Strong Coffee

Higher Education

2012-02-06T14:15:00.001-06:00

1 John 2:16 For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.

Where do we learn kindness, meekness, gentleness, and patience? Is it not from the most Holy Spirit of God?

Where do we learn anger, pride, lust, and greed? Is it not from the most carnal of this world?

The expression of certain disciplines reveal the head master from whose lectures we adhere.

A student of the world is astute in the sensual arts; a major in temporal pleasure; an expert in the science of lust; skilled in the pursuit of self. The instructor in carnality is a grand master.

The Spirit filled mind is trained in praise, artful in love, keen on gratitude, and fine with joy. The Spirit master instills nobility in each pupil. He is a guide, advisor, and counselor.

Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. Rom 8:8-9

Education is inescapable.

A child of royalty is enrolled in the ivy league of the divine

And they shall all be taught by God,' and this means that everybody who has heard the Father's voice and learned from him will come to me. Jn 6:45 (JBP)

The sons of the world are drafted into the league of the inferior.

Here's how you tell the difference between God's children and the Devil's children: The one who won't practice righteous ways isn't from God, nor is the one who won't love brother or sister. A simple test.
1 John 3:10 (MSG)

Practice your trade; rely on your training; show your skill. Live such good lives among the lost that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us. 1 Peter 2:12

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Sin City

2012-02-05T14:50:00.001-06:00

Matthew 18:7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!

Sin is cunning, baffling, and powerful.
Not only are we born with it's nature; the temptation which lures the nature to surface in our life waits for us at every corner. The world is sinfully depraved. The crimes of Sodom and Gomorrah are present today in every city, suburb, and community.

Satan is alive and well on planet earth. Some of the things that people think up can have no other origin but him. If you think it's scary now, you should.

Multitudes are drawn away by enticing sin; from children to clergy. The woe that was issued from Christ Jesus is upon those who advertise iniquity and it means; grievous affliction. Even our Lord wants us to take note to the pattern, place, and people from whom sin is promoted. His declaration was that evil...will be met with horror.

The judgement of God is upon the world. Great affliction will be upon those in particular who advertise and promote wicked behavior.

Sin saturates our culture; from predatory lending, illicit drugs, greed, hate crimes, white collar corruption; the list is endless.

Take for example the world wide web; a technological invention that has linked the continents together. However, in no time pornography appeared on the web. Soon, what used to be in the back corner of bookstores was now available in living rooms across the world.

Jesus said in Matthew 24 that a clear sign of the end times will be an increase of wickedness. The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 that the spirit of the anti-christ (lawless one) is already at work in the world. John warned in Revelation 12 ...woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."

Most of the world is in lock step with the devil and his schemes. Sadly, few even know it. Blind and calloused to the gospel they follow the broad road that leads to destruction.

2 Corinthians 2:11 Reminds us to be alert to Satan and his perilous traps. He appeals to our weakest virtue enticing us to indulge...just a little.

I believe this is the meaning behind the verse in James 4 that says..."Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Satan is lurking about to devour the young and old; families and marriages; the lost and the redeemed and anyone naive to his deceit.

Now more than ever before we need to be vigilant to live holy before God. Holy living blast the enemy back into his lair. It is the spiritual weapon used to defeat the devil and his schemes.

Be advised: to be Godly is the wear a robe of righteousness clearly identifying you as a soldier of the cross. But...greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.

World Changers

2012-01-30T15:54:00.000-06:00

Judges 2:10-11 After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. ¹¹ Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals.

Talking to a young girl the other day opened my eyes to the generation gap that impacts our culture and the church. She was 13 and listening to music on her MP3. I ask her about the kind of music she liked and after we talked a while it was clear that she had never heard of Coldplay and Bocelli and I had never heard of her groups. We talked a little more about faith and related things and the gap grew even wider.

Music, media, entertainment, technology, and so on has changed dramatically. Just a simple task like filling up at the pump is a challenge for some. Time has changed things because people change. Sports legends and movie stars give way to a new generation of the young and talented. A friend said to me that he believed local libraries will close in the near future. With wikipedia and the Internet...trends have shifted. If a person was waking up today from a ten year coma they would struggle to find something familiar.

Have you considered what God is up to in this ever changing world to reach this generation with the Gospel? How does the message of the cross stay relevant today? I don't know the answer but part of the mystery is in the living word of God. The need for love, forgiveness, and reconciliation is relevant in every generation. The only hope of this continues to rest in the Lord Jesus Christ.

God is reaching the youth of this world in methods foreign to many; but the message is still Christ and the cross. God...we have heard of your fame, we stand in awe of your deeds...renew them in our day! (Hab.3:2)

How to know if God is real

2012-01-23T19:45:00.001-06:00

Ask Him...

I've challenged many to honestly pray, ask God if He is there, and if so...help guide them to know what they should do.

The bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:11 He (God) has set eternity in their hearts.

I have come to believe that every person comes into this life with a natural desire to know God. Pascal wrote that in every heart their is a God shaped hole that only God can fill.

All people, from all walks of life and cultures, will at one time or another think about eternity and the possibility of standing before the creator. It may be when they were very young and soon forgotten...but not long forgotten. The urge to look heavenward and revisit the question of God and eternity may surface many times in life.

Exodus 34 The LORD!
      The God of compassion and mercy!
   I am slow to anger
      and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
⁷ I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.
      I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.

God doesn't make us seek him, nor does he enslave us to Him. In His love He has prepared a sacred place in our heart which yearns to be filled with His presence. He calls to us throughout the journey of our lives to invite Him in; to sit and dine with us.

No matter who you are or what you have done God still loves you and longs to fill your emptiness with His fullness.

Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Any search for God that is guided by the heart will lead us to the cross. It is there that we learn about love, redemption and one other very special God fashioned desire: Forgiveness

1 John 4:10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

God doesn't play hide and seek with you. If anything, we act as if we can hide from Him. Truth is...God is so much in love with you that He has set the frequency of all creation to call your name and draw you into His loving embrace; that you may know Him...and know peace and rest.

Ephesians 1:7 (MSG) Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

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Give Me A Higher Love

2012-01-18T14:08:00.001-06:00

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

Kindness that is affectionate is different from any other routine courtesy. Its a special form of loving kindness. Tender, like the love of a parent toward a child.

This verse became clear to me while watching Hailey and Alora. Seeing them interact is joyous and entertaining. You might see them play pic-a-boo, hide and seek, or maybe a tickle game. There's one thing for sure you will see from the two of them; a thousand hugs and kisses. Alora is at that stage where she may be walking by you; stop dead in her tracks and plant a nice wet smooch on you; with out warning; right on the lips...! She's not shy in loving on her family.

This sort of familial affection is described in this verse. A kindness that originates and is rooted in love...like family. A sentiment that is not hesitant to greet with a holy kiss, warm hug, or tender touch.

Its easy to show brotherly love toward some; and of course there are those who cause us to think of everything BUT love not to mention affection.

1 Peter 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

When our hearts are cleansed...we see others the way Christ sees them and our love becomes genuinely sincere. As we grow in our faith and obedience we discover a higher level of love that we never knew existed.

Love with all that you have now...but...your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. (2 Thes. 1:3)

Agape love is unconditional...like parental love...and that of our Heavenly Father. Affection, tenderness, and gentleness are gestures that portray this higher love.

Give love away today; not by saying it but in showing some TLC. The candidate for your affection...may be right in front of you.

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Designer Fashion

2012-01-17T11:26:00.001-06:00

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

People that radiate kindness and gentleness are priceless to any organization, business, or ministry. It's a proven fact that people are more likely to wait in line at the grocery store for the happy, kind, and pleasant cashier instead of the no line where the rude cashier awaits.

For the saint of God these virtues are natural; born of the spirit; designer genes that reflect His presence in your life. The garment of praise identifies us. His joy has made you glad; His love makes us kind; His grace makes us humble. Each day we are covered in the blanket of His likness.

Our adversary, the devil, has his wardrobe as well. Complaining, gossip, arguing, and rudeness are just a few of his accessories he wants you to wear today. Another snare of his is to always be in a hurry. Have you noticed that more than ever before people are in a massive rush; in a rush to the next thing; racing to the next light; rushing to work; rushing to school. Hurrying...running...rushing...to wait in line.

Kindness, humility, compassion, gentleness, and patience are among the first casualties when we are caught up in the rush.

Be wise to the enemies ways. His fashion is all around...but out of style with you and your designer.

Slow it down. Pick out your wardrobe ahead of time. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are in style. Dress for success by making someone smile today; you will be blessed for it... and you will be a blessing.

LOOKING GOOOOOOOD

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Hold The Applause

2012-01-09T10:58:00.001-06:00

2 Corinthians 10:12 &18 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Living in this lopsided world presents many challenges for the redeemed. For this reason we resign our life to know Gods word, to watch and pray, and keep our eyes on Jesus. We are citizens of heaven yet we are vulnerable to worldly ways...because we live here. A believers mark of maturity is to know that God our father has HIS way and truth inscribed on our heart.

Its surprising how often we succumb to others evaluation of us and our success. We measure our achievements to those of our peers; we then commend ourselves by how much or little we've accomplished compared to others. Doesn't sound like a smart thing to do for someone who is royalty.

You are uniquely His. A birthright makes you exempt from any other degree or appraisal. Your life is measured by your heavenly father. His evaluation is enough. Other commendations help us vocationally, but the Lords affirmation is our guide for living.

Look up today. Thank Him for His redeeming love and undeserved favor.

The Message (MSG)
2 Corinthians 10:18 "If you want to claim credit, claim it for God." What you say about yourself means nothing in God's work. It's what God says about YOU that makes the difference

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The Men Who Never Died

2012-01-05T09:52:00.000-06:00

Genesis 5:24
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

2 Kings 2:11
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Its difficult to understand the mind of the Lord and why He chose Enoch and Elijah to exit the world in this fashion. My hunch is that we haven't heard or seen the last of the two remarkable men.

Their stories are amazing. In regards to Enoch, there are only 3 substantive references to him in scripture but... they are insightful verses.

There is a similarity in that Enoch and Elijah preached righteousness during extremely dark and difficult times. From what we read in scripture, very few heeded their message...irregardless, they were faithful. Enoch in particular lived during a period in which the bible says God was grievous over the wickedness of mankind. Jude 1:14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones

It goes without saying that Enoch and Elijah were special to God. Their rapture to heaven, escaping the surly bonds of death, is a testimony alone to His delight in their faithfulness during dark times. God saw their witness and when the time was right...they disappeared, leaving no doubt to Gods favor upon them.

Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time

we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand,

that he may lift you up in due time.

In tough times it's easy to follow the crowd and the path of least resistance. It takes courage to be a testimony of light when darkness surrounds us.

The shadows may be all around you but God sees your faith and courage.
Don't give up or give in. He will reward your courage and perseverance in His time and in His way; leaving no doubt to His favor upon your life. Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

Come to Him...and trust the one who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence...

Haikus From The Good Doctor

2011-12-27T13:22:00.001-06:00

Phil 2:3

Regard others as

More important than yourself

True humility

Isaiah 49:16

I’ll not forget you

I have engraved your name on

The palms of my hands

A Happy New Year to you and to your family, Bill

Keep Christ in Christmas

2011-12-22T09:24:00.000-06:00

The ghost of Christmas past draws near to Ebenezer Scrooge in a blinding light.

"The light...it hurts my eyes...it blinds me,"

The ghost says, "Its the light of thankfulness and gratitude".

"I've never seen it before..."

"Of course not," she says, "it's men like you that have long forgotten gratitude..."

The Psalmist says, " Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. ps.72

Some have long forgotten gratitude, peace, and goodwill. But...God has the unique ability to reveal His glory when and how He chooses just like in Charles Dickens' "Christmas Carol".

You can take His name out of school, government, hospitals, and even Christmas, but you can't remove His glory from the earth. Keeping Christ in Christmas is a worthy endeavor, but far more important and even crucial is that you and I keep Him in our hearts.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"

made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of

the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Emmanuel is with us and He continues to make His dwelling in the souls of mankind. It is a beautiful thing to see some one who has the light of His radiance "dawn" in their heart...once in darkness, but now...transformed into children of light. Victoria, from our LIFE group, witnessed this while working at pennies from heaven. She is still talking about the thrill of sharing the "good news" and seeing a young person receive Christ.

A great word of prophecy for our day is found in Isaiah 62:2, The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.

The LORD Christ is that name...He is the hope of glory!

Rejoice, Rejoice...Emmanuel.

Merry Christmas
John, Angie & Dr. Stone
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If you just...BELIEVE

2011-12-19T14:41:00.000-06:00

Numbers 13:31&14:8 ...But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. "We can't go up against them! They are stronger than we are!"
(14:8) Moses and Aaron said, If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them."

Expect the Lord to bring you to the place of no return in your spiritual walk; a line of demarcation that forces the exercising of your faith.

Only two from this generation actually inherited the land; Joshua and Caleb. Unbelief ravaged the camp like a cancer, infecting all that succumbed to the lie of the other 10.

Faith is our victory. Its what defines the whole of who we are as Gods people. When we embark on our journey with Christ, expect the road to be lined with landmark events; the demonstration of our faith in an unseen God who guides and provides for His children. Demonstrations of His provision become a testimony of faith itself.

13-14 But Moses said to God, "The Egyptians are going to hear about this! You delivered this people from Egypt with a great show of strength, and now this? The Egyptians will tell everyone. They've already heard that you are God, that you are on the side of this people...(MSG)

Speaking our faith is one thing, but what people must see today is a show of faith. Herein lie the riches of Gods children. Like Joshua and Caleb, you believe that with man this is impossible, to the eye this looks crazy, but with God...all things are possible. He will provide.

Heb 3:19...So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest

Cleanse your heart. Tame your tongue. Guard your mind from the pestilence of unbelief. Trust in His unfailing hand. Active faith is rewarded with rest.

Heb 11:6 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.

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Act of Kindness

2011-12-06T18:16:00.000-06:00

II Samuel 18

Vs. 19 "Let me run..."
Absalom was despised by all Judah. Because of his rebellion, brother fought against brother in a senseless and brutal civil war. To the generals on the battlefield, the prince was the enemy, but to David, the enemy was his beloved son. Unavoidable judgement had come upon Absalom and what needed to be done...was done.

Davids unfailing love was so intense that even in the final crush of the enemy, David attempted to argue clemency for his tyrant amoral son. The love of a father for his son needs no apology or explanation. Absalom was bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh.

The young priest Ahimaaz had witnessed this heart wrenching warfare up close. Maybe Ahimaaz had a son and identified with Davids inner strife or perhaps he at one time had befriended Absalom. Whatever the case, Ahimaaz rushed to King Davids side, out pacing the official messenger. His heart strings guided him and made him swift afoot. En route to his King, he rehearsed what needed to be said...and what didn't.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt...

What appears to be foolhardy and impulsive was actually a daring act of courage and love. He knew David would be drenched with sorrow. His aim was to love on David before news of Absalom reached his ears. Scripture reveals that Ahimaaz had a Godly reputation. The Cushite knelled before Joab but Ahimaaz bowed before the King as he offered up praise to the Lord God; an insignificant gesture to some, but one that set the tenor for Davids inevitable grief. As Ahimaaz turned his face toward the earth, his words turned the face of David toward heaven. A selfless act of kindness and gentleness; sounds like something Jesus would do.

Don't you want to be that kind of an encouragement? Bowels of compassion in search of a broken heart.

Lord, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Gal.6:10)

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II Samuel 18

What Child is This

2011-12-06T11:40:00.000-06:00

William Chatterton Dix was born in England in 1837. His father was a surgeon, and Dix was in maritime insurance.

At age 29 he developed a near fatal illness and was confined to bed for months. He became depressed. Yet many of his hymns including “What Child Is This?” date to this period.

Another is “As With Gladness Men Of Old”. Originally, “What Child Is This?” was a poem entitled: “The Manger Throne”. It became a hymn and was set to a traditional English melody of the 16th Centry, “Greensleeves” in an arrangement by Sir John Stainer. Dix died in Cheddar, Somerset, England in 1898 and was buried in the parish churchyard.

Once again we learn that God waste no pain....! Dix suffered and the world was served.

Enjoy this amazing version of "What Child is This" by Andrea Bocelli & Mary Blige.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wix14BuE09o

Merry Christmas

Dr. Stone & Bro. John

Here He Comes

2011-11-30T22:07:00.001-06:00

Mark 6:48...and would have passed by them.

How many times have we passed Him by?
Now we see where He would have passed them by, but...they cried out to Him.

He saw them, straining...wrestling. The wind and waves were against them, but to Him they bow. He is Lord of all that is against us, and is touched with the feelings of our infirmities for He knows what is against us

Do you know it?
That's why He always comes to us.

He came to me; He came to me
When I could not come to where He was
He came to me
That’s why He died on Calvary
When I could not come to where He was
He came to me.

He is an ever present help in time of trouble.

They called unto Him. Have you called out to Him? Is He not as close as the mere mention of His name? The word is nigh thee...Lord save me.

To call...is to draw Him close. Soon, the wind and waves that once buffeted us...we walk upon. Keeping our eyes fixed on Him.

The Lord is deaf to the cry of the wicked but not to the cry of His people. He sees our toil and He comes marching toward us crushing our obstacles beneath His feet.

When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned.

Call ...Look...Behold your King comes to you, gentle, riding on a foal.

Psalm 145: 18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Even now...He comes

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A Night To Remember

2011-11-28T21:52:00.001-06:00

John 12:1-2 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

He would not have missed it for the world !!

It was more than important for Lazarus to be there.

What if...he was absent from the table of gratitude?

Maybe another appointment...or some urgent meeting across town.
What if...a night with his friends seemed more important than a night with the resurrection and the life?

The appropriateness of his presence was fitting to the writer, John the beloved. He saw great significance in Lazarus seated by his redeemer and Lord.

No issue, appointment, engagement, or emergency could hinder him from an hour to sup with the one who transformed him from death to life. Nothing in heaven or on earth could have been more preeminent than to dine with his beloved savior.

What keeps us from the table? Is there any idol in the hand or heart that prevents us but one hour with our master? He is deserving of our fellowship. He is worthy of our presence at His feast of honor; to be seated by Him, yea even near Him.

Oh the joy of listening, leaning, longing. It is a night to remember...to linger in our senses. The aroma of the spiknard, the radiance of His glory, the warmth of His voice; the same voice that said "come forth", now says..."dine with me". Selah

Are you seated at His table?

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Cling to faith

2011-11-21T03:10:00.001-06:00

1 Peter 5: 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

When I consider suffering in our present world; all kinds of suffering; from sickness, satanic attacks on our families, to persecution, and financial distress, I think of all that Peter and the early church had to endure.

From the pages of scripture we can feel their pain and sorrow as they fully embraced a new life in Christ yet encountered the extremely hostile world around them. On one hand, the lost were streaming into the church seeking salvation. On the other, marauders were looking for followers of "the way" to heap upon them mountains of cruelty and hate.

This scripture passage, among others, gave great comfort to those suffering just as it does now. Peter even said ... "consider it pure joy when you experience trials of various kinds."

I know it's not an easy thing to do, but the thrust of these exhortation's is for us to believe in faith that God has not abandoned us. Our countenance, our speech, and our actions must demonstrate a faith in a loving God who is bigger than the broken world in which we live. He is guiding us through the dark valleys of this world which is not our home.

Take Him by the hand and be comforted by His word.
Believe with all your might that ALL things work together for good to those who love Him. Selah

1 Timothy 1:19
Cling to your faith in Christ...

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Can praise change Gods mind?

2011-11-18T09:37:00.001-06:00

I heard this statement while watching a Texas sized pastor with a Texas sized congregation. I thought I miss-heard the comment then he repeated it again citing an O.T. text (BTW-ANYTHING can be proven with an O.T. text). He then followed up with our lives missing the blessing and prosperity of God.
"Praise can change God's mind, it gets His attention. When we start praising God...He starts blessing."

Now...as a minister, I can honestly say that God has blessed many of my messages and sermons even when my theology was weak and out of context. I appreciate the ministry of Lakewood and know they love Jesus so why did this statement bother me so much?

All night I began to search out the etiology of why this statement is so disturbing. After all, what ever gets people into the position of praise and worship of our heavenly father is a good thing... Right? Well...not entirely. That's true about salvation. God may use a variety of strange things to bring the unsaved to knowledge of their sin and lostness. But growing and maturity in Christ is about truth.

Praise doesn't change God...it changes you. God is blessing you! An attitude of praise and thanksgiving opens your eyes to see what He's up too. The more we praise and thank Him...the more of Him we see...and the more we pursue.

God the Father inhabits praise (Ps.22), that is, He dwells in it. Meaning simply...what father doesn't appreciate when his children show gratitude for all he is and has done. When my children show deep respect for me and when they notice my watch care over them, it doesn't lead me do more for them. It makes me pleased for their growth but I actually do more for the ignorant one. Caring for them, guiding them, until they see my goodness...and mature. It's the ninety-and-nine principle.

My concern is that for every christian that believes praise changes Gods mind...opening up God blessings...there are a half dozen other Christians who eventually will conclude that their troubles are the result of them not doing something. It actually promotes a failure mentality. It becomes a works theology that undermines the goodness and GRACE of God.

The fact is...Praise changes you. Its a deeper level of maturity for the Christian.
The praising and thankful believer has finally seen and learned that in life we are MORE than conquerors through Him.

Praise & Thanksgiving is an act of faith toward the goodness of God that you know has always been there for you. ALWAYS. Even when you were too blind, too burdened, or too defeated, to see.

God loves you and he doesn't play games with you. He is blessing you...! Praise Him today...! Thank Him now...! Look at how He has been your strength and comfort.
Ephesians 1:18 MSG I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!

Colossians 1:9b-10 ...We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, ¹⁰ so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God...

River of God

2011-11-16T15:13:00.001-06:00

Psalm 46:4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

Rivers are a constant force; unceasing, ever flowing. Landscape, buildings, and urban sprawl, evolve and change with the era and times but the river remains steadfast. Old photographs of the Cumberland exist all around Clarksville and Civil War images of iron clads churning up the mighty Mississippi hang in museums. Everything is different today but the river remains unchanged, following the same route.

Throughout the generation's the mighty rivers are still flowing just as they were in days of old and will continue to the end of time.

The river of God is a constant...unchanging...power and presence. There is great comfort in knowing that Yahweh God, who lives in us, is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Hebrews 6:17-18 MSG When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can't break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable.

Time changes things. Our families, our health, the economy, government, all of creation is affected by the weathering of the years. God however remains unchanged. The same God that led the children of Israel through the Red Sea is the same God that walks with me. The provider for Ruth and Naomi is also my Jehovah Jireh. The shepherd that guided David through the shadow of death leads even me beside still waters. I can always count on our God in whom we trust. Unceasing...unchanging...unyielding is He.

He is the river of life that makes glad our future and our hope. Just as generations have before, we too can rest in His unfailing love. The riches of His grace flows in our hearts as a promise guaranteeing us what is to come.

God don't waste no pain

2011-11-12T01:05:00.000-06:00

James 2:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance

"God don't waste no pain."

A complete stranger spoke these words to me while I waited for a fast food order late at night. It was one of those encounters that had an angelic feel about it.

Think on the statement. God takes the pain in our lives and He refines and renders it until it becomes a strength in our faith and spiritual walk.

I was told once that the wind which whips and sways the branch's of an oak tree actually cause it's roots to deepen, making it even stronger. Such is the character of the beloved. Pain, sorrow, and struggle cannot defeat a child of God. As we persevere, it is refashioned to create pillars of faith within the body of Christ.

Paul wrote, "...be patient in affliction" (Rom 12:12).
The message from the apostle is to keep your eyes on Jesus. He is even now in true form, working all things together for your good. It may not seem so now, but keep the faith.

God don't waste no pain !!!

I walked a mile with laughter. He chattered all the way,
but left me none the wiser for all he had to say

I walked a mile with sorrow, and ner a word said he.
But oh the things I learned that day when sorrow walked with me.

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Come Inside

2011-11-01T13:18:00.001-05:00

Matthew 24: 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

We are no more disturbed by the conditions of the world in the last days than the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Undoubtedly He knew that these prophetic words would be shocking to the hearers.

Fear mongering is a negative term used by pundits to describe someone who projects a doomed futuristic course.
Jesus would be labeled a fear monger. Noah certainly would have been called a fear monger, among other things.

Don't be caught up in secular thinking. The collective conscience of this day is intolerant to anything about judgment, sin, penalty, or destruction. Especially one that is orchestrated by God.

The text says they all perished. The intellectual and the illiterate; the religious and the blasphemous; the rich and the impoverished all were swept away by the same water.

Those that sympathized with Noah's message and planned to join him one day...were swept away! The only thing separating the saved and the perishing...was a DOOR. If they had passed through it, they would have been saved. It's that simple.

Enter through the door. No more procrastination, alibi's, or excuses.

"I am the door; whoever enters through me will be saved."
- Jesus Christ (jn.10:7)

Who will come to Christ today? Who is willing to step inside?

For Noah, only eight were saved. His plea and urging was headed only by his family...and beast.

2 Peter 3:3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this coming..."

A popular last day attitude will be to make light of bible prophecy, church people, and Jesus freaks.

The name of Christ; is it unpopular...uncool?
That depends on who you're listening too. For the redeemed... "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to us by which we must be saved.” (ac.4:12)

Share His love with passion and tears.

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911

2011-10-30T19:43:00.001-05:00

"You can accomplish more in one hour with God than an entire lifetime without him."

It looks like Alora is showing us that we all could use a little prayer before we take on a task at hand. Even our Lord escaped the pressures of the day and found a quiet place of solitude.

Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

You have to admit that Jesus set the bar very high when it comes to prayer. After all, He longed for His Father and it is evident by the things He did and said. He felt a stranger in this world as we often do. Prayer gave Him a oneness with God that He desperately needed... to accomplish His task at hand.

You may not be an early riser and that's okay. God is not expecting you to save the world either. But, God does have a deep longing for you as His child and you should have one for Him. There are days that we need to escape and lean on His breast; other days we forge ahead, trusting in His love for us.

The famous saying says we can accomplish more in one hour... but I believe that just 5 minutes with God can change your life. There are times that I must have my hour with Him. Fear, trouble, and pain usually determines those moments.

For me, the 5 minutes with God happens all day.

Let me suggest a few things that help me...
Listen to Christan music as often as you can. Worship Him in song. Remind yourself of His word by keeping a New Testament handy; on the table, in your car, or at work. Learn to thank Him for all things... especially for safe journeys, your meals, your job and your friends.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (MSG) Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

His promise is to never leave us. It is to your joy to enrich your life everyday with His nearness to you; for peace, fellowship, comfort, and strength... Don't spend one minute without Him !

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The Right Thing

2011-10-26T08:14:00.001-05:00

1 John 3:7-10 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

Coach Tommy Bowden was the key note speaker at this years annual FCA banquet. Angie and I listened with a packed audience as he shared some winning principles he used as head coach of the Clemson University football program. I was impressed with his straight talk, bold faith, and practical wisdom.

One principal stuck out in my mind above all others. As he recruited 17 & 18 year old students fresh out of high school he made sure to emphasize this one thing from the beginning. If they wanted to play Clemson football they were uniting with a team of young men and coach's who were committed to this standard: Make Right Choices.

The ability in making right choices varies from person to person. I'm sure that environment, upbringing, family values, and such gives each a different compass to follow. According to our verses, this "right" compass is also a trait consistent with every believer.

Taking the low road is just as natural for some. Lying, deceiving, reveling, define some people, however, the true heir of Gods has a unique supernatural bearing. It's associated with the new birth which transforms and conforms us to Christ' image.

Romans 1:17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith...

Inherent in every believer is the desire to make right choices. Maturity as an heir of God is to do it...!

Listen, I've made my share of poor choices, but... I refused to let it define me. I'm one of the Kings Kids. We should be defined by His grace that covers a multitude of sins and His love that lifts us up out of the miry clay and prepares us to do... the next right thing.

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Guess who I saw today?

2011-10-23T17:10:00.001-05:00

John 14:21 "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

This is one of my all time favorite verses in the bible. In the greek language, the translation for "show myself" means; a personal disclosure. What follower of Christ wouldn't appreciate a daily visit from the Lord Jesus?

A good example of this is in a scene from the movie "August Rush". The movie centers on a little boy named August who is a young music prodigy. A Juilliard professor, intrugued with his raw talent, asked him how he got his music; what
inspired him?

August replies, " ...it's everywhere, can't you hear it?"

This is what happens when we walk in the spirit. The spirit reveals God the Father and God the Son all around us. This is joy for the saint but it's not just for our enjoyment, it is for us to seek and follow His will and purpose for our lives.

When we no longer see or hear Him, we must examine our heart and seek Him again. Sin, such as a bad attitude, grumbling, pride, and the like, throw us out of step with the spirit.

Seeing the Lord at every turn is essential in a believers joy. This is what Peter called, "... joy unspeakable and full of glory." When this happens, we will see the world differently and we will engage others more lovingly.

Before you head out today, take a moment and pray. Surrender your will to God and sumbit to His leadership. Ask for His glory to be revealed...to you...in all that you do... and whatsoever you do, do it all to the glory of God.

You will see Him!

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johnmthomas100 sent you a video: "Sidewalk Prophets - You Love Me Anyway (feat.Tony Nolan)"

2011-10-19T09:55:00.001-05:00

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When doubt gets the best of you

2011-10-18T10:22:00.001-05:00

1 Samuel 27:1

And David said in his heart, "Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul.

We are all guilty of making pitiful declarations. There are times when we think in our heart that the forces which oppose us are eventually going to get the best of us. David grew weary of the constant fleeing from Saul and the bounty on his life. In his despair he thinks to himself that one day he's going to get me. I can't keep this up forever.

History proved otherwise. Saul actually died by his own hand being surrounded by the Philistines. David ascended to the throne as ruler of Israel and he became the most beloved and Godly King in the lineage of Christ Jesus.

Buckling under pressure and having negative thoughts is nothing new. Although everything God has promised and done proves contrary, we still fall victim to our own weakness of disbelief.

Life has a way of tormenting our conscience. Satan, our adversary, is the father of lies. He attempts to build on our moments of doubt erecting an entire mirage of uncertainty and fear.

God is faithful my friend. When faced with condemning thoughts and accusations we must return to His word and be reminded of all that He hath promised. Sin enters when we think unbelief in our heart and it moves to action in our steps. I meet those everyday that live defeated. Not because God has said, but because that's what their heart believes.

1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

God doesn't cast us aside when we grovel in defeat. He reassures us of His anointing and reminds us of His word and His faithful promises. You can trust Him. Though the landscape around you says defeat, defeat, defeat; His word says that we are MORE than conquerors through Him that loved us. Lift up your head and believe !