Mystery...A Man and More

AS you know I am an active member of Stough Memorial Baptist Church in Pineville NC. I'd like to invite you to join us for a special evening.
This Link will take you to our Stough movie promo, please view and come join us for a fun filled evening!


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Today's Class

Ladies, today’s lesson, “There is a difference between;

A man who Flatters you and one who Compliments you,

A man who spends Money on you and one who Invests in you,

A man that views you as Property and one who views you Properly,

A man who Lusts after you and one who Loves you,

A man who believes he’s God’s Gift to woman and one who understands that a woman is God’s Gift to man,

 

Men today’s lesson, “Be the kind of man the ladies just learned about!”

 

Homework; live your lives so that others may learn from what they see.

 

Class dismissed, thank you for your attendance and don't forget your homework , there will be a test.

Just wanna share some worship with you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qxaQUF875I&feature=player_profilepage

Stough Memorial Baptist Church sharing the Worship Experience, Praise the Lord!

Remember the Young People

We love going to get our praise on, it’s a joy as we look forward to Sunday’s moments of learning, dance, praise, and worship. We’ll share the word with each other often quoting our favorite scripture and the passion of our spiritual point of view. Saints sharing with saints to ensure that they “forsake not the fellowship!” Yes Lord!

What about the lost? Christ reminded us that “the well don’t need a physician,” so what are we doing for those who need healing?

We talk to our neighbors, and share the word with our co-workers, and speak to the homeless on the street. What about the young people who’re trying to find comfort sleeping with the whole neighborhood? Or the young person selling drugs, or looking to join local gangs or even the quiet children who keep to themselves and may be suffering from loneness? Who’s talking to them, not at them but to them?

Are we focused on what we see or on what God has placed in them? Are we sharing what God has planted in them by beating them down with what’s wrong with them? Maybe we’re just not talking to them at all, just talking about them!

The enemy wants us to just let them be, for every time we stop passing down the wisdom of God we become lost. It’s not new, it’s the oldest trick in the book. Read the Old Testament for yourself and see the pattern, when the wisdom of God was not passed down Israel tried to fill the void with something else, sex, drunkenness, worship of false idols and the like.

The bible tells us that passing down the knowledge of God is important;

“that you may fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.”

Deut. 6:2

“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Deut. 6:7

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Col 3:16

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matt. 28:19

I think Paul point’s it out well in his letter to Timothy when he makes the bold statement about the heritage passed on to him;

“I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, ⁴ greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, ⁵ when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.” 2 Tim. 1:2-5

Discipleship was not just meant for the adult population alone, it’s a hand holding building block system that requires that the young receive the blessing of wisdom to fore fill the prophesy which God shared with us.

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.”

Acts 2:17

We must help spread the word to our young so that they may be prepared to receive the out-pouring of God’s Spirit.

Believing that the children are our future is one thing, preparing them to be the future is another!

“Now Go Out and Feed Some Sheep Today!”

Time for A Take Back?

A thought to ponder, it’s your birthday, you go outside and you see that your neighbor has a brand new car just like you’ve always wanted. You later find that he found the vehicle sitting out front with the keys and all the papers in it and since no one claimed it he assumed it was for him. However it was really a surprise gift for your birthday which was left for you by your now deceased brother, and you have the paperwork to prove it.

What would you do?

I’m sure that we might all have different ways of going about it but the end result would probably be the same…We’d go get our car!

Then why is our life so crazy, why do we give the enemy so much control, and why do we allow ourselves to be subject to pressure, health and financial issue.

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. ⁶ But there is a place where someone has testified:

   “What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
   a son of man that you care for him?
   You made them a little lower than the angels;
   you crowned them with glory and honor
   and put everything under their feet.”

   In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. ¹¹ Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. Hebrews 2:5-11

If everything is under our feet it would seem that through Christ and our relationship with Him we should have more control! Then why do things seem to keep us under foot?

I think it’s time for a “Take back!”

What do you think?

"Go out and feed some sheep today!"

God’s Glory Seat

Are you a worshipper? Do you enjoy slipping into the Holy of Holies? Is slipping beyond the veil your desire? Are you willing to press into the dimension that is All God? Are you ready for a powerful experience of God?

The next time you move to enter the third phase of the tabernacle with your worship, don’t just release your worship in the air but find another worshipper, face them, and then cry out your worship to one another! I know, that’s a little hard to take because the enemy would rather you not get this but let’s go to the Word of God.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

   “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
   the whole earth is full of his glory.”

 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.  Isaiah 6:1-4

Notice the Bible says “They calling to one another” the King James says “They cried to one another.” To cry out or call, is to shout in a loud voice to others. The reason why this is important is because between the two callers, God creates His Mercy Seat!

And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.

And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.

And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.

And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.

And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.

And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.  Ex. 25: 17-24

If you really want God to come and bless you in the midst of worship learn to mimic the things of heaven. Bless God like you’re before Him, just like you’re in His presence, because you are!

“Go out and feed some sheep today!”

If it came down to it, would you give your life for Christ?

Think about that long and hard giving it great consideration, and if you find that your answers is “Yes” then ask yourself why you haven’t? Now don’t get me wrong because I know many of you romanticized the question, but God doesn’t need you to die for Him, He had Jesus to take care of that. However He does desire us to live for Him and to carry out that which He has commissioned us to do.

“He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation" Mark 16:15

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" Acts 1:8

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt 28:19-20

It’s time to give up our lives, let the flesh parish that we might fulfill the desire of God’s heart, “That all should be saved.” Time for us to complete that which we have been authorized to do and we need to do it now. In our final days it will be too late, because when we arrive in Heaven there won’t  chance to speak to the lost, or to share the goodness that one might be saved.

So the question repeats it’s self “Would you give your life for Christ?” He gave His for you!

“Go out today and feed some sheep!”

Yeah I’ll do it but I won’t like it!

I’ve got a right to speak my mind, to disagree, to say my piece. Sound familiar? When we’re asked to do those things that we don’t like (Things that don’t violate God’s will) we tend to be very vocal. Sometimes we even make judgments about the person asking while mumbling and grumbling about the request. What should or actions be in these matters?

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.” Phil 2:14-16

Yeah I know, I think I felt the same way when I first read this, “God you’re going to have to help me with this one!” However God knows best because when you change your focus and begin to live your life this way you do shine while feeling better about both the task and yourself and God gets the glory.  Wow, thank you Lord.

"Today  go out and feed some sheep!"

Earth the Final Destination

I’m saved and I proclaim to be kingdom minded but I’m living like this is my final destination. My prayers are about me and what I need, I’ll bow my head at best while I’m begging for what I want next but I won’t worship God the way He should be worshipped.

I f we take a look at the original translation of the bible we’ll find that the word “Worship” was taken from terms that meant bow down, kneel, and lay prostrate.  We want to dance and shout because it makes us look good and others can see, or because we enjoy the flowing of the Spirit but when do we practice the posture of our destination?

   Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

   To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
   and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
   and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
            So shall it be! Amen.

 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Rev 1:4-8

If you can picture God for who He is then you can feel the need to honor Him in His greatness by giving Him something more of you. When you really care for someone and you see them and give them a warm handshake it feels good. What feels even better is when you can exchange a hearty hug but the best feeling is when in the mist of that hearty hug you add that Holy kiss on the cheek that reeks of your desire that they receive blessings!

Think of it this way, when you bow before God it’s receiving Him with that warm handshake that says “I’m glad to be in your presence. When you kneel before Him it’s that hearty hug that says I love you so much, and when you lay prostrate before Him, it’s that Holy Kiss that says I bless you for being God in my life.

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
   to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
   and by your will they were created
   and have their being.”  Rev 4:9-11

Now can’t you just see yourself in the mist?

DESTINATION FOCUSED!

“Go feed some sheep today!”

Whoa I got a loose tongue, help me Lord!

We’re prayer warriors, watchmen on the wall, with the full amour of God, unmovable, unshakable always abounding in the word of God, so why are we so storm ridden? Sometimes it seems like the enemy is everywhere in our lives, but he’s not omnipotent, he’s not everywhere at once. He doesn’t have to be because we’re such great helpers! No, no not me, you got the wrong person, I’m not helping the enemy do anything!

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:316

We unleash havoc in our own lives with the things we release into the atmosphere with our mouths. Many times we speak freely without thought about the effects of what we’re releasing into our lives.

Simple things we release which we think are harmless, like checking our horoscope to see what the stars have to say about us. Not realizing it places us in the category of “Soothsayer, Prognosticator, Fortune-teller” and opens up strongholds for the craziness of the enemy. God tells us that He’s the author and finisher of our faith so why are we checking with the stars?

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:9-12

James asks us how can we talk bad about, gossip, or curse human beings with the same mouth that we praise the Father with. Notice he didn’t say your brother, James said “human beings”, why is that important? Because the term “Human Beings” includes even your enemies and those that you claim you don’t like (ouch). When you praise and curse out of the same mouth, your praise is defiled for fresh water and salt water can’t flow from the same stream because once you add salt to fresh water it all becomes salty.

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. James 1:26

We need to think before we speak and check what’s in our hearts before we set our lips in motion. What are we saying about others and what are we saying about ourselves. Are we looking at our ability or are we seeking what God has seeded in us? Lord help me rein in my tongue!

“Go out and feed some sheep today!”

Hiding in plain view

I’m looking my best, colors matching, accents are in place and I’ve got my strut just right. If you ask me how are you doing? I’ll say I’m blessed and highly favored while twisting my face into my well practice holy look. I can quote scripture line and verse at will and as soon as the musician hits a few cords I can dance like I’ve been called home, but the truth is I’m hiding.

You see, I’m on the praise team, and I’m chairperson of the missionary board, a trustee member, on the gospel choir, and I work with the youth team, but I’m hiding. I’m a prayer warrior for others, and I’m first at the Altar when pastor calls, but I leave the same way I came because I’m still hiding.

I’m busy doing God’s work for others, making a sacrifice of myself because I’m called to serve and this is why when it comes to my prayer time I’m just so tired that I fall asleep in the middle of the prayer or I hurry and hop up as soon as I’m done. It’s pretty much the same when I read my word and I don’t have time to meditate on what I’ve read or fall on my knees or face to worship God in His Holiness because I’m hiding.

You see I’ve got some things that I’m not sure I want to let go of yet because I might be able to change them, that’s why I pick them back up from the Altar before I leave. Maybe it’s the hurt that was caused to me that makes me feel like have the right to hate because of the wrong that was done. Could be the only thing I’ve known so it seems comfortable to me even though it will eventually kill me. Then there is the past, my past that will slam what’s left of me to the ground if I get into full worship. In the presence of God I’ll seem so filthy that life will once again be worth ending and I’m just afraid for God to look at what I really am, so I’ll continue to hide here in plain view.

The truth is, God already knows you and He’s been with you every step of the way and reason you’ve survived to this point is because He kept you because He loves you. Now He waits for you to join Him in the secret place of the Tabernacle of the Most High (Ps. 91) where He can love you and keep you. Going into the Holy of Holies takes on new meaning because it is where sanctification takes place.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

   “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
   the whole earth is full of his glory.”

 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. ⁷ With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:1-8

The time for hiding has come to an end for our God is able to keep us and remove that which has held us back, we need not be afraid of being in His presence. It is there that life saving changes come about and we may gain true freedom. Time to shout “I’m free!”

“Go out and feed some sheep today!”

Sometimes you need to be alone.

Do you ever feel as if everyone is speaking into your life but no one is providing you with answers that offer clarity into your situation? You’re at a point of confusion about your choices and you’re calling so you’re not really doing anything because you don’t want to do the wrong thing. Somehow the more you seek answers the more you wonder if you’re mistaken about the message you’ve received in your spirit and your doubts challenges that which is inside you to the point that you fail to move forward.

“My sheep know my voice” The Shepherd who watch over the flock many times was a psalmist or poet because it helped pass the time and because it also helped him control the flock. Singing and speaking out loud aids the sheep in becoming familiar with his smell and voice, making a bond of comfort between the two, so as the Shepherds stroll to new pastures the sheep would follow him.

When Jesus found the need to get direction and meditate He would go off alone so that He could clearly hear from His Father, sometimes we need to separate from all those around us so we can become familiar with His voice.  I think most of us can agree, prayer is not our problem because we’ve gotten prayer down pat but the hearing is the tough part for there are many voices in the air. Sometimes you need to be alone.

“Go out and feed some sheep today!”

Are you in charge of your house or is your jury still out?

(Hubbies, Men of God, Can we talk?” series Pt3)

Being the “head of the household” has taken on a multitude of meanings to all who hear the phrase. Views from all aspects of life have pressed the air waves and other points of communication to inspire their particular focus on the importance of what it means to be the “Head.” Often we find our views limited in development and lost in a foundation of family dysfunction because limited views boil down to fragile secular basics of the Alfa Male. This results into statements such as “because I wear the pants in this family” or “because I said so, that’s why.” I’m trying to remember the part of the scripture that tells me wearing pants has something to do with what God meant.

 “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” Eph 5:22-24

Men of God, I don’t care who you are, right now you should be saying “Brother that’s some good reading scripture right there!” Yep that’s why I’m the head and that’s exactly how I should be treated, that’s about as clear as you can make it.

Before we can start our victory dance all through the house, let’s make sure we understand the message that is written within the text for us. This passage is written as an instruction for wives, and should be out of knowledge for husbands. It’s like we’re the Captain on a plane, although we have a Copilot on board who is well able to fly and land the air craft, the overall responsibility, and decision made for that flight falls on the Captain. Now you might be asking “What does that have to do with Eph 5:22?”

Let’s view the next verse and see what we can find out.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.” Eph. 5:25-28

If we meditate on this passage it will help us to see that (Eph. 5:22-24) a phrase that starts out talking to wives needs to have the understanding of husbands in order for wives to get the full measure of its meaning.  

Men we are quick to say that we’re protectors and we’ll give our lives for our loved ones and we believe this fulfills the essence of this scripture, Jesus gave His life and I’m willing to give mine. We tend to think “well that’s my part, now she needs to do hers.

But have we really done what the instruction tells us to, or did we take the easy way out? There’s nothing that says “husband get up on the cross,” but what it does say is;

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

We look at "gave Himself up for her to make her holy” and we’re finished because we think that speaks of the cross, but if we keep reading the justifier is in the next segment of the passage which points out a behavioral life style which we must seek to obtain.

“cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,”

You can’t wash something clean if you don’t understand the principles of washing, you can’t place a white T-Shirt in with blue jeans in hot water if your goal is to come out with a bright white T-Shirt at the completion of the cycle. In order for us to provide a washing with water through the word, we have to knowledge of that word and submit to it ourselves first! Not just for the ability to spout passages to show how wise we are in study, but in our living and the way we treat our wives.

Think of it this way: our lesson to our wives on how to submit should come directly from their view of us submitting to God and the word should then validate what they’re seeing as being God ordained.

In other words my brothers, it’s easier to do things that you see going on around you, it’s easier for me to submit when I see true submission. God doesn’t want us to die for our wives, (Christ already took care of that part) He wants us to be examples of how to live. We are to submit to Him and study His word, seek understanding and clarity that we may be a living example to our wives how to submit to us, this empowers us to provide a cleansing for her that will be received by the washing with water through the word.

Here’s the icing on the cake! Jesus did this for the church, and scripture is tells us we should do this for our wives so the return is one and the same. Picture this with heavenly eyes, as far as you dare let your mind take you, the same thing that Christ got back from His bride God is offering you back for yours.

and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

To present her back yourself as a radiant vessel of holiness, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless, your wife, your help meet, your gift from the Master, unequaled by any other living thing in your eye, your submission to God’s will, her submission to you and Gods perfect plan of the ministry of marriage displayed to the world.

That’s a powerful picture that the Master has painted for us, one of a perfected relationship that can only be obtain through His path. Now it’s once again time for a review of who we are, ask yourself, “are you the Head of your house, or is your jury still out?”

This is a place where we can be a blessing to each other, let’s share because it’s true “Iron sharpens Iron.”

“Go out today and feed some sheep”

“How to turn your wife into a vision of loveliness!”

Welcome, as we continue with what I believe to be our “Hubbies, Men of God, Can we talk?” series. Today let’s chat about the beauty of a woman.

Kingdoms have been won and lost over a beautiful woman, David became a murderer for the love of Bathsheba, Samson lost both his blessing and his life for a woman named Delilah, and even Abraham lied to two different kings claiming Sarah to be his sister so that they wouldn’t kill him to take her. Men have been captivated by the beauty of women since the beginning of time, scripture points out how the Sons of God (Nephilim) saw the beauty in the daughters of man, married them and had children by them.

If the angels had difficulty staying away from the daughters of man, what hope have we married men? It becomes even more challenging for us because we have a habit of professing marital death out of our mouths. We say things like “I’m just window shopping, but I’m not buying nothing!” But we’re playing with temptation. A wise man once said “If you hang around the barber shop long enough, you’ll eventually get a haircut!”

What can we do to help us through this?

“In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”  Jn 16;23

Yes prayer is the answer; however I’ve found that the key to that answer is the “Whatever you ask” portion. Asking for the right thing for your spirit, you see I use to ask that I remain strong which meant the answer laid on me. Not good since it was one of my weakest points and the enemy knew how to send just what I liked, the way I liked it and at my weakest point.

Petitioning for the right thing allowed me to learn a great lesson, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!” Yes it’s true, take a moment and give it some thought, how many times have you looked at couples and wondered how they ended up together? Take my wife for example, when we first met I never gave her much thought, as a matter of fact she was not what I felt to be my type. But then one night at a friend’s church during Worshiping, while crying and worshiping I open my eyes and felt the Holy Spirit say “Meet your wife!” She was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen, beautiful brown eyes wrapped in a spirit loveliness that had me wondering why God picked me to bless.

So what do I pray for to help me stay focused? Something I read in Proverbs 5:18-19

May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.

I pray that I remain intoxicated with her love, and for all other woman to pale by comparison in my eyes to her beauty, to let the richness of her spirit wash over me as it did that day when the Holy Spirit introduced us, and the sweetness of her touch provide me comfort. These are the things I needed God to bless me with so I wouldn’t have to think about it when the enemy tries to tempt me, God has placed my spirit on autopilot!

The real joy is when I look across the room and say to myself “My, my, my she is so fine!” Thank you Lord. Her smile still makes me blush and I lose my train of thought, bless you Lord. Her touch across my brow takes away my breath and all my tension, Hallelujah!

So my brothers if you want a Holy Ghost make over for your wives that will turn them into visions of loveliness, ask God to change how you receive them because beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Don't forget to join us Monday for the next part of this series, "Being the Head"

“Go out and feed some sheep today!”

Hubbies, Men of God, Can we talk?

Men of God can we get real for a few, I mean really kick back and be honest. Just take off the “front, the cover” for a few and kick it like it’s supposed to be?

We’re bustin our humps trying to make a living and worrying about everything under the sun, tired, worn out, and still thinking we need to work harder. But the crazy thing is, what we’re working hardest for is passing us by. Our wives and children are the focus of our lives, or at least that’s what we’d like to believe.

The first thought that comes to mind is “I want the best for them!” But how can they have the best without you? How can she have the best without you? Do you really think she married you for your money? Think about it, when you were dating and sending your representative out to meet her, (You know the real you was still in hiding!) He was listening to her conversation, laughing at her humor, finding similar things to be interested in, sharing his wisdom and encouraging her endeavors.

Now you barley get time to cuddle and giggle together. Even our ministries get in the way, we’re so gung ho for God that everybody else’s crisis comes before our own family. We've even convinced ourselves that it’s an act of selflessness to sacrifice for others, yeah I know what you’re thinking, but that does not apply to our families.

“Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)” I Tim. 3:1-5

God meant leadership for those who are married to begin in the home. Your first ministry is to God, your second is to your wife, third to your children and then you can go into the outer most. The mina (Talent or Gift) the master gave you is you wife. There are things in her past that only you can speak to, things that no one else can reach. You can provide healing to places that others will never see because your marriage is your primary ministry.

“Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow. His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant!” Lk. 19:20-23

The Christian Husbands basic litmus test, have I laid her up in cloth trying to fulfill her with worldly things and providing no spiritual increase or elevation as a result of this union, or have I showered her with the love of God the patience, spiritual understanding, kindness of statement and shared the understanding of God's Word while seeking our growth together?

Come men let’s kick it, share a word on this, and maybe even help a brother who may be having a difficult time in his marriage, or help someone avoid one.

Tomorrow’s topic; “How to turn you wife into a vision of loveless!”

“Go out and feed some sheep today!”

Thank God for my enemies!

Our lives can hit a stall because of someone who has hurt or harmed us in our past. The pain we suffer is because we spiritually relive the event and it can cause us to choose and react to the darker side of our being. We tend to hold onto the pain and it gives birth to hatred and/or lack of forgiveness that can block our blessings and place us in a state of rebellion.

Some how it may seem unfair to be the one harmed and considered to be rebellious. But if we are aware of what scripture says and we willfully fail to come in line with it then it is rebellion.

Luke 6:27-28 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”

Depending on your focus, forgiving your enemy can be very difficult, however if we look at the 23^rd psalms, we may find some comfort to this dilemma.

You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.

God prepares us a table in the presence of our enemies, for two reasons, first so that we can know how special we are to Him that He would choose to honor us before our enemies. Secondly so that the enemy might know that God has chosen us as we have chosen Him and there’s a price to pay when you try to destroy the anointing on His people.

“Do not touch My anointed ones,
      And do My prophets no harm.” 

Remember, “Blessed are you when men revile you for my sake”

Ask your self; If it were not for my enemies, would God need to prepare a place at the table for me? Thank God for my enemies.

Tomorrow will look at “Anoint my head with oil.” Don’t forget to check in!

“Go out and feed some sheep today.”

What a Year!

What’s at the top of your list for this New Year? New car? New clothes? New relationship? New job? Or perhaps you’ve said “I’m not making any plans, I’ll just let it happen!”

If you’re like me, your focus is growing and becoming more Kingdom minded. I’m thinking about developing the ministries that God has entrusted to me, so I’m trying to get things in order. As I began to list the things I needed to consider I felt the Holy Spirit say “what about the temple?” My mind began to review the list and I began to say “I’m not ready for that yet,” because I’ve got more work to do on the web site, then there’s the blog site, the twitter site needs more followers, and maybe I need to advertize the face book page, and of course there’s the book and the AM radio station broadcast that have to be setup. Once again I heard, “What about the temple?”

I knew that I was missing something and needed to be still, it was then it became clear to me; “Know ye not that your body is the temple of God?” My temple needs work! More rest, better eating habits, more exercise and care. Fortifying my mind and my spirit will keep me walking in righteousness, but my temple has a weakness for the walls are weak and leave a stronghold for the enemies attack.

I thank God for keeping me through this past year, and as He continues to keep me throughout this New Year I’ll be repairing the walls to the temple. Being kingdom minded means I have to be a good steward of what God has entrusted to me which includes keeping this temple in the best condition possible until it’s time to relocate to my mansion.  

Anybody else need to do a little house keeping?

“Go out and feed some sheep!”