Author: Dennis

Witty

Growing up, you’ll hear some things that were meant to be funny or “witty”. One such “sayin” stuck in my memories and goes along with today’s thoughts. I’d spotted something of interest and pointed it out to my daddy while workin with him … me: “ Did you see that ?” my dad: “ I see, said the blind man !” 🙄 I know…kinda corny, right ? But give this short question some serious thought … “Can you see ?” I ain’t askin if you can see like anybody else that goes about town window-shoppin or just watchin a cork waitin on a fish t’ bite … I’m askin you if you’ve been given your “new eyes” yet…and are you USING them ? 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that , “ if we are in Christ, we are a new creation…old things are replaced with new things”. If we’re still using the same ol tired eyes we were born with, we’re missin out on ninety percent of life ! Jesus took several opportunities to bless the “physically blind” with eyesight. I can imagine their facial expressions after receiving this miracle from God ! Seeing for the first time what the people they’d talked to for years, really looked like … seeing the colors of fabrics and the blue of the sky … seeing that ugly face of the camel and the donkey … etc; etc.. I’m sure their mouths were locked, semi-open…their eyes transfixed on the objects and people they were now seeing. To have a video of it ! But we very seldom get to hear about these people afterwards. Did they praise God for his merciful healing ? Did they abandon the feeling of awe and wonder and continue their journey with a self-serving lifestyle ? Did they gather in the local synagogue or temple for a couple o’ months and then get bored and stay roun the house, or find something that interested em more ? We can’t know … but we CAN know about ourselves ! If God has opened our eyes, removed the scales and healed us of our blindness, how are “we” receiving it … and what’s changed within us ? I can’t speak for yall, but i can tell you of some of the ways my vision has changed. I’ve noticed I’m not so judgemental. People are people and Jesus died for each one us … nobody’s perfect and all need Jesus to change … His word comes alive when i take the time to explore it, and He speaks to my heart as if he’s sittin right in front of me, speaking … i see more clearly the lostness in people that still refuse to follow him by faith … i see the love of Christ flowing from true believers and followers; through their expressions and their actions … i see God’s hand as He intwines the thoughts, the messages and sequences of events of one brother or sister in Christ, with the other …i watch my family closer, and i see what God is doing in their own lives, and i pray continuously for their lives to reflect Him … i recognize and admire God’s creations more , and i stand amazed and in awe of the way He orchestrates “happenings” ! I “see” why even the wind and the waves obey Him ( Matthew 8:27 ) ! Nobody but God can do the things He does ! I just wonder… can you see em ? Does the rocks haveta cry out His praises because we won’t…because we just refuse to see ( Luke 19:40 ) ? Do you see ?

Super Christian

“superChristian”… you ever heard that one ? Ever given that title to anyone that you know ? Anybody ever referred to you with that moniker ? First of all, real life human beings ain’t comic book characters …we’re born with bodies that ache and deteriorate as time goes by, and we eventually die. We’ve all heard the stories of someone having “superhuman” strength … and it goes right along with those who have been given “supernatural” power … but remember this, if a human exhibits anything “super”, it’s got to be GIVEN to them…”by” someone else. A four year old kid who plays a piano like Beethoven…an eight year old little girl who earns three master degrees in college courses…some dude able to pull four train cars with his teeth… the Guinness Book of World Records are full of stories of people who have done some amazing things.., but unless that extraordinary strength, talent or mental capacity has been supplied, that person is no different than you or me. They get sick, bleed when cut, discharge bodily fluids when nature calls and exhibit every other “normal” tendency of a “real” person. So what makes a “superChristian”? Well…just think of someone that’s been “referred to” as one. Who comes t’ mind … the apostle Paul ? Shepherd boy turned king, David ? Billy Graham ? C.S. Lewis ? Tim Keller ? Charlie Kirk ? This short-list doesn’t scratch the surface…we can all list some people that were instrumental in bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to not only thousands, but to “us”, personally. And every single one of these faithful followers have one thing in common…they surrendered their lives to Christ ! By faith they believed and received the forgiveness of their sins, the grace of God that wasn’t earned, and the Spirit of God that provides the power ( Acts 1:8 ) ! The words they exhort…that’s given by the Spirit also ( Matthew 10:19, Mark 13:11 ). These people, like you and me, are “born sinners” ( Psalm 51:5, Romans 5:12 )…they all inherited a “sin nature” from Adam ( of the Adam and Eve , the serpent and the apple, story…Genesis chapter 3 ) and they all needed Jesus’ righteousness to “change” them from who they “were” ( 2 Corinthians5:17 ). Ain’t nothin “super” bout none of us … but we that follow Christ, can’t follow at a distance and expect to get in on the fringe benefits of that relationship ! If he’s handing out “prizes” ( gifts, talents, supernatural powers, divine appointments, blessings, etc; ) and we’re not “abiding” ( staying close )…how can we expect anything extraordinary to happen !?? Any and all of the “superChristians” we can name, remained faithful because they “CHOSE TO” ! Wandering away from, only gets us lost or in trouble…and our witness will be compromised. SuperChristians exalt Jesus Christ and use their God-given abilities to honor and glorify Christ. It ain’t “about” them ( John 3:30-35 ), no more than it’s about us. I’m sure you’ve thought of a couple of people that have influenced you for your good and God’s glory … so why not tell em, if they’re still around. They won’t claim any fame from it…they’ll pass the praise right on up to the One who’s worthy of receiving it … “Jesus, the Christ” ! Better yet… “be” that one that lifts high the name above all names… and “be” that super Christian !

Tell Your Story

Treasure

What’s your “treasure” ? Is it your spouse, your kids, your vehicle, all them guns you’ve been collecting, that motorcycle in the garage, those gold bars you’ve got in that safe … what does your treasure consist of ? Maybe you’ve never given it much thought…you may not consider anything you own worthy to call a “treasure”. Did you ever consider the word, though ? “treasure” … “something of great worth and value”; “a person esteemed as rare or precious”. It’s that person in your life that you would do anything for ( as long as it’s legal 😉 ). You trust em with your deepest thoughts and secrets and you can’t imagine doing life without em. You’d protect em with your life and defend their honor with everything you own. When it comes to assigning the title, “treasure”, to someone or something, it shouldn’t be taken lightly. It also should cause us pause … because when it comes down to it, some of the things we treasured when we were younger, just dont seem to fit that category anymore. Very few things are really worth “treasuring”; amen ? My salvation in Christ would haveta come first ! I mean, my wife…definitely ! My kids and grandbabies; surely ! I have some sentimental things that belonged to my mama…some cards or drawings my kids and grands gave me…my copies of God’s word…our dog…but other than that, I’m not sure I’d consider anything else i own, a “treasure”. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there, your heart will be also” ( Matthew 6:21 ). We’ve gotta be careful with what we consider worth “treasuring” and the worth we assign to these things. There’s a fine line that we MUST NOT cross ! GOD spells it out clearly in numbers 1 and 2 of the “original 10 Commandments” … “Have no other gods before me” and “ Don’t make idols out of anything”. If we’re assigning more worth to our “things”, our “jobs/money”, our kid’s activities or even our “family members”themselves, than we are GOD, then we’ve stepped OVER that line. Since God knows our hearts, he also knows what things we consider our “treasures”. We can lie to ourselves and argue differently, but GOD knows … and He ain’t gon’ bless the one that doesn’t put HIM first. You may be blessed by Satan while you’re here on earth, but earth ain’t gon be our final “resting place”. Eternity is gonna be alot longer than the “here an now”! If you feel like God’s blessed you with the things you’re enjoying , and you’re not living to please Him and putting Him first and foremost, don’t automatically feel like it’s from GOD. Satan tried to entice Jesus Himself, with the treasures of this world ( Matthew 4:9 ), so why would he not try the same tactics with you and me ?!? As the psalmist said, “ When yall look around and see what all these others have, don’t be envious of em, for they have all they’re ever gonna have” ( Psalm 37 ). Trust in the LORD and do good; Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. Committee your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, and justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him.” ( verses3-7 ) And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For God, who said,” Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this TREASURE in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ( 2 Corinthians 4:3-7 ) “Something / Someone of great value and worth…esteemed as rare or precious.” …. where’s God land on your list of “treasures” ?

Most Excellent Way

The Spirit of God, through the apostle Paul’s pen, tells you and me, this…concerning “the most excellent way” to love : ( 1 Corinthians 13:1:4-8 )… He starts off telling us how he/we could be doing everything else right, but if we weren’t doing it in love, we were “nothing” but alotta noise, and we would gain nothing ( verses 1-3 ). Before we get into this “excellent way” to love, let’s consider the “not-so-excellent” ways we love. We tell our kids, “Love you”, as they depart for school…but did we pray out loud for them to receive all the knowledge and wisdom that would be provided them from those who God has placed in their facilities ? Did we leave them with sound instructions to do everything as if for the Lord, and not just for personal gain or to please their teachers and coaches ( Colossians3:17 )? Did they know that Jesus would provide angels to watch over them, for their safety, therefore, they wouldn’t need to waste time being afraid ( Matthew 18:10 ) ? If we loved them “excellently”, they would. What about our spouses ? We tell em we love em all the time; right ? RIGHT !?? So why is it we wind up hollerin at em in anger or frustration, instead of holding our tongues until we considered a calmer response ? Why do we try to manipulate every scenario to fit what “we” want…when God’s clearly stated, “ Consider others and their needs as more important than yourself and your own”( Philippians 2:3 ) ? Why do we say, “I love you” one minute and fight like cats and dogs, the next !?? What about those “other folks” in our life ? We’re all the time throwin out a, “love you” or “love y’all”, and when they call, the first thing we do is grumble or mutter an expletive and give that eye-roll, wondering if we should answer. Loving someone “excellently” ain’t easy; is it ? I’d go so far as to say it’s “impossible”, without the Holy Spirit involved. He not only provides the supernatural power ( Acts 1:8 ), He provides the resources. Me and Pennye Jacobs Lewis have enjoyed this firsthand many many times. Our love for each other has stood many a storm and hardship, but our Anchor holds ! We attribute our 41 years of marriage, to His grace and mercy. Every minute of it may not’ve been “blissful”, but they were “beneficial”. He’s taught us many lessons along the journey…and one of em is that He is faithful, even when we ain’t ( 2 Timothy 2:13 ). Now, to this ”excellent way” of expressing Christ-like love … “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it ain’t proud or rude or self-seeking. It’s not easily angered and it dont keep a record of wrongs. Love doesn’t delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. Love never fails ( verses 4-8 ). Me and Pennye don’t get it right alotta times, but we know where reconciliation begins…and that’s where we start… asking God to heal the hurt we’ve caused because we strayed from His “excellent way” of loving. Forgiveness MUST accompany this excellent love … without it, the anger and envy and resentment will fester and infect. If God’s ways are higher than ours ( Isaiah 55:8-9 ), shouldn’t we adapt to em and let our old ways go ? If we’d focus more on showing this “excellent way” of loving, to those we say we love, our homes would be a more pleasant place to hang out…our businesses, a better place to work…and our gatherings, a more pleasurable place to congregate. Let’s resolve to try it more, under the direction of the Spirit of God. He’s not only the Author and Perfector of our faith, He’s also the Author and Perfector of our “love”. ( Hebrews 12:2 )

When You Pray

“And when you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites or keep babbling like the pagans, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed is your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts ( trespasses ), as we forgive our debtors ( trespassers ). And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen.” ( Matthew 6:5-15 ) .. The “Lord’s Prayer” or “the model prayer”, as it’s called…I fear it’s lost its power since Jesus wrote and quoted it so many years ago. Sure, we still hear Rudy and his teammates reciting it before the game ( on tv )…and some ballteams still recite it before or after a game…but dont you feel it’s more out of habit…like a ritual, than an actual plea for God to hear our hearts desire ? You know…like the, “God is great, God is good, let us thank him for our food” prayer, before meals ? Words without substance … words rehearsed and recited, but not felt…repetitious…not life-changing. Don’t get mad…just think about it for a minute. Let’s take one little part of the prayer … “ And lead us not into temptation”. Why would Jesus feel this was important enough to mention ? Didn’t he die so we could be free from sin ? Didn’t he rise from the grave to live again, as proof that the grave aint the “end” of life as we imagine it ? Didn’t he tell us that the kingdom of heaven is reserved for the pure of heart ,” …for they will see GOD” ( Matthew 5:8 ) ? Didn’t James tell us that God cannot be tempted with evil and he does not tempt anyone ( James 1:13 ) ? Then why in the world would Jesus say, “ And lead us not into temptation” ? Because he knows how weak we humans can be ! Maybe you don’t have a problem with alcohol, opioids or porn…maybe you don’t let that second slice of pizza or dessert entice you to overindulge…maybe your eyes don’t pursue what others have to the point you dig yourself deeper in debt…maybe your patience is perfected and you see traffic congestion as just more time to listen to your podcast or to finish puttin on your makeup. But, you have the propensity to sin, even AFTER you’ve surrendered by faith to Jesus Christ. Being saved…becoming a child of God…name recorded in the Lambsbook of Life, does not make you automatically sin-free or exempt from temptation. We’re still susceptible to it and you can bet your bottom dollar that Satan won’t stop trying to get you to sin. He’s actually looking for opportunities to slip in when you least expect him…get a foothold in the areas of your life that pose the best chance of causing chaos…and placing people in your path that will do your character the most damage, if they can. He’s crafty…he’s a liar…he’s the author and perfector of deception…and he’s willing to go to great lengths to bring you down. God ain’t gonna tempt us…and he’s ready and willing to lead us away from temptations IF we’re really wanting him to. He’s already told us that there ain’t a temptation out there that ain’t been heard of and given in to before ( 1 Corinthians 10:13 )…and He’s still able to lead us away from and around em, if we’re wanting him to. Giving “in to” temptations just get us deeper into trouble. They cause heartaches in our homes and prevent us from casting the light of Christ that’s within us. Nobody listens to someone that sins just as good as they do. If there’s still a tendency to sin, without a repentant heart, it stands a good chance there was never any “surrender”. And if there was no surrender, there was no salvation…and hell is still the final destination for the souls separated from God because of unrepentance. If this is you, aintcha tired ? Now’s the time to set things right. Today is the day of salvation ! ( 2 Corinthians 6:2 ) There’s no time like the present ! God’s ready to forgive you your debt and forgive your sins … all he’s waiting for is for you to ask. If you’ve already secured your name on His list, do whatever you need to, to walk worthy of your calling. Abide in Christ and walk in the Spirit … and pray…” lead me not into temptation and deliver me from the evil one”. I guarantee you He’ll do it !

Wild Ride

I had a dream last night sometime that brought our Sunday message t’ mind. I was in a car with one of my sons or grandsons…i can’t recall which. We had just slipped into our seats…i was behind the wheel…when a wind blew hard enough for us to start sliding sideways. The hill had just enough slope to it to act as the perfect “slide”. We barely avoided “teeboning” a tree and continued towards the swollen creek. We never slid straightforward , always sideways as in a graceful dance. The inability to come to a stop was crazy…it was if the car wouldn’t be satisfied until it put us in the woods. It finally dawned on me…crank the engine and apply the gas…maybe the thrust will slow it down or help somehow. It worked ! We stopped without damaging the car, but we were in need of a chainsaw to get a couple o’ trees out the way so we could drive back up to the house. Crazy; huh ?! Here’s what i got out of it … Sam preached outta Hebrews Sunday morning, and Hebrews 2:1 says, “ We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Call it coincidence or whatever, but i believe God supplies us warnings, reminders, signs and wonders to keep us safe, encouraged, self-controlled and holy. This “drifting” can be the result of our neglecting our personal “set-aside” time with Him. We can drift towards laziness, laxness and lethargy …. it’s us , not making time to “hear” what God is wanting us to hear. It could involve avoiding worship services, neglecting our gathering with other believers for whatever, leaving our Bibles to gather dust, watchin tv or our phones most of the time, saying prayers that have no substance, neglecting to pray for others or acknowledge their needs, finding every other activity under the sun to keep us busy and forfeiting the things of God, and what He wants to give us. This drifting results in many heartaches. It leaves a body drained and useless, depressed and lonely. I picture a boat without an anchor … pounded against a pier, cypress knees or taken over the falls. Unless we apply the gas and thrust needed to propel us to safety, we’re just gonna continue to drift until it’s too late. God didn’t save us to see us live a life of mediocrity. He also didn’t die a sinner’s death and rise again for us to continue dabbling in sin ! NO !! We’re saved to live in freedom FROM sin ! We’re saved to live an abundant life ! To keep from drifting into dangerous waters or suffering damage to our witness, we have to make self-controlled efforts to walk in the Spirit and not in our flesh. Unless we’re abiding in Christ and drawing closer to God, we’re gonna drift. If we’re not in God’s Word each and every day, listening and adhering to it, we’re gonna hear something else…and it ain’t gonna be nowhere near the truth that His Word is. If we’re drifting, it ain’t because of God. If we’re not living to please Him, we’re living to please ourselves…and we’re FAILING those that HE’S entrusted to us ! How’s that sayin go ? If you don’t appreciate what He’s given you, He’ll take it away and give it to someone who will. STOP DRIFTING !! Yeah, you CAN do something about it !!

Allowing

What are you still allowing in your home that goes directly against God’s commands, mandates and warnings ? Uh-Oh ! That one oughta cause some serious pause and a slight spike in the ol blood pressure and pulse ! Let’s put it in layman’s terms … if whatever “it” is, causes friction between you and them, if it could possibly cause a little one to stumble, if it’s not promoting Christ-likeness, if it’s sacrilegious or dishonorable to the development or maturity of a believer, if it goes directly against God’s word, then it needs to go ! He ( God ) will direct you towards making it right. He will cleanse the house if you’re serious about glorifying His Name in ALL your ways. Let’s not forget about our work places, also. If it’s dishonorable at home, it’s dishonorable at work…there’s no difference. What is bound in darkness will be exposed in the light ( Luke 12:3 ). As followers of Christ, we ought not be giving a false impression of our Lord and Savior ! The reflection we cast ought not be distorted…therefore, let’s be determined to make it clear who our Lord really is ! Our faith we receive from God is a gift …( Ephesians 2:8-9 ) … therefore, our salvation should never be taken lightly. A “good gift” from God should be highly treasured and protected. Let’s not be so callous as to treat this gifting with contempt, but to cherish it as the most precious bestowment we could ever receive. The Lord spoke to Moses ( and He speaks to me and you ), “When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you, destroy all their stone images and demolish all their high places. You are to take possession of the land and settle in it because I have given you the land to possess” ( Numbers 33:50-53 ). This “cleansing” is gonna be hard if we’re still wanting to live for this world and please people. But if pleasing God is our number one priority, we will get rid of whatever it is without hesitation, remorse or regret. And GOD will honor the person, the workplace and the home that honors Him ( 1 Samuel 2:30 ) ! There is nothing hidden…no “secret sin” that is hidden from the eyes of GOD … just read the actions and consequences of Achan, in Joshua chapter seven. Because of his disobedience unto God’s instructions , he not only jeopardized his own life, his “secret” costs the lives of his wife and kids, not to mention, his fellow countrymen. If that somebody , that idol , that position, that item, that “whatever”, is causing sin to prevail in your home, ain’t it time you evicted it ?! The freedom felt after the trash is cleared out, is hard to explain. For those who know, no explanation is necessary …for those who don’t, none is possible.

Convict

“convict”…a person found guilty of a criminal offense and serving a sentence of imprisonment. “conviction”…a firmly held belief or opinion. It’s my experience, a man/woman without convictions, more than likely, becomes a convict. Without a moral compass, our course will be all over the place … direction will be wherever the wind blows or based on popular opinion. I can remember vividly, watching and listening to older kids that seemed to have life by the short hairs, and some of the things i heard come out of their mouths…some of the things i saw them doing, just didn’t “feel right”…but i chose to participate anyway because i wanted to “fit in”. Of course, i suffered the consequences of my actions and still live with the scars…most in my memory…and it was the result of my compromising my convictions or just not having any to start with. Aaron Tippin wrote a song a good while back that said, “ You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.” If that ain’t some truth, i don’t know what is ! There’s no limit of people that are willing to sell us something … it’s up to us whether we buy it / buy into it or not. God implants something inside each one of us at birth…it’s called a “conscience”. It’s that moral compass that always reads “true north”… ( just picture heaven ) … which oughta be our heart’s destination each and every day. Our journey along the way is gonna be fraught with many temptations, trials and hardships…but that shouldn’t stop us from carrying out our duties unto God, family and country. We have responsibilities and obligations that require us to be vigilant…to adhere to certain prescribed standards of living ( God’s Word ) and to hold firmly to our convictions. That’s why it’s crucial that those convictions are God-centered, God-prescribed and God-glorifying ! Anything contrary to the truth, is a lie born of Satan. His desire is to see us fail…to see our marriages fall apart…to see us raising kids that never follow Christ…to cause chaos in all our relationships…and to keep brothers and sisters in Christ bickering, back-biting and bowing to the ways of this world. He knows if he can get a foothold, he stands a chance of redirecting any prior convictions that may’ve caused him to “lose another one.” If all we’re doing is listening to the word but not doing what it says, we’re like a man/woman who looks at themselves in a mirror, walks away, and immediately forgets what they look like ( James 1:23-24 ). Sounds silly; doesn’t it ? But, if we don’t hold to the convictions of the Lord…or we don’t set them as our “true North”…we might as well get ready for some sure-nuff pain, heartache and suffering ! “Blessed are those who don’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful.” ( Psalm 1:1 ) It ain’t too hard to get “off track”, but to stay there or keep going there will be the stupidest thing we’ll ever do ! So what’ll it be for you … conviction leading to correction and righteousness … or … just plain ol’ convict ?

The Plan

“I’ve got your back”…” I’ve got your six”… both statements mean the same thing and they both imply that someone else has taken the responsibility of “helping” us in some way or another if we need em. I tried thinking back over my lifetime of the few people that “had my back” when i really needed help. Yeah…i can recall a few … as I’m sure you can, too. None of us are “self-sufficient”…we’ve all needed a helping hand at least a time or two, whether we’ll admit it or not. I got another word that goes along with this … “contingency” … a provision for an unforeseen event or circumstance. A “back-up plan”, if you will. In this life, we will have unforeseen circumstances arise that will call for actions that maybe we weren’t “ready” for. That’s why it’s always important to have a contingency plan … just in case. We’ve been told to put a little money back for that rainy day…not to put all our eggs in one basket…leave ourselves an out…not to count our chickens before they hatch…and how a bird in the hand is worth two in that bush. Every one of these old sayings resulted from someone seeing the need to plan ahead and make wise choices…”before” the need arose and they were “caught holdin the bag” or “with their pants down”. I’m tellin you, whoever originally came up with some o’ these sayins oughta have their hand shook and a plaque on the wall acknowledging their names. Sayin all that to say this … “What’s your contingency plan for your last-taken breath on this earth ? Do you have a back-up plan if everything you’ve believed doesn’t pan out ? Is there someone in your life that’s gonna “have your back”? I’m gonna love you enough to tell you the truth ! Anything other than faith in Christ is gonna get you a packed seat in Hell ! If you think you’re “bad”, “invincible” or “untouchable”…you’re gonna find out you were only fooling yourself along with a handful of friends. There is but one name under heaven given to men ( that’s me, you and everyone that’s ever been born ) by which we can be saved…and that name is “Jesus” ! ( Acts 4:12 ) NOT your name or your mama’s…not Billy Graham’s or Charlie Kirk’s…not Paul the Apostle’s or even Mary’s, the “mother of God”. Jesus tells us all, in ( John 14:6 ), “ I am the way, the truth and the life…nobody comes to the Father ( literally, figuratively or otherwise ) except through Me.” Sure…you can ignore Jesus’ statement and anything else that points to his message of salvation…but when your end comes, if your faith wasn’t “in Him”, you won’t have anyone to “have your back”, and any “contingency plan” you’ve contrived will prove to be “not worth the paper it’s written on.”

Born For This

You ever said, or heard someone say, “ I was born for this !” ? It usually follows the question, “ Are you ready for this ?”. In our lifetime, we’ll experience some things that provide “platforms” for us to testify on … it could be something that changed our life dramatically, or it could be something that matured us , and the time to pass that gained wisdom, knowledge or encouragement forward, is now. We’ve all made poor choices…we’ve made mistakes…but that ain’t the “end” of it ! Naw ! God can use that situation to help someone else. He sees beyond our todays, and orchestrates our tomorrows and next years, for His glory. He even takes our “bads” and can turn em into “goods”. He knows who will and who won’t accept His free gift of salvation, and He capitalizes on our experiences for someone else’s good and His glory. He’s THAT BIG, yall !! Personally, I can remember the sickening feeling and hatred i had for my own daddy’s ways and actions, as i was growing up and becoming a young husband and daddy. I vowed to God that i wouldn’t dishonor Him, my wife or my kids by those same actions and ways. I knew, even as a child, something was wrong with his actions and words…and i wasn’t going to follow in those same footsteps. I’d have t’ find another role model in someone else’s daddy. Yeah it sucked ! Yeah it was hard ! And yeah, it hurt ! But life goes on , and God never intends us to wallow in self-pity and live a life of mediocrity. He died so we could live life more abundantly ( John 10:10 ) ! And so i followed Him, instead … and He provided men in my path that i could look up to and emulate … men like my uncle Lavon Byrd, uncle Phil White, cousin David Byrd, Sam Simmons, Roland Walker and Eugene Dilmore, Frank Stephens, and so many more. I was watching them, listening to them and learning from them…taking lessons…life-lessons that would make me wiser as i grew up. These lessons were already instituted by God and FOR God. He was using them to help me … and He would use me to help someone else ! He wants to do the same for “you” and “with” you ! The apostle Paul said, “ Follow my example as I follow Christ’s” ( 1 Corinthians 11:1 ). Paul wasn’t “taking credit” for his actions…he was “giving credit” to Jesus ! Same with you and me … If any good comes from anything we’ve said or done in this life, it’s GOT t’ come from GOD … Amen ? Take your experiences in life and help mold someone else … they’re listening and watching, whether you know it or not. They NEED to hear TRUTH…they need to know that you are REAL…they need someone to care…and they NEED to see JESUS. Just as Mordecai told Esther, in ( Esther 4:14 ), “ And who knows but that you weren’t placed here for such a time as this ?” Naw, you ain’t perfect …but you know the One who IS ! Don’t make em look elsewhere for the example of Christ they need ! And just remember… you were BORN FOR THIS !!

Washed By Jesus

Pennye Jacobs Lewis and i had our two youngest grandgirls this past weekend, just enjoyin their company and lettin em hang out like they were college dorm mates or somethin. They’re 8. While lounging on the couch, I took another opportunity to pick on Merritt, who was the only one there at the time. She’d just took her bath and come back in the livin room where me and Pennye were, plopped between us, to settle in with her i-pad. Pennye: “Did you take a good bath ?” … Merritt: “Yes ma’am” … Me: “Lemme see”, so i leaned over to sniff her hair. Me: “ You don’t smell like shampoo” … Pennye: “ She doesn’t wash her hair every night, Pep” … ( along with a stern look from Merritt ) … Me: “ Oh. Did you use deodorant ? Do you use deodorant ?” Merritt nods her head. Me: “ Really ?! Like under your armpits ?!” ( i legitimately didn’t know at what age a kid ( especially a girl ) starts using deodorant ). Merritt gives me another look; like what planet have you been livin on ? … and quickly asks, “ Where do you think I use it, on my forehead ?!?” I was schooled by an 8 year old. 😂🤣😁 As long as kids have been kids, baths haven’t been too high on the priority scale. Sure…gettin in a tub of bubbles is entertaining, but it doesn’t constitute “bathing”…in the sense of getting good and clean. Rinsing off ain’t bathing … just sayin. That ol’, wet-the-rag and the bar of soap trick’s been used by many a boy over the years…and I’m certain, by a few little girls, too. Can’t hide stink, though. So many of us grownups wanna use the same trick / technique when it comes to cleanin up our act. We’ll try playin games with God…doin the “church” thing, sayin all the right phrases and tryin to “earn” His blessings and favor. We treat God like a rich uncle… thinkin we can play Him like we do a stranger … and what we don’t realize is, He’s already onto us…already knows our hearts and whether we’re sincere or not. “God doesn’t look at things as humans do. Humans see what is only visible to the eyes, but the LORD sees the heart”( 1 Samuel 16:7 ). If we’re still tryin to live in our flesh…livin for this world and self, we’re never gonna be clean, much less content and righteous. Serving two masters will keep us smellin foul … and bring us nothin but shame, destruction and regret ( Matthew 6:24 ) ! If we would but give up the fight and turn it all over to Jesus, He would fight FOR us ! There’s no other cleansing like the cleansing of the LORD ! Jesus shed his blood, once, for all … the life he lives ( and the one WE can live ), is then, lived for God ( Romans 6:10 ). There’s no comparison ! Just ask anyone that’s lived both sides of that fence ! The Psalmist said it like this … “ Surely I was sinful at birth…Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” ( Psalm 51:5-7 ). Until and unless we get washed by Jesus, we’ll remain stinky. There’s no sin too hard for Him to wash off. Won’t you come to Him and finally be clean ?!? You’ll never look back with regret on the day you surrender to Christ, completely. It’s the best bath you’ll ever get !

Tell Somebody

You ever watch a movie or a tv show and just had to tell somebody how good it was ? Sure you have ! What about that concert you went to…wasn’t it worth the cost of admission and the crowds, and for days after, you were still talkin about the performance ? What about that wedding you attended ? You go on and on about how pretty the bride was and how crazy that best man acted on the dance floor. Let a local kill a big buck and see what attention they get … or some friend that catches big fish regularly…they’ll get talked about every time we turn around. We’ll brag on our favorite teams, especially the individuals that make big plays … but when it comes to Jesus, we’ll shut up tighter than a clam. Oh sure…we’ll smile and be polite at church…mumble “amen” when the mood hits us…maybe even tell the preacher “good job” as we head out the door…but that’s about it … till next Sunday … oh wait … that’s the day we were gonna ( you fill in the blank ). Somewhere along the way, we’ve lost our desire, our zeal, our want-to for the ONE SOMEBODY that can rock our world ! We either AINT SAVED, or we’ve forgotten what SALVATION means ! My relationship with my wife is the best thing that’s ever happened to me…second only to my salvation through faith in Christ ! How could i not bring her into my conversations with others ? I count it a privilege to be seen with her…to be able to hang out with her…to wear the ring that tells the world that I’m married to her…to hold her door open for her…to protect her… to hold her hand and meet her needs… and to see her smile when I’ve done something that pleases her. How could i not brag on her ?! And she doesn’t even have the ability to save my soul or create a new man outta the old me !! Jesus said, in ( Matthew 10:28,32-33 ), “ Don’t be afraid of them that can kill the body…Be afraid of the One that can destroy both body and soul in Hell. Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge before My Father in Heaven. But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown before My Father in Heaven.” So … are you ashamed to let people know you’re a Christian ? If so, there’s a high probability that you ain’t ( a Christian ) . Seriously… if you’re “disowning” Him here on earth, what makes you think you’re ever gonna get “in” to His kingdom ?! If i treated Miss Pennye Jacobs Lewis the way some o yall treat Jesus, she’d o’ kicked me to the curb a long time ago . Loving Him oughta make us wanna tell somebody about Him ! Won’t you ACKNOWLEDGE HIM with me today !?!

Electrified

“Revelation” …definition: 1. a surprising and previously unknown fact , especially one that is made known in a dramatic way. 2. The divine or supernatural disclosure to humans of something relating to human existence or the world. — The second definition is closer to what I’m trying to describe…so just bear with me. Have you ever been electrocuted ? If not, you oughta try it at least once. Not really…but take it from me, it’s not all that enjoyable. I ate a Charms pop one day when i was a kid, one of those good ones that let you work up some thick spit in your mouth…and because i was simple-minded, i reasoned that i could spit one of them long, unbroken ropes of spit, down on my mamaw’s electric fence, break it off at my lips and watch it attach itself to that strand of wire and sit and sizzle as it stretched to the ground. In theory, the plan was ingenious … but , in reality, that 14 inches of congladilated saliva never broke loose from my lips … and the current that ran through not only my mouth and head, but my whole body, was enough to keep me from ever trying that twice. You don’t forget that feeling … not pleasurable ! I had another taste of electricity when me and my brother-in-law was fishin a friend’s lake out of a two-man plastic boat. When you have cows, sometimes it’s necessary to run your fenceline through the pond or lake. This allows em to get water or submerge their upper bodies to alleviate all the biting flies and horseflies that torment them. As i casted, my line went over the top strand of one of those bobwire fences, took a trapeze loop-te-loop and wallah, i was snagged. I told Dwayne to troll me over so i could untangle it, but true to form, he ran us up to it a little too fast, causing me to grab holt to it or risk decapitation. Nothing happened for the first second i grabbed it, but then…my whole body shook ! I like t’ not been able to let it go ! And naw, i didn’t know it was “hot” … i mean, who puts electricity and water together ! And how much current does it take to deter a cow from going through a fence ! That beetle spin is probably still on that wire. Being electrocuted is the closest thing i could think of to being given a revelation from God ! I’ve experienced them, as I’m sure you have, and they leave a trail of chill-bumps up your backbone, arms and legs and gives you a feeling like nothing else ! The tingling shiver is not only “electrical”, it’s exciting and awe-inspiring ! I credit it to the Holy Spirit and His way of revealing His presence ! Don’t waste your time tryin to convince me otherwise or shame me into believing differently…i know it’s God ! I can be talkin to someone else and the Spirit within me connects with the Spirit within them and the revelation is given to both of us … and we’ll both “get it” ! It’s an adrenaline rush on top o’ the best vacation you’ve ever had ! God ain’t holed up in some box or just waitin on us to get to heaven ! He’s as real as real can be ! And he’s wanting to be a part of everything we do … the fun, as well as the not-so-fun. Didn’t he say, “ I’ll never leave you or forsake you” ( Hebrews 13:5 ) ? God doesn’t look at our circumstances like we tend to…He looks at em as just another way to reveal himself to us and to those around us. He uses our weakness to reveal his strength and power ( 2 Corinthians 12:10 ). He doesn’t want us to just “use” him or call on him when we’re in a bind…he wants an intimate relationship with us that’s built on trust and love and loyalty ( Hosea 6:6 ). The more you wanna know God, the more he’ll be known ( James 4:8 ). When you get to experiencing those chills that the Spirit sends coursing up and down your body, just smile and love him that much more ! With maybe a tear or two leaking from your eyes, tell him, “Thank You”, for never givin up on you.