HOW TO BUILD CHARACTER

 

A few weeks ago the pastor of First Baptist Church called and asked me to play the piano for the Baccalaureate. After weeks of practicing Pomp and Circumstance, I am still making a mistake from time to time while playing it.

To me, it is a big thing to make a mistake during the ceremony. Practice makes perfect so practice we will. Practice makes perfect, so we'll practice still. Each time the thought crosses my mind, "What if I make a mistake?"

"Maybe it’s time to call and let them know I can’t do it."

 This thought kept ringing in my mind all day long. It occurred to me they are relying on me for this. My word was given and there is no reason I can’t follow through.

Oh yes there is: Pride!

Not wanting to humiliate myself in front of a large group would be a good reason to back out.

When there are times I say, "I can’t," Nick Vuijicic, a physically challenged individual comes to mind. Nick was born with no arms or legs and is now a motivational speaker.

Now if I had a cast on my arm, then that might be a reason to back out of playing for the Baccalaureate. Maybe if I had been working in the yard and a rock flew up and hit me in the eye then that would be a reason to back out. But to just back out would be a lack of character.

The bad things and hard things are the things that make us better. They are the things that build character in us. Note the word build, thus meaning it is going to take time. It's not going to be an easy thing.

If we live in a bubble we will never learn certain things, thus keeping us weak. Just a moment of reflecting on Nick’s life helps me get my perspective back in place. If Nick can accomplish all the things he does in life, surely I can play a five minute piece of music in front of a crowd.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians: 4:13)

If Nick can find happiness and success in life, then why can we not find it. We are the ones that determine our destiny. No matter what you are going though, you can still build character.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ZuKF3dxCY

 

 

SHARING THE GOSPEL USING ONE SYMBOL

It being my Sunday to prepare for the Children’s Sermon at the church, a time of prayer was the first thing that needed to be done. After a time of prayer the next step was to think, think, think.  Let’s see, when Keith was here, he would use a clown suit on some Sunday’s to teach his lesson. Many times he would use a drawing as he taught. I was always amazed at his wonderful ability to relate to children. To me, Keith was the best person I had ever met in relating to the children. After him moving to Midland we started a rotation of several of us doing it. As I began to prepare, the thought crossed my mind to go to the internet and do research for a lesson where a picture could be drawn. Surely I could be at least ½ as good as Keith. After an hour of looking at different material that was online, I still felt very unsettled about what I should teach.

The Lord laid on my heart to draw a straight line on a piece of paper. I followed.  Now let’s see, “What does that straight line mean?”   I must have had a puzzled look on my face as I just didn’t get it. Then I asked myself, “what can a line represent?”. There are so many lessons in just a line that I was totally amazed. Therefore, this became the lesson for the Children’s Sermon.

• This straight line can represent l.

And God said unto Moses, l AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, l AM hath sent me unto you. The scripture lists hundred’s of names that the Lord say’s I AM. Here is a list of just a few

l AM,

GOD,

HOLY ONE OF ISREAL

LORD GOD ALMIGHTY
VINE

HEALER
LIGHT OF THE WORLD

SEED OF DAVID

YEHWAH – YOUR DELIVERER

BREAD OF LIFE

RESURRECTION AND LIFE

DOOR

LORD

YOUR GOD

LIVING WORD

ROCK OF SALVATION

EVERLASTING FATHER

PRINCE OF PEACE

SAVIOUR

REDEEMER

SON OF GOD

SPIRIT OF TRUTH

WORD OF GOD

THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS THAT WE COULD LIST

• It can represent the number I - "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 2:5

• It points us in a direction. - There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12

• It can be the starting line l and the finish line l. Jesus said, “I am the beginning and the end. The first and the last.

• It can be the line that separates good l evil. It is also the line that separates us from God’s  blessings l destruction.  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Prov 14:12

If we choose the way that seemeth right unto man, we will find ourselves in destruction. The scripture also says,” If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Ch 7:14. If we do what he says, then we will see the blessings of God.

I realized how simple the gospel can be. The Lord made it so simple that many times we look right past it. We try to make it complex in our own minds. It was so simple that even the youngest in the group understood the truths about Christ and who he is and how we are to live our lives.

LEAVE MY CHILDREN ALONE!

 Have you ever wanted to hurt someone badly?  It doesn't take most of us very long to get upset when someone wrongs us.  

If someone does something harmful to one of your children, the reaction is many times stronger. If you see this happen to your child your muscles tense up, your heart rate increases and your adrenaline kicks in.

If it happens again, the reaction is much stronger.  After repeated times, every muscle in your body reacts and woe to the person that keeps hurting your child.

I remember back when my sister and I attended school in San Antonio, Texas.  We walked about ten or twelve blocks to school everyday. Many of the kids in San Antonio were pretty rough, actually very rough.  

One day, walking home from school, a gang circled one of the boys walking just a few paces in front of us.  Everyone stopped in their tracks. As they began to beat on him, nobody moved. They were beating him to a bloody pulp and none of us stepped in to save the boy for fear we would be their next victim.

I remember that a little old lady came out of her apartment about the time one of the boys pulled a knife and started cutting Frank’s face. She was feebler than any of the bystanders but she walked over there and began to smack those boys with her cane. She told them to get out of her neighborhood and never come back again. The gang could hear the sirens in the distance and took off running.  

Frank was not her child but the little old lady intervened in his behalf.  She was angry and her anger caused her to step up to the plate and run the boys away. 

When God created the angelic beings he never said, "this is my child.”  I never saw in the scripture where it stated that he breathed into them the breath of life.  He never states that he walked with them in the garden or desired them to be like him.  

When Satan began to think he could be greater than God himself, he led the other angels away from glorifying God. He wanted to be above God.  Many people have asked this question, "Why did God only kick Satan and his angels out of heaven and not destroy them right then and there?”  

The Lord loves his children more than life itself.  He was willing to lay down his life for his children.  The Lord loved the angels but he loved his creation, mankind enough to lay down his life for them.  The Lord didn’t lay down his life for Lucifer when he did wrong.  This puts mankind and Satan on different levels. 

After God created the sun, moon and stars, the lakes, flowers and trees and all the wonders of the earth, he saw that creation was still incomplete.  On the sixth day, he created mankind.

In Genesis 1:26-27 the scripture says:  

And God said,
Let us make man in our image,
 after our likeness:
and let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea,
and over the fowl of the air,
and over the cattle,
and over all the earth,
and over every creeping thing
that creepeth upon the earth.

So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God created he him;
male and female created he them.

It also says God breathed into man his breath. That breath gave him life.  In 1 John 3:1 and many other places, we are called the son's of God.  Woven all through the scripture it says that we are his children if we believe and follow him.

I believe one of the reasons God’s wrath toward Satan is so strong is because of God’s love and protection toward his children.  The wrath of a father or mother is much stronger against an enemy when the hostility is directed toward their child.

Let's move our attention back to Frank in San Antonio. He was about to get his eyes cut out with a knife from a boy called Fat Albert. This boy was very intimidating and there were some rough boys that followed him and looked up to him.  They were the “Fat Albert Gang.”  All the kids knew to stay clear of Fat Albert and his gang.  Better never mess with one of his guys or hurt one of his friends in any way. 

The event in which he hurt Frank would change Fat Albert’s life from that moment on.   Little did he know that he had messed with the wrong person.

There was a father that was ticked off.  The word began to circulate around the school, “Don't ever be seen with Fat Albert”

Frank’s father said he was going to kill the boy. “Don't know when, don't know where, and don't know how, but that boy is going down.”

When Satan pulled the angels away and persuaded them to follow him instead of God, this angered God.  But when he began to do the same with God's children, we see all throughout scripture just how angry that God has become. 

In the Revelation, we read the rest of the story – the destruction of Satan.  It will not be a pretty sight.  I don't claim to understand all of what the book of the Revelation says, but I do know that I am the Lord's child and he is coming after Satan. I don’t know when, but I do know where and how – Satan is going down.

The Lord has done the same with Satan as Frank’s father did.  He has sent out the warning. Hundreds of years ago a book was written that sent out a warning to all those who might want to hang out with Satan. The scripture says, “Woe to you.”  The word has been spread all over the world.  He is waiting for the perfect moment.

Just as Frank’s father sent out a message, the Lord is asking you to tell your friends and for them to tell their friends, that the day is coming and when it does, woe to Satan and his gang.

Fat Albert did come up missing. Nobody knows where he is. As far as I know he was never found.

Just as Frank’s father sent out the warning, the Lord said he is sick and tired of his children being pushed around, tempted and whispered lies to that would cause them to do evil.

One day he will say, "Today is the day" He is going to come riding on a white horse, leading an army.  For all the times you have been wronged, or had your family led away from the Lord he will unleash his fury upon Satan and his gang in one great swift moment. The Lord will say,

"LEAVE MY CHILDREN ALONE!"

The Lord has saved that very time for himself.  I promise you, the Lord, our judge is coming back one day.   Some people may be sitting at a football game, others shopping, some reading a book. 

He will say one day, “It is time” when he splits the heavens open and comes back riding on a white horse in all his majesty, honor and royalty.  Satan is going to try to run and hide.  For all the times the Lord said, “Judge not lest ye be judged,”   for the times he has said, “Turn the other cheek,” for all the times you were left hurting and suffering because of the horrible things that happened in life, he is going to say, “My child, I have come to judge those who have harmed you.”

“Woe to anyone who has wounded one of my precious children.  Woe to you that cursed and mocked them as they tried to lead you to Christ.  Woe to Satan, the prince and the power of the air and all his angels who have caused many earthquakes in people’s lives and led God’s creation astray.”

That’s my Father, who has come to do more than just kick you out of heaven, Satan.  My Father is the Lord God Almighty.  He is the Great Judge.  He is the Alpha and the Omega.  He is the Beginning and the End.  He is my All in All and he will have the final say! 

My Father has prepared an eternal place for you called hell where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.  This is a place where your thirst can never be quenched throughout eternity.  You can no longer destroy lives, cause pain or touch one of my children.” You will never be able to walk or crawl out of it. 

"NO WAY"

 

"NO WAY!"

 

This story took me back several years when we visited our son and his family at his house.  It reminded me of myself.

 

Emma, our granddaughter, had just awakened from her nap.  Those of us closest to Emma all know what that means!

 

Emma is just the sweetest, most loving and adorable child that has ever walked upon the face of the earth.  Although, when she wakes up from a nap in the afternoon, I just know that somebody has sneaked into her bedroom while we had our backs turned.  Whoever did must have traded our precious, adorable little Emma for a very upset and frustrated little girl.

 

You can ask her a question and her answer is never “Yes.”  Her answer is not “Maybe.”  She doesn’t even say “No.”  You can ask it soft and sweet and the answer is the same. “No Way!”

 

On this particular day, Josh summoned us all to the table. He asked Emma if she wanted to sit on the bench to eat. “No Way!”

 

Do you want to sit by Mommy? “No Way!” Do you want to sit by Meemee? “No Way!”  Do you want milk? “No Way!”  Do you want some meat? “No Way!” Do you want some bread? “No Way!”  

 

As parents, we all know she will have to eat in order to survive, but at this point she isn’t thinking about surviving.  

 

Neither Josh nor Kristy shoves food down her throat, hits her or forces her to eat.  They know that in time Emma will wake up enough and decide to eat on her own.

Watching Emma go through this process reminded me of a time that the Lord wanted me to be in fellowship with him, to read and his teach his word, to play the piano, to be a Pastor’s wife and to live for him. I was much like little Emma.

 

When the Lord spoke to me about what he would like for me to do, I said, “No Way!”  See, I had been wounded and there was no way that I was going to allow myself to be wounded again by people who professed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

 

I felt if I stayed away from the Word of God, the House of God, and the People of God, that I would be safe. The Lord continued to ask me to serve him and I continued to say, “No Way!” He had to meet me not where I used to be, nor where I would be in five years but he had to meet me exactly where I was at that moment.

 

When Emma wakes up from her nap, she just wants her Mommy to hold her.  She doesn't want Kristy to hug her and set her down, neither does she want her to hold her for five minutes.  Emma needs to be held until she feels secure with everything and everyone.

 

After Emma has spent some time being held by her mother, she will gladly take your hand and go with you to the table and eat a meal.  She will not do so one minute before she feels secure.

One day I remember my Father saying, “Walk with me.”  I said, “No Way!”  I said, “I don’t think I’m ready.”  My Father said, “I’m not going to make you teach.  I’m not going to make you sing.  I’m not going to make you play the piano, or even be a helper. Just walk with me.”

 

As I heard the gentle wooing of my Father, I finally agreed that I would walk with him.  All he wanted to do was feed my soul.  As I opened the word of God, he gently led me to attend church.  I wouldn’t have to talk to anyone, just sit on the back row.

 

I attended church for about six months and only sat on the back row.  As I slowly began to wake up, I realized that I was doing more and more.  I was no longer pushing him away, saying, “No Way!”

It has been eight years now since that time.  The Lord has walked with me slowly, never pushing, never demanding – just walking with me.

 

Before I knew it, I found myself walking back into the ministry.  I began playing the piano and speaking to women about my deep pain and helping them to have a closer walk with my Father.

I would never just walk out of Emma’s life when she says, ”No Way!” because I know that Emma is such an adorable, loving bundle of joy.

 

This is what your Father sees in you.  He see’s you as pure, and clean and filled with his love.  He is longing for you to fully wake up, so that he can see you laugh, dance, and bless other people’s lives once again. 

 

He is willing to wait patiently until you are ready.  He will not push or demand, and most of all, he will not leave you.  He is waiting with tender eyes of love and open arms the moment you are ready for him.  He is waiting for you stand and say, whenever Satan whispers fear, doubt, and frustration into your ears,

“NO WAY!”

Risk Taking - The Well of Salvation - II Samuel 17: 18-20

Do you ever take risk?  It can be quite a traumatic experience.   Can you remember the very first time you set your precious little baby onto the floor, held their hand until they gained their balance and then pryed your fingers away from their grip.  You watched them as they bobbled, as they panic to grab onto an object, and then as they fell to the ground.  Do you remember feeling the same way when you are ready to take a risk?   Feeling one second the calm assurance that you are ready to tackle it and the next second having the feeling of falling and looking for something to grab onto in order to cushion the fall.  We have all been there and done that and many of us have some scars as evidence.

Their are numerous people that take risk daily.    Mountain climbers, electrician,  fireman, policeman, bungee jumpers and the list goes on of people who have jobs taking risk daily.  Many of these people take enormous risk every day, but the same person might not be willing to step out and take the risk of giving their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ.   Just like with your small child, they may need for you to take their hand and let them hold onto you for a period of time.  One day you may see they have their balance and you may pry your fingers loose and let them began to stand on their own.  At this point is your job complete?   No, at this point you have only just begun.  You see this person still will fall down.  It is your job to teach them how to get back up, how to regain balance and how to take the first steps.  Just as you stood before your small child and said, "walk to mommy".  The heavenly father is standing before them saying, " walk to the father, this is where you will be safe".   All the while this person has good intentions, his footing is still unstable.  Be there for that person and remember that at one point and time you walked the same path.  Help them to the well of salvation.  You probably didn't discover this well by yourself and neither will they.  Allow them to take baby steps, fall down, get back up and to move slowly.  None of us learned to run before we learned to gain our balance so lets make sure that we don't expect others to be mature Christians before they first learn the basic steps and be able to rest in the presence of the Lord God Almighty and learn what his love, patience, kindness, long suffering, and joy is.

MISSIONS

I was listening to KLove radio this morning.  They are talking all about missions and I began to pray for our son Josh, who is a staff pastor in Garland, Texas.  The staff at his church began searching out what they feel missions is really about. As I was praying for them, the Lord lead me to look even deeper at what my definition of missions is.  I feel this is what the Lord showed me.  Missions is:

M - Myself

I - Invoking

S - Self

S - Sacrifice

 I - In

O - Others

N - Needing

S - Salvation

I didn't know if the word invoking really described it until I looked the word up and it is exactly the word the Lord wanted me to use.  Dictionary.com  shows the word invoking as shown below.

verb (used with object), in·voked, in·vok·ing.


1. to call for with earnest desire; make supplication or pray for: to invoke God's mercy.

2. to call on (a deity, Muse, etc.), as in prayer or supplication.

3. to declare to be binding or in effect: to invoke the law; to invoke a veto.

4. to appeal to, as for confirmation.

5. to petition or call on for help or aid.



Invoking is calling on God and unless we take the time to call on God for this we will not truly be able to do missions sacrificially. I'm afraid sometimes I give but not sacrificially. We are so blessed to have been given the gospel,, nice homes, cars, and wonderful vacations and we forget there are millions of people dying daily and are in need of a Saviour.  Someone to lift them out of the mire they are in.  Help them find a loving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  That person they are needing could be you.

DIGGING A WELL= MARAH, THE BITTER WATER

You may find yourself drinking from the bitter waters at Marah someday.  If you do, there are a few things to remember.

When the Israelites were passing through this land they had gone several days without water.  I can only imagine what it would be like to be traveling though the dry barren land and not have water to quench my thirst.  Looking far into the distance someone spots water and they all began to move quickly towards the water only to find out that this water is not good drinking water.  This water is bitter. 

There  are many places in this region that shows bodies of water that is bitter.  There is the Great Bitter Lake, the Little Bitter Lake and then there is Marah.  In our lives we will be given the opportunity to drink from trials of great bitterness or small portions of bitterness.  Each of you know right off hand some of the times you may have already been offered the water at Marah. 

When the Israelites got to the water they had a choice.  Needless to say, they chose exactly what you and I usually choose.  They began to grumble and complain.  Moses then turned to God and asked what he should do.  Now why did the Israelites not turn to Moses and ask that they stop and pray to the God Almighty that had just parted the Red Sea and let them go across on dry land.  Maybe the same reason we don't.  God can carry us through a trial and we are praising his name all the way through it and we never even think to grumble and complain.  Then we are faced with a new trial during the same week and the first thing we do is start to grumble and complain. 

God knew before the Israelites ever came to Marah that they would be passing that way.  He had already made prior arrangements for them.  There was a tree growing by the waters of Marah.  Many years prior to them arriving God had allowed a seed to fall to the ground and germinate and produce a tree and just sit by those waters and wait for the Israelites to pass by it.  When Moses turned to God and asked him, What should I do".  We see in the following verse that God showed him a tree.  "And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet."—Exodus 15:23-25.

There is actually a tree called the Moringa Oleifera tree.  This tree is known to purify bad water.  We don't know if this is the type tree that the Lord had allowed to germinate beside the waters of Marah but we do know that the Lord was the one that showed the tree to Moses when he prayed.  The Lord may not have provided a tree for you whenever you pass through bitter stages in your life but he truly has provided just what you need if you will turn to him and ask. 

Don't choose to grumble and complain.  Be a Moses and turn to God and ask for the Lord to show you how to turn your bitter water into sweet water.   Your tree may be in the form of a friend or family member, an item, or a book.  Just asked the Lord to show you what your tree is that will turn your bitterness into the joy of the Lord.  As the Lord was to the Israelites, their Jehovah-Rapha, the God that healeth Thee.  He too can be your Jehovah-Rapha.

Our Children, grandchildren, friends and acquaintances will be drinking from the waters that we drink from, so be sure and don't dig your well too close to the Great Bitter Lakes or Marah.  The springs that feed Great Bitter Lake and Marah, will also be the springs that feed the wells that you dig.  Be sure and dig as close to the River of Life as possible so that you will know that the waters your friends and family drink from is the Living Water.