Excuses or Empowered?

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10-11)

The Greek word Paul uses gives the meaning of power, dunamis, which is the root of our word dynamite. Every believer has the inward ability to blow up this world for Christ. Change environments . . . transform futures . . . resurrect dying hopes and dreams . . . bring life and hope to hurting people.

 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength  he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,  far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:17-21)

What are we doing with this power? Do we even possess it? Acts 1:8 tells us we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us.

So the real question is if we do know Christ, why are we not using the power of His Spirit?

Excuses or Empowered? You choose . . .

TSN Black HIS-tory Trip

We visited the African American Civil War Museum and Memorial with our teens.




https://picasaweb.google.com/110113682663305304879/TSNVisitsTheAfricanAmericanCivilWarMuseum#

Keep the Soil Prepared

A farmer went out to plant his seed. He scattered the seed on the ground. Some fell on a path. People walked on it, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some seed fell on rocky ground. When it grew, the plants dried up because they had no water. 7 Other seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew up with it and crowded out the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It grew up and produced a crop 100 times more than the farmer planted.”

When Jesus said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears should listen.”

9 His disciples asked him what the story meant. 10 He said, “You have been given the chance to understand the secrets of God’s kingdom. But to outsiders I speak by using stories. In that way,

“ ‘They see, but they will not know what they are seeing.    They hear, but they will not understand what they are hearing.’ (Isaiah 6:9) (Luke 8:5-10)

Many people know of God. Others have heard the story but refuse to believe it. Others yet disregard the facts and believe the various other fables and lies. Some could care less about any talk of a god or eternity. As Luke records Jesus' words above however, "Whoever has ears should listen"!

Where do we stand? Are we keeping the garden of our hearts and minds open to the truths of God? Have we been crowded out with the weeds and insects of the world?

Keep the soil prepared! Grow in God's Truths and in relationship with Him! If not, we will be as those in Luke's writings; seeing without vision and hearing without understanding!

Eyewitness Proof . . .walk by the FACTS!

But you must hold firmly to the message I preached to you. If you don’t, you have believed it for nothing. 3 What I received I passed on to you. And it is the most important of all. Here is what it is. Christ died for our sins, just as Scripture said he would. 4 He was buried. He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as Scripture said he would be. 5 He appeared to Peter. Then he appeared to the 12 apostles. 6 After that, he appeared to more than 500 brothers and sisters at the same time. Most of them are still living. But some have died. 7 He appeared to James. Then he appeared to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, he also appeared to me. I was like someone who wasn’t born at the right time. (1 Corinthians 15:2-8)

In a courtroom, one or two eyewitnesses are possible to conjure up a story. However, if more that five hundred adults witness an event, the judge must accept the evidence as true! Who wouldn't?

So some say we have a blind faith. Really? I would say that if more that five hundred people actually witnessed Jesus Christ alive and well after seeing Him dead and buried, well even a scholar  . . . even perhaps a blind man would believe that!

Yes, I walk by faith in the promises of God. I also walk by the facts!

Why Pray?

In a secretive moment of foreboding, Jesus spoke a heartfelt prayer; a personal connection with eternity, while just outside of their presence forces of evil organized in opposition.


Faced with impossible tasks and insurmountable odds, where do we turn . . . to Whom do we turn? Listen carefully to our Savior's words as His heart was beginning to crumble . . .

I will not remain in the world any longer. But they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them safe by the power of your name. It is the name you gave me. Keep them safe so they can be one, just as you and I are one . . .  I have given them your word. The world has hated them. That’s because they are not part of the world any more than I am. I do not pray that you will take them out of the world. I pray that you will keep them safe from the evil one. . . “I do not pray only for them. I pray also for everyone who will believe in me because of their message. Father, I pray they will be one, just as you are in me and I am in you. I want them also to be in us. Then the world will believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me. I did this so they would be one, just as we are one. I will be in them, just as you are in me. This is so that they may be brought together perfectly as one. Then the world will know that you sent me. It will also show the world that you have loved those you gave me, just as you have loved me.                           (John 17:11, 14-15,20-23).

Jesus prayed for His disciples but also for you and me! Is that not awesome?!?! His prayer was that we could be one with Him and the father and with one another. He desires for us to STAND in the midst of trials and not to falter. 

We can go through trials knowing God goes with us and he equips us to honor Him in the midst of it all. Who else can you and I possibly trust?

This is why I pray!

Do Not Believe the Hype!

Jesus promised His disciples three things — that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy, and in constant trouble. — F. R. Maltby

I’m like a gate. Anyone who enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out. And they will find plenty of food. ¹⁰ A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so they may have life. I want them to have it in the fullest possible way. (John 10:9-10)

There is a lot of HYPE in church circles today. Plenty of noise, fanfare, and excitement. While this is good, there is still only ONE WAY to heaven . . . to God the Father! It is a narrow gate and He is the ONLY gateway to heaven and eternal life! The theif (the "enemy", "Satan") would have us believe the lie that there are many ways, many faiths, many "highways to heaven", all kinds of fun, lavish blessings, and a trouble-free life .

NOT SO.......

But what I’m about to tell you is true. It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Friend will not come to help you. But if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸ When he comes, he will prove that the world’s people are guilty. He will prove their guilt concerning sin and godliness and judgment. ⁹ The world is guilty as far as sin is concerned. That’s because people do not believe in me. ¹⁰ The world is guilty as far as godliness is concerned. That’s because I am going to the Father, where you can’t see me anymore. ¹¹ The world is guilty as far as judgment is concerned. That’s because the devil, the prince of this world, has already been judged. (John 16:7-11)

There is only ONE WAY to peace and understanding in this world full of chaos. Only those with the Spirit of God can understand the things of God.

Know Jesus . . . know PEACE. No Jesus . . .NO PEACE!

Do YOU have JESUS?

Born to Serve . . .

Have we really decided to "serve"?As CHRIST-followers, this is our goal . . . our life . . . the example set by our Savior and Lord:

When Jesus finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes. Then he returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You are right. That is what I am. 14 I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. So you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have given you an example. You should do as I have done for you. 16 What I’m about to tell you is true. A slave is not more important than his master. And a messenger is not more important than the one who sends him. 17 Now you know these things. So you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:12-17)

How do we spend our resources and time? Which topics dominate our thoughts and conversation? What do our check books and "to-do" lists reveal about us?These are a few indicators of the driving goals in our life. Like many people. we may long for worldly recognition, however God has a higher calling for us, His children. Let's ask Him to grow a servant's attitude within our heart.

If we want to live a life that honors God, we SERVE!

Falling in LOVE . . . with JESUS!

So what's it like to fall in love? REALLY fall in love?

I have been crucified with Christ. I don’t live any longer, but Christ lives in me. Now I live my life in my body by faith in the Son of God. He loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

The most important thing that happens within the Christian life is when a person falls in love with Jesus. . . . REALLY falls in love!

If you haven’t done it in a while, pray and talk with Jesus. We can't just talk at Him! We need to ask Him to become REAL to us. Ask Him to forgive us of our self-addiction, ask Him to put a song in our heart.

I can’t think of anything better that could happen to any of us than this.

As the song says . . .Falling in love with Jesus is the best thing I have EVER done!

His Grace is still amazing!

Here is a saying that you can trust. It should be accepted completely. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the worst sinner of all . . . (1 Timothy 1:15)

I was searching for appropriate videos to share with my middle school bible students concerning "grace" and this one blew me away! What an example of God's grace to us all and how He can change the chiefest of sinners, like me, into a submissive and serving child of God...

My prayer is that as we celebrate OUR rich history of people of color, we see God's grace in the middle of it all!

Take a listen . . .

http://youtu.be/DMF_24cQqT0

Is GRACE not STILL amazing?

The law was given so that sin would increase. But where sin increased, God’s grace increased even more. (Romans 5:20)

God's Timing . . . God's Power

Jesus said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you. Everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms must come true.”

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written. The Messiah will suffer. He will rise from the dead on the third day. 47 His followers will preach in his name. They will tell others to turn away from their sins and be forgiven. People from every nation will hear it, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You have seen these things with your own eyes. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised. But for now, stay in the city. Stay there until you have received power from heaven.” (Luke 24:44-49)

Ever feel frustrated? Ever wonder why we fail so often? Why does it seem that God is not with us?

Many times we are working under our own power rather than God's! The original disciples had to wait for the Spirit to arrive. But we have it now . . . if we are His. But we still must wait at times . . . for God's timing! 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Then you will tell people about me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria. And you will even tell other people about me from one end of the earth to the other.” (Acts 1:8)

Get in touch with God . . . seek His face . . .His will. . . His timing. He wants to work through you and me!

Got kids?

Consider these statistics:

Within the next 30 minutes at least:  

• 29 kids will attempt suicide.

• 57 adolescents will run away from home.

• 14 teenager girls will give birth out of wedlock.

• 22 girls will get abortions.

• 686 kids will use one of many illegal drugs.

• And 188 will abuse alcohol.

 

People were bringing little children to Jesus. They wanted him to place his hands on them to bless them. But the disciples told them to stop. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was angry. He said to his disciples, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t keep them away. God’s kingdom belongs to people like them. 15 What I’m about to tell you is true. Anyone who will not receive God’s kingdom like a little child will never enter it.” 16 Then he took the children in his arms. He placed his hands on them to bless them. (Mark 10:13-16)

What are we to do as believers? If we do not have time for our youth then who will? The drug dealers will. The pimps will. The gangs will. Those living alternative lifestyles will. The terrorist recruiters will. SATAN will!   

We do not ignore them. We do not allow the TV, schools, sports, and churches to raise them.

So what do we do? We show them. We teach them. We model for them. We embrace them. We eat with them. We hurt with them. We cry with them. We laugh with them. We play games with them. We do homework with them. We kiss them. We sing with them. We dance with them. We listen to them. We pray with them. We have TIME for them!