I Found Her...

Proverbs asks the question, who can find a virtuous women? My answer is, I can.

However, I do not have any special ability or a super sensitive perception. It was either dumb luck or the grace of God...well, most likely it was the latter.

I have found this dear lady and she resides right under my own roof. Her heart is for God, her family, and for the saints that we serve. She would rather care for us than she would care for herself. She stays up late and gets up early. She works tirelessly to fulfill not only her duties but my calling. She has always been willing to pick up house and home and move to wherever I felt God was leading us.

She is beautiful in every way. Outwardly, she is a woman of holiness, grace and dignity. Inwardly, she is a woman of intelligence, love and compassion.

I am a blessed man because I found her...my wife...Dawn.

Prov 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

If God Could…

“If God could…” is a very strange way to start an article. We all know that God can do anything. However, there are certain restraints that He places on Himself. He has given us the gift of freewill and along with that powerful gift, He gives us the right to serve Him or ignore Him.

As I lay my head down on my pillow last evening these three little words were whispered in my ear.

“If God could…”, “if God could do what?” I asked.

Immediately, another whisper, “if God could do with you what He wanted to what would He do?”

Suddenly, I knew the answers.

First, He would spend more time with me. ---PAUSE---

As this answer flooded my mind and overwhelmed my heart, tears ran from my eyes onto my pillow. He would spend more time with me? The God of heaven; the King of kings; my Creator; my Savior desires my companionship?

Amazing! Shocking! Humbling!

With tears staining my pillow I had a sense of God’s desire for me. He desires simple communion between Creator and the created; Father and son; friends.

Simultaneously, I felt joy and shame. I felt joy for His desire and shame for my busyness; for my out-of-line priorities; and for my lack of discipline. I prayed…forgive me?

The second answer that whispered in the deepest recesses of my heart was that He would use me to love others. He would use my hands to strengthen the weak; to care for the useless; and to care for my brother and my sister.

He wants to use my hands, my feet, and my voice to help the hurting.

Let it never be said of me that I restrained God because of my unwillingness. I surrender all over again today. I dedicate my life to communing with my creator and to allowing him to work through me.

If God Could…?

Release Him today in your life.

When Fishermen won't Fish...

It is a sad state of affairs when we have men who are called to preach who would rather sit than sacrifice. Many of our larger churches are filled with men who have a calling on their lives, yet they are satisfied to sit and soak in the blessings instead of heading into the harvest.

The problem that I see is two-fold…

First of all, these “ministers” that will not minister come in two general categories.

1. Spotlight Seekers: Somewhere along the road these men got the impression that their calling is all about the pulpit and not about people. They are performers instead of pioneers.

2. Comfort Seekers: These men refuse to leave their comfort zone. Either from fear of failure or pure selfishness they cower in the safety of their comfort.

Second of all, many pastors refuse to release these men. They would rather have a “saint” in the pew than send a laborer into the harvest.

1. We as pastors need to be actively training young men for the harvest. When we do, we will multiply our own ministry hundreds of times over.

2. We need to be investing our young men into other places. Send them to a home missions work with their expenses paid, to encourage that pastor; start a daughter work; a preaching point; or raise funds for them to get practical experience as an AIMer (associate in missions).

3. We must refuse to be selfish.

4. We must refuse to allow ministers to be satisfied to sit. Pastors should push, prod, and preach them into the harvest.

It is a tragedy when fishermen refuse to fish. All around us we have a lost and dying world. Cities full of hungry people pray for a man with a burden to come.

I recently heard of a church with approximately 20 people, land, and a building that could not find a pastor for over three years. Now, another pastor in the area has picked up their burden and is pastoring these hungry people on an interim basis. It is so sad when men would rather languish away on a pew than be active in the harvest in a place like this.

Matt 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.

7 Step Cure for a Critical Spirit

Romans 14:10-13 (AMP) “Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. And so each of us shall give an account of himself - give an answer in reference to judgment - to God. Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.”

7 Step Cure for a Critical Spirit

Isaiah 26:3
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

1. Focus on God not Man
2. Trust in God

2 Cor 10:12
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

3. Do not compare yourself to others

1 Tim 5:19
19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

4. Do not Receive an Accusation

So many people are ready to receive bad information. They revel in the negative. They believe and pass on the information whether is proof or not.

I call it having a “Ready Ear”

Mark 11:25
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

5. Forgive

Rom 12:2
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

6. Be not Conformed to this World

There are whole industries in our culture today that thrive on nothing more than the art of criticizing…

Art Critics… Movie Critics… Fashion Police… Politic Pundits… Tabloid Journalism… Talk Shows… News Cast

7. Be Transformed by the Renewing of Our Minds

Wash your mind with the Word. Strengthen your resolve with the renewing of the Holy Ghost.

The Bible doesn’t promise peace to those who dwell on the faults of others! It says that the Lord will keep them in perfect peace, whose minds are stayed on Him!

Love without Works is Dead

If we say we love our brother...yet, we refuse to forgive, restore, and carry him...
...we do not really love him

If we say we love the lost...yet we stay silent, comfortable, and isolated...
...we do not love them

If we say we love God...yet, we refuse to pray, worship and serve...
...we not truly love Him

True Love compels, moves, and motivates us to action...

Love without works is Dead...

Simeon - Age 11 - Christmas Recital 2007

Anna - Age 6 - Christmas Recital 2007