GIVE THANKS!

GIVE THANKS!

My friends, let’s make up our minds (today) to stop complaining and to offer heartfelt thanksgiving to our Creator.  Right now, let’s allow The Word to speak to our hearts:

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. (I Chronicles 16:34 – Psalm 106:1)

So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever; We will show forth Your praise to all generations. (Psalm 79:13)

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! (Psalm 107:8;15;21;31)

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15:57)

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (I Thessalonians 5:18)

Here’s a simple prayer that all of us can utter to the Savior: “Lord, I love You and I praise Your Name, today and forevermore.  You are so deserving of my eternal gratitude and worship.  Amen.”

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

ONLY GOD KNOWS THE NUMBER OF APPLES IN A SEED

ONLY GOD KNOWS THE NUMBER OF APPLES IN A SEED

Travis Agnew, a Christian author, shared a powerful story of the miraculous influence of one person who dared to trust and obey the Lord.

Billy Graham has shared the gospel with more people than anyone else in history, but do you know who shared the gospel with him?

It is a series of marvelous events that starts out with one volunteer Sunday school teacher.  Someone shared this story with me years ago, and it impacted me greatly.

“You can count the apples on the tree, but who can count the apples in a seed?” goes the old aphorism.  So it is with the influence of a single person.  Take Edward Kimball, for an example. Never heard of him?  Rest assured – most people have never heard of him.

Kimball was a Sunday school teacher who not only prayed for the boys in his class but sought to win each one to the Lord personally.  He decided he would be intentional with every single one of them.  Surely there were times that he thought about throwing in the towel.  

One young man didn’t seem to understand what the gospel was about so Kimball went to the shoe store where he worked and confronted him in the stock room about the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  That young man was Dwight L. Moody.  In the stockroom on that Saturday, he believed the gospel and received Jesus Christ as his Savior.  During his lifetime, Moody touched two continents for God, with thousands professing Christ through his ministry.

But the story doesn’t end there.  Under Moody, another man’s heart was touched for God, Wilbur Chapman.  Chapman became an effective evangelist who preached to thousands. One day, a professional ball player had a day off and attended one of Chapman’s meetings, and thus, Billy Sunday was converted.

Sunday quit baseball and became part of Chapman’s team. Then, Chapman accepted the pastorate of a large church and Billy Sunday began his own evangelistic crusades.

Another young man was later converted whose name was Mordecai Ham.  When Ham came to Charlotte, North Carolina, a sandy-haired, lanky young man, then in high school, vowed that he would never go to hear him preach, but Billy Frank, as he was called by his family, did eventually go.

Ham announced that he knew for a fact that a house of ill repute was located across the street from the local high school and that male students were skipping lunch to visit the house across the street. When students decided to go to interrupt the meetings of Mordecai Ham, Billy Frank decided to go just to see what would happen.  That night Billy Frank went and was intrigued by what he heard.  Returning another night, he responded to the invitation and was converted.

Billy Frank eventually became known as Billy Graham, the evangelist who preached to more people than any other person who ever lived, including the Apostle Paul.  Billy Graham’s estimated lifetime audience, including radio and television broadcasts, topped 2.2 billion.

This fascinating chain of events was all triggered by a Sunday school teacher’s concern for his boys.  If you are like most people, you have served in some capacity and wondered at times if you were making a real difference.  Maybe you even thought about quitting.

Next time you are tempted to give up, please remember Edward Kimball, whose persistence and faithfulness was tremendously honored by the Lord.  This story could have looked very different if Edward Kimball did not obey the Lord and seek out young Dwight Moody.  Just do your part today in the Kingdom and trust God for the results.

You can count the apples on a tree, but only God knows how many apples are in a single seed. 

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

FORWARD OR BACKWARD?

FORWARD OR BACKWARD?

In the fall of 2014, Belinda and I headed via Kenya on a return trip to South Africa where we had served as resident missionaries.  During this trip, we drove through the provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Eastern Cape to conduct ministry conferences. 

During our previous stints in South Africa we had never visited Kruger National Park, the largest game reserve in the nation, so we also motored through the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga for this purpose.  This part of our trip was devoted to pure enjoyment and we loved seeing ‘The Big Five’ (lions, rhinos, elephants, leopards and Cape buffalo) in their natural habitat.  South Africa is a place of unsurpassed beauty!

On the way to Kruger we encountered a major problem.

Three years earlier, we had purchased a GPS navigation system.  However, we had not updated its software during the intervening years.  Uh-oh!  We somehow found ourselves w—a—y off the roadway that we should have been traveling on.  And for approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) we were on an extremely rocky road that had so many ditches and potholes that we were forced to travel at a speed of approximately 15-20 miles per hour!

I put on a brave face for Belinda’s sake, but it was nearing dusk and I was afraid of getting stuck in this situation overnight.  Silently, I was praying desperately: “Lord, do we go forward or do we head backward?”

Just when I was approaching a state of panic, the rocky road ended and we found ourselves on a roadway that was much smoother and infinitely easier to traverse.  THANK YOU, JESUS!

But here’s the thing.  My off-road experience might feel quite familiar.  Our traveling circumstance is likely analogous to a situation (or two) that you have encountered along the road of life.  Things looked bad.  And the situation seemed to grow progressively worse (not better) as you moved ahead.  In fact, your soul seemed to sag under the weight of overwhelming doubts and questions: “Do I go left or right?  Should I stop, continue, or head back to my starting point?  Is this relationship what God has planned, or was that all me?  Am I in the right city?  The right job?  The right church?”  During such storms, the mind tends to race, and the mental list of things that could or should be goes on and on.

To make matters worse, the GPS navigation system that you typically depend upon [your intellect, your instinct, your wisdom, your wit, your determination] might appear to be dysfunctional or even inaccessible.

What should we do during such crisis moments?  Surely we can find wisdom and direction in the Word:

From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:2)

This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. (Psalm 34:6)

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. (Psalm 9:10)

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped.  Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. (Psalm 28:7)

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. (Psalm 37:3)

Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:5)

GO FORWARD, my friend; never backward.  And when you cannot trace His hand…trust HIS PLAN.

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

I FAILED MY DRIVER'S TEST

I FAILED MY DRIVER’S TEST

I smile as I recall an incident that occurred when I was just 16 years old.  Having obtained my learner’s permit, I enrolled in the Driver’s Education Course at my alma mater, Monessen High School.  The course was taught by one of my football coaches, the late Andy Yartin.  After several months of intensive practice on the road, he felt I was well prepared to take my driver’s test so I could become a full-fledged and licensed ‘Master-of-the-Road.’

I breezed handily through the written exam and then joined the Pennsylvania State Trooper outside to take my road test.  I recall feeling somewhat nervous and silently coaxing myself to breathe and relax.  We drove along a simulated highway, a course designed specifically to test the skill of rookie drivers.  It contained traffic signs, highway markings, S-curves and that much dreaded opportunity for parallel parking.

I was performing quite well and feeling psychologically inebriated with overflowing assurance that I had passed my driver’s test and would receive my official license mere moments hence.  Unfortunately, my optimism created a sense of overconfidence and I failed to completely halt the vehicle at the final stop sign.  Uh-oh!

When the examining trooper informed me of this, I was totally shocked and outraged at my sheer stupidity!  Feeling totally exasperated, I slammed the automatic gearshift into the park setting and disappointedly struck the steering wheel with open palms.  The trooper looked over at me rather casually and said, “You really did a great job throughout the test course, and I was going to pass you despite your mistake, but that emotional outburst leads me to believe you’re not quite ready to get your driver’s license.”  I was absolutely dumbfounded and surprised because I had been accustomed to succeeding, not failing.

The ride home felt very much like a funeral procession; my sorrow was painful and palpable.  Mr. Yartin was at the wheel of the Driver’s Ed vehicle, and I was seated in the back seat, sandwiched in between two classmates who had actually passed their driver’s tests.  Surveying my mood in the rearview mirror, my coach-instructor smiled and said, “Wayne, there’s always tomorrow.”

For two weeks, nearly all I could think about was my ‘failure problem.’  I desperately needed to redirect my focus.  I needed perspective.  Moments before my second shot at the test, Mr. Yartin looked me in the eye and repeated his words spoken after my previous failed attempt: “There’s always tomorrow.”

It was on that glorious, sunny, Friday afternoon in the month of May, in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, that Wayne Manning Bass passed his driver’s test with flying colors!

It reminds me of the words of Celia Luce: “A small trouble is like a pebble.  Hold it too close to your eye and it fills the whole world and puts everything out of focus.  Hold it at a proper distance and it can be examined and properly classified.  Throw it at your feet and it can be seen in its true setting, just one more bump on the pathway to life.”  In other words, life happens.

Hindsight is twenty-twenty vision.  Looking back at my perceived ‘calamity’ at age 16, I realize that I did not even know what real problems were!  So here’s something terribly important for all of us to ponder.  Instead of getting bent-out-of-shape over everything that comes our way, we should ask God for perspective.  Even monumental problems eventually reach resolution or simply fade from view.  When we begin to see issues and problems as GOD sees them, we activate faith in His Word, which is tantamount to an expression of confidence in His overall plan for us.  Do you remember the last situation that God got you through?  Well, if He did it back then…He will surely do it again!

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

STOP WATERING WEEDS

STOP WATERING WEEDS

Today’s devotional is based on a Facebook posting by my daughter, Kimberly Marcelle Bass.  Upon reading it, I was immediately illuminated with the insight that too much of our time and energy is expended interacting with people, things and situations that do not edify us.  Instead of nurturing the beautiful flowers that have been divinely planted in our lives, our attention is somehow drawn (irrationally) to those negative, persistent and proverbial ‘weeds’ that seek to choke us and paralyze our progress.

First natural, then spiritual.  It is interesting to note that there are at least 172 varieties of weeds that constitute an ongoing challenge for American farmers and crops.  On the Internet, one can locate numerous weed identifiers, with descriptive characteristics and photos of troublesome weeds.  Farmers rely on such sources to maximize their harvests.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had strategic weed identifiers (in life) to alert us to the presence of human weeds and their decidedly negative agendas?  In fact, we do.  Personal prayer, Word study and ears attentively tuned in to the Holy Spirit are awesome and accurate weed identifiers, which are designed to safeguard our lives and our future.  We must use them!

Kingdom Principle Number One: Try to see people and life through the lens of love. (I Corinthians 13:1-7) This proactive and positive approach yields inner peace and sanity.  Also, it diminishes hypersensitivity, combating our tendency to feel degraded or offended by the cavalier attitudes and actions of others.

Kingdom Principle Number Two: Avoid fellowship with people who do not honor you or celebrate your successes.  Haters are nothing more than malicious weeds.  If allowed to do so, they deplete optimism and drain energy.

Kingdom Principle Number Three: Don’t try to contest or disprove negative opinions.  It is a supreme waste and an absolute misappropriation of time and energy.  Those who are true friends need no defensive explanations; those who are not friends will likely never be convinced by whatever you say.

Kingdom Principle Number Four: Eat the fish and throw away the bones.  While at times it seems impossible, you can survive and even thrive in work environments that are loaded with outright enemies or frenemies (friendly enemies).  Feelings of offense or pride often motivate us to disregard or discard their contributions, even those that might benefit us.  So please don’t drink the Kool-Aid of Pride!  Allow yourself to be blessed by your enemies whenever GOD orchestrates and allows it to be so.  Eat the fish and throw away the bones!

Kingdom Principle Number Five: Jesus Christ is our supreme arbiter and final judge.  He instructs His Church to let the “wheat and tares” (false wheat or weeds) “grow together until the harvest.” (Matthew 13:30) Bear in mind that Christ’s admonition is primarily aimed at the corporate church, not individual believers.  Therefore, within your own life, you must be extremely careful to establish clear and effective boundaries between yourself and that which could potentially destroy you or your Kingdom assignment.  Decide today to stop watering and cultivating any weeds that might creep into your garden.  The Creator has seeded a multiplicity of MAGNIFICENT flowers in and around your life…infinite varieties with indescribable beauty.  Focus on the Flowers.  Pay attention to them; nurture and water them; and your life will be inevitably favored and bountifully blessed.

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

MY POSITION, MY CONDITION, MY OBSESSION

MY POSITION, MY CONDITION, MY OBSESSION

I treasure the ministry and wisdom of the late Reverend Dr. E. V. Hill.  In one of his classic sermons, he issued this profound declaration of truth: “My POSITION is that I’m IN CHRIST.  My CONDITION is that sometimes I FAIL.  But my OBSESSION is to make my CONDITION the same as my POSITION.” 

I am confident that most Christians may easily relate to Dr. Hill’s life experience and perspective.  Certainly, the Word declares that we believers are “in Christ.” (II Corinthians 5:17) Thus, through the miracle of the new birth, we become God’s renewed creations and spiritual workmanship. (Ephesians 2:10) To wit, in Dr. Hill’s own words, “My POSITION is that I’m IN CHRIST.”

However, since we exist as frail, fallen and finite humanity, we are subject to both the original and occasional departure(s) from the perfect will of God.  In a word, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Hence, our human CONDITION precipitates an ongoing failure to fully comply with God’s Will and Word.  As Dr. Hill put it, “sometimes I fail.”

Nevertheless, true believers refuse to become paralyzed at that point, i.e. we will not be subject permanently to the sinful nature of our flesh.  Rather, we strive and make every attempt to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior.” (II Peter 3:18) So instead of accepting bondage to our old sinful nature, we are totally committed to the process of sanctification, which produces continual spiritual growth and liberation from the power, practice and penalty of sin. (Romans 6-8 – I Corinthians 1:30 – I Thessalonians 4:3-4 – Ephesians 5:25-27 – John 17:17) Thus, Dr. Hill’s conclusion sums up our spiritual intention and goal: “My OBSESSION is to make my CONDITION the same as my POSITION.”

My friend, have you become comfortable with a state of constant defeat to the devil?  In other words, do you have the tendency to excuse ungodly attitudes and actions as the inevitable weakness of the flesh?  Or, on the other hand, have you received, recognized and deployed the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit?  The Apostle Paul states it far more succinctly and eloquently than I:

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. (II Corinthians 4:7, New King James Version)

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (II Corinthians 4:7, New International Version)

But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves. (II Corinthians 4:7, The Amplified Bible)

After all is said and done, it’s not about our ability, nor about our capacity to cling to the right path and honor the Word of God.  It’s all about Jesus Christ!  Indeed, it’s all about “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27b, NKJV) Paul sums it up this way: “I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST, who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV) Amen?  Amen!

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

LORD, I'M GRATEFUL

LORD, I’M GRATEFUL

Early this morning, I awakened with a powerful gospel song resonating within my spirit.  It’s lyrics simply say:

Grateful…Lord, I’m grateful…

Grateful…for the things You’ve done for me

Grateful…Lord, I’m grateful…

Grateful…I give my all to Thee.

Oh…Oh…Oh…

Grateful…Lord, I’m grateful…

For everything You’ve done for me…

You’ve done for me.

Sisters and brothers, I find myself resting in an attitude of gratitude for all that the Lord has done for me, blessings that abound and resound throughout time and eternity.

I am grateful…for the wonderful people that He has placed in my life: family and friends (and even frenemies) who have helped to strengthen my relationship with and trust in the sovereignty of God.

I am grateful…for the sins from which He has saved and delivered me, for grace, mercy and salvation through the precious blood of The Crucified One, for sanctification through His Word and for the resident endowment of His Holy Spirit.

I am grateful…for the opportunities of service He has afforded me and for those He has providentially denied me.  Every door open and every door closed represent divine provision and divine protection.

I am grateful…for a reasonable portion of health and strength.  Jesus Christ is my Great Physician, my Healer and my continual strength.

I am grateful…for by faith I am already seated together with Him, in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus.  He is the all wise God who knew my end before my beginning, and I am eternally grateful to be a small part of His purpose and plan.  Victory is mine.  Victory is yours.  Be grateful.

THANK YOU, JESUS!

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