READY, SET, GO!

READY, SET, GO!

It has wisely been said that the tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.  The Psalmist David petitioned Heaven with the intention of soundly investing his time: “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)

My friend, don’t waste one more moment on ‘Calendar-Anxiety.’  No matter how old or young you are, you’re in it to win it.  So just get started.

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

SELF-CONTROL: A HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCT

SELF-CONTROL: A HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCT

 There is no upside whatsoever in wallowing in the throes of pointless anger.  However, sometimes anger is justifiable.  For example, when Jesus became distressed over the sinful money-exchanging practices that were practiced regularly in The Temple, he overturned the tables of those ‘church thieves’ and expelled them. (Mark 11:15-17)  And undoubtedly, believers reserve the right to become angry over social injustices or societal sins.  Indeed, the scriptures do allow us to experience anger, but they require that we “sin not” whenever we become emotionally distraught. (Ephesians 4:26)

 Self-control (a.k.a. “temperance”) is one of the life-changing “fruit of the Spirit” outlined in Galatians 5:22-24.  A consistent prayer life, coupled with Word study and meditation, enables Spirit-filled believers to become sensitive to the Father’s will during any upsetting moment in time.

 Never allow anger to control you.  Rather, allow it to become a productive agent to display divine order.  In my youth, during an NBA playoff game between the Knicks and the Bullets, one of the Bullets came up from behind the legendary Walt Frazier and punched him in the face.  Strangely, the referee called a personal foul on Frazier, who make a deliberate decision to avoid complaining and just focus on the game.  Neither his facial expression or attitude changed.  Frazier simply went to work and put in seven straight shots to win the game.  It was an amazing display of productive anger.

 So if you become angry about something, never allow it to possess you, i.e. to control your attitude, harm your health, or impact your future.  Think.  Pray.  If possible, resolve the issue.  Then move on.  It may not feel very comfortable for us to consider God’s perspective on our anger issues, but here it is:  “Anger rests in the bosom of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 7:9)  I know that’s not who we are!

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

RITUALISTIC TRADITION VS. SPIRITUAL INTIMACY

RITUALISTIC TRADITION VS. SPIRITUAL INTIMACY

 Although traditions are often noteworthy, even commendable, it is important for believers to avoid becoming paralyzed in the robotic implementation of rituals that others have embraced in the past.  In “The Vindication of Tradition,” Jaroslav Pelikan writes: “Tradition is the living faith of those now dead.  Traditionalism is the dead faith of those still living.”  We must wisely discern the difference between the two.  While there is much to be gleaned from traditions that were established out of strong conviction and sincere faith in God, embracing them in the absence of a similarly strong faith is merely establishing rituals that are hollow and void of spiritual intimacy and communion with Christ.

 The Apostle Paul put it this way: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the TRADITION OF MEN, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)

 The singular spiritual guidepost for us, the disciples of Christ, is God’s eternal Word, not our finite and customary practices.  His Word never fails since it was designed in the halls of eternity to exalt The Living Lord, not dying men.  Therefore, any ritual that the church embraces should solely and positively pursue the glory of Almighty God.  We love and worship God with our body, mind and spirit–with all that we are–FOR ALL THAT HE IS. 

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

DON'T SELL YOURSELF SHORT

DON’T SELL YOURSELF SHORT

 In the late 1980s, Rob Cutshaw owned a little roadside shop outside Andrews, North Carolina.  He enjoyed hunting for unique rocks and selling them to collectors or jewelry makers.  Rob knew enough about rocks to decide which to pick up and sell, but he wasn’t an expert.  So the appraising of his rocks was mostly left to others.  As much as he loved doing this, it didn’t always pay the bills.  So occasionally Rob would take a moonlighting gig to make ends meet.

 While on a dig some time ago, Rob found a rock that he described as “purdy and big.”  He tried unsuccessfully to sell it, and decided to keep the rock in his closet for a while.  Rob guessed the blue stone could bring as much as $500 dollars, but he would have taken less if something urgent came up like paying his electric bill.  That’s how close Rob came to hawking for a few hundred dollars what turned out to be the largest, most valuable sapphire ever found.  The blue rock Rob had left stored in his closet is now known as “The Star of David” sapphire.  It weighs nearly a pound, and could easily sell for $2.75 million dollars.

 Have you yet realized that priceless treasure has been deposited in you by our Creator?  So never stop searching until you discover the awesome uniqueness and irreplaceable value of yours.  And by all means, never ever allow yourself to be sold cheaply – not for anything, not for anybody.

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

THE AUTHOR OF WITTY INVENTIONS

THE AUTHOR OF WITTY INVENTIONS

 Since I firmly believe that ALL of God’s Word is absolute truth, I subscribe to the biblical revelation that our Creator offers “witty inventions” as life opportunities for His children. (Proverbs 8:12)  Consider this.  How many of us have been suddenly endowed (seemingly randomly) with a unique concept that seemed to materialize out of nowhere.  The sad truth is that some fall prey to the self-inflicted wound of procrastination, while others are paralyzed by doubt – thoughts of not being well connected enough, not financially stable enough, or not even good enough.  Eventually, we watch in horror while our God-given idea streams along through someone else’s T. V. commercial!

 It happens more times than we can imagine because GOD speaks to all of us and bestows favor in unusual ways.  if only we would learn to listen and respond with timely and faith-filled obedience.  Allow me to share the inspirational story of someone who was actually tuned in to divine opportunity.  I call it “divine” because all good things come from above, from the Father who turns on His light in human minds. (James 1:17) 

 Some years ago an energetic young man began as a clerk in a hardware store.  Like many old-time hardware stores, the inventory included thousands of dollars of items that were obsolete or seldom called for by customers.  The young man was smart enough to know that no thriving business could carry such an inventory and show a healthy profit.  So he proposed a sale to get rid of all that stuff.  The owner was rather reluctant but finally agreed to let him set up a table in the middle of the store and try to sell off a few of the oldest items.  Every product was priced at ten cents.  The sale was a success and the young fellow got permission to do it again.  It, too, went over just as well as the first.  This gave the young employee a great idea.  Why not open a store that would sell only nickel and dime items?  He would run the store and his boss could supply the capital. 

 The young man's boss was not at all enthusiastic.  “Your plan will never work,” he said, “because we can’t find enough items to sell at a nickel and a dime.”  The young man was disappointed but soon went ahead on his own and made a fortune from that simple idea.  His name is F.W. Woolworth.  Those of us who are older have a clear memory of ‘Five and Ten Stores.’  Years later his old boss lamented, “As near as I can figure it, every word I used in turning Woolworth down has cost me about a million dollars!” 

 Let’s ask God for two mission-critical life skills: listening and follow-through.

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

 

BLESSED ASSURANCE

BLESSED ASSURANCE

 We have absolute confidence in our God for, as Jehovah-Shammah, He is always there.  I stand in agreement with the victorious declaration of the Psalmist David: “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.” (Psalm 16:8) 

 We are admonished in scripture to hold steadfastly to faith because the presence and power of God is available to handle any and all life situations.  I am reminded this morning of Hebrews 10:35, which advises us, “do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.”

 And so…we trust in HIM. (Jude 1:23-25)  Amen!

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

MARANATHA!

MARANATHA!

 The word “maranatha” is a Syriac expression which means, “our Lord comes.”  It was often used as a greeting in the early church.  When believers gathered together or departed, instead of saying “hello” or “goodbye,” they shared an encouraging message of hope, “Maranatha!”  They lived in constant expectation that Christ would return as promised: “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:2-3)

 If we would consistently maintain that same upward look and expectant mindset, it would completely revolutionize our church and evangelize this world.  

 One of my favorite old covenant scriptures records the fact that the children of Issachar were sufficiently wise  to have a keen “understanding of the times,” i.e. they walked in clear awareness of the season in which they were living. (I Chronicles 12:32)  My friends, it is my heartfelt prayer that our generation would walk in the center of God’s will and actualize that same degree of wisdom and discernment.  Why?  Because  the signs of the end of the age are everywhere.  There is no doubt.  Christ will soon return.  Soon…

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