FEELING LIKE A "HEEL"?

It is probably 80 % of the time that if you feel like a "heel" it's because of the tongue.  (The other 20% because of what you do.)

I was sharing with someone recently of some of the discipline I received in grade school.  Only paddled once but wrote a lot of "I will not _____" sentences.  It was in my last day at Junior High School I was sitting in the school auditorium, after class, writing "I will not ________ ______________ __________" some 200 times.  I am too embarrassed to tell what I did but rest assure today I still feel like a heel for doing such a foolish thing.

My dad, being the religious man that he was, tried to correct this "foolishness" by using what Proverbs 22:15 says, "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."   It is true that it did drive it "far from me" but every once in a while I still do a foolish thing.  Sometimes doing a foolish thing is simply saying the wrong thing, or as we call it, "putting our foot in our mouth."  Psalm 38:5 says, "My wounds sink and are corrupt because of my foolishness."

I believe "foolishness" is something that probably many of us have to work on.  I enjoy "good clean fun" as we call it, but sometimes even I can take my "foolishness" too far.  So now that I have confessed, here's my prayer:

"God help me with my foolishness.  You know that in your word it says that this is something 'bound in the heart of a child.' True, my daddy tried to drive it out of me with leather but because of my tongue I still struggle and sometimes feel like a heel.  God, save my soul (and sole) from so much foolishness!"

I usually go to the shoe repair shop in the small community in which I live to have my shoe's resole and the owner of the shoe shop will laugh and say, "Yes Sir, I can save your sole!"   So off to the shoe shop!

THE BIG BAD WOLF

It was the nursery rhyme The Big Bad Wolf that I thought of this morning as the wind was whipping between the two buildings behind my office window.  It has been 40 plus years since I heard this nursery rhyme, and now there are several versions of this story, but the part I remember is I will huff and I will puff and I will blow your house down!   

Job 1:19 tells us that a "wind" (not a wolf) blew down the house of  Job's children - Suddenly a great wind came from the desert, hitting all four corners of the house at  once, the house fell in on the young people, and they are all dead..."

With a risk of sounding negative for just a moment, every day of our lives there is one that would like to "blow our house down" (or destroy you).  Jesus said it well when he said, "A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came to give life-life in all its fullness"(John 10:10).  But the focus is not on the "thief" trying to destroy us but Jesus giving us fullness of life.

There are days that we will feel the wind from the storm.  There are days we will feel like that Satan is outside our door huffing and puffing and threatening to blow our house down. There are days that we do feel the pressures of life.  But when we walk in the fullness of life, the abundant life that Christ speaks of, we can weather any storm.

The Apostle Paul gave us some inside information on how to build our house that will stand against these storms (I Corinthians 3):

1. Laying a good foundation
2. Being careful how we build 
3. Using the right materials to build with

With these principles in place Satan can huff and puff and threaten all he wants, but "me and my house will serve the Lord!"  (Joshua 24:15).

...There is another character that I learned about 40 plus years ago.  In Sunday School we sung about "the sly old fox."  (The fox and the wolf are both from the same family, the Canidae family.)  "The devil he is a sly old fox, if I could catch him I put him in a box.  Lock that box and throw away the key for the many old tricks he's played on me..."

I REMEMBER THOSE DAYS...

"I remember you, the kindness of your youth..."  Jeremiah 2:2a

Oswald Chambers in his devotional "His Utmost For His Highest" brings out this thought that made me reflect on my youth this morning.  He asked the question, "Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me?...How much kindness have I shown Him this past week?...Am I as full of the extravagance of love to Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him?  Does He find me recalling the time when I did not care for anything but Himself?... Am I so in love with Him that take no account of where I go? or am I watching for the respect due to me; weighing how much service I ought to give?"

These are very provoking questions that at the end of the week that we probably ought to ask ourselves.  As a youth I lived in a Christian home and lived what some would defined as a "sheltered life."   There were certain things that as a youth, my parents "sheltered" me from.  To some degree I still live a sheltered life, but now of my own choice.  I choose not to put myself in uncomfortable situations, and when I find myself in that situation I am looking for an escape.  I want to be kind to God as I were as a youth.  To me it is important that I love him as much, and more, as I did in my youth and to show him that love.


My prayer today is "God help me to show my kindness to you as I did in my youth."   I remember those days...

WHAT IS "JAWING?"

Webster (online) dictionary defines "jawing" as scolding, clamorous, or abusive talk."  This is a word that I have heard used frequently during some of the recent pro-football games by the commentators when two or more players from opposite teams would get nose to nose and helmet to helmet and "talk with loud abusive language."


I am reminded of someone else that did a lot of "jawing".  One of the greatest battles in the bible is mentioned in I Samuel 17.  Eighty times, at least, Goliath "get in the face" of the Israelites and "jaws."  Why did Goliath spend so much time talking in place of fighting, when he was such a huge fellow?  I believe that Goliath wanted to intimidate his opponent.  Saul and the Israelites heard Goliath and they would tremble and run.  Goliath was literally winning the battle just by running his mouth!


But David could jaw too and he came out and jawed back at Goliath saying, "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of t he armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.  this day will the lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. (I Samuel 17:45, 46)"


 The result of Goliath's jawing is that he literally lost his head!  I bet (just an expression of speech) he didn't do anymore "jawing."  Maybe Goliath should have fought the battle before David arrived in the camp instead of all of that "jawing".


The moral of the story is that Satan likes to run his mouth with a lot of loud abusive talk.  But David finished up his speech to Goliath with "...for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hands."   If you will trust God with your life and your battles, He will fight your battles for you.  Do not be intimidated by all of the loud abusive talk that the devil does.  He's all mouth!

I ALSO WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU MUCH MORE!

"I also would have given you much more!" is the word that I hear ringing in my ears of what God is saying to King David.  Read 2 Samuel 7 and hear the words of King David giving thanks to God for "bringing him this far."  Hear David telling God "with your blessing let my family always be blessed."

It sounds like David is on a journey headed toward success.  But then in 2 Samuel 11 we see that David's journey takes a left turn.  It is John Maxwell that states, "When we stop growing, we stop leading.  When we stop sacrificing, we stop succeeding."  Many times people ask the question, what happened?  Things were going so well for them and then they take a wrong turn.

In over 30 years of pastoral ministry I have seen many lay leaders and pastors take a wrong turn.  I have sat and listen to pastors and lay leaders relate how that they could not blame anyone but themselves for their sin.  (I heard other pastors and lay leaders wanting to blame someone else for the wrong turn in their life, as well.)  It is a sad day because the blessing of God stops when we stop being obedient to his word.  It is like stopping up a kitchen sink with yesterday's grease.  Grease hardens and stops the flow as sin will harden our heart and stop the flow of God's wonderful blessings in our lives.

But, God ...would have given you much more!

Thirty-four years ago, as a 16 year old grocery clerk one day I spoke with the Keebler Sales Representative that was busy stocking the cookie shelf.  I begin to witness to him about God and what he had done in my life.  As I told him about Jesus he stood there with tears in his eyes and told me that he "once was a missionary" for God.  God would have done much more in his life but somewhere, somehow, he had made a wrong turn in his life.  Thank God for his saving grace that brings forgiveness and restoration in our lives.  Today, thirty-four years later, I still vividly remember that incident of speaking with this total stranger about Jesus. Maybe it was as much for me as for him!

God still has much that he wants to do for you!  God blessed King David but the fact is that God had much more for him then what he ever received.  (Read of King David's sin in 2 Samuel 11 & 12).  The fact is that God has much more that he wants to give you, as well.  It is my prayer today that you will be able to walk out your journey with God, receiving all of the blessings that have your name on them.  For God has great things that He wants to give YOU!

Don't Call Me Stupid!

"Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid" (Proverbs 12:1).  Now I don't make it a habit of calling folks "stupid".  (That is one of those "s" words that as a kid I learned that in using cost me a "mouth washing"  Kinder like "foot washing," both will bring about a great sense of humility.)  But in several translations of the bible this is the word that is used to translate the word "brutish".  Call them brutish or stupid, it makes no difference, the point is they are the folks that hates correction.

Reading recently about King Saul and King David in the Bible, I see this contrast.  Saul seems to be one that hated correction while David was one that was acceptable to instruction.  Samuel spoke to Saul about a burnt offering that he made to God, which was not acceptable.  Saul shows no sign of repentance in that episode.  On the other hand King David was confronted by the prophet Nathan about his sin with Bathsheba, and David had a repentant heart.  There is a great difference!

Recently I have been reminded of the thought, "What is God saying?"  It is my prayer that if it is correction or instruction in my life that I will listen every morning to what God is saying.  God help me to always spend time listening to you before I spend time speaking for you!  I don't want folks labeling me "stupid" because I fail to accept correction.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS!

One of the most difficult tasks for some of us is to be able to make decisions.  It starts out as a kid when we can't decide what toys to play with, rather we should go with mother or daddy, or what we wanted for Christmas.  This phobia of making decision continues all through life.  Some of us deal with it better than others.  I know adults today that can't seem to make decisions.  While we may blame it on the wrong size, often the day after Christmas many will stand in long lines ready to return something that they decided they did not want.

In my devotion time this morning I read of a great military leader by the name of Hoshea.  He was a great military leader, but only after there was an identity change.  Moses changed his name from Hoshea to Joshua (Numbers 13:16), and while the name by itself did not bring this change, there was a transformation in the identity of this leader.  Joshua was very decisive in his leadership skills.  (Read Joshua 13 through 19 and see a man that was very decisive in dividing the land among the different tribes.)  He showed great skills in delegating, organizing and leading the nation of Israel.  The words that many hear this great military leader say, "...choose you this day whom ye will serve...for me and my house will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15 KJV).

John Maxwell states, "Leaders cannot afford to be indecisive; they must give clear and specific directions."  It use to be that I was undecided about what I wanted for Christmas.  Now I am face with the temptation of "Decidophobia - the fear of making decisions" (http://phobialist.com/). It is a battle that many of us face almost daily.  To be a leader you must be able to make decisions and feel confident about the decisions that you made.  No "second guessing" your decisions!

You may be face with difficult decisions today. You may have in the pass been very indecisive about your decisions.  I pray that God's spirit will enable you today to make the right decisions and then enable you to have peace about your decisions. 

Over 16 years ago I was given Isaiah 52:12 "For ye shall not go out with haste, nor by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward (your rear guard).   God has your back side when you make decisions based on God's word and your relationship with Him.

Merry Christmas, and by the way, do you know what you want for Christmas?

COMING IN SECOND

I recently finish reading the bible through for the year and started over again.  (I figured I would get a head start for next year.)  In Genesis 5 we have "the family tree" of Adam.  Adam lived 930 years and he died.  Seth, a son that according to scripture looked much like Adam, lived 912 years and he died.  A grandson of Adam, Enosh, lived to be 905 years and he died.  Methuselah is recorded to have lived 969 years and he died.  Almost everyone have heard the name "Methuselah" as being the oldest living man recorded in scripture.

But what about Jared, Who?  That's right, Jared.  Jared was the great-great-great-great grandson of Adam (or something like that).  You know, his son was Enoch, the one who "...walked with God; and he was not, for God took him (Genesis 5:24)."  

Jared lived to be 962 years of age and died.  Only seven years younger than his grandson, Methuselah. Jared came in second in this chapter of the oldest living, but went unnoticed throughout the generations of time.  Almost everybody in the Bible Belt of America have heard of Methuselah, but mention Jared in the bible and their response may be, WHO?

Sometimes we too come in second.  Sometimes we too are the one that our name are forgotten.  Sometime we too are the one that "almost" achieved the same thing the one that got the spot light achieved.  But with God there is no "second place".  God loves you as much as He loves anyone else.  The song writer said it well when he penned,

"The love of God is greater far, Than tongue or pen can ever tell;

It goes beyond the highest star, And reaches to the lowest hell;

The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;

His erring child He reconciled, And pardoned from his sin.

O love of God, how rich and pure!  How measureless and strong!

It shall forever more endure, The saints' and angels' song."

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."  John 3:16

CAN YOU SEE NOW?

"Charlie Brown holds up his hands before his friend Lucy and says, 'These are hands which may some day accomplish great things.  These are hands which may some day do marvelous works!  They may build mighty bridges, or heal the sick, or hit home runs, write soul-stirring novels!  These are hands which may some day change the course of destiny!'  Lucy, who always sees things as they are, replies, 'They've got jelly on them."

Luke 8 Jesus heals a blind man and asked him the question, "Can you see now?"  The blind man said, "Yes, I see people, but they look like trees walking around."  This man's vision was distorted but when Jesus touched the man eyes again and the man opened his eyes wide, his eyes were healed.
 Maybe the man just needed to open his eyes wide!

Maybe we just need to open our eyes wide and see the big picture and sees things as they really are.  In 2 Corinthians 4 the Apostle, Paul, speaks of what he saw -

• trouble on every side - but not distressed
• perplexed -but not in despair
• persecuted - but not forsaken
• cast down -but not destroyed
• outward man perishing - inward man being renewed daily
• light affliction for a moment - much greater reward that will last throughout eternity

When we look at the big picture we can see beyond the suffering and see God's glory.

Prayer today:  Lord, regardless of what I might go through, help me to see the "big picture" and know that mercy and grace will follow me all the days of my life!

The End?

Someone said in Sunday school last Sunday, "As far as I know, the Word (the bible) never wears out!"

On my shelf sits a New Testament that was given to me for Christmas when I was a child.  Many things that I have owned in my lifetime no longer exist but ironically this bible seem to have stayed in my possession.  I didn't intentionally save this bible, it just happen to hang around.  The cover is well worn and if you look in the front of it you will see the drawings that appears to be that of a small child...me!

I remember well those days of taking this bible and pretending that I was preaching to Mr. Bugs, Mr. Donald, and the rest of the stuff animal gang.  (They were a rough bunch of overly stuffed animals.)  I don't think any of them ever got saved, but they sure "got preached" the word!  I felt a call on my life even then to preach the Word, but did not accept that calling until later in life.

In turning through this bible this morning reminiscing I noticed on the last page the words at the bottom imprinted "The End".  Somewhere as a child I wrote beside it "No End".  This morning in my devotion I was reminded of the scripture "Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away"(Matthew 24:35).  I quickly grabbed a penned and wrote, "Definitely No End."  The bible may be worn but the Word lives on.  It never wears out.  It is always relevant.  When it goes forth it will not return void and it will accomplish what it was sent out to do.


"So shall my word  be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11).


Many has tried to destroy, compromise, or discredit God's Word but it has and will always stand the test.  You can count on the Word, it will help you during this life's journey that you are on.  Paul instructs Timothy to "Study, to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15).  

My prayer today is, "Lord help me to be diligent in studying your Word."

Missed Opportunities

A few weeks ago, after being on the disabled list, I was once again able to play softball with the church league. The last time I played I suffered from a broken wrist/arm in two places, and suffered wearing a cast for the next five weeks. As my cast was being removed I laughably asked the nurse practitioner if I could play softball, now that my cast was off. Surprisingly she said "yes", as long as you don't slide and you wear your brace." A answer I was not expecting to hear!

I must admit that fear came over me as I begin to remember the night of the broken arm. "Do I really want to do this again?" Will I be tempted to slide again?" I am a very competitive person and I know I will give it my best. Reluctantly I agreed to EH that night for the game.

First time up to bat, first pitch, first swing and I hit the ball out into the center field. A solid hit and probably the best hit for me of the season. I ran all the way to third base, and was noticing that the coach on third was waving me to go home. I got half way home and realized that there was a good chance I would be very tempted to slide, so I ran back to third. A triple was not bad after five weeks on the disabled list, but I could have had a in-park home run. It would have been my first, but I let fear cause me to miss the opportunity.

Every day of our lives God is giving us opportunities. Sometimes we get to third and we stop because we become afraid; afraid of being hurt, afraid of losing something, afraid of being embarrassed, or sometimes just of afraid of being afraid. Possibly never again will I hit a ball so well and have that opportunity. It was truly a Kodak moment that I missed.

My prayer today is: "God help me to take hold of every opportunity that you give me, and also help me to have courage to run home (if I ever hit the ball that well again!)

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

IT'S NOT ABOUT WORKING HARDER, BUT WORKING SMARTER

In the book of Haggai we read of workers that worked harder but not smarter. It had been several years that the temple in Jerusalem had been untouched. Men and Women was working hard in those days, but had their priorities in the wrong place. God sent the prophet Haggai to bring correction into their lives.

This story reminds me of my childhood days of doing "landscaping" (formally known as grass cutting), and "car detailing" (formally known as cleaning automobiles.) Isn't it odd how we can change the name of a profession and make more money.

I was always taught to work hard. In any job that I have ever done I was taught to give it my best. While this is and has not been a bad principle to live by, I must admit that sometimes if I had worked smarter instead of harder, I would have accomplished more in life.

My prayer is from a bookmark (author unknown) that I found in my desk drawer this morning.

"Lord, I have too much to do, but's it's all important. Help me to set priorities so that I don't feel lost in the pace and the pressure. Give me wisdom and energy to accomplish what's necessary without wasting time or effort. And help me make the best use of my day, remembering that time is a precious gift from You."

John Maxwell says, "Activity does not always mean accomplishment. The issue is not, 'Will my calendar be full?' but 'What will fill my calendar?'"

Will it take a prophet like Haggai to say, "Think about what you have done..You have planted much, but you harvest little...You earn money, but then you lose it all as if you had put it into a purse full of holes...Think about what you have done. Go up the mountains, bring back wood, and build the Temple. Then I will be pleased with it and be honored, says ,the Lord." Haggai 1:7-8

"Lord, help me to work smarter and not necessarily harder."

That Old Buzzard

One Sunday morning recently, while driving back from Savannah, Georgia (USA), I had a buzzard almost fly into the side of my red convertible mustang. I caught myself ducking...and thinking about my next blog.

In case you're not familiar with what a buzzard is they are sometimes called vultures. Vultures are scavenging birds, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead animals. If he is frightened away from his "buzzard feast", he will return as soon as he feels it is safe.

I begin to research "buzzards" and quickly found that there is a book out titled, "The Buzzards Are Circling, But God's Not Finished With Me Yet", by Stan Toler. Another book on the market about buzzards is "Don't Let the Buzzards Get Your Children" by Barbara Middletonand. In reading the review of this book it appears to use the story in 2 Samuel 25 (The Bible) about a mother by the name of Rizpah. (For my preacher friends, this is a great sermon for Mother's Day). "Oh Lord, I Wish I Was A Buzzard" and "Where Buzzard's fly" was two other books on the market.

So I am not the first to use the analogy of a buzzard. But what can I say? A buzzard is a buzzard no matter what species they are and from what part of the world they are from. A buzzard is not something that many folks want as a pet. I don't see any pictures hanging on your walls of a buzzard! Most folks consider them an ugly creature. No one tries to dress up a buzzard. It is like putting perfume on a skunk. It is still a skunk.

Satan is who he is. No matter how this world may try to disguise him, he is still Satan. Like a buzzard he keeps circling his prey hoping to find opportunity to have a "buzzard feast". Jesus puts it a little kinder to Peter when he said, "Satan desires to sift you as wheat."

I guess the moral of this blog is, "when going through this life's journey watch out for that old buzzard (Satan). He is like a vulture looking for a place to land!

Route 95

Forty-five years ago I attended my grandfather's funeral in a small South Georgia (USA) church on a hot summer day. The nearest thing to air condition was the fans the funeral home provided. I remember at the end of the service crying as the Hearst, carrying the body of my grandfather, pulled away from the front of the church. My heart was broken. At the age of six I never dreamed that I would stand and preach to a group of people in that same church building.

But again, 15 years later, I traveled 200 miles to that South Georgia town to preach. It was so hot that day that the pastor of the church compared it with hell by saying "hell will be hotter than this." It was a great opportunity for me to preach in the church that my grandparent's use to attend.

This past week I traveled back to that same South Georgia town, walked back into that building, this time not to attend my grandfather's funeral, nor to preach as a young preacher, but to finalize the sell of the church property for the organization in which I am a part of. The church congregation had relocated and the money from the sell of the property will be used to improve the facility they are now using.

This is a new chapter in the life of this church, and I truly believe is a great move for this church. I am convinced that the building served it's purpose for the organization that I am a part of and it was time to release it for someone else to carry on the work in that community. I am thankful that I had the privilege to be a part of this transition. I journeyed back by the building one last time to give thanks to God for the many lives that had been changed during the time that we had this facility. I stood at the altar and asked God's blessings on the next group. I drove away feeling that this is a new beginning for the existing congregation that relocated as well as for this community. I know that somehow in God's sovereignty He has a plan.

This journey that God has us on may take us on a detour from time to time but some how we always seem to come back to our roots. If I live to be 95 (45 years from now), I wonder where this journey will take me - probably to the Nursing Home :)

"Lord, make me to know my end,And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am..." (Psalm 39:4 NKJV).

Several weeks ago, Bro. Tim asked me to consider posting an occasional guest blog. I didn’t think that I could adequately speak to a Lamb’s journey but agreed to try. I pray that he will soon be at full speed and again filling these pages with his own words. Bill Davis

I remember growing up in a small church in Empire; visiting speakers had to stay with people in the church. There was no Hampton or Holiday Inn Express and if there had been the church couldn’t afford to pay for it. Since it was only my mother and me in our home, often we’d have guests.
A missionary spent a few days with us when I was about five, or so. She was home on furlough from somewhere in Asia; China or maybe Hong Kong. She looked frail and undernourished to me. I overheard her tell my mother that the thing she had missed from home while she was on the mission field was whole milk. She was only able to get powdered milk. I was so sad to hear her say that when she got home, she couldn’t drink it because it was too rich for her body to deal with.
I asked her why she didn’t stay home long enough to get herself stronger so that she could again enjoy drinking milk. I’ll never forget her answer. She said, “My body is not my own, I was bought with a price.” She went on to say that she must take care of some necessary business and then go back to the mission field that God had called her to.
Even at that young age, at some level, I understood what she meant. Those words have stuck with me for many years and I understand them better now that I did then. God had clearly shown her what her calling was for that season of her life. What a blessing! Many times we don’t really know what we should be doing for the kingdom of God. Are we impatient? Are we not listening? Is our mission not to our liking, requiring more humility that we can muster?
Clara H. Scott took the words from Psalms 119:18 and said this more clearly than I can when she wrote:
Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.
Refrain
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

(Suffering with a broke arm and a cast on, I appreciate Bill Davis being a guest writer for me this week. He is a greater writer that you would enjoy reading his blog at http://chickenroadwisdom.blogspot.com/) Tim Lamb

I FEEL GOOD IN MY SKIN

I feel good in my skin was the words of a very successful pastor that I recently heard speak at a conference. By this statement I was challenged to examine my "skin", that is to examine where I am at with God.

Physically we may:

• Exercise to feel better about the skin that we are in
• Go to the beach and get a tan
  
• Or decide we would like to have a "tattoo" or have a "body piercing" to feel better about the skin that we are in.

The fact is that we all of us are constantly searching for ways to feel better about ourselves.

But the real question is spiritually. Do you feel good about your relationship with Christ? Do you feel a sense of satisfaction with where God has you? In the Bible, an Apostle by the name of Paul speaks about being part of one body but having different gifts, talents, etc. All of us have a place in that body. Have you found your place? I encourage you to find out where God wants you.

There is nothing better than knowing that you are doing what God has called you to do. This is not meant to be a boastful statement, but I do feel good in my skin. I know what it is to not be in the center of God's will, and I know the sense of satisfaction to walk in His will. At the moment, "I feel good in my skin."

Tribute to a Man of Faith

"You are over exposing yourself" was the words of John W. Swails, which went to be with the Lord this past Saturday evening. According to one of the minister's that did the eulogy of this "hero of faith" he once stated that if you preached more than 30 or 35 minutes "you are over exposing yourself." And then he goes on to say "cut your sermon in 1/2 if you are preaching more than 30 minutes." (This is probably a lesson that a lot of us preachers could learn.)

Another quote that this hero of faith stated was "the devil is in the condemning business and he has helpers, but God is not in the condemning business." John W. Swails was a great man of faith and a bible scholar. I believe that God strategically places us around people that can help us in our walk with God, and I am thankful to know this man of faith.

Paul states in II Timothy 4:5 & 6 (New Century Version) says, My life is being given as an offering to God, and the time has come for me to leave this life. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." I believe that describes John W. Swails and others that allow God to use them to help reach others for Christ.

In my life time, if I can make half the impact that this man made on the life's of others, then I will be most grateful to the God that I serve.

To read more about John W. Swails click on the following link:
http://www.hughsnews.com/the-bio-of-john-washington-swails-jr-november-26-1915-june-12-2010

WHO'S LISTED IN YOUR BOOK?

In the last several days I have devoted time to reading two different books, with events that separated them by over 3000 years. One is The Three Sucess Secrets of Shamgar. The other is "Let's Roll" by Lisa Beamer. (I have other books of this nature on my book shelf like The Simultaneous Principle, by Frank G. Tunstall, Azusa East by Dr. Doug Beacham, and Old Time Power by Vinson Synan.) All of the above are great books that deals with history and does a great job in complimenting men and women of great faith in God.

I was especially captivated with the story of Shamgar. It is taken from the bible in Judges 3:31 & 5:6. In less than 50 words it tells us of a farmer that single handed killed 600 Philistines with a ox goad. The three basic points mentioned in The Three Success Secrets of Shamgar were:

• Start where you are
• Use what you have
• Do all you can
  

There are many people, both young and old, that I would consider great men and ladies of faith. I am grateful that I am surrounded by people that love God and in my book (which is unwritten) they are listed among the heroes of faith!

Who's listed in your book?

OUT ON LOAN

When you understand that everything you have is on loan, you are better prepared to release it when the owner (God) wants it back. (Charles Swindoll)

One of the more inspiring verses in the bible this week for me as been in Job 1:20-22. All of us know the story of Job and sometimes we hear folks say, "I feel like Job." But how did Job really feel?

When Job received the news that he had lost his property, his seven sons, and three daughters "Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped." The bible doesn't say how long he sat there after hearing the sad news but the point is "Job arose and worshiped God." In this verse there are many verbs that described vividly how Job worshiped God. And the writer also states that in all of this that Job did not sin nor blame God.

Job realized what he had, even his children were on loan from God and that he was not sole owner of any of these things. Job was not stuck on "stuff". The Psalmist writes, "The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein." Everything belongs to Him! Therefore Job was better prepared to release these things back to God.

It is true that Job grieved over his lost but he knew that God was a sovereign God that always knows best.

My prayer today: Lord, help me to always know that what I have belong to you, and that it is just out on loan!

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

"...on behalf of 49 babies saved and 10 new believers (since Jan!) we appreciate your support." I started my Monday morning reading a thank you card that was handed to me last night after church. (EPHC recently gave a modest donation to a Women's Clinic that serves those in unplanned pregnancies.) I'm glad that God gave us this opportunity to contribute to this worthwhile ministry.

This is just one of many ways that we can make a difference in the lives of others. God has given all of us opportunities to make a difference. One verse that God reminded me of several years ago is where Jesus said, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things." Sometimes we are looking for that opportunity to do something huge for someone like we are looking for that huge check in the mail (and it never arrives.) I encourage you to look for those little things that you can do this week to make a difference in the life of someone.

It may be that encouraging word, that faithful prayer, or that pleasant smile that makes a difference in the life of your friend, family member, co-worker, or neighbor this week. I once heard a pastor that is now the leader of his denomination, state that every morning he spent about 30 minutes writing notes of encouragement to others. I have another friend that is great at calling other minister friends, and giving words of encouragement. This really is sometimes better than a check in the mail and will last longer too:)

Have a bless day and be a blessing to others!