Forget how it sounds..........

Happy Independence Day! I want to tell you a quick story. Last night as the kids and I sat down for dinner. They began to argue over who was going to bless the food. So, I told them they could both pray. Luke first and then Joslyn. Luke said his "God is great, God is good" prayer and then Joslyn busts out this probably two minute prayer. About everything from struggles she has seen lately to upcoming events. I must say that I sat there blown away that my eight year old was praying the way she was. It was "big girl" prayer! It was "battle" prayer. My question to you today is. How do you fight your battles? If your a Christian, how do you wage war on the devil and his demons? Or, should I ask do you wage war? Because whether you want to believe it. That is what is going on if you are a born again believer. Our greatest battles can be won in prayer. The wars and battles with the devil are won in the closet. The prayer closet. We must be prayer warriors to win this fight from day to day. Alright, let's dig into the good stuff........

Bible Verse: Matthew 6:6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

 Let's be about prayer today. Really, Let's be about what Jesus said in Matthew 6 . He was teaching about how we should do this thing called "prayer." First: We should pray for God's ears, not other people's. Praying in public makes some people feel really weird. I don't really blame them for saying silly things to God in those moments, but you can sometimes tell they're worried about "sounding right" to the people around them. They work in a few churchy words or phrases because they've heard everyone else do it. Jesus told his listeners to do their praying behind closed doors in secret. But, really Jesus just wants you to talk to Him like He is your best friend. Now, the closed doors thing is not during mealtime or other occasions as such. But, for your personal prayer.

Why should we pray this way? For one thing, it weeds out all the wrong motives. The Jewish religious leaders gave each other spiritual browny points for how sweet and good sounding their public prayers were, but they were missing the point of talking to God. When you're alone, you know you're not impressing anyone with your prayer talk. You're more likely to talk to Him straight out of your own life, not how someone else's might pray.

Of course, you're not going to pray in secret unless you're convinced God is listening. Prayer in secret is an act of greater faith in the God who cares so much about you. Jesus promised that our Father listens and rewards those prayers. You don't need to step up to the microphone for Him to hear and answer you.

Have you ever prayed in front of people, do you pray any differently than you do when you're alone? Are you ever tempted to try to impress people with your prayers? How likely are you to pray when nobody is looking? Let's ask God to help us talk to Him more often when nobody else is around. Let's be prayer warriors and share our heart with the King on Kings!

This may sound funny but, got a closet handy? Try praying in it today. No, I am just kidding you don't really need to pray in a closet for God to hear you, but trying it once or twice might make you more aware of how you're talking to God. Have a great day and God bless.

Get the rocks out of your pockets........

What's up everyone? How has your week been? Well, yesterday was the third day of our VBS at a local apartment complex and it was another great night. I was talking to the lady who was kinda ramrodding the whole thing and telling her that she was doing a great job! She said that she had been a little overwhelmed with this VBS. That she was used to a traditional style in the church, real structured, by the book VBS. Well, this one was anything but that! What was cool was how much the kids are loving it. Even my daughter that has been to some real fancy VBS's (First Baptist Concord) and said this one was her favorite. The cool part about our VBS is that there is no worry. Just loving on the kiddo's and sharing Gods' love with them. Well, I came home and got the kids bathed and bedded down and was scanning through facebook and saw again so much negativity. So many hurting friends / people. Sometimes we focus so much on a foot in front of us that we don't see what is coming ahead. Or, maybe we focus so much on the past that we don't allow ourselves to be happy. Can I tell you that God does have a plan for you. In Jeremiah 29:11 God's Word say's "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Let's dig into a little more of the good stuff and see what God's Word can show us....... 

Bible verse: Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

I know sometimes we see what is happening to us and don't understand. I know some real bad things have happened to some of us. But, I must tell you that I am going to stand on God's Word and believe it with all my heart. I know I love Him and He will work all the things that have happened in my life for good. Can you believe that? I know your probably thinking "There is no way God can work this out or make good out of this situation" or "Tony, you don't know what has happened in my life." You are right, I don't know what you've been through. But, God does! I want you to read this story about a farmer think about your situation. This farmer had a big brush pile of debris he was going to burn. He noticed a little bird had built a nest in that brush pile, so he destroyed the nest. When he came back days later, he found the bird rebuilding the nest. The farmer destroyed the nest again. But the bird built again, and again the farmer destroyed it.

Finally, the little bird gave up. I can just imagine that little bird going home and saying to his family, "I just don't know why all our good plans of building a home are not working." Well, there was an unseen hand doing something the bird may have thought was bad, but was really good.

I have told the youth and adults around me this little story many times. If you were treading water in the middle of the ocean and you had your pockets full of rocks. We're going to say those rocks are the friends, maybe past relationships, or things that will not let you swim or keep your head above water. What do you do? Well, duh! You take the rocks out of your pockets and let them fall away! There is no way you can stay afloat much less swim to shore without cutting loose the dead weight. This doesn't mean you won't have to have contact with them. It just means that they are not in your pocket. They are not allowed to be close to you anymore. For your good! 

Do me a favor read Romans 8:28 again and notice the verse is not saying that all things are good. All things are not good. Now, there are some truly evil things in this world and those thing you must flee from and run to the arms of Jesus. Be strong and courageous, do not fear! He will not fail you nor forsake you. Let's do our best to not focus on those terrible things in this world. Let's focus on God and His goodness! Have a great day and God bless

Carpe' Diem

Good Wednesday morning! Had a great day yesterday. The church is having vacation Bible school at a local apartment complex and we had 147 kids there last night. My daughter got in the truck afterwards and said "Dad, this is the best VBS I have ever been to!" Made me smile! It's not all the money spent or the high wire acts. It's the love put into it. I know it's Wednesday and most everyone likes Wednesday's because the week is half way over. But, let's look at it this way. Today is the perfect opportunity to be different. To be a difference maker....A history maker. Let's dig into some of the good stuff and see what I am talking about.......

Bible verse: Ephesians 4:1 "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received"

I want to tell you today that you can be a difference maker today! God has gifted you and empowered you. Maybe it's time that we get to work and quit playing around. I want to ask a few questions today. What is a legacy? We know how Abraham Lincoln, Adolph Hitler, Martin Luther, Charles Spurgeon, Charles Mason, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Thomas Sprauge have left legacies behind right? Some good, some bad, some aren't world famous, and some you don't even know. But, they leave an impact anyways. They leave some kind of legacy.

You can write your history now! What is your legacy at this very moment? If you were to die right now, how would you be remembered? Regardless of what specific plan God has for us, we are to be seekers of God. Why can we remember Biblical figure so easily? Moses, Noah, Paul, Peter, Timothy, and of course Jesus? Because they each lived a life worthy of their calling. In Hebrews 12:2 God's Words says "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith". Now, we look at Jesus and see a great example of how to leave a legacy.

How to be a history maker! When we seek after God with our whole heart, we don't have to worry about whether or not we're doing the right thing or what kind of legacy we're leaving. It just come naturally! Jeremiah 29:11 Say's "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." The key to our legacy is it is not about us! It's all about God!!! In Isaiah 26:8 the good Word says "Yes, Lord,......... we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts." The word "renown" means reputation. We should want God's reputation, name, and message to be the most important things in our lives. So much so, that other people see Him in us instead of our own agendas. Let's be history makers for God. Kinda scary huh? Think it's more than you can handle? The cool thing is that God wants to help us accomplish His plan in our lives. We can't do it with out Him!

Let's connect with the Inventor of History! Before God created the universe, there was no such thing as time. So, basically God created the idea of history! In Matthew 19:26 God's Word says " Jesus looked at them and said 'with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible'" Why do we have to be so stubborn and independent all the time? Why do we think we have to do everything on our own? With us, things are possible. With God, ALL things are possible. Maybe we need to start believing that! Carpe Diem....Seize the day!!!! Let's get to work being history makers! Have a great day and God bless.

Let's tread over them!!!!!!!

Good morning everyone. We are having VBS this week and a friend was telling me about this gentlemen that she met while out in the neighborhood inviting people last Wednesday. She told me this gentleman she talked to was telling her that his wife went to church but, he didn't anymore. He said people didn't accept him. Well, when I was pulling up I saw her with a huge smile and she was super excited. She said "He is here! He came with his kids!" Well, a little later I was able to talk to this man for a bit. He said that he moved down here 13 years ago and wants to move back to Illinois. He began to tell me about his life and how he can't get a job because of his tattoos and the way he looks. He told me that he didn't feel like a man because he wasn't able to support his family. He even told me that churches have not accepted him when he went. I must tell you that this gut punched me and also got me thinking about all the stuff going on with so many people around me in this area and the world. Job wise, life wise, relationship wise, family wise, and even friend wise. Just thought I would share it. I guess seeing and hearing so much going on around us. In our county, city, state, country, and across the globe. It burdens my heart to see so much despair and hardship going on. There is something I want to share with you. Just a verse from God's Word. Let's dig in and check it out.........
 
Bible Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:27"For He hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him."

 

I pray that this man comes back tonight. I am not done talking to him. We need to show him that we can see past the outside and that is what God does. I am not sure what is going on in your life or where you are spiritually but, maybe you need to read these words again. See, here's the thing. God has given us kingdom authority. Let me break it down for you a little more. In Luke 10:19 Jesus said, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you". When problems get over your head, and you feel like you can't handle anything else. Remember they are under His feet.

 

The bottom line is, you need not be discouraged when troubles strike. I have had a hard time with that lately. This is really probably for just me and Bob (the man from last night) today. I sit here and think of the path my Savior has walked before me and for me. Dude, He has already won! He has won the victory for me and for you! Do me a favor. I read this once and thought it was cool and the real deal. Write down the hardest thing you have to deal with today or this week. Now, put that paper on the floor. Look down on it. Now you have a small glimpse of what God's sees from His point view. Concerning the problems in our lives. Let them be under our feet. Just a thought for today. Please pray that we can show Bob some more love today! I hope this finds you well. Have a great day and God bless!

Don't count yourself short........

Good morning everyone. Had a blast with the kiddo's last night catching fireflies and fellowshipping with some friends. Ok, I have some questions for you. Do you ever hit bumps in the road? Maybe even road blocks. Do you ever feel like you can't go on? I have talked to some folks over the last few weeks that have had a really rough road that they have been on. Some even thought that they were impassable. I know what I am about to say for some may feel a little empty but, I promise if you let the words sink in and live this way. Things will start changing or at least your outlook on the road  will change. Let's dig into the good stuff and see what it can show us......

Bible Verse: Philippians 3:14"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Check this out! One of the #1 things that the devil wants to do or even would love to do is get you distracted or confused. He wants to get you off the course on which God has placed you. Know this, God has something He wants you to do and you had better not exchange the good for the best. Now, this is hard sometimes. We knuckle head humans don't always look at the big picture. Hey, I know I don't. I had to remember this quote. Don't question in the dark what God showed you in the light! Meaning if and when times get tough, don't throw in the towel. Now, in today's verse when it says "press toward the mark" it is looking ahead. Kind of like if you were running a race. You look at a distance or aim way ahead. I love this quote from a cool movie "Aim small......Miss small." We must keep our eyes on the prize. That prize is one day as a born again believer we will get to heaven. But, until we get there we have some work here on earth to do. Some Fatherly work.

My challenge to you today is to find out what God wants you to do and then stand your ground and refuse to be distracted by the devil. Just like Paul said, "This one thing I do!" Pray that God can show you what He wants of you. What He wants you to do. Then do it with all your strength and might for His glory, not your own! Don't count yourself short. Don't think that you can't do something. If you know in your mind and heart then don't let the world come in and distract you. I don't think the word "can't" is in Gods dictionary. Can't never did anything! Today you must say "I can" and "I will"! You can do this! You got this! Have a great day and God bless!

Got Gratefulness??????

Good Friday morning! I have been dealing with a kidney stone again and it is a real pain. Literally! I have to say when it hit me Sunday night I started thinking, why me? I mean there has been a lot of stuff going on in my life lately. I guess I was just getting down a little. Well, I would say a lot down. Then a friend came to help me and took me to the hospital. That helped change my perspective a bit. That's what brings me to today's verse. Let's dig into some of the good stuff and see what it can show us.......

Bible Verse: Philippians 4:6 "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

Ok, the fact is, sometimes we complain when we shouldn't. Sometimes we say poor pitiful me when we should be looking up instead of down. I know this sounds crazy when you are the one dealing with it. Dealing with the pain or maybe sadness of losing a loved one. It really got me to thinking. There are people out there who have it way worse that I do. Take for instance a friend of mine that has had dozens for back surgeries for severe curvature of her spine. She can't walk totally upright but, she praises the Lord with all she has. I have set back and watched her raise her hands and praise God for everything He has given her. Boy, it kind of puts things into perspective a little doesn't it. I don't know when I will pass this kidney stone, but I know I will be alright! I guess what I am saying is, "Oh, what an ungrateful spirit I have!" Must look up and not down!

What do you complain about? Maybe your house is too dirty. There are people that would do anything for a home of their own. Do you ever complain about dirty dishes? There are lots of folks in Third World countries that would like to have some dirty dishes. Do you complain when someone uses all the hot water and you have none for your shower? Really? Do you complain when the gas prices goes up to $4.00 a gallon? Some people walk miles and miles to just go to school. Hey listen, the deal is we should be thankful in all things. I know this is hard sometimes but, God knows what is best for us. Let's rejoice in God's blessings in our lives. You may think you don't have any but, I bet you do! Now, let's nip that temptation in the bud to complain and grumble about our lives today. Have a great day and God bless!

Get in, buckle up, and drop the hammer!!!!!!

Good Thursday morning to you! Can we be transparent for a bit? Have you been running on empty for a while. I sat on my back porch this morning with a big ole' cup of coffee and got to thinking. I have been so busy over the last 5 years that I have been running pretty much empty. Well, God showed me something pretty clear this morning. I was putting out more than I was taking in. I realized that for a while I stopped doing my devotions, all my extra reading, and a lot of little things that helped fill my cup. Well, sometimes we think "WE" can do it. Listen guys, He will sustain us if we rely on Him. If we take our time to fill our cups with His holy Word. Then we can pour it out to other as He has commanded us to do. We all deal with life and go through some really bad storms. It is what we do when we are in the midst of them. Let's dig into some of the good stuff and see what it can show us........

 

Bible Verse: Psalm 55:22 "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

 

 

Have you guys ever wondered why Jesus sent His disciples into a ship, to go before Him to the other side? This is in Matthew 14:22 if you have not read it before. Now, He had to know that a storm was going to come in shortly after they set sail. Why would He send them right into a really bad storm? Wouldn't it make sense to tell them to wait a few hours until the storm passed?

 

Why did He do this? It was because He wanted them to know that He was enough for them. He wanted them to worship Him. I promise you that your storm is nothing but a superhighway to bring you closer to Jesus. It is a vehicle or a way to bring you from head knowledge to heart knowledge and an understanding that God is who He says He is! So get in, buckle up, and drop the hammer!

 

 

It was once said "If I never had a problem, I would never know that God could solve them. And I would never know what faith in His Word could do." When a storm comes your way. And it will. Look up and see through through all the bad stuff and see Jesus walking toward you with His hand out to help you. Have faith. I pray this finds you well and growing closer to God. Have a great day, God bless, and I love you.