Able or Available?

Good morning! I trust you had a very Merry Christmas and were blessed by your time with family and friends.

This past week I had the privilege of taking my annual prayer retreat. During this time I go to a secluded cabin in the woods near Clear Creek Forest and open my heart to God. It is during these times that I find God challenges me and stretches me to dream big and take large steps of faith.

One of the issues that I constantly find myself being challenged in is the issue of availability. It is so easy to become worried about my abilities and how God is going to use them, but what God is truly interested in is my availability. Take a look at this passage from Isaiah:

Isaiah 6:8 (NLT)

Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to my people? Who will go for us?"

And I said, "Lord, I'll go! Send me."

More than God cares about my leadership skills, my speaking ability or my people skills He most cares about my willingness to go. Many of us say that “Wherever He leads I’ll go.”, but would we really? In one of the books I read on my retreat the author mused that for every person who says they will go “wherever”, how many of them have their passports stamped and active? Do their actions really bear out their words?

There are many reasons that we unfortunately say “no” to God. God leads in a certain direction and we begin to withdraw our commitment. “I can’t afford it!” “I don’t know enough!” “I couldn’t leave my friends and family!” Do any of these sound familiar?

To follow where God leads requires complete surrender and a sold out commitment. In the story of Jesus’ birth, the shepherds were compelled to see Jesus. Nothing else mattered at that point. Are you in that same place, where following Jesus is the greatest passion in your life. I sometimes wonder what blessings I have missed out on by not going where I have been led.

This week I want to challenge you to be available. Are you willing to truly say, “Wherever He leads I’ll go?” Make yourself available to God and His purposes. Ask Him to invite you into the midst of His activity.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

What Else Could Go Wrong?

Good morning! I hope you have gotten your Christmas shopping nearly completed by now. I am usually a last minute shopper, but this year I got my act together much earlier, so I am almost finished. Miracles never cease!

Have you ever been through a time in your life where it seemed like everything hit you at once? Before one crisis was resolved another one surfaced. At times like this you’re afraid to ask “what next?”, because you don’t really want to know what else might fall apart.

For me this past week fit that category. Many of those around me were dealing with serious issues that took their toll on my life as well. By last Tuesday I was afraid to raise my head for fear of what other crisis might be coming my direction.

In the midst of all of this turmoil and crisis I watched God move in amazing ways. I was reminded that even when life is at its worst, God is always at His best. The Apostle Paul experienced times like this as seen in the following passage:

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NLT)

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit. [9] We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.

When I was at my lowest points this past week, God provided the wise counsel and encouragement of close friends and family. When I needed a shot of encouragement, I received the kind words of friends and strangers. Most importantly God re-energized me through my prayer and devotional times.

It reminds me that I would never know the depths of God’s love if I didn’t hit the depths of life’s turmoil. I would never know the fullness of God’s strength if I was not at my weakest. It is during these times of heat and pressure that God shapes me. My life becomes a more accurate reflection of His glory as I pass through the refining fire.

So what keeps us going during these times? It is the assurance that God has not been caught off guard by our circumstances. He has seen our troubles even before they began. We can rest assured that God is building into us a character that reflects His true glory.

This week if you are under pressure...remember God has not abandoned you. He is still on the throne and His plan for your life will not be thwarted by your current circumstances. You are being refined and purified for His glory.

Until next Monday may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Who's Counseling You?

Good morning! This is the time of year when many long term decisions are being crafted. At the church we have begun work on our budget for 2006. During these times of planning, many tough decisions have to be made. Ministries to fund, ministries to cut, capital expenditures, building repairs, etc…all have to be weighed. Each of these decisions will affect the lives of the people we serve.

In life we face crossroads and decision points on an almost daily basis. The consequences of our choices can also have far reaching effects. A good choice could lead to positive changes in our lives, while a bad choice could have very negative consequences.

At times like these the importance of wise counsel is critical. Consider these words:

Proverbs 20:18 (NLT)

Plans succeed through good counsel; don't go to war without the advice of others.

Too many times we have a “Lone Ranger” mentality in the face of critical decisions. We forget that even the “Lone Ranger” had “Tonto” his faithful companion by his side. We allow our pride to get in the way of seeking the counsel of others. We don’t want to “bother” them with our troubles. Yet the wise counsel of another is just what we need.

Wise counsel brings objectivity into your situation. A fresh set of eyes to look over the landscape…someone with a different set of experiences and strengths who can identify pitfalls that you might have missed. I find that many times God speaks to me through those he has put around me. They often have insights that would never even have crossed my mind.

If you are facing a difficult decision or a time of crisis in your life this week, start by seeking the counsel of God Himself. Search out the Bible for verses that speak to your particular situation. Then gather together objective, Godly counsel. Pray with them, share your heart and listen for God to speak through them. You will be amazed at the clarity wise counsel can bring.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

"Be the Miracle"

Good morning! I hope you’ve had a great weekend and have hit the ground running this Monday morning.

This weekend I was watching a movie in which the lead character was challenged to “Be The Miracle.” That line has stuck with me and today I want to bring that same challenge before you.

Proverbs 11:25 (NLT)

The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

Christmas time is a time of joy, but for many it is also a time of deep sorrow. In the hustle and bustle of our own Christmas celebration it is easy to lose sight of those who are hurting, in need or lonely. This was brought home vividly to me a few years ago.

In 1992 I was a Police Officer in Ft. Worth, TX. I worked the Christmas Eve night shift that year. At about 2AM I was called to a disturbance in a home where a Father had gone into a drunken rage and severely beat his wife and two small children. These children didn’t get to sleep with visions of “sugar plum fairies” nor did they wake up to gifts under the tree. Their Christmas present was an out of control Father who gave rage instead of love and pain instead of presents. For these children there would be no Christmas.

Just like those children there are many who have no joy in their lives this year. What they desperately need is for someone to care…for someone to notice…for someone to listen. There was a news segment on the other night about gifts that could be given to residents of a local home for the aged. The number one gift that was suggested was to just go and visit…to talk and to listen.

This week I want to challenge you to “Be the Miracle” in someone else’s life. Adopt an angel from the angel tree. Make a donation to the Salvation Army. Serve a meal at a homeless shelter. Visit a widow, a shut in or a nursing home resident. Invite an international student into your home. Take some extra gifts to a family who has lost their source of income. Be generous in your gift. Give completely of yourself and you will be amazed at the difference your efforts will make in someone else’s life.

Don’t stop there…don’t let your miracle working be confined to the Christmas season. Look for opportunities everyday to “Be the Miracle.” Pump gas for someone, shovel the snow out of a neighbor’s driveway and sidewalk, take a meal to someone who has been ill, give a ride to a friend, help someone carry their groceries. All it takes to “Be the Miracle” is open eyes and a willing heart.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

What Are You Aiming For?

Good morning! I hope you had a joyous Thanksgiving. For those of you foolish…I mean brave enough to have gone shopping on black Friday I hope you escaped with only minor injuries.

Today is the opening day of Buck season here in Pennsylvania. This is a religious experience in our area. Even the schools are closed today. The woods are filled with hunters looking to for that trophy buck. For these hunters, all of the preparation in the world will be meaningless if their aim is off.

Today I want to challenge you with this question: What are you aiming for? Today so many people are trying to get through life using a drive-by mentality. They spray and pray, hoping they will somehow hit the mark. We see this in the way people bounce from one religious practice to the next…one moral judgment to another with no foundations and no absolutes to guide them. My mentor often makes this statement: If you aim at nothing you will always hit it dead center.”

Life was never meant to be this way. God has a specific purpose for each and every one of us. Our lives are meant to move in step with His plans. The target is an intimate relationship with Him and a life that brings glory to His name. But look at what happens when our aim is off:

Hosea 7:16a (NLT)

They look everywhere except to heaven, to the Most High. They are like a crooked bow that always misses its target…

The only way to maintain proper aim is to keep your eye on the target. Think about the account of Peter walking on the water. He walked upon the waves until he took his eyes off of Jesus. When Peter began to notice the wind and the waves he lost sight of the real goal…Jesus himself.

There are many distractions today that can easily take your eyes off of the mark. We see this so vividly during the Christmas season. A celebration of the birth of Christ has now become a season for buying presents and moving retailers from the red into the black. Jesus is hardly mentioned and is just as easily replaced with “Happy Holidays.”

In the end we must realize that the mark God has intended us to strive for is intimacy with Him. Intimacy is found in Jesus Christ. If you’ve lost sight of the target, go back to the cross. Put your focus on the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Follow Him to the empty tomb, listen for His gentle knock at the door of your heart and hold tightly to His words:

Proverbs 8:17 (NLT)

"I love all who love me. Those who search for me will surely find me.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

How Thankful Are You....Really?

Good morning! This week many of us will be caught up in a whirlwind of activity that surrounds Thanksgiving. Maybe you are traveling or have family coming to you. You want to make sure that you have the turkey just right and have all of the right trimmings available. Some of you, who are gluttons for punishment, will venture out to the local malls and retail outlets for “Black Friday.”

In this flurry of activity it is easy to lose sight of the true meaning of Thanksgiving. For many the only reflection on God’s blessings will be a brief prayer over the Thanksgiving meal. Is that what thankful heart truly looks like? I think not! Look at the following passage of scripture from the New Testament:

Colossians 2:7 (NLT)
Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.

The first thing I want you to notice is that true gratitude comes from the depths of your soul. If you treat your relationship with God as nothing more than a casual acquaintance your thankfulness will always be shallow. It is only when we deeply root into a deep intimacy with Christ that we realize just how much we have been given and forgiven. As you approach Thanksgiving this year, I challenge you to examine the depth of your relationship with Christ. Are you passionately, madly in love with Him or have you settled for a casual dating relationship? If your relationship is not at the depth or passion that it should be, ask God to stir your heart with passion and fervor.

The second thing I want you to notice is that a deeply rooted life overflows with thanksgiving. Think about the word “overflow.” If water overflows a glass it shows that the volume of water cannot be contained. A person who overflows with thanksgiving is so filled with gratefulness that it overflows. Their thankfulness is readily apparent and regularly touches the lives of others.

This week, before you get distracted by the holiday celebration of “Thanksgiving,” I encourage you to spend some time in a quiet place. Take a notepad and a pen and begin to write out a prayer of thanksgiving. Think of all that God has done for you in the past 12 months. List everything…from the basics to the miraculous and even the difficult times, because they have strengthened you. Once you have completed that list spend some time worshipping at the feet of Jesus with a heart of thanksgiving.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Don't Neglect Your Relationship

Good morning! Today I want to talk with you about your depth of intimacy in your relationship with Christ.

Every Sunday morning our churches are full of people who are devoted to their religious activity. Every time the doors of the church are open, you can count on them to be there. But in the midst of all of the religious hustle and bustle they have lost sight of their relationship with Christ.

God desires intimate fellowship with each of us. Our service and religious activities are meaningless if we neglect our relationship with Jesus. Look at Jesus’ words to the church at Laodecia:

Revelation 3:20 (NLT)
"Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.

In today’s world it is easy for us to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of career, finances and activities. It is during these hectic times that it is easy for us to lose site of Christ’s presence in our midst. We miss a few days of intimate fellowship with Christ and before you know it, those few days have become a few weeks.

Today I challenge you to examine your level of intimacy with Jesus. Is He standing at the door of your life patiently knocking? If it’s been a while since you’ve sat down to spend some time in His presence, I challenge you to set 30 minutes aside today and get alone with Him. Enjoy a meal together or take a walk...I guarantee you’ll be glad you did.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Are You a Man or Woman of Your Word?

Good Morning! Today I want to talk to you about your character and the issue of being a person of your word.

Aside from being a pastor I am also work as a financial advisor. This past week I have been trying to resolve an operational issue with the clearing house I use. In my efforts last week I had three different conversations in which someone told me they would resolve the issue and call me back. On each of these three occasions, what was promised was never delivered. As you might well imagine, my trust and confidence in this firm is now marred.

Unfortunately too many of us put little weight on our promises. We are quick to promise a prayer for a friend, a helping hand or any number of other things…and yet all too often we don’t follow through. Many times I have heard those from earlier generations lament “I can remember when a man’s handshake was reliable.” If you’ve bought a car or a home recently, you’ll understand what that means. Your handshake now requires 30 other pages of legal documentation to make the agreement valid.

Jesus spoke to us about our promises too:

Matthew 5:37a

But let your word 'yes' be 'yes,' and your 'no' be 'no.'

We live in a society of double talk. “Yes” means “maybe” and “no” means “possibly.” Some of the biggest scandals of the political, business and unfortunately the religious realms have been over the issues of character and integrity. In fact I laugh about some of the lying that goes on in churches every week. For example, you see families who have fought all morning, screamed at each other all the way to church, but when asked by the pastor “how are you?” they answer with “great.” As a pastor my favorite has always been those who shake hands with you at the back door with the words “great message” even though you watched them sleep through the entire service.

Consider your own words. Do those around you consider you to be a man or woman of your word? Does your character withstand scrutiny and examination? When you promise to play with your kids do you do it? When you promise your spouse that the bills are taken care of, are they really? When you promise the credit card company that the payment is in the mail, is it really in the mail?

The greatest mark of character is when your talk and your walk match. Just like the folks at my clearing company, your actions reflect on more than you. They reflect on your family, your employer, your church and your Lord. This week put your character to the test; you never know who may be watching.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Monday Morning Encouragement - October 31, 2005

Good morning! Today I want to talk with you about the importance of considering your actions.

A little over 10 years ago I went to work as a Deputy Sheriff with the Ford County Sheriff’s Office in Dodge City, Kansas. The Sheriff, being an elected official, appointed me as one of his personal representatives in enforcing the laws and statutes of the state of Kansas. When I was on duty, the markings on my vehicle, the patches on my shoulders and the badge on my chest identified me with Sheriff Arlyn Leaming.

Ultimately the professionalism, or lack thereof, of my fellow Deputies and I would reflect personally on Arlyn. His success at the voting booth every 4 years was determined by the professionalism and skill demonstrated by those of us who represented him on the streets. We could either be a source of joy and honor for him or a source of shame.

The Bible speaks of this same type of issue when it comes to our actions and how they reflect upon God. Consider for a moment the following verse from the gospel of Matthew:

Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Those who know me know that I am a Christian and a Pastor. They hear me talk about my faith and they see my car parked up at the church. By my words and my actions I have marked myself as standing for Christ. My actions bring either honor or dishonor the name of Jesus. One of the greatest black eyes the “church” community has given itself is the reputation of being “hypocrites.” People have heard us preach and teach in one direction, but then watched many “Christians” live their lives in complete contradiction. Studies tell us that the incidents of most of the morality issues found in society are also found in equal proportion in the “Christian” church. We as people have not committed to live our lives as set apart and it shows.

Today we are faced with a multitude of ethical and moral choices each and every day. The choice we make in each of these circumstances has the potential to bring honor to God in the eyes of man or to bring dishonor to God in the eyes of man.

When faced with these choices it is critical that we ask these types of questions: Who is watching? Would this action cause them to question the sincerity of my faith? Would this action create a barrier or hindrance to their personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Does this action bring glory to God?

Like or not the world is watching you. Your actions are scrutinized and evaluated each and every day. Today commit your steps before the Lord so that His light may shine brightly in your life.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl

Monday Morning Encouragment - October 24, 2005

Good morning! This weekend I have been watching the pictures of Hurricane Wilma on the television with great interest. A few years back my wife and I spent time in Cozumel and Cancun and have many fond memories of those two cities. Seeing the pictures of destruction has gotten me thinking about holding up to life’s storms.

In Matthew chapter 7, Jesus tells the story of two men who built their homes on two different types of foundations. This morning I want to look at this story and pinpoint a few truths for the day.

Matthew 7:24-27 (HCSB)

Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great.

Everyone of has built a house…the house being our lives. And just like the men in this story, each of us has a choice as to the foundation we will build our house upon. The most beautiful, well built home in the world has no strength if its foundation is not solid.

I find it interesting the types of foundations that I watch people building their lives on today. I know people who are trying to build their life on a relationship with another person, or they are building upon a career. Still others are trying to build upon traditions and education. The problem is all of those foundations are movable. What will happen when that loved one dies or that relationship ends? What if the company downsizes, goes bankrupt or moves overseas? What happens when today’s knowledge becomes tomorrow’s history? The bottom line is that all of those things are temporal.

The only lasting foundation is God Himself. When all else is stripped away, God is the only thing that remains. So how do you make God your foundation? It all begins with surrender. Allow God to be in charge of your life and develop a personal intimacy with Him. This personal intimacy is developed through spending quality time with God. This can be done through worship, prayer, Bible study, meditation and silence. Unfortunately too many of us settle for a relationship with God that is less than intimate. Our relationship with God could almost be described as dating, we see Him every Sunday morning from 11A-Noon.

Today I want to challenge you to examine your foundation. Are you truly building a deep relationship with God? Have you built upon a foundation other than God Himself? When your foundation is strong the storms of life howl and blow, but they will not topple you.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Monday Morning Encouragement - October 17, 2005

Good morning! I trust you have had a good weekend and are starting strong as you enter this new week.

Today we live in the age of technology. When I hit the send button on my email, this Monday Morning Encouragement will go to people around the United States and in several other countries. I can speak and see family that is over 1200 miles away with my computer. My meals are cooked in a microwave oven and I take pictures with a digital camera. We live in an age that is dependant upon power. If the electricity goes off, I immediately lose my ability to communicate, to heat my home, to cook meals and most importantly to illuminate the darkness.

Today I want to examine Jesus’ final words before His ascension to Heaven.

Acts 1:8 (HCSB)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The first thing I want us to focus on in this verse is the word “power.” The word “power” as used here, comes from the Greek word “dunamis.” Dunamis is a root word for the English word “dynamite.” I want you to think in terms of dynamite. Dynamite contains an explosive power so strong that it can demolish a building or change the very landscape of a hillside.

So let’s step through this thought… As a Christian, the Holy Spirit indwells you. When the Holy Spirit entered your life, you received “power.” Now this verse tells us that as a result of that “power” we will be “witnesses.” When a believer is plugged in to the power of the Holy Spirit, they cannot help, but to be witnesses for Jesus. Unfortunately today, too many “Christians” and too many “churches” live powerless lives. We are like people who have electricity and lighting, but instead choose to live by candlelight.

So what does the power of the Holy Spirit look like when it is at work in the life of a Christian?

Acts 4:13 (HCSB)

When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and knew that they had been with Jesus.

The answer is simple; Jesus becomes evident in every aspect of the Christian’s life. God’s power is heard in their testimony of Christ. God’s power is witnessed in their prayer life. Lives are changed by the touch of Christ as the Christian moves throughout their day. In the Old Testament we read many times where even the enemies of the nation of Israel were in reverent fear of the Lord. God’s power was undeniable and unmistakable even to those who did not worship God.

Today I encourage you to examine your own life. Are you living in the “power” of the Holy Spirit’s presence? Are you bearing witness to the Lord Jesus? If you are not, it’s time to check the connection. Being plugged in to the power of the Holy Spirit is all about surrender. If you are not living in the Holy Spirit’s power, you are living in your own strength. Blow out the candles and turn on the lights…God has wired you to shine brightly for His glory.

Until next week, may God’s riches blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Monday Morning Encouragement - October 10, 2005

Good morning! Have you ever been through a time in your life, perhaps you’re going through it now, where everything that could go wrong seems to go wrong? I know I have had those times when I am almost afraid to ask what next, because of what might happen next.

For me the years 2001-2003 defined one of those times. During those two years we lost our home in a deadly tornado, we moved 1200 miles from family to take on a troubled church, we suffered a financial disaster, a business failure, suffered the miscarriage of a child and faced multiple personal attacks. On top of all of those major ordeals we also had the boiler go out in our home, non-stop auto repairs and the normal headaches of life.

I remember absolutely being overrun with anxiety, fear, doubt and worry at every turn. The last thing I wanted to ask was “what next?” The price was getting high enough. During those times God sustained me with my favorite chapter of the Bible, Psalm 34. This chapter of scripture has been so meaningful to me that during this time I even wrote a book about it, just to remind myself of God’s faithfulness.

Today I want to share verses 18 and 19 with you. Verse 19 is my favorite verse in scripture.

Psalm 34:18-19 (NLT)
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.

[19] The righteous face many troubles,
but the Lord rescues them from each and every one.

When you are at your weakest, most vulnerable hours...God is nearest to you. I am often reminded of this thought: I would not know the depths of God’s love, if I hadn’t been in the depths of despair. I would not know God as a healer if I had not been in need of healing. I would not know God as a sustainer if I had not been hungry. I would not know God as a comforter if I had not known sorrow. I would not know God as a provider if I had not been without provision.

It is true, even when we try to walk the path of righteousness, trouble will always be a part of the journey. But God is faithful and He “rescues” us from each and every one. Today if you are facing devastating circumstances, remember that God hears your cry. His loving arms are there to embrace you and give comfort. Reflect upon your past adversities and remember how God brought you through them. In time this trouble too will pass and you will look back and see where God carried you through these current difficulties.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Monday Morning Encouragement - October 3, 2005

Good morning! As with most children, my children have been prone to many scrapes and bruises. When these things happen my children generally come to my wife and I in tears. One of the first questions we tend to ask is “where does it hurt?” When our kids show us where we kiss the “boo-boo” to make it feel better. The kiss doesn’t heal the wound itself, but it helps to anesthetize the pain and to reassure my children that everything will be alright.

What about you? Where do you hurt today? Is God even concerned with your pain? It is with these questions in mind that I want to direct your attention to Matthew chapter 8.

Matthew 8:1-3 (NLT)
Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. [2] Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached Jesus. He knelt before him, worshiping. "Lord," the man said, "if you want to, you can make me well again."
[3] Jesus touched him. "I want to," he said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared.

In this account Jesus has encountered a man with Leprosy. Leprosy is defined in the dictionary as: A chronic, mildly contagious granulomatous disease of tropical and subtropical regions, caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae, characterized by ulcers of the skin, bone, and viscera and leading to loss of sensation, paralysis, gangrene, and deformation. Also called Hansen's disease .

Leprosy is a very serious condition. Because a leper was contagious, strict laws concerning those with Leprosy had been laid out by God. Look at the instructions given in Leviticus chapter 13:

Leviticus 13:45-46 (NLT)
"Those who suffer from any contagious skin disease must tear their clothing and allow their hair to hang loose. Then, as they go from place to place, they must cover their mouth and call out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' [46] As long as the disease lasts, they will be ceremonially unclean and must live in isolation outside the camp.

Going back to the account in Matthew, lets consider a couple of key truths that we need to grab hold of today. First of all, no matter what your condition may be, you must realize that your only hope is Jesus. This leper was willing to risk everything for the opportunity to meet Jesus face to face. Too many times we put our faith in everything but Jesus. We pin our hopes on modern medicine, scientific advance or will power and determination. Ultimately we must realize that only Jesus calms the storms, heals the sick and brings the dead into life. This leper realized that in his hopeless condition there was only one source of hope. Notice that the man came and worshiped Jesus. He humbled himself, not demanding healing, but seeking the gracious gift of healing.

The second point I want you to grab hold of is the fact that Jesus knows your pain. Not only is he aware of your condition, but he knows where you hurt. This leper had been forced to live a life of isolation. Think of the pain inflicted as he would reflect on the warmth of human touch. How he longed to simply shake the hand of another, to feel somebody’s warm embrace or to simply have a hand placed upon his shoulder. From a distance he would watch as young lovers held hands and family members greeted one another with an embrace. Notice what Jesus did. Jesus could have simply said “be healed,” but instead he touched the man first and then he spoke the words of healing. In that touch, the pain of isolation melted away. The thing the man craved so desperately was given so tenderly. When you are hurting, Jesus knows of your pain. So many times in my life at my most desperate hours…I have received the kind words of a stranger, the encouraging words of a friend, or the tender touch of someone close. Jesus is still touching the hurts in our lives today.

The third thing that we need to grasp is this: Jesus not only dealt with the hurt, but he also dealt with the cause. Jesus is not just a Band-Aid® and Bactine® healer. He addresses the root of your pain as well.

Today if you are facing a painful existence I invite you to seek out Jesus. Worship at His feet and acknowledge His power to heal you. Let Him touch you where you hurt and receive His grace and mercy with a thankful heart.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Monday Morning Encouragement - September 26, 2005

Good morning! This morning as I write to you, I have felt that I needed to address those of you who feel stuck in a rut. Think about the way many of us describe our days and our work: “The daily grind,” “the rat race,” and “keeping your head above water.” For many people the call of their life has become a burden and has lost its joy.

The longer I walk with God, the more I see that often times He puts me in a holding pattern. It is important to remember that God sees everything. His vision is not limited to here and now. We on the other hand can only see here and now and what is behind us. The Bible gives us many great truths about waiting upon the Lord. Today I wanted to focus in on this verse from Isaiah:

Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)
But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Wow…what a great promise! This verse certainly sounds good, but how does this really work? I want to paraphrase for you an email story I received several years ago that I think sums this one up very well.

God appeared to a man one night in a vision. During this vision Jesus told the man that everyday, all day long, He wanted the man to push on a large boulder in front of his home. In obedience the man went out every day and pushed against this large boulder. Hours upon hours he spent pushing against this boulder and in all types of weather.

After a number of years, Satan paid the man a visit. “You fool!”, Satan said, “You have been pushing this boulder for years and it still hasn’t moved. You’ve wasted your time, God has forgotten you!”

The man began to reflect on all Satan had said. He became dejected, because he had invested so many years of his life into pushing against this boulder, but truthfully, the boulder had never moved. So he began to cry out, “Lord why are you ignoring me?” “Why have you abandoned me?” “Why have allowed me to be in this position?”

That night God appeared to the man once again. As the man began to complain about his situation, Jesus stopped him. “Look at your legs,” God said, “See how muscular they have become. Look at your back, the broadness of your shoulders. Look at your arms how well defined and strong they are.” God then told him, “If you will remember, I never called you to move the boulder, I simply called you to push against it. By your obedience you have become stronger and more developed. I am the one who moves the boulders.” At that, God removed the boulder from this man’s life.

Why has God allowed you to remain in your situation? Maybe he has allowed finances to be tight, to make you a better manager of resources. Maybe he has allowed that bothersome individual to remain in your life to instill patience. Maybe he has allowed you to stay in that job to build endurance. Eagles don’t immediately fly they have to strengthen their wings.

If you find yourself in a holding pattern today, instead of asking God to remove you from the situation, ask Him to teach you through the situation. Ultimately God will take you through or He will cause you to rise above…but you must be willing to wait patiently upon Him and His perfect timing.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

The Power of Purpose

This is an essay that I wrote for a writing competition last year. I hope you find some morsels of wisdom and encouragement.

Carl

What do you want to be when you grow up? What do you want to do with your life? Like me, many people vividly remember questions like these that were a common staple of our adolescent years. From our earliest years we were programmed to think in terms of doing. What will I do? What will I accomplish? Driven to excel, to achieve, always striving for a defined image of success.

In the process of doing we have ignored and all but forgotten the process of “becoming.” What am I to become? When the titles, accolades and achievements are stripped away who is the person that is revealed? The process of becoming is God’s divine plan for building men of purpose.

It has been said that “knowledge is power.” There is no greater knowledge a man can have than to understand and know God’s purpose in his life. The man who understands his purpose is a man of focus and passion. Like the focused light of a laser beam, the understanding of his purpose cuts through the darkness and ambiguity that life so often brings. The man who understands his purpose has a clear mental picture of who God intends for him to become. The purpose of his life becomes the filter through which all activities, questions and decisions are passed A man who becomes all that God wants him to be, will accomplish all that God wants him to do. In this process of “becoming” the result of “doing” naturally takes place.

So how does one harness the power of purpose? How does one come to know and understand the unique calling upon his life? For me the starting point of understanding my purpose was the realization that God had created me with a specific finished product in mind. A purpose that is as unique to me as my fingerprint. Consider the words of Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”[1] Understanding that God had a specific plan for me was the foundation for this process of becoming. It is exciting enough knowing that God has a unique plan for my life, but to understand that God’s plans are for my personal development and fulfillment is simply amazing! The realization that God has not left life to be a random series of events, but instead the planned shaping and refining process of a Master Builder brings unshakeable peace.

Consider the power of unshakeable peace. On March 4, 1933 President Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn into office. The country was in the midst of the Great Depression and fear had gripped the nation. In his inaugural speech, President Roosevelt spoke these famous and profound words: “So first of all let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear…is fear itself…nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” What prevents men from reaching higher and pushing themselves further? Fear! Throughout time great men have been paralyzed and defeated by fear. Fear of failure, fear of exposure, fear of ridicule and fear of death. The prophet Elijah was a great hero of the Bible, the accounts of God working in his life are simply amazing and inspiring, but the Bible shows something else in Elijah’s life. Elijah knew firsthand the paralysis of fear. Look at this account from 1 Kings 19:3-5: “Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.”[2] Elijah was a man defeated by fear. Like Elijah many of us have been held back by our fears, but what about the man with unshakeable peace? The man who understands his purpose does not view adversity as a source of harm, but instead sees it as a tool of refining. The man of purpose enters into the turmoil of life with the confidence of knowing that his trials are part of a larger plan to shape and mold him. He is at peace with all inevitable outcomes knowing that his God given path has already been laid out before him. He no longer faces adversity wondering when it will end, but instead anticipates the changes it will bring about in his life. Adversity is no longer measured by the pain inflicted, but instead by the lessons learned. The man of purpose is no longer hampered by his fears; he is at peace under all circumstances. As a result of his unshakeable peace, he is willing to undertake challenges that ordinary men will not face. His purpose drives him to move forward when others retreat. The fulfillment of his purpose is worth any risk or challenge that may be faced.

Have you ever watched a hamster or gerbil on an exercise wheel? They run their little hearts out and yet they remain stationary. Many people today live their lives in much the same way. Running here and going there from the time their feet hit the floor in the morning until their head hits the pillow at night. Our world is filled with busyness as we try to squeeze as much into our days as we can, yet most people still do not give adequate time to the priorities of life.

Consider the power of purpose when it comes to determining priorities and the allocation of our most precious resource…time. A few years ago I received an inspirational mouse pad from Successories, Inc. On this mouse pad is the following thought: The Essence of A New Day: “This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind…let it be something good.”[3] The man of purpose views each day as a precious gift from God. He is aware that tomorrow is not promised or guaranteed and therefore he seeks to be the best steward of his time that he can be. Purpose becomes the filter through which all demands on his schedule are filtered. The man of purpose makes time for those things that contribute to the fulfillment of his life’s purpose. Those things that do not lend themselves to fulfillment of that purpose are eliminated from the calendar or given a lesser priority in his life. As a pastor, I have had the opportunity to interact with many people during the final days of their lives. I have yet to hear anyone say that they should have put in just a few more hours of overtime, worked a few more weekends or been away from home a little more during their lifetime. More often than not what I hear are the recurrent themes of faith, family and friends. The man of purpose is intentional to keep the priorities of life a priority. He realizes that his time is a non-renewable resource. Once a moment has been spent, it is gone for good and the man of purpose is not willing to waste one precious minute. At the end of the day the man of purpose is energized, because he sees that the use of his day has contributed towards the fulfillment of his God given purpose.

What is your legacy? What will be the impact of your life? I once read an email that suggested that each of our lives is represented by a dash...the line between the date of birth and the date of death on our tombstones. The email ended with the question, “how will you spend your dash?” When it comes to the issue of purpose there is no greater power than the power to have a lasting influence on the life of another person. When I consider who I am as a man, I see the fingerprints of a few key men and women upon my life. God used these individuals to mold, shape, encourage and at times correct me as I have traveled through this journey of life.

It was Godly parents who provided the Christian influence of my childhood. It was their instruction in the Bible and their fellowship within a local church body that provided the solid moral foundation of my life. Upon this foundation, God has continually built through the input of others.

I vividly remember one powerful shaping encounter with my friend Dean. Dean is more than 30 years my senior and is more than a friend; he has at times been like a second father to me. As a man in my late twenties, Dean approached me about serving as a Deacon in our local church. I quickly dismissed the idea and informed Dean that I was not ready to take on that type of role. I shared with him that I had way too many faults and shortcomings to be a leader in a local church. At this point Dean said “If not being ready is your reason for not serving, you will never serve, because you will never be ready. There will always be something in your life that could be better.” That was a turning point in my life. Those words helped me to understand that my availability was much more important to God, and others for that matter, than my skills, talents or abilities ever would be. Today, Dean may not even remember that conversation, but because he lived out his life’s purpose as a Godly example to other men, my life was dramatically affected. Each life that my ministry has had an impact upon, may have never been touched, had it not been for those simple, but profound words spoken years ago. Dean was not doing anything out of the ordinary; he was merely living out the calling on his life…to be a Godly man of influence.

The yielding of my life to God’s plan and purpose is the greatest act of worship I can offer. To become the fulfillment of his divine design brings honor and glory to him. My greatest reward will be to one day stand before him and hear the words “well done thou good and faithful servant.”
[1] The Holy Bible, New International Version®
Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
[2]The Holy Bible, New International Version®
Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
[3] Copyright© 1998, Successories, Inc.

Monday Morning Encouragement - September 19, 2005

Good morning! If you are like me, many of you started off your Monday morning by looking at your calendar, day planner or Outlook™ to formulate your game plan for the day and possibly even the week. Depending on your personality type you may be so detailed that nearly every minute of your day is charted out before you, with little room for flexibility.

Today I want to talk about divine interruptions to your schedule. When we choose to walk daily with God, we need to understand that our priorities are not always His priorities. We may have one agenda, while God has a completely different purpose for our time, talents and energies. This morning’s encouragement comes from the 16th chapter of Acts:

Acts 16:6-10 (NLT)
Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had told them not to go into the province of Asia at that time. [7] Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not let them go. [8] So instead, they went on through Mysia to the city of Troas.
[9] That night Paul had a vision. He saw a man from Macedonia in northern Greece, pleading with him, "Come over here and help us." [10] So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, for we could only conclude that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.

In this account we see that as Paul and Silas were traveling the Holy Spirit was directing their path. There were some areas that Paul and Silas wanted to go and yet God was preventing them from entering those areas. Ultimately, God had an entirely different destination in mind for Paul and Silas, but the destination was not revealed until the time was right. When it was all said and done, God had narrowed down the choices for Paul and Silas and there was only one direction they could go.

Many times we set out on a particular course for our day, week or even our life. We are so committed to following that course of action that we become inflexible. At these times, God often closes doors in our lives or puts detours and barriers in our way to redirect us to the place that He is leading. For example you may get caught up in a meeting and end up going to lunch at a different time. During this altered lunch time you have the opportunity to encourage someone you might not normally see. What started out as an inconvenience now has become a “divine” appointment.

On a larger scale there may be times that you experience the death of a dream or goal, because God wants to take you in a different direction. I started life as a Police Officer. It was my goal to put in my 25 years and retire at age 46. God however changed my course and redirected me. To be obedient to God’s leading, I had to let my dreams and my goals die. I had to be willing to sacrifice my pursuits, noble as they were, so that God’s best could be a part of my life. During times like these, I have watched God close many doors, so that His leading was undeniable.

Today you may find yourself moving in direction different form what you had planned. Don’t let this be a point of stress, but instead look for the divine moments in your day. Who are the people God is bringing across your path? What are the circumstances that are changing before your very eyes?

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Monday Morning Encouragement - September 12, 2005

Good morning! Today I want to share with you the following account from the book of Acts:

Acts 5:15-16 (NLT)
As a result of the apostles' work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter's shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. [16] Crowds came in from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.

As we discuss this passage this morning I want for you to get a clear mental picture of a boat moving through the water. When a boat moves through the water it leaves a wake in its path. This wake spreads out from behind the moving vessel and affects other vessels on the water. The wake can be gentle if the boat is moving slowly and is not displacing a great amount of water. On the other hand, a fast moving vessel displacing a large amount of water can be very disruptive to the other vessels.

As we move through life, we also leave a wake in our path. Our wake can be life giving or can be destructive. For example a kind word can make somebody’s day, but a harsh word can destroy their spirit. In this account we see that Peter’s wake was a life giving wake.

Notice that the hope was for Peter’s shadow to fall on the sick. Peter was not praying over the sick, he was not even laying his hands on them. He was simply walking past and yet those in his wake were experiencing the healing touch of God. How did that happen? Let me take you to an earlier set of scriptures in Acts:

Acts 4:8-13 (NLT)
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Leaders and elders of our nation, [9] are we being questioned because we've done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? [10] Let me clearly state to you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed in the name and power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, the man you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead. [11] For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,

'The stone that you builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.'

[12] There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them."
[13] The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men who had had no special training. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.

There are two things that we need to see. First of all Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 tells us that when the Holy Spirit comes upon us we receive “power” to be the witnesses of Christ. So Peter was operating not under his own strength and power, but under the power of God. Remember the Peter we see being so bold here is the same Peter who had only a short time earlier denied Christ three times.

Secondarily, Peter was so fully surrendered to Christ that His influence was evident in all that Peter did. Look at the final two sentences of verse 13. The members of the council saw that Peter was an ordinary man…but they recognized he had been with Jesus. People were being healed not because of anything Peter was doing, but because of God’s presence in his life. Peter was so surrendered to Christ, that to be in Peter’s presence was to experience the presence of God.

Did you notice? Peter is not actively involved, so his ego is not getting the best of him. People are being healed by the passing of his shadow and not the touch of his hand. What is so exciting about this is that all of the glory belonged to God. Peter quite frankly was out of the loop.

How surrendered to God are you today? Do those in your wake experience His touch? As you move through life is the focus about you and what you are doing or is the focus what God is doing through you? Today I encourage you to look behind your boat are you leaving a life giving wake or a wake of destruction?

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours.

Carl

Good morning! Today being Labor Day, I’m sure many of you are planning to spend time with family and friends. Labor Day is typically a day of campouts, barbeque and laughter. Today, however, many will be fighting for their very survival as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

Many of us have been glued to our televisions over the past week watching the devastation and suffering. So what is our response supposed to be when faced with these types of needs? Does the Bible offer any guidance?

Matthew 25:31-40 (NLT)
"But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. [32] All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. [33] He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. [34] Then the King will say to those on the right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. [35] For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. [36] I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.'
[37] "Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? [38] Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? [39] When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' [40] And the King will tell them, 'I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'

This morning I want to challenge you to be more than a spectator, I challenge you to get your hands dirty. So what can you do?

Pray – Spend time praying for those who have been devastated by this disaster. Pray for the orphans, the widows, the sick, the destitute. Ask God to move on their behalf to bring comfort and healing and His loving touch. Ask God to show you what you need to be doing…offer yourself to Him for service.

Give – The easiest thing to give is your money. Every dollar counts, even now our denomination’s disaster relief teams are providing over 300,000 meals per day. What about your time? People will be needed to help clean up, pack up, feed, build and just be a friend. Could this be you? Take that other week of vacation and volunteer your time and talents.

Open your home – Got an extra bedroom? Offer to house a family who has lost everything. Work with your church or a local disaster relief agency to identify those who need a roof over their head.

At some point all of us will face a crisis of some sort…weather, health, business, war, etc… When the time comes you will be thankful for those who have given of themselves to care for you. Today commit yourself to being a blessing for those who are hurting.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours.

Carl

Monday Morning Encouragement - August 29, 2005

Good morning! Like me I’m sure many of you have been watching the movements of hurricane Katrina. I think we are all awestruck by the devastating power of a storm like this. Can you imagine facing that type of destructive fury without having some advance notice? Fortunately in this day and age, we have the benefit of radar and satellite imagery that helps us track, predict and prepare for the impending storms.

Watches and warnings are meant for the safety of the public. The watch tells us to “look out” and the warning tells us to “take cover.” Watches and warnings have the potential to save countless lives, but they are only effective if acted upon.

Lets shift our focus to the destructive forces that are closing in on your life. Are you paying attention to the alerts in your life. Consider these words of caution:

1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)
Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.

Look at those words…”Be careful! Watch out…” God is issuing a severe weather alert for life. He is preparing you for the attack…you know it is coming. Now the question is what are you doing about it?

Let’s focus on some precautionary steps each one of should be taking to “storm proof” our lives.

First of all stay in constant communication with God. So many of us neglect our prayer lives until we are in the middle of the storm. The time to establish contact isn’t when the waves are crashing in, but during the calm and peaceful times. A vibrant consistent prayer life, will strengthen you, prepare you and equip you for the challenges that lie ahead.

The second step is to anchor yourself with a solid foundation. Daily time in the Bible will equip you with truths that are applicable every day even in the face of changing circumstances. A firm foundation allows for a strong defensive stance or provides leverage for going on the offensive.

The final step is to surround yourself with people who can keep your head above the waves. So many of us try to fight through our storms without leaning on those people God has put around us. When I was a kid at camp we always were required to use the buddy system. As a buddy, you were responsible for the well being and safety of your “buddy.” Who is your buddy when you need a lifeline, a helping hand, or simply a word of affirmation?

As hurricane Katrina comes on shore, lets keep those affected in our prayers.

This week pay heed to the watches and warnings God sends your way. Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Monday Morning Encouragement - August 22, 2005

Good morning! As I write to you today I am in South Carolina. Today I spoke at a church that is going to partner with my church for the next several years. This partnership will allow our church to accomplish projects and ministries that we would not be able to achieve on our own.

It is this idea of partnership that I want to focus on today. Too many of us live our lives in nearly complete isolation. We have adopted a lone ranger mentality to life, never utilizing the gifts, talents and abilities of those that God has placed around us. God never intended for people to live the life of a hermit. Instead he intended for us to live in community.

Take a look at the following passage from the book of Exodus:

Exodus 17:8-13 (NLT)
While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek came to fight against them. [9] Moses commanded Joshua, "Call the Israelites to arms, and fight the army of Amalek. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand."
[10] So Joshua did what Moses had commanded. He led his men out to fight the army of Amalek. Meanwhile Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of a nearby hill. [11] As long as Moses held up the staff with his hands, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites gained the upper hand. [12] Moses' arms finally became too tired to hold up the staff any longer. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side, holding up his hands until sunset. [13] As a result, Joshua and his troops were able to crush the army of Amalek.

The fate of the Israelites army was dependent upon Moses’ ability to keep the staff held high. Imagine the weight of responsibility that was upon his shoulders. Imagine the overwhelming burden as his arms began to tire. He watched his army lose the upper hand and yet try as he might he struggled to keep his arms raised.

God knew that Moses would be weary and he had already prepared a way. Aaron and Hur had accompanied Moses to the mountain top. They were aware of Moses’ condition and took steps to support his effort. Not only did they find a seat for Moses but then they came along side of him, each holding a hand and keeping it raised. In spite of Moses’ best intentions he could not go it alone. He needed the support of those God had placed around him.

What are the challenges that you are facing today? Have you shared those challenges with others that God has placed into your life? Most of us tend to play our cards close to our chest. Our pride keeps us from reaching out to others for strength and encouragement. Today remember that God has placed others around you as a resource to get you through these challenges. Lean on them, utilize their wisdom and strength.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)
A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Good morning! I am glad to finally wake up to some comfortable weather. This last week or so of high heat/high humidity has been miserable. For the past week I have sought out those places where I could stay close to a fan or an air conditioner. I’m glad to finally see some relief.

Enough about the temperature, I want to talk about those times when it is really “hot.” What do you do when the heat is on? How do you survive when the thermometer of life is climbing? You know what I’m talking about. Your boss just added to your workload and wants it done yesterday. Your money just ran out but your bills for the month didn’t. Your doctor has just informed you that you have a physical challenge ahead of you. These are just a few examples of the things that bring heat into our lives.

First of all let me encourage you that trials and temptations are a normal part of life. Look at what the Bible says:

1 Peter 4:12 (NLT)
Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.

James 1:2 (NLT)
Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy.

There are a couple of points for you to consider from these two verses. First of all there is the admonition to not be surprised at your trials. Trials are a part of everyone’s life and no one is exempt. Secondarily the admonition is for “whenever” trouble comes your way. This verse doesn’t say “if” trouble comes your way, but instead “when” trouble comes your way. Trouble will come…you will endure trials, this is part of life.

Now I want you to focus on the last part of James 1:2. Why should trials be an opportunity for joy? Look at verses 3 and 4:

James 1:3-4 (NLT)
For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. [4] So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.

The joy comes from the fact that you are being developed. Look at the things that God uses the trials in our lives to develop: Endurance, strong character and personal readiness. Let me give you an example. When I was younger I went through 6 months of training in a police academy to prepare me for a law enforcement career. Those of you who went through military boot camp will understand this point as well. Part of the process of my academy training was to push me to my physical and mental limits. Some of these times of training were physically painful and mentally excruciating, but ultimately they made me stronger. They also instilled survival tactics and instincts that became second nature. I was trained so that under fire I would be already prepared to respond.

If you look back on your own life you will probably see how the difficulties of the past have prepared you for later challenges. Each one has been a building block for the next. We are given another great promise when it comes to times of heat:

1 Peter 1:7 (NLT)
These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

I want you notice the words strong and pure. The example given here is gold. Gold is purified by heating it up. As gold is heated the impurities within rise to the top where they are skimmed away. In similar fashion in times of trial the impurities within us become more evident…character flaws are more visible and recognizable. God uses these times to bring purity into your life. As your faith becomes pure you become a greater reflection of God’s glory.

If today your heat index is way up…take a moment to praise God for allowing you to be refined. Until next Monday may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Monday Morning Encouragement - August 8, 2005

Good morning!

This morning as I write to you, the landing of the space shuttle discovery has been delayed by 24 hours. Due to safety concerns the shuttle crew has been instructed to orbit for one more day before they attempt to land.

Sometimes in life we too find ourselves in a holding pattern. We live in a society that demands instant gratification. We carry cell phones, we get cash from ATMs, we cook our food in microwave ovens, fast food chains abound on every corner and we have access to information 24 hours a day. In our world today we do not like to wait and we will do anything to avoid waiting. But has all of that instant gratification really been in our best interest. We work more hours with less down time, rates of heart disease, obesity and other health ailments are on the rise. Fast is not always the best.

Now I want you to consider your prayer life. Don’t we all too often take our consumer mentality into the prayer closet with us. We come before God with our laundry list of requests and we expect instant answers and gratification. We attempt to dictate to God what is in our best interest and expect Him to deliver on our timetable.

The verse I want to challenge you with today comes from Lamentations. As the name would suggest the book of Lamentations is written out of suffering and pain. It is out of this suffering and pain that the following promise is found shining like a jewel in the sun:

Lamentations 3:25-26 (NLT)
The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him. [26] So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.

There are two words we need to pay special attention to here: Wait and seek. Many times when we bring a request before God we get no immediate response, other than to wait. It is important to remember that God is not bound by time. He sees all of eternity all of the time. You on the other hand see life through a very limited lens. You see only what is directly ahead of you, but you cannot see clearly into the future. Often what we are praying for is not what is best in our lives. God allows us to wait so that we can see His plan and His glory revealed clearly.

Secondarily there is the issue of seeking. To seek is an active searching. I like to think about seeking in the terms of digging for shells at the beach. When you do this type of searching, you sift the sand through your fingers. You dig your hands down into the sand and carefully examine the contents of each handful of sand. When you seek God in prayer we need to do the same. Carefully examine His word in your hands. What does that verse mean to you? What is God saying about your circumstance? What are those around you speaking into your life?

Today as the shuttle astronauts wait for their return to earth, their main task is to orbit and enjoy the view. If you are in a holding pattern right now, I encourage you to do the same. Relax, wait patiently and enjoy God’s handiwork around you. Trust in His competence to bring you safely through and wait quietly for His salvation.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl

Monday Morning Encouragement - August 1, 2005

Good morning!

I want to begin by asking you this question: Have you seen any miracles in your life lately? This past week I was in Buffalo, NY doing mission work with a team from our church. During the week we witnessed God doing the miraculous over and over again. The miracles ranged from physical healings to inexhaustible resources to the stirring of people’s hearts. So why did we see so many miraculous events…simple…it was the issue of belief.

I was having my personal time of devotions this last week when I came upon a verse of scripture that literally jumped from the page and held my attention captive.

Mark 6:4-6 (NLT)
Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family." [5] And because of their unbelief, he couldn't do any mighty miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. [6] And he was amazed at their unbelief.

Notice verse 5, Jesus was hindered by the unbelief of the people. Now go to verse 4, those who were guilty of unbelief were his own people. Sadly we being God’s people get comfortable and complacent. We talk about belief and faith, but rarely do we live by it. Let me give you an example. How many times have you prayed for someone’s healing, but not really expected to see it? How many times have you prayed for financial provisions, but then sought to make your own solutions? How many times have you prayed for someone to have a relationship with God, but not expected it? Do you see what I am getting at…we pray with unbelief in our hearts and zero faith.

This past week it was easy to pray with belief, because we were out of our element, outside of our comfort zone and only God could provide for the needs at hand.

So what do you do about unbelief? First of all ask God to remove the unbelief in your life. Look at this example from Mark 9 about a father who needed a miracle:

Mark 9:21-24 (NLT)
"How long has this been happening?" Jesus asked the boy's father.
He replied, "Since he was very small. [22] The evil spirit often makes him fall into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us. Do something if you can."
[23] "What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes."
[24] The father instantly replied, "I do believe, but help me not to doubt!"

This father was desperate for a miracle, but unbelief was a hindrance. His fervent cry was that Jesus would take away his doubt. The second thing is to pray in faith. When you pray for healing, visualize the moment of healing. When you pray for financial provision, visualize the provision. Thank God in advance for the answer to your prayers.

This week look for the miraculous around you. Ask God to remove the barriers of doubt and unbelief from your life.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Monday Morning Encouragement - July 25, 2005

Good morning! Today I am writing to you from Buffalo, NY. I am on a mission trip with our church assisting a new church in getting started.

This trip has got me thinking about the encouragement of being surrounded by a group of passionate people. Don't you just enjoy being around positive people? I know that I do. I would always prefer to be around a group of people who are laughing and upbeat. Just being in that type of setting, lifts my spirits in a heartbeat.

This week I am surrounded by just that type of group. This group of people goes out of their way to encourage one another. Each day they pray together, they share encouragement with one another and they serve each other. It is neat to watch each of their spirits lift. Many of us came with burdens and baggage that were weighing us down, but now we are energized and renewed.

The Bible speaks to this type of environment as well:

Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT)

When I think about what keeps me going on the hard days? It is the encouragement of others. Today if you need a shot in the arm, I encourage you to surround yourself with some encouraging people. Find those in your life who can inspire and spur you on. There's work to be done.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Still stirred?

I was watching my wife work this evening and I realize that she still moves me in such an incredible way. It has been nearly 18 years since I first laid eyes upon her. I remember the first time I saw her, I couldn't take my eyes off of her. She was radiant and stunning!

Tonight as I watched her work, I realized that I still cannot take my eyes off of her. When she walks into the room, it lights up. When she brushes up against me I get shivers up and down my spine. When I hear her voice my heart jumps for joy.

This has me thinking about my relationship with Christ. I still remember the day in 1975 when I first met Jesus. I was a young boy and my heart was stirred. I knew something was missing within me and then Jesus revealed how he could fill that void.

I gave my life to Him that night and I was filled with such joy. As with my marriage, my relationship with Jesus has gone through stages. I have moved beyond the childlike fascination to a more intimate knowledge of my precious savior.

But the question is simple. Am I still stirred? Does the thought of Jesus very presence cause my pulse to quicken and my spirits to rise in glorious expectation. Is there still a freshness in my relationship with him, or have I allowed it to grow stagnate?

My prayer is that everyday would be a fresh experience with my Savior. That I would never take Him for granted. O Lord stir my heart for you, make each day a passionate encounter with you.

Monday Morning Encouragement - July 18, 2005

Good morning! This past week I went to see my doctor for a routine check up. She checked my weight, blood pressure, pulse rate and breathing. These regular check ups are important for maintaining optimum physical health and identifying potential problems before they become major health issues.

Most of us don’t give a second thought to a regular medical check up, but what about a spiritual check up? Are you taking time to evaluate your spiritual health? We should take seriously the condition of our relationship with God. The only way to evaluate our true condition is to allow God to examine our heart.

Psalm 139:23 (NLT)
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.

I want you to focus on the word “search.” A search is a deep, probing for things that are hidden from view. The thought behind this word would be the idea of searching for survivors in a pile of rubble with your bare hands. When we allow God to search us, we give Him permission to burrow down beneath the surface superficiality and to expose the depths of our soul.

Many of us try to compartmentalize our heart. We limit God’s access to certain areas of our lives in an effort to protect our selfish desires and pet sins. Many of us justify the condition of our heart by excusing these sinful compartments as “isolated” sins. You’ve heard it before...”I’m a good person, I just have a.....(bad temper, foul mouth, etc...)” Who are we trying to kid. If I have one cancerous tumor I’m a cancer patient....period.

Anyone can avoid an honest health evaluation by simply never going to the doctor for an examination. But if you are sick...you will still be sick, even though you haven’t allowed anyone to tell you.

Most people never allow God to search their heart, because they are afraid of what God might pinpoint. If you had cancer you would want the doctor to do whatever he could to remove that cancer from your body, shouldn’t it be the same with sin? God wants you to become more and more Christ like each and every day.

This week I encourage you to allow God to search your heart. Make Psalm 139:23 your prayer. As God reveals issues in your life, confess those things before Him and feel the burden of sin lift as God’s forgiveness envelopes you.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Monday Morning Encouragement July 11, 2005

Good morning! Have you ever had a time in your life where all you really wanted to do was run and hide? The problems and pressures just seem to be relentless and you almost feel like you are going to suffocate from the pressure. I think all of us go through times like that. I have currently been facing some difficult days personally and at times have just wished I could run and hide.

One of my favorite accounts in the Bible deals with Elijah the great prophet of the Old Testament. Elijah had seen God work in amazing ways in his life, including: Being fed by ravens; an inexhaustible supply of food rations; the raising of a widow woman’s dead child and a powerful display of God’s presence as he faced down the prophets of Baal. If anyone knew first hand God’s power to sustain them, it was Elijah.

Something interesting happens with Elijah. Immediately following his showdown with the prophets of Baal, Elijah learns that there is a price on his head. The queen wants him dead. Elijah responds not in faith, but in fear. The Bible tells us that he went out into the desert, leaving his servant behind and laid down wanting to die.

2 things become readily apparent with Elijah. First he has become isolated. Most of us tend to isolate ourselves in times of difficulty. In our isolation we become easy prey for fear, doubt, worry, bitterness and all of those other nasty things the enemy throws out at us. Secondarily, Elijah has become paralyzed. He is no longer effective in his service of God…he has dropped out of the race.

Fortunately for Elijah, as well as you and I, God is not willing to allow us to stay in this place of isolation and fear. God knew what Elijah needed….he needed a fresh encounter with God.

1 Kings 19:10-13 (NLT)
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 alone am left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."
[11] "Go out and stand before me on the mountain," the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. [12] And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. [13] When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
And a voice said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

God already knows Elijah’s heart, but He asks for an explanation anyway. When you are having times of difficulty tell God what’s bothering you. That is part of intimacy with Him.

I want you to pay close attention to what happens next. The windstorm hit, the earthquake came, the fire raged….but the Lord was not in these things. His voice was heard in the gentle whisper.

So many times when we hit seasons of despair, we want God to move in a thunderbolt or to hear a loud voice from Heaven. But what Elijah needed…and what you and I need is to truly see God. Elijah was having a focus problem. His focus had moved from God’s work to self-pity. Elijah needed to see God clearly, before he would be ready to hear God clearly.

As the account goes on, God never does respond to Elijah’s pity party, instead He gives Elijah a new mission.

Today if you are facing one of these difficult times, don’t look for the wind, earthquake or fire, but instead listen for the whisper in the wind. Ask God to open your eyes that you might see Him clearly.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Monday Morning Encouragement - July 4, 2005

Good morning! It is July 4th, Independence Day, a day to commemorate our birth as a nation. Today I want to challenge you with the thought of freedom.

Here in America we are so blessed by the freedoms we enjoy. You are free to travel throughout this nation anytime you choose. You are free to attend the church or synagogue of your choice without government interference. You are free to own property. You are free to read the writings of anyone. You are free to listen to the music of anyone.

Why is freedom so important? The alternative to freedom is bondage! Our forefathers found themselves in bondage to the King of England. Taxation without representation, state sanctioned religion, state controlled speech….in a word bondage.

Today there are many who live in bondage even in America. They are in bondage to guilt and shame, addictions and broken relationships. The circumstances of life and the judgments of others have enchained them.

God never intended for His people to live in a state of bondage. Jesus came that you might live life abundantly. Consider this passage:

2 Corinthians 3:17 (NLT)
Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is….there is freedom. Remember God’s forgiveness is permanent, His grace is sufficient and His might is more than you can imagine. He not only forgives your sin…He erases the record of it. There is nothing in your life…absolutely nothing….that will require Jesus to get on the cross again. All of the things that keep you in bondage were paid for with His blood and their hold on you was destroyed when He stepped from the grave.

The same Jesus who conquered death and hell lives within you. His power is there to wipe away guilt, take away shame, dry every tear and carry you above the storms of life.

This week celebrate your freedom as an American and more importantly as a child of God. If you find that you are in bondage…declare your independence.

If you would like to talk more about the freedom that God offers each of us, please drop me a line.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Monday Morning Encouragement - June 27, 2005

Good Morning!!! I want to begin this morning’s encouragement with this question…what’s bothering you today? If you are like me there is no shortage of things to fill your mind with worry and turmoil.

Cars break down, relationships sour, an unexpected expense rocks your monthly finances…all thing that can become a crisis of the mind. Studies tell us that many health issues such as ulcers, depression and even high blood pressure can be brought on by stress and worry. Studies also tell us that treatment for these types of health issues is on the rise.
So how do you deal with the problems of life? Are you a worry wart? A stress eater? Maybe you just shut down and become a hermit from life.

Look at what the Bible tells us about worry:
Matthew 6:27 (NLT)
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not.

Think about it this way. Your car has broken down and cost you several hundred dollars in unexpected expenses for the month…now you have more month than money. If your like me, you begin to obsess about where the money will come from. You don’t smile, you don’t laugh and you don’t sleep. In spite of all of your worry the sun will still rise and set. Your worry doesn’t change the situation…it only changes you and not for the better I might add.
So how do you deal with these crisis events?

Matthew 6:32-34 (NLT)
…Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, [33] and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.
[34] "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.

Change your focus. Get your eyes off of yourself and onto God. What would God have you do with the situation? He wants you to cast all of your cares upon Him. God knows your needs even before you ask. He sees all of eternity all the time. What seems like an insurmountable crisis to you, is simply a hill along the roadway of your life to Him.

This is where trust comes into the picture. I often laugh, we trust God with eternity. We proclaim that our faith in Jesus Christ will save us for all of eternity. We stand on the assurance that at the cross of Christ our sins were paid for. Yet we don’t trust God with our checkbook, our relationships, our job, our car, our ????

Let me say this as clearly as I can. If you can trust God to save you from sin…trust him to save your from an eternity in Hell….then why can’t you trust him to provide for your current crisis?
If you are dealing with worry today, surrender it to God. Ask for guidance and wisdom and the strength to turn worry into unshakeable faith.

Until next Monday. May God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl