Don't be Deceived!

Christians, please be on guard! Just because something sounds good and make us feel good, doesn't mean it's what God wants us to hear. I've been on my salvation walk a long time during which I've seen other believers, once full of zeal for the Lord, led astray. Why is that? As I think about it, it's simple; our sinful nature wants to hear what we like to hear (which is usually not the whole truth). So, if we don't like what the preacher says in his sermons, we usually leave and go where the whole truth is not spoken. Why? Because we're more comfortable there and we won't be faced with being convicted by the Word of God!

Satan is alive and well and he'll try to deceive God's Elect, if possible. But we can protect ourselves from his deception and lies by: 1)reading and studying the Bible for Jesus says that we are to study to show ourselves approved; and, 2) we must pray so that the Holy Spirit will guide us in discerning what is truth and who is false among us!

When you engage in these things, bit by bit, you'll begin to understand the importance of God's message. And His message will oppose the attitudes of this world, and sometimes the attitudes of some church congregations , even some church leaders! That's why as believers, we must carefully examine those who claim to speak God's truth, for it's our responsibility to be on guard against the deception and lies that are designed to mislead and confuse us, thus hindering our salvation walk. Peter's words to the church still apply to us Christians today, "...prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed" (1 Peter 1:13).

WARNING!!!

From this day forward, join me in exhibiting self-control, being alert, and being on guard for the tricks of the enemy or

HE WLL GET YOU, TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Message for the Discontent

I'm sitting here thinking about how many times I've been told to take authority over my life. And each time this advice was offered, it sounded good. But as I've matured in my faith I realize that only God has absolute authority over our lives! Yet He allows our lives to be segmented so that different individuals or government officials have authority over different areas of our lives. At home, there's accountability to family members (parental authority); on the job you're accountable to your boss; at church there's spiritual leadership (pastoral authority); and in society the are civil authorities, but none of these have a right to govern our entire lives!

As an adult, have you ever pondered these thoughts: Does God have the right to put me anywhere He wants in relationship to other people? Does the person over me have to be smarter than me, more capable than me, more spitiual than me? Are there certain criteria they have to meet before I submit to them? Why am I not in charge since I'm more capable than the other person? Why was I passed over for that promotion when it's obvious that I'm more capable or more spiritual than the person who was promoted? If you've contemplated these things and decided to rebell, then the root of your rebellion is PRIDE!

Bro/Sis, the Word of God says, "He who exalts himself will be abased but he who humbles himself under the mighty hand of God will be exalted in due time". Don't you know that God gives you favor among those in authority? But by your actions, you can easily lose His favor! So, if you're frustrated and discontent because your role at work or at church isn't as important as you think it ought to be or you're not getting the recognition you feel you deserve, do yourself a favor and start to become more diligent in pleasing the Lord; being faithful and humble in the place that God has given you at this time in your life.

And remember these two things: 1) God wants to bless us and take care of us, but He has to do it His way...and many times He does it through the authority He places over us; and 2) It takes faith to submit to human authority - a faith that can look beyond the person and see a loving God "...working all things together for our good". And in this process God is going to change you or your circumstances, or both!

Are you a Mote Hunter?

Are you or do you know someone who always criticizes and finds fault in others? Jesus said that you who are quick to identify/talk about others' problems usually have even worse problems, and you're just like the Pharisees who saw the sins in others (the "mote" in their eyes) but fail to look at their own sins (the "beam" in your eyes). In other words none of us have room to talk about anybody else because we all have problems of our own!

Jesus never came here to criticize any of us or to find motes(faults) in others...and He is the only perfect being to ever walk this earth. Jesus points out that mote hunters (as I call them) are nothing more than hypocrites who need to do a self-inventory. Sometimes I think that God feels like snatching some of us up by the collar to say, " You are the one who needs to make changes in your life rather than your spouse, your children, your neighbor (who seems to frustrates you), even that relative you can't stand or that friend who tells you the truth about yourself!

Do you ever think that it might be YOU who needs to change? "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts". We must get right ourselves so that we can help others. When Jesus looked upon others He saw them as hungry, needing food; as sheep, needing a shepherd; as sick, needing a doctor; and as sinners, needing a Savior!

So what do you see in others, their needs or their motes?

Are You Ready for Change?

I know it's been more than a week since I last posted a blog, but during that time I was inundated with activities celebrating my church anniversary and my 34th wedding anniversary to my beautiful wife, Queen. As the dust cleared from all the frenzied activities and I'm now able to gather my thoughts, I've decided that since I've just celebrated my 60th birthday, I need to make some necessary changes to experience an even better life during my latter years than I've seen in my younger years. My last child is entering his senior year in college; the other 3 have finished school and have lucrative careers, so now I can concentrate on the well-being of my church and my wife (not necessarily in that order).

Whenever the word change is mentioned, it usually causes people to become anxious & worry. God knows this, that's why He has so many Bible stories where His people struggle with change in their lives. We can learn at least two things from those stories:

• Christians must not be afraid of change. Our God is a God of change, yet He changes not! In Revelation 21:5 He declares, "Behold, I make all things new". When you stop & think about it, God does all kinds of new things in our lives everyday. If you're a born again Christian, you supposedly died to your past as you were buried in the Baptismal water. You then arose supposedly a "changed" person...a new creature in Christ! But some Christians didn't die to their past and so the enemy continues to deceive and control them through their thoughts!

Are you in that number?

• Christians must reach out beyond their comfort zones. God wants us to be challenged by doing those things which are initially uncomfortable to do. And since He is a God of change, He can do great things when we allow Him the freedom to change our lives.

Lord, I'm poised and postured for change in my life. My only question is...."What are you going to do next?" Whatever it is...I'm Ready!!!!!!

If you need a "breakthrough"...Praise Him!

Do you need a victory in some area of your life? Well, instead of always focusing on that situation, on that mountain, just start to praise God for He inhabits your praise.

The Bible says resist the devil & he will flee from you. And I say that your praise coupled with the declaration of God's Word will bind the enemy in chains. Understand that the devil's most common methods of attack are to bring discouragement, negativity, hopelessness & despair into our lives; paralyzing our minds to get our eyes off of God. I've found that the best way to deal with him is to start praising the Lord! Focus on the greatness of God & declare His praises.

Someone reading this blog today is carrying a burden, & you're weighed down with a crushing load. You might say you're living with a spirit of heaviness. But you've got to break that spirit of heaviness & the only way to do it is to put on your garment of praise. You see I know what it feels like to be heavy-hearted & downcast. It's like having a gnawing in the pit of your stomach due to fear, worry, stress & anxiety. Even though we Christians know that the spirit of fear is of the devil, I had to learn for myself to lift my spirits by praising God & encouraging myself. Yes, I'm a witness that once you start praising Him, your burdens will soon be lifted.

So whatever circumstances that seem to imprison you today; maybe a business venture you never should have taken on; a relationship you never should have gotten involved in; some habit/addiction from your past trying to come back upon you even though you've given your life to Christ; whatever it is, begin to praise the Lord. Get your eyes off your prison bars, fix them on Jesus, and Praise Him - Exhalt Him - Testify of His goodness & power - for your praise will secure your release.

Remember, if you don't praise God, you'll never know

the tremendous power of breakthrough that it brings!

Facing Our Temptations

I was in the store yesterday and observed a couple shopping. A fine woman in a short tight dress walked by & the man's eyes followed her as she passed. Without even looking up his wife said, "Was it worth the trouble you're in now?" That's the problem with temptation.

The devil is clever enough to note our habits & observes our hangouts, then he lays out appealing bait just like a fisherman. He can't make us bite, but he knows what happens inside us once we catch a glimpse of his tantalizing bait! Our fleshly nature draws to it, lingering, toying with it & rolling it over in our minds until it consumes our imagination. And that's when the struggle begins because our conscience tells us it's wrong to succumb...but the bait LOOKS SO GOOD!

Each temptation ends with a response...either resist or yield to it. If you've ever resisted it you know the feeling of freedom it brings. Conversely, anyone who's yielded knows the feeling of emptiness that follows when the pain of the devil's hook is in your cheek! And he's always lurking in the shadows, watching & waiting for the next vulnerable moment to strike:

When you're weak - expect a major ssault * When you resist - be ready for a different approach * When he leaves - count on another attack

It's been my experience that by praying, avoiding compromising situations, engaging in Bible study & revealing your struggle to a Godly friend (someone you trust), you can effectively resist temptation (that's why spritual friendships are so important). The more I think about it, for Christians, temptation is really a compliment because it means that you're living for God & headed in the right direction, so Satan has a contract out on you & he roams the earth like a roaring lion, seeking to devour you!

Temptation is stronger than we are, but the God in us is stronger than the temptation. So now when the devil comes knocking at the door of my heart & asks who lives here...Jesus goes to the door & says,"Tim used to live here, he's moved out, now I live here!"

Remember, when Christ fills our lives, Satan has no entrance!

Happiness means Investing in the Right Things!

Today is my birthday, and I was awakened by phone calls starting at 6:30 a.m. from those who wanted to be among the first to acknowledge my special day. After my wife & children took me out for breakfast, I've had time to digest my food & gather my thoughts for this blog today.

Unfortunately, we live in a society which perpetuates a mindset that you must have "things" to be happy (greed). Jesus warns us to watch out & be on guard against all kinds of greed. A man's life doesn't consist in the abundance of his possessions. So don't buy into the lie that the more material things you have, the better your life can be.

As we were eating, my wife & each of my children asked, "What do you want for your birthday?" My response..."I can't think of anything I really need" (I was just enjoying this time of sharing food/laughter/conversation with my family, and that was enough). In the past, I always had a list for them weeks before my birthday, but as I grow older, I 'm satisfied just enjoying the fruit of my labor now that all of our children are grown and have become responsible adults. This took years of painstaking effort & sacrifice for me and my wife to accomplish , but I can see now that it was well worth it!

I know many people (relatives included) who believe that marriages and families are held together by material things alone; truth is material things make lousy cement. That's why we see so many rich celebrities and other wealthy people who are miserable/unhappy & we see their lives literally fall apart because they failed to develop strong relationships. So what makes you think that working overtime or obtaining part-time jobs to earn more money/buy more things will equal happiness for you & yours?

If you're not already doing so, begin to invest more of your time & energy in things that will last and please don't forget to prepare for eternity; Jesus warns us not to end up like the man in the parable of the "rich fool".

Are you rich in the things of this world or are you rich in the things of God?

Are you living as sheep or goats?

Before you answer that question, let me first explain that Jesus used the parable of sheep & goats to describe people based on how well they served those who were in need around them. Sheep are those who see & respond to the needs of people around them with acts of loving service. Goats are those who also see but fail to act to help alleviate at least some of the suffering they witness from the people around them.

Christians have a responsibility to be personally & intimately involved in our service of giving. I believe there are people that God specifically places in our lives for us to help for He has chosen us Christians to be the answer to much of the suffering that's all around us. So I ask you again, are you sheep or are you goats?

I understand that to live the way that God calls us to is not an easy task. But do all you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, as often as you can, to all the people you can , as long as you can!

When we live with the attitude that every act of kindness is a direct service to Jesus Christ & believe that we will be rewarded with eternal life in heaven with Him, it will become a joy for us to seek ways in which to meet the needs of those who come our way!

Don't be a GOAT!

Experiencing Jesus is Real JOY!

Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ requires us to unlearn several things: selfishishness and being mean/evil towards others. Also, letting go of "bad" habits, people, and many other things in order to follow Him. At the same time we will begin to change our lives from being self-centered to God-centered through developing "good" habits of discipleship...

love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control

God expects every follower to develop these behaviors...and that takes time! So as you begin to experience growth in your discipleship, I warn you now...you'll be talked about and ridiculed, and people will hate on you for no reason! But don't be discouraged, for that's all part of becoming a disciple.

Just continue showing the world that you're serious about your salvation walk & commitment to your new life in Christ Jesus and as you mature and are strengthened in your relationship with God, you'll begin to experience real JOY in your life...when you put

Jesus first-Others next-and Yourself last!

Give God Your Praise

God wants our sincere heartfelt worship and praise is our main method of worship & acknowledgement of God's presence in our lives. As we continually offer our praise to Him, there are benefits we'll receive from God:
1. Praise causes us to focus on God. We express our gratitude to Him for the good things that happens to us; "Every good & perfect gift comes from God..." (James 1:17). Although God loves it when we acknowledge all the good things He's given us, He likes it even more when we tell somebody (that's praise)!
2. Praise increases our understanding of God. II Corinthians 9:8 says, "God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that inevery way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work". I've learned that if we praise God for what He has done for us, we'll begin to understand that He is able. And, when we praise God for what He will do for us, we'll understand that He can bless us abundantly above all that He says He will do. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
3. Praise builds our confidence in God. Moses expressed confidence in God because he'd already seen what God was capable of. God was able to release the chosen people from the bonds of slavery...and He did! I'm just as confident as Moses when I tell you that I know God is able. I know God has turned circumstances & situations upside down...just for me! He has opened doors for me that I thought were shut! He has made a way for me to earn an advanced degree with no visible means of my being able to pay tuition at the time; and I could go on & on about His works on my behalf. But I must share one last thing before I quit. Some of you might remember the "death flight" from Atlanta to Miami in the late 1990's when the plane crashed into the Everglades, killing all on board. Well, I was scheduled to board that flight in Atlanta but for reasons puzzling to me at the time, I was unable to get through the terminal & was extremely upset as I watched my flight depart while I stood in line! Imagine how thankful I was the next day when I found out what happened. That made me realize that God is able & will protect us from ourselves, even when we're determined to do that which He knows would be detrimental to us. Thank God for His grace & mercy!

God is the joy & the strength of my life

He promised to keep me, never to leave me

to never, never fall short of His Word

God is my all and all & I'll continue to Praise Him!!!!!!