Street Light Along the Way

Life brings its own far share of challenges, for some it may be dealing with the loss of a loved one, another an addiction. For me it is my tendency to be prideful and want to think of myself more highly than I ought. Tonight I was with a group of men who on most accounts are completely different then me. These men are older with kids that are older and they are outdoors men, meaning in their spare time they hunt or fish. As I sat in the living room with these men we watched videos of deer hunting, then we shared in a brief message> As the host lead us in our study I was going in my mind that is nowhere near how I would go about this. What I mean by that is some of the references this man chose I did not see where he was tying everything together, but it doesn’t mean he was wrong.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped  for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17 ESV)

The Lord showed me not to long ago that he speaks to us all in different ways. And maybe just maybe the way he spoke to these men this evening was through that simple discussion. Those of you who know me know that I am a theology junky, so this conversation was a little on the light side. I have decided however to continue with this group of men for a while, so that I may expand my horizons and be more effective in my own ministry one day. 

Another way to look at life is to think about walking even through your own house in the middle of the night while its pitch black. If you have no way of seeing what could hurt you how do you avoid it? In the life of a Christian we have his word.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.” (PS 119:105 ESV)

”Jesus answered,  “Are there not twelve hours in the day?  If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.” (Jn 11:9 ESV)

So if you are walking around feeling as though you are in a fog, out of place, or don’t belong. Look closer there may be more than what you see. In this group I was in the greatest common factor was we all are Christian men. So for me I know my life was a huge unclear, dazed and confused mess. After accepting Jesus for who he is not for what I wanted him to be my life came into focus. Because I left my world of darkness behind and started walking in light. “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying,  “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12 ESV)

I am not making any claims or promises that life will be easy, easier yes because you can live with a confidence in something bigger than yourself. You may still stumble and fall but not because you couldn’t see, but because your human and will make mistakes. (Rom 3:23) Please know that it is so much more comfortable knowing how to walk and what to avoid then running into everything that gets in the way.

The first step is to chose the Light. Jesus Christ.

Live Long, Pray Hard, Die Well !
Preach

Joy & Pain

This I must say has been one of the most trying times of my life. I would say that for at least the last three weeks my body has been attacking itself. I am unable to keep hardly any food down, headaches, nose bleeds and excessive stomach cramping. One of the only things that keeps me going is knowing that my Lord and Savior went through and suffered so much more.

“Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. ³ In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. ⁵ One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” ⁷ The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” ⁸ Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” ⁹ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.” (Jn 5:2-9 ESV)

Now I don’t know about you but me in reading this it is very easy to miss. Let’s take a look back this section of scripture tells  us in verse three that in these colonnades lay a multitude of invalids. And one of those was a man who had been there for 38 years. So as Jesus and his disciples were walking through he saw this one man and already knew he had been there a long time. But look at this now Jesus asked this man “DO YOU WANT TO BE HEALED?”  (capitalization and italics added for emphasis). Any normal person would look up at Jesus and go what do you think stupid. I have been sitting here for 38 years. Check out this guys response “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while i am going another steps down before me.” So he kind of says what i said without being as rude. Then the most beautiful thing of all happens Jesus gives him a command. “GET UP, TAKE UP your bed, and WALK.”

How many of us would know how to react if Jesus gives us that kind of specific command. What have you been sitting around waiting on? Has it been something at home? Going back to school? Whatever it maybe when your spirit finally lines up with what HE has in store for you don’t sit back on the sidelines because he may, no he will pass you by.

Think about it He being Jesus went to a place full of sick people looking to get healed, and only chose one. So please if you have been feeling him knocking at the door of your heart, open the door and let him in.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Re 3:20 ESV).

Let’s take a look at another example of Jesus’ power to change a life.

“And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, ²¹ for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” ²² Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.”  (Mt 9:20-22 ESV).

In using this passage i am not saying that if you have faith in being healed you will automatically be healed. What i would like to point out however is this woman suffered for 12 years with bleeding, in some versions it says she spent everything on Drs who only made her worse or did not solve her issue. Even though she had nothing to give this man, she put all of her trust and more importantly her faith in the fact that if she could touch his garment that she would be healed. Another question for you to ponder when was the last time you actively put faith into something knowing it was out of you control and only Jesus could accomplish it?

Last but not least let us not for get that the Lord allowed Paul to live for an extended period of time with a thorn in his side.

^“7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”   (2 Co 12:7-10 ESV)

So all in all we are no better than Paul or Jesus Christ himself. We must look at our lives and remember that we can go through pain in give glory to Jesus and receive the joy that comes from it. Or we can live in pain and merely have to deal with it. The choice is yours.

Live Long, Pray Hard, Die Well!
Preach

As Iron Sharpens Iron : Building Strong Relationships

In this stage of my life it is good to know who I can depend on. We all need people in our lives, because we can't run around living like we are solitary unto ourselves. Things we choose to do have reactions or consequences, depending on how you choose to view it. There are several very important relationships that a person needs to have. The reason for this being is because "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." (pro 27:17 esv) To some this verse may be confusing to me it is encouraging, it tells me that I need someone who is going to be wiling to get in my face and tell me the truth even when it could be difficult. We all need a Nathan. Just in case some of you don't know or don't remember Nathan, here is a refresher (2 Sam 12:1-15) David has just had Uriah moved to the frontlines of war so that he could cover up his adultery with Bathsheba and the evidence thereby concieved. Nathan comes in with athourity from the Lord and rebukes David for his sin and tells him "Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun." (2 Sa 12:11 ESV). So how many of us have a Nathan who will lovingly but strongly tell us of our sin? My next question then becomes do you really want one who will confront you or do you want to be allowed to live anyone and still think you are pleasing to God?

Then someone as important if not more so is Jonathan, this is a friend who was said to love David "he loved him as his own soul" (1 Sam 18:3). I don't know about you but there certainly aren't very many people in my life that would come close to that kind of remark. (1 Sam 18:1-4) is a great depiction of how much dedication these men would have, we often say we would give someone the shirts off of our back, Jonathan actually did and much more. As life progressed and David found more favor with the people Saul became jealous and began attempting to take to his life. So David ran, and while running Jonathan brought him food and intelligence. Jonathan knew that David was destined to be king & willingly handed his rights over to his friend. Do you have many people in your life who would give up their birthright for you, how about take care of you when someone else is out to destroy you.

The best friend a person could have in all the world is the God/man Jesus Christ. He tells us "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you." (Jn 15:13-14 ESV). And layed his life down he did he chose to die for all of us who follow him. Like my pastor Ruffin Alphin said several Christmas Eve's ago " Jesus Christ is the only man who ever lived that chose to die." As effect of the fall we are all set to die, but Jesus and he alone was able to make the choice to die. Being fully God and fully man he never had to die seeing as how he could bring the dead back to life. As a gift giver liking to show those whom I love my affection through gifts Christ out shines me even in my greatest attempt. Here is a man who not only did not have to die, but chose to he also chose humilitaion and shame to go with it, while we as a people mocked him. " For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

(2 Co 5:21 ESV) He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (pro 18:24)

So I challenge all who read this to become to someone you know and value to pray about the role you would play in thier life, will you be Nathan or Jonathan? There is only one Jesus Christ, and no matter what role you are in someones life never be affraid to tell them about Him. (luke 9:26)

Live Long, Pray Hard, Die Well!

Happy New Year

As we begin our new year will we chose to begin a new. Will we let vendettas from the past go or will you pursue the offender until you have your justice. If you have a habit you have been trying to break for years are you going to make a resolution to finally kick it. Or if you there is something in your life you would like to create as a habit, what are your plans. I know one thing none of these things will bring you peace or joy with out Jesus Christ being your Lord and Savior.

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰ To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Ro 12:19-21 ESV). So please beloved let go of the past we are all sinners (rom 3:23) and we have been saved by grace, (eph 2:8) that believe in Jesus Christ. Just as he was wiling to extend mercy and grace to us we are to mirror him also, and hopefully as we do good toward those whom have done us wrong and we would much rather have justice fulfilled upon bring glory to God by allowing Him to either bring about the change needed or to "Repay" the wrong that has been done.

Taking me as an example I wish to be more faithful in my prayer life, for several years now I have been hit or miss in my own time of prayer. I know deep within my soul that this time alone with God to see my relationship with a personal savior grow. He has told us "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Pr 16:3). It is part of our duty in our salvation to come to the Lord in prayer. So what ever it is that you may be wrestling with today please come and bring it before Jesus he is faithful. He has told us "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Co 10:13). So please dont trust me trust the man who is God, he lived a sinless life, was homeless, hungry and murdered because he spoke truth to a people who where hard hearted. Will you be one of the ones with eyes to see and ears to hear? He is calling your name listen closely.

Live long, Pray Hard, Die well.

Preach

Forgiveness in Humility

I can only speak for myself and the struggles that i face in my walk with the Lord. I cannot yet use the word was when i refer to being proud, because I still am. Jesus has pointed somethings out to me even in the last several hours. Pride can take many forms whether it is us being boisterous about something in our lives, say an accomplishment, a family member or whatever it may be. The Lord showed me that my pride lies in my self reliance, I can say with words all day long I am trusting in God. Until I make my heart line up with my mouth then it's pride. I am speaking in faith however hoping Jesus will provide in that area of need. The Lord in his word tells us "if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Ch 7:14 ESV)

I know for me I struggle in my prayer life and He has shown me today its because i am proud. How many of us are as proud but not willing to admit to it so we can change and have others pray for us to change? Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Pr 16:18 ESV) I was proud without even realizing it because i would not pray as i needed to, he tells us to seek his face or to be before him consistently, "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Php 4:6 ESV). Charles Spurgeon once said " The more we pray, the more we shall want to pray. The more we pray, the more we can pray. The more we pray, the more we shall pray. He who prays little will pray less, but he who prays much will pray more. And he who prays more, will desire to pray more abundantly." This is a place that I struggle and hope to improve upon vastly. The Lord also tells us to turn from our wicked ways which means we need to repent and he will forgive us. In our repenting we must make sure we do so in belief in Jesus and our forgiveness will allow us entracne into heaven. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 Jn 1:9ESV).
So let us look to the man who was the most humble to ever live as our example. Christ Jesus! "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Php 2:8 KJV). When he was accused of being God he stayed silent because what they spoke was the truth and he took the punishment for us. "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. (Is 53:7 ESV). He was willing to pray even up to moments before he was betrayed, seeking the father and doing the will of him who sent him were his joys. I long to make them mine as well.

Father God will you forgive me for i knew not that I was proud and unfaithful in my lack of prayer. Will you give me the strength I need to live my life for your glory and to seek your face daily not only through reading your word but thinkng less of myself and seek you more earnstly.

Amen.