YOU CAN AFFORD THAT

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.

One of my greatest joys is watching and listening to the two men that for over 35 years I have been blessed to call my sons.  I do claim a little credit for contributing to their brilliance, but just a little, for they are so much wiser than I, at their age.  I listen, learn and walk away totally inspired after so many of our conversations; yesterday was one of those days. 

My youngest son, Phil called and as the conversation progressed through world events, politics and finally to economics, he quoted a couple of lines from a book he had read.  In the book, RICH DAD, POOR DAD, Robert Kiyosaki makes the statement that he does not allow himself to say, “I can’t afford that.”  Instead he asks himself, “How can I afford that? Or What do I have to do to afford that.”  This opens up a whole new mindset, eliminates envy, and puts the power of choice back into your hands.

We live in an ENVIOUS nation of people who have, as Robert Kiyosaki calls it, “a mindset of scarcity.”  Just listen to the nightly news for a few moments, tell a friend about your wonderful vacation or watch HGTV and check your thoughts as the couple looks for a luxurious vacation home in a tropical setting.  What are the words you usually hear?  I wish I could afford that or if I didn’t have to… or if I had…  We hear about “white privilege,” “Wall Street privilege,” “political privilege,” “inherited privilege;” insert, in front of privilege, whatever word comes to mind, when you consider the things you can’t afford.

The “Mindset of Scarcity” (R. Kiyosaki) can morph into a “Lifestyle of Scarcity” and we find ourselves sitting on the sidelines, watching with envy, the “plenty” of others, convinced that “we can never afford that.”  Once that mindset becomes ingrained in our thoughts, our actions and our lifestyle, it invades every area of our life and can actually become our WORLD VIEW. 

How many times have we looked at a brother or sister’s ministry, congregation, relationship with God, or other blessings and thought to ourselves, “I wish I had a big church; I wish my ministry would be blessed; I wish God would use me to do that; I wish I would be asked to speak at conference.”  GUILTY, GUILTY AND GUILTY!!!  What you are really saying is, “I wish I could afford that!”  You have accepted a “Mindset of Scarcity.”

 Pastor T. F. Tenney once said, “Don’t envy another man’s harvest until you have plowed his field.”  You see, EVERYTHING has a priced attached and anything you desire REALLY IS within your grasp.  The proper question is, “Am I willing to do what it takes to obtain that in my life?”  Am I willing to spend hours interceding for souls?  Am I willing to deny myself several meals and spend the time seeking God for direction?  Am I willing to leave all that I have to follow after the plan of God?  Am I willing to experience ridicule, rejection and the loss of friendships?  Am I willing to say NO to my desires and YES to God’s will? 

As Robert Kiyosaki wrote in his book, it is time to exchange the “Mindset of Scarcity for the Mindset of Abundance.”  You can be, do or have anything you desire in God if you are willing to pay the price.  Start praying a different prayer; pray a powerful prayer; ask God “How you can have what you desire from Him in your life.”  Ask God to show you “What you have to do to obtain a deeper walk, a more powerful ministry, or abundant blessing.”  THEN OBEY GOD!!!  It is the will of God that you LIVE IN ABUNDANCE but are you willing to PAY THE PRICE?

YOU CAN AFFORD THAT!!!

MERCY IS NEVER DESERVED

Psalms 86:5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

MERCY…We all desire mercy for ourselves when we mess up, but it isn’t so easy to bestow mercy on others who are struggling.  MERCY is such an important attribute of God that He gave instructions for a MERCY SEAT to be placed ABOVE THE LAW, on top of the Ark of Testimony where His Shekinah Glory would rest.  God’s presence will always rest on MERCY.

Discussing this subject with a friend last week, she relayed an event that had taken place in her son’s life and had changed he and his wife’s thinking and treatment of those who didn’t live up to their “high standards.”  I made the statement, “I think God often allows and then uses events in our life to change our thinking and help us in becoming more like Him.”

One of those events happened in my husband’s life over 30 years ago.  Upon returning home from a vacation, Steve’s dad became very ill and went to the emergency room.  It was determined that he had inoperable cancer throughout his body.  It was the middle of December and his dad died in February.  During those 2 months, my husband sat by his dad’s bedside, fasted and prayed that God would heal his dad and he also prayed that God would show MERCY to his dad and save his soul. 

Hubert was a good man, had served his country and was kind to his neighbor, but he had never made a commitment to God.  During those 2 months, God answered Steve’s prayer; his dad repented and after bringing in a large “horse trough” tank into the kitchen, Steve baptized his Dad.  On his last day of life, when Hubert could hardly find the strength to breathe, he raised a feeble hand in praise to His Savior as the Pastor prayed for him and then walked without fear into eternity.

This was a life-changing event in Steve’s life…God taught him a great lesson in MERCY.  It was easy to ask God to show mercy to his dad because of the love of a son for his father, but what about those he came in contact with every day who were not his father?  What of those who some deemed as “too far gone?”  Could he pray for mercy for those who had treated him wrong and even stabbed him in the back?  God was faithful and answered a son’s desperate cry.  God had showed mercy on someone who for 66 years, had never looked to God until the last 2 months of life.  From that moment and still today, compassion and mercy overrules judgment in Steve’s heart…GOD IS MERCIFUL to all who call upon Him.

God’s mercy is so much greater than we can imagine or even try to understand.  His mercy toward you is endless and everlasting.  It is not about “DESERVING;” mercy cannot be EARNED or MERITED. It is merely kindness or favor, if it is only extended to those whom we deem deserving.  So the next time you look at someone who is seemingly hopeless, remember GOD’S MERCY toward you as you extend mercy toward them.   

If not for MERCY, you and I would have been one of many….A HOPELESS CASE.  Is there anyone in your life that is in dire need of mercy?  Are you in need of mercy? Here is the key…Show mercy and you shall obtain mercy.

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

A FLAVOR EXPLOSION

Last year was my first real adventure in gardening.  Steve built 2 boxes for me, filled them with dirt and I began planting all my favorites; tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, green beans, squash, and strawberries.  I planted about 6 strawberry plants in one end of the box and as soon as a strawberry became ripe, there was a grandkid to pop it in his/her mouth.  This year all the strawberry plants came up automatically, filling the end of the box.  Since I couldn’t plant anything else until the end of May, I had not paid much attention to the garden.  Yesterday, Steve came in and said, “Get your bowl, there are a lot of ripe strawberries to be picked.”  Excitedly, I cut off the stems, washed them and popped a juicy berry in my mouth.  Talk about FLAVOR EXPLOSION!!!  It was strawberry flavor like I have not experienced in a looooong time.  “Wow, so this is what a real strawberry tastes like.”  Yes, I had been eating strawberries purchased from the local grocery’s produce department for so long that I didn’t even know how a strawberry should taste.  Instead of putting in the time and effort to acquire the best, I had settled for the easy offering of a Grocery Produce Buyer.

Too many times I have found myself in this same exact spot in my spiritual experiences and relationship with God.  I become lazy and satisfied living off the spiritual offerings of a congregation instead of cultivating a genuine relationship for myself.  For many years, I was content to attend church, participate on a superficial level in worship, feel the “thrill of the Spirit” run down my spine and continue on with my life satisfied with the “taste of God” on my lips.  Then one day, I found myself in a situation that church attendance couldn’t solve and the runoff of Brother or Sister’s blessing couldn’t cover; I had to start seeking, praying, shedding tears and forming a relationship with God on my own.

God is gracious and merciful to the truly repentant, the genuine seeker and the hungry heart; one day it happened.  I had what we in Pentecostal circles call a “BREAK THROUGH.” 

Psalms 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Talk about a FLAVOR EXPOSION!   I had tasted of the GOODNESS OF GOD.  It was like nothing I had ever experienced before and I wanted more.  Never again would I be satisfied with feasting off of a bygone experience from yesterday.  I wouldn’t be shopping for one that had spent days ripening on a truck and sitting on a shelf; I needed FRESH PICKED!

REFUSE TO BE SATISFIED; REFUSE TO SETTLE!  Oh it is much easier to just walk in the store and pick up a neat little container of bright red strawberries.  You can even convince yourself that they still have a little “strawberry flavor.”  BUT, if you ever take the time to till the soil, plant healthy seedlings, pull the weeds, water faithfully and wait patiently, you will harvest a good crop.  And once you have tasted the genuine you will never again settle for the fruit of someone else’s labor.

God has blessings reserved just for you.  Don’t cheat yourself out of God’s best by hoping for the “spillover” of a friend’s spiritual experience.  Dig a little, plant the Word in your freshly tilled soil, root out the weeds that threaten to choke out and overpower the tender seedlings, water your ground regularly with tears, wait patiently and rejoice in your abundant harvest.  Your soul is about to experience a FLAVOR EXPLOSION!

I THOUGHT IT WAS AUTOMATIC

Walking up the wide steps, we paused to take a few pictures, and then continued in anticipation toward the adventure that awaited us beyond the wall of doors.  Another couple was standing by the doors and after a polite greeting and smile, I reached out, pushed the door open and crossed into the large atrium at Lambeau Field.  With a surprised look and an embarrassed laugh, the young woman said, “I was just standing there waiting; I thought it was automatic.”  We shared a laugh because we all have pushed when we should have pulled, pulled when we should have pushed or simply waited for the door to open itself.  A little later in the day, it hit me.  WOW, the story of my life.

In Genesis 7, we find that after Noah, his family and the animals entered the ark, God SHUT the door.  But it does not say, in Genesis 8, after the flood waters had receded that God OPENED the door; that task was left up to Noah.  Noah could have stood in front of the door and waited for the “electric eye” of God to spring it open but then he and all the animals might have died and been entombed on the ark, never experiencing what God had prepared on the newly cleansed earth.

Have you ever prayed for God to “just open the door?”  What are you really saying?  “God if you just lay everything out for me, all nice and neat, I will walk in and take it from there.”  OR “God I really don’t know which way to go, so could you shed some light on the situation by opening a door.”   Several years ago, we had a friend that had a real desire to pastor a church.   He labored faithfully in the church he attended, but he believed that one day God was going to “open the door” for him to pastor a congregation. Downstate, a pastor of a church resigned and excitedly, we called to let him know of the opening.  He would not enquire or pursue the possibility of becoming this congregation’s pastor because his vision of an “open door” included a phone call from a stranger, telling him that God had spoken and they were calling to tell him that he was supposed to be the pastor of this church.  That scenario didn’t happen and this wonderful minister friend is still not pastoring a church.  Had God led him to a door but he stood there waiting for it to open because HE THOUGHT IT WAS AUTOMATIC?

Every day, we are confronted with doors.  Some are not meant for us to open, other doors may be ajar or wide open and welcoming, but most doors we face are closed, requiring a little effort on our part.  Instead of praying for God to “open the door,” perhaps our prayer should be for God to “open our eyes” to the doors that are before us. 

Now that God has “opened your eyes” to all the doors He has put in your path, take the time to read the posted signs.  Don’t just stand there assuming THE DOOR IS AUTOMATIC, if the sign says PUSH then PUSH; if it says PULL then PULL.  It may be one of those crazy “REVOLVING DOORS” that kids love and adults hate.  If that is the door God presents, jump in…just don’t forget to walk as you push.  Finally, God may lead you to an AUTOMATIC DOOR.  If that happens, wait for the door to open, then walk in; God isn’t going to carry you over the threshold.  GET READY!!! You are about to face more doors than you ever imagined; just don’t ASSUME THEY WILL ALL BE AUTOMATIC.

JUST BEING REAL

In a discussion with a millennial, a few years ago, the statement was made, “We just want you to be real.”  My response was, “Without the filter of the Holy Spirit, you would not want to see the REAL me.”

Now, it seems, every blog and article I read has been overtaken by people “just being real.”  We want everyone to know, understand and most of all ACCEPT all of our faults, failures, sins and personality quirks and if they are laced with a little well-placed profanity, well that’s “just being real.”

 We take selfies, post updates of our every move and tweet philosophies all in the name of “just being real.”  Hollywood stars stumble over themselves to be the first to support any ungodly cause that appears on the scene.  Why? Why do we need everyone to know all the ugliness that only God can cover?  Why do we champion those causes that hurt the heart of God and in the end only bring destruction?

Steve’s conclusion in regards to Hollywood’s activism is, “If I affirm every evil, profane, ungodly behavior, then my personal sins won’t seem quite so bad.”  Could that be the real motivation behind the “Tolerance; Let’s Just Be Real” Movement? 

We want forgiveness and acceptance but we really don’t want to be delivered and changed.

Before anyone points out the obvious, I will declare, “I AM OLD-FASHIONED.”  Yes, I was raised in a time when sins were embarrassing not celebrated; when those we sat on the pedestal were men and women of highest character; when our heroes were those who actually did heroic acts instead of emerging from a dark closet, and the only time your personal sins were talked about was in a testimony of God’s delivering power.  I am still of that mind-set and truthfully, NO ONE is very appealing in their REAL state…We need the Power of the Holy Ghost to change us.

If you want me to be REAL, then here goes…. Your selfish actions are hurting those that love you and want God’s best in your life.  The lifestyle you are pursing will only bring you heartache and pain and ultimately lead to destruction.  Surrounding yourself with people who will NOT BE REAL with you, but affirm your every thought and utterance will lead you even further from truth.  People who really care about you see past all the bravado and laughter to a lonely, searching heart.  And although, you try to push us away, we will always be here waiting and praying for the day when you come back home.

WALLS AND BYPASSES

We live in a country that has developed an awesome system of interstate highways and intrastate roads.  We are able to travel between major cities and states on relatively smooth, paved roadways, some with 2 lanes, some with 4 lanes and some are as wide as 6 or 8 lanes.  If a person could stay awake long enough and had no need to make a pit stop, now and then, one could drive down I 75, beginning in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and ending 1786.47 miles later in Miami.  BUT IT HASN’T ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY.

Twenty three years ago my Dad and Mom moved to the little town of Doniphan, MO.  Except for orange construction barrels, our trip consisted of uneventful 4 lane interstates, until we came to Poplar Bluff.  At that point we switched to a 2 lane highway that went right through the city, stopping at every stoplight on our way to Highway 160.  At Highway 160 there was a museum of local nature named “CALL OF THE WILD.” When we would turn at that landmark, the excitement would build because we were almost at our destination.  BUT TIMES HAVE CHANGED!

Now there is a BYPASS and the museum has become an Adult Entertainment Club, which still bears the name “Call of the Wild.”  As we approached 160 on the bypass, Steve mentioned, “That club probably wasn’t too happy when the bypass was built.”  BUT NO!!!  The parking lot was full of cars; the bypass hasn’t seemed to affect the club at all.

In his sermon last week, a pastor was preaching on the importance of WALLS in our life.  He stated that walls were put up for our protection and as the “Watchman” for that congregation, when he perceived that something may be dangerous, it was his responsibility to build the wall just a little higher to protect everyone.  But just like the BYPASS, it seemed the WALL had really not made a difference in the lives of so many.  WHY???  Did the BYPASS not go far enough out of the way?  Was the WALL weak or too low? 

BACK TO LIFE!!!  When we receive salvation and begin to follow Jesus, the road we travel down becomes a BYPASS.  It takes us around the pitfalls and stumbling blocks that sin puts in our path BUT it does not do away with temptation.  I could still view the “Call of the Wild” from the bypass but now, I would have to veer off the highway to get there.  As you continue on your journey, you will come to “EXITS” and “CROSSROADS” with luring signs, promising enticing adventures, it is up to you to make the choice; STAY ON THE BYPASS.

WALLS!!!  Is it the responsibility of the “Watchman” to build the wall?  Perhaps that is the problem…we have allowed others to build the “WALLS OF PROTECTION” around our life that WE and the HOLY GHOST should have been working together to build.  The Watchmen is called to WARN not BUILD WALLS!!!  When you allow the HOLY GHOST to build the wall around your life, you can be assured that the weakest spots will be strong enough to withstand a barrage of attacks from the enemy.  When you allow the HOLY GHOST to build your wall, a breach can occur only if you remove a brick. The bricks will not break and the mortar will not crumble. 

If you are struggling along the journey, if you always find yourself taking a detour to follow the flashing, alluring signs, it is time to reset your GPS and stay on the BYPASS!  Perform a thorough inspection of your WALLS; become intimately acquainted with every brick.  Refuse to protect your relationship with God by using a wall built by someone else.  Get on your knees!!! Start reading the instructions!!!  Even if you have to start building your WALL from the ground up, let the Holy Ghost lay the foundation and build it with strong bricks joined with the “MORTAR OF THE WORD.”  Satan cannot breach a WALL built by God unless you remove a brick and following God on the BYPASS will not lead to the “Call of the Wild’s” driveway.

APPLE, GLOBAL WARMING & SALVATION

Recently, I saw a news article on the Apple brand and another on Global Warming.  The first article extolled the features of Apple, its product’s ease of use and how much Apple’s fans love their I-phones, I-pads and Macs.  Some will even line up days in advance of a release to be the first to own the newest Apple Product.  No matter the weather, no matter the cost, APPLE FANS wait with excitement and anticipation for the fulfillment of Apple’s promises.

The second article bemoaned the dire results of Global Warning which is now known as Climate Change.  States are making laws and regulations, trying to SHAME people into following usage guidelines which are all based on computer models rather than fact.  For years we have been warned that California will fall off into the ocean, greenhouse gases will make this an uninhabitable planet, the polar ice cap will melt and the polar bears will float off into warmer waters until they get below the equator where the ocean temps will grow colder.  Even the threat of death doesn’t seem to draw the lines of people with hands reaching for instructions on how to turn the tide and save the earth.

I am embarrassed to say that for too long, we Christians have followed the method of the Environmentalist instead of Apple.  We subject those who are in desperate need for what we have to offer to “Sanctimonious Sermons,” warning of the dire consequence of rejecting our message rather than telling them of God’s Love, Grace and Mercy; how they can be delivered from sin and put their trust in the One who will never leave them or forsake them.  When the stark picture of dire consequence doesn’t sway them, we always have SHAME!  Shame them with their SELFISHNESS; Shame them with their SINFULNESS; Shame them with our SUPERIOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.  And THEN, if we finally CONDEMN and SHAME them into accepting God’s Grace, we make laws and regulations to KEEP them on the right road.

Let’s visit the line at the APPLE STORE, one more time.  Apple has done a great job of focusing on the increased quality of life their product will bring to those who will commit. Every person is well aware of the cost of their I-Phone or new MacBook Pro.  They know that there are cheaper spinoffs that can “get them by,” but they are willing to sacrifice to do more than just “get by.”  No matter the cost, they want the BEST!

I wonder what would happen if we were convinced that our salvation was as awesome as our Apple I-Phone!!!  Would the line start forming, if we focused on the FEATURES AND BENEFITS of following Jesus Christ instead of what must be sacrificed to PAY THE PRICE?  Would they wait with excitement and anticipation, no matter the cost if we shared the Gospel with LOVE and JOY?  I absolutely believe there is a COST to following Christ and no one should make the decision lightly; it is a SERIOUS COMMITMENT!  But you will never win a soul by SHAMING or PASSING LAWS….If you are not convinced and in love with THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE, you will NEVER MAKE A SALE.