Satan is a stinking liar!!!!!!!!!!

Good morning! Last night I heard a preacher leave the sugar at home and share God's Word and preach a message that might have been hard for some to swallow. When we do outreach. Like our Annual Pig Roast this weekend. It is not about us. It is about reaching out and touching others. Are we inviting people to the event? Are we telling them about it and pleading with them to come and join us? Are we excited about the event? Are we planning on a great weekend of fellowship and sharing Jesus with others? I have a t-shirt that says "Satan is a stinking liar" and man is he ever. He doesn't want us to be excited about this event. He wants us to not ask anyone to come. He wants us to sit at home and not even think about it. But I say "I serve a huge God and I will love Him and this event will be a super success. People will hear about Jesus this weekend." Let's dig into the good stuff and see what we should be doing...........

Bible Verse: Mark 12:30 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength..."

From the mouth of Jesus in John 8:44 about Satan, "He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it". Satan is a super sly liar. In fact, many of his lies sound like the truth. He plays with our minds to confuse us. He lies about the biggest subject of all.......God. Satan wants to deceive you about God and what God wants to do in our lives. If he can distort your idea of God and serving Him, then beyond the shadow of any doubt he has you in everything else. I want us today to tell Satan to get behind us we've got some work to do! Not to be cocky but, it is time we put our money where our mouth is. Let's let the yea be yea and the nay be nay! I mean what does it mean to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind? Can you even do that? I say yes and it will improve every aspect of our lives. This is a promise from God. They may not be the improvements you expect but, your life will improve just the same.

If you have not been inviting people to come hear about Jesus at the Pig Roast, eat some great food, camp out, sit around the bon fire, and just have some awesome fellowship......It is not too late. Let's let our voices be heard and people see our excitement about this weekend. If you have any questions call me or message me and I will try to answer them. Hope to see you and lots of guests! Have a great day, I love you, and God bless.

Keep on trucking.......

Good morning friends and neighbors. I hope everyone is having a good Wednesday so far. I have to tell ya one of the youth lost her dog last night and is taking it really hard. Three words to ya if you read this, KEEP ON TRUCKING! You are an awesome young lady for the Lord and I know He has some great stuff planned for you. Alright, we only have two more day until the Potter's House Pig Roast and Fellowship Weekend starts! I am so stoked. Yes, I said stoked. It is a surfer word meaning excited. Man, I totally have to talk to you about our burdens. Jesus says to cast our burdens on Him but, I think that there are some that we should hold on to. We should hold onto our burden for the lost. Wait, I guess I have to ask ya. Do you have a burden for the lost? Do you ever shed a tear for the lost? Maybe just a lost family member. Let's dig into the good stuff and see what it say's about the subject........

Bible verse: Psalm 126: 6 He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him.

Does this scripture make sense to you? Are you thinking in terms of a garden? Is God telling us to cry all the time? Well, in a certain way He is. When you have a burden for something so strong does it not make you emotional? It should. That is the way God wants us to be about us doing good and telling others about Jesus. Planting seeds. When we are burdened by sorrow for the lost and hurting all around us, this should bring tears to our eyes. Even us tough guys, or so we think we are.

Do you know that my time in the mornings writing and working on these devotionals is probably my best quiet time. I used to think I was doing them for others. Well, I found out that I am really doing them for myself. I hope that they might help you but, this is my quiet time with God, my weeding time. Do you have quit time in the morning? Weeding your garden. When you have your quiet time alone. At that time you are in a sense weeding your own garden, the garden of your mind. Now, that is very important, so that the we can take in the Word and let it come out of our mouthes to others. Planting seeds. Alright, we go and plant the seed, telling others of our Lord and Savior and that He is available for all. After that we must cultivate this garden. We must water it, sometimes with our tears of burden for these people who are lost and don't have a clue where they are headed without this man named Jesus. We must weed it, cultivate it, and get it ready for His harvest. In Galatians 6:9 Paul writes "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. We should keep on trucking even when things are not going well. We should keep our eyes on God and He will guide us to those who need us. We have to take the blinders off to see those around us. If you are close to me, you know that I have a great burden for the men that I am surrounded by at church, work, and even my close friends. God has so many blessings for all of us. All we have to do is love Him and obey Him. Look around folks! You are standing in the middle of your garden right now. Are you going to cultivate it or maybe wait till the harvest comes? We have work to do, let's not waste anymore time. Let's love one another with Christ's love. If you ask God's to put you to work in His fields. He will. Ask Him to help you to be daring and fearless yet, compassionate to share His Word. Have a great day, I love you, and God bless!

Just say "No" to Kryptonite!!!!!!!!!!

Good morning everyone! Man, I am ready for this weekend. We are having our annual Potter's House Pig Roast and Fellowship weekend starting on Friday night and going through Sunday with a youth revival on Sunday night at 5pm. I hope you can come and join us for some great food, fun, and fellowship. Well, today I want to brag on a group of soul warriors. A group from our church of people from our singles ministry and our college and career ministry went down to the Kingston park Sunday before last to evangelize. They cooked hot dogs and hamburgers and gave out drinks to everyone they could. They made a promise to not let one person pass by without talking to them. I don't know about you but that is boldness. Could you do it? I have no doubt the devil went into overtime to put fear and anxiety in their hearts. Let's dig into some of the good stuff and the rest of the story will be at the end. Stay tuned.........Read on............

Bible Verse: Psalm 25:2 "O my God, I trust in Thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me."

Have you ever notices that we can talk about God at church really easy but, when we get out into the world it is like we have kryptonite around our necks. It is like our mouthes are full of marbles. Really why is it so different? Have you ever noticed that some people get a little embarrassed in a restaurant if you bow your head and mention Jesus as you ask His blessing? Now, it is not as bad here in the good ole' Bible belt. But, people still squirm in their seats a little. I do something and you should try it. Before I bless the food I try to ask the waitress if there is anything I can pray for her about. You will be very surprised at what you will hear sometimes. It might just be what that person needed that day. They others will just rub their eyebrows or forehead when you pray. Have you ever asked yourself why some of them are ashamed?

I think it is because they don't know what they're missing in Jesus. They don't know how cool Jesus is! They don't know how cool He make us! Cause guess what? This salvation thing......is a wonderful gift. God sent His Son to die for us! He rose from the grave for us! He ascended into heaven for us! And the best part is........He's coming again for us! How can we be ashamed of this? Do me a favor next time you go to a restaurant, let your prayer of blessing turn into an witnessing opportunity with your unsaved friend. Ok, let me finish the story about the Kingston Park. This group of fearless people....Not, they were scared out of their gourds but, they didn't let it stop them. They were not ashamed. Witnessed to everyone they came in contact with and God allowed them to pray with three people to accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Yeah God!!! He deserves all the glory and I want to give a shout out to those that were not ashamed to share His Word! God and the angels in heaven are super happy! Great job. Folks, let's not ever be ashamed of what Jesus did for us and be willing and ready to share at all times. Have a great day, I love you, and God bless!!

Being found faithful with little..........

Good morning everyone. I just got off from working midnights and I am fixing to crash. I am going to talk about my wife for a bit. I believe she is probably one of the most caring people that I know. She would give a stranger her last dollar if they needed it. How willing are we to share all we have or go without for someone else? Let's dig into some of the good stuff and check out what God says about the subject.......

Bible Verse: Luke 16:10 - "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much."

Here is a huge question for you. What would you do if you had a million dollars? I know a ton of things just started running through your head. Right? Well, check this out. Do you know what a good test of what you would do is? It's what you're doing with that hundred dollars you have right now! Are you saving it? Spending it? Sharing it? The test of what you would do spiritually is seen by what you do in the physical here and now. Many of us do not have spiritual blessings because we simply haven't been faithful with the small things in our lives. My wife says I am a pack rat. I think of it more as being prepared. For I might just need that shirt from my freshman year of high school. Not! Some of us are blessed with so much. How can we just sit on it. Let's be faithful with what we have and just maybe God will trust us with so much more. This thing called faith is pretty cool huh? I pray you have a great day, I love you, and God bless.

Let's be willing!!!!!!!!

Good morning friends. My little girl turns 6 today! Wow, how time flies. Well, the week is almost over for most. Mine just starts today. We had a great service at church last night. The youth praise band handled the worship with passion and Pastor Kyle's message on loving the children and taking time for them was spot on. Let's look into that subject a little more today. Let's dig into the good stuff......

Bible Verse: Galatians 6:10 "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

Do you remember the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37? See, He was on a journey, but stopped and helped a bruised and broken man. He didn't make excuses saying, "It's none of my business. That person might rob me. They might be a serial killer. Someone else will help them." It was a golden moment, and He took it. Man, all around us are people who need the compassion of Christ. They need us to see their pain as a great opportunity to serve them in the name of Jesus. Let me tell you something the chief enemy to us being kind is being too busy. We have our priorities, our jobs, our duties, our responsibilities, and we're way too busy. But if we're too busy to be kind, we're too busy. Maybe you might just stop and say "Hi" to someone that you wouldn't normally talk to. You never know what they are going through. You might just change the outcome of there day. I have a couple questions for ya. What's on your schedule for today? If someone had a flat tire, could you fix it? If someone called and needed a ride to the hospital, could you take them? Are you available to serve anyone? Are you willing? Do me a favor. Clear the way for Jesus, He will do some mighty things with us if we let Him. Have a great day, I love you, and God bless.

Let's make a list.........

Good morning everyone. How is your week going? I hope it is going great! I want to ask a favor of you. I have a big day today and could use a prayer or two. So, can you say one for me. God knows what it is about. Thanks in advance. So, today I want to talk a little more about faith. But, now I want to talk about the faith that others have around us. Maybe our friends, family, co-workers. Let's dig into some of the good stuff and see what it says about it......

Bible Verse: Ephesians 1:15-16 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.

First, I want to ask you a question. How do you pray? Or maybe I should ask. Do you pray? We should pray with faith. We should pray believing and giving thanks for God answering our prayers before He even answers them. We shouldn't pray then sit back and wait to see if it happens so we can then give thanks. Alright now, how should you pray for our friends, your parents, our siblings, anyone you really care about? Paul shows us in the Bible verse today some essential things to pray for other Christians and for ourselves by telling us exactly what he prayed for his friends in Ephesus.

Check this out, first he is praying for other believers. People who have trusted and have faith in Jesus. These prayers were for believers. He was praying for his brothers and sisters in Christ. Now, the first thing Paul says to God about these brothers and sisters in Jesus is "thank you." Then he says it again and again, and again. Really, he says he never stops saying it. To give thanks for others, to remember God created and saved them, He did a good thing. That they had faith and trusted in Him. Their lives should matter to us because they matter to Him.

I have to ask you guys today. How often do you thank God for the Christians in your life? Your parents? Your friends? Why don't we think to do that more often? Let's ask God to help us to be grateful for other believers and to express that thankfulness to Him. Can you do me a big favor this week? Can we make a list of five Christians in your life that we can pray for this week. Maybe include at least one person you don't always get along with. Add yourself to the list at #6. Start today by thanking God for everyone on the list. I hope you have a great day, I love you, and God bless.

Out of focus???????

Good morning to my peeps! I hope everyone's week has started off great. As for my house, Misty and I are struggling with this congestion and coughing thing. As I told you yesterday, we talked about faith at youth on Sunday night. I want to talk a little more about it today. Guy's, this is the basis of everything for us. Without it who are we? Let's dig into some of the good stuff and see what it says about the subject.......

Bible Verse: Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Do you want me to tell you what the problem with many of us is? Our faith is something tacked onto our lives. We put it on top of everything else. We want to have it and a large portion do. But, we put it on top of all the other stuff in our lives. Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters..." (Matthew 6:24). How true is that? Do you believe it? You are to have but one mission in your life, and that is to know Jesus personally, powerfully, passionately! Everything else will flow out of that. I know what you are saying right now, "But wait a minute Tony. I've got a lot of other things to do! I've got a job. I've got to rest. I've got my boat. I've got my kids softball travelling team. I've got to have friends. I have to have a life. I deserve one. I work hard. I can't just narrow my interests to one." When you bring your life into a true focus, all of these other things will work toward the main thing. What are you saying Tony? Well, if you focus on God a lot of the other thing might just actually improve. Now, God might show you that you don't need some of them and he might even give you more time with others. God is not in the punishing business. He is and wants to be in the blessing business. It is our choice. Where is our focus? Are we in focus or are we way out of focus? It's time we do some adjusting. Having a great day, I love you, and God bless!

Storming???????

Good morning everyone! We had a great night at youth last night. The topic was on faith. How is your faith? Are your feet planted on solid ground? Or do you sway with the day. Maybe you sway with the people your around. Were you once on fire and a storm came and you jumped ship and tried to swim for shore. We need to realize that Jesus is our life ring. We should cling to Him in the storms. I want to tell you a story that I am sure some of you know but, maybe need to hear it again. Let's dig into the good stuff.......

Bible Verse: Mark 4:39 "And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."

Now check this out.....Jesus was with his disciples on the Sea of Galilee and a huge storm came upon them? The lightning began to be all over the sky. It was super windy. The sea was crazy! And the gentle winds turned into a category 5 hurricane!. The little ship was tossed and turned like a cork. The disciples were scared out of the gourds and said to Jesus who was crashed out in the front of the boat, "Don't You care if we perish? Do something!" Jesus said, "Peace, be still." And the winds ceased and the sea went calmed. Listen guy's, if you don't see this world heading into a storm, and the spiritual meteorologist's should be warning us. I would almost bet that you are going through some kind of storm right now. You have to have faith in Jesus to bring peace to your life. And guess what when it comes to the world it will not know peace until Jesus, the Prince of Peace, comes back and says, "Peace, be still." Do me a big favor today. Quit carrying those burdens around with you. Jesus has some real strong shoulders and can handle all your burdens. He is asking you for them. So, let's give them to Him today. I pray you have a blessed day, I love you, and smile a little!!!!!

Are you a knuckle head too????????

Good morning everyone! I hope everyone is ready for a great weekend. College football is starting up this weekend!!!! I am excited to see our Vols. Not sure what to expect but, still excited. Have you had a disagreement with anyone lately? Did you say anything that later you regretted? Are you sore at that person? Let's dig into God's Word and see what it says you should do......

Bible Verse: Job 22:27 - "Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows."

If you have ever disagreed with someone and felt you were in the right and then it went south and quick. Which I have. What started out as a conversation turns into a confrontation, and the tension becomes so thick you can cut it with a knife or a machete. At that point, it's time to separate before things disintegrate. Then when you separate, it's time to communicate with the Lord. It's when you get alone with God that the communion of conviction comes and what seemed to be confusion becomes crystal clear in His light. It seems that God can and will show you what you need to see that maybe pride kept you from while you were in the middle of the conversation or should I say confrontation. Now, check this out. More often than not, the Holy Spirit has shown me that I was in the wrong and needed to ask forgiveness or possibly make a situation right. I don't have as many confrontations as I used to but, they still happen from time to time. It is a thing called reality/life. Does this apply to you or am I the only one who is a knuckle head sometimes? Is it time to get in the prayer closet? I pray you have a great day, I love you, and God bless!

Harmony or Bust.........

Good morning everyone. Are you ready for the weekend? It look like we are going to have great weather for the holiday weekend. I am going to touch on the subject from yesterday a little. I told you that we as Christians if we follow Jesus, will be persecuted. We will be mistreated. How do you act when you are mistreated? Let's see how we are supposed to act. What the Bible says. Let's dig into the good stuff........

Bible Verse: 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

Check this out. Peter is a writing here to a group of Christians that are being or should I say about to be mistreated because they follow Jesus. He's about to give them some guidelines for how Christians can live in an honorable way even when we're going through hard times.

He starts out with this: Treat each other right or have compassion for each other. No, that doesn't go far enough. He really says, "Treat each other as family, as brothers." It's easy when you're living through a bad time in your life to excuse meanness. It's easy to say to yourself, "Everyone will just have to understand how much I'm hurting, I don't have the energy to be nice."

What Peter is saying is that's exactly opposite. God can make our suffering count for something, especially if we'll live like we're His in the middle of it. So keep getting together with believers. Look for ways to show sympathy to others not just yourself. Be compassionate and humble. Give them "family access" to your heart and look for "family access" to theirs too! I have to ask ya a question. Do you live in harmony with other Christians? When you're hurting, do you get closer or pull away from your Christian family? Why? Ask God to help you to treat the believers in your church the way this verse describes. Now do this for me. Look up the word "harmony" in the dictionary and write down the definition. Let's try to live that way. Have a great day, I love you , and God bless.

Don't be ashamed...........

Good morning everyone! Had a long day yesterday. I had to go to court for a case from 2003 and was there most of the day to not be needed. But, after I left at first I thought what a waste. Then I thought about the time I got to catch up with a very nice woman I used to work with. We talk of families and stuff. I realized that she was a Christian and that was cool to see. I pray her family is blessed and she has a hedge of protection around her. On to a disturbing thing I saw while watching the news last night. Diane Sawyer was doing a bit on our soldiers coming home. At the end she said "One Nation, In-Divisible." Does anyone see anything wrong with this statement? It is missing the most important part. It is missing "Under GOD!" How have we let our country come to this? Why are we so quiet? Let's dig into the good stuff........

Bible Verse: Psalms 74:21 Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed! Let the poor and needy praise Your name.

As Christians so many are afraid of calling on the name of their Lord. But, if another religion wants to call on allah or budda. We are silent. Christians must realize that the day is coming that we will be persecuted much worse that we are today. This is nothing. Would you lose your life for the Lord? If we will not stand now. When will we stand? When will we say "We have rights and let our voices be heard?" Are we to just sit back and say Christians must be quiet and respectful? You can be respectful and yet have a voice! I plead with you today to not just sit on your hands hoping the coach won't put you in. Because the coach (your Lord and Savior) is looking for a few good men and women to put in the game. We should be waving our arms around saying "Coach, Coach put me in please!" You have a voice and God can give you the strength to use it. Remember Philippians 4:13 You can do all things through Christ who strengthen's you. How do I know? Cause the Bible tells me so! Let's get in the game. Let's have a voice. Have a great day, I love you, and God bless.