Daily Devotionals

2010-06-29T02:53:00.000-07:00

WILLING

If God is in control of my life, what does it matter what I do or don't do?

SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER:
Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.
Mark 1:14-20

BIG T's THOUGHT TO PONDER:
On March 13, 2008 I received an invitation that changed my life forever. That invitation came in the form of a physical visit from God, offering me life, a life I could not even begin to imagine. God wasn't exactly on my radar screen back then but I knew at that moment that I needed to follow Him and I called out His Name, Jesus Christ! And he rescued me!

In today’s "Scripture To Consider" Mark tells us that several fishermen received an invitation that changed their lives forever. That invitation came in the form of a call, from a rabbi, a teacher named Jesus, who was just starting out his ministry proclaiming the good news that the kingdom of God was near. Jesus was just walking beside the Sea of Galilee. He found four men fishing in the lake and said to them: “Come, follow me.”

As I looked at this verse I though, what a strange thing for a rabbi to do. I don't think that rabbis went around visiting places of business to invite potential disciples to come follow them, just like I don't think the pastors of today go out door-to-door making house calls. If anything it is the eager new Christians who would probably approach an elder or a pastor from their church for the privilege of discipleship and/or studying under their teachings.

But that’s exactly what Jesus did when he issued his invitation to Simon and Andrew, and James and John. In Mark’s Gospel, there was no indication whatsoever that these fishermen had anything special about them that would have caught Jesus’ attention. Those four were just minding their own business when Jesus took the initiative to seek them out and to issue this invitation: “Come, follow me.”

What a strange thing for a rabbi to do. But at first glance, even more strange, even more amazing in my mind, was the fact that when Simon and Andrew heard Jesus’ invitation, verse eighteen says, “at once they left their nets and followed him.” There seemed to be no hesitation on their part. They simply let go of their nets, which were their means of livelihood and symbols of their lifestyle and identity, and followed Jesus. What Simon and Andrew did has always puzzled and intrigued me. No one in his right mind would just let go of everything to follow a teacher, just because he said, “Come, follow me.” Right?

Apparently, Jesus was no ordinary teacher. In the very beginning of his Gospel, Mark had already identified Jesus as the Son of God. While there was nothing special about those fishermen whom Jesus called, there was definitely something very special about Jesus.

For those of you who God has entrusted to operate a business for His glory such as myself, imagine Bill Gates visiting your office with the invitation: “Come, follow me.”

For those who play basketball, imagine Micheal Jordon entering your gym with the invitation, “Come, follow me.”

For you aspiring Hollywood stars, imagine if Tom Cruse or Jennifer Aniston came knocking at your door and said, “Come, follow me.” Imagine the top person from your field or profession coming to you inviting you to come and follow, and I imagine some of you might be tempted to let go of everything and accept this one-in-a-lifetime offer.

Even so, it is hard to imagine how Simon and Andrew could immediately let go of their nets, their only means of livelihood as fishermen, in order to follow Jesus. But that’s not all. In the next verses, Jesus issued the same invitation to James and John, and they not only let go of their nets, but they also left their father Zebedee, left their boat and their hired men to follow Jesus. James and John let go of family ties, let go of possessions and let go of a life of being served in order to answer Jesus’ call.

It’s hard for us to imagine letting go of so many things in order to follow Jesus. We are a people who have been told again and again to “grab all you can” and “you can have it all.” We often don’t know what it’s like to let go and give up some things in order to pursue the best path God has for our lives. Maybe that’s why we overextend ourselves in our work, we overextend our credit limits to accumulate more than we need, and we overextend our schedules and our commitments. Sometimes, it is possible to allow our lifestyles, our possessions, and yes, even our families to become our idols. As Christians, our work, our accumulations, our schedules and our families are not bad things in and of themselves, but when we cannot let them go and when they begin to occupy a higher place than following Jesus, then we may be missing out on a life of discipleship that Christ calls us to live.

I don’t know about you, but in my life, I find that when I’m afraid to let go, many times it is because I fear what will happen when I’m no longer in control of my life. Those who know me know that I’m a planner obsessed with the details. I’m compulsive about details and I always want to prepare for the contingencies, leaving nothing for chance and always with a plan B.

But when Jesus called to invite me to follow him, He was basically asking me to hand over the reigns and full control of my life to Him. The question was, “Was I willing to let go of control and let God be the Lord of my life"

When Jesus invited the four fishermen to “Come, follow me,” Jesus didn’t map out a three-year plan with full benefits and retirement. He did not give many details and the unknowns we endless. Jesus’ invitation was simply a call to journey with Him, to commune with Him daily, to literally follow Him wherever He went-twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week-living the way the He lived, observing and learning from the minute details of the His life, and training to do what He did.

To follow Jesus means the transformation of our lifestyle so that it conforms to the way that Jesus lived His life. Jesus’ invitation is first and foremost a call not to a plan but to himself: “Follow me.“ Jesus’ invitation is secondly a call to a continuous journey with Him rather than a single act toward Him: “Follow me.”

Who among us does not want to live a life of significance? Who among us does not want to live a life of influence that points others to God? Who among us does not want to live a life that will make a lasting, positive impact that carries on long after we’re gone? The truth of the matter is, God has bigger plans for us for the sake of His Kingdom than we could ever dream about. But in order for God’s plans to come into fruition, we must be willing to let go of the nets in our lives and let God have control over our lives. If Simon, Andrew, James and John had not let go of their nets, their fathers, their boats and their servants, and if they had not let God direct their lives, then chances are, I would not be writing this devotion this morning.

The world’s a better place because throughout history, there have been ordinary people who were able to let go and let God. Theologian Leonard Sweet said it well: "The world’s a better place because:"

"Noah didn’t say, “I don’t do arks and animals.”
"David didn’t say, “I don’t do giants.”
"Daniel didn’t say, “I don’t do lion’s dens.”
"Mary didn’t say, “I don’t do virgin births.”
"Paul didn’t say, “I don’t do letters.”
"Jesus didn’t say, “I don’t do crosses.”

This list reads like a Hall of Fame of the heroes of faith. We might think: “There’s no way that I can attain that level.” But Jesus is not calling you to be the next Moses or David or Mary. Jesus only calls you to be the very best you can be. And the Good News is that Jesus never calls us to a place where He hasn’t been before. Jesus knows what it was like to let go of the status, prestige, and power that was rightly in His possession!

This morning, we are invited to let go and let God. But that’s not all. For if we were to do just those two things, we might be tempted to sit back passively, letting go of everything and letting God do everything. There is one final thing. In response to Jesus’ invitation, Simon and Andrew, James and John, not only let go and let God, but at the end of this passage, Mark tells us that they basically said, “Let’s Go Do This!” and they followed Jesus on a journey of faith.

GOD's TRUTH - PROMISES - INSTRUCTION:
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord"
Psalm 37:23
"A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."
Proverbs 16:9
"But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil." Proverbs 1:33
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
Proverbs 3:5
"Thus says the Lord, Your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go."
Isaiah 48:17
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way should go; I will guide you with My eye."
Psalm 32:8
"For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death."
Psalm 48:14
"The Lord will guide you continually …”
Isaiah 58:11

Help Us To Let Go Of Our Nets And Follow YOU!

2010-06-28T05:54:00.000-07:00

PRAYER

Am I really supposed to pray at all times? How is that possible?

Scripture To Consider:
"With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints."
Ephesians 6:18

"Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart."
Colossians 4:2

"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Big T's Thought To Ponder:
I love these verses...for many months after reading in Thessalonians, I ask myself this question - How can anyone pray at all times without ceasing?

One possibility is "popcorn prayers"... A close friend of mine just shoots short spontaneous, brief prayers up to God as a habitual response to every situation he encounters throughout each day. This is good stuff!

As we deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ along this breathtaking journey He has prepared for each of us uniquely and personally, these scriptures seem to come alive and are simple instructions that have to do with setting our minds on the things of above. To simply order our lives around God's desires and teachings so that our life actually becomes a prayer.

This kind of intimacy with Christ doesn't require you to isolate yourself from others or from your daily work routine in order to pray... you can make prayer your life and your life a prayer. While we live in a world full of distractions wickedness and the evil one's snares lurking around each and ever corner of life, it is paramount that we remain focused on our relationship with Jesus, that we stay alert and allow our minds to linger in the presence of Lord without ceasing.

God is our Wise Counselor, we should seek Him first for all things! This means every decision that we make, what we watch, what we listen to, where we spend our time, in our relationships, in and about our finances, in every B.H.A.G. and in every minuscule decision of our life.

Look at it this way, if we never spoke to our spouses or listened to anything they might have to say to us, involved the in any of life's decisions our marriage relationship would quickly deteriorate. It is similar with God, communicating with God through our prayers is what keeps us connected, grounded and distraction free from the lies of Satan.

One of the simplest reasons to spend time in prayer is because the Lord repeatedly instructs us to pray throughout scripture. If we can just cut through the fat - we should be in constant thought, prayer, communication and wrapping God around our minds because our Daddy and Mighty Creator says so! Obedience is the nature by-product of discipleship and He just wants the best for us, so we just need to listen and trust...

He has prepared the way through His Son Jesus Christ, He has prepared the good works for us; He has lit our path and is the lamp to our feet - Now all we have to do is walk in the finished work He has completed by communicating with Him through simple prayer in order that He can point us in the right direction and keep our walk straight.

God's Truth - Promises - Challenges:
"Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation with overpower you. For though the Spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!"
Matthew 26:41

"And then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."
Luke 18:1

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for all the saints."
Ephesians 6:18

"Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without wrath and dissension."
1 Timothy 2:8

I love this quote from Dr. Stanley:

"We All Tallest And Strongest On Our Knees"

2010-06-25T02:00:00.000-07:00

ATTITUDE

Does God care about my attitude as long as I still do what he asks?

Scripture To Consider:

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:1-5

Big T's Thought To Ponder:

According to the Webster, the word "attitude" means "an internal position or feeling with regard to something else." Other descriptors: "disposition, feeling, mood, opinion, sentiment, temper, tone, perspective, frame of mind, outlook, view, or morale."

As a former Jet Mechanic, I know that airplane pilots often use "attitude" to describe their horizontal relationship with the runway then they land. If their attitude is not aligned properly, the plane will make contact with the ground at the wrong angle and it will cause them to crash.
So it is safe to say that our attitude is our inward disposition toward other things outside of self, such as a person or a circumstances. Just like an airplane, attitude hits the radar whenever you must deal with something other than yourself.
God’s word tells us that when we come to know and trust Jesus Christ, we become a new creation and a part of the new you is the development of a new attitude... our attitude is to become Christ like. Scripture tells us above, that our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.
"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:22-24

Bad Attitude:

It's impossible not to see a bad attitude because it is typically on display for all to see in out outwardly demeanor. This can be in our words or actions, such a negativeness, criticalness, rebellion, defiance, impatience, uncooperative, discouragement, independence, arrogance, self-centeredness, rudeness...

As Christians we are instructed to lose these examples of bad attitudes. However, keep in mind, attitudes are inner dispositions of the heart and mind — they are the hidden intentions which will eventually serve as the basis for our actions. In reality, no one else really knows the thoughts of your heart, except you and God! Attitude is something that only you and God can work out — a change which must take place inwardly.
Good Attitude:
My Aunt Lela used to say "your attitude determines your altitude" and she was so right! According to scripture, our attitude toward life, our circumstances and especially toward other people should always be through the lens of Christ Jesus and in alignment with the Word of God.
It's impossible not to see a good attitude because it generally wreaks of positivity, encouragement, love, humility, teachable, cooperative, considerate, selfless, loyal, persevering and so on. Sound like anyone you know?
In the book of Galatians we find the instruction of our Almighty Savior for what a good attitude looks like: "
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23

God's Truth - Promises - Challenges:

To God — Our attitude should be reverence, submission, love, trust, humbleness, obedience, worshipful, and prayerful.

(Psa. 111:10, Mark 12:30, John 14:15, Jas. 4:7, 1 Sam. 15:23)

To Our Brother and Sisters — Our attitude should be love, forgiveness, consideration, caring, encouragement, kindness, humility, unselfishness, respectful, and impartial.

(John 13:34-35, 15:12, Rom. 12:10, 13:10, 15:7, Jas. 2:9, Eph. 4:2, 4:32, Col. 3:16, 1 Thes. 5:11, Heb. 3:13, 1 Cor. 13:4-8).

To Our Trials — Our attitude should be patience, thankfulness, persevering, believing.
(Rom. 8:28, Gal. 1:9)

To Our Church — Our attitude should be generous, authentic, respectful, faithful, cooperative, helpful, willingness, dependable, participating, encouraging.

(1 Cor. 10:32, 1 Cor. 14:12, Heb. 2:12)

To Service— Our attitude should be faithfulness, responsibleness, obedience, cooperation, endurance. (Luke 16:10, 1 Cor. 4:2)

To Unfairness — Our attitude should be patience, humility, confident in God’s justice. (Rom. 12:19, Luke 18:7)

To Disappointment or Tragedy — Our attitude should be humility, submission to God, prayerful, confidence in God’s fairness. (Psa. 62:5, Jer. 17:5, Deut. 32:4, Job 13:15, Rom. 8:28)

To the Lost — Our attitude should be compassionate, forgiving, encouraging, helpful, reconciling them to God. (2 Cor. 5:18, 2 Pet. 3:9, Matt. 18:11-14)

To Sin — Our attitude should be uncompromising, unaccepting, intolerant, unsympathetic, yet compassionate and reconciliatory for the repentant. (Matt. 18:8-9, Gal. 6:1)

To Success — Our attitude should be humble, grateful, God-glorifying, not self-exalting or forgetful to God. (Jas. 4:6, 10, Prov. 16:18)

To Misunderstanding — Our attitude should be peacemaking, reconciliatory, patient, forgiving. (Col. 3:13, Matt. 5:9, Phil. 2:14)

Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude - Soar High Today For Jesus!

2010-06-24T01:53:00.000-07:00

DISCIPLINE

Why is God punishing me? Doesn't He love me?

Scripture To Consider:

Joyful are those you discipline, Lord, those you teach with your instructions.

Psalm 94:12

[God said,] "My child, don't make light of the Lord's discipline, and don't give up when He corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child."

Hebrews 12:5-6

My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of His reproof, for the Lord reproves Him whom He loves, as a father the son in whom He delights.

Proverbs 3:11-12

Big T's Thought To Ponder:

God disciplines us for our own good, similar to why we discipline our own children. Sometimes God has to get our attention and brings affliction or troubles into our lives to teach us something valuable, something to help us grow and find our way back to Him.

To test our faith, to correct us; to guide us along the lighted path He has provided us in order to give us His wisdom and train us up for the next thing or place He will call us in order that we can "walk in the good works that He has prepared before hand", it says in Ephesians 2:10.

It's really ironic that this mornings subject is about discipline and the affliction that God allows into our life, as this is exactly what my pastor talked about last night. He shared with us some timeless principles on the affliction illustrated in the book of Lamentations 3

1. Affliction should be endured with hope in God's deliverance.

2. Affliction is temporary and should be tempered by compassion and love.

3. God does not delight in our affliction.

4. Affliction can come because of injustice that God sees and does not approve of it.

5. Affliction is always in relationship to God's sovereignty.

6. Affliction can ultimately be brought on because of sin.

7. Affliction should accomplish the greater good of turning God's people back to Him.

When I have trials and troubles in my life, I always turn to several Bible truths and promises of God and He has always given me peace and comfort through them. My memorization verses for this week is a pretty good one to start with.

God's Truth - Promises - Instruction:

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who has promised is faithful."

Hebrews 10:23

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

John 16:33

"But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you; When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you."

Isaiah 43:1-2

"The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never ceases, For His compassion's never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion, "says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him." The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. Lamentations 3:22-25

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it more abundantly"

John 10:10

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance."

James 1:2-3

In the world we will have afflictions and we should grab hold of them as a means of testing our faith and the blessing of strength and endurance. For God is faithful, He has overcome the world and in Him we have peace; He has redeemed us and we are His own children; He will not allow the troubles of this world overcome us; as He will give us everything we need brand new each morning and He will provide it to us abundantly! - We serve a Mighty Loving God!

Ask God Today How You Are Serving Him?

2010-06-23T02:08:00.000-07:00

ONENESS

What does it mean when the Bible talks about a husband and wife being "united into one"?

Scripture To Consider:
The Scriptures say, "A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one."
Ephesians 5:31

Big T's Thought To Ponder:
This is a subject that really had me pondering this morning and what I came to realize is that a successful marriage is impossible without God in it, it just won't work! The key to a successful marriage is a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It isn't until this direct vertical relationship in our life is solid that all the horizontal relationships in our life can become healthy and fruitful.

For more then 16 years, my marriage was all about desires, which would have been fine if they would have been shared desires, wishes and hopes for our life together. Shortly after the honeymoon, they eventually turned into expectations and obligations and when this happened our relationship became all about two "I's".

She wanted things one way and I wanted things another way. It became a debt-debtor relationship where we each felt we owed each other something. Basically, our expectations kept growing and the bar kept getting higher and higher until our so called relationship was no longer a covenant of marriage- it was a performance driven contract and the love that once was, turned into a big bunch of self-centered I, I, I's... Me, Me, Me's... You, You, You's...

What we have learned in our relationship in Jesus, is there is no room for "I", and our marriages are exactly the same way. We are not committed to "the marriage", we are committed to one another. It's relational, it's a covenant, it's about romance and intimacy. It is not compromising, it is not prideful, it is not about "I", or "You", it is about "Us" and "We" - It's a covenant, not a contract.

It is about putting your wives needs and desires before you own. It is about relational flexibility and investing into each other, while growing in Christ oneness. Our marriages were designed to be as three- a husband, a wife and Jesus Christ to be the glue that holds it all together, all working in union and harmony with each other.

Here are (5) relational flexibilities that I have found that are great oneness builders:

1. Stretch your comfort zones. Be willing to go beyond normal for you and do something your mate wants to do that might not be your favorite thing. It illustrates that you're doing it just for your spouse because you care. As we stretch our comfort zone, we'll grow and actually expand our own personal limits.

2. Flex your attitude. Christian God-Centered marriages are all about serving and pleasing each other. Focus on your "partner" role. Developing a servantship attitude is one of the healthiest things we can do for our marriage.

3. Expect the unexpected. A healthy marriage is committed to Jesus Christ, individually and together. That's what Two for One represents. God wants us to take our marriage further than we can dream. Ephesians 3:20 speaks of His being able to do for us "more than all we ask or imagine." Be open to following where He leads us. Unexpected paths lead to unimaginable blessings and I can personally attest to this!

4. Do something unplanned and spontaneous together. It will keep the freshness and excitement in your marriage. If neither of you are spur-of-the-moment people, take turns planning a surprise date for the other. This doesn't have to be expensive, it is the simple pleasures in life that we so often overlook. Sunrises and Sunsets are a good start!

5. Balance your "expecter." Strive for the happy medium between having your expectations for your mate too high and settling for mediocrity. Challenge your mate without demanding perfection. This is a biggy for me- a covenant not a contract!

God's Truth - Promise - Challenge:
"So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."
Colossians 3:12-17

"and said, 'FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."
Matthew 19:5-6

AND NOW ABIDE FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, THESE THREE; BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.

2010-06-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

COMPARISONS

How can I stop comparing myself to others?

Scripture To Consider:
Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.
James 1:9-11

Big T's Thought To Ponder:
I think to understand the verse that James has shared with us we have to look at the root of "proud" vs. "humble". As Christians, we are called to lose pride and find humility.

What is prideful? Webster says: arrogant superiority; haughty; self-dignity or value; self-respect; an excessive high opinion of oneself.

What is humble? Webster says: meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude or spirit; not arrogant of prideful; submissive respect; unpretentious or lowly.

My understanding of pride is an inwardly expression in all our actions and in our communications with others. Without sounding prideful, which for me is impossible, I consider myself a former expert on the subject. Wow, now that sounds prideful! Why does pride come so easily to us and humility so difficult?

On the other hand, I consider myself a novice when it comes to humility. It seems to me that humble would be an exact opposite to pride and outwardly centered in our actions and communications with others- someone that is willing to put others before themselves in most every circumstance. Why is humility so difficult for us to obtain?

The funny thing is that I have actually heard people describe themselves as humble and thought to myself, "that was a very prideful description of humble". It is pretty obvious that pride and humility are on opposite spectrum's, just as the world and the Kingdom are separated by eternity.

It is only my opinion, but I believe that we have to look to the perfect source for humility, because humility is an elusive trait that can only come from one source. Where pridefulness of the world is plentiful for the taking, humility isn't something we can train ourselves up in. It comes from knowing the perfect and flawless example of humility - Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior of the world.

Humility isn't a circumstance. Although what happens in life can humble us, circumstances by themselves don't create true humility. Humility isn't what happens to us, but what we are becoming and being transformed into. It isn't comprised by what surrounds us, but by what emerges within us. A poor, uneducated person can be proud while a respected, wealthy person may be humble. Humility is an attitude of the heart, affected by circumstances but not defined by them.

I once heard or read a wonderful statement of wisdom that stuck with me regarding humility: "As Christians, we are proud people pursuing humility continually by the grace of God... This is so true!

You know what I realized after (48) years, but not until the moment in time that God divinely allowed me to see it- we don't have to compare ourselves to others if we know who we are in Christ Jesus. Once God has revealed this to us, we no longer have the desire to be like someone else or have what someone else has. We are content, satisfied, fulfilled, and made complete in Christ. We are transformed and blessed with an outwardly desire to put others before ourselves. Pride begins to fade away with the world and humility begins to form its perfect place within us and in preparation for things unseen.

We no longer desire to be conformed by the things we see in the world - pride, greed, self-centeredness, arrogance, independence, but instead we are made to be Christ-centered by setting our minds on the things of above and through the renewing of our minds we are transformed for His greater purpose and glory.

We are children of the King and He has created us as His Masterpiece and Workmanship. God created us independently unique of each other and without comparison! All God asks of us is that we walk in who He created us to be and invest and sow the gifts He blessed us with, into the lives of others who have also been Divinely Created as our brothers and sisters in Christ.

WOW! I love God...

God's Truths, Promises & Instruction:
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world."
1 John 2:16

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
Romans 12:2

"You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE; Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time."
1Peter 5:4-6

"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you."
John 15:12

2010-06-21T01:44:00.000-07:00

WISDOM

How Can I be more receptive to God's wisdom?

Scripture To Consider:
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
James 1:15

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey His commandments will grow in wisdom.
Psalm 111:10

Big T's Thought To Ponder:
I have been writing this daily devotions for several months now and found myself growing frustrated because I started over complicating what God intended this to be about, the simple love for sharing with others, my perspective of His beautiful and magnificent word; and encouraging others through the challenging life lessons and personal experiences God has blessed me through His testimony and my witness for the past (48) years.

Last Friday God revealed something pretty cool to me as I began to write a devotion about "Remembering" - remembering all of what God has done for us. As I typically have in the past, I pulled resources from the Internet of other perspectives around the world to get my creativity flowing, I began to punch out a witty devotion for the day. Over the last few days I realized that this couldn't be further from what God had originally called me to do that morning God simply said to me to "write"! Write from your heart!

God ask me to share from my heart, my perspective, from the wisdom, testimony, experiences, tribulations and troubles that He has blessed me with, not from the perspective of others, but from His perspective through me. And so with that said this is what our wonderful savior put on my heart this morning:

I love the simplistic instruction that James gives us in the scripture above and it gives me great confidence knowing that God works and gives His wisdom so freely to just ordinary men like you and I. We don't have to be Bible scholars to have and to share the wisdom and understanding of God, we just have to ask for it and be bold enough to stand confident in Christ!

I look at the men and women that Jesus hung around with and the biblical characters of scripture whom who our Father God has used over thousands of years, most of them were just regular John Doe's with regular day-to-day problems in which God decided to do amazing things with and through.

If you need wisdom, ask Him for it!

The way I see it, as Christians we have two basic instructions: Read the Word of God in order to deepen our relationship and walk with Jesus Christ our personal Redeemer and Savior; and through prayer, knocking seeking and asking God who gives generously to all of us, apply the simple instruction of the Living Word of God to our lives.

Reading the Word... Asking God for the wisdom to Apply the Word to our lives! Applying the knowledge that God reveals to us through His Word to our day-to-day actions and attitude is truly the key to life and to an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

James goes on to give some more simple wisdom and basic instruction, he warns us in verse 1:22-25, that if we hear the Word and do not apply it, the Word is useless for shaping our lives. Knowing the Bible without acting on that knowledge will not help us make godly decisions. But if we can be hearers and doers of the Word, giving it feet and putting the Word of God into action in our lives, we will be blessed beyond measure.

How do we prepare for this? This is my thought:

1. Jesus said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God”. Rely on God’s help and the work of the Holy Spirit to succeed. It is all in the trusting, not by the trying of our own strength - Be Confident In Christ!

Luke 18:27

2. “Devote yourselves to prayer”. Pray for wisdom, guidance, success and His perfect will for your life. Our Savior loves us and His greatest joy is when we take time to spend time talking with Him and sharing from our hearts. No matter what it is, just keep it real - Invest Yourself In Christ, He Invested in you!
Colossians 4:2

3. “For the hearers of the law are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous”. Obey God’s Word, simple instruction and Divine plan for your life. The best teachers are doers, put action to the knowledge He has blessed you with and allow Him to guide you through life - God Guides!
Romans 2:13

4. “Remember this: the person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously”. Commit to become familiar with the Bible in order to equip yourself with His simple instructions in order that we can use them to apply to problems, opportunities, or the difficult the decisions we face each day. The results will be worth your time and effort so be bold and courageous - Be Sold-Out and All-In for Jesus!
2 Corinthians 9:6

God's Truth & Promises:

Cry out of insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:3-5

God Guides And Is The Giver Of Wisdom - Just Ask!

2010-06-16T21:08:00.000-07:00

COINCIDENCE

Is God really in control , or are the events of my life just coincidence?

Scripture To Consider:
"I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship."
Exodus 31:3

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit".
1 Corinthians 12:4-8

"Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith."
Romans 12:6

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift."

"Therefore it says,"WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN."

"Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things."

"And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ."

"As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love."
Ephesians 4:4-16

"So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the utility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness."

"But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."

"Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need."

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."
Ephesians 4:17-32

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
Ephesians 2:10

Big T's Thought To Ponder:
There are No Such Thing as Coincidences! Does any of the truth in the common thread of God's Divine and sovereign Word above sound like it was by accident that we were given specific instruction and purpose for our life? It no accident, or coincidence that you reading this devotional, you were driven here for a reason.

I believe there are no such thing as coincidence, but simply God's Divine Intervention and perfectly preordained plan for each of our lives. He has equipped each of us with specific and independently unique spiritual gifts that He has called us to use in each others life for His glory and greater goodness. As we come together in oneness and common union through the Spirit of God which indwells us and takes up residence within us at the time He calls us and we make a decision to trust and believe in the Almighty Jesus Christ be cause we come to the realization that we were not intended to do life in this fallen, broken, deteriorating world, but our Father has prepared a light for our path, given us the perfect example through Jesus Christ and preordained the good works that He prepared before hand, before He breathed out our DNA and knitted us in our mothers womb!

Coincidence? I ponder not!

God has a purpose for your life. You know it... You can feel it... You were led here by that feeling, by the desire to do more with your life than what you are presently doing. You know and feel, within your soul, that there is more to life than getting up each morning and going to a job that leaves you feeling empty at the end of the week.

You believe that there has to be more to life than working everyday, coming home just to get ready for work the next day so you can start all over again, repeating basically the same thing every day. It's endless and not what your were created to do, you have a meaningful purpose for life just as I now realize I have as well - we all do!

Well, I'm here to tell you that there is more to life. God has created you in His image. He wouldn't have wasted His time on creating something that was useless and we know He doesn't make junk. You, my friend, are very useful; you are incredible and most of you don't even know it, yet!

The world and the things in it can never satisfy the divine calling for what and who God created us to be - we are children of God; we are in complete opposition with the world, a world in which there is not peace to be found, there is only trouble, corruption and wickedness. We were created by Him and for Him by His Divine blueprint for our lives... He wants to do a supernatural extreme makeover in your life and in mine - Jesus overcame the world, He is where we find our peace, He was the One that came to bring life and to bring it abundantly!

We were created for such a time as this and we are all being called to surrender of "self"; to be sold-out for Christ Jesus our Savior, by knowing Him through spending time in His Word; to be submissive to the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit; to realize our greater purpose through the discovery, development and deployment of the spiritual gifts which we have been equipped and blessed and then to walk in complete obedience and in oneness with the Spirit of God.

God has already done all the work, now live in who you are in Christ... practice His presence... be willing to utilize the gifts that He has blessed you for His greater glory and honor. Trust that you really are His "Masterpiece or Workmanship" and live out what he is called you to do and know that you will always have all you need to do all He ask of you! The plan for our lives is ordained, preplanned and executed blueprint, a done deal - now walk according to what He has already prepared for us to do!

God's Truths & Promises:
"Made Alive in Christ and you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience."

"Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved, and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

"Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

"But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity."

"AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

2010-06-15T18:54:00.000-07:00

GOD'S NO

When God says no to my prayers, is he rejecting me?

Scripture To Consider:
"Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life."
Jonah 4:3

"Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from exalting myself!" "Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me." And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness" Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." "Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Big T's Thought To Ponder:
Have you ever prayed for something fervently... prayed with complete faith... then sat back and waited for God’s answer? Waited for the sovereign Creator of the universe to speak to your heart through the Holy Spirit. You waited…and waited…and waited, until one day you began wondering “Why has God not answered my prayers?” "I wish that God would just stop ignoring me and just answer already!" Many other thoughts are processed through our, minds, some of our own, some from the Holy Spirit and some from the destroyer, deceiver and thief.

Over the last two years and through many trials and BHAG's (Big Hairy Audacious Goals), God has been saying “no and wait" to me in response to a couple specific prayers that were very critical to hanging on and making it through the storms of life. I have taken great comfort and instruction through these last two years from examples God has given me of other prayers He did not grant and many that were granted in His perfect time and in complete alignment with His sovereign will for my life.

One of the most touching examples of prayers denied is the story of Abraham and Sarah. In the 15th chapter of Genesis, Abraham was promised a heir and a child from his own body. But they had no child because Sarah was barren and both were advanced in years.

Imagine the years of tearful requests that Sarah and Abraham made to the Lord. Try to feel the pain, frustration and loss of hope each month when they realized their prayers had been rejected again. As the months turned into years, the prayers must have grown more and more desperate, for each year as the couple grew older, they knew their chances of having a child grew dimmer.

And yet, after all these years, well past the age of having children, that is the request they continued to make of God. Until one day, Abraham, Sarah and Hagar grew tired of waiting on the Lords promise and so then strategized, devised and executed their own backup plan just in case God's didn't work out. In Genesis chapter 16; with Abraham at the ripe old age of 88 years old, Abraham had a son with Sarah's handmaid Hagar, which was the bi-product of not waiting on the Divine plan of God - obviously this has caused a few cultural and historical ripples over the past few thousand years an had a direct impact on our lives today!

At this point, you may be thinking that this story is a poor example of God’s rejecting a plea, for God granted their prayer in chapter 18, about a decade later with the birth of Isaac. The fact is, Abraham and Sarah almost certainly did not pray for God to wait to give them a child until their old age of 90 and 100 years old, they wanted a child right away and God’s answer to THAT prayer was “NO.”

Even though God had plans for them to ultimately have a son, Abraham and Sarah were unaware of those plans. Yet in the face of years of Divine denial, they were still individuals of faith—people who believed in praying for the desires of their heart and in a God who listened to those prayers. What are some lessons we can learn from this couple?

Like it or not, “no” is an answer, too! Although it is safe to assume that the couple was grieved at receiving this answer, it is apparent that they still viewed God as one attentive to their prayers. Just because God did not grant their prayer, they never gave up on praying. They may have wondered why He did not grant it, but they never confused a negative response for a lack of one. If they had, why would they have persisted in praying?

In fact, sometimes for our own good, or that of others, “no” is the only answer that a loving God would give. Probably all of us can think of prayers in the past which we are very grateful now that God did not grant. When Paul, for example, was discouraged by attempts to be relieved of a thorn of the flesh, as painful as it was, the insults... the distress... the persecution... the trials and troubles that we are all too familiar with in which Paul endured. He prayed to God that the thorn might leave him (2 Corinthians 12:8). God did not grant that prayer. Instead, God said "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness". Do you think Paul regretted God’s “no”?

Perhaps the “no” for which we should be most grateful, though, was in response to a prayer made in a garden one night. As a result of that “no”, one man died so all could live.

God's Truth & Promises:
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"
Matthew 7:7-11

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Matthew 21:22

"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."
John 14:13-14

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."
John 15:7

"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."
John 16:23-24

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
James 1:5

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."
1 John 5:14-15

God's Time Not Ours... God's Will Not Ours... Ask, Trust and Wait...

2010-06-14T19:04:00.000-07:00

MIRACLES

Can God really do miraculous things in my life?

Scriptures To Consider:
Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:30-31

Moses and the ten plagues against Egypt; Crossing the Red Sea; Joshua and the Fall of Jericho; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are not burnt in the furnace; Daniel not eaten by Lions; Changing water to wine; Calming the storm; Walking on water; Feeding of Five Thousand...

Big T's Thought To Ponder:
A miracle is an unexpected event attributed to the Divine intervention of God. So ponder this!
It is only by the sovereign hand of the Almighty Father God and His Son's loving grace that any of us were saved - this is the greatest miracle of all creation!

No, wait a minute... it's Galatians 2:20 and the indwelling of Holy Spirit what is the greatest miracle! Wait a minute, it's the promise of eternal life with our Creator, that must be the greatest miracle of all creation! What about the second coming of Christ Jesus, the Rapture - this absolutely must be the greatest miracle of Jesus Christ!

Where do we start? How do we even begin to wrap our finite minds around the endlessness of God's miracles in our own personal life? We can not begin to fathom the depth or height of all the miracles of the Master, they have no beginning and they have no end!

New Testament Definitions
Depending on your definition, miracles never happen, or they happen all day long. Using the Bible as our source of evidence, we see amazing occurrences all over its pages. Here are (3) New Testament word indicators that will help clarify the issue:

Dunamis (Power): This word means power, or inherent ability. It describes mighty works originating from a supernatural source, and that cannot be produced by natural agents and means.
An example is, “And even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip; and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed” (Acts 8:13; 19:11; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, 29; Galatians 3:5).
Semeion(Sign): This word is usually translated as a “sign” of divine authority. Luke uses it in the verse just quoted, and John used the word of Jesus, “Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples” (John 20:30).
Teras(Wonder): This word usually follows the word, semeion, and means something strange that evokes marvel or amazement.

The three words are used together by Peter, “Men of Israel, listen to these words; Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles (dunamis) and wonders (teras) and signs (semeion) which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know” (Acts 2:22).

The greatest miracle of all creation was and is the miracle of the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ! It was through this miracle that we were given a Savior; that we were made alive in Christ, that we were made alive and new, cleansed and redeemed, bought and paid for... there was no greater miracle in all creation than this!

God's Truth & Promises:
"God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will."
Hebrews 2:4

"If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”
John 10:37-38

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."
Acts 1:8-11

God's Miracles Are Everlasting, They Are All Around Us... He is Coming Back For His Children!

2010-06-09T21:45:00.000-07:00

VALUE

How should I treat those whom our society devalues?

Scripture To Consider:
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. "If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean," he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," He said. "Be Healed!"
Mark 1:40-41

Big T's Thought To Ponder:

If we really think about it, we were all just like lepers at one time in a sense, each one of us was still a citizen of this fallen world and captive to the sin of it. The value of a person before coming to God and accepting the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ is just like filthy dirty rags.

"We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind."
Isaiah 64:6

The value of a person is not found through the good works they do and that which can be seen on the outside. The real value of a person is found on the inside. God does not value us by our outer appearance, by our deformities, or our possible handicaps. None of us are too disgusting or ugly for God's sovereign and loving grace.

God looks beyond our outwardly appearance, past our deformities, through our worldly diseased outer shell and the ugliness of our sins within. Our heavenly Father loves us so much that He sent His beautiful and flawless Son, Jesus Christ to come and touch us... to wash us... to heal us... and to make us new beautiful creations and imitators of Himself.

When you feel ugly and unacceptable or you feel disgusted or repulsed by another, stop and remember the perfect example that God gave us all; how He touched each one of us. Stop and reach out for that ugly and deformed leper that God chooses to put in your path today and allow Jesus to touch them through each one of us today!

God's Truth & Promises:

" Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory."
Romans 15:7

"This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. "
John 15:12

"If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much."
Matthew 5:46

There is no such thing as a unlovable person, God loves all of us!

2010-06-09T03:24:00.000-07:00

WORTH

How does knowing God affect my sense of self-worth?

Scripture To Consider:

A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God.
1 Corinthians 11:7

And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:24

Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
Romans 12:3

Big T's Thought To Ponder:

We must remember His glorious truth, the same truth that has been in existence since the creation of the world. We were created by the Creator of the universe and in His perfect image and we were by Divine design created with certain Godly characteristics that we must stand in as our basis for our self-worth, our significance, our complete acceptance and our eternal security!

Our self-worth and the worth of all mankind is not based from a fallen world perspective; it is not based on our social status, it is not based on our political views, nor it is not based on our material possessions, our bank balance or annual salary, our achievements, our physical attractiveness or what we do for a living. It is solely determined and based on how we were Divinely created in the image of Christ Jesus, the Savior of the world... and God doesn't make junk!

Likewise, degrading your self-concept or thinking less of your self-worth would be like criticizing what God Almighty has created; and this would be in complete disbelief of what God has clearly told us to believe about ourselves and the abilities He blessed each of us.

We must remember that we are His Workmanship, His Masterpieces, His Precious Pearls! Yes, you and I are made in the very image of God but we owe everything we are to Him, this keeps our self-worth and self-concept in a health balance and in alignment with God's Word.

God's Truth and Promises:

We must rest in the truths of who God our Creator says we are; not the lies that the world of Satan would have us believe we are. We can never measure our weigh ourselves by worldly means, the world is contaminated and its measuring devices are distorted and Thousands of years out of calibration by God's Sovereign and Divine Compliance. Use the Eternal and Everlasting God as a means to measure who you are and what your self-worth is!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - "I have been bought with a price and I belong to God..."

Colossians 2:9-10 - "I am complete in Christ..."

Philippians 3:20 - "Our citizenship is in heaven..."

Ephesians 1:3-8 - "I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child..."

Colossians 1:13-14 - "I have been redeemed and forgive of all my sins..."

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 - "I have been established, anointed and sealed by God..."

Ephesians 2:6 - "I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm..."

Measure Your Self-Worth By The Truth Of God, Not the Lies Of Satan!

2010-06-07T03:52:00.000-07:00

FIRST STEP

I know what God wants me to do, but how do I find the courage to take that next step?

Scripture To Consider:
So the people left their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho.
Joshua 3:14-16

Big T's Thought To Ponder:
The Israelites had to have been eager after 40 years of wandering aimlessly in the wilderness with what seemed limited and barren resources. God had provided what they had needed, living on the daily manna provided them by the sovereign hand of God. But after 40 years, the lavish abundance and richness of the Land of Canan had to be a sight for sore eyes.

To finally have reached their destiny, the Promised Land, the abundant and rich land of milk and honey! The opportunity to conquer the the people living there and live the peaceful life that had been promised by Moses and Father God finally within their reach. I can only imagine the anticipation and sense of urgency they must have all felt!

God had given Joshua and His chosen people specific instruction on how and by what means to approach the raging banks of the Jordon River and how to successfully get across what must have looked much like reaching one side of the Grand Canyon and being worlds apart from where they wanted to be. That helpless feeling of, "we can't get there from here"!

God gave them specific instructions: In order to get across, the high priests were instructed to take one step into the raging rapids of the Jordan! One step that could leave them 1,000 yards down river and drowned for any of those of you have have white water rafted you know what I am talking about. What if Joshua and the priests would have been too afraid to take the step of faith?

More times than not, it would appear that God provides us no solution to our problems until we trust Him and move forward in obedience by taking that first step we know we should take. What are the Jordan Rivers, Grand Canyons and seemingly impossible obstacles in you life?

In obedience to God, take that first step in faith into the deep water and allow God to guide you to the promises and goodness He has Divinely planned for your life. Be strong and courageous!

God's Truth & Promises:
God will never lead us into a trial, into trouble or into a raging storm of life without carrying us and delivering us through to the other side - Stand strong and be courageous!

"And He did rescue us from mortal danger, and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us.
2 Corinthians 1:10 (NLT)

"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed"
Deuteronomy 31:8

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those whose hope is in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint"
Isaiah 40:28-31

Take The Steps Of Faith God Has Called and Equipped You For, He Is Always There To See Us To Safety!

2010-06-02T17:18:00.000-07:00

COMMITMENT

How can I remain focused in my commitment to God?

Scriptures To Consider:
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:11-13 (NIV)

And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.
Romans 2:16 (NLT)

Big T's Thought To Ponder:
My first thought: We must go directly to our eternal resource, the Creator of all things. Only there can we see the perfected and flawless example of what commitment looks like. Biblical commitment is the Sovereignty of God's Character!

Two extraordinary examples of the character and commitment of the Almighty "I AM", that we will forever have an impossible time getting our finite minds around, are: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son"... John 3:16a "For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, He will not fail you or forsake you"... Deuteronomy 31:6c

By God's Divine Design, we were made to be committed! "So God created man in His own image"... Genesis 1:27a. Our capacity to commit comes through God's Grace and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit - Acts 1:4-8. "If 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!" Luke 11:13

One commitment we are all called to make: A commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

How can we remain focused in our commitment to God? As we can see, it's all about God! He is the provider of all things, our love; our joy; our peace; our patience; our kindness; our goodness... faithfulness... gentleness... self-control... strength and our wisdom!

Commit to daily prayer:

A simple structure for effective prayer is "A.C.T.S.":

Adoration: Simply acknowledge God for who He is, His greatness and His holiness...
Confession: Confess any sin in your life and ask for deliverance and brokenness...
Thanksgiving: Thank God for all things, His creation, His provision, Our salvation and His answers to your prayers
Supplication: Ask God to supply your needs, ask Him to provide all you need to do all he asks of you...

"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; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."
1 Timothy 2:1-6

Commit to reading, meditating, memorizing & internalizing the Word:

Read something from scripture every day and meditate on what God would have you understand from it. "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."
Romans 10:17

Commit to serve others:

A great place to begin serving is at home, at work and at church. "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
1 Peter 4:10-11

Commit to trusting your Savior:

This is our most critical commitment and primary focus! It all starts with trusting and surrendering to self and then committing to these other God Breathed instructions for becoming Christ like.

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
Romans 10:9-10

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

God's Truth & Promises:
If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to your mountain, "MOVE!" and it WILL move... and NOTHING will be impossible for YOU!
Matthew 17:20

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:25-34

Love the LORD your God with all your Heart, with all your Soul, with all your Mind and all your Strength!

2010-06-01T18:30:00.000-07:00

MAKING PEACE

What does it look like to live in peace with others?

Scriptures To Consider:
For, The one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue
Peter 3:10-11 (NLT)

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.
Psalm 34:12-13

Big T's Thought To Ponder:
I think one of the best places to start is in the Beatitudes: Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them saying: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." We are called to be peacemakers as sons of Christ, it is one of His many indwelling attributes.
Matthew 5:1; 9

James gives us direct and specific reasons why peace is such a great benefit towards our spiritual prosperity and relationship building: "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." Show me a peaceful spirit or peacemaker as James has illustrated and I think we will find Christian maturity more times then not. To be at complete peace in the world, is to be in oneness with the Holy Spirit. I truly believe there is a direct connection between being at peace within yourself and with all the relationships around you; and being in complete union with Christ and I think that peace can start right here while we are still in the world.
James 3:17-18

The four gospels don't make many mentions about peace, but one given on the eve of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is very revealing: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." When we really internalize this verse it brings so much clarity to who is in control of all things, every Divine breath He gives us, each beat of our heart, every pure thought and all goodness that we possess. We have been blessed with the living Spirit of God dwelling within us as believers, why is it so difficult to live out each and every moment of each and every day in complete peace as He instructs us in this verse, right before He gave His live for us?
John 14:27

Jesus gives us insight to unavoidable troubles we are all sure to face while we are here in the world. He gives us an awesome promise of encouragement for the raging storms of life that will prove unbearable, a blanket of truth to wrap ourselves in during the toughest trials we will ever face; and an anchor of hope to bury deep into the immovable and unshakable bedrock of Jesus Christ! He says: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." The only place that we can ever find lasting peace is in Christ, this is the peace that is to carry us through our darkest moments in life. We are to count our trials as blessing and to fear not, but to be living examples of the peace we have been given for all the the world to see -this is the essence of our light shining bright... We are called to share it with our family, friends, neighbors, brother's and sister's in Christ and all those He allows to cross our path, by living it - WOW, that's awesome!!!
John 16:33

How glorious it would be to be free of all the burdens of living in this dangerous, unstable, violent world, but as sons of God such is not our lot in life. God has called us to a life that runs in opposition to the majority of this world's practices and attitudes. As such, we are caught not only in the general events and circumstances generated in the world, but also when we directly irritate and anger those close to us by determinedly following God's way.

I have experienced this very irritation and anger by sharing these daily devotionals with some of my own family members, many have opted not to receive it. I could stop sending them all together and believed the lie that satan would have me believe, that there is no value in continuing; or I could choose the live in the peace of Christ in me and stand on His truth; that His Word never comes back void or empty! I choose to have peace and to leave the consequences up to God for those who persecute me for who I am in Christ. I replied to my family members with a letter of love and kindness that they would have never expected to receive from the old man that once lived.

Paul tells us: "For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father."
Ephesians 2:14-18

Paul goes on to say: "We cannot be right with God unless we are also right with men. Make peace quickly; do not let the sun go down on your wrath." "Hatred is sin, and sin separates us from God."
Ephesians 4:26; 1 John 4:20

Paul also writes in Romans about our peace in Christ Jesus; "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."
Romans 5:1-2

God's Truths and Instruction:
When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
Proverbs 16:7

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14

Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:11

Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.

2010-05-26T18:05:00.000-07:00

CHURCH

Can I help make my church more attractive to unbelievers?

Scriptures To Consider:
"Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find."
Matthew 22:8-9

"Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. "
Acts 2:43

"Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved."
Acts 2:46-47

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. "
Acts 4:13

Big T's Thought To Ponder:
When it comes to sharing our faith as Christians, many of us are unsure of how to witness to others. Evangelism, sharing our faith, are an essential parts of fellowship within the Church. As believers in Christ we are all familiar with the "Great Commission" given by Jesus in the book of Matthew.

The Church is the Bride of Christ. We, as the bride, have been left here to prepare for the wedding. Jesus related the Kingdom of Heaven to a wedding feast in Matthew 22. He tells us in verses 8 & 9 what the king says.

We must be about the business God has placed before us - to invite others to the Wedding... to introduce others to the love of Christ. Therefore, we must learn effective ways of how to witness.

"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

Yet, how many of us live this out in our everyday lives? Whether we call it witnessing, sharing our testimony or evangelism, to many of us it brings fear and nervousness to our heart. It seems to be an overwhelming task which we don't feel equipped to tackle.

In reality this isn't the case though. Jesus has given us a simple command: to share Him with others. Let's learn how to witness!

A friend once told me, "If your neighbor's house was on fire and he was in danger, wouldn't you tell him?" That's just the case here spiritually. Many of our family members, our neighbors, people we meet every day are living a life that will end in destruction unless someone shares the hope of Christ with them.

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
1 Peter 3:15

God's Challenge:
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:22

Be Bold and Excited, Stand Up for Christ, He is Counting on Us!

2010-05-25T17:30:00.000-07:00

BOLDNESS

When I stand boldly for God, what outcomes can I expect?

Scripture To Consider:

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13

Big T's Thoughts To Ponder:

God ask us to show boldness whether we are serving Him in the marketplace or we are serving Him within the church; whether we are at the golf course or at the gas station; whether we are sitting on an airplane or around the campfire; around our friends or around perfect strangers.

Wherever we are, that is where we are called to be the salt of the earth and to be ready to stand bold as ambassadors for our Lord and Savior.

Webster says boldness is:

The trait of being willing to undertake things that involve risk or danger;
Impudent aggressiveness;
The quality of standing out strongly and distinctly

Christlike boldness is an important skill-set for all followers of Christ. It speaks to us about quiet confidence, soldout faithfulness, inner strength, and certainty in our lives. Christian believers are challenged daily, yet we are encouraged to engage God boldly and to find confidence in our Savior, Jesus Christ. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

Boldness does not mean that we are to be boisterous, loud, obnoxious or unruly. Rather, God intended boldness as a means of knowing that He is with each of us every day as we wake, at work, at school, at play and as we lay your head to rest. We will know boldness if we abide in Jesus for He abides within us.
John 15:1-8

What does God want us to do with our boldness? I believe that God’s plan is for us to use our boldness to tell others about His glory and goodness. He asks us to:

Use our boldness to receive wisdom from our pastors, mentors and other spiritually gifted believers God puts in our path.
Be confident and have certainty as we read the Word; as we study the Word and as we internalize the Word.
Share your boldness about God with others, believers and non-believers alike.

What is the outcome of my boldness? I believe God expects your boldness and its message to be simple and automatic. Just be yourself and leave the consequences up to God - people will marvel, seeing Christ in you just as they did with Peter and John.

We should remain teachable; do our best always and seek obedience.
Model God’s goodness and grace in our lives under all circumstances.
Praise God daily and thank him for all our many blessings that have come from our boldness in service to Him.
The greatest outcome of our boldness are through the seeds sown and fruit which is yielded: saved souls!

Are you bold for God? Today, start a list of the ways that you are bold for God. If you have difficulty making the list, step away from it for a day and return later in the week to complete your list. Can’t do it? Pray and ask God to show you boldness -Ask, Seek and Knock!

Praise God for giving you the ability to think about boldness. Coming into boldness for God does not happen overnight. Boldness is nurtured in our faith, strengthened by goodness and mercy, then practiced with celebration and honor!

His Truths & Promises:

You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. And people don't hide a light under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand so the light shines for all the people in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise you Father in Heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

This work must continue until we are all joined together in the same faith and in the same knowledge of the Son of God. We must become like a mature person, growing until we become like Christ and have His perfection.

Ephesians 4:13

Anyone who speaks should speak words from God. Anyone who serves should serve with the strength God gives so that in everything God will be praised through Jesus Christ. Power and glory belong to Him forever and ever.

1 Peter 4:11

Be Bold For The Lord, For He Is Going To Do Great Things Through You!

2010-05-24T21:20:00.000-07:00

TALKING ABOUT IT

Where can I get the confidence to talk to others about God?

Scriptures To Consider:
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
2 Timothy 1:8-9

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Acts 1:8

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
Ephesians 3:20

Big T's Thought To Ponder:
The power, strength, courage and confidence to witness to the good news of Jesus Christ and the good things He has done in our lives doesn't come by our own strength, it comes from our Helper and Guide, the Holy Spirit.

I was recently asked to teach a bible study at my church and I had prepared a wonderful study that I saw Dr. Charles Stanley share on temptation. I had really invested quite a bit of time putting it together and adding my own life experiences to it. Again, I literally stayed up until 2am the night before, making sure everything was just right and that I was perfectly prepared to speak about temptation. It was polished and ready for delivery on Wednesday night!

You have to understand a couple other significant details; regardless of all the polishing and practising, I always seem to lack confidence to get up in front of a crowd and speak about God. Don't ask me way. I can get up in front of thirty senior engineers from NASA and talk about the damaging effects of static electricity, but for some reason I just get as nervous as can be when it comes to speaking about God in front of a crowd of any size.

Well, it was Wednesday night and sure enough I was just a ball of nerves. I had asked a brother from church to help me with the actual delivery of the message on temptation; he agreed to help me. It was just a couple hours before our class and I received a call from my brother letting me know that he won't be able to help me because he was called away on an emergency. Wonderful I thought to myself, now what?

Within a minute or two after the wonderful news that I was on my own, another brother in Christ had called and said that He would like to support me by attending the service, he is also a Pastor. I felt immediately relieved and at ease, asking if he would be willing to help me with my presentation... he agreed. Great!

I made sure that I arrived to the church in plenty of time and I spent the better part of an hour drafting my study outline onto a gigantic white board in our study hall. It was looking good and my confidence was growing moment by moment. My Pastor friend Dave called and ask if I had started, and I explained that the white board was complete and I was feeling pretty darn good about everything. "I'm on my way to the church", he replied!

When Dave arrived, he looked a this white board that had been perfectly crafted, every detail present and the stage was set. He said, "can I be honest with you?" I replied with hesitance, sure... He responded, "you didn't write this study did you?" No, it is a study from Dr. Charles Stanley, I replied... Dave said as he points to the white board, "that isn't you and it certainly doesn't illustrate the passion that you have for Jesus Christ, not the passion I read in your morning devotionals... I think you should scrap it and consider teaching on something else tonight". What? "I can't, I replied!!!" "This is all I have prepared, I just can't do it Dave"

Dave went on to share his reasoning why he thought I should be teaching about what I have passion for, and what I write about each morning in my daily devotionals of encouragement.

I let him know that his idea was wonderful, but he was about a week too late in his recommendation. "There is no possible way I am teaching on anything other than temptation", I replied with some doubt. He kept at me until the point I was wishing: 1). that I wouldn't have ask for his advise; 2). that he would just go away; 3). that a miracle of God would come and I wouldn't have to teach at all.

When my so called friend Pastor Dave began to quote the truths of God's Word, I began to well up inside and I knew at that moment in time I needed to share a different message that night. I also knew that at this juncture, any confidence that I had to teach about temptation was shot and out the window anyway!

It was 5 minutes until show time and Dave just erased my entire white board! My stomach dropped to my knees, satan was giving me every reason to doubt myself and be discouraged... Great, now what I replied? Dave said, "teach from your heart, teach about that book marker you have setting there". The book marker was entitled, "Who I am in Christ"... The group was starting to fill the room and I was a complete and utter mess! I told Dave that I had to take a quick walk outside.

I walked outside and considered jumping in my truck and going anywhere but back into that study hall! Instead I laid across the of hood of my truck and prayed and cried out for the strength, the courage and the words to teach something that would honor and glorify my Father. I remember saying, "God if you don't give me the words right now, I am going to get up there and I am going to be a babbling idiot!"

Let me tell you something. I spoke and taught from a book marker that night and really couldn't begin to exactly tell you what it was I said, but I can witness to the fact that God gave me His immediate strength, His courage; weird sense of peace and calmness! He gave me every single word that came from my mouth, they were surely given to me by the power of the Holy Spirit Himself!

It is my deepest wish that everyone reading this devotion could have a brother or sister in Christ like Dave, who out of pure love and God's goodness saw Christ in me, when I couldn't see the forest through the trees. We are to edify and encourage each other; to challenge and hold each other to a higher standard and to sharpen each other out of Love for the glory of Jesus Christ. Thanks Dave!

It was the most freeing and awesome experience of this journey and I had been blessed with what could only be explained as God's Divine Faithfulness. Paul describes my night perfectly in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, he says:

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5

God's Promises:
All that the Father has is mine... I tell you the truth, my Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy.
John 16:15, 23-24

Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.
Philippians 4:6

I love the Lord, because He listens to my prayers for help. He paid attention to me, so I will call to Him for help as long as I live.
Psalm 116:1-2

We Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Us!

2010-05-23T19:45:00.000-07:00

STANDING FOR GOD

Will God come to my rescue when I stand up for him?

Scriptures To Consider:
In some of my darkest and troubling moments during my journey, I have always held on to this scripture from Isaiah.

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior...
Isaiah 43:2-3

Big T's Thought To Ponder:
I think that it is human nature to desire avoiding persecution at all costs; it goes completely against the grain of who we are as human beings to stand up against the crowd. It is just our nature to avoid being left out and shunned by the in-crowd, when we can take the path of least resistance and just go with the flow to avoid the pressures of not fitting in, or not being accepted.

Let's face it, we all desire acceptance, this is something that was build into our DNA and from the time we were born we had a need of acceptance. The reality is that we want to be accepted by our family, friends, peers, co-workers and any social grouping we may be involved.

We want to be liked! We hunger for the affection, respect and approval of others around us - at home, at church and at the workplace. Wherever we are, we require and have the desire for acceptance! No one enjoys being embarrassed, humiliated, ridiculed abandoned or persecuted by others, in fact we avoid this like the plague. Bottom line, we just want to go with the flow and fit in somewhere because we don't want to be alone or isolated from others.

Since Christ's ministry here on earth over two thousand years ago, human nature has remained unchanged. We have the same fears today as they had a couple thousand years ago, we have a natural fear of intimidation and persecution.

During the ministry of Jesus Christ on earth, people feared to speak about Jesus Christ openly for fear that they would not only be persecuted and considered an outcast, but could possibly be stoned and/or put to death. The Pharisees had threatened to take action against anyone speaking about Jesus Christ.

Probable the most well know examples of denying Jesus Christ was the disciple Peter. Peter had denied Jesus three times for fear of being exposed as an associate, a follower or a disciple of Jesus Christ. His fear of being ridiculed, persecuted, banished from the synagogues, or put to death for being found guilty by association.

True Christianity takes courage! In today's world things are so similar, we are still persecuted for being believers in Christ. In some countries today they are still slaying and putting people to death for being followers of Christ and living by His Word. Even through all the persecution and abandonment, His people, the Body of Christ are growing, standing united and strong in Him. I love the verse I stumbled upon this morning, it says: "We ought to obey God rather than men"!!!
Acts 5:29

Very important truths that should be considered:
(1). Our acceptance is found in Jesus Christ alone; not in the world and not through mankind. In the world we can find temporary acceptance if we can perform to mankind's fallen standards. In Jesus Christ we have eternal acceptance just for showing up and believing; we don't have to perform for our acceptance - we were created in His image and He considers us His Masterpieces!
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
(2). As believers, we don't have to be fearful of witnessing for Jesus Christ for we are not alone, we have been given the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. Paul tells us "For God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind"
2 Timothy 1:7

As believers we need to understand that being indwelt by the Holy Spirit doesn't give us instantaneous courage, power and love. We grow in these Godly attributes by yielding to God through listening and abiding in Christ and following the instruction of our Guide and Helper, the Holy Spirit.

If we are going to fight the good fight we must be equipped with the most powerful weapon available to us, this is the Word of God! Knowing, understanding and internalizing the Scriptures allows us to be strong and courageous for Jesus Christ. There is nothing more powerful the the Truths and Promises of Jesus Christ and they prepare us for battle.

John tells us "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love". I am going to be praying for a greater understand and trying to get my head around this verse for a while! I guess John is trying to tell us that in some ways love and fear are enemies with each other and in total opposition. It would appear that Love's closest partner is confidence. When we are completely confident, we do not fear that we can do what is required of us. I guess my problem is that I have not perfected love, and so, I still have fear.
1 John 4:18

Our greatest instruction: "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength." I think when this actually takes place in us, then and only then can our Love be made perfect, perfect in Christ!
Deuteronomy 6:5

God's Truths:
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11 (NAS)

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Proverbs 28:1

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
Psalm 34:17

We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.
John 9:31

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:39 (NIV)

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

2010-05-20T05:04:00.000-07:00

CHARACTER
What is one of the marks of a person of strong character?

Scriptures To Consider:

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:26-27

Satan Attacks Job's Character: Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and satan also came among them. And the LORD said to satan, “From where do you come?” So satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Then the LORD said to satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” So satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” And the LORD said to satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Job 1:6-12

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:3-5

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:3-5

Character of the New Man: Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:12-17

Big T's Thoughts To Ponder:
I just love this tread of scripture the Holy Spirit put on my heart this morning, there is nothing greater than the truths and simple instructions of Chirst. Starting in the beginning...

In the beginning God created each of us in His perfect image and likeness! This is amazing and could be a devotional all by itself. He could have given us perfected character right then and there; and He did! Adam and Eve had perfected God given character right from the get-go! The Word doesn't just say that we were created in the image of God, but also in the likeness of God!

Just as it happened in the garden when satan came to kill, steal and destroy Eve's identity, righteous, purity and life itself in it's perfect form, through his tempting lies and deception, he also robbed her of her perfect Godly character. This is a prime illustration of John 10:10 and just how he tried to do the same in the life of Job. But through every trial and repeated attacks from satan Job never compromised his trust and faith in God, he held onto the God given character marks he had been blessed with by our Abba Father.

When we begin to believe and understand scriptures like 2 Corinthians 5:3-5 as truth, we realize it is about being reconciled to God and yet, even more than that, it points us to an amazing privilege we have inherited, yet carrying a great responsibility. Paul indicates that as the members of Christ's church, we are also ambassadors for Him. What an amazing thought!

Paul tells us that anyone who has come to Christ... who has made the decision to trust... anyone who has been baptized into faith in Christ, we are new creations in Jesus Christ and have been reconciled in Christ! While we still live here in the fallen world physically, spiritually we have been adopted in the His new world ruled by the Holy Spirit -Wow! Galatians 2:20 tells us that we have been crucified in Christ and that it is no longer us who live, but Christ who lives in us.

So we were created in His image and likeness as believers, He has taken up residency in us. He has called us His Children... His Workmanship... and His Ambassadors. If all this is true and we know that it is the very essence of truth, we should also know that are character of Christ is being perfected in us with each day of His Divine transforming process.

This brings us to Colossians 3:12-17 and the examples of the character marks we are called to be; Kind, Patient, Meek , Joyful, Peaceful, Merciful, Humble, Forgiving and the greatest character mark of al is loving. When we are obedient to the Holy Spirit and walk in oneness, we are now representatives and ambassadors of Christ and He can use us to fulfill His Will through the gift(s) He has blessed us.

God's Truths:

Paul says in v. 21, God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the
righteousness of God. So what is our big takeaway today?

We were given reconciliation, freedom and complete victory over satan's lies...
We have had the ministry of reconciliation committed to us...
We have become the righteousness of God...
We are ambassadors into this world of the most wonderful message ever delivered to mankind and He has entrusted us to share and carry in to all ends of the earth!
We are created in the image and likeness of Christ and share similar character marks...

We are called to be His ambassadors, walk in the character you have been given and share His wonder and amazing news with the world!

2010-05-18T15:47:00.000-07:00

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

How can I make a difference in the lives of those around me?

Scripture To Consider:
For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Romans 12:4-5

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.
Romans 12:10

Big T's Thought To Ponder:
We talked about Love yesterday's devotional, this is a great start to making a difference in the lives around you; it's actually the foundation and cornerstone to every relationship we will ever have.

I believe that we are to connect with one another and to be intentional about lifting each other up spiritually and encouraging one another in Christ. Connectivity, with each other is the big take away today!

We are the "Body" of Christ, "individually members of one another" as Paul tells us in the scriptures above. Based on these verses in Romans, Paul would make it sound like we actually need each other!

"For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ." Paul goes on the say in v.14,"For in fact the body is not one member but many." "But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?"
I Corinthians 12:12; 12:14; 12:18

"Where would we be" Paul asks. We were created for each other, to love one another, to support one another, to encourage one another to edify and build upon each other in Christ Jesus. We actually Need each other and are to be United together as one in Christ.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 and it clearly says that we need each other and by His design we are being called to come together, to be there for each other as a family in time of need, to support each other spiritually, financially and generously giving of the gifts and talents we have been given. I love the culture my pastor is building with the simple instruction of sharing of our time, our talents, our treasures and our touch - this is what investing in others looks like!

I think this is one of the biggest reasons God wants us Christ-Centered and not Self-Centered. When we put self first there never seems to be room for others. I can speak from experience when I say, that I know what self-centered Independence looks like - it's a very lonely place!

I have a friend Larry that helped me with this, by sharing a simple acronym called JOY. He said that it should be considered my priority in how I live my life and the actual order in which I needed to live my life if I wanted to be a Christian that was intentional about Christ.

Jesus: always first in life; in all things said and done...
Others: put others next; start w/ your wife, then kids...
Yourself: put yourself last in all things; be first with Christ...

How can we make a difference in the lives of others around us? Take notice of others, invest in them, develop and grow an authentic relationship in Christ with each of them. By God's Divine design, he is counting on each of us to be intentional about the neighbors that he has put in our path.

God's Promises:
"My brothers and sisters, God called you to be free, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful self. Serve each other with love. The whole law is made complete in this one command: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."
Galatians 5:13-14

"Let us think about each other and help each other to show love and do good deeds".
Hebrews 10:24

"In the same way, younger people should be willing to be under older people. And all of you should be very humble with each other. God is against the proud, but he gives to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5

2010-05-18T01:23:00.000-07:00

LOVE

How can I grow in my love for others?

Big T's Thought To Ponder:

To understand how to grow in love for others we must first understand what love is and where does it comes from. My first thought, what does love look like? One of the most beautiful verses in scripture tells us what love looks like and is described by Paul in I Corinthinans 13.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

I Corinthians 13:4-8

As I was internalizing this verse, I began to realize that the love being described by Paul wasn't only a beautiful description of what love is and what it is not, but Paul was actually describing someone to us. I started to plug one glorious Word into and throughout this verse and the Word came alive in my heart this morning - "Jesus"!

Jesus is patient; Jesus is kind; Jesus does not not envy; Jesus does not boast; Jesus is not prideful; Jesus is not rude, Jesus is not self-seeking, Jesus is not easily angered, Jesus keeps no record of wrongs; Jesus does not delight in evil, but Jesus rejoices with the truth. Jesus always projects, always, trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. Love never fails...

Jesus is love!

God's Truths:

The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

I John 4:8

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

I John 4:7; 4:16

A Worldly Perspective:

How does the world define love? Webster says:

(1) : based on a strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties
(2) : attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers
(3) : affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests

First, I don't recommend you trying a Google search on the word "love". Secondly, don't we have it all messed up! "Affection", "Desire", "Feeling", these are all emotional descriptors. Love isn't a feeling and it certainly isn't an emotion, it's relational! We have watered down the word love and perverted it to the point of no longer being able to truly understand what it means to truly love each other and/or to be loved as God intended.

Take note of the common treat in the definition of love from a worldly perspective: "based on". This implies that we love conditionally. In other words we love each other because we are attracted to one another, or because someone makes us feel accepted, or because they fulfill a desire, need or condition we have. The sinful nature of the nature man is to find our acceptance apart from God - This is not love.

We are all guilty of it. How many times have we said or indicated through out actions, "I love you because your beautiful"; "I love you because I enjoy spending time with you"; "I love you because your funny"; "I love you because you complete me", because, because, because... Our love is not only conditional, it is also erratic and build upon sinking sand. We love based on feelings and emotions that can change from one moment to the next, and do!

It makes perfect sense, look at the divorce rate in the world today, it's through the roof because we stop loving each other, we "fall out of love". We only fall out of love because we never understood love as God intended us to understand it. It is difficult for us to fully comprehend unconditional love, "till death do us part". In the world this typically means, we can part from each other when the flame goes out; when there's a little adversity in our relationship, or when there's some uncomfortable unpleasantries in life. "Till death do us part" means until which time God brings us home - marriage is a relationship and an eternal covenant with God, it is His love (Jesus Christ), that hold it all together!

Can any of us really comprehend "unconditional" love? God's definition and one of the most wonderful truths found in scripture is John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

So God helps us understand love through the act of giving. This wasn't just a thoughtful gesture, a gift or present... God sacrificed His only Son so that whoever would put their faith in Jesus Christ the Son of His love, wouldn't have to spend eternity apart from their Creator. Now this is amazing love!

God Is Love:

While we made the choice to be separated from God through our sinful nature, God loved us so much that He sent Love as a intense personal sacrifice so that we could understand love -unconditional, unmerited, Agape Love for eternity! Another awesome truth that illustrates God's unconditional love is found in Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

In both of God's truths above, you'll notice that there are no conditions placed on God's love for us. Nowhere does He say, if you do this... and if you'll act like that... as soon as you get your act together I'll love you. He never said, "I will sacrifice my Son, but you have to promise to love Me in return." Romans 5:8 and John 3:16 are both quite to the contrary - believe and trust!

God's greatest desire is that we understand that His love for us is unconditional; and even when we are unlovable lost souls to this world, He still sent Love, His son Jesus Christ, so that we could have and understand love through His perfect sacrifice. His love for us has always existed, and because of that, He did all the giving and sacrificing long before we were even aware that we needed His love.

God's Promise:

It's Unconditional! God is Love, and His love is very different from human love. God's love is forever and completely unconditional with no string attached - It's not based on feelings or emotions! He doesn't love us because we're lovable or because He need us or because we make Him feel good; He loves us because He is love. He created us to have a loving relationship with Him, and He sacrificed His own Son to restore that relationship.

Love never fails! And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

2010-05-14T01:25:00.000-07:00

TESTIMONY

What are the ways in which my life can be a testimony for Jesus?

God's Response:
The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13

Those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in Him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
1 John 2:5-6

Our Takeaway:
Knowing that Peter and John were ordinary men, the council was amazed at what being with Jesus had done for them. No longer were they backward, fearful disciples. Now, through the Holy Spirit, they were courageous and able to boldly share the truth of Jesus with others.

A changed life convinces people of Christ's power. One of your clearest testimonies is the difference others see in your life and attitudes since you believed in Christ.

God's Challenge:
Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then, even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior and they will give honor to God when He judges the world.
1 Peter 2:12

Big T's Thought to Ponder:
I have mentioned this before in past devotions and I was reminded of it again this morning. I have never understood why people refer to it as "our testimony". Shouldn't it be called "His Testimony" and our witness or life account of all the wonderful things Jesus Christ is doing in our lives; as He molds us and grows us up, as He transforms our minds and shapes our hearts, and as He pours His understanding and love into each one of our lives, revealing Himself and who He is in each one of us and who we are in Him.
John 15:1-11

Jesus had just performed a miracle in this guys life, a guy that satan had a hold of and Mark tells us that Jesus told him to, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how He had mercy on you". I believe "your family" in this context meant, everybody that the man would came in contact with. Shout it to the ends of the earth!
Mark 5:19

This is His testimony for my life.
1 Peter 3:15

For the better part of forty-six years, like the demon possessed man Jesus healed in Mark 5:19, I too allowed satan to control and rule my life. I truly experienced every lustful and perverted pleasure this fallen world had to offer. I was a self-made, self-indulgent, prideful and arrogant entrepreneur; a shell of a man that didn't even have God on the radar screen, yet I had been blessed from head-to-toe. I was as lost and as far away from God as anyone could possibly imagine, never realizing that Jesus was right there all along just waiting and protecting!
Romans 5:8

Even in the midst of the cocaine parties, booze cruises, and the hedonism getaways in far and distant lands, the Lord always had some sort of hedge of protection around me. I tell you the truth, it's truly only by the Grace of God that I am here this morning to witness to any of this.
Ezekiel 33:11; 1 Timothy 1:15-16

I was captured by and in complete bondage to a thirty-six year drug addiction, serious alcoholic binging, and living completely over the edge in what seemed to be an endless pleasure paradox and quest for happiness and fullness of life. I had been blessed by God with a wife that was a saint in comparison; given two beautiful little daughters who rarely saw their daddy and a much older son heading in the wrong direction, never realizing that the little footsteps of a child are sure to follow.
Romans 8:20-21

Consumed and controlled by the all mighty dollar, which there was no shortage of in my life due to a ten-year-old global reach business that God groomed me into. It grew into my personal resource center for all the capital required to live this "successful life style" in which I was consumed by.
1 Timothy 6:10

Consumed to consume, the desire to acquire... This resource center allowed me to live in fancy houses, to drive the flashy cars, drip with gold and diamonds, eat and play at the finest restaurants and country clubs. It allowed me to afford the world travel and frequent Las Vegas getaways disguised as a businessman's busyness.
1 John 2:15-16

By all the standards and values taught and accepted by the fallen world in which we live: work-hard-play-harder mindset, I had truly reached the pinnacle of life, living the American dream! When I had reached the very peak of world success, God finally opened my eyes! It was barren, it was a dead ended road, and it wreaked of death and darkness! This was the night I was rushed to the emergency room, with what I thought was a heart attack.
2 Corinthians 1:4

As I sat in my living room, I felt overtaken and consumed by something I can't fully explain in words, but can only be described as a feeling and sense that life here was over and that I was getting ready to depart from this place. I feared for my life! I screamed for my wife, I huddled down on the floor with my wife and kids- the ones I realized, at that moment, that I truly loved more than life itself. I cried out to God not to take my life and to take care of my family because I knew I wasn't going to make it!

God delivered me to the hospital and I had four days to consider where I was in life and how in the world did I get to such a dark and desperate place. Although there was never any medical explanation of what happened on that dark and fearful night of March 13, 2008, God opened my eyes to reality, gave me hope, stopped the madness and a whole lot more! The only way to describe in words what happened in that hospital over those few days was that God flipped some sort of "Off Switch" inside of me.

From there, God basically laid out a series of events in my life that I can only explain as supernatural and the Divine Plan of Jesus Christ for my life. God had a cure for every disease in my life. When I say disease, I refer to the addictions that are too lengthy to mention; the broken relationships -with my marriage, with my kids and family; my business and the poison I had bred into it and endless other things that I can't begin to list. I want to share a few of His miracles in some sort of chronological order as He began His Divine house cleaning in my life:

"His Off Switch": I was a 3-pack a day smoker, daily pot smoker, cocaine abusing, binge drinker. After March 13, 2008, I never had the slightest desire to do any of these things again; He had set me free and broken the chains of bondage I had been captured by, all for His greater purpose and glory.
Philippians 4:13
"His House Cleaning": Several days after getting out of the hospital, I was sitting at work, and the Holy Spirit called me home to clean house. I went home and cleansed my house of all the worlds temptations. I flushed the contents of my so-called fun box and poured out an entire private stock of gallons upon gallons of satan's assorted pleasures and poisons.
Joshua 24:15b
"Success that Mattered To God": My wife had signed me up for, "Man in the Mirror - Success that matters"- a men's conference, months prior to March 13th. I had no intention of ever going and actually already had an exit strategy orchestrated. The Holy Spirit planted me there that Saturday morning and as I listened to one of the speakers life account of his own out of control and messed up life, I thought to myself, "surely there can't be two of us in this world that have lived this kind of life?" When there was a calling to pray that prayer, I made a second decision for Christ, praying a similar prayer to the prayer I cried out back in March, just to be certain that God heard me.
1 John 5:14-15
"Honesty Is God's Best Policy": After (16) years of marriage, my wife finally popped the question, the one that terrified me! "Have you ever cheated on me?" At that moment, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and basically said, "Tony, you have one shot at this- you have lied to everyone in your life for forty-six years; I can clear the slate today and allow the healing to begin, if you'll just be honest for the first time in your life... right now tell her EVERYTHING!" "Everything?" Everything! I knew at that precise moment that I was not only about to lose my wife, I was also going to lose my children. I had some weird kind of peace and decided to just trust God! I cleaned out the closest and shared every dirty little secret of my life that morning- the prostitutes, pornography, mistresses, drug addictions, everything! I didn't hold one thing back and in the process of all my realness, I ripped out my wifes heart. She had no idea of the man she had been married to for the last 16 years, but God knew that she was spiritually strong enough to hear the truth, the truth that would begin to set us both free from the grips and lies of satan.
Colossians 3:5-10
"Weekend to Remember God": Again, in Gods Divine plan, my wife had signed us up for some Christian couples getaway thing at church and again, I had an exit strategy already prepared. Still feeling the wake from the closet cleaning experience just a week prior, the roles were reversed for this weekend outing. I didn't need an exit strategy, I needed a miracle sent from God to convince my wife to go with me to this 'Weekend to Remember' Christian couples getaway! My wife loved the new man that God had been transforming since March 13th , but she hated the old sinful man she thought she once knew. I simply asked her if she would join the new man for a weekend of healing and renewing - leaving all the consequences up to God for a favorable outcome! God truly gave us this weekend- the love letters, the date night on the premier weekend of the movie Fireproof, and a special anonymous book called the "The Love Dare". It was too perfect to be anything other than God's sovereign hand upon us. Our marriage was supernaturally brought into oneness with Christ and it was restored to the eternal covenant we had committed to 16 years prior, but never experienced.
Ephesians 5:25-33; Ephesians 4:16-24; Colossians 3:9-11; Romans 6:6-14
My Resource Center?: God had been completely transforming my life- it was overwhelming to me! There were still so many uncertainties, so many things standing between me and my Savior. God was revealing to me all the poison and corruption that I had built into my company- the resource center that helped fund all the things the old man once desired and the same thing the new man despised! And again, my wonderful wife who was always looking after her husbands best interests, had signed us up for another one of these Christan conferences! It was some Financial Peace gig and a guy named Dave Ramsey. I went just because the guy was a Christian and I remember as I watched Dave on stage, talking about managing the resources that God has entrusted us. He kept giving biblical account to how we are called to be good stewards of the green stuff and that it ALL belonged to God. I was blown away by his teaching about handling personal finances and his sensible action plan for living a debt-free life. At the end of the show, Dave called business owners to the stage and he shared with us his one-week, intensive business seminar in Mexico- one which he would be sharing similar biblical values, but applying them to our business, verses our personal finances in FPU. It was called "EntreLeadership". My wife and I attended the event in Cancun that November and the personal one-on-one time my wife and I had the opportunity to spend with Dave, his wife Sharron, their kids, and his team was beyond awesome; it was a God-given opportunity to be mentored by this man! Dave Ramsey gave me the ingredients and a fundamental launching platform to build a Christian foundation for Ground Zero Electrostatics; to see the commonalities between a static control business and the Kingdom of God. It all sounded pretty weird, but something felt so right.
1 Chronicles 31:11; Isaiah 45:7; Romans 8:28
His Ministry: Dave Ramsey and the EntreLeadership program gave us the cement and rebar to pour a Christian foundation, which has beared much fruit for the Kingdom. He was beginning to reveal to me how Static Control and God fit together and what that looked like. So we had a solid foundation coming together, but we had no framework and not enough intentional Christians call-to-action. That's when a group called C-12 came into my life. It was a complete God thing, with multiple people all non-related to one another, telling me about this C-12 thing. "What is it?" I asked one business consultant from Chicago. "It's a Christan organization made up of local Christian CEO's, presidents and business owners. A group of peer-to-peer accountability partners that meet once a month and act as a board of directors and/or advisors." After about the fourth time God put C-12 in my path, I finally wised up, submitted and joined the group one week later. God had blessed us with the Christian, biblically-based foundation and C-12 was the actual framework- the Christian call-to-action, the wise council, and the conduit that God knew I needed to weather the eminent storms ahead. C-12 was the voice of God's wisdom that helped me realize that Ground Zero wasn't my comany at all- it's God's company! It's the ministry and platform He blessed me with, the one He intended me to use for His glory and Divine purpose for my life! Today anyway...
Psalm 24:1; Haggai 2:8; 1 Chronicles 29:14
Waiting Through The Storms: By allowing God to guide me- through the practicing of His presence and by following and implementing the wise council shared by my brothers in Christ at C-12, He was preparing me for the uncharted waters ahead. Times that would bring the rockiest and most barren terrain imaginable, and rough seas that would make the perfect storm look like child's play. If someone could have given me a glance of my future, I couldn't have conceptually imagined the series of trials and tests that God was about to allow to enter my life.
Isaiah 43:1-3; Romans 12:12; James 1:2; Deuteronomy 31:6
From Hero's to Zero'$: As a company we literally went from Hero's, knocking down $500,000 dollar months to Zero's- clawing to muster up a $30,000 dollar month. This happened overnight and the business was drying up and evaporating before my very eyes. The harder I tried, the worse things became! I had lost 80% of our workforce and our bank reserves had plummeted to the point we couldn't even afford to pay attention. There were many weeks where we couldn't make payroll, even when we could, it was always paid in order of priority from staff to owners. I didn't get it- God had completely consumed me for the past 12 months and I felt like I was walking on clouds; now I was asking myself, "Where did God go and who flipped the off switch on my business?" There laid the problem, "my business". I was still putting the business before God; holding on way too tight and trying way too hard. This process took me from a prideful business owner, to a humble servant, to Kingdom building.
Psalm 57:1; 2 Corinthians 12:9
God's Yoke Revealed: Humility wasn't the only treasure in these trials. At this point in my journey, I plugged myself into every possible bible study and men's group I could find. It wasn't until my redneck cousin Skipper, had shared with me during one of our 4am Bible studies about the "Yoke of Jesus" and trusting verses trying. I hadn't a clue at first, but God laid it on my heart to have a deeper understanding of what this yoke stuff looked like. It wasn't an egg! Once I understood what a yoke was, God revealed His yoke to me. I must say that it felt weird the first day I took the yoke of Christ around my neck. I felt guilty because I was no longer driving the bus, I was just a passenger on the bus! It seemed too easy, I wasn't working nearly hard enough, it just seemed to free me of my burdens. His revolution came to me during quiet time one morning... I was no longer in charge of my life or responsible for finding a solutions to our financial dilemma... He was! I was to just wait patiently on God and trust that He is in control. Trusting vs. trying, now there was a concept that would lead to growing my faith by leaps and bounds. His business, not mine? God's in control, not me? He is my provider and I am His child? Wow! Could it really be all about God? Him guiding and me believing and trusting on God for EVERYTHING? This was and is exactly what it all meant.
Matthew 11:27-28
Trial By Fire: I resigned as CEO and signed on as Servant Leader. I was broke and broken. He had stripped me and His company of everything and then He began to turn up the heat at the office! With lawsuits coming in about one a week, and with collection calls verses sales opportunities at a ratio of 3:1, we were beaten down and feeling hopeless. Paychecks were scarce at best. Commissions were non-exsistant and we were in survival mode and had been for months. Personally, my wife and I had never been happier in this new relationship with Christ. Then He turned up the heat on the homefront! It started with the A.T.M. machine spitting out a white piece of paper verses the green one I had grown accustomed to... "N.S.F.!, what in the world is wrong with this silly machine"? I rushed to work to confirm with my bank that this was just a bad case of fraud or a stolen identity thing. Sure enough, it wasn't the A.T.M. at all, it was another three letter acronym, the I.R.S.! And they had just cleaned us out of our entire savings, my retirement, and every penny in our personal checking account! Things seem to be going from bad to worse and we were being tested to the gills!
1 Peter 5:10; James 1:2; John 16:33; 1 Peter 1:7
Backup Plan: Our corporate attorney called and insisted on a meeting in his office to discuss a strategy to deal with the all-pending lawsuits that required our responses. Our plan was a common secular approach in business when people are under the pressure of the world and don't know where their security comes from - Bankruptcy! Just walk away! What in the world are you waiting for, file already? Our attorney's plan was brilliant and I agreed to the conception of a new corporation in my wife's name, hanging all our creditors out to dry in order to regain control of my life and my business. I should have felt great about this, right? Wrong! I had a pit in my stomach and an uncertain uneasiness, as I thought to myself, "We just crafted a wonderful and well thought out business plan -just be happy in it." I knew that I would feel better if I would go to that downtown Bible study I had been invited to months prior and it was right around the corner. I walked in, introduced myself and they began to show a video about Faith. The story line was Abraham walking with God and God assuring him that He would be blessed with a son and that he would have as many descendants as the stars above. Abraham and Sarah weren't getting any younger and decided to develop their own backup plan with Hagar just in case God's promise didn't work out. I immediately knew at that moment what I had just done and why I had that pit in my stomach. When I left the study, I called my attorney with the news that we were not going to be filing bankruptcy and that we were going to just wait on God to show up and deliver us or move on to other things. I think my attorney wanted to recommend a good psychiatrist to me!
Hebrews 11:1; 1 John 5:4; Psalm 118:6-9
Jesus In-Box: God kept reminding me of George Mueller's contagious statement of faith - "I will always have all I need to do all You have asked of me." Our finance manager and I were sitting in our typical Wednesday morning finance meeting, which never seemed to take much of our time back then. As we finished up in prayer that morning, we were both in tears over the abundance of financial trauma we were experiencing. Then, God put it on my heart to create and add Him to the series of incoming correspondence boxes that I had for all the employees. Since He was our new CEO and there was an empty box at the top, we were obedient to His request. In place of the tears caused by all the financial threats that were pouring into the company on a daily basis, we would simply place any financial threats and/or issues that were impossible for us to wrap our finite minds around, into "the Jesus In-Box" - it was jammed packed! This was about a year ago and today the box is completely empty. The debt is still out there but is being paid back at an accelerated rate as God wills. God has poured His Grace upon all the threats and His Company is getting healthier by the hour.
Matthew 19:26; Proverbs 3:5-6; Mark 11:22-23
Blind Bankers: I can only describe the following as God's Divine plan and another miracle from our Savior. Back in April '08 the bank that holds our max'ed out line-of-credit, called me into the bank for an ambush, I mean a meeting. The meeting wasn't exactly with my banker, it was actually a loan committee and they wanted answers! Their biggest question was, "Do you know why we have asked you here today?", "How in the world are you going to pay us the money you owe us?" , "Anthony, what are you doing to stop the bleeding?" I replied with a bold and excited, "We're praying!" As they all stared at me and then at each other, as if I was from Mars or some other planet, the regional VP replied, "Seriously Anthony." I rebutted, "I am being serious. We pray to begin our day and at the closing of our day. We pray with our customers and vendors alike. We even have bible studies at work." "We have elected God to step in as active CEO and I have backed down as servant leader. We are also working on right-sizing the business. I assured them that we were still the 5 million dollar a year company we were just two years prior and that we would be again. I told them that we were keeping our hands and feet busy for Christ and that I felt confident that we would have a profitable June '09. The regional VP said He was curious to see if my story would carry any weight, despite the fact that they didn't think we would make it the remainder of the month and that we were insolvent. He said he would allow us two months but would pull the plug if there wasn't significant change.
John 15:18-20; Romans 8:35-39; Psalm 27:1
God's Companies Are Resilient: We did end up having a profitable June '09 and by God's good grace, Ground Zero Electrostatics has been profitable every month since. I praise Him that we haven't missed payroll since early Q-1 2009 and at the current rate the Lord is pouring His abundance upon us, we will be a debt free company in Q-4 of 2012. These things can only be explained by the Holy Power of Jesus Christ Almighty. The last word from our banker and I quote, "I wanted to tell you guys how happy I am to see this has all turned around for you. Keep up the effort and keep talking to the man in the sky!!! He seems to have a great impact on all of us!" Our banker has inquired about our Thursday Bible Study on more than one occasion. Praise the Lord for the things He has done and all that He is doing!
Isaiah 55:11; Matthew 6:33
God's In The ESD Business: We have made the decision that once our debt is paid in full, and we are no longer slave to the lender, His company profits will be utilized for Kingdom building opportunities that God puts in our path. He has been doing amazing things through a generosity culture that was adopted in November 2009 and we are watching for every opportunity and the good works in which He has prepared for us beforehand. The old "resource center" that was once used for my personal, worldly pleasures has now been transformed into a profit center for the work of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!
Philippians 4:19; John 19:35 (NIV)

I could have literally rambled on and on for hours longer, sharing endless accounts to all the things Jesus has done in my life over the past twenty-four months. This journey has been amazing in how He has used me and His testimony to lead others to Christ and encourage the hopeless. We serve a star breathing, heart transforming, mind restoring faithful God that is our endless supply of acceptance, love, joy, peace, strength, courage, kindness, goodness, and every attribute that is desirable.

With complete victory and freedom in Christ, and by claiming the inheritance that I have in Jesus through trusting and believing, there is no longer anything I desire in this world in which we live except for the relationships He will develop through me while sharing His good news with the world. I Love You Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus and Almighty Spirit!

To God be the glory for the things He has done!

2010-05-12T19:23:00.000-07:00

NEIGHBORS

How am I to love my neighbors?

God's Response:
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:39

"The Samaritan soothed [the man's] wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, 'Take care of this man. 'If his bill runs higher than this, I'll pay you the next time I'm here.'

"Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits? Jesus asked. The man replied. "The one who showed him mercy." "Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same."
Luke 10:34-37

Our Takeaway:
Why did Jesus say to love your neighbor as yourself? Because He knows that our first instinct is to take care of ourselves. If we can just train ourselves to care for others the way we care for ourselves, then we have truly made our neighbors a priority. And caring for others is what love is all about. Every time you show love to your neighbors, God is touching hearts - theirs and yours.

Gods Challenge:
It is good when you obey the royal law as found in Scriptures: "Love your neighbor as yourself"
James 2:8

Big T's Thought To Ponder:
I think that our "neighbors" may be one of the single most important blessings that Gods give us, really... Think about all the relationships God has given you... All your relationships! We are to give every person that God allows into our path the same amount of love as we do for ourselves - WOW, what does that look like?

My initial thought is, if everyone would just follow this basic instruction from God, this world would be a completely different place, there would be a "Extreme Makeover - Global Edition". It would be as close to heaven as we could ever imagine. We would have no war, we would have no crime, we would have no arguments, no division in the church, there would be no rich verses the poor, good verses evil... everyone would have everything they need or want, we would rally around each other In Christ. Complete oneness and global unity in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.... Awesome!

The author did make a comment that didn't set well with me and I believe it to be one of the reasons we have been unable to accomplish and carry out this simple instruction from our Savior, Jesus Christ. He said that "if we can just train ourselves", here inlays the very core of our problem - We Can't! We have been down this road, we have already tried to train ourselves, this has been our biggest stumbling block, road block, and it is exactly what has gotten us in the mess we have in the world today.

We need to quit trying and start trusting! I'll say it again, we need to quit trying to train ourselves up and to start trusting in Christ Jesus to do the training us up. Why would we ever even consider training or trusting in ourselves after reading the "basic instructions before leaving earth" manual in which has been provided to us. Our Holy Bible clearly states and tells us in John 15, to Abide in yourselves and everything will be wonderful? NO!!! It says to abide in Me... remain in Me... spend time with me... I am the Way, the Truth and the Life... trust in Me... be evenly yoked with Me, my burden is light... you can do all things In Me...

Get off the trying treadmill and get into the trusting in Christ hammock; rest in the finished work of our glorious Savior. We just need to trust and abide in His Word and let Him guide us... shape us... transform us... and love the people that God allows in our path. That means EVERYONE God allows in our path! That means we may be called to love someone today that is unlovable - just allow the love of Christ living in you to get it done - He can and He will do it!

God is love! - God indwells me! - He is a living water, a spring bubbling up in us! Let the love of of Christ Jesus flow through you today and soak all the neighbors put in your path!

2010-05-12T03:21:00.000-07:00

THE BODY OF CHRIST

Does my church really need me?

God's Response:
Eliashib the high priest and the other priests started to rebuild at the Sheep Gate. . . People from the town of Jericho worked next to them, and beyond them was Zaccur son of Imri. . . The Fish Gate was build b the sons of Hassenaah. . . Meremoth son of Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz repaired the next section of wall. Beside him were Meshullam son of Berekiah and grandson of Meshezabel, and then Zadok son of Baana.
Nehemiah 3:1-4

All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is part of it.
1 Corinthians 12:27

Our Takeaway:
All the citizens of Jerusalem did their part in rebuilding the city wall (see Nehemiah 3). Similarly, the work of the church requires every member's effort in order for the body of Christ to function effectively. The body needs you! Find a place to serve God, and start contributing whatever resources God has given you. Are you doing your part?

God's Challenge:
If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Romans 12:7-8

Big T's Thought To Ponder:
Does the church really need us? Not nearly as much as we need the church! The Lord has really been opening my eyes this past week about our spiritual gifts and how important they really are. The Holy Spirit has many functions if I can phrase it like that. One of those functions is to establish in each Christian at least one spiritual gift and for some they are given several gifts. All of us have been blessed with a God given talent of some kind, something we enjoy and excel at.

The reason we hear our pastors preaching about relationships so much is because they are so critically important to the big picture; they are eternal and they are something that we can take with us when we leave here. They support and are the foundation of what joins us all together. Did you know that God wants us all joined united together? He does, He wants us United in Christ as one, we make up the His the Body of Christ, His ambassadors called for a greater purpose.
Colossians 3:16

We are His hands, His feet and His mouth piece or megaphone if you will. Together as we deepen our relationship with Christ, he begins to grow and strengthen all our relationships - our marriage, our relationships with our children, our moms and dads, our neighbors, our co-workers, and and especially the people you go to church with - they are our family, our brothers and sisters in Christ!

If we are called by God to come together as a Body of Believers, the Body of Christ, and we are; and if we all makeup each member of the Body individually, and we do. Then it only stands to reason that it is critical that we are intentional about church; that we are intentional about our relationships, and that we recognize our spiritual gifts and step out in faith to utilize what God has equipped us with. You may be the right hand or the left leg of your of your church and if you're not there, you could be disabling the Body of Christ!

God is counting on each one of us! He wants us to come together as one and united in Him. Does your church need you? They are crippled without you! Don't ignore the gifts that God is counting on you to use for His glory in His Body!

"A cord of three strands is not quickly broken"
Ecclesiastes 4:12

Daily Devotionals

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

Ephesians 4:22-24

Ephesians 4:22-24

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:22-24