Pray for the Election!!!!

Brevard Prayer Team invites you to attend a “Prayer Walk In The Park” on Thursday, October 25 from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm. Please join us at this non-partisan, non-political event as we pray for the upcoming election and ask the Lord for His guidance for America through the voting process. This informal prayer gathering will be held in Gleason Park (one block north of the Eau Gallie Causeway on South Patrick Drive) in Indian Harbour Beach. Feel free to come and pray by yourself or with others of like precious faith as you enjoy the park and the presence of our Lord. Brevard Prayer Team is a group of business owners, church leaders, political leaders, chaplains and professionals who meet monthly to pray for Brevard County, and is an outreach of Power In The Workplace Ministries. For more information, contact Rev. Carol Wheatley at 321-626-4483.

Is God On Your Side? - Part 2

Is God on your side?

No!

Oops! Did I say that out loud? Now before you get mad at me, let me explain this audacious statement:

Wait! Wait! Didn’t we just write this in the last blog? Why yes we did, but this version has a very different focus! Read on…

I am privileged to be able to pray for and with people quite often and when I do, I am careful to pray according to God's Word. Our Lord has made the path to prayer abundantly clear and "this is the confidence" that we have - that whenever we pray according to His will, He hears us and if He hears us, we know we have the petitions we've asked of Him.

And that's where the problem starts! Life throws some real stuff at us whether we're saved or not and a lot of Christians just don't seem to know what to do when the tough stuff hits them. So they turn to the people who they think can and will pray.

People want to be healed - no doubt about that - but sometimes they get in their own way. Let me give you an example: A woman I know had been dealing with a physical issue for quite some time and had had numerous people lay hands on her and pray. She went up for every prayer line and attended any church that offered a healing service. She looked and looked and looked for her healing.

She agreed with the scriptures and could recite them by heart; she believed God truly wanted her well. So why wasn't she healed? Well, all I can do is tell you what happened at a service one Sunday morning. The pastor called for anyone needing prayer and this lady went forward; normally I would have gone up and laid hands and prayed for anyone needing it but this time the Holy Spirit specifically told me to just sit down. As I prayed in tongues, He revealed to me that this lady was taking His Name and His Word in vain. How so, Lord? I asked. He said that no matter how many times the scriptures were spoken over her or by her, that she negated them by the words that came from her heart.

"Yes, the pastor prayed for me, but I still feel terrible."
"I quote the scriptures all the time, but there's been absolutely no change in my condition."
"I know the Lord wants me well but you know, I know someone who died from this condition."
"I don't know why my healing is taking so long...I'm really discouraged."
"I thought that by speaking the scriptures I'd get healed...isn't God supposed to be on my side?"

The things that we truly believe in our hearts eventually make it out of our mouths! And when they do, all of the doubt and unbelief we harbor come out. It's so sad.

But the good news is that it's not a condition that can't be fixed! All it takes is effort...lots of effort. Beloved, stating the blatantly obvious is a habit we all tend to battle, but it's a battle that our Lord and Savior fought and won on Calvary's cross! He equipped us with everything we need to access and keep our healing. He gave us His Words!

The way to know that God is on your side is to be sure you're on God's side and you do that by studying the scriptures, meditating on them, and then making sure that ONLY those scriptures come out of your mouth. Renew your mind and your body will follow!

Is God On Your Side? Part 1

Is God on your side?

No!

Oops! Did I say that out loud? Now before you get mad at me, let me explain this audacious statement:

I am privileged to be able to pray for and with people quite often and when I do, I am careful to pray according to God's Word. Our Lord has made the path of prayer abundantly clear and the confidence that we have is that whenever we pray according to His will, He hears us and if He hears us, we know we have the petitions we've asked of Him. So does God really answer prayer? Absolutely!

And that's where the problem starts! Life throws some real stuff at us and people often seek out people of God to help them get through the difficult times. But a lot of folks only want the help, not the Helper. They want God to "interfere" but only when it benefits them and they want him out of their lives when it doesn't benefit them. For example, I met an individual who fell and broke elbow. It greatly interfered with his tennis game and so he asked for prayer. He knew I was a believer and he believed that I really believed. So he figured he'd get healed. He didn't.

He wanted God on his side...but just until he could rehab long enough to get his game back.

That's the thing about dealing with God in prayer - He knows the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. Can He and will He heal anyway? Of course, but it's our faith that sets us apart from the rest of fallen mankind. And without faith, it's impossible to please Him.

So a lot of times when we pray for people, they simply "hope" they'll get healed but they don't actually have the faith to "believe" they'll be healed. So they go away mad and sick and discouraged. They tell their friends that they went to a "faith healer" but it didn't work and well, they really didn't expect it to work.

So beloved, if you're a person of God and an unsaved person in need of healing (or anything else for that matter) asks you to pray, jump at the chance! But always remember that the most important thing you can pray for that person is for their redemption. Jesus already came to save them, their sins are already forgiven, and they're already healed. They just have to believe that God Is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

Help the unbelievers in your life.
Lead them into a relationship with God.
Teach them the scriptures.
Teach them to pray.

Because the only time God is on your side is when you're on His side!

Time Flies...

Time flies when you're having fun...or when you're working 60 hours a week! But fun it is! I've got a great job, work with great people, and serve a Great God. What more can a girl ask?

But you know, the more we work, the more we really need to spend time with God. I hear from so many people that they just "don't have time" any more to clear their thoughts and sit quietly in the Presence of God. But, Beloved, the busier you are, the more you need to do just that. Time with the Father is what keeps us strong and it's what keeps us going in the right direction.

When we put our lives down for even a little while each and every day, and have fellowship with the Lord, when we again pick up our lives we'll find we're refreshed and encouraged. The world today is complex and we must have clarity to know what direction to follow; we must have time with the Father to hear His voice.

Communications Gap

It's amazing how well our spiritual ancestors communicated. Written letters and personal visits were how they found out what was going on down the road and across the country. Letters and visits created unity and without them, what would we have in the way of impartation of what the original disciples learned from Jesus and each other? Today we have letters, internet, TV, ad infinitum! And we still don't know what's going on. Now maybe it's just me, but I'd love to know what "the church" is up to. And when I say "church" I don't mean the building you go to on Sunday/Wednesday or any of the other buildings folks go to once or twice a week. When I say "church" I mean the Body of Christ.

But the Body of Christ has become crippled because its members are disjointed and therefore lame and impotent. How did we get that way? The answer's evident...we got that way because each "church" has its own agenda and that agenda often has no place for Jesus. It seems to me that everyone is doing their own thing instead of doing His thing! Churches seldom work together in unity to take a region for the Kingdom of God. Why?

'Cause if I help you, you might steal some of MY church members. Pathetic. We should be helping each other, we should be working together, we should be praying together to determine what it is the Holy Spirit needs for us to DO in our region...and then we should be joining forces to get the job done.

Do you know why people ridicule us? Because they see us for who we really are. They don't see signs, they don't see wonders. They often only see a bunch of self-serving, well-dressed, Bible-ignoring, sin-as-much-as-the-next-guy preachers telling them they're going to Hell but not giving them one reason at all to go to Heaven.

Here's a novel idea: why don't we get together as a region - whatever region it is you live in - and pray and see what God wants us to do!?! How about we give it a shot in Brevard County, Florida?

Let's see what happens...

God's Mercy, God's Grace, God's Power

Without His mercy, I'd still be dead in my sins, not even knowing I was filthy and going to hell. Who knew? Nothing in my Catholic upbringing ever said anything about being born again!  Nobody ever told me that Jesus was no longer nailed to the cross but had risen. Nobody ever told me that the reason He was nailed to the cross in the first place was because of my sins...not the sins of mankind...MY sins. But it was His mercy that saved me, that let me hear His voice calling me even when I was deaf and blind in my sin.

And it was through His grace I was saved. Believe me, it was nothing I ever did on my own, I sure as heck wasn't good enough, smart enough, nice enough or rich enough to have figured out that I needed saving, and I sure couldn't have made it happen on my own! Yup, it's by grace I was saved. I give Him all the credit! I wasn't even listening for Him when He let me hear His voice call me! How cool is that? That's grace...nothing but grace. Grace that got me through the struggles of my life, grace that got me down on my knees, and grace positioned me to receive His resurrection power into my life.

But how do we get God's power? First, you have to believe that He died for YOUR sins and receive His forgiveness. Then make Him the Lord of your life which simply means obeying Him. But how can you obey Him? Power! When He dwells within you, you receive the resurrection power that enables you to overcome temptation, to overcome sin, and to overcome the stuff that the enemy uses to try to kill you, steal from you, and destroy you.

Beloved, don't fall for the lie that says "God loves you so much that He allows evil, horrible, despicable, heartbreaking things to happen in your life." It's a LIE. don't, don't, don't fall for it!!! The biggest lie the enemy tells those who are willing to hear is that he doesn't exist and that it is God, not the devil, who brings tragedy and sickness into your life. God says very plainly that Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly; that by His stripes you are healed; that when we confess our sins, we're forgiven; that we should cast out demons; we should lay hands on the sick and they'll recover; and that we should tell people about the good news.

Seriously, does rape and murder and childhood death sound like good news? Does financial ruin sound like good news? Nope. Doesn't sound like good news to me either. Beloved, don't get tricked into believing the very prevalent lie that is being taught in many of our churches. Believe what you read for yourself in the Bible...believe in the finished work of Jesus...believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him,.

Allow God's mercy to cleanse you from all unrighteousness; let His grace lead you into a life of service and obedience to Him; and let His power be evident in your life by living the Word, not just hearing it, but actually getting out there are doing what He has commanded us to do. Arise, beloved, to your high calling in Christ Jesus!

Soooooo Frustrating

Have you ever noticed that life can be just the teeniest little bit frustrating? As Christians, we encounter the same frustrations that the rest of the world encounters. It's inevitable. Nowhere in the Bible does it say our days on earth will be frustration-free when we give our lives to the Lord.

But it's actually not unGodly to be frustrated; it's how we handle the frustration that deems Godliness or unGodliness! What's your first line of defense when you run into a brick wall of frustration? Your first line of defense has to be what it is in every situation: the Word. What does the Word say about the situation that's causing frustration or irritation or anger in your life? If you don't know what the Word says, you'll have nothing to stand on to regain your balance when you hit that wall full force! If you don't know what the promises are, how can you believe they'll occur in your life?

You know, there's a line from a song in the movie "South Pacific" that I've never forgotten: the song was "Happy Talk" and the line goes something like this: "You've got to have a dream, if you don't have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true?" It's almost the same theory: unless you have God's Word within you, how you gonna trust Him to see His Word come true? If you don't know what His promises are, you'll never be able to trust Him to fulfill His promises...at best all your prayers will ever be is wishful thinking!

So why am I telling you this? Because in order to combat the frustration in your life (which leads to anger, doubt, resentment, bitterness, unbelief, discouragement, and on and on) you have to know what's wrong with the situation you're in. Until you know what you're facing, you can't use that mighty Sword of the Spirit against it to gain victory.

So study! Renew your mind! Gain strength! Learn the word and learn the solutions to life's problems!

Opportunity Knocks

Opportunity in America takes on many different forms. Sometimes we recognize it, sometimes we don't. Sometimes we don't even know that opportunity is knocking!

But what does the Word tell us about opportunity? And what does the Word tell us about knocking?  Let's look at knocking first: ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it will be opened to you. The Greek actually translates "keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking" and so we have to realize that knocking just once may not do it. Now don't confuse knocking with begging or pleading. Loud banging and continual knocking does not change God's heart; knocking to seek God's wisdom changes our hearts and helps us realize that we have nothing and we are nothing without Him. It reminds us that the "keep on knocking" exercise continually brings us into the Presence of God which is where we should be. Scriptures tell us over and over that God hears and answers our prayers. So why do we have to keep on knocking if we've already been granted the petitions we've sought? We keep on knocking to find the wisdom we need to recognize the opportunities surrounding our prayers, to walk out the answers to our prayers, and to continually remain in an attitude of thankfulness.. It is God Himself Who is opened to us.

Opportunity is when God puts something in front of us that's good for us. Opportunity sometimes comes clothed in sheep's clothing (from the enemy or lust or the flesh or the world) and what may seem like an opportunity isn't. Sometimes God will simply say "No" to some opportunities - sometimes we think we want a piece of bread but God knows it's a stone; sometimes we want what we think is a fish but that God knows is a scorpion that will poison us. But opportunities do come and we have to be able to identify them. Again going before the Father in prayer will keep you in a position to be able to identify an opportunity from a temptation.

Pray on, people!

Get Rid of the Stress

Stress is really nothing more than fear. Sometimes you’re afraid of what’s coming; sometimes you’re afraid because you don’t know what’s coming. But no matter what the circumstances, you can always boil stress down to fear. There are numerous stressors, but the most common cause of stress is time constraints. So let’s look at some of the ways you can reduce the stress in your life just by organizing some stuff:

• Make a list of what stresses you; then decide what is and isn’t worth it; then change what you can change and develop work-arounds for what you can’t change.
  
• Use a wall calendar and a pocket datebook. (The operative word is use.
  
• Balance your scheduled activities: work/play; groups/personal; family/couple.
  
• Use your head! Think about what you’re going to do or how to do something.
  
• Don’t buy stuff that isn’t easy to take care of.
  
• Simplify your eating and cooking habits.
  
• Plan your day the night before: clothes, breakfast foods, lunches, money, dry cleaning, homework, etc.
  
• Simplify your schedule: don’t go places you don’t want to go!
  
• Unclutter! Throw it out or give it away.
  
• Make lists!
  
• Make more lists!
  
• Keep home and job separate. Spend quality time in both places.
  

These are just a few of the good ideas that will help take the stress out of your life…no matter where that stress comes from.

Edify by Example

The best way to build a team comprised of people who are loyal, trustworthy and who walk in integrity is to create a role model for them to follow. That’s right…you! The “trickle down” effect is most evident in the integrity of the people within an organization. Generally you can observe the workers to determine the type of leadership they have. If you walk in integrity, so will your staff.

The best way to create such a “dream team” is to work with your team; make sure they know what they’re supposed to know, train them, mentor them, and let them shadow you. As individuals grow, expand their responsibilities to “bridge” over to greater opportunities. We’re not talking about the distraction and fragmentation of “multi-tasking” here; we’re talking about learning one job, doing it well, and assuming additional responsibilities to learn another job.

As a manager, conform your actions to the needs of the organization and to the needs of your employees. Be all things to all people (in other words, do whatever it takes). Be diligent in following through with your team.

Only by demonstrating yourself as a trustworthy, dependable, understanding person will you be able to inspire loyalty and trust from your staff and volunteers.

A Kinder, Gentler Manager

A good leader listens to volunteers and staff with empathy. How do you do that? You ask good questions and respond appropriately. Learning to ask the right questions takes practice and is accomplished by trial and error. Ask the question; evaluate the response.

For example, “What’s wrong with you?” is, on a scale of 0-10, a flat 0! It’s a bad question no matter how you phrase it. Why not try something like, “You seem troubled. Would you like to talk?” Communication as a leader is all about listening. Empathic listening takes time, but not as much time as it takes to correct the misunderstandings you’ll face if you don’t. Volunteers and staff who are not encouraged to express themselves clearly usually repress their problems which eventually manifest as poor performance.

One of the fruits of the Spirit that you already possess is kindness; another is gentleness...wonderfully important traits for a manger!

Getting Staff & Volunteers to Cooperate

What a terrible waste of time when someone refuses to do their job the way they're asked to do it!


But what about creativity? What about self-expression? What about empowerment? What about..what about...hey, I know! What about doing it the way the boss asks you to do it! Ewww! Does that sound harsh? Yes. Get over it!


Every organization needs order and that means that someone (a/k/a the boss) has to make the decisions. Even as every boat has one captain, every department or church or organization has one decision-maker. If you are that decision maker, let me encourage you to hang on to the authority that's been given to you. God places authority over us...whether we're paid staff or whether we're volunteers. We must submit to that authority. Not only is it company policy, it's God's policy!


Usually it's easier to get paid staff to do their jobs right but it's just as important to get volunteers to do their jobs right, too. And it's often not easy at all to get both entities to work together for the good of the organization.


If you're in a leadership position in a company, a service organization, a church or ministry, and you need a little guidance on how to get your staff and volunteers to do what it is you need them to do, just write to us and we'll be glad to send you a free white paper on how to get them to cooperate! We've cut through the hype of being "politically correct" and gone straight to the "how to" of getting things done. This guide addresses issues you deal with every day and resolves them...step by step.


It's FREE, no strings attached, nothing to buy, nothing to join...just some good advice if you need it! Go to our website: www.powerintheworkplace.com and request a copy. We'll be glad to email it to you with our blessings.

ChurchWorks!

ChurchWorks! What the heck is that about? Well, it's about the church stepping up to the plate and really helping folks where it will count!

One of the things Power In The Workplace does, in addition to workplace ethics seminars, is job-search seminars. There are so many people in Brevard County who are out of work and where are they? They're sitting in the pews in our churches. But who's helping them? Are the churches equipped or even willing to take the lead in doing something?

I've been "preaching" for years that the rightful place for virtually any type of community assistance should be the church. But we've fallen short of our obligations and allowed the government of all things to take our place. What can the government do for a hurting soul? And who doesn't hurt after the loss of a job?

We CAN help; we have to do our part. But let me tell you who else is going their part...the Brevard Workforce. I had the privilege of attending a "Faith for the Future" seminar at their Rockledge facility. It was a presentation to create job clubs for out-of-work folks in our community...and virtually every church in Brevard County was invited. About 50 showed up.

Let's get behind this re markably timely initiative and help Brevard Workforce get our citizens jobs!!!!!!
C'mon, church, let's get to work!!!!

Staying Alert

There’s an interesting story in Judges, specifically Judges 7:6. It’s the story of Israel’s strategy to overtake the Midianites and how the Lord directed Gideon to send home any warriors who were afraid to go into battle – and 68% of his army left. God then directed Gideon to lead the remaining 10,000 men to water and to carefully watch how they drank it. Some of the men got down on their hands and knees and lapped the water like dogs, and some of the men got down on one knee and brought the water up to their mouths.

God told Gideon to send home the ones who lapped up the water in a “face down” position. I always wondered about that.

I heard a teaching several years ago that I think was quite revealing. It seems as though God wanted the battle to be won in a manner that would leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that He and He alone created the victory. Gideon’s army had dwindled from 32,000 to 300 men and the enemy they were facing was formidable with men who were “as numerous as locusts”. Of course Israel won the battle in spite of the numbers!

So how does that relate to us? Easy. The men who went home for whatever the reason had “better” things to do than participate in warfare. How many times do we know in our hearts that we should be on our knees in prayer and spiritual warfare but typically have something “better” to do? But it’s really just fear. But what about that whole water-drinking issue? That’s easy, too. The men who stayed erect on one knee quenched their thirst while remaining alert to the movement of the enemy.

So I told you all that, Beloved, to tell you to stay alert. Never get so complacent that you forget that there’s a real enemy out there who’s out to get you. The Lord needs you to stay alert! You don’t have to become paranoid because the Holy Spirit will direct you and let you know what’s ahead of you. He will prepare you for the fight. But you can’t win a battle if you don’t see the enemy coming and if you aren’t properly armed.

Gideon armed his men to win the fight; the Holy Spirit has armed YOU to overcome the ruler of this world and win the spiritual fight.

Authority: Yours, Mine, Ours

Authority is a critical part of every Christian’s walk.

All authority in heaven and earth was given to Jesus Christ and He knew how to use it. He is resident within us and we have been given the same authority here on earth as well. But do we know how to use it? Surprisingly, many Christians don’t even know they have authority, much less how to effectively walk in it.

But once they’ve come to the realization of their authority, many people want to start walking in “power” and “commanding” stuff to happen right away. But you know, Beloved, as the Centurion said, Jesus was a man who was “under” authority. Under authority is where we learn to walk IN authority.

When you’re at work, do you constantly complain about the boss or about the rules that you have to work under? Do you murmur about how much easier your job would be if you just didn’t have to follow those stupid guidelines and be allowed to do the task your way? Un huh. I thought so. If you haven’t learned to follow the simple rules that govern your job, how can you learn to lead people who will need to follow rules by your example? It’ll never happen.

To learn to walk in authority, take a look at some of the folks in the Bible who set the examples of how to walk under authority: Joseph, David, Daniel and Eleazar. And don’t forget Ruth, Samuel, Elisha and Solomon…yes, Solomon walked under authority before he walked in authority.

Be willing to obey God’s Word. Be willing to change your behavior to conform to His Word. Be willing to change your thinking to that of a person who loves his Lord and is willing to be under authority.

                   

Tourist or Ambassador?

Have you ever been to a foreign country? When you were there, did you play the tourist? Did you go everywhere and look at everything and thoroughly enjoy your time at your destination? Of course you did. You probably took advantage of everything there was for tourists to do.

Tourists go to a destination for a temporary visit. They go on their own terms, visit where they want to visit, talk to whomever they want to talk, dress they way they feel like, and conduct themselves in any manner that suits them. And they usually don’t bother to learn the language. Tourists do, however, have to obey the laws of the country they’re visiting or they’ll get into big trouble.

Ambassadors, on the other hand, are sent to a foreign country by their homeland. They go on a specific mission, with specific instructions to accomplish specific tasks. Their time is actually not their own because they represent the Government of their homeland. They speak only to those they have been sent to meet with, they dress in a manner that displays respect for the host country and that reflects the professionalism of their office, and they conduct themselves in a manner that will bring honor to their homeland. And they are always fluent in the language of their host country. Ambassadors do not, to a very large extent, come under the laws of their host country. They have what is called “diplomatic immunity.”

So here on earth…in God’s Kingdom…which are you? Are you a tourist or an ambassador? How do you act? How do you dress? Can you speak “Kingdom” language in a manner that others can readily understand? Think about it, beloved.

                   

                   

Willing But Weak

We’re going to take a backward look at Matthew 26:41. We’re all familiar with it or should I say, we’re all familiar with partof it? But as I said, we’re going to take a backward look so let’s look at the end of that scripture; the part that we’re familiar with:

“The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Most people use this in the context of failing to do things because, even though they want to do something, they just don’t because they’re “weak.” Baloney!

Now let’s take a backward look! Your flesh is weak but the spirit is willing. God knows we’re weak but it’s our spirit with His Spirit within it, that enables us to do things anyway. It doesn’t matter how afraid we are, it doesn’t matter how unsure of ourselves we are, and it certainly doesn’t matter how weak we are. It’s God, not us, who gets things done! If you could do anything in your own strength or your own confidence, you wouldn’t need God! So don’t be tempted to use the “I want to but I’m weak” excuse because that’s all it is…just an excuse.

And speaking of “tempted,” the first part of the above scripture says, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” In keeping with our backward theme, here, doesn’t it make perfect sense to read the scripture this way: “You’re going to be tempted in a whole buncha stuff unless you watch for God in everything you do and keep praying!” I believe one of the things we’re tempted in every day is the tendency not to go forth on the path that God has set before us because we perceive ourselves as weak. Overcome that weakness through prayer.

Get before the Father every day and watch for Him and pray with Him; then and only then will the willingness of your spirit be strengthened.

                   

WHO's Mad at Me?

A lot of times, I hear people say, “Well, I don’t care, I’m just really mad at God right now.”

OMG, people! Don’t play with fire! Some ministers will tell you that “God’s big enough to handle your anger.” But let me ask you this, are you big enough to handle God’s anger? I doubt it.

Let’s get some facts straight:

• God does not change. (Mal 3:6)
  
• God is an all-consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29)
  
• God gets angry at the sound of our words. (Deut 1:34)
  

So where does your anger toward God come from? It comes from your soul demanding something that God doesn’t give; or blaming God for something the enemy did to you; or being really ticked off because God didn’t fix something you insisted on doing to yourself. But boil it all down and your anger comes from not being grateful for what God has done in your life and complaining about it.

Whew! Harsh!

Our soul is a very demanding entity…it wants its rights! It demands its rights! But it has no rights. Everything you are and everything you do were purchased through the shed blood of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross. How dare you think you have the “right” to be mad at God? And if you are mad at God, get over it! You simply have no right to think you can stand before your Creator Who forgave your sins and gave you eternal life and say, “I’m mad at you.” How dare you?

Don’t fall for that ooey-gooey philosophy that says God will forgive everyone for everything. Yes, He is a loving and merciful Father, but the scriptures are clear that we must confess our sins before Him and THEN He is faithful and just to forgive them. You now know from the above scripture that the sound of your complaining words can anger God…so be careful what comes out of your mouth. Be grateful for what He has done for you; your anger demonstrates an unappreciative attitude. Please, beloved, re-evaluate how you have perhaps come to be angry with God, repent and ask His forgiveness…and just for giggles, read Hebrews 10:26-31.

Be There

Go forth and make disciples of all nations. A very lofty goal to be sure.

But what, exactly is a disciple? Sometimes we think it’s just someone who follows the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. But if we look carefully at the scriptures, and at the intent of our Lord through His myriad demonstrations, we see that a disciple is actually a lot like our “modern day” Chaplain.

Throughout the years, the United States Government has honored the historic separation of Church and State, but not the separation of God and State. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have full-time Chaplains who minister the love of God and who act as spiritual advisors and counselors to those individuals who serve our great country. Chaplains, whose roles are constitutionally upheld by precedent and tradition, have always been an integral part of our country’s society and are still a major source of spiritual strength at the community level.

I recently had the privilege of completing chaplaincy training with the International Fellowship of Chaplains and cannot begin to tell you what a realization dawned on me as they described the roles and responsibilities of Chaplains. I never felt more like a disciple as I did during that training.

The thing that I’ll carry away from my training is this: be there. The “ministry of presence” is all that’s needed some times. Just be there. A former pastor of mine once said, “When it’s raining and your roof is leaking, which would you rather have? A person who says he’ll pray for you or a person with some shingles and nails who says he’ll help you?”

The world needs your prayers. The world needs your help. Be there.

Seriously?

Most of us are familiar with the phrase from Matthew 26:40 in which Jesus pleads with His disciples and says, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?”

But today we’re going to take a closer look at the next statement that comes out of His mouth: “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

The Church today (especially in America) is very weak. Even though our spirits are born-again and we have everything we need to live victoriously, our flesh is still very much under subjection to our soul (not spirit) which drives us to temptation and to do all manner of ungodly stuff…like drink enough soda to provide more than all the calories we need all day; or have a Twinkie (or three) instead of an apple; or watch TV instead of reading the Word; or scream at the kids when we take them to school instead of speaking a blessing over them; or anything else that distracts us from watching with Him.

The flesh is weak…or could it be that it’s just untamed?

I fast once a week (LOL)! In “theory” I fast once a week; I used to fast once a week. But today all I did was just put my breakfast off for a couple of hours. Pathetic. Who’s in control…my spirit, my soul or my body? Well, today it was my body. It was hungry. Again, pathetic.

So if we can’t even tame our tummies or TVs, how can we participate with the Lord in this very serious hour of need? And beloved, this hour of need is almost as critical as was His hour of need before His crucifixion. Let’s pray for strength. Let’s pray for endurance. Let’s pray that we can keep up with the very serious requirements of this age because He’s coming…and He’s coming soon.