The Battle

The longer I am in the ministry the more I realize the battle that the church and God's people are in. Satan is constantly on the attack. If he does not think that he can defeat you in your spiritual life he will attack your marriage. If he feels like you marriage is strong he will attack your family or finances. Maybe if all of those things are strongholds with God Satan will come after you in your thought life. The point is-he is coming! In your church the same principle applies. If he cannot attack you spiritually maybe he attacks your finances. If not your finances maybe your numbers, if not your numbers then your doctrine. The point again-he is coming! So....how can we defeat him? We have to be "found in Christ". Satan will then have to battle his way through Christ to get to me. That sounds simple but is hard to do. We want to be connected with Christ-close enough to grab Him when we are in trouble- but we need to be found in Him. This means that every decision is based on my relationship with Christ and nothing else. What I value is based on that relationship! Where I work is based on that relationship! What I wear, listen to, and watch! The list can and should go on and on! Are you in a battle? Are you tired on losing? Are you "found in Christ"? I was just thinking.

It makes a difference!

I talk with many people who wonder if their life really matters so I stopped and asked myself the question, "Does my life matter?" I am married to one of the most patient and godly women that I know. We have been married for over 25 years. We enjoy spending time with one another and look forward to the day we can share more time together. I believe that my life matters to her. If not, she probably would not stay married to me. I have three children. All of them know Christ as their Savior and are trying to live for the Lord. We had a great time together when they were growing up and now love spending time together when they are home. I believe, if for nothing other reason that I am helping pay for their college education, that my life matters to them. I Pastor a church and have served here for nearly 20 years. If for no other reason than my tenure, my life matter to the congregation. Then the thought came to me what if I had never married Debbie, never had children and never been called into the ministry, would my life matter? Yes it would! It matters to God! It mattered enough to God to send Jesus to die on a cross for me! Your life matters! Never doubt for one minute the love of the Lord and your worth to Him! I was just thinking!

Amazed!

AMAZED!

God has once again amazed me! He takes the ending of one life and brings life to many! He takes the pressures and struggles that this life places on individuals and families and uses it to draw them closer to Him. What Satan intended for evil God used for good! We often question the hurt and hurdles that comes into our lives without remembering God is in control. He is never "caught off guard" by anything that Satan hurls at us. He does not sleep-He does not slumber. The reason for hurt and heartache in this life is the curse of sin! It is upon us all, even children and godly saints. That curse has been broken by the blood of Jesus Christ. Sin may have its temporary affect on me but it does not have an eternal affect on me. Sin may have a physical affect on me but I do not have to let it have a spiritual affect on me. God wants the best for my life. He is in control. I just need to trust Him. When I do- I will be amazed once again! I was just thinking.

Real Life

I wish that we lived in a perfect world! I guess that would be Heaven! But until that day we live in a real world. We face difficulties at work, at home and in our personal lives. In February I will be speaking on some of the issues that we face in the "real world". Stress at work, struggling marriages, family relationships, and personal battles are some of the situations most of us struggle with. In February, our church will begin in the Celebrate Discovery program and the more I learn about this program the more I realize that it is for people in the church as much as those outside of the church. We have attempted in our pious mentality to sweep "real life" issues underneath the rug in our churches. My wife, Debbie, is the operational director of the Florence Crittenton Home (an emergency shelter) for children 6-17 years old. With the help of a great staff, they are able to help many children who are victims of the issues that the church has "swept under the rug". Our church has been awakened to the need-it is great! I pray that through the next several weeks God will change us so that no children in our families will face what some of the children in the Home are facing today! God's plan is the best! The principles in His Word are tried and true! Perhaps the best part of His plan is His grace! It does not matter where you are or what you have been through-God can and will help! I was just thinking..... and praying!

RE: 2009

The end of 2008 was busy! The New Year always brings me to a time of reflection. It was in January of 1990 that the Lord directed us to come to North Little Rock-that was a year of change for all of us. Many people have asked me how it is that I have stayed at one church for nearly 20 years. I believe it has been because of the goodness of God, the patience of our church family, and commitment. There have been a few times that another ministry has called and asked me to consider coming to serve with them. When that occurs I always ask myself two basic questions: (1) Where does the Lord want me? (2) If I want people to be committed to the Lord and His (this) church why should it be any different for me? I have learned a few things after 25 short years in the ministry-no church is perfect! I was taught that if you see something that needs to be done-no matter where you are-home, church or work- do it! Don't wait for someone else to start the Bible study or encouragement group! Do it yourself! If you see the need it because God has opened your eyes and heart to the need! A wise man told me "The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence, but you still have to cut the grass!" I hope in 2009 that we all dig in and begin to work! See a need! Get involved! I was just thinking.

Being Thankful

I cannot begin to express what God has done in my life. Beginning with my parents continuing with the family (wife and children) that God has blessed me with is truly amazing. To top all of that off He has allowed me to serve in the ministry of the Gospel and with a church that has a passion to share that Gospel across the street and around the world. The daily blessings of God are too numerous to account but life is good. That brings me to the point of this blog. I have come to realize that so many people exist and so few live! The Apostle Paul made this clear in Philippians 1:21, 22- "For me to live is Christ". It was his passion- what excited him, thrilled him, motivated him! What do you live for? Not what are you doing with your life? After all that Christ has done for us should not we "LIVE" for Him? Have a GREAT Thanksgiving! God is good! All the time! All the time! God is good! I was just thinking.

Change

I am not a person of change. We lived in the same house the entire time I was growing up. My parents bought a new home once I left for college- they may have been trying to tell me something. I like stability. I like to have people around me that I can trust and are not going to find a reason to leave when tough times come. This is such a paradox in a Christian's life. We are constantly changing to become more like Christ. We are constantly surrendering to the will of Christ which usually means change. The great aspect of a Christian's life of change is that Christ never changes. In church changes are hard. Most of the time they are me with opposition. But if we are constantly changes into what Christ wants us to be shouldn't the church be open change! I am not talking about abandoning the Gospel or our doctrinal truth but maybe we should be a little more open to change! Are you allowing Christ to change you-day by day? If you are not-maybe that is why change is so hard for you to accept. I was just thinking.