I AM THAT I AM

I AM THAT I AM

When Jehovah (Yahweh) revealed Himself to Moses, dispatching him to liberate the Israelites from four centuries of Egyptian bondage, Moses had an intriguing conversation with God.

Exodus 3:13-14

¹³ And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

¹⁴ And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.

The ancient Israelites had such high regard and reverence for the name of God that they refused to pronounce it while reading the sacred scriptures, substituting for it the name “Adonai.”

Under the New Covenant, the dispensation of grace and truth, Jesus Christ becomes the manifestation of Jehovah, “the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9) The gospel writer, John, correctly identifies Jesus as the great I AM.  In the anointed words of Jesus, The Christ…:

-           I AM the Bread of Life. (John 6:35)

-           I AM the Light of the World. (John 8:12)

-           I AM the Door. (John 10:9)

-           I AM the Good Shepherd. (John 10:11)

-           I AM the Resurrection and the Life. (John 11:25)

-           I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6)

-           I AM the True Vine. (John 15:1,5)

-           I AM…I AM. (John 4:26; 8:58; 18:5,6,8)

In other words, JESUS CHRIST is ALL we will ever need, “for in Him we live, and move, and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) Indeed, HE is the great I AM. 

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

THE TERRIBLE TWO'S

THE TERRIBLE TWO’S

Belinda and I have a granddaughter named Savannah whom we love dearly.  The other day, we were recalling Savannah’s development at the age of two years.  Now she is five years old.  Unlike most of our grandchildren, Savannah was relatively slow in developing her ability to communicate verbally.  HOWEVER, once she DID…Savannah immediately became large-and-in-charge in every room she entered. 

We love her very much and would take nothing in exchange for her place in our family and in our hearts.  But Savannah was quite a challenge at the age of two.  She was caught up in the throes of what pseudo-psychologists (like myself) call “the terrible two’s.”  She was peevishly insistent on having her way with all of us, including her two siblings, Sydney and Dylan.  Of course, her noisy petulance did not play out very well with them.

One memorable day, when Savannah had activated her typical agenda of having everything her way, I started processing her behavior from a different perspective, with more insight and revelation.  It dawned on me that Savannah was much like (indeed JUST LIKE) some members of the institutional church.  After hearing her elders’ words, she systematically selected the directives she wanted to follow.  In this early stage of emotional development, she was completely self-willed and self-absorbed.  Everything was ALWAYS about her personal wishes or perceived needs.

Nevertheless, in the middle of that day’s testy temper tantrum, something rather marvelous occurred.  Belinda picked up Savannah, cradled her gently and whispered softly in her ear, “I love you, sweetie.”  Soon Savannah quieted herself and nestled in your grandmother’s compassionate, caring arms.  What a life lesson for me!  Wow!

Right away, I recalled a devotional I had written and an insightful follow-up comment from a spiritually discerning reader.  Someone responded in a rather hostile manner to something I had written.  And it was not their disagreement, but their tone that troubled me.  The pastor-reader from South Africa wisely suggested that we PRAY for those who exhibit behaviors that feel aggressive or seem divisive to us.  His words caused me to re-examine my own thinking.  “The differences will always be there,” he said, “but I pray they never cloud fellowship and the gospel.”  Profound wisdom.  Instead of becoming perturbed or responding in haste, we should prayerfully seek to understand the speaker and to adjust our own attitudes accordingly. 

The Apostle Paul offered similar advice to the Church of Galatia: “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, CONSIDERING YOURSELF lest you also be tempted.  Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2, NKJV).

Belinda clearly modeled the way forward for us, i.e. to support Savannah by redirecting her attitude and her actions with consistent, genuine, gentle (yet firm), unconditional love.  Indeed, even while our beloved Savannah was fully ensconced in “the terrible two’s,” we genuinely loved her, without reservations or conditions.  Dylan and Sydney were far too young to comprehend the emotional nuances that undergirded their baby sister’s behavior.  And I do not wish to model their (understandable) immaturity in my dealings with people who also might ‘appear’ to be unkind or contentious.  Rather, I resolve to purposefully emulate my wonderful wife’s wisdom and compassion. 

So, the next time I interact with someone who seems strident or difficult, I will respond with a radical difference – with much more compassion, with intercessory prayer, with empathy and with a real awareness of my own faults and shortcomings.  Who knows?  They could be experiencing a spiritual version of ‘the terrible two’s,’ and they might be in dire need of encountering a loving ‘spiritual adult’ in their room.

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

PERHAPS YOU DID NOT GROW UP IN CHURCH

PERHAPS YOU DID NOT GROW UP IN CHURCH

Somehow, The institutional church seems to have embraced a tenure system. 

Some time ago, Belinda and I attended a Sunday morning service in which I was the guest speaker.  During the announcements, the congregation was informed of a member’s passing and plans for her funeral service.  The announcer’s laudatory remarks were diluted by a somewhat strange preamble: “Although she was not with us for very long…”  Later, we learned she had been a member for five years.  Headed homeward afterwards, Belinda queried (not with one iota of criticism or cynicism): “How long do you have to be a member of the church to be ‘counted’?”

We are most grateful that grace happens on Heaven’s schedule, not on ours. 

Some people arrive rather early; others later.  For example, the motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar, known all over the world for his energy, his optimism and his faith, first embraced Christ (not as a child), but in his mid-forties.  Ironically, due to his family’s involvement, Zig grew up in church, but church had not grown up in him.

To wit, Zig found himself with more doubts than belief.  Then something unexpected happened.  On July 4, 1972, shortly after he had left a successful sales career to pursue a full-time public speaking career, Zig was taking an evening dip in his swimming pool.  Suddenly, he was struck by the urge to pray.  While he swam, his mind wandered, and he was filled with many questions.  Is God real?  Is He truly present in our day-to-day lives?

Zig floated on his back, staring up into the heavens.  Just then, a brilliant shooting star streaked across the night sky.  He was startled and elated.  An unusual warmth filled him with inner light, brighter than the shooting star.  In a flash, he knew the answers to all his questions with utmost certainty.  He also knew that he must share not just positive thinking and optimism in his speeches, but also his newfound faith in God.  Throughout Zig Ziglar’s life, he talked about that heavenly sign.  He was convinced that it was a divine confirmation, a purposeful stirring up of a true and sustainable faith.

Perhaps you did not grow up in church.  Perhaps your natural chronology lists you as a full-grown adult, while your spirituality index still hovers at the child or adolescent stage.  By all means, please avoid the temptation to contrast your development with others who have more time and experience in matters of faith.  As you apply yourself, you will surely discover that God does not work on the basis of seniority.  Quite the contrary; God honors availability, commitment and consistency.  And FYI, God habitually restores ‘lost’ years to those of us who have experienced delay or detours. (Joel 2:25)

My friend, I am entirely eager to lend my life-verse to you.  Feel free to adopt it, at least for today.  “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.” (Philippians 1:6) So never ever engage in the comparison game.  Simply “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” (I Peter 3:18) That’s all you can do, and that’s all HE requires. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

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

WAKE UP!

WAKE UP!

Some years ago, there was an unforgettable race horse named Sunday Silence.  The back story is that Sunday Silence should have been dead…twice.  As a young colt, Sunday Silence contracted a deadly case of colic.  Colts with colic only rarely survive.  Sunday Silence contracted colic as a colt, yet he survived.

Due to his prior medical condition, Sunday Silence was put up for sale at two separate horse auctions. However, no one wanted to purchase a horse with a history of colic or with such an unsightly appearance.  On top of his horrific health issues, Sunday Silence was almost killed when the driver of his trailer had a heart attack and caused a terrible vehicular accident.  Bottom-line: Sunday Silence was an unwanted and unmarketable horse.

Eventually, a man named Charles Widdingham bought Sunday Silence (sight unseen) for $25,000 because everything he had heard suggested to him that Sunday Silence was a tough horse and a survivor.  At the age of 76, Charles was the oldest trainer to ever bring a horse to The Kentucky Derby, but he entered that prestigious event anyway, only to become the brunt of everyone’s jokes. 

Even the jockey he had chosen, Pat Valenzuela, seemed to be in a semi-broken condition.  He had only recently been rehabilitated from drug abuse, so the odds were heavily stacked against them.  Most people would not have wagered one dollar on that horse, or his rider, or his trainer.

Nevertheless, Charles and Pat had faith and trained Sunday Silence rigorously.  They worked around the clock to get him ready for the toughest race in the world.  Of course, they were surrounded by million dollar horses with wealthy owners, possessing deep financial pockets.  And they were categorically dismissed, as an old fool, a young punk drunk and a sickly unsightly horse.

The day of The Kentucky Derby finally arrived.  When the gun sounded and the horses bolted out of their gates, a pitiful looking Sunday Silence (at first) wobbled back and forth, appearing to be completely confused.  But the gloating spectators overlooked one important thing: Sunday Silence had heart.

Suddenly, something strange and unprecedented occurred.  For reasons completely unknown to his startled critics, Sunday Silence seemed to wake up – and he raced down that Derby track like a champion thoroughbred.  It seemed that he realized somehow, ‘I’m in a big race…and I want to win!’  Sunday Silence shot off like a bolt of lightning, passing every one of his ungulate competitors, and winning The Kentucky Derby – all because he had heart.

Here’s the life application.  Perhaps others have grossly underestimated your worth or occasionally devalued your contribution.  Please do not allow your dream to be deterred or deferred by their disapproving glances or insensitive commentary.  You know better.  Wake up!  Put your entire being (body, soul and spirit) into the unique assignment for which only YOU have been positioned on this planet.  No, it is not too late.  Start seeing (TODAY) what GOD originally spoken over your life, long before the foundation of the world.  Write it down, meditate on it, plan it, then (consistently and tenaciously) act upon it.  Evaluate your progress, tweak your strategy, and try again and again and again, until you succeed!

Sunday Silence silenced every adversary without speaking one word.  His bold action was the loudest and clearest expression of his winning destiny.  YOU have far more value and capability than Sunday Silence ever would or could.  WAKE UP, stand up, get moving.  Ask GOD for the faith, wisdom, endurance and power that will put your life into overdrive.  Then just do it. 

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

GOD'S PROPERTY

GOD’S PROPERTY

Difficult moments should never take believers by surprise.  Consider the sage advice of the Apostle Peter. “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." (I Peter 4:12-13)    

My friend, you will surely survive since you walk in covenant connectivity with Christ.  The all-wise Savior has invested so much in processing and protecting your lifelong growth and development, and He will certainly see you through. My own life-verse is a reassuring reminder: “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.” (Philippians 1:6)

Winner-Believer, refuse to reside in fear, frustration, disappointment, hurt or sorrow.  Never ever allow unexpected enemy incursions to blindside, derail and destroy you.  Do not grant the enemy access to your mind or permission to deflate your dreams.  For in the final analysis, YOU are GOD’S property and possession.  And unquestionably, He has your back. 

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

CHECKS YOU CAN'T CASH

CHECKS YOU CAN’T CASH

Reportedly, during the prime of Muhammad Ali’s boxing career, a close friend grew weary of his continual claims that he was “the greatest.”  Knowing that Ali never played golf, his friend casually inquired of him, “So how are you at golf?”  Ali responded with an expected and humorous confidence: “I’m the best!  I just haven’t played yet.”

Point to ponder: ‘Does your mouth write checks your life can’t cash?’

I read an interesting quote attributed to Simon Cowell, formerly of American Idol fame.  He said “I could sit back and get someone to spin my achievements, I suppose, but when I see others do it, I always think, ‘Why are you telling me how successful you are?’  I am always suspicious of those kinds of boasts.”  Me too, Mr. Cowell, me too.

There is a synonym for boasting, one which is oft employed today by those who relish self-exaltation.  It is called “promotion.”  To be candid, many of us (in the guise of enhancing our personal achievements or ministries) resort to daily doses of unchecked and unabashed boasting.  It makes me scratch my head and wonder: ‘Where is our humility?’  Have we so soon forgotten Solomon’s sage advice?  “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)

My father, the late Bishop Joseph Edison Bass, Sr., often posed a question specifically designed to make us keenly aware of the need for genuine humility.  Dad asked, “What do you have that you did not receive?”  His question was a condensed paraphrase of the Apostle Paul’s admonition to the Church of Corinth: “For who makes you differ from another?  And what do you have that you did not receive?  Now if you indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (I Corinthians 4:7) 

Paul expanded on this ethical concept in his letter to the Church of Rome: “Where is boasting then?  It is excluded.  By what law?  Of works?  No, by the law of faith.” (Romans 3:27) Although he was “a Hebrew of Hebrews,” Paul modestly concludes that “I will rather boast in my infirmities [as opposed to my accomplishments] that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (Philippians 3:5 - II Corinthians 12:9) And to the Church of Galatia, Paul wrote, “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14)

Here’s the thing.  Boasting is not only forged from and framed in unbridled arrogance; it is also the epitome of sheer ignorance.  Why?  Because any degree of self-exaltation overlooks the undeniable fact that you and I “are bought with a price.”  So you must “glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (I Corinthians 6:20) May I be transparent?  Whenever I am tempted to expand my own ego and to start tripping, I hear the whispered echo of my wise father’s voice: “What do you have that you did not receive?”      

James, the brother of Jesus, did not mince words about man’s egocentric temptation: “All such boasting is evil,” he wrote. (James 4:16) David’s testimony offers confirmation: “My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad.” (Psalm 34:2) In other words, humility heals, while arrogance divides and destroys.

Allow me to pose today’s principle question once more: ‘Does your mouth write checks your life can’t cash?  The spiritual implications of this interrogative are completely clear.  Even though we can accumulate great and marvelous things, it is OUR GOD who is the giver of “every good and every perfect gift.”  So, whatever we ARE…whatever we DO...we must humbly recognize that all goodness comes “from ABOVE, from the FATHER OF LIGHT, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) 

Unquestionably, whatever exceptional values are inscribed upon the face of OUR LIFE-CHECKS, every one of them has been sponsored, signed and sealed by the Bank of Heaven.  Therefore, we dare not ‘trip’ or boast.

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

PRICELESS FRIENDSHIP

PRICELESS FRIENDSHIP

I love an inspirational quote by the famed naturalist, Ralph Waldo Emerson: “It may well be reckoned that friendship is the true masterpiece of nature.”  The following story makes the point of how mission critical it is TO HAVE FRIENDS, and more than that, TO BE A FRIEND to others in times of need.

A soldier was finally coming home from the Vietnam War.  He placed a call to his parents after landing in San Francisco.

“Mom and Dad, I’m coming home, but I’ve got a huge favor to ask.  I have a friend that I’d like to bring home with me.” 

“Sure son” they replied, “we’d love to meet him.”

“There’s something you should know,” the son continued, “he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting.  He stepped on a land mine and lost an arm and a leg.  He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come and live with us.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, son.  Maybe we can help him find somewhere nice to live.”

“No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us.”

“Son,” said the father, “you don’t know what you’re asking.  Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden.  We have our own lives to live, and we can’t let something like this interfere with our lives.  I think you should just come home and forget about this guy.  Somehow he will find a way to live on his own.”

At that point, the son hung up the phone.  The parents heard nothing more from him.

However, a few days later they received a call from the San Francisco police.  Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told.  The police believed it was suicide.  The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son.  They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn’t know.  Their son had only one arm and one leg.

The parents in this story are like so many of us.  We find it quite easy to love those who are good-looking, or in good health, or fun to have around, but we may not readily warm to people who could inconvenience us or make us feel a bit uncomfortable.  In truth, we tend to shy away from people like that, people who are not as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we.

Thankfully, there’s someone who would never treat us that way, someone who loves us with an unconditional love and welcomes us into His forever family, regardless of how messed up we have become.

Today, I pray that God will give us sufficient strength to accept people as they are, and that He will grant us enough grace to be more understanding of those who are different, or needier than us.

There is a miracle called FRIENDSHIP that dwells deep within the human heart.  We may not know exactly how it happens or when it gets started.  But we do know the special love and lift that it brings.  And along life’s journey, we gradually come to realize that FRIENDSHIP is one of OUR FATHER’S most precious gifts.

Friends are a rare jewel, indeed.  They make us smile and they encourage us to succeed.  They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always open their hearts and minds to us.  BE A FRIEND.

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

ARE WE ELIGIBLE?

ARE WE ELIGIBLE?

The holy scriptures admonish us to carefully and prayerfully examine ourselves to assess whether we are living in alignment with the will and Word of God. (I Corinthians 11:28 – Galatians 6:4)

Consider the Psalmist David’s prayer of self-evaluation (Psalm 15, verse 1) and the Lord’s revealing response to the same. (Psalm 15, verses 2-5)

Psalm 15 (NKJV)

¹ Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?  Who may dwell in Your holy hill?

² He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart;
³ He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
⁴ In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the Lord; he who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
⁵ He who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

In consideration of these Kingdom Requirements, would you and I be deemed eligible for the favor and blessings of God?  Of course, no public responses are warranted or necessary.  We simply need to reflect individually (and soberly) and to ask THE LORD to search our hearts. (Psalm 139:23)

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

LET'S BUILD A BRIDGE

LET’S BUILD A BRIDGE

How we love spending quality time with our grandchildren!  Their frequent visits are sheer delight to Belinda and me.  A few years ago, after our Tea Party time, six-year-old Sydney asked me to draw a picture with her.  I agreed, but ended up doing much more observing than drawing.  Our conversation went something like this:

Me:         Sydney, what do you want to draw?

Sydney:  Islands!

Me:         Why?

Sydney:  I got a book from the library.  Lots and lots of pictures of islands!

[Seated at Grandma’s office desk, Sydney went to work, diligently creating her picture.  I was rather impressed and very proud of her results].

Me:         That’s a gorgeous picture, Sydney!  Great job!

[She paused for a moment, inspecting her picture with a bright smile; then her response surprised me].

Sydney:  But people can’t get off.  They’re stuck!

Me:         I see.  What can we do about that?  Hmm…maybe we can draw a boat next to your island.

Sydney:  No Pop-Pop…a bridge.  A bridge is better!

Me:         Why is that, Sydney?

Sydney:  So we can get on and off when we want.  Let’s build a bridge!

Given Sydney’s tender age and the fact that she was a first grader, my granddaughter’s insight floored and fascinated me.  In fact, a bridge would be a far better transportation solution for the people on her imaginary island.  Should a ferry be their only means of egress, they would always be limited to arbitrary timetables and conditions set by others.  On the other hand, a bridge would allow them total autonomy, the ability to come and go at will.  In Sydney’s simple words, “A bridge is better!”

Our playtime revealed an intriguing metaphor for life.  Symbolically speaking, many prefer constructing ‘ferries’ for personal relationships.  Why?  Relationship ferries grant us absolute control over the ‘how’ and ‘when’ of our interactions with others.  Bottom-line: Many of us have the unfortunate tendency to become ‘control freaks’ in the lives of others, demanding that everyone dance to ‘our tune’ – in a melody, cadence and orchestration of our own choosing.  But ferries never work well in relationships; bridges are better.

Jesus Christ said “Blessed are the peace makers [the bridge builders], for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) Try hard to avoid becoming an island.  To the very best of your ability, stay connected.  But if you find yourself in an isolated circumstance (due to your own actions or the choices of others), then simply build a bridge.  “A bridge is better!” 

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

WHATEVER YOU SOW...GROWS

WHATEVER YOU SOW…GROWS

NO, this devotional is not designed to separate you from your purse or wallet, so please continue to read. [Smile]!  I am fully enamored with the principle of sowing and reaping because it is so applicable in every arena of life.  Here is a small sampling of relevant scriptures.  “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest…shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22) “Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7b) These biblical wisdoms do not pertain exclusively to tithe and offerings, which are certainly due to God via our sense of appreciation and covenant.  Rather, they are part and parcel of our total life experience.

To illustrate this point, let’s imagine you standing at the edge of a pond with a rock in your hand. You hurl the rock into the center of the pond with all the strength you can muster.  Naturally, it creates waves.  Concentric circles emerge from the spot that your rock entered the water, eventually reaching every side of the pond.

Let’s analyze what happened.  That pond was totally still and undisturbed prior to your arrival. Then you did something – you threw a rock into the pond and perturbed its peace and tranquility. In a word, your actions precipitated a significant change in the pond environment, impacting its water, contents and banks.  Think about it.

In life, whatever you do…matters.

In life, whatever you sow…grows.

We should never see ourselves as so small and inconsequential that the effects of what we do or say are somehow minimal or negligible.

Make sure that the next rock you cast into the pond of life is positive, peaceful and productive. Someone, somewhere, will somehow be impacted.  And never assume that GOD is not paying attention, even to the ‘smallest stones of life,’ because He cares so much for every one of His children. 

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

WATCH YOUR MOUTH!

WATCH YOUR MOUTH!

I am aware that today’s devotional subject might sound a bit brash, perhaps even crude.  Nevertheless, so many of us fail to recognize the immense power and impact of our spoken words.  The prolific author, Og Mandino, poses a pivotal question: “Why is it then that so many of us go out of our own way to offend others with criticism and offensive judgments that so often come back to haunt us?  Why do we allow our big mouths to dig ruts in our path so deep that our forward progress is finally nil?”  OUCH!

One of my favorite books, read quite early in life, is “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie.  “Criticism is futile,” Carnegie contends, “because it puts a man on the defensive, and usually makes him strive to justify himself.  Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a man’s precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses resentment.”  He adds an astute observation: “When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic.  We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity.  Criticism is a spark – a spark that is liable to cause an explosion in the powder magazine of pride.”  This is something to seriously consider!

The ancient Greek scholar, Pythagoras, wrote “A wound from a tongue is worse than a wound from a sword, for the latter affects only the body, the former affects the spirit.”  I would put it more simply with this word of warning: “Watch your mouth!” 

The Apostle James, the brother of Jesus, had the special assignment of highlighting the impact of believers’ speech.  His teachings on the subject are of vital importance; they are reprinted (in part) below.

James 3:2-10 (NKJV)

² For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. ³ Indeed,^[a] we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴ Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. ⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

James’ doctrine-of-speech may be summarized as follows: “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” (James 1:26, NIV)

OUR WORDS HAVE SIGNIFICANT SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL CAPABILITY.  They can give or take LIFE, to and from ourselves, but also to and from others.  This makes logical sense considering the nature of THE ONE who has “created all things.” (Ephesians 3:9 – Colossians 1:16 – Revelation 4:11) The very essence of Christ, i.e. the way by which we may accurately describe His power, dominion and authority is simply this: JESUS CHRIST IS THE LIVING WORD.  Therefore, it stands to reason that OUR WORDS are of special significance and import to THE LIVING WORD or The Holy One who “upholds all things by THE WORD of His power.” (Hebrews 1:3) Prayerfully consider that important Kingdom truth.

We must consistently employ wisdom in every avenue of communication.  Why is this important?  Because our words are “SALT.”  As such, they have sufficient capacity to SEASON [INFLUENCE] ourselves, our families, our friends and even our enemies.  Therefore, the scriptures mandate that our “speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that [we] may know how [we] ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:6)

At the risk of sounding somewhat crude or even rude, I must caution you to “WATCH YOUR MOUTH!”  Moving forward, we resolve to collectively activate the governing thermostat of The Holy Spirit, who constantly modifies our attitudes, our actions and our words.

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

THE MYSTERIOUS STILLNESS OF FAITH

THE MYSTERIOUS STILLNESS OF FAITH

Today, I feel impressed to share a simple-but-significant Rhema with someone who absolutely needs to hear it.  You will know because it will resonate powerfully within your spirit.

“Then He said, 'Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.' And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” (I Kings 19:11-12)

 “BE STILL…AND KNOW…THAT I AM GOD.” (Psalm 46:10)

It is a spiritual recipe called “TRUST.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

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

THE PARADOX OF DARK DAYS

THE PARADOX OF DARK DAYS

According to the Apostle John, “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” (I John 1:5) As the epitome and personification of LIGHT, our GOD judiciously declares that “the path of the JUST is as the SHINING LIGHT, that shines more and more unto the perfect day.” (Proverbs 4:18)

Bottom-line: Appearances notwithstanding, THE CREATOR’s covenant kids have been designed and deputized to be containers and conveyers of light – even in dismal, dark, miserable and messy places.

How can this be?  YOU have been deputized as CHRIST’S LIGHT-BEARERS and endowed with the awesome ability to “call those things with be not as though they were,” which is the supernatural capacity to “DECREE” positive changes throughout your circumstances.  As you do so so, the Word offers the assurance that “it WILL be established for you so LIGHT will shine on your ways.” (Romans 4:17 – Job 22:28)

My friend, it only ‘looks’ dark in your environs.

DECREE!  BELIEVE!  SHINE!

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