Backsliding. Slow Fade. Lukewarm. Falling Away.

I don't care for the the term "backslider"...but....I feel I must address this issue AGAIN. You see or hear some terrible news of someone acting in an ungodly way. You are shocked but in time you step back and ponder. I ponder so much that it hurts my head sometimes. As one ponders and takes the entire picture into perspective a hidden motive may become more obvious. Under the evil popping up out of the ground, one will find the love of money. The love of money is behind all evil... I didn't write that; this is Scripture. "ALL EVIL"?, my pondering mind says. Yes, all evil. Here are just a few examples of loving money... -a mother sees her friend's nice things; yet she struggles, she is tempted to leave her marriage and seek after a wealthy new guy... -a father is tired of being so financially strapped that he is tempted to just "chuck" the marriage and fatherhood. -A single man marries the wrong lady. He marries another because she has connections and money. -A single woman does not marry for love but for advantage. -A preacher fails to preach biblical truth since truth may offend his parishioners ie:support base. -People can step on others in their effort to climb the ladder of success. -A skilled physican goes into the field of medicine that TAKES life since there is guaranteed income. -A person takes a job where the focus of the company is inherently destructive to individuals and families. -People are tempted to dress immodestly to attract another for personal advantage. When a believer gets the money section in order, he/she is so much stronger. I know some people that are blessed abundantly and their children are blessed as well JUST because they have the MONEY question settled. This is not a blog about tithing....but honestly, giving God our first fruits is so fundamental, yet people nit-pick about it. If the patriarchs got it...and the New Testament church gave even more than their firstfuits or tenth, why do we question the power and truth of the tithe? It reminds me of speaking with tongues. It makes no sense, yet it is a God thing. When we surrender all of ourselves to God, we begin to worship him and it's no time that we lose ourself in the Spirit of God and a beautiful utterance comes out of our mouth. Advice from a friend; don't mess with money. Trust God, give him the first fruits, and don't covet. Just tell the Lord when you need or want something. He will provide. He's the best daddy you could ever dream of. "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."Luke 12:32 Next time you see evil popping out of the ground...look at the roots,you will find the love of money. Put God back in charge and trust HIM for all of your needs.

Wish I Would've Known This Years Ago.

I wish that when we were starting our church sixteen years ago, that there had been a booklet written of "what not to do" as you are starting a new "work".

I get it mixed up, I keep trying to make sure I don't offend people, when Jesus, as I study, did not seem to worry about offending people.

He knew he had only three short years to teach and influence a whole lot of people. He called people names and he spoke directly to their needs. Lord, help us to be infused with your anointing so that we may speak with boldness and love. Recently I felt so led to go to a lady's home that had been very ill and had not been in church for a long time. After a while of small talk, I felt led to talk straight to her about her relationship with God. Thankfully, she opened up her heart to me and cried, afterward, we had a great prayer meeting. I never saw her alive again, the next time I looked at her she was laying in a beautiful casket. I am so glad that I talked directly to her need. I had a boldness come over me that shocked even me. I laid hands on her and prayed fervantly for her. She never again was in a church; she died. At her funeral, I was overwhelmed with gratitude to the Lord that he had moved me to go see her. Lord, help me to be led by your Spirit and to be bold. If I had worried about offending her, we would not have been able to pray that way. She needed to get through to God, and she did. Be bold, be loving , but be bold.

Sharp Tongues

"Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth." How many times have we sung this worship chorus and never knew what a dreadful line was right before it in the 57th psalm of David. The verse right before this: "My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword." To have people in your life that could be described as lions with fierce teeth and tongues is frightful, and yet, David endured this and still praised the Lord. You may live in a house of unbelievers or work among people that mock the things of God and church, but you can still praise the Lord with your whole heart,as David did. To this day we read and sing these praises, because they were written in anointing and power and we overcome by the words of our testimony. Just keep praising....it's a tried and true remedy for dealing with this world we live in. Sharp tongues in your office or your kitchen? Sing this! "Be thou exalted O God above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth."