YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

 Fred Feldman, our junior high school boys’ physical education and health teacher, had an interesting saying. “You are what you eat,” he constantly reminded us.  And, from the perspective of later life, I am confident that he had a firm grip on the truth. 

 Allow me to share a related story…

 A Cherokee Chief was sitting at the fireplace with his grandchildren one cold winter evening, sharing a lifetime of sound judgment and wisdom.  “In every life there is a life-or-death struggle,” he admonished the coming generation, “a terrible fight between two powerful wolves.  One wolf is evil.  It brings fear, anger, envy, greed, self-pity, resentment, selfishness, dishonesty and arrogance.  The other wolf is good.  It brings truth, serenity, sincerity, confidence, generosity, gentleness, joy, compassion and humility.”

 His youngest grandchild nervously queried, “Grandfather, which wolf wins?” The elder sage looked the little boy straight in the eye and said firmly: “THE ONE YOU FEED.”

 It’s not a Christian story, but it certainly conveys truth.  In life, we have definite options.  We choose either evil or good.  However, the overall result we achieve is actually the product of our LIFE DECISION TREE, which is comprised of a host of smaller and seemingly ordinary choices we make along the way.  How we spend our time is one choice.  The company that we keep is another.  The spouses we choose, the books we read, the music we embrace, the television programs we follow, the events we attend, the church families we join – are all monumental choices that impact our thinking, our short- and long-term decision making and, thus, our eternal destiny.

 Joshua put it this way: “CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL SERVE…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)  

 My friend, choose well.  Nourish and nurture yourself well.  The leaves, branches and fruit of your LIFE TREE are actually the product of that which you purposefully ingest along the way.  So dine sumptuously, healthily, heartily…on THE WORD.

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

LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT

LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT

 One of the first Bible verses I committed to memory, as well as the text for my initial sermon on August 20, 1967, is recorded in Hebrews 12:1-2.  “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

 The Apostle Paul made frequent references to running as a metaphor for the Christian journey.  Olympic runners train with weights to experience resistance during workouts, to achieve relative lightness and increased speed during competitions.  It reminds me of an interesting story:

 One of my teachers asked us to bring in clear plastic bags and sacks of potatoes.  For every person we refused to forgive in our lives, we were told to choose a potato, write on it the name and date, and put it in the plastic bag.  Some of our bags, as you might imagine, became quite heavy.

 We were then told to carry this bag with us everywhere for one week, putting it beside our bed at night, on the car seat when driving, next to our desk at work, etc.  The hassle of lugging this cumbersome bag around with us made it clear what a weight we were carrying spiritually. 

 There’s a crucial lesson in that classroom assignment, don’t you think?  My friend, are you bound and burdened by heavy bags of unforgiveness?  If so, confess your condition to God. Then, strive to become reconciled with anyone who is the object of ill will or hurt feelings.  In the process, you will feel so much lighter…and you will be set free.

 In the words of the Apostle Paul, “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)  Never forget that the forgiveness we receive from God is actually identical to whatever we mete out to others.  This is one of the key Kingdom principles taught by Jesus in The Lord’s Prayer.  “Forgive us our debts, AS we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)

 My friend, your journey is far too lengthy and challenging to carry the cumbersome weight of unforgiveness.

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

CONFIDENCE IN COMPLETION

CONFIDENCE IN COMPLETION

 “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)  This verse of scripture has had a more profound impact on my daily walk with God than any other.  It is my LIFE-VERSE, a constant reminder that my very existence on this planet is a definite work in progress, ordered and orchestrated by Heaven’s capable, concealed and caring hands. 

 Dare I be transparent enough to concede publicly that I am indeed a “WORK IN PROGRESS?”  It is an admission that could be disturbing to some, although, all things considered, it should be painfully obvious to most.  Nevertheless, erroneous teachings have led many to believe that we will somehow ‘get it all together’ within the span of our sojourn here on earth.  My friend, here is a shocker: YOU WILL NEVER BE PERFECT!

 But how can that be, when GOD issues scriptural admonitions concerning perfection?  We quote them often, as if they are somehow easy or automatic to achieve: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)  “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” (Philippians 3:15) “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:4)

 Since the Word of God is always true, it begs the question: ‘Exactly what did GOD have in mind when He mandated our perfection?”  Surely, He could not have meant that believers would never err, that we will always adhere fully to the divine will and way.  An honest examination of my own post-conversion walk (or even yours) should totally annihilate that interpretation.  Alright, for the sake of those for whom self-examination might be challenging, for one moment consider your most trusted colleagues in the Body of Christ.  Can you honestly say that they have been ABSOLUTELY PERFECT in their attitudes, actions, words, deeds, dedication, service, etcetera?  I think not.  Actually, when we boastfully attest to our “perfection,” we do considerable damage to the cause of Christ and reduce our witness to the world to the level of that which is patently absurd, non-credible and dishonest.

 Regarding our perfection, GOD had something entirely different in Mind, something quite extraordinary, but something other than that which is perceived by our logical minds.  The facts support this conclusion: We Christians are benefactors of POSITIONAL PERFECTION.  That is, via our connection to Calvary’s cross and the new birth, we become new creations “in Christ,” and are thus RENDERED perfect in faith and fellowship with Him. (II Corinthians 5:17)  In every case, positional perfection produces a constant cry for closer communion: “That I may know HIM…” (Philippians 3:10)  To wit, our status of SPIRITUAL PERFECTION begins and ends with the admission that there is always more spiritual intimacy to be sought after and achieved.  Scriptural spiritual perfection (according to Jesus) precipitates a constant “hunger and thirst after righteousness.” (Matthew 5:6)

 Here’s the bottom-line:  Notwithstanding our issues, BELIEVERS ARE COMPLETE IN CHRIST.  We have been saved by His grace, and through our faith, we stand as spiritually complete products of the finished redemptive work of Calvary. (Ephesians 2:8)  But herein lies the paradox.  Although, WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAVED (by grace through faith), WE ARE ALSO BEING SAVED.  That is, just like natural plants, we are pruned (daily) and purified (spiritually) by THE HUSBANDMAN, who utilizes a WORD PROCESS to develop us and to grow us up into Him. (John 15:1 – Ephesians 5:26 – Ephesians 4:15)  But this is not the end of the story. At His second coming, His glorious appearing, WE SHALL BE SAVED, i.e. fully delivered and set free from this carnally influenced “body of death.” (I Corinthians 15:52-53 – Romans 7:24) 

 Throughout this process, believers sustain supreme CONFIDENCE IN CHRIST TO COMPLETE US.  My life-verse bears repetition: “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)  So, stop obsessing over your personal perfection.  Instead, focus on doing these things: Pray continually.  Read and meditate on God’s Word.  Tune in to His voice.  Do the daily work of His Kingdom.  Fellowship with His people.  Stay open to sound teaching and the daily direction of His Spirit.  Be steadfast and unmovable.  And maintain absolute confidence in your completion. (I Corinthians 15:58 –Hebrews 10:35) 

 Trust God.  Stay close.  Be faithful.  HE will handle the rest.

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

 

BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP

BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP

 Future historians could well reckon the last 20 years of human history as ‘The Cosmetic Age’ because we exist in an era of abject superficiality, i.e. we are overly fascinated with glitz and glamour.  On a daily basis, we are bombarded with media images that narrowly define beauty for us.  To wit, the majority of goods and services are marketed and advertised by the so-called ‘BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE.’   We consumers seem to have insatiable appetites for products that could somehow transform us into the image of those stylish models that shrewd businesses use to lure us.  This shallow emphasis on exterior beauty causes many to become desensitized and disapproving of people and things that do not physically mirror perfection.  

 My friend, the very next time you are tempted to judge someone by their physical appearance, please recall the following touching tale by an unknown author:

 Our house was directly across the street from the clinic entrance at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.  We lived downstairs and rented upstairs rooms to clinic outpatients.  One summer evening as I was fixing dinner, there was a knock at the door.  I opened and beheld a truly awful looking man.

‘Why, he’s hardly taller than my eight-year-old,’ I thought as I stared at his stooped, shriveled body.  But the most appalling thing was his face; it was lopsided, swollen, red and raw.  Yet his voice was pleasant as he said, “Good evening.  I’ve come to see if you have a room for just one night.  I am here from the eastern shore for a treatment, and there’s no return bus until morning.”  He told me he had been hunting for a room since noon, but with no success.  “I guess it’s my face...I know it looks terrible, but my doctor says with a few more treatments…”

For a moment I hesitated, but his next words really grabbed hold of me: “I could sleep in this rocking chair on the porch,” he suggested.  “My bus leaves early in the morning.”  I told him we would find him a bed, and he could rest on the porch for the time being.

I went inside and finished preparing dinner.  When we were ready, I asked the old man if he would join us.  “No, thank you,” he said.  “I have plenty!”  And he held up a brown paper bag.  When I finished the dishes, I went back out on the porch to talk with him a few minutes.  It didn’t take a long time to see that this old man had an oversized heart deposited in that tiny body.  He told me he was a fisherman and worked hard to support his daughter, her five children, and her husband, who had been permanently crippled.

He didn’t tell it by way of complaint.  In fact, every other sentence was prefaced with thanks to God for one blessing or another.  He seemed very grateful that no pain had accompanied his disease, which was apparently a form of skin cancer.  And he thanked God for just giving him the strength to keep going.

 At bedtime, we put a cot in the children’s room for him.  When I rose the next morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and the little man was already out on the porch.  He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, he hesitantly asked for a favor.  “Could I please come back and stay the next time I have a treatment?  I won't put you out a bit.  I can sleep fine in a chair.”  He paused a moment and then added, “Your children made me feel right at home.  Grownups are bothered by my face, but children don’t seem to mind.”  I assured him that he was welcome to come again.

On his next trip, he arrived a little after seven in the morning.  As a gift, he brought a big fish and a quart of the largest oysters I had ever seen.  He said he had shucked them that morning before he left so they would be nice and fresh.  I knew the bus left from his home at 4:00 a.m. and I wondered what time he had to get up to do this for us. 

 For several years he came to stay overnight with us, and there was never a time that he did not bring us fish or oysters or vegetables from his garden.  At other times we received packages in the mail, always by special delivery: fish and oysters packed in a box of fresh young spinach or kale, every leaf carefully washed.

Knowing that he walked three miles to mail these, and knowing how little money he had made the gifts doubly precious for us.  When I received these little remembrances, I often thought of a comment our next-door neighbor made after this dear man had left our home that first morning. “Did you keep that awful looking man last night?  I turned him away!  You can lose roomers by putting up such people!”

 Maybe we did lose roomers once or twice.  But oh!  If only they could have known him, perhaps their own illnesses would have been easier to bear.  I know our family always will be grateful to have known him; from him we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with total gratitude to God.

Recently I visited a friend who has a greenhouse.  As she showed me flowers, we came to the most beautiful one of all, a golden chrysanthemum that was bursting with blooms.  To my great surprise, it was growing in an old dented, rusty bucket.  I thought to myself, “If this were my plant, I would put it in the loveliest container I had!” But my green-thumbed friend changed my mind.  “I ran short of pots,” she explained, “and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn’t mind starting out in this old pail.  It’s just for a little while, till I can put it out in the garden.”

She must have wondered why I was laughing so spontaneously and happily, but at that moment I was imagining a similar scene in heaven.  “Here’s an especially beautiful one,” God might have said when he came to the soul of that sweet old fisherman.  “He’s so beautiful that surely he wouldn’t mind starting out in this particular body.”

 My friends, let’s learn to love and live in the image and likeness of our Creator.  The Word declares that “man looks on the outward appearance, but THE LORD looks on the heart.” (II Corinthians 10:7b)

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 SEE SOMETHING...SAY SOMETHING!

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING…SAY SOMETHING!

 In 2010, the USA Department of Homeland Security activated a “program to raise public awareness of indicators of terrorism and violent crime and to emphasize the importance of reporting suspicious activity to the proper state and local law enforcement authorities:” www.dhs.gov  Its well-known campaign slogan is “If You See Something, Say Something.” According to I Corinthians 15:46, the “natural” often precedes and illuminates the “spiritual.”  The principle is “First natural, then spiritual.”  From that perspective, I reread the Department of Homeland Security slogan and reconsidered its meaning.

 While I stand in agreement with the urgings of government officials for our citizens to be vigilant and ready to report potential indicators of trouble or terror, I see a new and deeper significance for their slogan.  Consider this.  All too often, Christians can become somewhat intimated (terrorized, if you will) by the vocal and outlandish demands of the world system.  At times, in our efforts to be politically correct and to blend with our culture and society, we allow mouths to be muzzled and truth muted.  However, the Word of God directs us to act in a diametrically opposite manner: “Let the redeemed of the Lord SAY SO.” (Psalm 107:2)

 Light shines best and brightest in darkness, and Jesus Christ declares believers to be brilliant beacons of gospel truth.  He says, “You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” (Matthew 5:14)  The Apostle Paul thus admonished the Church of Corinth, “If the good news we preach is hidden, it is hidden to those who are lost in sin.” (II Corinthians 4:3)

 SO BELIEVER…IF YOU SEE SOMETHING…SAY SOMETHING.

 This does not imply that the Body of Christ is to become judge and jury for others, in a proactive effort to purge our world of sin and shame.  Indeed, that is the task of The Holy Spirit. (John 16:7-11)  In the final analysis, judgment belongs to God, whom Paul describes as “the righteous judge.” (II Timothy 4:8)  But believers are called to be “witnesses” of/by/for “the way, the truth, and the life” who is Christ Jesus. (Acts 1:8 – John 14:6)  Let us do so with genuine conviction, character, consistency and courage.  (Acts 4:31)  Because the early Christian Church did so, their global impact (even their enemies’ testimonies) were powerful and unequivocal.  Indeed, unbelievers referred to them as “those who have turned the world upside down.” (Acts 17:6)

 SO BELIEVER…IF YOU SEE SOMETHING…SAY SOMETHING.

 This spiritual slogan also apparently pertains to our grateful recognition of the manifold blessings of God.  Since sincere acts of praise always invoke the presence of Almighty God, our heartfelt praise joyfully summons Him to every setting and situation.  If a word, if you can SEE SOMETHING significant that GOD has done for you – and we know that you have since we know what He does – SAY SOMETHING!  The simple truth is that our praise terrorizes our spiritual enemy.  Praise puts Satan on the run and causes a stamped in hell!

 Praise even has the capacity to paralyze natural enemies.  I heard a powerful testimony from one of the senior church mothers.  While headed toward the subway one night, she was jostled by a teenage boy who demanded that she surrender her purse.  This wise mother complied with the wishes of her would-be burglar.  But as she removed the purse from her shoulder and extended it to him, she began to cry out “THANK YOU, JESUS!” and to speak loudly in her heavenly language.  The young man immediately dropped her purse and fled the scene in a panic.  For just as there is promised power in OUR WITNESS, there is absolute authority that is released in OUR PRAISE! (Acts 1:8 – II Samuel 22:4)

 SO BELIEVER…IF YOU SEE SOMETHING…SAY SOMETHING.

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

BE WHAT YOU 'IS'...

BE WHAT YOU ‘IS’…

 During my seminary days in Atlanta, a former classmate (now Bishop David M. Copeland) shared some simple and sagely advice that had been handed down by a family member.  It goes something like this…:

 “Son, be what you ‘IS’…and not what you ain’t…‘Cause when you is what you ain’t…you ain’t what you is!”

 While the grammar of that statement might seem questionable, its truth is irrefutable.  All too often, we expend enormous quantities of time and energy trying to imitate the characteristics, lifestyles, abilities, or even the successes of others.  In the process of constantly gazing OUTWARD, we fail to truly appreciate and value our God-given distinctives, causing them to remain dormant or underdeveloped.  It reminds me of a fictional but true-to-life story by author, Benjamin Hoff.

 There once was a stonecutter who was dissatisfied with himself and his position in life.  One day, he passed a wealthy merchant’s house and through the open gateway saw many fine possessions and important visitors.  “How powerful that merchant must be!” thought the stonecutter.  He became very envious and wished that he could be like the merchant.  Then he would no longer have to live the simple life of a stonecutter.

 To his great surprise, he suddenly became the merchant, enjoying more luxuries and power than he had ever dreamed, envied and detested by those less wealthy.  But soon a high official passed by, carried in a sedan chair, accompanied by attendants, and escorted by soldiers beating gongs.  Everyone, no matter how wealthy, had to bow low before that procession.  “How powerful this official is!” he thought.  “I wish that I could be a high official!”

 Then he became the high official, carried everywhere in his embroidered sedan chair, feared and hated by people all around, who bowed down as he passed.  It was a hot summer day, and the official felt very uncomfortable in the sticky sedan chair.  He looked up at the sun.  It shone so proudly in the sky, unaffected by his presence.  “How powerful the sun is!” he thought.  “I wish that I could be the sun!”

 Then he became the sun, shining fiercely down on everyone, scorching the fields, cursed by the farmers and laborers.  But a huge black cloud moved between him and the earth, so that his light could no longer shine on everything below.  “How powerful that storm cloud is!” he thought.  “I wish that I could be a cloud!”

 Then he became the cloud, flooding the fields and villages, shouted at by everyone.  But soon he found that he was being pushed away by some great force, and realized that it was the wind.  “How powerful it is!” he thought.  “I wish that I could be the wind!”

 Then he became the wind, blowing tiles off the roofs of houses, uprooting trees, hated and feared by all below.  But after a while, he ran up against something that would not move, no matter how forcefully he blew against it -- a huge, towering stone.  “How powerful that stone is!” he thought.  “I wish I could be a stone!”

 Then he became the stone, more powerful than anything else on earth.  But as he stood there, he heard the sound of a hammer pounding a chisel into the solid rock and felt himself being changed. “What could be more powerful than I, the stone?” he thought.  He looked down and saw far below him the figure of a stonecutter.

Lesson learned.  At times we somehow fail to discern the extent of our own personal power.  Ironically, the people that appear to be most insignificant are those who could be God-positioned to effect the greatest change.  Therefore, we must consciously activate and actualize the resident power within us, the supernatural capability of The Anointed One and His anointing.  TRUST THE SOVEREIGN GOD to manifest the best and brightest YOU.  Just make sure you are consistently cooperating within His plan and purpose.

 Finally, while we are actively engaged in His Kingdom, we must achieve A SUSTAINABLE INNER PEACE.  The Apostle Paul expressed God’s will for our inner tranquility through his personal testimony: “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11b) 

 Throughout our lives, we may indeed “strive for masteries,” but we must always “strive lawfully.” (II Timothy 2:5)  And while we are in hot pursuit of grandiose dreams, ambitions, or goals, we should always “be CONTENT with such things as [we] have.” (Hebrews 13:5)  Why?  Because “GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN.” (I Timothy 6:6)

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

LIFE'S BOTTOM-LINE

LIFE’S BOTTOM-LINE

 Carefully consider the following prayer from an anonymous believer:

 I asked God to take away my habit.

God said, “No.  It is not for me to take it away, but for you to give it up.”

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, “No.  His spirit is whole; his body is only temporary.”

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, “No.  Patience is a byproduct of tribulation; it isn’t granted, it is learned.”

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, “No.  I grant you blessings; happiness is up to you.”

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, “No.  Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to Me.”

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, “No.  You must grow on your own, but I will prune and make you fruitful.”

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, “No.  I give you life that you may enjoy all things.”

I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as HE loves me.
God said, “Ah, finally you’ve got the right idea!”

 Indeed, the simplest truth that lies at the core of this complex reality we call LIFE is the miraculous and transformational power of LOVE.  When we love others as we love ourselves, we actively embrace and actually emulate THE IMAGE OF GOD, in which we were created, and by which we ultimately prosper.

 We know love when we see it.  Love considers.  Love gives.  Love serves.  Love strengthens.  Love shields.  Love nurtures.  Love believes.  Love empowers.  Love guides.  Love warns.  Love obeys.  Love forgives.  Love understands.  Love empathizes.  Love encourages.  Love shapes attitudes.  Love informs decisions.  Love inspires actions.  And love always endures.

 Our daily walk with God leads us steadily in the direction of love…for GOD IS LOVE. (I John 4:8)  Therefore, LOVE is both the means and method of our maturation and our mission.  For IN LOVE, i.e. IN GOD, “we live, and move, and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)  As we quest toward perfect love, we remember the words of the Apostle Paul, “But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.” (I Corinthians 13:13, The Message Bible) 

 “LOVE EXTRAVAGANTLY” is a divine and delightful admonition.  It means we must love beyond measurement, without manipulation, and with little expectation of reciprocity from others.  Indeed, it is sufficiently challenging to require our utmost diligence and patience – but let’s just do it.  LET’S LOVE OTHERS TO LIFE!

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

TEARS THAT BRING JOY

TEARS THAT BRING JOY

 Ironically, the shortest verse of scripture (arguably the saddest) is “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35)  It is a striking and emotional portrait of Jesus, standing before the burial site of his dear friend, Lazarus.  While the number of words recorded here by John, the apostle of love, is modest; their significance is monumental.  It is the clearest and most concise declaration of one key aspect of the person and work of our Lord.  In CHRIST, we have A HIGH PRIEST who is “touched by the feeling of our infirmities.” (Hebrews 4:15)

 Dictionary.com defines “INFIRMITY” as “a physical weakness or ailment” (or) “a lack of strength” (or) “a moral weakness or failing.” As it relates to us, Jesus Christ directly connects with every part of that definition.  As ‘VERY MAN,’ Jesus is intrinsically clothed in our humanity.  Put simply, HE GETS US.  As ‘VERY GOD,’ Jesus has limitless power to totally transform our various conditions and circumstances.  In other words, HE ENLIGHTENS AND ELEVATES US.  Through Christ, our minds are transformed; our ailments become healings; our weaknesses become strengths; our failures (moral or otherwise) become undeniable victories.

 I hope that you do not consider me unkind or insensitive when I admit that I am hilariously happy that JESUS WEPT.  Because His tears were not only the precursor to Lazarus’ resurrection, they have become the catalyst for our regeneration, restoration, renewal and rejoicing.  Since JESUS WEPT, we can “glory in tribulations.” (Romans 5:3)  Because JESUS WEPT, we can “count it all joy.” (James 1:2)  Hallelujah, what a Savior! 

 Regardless of what you might be experiencing during this very hour, be aware that YOU are the constant concern of THE COMPASSIONATE CHRIST.  As a matter of fact, you are freely invited to cast “all your cares upon Him,” with complete confidence that (no matter what) “HE CARES FOR YOU.” (I Peter 5:7)

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

ARE YOU WIDE AWAKE?

ARE YOU WIDE AWAKE?

 Jesus Christ admonishes us to be life-long learners.  He says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me.” (Matthew 11:29)  This is a clear portrait of two oxen, yoked together, pulling in tandem toward a common goal. Nevertheless, many misunderstand the true nature of the discipleship “yoke.”  Although Jesus declares that his “yoke is easy” and his “burden is light,” he never intends for us to become so accustomed or acclimated to the journey that we become either overconfident or apathetic, not focusing on the practical life lessons that surround us daily. (Matthew 11:30)  My friend, along your journey, please pay attention!

 In my spiritual walk, my principle teacher is The Holy Spirit, and His lessons are always measured and managed through The Word.  However, there are other teachers in life that God wisely connects us with for continual growth and development.  Some of these ‘teachers’ can be found nearby, so close in fact that many of us fail to glean the wise life lessons that they share.  Believe it or not, I am talking about our CHILDREN and our GRANDCHILDREN.  I read a one-paragraph article that really caught my attention; read it below.

 Being a mother always presents challenges and rewards.  Someone told me early in my parenting career that “Children will teach you everything you need to know.”  Aside from the maternal and instinctive vows we make during pregnancy, in a sense being a mother is being raised.  Our children become our mentors.  Their first milestones enroll us as active students.  Their dreams become our professors, since we are constantly attentive and taking careful notes.  We learn through their sicknesses and health, via constant devotion and sacrifice.  The sounds of their laughter and the smiles on their faces nominate us for the Honor Roll.  Their occasional tears remind us that it is alright to fail sometimes, to wipe away the tears and to try again.  Eventually, on our graduation day, we have to let go of holding their hands.  The life results of our children are testimonies to the world whether we have studied hard enough.  - Jan Davis 

 My friends, resolve now to become life-long learners.  Be active readers of books and articles.  And, yes, never forget to check-out both situations and people from THE LIBRARY OF LIFE.  I have learned to discover truth in the smallest of things, in seemingly mundane and insignificant matters.  PAY ATTENTION!  Observe the bees, the trees, the seas, the flowers, the towers, the powers, the hours, the steeples and the people.  By all means, none of us should pass through this life in an ‘awareness-coma.’  GOD gave us our world, and since it was created by Him, it’s important enough to warrant our undivided attention.

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

YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

YOU ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN

 Dear Child of God,

How are you?  I just had to send a note to tell you how much I care.  I saw you yesterday as you were talking with your friends.  I waited all day hoping you would want to talk with me too.  I gave you a sunset to close your day and a peaceful breeze to rest you -- and I waited.  You never came.  It hurt me -- but I still love you because I am your friend.

 I saw you sleeping last night and longed to touch your brow so I spilled moonlight upon your face.  Again I waited, wanting to rush down so we could talk.  I have so many gifts for you!  You awoke and rushed off to work.  My tears were in the rain.

If you would only listen to me!  I LOVE YOU!  I try to tell you in the brilliant blue skies and the soft green grass. I whisper it in innumerable leaves on an infinite variety of trees.  I breathe it in the magnificent array of gorgeous and colorful flowers.  I shout it on majestic mountains and in refreshing hilltop streams.  I help you to hear it through the beautiful love songs I command the birds to sing.  I clothe you with warm sunshine and I perfume the air with the wondrous scents of nature.  My love for you is deeper than any ocean, higher than any mountain and so much bigger than any need in your human heart!

 Ask me.  Talk with me.  Please don't forget me.  I have so much to share with you.  I won't hassle you because it’s YOUR decision.  I have chosen you and I will wait…because I love you.

Your Forever Friend,

 JESUS CHRIST

 Be assured that despite personal conditions and circumstances, GOD has never forgotten about YOU.  Long ago, on Calvary, YOU were engraved in the palm of His hands.  GOD has adopted YOU into His royal family, and despite your past sins, faults or failures…YOU ARE HIS AND HE IS YOURS…FOREVER.  His Word is the eternal declaration of His unchanging love.

 Isaiah 49:15-16

Can a woman forget her suckling child, that she should not have compassion on the baby of her womb?  Yes, they may forget, yet will I never forget you.  Behold, I have engraved you upon the palms of my hands. 

 So, don’t let a day go by without remembering…loving…worshipping and communing with Him.

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

FAMILY LOVE

FAMILY LOVE

 Two months ago, Belinda and I lost our beloved daughter, Whitney Marie McClendon.  It’s been quite a challenging transition, especially since we are focused on the care and support of our granddaughter, Kennedy, who lost her mother.  Remember four-year-old Kennedy in your prayers.  She cries and calls for her mother at bedtime, and our hearts are deeply saddened to observe her ongoing grief.

 Recently, we experienced another major loss.  Last Saturday, our family laid to rest the 4^th born of 10 siblings, Bishop J. Richard Bass.  Richard was an outstanding human being, a loving husband, father, grandfather, sibling and friend – highly regarded as a genuine Christian, church statesman and ministry colleague.  Our hearts go out to Delphia, his wife, and the 8 children who adored him.  Richard afforded me the honor and privilege of serving as his eulogist, a rather easy and comfortable task to fulfill.  Rest well, my brother, and we’ll see you in the Rapture.

 I found myself musing over this thought: ‘What does family actually represent?’  What is this unique phenomenon that constitutes such a curious and wondrous blend of life experiences?  For many, it is simultaneously a habitation of happiness and a place of pain.  Unquestionably, it represents a lasting legacy of love, but it can also be deeply impacted by feelings of isolation, loneliness, or even rejection.  It occurs to me that family is a divinely appointed process for personal purification and collective maturation.

 Much like The Word, which cleanses and sanctifies our attitudes and actions, FAMILY is a DIVINE AGENT OF CHANGE in the life of each participating stakeholder.  It may well be that God utilizes the family womb to shape and transform us as we embrace its ever-present opportunities for nurture, friendship and fellowship along with its diametrically opposite potential for struggle, hurt and division.  I know it might seem to be an odd and counter-intuitive statement to make, but perhaps GOD did not intend for family life to always be an experience of carefree and unencumbered ease.  Because struggle should never permanently define or separate us; it should grow, develop and unite us.  That is the divine intention; there is purpose in pressure.

 I read a Facebook posting that my daughter, Kimberly Bass-Seaton, had written.  She gave a positive ‘shout-out’ to her siblings, reminding them that nothing (not even times of disagreement) could ever alter her feelings and commitment to unconditional love.  I am always touched and transformed by Kim’s words.

 Bottom-line: Family should be a cocoon of mutual acceptance and unconditional love.  Just as caterpillars develop into butterflies inside their cocoons, so it is with families.  Family is our haven, our refuge, our security, our safety net, our shelter and our place of mission-critical development.  To be sure, there are times when we might get-on-each-others-nerves (so to speak), times when we could be tempted to surrender to doubt and despair, times when we even question the worth and wisdom of sustaining those God-ordained relationships.  Yes, there are those times.  But TRUE LOVE consistently calls us back to THE FAMILY BOSOM.  Indeed, it is a heavenly haven for nurturing and strengthening our love.

 WE ARE FAMILY FOREVER…in time and eternity.  So never doubt.  Never give up.

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

CAN YOU SLEEP WHEN THE WIND BLOWS?

CAN YOU SLEEP WHEN THE WIND BLOWS?

 Years ago, a farmer who owned land along the Atlantic seacoast was advertising for hired hands.  Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic Ocean because they dreaded tempestuous seacoast storms which could wreak havoc on buildings and crops.

As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals.  Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle-age, approached the farmer.  “Are you a good farm hand?” the farmer asked.

“Well, I can sleep when the wind blows,” answered the little man.  Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer hired him, being desperate for help.

The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt quite satisfied with his work.  The next night, powerful winds howled loudly in from offshore.  Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand’s sleeping quarters. 

 He shook the little man and yelled, “Get up!  A storm is coming!  Tie things down before they blow away!”

The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, “No sir.  I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.”

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot.  Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm.  To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins.  The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred.  The shutters were tightly secured and everything was tied down.  Nothing would blow away.  The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed and also slept while the wind blew.

MORAL: When you’re prepared (spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, physically, financially, relationally), you have absolutely nothing to fear.

 My friend, your life is waiting…choose wisely!

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

CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS WITH UTMOST CARE

CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS WITH UTMOST CARE

 An age-old adage says, “Birds of a feather flock together!”  This truism is reflected everywhere in our culture and society.  However, we are not only known by the company we keep, we are influenced immeasurably (SOUL-SHAPED) by the company that we keep.  In the words of King Solomon: “He that walks with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” (Proverbs 13:20)

 On deeper levels than we might imagine, we are profoundly affected (physically, materially, ethically, emotionally and spiritually) by our continual presence and encounters with others.  There is a powerful mutual exchange (with impact in time and eternity) rising from our interactions with others.

 So you and I must apply extreme caution and prayer to the selection of friends, companions, associates, business partners and spouses.  Wisdom dictates that we consult God.  The wisdom of His Word and the guidance of His Spirit will guard and gauge our choices. 

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

LOVE SHARES AND SAVES

LOVE SHARES AND SAVES

 Every Sunday after morning service, the Pastor and his eleven-year-old son headed into town to distribute gospel tracts.  This particular Sunday, it was quite cold and there was a downpour of rain.

The young boy bundled up in his warmest clothes and said, “OK, Dad, I'm ready.”  His Pastor-Dad asked, “Ready for what?”

“Dad, it’s time to gather the tracts and go out.”  Dad responded, “Son, it’s very cold and raining hard outside.”  The boy gave his Dad a surprised look and said, “But Dad, aren’t people still going to hell, even though it's raining outside?”  Dad answered, “Son, I’m not going out in this weather.”

Despondently, the boy asked, “Dad, can I go?  Please?”  His father hesitated for a moment then said, “Son, you can go.  Here are the tracts, but be careful son.”  The child beamed and shouted, “Thanks Dad!”

And with that, he was off and out into the rain.  This eleven-year-old boy walked the streets of their town, going door-to-door and handing a gospel tract to everyone he encountered.

After two hours of walking in the rain, he was soaking, bone-chilled, wet and down to his very last tract.  He stopped on one corner and looked for someone to hand that tract to, but the streets were totally deserted. Then he turned toward the first home he saw and started up the sidewalk to the front door to ring the doorbell; nobody answered.  He rang again and again.  Yet no one answered.  He waited a while, but still no answer. 

 Finally, this eleven-year-old trooper turned to leave, but something stopped him.  He returned to the door and rang the bell more insistently, and then knocked loudly on the door with his fist.  He waited, because something seemed to be holding him there on that front porch!  He rang again and this time the door slowly opened.

Standing in the doorway was a very sad looking elderly lady.  She softly asked, “What can I do for you, son?” With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, the little boy said, “Ma’am, I’m sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU and I came to give you my very last gospel tract which will tell you all about Jesus and His great love.”  With that, he handed her his last tract and turned to leave.  She called to him as he departed. “Thank you son…and God bless you!”

The following Sunday morning, his Pastor-Dad was once again in the pulpit.  As the service began, he asked, “Does anybody have testimony or want to say anything?”  Slowly, in the back row of the church, an elderly lady stood to her feet.

As she began to speak, a glorious radiance came from her face, “No one in this church knows me and I’ve never been here before.  You see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian.  My husband passed away some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world.  And last Sunday, a particularly cold and rainy day, I came to the end of the line and no longer had any hope or the will to live.  So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home.  I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof, then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my neck. 

 Standing there on that chair, I felt so lonely and brokenhearted and was just about to jump off, when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell startled me.  I thought, ‘I’ll wait a minute, and whoever it is will just go away.’  I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to grow louder and more insistent, and then the person ringing started knocking loudly at my door.  I thought to myself, ‘Who on earth could this be? Nobody ever rings my doorbell or comes to see me.’  As I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, the bell rang louder and louder.

 When I opened the door and looked outside, I could hardly believe my eyes, for there on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life.  His smile, oh, I could never describe it!

 The words that flowed from his mouth caused my long dead heart to leap back to life as he exclaimed in a cherub-like voice, “Ma’am, I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU.”  Then he gave me the gospel tract I now hold in my hand.

 As the little angel disappeared into the cold and rain, I closed my door and slowly read every word of this tract.  Then I went up to the attic to get my rope and chair.  I won’t be needing them anymore. 

 You see, now I am a happy child of THE KING!  And since the address of your church is on the back of this gospel tract, I came here to personally say ‘THANK YOU’ to God’s little angel who came to my door just in the nick of time.  By doing so, he spared my soul from an eternity in hell.”

 There was not a dry eye in the church.  As shouts of praise and honor to THE KING resounded throughout the sanctuary, Pastor-Dad left the pulpit and hurried to the front pew where his little angel was seated.  He took his son in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.

 Probably no church has ever witnessed a more glorious moment, and probably this universe has never seen a Dad more filled with love and honor for his son – except for ONE FATHER.  “For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that whosoever believes on HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)  Never forget to share His love.  JESUS SAVES!

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