WSR REPORT: THE LIGHT

Good Morning …

I pray all is well - 

I wanted to share this post with you today

I came across it while I was preparing my message yesterday.

The content was originally posted in 2014 – part of a series called ‘The Light’

However, I believe it holds a special significance in view of the past several weeks and ongoing challenges with COVID-19. Sheltered in place for weeks, there has been ample time to reflect … on everything.

Now, I will not pretend to know why all of what has happened has transpired. However, I believe the LORD has the ability to work through every situation and circumstance we encounter – to develop us, to grow us, to shape our character and to help us prioritize and refocus on what is important and essential. We cannot make Him known without knowing Him. Therefore, it is necessary and critical to undergo inner transformation. 

It all begins at home. I hope you enjoy!

Have a Blessed Day!

______________________________________

-originally posted January 25, 2014

‘… and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ Acts 1:8

Many are well familiar with the commissioning declaration in Acts 1:8. However, in verse four of that same chapter, we find the disciples being commanded to not depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father – The Holy Spirit.

Jesus told them that they would be His witnesses,

And that it would begin right where they were … at home

Yet all too often, it is the home which suffers the most – even among those who have dedicated themselves to being the light in their church, in their workplace and in their communities. Know that you cannot effectively and credibly export what is not first cultivated and established at home.

Noted humanitarian Mother Theresa has been quoted as saying, ‘We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.'

I Timothy 5:8 tells us [when speaking of families caring for widows] that anyone who does not provide for his own household is worse than an infidel.

We must understand – whether physical needs, spiritual needs or emotional needs – the light which emanates from one’s life should first be impacting the ones closest to them. My children would have a tremendously difficult time understanding all the giving that has taken place over the years if I only concentrated my attentions outward. However, my aim has always been to convey – by my words, my actions, my life – that they are my number one priority. So I ask …

• Do our families get the best part of us or what is left over after work and other obligations?
• Do they get quality and quantity time?
• Do they know they are loved?
• Do we speak the truth in love?
• Does our commitment to quality and respectful communication extend to the family – or do we raise our voices and use sarcasm?
• Do we actively strive to block the day’s frustrations from entering our home?
• Is there an overwhelming feeling of peace in the home?
• Is dinner special every night or only when there are guests?
• Are we able to laugh and have fun?
• Do they know they are loved unconditionally?
• Do we pray and demonstrate an unyielding and unwavering commitment to the LORD?
• Do the fruits of the spirit permeate the atmosphere - love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?
• If our family members were asked to describe us, what words would they use?

Understand, no one will hit the mark every day, in every instance – not at home or anywhere else. However, our heart desire should be to want to give our very best to our loved ones, to be our very best – in Christ – for our loved ones. 

I fail often. Yet I will quickly acknowledge my faults, apologize and work to remedy the situation. It is not a matter of being a perfect, excellent, shining example in every interaction with family. It is, however, a matter of striving for excellence in every interaction.

Ultimately, as we tend to the light in our hearts and in our homes, we will realize that the task of shining a light for others is significantly eased. Rather than searching for opportunities to shine the light of Christ, we will find people curiously drawn to the light of love which floods every area of our lives.

2014: The Light … keep it shining … start at home

May God Bless You Abundantly … Have a Great Week!

WSR REPORT: RELATIONSHIP PREPARATION

Good Evening Friends

Tuesday Evening –

Fittingly, the weather here in Virginia Beach is looking … a little stormy

And, while the rain has not begun, the lightning has

For some reason it feels calming to me tonight though

As promised, we will be focusing on the preparation aspect of managing storms

At the outset of this week, we were advised to prepare –

prepare for a challenging week with respect to COVID

Today, the USA experienced its highest one day COVID-19 death toll

My test came back negative by the way

And, while I am thankful for my result, it filled me with profound sadness.

My thought – as I reached for my inhaler today, unable to breathe?

                COVID-19 is one thousand times worse for so many people

My heart breaks for their suffering and that so many are passing from here to eternity without the benefit of having their loves ones close. They may not even fully understand why their loved ones are not present when they need them most.

Now – please understand what I am saying here

The families and friends of these COVID victims are left without options

This is not the type of relationship testing I am talking about

This is an uncommon storm which is challenging the entire globe

Yet – most of our storms are not to this magnitude

I only have an upper respiratory infection –

Yet my friends, my sons, my dad and even one of my pastors have made a point to check in on me

RELATIONSHIPS ARE ESSENTIAL IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM

THE STRENGTH OF RELATIONSHIPS ARE REVEALED IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM

For normal storms, there are steps of preparation which can be employed –

especially with respect to relationships

In the book When Storms Rage, within the Storm Management Checklist, it is noted:

¨ Determine escape routes. Naturally, the first place we should run to for escape is straight into the arms of Jesus.  Proverbs, chapter 18 tells us, ‘The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.’ However, God also provides us human resources that we can access. Figure out what options are available to you. What are the plans for a financial situation, a breakdown in the family or even the death of a loved one? Your ‘escape routes’ should be tested to ensure that they are reliable and easily accessed in the event a storm strikes.

¨ Make sure you have an out-of-state friend … a point of contact – this is the recommendation from some storm preparation websites. This is advisable from a spiritual standpoint as well. Establish a storm support network. In the event of a critical situation or ‘power failure’ on your part (not God’s), you will want to have at least one confidant who is removed from your circumstance, who can be free of emotion and provide objective perspective. You will soon realize that you cannot and should not talk to everyone about the storm that is raging in your life. Connect with someone who is grounded in the faith and who will speak words of encouragement and faith versus doubt and fear. Find someone who can keep a confidence and candidly relay the truth of God’s Word.

Note however, that it is not wise to wait until a storm arises to establish these important associations. Invest in your relationships with friends and family by committing your personal time today, when the seas are calm.

One Final Word

As with anything of value, relationships take time

They are an essential part of one’s ability to withstand the storms of life

And it is essential to not just know who the people are that you can depend on;

It is essential to be the kind of the person that people can also depend upon in a storm

We work on our vertical relationship with the LORD

We also work on our horizontal relationships with one another

We are all in this together –

Have a Blessed Evening & Stay Safe

WSR REPORT: BE PREPARED

Good Morning Friends

It is early Sunday morning –

However, with the stay-at-home order in the State of Virginia,

                Today will likely look very similar to yesterday

One positive coming out of this current circumstance – time for self

There is ample time for rest, self-reflection and future planning

And, planning and preparedness is the subject of our WSR Report today

When Storms Rage, and truly before storms rage, preparation is a vital principle for success

There is an old saying that, ‘an ounce of preparation is worth a pound of cure’

This is so true – a truth which has become glaring evident in the current crisis facing the world

In my book, When Storms Rage, there are twenty-one principles

Twenty-one principles to keep you anchored through life’s toughest moments

Principle one is ‘Get Prepared’

Yet, even as we start off our journey here, focusing on the need to prepare,

We recognize there are some storms you simply cannot anticipate

“There are some storms you just can’t prepare for … they either strike you completely unaware or they suddenly shift in the level of intensity, leaving you confused and devastated.”

This has happened on so many levels with the current pandemic. Yet, all is not lost

When you find yourself if the midst of a storm – one for which you were unprepared or under-prepared – take some time to regroup, to critically analyze your situation and start planning and preparing from where you are at this moment.

Yes – situations can be overwhelming

However – those situations, they do not have to be devastating

Within the book, When Storms Rage, there is a Storm Management Checklist. It offers spiritual and practical areas which we all must consider in preparing for the storms of life which arise. Over the next couple of days, I will be sharing portions of that checklist as a vital resource tool to help equip you for the storms of life.

One Final Word

Even as health concerns continue and economies are impacted by the current events,

Remember – faith is the currency in the Kingdom of God

With man, it may seem impossible, and may indeed be impossible,

But – with God all things are possible!

Keep trusting Him – He will see you through

Have a Blessed Day & Stay Safe

WSR REPORT: STORMS RAGE

Good Morning Friends

I pray your weekend is off to a good start

I know these are challenging times,

However, it is so important to reign in our focus and fix our eyes on any positives

‘Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8

Therefore –

In an effort to do a small part in encouraging you my friends, over the next few weeks,

I will be sharing excerpts from my book ‘When Storms Rage’

I will be contextualizing those excerpts to focus directly on the current storm facing our nation and the globe.

This is not a marketing ploy – I receive nothing from sharing free excerpts from my book

Rather – I know that there are beneficial principles found in the Word of God,

                Principles which have helped me throughout my life,

                Principles which continue to help me through this current storm

In an attempt to encourage as many as possible,

these posts will also be shared on my WordPress site, ‘Fuerza’

Today – in our When Storms Rage [WSR] Report, we acknowledge, STORMS RAGE

However – even as the storms rage outwardly, they do not have to destroy us inwardly

Today – my prayer is that you would be encouraged in your soul,

That you would be kept safe from harm,

That you would be strengthened in your spirit.

God has supplied, in His Word, direction and instruction for us all –

He has supplied words of encouragement and hope to keep us through every storm

Despite what we are seeing – nationally and globally – there is hope

It is not a false hope – it is a real hope, a living hope

Jesus Christ is our Savior, our Strength, our Protection & Provision, our Living Hope

Even as I write this post –

I am sick with an upper respiratory infection, awaiting COVID-19 results

And, while I pray that the test comes back negative, I am prepared whatever the result

I am confident – no matter the storm

I know in Whom I have believed – I am confident in the One who I trust             

My trust and my hope is in the LORD God Almighty –

There is no better preparation than that ….

Be encouraged my friends –

Have a Blessed Day & Stay Safe

Endless Praise 2017: Praise Predators

Good Evening!

I pray all is going well for you this Sunday. As usual, it was a great time at church and now my task is to get some dinner prepared and ready myself for the return to my university studies.  Will it ever be complete? At times it feels like it is an elusive fantasy. And yet I am determined to keep chasing it until it is complete. Thankfully, I at least have a day off from work tomorrow.

This post was actually started on Tuesday. As I thought about our theme of Endless Praise for 2017, I started to consider some of the issues which could derail praise – to start to examine some of the praise predators which exist, aimed at keeping us from doing the one thing we were created to do, which is praise the LORD.  

This section has been divided into two parts to ensure that sufficient attention is given to the items which can get in the way of endless praise in 2017. In this first section, we will look at the praise predator of sin and its effects on endless praise. Next week, will be a little lighter … I promise … where we will look at Comfort, Contentment and Commitment. All are still very significant topics, however, still a little lighter than the praise predator up for discussion this week – the subject of sin.

In this modern day, it has actually become somewhat unpopular to discuss the topic of sin – unless it is piously scrutinizing the shortcomings and behaviors of others. It is much harder to examine one’s own life … harder still to be transparent about what is found.

Jesus, in speaking to His disciples declared, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Just before saying this, it is noted, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

That being said, I have wrestled significantly with the idea of sharing this post.

When we look at what Jesus did in loving us, we find:

He endured the cross, scorning its shame so that we could be free. (Heb. 12:2)

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem. Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Is. 53:3-6)

Beyond the physical act of enduring the cross in laying down His life for us, Jesus laid aside any claims to personal pride and individual privacy. He was willing to forfeit the favor of men and to endure scrutiny and ridicule so that we would be able to praise God with everything have and everything we are. This is the laying down of life that He did for each one of us. And He encourages us to love one another in like manner. Now, there may be instances [and have been instances] where a friend has been tasked with physically laying down their life for another. It is the ultimate display of love and sacrifice. However, each of is called to lay down our life in love, to follow Jesus’ example. So what does that look like practically? To me, it looks like an individual who has enough love for his friends to lay bare his life, to be transparent – in hopes that it will help one have a more fruitful walk with fewer pitfalls.

There is no discussion on sin which could capture all of the areas of struggle which are encountered. Therefore, I will focus on just one aspect which has current relevance for me – this being done with the recognition that the ultimate solution is the same regardless of the specific iniquity.

Working full time, going to school, managing my household, taking care of my mom and getting back to writing, my calendar is pretty packed – leaving little time to meet people. Therefore, I have recently stepped out of my comfort zone and delved into the online dating scene - about three months ago. I have not been on a date in fifteen years. And, without going into graphic detail, when you find yourself attracted to someone, and those feelings reciprocated, it presents an entire realm of spiritual wrestling that I did not entirely anticipate.  The struggle is real!

And what I have realized is that I had come to a point where I was – not intentionally but nevertheless, actually – taking pride in my ‘discipline and self-control’ of being chaste in thoughts and action/inaction all these years. However, the true test of self-control is not in avoiding the temptation all together. It is wisdom ... but it is not necessarily self-control. The true test is having the opportunity and seduction right within your grasp and choosing to be self-controlled and not entertain it. This is a much greater challenge. This is why …

It is essential to take every thought captive.

Trust me … I'm speaking from experience ... left unchecked, you will find yourself thinking things you have no business thinking and saying things you have no business saying. Then, riddled with guilt, there is that feeling – much like Adam and Eve experienced in the beginning – of the need to hide from God … as if it were possible.

We know from scripture, ‘Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.' James 1:14-15

A random thought ...

Gives birth to a series of thoughts,

Which gives birth to enticement and desire:

Desire gives birth to sin

Sin gives birth to death

And what does it kill? 

It kills our praise, it kills our fellowship with the LORD.

Do we not know, ‘He inhabits the praises of His people’? (Ps. 22:3)

Therefore, if we are left unwilling or unable to praise – because of sin – what does this do to His dwelling place within our lives?

Yet despite these struggles and stumbles, this is all the LORD keeps saying to me: “There is nothing you could think, or feel, or say, or do … that will ever change My love for you.”

This does not condone sin or give license to live without regard. What it does, is remind me – and anyone in a similar situation – that there is no condemnation for them that are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1). It declares that the power of sin and death was defeated by Jesus at the cross. Our praise, our worship, our fellowship does not have to be hindered or interrupted because of our actions – even when those actions are not in keeping with the Father’s will for our lives.

For me in, in this season, I must guard myself relationally. I still have not gone on a date and have removed myself from the online dating community. For you, it will be something else entirely. Yet, no matter the area of struggle, the solution and response from our LORD is the same and unchanging: ‘There is nothing that can change My love for you.’

Our best behavior could never earn the love of God and our worst could never drive it away.

Ever thankful for this truth – still we must not allow ourselves to be bogged down in situations and circumstances which will hinder our praise and worship in any way.

He caused me to stumble upon a song recently [definitely not coincidentally] which says, in part: ‘Don’t turn your eyes from Me, for My love won’t be undone. Don’t hide your face from Me, for My light has surely come … Lift up your voice and sing, know that My love won’t let you go … I’m closer than you know.’

Here is a link to that song which so pointedly captures the heart of this message and the Father’s response to us in times of struggle. I hope you enjoy it …

Hillsong United … Closer Than You Know

Praying That You Have a Truly Blessed & Victorious Week!

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love …”
—Jeremiah 31:3

Use Your Words ...

So … it feels like it has been an eternity since I have written. But, I am huge proponent of meaningful communication. I have never enjoyed talking simply for the pleasure of hearing myself speak. Life has been busy and there are times when you just have to ‘be still … and be quiet … and know that He is God’.

The book of Ecclesiastes tells us:

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven …

A time to keep silence, and a time to speak …

Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 7

Now is not the time to be silent! There are a great many injustices taking place in our nation and throughout the world. However, those are not the issues I am addressing today. Today, my focus is not at global or local level. Today, the focus is at an individual and personal level. Sadly, there are too many believers trapped in an existence of mediocrity – silenced and suffocated by the cares of this world.

Why is this so when Scripture tells us not to be anxious for anything (Phil 4:6-7) and reminds us that the power of life and death is in the tongue? (Prov. 18:21) 

Could it be that we have forgotten to use our words?

I recall when my children were little – particularly my youngest son – and he would sometimes get cranky and want to whine or point at things rather than speak. Despite him being all of two years old, I would firmly remind him: ‘Use your words …’ At times it would frustrate him – especially a couple of years later when he struggled with stuttering for a while. Yet, I knew that it would never be sufficient for him to settle for anything less than what God had created him to be. He is a world changer, full of purpose and powerful in prayer. Each of my sons has such a significant call of God on their life. They give me great joy – most days. Yet, if I am honest, there have been times when I have regretted ever telling them to use their words … because sometimes the words are either not as nice as they could be or they challenge me. However, many times, especially in the past several years, it is not their voice that has been the cause of struggle – it has been my own. The realization became strikingly tangible with a dream I had about a week ago.

In this dream, a tremendous ‘force of darkness’ – for lack of a better word – pounced on me and began to wrestle me to the ground. In the dream, as I felt darkness surround me, I immediately began to call out for my sons. I called out for my oldest and then shouted out to the others … I cried and cried. Yet with each shout for help, that dark force dragged me closer to the ground and squeezed tighter … zeroing in on my throat and choking the air right out of me. I began to call out ‘Jesus!’ ‘Jesus!’ ‘Jesus …’

With each outcry, the grip became tighter, the voice became weaker until it was a strained whisper … ‘Jesus, Jesus, Jesus’. As the darkness suffocated me, I continued to strain to call for Jesus … until my voice was gone. Yet, still determined to resist the stronghold around me and to break free, I continued to call out to Jesus, mouthing the words, without sound … shouting on the inside. Then I woke up …

My heart was racing … my chest still pounding.

I was quickly aware that this was no ordinary dream. The struggle was and is real. And, like I used to tell my son when he was just a small little guy, the LORD was reminding me: ‘USE YOUR WORDS!’

He firmly reminded me that salvation does not come to those who place their trust in man. Yet, this is what I was doing … in the dream … when I called out for my sons. And isn’t that what we do sometimes? We’ll run to friends and family, pastors and psychotherapists, looking for assistance. Yet all we need to do is cry out to Jesus … to keep proclaiming the truth of His Word … to our circumstances and over our lives. [See Psalm 20]

Further, if it was not enough for Him to remind me in the dream, He sent two sisters in the LORD to pray with me at church this past Sunday. I truly do not know either of them well. We have had casual conversation in between services at church. Yet their prayers were so specific, it was as if we were the best of friends. Perhaps because my best companion, the Holy Spirit of God, lives in them too. Then one of these spiritual sisters, Maria, proclaimed, ‘Something is trying to silence your voice. You cannot let that happen … worship the LORD … in your home, in your car and on the job. Your victory is in your worship of the LORD’. It was powerful because she knew neither of the dream or the tremendous circumstances I have been enduring.

In my book, When Storms Rage, I explore Twenty-one Principles to Keep you Anchored Through Life’s Toughest Moments. One of those principles reminds us to ‘Speak to Your Storm’.  In discussing the importance of remaining vocal, I note:

‘It is often in the midst of the storm where we have a tendency to lose our voice. Our once bold declarations quiet to a whisper in response to all that is screaming around us. It is during the battles of life that we tend to become muted by fear and confusion … in the moments when it is essential for you to have clarity of mind – it often happens that the noise and distractions of the storm rage fiercest. There are those times when an unrelenting surge of activity abounds in your direction, to instill fear, to detract and deter, to distract and destroy.’

Yet this does not have to be our reality…

My friend, I implore you, just as God did me … Use your words!!!

It is not what we know that changes our lives, it is what we put into practice. And the LORD God Almighty has commanded us to speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19) … and to our storms with authority (Mark 11:23).

I like the Message version of Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 7:

‘There’s an opportune time to do things,

A right time for everything on the earth …

A right time to shut up and another to speak up.

Now is the time to speak up.

Boldly declare God’s truth over your life and to anything that would seek to choke the life out of you, to anything that would strive to silence you.

Afraid?

Speak the Word of God, focusing on Scriptures which command you to be courageous (Deut. 31:6, Joshua 1:9) and which remind you that He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Is. 41:10)

Discouraged?

Sing His praises – breaking out your favorite song or creating a new one of your own. (Ps. 96:1)

Weary?

Cry out to Jesus, inviting His overwhelming presence and awe-inspiring power into every circumstance that troubles you. Surrender to His authority and watch Him silence your enemies (Psalm 143).

Victory is closer than you think … right at the tip of your tongue!

Be Blessed!

2014:THE LIGHT ... Power Outage

Happy Saturday!

I pray your week was productive, letting the love of Christ shine in you and through you. And, if you do not know Christ, I pray that the light of God touched your life this week. Now, if you have visited this blog before, you know my aim is to be as transparent as possible. This week was a bit of a challenge for me. I experienced what I would call a slight power outage on Thursday. Understand, there was nothing wrong with the power source – Christ. There was a ‘connectivity issue’ … from my end.

Somehow, in a sinful instant of gratifying the flesh instead of the spirit, I allowed demands which were being placed upon me to cause a momentary short-circuit. It resulted in me being short with a few people as I was not nearly as patient as I could have been or should have been. Now, I immediately repented and went back to apologize to those individuals. Yet, it got me thinking about what we need to do to avoid any flickering or variation of the light we shine for Christ … and what to do when, despite our best efforts, we have a less than shining moment.

MAINTAIN – A steady connection with the power source must be maintained at all times. This cannot be said enough or emphasized too strongly. Bible reading, prayer, praise, worship, reflection & meditation all do an effective job in keeping us connected to the LORD God Almighty. There is a need to reflect upon the love demonstrated by Christ and to draw upon the power which is made available to us through the Holy Spirit. ‘Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face forevermore!’ (I Chr. 16:11)

MONITOR – Situations and circumstances must be monitored and there must be an anticipation of how they might impact one’s life. Like an electric company preparing for poor weather, we must understand and foresee that there will be times when increased demands for light will be placed upon our resources. We must prepare in advance to minimize the likelihood of any power outages or to avoid them altogether. Scripture tells us that we are not ignorant of the enemy’s devices (II Cor. 2:11) and that we should not think it strange when trials come (I Peter 4:12-13). We should be looking and anticipating … and planning a godly response before a demand is made.

MANAGE – Godly responses can be achieved as we manage our light by remaining in a constant state of readiness. Many of us are familiar with the verse in Ephesians telling us to put on the whole armor of God. However, I like how The Message Version of that same text reads:  ‘And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and He wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.' Eph. 6:11-17 MSG 

As stated above, there are times when we will miss the mark. And it is during those times where we have an almost equal opportunity to shine the light we should have had glowing all along.  There will be times when we must … MEND

So what does this mending require?

Immediate response – Ephesians 4:26 tells us, ‘do not let the sun go down on your anger.’ This lets us know that our response, and part of repairing any damage that has been done, is to respond with a sense of urgency. We must turn immediately from anything which does not or has not reflected His glory. Further, we must extend the reach of our response – not only making things right with God, but making things right with man. ‘I AM SORRY…’ These are three little words which can go a very long way when delivered timely and with sincerity.

Restoration of Power – We must go back into maintenance mode a thousand times per day. Through prayer, fasting, repentance and godly perspective, we can restore our connection to the Power Source. Again, there is never anything wrong with The Source. He is glorious and perfect, shining bright at all times. The problem arises when we allow the situations of life to impact us to the point where we no longer allow Him to shine through us (see Luke 11:33).

Effective Damage Control – Go back to the individual or individuals to ensure all is back on track. We cannot be effective ministers of reconciliation (II Cor. 5:18) if there is discord … much worse if we are the cause of that discord. Luke 17:1 tells us, ‘It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!’ Therefore, ‘if possible, as far as it depend on you [on all of us], live at peace with everyone.' (Rom. 12:18)

Restoration of Service – The restoration of service is different from the restoration of power. Our connection with and submission to the source of power, Jesus, is our focus in restoring power. Our connection to others and our services to them – shining the light of Christ – is the focus in restoring service. I Kings 19 conveys to us the story of the powerful prophet Elijah who had just come off the heels of an amazing victory for the kingdom of God (I Kings 18:18-40). However, in this section of scripture, Elijah has appeared to have lost some focus, causing him to respond in an uncharacteristic manner – frustrated, fearful, over-emotional, full of self-pity and weary to the point of death. Yet, the LORD’s instruction [after addressing some of Elijah’s physical and spiritual needs] was for him to ‘get back to work.’ Elijah responded … and so too must we.

I pray you have tremendously blessed weekend and week.

Keep that Light Shining!

God Bless …

2014: The Light ... At Home

‘… and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ Acts 1:8

Many are well familiar with the commissioning declaration in Acts 1:8. However, in verse four of that same chapter, we find the disciples being commanded to not depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father – The Holy Spirit.

Jesus told them that they would be His witnesses,

And that it would begin right where they were … at home

Yet all too often, it is the home which suffers the most – even among those who have dedicated themselves to being the light in their church, in their workplace and in their communities. Know that you cannot effectively and credibly export what is not first cultivated and established at home.

Noted humanitarian Mother Theresa has been quoted as saying, ‘We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.'

I Timothy 5:8 tells us [when speaking of families caring for widows] that anyone who does not provide for his own household is worse than an infidel.

We must understand – whether physical needs, spiritual needs or emotional needs – the light which emanates from one’s life should first be impacting the ones closest to them. My children would have a tremendously difficult time understanding all the giving that has taken place over the years if I only concentrated my attentions outward. However, my aim has always been to convey – by my words, my actions, my life – that they are my number one priority. So I ask …

• Do our families get the best part of us or what is left over after work and other obligations?
• Do they get quality and quantity time?
• Do they know they are loved?
• Do we speak the truth in love?
• Does our commitment to quality and respectful communication extend to the family – or do we raise our voices and use sarcasm?
• Do we actively strive to block the day’s frustrations from entering our home?
• Is there an overwhelming feeling of peace in the home?
• Is dinner special every night or only when there are guests?
• Are we able to laugh and have fun?
• Do they know they are loved unconditionally?
• Do we pray and demonstrate and unyielding and unwavering commitment to the LORD?
• Do the fruits of the spirit permeate the atmosphere - love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?
• If our family members were asked to describe us, what words would they use?

Understand, no one will hit the mark every day, in every instance – not at home or anywhere else. However, our heart desire should be to want to give our very best to our loved ones, to be our very best – in Christ – for our loved ones. 

I fail often. Yet I will quickly acknowledge my faults, apologize and work to remedy the situation. It is not a matter of being a perfect, excellent, shining example in every interaction with family. It is, however, a matter of striving for excellence in every interaction.

Ultimately, as we tend to the light in our hearts and in our homes, we will realize that the task of shining a light for others is significantly eased. Rather than searching for opportunities to shine the light of Christ, we will find people curiously drawn to the light of love which floods every area of our lives.

2014: The Light … keep it shining … start at home

May God Bless You Abundantly … Have a Great Week!

you give them something ...

'But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something...!”' Matthew 14:16

Several weeks ago, I had someone say something very interesting to me. They said, 'God has been showing me your face all week and I was praying, "God I don't know what her need is but I pray You supply every need."' And for some reason, that comment got me thinking about this verse.

This week, I saw a living example of a response to this comment/command  from Jesus.

Each morning I leave the house at 5:40AM to get to work by 8:00AM - walking approximatley two miles to catch a bus and then walking about another two miles after getting off the bus. Well, as I walked to work this week, I was offered a ride three days in a row (once by a friend and twice by a 'complete stranger'). It just so happens that 'the stranger' also turned out to be a fellow Christian who works at the same company where I am employed.

Independent of my expressing a desire for assistance or any prompting from an individual, they each made decisions that could not have been more aligned than if they had planned it. They decided that they would not pray for the need to be met. Instead they took action to meet the need.

I believe they each had the sentiments from James etched in their minds and heart: 'far be it from us to tell someone 'be warm and filled' when it is within our power to do something.' (See James 2:15-17)

They were not providing warmth -
Warmth was not needed since it was 80-degrees
But, the air conditioning from their vehicles was refreshing

They were not offering food -
But, they were 'feeding' a need

This is what Jesus was emphasizing to His disciples that day. They viewed the situation as too great for them to be able to effect change. But Jesus had a different perspective. Just for the record, He often does.

He said, 'They do not need to go away; you give them something!'

Please do not misunderstand my intent and the value that I know exists in prayer. Yet how often do we pray when God has called us to be the change that we desire to see? How many times have we missed participating in a miracle because we felt like what we had to offer was insignificant? Worse, how many times have we missed out on partnering with God due to laziness or selfishness?

Having been on the giving end in countless instances - it is very different, heart-warming and humbling to be on the receiving end. It reminds me of God's faithfulness and His words of promise, 'Give and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down and shaken together and running over, shall men pour into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it shall be measured back to you.' (Lk. 6:38) What a blessing!

I pray that my eyes and heart will be open to recognize opportunities to partner with God in being the answer to someone's prayers - whether it be financial, material, emotional, physical or spiritual. And may I act with a sense of urgency, eagerly and joyful responding to the needs of others and the call of Christ.

shining bright...

Are you in a dark place?

Is it difficult to see your way?

Are you in need of direction?

Help is as close as your fingertips ....

There is wisdom in the Word of God,

The Holy Spirit illuminates Scripture,

He instructs us in what to read,

Brings it to remembrance when needed,

And, reveals how to apply what has been read.

Everything you need is found in the Word!

'Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.'
Psalm 119:105

following ...

Some will judge you by who you follow, others by who follows you.


So thankful, thankful that Jesus did not make me clean up, before I could follow Him.


So grateful, grateful that He chose to follow us, from the throne room of heaven to the filth of the earth, to live among us, to give His life for us.


Let us pray, pray the people who follow us to Jesus are not only those who already know Him.

The Lord is not willing that any should perish ...

2 Peter 3:9

running low ...

Happy Friday!
It is for me. It is definitely going much better than last Friday.

You see, last Friday started great. But somewhere toward the end of the day it took a less than wonderful turn. Twenty miles from home, waiting for my son on his college campus and – the car died.

It had been operating fine all day. But, that did not matter. I put the key in the ignition, like always. I turned the key, like always. And it did not start!

Immediately, I thought it must be the starter and tried to figure how I was going to get the van started and myself and my sons home.

I had just enough battery life on my cell phone to make one call. I sat for over an hour waiting for the tow truck. I waited another twenty minutes for someone to come pick me up.

I found out the next day that it was not the starter (Thank God). It was the battery! However, the cost of that battery was compounded by the cost of the tow.

Everything warns me when the battery gets low: my phone, my iPod, my camcorder -
Everything except my car!

No warning, no indication, just died ...

Actually, there might have been warning signs that I missed. After reading some, it appears that some of the more notable signs that your battery is dying include: Slow starts (which may require multiple attempts), dim headlights and problems with the instrument panel. It would have been good for me to know those things before I ended up stuck.

As usual, there was a spiritual truth that was being reinforced through my situations and circumstances. You see, spiritually we probably need to watch for some of those same indicators that our battery might need charging (or a complete overhaul):

Are you starting slow? Does it take multiple attempts to get going? Do you feel like you have to be ‘jump started’ to worship at church? Are you finding mornings difficult – hard to ‘start your days with praise’? Is it challenging to focus during your personal time with God? If so, it might be an indication that your battery might be getting low.

Have your lights dimmed? Are you noticing a resurgence of some heart attitude issues that you haven’t seen in a while? Do you find yourself complaining more than thanking? Are people commenting that you just don’t seem yourself? It could be time for a re-charge.

Are there other indicators sounding off – ones personal to you – which are screaming that something is headed for failure? Pay attention! It will often cost so much more personally if we ignore or miss the signs than what it would have cost if we heeded them.

Bad enough to get stranded physically –
But, let's avoid being stranded spiritually if we can.

Isaiah 40:31

‘… those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary …’

[or get stuck!]

Have a Wonderful Weekend! J