SUCCESS DEFINED

SUCCESS DEFINED

Phil Jackson is best known as the legendary coach of the Chicago Bulls during the heydays of the iconic basketball superstar, Michael Jordan.  Nevertheless, in his book entitled “Sacred Hoops,” Jackson reveals fascinating facts about his lifelong journey of spiritual discovery.

In the 1970’s, before turning his hand to coaching, Phil Jackson played professional basketball for the New York Knicks.  During his stint at the Knicks, they won the NBA championship, achieving a dream he had been striving for since childhood.

A short time later, Jackson went out for a night of celebration with family and friends in New York.  The upscale restaurant was crowded with famous people like Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman.  However, instead of feeling the sense of jubilation he had anticipated, Jackson wrote the following about his feelings: “The intense feeling of connection with my teammates that I had previously experienced in Los Angeles seemed like a distant memory for me.  Instead of being overwhelmed with joy, I felt terribly empty and confused.  I kept saying to myself., ‘Was this it?’  Is this what was supposed to bring me happiness?  Clearly the answer lay somewhere else.”

Later in life, Jackson understood.  He wrote, “What I was missing was spiritual direction.”

Success in life can never be defined by temporal accomplishments, no matter how substantial they might seem.  Perhaps the clearest expression of this truth is embodied in “The Confessions of Saint Augustine,” an of the early church father who had a life-or-death struggle with pride and carnality before submitting to the Lordship of Christ.  Augustine’s famous prayer of repentance says it all.  “Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.”

Indeed, there is a God-sized hole in the human heart that can only be filled by a spiritual restoration and sustained relationship with our Creator.  Our broken hearts, minds and spirits find healing and completion (not in wealth, romance, privilege, position, or power) but only in The One who forms and fulfills us.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

IF YOU EVER FELT LIKE GOD HAS FAILED...

IF YOU EVER FELT LIKE GOD HAS FAILED…

A prolific Christian author, Max Lucado, penned a poignant and powerful illustration in his insightful book entitled “A Gentle Thunder: Hearing God Through the Storm.”  It goes something like this…

Once there was a man who dared God to speak.

“God, burn the bush like you did for Moses and I will follow.
God, collapse the walls like you did for Joshua and I will fight.
God, still the waves like you did on the Sea of Galilee and I will listen.”

And so the man went and sat by a bush, near a wall, close to the sea and waited for God to speak.

And God heard the man; so God answered.
He sent fire, not for the bush, but for a church.
He brought down a wall, not of brick, but of sin.
He stilled a storm, not of the sea, but of a soul.

And God waited for the man to respond.
And He waited…
And waited…
And waited…

But because the man was looking at bushes, not hearts; bricks, not lives; seas and not souls, he decided that God had done nothing.

Finally, he looked at God and asked, “Have you lost your power?”
And God looked at him and said, “Have you lost your hearing?”

My prayer today is the echo of a familiar praise chorus: “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, I want to see You.”

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

P.U.S.H.

P.U.S.H.

Aren’t you glad that Our Heavenly Father hears us when we pray?  Now, more than ever, it is time for His people to consistently P.U.S.H., that is, ‘Pray Until Something Happens!’  Hear the Word of the Lord.

Acts 12:1-11 (NKJV)

¹ Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. ² Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. ³ And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. ⁴ So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. ⁵ Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. ⁶ And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. ⁷ Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. ⁸ Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” ⁹ So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. ¹¹ And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”

Our encouraging confirmation and application is found in Hebrews 13:8. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”  He is THE SAME GOD!  And His omnipotent power is fully able to handle and resolve each and every life situation.  Our job is simply this: TRUST, PRAY, WORK and WAIT on the manifestation of His promise.

Your P.U.S.H. will birth your divine purpose and destiny.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

CHARACTER COUNTS

CHARACTER COUNTS

Since we know that death is inevitable, carefully consider this.  At the end of our days, what is it that you and I would you have written as an epitaph on our graves?  Recently, I came across an interesting story that speaks quite eloquently about meaning and legacy of life.

Wilbur and Orville Wright made their mark in history for carrying out the first successful air flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina on December 17, 1903.  Although they came from a very close family, their father, who was a bishop in United Brethren Church, was initially skeptical about their aviation ventures.  

Unfortunately, Wilbur died quite early, at the age of 45.  His father left a record of this tragic event in his personal diary, which reads as follows:

May 30, 1912

This morning at 3:15, Wilbur passed away, aged 45 years, 1 month, and 14 days.  A short life, full of consequences.  An unfailing intellect, imperturbable temper, great self-reliance and as great modesty.  Seeing the right clearly, pursuing it steadily, he lived and died.

Take note that there was no mention at all of Wilbur’s great pioneering successes in the field of aviation.   You see, for Wilbur’s father, it was not making that first successful air flight that made Wilbur great.  It was his loving relationships and outstanding character.

More than anything that you and I could possibly achieve in this life, it is our character that actually counts.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

ON GOD'S SIDE

ON GOD’S SIDE

During my varsity football career, our team would kneel and pray before every game.  It somehow seemed inappropriate to pray for a win.  After all, logic dictated that the other team might be praying at the same time for a victorious outcome.  Obviously both teams would not win.  My personal prayer was that we would all do our very best with little or no injuries.

As an active listener, I am inundated with self-serving commentary by contemporary groups who stand in diametrically opposite positions regarding their plans, politics, policies, or prospects for peace.  More often than not, each group lays confident claim to the notion that God is on their particular side.  I suppose it’s always been that way throughout human history.

During the US Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln met with a group of ministers for a prayer breakfast.  Lincoln wasn’t much of a church-goer, but was considered to be a man of deep, if at times unorthodox, faith.  At one point during the event, one of the ministers remarked, “Mr. President, let us pray that God is on our side.”  Lincoln’s response revealed far greater insight: “No, gentlemen, let us pray that we are on God’s side.”

Lincoln reminded those ministers that faith is not a tool by which we get God to do what we want, but an honest determination to open ourselves to being and enacting what God wants.

Before you announce proudly that God is on your side, make sure (first) that you are on His.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

MY PEACE LEGACY

MY PEACE LEGACY

In tumultuous times like those in which we now live, we need a fresh Word from the Lord to revive and restore our supreme confidence that THE MASTER is large-and-in-charge of each and every life situation.

Here is your Rhema for today, straight from the heart of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ: “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” (Luke 21:28)

Do not worry.  Do not fear.  As the Apostle Paul admonishes us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

You are standing under the invincible umbrella of divine providence and protection.  No matter what, your family and future are safe and secure because of the covenantal promises of God.  “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (I Corinthians 15:58)

So simply refuse to get caught up and carried away by your sensory perceptions.  That which your eyes see and your ears hear are mere illusions and lies – whenever they contradict what THE LORD says.

Indeed, CHRIST has bequeathed you PEACE.  “Peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Look up, my friend, and trust in THE ONE who is “the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

GET READY!

GET READY!

The most important thing anyone can accomplish in this life is to diligently prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ.  Today, let us allow the Holy Spirit to speak to our human spirits.  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 2:7,11,17,29 – Revelation 3:6,13,22)

Revelation, chapters 20-22 (NKJV)

Satan Bound 1,000 Years

¹ Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. ² He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; ³ and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

The Saints Reign with Christ 1,000 Years

⁴ And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. ⁵ But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Satanic Rebellion Crushed

⁷ Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison⁸ and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.⁹ They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.¹⁰ The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

The Great White Throne Judgment

¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. ¹⁴ Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  ¹⁵ And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

All Things Made New

21 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. ² Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”  ⁵ Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”  ⁶ And He said to me, “It is done!  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. ⁷ He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.⁸ But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

The New Jerusalem

⁹ Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” ¹⁰ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, ¹¹ having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. ¹² Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: ¹³ three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. ¹⁴ Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ¹⁵ And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. ¹⁶ The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. ¹⁷ Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.¹⁸ The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. ¹⁹ The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, ²⁰ the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. ²¹ The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

The Glory of the New Jerusalem

²² But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.²³ The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. ²⁴ And the nations of those who are saved^[p] shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. ²⁵ Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). ²⁶ And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. ²⁷ But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

The River of Life

22 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. ² In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ³ And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. ⁴ They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.⁵ There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

The Time Is Near

⁶ Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. ⁷ “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” ⁸ Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. ⁹ Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” ¹⁰ And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. ¹¹ He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”

Jesus Testifies to the Churches

¹² “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

¹⁴ Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. ¹⁵ But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. ¹⁶ “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” ¹⁷ And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

A Warning

¹⁸ For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; ¹⁹ and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

CHRIST IS Coming Quickly

²⁰ He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”  Amen.   Even so, come, Lord Jesus!  ²¹ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

CONTINUE!

CONTINUE!

Changing circumstances are an integral part of the human existence.   According to the philosopher, Descartes, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”  In other words, change happens.  In fact, change is absolutely inevitable – so we must expect it, prepare for it and ultimately embrace it.

Customary conditions constitute our comfort zones, those well-worn paths which, while familiar, may not be our ideal choice or optimal course.

Consider this: How do you handle CHANGING OR ADVERSE conditions?  Do they tend to overwhelm your short-term objectives or derail your long-term dreams?

A wise apostolic admonition for all people who are confronted with changing conditions is recorded in Paul’s epistle to the Church of Galatia.  It simply says, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Galatians 6:9, NKJV)

Do you recall the occasion when Jesus miraculously crossed over treacherous waters (on foot) to attend to His terror stricken disciples who were engulfed in a raging storm?  Observing the faint image of Jesus approaching, they assumed that he was a ghost and cried out in fear.  How I love the comforting greeting of The Master!  “Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27) Jesus had previously directed them to cross over to the other side, so He supernaturally provided sufficient grace and assistance during their hour of dire need.  Bottom-line: Where God guides, God provides.  And His manifest presence is the blessed assurance of your continual safety and success.

Know that today, and every day, THE MASTER OF STORMY SEAS is also onboard with YOU.  Wherever HE leads, do not stress or worry over current conditions or changing circumstances.  This is the comforting promise of the “author and finisher” of our faith: “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Hebrews 12:2 and Matthew 28:20)

Never worry.  Never fear.  Christ is here.  CONTINUE!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

TRUST IN OTHERS

TRUST IN OTHERS

For believers, it is a no-brainer to recognize the necessity of absolute trust in GOD. (Proverbs 3:5-6) However, sometimes it is rather challenging for us to invest trust in others.  The ‘me-generation’ tends to focus energy and effort on self-development – hailing independence as the highest of human virtues.  But it is mission critical that we learn how to trust and rely on one another.

I read an intriguing story about the Russian cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, who achieved fame as the first man to fly in space.  After the Cold War had ended, Russian cosmonauts revealed the tremendous pressure under which Gagarin had operated.  His rocket capsule was purposefully armed with an explosive charge that could be detonated remotely by radio signal.  

The purpose of the explosive charge was that the government wanted to ensure that Gagarin could not possibly defect politically by reentering earth’s atmosphere anywhere else but over Soviet territory.  The explosives were rigged so that the charges could only be disarmed (and the re-entry system activated) by entering a six-digit code into the onboard computer system.  Before the launch, Cosmonaut Gagarin was given the first three numbers.  However, the last three numbers were to be transmitted to him just before his retrorockets would fire for reentry into the earth’s atmosphere.

But even though the Soviet government was skeptical about investing complete trust in their cosmonauts, the head of their space program, Sergei Korolev, had a very different view.  Just before the rocket was launched Korolev pulled Gagarin aside and gave him the last three numbers.  Korolev had full confidence in Gagarin, a trust for which he was prepared to lay down his job and his life by whispering those secret numbers.  Gagarin didn’t let him down.

The times in which we live have a tendency to maximize personal skepticism and doubt.  Sometimes, given our ‘take’ on the attitudes and actions of others, it is tempting to head into ‘safety zones’ of self-dependence and solitude.  However, we truly NEED one another.  Indeed, we are at our very best when we are conjoined and cooperative with family and friends.  Let’s stay together.  We are stronger – and we are better – WHEN WE STAND TOGETHER!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

WOUNDED HEALERS

WOUNDED HEALERS

Although there are days and dilemmas that might cause you to feel isolated and alone, the Holy Spirit, The Paraclete, The One who walks alongside, is forever with you.  This life affirming truth is revealed to us by Jesus ChrisT, Himself: “I AM WITH YOU…ALWAYS.” (Matthew 28:20)

Oh how He loves you and me!  Never forget that it was Jesus’ boundless and unconditional LOVE that nailed Him to the cross, not the sharp spikes of any Roman executioner.

Isaiah 53:4-6 (NKJV)
Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  But He was WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Jesus died in our place.  He suffered, bled and died vicariously – for our sins.  He is The Wounded Healer.  And His wounds miraculously become our hope, our help, our health and our healing.  Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Now it is our time and opportunity to return His divine favor by becoming HEALING SEEDS, sown graciously by Him into the lives of others.  Herein lies the naked truth about us.  We are fallen and flawed.  We are broken vessels.  We have been shaped by sin and marred by iniquity.  Nevertheless, despite our inadequacies and imperfections, we remain in The Potter’s hands. (Psalm 51:5 and Jeremiah 18:1-6)

It has been rightly said that scarred hands heal best.  That’s me.  That’s you.  That’s good news because WE have been deputized as contemporary wounded healers – appointed and anointed by THE WOUNDED HEALER to serve the Kingdom of God and to win lost souls, who (in turn) will walk in their divine purpose and destiny and eventually draw others unto Him.

So you are more than what you look like!  Ultimately, YOU are a spiritual reproduction of The Risen Christ who resides “in you [as] the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)

So…wounded healer…who have you touched with your new life in Christ?  And who will be touched and transformed…TODAY?

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE BEATITUDES

THE BEATITUDES

Matthew 5:1-10 (NKJV)
1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 
2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

BEAUTIFIED BY GOD

BEAUTIFIED BY GOD

We were purposefully created in the image and likeness of a marvelous and majestic God.  Throughout our lives, we are continually touched and transformed by His grace and mercy – as long as we willingly surrender to the restoring power of His redemptive love.  Although there are moments when we appear to be ‘ugly’ and radically different in character than the Creator’s original design, our God has a definite plan and process.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

In many ways, we have profound similarities to the scarab beetle.  While most people find beetles and bugs to be somewhat creepy, the jewel scarab could turn you into a beetle lover.  They live in the jungles of Honduras and their colors are so amazing that they have great value and sell for up to $500 each.  Scarabs are colorfully adorned in flaming red, radiant gold and bright silver that resembles a luminous chrome.  Even beetle haters find jewel scarabs to be absolutely dazzling and beautiful!

But their origins are radically different from their latter lives.  To be sure, the jewel scarab’s beauty does not come automatically.  They have rather modest, even ugly beginnings – emerging as soft, mushy, grey-white grubs growing inside rotting tree stumps.  They remain in place for a year or so.  During the rainy season, the adult scarabs emerge from their trees, with that soft body and pale appearance.  However, within hours their bodies harden and their splendid colors start to show.  Jewel scarabs only live for another three months or so, but what a glorious and magnificent existence.  They are among God’s most attractive creations!

People are just like scarabs.  There are moments when we may not feel (or appear to be) very beautiful and attractive.  I’m not referring to our bodies, but our minds, our characters, our thoughts, our emotions and our decisions.  Nevertheless, if we are willing to submit to the ongoing creative process of God, with time, effort, and submission we emerge as beautiful, dazzling, shining creatures, gloriously bearing the spiritual image of our Creator.

It’s a process.   It’s a process.  It’s a process.

So hang in there while the Divine Architect completes His work in you and in your family.  This reminds me of my life-verse, which is Philippians 1:6. “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

GET OUT OF THE REARVIEW MIRROR (Part III)

GET OUT OF THE REARVIEW MIRROR! (Part III)

It is a terribly destructive thing to become trapped in one’s past and unable to dwell joyfully in the present.  So make the positive choice of laying aside all weighty shackles of self-recrimination.  You are a victor, not a victim.  Refuse to get stuck in PAST tragedies, PAST mishaps and PAST sins, which can only be described as the PARALYSIS OF ANALYSIS. (Hebrews 12:1) My friend, you cannot drive into your future while focusing solely on your rearview mirror!

Allow me to share two life-altering revelations about your past.

First of all, GOD has purposefully (and completely) FORGOTTEN your past faults, failures, foibles and fiascoes.  May I remind you of the divine perspective on any born-again, blood-bought, believer in Christ?  “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12) It is such a vital Kingdom principle that the Holy Spirit expresses it repeatedly in His Word.  “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17)

Secondly, GOD has promised restoration to any person who (once spiritually adopted into His Kingdom) has fallen from full fellowship with Him.  Yes, you might have departed from His service for a season, but you were never abandoned by His grace.  Regardless of the apparent impact of your time away from a relational connection with Him, God promises COMPLETE RESTORATION. 

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not.  And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (I John 2:1)

“And I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.” (Joel 2:25)

These twin scriptural passages assure us that (unless we willfully choose to do so), we will not be separated from God’s grace, mercy and love.  For a third biblical witness, you may refer to Romans 8:35-39.

The Joel passage (quoted above) reveals a unique and surprising pattern in the plan and purpose of God.  Take note of the fact that GOD implies that HE has sent those life-shaking pestilences of cankerworms, caterpillars and palmerworms.  GOD describes them as “MY GREAT ARMY WHICH I HAVE SENT AMONG YOU.” (Joel 2:25) Now hear this!  Not every seemingly bad situation or troubling test has its origins in hell.  The devil didn’t necessary do it.  Some of those awful appearing packages could have been dispatched directly from Heaven!

I am keenly aware that this revelation might ‘mess’ with someone’s idea or image of who God is and how God works.  But hear me out.  Theologians and all believers have long wrestled with the so-called problem of theodicy.  That is, how could a GOD who is all good and all powerful allow evil events to invade the lives of His children?

For an answer to this perennial question, we need only consider Romans 8:28. “For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”  My friend, SOMETIMES GOD SENDS THE LOCUSTS, not for our destruction, but for our growth, our development and our good!  Jesus put it another way: “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45) Take note of the simple fact that “rain” involves two diametrically opposed possibilities.  Sufficient rain can produce plentiful harvests.  Excessive rain can result in floods and famine.

Here’s the thing.  We must resolve in our soul and spirit to completely TRUST THE RAINMAKER.  After all, HE knows how much we can (and should) bear.  In the words of the Apostle Paul, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (I Corinthians 10:13) So, whatever your life-situation might be, if you are IN IT…GOD is fully capable of seeing you THROUGH IT and getting you OUT OF IT!  So trust.  Never doubt.

And never ever allow negative, distorted, demonically inspired images of your past self to become barriers to confidence in God’s overflowing love, grace and mercy that are extended continually to you.

Stay out the rear view mirror, my friend.  Your past has never been (and never will be) a reason why GOD would not honor HIS covenant relationship in the present time – in this present world.  The Word declares that “man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” (Job 14:1) Trouble is just the human condition.  However, as a bona fide believer in Christ, you are forever blessed and never cursed. (Joshua 1:8 – Deuteronomy 28:1-14) So maintain that positive spirit and elevated perspective.  The past HAs passed, And GOD is on your side!

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!