THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2010

Ephesians 3:16 (The Message)

14-19My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

Key Thought
Years ago, a good friend made a graphic playing off the "Intel inside" branding. It read, "Spirit Inside!" Yes, the power within us, the operating system that moves us in the direction of Jesus, is the Holy Spirit. So one of the greatest things we can do to empower those we love to live for Jesus is to pray Paul's prayer for them. And so that is what we will do today, with a few words thrown in by Wild Bill and then let them know that we have prayed this prayer for them!

Today's Prayer

O Father, today I pray Paul's prayer for the people who receive my Daily Devotions. I love. I pray that out of your glorious riches, that you strengthen these precious people with your Spirit with your power inside their heart so they will want to bring friends and family into our family of Daily Devotions. Please touch everyones heart who is reading this today. Touch their heart and soul sooooo much that they invite everyone they meet to join us in praising your name and making this world a better place. Father these are great peoplke in my Daily Devotion......but you might want to tell me how to build a little fire on their behinds, like the little forest fire you had to build on my behind to get me motivating! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Leviticus 24:8 (The Message)

5-9 "Take fine flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using about four quarts of flour to a loaf. Arrange them in two rows of six each on the Table of pure gold before God. Along each row spread pure incense, marking the bread as a memorial; it is a gift to God. Regularly, every Sabbath, this bread is to be set before God, a perpetual covenantal response from Israel. The bread then goes to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in a Holy Place. It is their most holy share from the gifts to God. This is a perpetual decree."

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.

Isaiah 6:8 (New International Version)

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Wiersbes, Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, quotes: “Millions of surveys which we have helped to take around the world indicate that approximately 98 percent of the Christians do not regularly introduce others to the Savior.”

In a survey given to those attending training sessions for a Billy Graham crusade in Detroit, attendees were asked to answer this question by checking one of the following answers. “What is your greatest hindrance in witnessing?” 0% said they don’t care. 9% said they were too busy to remember to do it. 12% said their own lives were not speaking as they should. 28% felt the lack of real information to share and 51% feared the reactions of those with whom they might share.

If we truly believe that Jesus is the only way to eternal life, why aren’t we spreading the word? Hmmmm. Maybe we don’t really believe that. I guess no one thought to include that reason on Billy’s survey.

Do we truly believe in heaven? Do we believe without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is the only way to get there? If we do, how can we keep our mouths closed to a world of people who are headed for the agony of eternal burning?

HERE I AM LORD! This should be our cry to the Lord today. Send me, Lord! Help me to open my mouth for you! Work through me Lord, for your sake Lord, and for the sake of those who don’t know you!

Let’s be about doing His business and commit ourselves to sharing the good news with the lost around us!

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.

Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." (I Samuel 3:10 NRSV Bible)

What kind of attitude do we have about our work and the things we do in life? We may not like our boss or our working situation. We may not have much control over what we do. But, we do have control over our attitude. A positive attitude can make a big difference. And if we view our work and activities as a calling, then maybe someone for the first time may experience God's love and freedom in Jesus Christ through us.
Our jobs can be a vocation if we can see them as an extension of God's ultimate purpose. But, if our jobs are only a means of securing wealth, or passing time, or achieving status, they will eventually be a great burden to us. If, however, we can see them as an extension of God's plan for humanity--each of us doing our part to clothe people, feed people, teach people, and do thousands of other things to help one another, then we make God's world a better place. And we can get up each morning with enthusiasm believing that we are living God's call.

In our scripture reading today, Samuel was being called to be a priest of God. There may be some of us today who are hearing God's call to full-time Christian service. However, for most of us, we are being called to make our work an extension of our faith and love.

Loving God, help me to make my work a vocation in serving you and your people Amen.

Isaiah 55:6-7 (The Message)

6-7Seek God while he's here to be found,
pray to him while he's close at hand.
Let the wicked abandon their way of life
and the evil their way of thinking.
Let them come back to God, who is merciful,
come back to our God, who is lavish with forgiveness.

The following is not a true story but it’s worthwhile and too good not to share!

There once was a wealthy man from upstate New York. Among other things, he owned much land, property and cattle. His beautiful estate was worth many millions. Even with all his wealth, however, he was very unhappy. His wife was growing old and the couple was childless. He had always wanted a son to carry on the family legacy.

Years later, his wife miraculously became pregnant and gave birth to a little boy. The boy was severely handicapped but the man loved him with his whole heart. When the little one was five, his mother died of cancer. Through this difficult time, his father drew closer to his special son. At thirteen, the boy’s birth defects cost him his life and sadly his father, too, died shortly after, from a broken heart.

When the estate was auctioned, hundreds of bidders came from all over, as there were many beautiful antiques and such to be auctioned. Everyone sat and waited with expectancy. However, the first item offered was only a simple painting of the boy. No one was interested. They waited like vultures for the riches.

Finally, one of the housemaids, a sweet woman who helped raise the boy, offered the little she had for the picture and easily took the bid. “Wait a moment, — there’s something here.” he said. Everyone watched as the auctioneer ripped off an envelope taped to the back of the picture. In it was a hand written will which said: “To the person who thinks enough of my son to buy this painting, to this person I give my entire estate.”

The auction was over and the greedy crowd left in an uproar.

How many of us have sought after what we thought were true riches only to find out later that our Father was prepared to give us His entire estate if we had only sought after His Son alone?

All of us are guilty of seeking out things other than Jesus alone. May God forgive us! And may we choose today, to let go of our own desires and cling to His! God has such amazing things prepared for those who do.

O Lord!
teach me to seek you,
and reveal yourself to me
when I seek you.
For I cannot seek you unless
you first teach me,
nor find you unless
you first reveal yourself to me.
Let me seek you in longing,
and long for you in seeking.
Let me find you in love,
and love you in finding.

Isaiah 40:31 (The Message)

27-31Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
or, whine, Israel, saying,
"God has lost track of me.
He doesn't care what happens to me"?
Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?
God doesn't come and go. God lasts.
He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
they walk and don't lag behind.

Prayer for the day
Lord, so often I forget to give You complete control and I fail. Teach me to rely completely on You for my strength and needs.

1 Kings 19:18 (The Message)

15-18 God said, "Go back the way you came through the desert to Damascus. When you get there anoint Hazael; make him king over Aram. Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi; make him king over Israel. Finally, anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Anyone who escapes death by Hazael will be killed by Jehu; and anyone who escapes death by Jehu will be killed by Elisha. Meanwhile, I'm preserving for myself seven thousand souls: the knees that haven't bowed to the god Baal, the mouths that haven't kissed his image."

When Elijah cried out that he was the only one left in Israel who cared, God said not true! God showed Elijah 7,000 persons who had not bowed down to Baal. Good people. Concerned people. Dedicated people. All they needed was someone to step out from the crowd and give them some leadership.

Sure you go to Church every Sunday! Sure you pray to God before every meal! Sure you thank for for your good health! Sure you give 10% of what you earn to the Church! BUT DO YOU TELL OTHERS ABOUT OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN?

Hey, I'm just little ol' Wild Bill, but I truly believe that will be one of God's questions when we approach those Pearly Gates! I'm sure He wants to hear from your own lips if, if you loved Him enough to tell your friends, neighbors, family members and anyone who will listen, about what He has meant to you!

My friends, you and I need to recognize that in our own community and world, there are good people, dedicated people who do care about the same problems we care about. They are waiting for someone to step out and provide some leadership. They are wating for you or someone who truly loves God to tell them about Jesus!
What is God calling you to do? Really!!! WHAT IS GOD CALLING YOU TO DO?

Dear God, move me in responding to your call. Amen.

Acts 1:8 (The Message)

7-8He told them, "You don't get to know the time. Timing is the Father's business. What you'll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world."

We have a greater burden as God's people than anyone else on earth. We must always lift up a higher standard of living and loving.

In one of Garfield's cartoons he is shown resting droopy-eyed in his bed thinking to himself: "One of my pet peeves," he says to himself, "is people who never finish what they start." As he cracks a knowing smile, he says, "I do not happen to be one of those people." The last frame shows him under the bed covers saying, "My philosophy is, 'Never start anything.'"

"Never start anything" cannot be our philosophy as God's people. You see, we must care about our world because God cares. We must care about people because God cares. We must care about those in need because God cares. God cared enough about us to send a savior Jesus Christ. We must care too. We must care enough to make our church and community stronger. What is God calling you to do? Are you being called to help tutor a child struggling in with his or her education? Are you being called to be a Sunday School teacher? Are you being called to organize a neighborhood watch program or cleanup day? If you and I don't do it, who will? God is counting on you and me. We also can count on God to give us the resources we need to accomplish God's will.

God of all things, you can count on me! Amen.

James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss [with wrong motives], that you may consume it upon your pleasures.

Do you ever wonder why it is that sometimes we don’t get the things we pray for? James hits it on the nail when he says that we ask amiss, that we may consume it upon our pleasures.

Think about this. You work for a large company such as, let’s say, IBM. You’ve been with them for quite some time and been faithful and dilligent to do what’s been required of you. You’ve gained some trust and seniority. One day, the boss decides to give you access to the company card, should you ever need it, trusting that if you’ll use it, you’ll be using it to purchase something for the good of the company.

We who know Jesus are in God’s company — and we have been entrusted with the company card! When we swipe that card and ask for that thing in the name of Jesus, we will get it — as long as it will benefit the company!

Is that thing for which you’ve been praying going to benefit the Kingdom? If so, then pray in faith! God will do it! If not, let’s ask God to help us know how to pray today!

The Prayer of Jabez

Jabez called out to the God of Israel, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me and keep me from harm, so that it will not hurt me." And God granted what he asked.
1Chronicles 4:10

And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away. (1 Peter 5:4 NRSV Bible)

I remember reading a story of a tour guide in Israel. He told his tourists that in the Middle East shepherds lead their sheep, instead of following them like they do in the English countryside.

When the tourists got to the countryside, they noticed a man driving a flock of sheep. The guide asked the man, "I have always been told that in the East sheep are lead not driven."

The man driving the sheep said, "You are right, but I'm not a shepherd. I'm the butcher."

There is a big difference between the interests of a shepherd and a butcher. Jesus is shepherd who has our best interests in mind.

Lord Jesus, thank you for having my best interests in your heart. Help me to follow you more closely. Amen.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2010

Matthew 24:12-13 (The Message)

11-12"In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.

13-14"Staying with it—that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.

The Bible speaks of a great falling away in the last days (2 Thessalonians 2) before the end of the age arrives, and it seems that we’re seeing it on a grand scale all around us. Virtually everywhere we look we’re watching the decline of morality and ethics — in government, entertainment, and social culture. It seems hard to deny that we’re living in the final days of abounding iniquity which Jesus foretold. I sometimes get so upset with people around me. Let me start a new paragraph and tell you why!

I am not an educated person, unless your last year of school was the 8th grade. I say that because I only finished my Freshman year of high school. I started my Sophomore year but got thrown out because of always being in trouble. (I think the only way I made it through my Freshman year was because I've always been so handsome and lovable!) But what gets me is it took a long time, but I now understand how much God loves me. I know that Jesus sacrificed His life so all my sins can be forgiven. Now that is true, true, true love. I know that I want to go to Heaven and live with my Savior. Now how do I get this message through to everyone I come in contact with? How do I convince other Christians that they have to be telling others about Jesus? How do I tell other Church goers to start bringing all their friends and family to visit their Church! But the big question is, why did God pick such a sinner and an unschooled person like me to be doing this for Him? The only answer I can think of for that goes back to my being so handsome, cute and lovable!

This is not an easy time for us true believers. The evil around us can be so discouraging and the darkness so oppressive that it really threatens our ability to walk in love. Yet the reality of the gospel is brighter and more relevant than ever in this world. And the inner light of Messiah burning in us will be all the more intense and warm in this gloomy landscape, if — and only if, we fill our lamps with His holy oil and burn with His last days love. Anti-Christ culture is permeating our society. But we respond with the enduring culture of Messiah, a culture of supernatural love that will not die. And we Christians have to be strong and faithful to God and bringing the lost to our Father in heaven!

Take heart and don’t be deceived or discouraged, or allow your love to grow cold. These signs of the end are simply proof that God is on His throne and His sovereign Word is being fulfilled exactly as He spoke it. Continue in His love. Radiate His light. Wherever you are, wherever you go, bring His love. Love will endure, even forever.

Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles
are achieving for us an eternal glory
that far outweighs them all.
So 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.

--- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Judges 6:12 (The Message)

11-12 One day the angel of God came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, whose son Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress, out of sight of the Midianites. The angel of God appeared to him and said, "God is with you, O mighty warrior!"

Judges 6 begins with an angel talking to Gideon saying, “thou mighty man of valour!” However, in this passage Gideon isn’t feeling very valiant — he’s consumed with his circumstances — how poor his family is and how he’s the least of his fathers’ house. He doesn’t feel he’s done anything worthy of being called valiant, yet the angel still addresses him “mighty man of valour!”

Gideon is not the only one who struggles with feeling unvaliant, though, is he? Even the best of us struggle with feelings of failure and defeat. Those of you who read my Daily Devotions regularly, know that I fight those fellings of failure and defeat most of the time! But we must remember that we are part of the Lord’s army — and in the Lord’s army we do not depend upon our own strength. We depend upon the power of the Lord! We depend upon the victory that He has already won!

Imagine the countless thousands of saints like Gideon who have passed away before us and now sit in heaven’s glory where every tear is dried, and every wound is healed — who have already fought the battle of life and are calling down to us from heaven saying “Fellow Saint, you can get through this thing! Fight this battle — for we have fought these same battles in our lives and been rewarded with heaven’s glory! So fight through and we’ll see you soon beside us! March forward you mighty man and woman of valor!” Oh what a glorious day that will be. I hope to see all of you who are reading this meeting me up in Heaven. I can almost hear all of you saying, "WILD BILL! YOU MADE IT TOO?"

The Lord stands anxiously awaiting our call. He wants us to walk in His power, not our own! Let’s give him our circumstances today and strive to rely on His strength to conquer them!

Father in Heaven, what a day that will be when we all get to Heaven! What a glorious day that will be! AMEN! & AMEN!

Matthew 14:23 (The Message)
22-23As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.

Cell phones are all the rage everywhere. You wouldn’t believe it but parents even buy cell phones for their kids and send them to school with them in their schoolbags. I’m talking about six and seven year old kids! While it is true that part of the reason for this cell phone craze stems from the fact that violence goes on here daily and people want to be able to contact one another in the event of an emergency, I would still say that it’s somewhat excessive.

Mark Twain was once asked to record a Christmas message on an early gramophone. This is what he said, “It is my heart-warm and world-embracing Christmas hope and aspiration that all of us, the high, the low, the rich, the poor, and admired, the despised, the loved, the hated, the civilized, the savage–every man and woman of us all throughout the whole earth–may eventually be gathered in a heaven of everlasting rest and peace and bliss, except the inventor of the telephone.”

Not that technology is a bad thing, but I think we have become entirely too dependent on it! Telephones, cell phones, televisions, computers, X-Boxes, MP3's. what’s next?!

Sometimes I feel like we just need to go back to the basics. Put all those things away in a closet somewhere and just sit down with the Word and with our Father. He wants to whisper in our ears sweet words of encouragement and wisdom. He wants to tell us of His wonderful plans for our lives and reveal to us the extraordinary mysteries of His Kingdom. But we’re too busy taking calls!

I believe God is calling us to a quiet place today. Let’s put all the distractions away for an hour or two and spend some time with the Lord! I believe He’ll make it worth our while!

Father in Heaven, I'm going to make my promise to you that I am going to work out a special quiet time of prayer each and everyday, talking to you! AMEN!

1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. (NIV)

When we think there is no way, there is a way. When we think there is no hope, there is hope. When we think all is finished, we have yet to begin. When we think there is no chance, there is every possibility and every probability what we think is gone is not gone at all. Hope is a flickering light illuminating our life. Christ came as the light of the world. His light is the hope of the world. Our faith in Christ gives us a way to conquer the times of our hopelessness. When we think all is finished, Christ comes to show us our work has not yet begun. When we think there is no chance of anything good happening, the greatest doer of good comes and shows us His ultimate good in our life is yet to be accomplished. You can be defeated only by your consent. For every setback you experience, Christ is behind you and if need be, pushing you onward. For every second you think you can't make it, Christ tells you to keep moving, to stop feeling sorry for yourself, and to keep looking up.

Father of mercies and God of all consolation,
You gave us the loving Heart of your own beloved Son,
because of the boundless love by which You have loved us,
which no tongue can describe.
May we render You a love that is perfect with hearts made one with His.
Grant, we pray, that our hearts may be brought to perfect unity:
each heart with the other and all hearts with the Heart of Jesus,
and may the rightful yearnings of our hearts find fulfillment through Him:
Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.

1 Peter 1:21 (The Message)

18-21Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It's because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.

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!

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm going to be doing this from now on! Anything to keep my mind on God as much as I can everyday. Tell others about this. Especially someone you see picking up a coin! W.B.

Dear God, in you I trust. Amen.

Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (NAS)

I love music. I love to sing, listen to and learn music. I enjoy music from country to classical to pop to rock, and rap......I won't go there right now. I have performed latin choral masses, classic hymns and contemporary rewrites of hymns and songs. I've found, It's not much good singing unless you've got something good to sing about. The tune supports the lyrics with mood or emotion. But it is what is being said that is my focus now that Gospel music is where I'm at now!

When Jesus saves us, he begins a total rewrite of the person we are. There is nothing worth keeping, as harsh as that may sound. But it would be like a child's toy piano with the black keys painted on against a freshly tuned grand piano. As we give over sections of our life to Him, He rebuilds it by replacing even the basic parts. It may have to be done in stages, layer at a time. Our life becomes a work in progress. At the start, our old music playing against His will often sound suddenly discordant. As we progress, the periods of harmony and the interaction should progress as well. The things that were once very important to you will fade and be replaced by new priorities with more eternal significance. Symphonies are not written in a single night. We are no different. There will be sudden bursts of growth, and dry periods where things seem to stagnate. These are not always the best or the worst things that can happen. God can use both to teach us and accomplish His purposes in our lives. Be patient. It is a marathon, not a sprint.

Phil 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (NAS)

There is an old hymn that starts out "Take the name of Jesus with you...". Christianity is not a thing we do, it is a way of life. It is not what we know, it is Who we know. It is a relationship with Jesus Christ. You can often tell that two people are close friends. They share some habits or expressions from their time together. A Christian will not be able to hide his relationship to Jesus, even if they would want to do so. As followers, even young followers, we become ambassadors for Jesus Christ and His kingdom. Our witness will be with our lives long before it will be with our words. Even if we never speak to someone, our actions will pave or hinder the way for another to speak to that one. We literally take the name of Jesus with us everywhere we go.

I know that for one I am not perfect. I still get angry, and still have many priorities that are not where they will one day be, I need to spend more time in prayer. Some days I probably put down more thorns that I do paving stones, but Jesus goes with me anyway. Everyone around me knows of my relationship with Jesus and watches. Whether I stumble or do well, it is noted - consistency will also be noted. Whether I lend credibility to the claims of the gospel or not depends on how well I represent my Lord. I can try to do this in my own strength and ability, but even if I succeed, I will quickly burn out. Only by relying on Jesus for strength and guidance - returning to my 'Savior' for further instructions - can I expect to walk the narrow path for more than a short while.

Most of you who read my devotionals know that I still struggle a lot of the time. But I hope you all notice that my failures seem to turn into winners because of my Faith in Jesus Christ my Savior. Yes I stumble and I even fall, but Jesus picks me up, cleans me up, maybe even scolds me a little bit and then gets me on my way again!

"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!

2 Timothy 2:24-26 (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.

When the apostle Paul wrote this letter to his young student Timothy, he taught him some profound truths that I often apply in my life. I suppose when Timothy received these instructions, he was a young man still developing his skills at evangelism, teaching and instructing. But people my age have to keep developing our skills too!

Early in my Christian walk, I grabbed hold of a passage – let no man despise thy youth, but rather be an example in word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, and in faith. This was my mantra in the first years of my walk.

Now I’m focusing on being a servant able to teach. Paul’s instruction is not to “strive” — I hear him saying “be careful to teach with a proper spirit” and to avoid “trying to prove that you’re right”. I want to be sure that I’m not trying to force my perspective on someone, but rather instruct with meekness, gentleness, and patience.

One phrase in the verse says something about the effect of teaching in the right spirit-– “they recover themselves“! It’s not our job to convince someone of the truth. We “contend earnestly for the faith” allowing the Holy Spirit to do the convincing, so that someone who is in error is free to repent based on God’s conviction, and not my persuasiveness. So let’s be sure we’re leaving room for Him, teaching in a manner that Paul would be proud of.

We’re all called as servants; so let’s strive to be servants that would make our Master proud!

Dear Father in Heaven; "Ignite a flame of passion in my heart that burns with desire to know you better and to understand Your ways more fully. Make my life a life of purpose that leaves behind in its wake Your trail of life so others can see it and be filled themselves as they understand their own need for Your truths and for the Presence of the King Himself in their lives. Help me to recognize the path You have for me and bring others around me to accompany me on this journey. To walk closer to You every day is the reason You made me. Send Your Holy Spirit to purify and cleanse me deep within. Consume the chaff of my life and purify my soul and the souls of those with whom I walk. I ask You Father to move now on the earth and make me holy and pure so I can be used by You to do Your will on this earth -- just as it is done in heaven. Help all of us to recognize Your will and ignite a flame wherever You see darkness in my being so I can be freed from the bondages that hold me captive. AMEN!"

John 21:17 (New Living Translation)

17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

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?

Recently I sent out an e-mail to Churches around the Northwest and Southwest. I told them I would like to be invited to their Churches and the only charge is a "LOVE OFFERING". Plus I added that I would spend some extra days at their Church and for "NO CHARGE" would do a benefit auction for raising money for the Churches needs or to help others in need. I am known in our town for helping raise millions of dollars for these very same things. I have not heard from the over 2000 Churches that I sent this out to, but it is still early. And with Thanksgiving and Christmas on the way, it probably won't happen for a while. But I am going to send this Daily Devotion out to the Churches again.

Lord Jesus, thank you for feeding me. May I also work to feed others who need your love. In Jesus name, Amen.

The Message (MSG)
Isaiah 11:11

11Also on that day, the Master for the second time will reach out to bring back what's left of his scattered people. He'll bring them back from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Ethiopia, Elam, Sinar, Hamath, and the ocean islands.

For centuries in Ethiopia, there have lived a people we now know as the Falashas. They kept all sorts of Biblical traditions and call themselves Beta Yisrael (House of Israel). As experts began to study the matter, it became clear that these were descendants of the Jewish people who came to Africa in ancient times and intermarried. Unbeknownst to many, a percentage of them became believers in Jesus over the years. Jesus (or Yeshua, as they called Him) became a part of their identity as Jewish people. Many Falashan Jews worshipped Jesus as their Messiah and continued to practice Jewish tradition.

Amazingly, in 1975, the Israeli rabbinate officially recognized the Falashas as Jews. In the years to follow, a number of circumstances including famine and civil war caused this group of Jewish people to begin facing extinction. In a wonderful effort to save them, Israel began sending planes into Ethiopia and airlifting thousands of these Falashan Jews to the land that they, too, were promised — the land of Eretz Yisrael.

Today, thousands of Falashas live in the Land, serve in its army, raise their children to speak Hebrew, and take part in every day life in Israel.

The restoration of the Falashas is not only a prophetic sign for us that God is faithful to His Word, but that He will also be faithful to us! God always keeps His promises — and He is in the business of restoration. It doesn’t matter how cut off we are or how far we may have strayed — we can be restored! With one call to the Lord, He can lift us out of whatever circumstance we may be in — whether it be spiritual, physical, emotional, financial or anything else! With a single touch of His hand He can bring complete restoration to our lives and give to us what He has promised!

Be encouraged. We can never be so far removed that we can’t be restored — our troubles are never so great that we can’t be heard — the Lord’s arm is never too short that it cannot save!

"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."

John 21:15 (The Message)

Do You Love Me?
15After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"
"Yes, Master, you know I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

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.

I hope that I'm hearing my Jesus right by forgetting my own desires and touching others by my music, my speaking, my humor, my website and Daily Devotions.I ask every so often for those that want off my e-mail to please let me know. I just don't feel I am bringing them closer to the Lord if my e-mails are just a bother. I always get a few who want off and each one of them hurts a little bit. I always pray for them and hope that I didn't hurt them with some of the things I say on my Devotionals. Most of the time I say things from my heart without my brain having a little say about what I write. I ask the Lord daily in my prayers if I am truly doing what He wants of me because I am a very uneducated man.I am truly not looking for recognition. I'm just hoping to bring folks a little closer to God! If it was recognition I wanted, I would probably have stayed in the bars where I was somewhat of a star and known by everyone as a real fun guy! Or kept my Birthday Club going because of all the friends I had because of the free meals I gave away. If only I could have that many friends because of telling others about my God, who I love sooooo much!

If you do not want my e-mails, please e-mail me and let me know. I am not sending these out to bother anybody. But in my heart, I'm hoping and praying that each and everyone of you who want off my e-mail list, will still be taking time out each day and spending a little time with our Lord who loves you soooooooo much!

Dear God, teach me to center my life on your ministry. In Jesus name, Amen.

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

If you were asked to buy the tackiest gift imaginable, what would you buy? Martin Marty was once invited to a postnuptial party. He was asked to bring "a gift in the worst possible taste." The purpose was to embarrass the newly married couple. They would open their gifts standing in front of their family and friends and "ooh and aah" as they opened each tacky item.

Marty found a five and ten store and began his search for the tackiest gift. To his delight he discovered a yellow plastic dove with a silver beak hollowed to hold a small plant and chained so it could be suspended. This was the perfect gift for the occasion, he thought. No one would have a more ratty gift than his. Then, an amazing thing happened. Expecting to be embarrassed at the checkout counter, he was instead surrounded by shoppers. They wanted to know where he had found such a beautiful object. Several of those doves got sold that day.

We have lots of options on how we use our gifts, and talents, but none of our gifts are ugly. Just like the shoppers who admired the plastic bird, our gifts are beautiful in God's eyes when our talents are used for good.

God of all gifts, bless me as I use my talents for sharing of your love. In Jesus name, Amen.

1 Chronicles 16:8 Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

Many years ago, as the story is told, a devout king was disturbed by the ingratitude of his royal court. He prepared a large banquet for them. When the king and his royal guests were seated, by prearrangement, a beggar shuffled into the hall, sat down at the king’s table, and gorged himself with food. Without saying a word, he then left the room. The guests were furious and asked permission to seize the tramp and tear him limb from limb for his ingratitude.

The king replied, “That beggar has done only once to an earthly king what each of you does three times each day to God. You sit there at the table and eat until you are satisfied. Then you walk away without recognizing God, or expressing one word of thanks to Him.”

How often do we neglect to thank God for the goodness He so graciously bestows upon us? We have so much!

So often we’re asking and asking and asking for the things we want of God. Let’s make thanks giving a regular part, even a greater part of our prayer life!

Gracious God, you who supply your people with every blessing
in abundance, lift up our hearts in gratitude and thanksgiving every day.
Help us, we pray, to thank you for the gifts we seldom notice, to praise
you for the bounty we often take for granted, and to glorify your name for
how you have watched over us through every second of every single day.
For all that you have done, for all that you are, and for all
that you will ever do, we lift up our voices in praise to you. Hear our
prayer and our song and help us to live as ones with eternally grateful
hearts - we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen

1 Corinthians 1:3 (The Message)

3May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours.

Sometimes in our life we have wars and turmoil not of our own making. We can be plunged into conflicts others start. We can be pulled into wars over which we have little control. When we are involved in turmoil, conflict, and chaos, we want inner peace. To find inner peace we must seek out the source of peace. The source of peace is God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Peace in the chaos of life is possible only when we have Christ within us. When we live with the blessed assurance of Christ we have peace. With Christ alive within us we know all things work out just as He wants them to work out. Our circumstances can seem utterly hopeless. We can be eaten alive by the conflict around us and within us. Yet in these times we can hear the gentle voice of Christ telling us He loves us. He tells us we need not have any fear or worry. His voice, His touch, and His reassurance are all we need when we cannot make sense out of our world. With Christ, we have a confidence within us. With Christ, we do not worry about what the next hour will bring because with Christ, we always have Him and His heavenly eternity waiting for us just over the horizon.

Dear Lord, I thank you for blessing me with another day. Thank you in advance for the many many blessings that are still to come. Lord, you know what is in my heart. I have given you my fears, my worries and my anxieties. I don’t want them back. Dear Lord, I will be still and let you do your work. Lord, I will always trust in you for everything. Dear Lord, I believe in miracles. Lord, please help me turn my life around for the better. I ask this in Jesus’ name Amen

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.

As for me, I'll keep moving on and God's with me 100% of the time.I am staying very faithful to God, although I'm a little confused and it seems I have tons of bad luck. Sometimes it seems I can't count on any of the people around me, but it's all well and good as long as I remember that God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are with me all the time. I will learn from my failures and know there is a reason for everything God does for me. W.B.

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.

About your private life…

2 Corinthians 3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (NIV)

If no one listened to you…

If no one saw you…

If no one on earth knew you were alive, what would you do? What would you be like? Would you be different? Nearly every person has at least a social conscience. However, with only a social conscience, a person can go in the direction of society or in the direction of the group to which he or she belongs. With a Christian conscience, a person tries to do only what Christ wants done. Everyone has a private life. Unfortunately, many persons have an ungodly and unholy private life. Our private life is where we are tested by Satan to see if Satan can destroy us in our heart, mind, and soul. God wants us to be holy and devout before Him. Our private life is where we are the most vulnerable. Our private life is where we stand between God and Satan as we make incredibly important choices about who we want to follow. No one knows about your private life except you and God. In your private life, God stands ready to help, to listen, to encourage, and to tell you how much He loves you.

Most Precious Lord Jesus, Gentle And Wonderful God, Truly Awesome And Ever-present Holy Spirit, Precious Lord Jesus, I love you. Right now, my earthly circumstances look impossible.
Forgive me Lord, for I am a sinner.
I have said things and done things for which I am ashamed.
I have said things and done things not in your will.
I seek your love to help me turn away from my sin.
I seek your love as I accept you as my Savior and as the Lord of my life.
Please help me use my life to touch another heart.
Please help me banish my selfish pride so others will know about your love for them.
Please instill within me the desire to put others before myself so you will be glorified.
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

John 17:3 (The Message)

Jesus' Prayer for His Followers
1-5 Jesus said these things. Then, raising his eyes in prayer, he said:
Father, it's time.
Display the bright splendor of your Son
So the Son in turn may show your bright splendor.
You put him in charge of everything human
So he might give real and eternal life to all in his charge.
And this is the real and eternal life:
That they know you,
The one and only true God,
And Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
I glorified you on earth
By completing down to the last detail
What you assigned me to do.
And now, Father, glorify me with your very own splendor,
The very splendor I had in your presence
Before there was a world.

I like something that Dr. Robert Schuller wrote in one of his books. He notes that Michelangelo attempted forty-four statues in his life, but he finished only fourteen. You may be familiar with some of them: David in Florence Square, the Pieta, and Moses, to mention a few of the best known. But the thirty he did not finish are interesting, too. You can see them in a museum in Italy... a huge chunk of marble from which he sculpted only an elbow or a wrist. Another shows a leg, the thigh, the knee, the calf, the foot, even the toes. The rest of the body is locked in the chunk of marble. It will never come out. "Could this be true for you?" asks Dr. Schuller. "Of all the tragedies in life, the greatest is for a person to live and die and never come out of himself or herself - never to realize the possibilities hidden within."

I want to give you an invitation. I want to invite you to look into the eyes of Christ by faith. I want to invite you to see reflected there, the beauty you were intended to be. And then I want you to go forth today to live the dynamic Christ life. It doesn't matter who you are or what your background is, you can begin living the Christ life today.You have to start someday.......why not right now! There is no certain age you start loving and working for God. I was 45 when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. But I was 56 before I started working for Him. And I was 65 before I asked the Holy Spirit into my life to lead and guide me. AND HE ACCEPTED! FOLKS, JUST WHEN I START THINKING IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THIS, GOD SHOWS ME THAT IT DOES! IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER AND BETTER, AND BETTER, AND BETTER, AND........!

Dear God, help me to live my life today as Christ would. In Jesus name, Amen.

There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace. Proverbs 12:20

Are you a peaceful person, someone who is at peace with yourself and with God? In the world we live in there is very little peace and tranquility. Wars and conflict surround us. You see it in family and work relationships. You even see it as kids play on the playground.

But even with the world crumbling all around us, we can be at peace. But it all starts with being at Peace with God and knowing the Prince of Peace. And we can then promote peace because we are at peace.

Interfaith Prayer for Peace

O God, you are the source of life and peace.
Praised be your name forever.
We know it is you who turns our minds to thoughts of peace.
Hear our prayer in this time of crisis.
Your power changes hearts.

Muslims, Christians, and Jews remember, and profoundly affirm,
that they are followers of the one God,
Children of Abraham, brothers and sisters;
enemies begin to speak to one another;
those who were estranged join hands in friendship;
nations seek the way of peace together.

Strengthen our resolve to give witness to these
truths by the way we live.
Give to us:
Understanding that puts an end to strife;
Mercy that quenches hatred, and
Forgiveness that overcomes vengeance.
Empower all people to live in your law of love
Amen.

Matthew 25:7-13 (The Message)

7-8"The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. The silly virgins said to the smart ones, 'Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.'

9"They answered, 'There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.'

10"They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked.

11"Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, 'Master, we're here. Let us in.'

12"He answered, 'Do I know you? I don't think I know you.'

13"So stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive.

The foolish bridesmaids in our scripture reading today were not ready. They went to get more oil for their lamps. Meanwhile, the wedding had already started. Matthew 25:11 says, "Later the other bridesmaids came also saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you." The bridesmaids were not allowed to enter the wedding celebration.

We also will not be allowed to enter God's kingdom unless we are prepared. We have all heard the phrase--there are two things in life that are certain--death and taxes. In our American culture, it seems to be a taboo to talk about death. We often talk about people passing away. People don't pass away. People die. In my life as a minister, I often have to deal with death, and I have learned that death often is a gift. For some, death is a relief from a hard life. For others, death is freedom from physical pain. And for still others, death is a rebirth into a new life that is eternal.

Certain types of death bother me. Like being eaten by a shark in Flathead Lake from the toes of my feet up! Or getting sucked up in the little cracks of an escalator! Or getting choked to death by my pillow feathers in bed because I was dreaming of eating a marshmellow! Or falling off my Harley-Davidson and bouncing down the highway at about 90 miles an hour! But for death itself, I look at it as one second away from being in the arms of Jesus Christ my Loving Savior! HALLELUJAH!

I think that since life is such a fragile thing at best, we should be ready to meet God in this life and the life to come. Matthew 25:13 says, "Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."

God of all things, may I not live in fear of death, but may I be ready for my time to come to you. In Jesus name, Amen.

1 Kings 17:12 (The Message)

12 She said, "I swear, as surely as your God lives, I don't have so much as a biscuit. I have a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a bottle; you found me scratching together just enough firewood to make a last meal for my son and me. After we eat it, we'll die."

The flour in her jar had dwindled to a handful and her jug contained only a drizzle of oil. She had so little to give but the man brought a glimmer of hope; a promise of provision. Her plan had been for her and her child to eat one last meager meal before dying of starvation. Still, in obedience, she made the meal as the prophet Elijah asked and, just as God planned, her supply of flour and oil did not run out.

There is no mention, apart from her need, of anything that caused God to take notice of her. In fact, she thought Elijah was sent to remind her of her sinfulness. Yet, God’s grace was being poured out on her even as she was feeling desperate and unworthy.

God’s plans are much higher than our plans. He asks for your faith and obedience. Through Christ, He will continue to bless you beyond measure. But sometimes we are so selfish and feeling sorry for ourselves. Remember in one of my devotionals I wrote that God was not taking very good care of me. That I was not making enough to even pay my bills. The Churches were just not tithing enough. But then God reminded me that all my bills were paid on time. Maybe there wasn't a lot left, but there was enough for bills and food. How unthankful I was to God who was giving me enough for all my needs. I try not to be that way anymore.(But if anyone wants to send a donation to my ministry, or buy one of my CD's, I will accept it!) Hint! Hint!

Today's Prayer: Heavenly Father, You have unexpectedly and graciously supplied my needs more times than I deserve and I bring you grateful praise for the life and grace you have poured out on me.

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 15:54-57
Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. (NLT)

I am probably going to get into a whole lot of trouble for todays Daily Devotion, but I have got to take the chance for the sake of an old friend who is dying. I don't know how he is with God right now. I do know we were both sort of "Wild" souls in our lives. I don't know what denomination he is or was. I can only hope that he knows God now and has accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.

My friend has cancer and has sought all the human forms of getting rid of it. But I have heard just recently, doctors say there isn't any more they can do. They are giving him 6 more months. Now is where I have to be careful that I don't get myself into hot water. But right now I feel if I were my friend, I would be going to God in prayer. I would be asking God to come into my life and make sure I have all my i's dotted and my t's crossed about my faith in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Sprit!

I have to say, with what time I have left, I would be turning to my Bible a whole lot for verses like:

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. [Revelation 3:20]

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (NIV)

2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (NIV)

I dreamt that my wife Linda passed away and went to Heaven. She looked around and said, "I made it! I'm in Heaven!" She looked over and saw St.Peter standing by the Pearly Gates. She walked over to him and asked, "Do I just walk right in?" St. Peter said, "No, you must first spell a word." Linda asked him what the word was. He said, "Love!" Linda, all excited said, "L-O-V-E"! St. Peter said, "Come on in!" Linda was soooo excited!

St. Peter had to use the restroom and so he asked Linda if she would watch the Pearly Gates for a few minutes. She told him she would.

He was gone only a few seconds when guess who dropped into heaven? Yup! Good ol' Wild Bill. I saw Linda right away and went over to her and asked if I just walked on in. She told me that first I had to spell a word.When I asked her what the word was, she said, "CZECHOSLOVAKIA!"

My friend, some people will not understand why I would put that little bit of humor in this e-mail. But you and I know. My prayers are with you and all your family. Do not give up the fight! Only God knows when the right time is. Doctors are only guessing. My purpose for this letter is to help you to not fear the end of times, but to look forward to a very happy new beginning and to help you be ready for them. I pray that I have done that.

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, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
______________

The 23rd Psalm
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures,
He leadeth me beside the still waters,
He restoreth my soul.
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
For thou art with me.
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Luke 7:38 (New Living Translation)
38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.

Have you ever known what it is to have a breaking heart? Have you ever let go and let the tears fall without regard for what others might think? Luke tells us about a woman who did just that. He tells us about a woman whose heart was breaking in two.

Now, we might not have too much sympathy for this woman. After all, she was "a woman of the city . . . a sinner." You could tell it by the way she dressed, by the way she made herself up, perhaps by her mannerisms. She was not fit company for decent folks. Her place was on the streets, not in the house of a Pharisee. Yet here she was kneeling at the feet of Jesus, weeping, and watering his feet with her tears and using her long hair to wipe them dry. Kissing his feet and anointing them with ointment. Altogether it was quite a pathetic display of emotion. Good people don't get carried away like that, do they?

If Jesus really were a prophet, thought the Pharisee who was playing host to him that day, he would realize what kind of woman this was, and he wouldn't even allow her to come near him much less let her kiss his feet. But Jesus made no effort to stop the woman--even though he knew his host disapproved. What's going on here? Why is Jesus allowing this quite spectacular show of remorse and affection?

Perhaps it is because only Jesus could see this woman's heart. Only he knew what she was really feeling. Only he knew what had brought her to this place.

Do we allow our heart to be truly seen by God? Yes, God does know everything about us, but we are called to present ourselves openly to God. We are called to confess our brokenheartedness and pain.

Sometimes I wonder what my friends, relatives and yes, even the Churches in Missoula, Montana see, when they look or hear about me. Do they see the sinner that I was back in the 60's, 70's & 80's? Or do they see the change that Jesus Christ has made in my life? It makes me sad because I feel I know the answer to these questions. But if Jesus Christ my savior had to go through it, who am I to complain about it!

Dear God, see my brokenheartedness and pain, and bring me healing in the name of Jesus.Why must I feel so much hurt and sadness when I come home, but yet so much happiness when I travel to other towns. Will Churches, friends and family in my hometown ever stop seeing me through the eyes of yesteryear? Amen.

Mark 11:24 (The Message)

22-25Jesus was matter-of-fact: "Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, 'Go jump in the lake'—no shuffling or shilly-shallying—and it's as good as done. That's why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you'll get God's everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it's not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins."

Charles Spurgeon wrote “Prayer pulls the rope below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly. Others give but an occasional pluck at the rope. But he who wins with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously, with all his might.”

Some might take this to mean that we need to beg and plead desperately for God to answer our prayers. I don’t think so.

I believe that we must pray, expecting for God to bring the answer and do the work because, among many other reasons, He is faithful, just and loves us with an everlasting love!

Raise your expectations today! Expect God to do something great and we’ll believe along with you to see mighty breakthroughs!

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.
(If you have any wants or needs, add them here!)
Amen.

Galatians 1:23 (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!

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.

Yes, people can change. Look at me. Almost 30 years of my life was doing everything that was opposite to what God wanted from me.I broke a lot of the 10 Commandments. But I still feel that because of my mom's prayers for me, I am what I am today. And I still have a long way to go if I want to be closer to my God. And I definitely do! I am now 65 years young and loving every minute of my learning more & more about my God, my Jesus Christ and my Holy Spirit. Are you trying to get closer to the Trinity every single day? If you're not, you're losing out on a lot of the blessings God has for you

Dear God, change me from my sinfulness into the joy of your love. In Jesus name, Amen.

Galatians 3:23 (The Message)

23-24Until the time when we were mature enough to respond freely in faith to the living God, we were carefully surrounded and protected by the Mosaic law. The law was like those Greek tutors, with which you are familiar, who escort children to school and protect them from danger or distraction, making sure the children will really get to the place they set out for.

Who is it that tells us we are ugly? It may surprise you to know the scriptural answer to that question. According to Paul, it is the law that tells us we are ugly. Listen to his words: "Now before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed." Earlier in this same chapter Paul calls the law "a curse." Why? Why would he say that? Because under the law we are all failures.
Who among us can ever keep the law perfectly? The answer is, none of us. Not a single one of us could possibly fulfill all the law's requirements. The law provides for us a standard that is unattainable. And even if we were able to keep the law without any deviation, we would probably be guilty of spiritual pride. We would conclude that we are better than other people--and that may be the deadliest sin of all. It's a lose/lose situation.

A sign at a railroad crossing read, "The average time for the train to pass this crossing is 14 seconds, whether your car is on the track or not."

Life happens. Stuff happens. Trains cross the intersections! But, life can be a win/win through the grace that Jesus Christ offers to each of us. We don't have to measure up. Christ already has!

Dear God, I am grateful that I don't have to measure up to you on my own. Yes, Jesus is my savior. In Jesus name, Amen.

Luke 11:13 (New International Version)
13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

I remember reading a story about how D.L. Moody was preparing to lead a revival throughout England to which an elderly pastor protested and said, “Why do we need this ‘Mr. Moody’? He’s uneducated, inexperienced, etc. Who does he think he is anyway? Does he think he has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?”

A younger, yet wiser pastor stood up and responded, “No, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Mr. Moody.”

Do you truly want to be monopolized by the Holy Spirit? Let’s face it — the degree of fullness of the Spirit of God is in direct proportion to the intensity of our true desire. The reality of the spirit-filled life is — we have as much of God as we truly want.

Let’s seek to have a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to monopolize our lives and in doing so — we’ll be empowered to do the great things God has called us to do in these days!

As most of you know, up to about two weeks ago, I was like a lot of others and had all but forgot the Holy Spirit. But after almost 40 hours of praying, I heard from Him at 3:30 in the morning. Since that happened, my whole life has changed....FOR THE BETTER! The other night I was confronted by an old friend and after stating my feelings on the subject, I saw that it was to no avail and arguing would only lead to a shouting match. Before accepting the Holy Spirit into my life I would have fought on with more anger and a louder booming voice. But I felt the Holy Spirit telling me to just let it go. And so I did. And I have to admit, I felt better about it. Chalk one more up for the Holy Spirit.

"Holy Spirit, You who made me see everything and showed me the way to reach my ideals. You who gave me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me, and You who are in all instances of my life with me, I thank You for everything and confirm once more that I never want to be separated from You, no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with You and my loved ones in Your perpetual glory. Thank You for Your love towards me and my loved ones. Thank you Holy Spirit! 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)

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.

"I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." (Luke 7:9 NRSV Bible)

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.

Matthew 25:6 (The Message)

6"In the middle of the night someone yelled out, 'He's here! The bridegroom's here! Go out and greet him!'

Matthew 25:5-9, "As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves." The foolish bridesmaids were not ready for the delay of the bridegroom. They were not prepared for the unexpected.

How about us? Are we prepared or ready to deal with the unexpected turns and twists of life? I never ever expecte to be an Evangelist in my life, I didn't expect that I would ever be able to preach. I didn't expect the ministry, at times, to be very difficult. There have been many unexpected twists and turns in my life. Life certainly has not gone as I would have predicted. Many of you can tell similar stories, and many of you can share some very painful unexpected experiences.

Jesus Christ & the Holy Spirit will help us deal with the unexpected if we allow them to walk with us everyday of our lives.

God of all people, please let me never walk away from your Son or the Holy Spirit, so that I can have Them at my side when dealing with the unexpected. In Your name, Amen.

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)

This latest journey I've been making for God, has been very tough on me.And I'll have only been gone from home for two weeks. But I miss my wife, I miss my mom, I miss my two Schnauzers and I miss my friends. It's the waiting time between doing what I actually came to do. Telling others about God the Father, Jesus Christ our Savior and the Holy Spirit who dwells inside us, waiting for us to ask for His help! I still have today, Sunday and Monday before I get to go home.But when I look back at what has happened to me these last two weeks, I wouldn't change things at all. The Holy Spirit has filled my life because I had the time to study more about Him! I have met a whole lot of neat people and made new friends.God is sooooo good all the time and He has a plan for me! And one more great gift I have from God.............A wife who understands and puts up with me! I thank you and God thanks you Linda and we both love you very much!

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 !!!

Lord, I know I can't stick to Your plan without Your help. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit this day, to be strengthened and renewed in You. Amen.

Acts 2:41 (The Message)

41-42That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.

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.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 08,2010

Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

At a time when thousands of people were dying each year of rabies, Louis Pasteur, pioneer of immunology, was working on a vaccine. Just as he was about to begin experimenting on himself, a 9-year-old boy, Joseph Meister, was bitten by a rabid dog. The boy’s mother begged Pasteur to experiment on her son. Pasteur injected Joseph for ten days– and he lived. Decades later, of all the things Pasteur could have had etched on his headstone, he asked for three words: JOSEPH MEISTER LIVED.

We are called to save lives too. Our greatest legacy will be those who live eternally because of our efforts.

Thousands of people are dying each year, so many who don’t know the love and truth of their Messiah. Let’s make ourselves available to be used by the Lord for His Kingdom for Christ’s sake!

O God of all peoples on the earth, be mindful of the many unbelievers. They have been created in Your image, yet they do not know You or Your Son Jesus Christ, their Savior Who died for them. By the prayers and labors of Your Church, may they be freed from all ignorance and unbelief and led to worship You. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, Whom You sent to be the resurrection and the life of all human beings. Amen.

James 4:7-10 (The Message) 7-10So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet.

Why is it that some believers seem to go much deeper in their walk with God than others? I believe it has to do with a desire to pursue God and not to stop until they feel His very presence in their lives. These believers decide not to settle for anything less than a growing, vibrant relationship with God, and God honors that desire for those who seek it.

Much of our walk is determined by how we desire Him. In James, the Lord promises that if you draw near to Him — He will draw near to you. Our enemy, Satan, uses everything in his power to prevent that vibrant relationship from forming – but press through – press on – because God wants this relationship very much.

I want more! God’s heart and mind are infinitely deep and there’s nothing more precious than knowing Him better and better. So I’m pushing through every obstacle to really show Him how much he means to me. Let’s do it together.

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

John 14:16-17 (The Message)

The Spirit of Truth
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!

The greatest thing in my whole life happened to me Sunday morning, October 3, 2010 at 3:30AM. I will never ever be the guy I used to be because of this event. I was browsing around the bookstore before I left for my two week tour of Lewistown, Great falls & Helena. I spotted and audio book, By the title "THE FORGOTTEN GOD". I thought it would be a book that might help me to keep God and Jesus Christ on my mind everyday. I didn't play the CD's until Friday October 1st and when I did, things started happening right away. The forgotten God was and is the Holy Spirit in each and every one of us.

I went without sleep for almost two days, praying to the Holy Spirit to come into my life and to make things clear in my life. I have always wondered and was skeptical about those people who say God spoke to them. But I had never even thought about the Holy Spirit wanting to be in my life. I knew He was in me, but I never thought about talking to Him. So for those two sleepless days, I prayed and I prayed and made sure I kept the Holy Spirit on my mind.

Finally on October the 3rd at 3:30 in the morning, He spoke to me. It was sort of spooky because like I said, I was always skeptical of those who heard God. But there was no doubt He was telling me that He will be in my life and guiding me. I was changed immediately. I called my wife Linda at 5:30AM knowing she would be sleeping, but I was so excited and I had to tell her. One of the changes I told her was, the guy that left our house about a week ago, is not the same guy anymore. I have been changed by the Holy Spirit.

I played music that morning at the Church of the Nazarene. There was a song that that I heard on a new CD I had purchased. It was titled, "Because of Calvary, I'm Not The Same Guy Anymore"! So before I went into the Church, I learned that song. Now remember, I'm a big tough guy and big tough guys don't cry. And I never had. But while singing that song in Church, I started thinking of what I just went through the last couple of days and how much joy the Holy Spirit has brought into my life in such a short time. YUP! I barely made it through the song. I had to have someone come up and make some announcements so I could get my composure back. They were happiness tears! An d I will not apologize for the tears! The Holy Spirit will from on be part of my talks at all events. People need to know that He needs to be in their lives!

You all need to get the CD or the book of "The Forgotten God" as soon as you can. It will change your life!

Holy Spirit, be with me today.
Be my teacher, my guide, my counselor, my friend.
Fill me with your gifts, especially the gifts of
wisdom, discernment, knowledge, understanding, compassion,
love, and awe in God's presence.
In all that I think, say, and do, let it be in accordance
with your most holy and perfect will.
I ask this in Jesus' name.
AMEN!

Jesus said, "Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." (Luke 24:39 NRSV Bible)

I remember a story I read 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.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 04,2010

Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 15:38 NRSV Bible)

In our scripture reading today, Jesus was at the height of his popularity. People were following him everywhere he went. It was difficult for him to get away even to spend some quality time alone in prayer or with his disciples. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and people flocked to him. This attention excited the disciples. Jesus' ministry was booming. Everything was running smoothly. At least that is what the disciples thought.
The disciples had been with Jesus for a long time. Now, Jesus felt it was time to tell them what would happen next. He gathered the disciples around him. He said to them, "[I] must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering, be killed, and the third day be raised." Wow! The disciples were not expecting anything like that. They just looked at each other, too shocked to say anything. The disciples thought Jesus would come to power, and they would hold positions of importance in his kingdom. They never thought he would suffer and die.

Leave it to Simon Peter to speak what the other disciples were thinking. Peter took Jesus aside and said, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." Peter spoke harshly to Jesus.

Has anyone ever said something to you that reminded you of someone else, or of another experience? When Peter rebuked Jesus, Jesus heard the voice of the tempter. trying to temp Jesus as he had done in the desert at the start of Jesus' ministry. Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block for me." Ironic that Peter the Rock was also a stumbling stone for Jesus.

Do we help or hinder God's work?

Dear Jesus, through your inspiration, may I do more to help than hinder your work. Amen.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 03,2010

Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors... Those who do these things shall never be moved. (Psalm 15:2-3,5 NRSV Bible)

I remember reading about a woman who a few years earlier was a new Christian. And as a new Christian, she listened to any person who proclaimed to be a Christian. Over time, though, she realized that not all people who claimed to be Christian offered a true message from God. As she matured in her faith, she had to learn to discern between those who spoke the truth and those who didn't.

How do we find the truth about God and Jesus Christ? How can we discern who is teaching the truth about the Christian faith and who is not?

I am a firm believer that actions speak louder than words. Look at the example of Jesus. He valued people and little children and life itself. Jesus was concerned about truth and honesty. Even when Jesus was confronted by the people who opposed him, he treated them with respect and wisdom. Jesus' actions proved that he cared about people and their human situation. He healed people, fed people, gave people hope, and forgave people. Jesus also took a lot of time for prayer to discern God's will. Jesus humbled himself, as he relied on God and not on himself.

The most important truth test is the Bible, God's word to all of humanity. When we study and know God's truth from the Bible, then we can use that knowledge to test those who teach and share our Christian beliefs.

I'm reading a book called "The Forgotten God"! I should say, "Listening to a book!" It's about how we leave the Holy Spirit out of our lives most of the time.With the Holy Spirit on our minds and in our heart and trusting Him, our Faith will continue to grow. And when our Faith grows, the answers to our questions will grow too!

God of truth, it is not always easy to discern the truth. May I live more each day with a Christ-like and Biblical truth. In Jesus name, Amen.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 02,2010

Jeremiah 29:11 (The Message)
10-11This is God's Word on the subject: "As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before, 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.

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…)

One thing I don't worry about is my family. They've stuck with me through all the trials we're going through since I've started traveling and going Church to Church. It continues to be a real struggle with finances, but we all continue to stick to God's plans for my Evangelism. Friends are another story. They've sort of dropped off the radar. But my true friends have stuck with me.But the main thing is, I believe God is very happy with what I'm doing. And when God is happy, I know that there will be rewards somewhere down the line.

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 accept 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

Ecclesiastes 3:1-5
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven . . . a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance . . .

How long has it been since you’ve had a good laugh? I mean a really good laugh that was so hard it made your sides ache? Recently I had the privilege of sitting down with some friends and just laughing and having a good time. When we parted we all left smiling--and we all left feeling better than when we arrived.

In the last 10 to 15 years, researchers have been given a lot of attention to the study of gelatology, the way laughter affects the human body, and have discovered that laughter is a natural stress reliever. It improves circulation and muscle tone, and it increases your heart rate and certain hormones and endorphins so that you feel better. Laughing usually leads to a brighter outlook on life and is good for the body and the soul.

Isn’t it interesting that science has validated what wise King Solomon told us thousands of years ago? In Proverbs 15:13 and 15 he wrote, "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance . . . he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. One of my professors in college used to say frequently, “Science is just now catching up with the Bible.” Isn’t that the truth!

If laughter is that good for you, shouldn’t you make it a point to do it? Pick up a Reader's Digest magazine and read the humorous stories, or purchase a joke book that you can read from each day. Watch a funny movie, or read the comics in your local newspaper. Spend some time with a friend who has a good sense of humor. Make it a habit to share funny stories with your family from time to time. It may be hard to laugh when things aren’t going well, but in those very moments something light and humorous may be just what you need to pick up your spirits and help you handle your stress.

Solomon told us there is a time for everything, and certainly there is a time for laughter and rejoicing. My friend, take that time. Take just a few moments to find some bright spot to lift up your day. Take time to laugh.

When I am singing my Gospel songs, I can't be sad!
When I'm in Church, I feel only happiness - NO sadness!
Just thinking about God, makes me fill up with joy!
The only possible way I can feel hurt and sadness in my life, is when I'm leaving God out of my life! As long as He is on my mind and in my heart, how can I be unhappy!

Father, thank You for the wonderful gift of laughter. Let me never get so burdened down with care that I fail to see the moments of happiness peaking through the clouds from time to time. Refresh my body and mind with this marvelous gift.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30,2010

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!

Lord, I give myself to You, whatever the cost may be. Take every aspect of my life and use me for Your Kingdom to glorify Your Name. I'm not here on earth to do my own thing, to seek my own fulfillment or my own glory. I'm not here to indulge my desires, to increase my possessions, to impress people to be popular, to prove I'm somebody important, or to promote myself. I'm not here to even be relevant or successful by human standards. I'm here to please You. To live like this, I yield myself to You, to know You, to love You, to obey You, and to grow in your Holy fear. I desire to become a person who understands and lives in reverent awe of You. I'll do anything that You want me to do, go anywhere that You want me to go and say anything that You want me to say. Father, there isn't any gift that You have for me that I don't want. If You want to use me in a way that I'm not used to, I yield myself to that. Today, I affirm my love for You, my God, and I choose to live and minister in Your way. I trust You, Lord, to do that which I cannot do for myself. Teach me, guide me, and empower me to fear Your name.

In the Name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of the Father, I pray,

Amen

Matthew 5:45 That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven: for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

The Lord is quoted in this scripture in Matthew and it contains an important principle which I think we sometimes tend to overlook. Many believe and even teach that if someone acquires much material prosperity, then God has surely given them favor, and that if someone is undergoing extreme trial, it must be because they have sinned or that they lack faith. But the Lord says that the sun rises and the rain falls on both the righteous and the unrighteous alike. A life of good circumstances does not necessarily mean that God is with us. And likewise, a life of trial and suffering does not mean that God is not with us!

If we base our lives on our circumstances, we are no different than people without God. What makes us different from the world is that we have something far greater than our circumstances! We can live victoriously both in want and in plenty because we have a relationship with the living God!

There is nothing wrong with rejoicing through the good times but we need to rejoice through the bad as well! If you’re going through some hard times, choose to rejoice in the Lord today! We have a greater treasure and a more amazing victory when our lives are centered upon Him at all times!

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28,2010

Romans 12:6 (The Message)
4-6In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.

6-8If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

It is important for us to understand that each of us have different gifts, and it is important that we use well the gifts God has given to us. There are no superstars in God's work. In God's perfect plan for the world each of us has different talents, interests and abilities. Not all of us can be teachers. Who would feed or clothe us? Whom would we teach? Not all of us can be farmers. Who would bandage our wounds when we are hurt? Our world functions as smoothly as it does because God has gifted us in unique ways.
So it is with the work of the Kingdom. Each of us has a different spiritual gift. When we all use our gifts as God intends, then the world is blessed and our own lives are enriched.

All great leaders have recognized that to be effective, we must use the gifts God has given us. Grady Wilson for years handled evangelist Billy Graham's business affairs. We are told that some time back Wilson was faced with a decision about whether to move the Billy Graham organization to larger quarters. Unable to arrive at a decision, he called Dr. Graham for advice. Graham answered kindly but firmly. "I don't call you and ask you what I should preach," he said. "Don't call me about what you should do with buildings."

One of the secrets of Billy Graham's success has been in locating people with gifts and entrusting them to use those gifts. Each of us has different gifts. The key to successful living is not to grieve over the gifts we do not have, but to take those we do have and use them in honoring God.

It took me a long time to realize my gifts were just being myself and to play my music and my humor. I'll never be the great speaker like Billy Graham, Robert Schuller, Joel Osteen, Pastor Charles Stanley and many more. But I don't need to be. I just need to use the gifts that God has given me.I will never be rich or be world-wide famous,like the above named people. But I do know that as far as God goes, I am an equal with everyone of them. When Jesus was on the cross, I was on His mind. And so were you! We are all equal in God's eyes! We have such a loving God! Thank Him right now as you are reading this!

Lord Jesus, Help me spend less time wishing for the abilities that I don't have, and help me to spend more time using the ones I do have! Amen.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27,2010

In the same way, my friends, you have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. (Romans 7:4 NRSV Bible)

Some of us may remember the name Leon Spinks. In the cruel world of professional boxing, Spinks was once the world heavyweight champion. Sometime back, Spinks was quoted as saying this: "People were always asking, after I won the title, 'Who is Leon Spinks?'" Then he added, "It's a question I've been asking all my life. I didn't know who I was but I knew I wanted to be somebody...I was tired of being nobody."

I felt a lot like Leon in my grade school days. My baby teeth came in real ugly.I remember Miss Beaver, my first grade teacher, had a couple girls go through our class and check each pupils teeth. The prettiest girl in our class checked mine out. When she saw my teeth, she made sort of a growling sound. It devastated me. I could hardly wait until I lost those teeth and my new ones came in. Wouldn't you know it! My new teeth came in chipped and not real straight. I very seldom smiled through my school days.All my school years I wished I could be somebody.When I got my new store bought teeth, you couldn't stop me from making up for all those bad teeth years. That's when the "WILD BILL" became the new me! Thank God, Jesus came into my life.(And Linda!) With them in my life, I truly found real happiness! I know now, that I always was somebody. It took God in my life to believe that! I don't have to run around proving that anymore! AMEN!

I wonder if anybody had ever told Leon Spinks that even before he was formed in his mother's womb, the eternal God knew who he was? That is the good news for the day. We matter. We are worth something. Let no one say that we are nobodies. This beautiful world was created for us. The infinite stars would not shine down from the skies if we were not here to behold them. Of even more staggering import is a cross that stands on a hill named Calvary. For it was there that the Son of the living God gave His life in our behalf.

In Sweden there is a saying that "in every man there is a king, and in every woman, a queen. If you speak to them as 'Your Majesty,' their majesty will come forth." May we all live like we are children of God!

Dear God, sometimes I don't do a very good job of loving myself. Remind me each day that I am your child! May I also treat everyone I meet as your child. In Jesus name, Amen.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26,2010

Jonah 1:17 (New International Version)

17 But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.

Have you ever disobeyed God then found yourself in trouble for your bad choices? That was Jonah’s situation. It could not have been very pleasant inside that fish, knee deep in goo and gastric juices but, God was merciful. Jonah could have drowned. As it turned out, it was a place of soul searching and repentance. Jonah prayed and was given a second chance.

God may not put you in a fish’s belly but he may put you someplace where you can do nothing else but cry out to him. The deepest pit can become holy ground. Don’t hesitate to call his name. He will hear you and lead you out of your trouble.

Today's Prayer: God, your love and mercy are overflowing to me even when I do not deserve for you to listen to my cries for help. Thank you for rescuing me.

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!

Dear Lord, You are our shelter in all the storms of life that we face. I thank You that You never change. You are our rock, steady and secure. Forgive me, Lord, for putting my faith in man’s way that fails us again and again. I put all my faith in Your unfailing love and divine strength. I place all my hope in You and You alone. Amen

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18,2010

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. (Matthew 4:23 NRSV Bible)

I read a story this week of two young sisters who were waiting for services to begin at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Illinois. The older sister said to her younger sister, "Now when we sing 'Jesus Loves Me' then we go downstairs with the rest of the children!"
The younger sister asked, "Why!"

The older sister responded, "So we don't fall asleep up here!"

I wonder sometimes if all of us don't need to be with the children so we won't go to sleep during worship. As you may remember, Jesus had the same problem with his disciples when he went off to pray.

But today, Jesus comes to awaken us through the proclamation of the good news.

Jesus went around the countryside preaching to the people about the great rewards of living for God. In our society today some people are asking if preaching and the church are relevant for such a modern world. With instant communications and T.V., the voice of the church is often hard to hear. I have had many people ask me why Jesus or God doesn't do something really dramatic to get peoples attention, so more people would believe.

When we read about the life of Jesus Christ, we can find many stories were Jesus did do some dramatic things to get people's attention. I have even read about and experienced some dramatic things that have called my attention to God's power and love. In fact, there are miracles happening around us everyday. But many of the miracles of today have become ordinary for us, so we don't notice them. But even if we discount everyday miracles, the standards of our modern society would still say that Jesus was very successful. Remember that Jesus started with just twelve disciples. Today, there are millions of believers.

Jesus comes to us to bring the good news, and our call is to listen. And when we do, we will hear about the great rewards of knowing God.

Dear Jesus, thank you for sharing the Good News with me. May I be a good listener. In Jesus name, Amen.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15,2010

Jesus said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." (Mark 1:15 NRSV Bible)

I like the story about the battered old man who got up one night during a revival meeting and said: "Brothers and sisters, you know and I know that I ain't been what I ought to of been. I've stolen hogs and told lies, and got drunk, and was always getting in fights, and shooting craps, and playing poker, and I've cussed and swore; but I thank the Lord there's one thing I ain't never done: I ain't never lost my religion."
It is true that we won't lose our religion when we have done something wrong if we seek God's forgiveness. Forgiveness is important to restoring relationships. Frederick Buechner, a well known Christian writer, said, "To repent is to come to our senses. It is not so much something you do as something that happens. True repentance spends less time looking at the past and saying 'I'm sorry,' than to the future and saying 'Wow!"

We have all heard many criminals say they were sorry for the crime they committed, but many of them continue to be criminals. Did you know that by far most of the people in our jails today are repeat offenders. They may feel sorry for their sins and crimes, but no real change has taken place. You see, true repentance is a matter of changing directions.

The most important change of direction we can make is becoming a faithful disciple of God and Jesus Christ moment by moment and day by day.

Lord Jesus, may I follow you everyday so that my life will be the best possible example of faithfulness. Amen.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10,2010

Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. (Mark 1:14 NRSV Bible)

The Bible speaks a lot about the good news. But what is the good news? The good news is about our savior Jesus Christ. The good news is about the Kingdom of God. The good news is about God's unconditional love for us. And the good news is about the hope of salvation through God's forgiveness.
I remember a story of a minister who cut his sermon short one Sunday when he overheard a little boy in the front pew ask his mother, "Mommy, are you sure this is the only way get salvation." God's gifts come in many ways. Sometimes they come in a shorten sermon.

In a Peanuts' cartoon, Snoopy looks longingly out the window of the car he is sitting in all by himself. He says, "Being left alone in the car isn't so bad...That was a pretty lady who patted me on the head...So who cares if she scratched our door when she got out of her car?"

We have many choices in life. We can be like Snoopy and look at the good things God has given us or we constantly look at the scars life has left on us. God most certainly wants us to look at life's blessings, as we hear the good news.

I am having the greatest time of my whole life by spreading the GOOD NEWS through my music.There is nothing like working for God. The money is not the greatest, but the rewards are outstanding. And the feeling in your heart when someone lets you know they accepted the Lord into their life because of what you did. What a great feeling!!!!!!!

Loving God, thank you for the good news you have shared with me through Jesus Christ. Help me to see the many blessings you have given to me as a result of your good news. Amen.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7,2010

"...he who spreads slander is a fool." - Proverbs 10:18 - Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy; do you really want junk like that in your belly? Proverbs 18:8

A pastor went to visit a woman from his church before she was to have serious surgery. As he walked into her hospital room, he found her in the arms of a man who was not her husband. Stunned and embarrassed, he silently walked out. Later he discovered that this woman's brother had flown in from California to comfort her before her surgery.

Later, the pastor said, "I could have told others I saw that woman in the arms of a man who was not her husband and it would have been a fact, but it would not have been the truth."

The press often does this in reporting what people have done. They confuse the facts with the truth. This results in half-truths that are really the worst forms of lies, because they are so believable. Gossip and slander are big on facts and short on truth. They unfairly destroy people's character.

The next time you hear something bad about another person, be sure you have more than the facts. Be sure you have the whole truth, for it is easy to confuse the facts with the truth.

Think about this, if someone gossips something to you, you can be sure that what you say to that person will not be kept safe either. I guess because my whole life has always been being in front of people with my entertaining and being so well known, I've been the butt of a lot of gossip. I guess I've been very naive, because when I became a Christian, I thought all that gossip would end. It hasn't. In fact, I think it is worse.

Just recently I was part of a house of ladies gossip. One of the ladies IS a good Christian friend. The other one IS a good friend who goes to Church every Sunday! It hurts, but I forgive them and hope we can still be friends.

Lord Jesus, Son of the Most Holy,
How Divinely pure Your thoughts are!
Your Words only reflect wonders,
Parables worthy of searching minds.
I earnestly strive to parallel after You.
Tend to my need of respecting others,
That I may never gossip against anyone.
Guide me in the righteous path of life,
Where sensational gossip is non-existent.
If by Your will, my intervention is required,
Guide me to extinguish the attacks of others.
Jesus, You are the glorious light of truth!

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?