Whataburger

Whataburger

Earlier this year, Whataburger had a contest and the winner would receive free hamburgers for a year.  How nice that would have been to win that offer!  As believers, we have a lifetime worth of hope and peace available for us.  Yet, many times we forget to take advantage of these wonderful gifts.  In whatever circumstance we find ourselves, I pray that we would offer up these words that the psalmist wrote:

Psalm 71:14-16 (NIV)
14  But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
15  My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.
16  I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.

What a Savior!

Remember When

Remember when a man’s word was his bond, a hand shake was a contract, home cooking came from your kitchen, or a dollar was worth a dollar? I was showing a couple of our grandkids a silver dollar.  They wanted to know if it were a dollar, why was it so valuable.  Man’s standards change with man’s desires.  Words seem to flow without a lot of thought.  Fist bumps have replaced handshakes.  You can now get home cooking in the frozen section of the local store.  And a silver dollar is worth at least eighteen dollars. What is the value of a believer who holds to the Word of God?

James 1:12 ESV

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Psalm 119:1-176 ESV  

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! ...

I Stand Amazed

Technology is amazing.  We now have cars that not only can stop when sensing danger but can also help keep you in your lane.  My smartphone can tell me how long it’s going to take to get where I’m going before I pull out of driveway.  But when technology loses connection or power, it is of no value.  My God never loses power. And when we lose a connection it is on me and not him.  With all that men are able to do, I still stand amazed at my savior and what He continues to do for me.

Romans 11:33-36

[33] Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! [34] For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? [35] And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid? [36] For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.

All Inclusive

“Even you” means that God’s grace comes to us even when we do not know everything. “Even you” means that even when we become too busy doing other things, the Lord is never too busy to grace us with his presence. We trust in God’s promise this day because his presence has nothing to do with how much we know, but on whose we are. And we know, in Christ, that we are the Lord’s!

So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you.

Proverbs 22:19

Complaining

Many times our opinions turn into complaining.  As believers, our lives should model that of Jesus Christ. When someone asks our opinion on a matter, we need to remember that Christ’s opinion should trump our thoughts.  We should direct them to seek God’s thoughts for His ways are always better than our ways.

Philippians 2:5 - Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus

Vending Machine

At times I have know people who treat God like a vending machine.  They see something they want and they put what they feel the price should be in. Then they expect their desire to just fall out.  If they want something greater, they do a little more.  If they don’t get what they want, they might put a little more in or maybe bang on the machine.  We need to seek the face of God and pray for His will to be done. 

1 John 5:14-15 (NIV)
14  This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
15  And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.

Towed

Shortly after I graduated from high school, I found myself on the upside of the Baytown tunnel at a dead stop due to a wreck.  With a school bus just behind me, I found a challenge to take my foot off the brake and onto the gas pedal while letting out the clutch when time came for us to exit the tunnel.  Yes, I made it without backing into or under the school bus.  Later, I found myself in a similar situation.  I was on the upside of a tunnel in my little sports car.  This time I had no worries, for I was being towed by my father.  I did not have to worry about rolling backwards.  All I had to do was steer the car behind my father.  He did all the work.

Our lives should be lived out being towed by the Heavenly Father.  All we need to do is to follow His lead.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Don't Neglect

A few months ago, someone took the time to clear a few acres of land.  Now the vegetation has grown back up taking over the land.  If I miss a week mowing my yard, our little dog won’t venture out in the yard because the grass is too high for her.  Our spiritual life is much the same as my yard.  If we don’t take the time weekly to spend time working on our spiritual life, the things of the world can easily over take our minds.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
24  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
25  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

How Much Do You Care?

A steadfast faith, a willing spirit, and a caring heart are what the world needs to see in us.  We are not to be just a good worker, neighbor or friend.  We need to be a shining witness to the Lord with our love for others and our service. 

Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
16  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

True to Their Colors

In our back yard you can find gray squirrels, blue birds, red birds, black birds and green anole lizards. All but the lizards stay true to their colors.  The little lizards try to blend into their surroundings so they will not be attacked by others.  As believers, we need to be true to our “colors” even if it means we will be attacked.  The world would want us to adapt to our surroundings, to blend in. However, we should remember that we are not to be of this world.

Romans 12:2 (NIV)
2  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

It Will Come

Joseph had dreams as a teenager of being in a position of leadership, yet the journey to get there took much longer than he might have expected.  David was anointed as king as a teenager, but it wasn’t until he was about thirty that he became King.  But God was faithful to them, and in the same way, you can believe and trust that God will be faithful to you!   

Be patient with the process God has you in. It’s so important to recognize the difference between the time you are anointed for something and the time God appoints for you to walk in it.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NIV)
24  The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

Excel

In what areas do you excel?  As I watched the Olympics, I was amazed what all the athletes who competed could accomplish.  Then as I listened to the talent at the music awards, I found myself enjoying the talents where others excelled.  I will never excel in music or sports, but God is able to allow me to excel in His ministry.  He will enable you to excel for the sake of His Kingdom.  

2 Corinthians 9:8 CSB

[8] And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.

A Crack in the Driveway

I friend of mine has a driveway that he cannot drive on.  It all began with a little crack in the concrete driveway.  No one took the time to address the little crack and now it has grown to the point that a car can not drive or park on it.  Unfortunately, this driveway is like so many of us. We become so busy with life, so tossed about by every day cares, or perhaps so confident of our own abilities, that we become unaware of our own spiritual need. We go on in life as though we have no need to deal with the foundations of our lives, not realizing that tiny cracks are starting to form.

This kind of negligent thinking is usually accompanied by prayerlessness and insensitivity to the Spirit of God. A Christian who is too busy to get into the Presence of God is a Christian who will soon find himself in trouble, just like the driveway.

1 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV)
12  So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!

A Gentle Giant

My dad had a gentle way of instructing me when he found me going in a wrong direction.  Don’t get me wrong, he led with a strong hand. I can’t remember a time when he reacted out of anger.  His Godly example continues to guide me.

Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, a watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted. Gal 6:1

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Forgiveness

Making a fist is a great example of unforgiveness.  We become angry and tense up.  With a closed fist, it is very hard to wave good bye to any anger, it is hard to grasp blessings and it is also difficult to hand off blessings.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

Are You Fishing?

What is the purpose of going to church?  If we are just using the church as a social gathering, then we are missing the mark.  There are people right now in our communities that don’t know God. There are children without fathers, without mothers, and families without hope. How are you reaching the lost and distraught? How do they know the church exists and its purpose? As believers, we should minister to those in need and share the gospel with the lost. 

Matthew 4:19 (NIV)
19  "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)
8  Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Just A Touch

I had the children in our Mother’s Day out program reach into a bag with out looking and tell me what they were touching.  Our senses are amazing.  The power that comes from a touch can change lives.  Take time and reach out to the Master, the Healer, the Comforter, the Provider and let Him do a great work in your life.

 "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. Mark 5:27-29 (NIV)

Want to get closer to God?

One time when a friend was trying to persuade me to go flying with him, he said, “I know a way you can get closer to God.”  Another friend replied, “Flying won’t get you any closer, Jesus said, Lo, I am with you always.”  The truth is that God is ever present with us regardless of where we are.  We just need to seek Him and He is there for us.

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call to him while he is near.  Isaiah 55:6

Dead or Alive

Almost ten years ago our area received a visit from Hurricane Ike.  Today you can still see the impact that before storm had on both trees and telephone poles.  Both of these are made of wood and some are still standing with the effects still showing.  While some of the electricity poles are still leaning, many of the trees that were once leaning are now erect with new growth directed towards the heavens. The difference is that the old wooden poles that are planted in the ground have no life, and the old wooden trees planted in the ground have life and are focused on the things above. After the storms of life pass over us, do we find new life and keep our focus on the higher calling?

Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)
13  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

I Would Rather Die Than Do That!

If you recall, Jonah was asked to do something that he did not want to do.  In fact, he was willing to die rather than to do something that he did not want to do.  We need to remember that life is not about us, but about doing the will of God.  Christ’s prayer to His Father was, “Not my will, but your will be done,” is also an example for us.  We need to pray to know God’s will and do it regardless of how we feel or think about His will for our lives. So next time someone asks you to do something, check in with God and don’t let yourself get in the way.

Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
20  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Luke 22:42 (NIV)
42  "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."