Sample John 15 Prayer

My Father, according to the way that Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew the 6th chapter, I declare you to be Lord over my life and the Lord over everything that touches my life to day.  Let Your kingdom come and let Your will be done in my life and the life of my family today.  According to John 15, Father be the husbandman in my life throughout this day.  Prune out of my life the things that You see that are not beneficial to me.  Father, I am going to trust You in what You bring my way.  I am not the blazing success that Your Word declares me to be.  Obviously, I am not smart enough to know what to do.  Therefore I yield myself to Your Lordship and ask you to bring me into Your perfect will according to Your Word.
Father, I desire Your fruit to grow in my life.  According to Galatians  5, I desire Your love, Your joy and Your peace to rule me in all that I do, think and say.  Help me to be as sweet as You are.  Help me to be gentle instead of rough.  Let others see Your goodness in me and strengthen me as I trust You today.  Help me to control those things inside of me that are not like You. 
I realize that fruit will not come unless I begin to flow with Your presence.  Help me change my thought process from whatever it is now to a thought process filled with praise and worship to You.  Walk with me throughout this day and help me to sense Your presence.  Help me to have a hymn of praise and worship stirring my soul throughout this day.

Today, my heart will sing:
I'm Yours, Lord, everything I've got
Everything I am, and everything I'm not
I'm Yours, Lord, try me now and see
See if I will be completely Yours

Father, help me throughout this day to sense when there is an opportunity to reach someone for You.  Help me to keep my old nature in the background and let Your nature shine through me.  Shine through me in such a way that they will fall in love with You as I have.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen

Book Review

                                                 IN CONSTANT PRAYER

                                                       By Robert Benson
                                                       
                                                        
For almost ten years now, I have had the habit of rising around 4:30 a.m. to begin my day with prayer. So, when I saw this book, I was a little excited about reading it. However, when I read the Table of Contents and saw words like “Divine Office” and “Daily Office,” I realized that the author must assuredly be a Catholic. Well, I am most assuredly not a Catholic. So, here’s a lifetime non-Catholic writing a book review on a Catholic’s book on prayer.

To say the least, I began reading this book with the idea that it would be somewhat boring and that I would be glad to finish it. However, the more I read, the more interested I became in Mr. Benson’s experiences in prayer. One theme he seemed to hammer home all through the book was not only the importance of prayer, but the importance of a specific time set aside for prayer. This I whole-heartedly agree with. Just like you stomach gets a little growly when you work past a meal time, your spirit gets a little upset also when you miss your regular time of fellowship with the Lord.

One of things I was disappointed with at first was that there was not a lot of teaching on prayer. However, Mr. Benson gave account after account after account of God’s nearness during times of prayer. He related not only his experiences but the experiences of many of his friends. The examples he related range anywhere from the loss of a loved one to the daily ravages of life. I was very encouraged by his writings and I would recommend this book to anyone who has the habit of daily prayer.

I was furnished a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

John 15--Let the Main Thing Be the Main Thing--Part 2

As I mentioned in Part 1, the "Main Thing" in reaching the lost and bringing a revival is your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  In Part 2, I want us to look into God's personal relationship with us.  No matter what the world thinks of you, God has invested His whole heart in each one that inhabits the earth. 

John 3:16--For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  It was His love for you, personally, before you were ever thought of or born that prompted Him to send His Son to die for you.  God prepared an avenue of love for each one of us to enjoy a healthy and joyful relationship with the Creator of the universe.  Think of it, He didn't do it JUST to keep you from going to Hell.  His main objective was to be able to have a One-on-one relationship with every human being that took up the challenge to believe on Him.

Take another look at John 15:1--My Father is the husbandman.  It is the husbandman's responsibility to look after the branches to make sure they are well able to bring forth fruit.  Think of it.  Why have a vine?  Why have branches?  There is more to being a Christian than just going to Heaven.  God fully intended for every believer to bear fruit.  Now, that doesn't mean we are all supposed to preach or teach or lead singing.  None of that is mentioned in Jesus' teaching about the vine. 

What He said in verse eight was--Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.  The will of God is that every branch be fruitful in whatever manner the husbandman will bring it to.  All of us have heard preachers that really can't preach.  We've all heard teachers that really can't teach.  And, we've heard some people sing that REALLY CAN'T sing.  Amen?  It doesn't mean that God didn't save them, it means they are not bearing fruit in THE manner that God intended them to.

Abraham and Sarah would have never been my choice of a couple that I would choose to start a nation.  Those folks tried for years and years and years and had to have God's special intervention before they even had ONE child.  But, Abraham believed God.  God and Abraham had an ongoing relationship.  Because of that One-on-one relationship, Abraham believed God when it just didn't look like it at all.  Because of Abraham's faith and relationship with Him, God did for Abraham and Sarah, THAT THEY COULD NOT DO FOR THEMSELVES.  Wait a minute.  Do you sense a deep, dark secret that may be opening up?

What about Moses?  He would not be a logical choice to lead God's people.  He didn't even LIVE with the Hebrews.  He was also a murderer and cowardly runaway who was hiding on the backside of the desert.  But, God saw something INSIDE Moses that Moses evidently didn't see in himself.  THAT'S THE JOB OF THE HUSBANDMAN!!

Folks, the real secret to being a successful, fruit bearing Christian is not in YOUR education or YOUR self-made possibilities.  It lies in what GOD sees in you and how your husbandman desires to bring it out.  We have all made so many decisions as to what we think that God wants from us that it is possible that we have missed some of the greatest things that God, our husbandman, has had in store for us.  Maybe the reason we have not seen the physical, spiritual and financial promises manifested as they should be lies in the fact that we are struggling to be something the husbandman never intended us to be.  Or, maybe, the husbandman has wanted to prune us in a way to where we begin to bear fruit in a different fashion----a different ministry perhaps.  Maybe it could be something we would normally consider to be "off the wall."

Here's what we earnestly need to consider.  The MOST APPROPRIATE thing for a branch to do is stay connected to the vine, Jesus Christ, and draw from His presence.  I know-----that seems kinda foreign and mundane, huh?  Where's the glamour?  Where's the glitz?  That's just it, guys.  God's not interested in glamour and glitz.  He is interested in reaching into the gutter of life and pulling out someone the He is desperately in love with, cleaning him with His blood and building him into something useful.  Please understand His heart.  God wants to do something for you, the branch, that you can't possibly do for yourself, like He did for Abraham and Moses as well as others.  Also, He wants to work THROUGH you and reach thousands of lives that would not have had a chance at salvation had it not been for a branch abiding in the vine.

End result.  Branches abiding in the vine bear much fruit if they let the husbandman do HIS job.  Branches abiding in the vine can (vs 7) ask anything and God will do it for them.  Now, THAT'S worth staying plugged into the vine for.

Much love in Jesus, Henry.

John 15--Let the Main Thing Be the Main Thing--Part 1

The "Main Thing" about John 15 is not the church you belong to or the doctrine you espouse.  It is not who is president or which political party is in power.  It is not what country you live in or what somebody says about you.  The "Main Thing" is YOUR OWN personal relationship with Jesus Christ and nothing else.
First of all, notice the first verse.  John 15:1--I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.  No political party, particular denomination, your favorite enemy or particular doctrine is mentioned.  The definition of the core of the entire message of the Old and New Testament is wrapped up in this verse.  It's not about what you think, who you are, where you were born, or whether you are rich or poor.  Plain and simply, Jesus is the "Main Thing" and His Father makes the rules.  In every Bible I have there is a "period" at the end of that sentence.
Guess what.  That's not a good thing for the nominal Christian.  We often judge our "Christian status" with what church we go to, political party or who our enemies are at the moment.  Not so.  It's about our relationship with Jesus Christ and Him alone. 

God didn't chose Abraham because of his age or who he was married to.  He didn't call Moses because he was the most convenient.  He did not bring the children of Israel in to the promised land because they were the sweetest nation (see Dt 9 if you believe that).  He did not bring them in because the seven other nations were poor and powerless.  God made His choices because He's God and we/they are not. 
Hang on to your hats because here comes some great revelation.  What God decided about a situation was what was going to be the truth no matter who stood in the way.  When He told Abraham that he would judge the nation that held His people captive, He did not back down because of the enemies' strength or what it looked like to anybody.

 God didn't care about what the religious folks thought, said or did about His Son.  He sent His Son to die on the cross, pay the price for the entire world's sins and raise Him up out of Hell.  When Jesus acted on what His Father said, His Father's words came to pass in the Father's own time.  Remember verse one?  The Father is the husbandman.
Skip down to verse 5--I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  How many denominations is this talking about?  It's not is it.  It doesn't talk about a president, stock market, church doctrine or anything else outside of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Here's what it says.  Reaching the lost, (bringing forth much fruit) is ONLY contingent on abiding in Jesus Christ and drawing from Him.  It is not contingent on your relationship with any political party, church affiliation, citizenship or the lack of anything.  It is ONLY contingent on your relationship with Him and how much you draw from Him.  It is contingent on you praying, it is contingent on you praying, it is contingent on you praying and, finally, it is contingent on you praying.  I cannot read and understand this passage of scripture any other way.  Bearing much fruit comes from being in love with Jesus and drawing from His Presence.  And, we have used every other excuse in the world NOT to pray and flow in His Presence.  That's why revival doesn't come.

Revival doesn't come because of what it looks like.  Revival doesn't come because of your church affiliation.  Revival doesn't come because of which political party is in power.  Revival doesn't come by how much money you have.  It comes because of how much Jesus you have and how much He has you.

Revival IS NOT hindered by ANY political power.  Revival IS NOT stopped by what your spouse, children or neighbors think.  Revival IS NOT stopped by your pastor or the deacon board.  Revival IS NOT stopped by who your enemies are or who has been hindering you.  Revival IS STOPPED when we refuse to follow the instructions of 2 Chron 7:14.

 The ONLY exception to revival is found in verse 4--Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Will you join with me, today, put all excuses aside and make "The Main Thing the Main Thing."  The branch bears fruit when it stays in the vine and draws from it and nothing else.  If there are no excuses, there is nothing stopping revival.
Good growing, my friend.

Pray for Brett

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I received a comment from Brett concerning this blog.  He is a businessman who lives in another country.  He has been a fully committed Christian for over 20 years and ministers extensively to the poor and those in prison.  However, for the past 5 years, Brett has been under an especially rough set of circumstances that really need to come to an end.  I share Brett's burden because I, too, have had an unusually long and arduous road to travel the past several years.  We are not alone.  There are many of you that are experiencing some of the same things that we are.  Last week, especially, was rough for me and I let God know in no uncertain terms just what I thought of His plan for my life so far.  You know what?  God's got big shoulders and can handle anything you say.  No, the waters didn't part and my enemies are still alive and well, much to my dismay.
In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about his thorn in the flesh.  Many folks argue about what it was.  If you're one of them, please give it up and read the rest of that verse before you open your mouth one more time.  It specifically says, that the messenger of satan was always there to buffet him.  In other words, everywhere Paul went, somebody stirred up trouble for him because he preached the Word of God so effectively.  Folks, if you are a woose then the devil will leave you alone.  But, if you are serious about carrying the cross, you need to understand that all things aren't going to look good all of the time.  (I hate that.  I'm going through some rough stuff that hasn't looked good in a while.  But, I gotta preach on because it's the truth.)  Paul said, in the next couple of verses that he asked God three times to squash satan and all of his aggravating angels so he could be more effective and wouldn't have to hurt so much.  God did not answer except to say that His grace was enough for Paul.  I have to accept the same answer.

Joseph's brothers played an evil, evil trick on him that lasted, some say for over 14 years.  It took Joseph into slavery which he didn't deserve and into a jail cell which he didn't deserve.  Fast forward a time when his brother's plead for their lives and we find Joseph's answer in Gen 50:20--But as for you, ye thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as [it is] this day, to save much people alive.  That sounds like the verse Paul wrote in Romans 8 about all things working together for our good if we stay in love with God.  Folks, we walk through some strange valleys of the shadow of death.  Just like Brett, right now at this point in time, I am ready for my heartache to be over with.  The fight has been rough and has taken it's toll.

Let's lift each other up in prayer throughout these days of hardship and trial.  We're on the same team and going for the same goal.  Brett and others, like Joseph, God has meant this for good.  We're just waiting for our promotion.  Much love, Henry.

Act On What You Know

1 John 5:14--And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1 John 5:15--And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

The Greek word for faith is 'pistis.'  A more complete definition of the Greek word is--the conviction of the truth of anything.  Therefore, faith in God's Word would be defined as saying that we would have a deep conviction down in our heart that His Word is true.
In 1 John 5:14 and 15, we have this statement in God's Word that if we ask any thing according to God's will, He will hear us and whatever we ask we will receive.  Therefore, for us to even begin to pray and expect our prayers to be answered, we need to be convinced that what we are praying for is the will of God for us. 
How about salvation for our lost loved ones?  Then, John 3:16 comes into play.  "For God so loved the world....that WHOSOEVER.'  That sounds like everybody is included in the promise, even your mean and hateful loved ones, huh?  How about Saul of Tarsus?  I didn't look like he would be a likely candidate for salvation.  He hated Jesus.  He killed Christians and put them in jail.  He tore up homes.  Yet, God loved him enough to knock him off of his horse and save his soul.  We all preach that God is no respecter of persons.  Yep, you guessed it.  I've got unsaved loved ones that I am waiting for God to knock off their high horses and prove the He's God and they are not.  Yeah, but how about.....?  Is he in the world and does God love him?  That's all the answer that you need to be convinced of the truth that God will pursue him/her until the job is done.
However, me and you need to "pray and say" what God says about this matter. 1 John 5:14 says "And this is the confidence."  The Greek word for 'confidence' is 'parresia.'  The actual definition of this word is--free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, and boldness.  We could actually use this definition in that verse to give added meaning and depth to what it really says, like this.  "And this is the cheerful courage and boldness that we have in HIM,"
We have a habit of coming to God as if He was the greatest woose that ever lived.  It's like we believe that situations are bigger that He is.  We don't even ask Him because we don't believe Him.  I choose to believe Him over the things I see and am going through right now.  I choose to believe Him over the things that have been rattling along so far.  Abraham chose to believe God over his and Sarah's dead body.  Moses chose to believe God over the greatest ruler of the land and the doubt of the children of Israel.  Jesus chose to believe in the resurrection before and during the cross.  It makes a difference when you think about it that way, doesn't it?
How much time have you spent in prayer for the salvation of your loved ones?  Oh, by the way.  Are there sinners in our Congress?  Oh, well, then are there sinners that God loves in every branch of our government?  Yes, and God's will for them is to be saved.  1 John 5:14, 15 says that prayer needs to be made before answers come.
I'll write more tomorrow.

AN ISSUE OF A GOD KIND--The National Debt

You have probable noticed that the national debt is now registered at 14 trillion dollars.  In short, that means that the United States has obligated itself to paying out more money than it has the ability to spend.  Where does it go, you may ask?  Well, I sure want to know.  There just happens to be a spot on the internet where I got a chance to look at the 2010 Budget Request for the United States.  Oh, by the way.  Did you know that the United States really doesn't have ANY money.  They just TAKE it from me and you and call it theirs.  It's called taxes.
Just for an example, I searched for the country Afghanistan in the 2010 Budget Request.  It's a place that has long been in the news.  Here is what I found.
$2.158 billion to align the President's new strategy.
Out of one pocket, there was a request for $46.5 million for border security and counter-narcotics efforts.
Out of another pocket there was a request for $450 million to expand counter narcotics and  civilian law enforcement.
Out of another pocket there was a request for $54.6 million for a Terrorist Interdiction Program.
Needless to say, I stopped looking.  I had only made it through page thirty of a one hundred page document.  This was only looking for 'Afghanistan' stuff.  There are bigger slices or MINE AND YOUR pie going all over God's creation.

I have long had an interesting end to situations like these.  As I said when we went into Iraq, let's take over and make this one our 51st state.  There might be some trouble but we'll send in the IRS and calm them down a bit.  At least we'll rake in some money while we are paying out so much.

Folks, do you pray and vote?  You should only vote once every two to four years but we need to be forming callouses on our knees for this great God inspired country of ours.  Here is what Jesus said in Luke 14:28-For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have [sufficient] to finish [it]?  Jesus said to see how much you had in your pocket and then spend it.  Don't go out there and obligate yourself out the wazoo.  Those of us normal people know that if we did this kind of spending we would soon be in bankruptcy and the IRS would be on us like a duck on a June bug.
So, why do the lawmakers get away with such nonsense?  Two reasons.  Number two is that you voted for them and haven't held them accountable.  An e-mail will let them know that you're watching them.  The number ONE reason is that America has forgotten how to pray for things.  Just after the last presidential election, I started praying in earnest for the Congress of the United States as well as the Presidency.  I prayed that God would fill the Congress with Godly people and bring this country back to some sanity.  I know that I was only part of a silent minority but PRAISE GOD we got the job done.

THEREFORE, please join us in prayer for this great nation.  God has a way of blocking ungodliness and bringing righteousness to the forefront.  Join us in praying for a God-sent revival not only in our churches but also in our Congress and our Presidency. 

Pass this on.

Quotes from one of "A 12-Month Guide to BETTER PRAYER"

As I mentioned in a previous blog, our pastor distributed a copy of this book to the members of Islands Community Church here in Savannah.  The idea is to meditate on one chapter a month during this year.  This month's article is by E. M. Bounds.  He was a Methodist minister who wrote several books on prayer.  He served as a chaplain in the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.  Here are some excerpts from chapter one.

"How vast are the possibilities of prayer!  How wide is its reach!  What great things are accomplished by this divinely appointed means of grace!  It lays its hand on Almighty God and moves Him to do what He would not otherwise do if prayer was not offered.  It brings things to pass which would never otherwise occur.  The story of prayer is the story of great achievements."

"The only limits to prayer are the promises of God and His ability to fulfill those promises."

"The possibilities of prayer reach to all things. In "whatever you ask" (John 14:13) is embraced all that concerns us or the children of men and God.  Where will we draw the lines which leave out or which will limit the word "Whatever"?  If "Whatever" does not include all things, then add to it the word "anything."  "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it" (John 14:14).

E. M. Bounds wrote many books on prayer.  It is said that he would pray for three hours each day before working on his writings.  No wonder he could write so much about it. 

As mentioned in previous blogs, God pronounced His multiplied blessings on prayer.  The disciples never asked him how to preach or sing.  They asked to be taught how to pray.  As you can very well tell by what has been happening in the world, the church has lost its impact.  There's a lot of preaching and a lot of singing going on.  There should be more emphasis placed on prayer.

Book Review

THE SACRED JOURNEY

By Charles Foster

I must admit that when I first started reading The Sacred Journey, I nearly fell asleep. Mr. Foster began with a little bit of Bible, then a little bit of Islam and then a little bit of Buddha. Facts, theory and intangibles. But, I remembered how much I enjoyed his work, The Jesus Inquest, and I trudged on.

The more I read, the more things began to dawn on me. Islam had sacred pilgrimages as well as Buddhism. Since I am more familiar with the Bible, I began to pick up more readily the instructions of God. He told Abraham to come out from his people and go somewhere. He told Moses to come away from the backside of the desert, go to Egypt and then go somewhere else. Basically, God told Joshua to start conquering Canaan until He said to stop.

Then, there’s the New Testament. The wise men were told to journey to the west. Mary and Joseph were told to journey to Egypt and then told to journey back after a few years. Jesus told His disciples when He called them, simply, “Follow Me.” Oh, by the way, He didn’t say where either. After the resurrection, several of the Apostles went on journeys. Why did God want people to go on journeys?

Chapters five through fourteen only begin to explain the reasons for a Sacred Journey. Among the many reasons are, to get rid of junk, to thirst for an encounter and the fellowship of the road. You will find yourself in a couple of these chapters.

As I read the rest of the book, I realized that I had already been on a couple of Sacred Journeys but hadn’t been too far away from the house. And at the age of 63, I was anxiously preparing for a few more. However, I did not know that was what I was doing until I read the book. Thanks, Mr. Foster. You caused me to remember some very precious times I have had in the past. Best of all, you have helped me look forward to my next journey.

Booksneeze has supplied me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have not been instructed to give a good or a bad review.



Book Review--Sun Stand Still

SUN STAND STILL

By Steven Furtick

Steven Furtick? Who’s he? I did not know. But I do know Jentzen Franklin, Andy Stanley and Bishop Eddie Long. They all said that it is a good book, so I believed them. My name is Henry Givens and you probably don’t know me. But, I am telling you, also, this is a good book. Get it, read it and put it on your book shelf for reference books because you will probably need to come back to it again and again like I know I will.

The first chapter is entitled, “Welcome to Audacious Faith.” You will find that he uses the word ‘audacious’ all throughout this book. Normally, folks would equate ‘audacious’ as something belonging to the super spiritual, high and holy head honchos. Not according to Steven Furtick. He breaks the idea of being ‘audacious’ down to plain and simple rationalization of God and His Word.

For example, in Chapter 9 he explains how the simple meal-time blessing that starts “God is great, God is good” is one of the most faith building phrases there could be. To put it in his terms, the theological training that cost him tens of thousands of dollars was condensed into the first sentence of a children’s prayer. In that chapter, he expounds with beautiful simplicity how great and how good God is. As I read it, I said to myself, “That’s so easy even I can understand it.”

Chapter 10 was equally exciting to me. In it, he brought out ‘Twelve Audacious Faith Confessions.” With each one, he listed the scripture references that pertained to the particular faith confession. Needless to say, I stayed in that chapter for a while. Those confessions are worth memorizing and meditating on. There’s no fluff and bluff in them. They are, just plain and simple, the Word of God as it pertains to our relationship with Him.

I loved the stories he told what happened to three of his friends, Norm, Jack and Matt. He spoke of their faith, their failures and their comebacks. The way he brought it out, I could see some of the things that I was going through, and I was greatly encouraged.

However, the story he related that meant the most to me was when he was at the beach with his five-year-old, Elijah the “wave jumper.” There you see ‘audacious faith’ in one of its purest and simplest forms. As he watched seemingly overwhelming obstacles rushing at him, little Elijah trusted his father’s wisdom and strength to carry him above the waves he was facing. You can almost picture little Elijah laughing as a wave approaches and laughing as it passes underneath. That’s ‘audacious faith.”

Steven Furtick’s book, ‘SUN STAND STILL’ is filled with this kind of faith-building logic. I highly recommend this book to Christians everywhere. It can be purchased at Amazon.com, Borders.com, Christianbook.com, Discountbooksale.com, Google.com/products, Barnesandnoble.com, Chegg.com, Bookbyte.com, or bargainbookstores.com.

I received a copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah publishing group in exchange for this review.

Arizona Massacre--A Follow-up

Get used to it.  Just like all BAD stuff that happens, this event will be reported and front-paged for a while.  The event itself IS tragic.  There is no doubt about that.  But, equally as tragic are these surrounding events.
The newspapers and TV reporters are having a field day and lining their pockets with the "so-called" news.  I say "so-called" because half of the news concerning this horrible story  has been made up in the recesses of their degenerate minds.  Without mentioning them by name, or singling on just one, let me just generalize their abject stupidity.
GUN CONTROL--This will be a GREATER ongoing headline for a long time.  There will be dopes grabbing headlines and getting rich off of the many articles that will hit the newspaper stands and magazine racks.  All of them calling for the sale of guns to be stopped.  They will list reason after reason why guns should be banned.  ALL OF THEM WILL BE BOGUS.  Does their need to be greater accountability?  YES.  The argument is, that if this guy did not have a gun, these people would not have been killed.  BOGUS!!!!!!  Guns DO NOT kill people.  PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE.  They might use a gun, or a knife or a bomb or a rock or their hands.  It makes just as much sense to ban knives, bombs, rocks, and (yes) hands.  Think about it, if we cut off people's hands, I promise you the murder rate would drop.  Absurd?  THAT statement is just as absurd as the call to ban guns.  Cain did not have a gun when he committed the first murder.  He did not need a gun.  He had his hatred and anger.  OH, MY GOSH.  HAVE I STUMBLED (?) UPON A HEADLINE THAT HAS BEEN MISSED?  You'd better believe I have.
WHO DUNNIT?  I find it so-o-o-o-o amazing that people immersed in the sea of degenerate stupidity point their bony fingers at right-wing conservationists as being the authors of this rampage.  Will some of you 'grabbing at any straw' lefties please, please, please give me ONE SHRED of evidence the this man actually tuned in to one of the conservationists talk shows.  Can you go to his car and see what stations he listens to?  Can you check his e-mail and see what he has subscribed to and let's jail these rogue commentators.  BRING SOME POSITIVE, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.  Hypothesis is not admissible in any court of law.  The dumbest thing is....mud-slinging will continue from both sides for a long time.  And, they will rake in the money from their rants.  That is purely disgusting. 
EQUALLING DISGUSTING IS NO ONE IS REPORTING THE REAL REASON FOR THIS MASSACRE.  Well, maybe I am in this piece.  The greatest culprits in this case are we Christians.  Preachers and evangelists get into pulpits and yell and scream and holler sometimes for an hour.  Song writers are just beginning to come out with tear-jerkers to line their pockets from this tragedy.  Will they make some money and fill their pews with this?  You betcha.  I stated in one of my previous blogs that God NEVER put a promise to preaching and leading worship like He did prayer.  2 Chronicles 7:14-If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  Did you see that?  Prayer, not preaching will bring healing to our land.  OUR turning from sin and seeking God brings healing to our land.  Think of all the failing social programs the government could shut down if there was healing in our land.  Yet, we Christians want to just sit on our duff for hours and LISTEN to preaching and LISTEN to worship.  Yet, we spend only a few minutes a week actually praying and seeking God.  Christians,  how close to home is this going to have to get before you get concerned enough to pray.  Me?  Ask my family.  For the past eight to nine years I have been getting up at 4:30 a.m. to pray.  I know that God has stirred, I hope, thousands of others.  But, as you can see we need some help.  The Word of God has presented the greatest answer to tragedies like this.  Let's take God up on His promise to bring some long-awaited healing to this land.

Pass this on.  It's important.

AN ISSUE OF A GOD KIND--The Arizona Massacre

No doubt you have heard of this tragic news.  A 22 year-old gunman  went on a shooting spree that killed six and wounded several others.  I will spare you the details because you probably know more about it than I do.   Almost immediately, people started blaming the rebellious and incendiary right-wing conservatists.  Of course, the people doing this were the rebellious and incendiary left-wing what-ever-they-call-themselves.
Part of my job is driving a truck and making deliveries for the company that I work for.  If I am driving when 3 p.m. rolls around, I listen to my ex-favorite talk show host.  (I'll explain 'ex' in a moment.)  He was giving his usual rant.  That's their job, you know.  He was accusing the accusing commentators of their wrong views and giving them the typical 'They're so bad and mean.' speech.  Part of his rant was that they were so busy bashing the right-wing conservatists that they did not take any time at all to pass on their proper condolences to the victims' families.  When I got off work at 5 p.m. and started on my way home, I listened a little bit more.  He was still on his rant about the commentators and I heard not one peep about any kind of consolation to the victim's families.
I should have known better than to listen but it gets awful boring in the truck going from point A to point B.  FOR ONCE...I, and I wish there were thousands that would join me, BEG some radio station to put a real announcer on their talk shows that could address the issues of the day in the correct fashion.  The issue is not the mean left-wing or the mean right-wing.  I do understand that this guy read Karl Marx and Adolf Hitler.  But, can anybody understand......IT IS AN ISSUE OF A GOD KIND.
It wasn't the books or any political party that drove this man to borderline insanity.  It was the demonic powers of Hell.  In the book I just finished and put it's review on this website, former President Reagan realised this.  While in the emergency room awaiting to go into surgery, he not only prayed for Jim Brady, himself and the other injured.  He, ALSO, prayed for his attacker to be freed from the demons that drove him to his dastardly act. 
The issue is clearly outlined in Paul's writings.  Let us remember.  Paul was a great soul-winner.  He changed the lives of entire cities and sparked the revolution of the power of Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 6:12--For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].  It was Satanic oppression that caused this man and many like him to go over the edge.  These demons pushed and prodded his mind and heart until his lifestyle changed to hatred and violence.  It's the same with several of the false religions around the world.  Minds and lives are bent toward the destruction of all those who do not bow down to their ideas of religion.  Whoa, fellow!  You are pretty much describing the left-wing and right-wing doughnut brains.
God help us as Christians to have enough grit and fortitude to be vocal enough to INCITE CHRISTIANS TO RIOT.   (Any of you radio station managers that have the guts, I'm your man with the grit.  Call me---I'm available.)  Christians are not called to a war of words or guns.  We, supposedly, are called to a war of prayer.  Remember, Paul said "wrestle."  There is only one way for healing to come to our land.  It needs to be preached and PRACTICED with a fervor that exceeds any rant that has come across any radio. 
It is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14 and 15.  God promised to heal our land if we would humble ourselves, pray, and turn from our wicked ways.  That has been my habit for the past several years.  For the most part, I have been up at 4:30 a.m. praying and seeking God for revival.  I have made my decision to ratchet up my prayer and my faith until it surpasses the left and right rants and raves.  Is there anybody out there with me?

Book Review

The Faith of Ronald Reagan

By Mary Beth Brown

I have always had the deepest admiration for President Ronald Reagan. After reading this book, my admiration has turned into a simple, heart-felt prayer, “God, raise up another one.”

Ironically, the day of his birth sounded like a page out of a book of folk lore. It was right in the middle of one of the worst blizzards Tampico, Illinois had ever seen, February 6, 1911. His father, Jack, had to trudge through the snow to find a mid-wife to deliver him. The town doctor was already out on a call. When the hefty 10 pounder made his entrance into the world, his father remarked, “He looks like a fat little Dutchman. But, who knows, he might grow up to be president someday.”

As you read the book, you will find out that his father was no modern day prophet of God. But, what is made perfectly clear is that Ronald Reagan had a deep and abiding faith that God had a purpose for everyone. That faith had been taught to him by his mother, Nelle. By her example, he learned how to trust God and how to talk to Him as if he had a direct connection. The greatest testimonies to that fact are in the interviews with his children that the author recorded in this book. Faith in God can be faked around everyone but your children. What his children said about him was what touched my heart the most.

The book begins with the attempted assassination of President Reagan in 1983. As she re-tells the events of that day, you see the personal side of a great man that newspapers and reporters never tell you. I will share this one with you. White House Press Secretary Jim Brady had been hit in the head with a bullet meant for the President. As an unconscious Jim Brady was being wheeled into surgery, President Reagan prayed for him. However, this great man said that it was wrong for him to pray for Jim, the others and himself to be healed and have hatred for his attacker. So, he spent some time praying that God would help his attacker deal with the demons that caused him to attack them. What a man.

In this book, you get a chance to walk with him through the Great Depression, the death of his child, the war, the Challenger disaster and many other challenges to his faith. But, by the end of the book you will pray like I do, “God, raise up another one.”

A copy of this book was furnished to me in exchange for this review.

God, It Doesn't Look Like You Know What You're Doing

How many times has that question popped up into your heart?  How many times have you said that to God?  It's OK.  God's a big God and He can handle it.  There are times and events in my life that I wish He had of consulted with me about.  But, every time I mention it to Him, He comes back to me with this "I'm God and you're not" stuff so I just hang in there until He's gets through.  Which, by the way, He doesn't tell you when He's through.  I would like to tell Him when to stop some of the things that I'm going through and get on with the blessings but He comes back with "My ways are higher than your ways" stuff and I just say, "Yeah, whatever."  What else are you going to do?

Let's take a look at the patriarch Jacob.  It was prophesied at his birth that the birthright would be his and not Esau's.  Well, why did God let Jacob take it by trickery?  After all, Jacob had to run away from the family and be virtually penniless for the next fourteen years.  One of the things you have to realize is that Jacob was so full of himself that God had to play second fiddle in his life until God finally had to take him down a peg or two (Gen 32). 
Was he really that smart?  He runs away to his Uncle Laban's house and falls in love with his cousin Rachel.  She's a beauty and he has just got to have her.  He has no money but bargains with Uncle Laban to work for him for seven years just to marry Rachel.  Where did he live?  Eat?  Get clothes?  From Uncle Laban of course.  Uncle Laban began to let real smart Jacob tie a real strong noose around his own neck.  Jacob, you've really got it all together, don't you?  But, let's not be too harsh on Jacob because me and you haven't been the brightest bulbs on the Christmas tree sometimes either.
Laban had smart Jacob and he knew it.  Seven years went by and Laban got Jacob so schnockered at the wedding that he couldn't tell the difference between Rachel and Leah until he sobered up the next morning.  Then, when Jacob protested, Laban showed him what a trickster was all about.  While Jacob was still reeling with a hangover, Laban talked him into seven more years of free labor to marry Rachel for real.
God, what are you doing?  Here's Mr. Birthright Guy with no money, no house but two wives.  What do you think that second seven years of FREE labor did to Jacob?  It put some grit in his gut and a ramrod in his backbone.  I bet his mind and heart began to say to God, "You must have a way out of this.  I'll be the man if You will show me Your plan."
Now, let's look at Laban for a moment.  He's the bad guy in this story.  He treated God's man in a despicable way, didn't he?  Well, Jacob did have his stupid moments but then me and you have had ours, too.  Don't forget.  God has had His work cut out for Him with the dumb stuff me and you have pulled off.  OK, back to the story.  After the first seven free years, Laban's house began to be filled with his grandchildren.  Leah eventually had six.  Her servant girl had two for Jacob.  Rachel's servant girl had two for Jacob.  Jacob had no income, so who was footing the bill for all of these?  You guessed it.  Uncle Laban.  God has a unique way of getting back at those who choose to cheat His children.  Remember that.
After the second seven years, Uncle Laban was GLAD to make a money agreement with Jacob just to get him out of the house and out of his pocketbook.  But, it didn't work like he thought.  Jacob was just as glad to get out.  After fourteen years of not having any money and having to bow down to his tricky Uncle, he was ready to allow the birthright to come into play.  God had His way of making Jacob appreciate the value of the birthright that had been handed down from his grandfather Abraham.  During the next six years, Jacob trusted God and became richer than ALL of Laban's sons.  Jacob was forced out of Laban's sight by the blessing of God.  What a way to go.  Jacob came in poor but left richer than Esau or Laban.
Let's not forget Leah.  She was not Jacob's favorite.  She always played second wife.  She was not as pretty as Rachel and had to live with that all of her life.  However, Leah was God's choice.  If Jacob had stayed in his father Isaac's home, Isaac would have probably sent for ONE wife.  That would have probably been Rachel.  However, Rachel was never able to have children very well.  It was years before she bore Joseph and she died while giving birth to Benjamin.   Leah, who was always second place as far as man could see, was the mother God chose to bring six of the twelve tribes of Israel into being.  Although, she was never the beauty that everyone saw Rachel to be, Leah was the beauty that God saw.  She was the mother that brought forth the tribe of Levi  whom GOD CHOSE to be the priests over His people.  And, she was the mother that brought for the tribe of Judah, from whom GOD CHOSE to bring the kings of His people.  That included the King of King, Christ Jesus.
God, indeed, had a plan that, maybe, only He could see.  He probably was the only One that knew what He was doing.  But, believe me, He did it well.  Have faith in God.

Why Doesn't God Show Up?

Have you ever wondered that?  You preach and preach and sing and sing and go to church and go to church and God doesn't honor a thing that you do.  He's no where to be found or He's just a trickle of life instead of a mighty rushing wind.  Let me share this deep, dark secret with you.  Are you ready?  No, you're not.  Get ready and then come back.  If what I am about to tell you doesn't sink in, there's no use you reading any further.  Go somewhere else and come back until you get the gist of what I am about to say. 

GOD WILL SHOW UP WHERE YOU ARE TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU SHOW UP WHERE HE IS.

I have been talking in the past few blogs about the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000.  I had wanted to write to you, today, about the overflow, the abundance that was produced by the Son of God.  However, I missed the most important part of the miracle.  Jesus did not show up in their synagogues or at their very command.  The people were busy following HIM.  They were seeking HIM.  They yearned to be where HE was.  They left the comfort of their homes, stopped what they were doing and went out and found HIM. 
Search and search and search as long as you want and you will never find in the Word of God where ANY follower of God came to Him and asked Him, "Lord, teach me to preach."  Yet, we have thousands upon thousands of seminaries attempting to do just that.  You will never find anyone coming to Jesus and asking, "Lord, teach me to lead worship."  Yet, many churches today will not even consider you a worship leader unless you have been to some special training school or belong to the "click" in their church.  Please quite shouting so loud.  I know I'm preaching real good right now.

What you will find that they did ask Jesus was this, "Lord, teach us to pray."  Luke 11:1.  You see, the disciples saw Jesus praying and realized that prayer brought him the power of God.  I hate to do you know what on your parade but get a load of this divine revelation.  Jesus was never ordained by the Jewish priests.  He never went to seminary.  He did go to a few cemetaries and raised the dead.  The theology He got was from the study that He gave to "knee-ology."  The disciples saw that and realized that prayer and a strong relationship with the Father was what brought the power that Jesus operated in.

Jesus said this in Matthew 6:6-But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.   Go where God is.  Quit waiting for Him to come to you.  Get by yourself and take off that plastic mask called religion.  Get real with God.  AND STAY THERE until you know that you know that you know that you and God have gotten it together.  Get real with Him when nobody is around to see how pious and holy you are.  Show up with God in the secret place and He will show up WITH you in the open.

The prayer closet.  Why isn't it a requirement to get a graduate degree in prayer?  Must we ONLY value a man or a woman if they bring a piece of paper that says they have completed four years of study?  My suggestion is to get alone with God for as long as it takes and allow HIM to show up in your life.  Then, like the five loaves and two fishes cry out "Lord, bless me, break me and send me out to feed Your sheep."

Then, do we dare allow God to change us to what He really called us to do.  Some of you need to step out of that pulpit and let someone with His presence in.  Some of you need to stop trying to lead worship because He really called you to play and instrument or teach Sunday School.  EW!  That's a bummer.  But, you make the call.  As for me, I stepped down a long time ago and said, "God, bless me, break me and put me where you need me to be."  But it started years ago getting up at 4:30 am to be with Him at His place------the prayer closet.

And The Word was God

No doubt you will recognize that portion of scripture from John 1:1.  Let's focus on that today.  God and His Word are the same.  The Word is God and God is His Word.  You will not separate God from His Word.  Not "one jot or one tittle" of His Word is unimportant to Him.  Every Word that comes out of His mouth has a purpose.  AND, He has a plan for His Word before He ever speaks it.  Think about that sentence for a minute.  BEFORE He spoke ANY Word, He had a plan IN HIS HEART.  BEFORE He spoke ANY Word, He looked at HIS vast resources, He looked at HIS vast army of angels and double checked His heart before He said to Himself, "I am well able to accomplish this."  My goodness, I want to get up and shout right now but I've got a wife and children still asleep and I need to finish this so I won't be late for work.
God spoke to His best friend Abraham and told him his promised children would be slaves to a foreign nation.  Then, He said "AND" I will judge that nation , "AND" they will come out rich. (Gen 15:14)  Those folks went through some times that caused them many heartaches and tears, BUT HIS WORD WAS STILL GOD.  Circumstances that he could not understand caused Moses to run to the backside of the desert for 40 years, BUT HIS WORD WAS STILL GOD.  When Moses came back to bring the children of Israel out of bondage, a lot of God's people did not believe Moses.  BUT HIS WORD WAS STILL GOD, and Moses kept on believing and being obedient.  God had a plan for His Word.  Pharaoh wasn't too excited about Moses' message, either.  BUT HIS WORD WAS STILL GOD, and God did not care what Pharaoh thought.  Pharaoh made it rougher on God's people, BUT HIS WORD WAS STILL GOD.  After the people believed, after Moses performed the first couple of miracles it still didn't LOOK LIKE it was ever going to happen.  Things did not get better, they got worse.  BUT HIS WORD WAS STILL GOD.
Daddy's perk up your ears and your hearts.  I'm fixing to say something that should not only convict you but cause you GREAT hope.  Whether the majority of the Hebrews believed it or not did not deter the Almighty God from performing His Word.  Five hundred years previous to the actual event, THE FATHER of those millions of slaves "believed in the Lord and He counted it to him for righteousness" (Gen 15:6).  Daddy Abraham's faith in what God told him OBLIGATED God to overlook ALL the unbelief and ALL the horrible circumstances that surrounded the Hebrew children at that time.  God was obligated, NOT ONLY BY HIS WORD but, also by the fact that Abraham "died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them," (Heb 11:13).  Did any of you catch that?  Abraham saw them afar off.  He believed the Word of God so much that He actually SAW in his heart his children marching out of bondage with great wealth.  Don't think so, huh?  Take a gander at the words of Jesus in John 8:56--Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw [it], and was glad.
Abraham had it settled in his heart that God was His Word and His Word was God concerning his children.  C'mon Daddies.  Do something.  Be da man about the Word of God.  Get somewhere by yourself, get the schmuck out of your life and BELIEVE THE WORD of God about your children and their future Dt 28:1,4.  HIS WORD IS STILL GOD no matter what it looks like and no matter who thinks they are in charge of the United States.  God will always be His Word, and His Word will always be GOD.  Now, shout for a while and pass this on.

He is Who He says He is.

Let's talk about John 6:8-14.  Let's talk especially about verse 14.  This verse says that the men saw something that made them realize the hand of God in Jesus' life.  If you will remember, this is where Jesus fed the 5,000.
First of all, everybody there saw a great need.  Everybody there agreed that something needed to be done.  Philip answered with man's limitation, "Two hundred penny worth is not enough."  To prove to the world that Jesus is Who He says He is, we must, FIRST, admit to ourselves AND admit to Him that we do not know how to do it.  If you can figure out the answer, yourself, the unbelievers will say, "I could have figured out a better plan than that."  Our prayer SHOULD BE----"God, I need an answer bigger than myself.  I need YOUR answer."
That prayer will bring us to the second point.  There was a little boy, who upon hearing that Jesus had a need, responded by giving all that he had.  Please, please, please, get this point.  Jesus said that we could not enter into the kingdom of heaven unless we become like a little child.  This little boy had no idea of how enormous the problem was.  He certainly did not know what Philip knew.  How many children have said, "Mommy, I know how to buy something to eat, just write a check for it."  They've seen you do it time and time again.  They don't stop to think that money has to be put in the bank.  All this starry-eyed little boy knew was that Jesus had a need and he had something to give.
That brings us to the third point.  He gave EVERYTHING he had and turned it ALL over to Jesus.  Sometimes we fail to give our lives, or finances or our prayer to Jesus because WE THINK that it won't be enough.  In our finite minds, WE DECLARE that whatever we have is not enough to meet the need so, why bother.  The miracle to this story lies in this secret.  Verse 6 tells us that Jesus already had a plan before He ever asked the question to Philip.  While Philip was hem-hawing about trying to come up with a plan, the little boy got all excited.  (Can  you tell where this is going?)  This little boy got so-o-o-o-o-o excited about his five loaves and two fishes that he wanted to give them to Jesus without any thought of keeping anything for himself.  He got so excited, he had to run up to Andrew, pull on his robe, get his attention and tell Andrew that he, the little boy, had an answer.  The insurmountable details did not bother him.  He was EXCITED about what he had to give.  He was EXCITED that he could give something to Jesus.  Now the question.  When was the last time that we were excited about giving something, even something small, to Jesus?  There's a key of faith there, friends.  This little child was entering the kingdom of heaven by giving his all, and he was excited.
The fourth point.  He NEVER told Jesus what to do with it.  How many times have we TOLD Jesus how to do something.  REMEMBER, before, He ever lets us see the problem, He ALREADY has it worked out.  That's a kingdom key, right there.  Grown-ups can't see it.  Children can.  I can see his bright and cheerful smile.  Maybe he's jumping up and down as Jesus accepts his gift.  With joy he watches Jesus carry HIS lunch to a central location and listens as Jesus (still holding his lunch) begins to give orders.  Then, with his mouth wide open and his imagination running wild, he watches Jesus bless and break the bread (according to Mark 6) over and over and over and over and over and over again and again and again.  He never tried to tell Jesus what to do.  When he let go of his lunch, his hands were free to clap and wave around.  His hands were also empty enough to receive the abundant blessing.  Five small loaves and two small fishes might have been just barely enough to get him back to the house.  Now that he gave it all to Jesus with great joy, he enjoyed all that he wanted and had plenty left over. 
The fifth point.  The little boy took NONE of the honor for himself.  All  the glory went to Jesus.  Folks, people have seen enough of me and you.  People that are hurting and confused about life, need to see a real answer.  Real answers come when God's people who are called by His name, humble themselves and pray---"God, I give you my whole life.  Break me anyway you want to, but bless my life in such a way that they can see YOU.  Help them to be able to see that You are Who You say You are."
Pass this on.

AN ISSUE OF A GOD KIND--The Church is Upside Down and Backwards

Before you scold me by saying, "But, Henry, I thought you were going to use AN ISSUE OF A GOD KIND to deal with the latest news headlines."  Let me say it this way.  The headlines in today's news is a direct result of this issue---THE CHURCH IS UPSIDE DOWN AND BACKWARDS. 
This past Sunday, our Pastor, Doug Patterson, at Islands Community Church, passed out a book that he wanted to church to read.  It is entitled "A 12-Month Guide to BETTER PRAYER."  It has 12 chapters and he suggested that we read at least one chapter per month.  I started last night and it will probably take me one month to fully digest the first chapter, "Prayer-It's Possibilities," by E. M. Bounds.  Wow!  Is it ever a kicker.  Find it at http://www.barbourbooks.com/.  Go to the tab that says "Best Sellers" and find it for $1.99. 
While reading this first chapter something dawned on me.  Jesus put more emphasis on prayer than on preaching and singing.  NEVER, NEVER, NEVER did He ever give as much importance to ANYTHING ELSE as He did prayer.  He said "whatever" you ask and He said "anything" you ask in His name would be granted.  He never put that much emphasis on "whatever" you preach or "anything" you sing.  Yet, how many churches have broken apart because of the way somebody preached?  Here lately, how many churches have been torn apart because half of the congregation did not like the style of worship music that was being done?  I have NEVER heard of a single congregation torn apart because of too much prayer, too long of a prayer, or prayer of a different kind.  Why?  Because WE the CHURCH--His body (?)--put more emphasis on preaching and singing.  Yet, Jesus didn't.
Case in point.  How many of you have asked or have been asked, "Please come to our church.  Our preacher preaches real good."  Or, "Please come to our church.  Our worship team is out of sight."  I dare say NOBODY has ever stated, "WOW!  You should come to our church.  Our prayer service will knock your socks off."  WE have misplaced our priorities.  Jesus never said, "Preach in My name and......."  He also did not say "Sing in My name and......"  But, I do find an abundance of "Ask in my name and......."
Of course, this will be continued in the next several blogs.  Let me close by saying that the church has missed the most powerful part of a Christian's heritage by not praying.  Our churches have INDEED been turned upside down and backwards.  We have been rendered powerLESS instead of powerFUL because we continue to follow hard after the way that other churches have been been rendered powerless.
Mary, Queen of Scots, said this, "I fear the prayers of John Knox more than all the assembled armies of Europe."  Dear God.  If only this could be heard by the Body of Christ today.  If the church would put the emphasis on prayer that Jesus did, Russia, North Korea and Iran would be coming to the church instead of the lame United States government and start begging for us to stop.....our.......PRAYING.

Does anyone have the guts or grace to pass this on?  How about any comment.  Let's hear your views.  If you are not afraid to give them, I am not afraid to print them.

What is Jesus Doing?

John 6:1-2--After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is [the sea] of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

One of the first points I want to make today is, this great multitude just hung around where Jesus hung around. They walked with Him where ever He went. They had seen great things and wanted to see more great things. I believe every Christian longs to see the power of God unleashed and poured out abundantly. In the place where God has put me to work for Him, I don't see a whole lot of His outpouring. Where you are walking with God right now, you might not be either. BUT, that does not mean He is not working in a miraculous way. Hearing testimonies of His saving and healing power encourage us. I started this blog to be an encouragement. I am looking for links to put in the side bar that will lead to encouraging sites and testimonies so we can see more of His power. I don't know about you, but I want to see Jesus lifted higher than ever before.
John 6:5-6--When Jesus then lifted up [his] eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
Hey, guys. Jesus ALWAYS has a plan that He is working on for our lives. No matter what it looks like to us, He ALWAYS knows what He is about to do. Notice that Jesus directly asked Philip a question. But, Jesus already had it planned out in His heart. Why did He ask Philip the question? Because, He had some work to do INSIDE Philip. Has God asked you to do something that He hasn't asked anyone else to do? Has God brought you along a path that has you asking, "Why me God? What did I ever do to You to deserve this kind of treatment? Why are You picking on me like this?" Or, how many of US have asked through our tears, "I thought You loved me. Is this the way You treat people you love?" If you have a testimony of how God brought you through a time like this, write it to me in the comment box and I will share it with the other readers.
Remember this, out of all His disciples that were standing around Him at that moment, and out of the thousands of people that were coming towards Him, He took some personal time with a disciple that He loved. Out of everybody that was there, out of all the needs that surrounded Him, Jesus still took time out to teach ONE person something that he needed to know.
And, you are just as special to Jesus as Philip was that day. Now notice that Philip did not ASKED to be taught. Jesus knew that Philip needed an EXTRA word of encouragement to bring the knowledge of His love and providence to a new level in Philip's heart. When God picks us out, when it looks like He is PICKING on us, He is really just picking us out to bring us into a new awareness of His love. Out of all of the thousands around us, He is taking some special time to do some one-on-one with us. Let's throw our hurts and questions away and fix our eyes on Him. Listen to Him instead of complain. Let's see what one-on-one message He has to teach us today.

Pass this on to someone who needs it. I just did!