electrical power.
As the officer from the Council looked around, a fascinating scene played before her. The television crew was busy going about its work of setting up generators, stringing cables, mounting cameras to stands, placing microphones. Hushed and standing back against the walls, were the monks. They seemed like guests from another century.

Something extraordinary happened as the scene played on. The technicians began to test the lights. The whole dark chapel flamed to light. Some of the monks looked up, nudged their brothers. Soon they were all pointing upward. The monks then vanished. Presently they scurried back bringing the entire community to see what they had seen.

On the ceiling was a painting. A member of their order, in a forgotten century long ago, had erected a scaffold. High there above the small sanctuary he had quietly painted by candlelight an unseen masterpiece meant for the eyes of God only. The lights of the television cameras had brought this ancient masterpiece into full view.

Christ did that to our knowledge of God. Who can know the mind of God? The wisest of minds among us have suggested that if we could capture God in our tiny brains, He could not be God. How then shall we know Him? Only one way. God has revealed Himself in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. What is God like? He is like Jesus. Loving, compassionate, merciful, forgiving. What an example to follow!
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Dear God, thank you for revealing your love and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Help me to live by his example. Amen.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2009

I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Psalm 9:2, New International Version

When was the last time you made up a song? The last time you made up a song of praise to God? Worried that you can't do it? Don't think it will be good? Don't worry! your only audience is your Abba Father who longs to hear your heart sing regardless of your voice's perfection or your melody's tune. He wants to rejoice and be glad with you. So open your heart and raise your voice to praise your God.

Holy and Merciful God Almighty, I praise you for the sun rising and setting in glorious splendor. I praise you for the gift of grace. I praise you for the miraculous preservation of your people, even though they have repeatedly been under attack. I praise you for sending Jesus, the Son of Abraham and the Son of David, my Messiah and Lord. I praise you for raising him from the dead. I praise you for your promise to send him back for your children. I praise you for your work in my life. I praise, O LORD, and I am glad to be your child. In Jesus' name I offer my praise. Amen.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2009

Daniel 6:17 (The Message)

17 A stone slab was placed over the opening of the den. The king sealed the cover with his signet ring and the signet rings of all his nobles, fixing Daniel's fate.

The entrance was sealed. As far as the king and the nobles were concerned Daniel was about to become a midnight snack for hungry lions. He was totally at the mercy of the king; the lions; the darkness and fear or, so it seemed.

There was, in fact, one component left out of the equation. That was the power of Almighty God. Shutting the mouths of lions was a small task for God. Remember a later time when a body was placed in a sealed tomb? Again, those who simply had their eyes on the situation saw no hope or thought the situation could not be changed. But God was in control. Jesus rose from that tomb triumphant over death. Daniel came out of the den unscathed and the lions were probably purring like pussy cats.

What do you do when your situation seems hopeless? Do you give up or do you look beyond the situation to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who, with his mighty hand, created heaven and earth and defeated death? No matter what is happening or where you find yourself, do what Daniel and your Lord Jesus did; figure God in the equation and rest confidently in his merciful hands because he is always very near.

Today's Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I have no problem grasping the concept of eating to keep my earthly body alive and healthy but I seem to have a problem with the discipline of routinely feeding my soul. Help me to do better in this area; to grow deeper in my relationship with you.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2009

Luke 9:23 (The Message)

23-27Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat—I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I'm leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor in company with the Father and the holy angels. This isn't, you realize, pie in the sky by and by. Some who have taken their stand right here are going to see it happen, see with their own eyes the kingdom of God."

Many self-help books tell us that denial is good. Self-denial is the path to success. If you delay gratification, if you work hard, if you put your money into savings, if you wait to have your needs met until a time when you can afford it, if you cut down on your cholesterol and get plenty of exercise, then you can be successful. We all recognize the wisdom of that advice. To gain control over our desires--to subjugate them to some greater and higher goal--this is the path that leads to fulfillment. Everyone of us at some time or another has followed this advice
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We all recognize that somehow we must, if we are going to be successful, control our desires. How else can we "be all that we can be?" Like I've told you befrore, this is a very toughy one for me. When I see that new guit5ar, I just know it's going to make me play better. And that new keyboard is going to give me more of a big band sound.And on & on & on & on & on!

Such discipline is necessary in every great endeavor of life, including our spiritual growth.

Dear Jesus, guide me in controlling my desires, so that I will not deny you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2009

2 Corinthians 2:14-16In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse.

This scripture makes an astounding promise – God ALWAYS leads us to triumph or victory! But can we ALWAYS count on this amazing word to be true?

We often receive emails from believers who are waiting or hoping for a victory of some kind in their lives. Many seem to be wondering, “Where is this this ‘always victory’ in my life?” Now think about it… wouldn’t it be impossible to gain victory over a thing if we already experienced victory each and every moment? It may sound obvious, but the fact is that in order to gain any victory, you must find yourself in a situation that is questionable, stressful ,and may even appear hopeless for a time. The promise is not that we will walk in a constant state of “victoriousness” (my term …but rather that in every situation God will lead us in triumph. We can’t even say we will always know what that will look like, but victory is the Lord’s irrevocable promise.

Victory is a promise of God, but never forget that it requires a battle…sometimes a very long one. True faith will stand on this promise in the face of every trial, challenge, or opposition…remembering that the greatest purpose of every victory is for manifesting the fragrance of our knowledge of Him…in every place!

"Thank You God" For all You have given,
Thank You God.

For all You have withheld,
Thank You God.

For all You have withdrawn,
Thank You God.

For all You have permitted,
Thank You God.

For all You have prevented,
mYou God.

For all You have forgiven me,
Thank You God.

For all You have prepared for me,
Thank You God.

For the death You have chosen for me,
Thank you God.

For the place you are keeping for me in heaven,
Thank You God.

For having created me to love You for eternity,
Thank You God.

Musician, Humorist, Pastor, Auctioneer, Fund Raiser, Sales Trainer.......Check Out My Web Site At http://wildbillsbc.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2009

Psalm 30:11-12 (The Message)
11-12 You did it: you changed wild lament
into whirling dance;
You ripped off my black mourning band
and decked me with wildflowers.
I'm about to burst with song;
I can't keep quiet about you.
God, my God,
I can't thank you enough.
This is one of my favorite promises in the Bible – that God turns mourning into dancing! He takes away the anguish of being clothed in sadness and replaces it with gladness. However, notice what God doesn’t do – simply stop your mourning and make it disappear. No, He transforms it…into joy! He turns your sorrow into gladness. He takes your failure and creates success! We serve an awesome and mighty God, who says, “all things work together for good to them that love Him, and to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Let’s take time to dwell on this promise. Our sorrows, disappointments, tragedies and failures are very real– but they are also “raw material” for a divine transformation that our Lord will accomplish in His time for His glory. And we WILL dance! God will do it. Our part is simply to wait…believe…and cling tightly to this wonderful promise!

Just take another second and think of some of the hard times you have had. Did you go to God about them? Did you truly think He would hear your prayer and do something about those hard times? Did you trust in Him with all your heart and soul? If you did all these things, then you truly did see something good for your hard times.

I'll use my puppy Samantha. She will never see again. It has hurt Linda and I really bad. But we both thrust that God is going to make something good happen out of this sad time. Sam has already found some happiness. We hold her more. Pay attention to her more. Take her wherever we go. Took the time to find a more nutricious food for her that she really likes a lot.

Look you guys, God knows what He is doing! Trust Him! Give Him time and He will always show you why He did something. And always remember, God love you and so do I!

My God, let me know and love you, so that I may find my happiness in you. Since I cannot fully achieve this on earth, help me to improve daily until I may do so to the full. Enable me to know you ever more on earth, so that I may know you perfectly in heaven. In that way my joy may be great on earth, and perfect with you in heaven.

O God of truth, grant me the happiness of heaven so that my joy may be full in accord with your promise. In the meantime let my mind dwell on that happiness, my tongue speak of it, my heart pine for it, my mouth pronounce it, my soul hunger for it, my flesh thirst for it, and my entire being desire it until I enter through death in the joy of my Lord forever. Amen.

They were astounded beyond measure, saying, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak." (Mark 7:31 NRSV Bible)

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In a Peanuts cartoon, Charlie Brown, Linus, and Lucy are on their way to school. It's show and tell day. Lucy asks Linus if he has remembered to bring anything for show and tell.
"Yes," Linus answers, "I have a couple of things here to show the class." He then unfolds some papers. "These are copies I've been making of some of the Dead Sea scrolls," he says. Holding them up for Charlie Brown and Lucy to inspect he continues. "This is a duplicate of the scroll of Isaiah, chapters 38-40. It was made from 17 pieces of sheep skin and was found in a cave by a Bedouin shepherd."

Pulling out another piece of paper he says, "Here I have made a copy of the earliest known fragment ever found. It's a portion of I Samuel 23: 9-16. I'll try to explain to the class how these manuscripts have influenced modern scholarship."

Lucy responds, "Very interesting, Linus," and she turns to Charlie Brown and asks, "Are you bringing something for show and tell Charlie Brown?"

"Well," says a dejected Charlie Brown, "I had a little red fire engine here but I think I'll just forget it."

Do you think Charlie Brown did his best by giving up? His red fire engine would have been a great way to talk about fire safety or to address some other fire relate issue, but by giving up Charlie Brown was not doing his best.

Our theme for the day comes from words spoken about Jesus. After he had taught and after he had healed, the people said, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak." What more can anybody ask of us than to do our best? Yesterday I did my Gospel Music for two services at the Church of the Nazarene in Helena, Montana. I did my best! I must have done just fine because I got lots of hugs and hand shaken and I made a lot of new friends. They felt real good about me because I was showing my love for jesus Christ. I did my best!
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Dear Jesus, you did your best for me, so that I may know true love. Help me to do my best, so that others will see your love through me. In Jesus Name, Amen

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2009

Matthew 16:24 (The Message)

24-26Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?
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Are you ready to pay the price for being a disciple of Jesus Christ?
William Hinson tells about a breakfast he had with an individual who had a very prosperous business. The business leader recently had become a Christian. It did not take this businessperson long to discover how costly his decision would be. He said to his minister, "I have been engaged in price-fixing with some of my supposed competitors." He went on to tell his pastor about rigging bids and how he and his friends profited from this scheme. The business leader said, "I cannot do that anymore, and I have told them I can't do it. They say that if I squeal, they will get the law on me because they have proof of my past involvement. They tell me that if I drop out, they will put me out of business, too." He decided to do what was right, and soon he went broke.

What would you have done? Take up a cross or work out a compromise? Be satisfied with being a generic Christian or would you become a disciple?

True discipleship always costs something. It cost me a Birthday Club. If I could have played music in bars like the old days, I would have been able to keep the Birthday Club going. But I had a decision to make. And who knows, I not only wouldn't have been setting an example for others, but who knows if I might have gone back to my old life. I don't believe I would have, but the devil is a pretty sneaky varmint!
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Dear Jesus, help me to be willing to pay the price for being a faithful disciple of yours. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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As demonstrated in our scripture reading today, Jesus' centered his life on fully serving God's people. One of Jesus's own disciples did not commit his all to serving God. He was really looking out for his own good. He was the treasurer for Jesus and the disciples. It is speculated that he often dipped into the treasury for his own pleasure. Jesus even knew early on that there was a bad apple in his inner circle. That bad apple was Judas.
But, there are also many Biblical stories where people did give their all to God. Paul is one example. He was a persecutor of Christians. Then after his conversion on the road to Damascus, he became the greatest missionary in the history of the church and started many new churches.

I guess that is why Paul is one of favorite people in the Bible. I caused a lot people sadness and hurt in my younger days. I'll never be able to find them all and apologize. I'll be paying for all the hurt that I caused, the rest of my days. Sometimes I think it is easier to take people away from Christ than it is to bring them to Him! The devil is a pretty crafty opponent.But we all have to continue trying. It's our duty as God's children!

How are you doing serving God?
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Dear God, help me to hear your whispered word, so that I may more faithfully serve you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Choosing great persons for models is good advice for anybody. But who would be on your list? John Wayne? Billy Graham? Michael Jackson? Elvis? President Obama?
Who shall we choose to follow? There is only one who achieved excellence in every area of life and that one was Jesus Christ. He lived well, he taught well, he died well. Beyond that, he rose triumphantly and lives with God forever. Christ is the one we celebrate today. Christ is the one we should model our lives after. And Jesus is who I admire the most and who I want to model my life after. What about you?

We are who we are, but we can be so much more by modeling our lives after Jesus Christ.
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Dear God, how wonderful is the example of your son. May I do all I can to allow him to live through me. In Jesus Name, Amen.

6-8A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough.

What would make you content? Marketing is all about creating discontent. Advertisements loom in your face from TV, internet, billboards, magazines and radio. All of them are created to convince you that life would be much happier, easier or fulfilling if you just bought XYZ product. Or like me, I can't get enough musical equipment! Everytime I see something new, I just know it is going to make me play and sing better. And for awhile, I feel like it does. But then something new comes out and I'm not satisfied anymore. I am definitely going to try to change as soon as my new BOSE P.A. system gets here. That may seem unfunny to some of you, but that new P.A. that is coming, weighs about a total of 75 pounds. The equipment I have now that Linda and I have to carry in and set-up, weighs about 400 pounds. I'm not getting younger folks! But I do believe the Bible verse for today was definitly meant for me to read. I am going to make a copy of it and put it on my bedroom mirror. I truly believe that when a Bible verse pops out at me like this one did today, it is God speaking to me! AND LINDA AGREES!

Most people have so much “stuff” they have actually become slaves to their stuff. In comparison with your relationship with God, what value is your “stuff”?

One second after you leave this world all your possessions are meaningless but your soul lives forever.

Today's Prayer:
Heavenly Father,the things of this earth grow very dim in comparison to your glory and grace. Create in me a sense of eternal values that I might not forfeit my eternal inheritance for the meaningless things of this world.