Give Thanks!

It is a tremendous thought to ponder all that we have been given, and will be given in our lifetime. The providence of God supplies everything from the breathe in our lungs to the shoes on our feet. There is nothing, literally nothing in our possession both spiritually and carnally that is not a gift from God. So, I wonder do we thank Him enough?

The importance of thanking our Father for all that He has done through prayer is immense. However, this alone is not enough. The greatest way to show gratitude for the blessings we have been given is found in what we do with them. Often times we feel that by saying "Thank You Lord" that we have done our part, but I believe actions truly speak louder than words. Without question thankfulness should be verbalized, but if the words are the result of the heart it will not stop there.

We find contradictions in believers in today's world. So many pray for financial blessings only to be bad stewards, others long for ministry opportunity only to neglect the moral standard of the Word, and some seek a deeper experience with Him only to shut Him out! The only way around this vast divide between the spirit and the flesh is to learn to give thanks. A simple concept that is restrained by complexity.

It is easy to say "thank you", it is quite different to "give thanks". One takes little to no thought, the other takes a lifetime of careful consideration. Giving thanks requires us to relent control, and recognize that all that we are and ever will be is up to the one true and Living God. We must learn to acknowledge God's providence in the largest to the smallest of blessings. When we acquire this habit, then and only then can we live a life that truly "GIVES THANKS"!

After all is said and done.....nothing is earned or gained that Jehovah God did not supply!

Ritual or Real?

It has been said that humans are creatures of habit. Many experts claim that we "crave" routine and stability. When we experience the daylight savings time change, it takes days to get our "inner clock" on the new time schedule. Indeed we are such creatures, we desire a life that is adventurous, as long as we are in bed by 9:00 p.m. It seems that this same adventure within reason mentality has infiltrated our spirit man as well.

We want our church to grow, but we don't want to invite people. We want the Gospel to spread, but we don't want to evangelize. We want our world to change, but we don't want to acknowledge our own impact. We want a new move of God's power in our generation, but we don't want to do anything that is uncomfortable. We want to be blessed, but we don't (under any circumstance) want to sacrifice! We have become so comfortable in our "ritual" that we are forgetting what is "real".

The only thing that is just as real today as it was 2000 years ago is the power of God. So, why are we choking this out of our modern worship services? Why are we so compelled to be an "easy grace" body, instead of the kind of body inspired by God's word? Because, everyone wants heaven and no one wants hell. Obviously no one wants to go to hell, but we are living in an age where people preach love without judgement. We tell people about heaven, but never warn them about hell. What society has defined as being "seeker friendly", God defines as being "luke warm".

It is time that we stop apologizing for the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, and start freeing Him to move on peoples hearts again. History will prove that there has not been anyone ever saved by the pews, the power point presentations, the colors of the sanctuary, the visitors station, etc.... What it does prove is that the only thing capable of invoking life change is the real unadulterated power of the Almighty God!

Let's release Him to move!

Hurricane Survival!

Living in South Alabama we spend many months out of the year staying prepared for a possible disaster. When Hurricane season rolls around, people on the news and radio start announcing a list of supplies for hurricane survival. Everyone checks their stock of batteries, ply wood, and gasoline. Some people stock pile water, canned goods, and propane. Others try their hand at waiting to see if we get hit this season or not. Regardless of which side of the fence we are on, we all have no choice but to consider the possibility of disaster and prepare accordingly. It is interesting that as human beings we always seemed to carefully consider our preparations for what "might" happen, and too often never prepare for what "is" going to happen.

There are so few definite things in life, however one place to find absolutes is the Word of God. According to it we "will" be blessed, be prosperous, be healed, be safe, be protected, be loved, be comforted, be rewarded, be guided, be powerful, be anointed, be a voice, be a light, and the list could go on and on. Yet, we spend such little time preparing for these good things. It seems as if when we pray it is to evade disaster, if we fast it is to cancel out wrong doings, and if we read the Word it is to find a way of escape. It is high time the children of God start preparing for the promises!

So much of what determines every situation is the preparation. How can God truly bless us if we live life our way every day until disaster strikes? What are the chances of us stumbling upon His will down the wide roads of our choosing? The only way we can truly be used of God is to be prepared for Him to use us. Another words it all begins with a heart of expectancy, that says "I know God wants to use me, and I need to be prepared".

It can be difficult to slow down long enough to prepare for what God wants to accomplish through our lives. We bust out of the gate, running 100 mph, panting and sweating hoping to beat the horse in the stall next to us to the winner's circle. All the while we failed to invest the time and preparation for victory. Victory that we do not have to fight for, but victory we can wake up each and everyday fighting from!

Salvation should come with a warning label that reads:

WARNING: This vessel may be used anytime, any place, and anywhere! BE PREPARED!

I Saw God Today!

Life is short, time flies, and sun up to sundown seems a "blink" these days. With all of the junk swirling around us in our lives, there is still one thing worth noticing - God! He truly is everywhere. For example I was in a restaurant eating on Sunday, and an older gentleman handed us a coupon on his way out. This may not seem like much, but it was a blessing for that moment. It is in these things that we see God!

We get weary of day after day, more drama on the news between our current President and his nemesis. Over and over, time and again, more and more, and more negativity. So, much in fact that if we could process into an edible delicacy, world hunger would be solved in an instant. It seems that we are losing our minds one strand at a time! It feels some days as though we have been strapped in to a ride at the local fair, and it starts to spin feverishly then the bottom drops from under our feet. Often times life feels more like survival instead of living!

Now that we have reviewed the current devastation, let's discuss some GREAT NEWS! God is still in control, and you can see Him anytime you choose. He is in a smile, a hug, a handshake, a thank you, a thought, a gesture, etc... In essence He is everywhere, in everything, and working on our behalf in all things!

No doubt life his hard, but on the flip side there is no doubt God is able. Take time today, not to smell the roses, but to observe your Lord and Master at work. He is listening to you, watching you, walking with you, riding with you, fighting for you, loving you, leading you, protecting you, and most of all WAITING FOR YOU! Look around, and you will see God today!

A Believable Voice!

I recently watched an interview with Country Music Star Tim McGraw. During the interview they were talking about his latest album titled "A Southern Voice". The commentator asked him why he chose this song as the title track. McGraw said "I have never claimed to be a great singer, but I have a believable voice when I sing the lyrics. People, come to my shows and buy my records, because they believe I have lived what I am singing." What a tremendous thought to ponder. Although this album and artist doesn't glorify God or his message, this statement can certainly be drafted to fit the church. "We have never claimed to be great, but we have a believable voice."

When we know that our voice is worth listening to, then we no longer buy into the lies of society around us. Then and only then can we as the body get to the place that we no longer view the "anointing" as something given only to those on television. We would no longer view ourselves as step children in the faith, second rate laborers, or outcasts of the family of God. After all, the only thing that is required to carry the message is a voice. When the smoke finally clears at the end of the day it is not the "vessel" that determines the outcome of the message, but the "author".

Perhaps the reason we fall short in our ventures for Christ is that we truly don't have a believable voice. When our focus is on being a "spotlight hog" for Jesus, how believable are we? What set Jesus apart was the honesty of his message. When he spoke to the woman at the well, it was just Him and her. There was no spotlight, no crowd at the time, and no theme music. All Jesus had was His words of Truth, and that is precisely what she responded to.

Don't believe the lies, avoid the traps set by society, and be the "believable voice" that God intended. One of the greatest things we attain in times of trial is a witness to God's greatness. Let your motto be "I never claimed to be great, but I have a believable voice."

LOVE is a verb!

There seems to be a new vibe sweeping the church world. We are hearing more and more ministers talking about love. The great thing about this current movement is that the word "love" has gotten a bit of a face lift. It seems the Body of Christ is no longer just saying "God is Love", but instead we have begun to say "SHOW THE WORLD that God is love"! What was once just an emotion, has now sprung on to the scene as a VERB!

If we pause and think about what that means it is quite thought provoking. Over the years we have cheapened the word love. We throw it around lightly in uncommitted relationships, it has been demoted to beer adds between drunk buddies, it has even been used to coin the phrase "just love the one your with"! To say the least this word has needed a spiritual overhaul for quite sometime!

God has begun to birth a new definition of this most popular word in the heart of his people. Instead of finding harsh judgement, cold shoulders, and insinuating stares in the Christian community, now we can experience LOVE. We are starting to see the church take off that plastic mask, and be real. There are more and more instances of God's people opening their ministries to the homosexuals, prostitutes, drug addicts, abused, oppressed, depressed, etc.... We have seen a complete swing of the spectrum over the past few years, and it is all because those four little letters became a multi-sided front!

Love is like the word Bar-B-Q in the South, it takes on many forms! We use the word Bar-B-Q to describe a taste, it is a style of cooking, it is a type of sauce, it is a piece of equipment with which to cook with. To say the least around these parts the word Bar-B-Q is quite versatile! Love is no different!

Love is a feeling, love is a description, love is a committment, and most of all love is an action! God expects us to show His love everywhere we go, to every nation, tribe, and tongue! God's love knows no color, no social class, no boundaries, and CAN NOT HATE! So, take time today and remember LOVE IS A VERB!

I Know Who I Am!

Vincent Van Gogh said "I dream my paintings, and then paint my dreams." This statement confirms that he had an image that he carried from his mind to the canvass. We wake up everyday with this same opportunity. It is vital as human beings that we have a good working knowledge of "who we are". We must always be aware of what actually defines us as people. We can never truly be defined by the car, the clothes, the hair, the job, the money, or the social status. However, too many times that is exactly what we cling to from day to day.

We often work feverishly to keep up with the image in our mind of "who we are". We have to realize that with God it is much simpler. In James chapter 1 we are told that if we are poor, find wealth and encouragement in Christ, and if we are rich, find humility and understanding in Christ. Then it goes on to say that the sun comes and withers the grass, just as time takes care of us all.

Who we are, and what we mean to this world can not be a result of temporary investments. Instead it is and must always be a direct reflection of our eternal works! There is power in KNOWING WHO WE ARE IN JESUS!