Inching Along

 

 

 

Today I took my three girls out for a walk.

We ended up sitting on a bench by a stream.

My two youngest girls were throwing rocks in the water, and squealing at the splashes.

"Did you see that Daddy?!"

My oldest daughter and I were chilling on the bench,

just watching the girls and chatting. 

I felt a little tickle on my hand.

I looked and there was this baby inchworm just doing its little "inch squiggle" thing, on its way up my hand.

I showed my daughter, and she thought that was just the coolest thing.

It was the smallest inchworm either of us had seen.

I was telling her how it actually was tickling my hand, so of course she wanted to feel it too.

I told her to put her finger in front of it, and sure enough, little wormy  hopped right on her finger.

Of course, by that time we had the attention of the smaller girls as well.

We were all mesmerized at the little movements of the worm.

It would do a step, step, lift up it's little body to look around and survey the landscape,

then step, step, and repeat. 

We needed to get back, and I said, "Who do you think can get to the house first?".

The two little ones take off full speed.

The smallest one soon got discouraged,

because she wasn't as fast as her sister.

I said, "Look, me and your sister (the one holding the inchworm) are behind you".

"Actually, the inchworm is ahead of me!", the oldest daughter said,

as she was holding her arm out in front of her.

My mind flashed to the thoughts of the inchworm.

Here he was, inching along.

So small.

Thinking he was making no progress.

When in all actuality he was moving at human speed.

Moving much faster than he could ever imagine.

I thought, isn't that exactly how we are.

We tend to take a step.

Look around.

Take another step.

Seemingly not covering much ground.

Not getting much closer to our goal.

When all the while, if we are in God's hand, we are moving at God speed.

We are tickling God with our steady progress.

The angels and the "great cloud of witnesses" are gathering around watching us and cheering us on.

Don't think because you are small that you can't go places.

Stay in God's hand.

He'll take you where you need to go.

He will provide for you. He delights in you. You bring Him much joy.

Don't stop. Take the next step.

Don't get discouraged by what seems to be a lack of progress.

Just keep inching along.

Don't Be Fooled

Once you've been exposed to the truth, something about a lie just won't feel right. 
It'll make you feel uneasy. Queezy even.

The preacher may get up behind the pulpit, the words may sound similar, but something will be off.
They may look Pastorly. They may sound Pastorly. But they are predators.
They are not shepherds, they are butchers.

You may be surrounded by church folk, they may worship like other church folk, but it won't seem right.
They may clap their hands, they may lift their hands, they may even raise their voice in praise. 
But it'll all seem a bit contrived.
Going through the motions.
Outward actions not affecting their heart.
The music may be great.
It may evoke a response.
It may even be easy to get caught up in the momentum.
The lights, the music, the excitement, the emotions. 
To the unsuspecting it may have the look and feel of "having church", 
but not to you. 

You've experienced the real.
You can sense a fake.

Have you ever seen a dancer do "the robot"?
I've seen some whose bodies were painted painted metallic gold or silver.
They train their limbs, joints, and sockets to do the herky jerk, and the way they sway, pop, and maneuver, you'd think they were actual robots.
Only they aren't.
They just appear to be.
They have gotten the motions and movements down pat.
That's how some "churches" and "saints" are.
And the devil is perfectly fine with that. 

God is seeking those that will worship Him in Spirit, and in Truth.
Don't be fooled into believing a lie.
Don't be fooled into believing a feeling, an emotion.
Don't settle for anything less than the Spirit of God.
Don't settle for anything less than the Truth.

There are many deceptive ways that the devil will try to deceive you.
Some of them are blatant temptations.
Some of them look like angels, church, preachers, truth.
That is why you need to know, for yourself, through prayer and Bible study, what truth is.
The Bible speaks of those who will creep in among you, false prophets, deceiving even the very elect.
Grievous, ravenous, savage wolves that appear as sheep, but whose purpose is to destroy the flock.
Their demonic goal is to lure you away from the truth, until you can't tell the difference between the truth and a lie.
Then they (the demonic influence), can take you out and have their way with you, at their will.
You will be susceptible to every wind of doctrine, tossed to and fro.
And you will never know.
Because on the surface, they look like they are for you. On your side.
Like angels and sheep.
Beware when some one make you question what the Bible says.
What God said.
That was the serpents first ploy with Eve.

If it looks kinda right.
Sounds kinda right.
Feels kinda right.
RUN!!!

Once you've been exposed to the Glory of God, basked in His presence, felt His Spirit, taken on His name, heard the truth, a counterfeit "experience" pales in comparison.

You need to love the truth.
Search it out.
Believe it.
Live it. 
Obey it.
Don't give it up for anything.

It's when you willingly reject the truth, that you start believing a lie.
Why?
Because you want to. 
It's easier.
Sounds better.
But in the end you pay the price with your soul.

If the devil tried to trip Jesus up by tempting him with twisted scriptures, don't think he wont attempt the same thing with you. 
And he doesn't come with a pitch fork and a pointed tail.
These three words are what Jesus used to defeat Satan, "It is written".
You better know what the Bible says.

Now is not the time to settle back in your easy chair.
The devil wants to "steal the word" that was planted in you.
Choke it out, by the "cares of this world", or by the "pleasures of sin", or by getting you to embrace blatant false doctrine.

"They have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof,
 from such turn away".

Have you ever tried to watch a TV channel and the signal wasn't strong, and the picture was distorted, fuzzy, and in and out.
Have you ever tried to listen to a radio station and the reception was bad, and it was full of static, and you kept turning the dial back and forth.
 
In life we allow things to interfere with our reception. 
We get a weak spiritual signal because we allow dark clouds to come between us and our source.
Scanning the dial or changing the channel wont help.
We need to lock our dial in on God.
Tune in to His frequency.
Hear His voice.
The rest is just static.
Distracting noise.

Stay pure. 
Stay clean.
Stay holy.
Stay undefiled.
Stay free from sin.

Get in the Light.
Stay in the Light.
Shine the Light.
Draw near to God.
Don't give up.
Don't let up.
Don't back down.
Don't turn around.
Embrace the truth.
Fight the good fight.
Keep the faith.

If the truth isn't changing you,
isn't affecting your daily life,
isn't taking root in your spirit, 
isn't making you draw closer to Jesus and further from sin and a sinful lifestyle, maybe what you're being exposed to isn't the truth.
Or it is, and you're rejecting it.
You'll know the difference.

Don't be fooled by or settle for a cheap imitation.

Jesus said, "Take heed, lest ye be deceived".

Preparing For A Storm

Schools are closed.
Banks are closed.
Jobs are closed.
Grocery stores have been raided.
Flash lights bought.
Gas tanks filled.
All in preparation of the oncoming landing of the promised storm that is being tracked by satellites.
Power companies and Cable companies have called to warn of impending shut-offs.
Nobody want to be unprepared.
We hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
Who wants to be without power for days on end?
Who wants their homes flooded by what is supposed to stay outside?
Who wants to be stuck in one place?
Who wants to be stranded because it isn't possible or safe to drive?
Who wants all that you have stored to go to waste?
Who wants their children to go hungry?
Who wants to live in darkness?
All of these things should make a person willing to prepare.

You know where I'm going with this right?
I see people preparing more to meet "Sandy", than they are preparing to meet God.
I see people preparing more for "Sandy", than they are preparing for eternity.

God has promised to pour out His judgement on this world.
I am reminded of Noah's day, and Lot's day.
He has promised He is coming soon.
He has warned us to be prepared. To stay ready. To be watchful.
Many have, but sadly too many to mention haven't.
Have you?
Are you ready?
Don't take the chance that it'll all end up okay.
It won't.
Don't take the chance that you'll escape unscathed.
You won't.
He is coming for a bride (church-speak, I know), that has made herself ready.


We have all heard those emergency tests, that say, "this is a test, this is only a test. If this had been an actual emergency, the signal you just heard would have been followed by official information, news, or instructions. This concludes the test of the Emergency Broadcast System."


If you haven't prepared, aren't ready, and don't know what to do, there are simple guidelines, instructions on how to weather the storm, and to be prepared.
In Acts chapter 2, the people looked at each other and asked the same question, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
The Apostle Peter stood up with the other disciples and delivered the instructions of what to do,
and how to start preparing.
You will find those simple steps in the book of Acts, chapter 2, and verse 38.

This concludes this message.
You have received instruction.
If your church does not teach this, seek out one that does.
This is not a test.
This is an emergency.
You have been warned.
Please prepare accordingly.

Walking With The Father

 Walking With The Father

Taking a walk with my 3 girls this afternoon, taught me about God.

Victoria wanted me to carry her the whole time. Isn't that just like us? God is more than happy to carry us when we are still babies. But once we learn to walk, He expects us to walk. God won't baby you forever. No matter how much he loves you.

Ava kept saying her legs were tired. I told her to use her muscles. Rather than walk lazily along, high step it, and we did a little march together. Let's face it, the road gets long and we can grow weary. This is a battle and we need to keep moving, or we'll be struck down. People are counting on us to keep fighting the fight.

Olivia, my oldest daughter was prancing/skipping/merrily moving along out in front of the rest of us. At one point she had gotten to far out in front and I had to tell her that we had come out to take this walk together, and that she needed to come back with the rest of us. Isn't it astounding that when God calls us to walk with Him, sometimes we tend to get ahead of His plan? Try to step up Gods pace? Take His invitation and run with it? God sometimes has to put the brakes on us for a while, just so we can realize, He asked us to “walk” with Him. “The race is not to the swift, but to him that endures”. We need to learn how to keep at Gods pace. If you're running to fast to comfortably talk (with God), you're running to fast. It's easier if we learn to walk with Him. “My yoke is easy, and my burden light.” You weren't made to go it alone.

We had stopped to play at a park, and when I was ready to go, I said ”C'mon girls, it's time to go”, and proceeded walking. Of course some of the girls didn’t think it was a good time to go, and tried to get some extra play time in. As I about to walk out of the fenced in area, and was noticeably further away than they were comfortable with, I heard them say,”daddy slow up, your walking to fast”. To which I responded, “I'm not walking fast, you just didn’t come when I asked you too”.

Jesus says follow me. He doesn’t stay and coax us to do what He says. He doesn’t ask us to run out in front of Him. It's an invitation for fellowship. Stay close. Lets talk. Let's spend some time together.

There is nothing like fatherhood to teach us about our Father.

And there is nothing like being a father that will teach us about how to be a child (of God).

 

Genesis 5:24 KJV

And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Genesis 6:9 KJV

These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

How To Dwell Together In Unity

*I gleaned this from http://blog.chestermitchell.org/

Here is a simple roadmap to Christian unity from Ephesians 4:
1. Walk worthy of the calling
2. Walk with all lowliness
3. Walk with gentleness
4. Walk with longsuffering
5. Walk while bearing with one another in love
6. Remember that the church is one body
7. Recognize and respect the gift of God in each other
8. Unity cannot exist without authentic relationships
9. We cannot be immature or childish
10. Every truth must be spoken in love
11. Anger only needs a “d” to become dangerous
12. Watch your words
13. Check to be sure that the Holy Spirit is not being grieved
14. Forgiveness is a non negotiable

Have You Ever?

Am I alone, or have you ever had an awkward moment where you felt like you needed to say something, defend someone, and didn't because you didn't want to be disruptive and didn't think it was the right time and place?


And have you ever gone to someone in confidence, only to find out that it was betrayed, and now people are talking about you?

And have you ever gotten bold, telling people what they should do, and not do, when really it isn't any concern of yours, and things far worse have happened in your own home?

Have you ever passed judgment on someone without mentioning their name, even though everyone knew who you were talking about, and the person wasn't even in the room?

Have you ever tried to stand up for someone and were cast the evil eye because people didn't want to hear an opposing view to their own?

Is it possible that you have ever been wrong, or given bad advice, or maybe didn't understand fully the plan of God in your own life, let alone someone else's?

Have you ever caused discouragement, when someone came to you for encouragement?

Have you ever spoken for God, before even consulting Him?

Have you ever felt you had to choose sides, in a matter that didn't even pertain to you?

Have you ever felt that a choice for your own happiness would leave others feeling disappointed in you?

Have you ever wished that people would just love you instead of trying to cram you into their little "perfect Christian" box?

Have you ever had the feeling that people don't care about you, and have had to fight the urge not to care about them back?



Have you ever had to put things into question form, even though you knew the answers?

Today I was thinking about the power of the silent letter: Car, care, hat, hate.

Simple difference. Changes the whole word, just by adding one letter you can’t hear. It’s presence is known, because you can see it. Just by standing or sitting there in silence, it is able to make a change. I didn’t have time to search the Internet or scour the dictionary looking for words with a silent i or u, but we both know that there are plenty of times where if u or i were silent, it would have changed the outcome.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for boldness, and speaking out, and not being afraid to state your case. But there are instances, probably more than we care to admit, when silence would have been the better choice, ultimately providing the best outcome.
I know that most of the time we want to shout from the rooftops that we are right, and we are smart. We want to proclaim our own goodness. Funny how even proclaim, has a silent i, in it.

Maybe it isn’t so important that we have so much to say. Maybe the great I AM has something to say, and I’m convinced that He can say it in far fewer words. In fact, the one time in history that someone had a right to fight for their honor, and defend themselves, and lay out their case and position, was when Jesus was being tortured. His response?

“He opened not His mouth”

Was He lied about? Yes. Was He wrongly accused? Yes. Was He mistreated? Yes. Was He misunderstood? Yes. Did He open His mouth and rail against His accusers and justify Himself? No.

“He opened not His mouth.”

WOW! That is difficult to do, when everything in us wants to respond and retaliate. We like to climb the mountain and dare anyone to confront us, challenge us, or come against us. We are “king of the hill”, and any opposition will get thrown down. That is not how our King on Calvary’s hill responded.

Have you ever been in an awkward silent situation, where you felt you should say something just to break the silence? You felt like it was your duty to say something, bring comfort, give direction, share wisdom… don’t. Just be there. In your being there, you’ve done enough. Sometimes words are best left silent.

There is a peaceful strength in the presence of powerful silence.

 
this was previously posted at http://www.thirdoptionmen.org/blog/power-silent-letter/.

The Asking Price

The asking price. Nobody wants to pay it. We have become accustomed to getting everything for less than the full value. If we can't get it on sale or if we don't have a coupon, chances are we'll pass. Doesn't matter if it's shoes or shampoo. "What's the best price?" or "What's the lowest you'll take for it?", have become common questions. It has become so prevalent that sellers intentionally mark up their item just so you'll feel good about buying at a perceived less price.


Here's my point. God has an asking price. He wants it all. Everything. All too often we walk away sad like the rich young ruler who came to Jesus asking what he had to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus' answer was "Go, sell all that you have and give it to the poor, and come follow me." You might say, "well that's a pretty steep price". But look at what the young man was asking for. Eternal Life. Is temporary riches more valuable than permanent life? Jesus was essentially inviting him to become the 13th disciple. "Come follow Me". The Bible says Jesus was grieved when the young man walked away, because He loved him.

What in the world do we value more than heaven? More than walking with Jesus? More than being His disciple?

At one point Jesus, who was used to being thronged by crowds of thousands, watched as everybody left, the price He was asking was to great. Then He looked at His 12 disciples and asked them this question, "Will you also go away?". My question to you is this, "Are you willing to pay the asking price?" Or are you looking for a cheaper version? Something that will cost you less?

That was one of the temptations of Christ. "Just bow to me", the devil said, "and you can have it all". It's the temptation that we all face. Do we want it all, or will we be willing to give our all?

Jesus was never one to glorify following Him as a life of ease. He told one "The foxes have holes, the birds have nests, but I don't have a place to lay My head." You still want to come? This is a far different doctrine than one you will hear in most churches today. The Cross? Anyone hear about the Cross? It's where Jesus gave His all! It wasn't a life of prosperity, cars, and homes. Jesus said "If any man does not deny himself, and take up the cross, and follow me, he cannot be My disciple".

You are being summoned by God, "Come follow Me".

Are you willing to pay the price?

this blog was previously posted at http://www.thirdoptionmen.org/blog/price/.

It's No Joke!

Can you believe it?

Where did the time go?

We are racing towards 2012.

Which if you haven't heard, according to many people,

 (who believe the Mayan calender),

 is when the world is supposed to come to an end.

Personally, i don't buy into that at all.

If you think you  have until 2012, you may be over estimating.

I didn't think I'd be here this long.

It wouldn't surprise me a bit , if we were called home before then.

Doesn't the Bible say that we are to long for his appearing?

What does that mean?

To desire for it earnestly, cant wait for the day of it, to want it more than anything.

Is that what we are doing?

Longing for his return?

So do I really believe that we could be caught away soon?

Yes I do. I have to. and it scares me to no end.

And if I were a betting man I'd bet it scares the be-jeebers out of you too.

Why is that?

I don't feel the need to go into it. I think we both know why.

Why is it that so many Christians,

 who know that the rapture could happen at any second,

 who know that the end is near,

 act as if it doesn't matter?

It doesn't faze us.

I'm reminded of the story of Lot in Genesis 19.

Two angels told Lot, "We are going to destroy this place,

 the Lord has sent us to destroy it.

 Whoever you have here, family, sons, daughters, sons-in-law,

 you need to get them out of here."

The Bible says in Genesis 19:14, that Lot went out, and told them,

"Get out of this city, the Lord is going to destroy it."

You know what they thought?

They thought it was a big joke.

He seemed to them as "one that mocketh".

They laughed at him.

"What's gotten into you Lot, getting all preachy on us?"

"Stop it Lot, your embarrassing yourself."

"Cut it out, your cracking us up."

"Don't get yourself all worked up."

Lot told them. They may have laughed, but he did tell them.

We like to make a big stink about Lot living in "Sodom",

 but let me ask you,

 how close are you to living in the "world"?

How easily do you fit in?

You ever wonder why they thought he was a joke?

You ever wonder why they laughed at him?

You ever wonder why when he told them, they didn't believe him?

 if they would believe us?

Or would they laugh?

Would they ask, "Where is all this coming from? You never said anything before. What makes you think your so much better than us?

You really love us and want us  to be saved?

Yeah, right. That's a good one."

You ever wonder what the people around you think of you?

You ever wonder how effective your witness is?

Can you imagine how Lot must have felt,

 as he's pouring his heart out, trying to warn them, trying to save them, and in their eyes it's all a joke?

I wonder how many people Lot told that night,

 before he went home because no one believed him?

Today with all the social media available to us, how many people could we tell  by the click of a mouse? How many "friends" do you have on facebook? How many "followers" do you have on twitter?

It's amazing how quick we are to say or post, what we eat, where we eat, what  movie we've seen or are going to see, what song or video we think is so good, how badly we feel we've been treated, or how misunderstood we are, how rotten our life is, or how we wish we didn't have to study or stay up late, or wake up early, or how awful the weather is.

Man, we can really let the words fly. 

We love it when people hit the "like" button, leave a good comment, or re-post.

If Lot were living in our day....he would have texted, called, emailed, tweeted, posted and had his status say, " Get ready, get your house in order, you don't have time to play around, the END is closer than you think".

I wonder if you, called, texted, emailed, posted, and tweeted that...what response would you get? 

Would all your friends and family laugh at you?

Or unlike Lot....would you even warn them?

Are you afraid of what people might think of you?

Are you to afraid to warn them?

Here's the hard part to deal with....our family, friends, co-workers, and classmates are going to be destroyed.

I get it that we don't care, that we're chicken-hearted and weak kneed, and don't love them as much as we profess too.....

So let's just take everyone you know that is going to hell...let's just take them all, out of the equation.

What about you ? Are you sure that you're going to make it?

I see people, Christians, going about their days, especially during the holiday season, laughing, having a holly jolly good time, being merry, spending money they don't have on gifts they can't afford, going into debt for things they don't need, eating, drinking, being festive, acting as if they don't have a clue that when they woke up, that this could be the day.

It's as if Christians today have this fog of complacency around them.

Just going along in their own little happy world and couldn't care a lick that everyone in the mall they are shopping in, is going to hell.

Not even considering that today could be the day, more concerned about shoes, and skirts, and suits, than they are their soul.

More concerned about where they are going to eat, than where they are going to spend eternity.

Paul said in Romans 13:11, "It's high time, we wake out of our slumber." 

Snap out of it! Wake up! Smell the coffee!

In Luke 12:20 Jesus said about the man that thought he had lots of time, "Thou fool, tonight they soul shall be required of thee."

Lot really believed that Sodom was going to be destroyed.

Do we really believe that Jesus could come back at any time?

I think a lot of us are like, "Oh yeah....I believe that...just not any time, soon!"

What?! Are you kidding me? Can you not see what is going on around you?

Don't you read the newspaper? Or listen to the news?

How convinced are you that Jesus is coming back soon?

Hasn't He made it clear enough? Hasn't He said it over and over again in His word?  How may messages have we heard? Recently? What are we waiting for? How much clearer does He have to say it before we'll believe it?

Or will we be like Lot's family, and we'll be the ones laughing? 

We'll be the ones thinking that it's all a big joke.

Sit down preacher, we don't need to hear that again. I've heard that for soooo long. Surely our Lord delayeth His coming. His coming is far off.

Do you know what Jesus' last words are in Revelation 22:20?

"Surely I come quickly."

(Here's some homework for you when you get the time.

Get a dictionary out, and look up the word "quickly".)

Don't be like the people in Noah's day. They heard him preach day in and day out, "It's gonna rain!"

For a hundred years, the same message, "It's gonna rain, get in the boat!" 

Looking back we can say, "How can they not have known that it was going to rain? He preached the same message, he warned them, he preached for so long. How could they not know?"

Well, how many times have we been told, heard it preached, and read it in the Bible...Jesus is coming back, Get ready, He's coming soon......

Just like it was in Noah's day, when you see that it's happening it's to late to start getting ready. When you feel the raindrop, it's to late.

In Lot's day, when you looked up and saw the fire and brimstone falling from the sky, it was to late to start preparing. No matter that you were told, no matter that you were warned, when the fire was falling, it was to late to get ready.

This time of the year, we like to tell the story of Jesus coming to earth, and we see nativity sets, and we sing songs like "Go Tell It On The Mountain", and we can't believe that there was no room in the inn.

But there are as many, if not more, promises about His second coming to earth than His first, and they are all coming to pass.

Are we going to be like the chief priest and scribes in Herod's day and say "Yeah we know there's a promise, we know a saviour is coming, we know where he is to be born, we know what the signs are.......", and yet, they missed it.

What excuse will we have if WE miss it?

Yeah we knew, we were told, we read about it, we knew the signs, we just didn't think about it all that much.

Don't think you have a year, a month, a week. You have NOW.

That's all you know for certain.

Costumes, Masks, and Make-Up

Costumes, Masks & Make-Up

by David Munn

http://www.thirdoptionmen.org/blog/costumes-masks-make-up/

I was thinking this morning, that a lot of people went out over the last few days or weeks, and purchased costumes and masks, and make-up, and went door to door trying to get people to give them some candy.

 Some people may have even gone overboard, trying to impress others with their creativity, and how “different” from what they really are, they could make themselves look.

Why?

For some sort of acknowledgement, maybe a prize, and even some goodies.


AND HERE’S THE THOUGHT THAT CAME TO ME.


For some people, every Sunday morning is that way.

(Not just on Halloween Sunday.)

Let me get some nice clothes, look the part, smile,

and like some masquerade ball,

we’ll never be able to figure out who is really beneath that costume and mask.

And maybe if I’m good enough,

I’ll get some candy, or God will bless me,

even though I know it’s just a show.

And then the next morning we wake up and put on another costume and mask and go to work, and look and act totally different.


God is not happy with just the Sunday you, just part of you; He wants to set you free from the costumes and masks. He wants the real, genuine you.


He won’t be satisfied with less.

How To Get What You Want

How To Get What You Want

written by David Munn

I was at the church the other night praying.

 Just going through the normal rhetoric

 of what I wanted from God, and what I wasn't seeing,

even though it's promised in the Bible.

 I was telling the Lord of all the crazy things

 people have seen and have had happen to them,

 that are attributed to Him,

 and yet I haven't experienced any of that kind of stuff.

As I was praying this, the verse that says,

"these signs shall follow them that believe;

In my name shall they cast out devils;

they shall speak with new tongues;

They shall take up serpents;

and if they drink any deadly thing,

it shall not hurt them;

they shall lay hands on the sick,

 and they shall recover",

 came to mind.

I said "Ok God, that makes sense.

 I don't need to see angel feathers floating from the ceiling,

or gold fillings appear in my teeth,

or oil flowing from my hands,

or jewels appearing on my doorstep,

 but I do want what You promised!"
After all it's in Your word,

 shouldn't I expect it?

I do believe,

but just in case,

let me be like the man that said

"help thou mine unbelief."

Is that the case?

 That I'm not believing enough?

"These signs shall follow them that believe."

That's what it says.

You said it.

And I kept on berating God about what I'm not seeing,

 signs and wonders.

Telling Him that's what we need in our church,

more spiritual manifestations.

(All the while thanking Him of course,

for all that He has been doing.)

Reminding Him of what Paul had said,

"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom,

 but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power."

That's what I wanted!

 A demonstration of the Spirit,

 a display of God's power.

I said kind of laughingly to God,

 "I know that I'm asking for a lot,

and not really offering you much to work with,

 I'm asking for a lot

 and not really giving you much."

And as I was praying that,

 I had to stop.

I took myself by surprise.

 I had to repeat what I was telling God, to myself.

Isn't it funny when God repeats your words back to you?

It was as if He said "Did you hear what you just said?"

It stopped my prayer in its tracks.

It isn't You God. It's me.

It's not that You won't or can't or don't want to,

it's just that I am not at that place yet.

 I haven't prepared myself,

I have not put in the necessary time,

 the necessary "blood, sweat, and tears"

so to speak.

He reminded me of two verses.

"The effectual fervent prayer

 of a righteous man

availeth much."

A righteous man?

I don't know if I would really consider myself in that category.

I began praying "Lord put your robe of righteousness around me, make me as you are."

The Lord has imputed unto us His righteousness.

(James 2:23)

But what about the effectual fervent prayer?

We can't expect God to do that for us can we?

Could that be the reason we aren't seeing anything spectacular or special or undeniably spiritual?

Could that be the reason we aren't "availing" much?

Once we know that we are in right standing with God(righteous),

what's to stop us from that effectual fervent prayer that availeth much?

That's the question isn't it?

What does stop us?

(don't continue reading, think about it for a second)

"you have not because you ask not"

The second verse He reminded me of was this one.

"...He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him"

let me give you a few more translations:

1. He rewards those who earnestly seek Him

2. He rewards those who sincerely seek Him

3. He becomes a Rewarder to those who seek Him out

4. He rewards those who sincerely look for Him

5. to those seeking Him He becometh a rewarder

6. He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him out.

Are you seeing the picture that God was painting me? 

Tell me this, why would God give you anything that you really didn't want?

How does God know that we really want something?

When we ask and continue to ask.

When we sincerely, earnestly, and diligently seek Him.

And not just once.

Consistently.

"lest by her continual coming she weary me"

(Luke 18:5)

In vs.7, it goes on to say that

those who cry unto God day and night, even though he bears long with them, are God's own elect.

"Covet earnestly the best gifts"

How diligent have I/we been in seeking God?

How earnest have I/we been?

How consistent have I/we been?

And yet I/we have some expectation of a reward?

God is a just God.

He doesn't just go around doling out rewards to those

who haven't worked for them.

In fact, He took away from the slothful servant and gave his portion to the servant who had worked the hardest.

Like I said in my opening sentence....

I was at the church praying.....

and God in His own way....

was telling me that the secret to getting what I wanted,

 was to continue doing what I had begun doing....

praying more. 

But not just praying...desiring, hungering, thirsting,

 being more diligent in seeking, being more fervent,

 being more consistent.

What is it that you are seeking after?

What is the reward that you want from God?

Is there anything that you want, or are desiring, from God?

As simple as it seems, the answer is found in prayer.
(By prayer I mean communication with God,
 not just vain ramblings to fill time.)

And these two verses are the blueprint.

"The effectual fervent prayer

of a righteous man

availeth much."

and

"He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."

HARD-CORE

Hard-Core

by David Munn

I was at the church praying tonight,

 and as usual,

 if you give the Lord a half a second of undivided attention, He's likely to give you something.

Give and it shall be given kind of a thing.

But thats for another blog.

As I was praying I began thinking about

 the cross.

The beating. The bruising. The piercing.

The humiliation. The agony. The blood.

That's when the thought came to me,

 Jesus was hard-core.

He was not playing,

and He was not complaining.

He was dead serious.

Racked with pain, but filled with love.

For me.

I began praying

"Thank you Jesus, for dying for me.

What else is there to say?

What else is there to do?

You said it, and You showed it.

You backed up your words with action

Thank you. I can't say it enough."

Words don't give it justice,

when you are picturing yourself at the foot of the cross.

I'm reminded of something I read that said

 "Show me your scars. You cannot have followed far,

you who have no scars."

There is nothing like gazing upon the supreme sacrifice to shine a light on my lazy little Christian walk.

I want to be hard-core like my master.

Full of love. Understanding the cost.

Able to shed some tears, 

but not afraid to shed some blood too.

Hard-core Christians....there's a thought.

Seen any lately?

Lord Change Me

Lord Change Me

by David Munn

I was at the Apostolic Man Conference in New Stanton, PA this weekend, and before the first service there was a time of prayer.
It was during this time of prayer, that I received what I am going to post here in this blog.
Many times when I pray, I pray out of my spirit, not really premeditated thought. Not weighing each word carefully, just speaking from the heart, as if it somehow bypasses my brain.
During this time of prayer, I heard myself praying, "Lord change me."
It was almost as if God made me hear it,
the way He heard it, and I had to stop.
And repeat it. And think about it.

Wait a minute, I said to myself. Do I really mean that?

What if the Lord asked me to change some things?
To give up some things?
To add some things?

Is this a prayer that I recognize the consequences of?
Do I really want to be changed?
What will change look like?

Lord change me, but not in any ways that will require anything of me.
 Is that what I mean?
Or is it just vain rambling words that have no weight or meaning?
Change me how?

Change requires sacrifice, and who wants to do that?
UNLESS, your desperate, and hungry enough to do ANYTHING, to be more like Him, to feel His presence, to be used, to go to a deeper level.
Are you at that place?
Am I?
Or am I just saying things that I think He wants to hear, and that makes me feel good.
Like I'm saying/doing what He wants me too.
Lip service.
So many words.
But where is my heart?

Would I be ready to lay it down, sacrifice and obey.....or am I really just kind of comfortable with where I'm at?

I'm reminded of James and John, who wanted to sit, one on the right and one on the left of Jesus.......
and Jesus' answer to them wasn't a yes or no answer.
His response was....."Are you able?" "Can you?"
I'd like to think that what He was really asking them was "Are you willing?"
Are we?
Am I?
There is no telling how close we could get to God, and how much God could use us.....if we were truely willing.

If you want to draw close, you have to pay the price.
Front row seats always cost more
than the nose-bleed sections.
Some of us are here for the show, to watch,
and others want back-stage passes.
Access to the band.
Access to the Man.
But it comes at a price.

If any man wants to follow me..... let him first (not somewhere along the journey) deny himself. Ouch!
Take up his cross. Ow!
And follow Me.
How good are we at following?
It requires keeping Him in sight at ALL times.
(Like the Elijah and Elisha story)

Lord change me.
We expect God to do for us, what we are not willing to do for ourselves.....or Him.

We really do need to change.
Don't we?
Don't you?

What are we not willing to change?
If anything comes to mind.....your not ready.

What are we willing to change?
If your answer is anything...if your answer is everything....
Get ready.
Change is coming.

So you think we're a cult?

It's not really big news that people consider us a cult....lots of people have...

Bro. Bernard addresses that issue here in this youtube clip:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVQIx_gOLUA&feature=related 

You see when you say that JESUS is THE way, THE truth, THE life, and that NO man can get to heaven except through Him, because He is THE door, and anyone who even tries to come another way is a thief and a robber..in other words not legitiment and trying to break in...when you say that, that messes with ALOT of people that don't believe that.

Contrary to popular belief you cant just believe anything you want to , and live anyway you want to, and do any old thing you want to, and still get into heaven.

 Narrow is the path and strait is the gate and few there be that find it.

 So in order for "others" who aren't willing to believe the truth, not willing to pay the price, to feel better about themselves for not obeying THE truth, they have to discredit you .

Did the world love Jesus? NO, and it still doesn't.

 The Bible says it you refuse THE truth..God will send you a strong delusion so that you'll believe a lie.
 I would never take a backsliders (someone who knew the truth and walked away) advise about the state of our church.

 The world HATED Jesus and his disciples and followers. They tortured them, killed them, persecuted them, fed them to lions, burned them at the stake....and believe it or not ...they still do.
 just look at ( www.persecution.com ).

Jesus went so far as to say "blessed are you when men shall revile and spit on you"......KNOW what you believe and in WHO you believe and dont back down because Satan has his imps "in people shape" trying to bring you down.
 
 Jesus always had his haters, and so will you.

COFFEE & DONUTS

Coffee & Donuts

by David Munn 

I like my coffee hot, bold, and strong.

I put one heaping scoop of bold coffee

 for every cup I'm making.

8 cups, 8 scoops.

I work with guys that will fill the coffee pot

 with 12 cups of water,

and put 4 scoops of weak grounds in the filter.

 To me, thats disgusting! 

They say my coffee is like motor oil.

 They put creamer in the coffee I make

 and watch as it doesn't change color

 (until they stir it up). 

Thats how I like my coffee.

Piping hot and extra strong.

Thats also how I like my gospel.

Don't even bother to pass off some watered down,

 sickingly sweet swill.

If what I like is to strong for you, then so be it.

If it isn't bold, I don't buy it.

If the gospel you prefer doesnt make you sweat a little,

I'd suggest getting a little hotter and bolder kind.

I'm convinced that Jesus was bold.

I'm convinced that He made some people sweat.

 I'm sure some people got a little nervous around Him.

He was all about love,

but that love wasn't the "wishy washy mamby pamby"

 kind of love that is being passed around in churches today.

He was bold. He was strong.

He did not water down His message

 to make it more pallatable to the masses.

He was not afraid to speak the truth,

 even if it did make some people uncomfortable.

Take a look at the Bible,

 some people hate it,

 it's to bold, to confronting, to judgemental,

 not all inclusive....but it's also the truth.

 It also changes lives.

 And to those who love their gospel bold and strong,

 they would and have given their lives for it.

I like my donuts fresh, sweet and loaded with filling.

Stale donuts are the worst.

Pay the full price and get the fresh ones.

Few things are better

than getting a mouth full of delicious creamy donut filling.

Few things are worse

than expecting a mouth full of satisfyingly sweet filling,

 and all you get is air.

Dont you just hate it when you don't get

what you expected?

Have you ever been anticipating

 bavarian cream, or boston cream

and you bite into lemon cream?

Your lips and taste buds are awaiting sweet,

but what they get is sour.

Thats how some Christians are.

They give you the promise and expectation of sweet,

 but leave in your mouth the taste of bitter and sour.

You go to church wanting something fresh,

 something savory,

 something that has just gotten out of the oven.

 And in a lot of churches you get stale at best,

services and sermons.

You expect the service and the people to be full of the goodness of God.

And what you get is emptiness.

Where's the filling?

Where's the Spirit of God?

Where's the infilling of the Spirit?

Where is His sweet presence?

I like my donuts fresh, full, and sweet.

Thats also how I like my spirit.

Give me something bold, and give me something sweet.

That's how I like it.

The boldness of the gospel, and the sweetness of the Spirit.

"speak the truth....in love"

Why Are We Not Moving?

It doesnt matter what kind of car you have.

 If its a Ford or a Ferrari.

 We all depend on one thing when we get in the car

 and turn the ignition. 

A spark.

 If theres no spark,

you may look nice sitting there,

 but your not going anywhere.

Your car may have the best coverage insurance can buy,

 it may be the cleanest car in your neighborhood,

 it may be in wonderful condition,

 people going by may wish they had as nice a car as you....

but it needs a spark to start it.

 If you want to go places in God....you need a spark.

You need some passion.

 You need the fire of the Holy Ghost. 

A lot of us may

 look good, smell good, dress good,

 and many people may think we have it all together.

 But if theres not that passion for God,

if theres not that..spark...

chances are we are gonna be sitting in the exact same spot as we are right now,

5 years from now. 

Continuing on using the car analogy,

suppose everything is in working order on your vehicle. You get in confidently as you do every morning,

 as you did yesterday,

 and turn the ignition,

 there's a spark, you can hear it, but it doesn't start.

 It tries too, but it just sputters out.

Why? 

Your out of gas.

 Theres no gas for the spark to ignite.

 Again your stuck just sitting there.

 Not only do you need a spark, but you need to be combustible!

 Theres a proverb that says

 "where there's no wood, there the fire goeth out".

 Its not enough just to be on fire for God,

  you need to have something in you

 for the Holy Spirit to ignite.

 Many times we put things into our spirit man,

that we would never dream of putting into our gas tanks.
We figuratively pull into the  garbage dumps of life

and say "fill 'er up".

Then we wonder why

we arent performing at optimal levels.

We wonder why

 we're so often left stranded.

 If we want to go places in God,

 and we want to get there faster than we are now, 

we need to fill up on high octane spiritual stuff.

 So when the Spirit sets off a spark,

we'll ignite

 and be well on the road

 to where we ultimately want to be.

David Munn

Spitting In The Face Of Love

Spitting in the Face of Love
By: David Munn

God is love.
Jesus is God.
God loves us.
He told us so.
He put it in writing.
He doesn’t care who you are, where you’ve been, where you were born, how much money you make, or what you can do for Him.
He doesn’t care. None of that matters to Him. He loves you. Just as you are.
In his book, “Just Like Jesus”, Max Lucado wrote, “He loves you just as you are, but too much to let you stay that way.”
It’s true. No matter your station in life, Jesus is there for you.
All He wants, is to love you and make your life better.
All He requires is for you to love Him back.
Is that too much to ask?
He’ll know how much you love Him by how you respond to Him.
Will you submit yourself to Him,...to His will?
Will you live for Him?
Would you die for Him?
Would you do whatever it took to show Him how much you love Him?
He did all those things and more, for us.
And what did we do?
We rejected Him. We mocked Him. We spit in His face.
Yet looking through the spit and the tears, He sees us not as who we are now, and what we are doing now.
Instead He sees who we can become if we would just accept His love and love Him in return.
But even if we don’t, even if we never return the love He has already shown to us, even if we spit in His face, that doesn’t change who He is or how much He loves you.
You know He loves you. He’s made that perfectly clear.
The response is up to you. Will you show Him you love Him, or will you…………?

ARE YOU HOT?

I actually posted this as a response to a holiness blog, and thought it was a good enough little read/word to pass it on as its own.

God means business about this seperation thing.
In the OT He didn't even want two different kind of fabrics in your clothing.
what fellowship hath light with darkness?
be not unequally yoked?
what part does Christ have with belial ?
if we aren't going to be "on fire" for God, He'd rather have us stone cold dead in sin, than a little of this and a little of that.
i wish that you were either hot or cold, because if your lukewarm, I'll spew you out of my mouth. lukewarmness actually makes God sick.
I heard a preacher say,"God's thermometer only reads 2 temperatures. Hot or Cold."
Come out from among them and be ye seperate.
i wish we could all look in God's mirror of truth and say "I'm hot!"
Can you?

"How To Touch Jesus"

"How To Touch Jesus"
Luke 8:40-54

If you want to learn how to touch Jesus, it’s a good idea to study those who did. Just like the disciples asked Jesus to "teach us to pray", it’s okay for us to ask Jesus to "teach us how to touch you."
VS 40
People gladly received Him,(welcomed Him gladly),
they were all waiting,(and looking for Him).
RECEIVED HIM WITH JOY
SPIRIT OF EXPECTATION
2 Tim.4:8 "He will come to those who long for His appearing."
VS 41
Jairus- A ruler,(man of importance and power).
A ruler of the synagogue,(the church who was trying to discredit Jesus).
HE FELL DOWN AT JESUS’ FEET. Though a ruler, he humbled himself, falling at the feet of Jesus.
HE BESOUGHT HIM/BEGGED HIM. That He would come into his house.
Jairus, is putting himself, his reputation and his job in jeopardy here. He is going to be criticized and ridiculed by the people he associates with, the religious people, for coming to Jesus.
What is so important to Jairus, that he is willing to risk it all ? What makes this religious leader fall down and beg at the feet of Jesus?
What makes a person not care about their status, or what others might say?
What is making Jairus forget everything else and focus on Jesus?
Nothing meant a thing to him. All he knew was, that he had heard about this man named Jesus. He had heard that Jesus could do the miraculous. Jairus had heard that Jesus had healed the sick.
Jairus didn’t care who saw him and he didn’t care who heard him. He was at the feet of Jesus begging Him to come into his house, and heal his dying daughter.
If we could step back in time, and be right there looking at and listening to Jairus, I wonder how he sounded?
Do you think he sounded non-chalant?
Jesus, if you want to do this, you can do this, whatever. Just do what you want to do. No biggie.
NO, I tell you i can hear desperation in his voice.
I can feel pain in his cries. I can see his chest and back heaving as he lay at Jesus’ feet, begging Him to come to his house. HIS DAUGHTERS LIFE IS ON THE LINE! HE IS IN DESPERATION MODE! THIS IS HIS LAST AND ONLY HOPE TO SAVE HER!
VS 42
He had one, only daughter.
Notice how the scripture seemingly repeats the same fact about Jairus’ daughter. Naturally if you had one daughter, it would be your only daughter. But I believe it’s written that way to show Jairus’ love for his one and only baby girl. Jairus’ daughter was young, around 12 years old, still living at home. She had been living a wonderful life, for the past 12 years.
Jairus’ one and only 12 year old daughter was lying at home....dying.
Now we know why Jairus is coming to Jesus.
Now we know why he is willing to risk it all.
Now we know why nothing else in Jairus’ world mattered to him at this moment.
No one could help him, his friends, his religion, his status, his job, his money or his possessions could help.
AS JESUS WENT
Jesus was on His way with Jairus to his house. I can picture them trying to speedily get there, with Jairus tugging at Jesus to get Him to go faster. But as Jesus went, the bible tells us that something was keeping them from going as fast as Jairus would like. The people began to throng Him. The people pressed together around Him, and according to the Amplified Bible, was almost suffocating Him.
Can’t you almost feel the panic in Jairus’ heart and mind. Here he had come to Jesus, and Jesus was going with him, they were both trying to get to his place, but they were stuck. They could hardly move. I’m sure Jairus was starting to feel frantic at this point.
And then for some strange reason we just leave Jairus for the next six verses. His story gets put on the back burner to simmer as another story starts to unfold.
VS 43
And a woman, (not a girl), having an issue of blood, (unclean, couldn’t even go to the synagogue), 12 years.
I find it interesting that 12 years is mentioned twice in these two verses. Jairus’ daughter had been living the exact amount of time, that this woman had been dying.
This woman has been slowly dying, bleeding to death, over the past 12 years. She had spent everything she had, she had gone to the best doctors, and nobody could help her.
If you look into it, it’s amazing all that this lady could not do in her state of uncleanness. You may remember when i spoke on "The Filthy Rag Syndrome", some of the things she wasn’t permitted to do.
After verse 43 gives us a brief glimpse into this womans life and her condition, verse 44 tells us what she does.
Now remember the scene. Jesus and Jairus was thronged and packed in by the multitude of people surrounding them.
VS 44
And in verse 44 we read that this sick, bleeding, unclean woman, pressed through the crowd. Remember she is not allowed to touch anyone. Like a leper, she should be saying "unclean, unclean".
But this little lady, pressed through the packed crowd, came up behind Jesus, and touched the border, or fringe, of His garment, and immediately her flow of blood ceased.
As we read this story, remember, no one knows whats going on with this woman. Jesus, Jairus, the disciples, the crowd, no one knows what this little lady is up to. As she fights her way closer to Jesus, as she pressed her way between the people, there is a faith building up, there is a desire just to touch the hem of his garment.
I don’t have any money left, the doctors took it all, and i’m no better.
But i’ve heard about a man. This man named Jesus.
I’ve heard that He can heal.
I’ve heard that He can do the impossible,
that He can work miracles.
I know i’m unclean, and not worthy to touch Him, but if I can just get close enough to fall at His feet and touch his garment.....
I’ve got to do it! It’s my only hope! It’s my last chance!
I may have nothing to offer, but i’m not giving up!
I may be weak , but i’m still pressing.
The border, hem or fringe of the garment was blue.
Border of blue symbolizes Heaven.
The pharisees made their borders wide to appear to be more spiritual than others.
How many of you know, that when you touch heaven, when you plug into the power of God, SOMETHING HAPPENS !
VS 45
Jesus does something peculiar here. He and Jairus, are on their way to Jairus’ house, but they are slowed down by the crowding people pressing them, and all of a sudden
Jesus said "WHO touched me ?"
All denied.
Isn’t me, Isn’t me, Isn’t me, I didn’t touch you, Not me, Nope, Don’t look at me, Wasn’t me.
Finally, Peter, and all those with him, said "Master, you gotta be kidding, the multitudes surround you, and throng you, and press you on every side, and you’re saying "Who touched me?" C’mon now.
VS 46
Jesus said "SOMEBODY TOUCHED ME, somebody did touch me, for i perceive that virtue/power is gone out of me, has gone forth from me."
Virtue=Power
WHOEVER TOUCHED ME, RECEIVED IT !
You know it and He knows it, when contact is made.
The Lord likes to touch and be touched.
VS 47
When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came up trembling, and falling down before Him, she declared in the presence of all the people, for what reason she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately, instantly healed.
VS 48
And Jesus said to her,"Daughter, be of good comfort,
YOUR FAITH, (your confidence and your trust in Me),
hath made thee whole, go in peace."
And just like that, the story shifts from her, back to Jairus.
VS 49
While Jesus was still speaking to the lady, someone from Jairus’ house , came and whispered to Jairus, "Your daughter is dead."
"Don’t weary and trouble Jesus anymore."
Can you imagine Jairus? His heart sank. He was without hope. He had lost his one and only daughter, while Jesus was on His way to his house. You can feel the sadness and hopelessness rising within Jairus. He had just seen Jesus heal a dying lady, just when he had been given hope, it was taken away. His daughter was dead. Then he was told to stop troubling Jesus, your wearying Him, your just being a bother.
VS 50
But when Jesus heard the sad news that was told to Jairus, he turned to him, looked him in he eye, and said "FEAR NOT, BELIEVE ONLY, and she shall be made whole."
Jesus had just told the lady with the issue, that her faith had made her whole. Now He’s telling Jairus to believe only, not to be afraid, and his dead daughter would be whole also. I’m sure Jairus at this point is going out of his mind, he is so conflicted, and Jesus calmly and compassionately tries to get Jairus to focus. I don’t know if Jairus felt like, what else do I have to lose, but he and Jesus keep walking.
The amplified reads "Do not be seized with alarm or struck with fear, simply believe, (in me as able to do this), and she shall be made well."
And when Jesus came to the house, everyone was weeping, and bewailing her.
Which is normal, she had just died. That’s the proper response.
VS 52
But Jesus had no time for explaining, He just told them all to "Stop weeping, stop your crying, she’s not dead, shes’s just sleeping."
VS 53
Do what? Is this man insane?
They began to laugh Jesus to scorn,
because they knew that she was dead.
VS 54
Jesus put them all out. Jesus has no use for doubt.
GET THE DOUBT, OUTTA THE HOUSE!
GET THE DOUBT OUT!
Jesus grasped her by the hand, and called, saying,
"Child, Arise."
How do you touch Jesus?
With faith and feeling .
We have not a high priest that cannot be touched by the feelings of our infirmity. Heb 4:15
(Blind Bartimaeus)
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16
.....if haply they might feel after Him.... Acts 17:27
Not praising and praying and worshipping with our heads and throats, but with our inner-most being, our guts, our hearts and souls.
(Hannah)
If you can’t feel it, you aren’t doing it right.
You should feel it in the pit of your stomach, and you should feel it in your heart.


David Munn