God's Faithfulness: Jerrad Toups

Today's blog is from
Jerrad Toups,
God is faithful, have a great day!


Ephesians 3:19-21: 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

These verses have meant a lot to me over the last couple of years.  God’s faithfulness comes in His time, not ours.  As God taught me more about that through these verses, I figured out a lot about what I needed to do more of as a husband and expectant dad/dad. Through my relationship with Jesus, God did more than I could ever imagine or think and I will be forever grateful for it.  Every day we have new opportunities to lean into the Holy Spirit and rely on God’s wisdom to teach us, lead us, and reveal to us how we are to proceed with our lives.  Whenever I asked God to show me if moving to Cypress and being the student pastor at Copperfield Church was what I had been praying for, He gave me a Phil. 4:7 type of peace showing me He is able to do far more above anything I can ask or think.  Our relationship with Jesus, I think, is more of taking steps of faith rather than leaps or bounds.  At least in my life I have found truth in learning as I go, and when I think I know it all God is quick to remind me to not get ahead of Him and what He is doing.  

We have moved quite a bit in our almost 5 years of being married and I wondered if we would ever settle down anywhere and what God was putting together.  I feel like where we are now is where we will be for a while and it is a blessing to live out what God has called me to do every day.  I do not know what the readers of this blog are living out on a daily basis, but I know it is far better to live life free in Christ.  Don’t be bound by sin, people who are living in sin, or any other thing that is not of God.  The joy we find in Christ is exciting and leads us to new places.  Be led today by Jesus and allow His words to lead you where you need to go.  Remember He will always be able to do above what we can ask or think because He is all-knowing.  Don’t get me wrong, life is tough.  There are things taking place in people’s lives on a daily basis that are hard to endure and watch.  An example would be the typhoon that just hit the Philippines.  I don’t know what ‘typhoon’ you may be experiencing right now but God wants to be there and walk with you through it.  I hope y’all have a blessed week.

Jerrad

Rooted: Part 2

As youth pastor, I have been and worked around a lot of youth. There is something that I see very prevalent in their lives and that is divorce. More than 50% of the kids I know come from divorced homes and it shows.

My heart breaks for these kids because Satan is a destroyer of families. Depression, guilt, anger, resentment and many other problems manage to get "rooted" in a young person's life. These problems can lead to promiscuity, rebellion, and suicidal thoughts. Although some of this is extreme and kids are resilient, God never intended for divorce. This is not to condemn those that are or have been divorced. Life happens sometimes, ultimately it needs to be avoided at all costs.

Here is the key: we must be "rooted" in Jesus!

Jeremiah 17:8 NLT
They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

Remember the song "like a tree planted by the waters, I shall not be moved", it's true. Soaking up the living waters of God and eating the bread of life, that living word of God!

We can save ourselves a lot of headache and heartache by doing those simple things. Love for someone can easily slip away if we aren't steadfast in praying for our marriages.

The world may try to redefine marriage and what a family is, they may make it seem like divorce is a way of life, God never intended for it! As Christians we know what God's desire is, protect your family and put down deep roots.

Rooted

Good morning to you! I hope your week has gotten off to a great start! Get a cup of coffee and let's dig in. If you want to say something about how God has blessed your marriage, please do! Just write something in the comment section at the bottom.

                 ROOTED

I want my marriage to be rooted in Christ, rooted in the living waters of God!

Many of you have been divorced or experienced it with your parents. Most of us all know or have felt the effects of it.

I was blessed growing up with my dad and mom having a good marriage! I am very thankful for their commitment to each other. Their steadfast commitment to Jesus, each other, and to leading our family, rooted deep within me and my brothers.

A lot can be said about my parents being steadfast. With a good example set before us, my brother and I picked out godly wives. I am very happy with marriage and I know that God's plan is being accomplished in us!

Proverbs 22:6
King James Version (KJV)
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

1 Corinthians 13:4-6
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

This scripture tells us the way we should be. If you could narrow down a marriage failing, it would probably be one thing: selfishness. It takes two people committed to the Lord and committed to each other. If you start thinking about "self" and "your" needs, the unraveling begins. The core of this verse "love" begins to be just empty words you say to each other. "Love" becomes less patient and less kind, more irritable and resentful. A couple forgets their roots.

We must be "rooted" down deep with our marriage and in order for that to happen, we must have a strong relationship with our God!

John 4:13-14
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.  But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

Drink from the well of God, that everlasting life giving water that bubbles up as a spring within you. It will refresh you and keep you in a good marriage so as long as you both seek the Lord.

We need to let our roots run deep, our family needs the roots to run deep. If we sever life giving water to the rest of the family tree, it will die. Preserving the marriage is better, if possible, at all costs.

Walking in a Nation's Shoes.................... by JosieAnn Mathis

The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. Then the Lord gave me this message: “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom, but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would. “Therefore, Jeremiah, go and warn all Judah and Jerusalem. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am planning disaster for you instead of good. So turn from your evil ways, each of you, and do what is right.’” 

(Jeremiah 18:1-11 NLT)

Turn our hearts back to The Lord, The Great I Am! Our Nation continues to fight against Jesus Christ and all that He stands for. Pray, earnestly seek His face! Pray for our leaders, they need to remember the truth. Why did we come across the ocean to this land?

To have freedom TO worship God - not freedom FROM worshipping Him!!

Look at the state Israel was in when this message was given to them. God had delivered them from oppression, bringing them into a New Land. He promised He would take care of them and protect them- As long as they did Not turn their eyes and hearts away from God and worship Idols and false gods, or participate in the vile evil acts the people of that land were doing.

Our founding fathers were under oppression; they left and came to a New Land. They came for freedom TO worship God, NOT freedom FROM worshipping God! 

                    Oh great nation, what has become of US? 

Our rights and freedoms upon which this Nation was founded are threatened more and more every day! What must we do to keep these freedoms, to protect these rights? We had best WAKE UP and figure it out, lest all our freedoms be stripped from us! 

Our nation now lusts after possessions, ungodly affections, killing of innocent children, and persecution of any who oppose such acts. Even though our persecution is far less than other nations in this world of ours, that persecution is rising. Open our eyes Lord to Your truth!

Is it just me, or are we beginning to see a pattern here, a parallel?

 “But if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the decrees and commands I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, then I will uproot the people from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name. I will make it an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations. And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled. They will ask, ‘Why did the Lord do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?’ “And the answer will be, ‘Because his people abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and they worshiped other gods instead and bowed down to them. That is why he has brought all these disasters on them.’”

(2 Chronicles 7:19-22 NLT)

Wake oh sleeping nation! Arise before your hearts turn hard and cold and we are carried away into captivity, the result of bondage to our sin.

Our nation, compared with others, is still a young nation. But we could learn from past mistakes of others, if only our eyes would open to the truth. We must continue to stand against those things we know to be wrong, against God. 

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT)

Let us turn from wickedness, let us pray, let us humble ourselves, and more than anything, let us seek HIS face! 

Then, may He hear from heaven and forgive us and bring healing and restoration to our land!

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? 

                  If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

 (Romans 8:26, 27, 30, 31 NLT)

Take heart my fellow Christians/Americans, 

with God on our side...Life is So Sweet!

Focus on Jesus

It's Monday morning again! A new week and a new day.

Now some people choose to let Mondays be a blue day, and I can't say that I'm always "excited" about Monday for sure!

Our attitude and how we approach a new day and in situations affects our mood. Every one of us has woke up on the wrong side of the bed and all our co workers can tell you all about it!

So, this morning, it's time to re-focus on Jesus. It's time to praise and sing the name of Jesus!

In a bad mood or just kinda tired, maybe down and out? Ask yourself, "What has Jesus forgiven me of?"  Dwell on that and remember what he went through. Everything will be to God's glory, his name will be praised! Sometimes, well daily, we have to re-focus on Jesus.

Psalm 65:1-4 NIV

Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. You who answer prayer, to you all people will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions. Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.

This is a Monday morning to praise him. What do you have to praise him about? There is victory in his name. Ready to be happy this morning? It's a choice to be happy and its a choice to praise the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Although we might be going through a lot and we might wake up on the wrong side, we don't have to accept a bad day, we don't have feel miserable. Praise Jesus, because it's our time to live for him.

What is your praise to Jesus today? I want to praise him for loving me no matter what! He is merciful to me. Have a blessed day! Make life sweet!

Testimony Tuesday: Sandy Humble

SURRENDER- TO YIELD POSSESSION OF, OR POWER OVER TO ANOTHER.

MY CHILDHOOD CONSISTED OF ALCOHLICS ,PHYSICAL ABUSE, SEXUAL ABUSE, AND RAPE. AS I GOT OLDER, I DETERMINED THAT NO ONE WOULD EVER TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME AGAIN. I WAS NEVER GOING TO GIVE POWER OVER TO ANYONE TO HURT ME AGAIN. 

I MARRIED HAROLD (THE LOVE OF MY LIFE) WHEN I WAS 22 YRS. OLD. LITTLE DID HE KNOW THAT THE GIRL HE MARRIED BROUGHT ALONG WITH HER BAGGAGE FROM THE PAST. IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR THE BAGGAGE TO SHOW IT'S UGLY CONTENTS. INSIDE WAS ANGER, HATRED, RESENTMENT, BITTERNESS, UNFORGIVENESS, FEAR, PAIN, SHAME, GUILT, REMORSE, ETC. YOU NAME IT, IT WAS IN THERE. IT WAS FULL...HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT, AND NEITHER DID I. AND BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, THE FIRST FEW YEARS OF OUR MARRIAGE WERE NOT SO GOOD. I KNEW HE LOVED ME, AND I LOVED HIM, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX MYSELF. 

AND ONE DAY, ABOUT SIX YRS. OF BEING MARRIED, WE WERE INVITED TO CHURCH. NOT LONG AFTER WE WERE SAVED. THE LORD BLESSED ME WITH EXPERIENCING WITH HAROLD SALVATION, WE WERE BAPTISED TOGETHER AND STARTED THIS JOURNEY WITH THE LORD TOGETHER. PRAISE THE LORD . FOR THAT MY HEART OVERFLOWS WITH THANKFULNESS. 

THE LORD BEGAN TO CHANGE OUR LIVES. THE LORD WOULD TAKE ME TO MY BAGGAGE THAT I HAD CARRIED FOR SO LONG, AND ONE BY ONE I WOULD TAKE SOMETHING OUT OF IT AND SURRENDER IT TO HIM. I WOULD GIVE HIM THE "BAD", AND HE WOULD GIVE ME THE "GOOD". FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO PUT MY TRUST IN SOMEONE AND NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. WITHOUT ME WILLING TO SURRENDER TO HIM ALL THAT WAS IN MY BAGGAGE, I NEVER WOULD HAVE HAD VICTORY OVER THOSE THINGS. GOD HAS BLESSED MY LIFE, MY MARRIAGE, MY FAMILY. MAYBE SOME OF YOU HAVE BAGGAGE THAT CONSISTS OF THE THINGS I HAD. WHATEVER YOUR BAGGAGE CONSISTS OF, LET HIM LEAD YOU TO SURRENDER TO HIM THOSE THINGS. HE WANTS TO TAKE THE "BAD" AND GIVE YOU THE "GOOD". 

IT TOOK JESUS TO SURRENDER TO THE CROSS TO GIVE US VICTORY, AND IT WILL TAKE SURRENDER ON OUR PART TO WALK IN VICTORY. AND I STILL, AFTER 34 YRS. OF WALKING WITH THE LORD, LIVE MY LIFE IN SURRENDER TO HIM IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN EASY, BUT ALWAYS WORTH IT.

MATT:11:28-30 - COME TO ME ALL OF YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND CARRY HEAVY BURDENS, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU. LET ME TEACH YOU, BECAUSE I AM HUMBLE AND GENTLE AT HEART, AND YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS FOR MY YOKE IS EASY TO BEAR: AND THE BURDEN I GIVE YOU IS LIGHT.

Assault

John 10:10

 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

The trend in America against Christianity might not be an all out assault against Christians, but is still alarming. Yes, we are the freest society in the world today and the government isn't exactly passing laws directly keeping you from serving God.
So What is going on today?

Public opinion.

Christians are intolerant, they try to shove their faith on others, they don't care about women's rights, you have heard it. You read about it. From having the ten commandments in public places, forbidding references to "thanking Jesus" in valedictorian speeches, deciding to not allow "Christmas music" to be sang at "winter concerts" in a New Jersey school district. Where does this road lead us?

Here is an attack from an atheist: 

Weinstein, according to Fox News’ Todd Starnes, told officials at the meeting that U.S. troops who evangelize are guilty of sedition and treason and should be punished, by the hundreds if necessary.

Weinstein recently declared: “We face incredibly well-funded gangs of fundamentalist Christian monsters who terrorize their fellow Americans by forcing their weaponized and twisted version of Christianity upon their helpless subordinates in our nation’s armed forces.”

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2013/05/atheist-accuses-christians-of-treason-over-beliefs/#28up4tsPggeCHSz2.99

 Monsters? It's become popular by people in the media and by people in our government to portray Christians, tea party members, and anyone that doesn't line up with their views, as zealots and terrorist. You didn't know you were threat? Well, you are a threat...to satan's agenda. Right now, we better wake up and smell the coffee! We are in a spiritual war.

We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but principalities, and spiritual darkness on high.

Have you recently heard about Fort hood? A counter-intelligence agent at a Fort Hood military de-briefing told soldiers that evangelical Christians and the tea party members are a "threat" to the nation's security. Any soldier that is caught donating money to these "terrorist" organizations would be subject to displinary action! Wow, amazing. 

www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/10/23/does-army-consider-christians-tea-party-terror-threat/

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2013/October/Anti-Faith-Sentiment-Growing-at-Alarming-Rate-/

So, not only are we supposed to tolerate sin, we must change our beliefs to accomadate this sin. You are supposed to "accept" gay marriage, even though the bible tells to abstain from it. You are supposed to be ok with "women's rights" to kill their unborn baby that has a heartbeat! Oh and by the way, " we will have pleasure in getting drunk, lusting, commiting adultery, come to work the next day, laugh about it, cuss up a storm, say filthy and despicable, low down junk in front of you, Christians. How dare you speak about Jesus to me!? How dare you say I am in sin, you Christians are so judgemental and intolerant!

The world does not tolerate Christians and here in America we are just beginning to see the start of that.

Just remember the culprit behind all of this. Don't forget that Jesus paid it all, the enemy is defeated! As christians it's time to wake up and pursue God's call. 

Treasure or Just Junk -- by Josie Mathis

So, I must say I have had quite a bit of difficulty editing and getting this blog written today! It kept spacing in weird places and wouldn't let me correct things, but several hours later, hopefully I prevail! 


For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 
Matthew 6:21

     Have you ever come to a point where you look around your home and are overwhelmed, perhaps even slightly disgusted by all of the THINGS cluttering up space? I don't know if it is just me, but I believe others experience this same stage in life, if that is what one would call it. 
     I can remember back a few years ago when a spirited young woman I know decided she'd had enough of all the junk and began tossing out all sorts of items. At the time I thought, there's a lot of good stuff here; why would she get rid of these perfectly good items. Well, perhaps I have now reached this 'stage' so to speak, because it all seems so clear to me now. 
----She was simply tired of all the JUNK!! What was once perhaps treasure to her was now junk to be discarded, clutter taking up valuable space.
     You may be wondering where I am going with this, hang tight we'll get there in a moment.
     I, over the past month or so, have begun to look around my home wondering why I have so many things taking up space, and why exactly did I ever need that particular item or another. I had already begun to  get rid of a few items here and there. However, thanks to the recent FFHSC garage sale I have been encouraged to take a step forward and really examine things and get rid of all the excess. 
     So yesterday I made use of the rainy day and began in my kitchen. Two huge garbage bags  and a box to save for a sale later, my kitchen has so much available space I find myself amazed that much space was filled with things I never use. Of course there are still those things that we use only a few times a year that must be kept. But, let's be honest with ourselves, how much are we hoarding or holding on to that we absolutely do NOT need?

     Now, look at our spiritual home. What about our daily life? How many things have we stuffed into our spirit man deeming it a kind of treasure? How many things do we continuously fill up our day with? These things have become our treasure...Is it really treasure? Or is it just a bunch of junk? Often times we have to take a step back from 
ourselves and ask... Is this something I truly need, or simply something I want? Perhaps I may not even want it once I get it, or a week, or a month from now. 

     As the holidays approach, we see much controversy about Christmas. Can students sing Christmas carols or towns display Christmas trees? I am reminded of part of the Grinch movie; I believe the line was...You people want all of this stuff, you just HAVE to have it! But a month from now it all comes to me in the garbage dump!!
     Wow! Is this not so very true! Not only with physical things, but spiritual as well? What will we fill ourselves up with? Are all these things important, needful, Godly? Will we wake up and realize our home is filled with real treasure or just junk?
     Let us look at the situation from a different angle. Perhaps in our 'housecleaning' we will find lost treasure; a spiritual gift that our Father gave us, and we've neglected it and stuffed it, hidden away somewhere. Are we using the treasures God has given us, or have we replaced that treasure with a fake?

     Maybe we simply need to ask ourselves ---- not what our treasure is ---- but whom? 

Who holds your heart today? Do you place more value on the Things in life or on the PEOPLE in it and the SAVIOR who gave His life for us? 

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21 NIV)


I leave you with this link I found... A beautiful song and reminder of where I want my heart to be.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hIjkVe_9pLY

Trick or treat

How about trick. It amazes me how many Christians are "ok" with this holiday! By the way, "holiday" is derived from "holy day". Anything "holy" or "godly" about Halloween? I didn't think so.

So, lets start off with the core of a Christian adults desire to participate in Halloween, your kids. They get to dress up in cute costumes (usually not even bad characters) and get loads of candy, plus they have a great time with friends and playing games. Harmless right? Well, if you say so!

All Hallows eve is well known as a satanic day. This is a day of worship to Satan for some, a day of rituals, of sacrifice and your kids are participating...hmm. More than likely they aren't involved in those kinds of activities, but don't we still put them at risk for being interested in witchcraft, magic, and just darkness in general?

Lets not forget about skeltons, zombies, ghouls, ghosts, vampires. All characters of death and evil. Death not life. Jesus brings life, Satan brings death. Why do we desire to get involved with deeds of darkness!? Wake up sleeping Christians! Are we that naive to Satan's devices and traps?

I'm not here to condemn, but as the church of the living God, how do we think our country will ever change or turn to Lord? It will return to the
Jesus when we come back to Jesus. 

Remember Monday's blog? "Called by my name".
"If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray and seek my face, I will turn and heal their land." 2 chronicles 7:14
(That's paraphrased a little bit.)
We all have to examine our motives and what we involve ourselves in, trust me there are things in my life that I know have to go. We are all a work in progress, let's go after the Lord!

Walking: In your neighbor's shoes

The other day my wife, Josie, had a school project with my beautiful nieces, Panda and Tori. It involved blessing a neighbor.

So, off to work on this project they went. They baked bread and made honey butter, wrapped it up and started over to the neighbor's house. They brought with them some honey that we made this year.
Mrs. Sharp's house was first. She lives almost right across the street from us. She is an older lady, but very sweet. She loves her cats! She was so excited! She rarely gets any company. I sure would hate to be by myself without someone to live life with. She kept insisting on buying the honey from us, and Josie was like "no, Mrs.Sharp"! Lol. She always enjoys it when we bring the youth group to sing Christmas carols to her.

The second lady is Mrs. Guisendorf. She is our neighbor to the side of us. She is middle aged as well. She still works full time and is also alone. When the girls brought her the bread she started crying!

Maybe you are in this type of situation, where you don't have anyone that you share life with. It's real easy for younger people with families to forget about people that don't have a family. Even though Josie and I do not currently have kids, we have each other, so
I cannot even imagine the empty days and the lifelong dreams that seem to just fade away.

Walking in your neighbors shoes...what is that like? Who is your neighbor? Have you thought of someone yet? What are they going through and where is there life at? Do we care?

The bible says to "love your neighbor as yourself". We take care of ourselves, we comfort ourselves, we pray for ourselves, we visit with our friends.Ten or twenty years we could easily be
"Walking in our neighbor's shoes".

 

Called by my name

You have heard the verses:

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart. (2 Chronicles 7:14-16 NLT)

When there is a movement of God, it does not begin with the un-godly. Repentance starts in the house of God. Jonah preached to Nineveh and the entire city repented in sackcloth and ashes. Peter preached to the Jews, how they crucified the King of kings, it pricked their hearts and that day, three thousand repented and turned to Jesus. "The Great Awakenings" here in America have changed the path of this great nation. 

We may blame others, the government, our president, Hollywood, or what have you. This truth remains in this verse: "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land." It starts with us, you and me, the church.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 

Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. (Psalms 51:10,11, 12 KJV)

When was the last time you just laid out in the floor by yourself and got into the presence of The Lord?

"His ears will be open and attentive to us", if we just humble ourselves, if we just "pray and seek his face". We need a move from God! We need his mighty, awesome power to sweep through our homes, churches, schools, and our nation! 

What are we willing to do about it? Let's get on our knees together and start cleaning house! We are "called by his name" for a purpose! We have not been saved by the blood of lamb to just be "ok" with ourselves! We must get real, lost are hanging in the balance. Peoples lives depend on it. Let's make this life, sweet.

Testimony Tuesday: A word from " Jake Williams"

This word of testimony is from my friend and brother in Christ, Jake Williams. I hope you enjoy! Please keep his wife in our prayers.

Dear friend,

        Greetings in the name of The Lord.

If I may, let me speak to you from my heart, for just a few minutes.

First let me thank you for taking time to read this very important letter. You see through my own experience, I have found out that God could not have been pleased with my life, and I am afraid most Christians have fallen in my same pattern of lifestyle. 

        Thank God I have found a secret that I had not searched out. Through much prayer, reading God's word, and being filled with his Holy Spirit, he has lifted me up to a higher realm in his spirit then I have ever been before. 

        I have found out each day when I get in God's word that I also take time to talk to Him in prayer and wait upon Him for his presence and his love to be revealed to me. 

        This is what I want to tell you. I have found out it is not enough to accept forgiveness of our

sins or even surrender to God. That is only the beginning. We must understand that we do not have any power of our own to maintain our spiritual life.

        We must- we must, I repeat, we must, take time each day of our daily life to have fellowship with our Savior.

        This cannot be done with a few hasty words of prayer, nor can it be done by jumping into God's word and jumping right out. We must stay there until we come into his presence.

        I have found out it is then we feel our weakness and our need to wait upon God through his Holy Spirit, and to renew our fellowship with Him each day. It is then we can expect to be kept by the power of our Savior throughout each day. 

        My prayer is to help Christians to see the necessity of spending time with The Lord each day. I have found out that if we do not spend time in fellowship with God each day, then without His fellowship, the power and the joys of God's Holy Spirit in our daily life cannot be experienced.

        As I write this, to whom it may concern, I feel the Holy Spirit right now. I feel His anointing. I am in my study alone with God. It is 1:30am.

        Let me say this in closing, that the secret to true power is in our prayers. You see, He will clothe you with His Holy Spirit and with power to overcome the world.

        When our Lord Jesus told us to pray to our Father in secret, He gave us his promise that the Father will hear our prayers, and mightily answer them in our lives before others (Jeremiah 33:3).

       If you will go with God, pray and study His word, I promise you, you will never be the same.

       Keep praying and keep looking up, for He is soon coming after his people, called His Church.

( 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). If you will, please keep this letter. Please read it again and also read it to your friends. Always remember God loves you and so do I.

May God bless you,

Bro. Jake Williams

One of your Outreach Ministers

When good men do nothing

  

  I was at work today and the quote "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." (- Edmund Burke quotes) came to my mind. I thought about and looked it up. It bothers me that even though I might strive to live a holy, righteous life, there are times when I am silent about evil doings. How many times do we allow for immorality to take place in front of us? We let "evil triumph" ! We are allowing sin to reign, it takes more than just living right. I read this yesterday and wanted to share this with you. This article is put very well, it is really a good read! I can't put it better. It pricked my heart. 

http://www.padfield.com/1997/goodmen.html

When Good Men Do Nothing

by Wayne Greeson

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

So much of the history of the struggle between good and evil can be explained by Edmund Burke's observation. Time and again those who profess to be good seem to clearly outnumber those who are evil, yet those who are evil seem to prevail far too often. Seldom is it the numbers that determine the outcome, but whether those who claim to be good men are willing to stand up and fight for what they know to be right. There are numerous examples of this sad and awful scenario being played out over and over again in the scriptures.

They Get Nothing Good Done

When good men do nothing, they get nothing good done. To be good, one must do good. The Lord commands his people to do good (Luke 6:35; Eph. 2:10). Christ "gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14).

In the parable of the talents, Jesus described a man who did nothing. When he received his Lord's money, he "went and digged in the earth, and hid his Lord's money" (Matt. 25:18). When his Lord returned, he returned to the Lord just what he had been given (Matt. 25:25). Notice, the servant did not do any outright evil, such as stealing the money, but then neither did he do anything good. He did nothing and he got nothing good accomplished. Jesus said he was a "wicked and slothful servant" (Matt. 25:26).

Jesus rebuked the church at Laodicea for doing nothing. "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Rev. 3:15-17).

Too many Christians and too many churches do nothing. They are standing idly by, they are mere spectators. They sit on the sidelines instead of actively participating and working for the good. If good wins, they join in the celebration though they did nothing to produce the victory. If evil wins, they will complain long and loud though their own apathy helped produce the undesirable result.

When Jesus found a fig tree with "nothing thereon, but leaves only" He cursed the tree and "presently the fig tree withered away" (Matt. 21:19). What will He do with those who claim to be good and yet who do nothing? John the baptist warned, "And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire" (Matt. 3:10; John 15:2).

They Help Evil To Triumph

When good men do nothing, evil triumphs. Evil, sin and sinful men must be opposed. God commands those who are good, not just to avoid evil but actively oppose it.

Christians are to not only to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but (also) reprove them" (Eph. 5:11). Those who do nothing about sin and evil, help the sin and evil to prevail. One who is silent when there are those around him in sin becomes a partaker with them (Eph. 5:7).

In the days of Elijah, the silence of many had allowed the evil of Ahab and Jezebel to prevail throughout the land of Israel. "And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word" (1 Kings 18:21). The silence of the people spoke volumes of their indecisiveness and inaction. Their failure to stand up, speak up and speak out permitted wicked and evil men to run rampant.

Jesus told of a traveler who was robbed, beaten and left him half dead. The men who did this were wicked and did a very wicked thing. But the Levite and priest allowed this evil to continue unanswered by doing nothing as they each "passed by on the other side" (Luke 10:31-32). Fortunately for the traveler there was one man, a Samaritan, who was willing to stand up for what was right (Luke 10:33-36).

Jesus warned "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad" (Matt. 12:30). In the fight against evil there is no middle ground, no gray area, no neutrality. Those who are not actively and vigorously fighting against evil are helping evil to triumph.

They Are No Longer Good

When good men do nothing, they are no longer good. Many have the mistaken notion that good is merely the absence of doing that which is wrong. Not so! One is good not merely because he does no evil, but because he is actively working for what is good. "Let him eschew evil, and do good" (1 Pet. 3:11). James explained, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).

The eldest of Israel, Reuben, knew his brothers' murderous plot against their younger brother Joseph was wrong. He started an attempt to deliver Joseph, but as he hesitated and vacillated, the other brothers sold Joseph into slavery. When Reuben heard what they had done, he realized his failure to act had helped to bring about this evil result.

Instead of correcting his error, Reuben sought to cover his guilt by agreeing with his brothers to lie to their father about Joseph's disappearance (Gen. 37:18-35). Reuben had "good intentions" and he was not even present when Joseph was sold into slavery, but he knew his inaction and absence made him just as guilty as the rest of his wicked brothers. This guilt continued to haunt him through the years (Gen. 42:21-22).

The prophet Obadiah severely condemned the Edomites for doing nothing when evil was befalling their brethren, the Jews. When Jerusalem was invaded by her enemies, the Edomites "stood on the other side" doing nothing but watching the slaughter as spectators. God said by their failure to act and to help their brethren "even thou wast as one of them" (Obad. 11).

Today, there are preachers and Christians who fail and refuse to meet the real foe, refute error and fight the enemy. Instead, they have turned to viciously savaging their own brethren. They are filled with bitterness and hatred and they maliciously attack, slander and misrepresent other Christians and gospel preachers.

Paul warned about such men and behavior among those professing to be Christians, "But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another" (Gal. 5:15). Those who engage in such behavior are spiritual cannibals.

While the conduct of these so-called Christians is shameful, what about those supposedly "good" men who do nothing? Those stand on the other side and do nothing but watch as their brothers are being slandered, slaughtered and devoured, they cease being innocent bystanders and idle spectators. Their failure to act not only allows evil to triumph, but makes them just as guilty as the spiritual cannibals they refuse to reprove and rebuke. In God's words, "even thou wast as one of them" (Obad. 11).

Conclusion

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6:7). Those who fail or refuse to do good in the face of evil are sowing some dangerous seeds. They are doing nothing good as Jesus commanded them to do; they are helping evil to win and have ceased being good and have become partakers of the evil they did nothing to stop.

Do not allow evil to triumph. Do not sit by and do nothing. Stand up and be counted, speak up against evil and speak out against evil men and their sinful deeds.

  Proverbs 29:2

When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.

The bible says to be "doers of good", that is an action! We can't idly stand by while evil prevails. We can't be laid back Christians, waiting for the next tv show to come on, or play on Facebook for hours. 

What can we do? We can't be afraid of standing up for Jesus. My heart breaks, I want to stand up, to speak out, to not let fear keep me from doing what's right in every situation. It starts with the little things: what sort of speech flows out of our mouths, what will laugh at, when will tell someone we don't want to hear the filth? Do we tell slight white lies to keep us out of the hot seat, when we said something we shouldn't have, I know I have. The change we need in this country is not with federal government, not your pastor, it starts with me and you. One Christian at a time truly following after Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:19

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Amen! What an awesome scripture! He knows who are his! Let's live for Jesus!

Family: Good times

   As a kid
growing up, my
grandparents had a camp house at Toledo Bend and at the Neches river. We would go up to lake during spring break and on weekend, I always loved it! I had the best times with my mamaw and papaw. We would fish for perch and white perch, run some trot lines for catfish. There was a local marina where us kids would walk to for a coke and candy bar. It was simple times, but I loved it, it was very peaceful.

As we got older, we started going more and more to the river camp on the Neches river. The whole family would get together to fish, swim, and of course eat some fried fish! Papaw had built a floating dock so you could fish off the bank. Honestly, I miss those times!

Make time for your family, put down the tablet, the phone, turn off the tv, and visit on the front porch. You don't always have your family.

My mamaw, Dora dei Shiftler Parks, was the glue of my family on my mom's side. Yes, she was from Germany. My papaw married her after world war two. The family wasn't too excited about it at first, but she was the type of person that you couldn't dislike. She had sweet personality. People would ask me about her accent, which I never noticed growing up around it. She was, by far, one of the most important people in my life. She was steadfast in her love for Jesus. I can't remember one day that she didn't read her bible.

Anyway, after a long battle with a heart valve issue and a battle with ovarian cancer, she passed away right after Christmas in 1999. I know it is a sad story, but the point is, hold tight to your family. Enjoy being with your family.
We had a lot of great memories. I said earlier,"she was the glue", my family has not been the same since. All my cousins and my brothers and I have grown up. We started families and we don't see each other like we used to.

My church family has filled in where my family has had a hard time being there. Do not get this wrong, I make an effort to get with my family as much as possible, they just work shift work (different shifts) and some live farther away. We still all love each other. Life is not the same, it changes, but that does not mean that we shouldn't strive to be with and bless our families.
The family is the bedrock of a strong church and a strong nation.


I am wistful of those good times, sounds like I'm depressed or something! :-)
Don't worry, I'm alright, I might be feeling a little mellow. Make your life into something sweet, live it to the fullest. Treat every day as a gift from God! Don't fight with your family. Love your family, love your neighbor, love your church! Pray for your family, your church, your leaders, and our nation. It's needed! Life is so sweet!

Next week, Testimony Tuesday is back with Bro. Jake Williams!

Judging a man

If you know me very well, you know that I love coffee! Yes, I am an addict for sure. I have been drinking more of it as I work long hours at the job. Working a lot also makes it hard to write a blog I do admit, but the Lord placed something on my heart. So grab a cup of coffee and let us dig in!
How do we judge a man? The bible says "you shall know them by fruits".  Matthew 7:16
If you read that chapter, you will see that Jesus was talking about wolves in sheep's clothing. He is also spoke of good trees producing good fruit and bad trees producing bad fruit. Basically, the holy spirit gives us discernment to know what's going on. It does not mean we condemn a person.
1 Corinthians 2:14-16
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
Ok, let's look at this: "Judge not lest you be judged". We can look at someone's sin and condemn them. We might think we are better or we don't do the things they do, right? We KNOW that sin is sin, and we aren't better than anyone else.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Only by God's grace, "for all have sinned, and have fallen short of the glory of God".
So, when we carry on about someone else and their problems, we are in the wrong. We are in sin, it's called gossip and slander or best known as judging.
"You shall know them by their fruits". It's not wrong to look at a situation and discern what is happening. You decide when your children do not need to be around a stranger. You decide it's best not to place yourself in a bad situation.
We judge things or people to make sure we protect what the Lord has given us. We want to be holy and righteous and have a clean heart before God.
"Create in me a pure heart oh God, and renew a right spirit in me. Cast me not away oh Lord, and take not thy holy spirit from me."
It's a beautiful thing to live for the Lord. It is a sweet life that the Lord has given us. Know that God expects us to judge and discern our surroundings with a pure heart and a right spirit, he gave us a brain and some common sense! Just don't look down on people because of their problems or their past. A person's past can definitely change your view of someone. So examine their fruit, now, in the present, is it good or bad? Do not let a first impression be the last impression of a person. Know them by their fruits.

JosieAnn Mathis: Memory Lane

As most of you know, or have noticed, my beloved Michael has been working a lot lately. So, this morning I am going to try to write his blog for him. I know you've read my writings here before, but Michael finalized everything and posted it, so I am in uncharted waters.   =)

Autumn! Joyful, crisp, mornings just like today are part of what makes me absolutely love this season! With the joy and delight I find in this season, I also find touches of sadness and wistful memories. You see, this was also my favorite time of year with my dad! Oh, the fun times full of cozy campfires and crazy home-made tents are many. My dad loved to run rabbit dogs(aka Beagles) all the time. Bro. BJ Kilpatrick can attest to that. He also loved making my poor baby sister Betsy (aka 'my little helper') do everything for him. Lol 

This December will be 12 years since he went home to be with Jesus. And do we ever miss him so! This time of year always brings with it so many memories. Some not so good, but mostly those of joyful times. Last year, all during Christmas time someone's hunting dogs were running by my house almost daily. It brought back quite a lot of wistfulness and also some tears. But even during the heartache, in a strange way, it also brought me comfort. It was like The Lord was stirring up those good times in my mind and maybe, just maybe, saying "I haven't forgotten you, or the sorrow in your heart. I am here for you, just a breath away." 

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8, 9 NLT)

Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.... Isn't it amazing how we can choose what to remember. The good things that God gives us are most certainly worthy of praising Him! And I believe, yes, that also includes memories with those we love. Perhaps you have lost a loved one. I am quite sure we all have those certain times that will remind us more of that loved one than other times. Allow yourself to walk down that memory lane! God gives us those memories, after all. And He is with you every step of the way, to bring you comfort and the peace you need.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4 NLT)

Dear family of God, never think you are alone! For we are your brothers and sisters, your family. We are here to share God's comfort and His love. Those times when you feel so desperate for a physical touch from your Father, God, and a brother or sister in Christ hugs you close, it is His arms reaching through their obedience and holding you close to Him! It is His comfort and peace that radiates from those who serve Him and are willing to be His vessel. So many of you comment about my hugs (thanks for loving the hugs and me! Lol); I am simply a willing vessel to pass on God's love through me. So, the next time you are feeling wistful from a walk down memory lane, or if you just need God's touch, find comfort in the arms of your Savior -Godly brothers and sisters- to bring you the comfort you seek.

So today, find in present joys or in memories past, and maybe a willing vessel of God, you too can find that Life is So Sweet!!

Buddy Buckner: Faithfulness

Faithfulness

The Lord’s faithfulness… Need I say more? Imagine someone who is always there for you no matter what, or that forgives your trespasses without fail when you ask. Could you imagine a friend that possessed such love to give their life for you even if you mocked, rejected or ridiculed them? Maybe you never even acknowledged this person or knew them but they were willing to take your place in death. Could such an individual even exist?

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
John 15:13

There couldn’t possibly be any greater expression of love than to be willing to die for someone and actually follow through. No matter who we are, where we are, or what we are, their is such a friend who is in our life or desires to be our life… His name is Jesus. He doesn’t simply want to be a part of our life… He wants to be our life; the very reason of our existence; our heartbeat; our everything. Jesus wasn’t one to “talk a big game” but not back it up. He didn’t live by “Do as I say and not as I do.” Whatever Jesus preached was how he lived on this earth and is the essence of His character even today at the right hand of the Father.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8

Even before I ever received forgiveness of sin thru faith in Christ, His faithfulness was abundant. The very fact that 2,000 years ago Jesus was willing to die for me before I had ever confessed or believed in Him is amazing. That’s the great thing about the gospel. Jesus didn’t just give His life for the people in existence in His day but for all that would call upon Him unto the end of the earth and time! So His faithfulness, His goodness, His grace and mercy have been abundantly shed upon our lives even before we existed. No matter what the circumstances in an individuals life may be, all can rejoice in the fact that we have a Savior and Friend that gave it all for us individually and would have done so even if we were the only soul in this world. The gospel of Jesus is indeed that personal. Sometimes maybe we don’t make it personal enough. When you experience His faithfulness and forgiveness in your life then it’s difficult to not realize how personal and intimate our God is.

We as flesh struggle sometimes with faithfulness. We at times find ourselves struggling to keep promises. It can be easy to make commitments to others and later down the road forget about them, or maybe we decide the cost of keeping the commitment is too great. Maybe some commitments become a burden to us.  The Lord never struggles with His faithfulness or forgets His promises.

“For all the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”
2 Corinthians 1:20

We can stand upon the promises of God’s word and the truth of it because it will not fail, because our God will not fail. He never makes a promise that He is not able to keep. He never gives a promise in His word that He is not able to fulfill! The faithfulness of God will not allow it to be any other way. He is a God of His word and His word will not return void. Hallelujah! He has given us the word of God to be a weapon against the enemy and to bring victory in our lives. So if you are standing upon the promises of His word, and His word is seemingly all that is holding you up and all that you have left, then you are in a great place!

Our God is faithful in every way, whether we need the forgiveness that He bought for us 2,000 years ago, or if we need a miracle and promise of His word fulfilled in our life. You can never go wrong with trusting in the Lord and leaning upon His unfailing faithfulness!

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I (Jesus) will give you rest. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28,30

How sweet life is…. because of the Lord’s faithfulness.

Walking: in Elijah's shoes

Elijah was an anointed, powerful man of God in his time, but his road was a tough road to walk.

He was a man that stood against the rising tide of evil. I'm sure most of you are familiar with Ahab and Jezabel. Wickedness at it's highest prevailed in Israel during their reign. Elijah was God's chosen to speak out against this evil.

A short interjection here, God is looking for Godly men and women to stand up against the rising tide of evil. The truth cannot and will never be buried by Satan or anyone else.

So, what did Elijah face? Many times we might think it was easy for Elijah, Paul, Peter, etc. to stand against evil and preach the truth. Whoever said that? Elijah was a man like you and me. Was he fearful or afraid sometimes? Yes! Elijah was the man God called to reign down fire on a sacrifice that had 12 barrels of water poured on it!

Kings 18:33-39 NLT)
He piled wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood. Then he said, “Fill four large jars with water, and pour the water over the offering and the wood.” After they had done this, he said, “Do the same thing again!” And when they were finished, he said, “Now do it a third time!” So they did as he said, and the water ran around the altar and even filled the trench. At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.” Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord —he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!” 

The fire licked every drop out of the trenches! He put the prophets of Baal to shame! They had went on all day calling on Baal and cutting themselves. There were 450 of them to 1 of God's prophets! But did Baal show up? No! But God showed up with an all consuming fire. Elijah killed all of these prophets. Why? Because God is a jealous God. He wants your adoration and love. The same Elijah ran for his life to hide in a cave away from Jezebel for fear of losing his life.

1 Kings 19:2, 3 NLT
So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.” Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there.

Into the wilderness
1 Kings 19:9, 10 NLT
There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

God told him, " There are 7000 that have not bowed the knee to Baal. You are not alone!" Even in the midst of attack, defeat, oppression, and wickedness in the world, YOU are not alone! God has an army here with you. No matter the circumstances, God is in control and firmly has a plan in place, as with Elijah! Elijah trusted God and stepped out in faith.

He told a woman, who had lost all hope and was preparing a last meal for her and her son to eat, to make a meal for him 'first'. She never ran out of oil or flour because of her obedience. Her son, died a little later on, and he stretched out over him and brought back her son from back from death by crying out to God!

He prayed and it rained after three and a half years of drought.

Elijah always spoke the truth even in dire circumstances or seemingly everything against him.

Always trust God and speak the truth. With truth may come persecution, but you will never go wrong and will have a great big God to have your back!
Walk in Elijah's shoes!
Life is so sweet!