Day Before The BIG Day! (Easter!)

Tomorrow we will celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and King! But as amazing as that is, for forty days after his resurrection, Jesus showed his followers all kinds of convincing evidence that He was alive. Imagine that! For forty days He appeared to them and talked with them about His Father’s Kingdom until the day He was taken to Heaven.

A Blunt Message . . .

I don’t want to be too blunt . . . okay, that’s not true. I do want to be blunt! Far too many have been deceived in believing they are “saved,” and were told lies just to get them to “sign on the ‘dotted line.’” So, I am going to share a message that may shock some of you (probably, many of you). This is a message that has been on my heart for many years and I have hinted at many times, but I don’t think I have been as direct as I have wanted to be.

Disciples?

A friend of mine is writing a book as he takes “A Closer Look At The Great Commission.” You see, he recognizes our need to produce Disciples for our Lord. THAT is how His Kingdom advances and spreads throughout the world. I was given the honor of editing his publican and when it is completed, I will send you the links. So far, I have read three of the chapters and I assure you that his book will enrich and challenge your faith!

My Friends

Have you ever had a dream, and when you woke up you remembered the whole thing? Last night I did. As I slept, I remembered a couple of very dear friends and how just being with them encouraged me! They know the Lord, but it goes beyond that. They don’t just believe in Him, they know Him; they walk with Him; they live their lives in the knowledge of Him! As a result, simply being with them is encouraging!

Word’s Mean Something (or What’s in a Name?)

I have shared this message many times, before. But I felt it was time to do it, once again (maybe many more times).

You see, when my kids were young, I always read bedtime stories to them. Like the “Redwall” series; “Narnian Chronicles” and “Pilgrim’s Progress.” Afterward, I would ask, “So, what did you think of the book?” More often than not, the answer was a simple “Good.” I told them that the word “good” was banned. The book could be funny, boring, interesting, scary, lovely, awful, delightful, or a combination of terms. Anything but good.

Evangelism: A Cheap Salvation (A.W. Tozer)

But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness and handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. ~II Corinthians 4:2

Seek Peace

Are you seeking guidance from the Lord for anything? It could be the direction for a vacation, a job opportunity, a relationship, purchasing a home. Whatever it is, always seek PEACE! Allow that peace to settle your decision. Don’t worry; pace the floor; pound on the walls; cry or wail for guidance. Just relax and allow that peace that transcends all understanding to settle it for you! That is what Paul instructed us to do:

What Do You Do?

Look, we all know that “stuff” happens. We don’t like it and if given the opportunity, we would avoid it . . . but still, it happens. Okay, if that is true, we need to decided before those times come how we are going to react. So, what do you do, in your day-to-day activities, when those difficult situations arrive? Do you crawl back into bed? Do you yell at the kids? or your spouse? I’m serious, what do you do when life gets tough?

Practice Your Father’s Presence?

Have you ever read, “Practicing the Presence of God“? It is a wonderful book by Brother Lawrence. Reading the book, you discover as Simone Weil, author of “Waiting for God,” wrote, “Prayer is the orientation of all the attention of which the soul is capable toward God.”

After reading about Brother Lawrence, I discovered that, according to Franciscan Richard Rohr, he was “a gentle and humble man who, despite his lack of education, simply radiated holiness—not from the abbot’s chair but from the kitchen where he worked.”

You see, Brother Lawrence was originally known as Nicholas (I like that name) Herman who was born in Lorraine, France. When he was a young man, his poverty forced him to join the army because he was guaranteed meals and a small stipend. During this period, Herman had an experience that put him on his unique spiritual journey; it wasn’t a supernatural vision per se, but a supernatural clarity.

Further Thoughts on an Amazing Psalm

Let those who fear you turn to me,
    so that they may know your decrees.
May my heart be blameless (not sinless!) in your statutes,
    so that I may not be put to shame. (Psalm 119:78-80)