Serenity in Suffering

 A common plight of all people is suffering. Suffering comes in different ways. Defined suffering is undergoing pain, distress, or hardship. Suffering is woven in the lives of characters throughout the pages of scripture. Once sin entered the world through the original sin of Adam and Eve, suffering has impacted every generation. 

We are often lulled to sleep by times of personal peace and prosperity. When everything is going like we want it to go, we feel immune from suffering. We may hear about it in others. We may even see it in people we know. We make notes to ourselves to do everything possible to insulate ourselves from having to endure those same hardships. 

People work out incessantly to protect their health. I knew a man who rode a bicycle 20 miles everyday. That same man had a heart attack. I've known others who were extremely careful and strict about their diet. They got cancer. Others work insanely to make more money. They think financial security will protect them from suffering. Some of those same people lost everything in bad investments. I've seen godly parents protect their children from bad influences. They taught their children right from wrong, poured scripture into them, as well as prayed over them and with them. Some of those same children rebelled choosing sin breaking the hearts of the parents. People living in war torn areas once lived in peace. Now, they live with the reality that one bomb could destroy not only their property but also their very lives. They struggle through each day trying to survive and keep their loved ones protected. There are Christians who are persecuted all over the world. They are tortured for turning to Jesus. Their families are harassed. Yet they endure the suffering stoically. 

I prayed for a virtuous woman and her family this morning battling breast cancer. She lies in a hospital recovering from a major surgery to remove the cancer weary, but stalwart in faith. I don't understand the reasons one who loves Jesus so much had to suffer so excruciatingly. Months of grueling pain, treatments, surgeries, dashed hopes, and now trying to recover from surgery. She is still strong in the faith. 

A worship minister and song writer I met years ago lost his wife this past year to cancer. He begged his family and friends to pray for healing. God ultimately chose to heal her in heaven leaving him alone with four children to press on without her. He is wrecked. He is now a widower like so many before him. He sleeps in an empty bed on one side. There is an empty place setting at the table. A closet full of clothes remind him of his loss. 

We lost Brenda's mom on April 16th of this year. She died the same day men from Fritch were loading the moving truck to make our transition to a new church and community. Brenda made Christmas ornaments with pictures of her mom on them and sent one each to her two sisters. She talked on the phone to one of those sisters last night as she opened hers while they talked breaking down in tears. Our family is not the only one to have suffered loss this past year. Many people died. Grieving loved ones suffer through this holiday season. It will not be the same. Memories can never replace the person. Pictures can never replace the person. Grief brings a suffering that can last for years and ache in the heart that cannot be put into words. The grief comes in waves. A person may be doing fine one moment, and without warning a song, a picture, a memory, or memento may trigger the tears to cascade. 

So many people suffer financial hardships. Some do so just because times are tough. Prices keep increasing while wages do not always keep pace. Some suffer from poor financial choices of charging credit cards creating more debt. Sooner or later the bills come due and stress along with them. Living under financial suffering is suffocating. Every day people scrap to survive. They try to stretch the dollar as much as they can, but at the end of the day there just isn't enough to cover necessary expenses. 

Things are even worse for those living on fixed incomes who worry each month if they will have enough to survive. They go without needed expensive medications because they can no longer afford them. They eat cheaply on things like toast, crackers, and a luxury meal might be cereal or a frozen dinner. Nobody knows their suffering. They hide it from family and friends preferring to suffer silently than to sound alarms for help. 

There is a serenity that can be found in suffering. See Jesus suffering in agony in the garden praying that the cup of crucifixion might pass. He found serenity in surrendering to the will of His Father. Recall the sufferings of Joseph in Genesis. He found serenity in being faithful wherever he was planted even in prison. Even when wrongly imprisoned, he remained faithful surrendering to God.  Paul suffered for serving Jesus. He could still write that he rejoiced and learned the secret of contentment. That secret was surrendering to the will of God. 

When I prayed this morning, the thoughts of my minor sufferings were frustrating me. That is until God brought revelation to my mind. In each trial I face, I know He has the answers. The thought soaked into my soul that instead of striving with God, instead of becoming more impatient and frustrated, I need to surrender. To submit to His will no matter what it is. To resign myself to accept both His denials and delays in answering prayers. An amazing thing occurred as I adopted that new attitude. Peace permeated my soul. Joy replaced jadedness. Hope engulfed my mind that God is good and knows what is best. None of my sufferings changed. Each one is still prominent. Serenity came when I surrendered it all to God. Just like Ps 55:22 and Phil 4:6-7 command us to do. I trust that can happen for you too as you surrender to His will in suffering. 

Mount Up Like Eagles

 Nobody can control every circumstance in life. Adversities come. Storms slam against us. Pain is universal to all people. While we cannot control these things, we can learn to cope with them. One of the verses that helps me to cope is Is 40:31. I especially love the phrase that those who wait on the LORD will mount up on wings like eagles. 

Eagles are one of my two favorite animals. I once sat on a ranch and had a view of an eagle perched high on a tree limb looking over a lake. I watched that eagle in fascination for well over an hour. I noticed he did not fly in a flock. He sat alone. Other birds flew all around him. He never stooped to their level. He sat majestically on his perch just watching. He was content to be who God created him to be and not a follower of other feathered fowl. What a great lesson for all of us. 

About an hour into watching I witnessed a magnificent sight. The eagle flapped his wings lifting from the perch and soared to the water surface. With skillful precision he reached his talons into the water and snatched a fish. With is prey in hand, he soared off into the distance out of sight. A reminder that God is our provider. There are times we have to wait for His provision like the eagle waited for His catch. God will provide in His way and in His time. 

I went home and studied about eagles after that. Did you know that eagles mate for life? Another lesson for us to be committed to covenant marriage. We are not look and long for what is not lawfully and not covenantly our spouses.  

The fact that fascinated me the most is when an eagle sees a storm approaching they soar high above the storm unphased by the torrential rains and winds. We are exhorted to mount on wings like an eagle as we wait on God's help and endurance whatever we are facing. While we live on this side of heaven, that does not mean we can't gain strength and comfort by what awaits us after and above the storms of life. 

Too often we get caught up in the storms of life. We think they will never end. From the eagle's vantage point, they see the storm's beginning and ending. They understand that the storms will not last forever. So they soar until they blow over. We need to do the same thing in prayer. Soar above our circumstances spiritually until days of calm and peace return. We do this in prayer and by tenaciously clinging to the word of God to anchor our souls. 

Tough times do not last forever. Storms do pass. This is something to be remembered when life is chaotic and people start reacting to life in chaotic ways. I remember that eagle firmly perched unphased by whatever other bird did. Just because people choose to live in fear and anxiety when adversities come does not mean we have to follow suit. We can live with a peace that surpasses all understanding. 

God created us in His image. We are people of faith. Jesus slept in a storm while the disciples panicked. We can go through storms and soar above them in spirit. Through faith in an all powerful God who never grows weary nor ever frets, in the tough times we can endure. We are in His hands. We can rest easy t hat He is still in control. I am not suggesting all these times will easy smooth sailing. We may be tested severely. It is in those times that our faith is strengthened and God shows Himself faithful.  He strengthened us through difficult times in the past. He will do the same thing currently as well as in the future. May He enable us to mount up with wings and soar above trials and tribulations with peace. 

Regret and Repentance

 Have you ever lived in regret? You acted or reacted in a way you wish you could take back. If you could relive that moment, you would do things differently. Make different choices. Sadly, nobody can go back undo past mistakes. No matter how much we may relive those moments in our minds, we cannot undo the past. 

All we can do is repent. To agree with God about mistakes, poor choices, and our sin. It is a sobering thing to look at yourself in the mirror of God's word and admit your guilt. No amount of beating yourself up will change anything. No matter how much you wish you would have acted differently can change the end results. There are consequences for actions. We hurt God, ourselves, and those around us. We have to face the facts like King David did in Psalm 51. The whole Psalm is one of repentance for committing adultery with Bathsheba and having her husband killed. You can fill the pain, sorrow, and anguish as David repents. 

Repentance is not a word used frequently by most people. It needs to be. It's one thing to live in regret. It is a whole other thing to live in repentance. Regret should lead to repentance. Why repent? Repentance is ultimately redemptive. Repentance is taking responsibility for our own guilt. Repentance is accepting the consequences of our choices. The redemptive part of forgiveness is receiving the forgiveness and restoration from God we do not deserve. God forgives our sin. Ps 103:8-12  I Jn 1:9  Redemption is about God dealing with us in grace as opposed to justice, or what we deserve. 

Regret is condemning. Repentance is painful. Redemption is healing. Regret alone will only heap more guilt on us. Repentance may not be pleasant, but it leads us to cleansing with God. Redemption restores our fellowship with God. 

It is a waste of time living in the muck and mire of regret. Wishing you had said yes when you said no, or vice versa. It does not help our cause when we constantly live in the past missing out on what God has for us next. If God wiped His hands of guilty sinners, He never would have used David, Peter, Saul, and millions of others. Repentance is constantly clearing our sin debt through the shed blood and grace of Jesus. Repentance is living with an undefiled heart. Repentance comes from the kindness of God who leads us to turn from our evil ways and seek His forgiveness. Romans 2:4 Thank God for regret that leads to repentance. 

Not A Happy Thanksgiving

 My heart is grieved today as tens of millions of Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. I know that probably sounds odd. I know in my soul it is not a happy day for everyone. There are many who will struggle through this day for a multitude of reasons. Reasons that others may be oblivious to even recognize. 

There are those who are not happy today because they are alone. On a day when families gather together, love is shared, laughter fills the room, and joyous embraces are numerous, some will go through this whole day alone. Nobody will sit with them at the table. They will not get a phone call. No knock on the door. No invitation to join others. They will sit in silence and solitude drowned out only by the noise of a television. They grieve the loss of loved ones. Some taken by the icy grip of death. Others by heart wrenching divorces. Some by fractured relationships that never healed over time and grudges mixed with stubborn prideful hearts refuse to bend to reconcile. Some sit alone because they had the misfortune of outliving every person who knew them. 

There are many who will have an unhappy Thanksgiving because they live in poverty. They are homeless. They have insufficient funds for a traditional holiday feast. Some of these people are too proud to accept charity. They will scrounge through trash cans hoping to get enough food to survive. So they will suffer through this day in lack instead of in plenty. They will go through the entire day with hunger pangs gnawing at their stomach. They will sleep in bitter cold fighting in vain to stay warm. The cold will go deep into the bones. They will shiver and their teeth will chatter while millions sit in comfortable houses with fires in the fireplaces and warm clothing. 

There are parents who mourn the whereabouts of prodigal children. There will be an empty place at the table this year reserved for that child who lives in rebellion. These parents will try to put on a happy face for the rest of the family, but deep inside they ache in their soul that the whole family is not together. They will force themselves through a meal with little appetite. They would trade all the food in the world for the restoration of their prodigal child. 

Families will gather today with an empty chair at the table because of the recent loss of a loved one. The grief is still unbearable. Tears still flow. The memories of a mother, father, grandparent or child gone forever on this side of eternity is almost unbearable and crushing. Holidays will never be the same without them. Brenda and her sisters are living through this with the death of their mother back in April. It's hard to believe that she is gone. She was the last living parent for all of us. 

I'm reminded that it's not always a Happy Thanksgiving. My soul grieves for each of these. It makes me pause and recall that I have it so much better. I also lift up a prayer for those who are not having a happy day. Only God can help. 

We're Not 20 Anymore

 God must have a sense of humor. Brenda and I are both 59. One of her favorite sayings to me when I dream some new adventure in faith is, "I'm not 20 anymore." The reason I wrote God must have a sense of humor is that we are still working with students at our age. For the past 15 years I have served both as pastor and student pastor at the different churches we served. I thought we had moved past that decades ago. It just so happened in each church we served that leadership was needed with teenagers, and once again we found ourselves rubbing shoulders with young people 45 years younger than us. Even one of our youth workers commented last night she was born in 1990. Brenda and I graduated from college that year. We're getting too old for this. 

After full day of preaching and teaching, we did something I still can't believe last night. We held a lock in for our students. We had 30 students attend. We were tired before the lock in even started. It went from 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. We played games, had an evangelistic lesson, did our version of the hit food network series "Chopped", and enjoyed a midnight breakfast buffet. I am usually in bed by 9:00 p.m. most nights. We did all that plus added a movie around 2:00 a.m. on a Sunday night. It was a gut check. Our two youngest sons pulled the rip cord and baled out around 2:30 in the morning. We were blessed with two ladies who stayed the course all night long. They were a huge help with us. Others came for part of the night and stayed as long as they could. 

Brenda and I finally got to bed around 7:40 this morning. We awoke three hours later and have been going ever since. We are not 20 anymore. I don't know why God has us still working with students. I'm not relevant with their social media, video game driven, high drama, self entitled, and fragile identities. I'm a Bible preacher and teacher and not an event planner. Yet, in the goodness of God He still saves students. We saw the Lord save three last Wednesday night. We baptized a seventh grade girl yesterday morning. 

I have never served a group of students like those I see here. You can see the pain in their eyes. Some of these students have been hurt deeply and stumble through their days with gaping emotional wounds. Though it is not spoken out loud, it is evident some of these students have been abused. They carry the trauma with them. A few act out in rebellious ways because hurt people hurt other people. At this young age, we already see the signs of addiction. 

Why do Brenda and I keep laboring with students as we are fast approaching our senior adult years. Why do so many other adults give of their time and money over and over again to sacrifice or and serve students? We care. We care deeply about the souls and wellbeing of students. We still go to their ball games. We still try to build relationships with them. We still pray for God to transform them. We still find ways to serve them. 

We are not alone. We had several volunteers work that lock in. One man stayed up past midnight even though he had to be at work very early the next morning. Another young couple worked with us past midnight also bringing their young daughter and two five year old twin boys. We even had a few senior adults stay up late to serve as judges for our chopped competition. One grandmother stayed up the whole night serving because her two grandsons were in attendance. Another man stayed with us as long as he could before having to get sleep before work this morning. One lady has held down the fort for years with these students really stepped up last night again. She affectionately calls the students her kids. She is loving as a mother to those students, but can also be as tough as a father when needing to make students behave. 

We all left tired and longing for our beds  this morning. We may not be 20 anymore, but the eternity and spiritual well being of hundreds of students hangs in the balance. God has to give supernatural strength and the heart to love teenagers who do not always appreciate those labors of love. First Southern Baptist Church loves teenagers and children. Our people go the extra mile to show it. We feed high school students a free lunch each Tuesday just to show we care about them. We offer children's ministry in age appropriate ways teaching Bible truths and explaining the way of salvation. We do these things because Jesus embraced children. He loves the little children of the world. Therefore, we will love them too even though we are not 20 anymore. 

Surprised by God

 Have you ever been surprised by God? I am sure Mary was when God sent Gabriel to her announcing she would give birth to the Son of God. I imagine the disciples were surprised when Jesus called them to leave their fishing nets to follow Him and become fishers of men. I am betting Moses was surprised when he saw the burning bush that was not consumed by the flame, and he heard God call Him to deliver Israel from Egypt. Did Moses get surprised again when God parted the Red Sea to make a way for Israel to escape from Egyptian forces when there seemed to be no way? God surprised them again with manna, water from a rock, and provision of quail for meat. 

Have you been surprised by God? I have multiple times. Surprised when He called me to preach as an eighteen year old high school graduate the summer before I went to Howard Payne University to play football and study journalism. He surprised me again when I met the love of my life, my best friend, and wife of 34 years in Brenda. He surprised both of us when He blessed us with not one, but four sons. He surprised us with many might moves from Him saving souls. Too many to recount. At youth camps, revivals, retreats, rallies, and in the different churches we have served. He surprised us over and over again with answers to prayer. You just cannot know all the ways God has sustained Brenda and I over these 34 years on our journey of faith. Sometimes He provided hundreds of dollars. Sometimes thousands. A few times tens of thousands. We did not ask any person for this provision. We asked God, and He surprises us by communicating our need to people whom responded by giving. God gets the glory for every answer to those prayers. 

He surprised us with a call to Fritch, TX. I did not send a resume to this church. A friend did without my knowledge. He certainly called us here, a fact we cannot deny. He made a way for us to get a loan on a home based on my income alone. Brenda has not had a job in seven months. He has met our every need. He surprised us by moving so powerfully this past summer, and the much celebrated lake baptisms on Aug 3rd. He surprised us again by opening a door for our son Tucker to get a teaching and coaching job in Borger, only a few minutes from Fritch, and him moving back in with us. God surprised us again by First Southern Baptist Church blessing us with an incredible pastor appreciation gift a few weeks ago. He continues to surprise us with more people getting saved. Four in the past week and a half. 

God certainly surprised us by sending revival to FBC Seminole back in the summer of 2010. I look back on those days with such fond memories. The prayer meetings. The yearning for God by that church. the mighty men of prayer that met Friday mornings. I recall writing a 40-Day devotional in preparation for those revival services in just three days as God inspired the material. I reflect on the cleansing of the temple, where we prayed and read through the Bible out loud in the sanctuary, the week leading up to the first services. I still can see Coach Herb Rios starting the first service of those revival days by reading the last chapter of Revelation out loud that Sunday morning. I recall the first song of the first meeting sung by Sherman and Tammy Aten. The worship honored God for 23 straight days. There was intensity. I remember seeing people flat on their faces at the front of the church in tears as they repented of sin. The people kept showing up. Jase Waller baptized people nearly every night. 37 to be exact. The testimonies were deeply impactful. The people kept showing up hungry for more. My life revolved around prayer, study, preaching, sleeping and waking up to do it all again. God surprised us as much in those 23 days as He has my whole ministry. 

I sit here this Thursday evening after everyone else has left the office. It is after hours and I let my mind drift back to the surprise of that Seminole revival. I retreated to my office each night after the service to write about it while it was fresh on my mind. I plan to turn those writings into a book one day. While looking back with joyful satisfaction, I also am looking ahead. To the day when God chooses to pour out the weight of His presence in Fritch, TX at First Southern in a transformative way. I can see it in my mind and spirit. I know in those days God will do more than we have seen in decades. I look forward to the day He surprises us with true revival. One that shakes the church and the city. A revival that sweeps through all the churches in Fritch and far beyond into the whole Panhandle region. 

One day we will show up for up worship unsuspecting what God will do. One day the worship will transport into the glorious presence of God. One day the proclamation of His word will move people to broken repentance. Once the people are clean before God, He will start saving souls by the dozens. Dozens upon dozens and the baptistry waters will flow and be stirred continuously night after night. Nights will turn into weeks and weeks turn into months with all that God wants to do. One of these days He will surprise us with a revival that exceeds our wildest expectations. May it be so Lord. Amen. 

Sent on Mission

 I love the fact that God chooses to send us on mission for Him. Some missions are more important than others. God sending people to China or Libya seems a bigger deal than God sending us to pass out bulletins. In His kingdom, He determines the assignments. He chooses who will go and do whatever He deems necessary. Our role is to remain submissive and responsive to Him. 

In Mark 11, there is the story of Jesus sending two disciples to go find a colt nobody had ever sat on to bring back to Him. I imagine the disciples were puzzled by such a request. First, they walked or traveled by boat where ever they went. There are no recorded stories of Jesus riding a horse or donkey except in this case. Second, the colt did not belong to them. Jesus tasked the disciples with taking a colt that belonged to someone else. 

This mission was not the most important thing He ever sent his disciples to do. It seemed rather insignificant. They did not see the fuller implications of the mission. It required faith. It most likely did not make sense to them. They obeyed their Master anyway. 

There are times when Jesus calls us to do things that seem insignificant. Like serving food before Wednesday night Bible study. Or printing bulletins for Sunday worship services. Maybe it is playing an instrument in the worship team, running the audio visual equipment, volunteering in the nursery, or cleaning up after a fellowship meal. These may not be the most important jobs each week, but they play vital roles in the overall ministry. 

That colt Jesus sat on traveling down the street where people laid down palm branches had major significance. This action was done by the people to make way for the king coming down the road. Maybe the people thought that Jesus was going to be their king to conquer the oppression of Rome. They did not know that He was the King over every other king. That His rule would have no end. That is rule reached far beyond Rome to the whole world. 

The people shouted, "Hosana," which means save us now. They had no understanding that the salvation He would bring was much more needed than replacing an earthly government. His salvation would save people from their sins. His salvation extended beyond those laying down Palm branches. That salvation is still at work including three teenagers last night here in our youth group. 

The mission to get the colt did not seem very important. Thousands of years later we are still talking about it. Don't despise the small assignments. God sees so much more than we see. He sees how little acts of faithful obedience can result into much bigger outcomes than we can imagine. One small sacrificial gift of a small amount could be multiplied in the economy of God to do much more than we think. I say it again. Don't despise the small assignments. You never know how God might use it for His purpose and glory. 

A Miracle Story

 Brenda and I ate lunch with two friends today we have known for 30 years. God's call took us on different paths and we lost touch with each other for about 20 years. Now that God moved us to the Panhandle we reconnected. They told us the miracle story of a church they started 20 years ago. It is the Messiah's House miracle story. 

It started with four people. Jason and his wife Leanna and another couple. Just four people in a living room. Praying together and dreaming together. They felt the clear call to start a church. God blessed their steps of faith and faithfulness. Those four people grew into a dozen. Then into a few dozen. Eventually they secured an old church building in downtown Amarillo. Over the years, God kept bringing more and more people. To the point they outgrew the downtown location. 

Through a series of miraculous provision they bought a church property from a sister church who were relocating. A large spacious facility. The sanctuary contains 1,000 chairs. It is large but not audacious. Jason's office is small and understated. The children's areas are spacious and kid friendly. They have been in this location for eight years now. They just celebrated their 20th anniversary as a church. 

What  has God done in those 20 years? Thousands have been saved. They rented out Hodge Town, which is the minor league baseball stadium, for that anniversary service. 2,700 people attended. Over three dozen people were saved that day. It was a glorious day for our friends. 

They hold two services each Sunday morning back on their campus. Both services have around 800 people show up for worship. Parents stand in a line for up to 30 minutes to pick up their children from secure children's areas after the services. That little fact blew me away. The facilities are well marked, secure, and decorated with excellence. It is the kind of church where joy exudes from the people, and the life of God radiates  through every sector. God has truly done, and continues to do a miracle at Messiah's House. I rejoice for our friends, but more so for the expansion of the kingdom of God. 

I left there today inspired with Brenda. Not by the numbers. We are not chasing numbers. We are chasing God and His impact on people, families, and the community. It gives me hope not to despise the day of small beginnings. Fritch is a small town. First Southern is a small church. God is a BIG God and He is planting large dreams for this church. A church He will transform in the next few years. A church that will grow in prayer, faith, and numbers. A church with a new vision to pursue and a dynamic faith to share. We are starting with more than four people in a living room. We have a few dozen and ample facilities for many many more. While we are not large now, I believe growth is coming. I believe God's work has already begun. The excitement is building. The joy has returned. People hope again. Love flows again. The seats are starting to fill up again. While we are a long way from a full house, we are slowly inching forward. It is a privilege to get to serve here. I am blessed each Sunday night in our prayer meetings. The sound of those prayer warriors filling up the sanctuary moves me each week. The anticipation for greater days is all around. I can't wait to see what God does six months from now, a year from now, five, ten, and even twenty years from now. God will astound us, and we will glorify Him every step of the way. One day we will have our own miracle story to share. 

Burning Hearts

 When I use the phrase burning heart, I am not talking about the acid reflux from eating something spicy at dinner. I'm referring to a soul burning hot with love, zeal, resolve, and passion in knowing and serving God. Such people seem to be few and far in between sitting comfortably and callously in the pews week after week. 

Think about it. For all our money spent to disciple people, in some churches tens of thousands, others hundreds of thousands, and a few millions, what do we really have to show for it? Only about 50% of the membership ever show up. The majority do not support the church through volunteering in a ministry. While many may support the church financially, the minority do so with full ten percent of their income. One statistic reports that 9:10 people have never shared their faith in Jesus Christ with a lost person. 95% have never personally prayed with another person to trust Jesus as their Savior. These are sobering statistics which do not indicate we have people with burning hearts in our congregations. 

When I think of the millions of dollars spent on building facilities, adding specialized staff to oversee ministries, producing more programs to keep people busy, and then look at the end result of all that, I am grieved. We are producing good church members. Are we producing people with burning hearts who go continually to make other disciples? Matt 28:19 

When I think about my own spiritual journey from conversion to this day, I see some things that made the difference for me. God put men in my life early on to personally disciple me. I was taught from my conversion that we are supposed to witness for our Lord Jesus Christ. It is commanded all through the Bible. Matt 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8, Acts 20:24, Rom 1:14-16 just to name a few. People know this. They have heard it over and over again. They simply refuse to obey it. We are commanded to go make disciples who in turn make other disciples? Seeing people trust Jesus as their Savior is like pouring gasoline on an already existing fire. I got to baptize a young man this past Sunday morning. I wish I could do that every single week by the dozens at a time. This past summer we baptized 20 people in Lake Meredith. The joy was enthusiastic and contagious even for those who just showed up at  the lake for a Sunday afternoon picnic and swimming. Each person changed by Jesus and rescued from eternal damnation. That should make any believer's heart burn. 

I had a passionate follower of Jesus lead me to trust Jesus for salvation. That man did not stop there. He spent the next couple of years investing in me. In essence, he reproduced himself in me. The challenge was for him to make a disciple who would in turn make other disciples. That is what I've tried to do for the last three decades. I've tried to reproduce myself in other young men and women. His investment in my life resulted in a burning heart that burns more today than back then. Through the years, God put others in my path who did the same. They invested in me and made my heart burn even more. Men like Eli Bernard, Charles Roberts, Dr. Frankie Rainey, David Munden, Eric Adcock, Galli Davis, Jeff Robinson, Keith Nash, Les Chambers, Karl Don Hughes, Greg Hughes, Kelly Hughes, Mark Beaty, Tim Shirley, Jase Waller, Sean Decker, Herb Rios, and many many others. These men helped me burn brighter and hotter. 

Then there are the authors. Leonard Ravenhill, A.W. Tozer, Rees Howells, E.M. Bounds, Jim Cymbala, Roberts Liardon, and Mark Batterson to list a few of my favorites. Each added to the burning. Each spurred me to blaze higher and hotter. There is no room for ice cycle sermons preached by cold hearted preachers. We need fire hot messages born in prayer that are used by God to exhort, convict, inspire, ignite, and empower listeners. We must have devoted passionate burning disciples who live on mission to make other disciples. 

The number one factor I contribute to my burning heart is that I try to stay close to the flame. God is a consuming fire. The closer I get to Him in prayer the more my heart burns. The lack of burning hearts indicates to me that we do not have church members spending much time in the blazing presence of God. What a shame. Many are content with lukewarm hearts. This makes God vomit. Rev 3:16

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church, once asked God to set him on fire so that others would come and watch him burn. I would add one thing to that thought. May people come and watch us burn for Jesus, and have the fire of God to spread to those watching. 

In February of 2024 a wildfire spread through the Panhandle of Texas scorching hundreds of thousands of acres, killing tens of thousands of cattle, and destroying hundreds of structures. I heard over 200 homes were destroyed by the fires in Fritch, TX alone. Other communities were hit just as hard. The conditions were right. A lot of rain that year produced a lot of dry dead grass. The humidity was low that day and the winds were high. One spark ignited walls of fire that spread fast. 

What if that same thing were to happen spiritually? God has people prepared for salvation. The conditions are right. The harvest is plentiful. What if any one us were used by God to be the spark that ignited revival in our region. I pray it be so. I pray we burn for God and seek to spread that fire to those around us. Just imagine what good might come from that. I trust God for it. 

Our Days Are Numbered

 It does not give me any great pleasure to write this, but it is true nevertheless, we all have an expiration date. Our days were numbered from before we were born. I am pleased to shepherd three people in our flock who are still active in their 90's. Each still lives independently. They are all here most Sundays. One still worked until about a year ago. One lady still mows her own yard of over two acres. The third just recently stepped down from teaching a Bible study class. I have heard of a 93 year old preacher who drives 35 minutes each Sunday to preach to a small flock. Those are all pretty amazing feats to me. As beloved as those people are to those around them, they would be the first to admit that they will not live forever. 

I know of an 81 year old lady who is passionate about missions, and labors to serve food to high school students for lunch weekly. She is flanked by other senior citizens doing  their part to express the love of the Lord to teenagers. They cut, chop, mix, cook, and dish out delicious students for free each Tuesday morning. They inspire me to do more and not less. They do not use their age as an excuse. Yesterday I saw multiple senior adult men constructing a fence around our playground. Some are in their mid 70's. Some of those men serve on disaster relief teams on chainsaw crews when natural disasters strike. They are an inspiring bunch. The fact remains each of them have numbered days remaining like the rest of us. 

We can bemoan the fact that we will not live forever on this planet. We do not get to choose the way we leave this earth. Like the 90 year old people in our church, I would prefer to live independently in relatively good health able to serve the Lord until my last day on this planet. I think most of us would. The reality is some people require care in the twilight of life. Some have to live with family members, others must have home health care, and sadly some are forced to go into a care facility to live out the last chapters of their life. 

Such was the case for my friend brother Bob Harper. He was a preacher I served with when I was still i youth ministry. He outlived one of his sons and his beloved wife Patsy. Each time I would go visit him, we talked about books we loved to read and things of the Lord. He never failed to tell me when I left, "If I don't see you again down here, I will see you up there in heaven." He told me that for several years. Then his health began to fail. He was in and out of the hospital and rehab facilities. It became apparent the end was near. He could no longer get up. The last few times I visited him he was incoherent. The last time I saw him he was curled up in the fetal position struggling to breathe. I knew he would not be around much longer. He died that night. He reached his last numbered day. I told him that day I was envious he was getting to heaven before me. 

People do not like to think about or talk about death. They avoid it. Many do not even like to use the word death. It is just as much a part of life as a new baby being born. Ecclesiastes 3:2 states that there is a time to give birth and there is a time to die. Ps 90:12 exhorts us to be taught to number our days that we present to God a heart of wisdom. Nobody lives forever on this planet. The oldest person alive today is a woman who is 113. One day she will reach her allotted number of days from God and die. 

We can focus on the morbid thought of death. I only mention it for two reasons. People must be warned that after death they will face the judgment of God according to Heb 9:27. Those who have trusted Jesus for salvation, and received forgiveness from their sins through His shed blood on the cross, will graduate to eternal life. Those who stubbornly rejected the grace and love of God will  receive eternal damnation. I write in hopes that maybe one person might read this, and turn from their sin to Jesus for salvation before it is too late. 

The second reason I write this is not to focus on dying, but to focus on living while we still have life. No matter our age, we can still live and make the most of the days we have left. We can still learn. We can still worship God and seek Him. No matter how limited our bodies become, our soul can still soar to new heights in our relationship with God. We can still pray believing God to move mountains. We can still talk about Jesus to others. There is so much we can do. Let us live out our days like Jonathan Edwards did when he wrote his 70 resolutions. One of them simply stated, "I resolve to live with all my might while I live." Even though our days are numbered, may we live each remaining day with all our might. 

Wrestling with the Word of God

 Have you ever wrestled with the word of God? You read Bible truth, but your experience and your prayers  resulted in a different reality. You wrestled with God over His word. What He promised He would do it appeared He did not do. You did mental gymnastics trying to  reason your way through the discrepancy of your experience and God's truth. Does God keep His word? Is He a promise keeper or a promise breaker you may have wondered? These are legitimate questions. 

Is there one single verse in the Bible that is not true? Can people really stand on God's word and His assurances to us? Have you ever wrestled with the word of God?

You may read verses like Matt 7:7-8. You may have asked, sought, and knocked, but you did not receive, you did not find, and the door was not opened for you. Maybe you  read and prayed Mark 11:23-24, but your mountain did not move. You might have read Jn 14:14 and asked in Jesus name, but you did not receive what you asked for? There are multiple other verses that could be cited and the out comes be the same. What is the answer? Is it some preacher double talk making excuses for God's failures? Is there some other insight that has not been considered?

Walk with God long enough and you will come upon an experience when it appears God did not keep His word. What do you do then? John the Baptist faced such a moment. He doubted Jesus was the Messiah. He sent people to get an answer to his question. Jesus answered in a mysterious way that the blind received their sight, the lame walked, but blessed are those who did not stumble on account of Him. To put that another way, Jesus responded by saying blessed is the person who does not understand Him, but trusts and follows Him anyway. 

There is a tiny part of many Christians who read God's word and apply it in prayer while thinking they know the best way for God to answer. They figure out in their minds the way they think God ought to work to give them the desired result. Be very careful and repentant if such thinking enters your mind. You are in essence saying, "God I know how to run the affairs of my life better than you do." That is blasphemous. Sovereign God knows what He is doing. There will be many times when it appears He failed and let His people down. Trust Him anyway. 

I cite two old testament and one new testament example. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and eventually put in prison for a false accusation by a lustful woman, whom Joseph rejected her sexual advances. Sitting in prison recalling his freedom, it must have felt like God failed him. Fast forward. In one day God promoted Joseph from prison to the palace second in command over the land. God did that to preserve His covenant people Israel from perishing in a drought. That would not have happened if Joseph did not get sold into slavery. 

After Joseph died and Pharaoh died, another ruler reigned in Egypt. When he saw the swelling population of Israel he feared. The people of Israel became slaves. Generation after generation begged God for deliverance but still died slaves. Did they feel God let them down? Eventually God raised Moses to deliver them from their bondage. It seemed like God was not keeping His word to Abraham about making him the father of a great nation. In reality, God kept His word. During the slavery years, the Israelites multiplied into millions of people. It was then that God brought them out slavery in miraculous fashion as a whole nation of people. God did just what He promised Abraham He would do. 

In Acts 8, after Stephen was stoned to death, persecution hit the church. This caused Christians to scatter to the surrounding regions outside of Jerusalem. Saul was arresting Christian men and women and hauling them to prison. It did not appear that what God promised in Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:8 were true. The reality was God scattered His people so the gospel could be taken to Judea, Samaria, and the far parts of the world. God kept His word after all. 

You may wrestle with God's word compared to your experience. You only see in part while God always sees the whole picture. He knows what He is doing, and therefore can be trusted. In your wrestling with the word of God, put this in the back of your mind. You only see part of the puzzle with several key pieces missing. You cannot make out the whole picture from your vantage point. God holds those missing pieces and knows WHERE and WHEN to place them in the puzzle so that it makes sense and it glorifies Him. Don't judge God too hastily or harshly. You just have not seen the full picture yet. Give God time and watch what He does. He will always vindicate His faithfulness when given time. 

The Steadfast of Mind

 The longer I walk with the Lord the more I see the need to win the battles in the mind. I believe Satan attacks there most. He is constantly assaulting our thoughts planting toxic doubts, depression, and disillusionments there. He is relentless in those attacks. You could be having a great week, and then one thought along with dwelling on that thought could send you on a tail spin. Your faith cracks. Doubts creep in crowding out hope in the God who loves you. 

When those thoughts are accompanied by confusing circumstances, multiple why questions, and crushing crippling criticisms that God has failed and abandoned you it is easy to live with turbulent thoughts. None of those things are true, but the enemy can wreak havoc in the mind to make us believe they are. These are not one time skirmishes with the father of lies. They are ongoing battles. Where do we go for help?

A little verse in Is 26:3 may help. The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace because he trusts in You. NASU  The word steadfast in this verse means the one who is supported and upheld. This does not mean through our own efforts we trudge ahead. It means we rest in God and are reminded God holds us no matter what we are going through. Sooner or later we all face things too difficult for us to bear. Things that are too heavy to carry, too painful to endure , too complicated to solve, and too massive to move. In those times, our steadfast mind must remember God is our support and help. 

The word keep means God will watch and guard us. Like a lifeguard at the beach watching ocean swimmers. He is always on the alert scanning for those who get in trouble. So is God watching us. He never sleeps. He never gets distracted. We need to remember this when the enemy sows toxic thoughts in us and our lives get topsy turvy. 

He keeps us in perfect peace. That means He keeps us in complete sound security. Why? Because we trust Him. We have confidence in Him. We keep our faith in Him. We believe He will always be there for us. No matter what we are facing. No matter how difficult life gets. The result of our trust is that God keeps us in perfect peace as we are steadfast in our minds. 

What does that mean? When life is chaotic and out of control, we can still rest in God in perfect safety and sanity of mind. When the crisis comes over and over again to the point we entertain the thought we can't take anymore, those who remember God supports us are able to reign in our wild runaway thoughts. When the tragedies come no matter how grievous, those who are steadfast in their mind have a firm foundation. When the storms blow so hard our thoughts begin to drift, the steadfast in mind find an anchor resulting in perfect peace. May the Lord strengthen and encourage troubled hearts with this word today. 

Travailing

 The word travail is defined as painful and laborious effort. That describes the kind of praying it takes to give birth to miraculous moves of God. The kind of heart, soul, and passion poured out before God. The only thing to liken it to is a mother giving birth to a child. There are tremendous labor pains and excruciating effort before the bundle of joy comes. 

This kind of prayer is taxing. It requires time, focus, perseverance, and gut wrenching agony in the kind of fervent petitioning that moves mountains, changes circumstances, and calls the things that are not into existence. It is a rare form of prayer among the pew dwellers. It cannot be accomplished in a few short minutes. Time becomes irrelevant in travailing intercession. A person will get lost in the presence of God losing track of time. Burdens will be unloaded and new ones will be planted from God about the things that break His heart. 

Just like a baby is conceived and then must grow to maturity before birth comes, so with some answers to prayer. Some answers come quickly. People love it when that happens. Other answers are delayed until God's perfect timing and plan unfold. This season of waiting is necessary just like it is necessary for the embryo to become a fetus and eventually a baby. God's answers will not come one second earlier than He intends. Some prayers linger in the ears of God. He does not always give us what we want. Many times we do not know what is best. The waiting period can seem long and drawn out. 

Then the time comes to travail. The answer is close at hand. The agony of such travailing times are not pleasant. In these times, faith is tested. Resolve is proved. Perseverance is required. The end result of all that is the long sought after answer. This is where God is glorified. Where His people get to testify of the great things He did. When the tangible answer is visible for all to see and enjoy. 

Sadly, some never get to this point. They give up too soon. The quit travailing, quit believing, cease hoping, and lose heart. How many millions of prayers were not answered that God intended to, because His people failed to travail long enough to give birth to the answer. Let us travail until we see God work for His glory. He is glorified when He does impossible, improbable, and implausible things. He is able. He is reliable. He is undeniably powerful. Let us travail until the miracle answer comes. 

Another Funeral

 I'm grieved today. Saddened by another death and another funeral. Don't get me wrong. I am not grieving the death of a person. I'm grieving the death of a church. To be more accurate, the death of multiple churches. I read a sobering statistic that in one denomination alone 900 churches close their doors every year. It is sad. 

I think about the excitement among the people who started those churches. With great hopes and optimism they felt the call of God to begin their church. A handful of charter members dreamed God's dream to start a Bible believing church. They prayed, sacrificed, and labored to see those churches established. People were saved. Ministries were started. Facilities were built. All with such high hopes. I bet not one person ever dreamed a day would come when the doors would shut forever. God is not glorified when that happens. 

Sadly, I have been a part of two such churches. Both of them were churches Brenda and I started. Both started with great enthusiasm and high hopes. In the end, both fizzled in finances and effectiveness. I walked away from both of those churches with a symbolic imaginary "F" stamped on my forehead standing for failure. I often wonder why we ever felt called to those tasks when God knew beforehand they would not succeed. 

Churches die for many reasons. The primary reason is that they forget the main thing. Go make disciples. When churches lose that primary vision of making disciples who go and make other disciples, that congregation will die a slow death. Members will age. Younger families will not come and take on roles of leadership. People retire. The finances dwindle. The facilities show wear and tear. There is no longer a volunteer base to lead different ministries. If no new disciples are reached, the church will not survive. 

It's tragic and a bad reflection on God. What does the closure of a church communicate to a community? That God was not strong enough to sustain His work? That people were not committed enough to keep the work alive? Neither bring glory to God. 

I mentioned earlier that one denomination reported 900 churches closing each year. I also read another report that estimates there are as high as 15,000 churches shutting down across denominational lines in North America in 2025. It is tragic. I spent a great deal of time praying about it this morning how I can be a part of helping. For years I carried a burden for church planting. I still believe there is a need for that in places. I think there is an equal or greater need to replant and revitalize dying churches. I have done both. Planting and replanting churches are both hard. In my opinion, replanting is harder and more strategic. 

It is harder because of traditions, bad church history, bad past leadership, and people are set in their ways. Yet, one advantage is established churches has facility that already exists. One of the great challenges of church planting is finding a place to meet. In our church planting efforts, we met in a student building on a college campus, two different school cafeterias, a football stadium, a daycare, a warehouse, and a living room. Finding space for a new church is always a challenge. If thousands of churches are closing the doors, then thousands of places already exist. These spaces could be available  if someone is willing to do the prayerful and hard work to see them revitalized. 

I pray God raises people who catch a burden and call from God to go alone beside a dying church to trust God to revive them. It will take brave warriors who are filled with faith unphased by the many challenges. What glory God will get when the trend changes When hundreds and thousands of churches are saved from closing their doors. God will always get more glory for reviving a church than for one dying. That is a funeral I hope to avoid in the future. 

The Prerequisite of Prayer

 Wherever you see a great move of God, know for sure that prayer preceded that move. We must have the prerequisite of prayer before we see God do powerful things. We must prayerfully plow to turn over the soil of petrified hearts, wayward hearts, sinful hearts, apathetic hearts, and hypocritical hearts. We have plenty of programs. Programs have not produced the power of God. We have personalities. Churches are filled with personalities who use their charisma to minister, but that does not mean they are empowered by God. 

I long for the power and presence of God right here in Fritch, TX. I know there is more. So much more than routine services. So much more than religious routines. So much more than going through the motions week after week. So much more than swapping church members with other churches. There is evangelism, spiritual awakening, revival, times of refreshing, and the people of God turning in repentance. There is more. 

I had an experience in 1995 that changed my life. A revival was going on in Pensacola, FL and a couple invited me to drive them from east Texas to the revival paying all my expenses. I could not pass up that opportunity. I had heard about that revival. I was not prepared for what I experienced. We arrived on the church property around 4:00 p.m. Hundreds of people were standing in line waiting for the doors to open for the service at 6:00 p.m. When I say hundreds, I mean close to one thousand people. The next day we showed up much earlier. 

Months later I took several members from our church. We drove through the night and got to the church property at 6:00 a.m. Dozens of people were already waiting in line prepared to stay there for 12 hours until the doors opened. It was in August in Florida. That meant hot summer temperatures and high humidity. We endured and it was well worth it. They opened the doors at 6:00 p.m. and the 2,500 seat sanctuary filled up in minutes. The worship was intense. The preaching was hard and biblical. The invitation was like a wave rolling onto the beach. Hundreds upon hundreds ran to the altar. Some to be saved, some to repent, and others to receive prayer. There were sights that I will never forget. It created a hunger that I have not shaken in 30 years. 

I yearn and hunger for God to do it again right here. Right here in the Panhandle of Texas. Up here in the big country. In this small community. In this small church. In all the churches. In this remote part of Texas. We must have God. I am hungry. More hungry for this than I have been to see God move in a very long time. 

There is a lot of plowing in prayer that must take place first. Prayer has to precede the coming move of God. Private prayer. Groups praying together. Praying in worship services. Pastors praying together. May prayer permeate the culture to turn back the darkness and precede the glorious moving of God.   

Siren Warning

 I was seated at my desk when a piercing emergency siren warning pierced my ears. It serves to warn people about tornadoes or other natural disasters are coming. It is a perfectly clear day here, so my guess is it was just a test to make sure the siren is in working order. Prepared for another day when such a sound would not be a test, but rather a warning about impending danger. 

Consider this post a siren warning. While people may go about each day as business as usual, I intend to sound the siren warning that it will not always be this way. We approach with each passing day when planet earth will enter into the end times. Seven years of great tribulation. Seven years where God will pummel earth with judgment stacked on top of judgment. Millions will be killed at one time. A new world government will come on the scene. One world ruler will rise identified as the antichrist. He will be ruled by Satan and will punish any Christian who does not bow in allegiance to Satan. Those who resist will be executed. 

That is not even the worst of it. The worst awaits those who never turn to Jesus in repentance and cry out to Him for salvation. The full fury of God will be poured out on those unrepentant. They will be condemned to eternal torture and torment in fiery hell. In utter darkness, in the bottomless pit, and suffering from eternal fire. It will be beyond imaginable suffering. It will not relent or lessen for eternity. For endless ages. 

That fate is coming. History is winding up to the end. Be forewarned. Heed it before it is too late. 

Prelude to Revival

 The burden is heavy. Deep seeded. A weight carried night and day. One that drives me to the prayer room. One that just compelled me to go into the sanctuary to pray some more. A yearning greater than I can put into words. To want to see the power and presence of God poured out in this church, the churches of this town, and through this community. 

Revival does not come without a cost. I'm not talking about a revival meeting where a church sets aside a few days with a guest preacher. The revival I yearn to see is much deeper. It is not scheduled. God sends it when He chooses. It could last weeks, months, and in some cases even years. A prelude to revival will always be a praying people. Prayer meetings are nearly extinct in so many places. We began Sunday night prayer meetings here a few months ago. I did not expect God would send revival right away. I know the soil of this church and community must be plowed through prayer for months or maybe years before such a move of God comes. 

There are many factors that contribute to revival. Yes, prayer must precede revival. There also has to be repentance. The people of God must be cleansed of sin. Repentance is not high on the priorities of many churches these days. It does not tickle the ears of this entertainment driven church age. The message of repentance will thin the crowds attending. Repentance has never been a popular message and never will be for that matter. It is needed. The people of God must turn from their wicked ways if they ever hope to see a real move of God. Another factor necessary for revival, is the people must hunger for God and His move among them. A hunger than transcends all other desires. A hunger that compel people to fast and pray. 

You could travel far and wide not finding churches where the people really pray, take repentance seriously, and really hunger for God to move powerfully. I think the results are self evidence. I was recently in a meeting with church consultants where they stated 90% of churches are plateaued or declining in attendance. This is a sure sign that God is not moving powerfully in the majority of congregations. I think people are content for it to be this way. Churches do not seem desperate enough to really have earnest corporate prayer meetings. When is the last time you heard of a church having a service devoted exclusively to repentance? Is repentance needed in the church today? Sure it is. When it comes to hunger, I say there are as many churches filled with people who hunger to see their children or grandchildren succeed in sports as they do to see God work powerfully in their lives, congregations, or communities. 

As long as those trends continue, there will not be great moves of God among us. I cannot accept that for the rest of my life. I know there is more. Much more. I have experienced it and I carry the burden to experience it again. Revival does not come just by wishing for it or reading a book about it. When the people of God get serious about meeting the requirements as stated in II Chronicles 7:14, God will get serious about working in transformational ways. 

There is always a prelude to revival. I'm on the front end of that here in Fritch, TX. Fritch, TX made the national news a couple of years ago with wild fires that destroyed over 200 homes. I pray for the day this community will make the national news again for the spiritual fire of God spreading through the churches here and through the whole Panhandle region. Prayer, repentance, and hunger must perseveringly come first. 

Wonder Working Power

 There is a lot of talk about the power of God. Rightly so. It is an awesome jaw dropping power. Only trouble is so few people really experience that power. There are hundreds of thousands of preachers in the United States. How many preach with the wonder working power of God? I certainly do not feel like I do, though I long for it. I preach the majority of time without results. The altar is barren Sunday after Sunday. I think that scene is replicated in worship centers across America. 

Where is the wonder working power of God? It does not come from reading books and gaining more intellectual faith. It does not come from sitting in academic classrooms. The wonder working power of God comes from one place. The secret place. The prayer room. Time spent there shut up to God is where what the Bible calls the anointing is born. This fresh anointing does not come without secret supplications. Only God knows how long that will take. 

We seem content without the wonder working power. I am not. I've tasted it. I saw the wonder working power of God in Seminole, TX back in 2010. God displayed that power. We experienced things that have been seared into my soul for 15 years. We saw the wonder working power of God at times weekly, and in one special season, we saw it nightly for weeks. Salvations. Deliverance from sin. Repentance. Brokenness. Revival. 

Since that summer I was forever changed. I can never be content with going  through the motions preaching again. No matter how many lifeless services I endure, no matter how many sermons I pour my out in preaching with no visible results, I know the power of God is wondrous. I know the power of God works in ways beyond explanation. I know God can do more in days with His power than I can ever do in my strength in decades. 

I can't explain why there is such a lack of power of God in the land. I can't even explain the lack of power in my own life. The Lord knows I sure pray. I pray a lot. Maybe I need to pray more. Maybe others need to pray more. I don't have answers. I just have a longing for the wonder working power of God. 

At the end of the day, it is the sovereign choice of God to anoint whom He wants. I long for Him to anoint me. I'm not out trying to make a name for myself. Certainly not trying to climb the ladder of success. I just want to be a vessel in the hands of God. An instrument of God's wonder working power. All I know to do is to keep praying. To keep pleading for more power. To remain faithful to preach the word of God without compromise or cowardice. I have to leave the results up to Him. Will you pray for your church and pastor for the fresh anointing of God to flow and the wonder working power of God to be on full display week after week. May we live to see those days ushered in again. 

What Do You Want Me to Do for You?

 Jesus asked that question to blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:51. Bartimaeus, who was blind, did not hesitate to respond that he wanted to receive his sight. That was a very specific answer to Jesus' question. He boldly responded. 

Think about the way we pray sometimes. We often pray vague ambiguous prayers that we would not really know if God answered or not. We pray general requests that cover a multitude of things. I believe we should learn to pray specifically to address what we need God to do for us. If we have a need of His provision and the need is for $957, then we should ask God for $957. I know this sounds dangerously close to name it and claim it theology. I assure you I do not support that. 

Go ahead and get your Bible and read Heb 11:1. Read the first few words. Does your translation read, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen?" Maybe yours reads a little differently. Generally they are similar. Did you notice that word "things". What things? What sort of things? When Abraham prayed believing God for an heir, he believed God for a specific gender in a son. When Israel thirsted in the wilderness, Moses prayed specifically for clean water to drink. When they desired meat, Moses prayed for meat and God sent quail. When Elijah prayed for the drought to end, he prayed for rain. You get the idea. 

What is it right now you want to God to do for you? The word "want" in Mark 10:51 means what do you desire, wish, and intend for Him to do for you? This is not based on what we deserve. It is based on mercy.  The compassion of God giving us what we could never earn or deserve. We all have wants. Some of those wants are legitimate needs. Others are things we wish God would do. What do you want Him to do for you? 

He is powerful enough to do anything. He is capable of answering. Notice Jesus did not ask what do you need me to do for you? He specifically used the word want. For many years, Brenda and I have stood firm in faith on Ps 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." The key phrase in that passage is delight yourself in the Lord. That means to desire what He desires. That means finding such contentment in Him that He curbs your desires into what He wills to do for you. 

Each of us has our own wants lists. God may will to answer some or all of them. One sure way to get prayers answered is to pray for what God wills to do. I Jn 5:14-15. I exhort you to not be afraid to pray specifically. Let me conclude with an illustration. In 2017, I asked God for five vehicles for my family. Between Thanksgiving and New Years, God answered that prayer. He supplied five cars with no debt. Each of those vehicles had over 150,000 miles on them. Each of them is on its last leg. They need to be replaced. 

Fast forward to 2025. I'm once again praying for vehicles. Only this time, I'm praying for six vehicles because our oldest son Taylor and his wife are down to one vehicle. I'm praying more specifically than I did back in 2017. God answered for the five cars, but they were all old and worn out when we got them. I'm asking God for His best vehicles with no debt. That does not mean I'm asking for brand new vehicles. It just means I'm asking for vehicles that will last a long time. I even asked different members of my family what kind of vehicle they would like. Doesn't mean God will give that, but I am praying accordingly. I asked God for those specific makes and models. 

I know that sounds outlandish. I get it. If God is asking me what I want Him to do for me, that is one thing I'm asking. Maybe I should say six things. My list is long. There are many other items I ask. I dare not list them so that you do not think I've lost all my marbles. I know that God can do anything. He glorifies Himself with answers. I lay this out now in advance so that when God answers you will know God answered specific prayers. He will be exalted. 

Go ahead. Ask in faith. Honestly answer God when He asks what do you want Him to do for you? You are just one miracle away from breakthrough. One miracle away from mountains moving. One miracle away from getting the desires of your heart. 

Countdown to the Holidays

 As the calendar turns to November, the holiday season is only weeks away. Christmas commercials started airing last month. A television network began showing Christmas movies around the clock already. I've even seen a few Thanksgiving commercials. A good friend of mine has been listening to his Christmas playlist for a couple of months. 

Not me. I am a traditionalist who does not want to think about Christmas until after Thanksgiving. I look forward to the first time we will have all four sons and daughter in law under our roof that fourth Thursday in November. We will watch some football, eat a feast, share around the table what we are thankful for and take our Christmas card picture. Either that evening or the next morning, we will decorate. 

I always dread this time of year. I'm no scrooge. Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day the working world slows down and in some cases even comes to a halt. What God has called me to do does not come to a halt because of the holidays. I have two ambitious goals to complete by the end of the year. To finish reading through the Bible. I have a long way to go to complete that task. I also set a personal deadline to complete the rough draft on my latest book. I just finished the third chapter and have a long way to go. There will be little slowing down for me. 

I will pause long enough to enjoy my family, and to truly give thanks for what God is doing for Brenda and I. I will celebrate His blessings. I will exult in the birth of Jesus, and once again be captured by the majesty and mystery of the Messiah's birth. 

I will also keep my nose to the grindstone and not use the holidays as an excuse to be apathetic. I read this morning from Ps 90:12 to number our days so as to present to God a heart of wisdom. I interpret that to mean make those days count. We only get a certain number of them. I do not want to squander them on things that will not matter. My favorite quote outside the Bible is from C.T. Studd. He said, "Tis only one life to live and twill soon be past. Only what is done for Christ will last." I want that to propel me into the holidays and past. To let that fuel ignite passion to do what I can while I can until my last breath. I hope you too will number your days even with the holidays coming. 

Millions of Voices

 In a world of millions of voices, are they all of equal value and authority. Does every news broadcaster deserve our attention? Does every author deserve our time to read? Does every social media influencer really have a message worth serious reflection? Does any politician really have something important to say without spinning it? There are millions of voices competing for our attention. Which ones are worthy of our full attention?

There is one voice that supersedes them all. Interestingly this voice is not always the loudest. It is not a voice jabbering away hoping to generate more followers on social media. It is not a voice found in celebrity printed materials or videos. It is not a voice found in the hallowed halls of Congress or even the Whitehouse. It is not a voice looking for a platform or a microphone to generate a buzz. 

The voice is strong but often still and soft. The voice is powerful and yet not power seeking. This voice is both popular and unpopular. It is voice heeded by the masses and ignored by the majority. It is a voice of reason in irrationality, comfort in chaos, truth in turbulence, and authority in anarchy. It is the voice of God through the Holy Spirit. 

God does not compete to be heard. He simply speaks for those who are listening. He speaks in many ways. He speaks through many vehicles. He may speak through His word, the Holy Spirit, music, other people, the church, and through circumstances. He is always speaking. Where people are truly tuned to what He says, two things are evident. These people know it is God doing the speaking. They also know what God is calling them to do. Noah was called to build an ark. Abraham was called to become a father of the nation of Israel. David was called to become a king. The disciples were called to follow Jesus. If you listen, you will hear what God is calling you to do also. 

Listening for the voice of God in a world of millions of voices requires some things many are not comfortable doing. First, you will have to read the Bible. That is the primary place God speaks to people today. Second, you will have to learn to embrace silence. To cancel out distracting noise. That means turn the tv off, silence your cell phone, and tune out all other voices waiting on God's voice. This will also necessitate solitude. Intentionally withdraw from people to be alone with God shut up with Him alone to hear Him speak. People are too busy to read their Bibles. People are uncomfortable with silence and solitude. What results is people not hearing the still small voice of God in their soul amidst the clattering chatter around us. With millions of voices all around, one should stand out above all the rest. That is the voice we must all seek to hear above the others. The voice of God. 

Lessons Learned by Waiting

 I don't know many people who enjoy waiting. We are impatient people. We are used to instant gratification. This works in a world of instant coffee, streaming services, and smart phones. It does not work so well in the spiritual world where God often makes His children wait. There are lessons that can best be learned by waiting. 

For one, we learn of our absolute dependence upon God. We are fooled from time to time thinking we are in control of our circumstances. All of this can change without warning in health issues, mechanical breakdowns, downturns in the economy, and natural disasters. We are not in control of any of those things. When we have to wait on God, we must come humbly and admit our total dependence upon Him. We pray and are forced to wait on God to answer. Like a child depending on a parent for food, shelter, and clothing we must depend on God. 

We learn endurance when God forces us to wait on Him. The farmer learns to endure during the harsh summer before gathering the harvest. The student must endure through grueling study sessions to complete the assignment asking for endurance to push through fatigue. The pastor must endure Sunday after Sunday to deliver God's word trusting Him with the results. The athlete must endure extreme workouts preparing his or her body for competition. The soldier must endure challenging circumstances to complete the mission. So must Christians learn to endure by waiting on God through prayer in the midst of trials and tribulations.

Another lesson we can learn by waiting, is not to settle for less than God's best. There are temptations to settle all around us. To settle for a second rate spouse, job, open door, or to even take matters into our own hands. God's way is best and His plans are best. Just ask Joseph in the Old Testament who was sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused and imprisoned by a wicked woman. God was at work all the time. God worked His best plan. God took Joseph from prison to the palace in one day in His providential plan. Abraham learned this lesson on waiting for God's best. He settled by listening to the foolish plan of his wife originating in the flesh to marry her maid servant to have a child through her. Ishmael was not God's best. Isaac was God's best and Abraham waited on him for twenty-five years. 

God uses waiting periods to refine us. Moses was a murderer as a young man. Forty years of waiting watching sheep refined Moses into a great leader for the nation of Israel. God works in the waiting periods. We must learn to embrace these periods of waiting. David waited to become king as an insane Saul chased him down like a fugitive to kill him. David waited and God prepared him to be a great king during that waiting period. Waiting on God is not wasted time. He is always working. God is never late. He is always right on time. You may have to wait a little longer, but at the proper time God will accomplish His purpose. Don't wait impatiently. Learn to wait in faith and expectantly. 

Merry Go Round

 I loved playing on merry go rounds when I was a child. I found equal enjoyment if I was the one spinning or riding. If I was spinning, I tried to spin it so fast my classmates could barely hang on to the bars. I took pleasure in the fact that people either got so dizzy it made them sick, or some actually could not hang on falling to the ground. Looking back that seems very cruel. Vice versa, if I was riding, I prided myself on never giving up or getting so dizzy I begged them to stop. There were times when I actually hooked my legs underneath the bar and hung upside down off the edge to get a greater thrill. 

While I loved that playground equipment, that is not what is on my mind today. I'm thinking of the merry go rounds of our busy schedules. Schedules that are spinning faster and faster out of control. The nights of sleep appear so short while some of the days appear long. Days with appointments and assignments piled on top of one another. Days so crammed you are tired before the day even gets started no matter how long you slept. 

I got myself in a jam a few years ago. I was the full time pastor at a church. I also took on the role of an Athletic Director for a private Christian school that met in our facilities. I coached basketball, P.E., weightlifting and started up a six man football program as well. On top of that, I preached or taught 8 times every week. I was on a merry go round I could not get off from spinning increasingly faster. 

It started taking a toll on me emotionally and psychologically. I just did not have down time. Nor did I have much time alone when somebody did not need me to do something. It all became real when during the week of Spring Break when I had the entire facility to myself, I got irritated when a teacher stopped in to feed her fish in the classroom. She did not bother me. It bothered me that she was in the building, even though minding her own business. I knew something was wrong with me that day. 

I was given a book about refreshing the soul soon after that incident. As I read it slowly and I identified the reason for my irritation at the teacher coming in the building. My life was spinning too fast and I needed to slow down. There was no off ramp. No way of slowing down the increasing speed of the merry go round. I went from even tot event exhausted. I forced myself to the next task, to mark the next to do item off my list, trudging through the days. My joy waned. My fatigue manifested itself in impatience.  I dragged myself out of bed in the mornings, and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow at night. 

If life was not crazy enough, Brenda had back to back knee replacements in the span of five months. I read the book about restoring the soul in a park in Decatur, TX while she did her physical therapy. In that park, I made the prayerful and hard decision to jump off the merry go round. I knew I was called to be a pastor. It became clear I was not a good fit for an Athletic Director. I had to step down. In fact, I had to step down from several positions during that season that were all good, but not vital to what God called me to do. 

Do you need to jump off the merry go round? Is your life spinning too fast out of control. It will continue to do so unless you take control and make the tough decisions to slow down. It will not make everyone happy when you start saying no to the things you said yes to before. I just read about God slowing King David down in Ps 23:1-3. Perhaps you should go read it for yourself. There is nothing wrong with going to a place of restoration and refreshing for your soul. There is nothing wrong with jumping off the merry go round when life is spinning too fast. 

Another Funeral

 Don't let the title mislead you. I am not referring to the death of a person. What is weighing heavy on my mind this morning is the death of churches. Every single day another six churches closes their doors in North America. It is estimated that over 6,000 churches die and close the doors every year. Preliminary predictions from a researcher is that North America will lose as many as 15,000 churches this year. 

Think about that. Somebody somewhere got a burden and a call from God to start a church somewhere. They began that church with prayerful resolve and vigor to reach people. The church grew. Maybe they even built facilities. Over the years people and pastors came and went. The church continued to grow and flourish. Each church had a hey day. The height of their ministerial effectiveness. 

In time, people moved off, some died, and beloved pastors left to follow God to their next assignment. In time, the attendance and the finances dwindled. The congregation aged. Once younger couples became senior adults. They no longer had the energy they once had to keep things going. The attendance dwindled to just a faithful few. Eventually the day arrived when they could not financially afford to keep the church going. The cost of insurance, utilities, and trying to pay a pastor a small salary became too burdensome. The painful and difficult decision to disband as a church was reached. They met for their tearful last Sunday and with that conclusion they became another statistic. Sadly, this seems to be happening more frequently. 

Some churches are dysfunctional and unhealthy. They do not honor God with all their fussing and fighting. Constant divisions and church splits seal their fate in time. It is tragic. Healthy churches can face this ultimate end with people who love one another and have a heart for God. Time changed and things that used to work in ministry were no longer work. These stalwart people of the church were unwilling to change and clung tenaciously to ministries that no longer work. The proof is in the pudding as they say with dwindling attendance and tired saints who little left to give to turn the church around. 

So what am I saying? Each church is doomed. Not all. Not if those churches prayerfully seek God for a fresh vision. Not if those churches will surrender to God's leadership and make reaching lost souls their focus. Churches often grow through what we call transfer growth. Christians move their membership to other churches for various reasons. The God ordained way for churches to grow primarily is through conversion growth. New people trusting Jesus for salvation. This is how the church grew in Acts 2:47. When people trust God desperately, get serious about reaching the lost, and will devote themselves to prayer, God can do something miraculous. 

It saddens my heart when I drive by an abandoned church building. May we seek God fervently and live on mission for Him so that our local church does not become one of  those statistics. The fields are ripe unto harvest, so let us pray God will raise and send laborers into that harvest. [Matt 9:37-38] May He do a fresh work in all churches. 

Held Captive by the Word of God

 I am held captive by the word of God in my devotions, teaching, and preaching. There is always something new to discover, new truths to expound, and hidden passages that spring to life in obscure passages passed over by most. The word of God is worth serious study by serious students. When I say students, I am not referring to academic study. I am thinking of devotional study as a devout disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ seeking a closer walk with Him. 

I have read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation a few dozen times. There are always fresh words from the Lord to apply to life. I rarely preach topical messages based on current events. I prefer to preach expository messages through books of the Bible verse by verse. This is not the easiest way to do it. My convictions hold it is the most necessary way to do it. Difficult passages arise that must be addressed and not avoided. My call is to preach the whole counsel of God. 

I'm currently teaching through Mark, Acts, and Colossians. Methodically marching through verse after verse. Great themes and doctrines of God's word present themselves. Hard texts have to be wrestled with to uncover truth. I recently sat a round table with several couples to teach from the first few verses in Mark 10 dealing with divorce. With the exception of Brenda and I, everyone else at the table had suffered through divorce. It was uncomfortable to say the least. There were a few tense moments. There was also grace as truth got explained. It was painful to expound that truth. To teach the truth in love, not in judgment or condemnation. It was not the most fun I've had expounding scripture. It would have been easier to avoid those scriptures. That would have been the coward way out. I'm held captive to the word of God and must present the truth contained in it. Even when it is hard. 

I do not have to be creative. Nor to rely on gimmicks to entertain the people. I abhor the dog and pony show to attract a crowd. I'm held captive to the word of God. It should be enough to draw people to come. It is not always easy to listen to God's words. Some passages are pointed. They have a sharp edge to them. They cut to the heart. Others scriptures encourage and strengthen people in their daily journey. Either way I keep pointing people to God and His book. May we all be  held captive. 

Pleasing in the Sight of the Lord

 In I Kings 3:9-10 the new King Solomon prayed something that pleased God. He did not ask for riches, military successes, peace under his rule, or to amass more power. He asked God for an understanding heart to discern between good and evil to lead the nation of Israel. That simple prayer pleased God. 

The word pleasing means God was glad and celebrated Solomon's petition. It makes me wonder if God is pleased with our prayers. Do we pray things that delight God? So many of our prayers can center on our needs, our burdens, our trials, and our wants. Solomon did not pray selfishly. He asked God in essence for wisdom to lead. That prayer came out of humility. 

Leaders choose to rely on their natural instincts, education, skill, and experience in leading organizations. I wonder how many humble themselves before God begging for an understanding heart to lead rightly and righteously. Probably not as many as we think. Have you heard of any leader making dictatorial decisions, bad errors in judgment, or making wrong choices that caused pain and upheaval? 

As a pastor of a local church, I know I cannot lead without God's help, guidance, and discernment to not choose good ideas, but to choose God ideas. Jesus is the Head of the church. I am just an under-shepherd leading in submission to Him. He alone has the right to lead His church as the rest of follow His directions. 

What a different world we would live if people in leadership positions from PTOs to the Whitehouse, and all points in between, prayed for understanding and discernment from God. God knows far better than any of us how to lead His church, communities and countries. Elites think they are smarter than God. Just look at our world and the evils abounding. Look at antagonist nations and arrogant leaders pushing their global agenda. It appears there are few leaders who really care about the people they serve. Petty politics has caused a government shutdown and hardworking common people are not getting paid because partisan policies. What if every branch of government prayed for God's wisdom to lead, legislate, and make judgments? This would be a very different nation with the hand of God's favor on us. If those leaders prayed in that fashion, I am sure God would be just as pleased as He was the day Solomon asked for understanding and discernment. 

I Want to Know You

 Father, in a world filled with voices, 

One filled with multiple choices, 

Where there is so much confusion, 

Coming as an unwelcomed intrusion, 

I want to know You in communion, 

A closer uncommon bond and union, 

I want a more intimate beholding, 

Of Your glorious might unfolding, 

Your peace like a river flowing, 

On my face Your glory glowing,

In You alone to truly be content, 

In pursuit of You to never relent. 

The Secret Place

Jesus told His followers when they prayed, to go into an inner room and close the door. He also told them to pray to the Father who is in secret, and sees what is done in secret. [Matt 6:6] Many people talk the Christian talk in public. These same people do not frequent the secret place. The Father sees. He sees what is done in the secret place. He takes note of the fervent and faithful petitions of those who give soul sweat in the secret place. 

These are the intercessors. They do not get noticed. Their ministry is done in obscurity. While others scurry about in busyness, the intercessors shut to the world out to spend time in the presence of the One who has power to change people, circumstances, churches, communities, and countries. 

The secret place is where the Father waits for His people to seek Him.  It is there that He gives revelation and the sparks of revival are ignited. In that wonderful place God listens. More importantly God acts. He also speaks. The Devil will do anything to keep God's people away from the secret place. Distractions abound. Most are too tired at night to pray. Many are too tired in the morning to do much more than rush through a devotion. They have good intentions to pray in secret, but never seem to get around to it. Life is so busy. The secret place has to be prized and prioritized.

The secret place is where war happens. Where strongholds are torn down. Where the enemy is confronted and withstood in the powerful name of Jesus. It is in this place, battles are won to reclaim prodigals. Battles are fought and won for the lost to be saved. Skirmishes are fought and won over families, friends, and even foes. While many sleep, stalwart soldiers take their watch in secret and pray fervently. These are God's sentries strategically stationed in secret to oppose the evil forces of darkness. You may never know their names, but God sees in secret and His rewards are openly displayed in public. 

The secret place is a solitary place. It is a place where God beckons His followers to come alone. To seek alone. To plead alone. To enjoy God alone. I am not saying that are not times for believers to gather with others to pray. There is certainly a precedent for that. See II Chron 7:14 and Acts 1:14. Those times can never substitute for the private encounters God desires for His people. 

It is appalling how few Christians really spend time alone with God in private devotions. Bibles go unread and unheeded. Prayer is neglected while the enemy advances. Love and passion wane in lieu of religious rituals that rot the soul. The remedy for that is time, and lots of it, spent shut up with God in the secret place. May God stir all to make that a priority. 

I'd Rather Be in a Chair

 I would rather be in a chair listening than teaching tonight. The subject matter is a difficult one. The truth is tough tonight. There is no sugar coating it. No soft peddling. It would be easier to skip the truth and move onto to an easier topic. It would be more pleasant for everyone in the room if someone else was teaching a different topic and I was seated in a chair listening. 

God called me to be a truth teller. He also called me preach and teach His word. All of it. Even the parts that are hard to digest and harder to explain. I will be the most uncomfortable person in the room. I will stand on God's word and deal with the consequences. I will not be winning any popularity contest tonight. Neither will I wimp out. 

Preachers often sidestep difficult passages. They don't want to ruffle any feathers. They prefer passages that pacify as opposed to verses that vex hearers. We need all of God's word. The parts that edify, build up, and inspire. We also need those truths that challenge, convict, and correct. 

Still, it would be easier to sit in the chair to listen. Let some other squirm under the intense weight of truth tonight. Nonetheless, this is the assignment I've been given. To teach truth in love. To teach with conviction and compassion. To instruct with grit and grace. It is not something I want to avoid nor something I necessarily look forward to teaching. It must be done. It is God's word. It is the next section of scriptures in a book I've been teaching through for the past six months. I shall not abdicate my God ordained responsibility. God, please help me honor you and your word, while at the same time, ministering with love, compassion, and grace. 

Keep Your Head Down

 One of the jobs I did not look forward to as a child was raking leaves. I grew up in east Texas with massive trees. The house I grew up in had lots of pine trees in the yard. Those pine needles fell every fall requiring hours on end raking and hauling pine straw to the burn pile. We had an average sized front yard, but a much larger back yard. It usually was an all day and sometimes a couple of days job. 

I learned pretty early on to keep my head down, and keep working instead of looking up at all the time to see how much more work I had left to do. Just keeping my head down, and focusing on the task at hand seemed to make the job go by a little faster. Those were long days with blistered hands. My back and arms ached from dragging those little piles of pine straw. I made piles all over the yard and then had to haul those piles to burn. Many times I thought the pine straw kept falling from the trees faster than I could rake it. Most years we had to rake the yard more than once because the pine needles became too thick. Heaven forbid it rained soaking the leaves. That made the job much more difficult. 

That lesson has served me well in life to keep my head down. Whether working on a research paper in college, mowing a yard, moving furniture for a furniture business, breaking up concrete with a jackhammer, splitting firewood, preparing sermons, writing books, and enduring long work days. Just keeping my head down helped me get through those assignments. 

I did not always keep my head down. I looked up to see the overwhelming amount of work I still had left to do. Like hauling hay. Instead of focusing on the bale in front of me, I looked up to see the thousands of other bales still in the field making me lose heart. The same thing happened on my 100 mile bike ride. Many times I looked up losing heart at the next hill or the sign telling me how many more miles I had to pedal. When I just kept my head down pushing the pedals, it made each mile more bearable.

I don't know what your station in life is. I am sure you have your own challenges. It is tempting to look up and compare ourselves to others. This will only get us into trouble. Comparing ourselves will either lead to pride because our accomplishments are better than others. It could also lead to depression because our progress is not as good as others. Neither mindset is healthy. It is much better to keep your head down and faithfully execute the assignment God gives you. 

Wherever God planted you, keep your head down and just do the work He has given you to do. Focus on the task at hand. Do it to the best of your ability. It may not be a glamorous assignment. You may not get applauded by others for the work. Like the time I did some disaster relief work in south Texas after Hurricane Harvey. Their were not accolades. Just hours of sweaty hard physical labor. That labor was done for the Lord just as much as for the victims. Maybe you do not get rewarded or recognized for that work. God sees. Keep your head down and do your work as unto God and not people. [Col 3:17] Do your work with all your heart for the Lord. [Col 3:23] He sees. He will reward His children for their labors. 

I practiced what I preached. I kept my head down and now have come to the end of this post. I just typed the next word, the next sentence, and then the next paragraph. Perhaps God will use this to help someone to keep their head down and finish their work trusting God for the reward and the results.