P’s Corner

So many times we look for the glitz and the glamor. We want the high life with everything on the side (double portions). If we don’t watch – that can begin to define our lives. Maybe it’s time we looked again…but now from His perspective; IE: from His side of the fence.

Is it greatness, perfection, everything in it’s place He really wants? Or is it just simply obedience? You see the reality is this- obedience is the pathway to obtaining those such things and more.

Naaman was a sick man ( II Kings 5) and because of His position he thought He would get preferencial treatment. The king didn’t know what to do- but the prophet had the answer. Arriving at Eusha’s house he expected the red carpet treatment…”Come in sir we have been preparing and making ready for you”…- but no… not even a face to face encounter. A messenger was sent to bring the message. “Go and wash 7 times in the Jordan River!” That’s it? Nothing else? You must be joking!

Turning away He almost walked away from his miracle. One of his servants stopped Him and said “if he would have had you to do something great, wouldn’t you have done that”? Reluctantly he went and did- and his miracle happened.

Simple obedience- maybe that’s all we need to do!

Ever felt like giving in and throwing in the towel? You wouldn’t be human if you hadn’t. Quitting is satan’s way of getting us to forfeit our God given potential – and our God given destiny.

Is the roadway easy? But He never promised it would be…but it’s a roadway that we must continue on down. Destinations can never be reached if forward momentum is ceased. We have got to hold on- we’ve got to keep going. Quitting can never be an option.

We have to purpose in our hearts that no matter the struggle and the fight ( and even failure) we cannot allow ‘that’ to determine life’s outcome. We all struggle, we all have challenges and even fail- but are they going to be our defining points – I chose to let the fact I won’t quit – but will keep going define the outcome of my life. My destiny depends on that.

It’s amazing that at the end of us is the beginning of God. When we have nothing left to give – He says that’s alright your weakness plus faith in Me equals my strength.

Remember however – it’s strength for you to keep going! For you to be able to take the next step on that pathway of life. Don’t lose heart – keep your focus – look towards your prize. Look to Jesus.

Galatians 6:9 – “and let us not grow weary while doing good. For in due season we shall reap if we don’t lose heart!

It’s Time To Praise-

John 15:8 tells us that our Father is glorified when we bear much fruit. Bearing fruit brings glory to God, therefore it’s so important that we live a fruitful life. Anything that’s living will grow!

One of the greatest tools of growth God has given us is through Praise and Worship. Praise is more than just singing a few songs to fill up time – it’s literally giving to God; telling Him that despite our present situations (surroundings) He is still worthy. Praise gives God something to work with.

Ps 22:3 tells us ‘But you are Holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel’ (your people). Another translation uses the word inhabits, thus stating that when we praise, God comes down to dwell. The greatest visitation we need is His habitation. Visitors come and leave ( thank God sometimes for that, LOL) but is that how we desire Him to be?

According to this Scripture when we praise we build Him a throne so that His presence comes down and collides with our world. Although He is ‘Omnipresent’ there is something great which happens in the realm of praise. Praise causes God to enter your world. He doesn’t just want to enter and leave….He stays when we praise.

Anytime in the word of God when you read of God’s presence, you also read about change. God’s presence (habitation) will bring about change. ‘Tis the season to be jolly – don’t let the devil steal your praise. Praise Him…He’s worthy.

It’s amazing how many times we find ourselves in places we have no business being in – and I’m not just talking in the physical realm.  Spiritually, emotionally, mental are just as important… in fact it’s these that lead to the physical. 

The Bible very clearly states 2 sides to the equation of Life.  The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy- but I have come that you may have life and life abundantly…(John 10:10) which side best defines your life?  We all have our up’s and down’s- but we’ve got to watch what becomes the story of our life.

Proverbs 4:23 tells us to keep our hearts with all diligence for out of it ( our hearts) spring the issues of life.  Literally meaning our hearts set ( or define) the boundaries of our life…determining the pathway we follow.  Value and protect your mind, emotions and will.

If we choose to accept life on the wrong side of the equation our whole being will be effected.  Again it doesn’t mean we will find a place of perfection – but we have to find ‘the place’ called His Heart.  That place is life and abundance through Him.

When I take my calculator out- am I subtracting or adding?  Am I dividing or multiplying?  I guess it all depends on what side of the equation I’m on!  Do we deserve the best that life has to offer?  No – but thank God for Grace.

Instead of accepting second best, and telling yourself I guess this is as good as it gets- move to the other side of the equation.  Move into the Promises He has custom made just for you.  Move into new boundaries and pathways that lead to LIFE.

So, it’s not about the physical…that’s just the end result- our focus needs to be on the ‘means’.  What has taken place within us that ‘means’ we live on the wrong side of the equation.

Deut. 30:19 (NLT) Today I give you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses.  I call on Heaven and Earth to witness the choice you make.  Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live!

The story of Gideon in many ways runs so parallel with our everyday lives.  He’s hiding out ( Judges 6:11) living in constant fear of an enemy attack.  God sends an angel to him with a message, “Hey you mighty man of valor!”  Gideon thinks he can’t be talking to me…I mean look, my life is a wreck, nothing is working out right, we’re oppressed, where is God, why has He forsaken us? 

The actual words he said are, ‘If the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? (V13)  God’s answer came, but not in the form of the question asked.  Here’s the reason… it’s not God’s fault!  We have chosen to live according to our own desires and wrong decisions and then blame God for our short comings.

God’s answer was as follows.  “Go in this might of yours.”  (V14)  You see God was trying to show Gideon (and us) that the problem will never be solved while living down cast and defeated.  We have to break free of the strangle hold call a victim mentality.  Get up – Shake yourself free and realize that you have the answer to the problem.  God can’t force us… but He constantly wants to nudge us and point us in the right direction.  Even still Gideon doesn’t get it?  All he can see is the fact that God has left him, and even if he (Gideon) could do something about it, he was weak and worthless. (V15)

God doesn’t give up!   He now promises that He will be with Gideon and help him into victory.  As we read on we indeed see that happen and unfold in such a supernatural way.  God tells him, “If you go- I’ll go.”

Here’s my point ( or really God’s point) victory won’t come about while we sit and do nothing.  God first told him to get up and go, and then the Promise came.  I will be there to help you.  Notice who had to move first…Gideon.  Stop sitting back licking your wounds and feeling sorry for yourself; maybe it’s not falling according to plan, but it never will if you remain down.  Get up – and allow God to go with you.

Remember, the promise He gave Israel – I will drive out your enemies before you!  Who had to move first?  I believe that’s living a life by faith!

Remember the Aladdin movies? He finds this little lamp and much to his surprise within it contains his ticket to the world, fame, happiness and success. What would he wish for? What would he do with his 3 wishes.

Has God become to many of us just a ‘genie’ in a lamp? We give Him a little “Rub” now and again to ask Him to grant our wish. “God, I’m in trouble! Will you please help me?”- we know He will, but He’s more than just a ‘wish’ giver. We have viewed Jesus as a heavenly genie, rather than the goal and pursuit of our spiritual life.

He wants to be there to help us, but He deserves to be included at all times, not just at our point of need. So often we only turn to Him in our struggles and difficulties of life without embracing a lifetime with Him. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us- He wants to journey through life with us.

How about making Him the center of your whole world. Pursue after Him and realize He’s a companion for life!

Darkness of itself is not really a word, or at best one of meaning.  Darkness is purely and simply possible because of the lack (or absence) of light.  But darkness today has obtained a definition.  It’s all around us, everywhere we look, at our work, schools, colleges, movies, Internet, through the media etc. etc.  It’s everywhere!  But why?  NO LIGHT!

 Jesus through the Scriptures dearly tells us, or rather instructs us to be the light of the world.  He tells us that the purpose of light is not to be hidden and covered but rather to be put on display that it will give out light to all.  How quickly we curse the darkness instead of lighting a candle.  Darkness has no power in the presence of light,  light expels darkness.  Even the smallest ‘flicker’ defeats the grossness of darkness.

Look outside at night, look at the light on your front porch…it’s not alone, it has attracted a multitude.  We have to ’shine’ and attract the lost.  We have to once again give them the hope of Salvation.

Stop ‘whinning’ about what’s not happening and start ’shining’ and make the impossible possible.  Our light needs to be set ablaze again through relationship with Him.  We have to once again become plugged into the source so we can fulfill our destiny….and that’s to ’shine’.

Be a lighthouse in your community, family, workplace.  Darkness is only possible because of the lack of you!  Be His candle….illuminate this world.

I believe there is a little book out there called ‘The Little Red Hen’ which is read by elementary students. The gist of the story is that the ‘Little Red Hen ‘ asks for help from many other members of the barnyard. “Will you help me prepare a meal”? One after the other they reject her offer. Finally when it is time to eat….they all want to be a part of that….

Sorry if I’ve killed (and misquoted) the story but it’s been a number of years since I’ve heard this story – but I think you get the point. We want to skip straight to the blessing without ‘do-ing’ the preparation required. We want the result without contributing to the cause.

Deut:28 tells us of such Blessing. Blessed in the city, Blessed in the Field, Blessed shall be your basket, Blessed….etc.etc. All well and good, but with one major problem. The Bible clearly tell us that those such Blessings only come to those who obey and follow all his Commandments.

How many times do we want to skip that part and just position ourselves for Blessing. What we fail to realize is that it’s ‘that part’ which positions us for the Blessing. We cannot expect the Blessings of Heaven yet live like hell… it won’t work.

Maybe it’s time to get our eyes off the Blessings and place them upon the ‘Blessor’; and then we’ll see results. He cannot do anything against His Word… that would make Him a liar. Stop ’skipping’ over the source to get to the flow; live in accordance to His Word and Blessings will follow.

On Monday I received a call from someone that said you’ll never guess what happened to me yesterday?  They had come to church Sunday Morning but had to leave before I could say hello.  On my way home after eating, I had called their house to tell them how great it was to see them all at church.  On discovering they had a voice mail message, they pressed the play button.  The voice mail went as follows…. Sunday, October the 14th, 3:33pm ( Beep) Hi, this is Pastor Philip….etc. etc…. They couldn’t believe it, there was that 333 that I had been talking about Sunday Morning….”it gave me chills” they said.

I remember so vividly as a young child being taught that God’s phone number was Jeremiah 333.  Whatever the problem, what ever the time, He could be reached and come to our aid.

Jeremiah 33:3 tells us “Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know”.(NKJV) 

The word mighty there is better translated ‘Inaccessible’. God’s promise to us is this,  as we call on Him (in faith believing) – not with doubt!  He can make those things that otherwise seem inaccessible/out of reach/out of the question become accessible to us.

The number one reason our prayers are not answered is because we don’t Pray!  Come on, it’s time to call out to Him, to show Him how great our need is; to show Him how much we desire Him.  When we call, He will answer and make the unknown known and accessible in your life.

Watch out….you’re going to see it everywhere…333.  Let it instantly remind you of your promise through His Word. 

Just Call!

I’m sure most if not all know the story of Thomas Edison and his journey to create light in the form of a light bulb. They say that he failed over 10,000 times before he finally succeeded. Notice I said… They said, but that wasn’t what he said.

Every unsuccessful attempt was not chalked down to him as another failure, but rather just as another way not to do it. He finally succeeded.

What incredible lessons we can learn from stories like that. If we don’t watch we can be so easily gripped by the fear of not being able to succeed and make it in life. That fear if left unaddressed can begin to manifest in the form of ‘WORRY’.

Have you ever worried? Of course you have. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25-34 not to worry. He’s not talking about not being concerned…but by being totally consumed. Worry is not a growth word – but will only tear down.

I once read this definition of worry. “The sin of distrusting the Promises and Power of God”. When I worry I’m really telling God by my actions and attitude that I don’t fully trust Him.

Even though I claim to believe He is all-powerful, ever present, and all knowing… when I worry, I’m saying I don’t think He can handle what’s bothering me.

Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us, “Be anxious for nothing (quit worrying)
But in everything by Prayer and Supplication, with Thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God. (V7) and the Peace
of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart
and minds through Christ Jesus.

Don’t worry – Learn to trust Him. Let Him be your source of success! We may have ‘unsuccessful’ attempts in life – but with Christ we will success.