I Promise!

If my wife were to ask me to do something, say clean out the garage, I could respond in a couple of ways. 'No" would not be one of them. Here is what I was thinking.

• Sure, I will get to as soon as I can.
• I will see what I can do.
• Maybe next week I can get to it.
• I hope I have time to do just that.
• Not sure I can do that right now but I will keep it on my list of things to do.

These are not the most reassuring responses. But if I say, "I promise I will clean out the garage by Monday." Or if I say, "I promise I will do it today." My wife would believe that I would do it. First of all my word should be good enough but when you add the 'PROMISE' it adds an additional guarantee the work will be done.

God's word is true and what God says will come to past.

1 Kings 8:56 "Praise the LORD who has given rest to His people Israel, just as He promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises He gave through His servant Moses.

Psalms 12:6 The LORD's promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.

Psalms 18:30 God's way is perfect. All the LORD's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.

Psalms 91:4 He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Psalms 145:13 For Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The LORD always keeps His promises; He is gracious in all He does.

Romans 4:21 . . God is able to do whatever He promises.

Romans 15:4 . . . And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled.

So what has God promised you? Get ready because it's coming to past. It has too.

Getting Caught Up

Over the past number of weeks life has been running in fast forward. From an almost unreasonable amount of busyness at church to my son getting married, my house has been running and running fast.

Running fast isn't bad. However, you can't run fast ALL THE TIME. A time of slow down and a time of stop must follow this time of FAST. If it does not a time of break down will occur. Only God, the bible says, never sleeps nor slumbers.

Psalms 121:1-8 NASB
(1) A Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?
(2) My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
(3) He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.
(4) Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.
(5) The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
(6) The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night.
(7) The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.
(8) The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever.



Excuse me, while I go catch a few extra ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz......

PEOPLE ARE [Unaware]

I mentioned a few weeks ago a book I had purchased, "People are idiots and I can prove it" by Larry Winget. The guy is an interesting writer and I think a life coach. As I said before you may want to buy the book because it is full of common sense things that would indeed help you in addition to the ten items I will discuss. Gene Gentz, Christian author, once said that biblical principles are still biblical principles that will work even when someone who is not Christian applies them. I believe that is the case with this author. Although I do not know this guys religious beliefs. So I will over the next weeks give you the biblical principles behind the ten ways people sabotage their success mentioned in "People are idiots and I can prove it." Here we go.

PEOPLE ARE IGNORANT [Unaware]

Proverbs 1:1-5 NASB The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: (2) To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, (3) To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; (4) To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, (5) A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,

In the title I replaced ignorant with unaware. Ignorant is a hard word but the basic meaning is you lack knowledge about a thing that you are capable of knowing. You are unaware. In fact many of us are unaware that we are unaware of things me need to know. Now this is not a sin it is human. You and I lack knowledge about a lot of stuff. I like to download from iTunes a series of programs from a TV show called "The Works." This show tells me things about stuff that I lack knowledge about. Motorcycles, tattoo's, guns, and parachuting are the most recent topics that I have gained some knowledge about.

Proverbs 4:5 NASB Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

Years ago I wasn't being the best I could be as a husband. Funny thing was I didn't know I wasn't. I thought I was doing a good job. I got involved in Promise Keepers and learned I really didn't know much about being a husband. Through my involvement with PK I acquired the knowledge necessary to be a much better husband and man. The more I learned the more I realized I didn't know. Sound familiar. I was ignorant about things that I was capable of knowing that would help me.

James 1:5 NASB But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

The Bible is full of principles that you and I need to know to be successful in life. Relationships, finances, fulfillment of life, answers to life's major questions. Questions like, 'Who is God?.' 'Where are you going to spend eternity.' How do I handle a job loss?' 'What do I do when my children do wrong things?' 'What to do when I get sick?' 'What to do when life comes at me to destroy me?' 'Why do people not like me?' What is God's plan for me?' and many more questions we don't know too ask. So often we are ignorant of those things that we are capable of knowing.

Matthew 7:7-8 NASB "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.(8) "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

The Bible, a good church, a pastor who will teach you God's Word, a Sunday school class, a mentor are places and people we need in our life if we are to become all that God desires for us to become. Through these things we gain the knowledge that will improve our lives, strengthen our relationships and guide us through the good and bad times of life. Knowledge we don't know we don't know but really need.

If you know something but don't use it to your advantage and success, well then that leads us to the next reason people sabotage their success. See you next week.

Re-Gift Party was a BLAST!

For those of you, and there not many, who could not make it to the re-gifting party on Sunday from the Wisdom Seekers Sunday school class here are a few pictures to let you in on the great fun we had. Forty two people come over to Lee and Tonya's house for food (Outstanding) and to bless others with gifts they received that they wanted to pass on to others. Some were very nice and some, well, were not so nice. But in the end EVERYONE had a great time. Thanks to Lee and Tonya for opening your house to us. It was a blessing for all.

People are Idiots and I can Prove it!

On a recent Tuesday evening coffee and walk through Barnes and Noble, I ran across a book titled, "People are Idiots and I Can Prove it" by Larry Wingot. It was an interesting title since that every day I could say to this statement - YES and AMEN. Sorry if that offends anyone. Not a very Christian view but I think Jesus had this kind of moment. Let me explain.

Jesus was in the upper room with His disciples, it is the moment in time that we all know as the Last Supper. Jesus began to tell these men of God what was about to happen. They were troubled to say the least.

John 14:1-4 "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. (2) "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. (3) "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. (4) "And you know the way where I am going."

Thomas questioned Jesus as to where He was going and them asked for directions, believe it or not. "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" Jesus still maintaining His cool said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one come to the father but through me."

GET READY because here comes the IDIOT moment. Philip, in a brilliant statement says, "Lord show us the Father, and it is enough for us."

ARE YOU READY, HERE IT IS.

Jesus said to Philip, "Have I been so long with you, and YET you have not come to know ME, Philip." Let me translate this for you, 'Philip you IDIOT - Knucklehead - Stupidor.' Yea, we have all had the idiot moment and Jesus had His.

So when I picked up this book to glance through it I found a chapter that listed ten ways people sabotage their success. They were right on. But since this is a secular book and not a Christian book the author writes in a very secular way with some secular language. So I decided to take these ten points of view and write them from the Christian perspective. They were after all Biblical principles. If you would like to buy this book and read it, please do. I beleive you will get soemthing out of it.

However, over the next couple of weeks look for my Biblical explanation along with biblical solutions of these ten ways people sabotage their success - I think you will find them enlightening and in the end agree that people are at times - IDIOTS.

God bless.

Things to Improve Your New Year

Boy, it's January 2, 2009 all ready. It seems just yesterday that I was getting ready for volunteer banquet (March event.) But then again I have, like many of you, had a busy year.

As is our tradition the day after New Years Day Connie and I take down all the Christmas ornaments, tree and outside lights and store them for next year. I really don't mind since it gives the house a fresh look and feel of newness. We are now ready for what this new year will bring. I wonder what that will be. I never expected many things that occurred this last year. It is good to know that God was not caught off guard.

I read many devotionals each day and today I received one from purpose driven life. It gave scriptural advice on how to get through the tough times. After I read it I decided it was the only way to get through the great times as well. Here they are with my added input.

1. Don’t worry about anything. The message bible says it best. In “Matthew 6:34 MSG "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things (and Good Things - Albert notes) come up when the time comes." Worry is the opposite of faith and will steal your joy. Worry is counter-productive to accomplishing God's goals for your life.

2. Pray about everything. Philippians 4:6 NASB Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." If you are looking for something to do DON'T worry, PRAY. Prayer is nothing more than talking to God. Having a conversation with the All Mighty - who is the only one that can do something about whatever is going on in your life. Prayer is a monologue not a dialog. When you talk with God listen for His response. The voice of God will calm the most anxious soul and mind. Philippians 4:7 NASB And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

3. Thank God in all things. Philippians 4:6 NASB Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Thanksgiving is an act of faith.

4. Think about the right things. Philippians 4:8 MSG says it best, "Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." We all had things happen we didn't like about this last year. We also had things we really liked about this last year. You have mountains because there are valleys. Ups and downs are what life is all about. You have a choice as to what you will dwell on. I choose the good because God is good and He is good to me. I refuse to give the devil any of my time. I am not going to waste any space in my mind on the devil.

These are just a few things for you to do. Add these to your New Years resolution list and I will guarantee you next year at this time you will feel as good about the upcoming year as I do. God is GOOD and He is GOOD to me. Happy New Year.