Don't Do It

Don’t Do It

Matthew 11:30:  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Well, here we go again another new year, another time for us to make a promise to ourselves to give up a habit that we do not want to carry around any longer. It could be cigarettes, and we will do our best to quit in our own strength, we will buy the gum, the patch or anything from the local drug store that may help us accomplish quitting this habit, or should I say addiction.

Then, there is losing weight and let’s face it … a lot of us need to lose weight because we eat too much.  It can truly become an addiction in our life instead of using food for fuel for our body …  we tend to over eat. The founder of Teen Challenge and Time Square church Rev. David Wilkerson once said "food is a legalized sedative; we turn to it when we are sad and we turn to it when we are happy."  What many thousands of people will do the first week of the New Year is buy a book with the latest diet, read it for a short period, and diet for a short period of time.  None of this, for the most part, will be long lasting. Why, because we are doing it in our own strength. Will there be an occasion where someone will fulfill their promise to themselves and it be long lasting? Absolutely, but these cases are rare. What I want to encourage you with this New Year is to find out what God’s word has to say about what you want to change in your life.

If it’s your temper, or spending more time with your family, reading Gods word more often, gossiping less, being more generous or it could very well be a substance you are addicted to.

The sure way to have a long-lasting change for the New Year is to find out what Gods word says about what we want to change in our life, and then give it to Him!

Matthew 11:30:  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light

You see, another diet book, a patch from the drug store, an anger management class or even going to many meetings a week for some addiction is a difficult burden for us to bear. We can’t do it! Give your burden to God this New Year and

Don't Do It.........

That is-don't make another New Year’s resolution that you cannot possibly keep.

Light Wins

John 11:9  .. If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 

 I visited Toys R Us in New Orleans two days before Christmas a couple of years ago and I saw a lot of stress and anger in the parking lot, from employees inside; but, most of all from the customers hustling to find something that will show someone else how much they love them. Good Luck! You see love is an action word and giving is a way to show our love; but, as long as our love to someone is based upon something material it is simply not lasting. Love needs to be personal.

It was so personal with God that He gave His greatest personal possession, His Son. This Light would be shown in such a way that it would win any battle it comes in contact with. It causes anger to cease, addictions to go away and any problem in our lives that we allow the Light to shine upon…… it wins every time.

If you are in a large room with the lights out surrounded by darkness, not able to see your hand in front of your face, you can take a small flashlight that shouldn’t have a chance compared to all the darkness that surrounds it -- but when that small flashlight is brought into this large room of darkness, it wins!

Jesus is referred to as the light of this world for a reason. Any time we invite Jesus into our lives and allow God’s word to illuminate our steps, we win every time.  Even though the scene in Toys R Us was not one of peace and joy which is what the Christmas season is supposed to represent, isn’t it still awesome to know that all of the hustle and bustle revolves around the birth of our Lord and Savior who is the Light of the world.

Even atheists are taking off work because of the greatest event ever, Light Wins! Just recently I was talking with one of our graduates of Louisiana Teen Challenge and I was trying to describe to him that when I accepted Christ, the obvious things changed in my life like using drugs and drinking, but what was so awesome to me was how I noticed the different seasons now, like fall and spring that brought forth flowers and beautiful foliage. I was having a hard time describing it to him and then he said I know exactly what you are talking about, it’s like you were watching an old TV for 33 years (which is how long before I met Christ) and then you started watching life on a flat screen, high-definition TV. I said that’s it! The Light had illuminated my life and his in the same way and it will for all of us. Allow the Light to win in every situation in your life today and cause you to see the world differently. Don’t fall into the scene that I described at Toys R Us. Allow the Light of this world to keep your world in High Def.

Light Wins Every Time

Gary

Speak No Russian

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011

No Speak Russian

James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

I have some very dear friends of mine that live in the Altai region of Siberia, Russia that I have visited several times. We work together with Teen Challenge helping people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. They visited us in America for almost a month one summer, now when they come visit or when I go to visit we have a translator to help us communicate but there are short periods of time during our visits when the translator is not around so we will communicate the best we can. It looks like we are playing charades when their is no one to translate and so we laugh and really have a good time time without being able to talk. It really is hilarious.

There was a time when they were visiting with us I brought my friend Genya squirrel hunting with me ( with no translator) while we were hunting and communicating the best we could I realized that during our visits we have spent a lot of time together and have not come close to offending each other at all, not even thinking to myself I wonder what he meant by what he just said, or he sounded upset, etc.... and we definately were not able to slander or gossip about anyone. Why? Because we couldn't communicate.

Oh how awesome relationships in our lives would be if our communication was limited so that people would not get offended because of gossip, being a busy body, and slandering one another.

1Timothy 2:2 tells us....... lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Lets be careful to limit our conversation so that we do not offend our friends and family because the truth is our tongue causes the most damage to relationships and its very difficult to use that same tongue to repair whats been damaged.

Gary

Perfecting Our Concerns

 Psalms 138:8 The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me

Wow what an awesome assurance! That God will perfect whatever concerns me. Now obviously that does not pertain to going to the casino and risk losing your paycheck or if you are concerned about what you are going to drink at the casino or if the lady at the black jack table is interested in you while your wife and kids are at home. God is not looking to bring you satisfaction in those areas. He will allow you to do that on your own. It breaks His heart but He is not going to violate what you want to do. 

But what God will do, for that wife who believes, is perfect her concern for that husband who is in the casino losing his family’s money, cheating on her, and not spending time with his children. You see, as a child of God, we have the promise that God is going to perfect that which concerns me. There is a lot that cannot be explained by anyone concerning how God works out situations for His children but that is where faith and trust occurs. 

There are terrible things that happen in a world that is full of evil but the bible is very clear in Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God . There is a special peace that comes upon a person that trusts in the promises of God.  My family experienced the pain of losing someone prematurely which is very painful and continues to be painful until we trust God and His promises and believe that He is going to perfect that which concerns me.

Gods perfection can’t really be explained and we can’t assume how He will do it but He will! The ultimate perfection is eternity in heaven but I don’t think I will be concerned about anything in heaven. So I believe while we are alive here on earth God’s perfection lies in supernatural peace, joy, patience, and love in the midst of things that are concerning His children. God knows what is concerning you right now and He wants to perfect it for you. Give it to him, whatever it is and He will perfect it FOR YOU!

 Let God know you trust Him with your concerns and He will perfect it in a way that’s best for you.

Give Him your concerns

Gary

America!! Cmon Man!!

2 Chronicles 7:14:  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves

I go to several sporting events every year and there is one thing that I notice that every event has in common. The American flag would fly before the game, the words to the Star Spangled Banner would be on the jumbo-tron while the marching band would play.  Over 100,000 people would await a flyover from our courageous military and most people in the stands would mumble the words to our precious national anthem that represents the freedom that exist because this nation is founded on biblical principles.

shall humble themselves..........we have lost our humility as a nation and I believe that the mumbling of the Star Spangled Banner is a good sign of how proud we have become. You see, when a popular song is played over the sound system, the crowd gets excited and sings along or when it’s time to sing the teams fight song, the crowd sings loudly.

In other countries, that are not considered Christian, when their people get together and there is an opportunity to sing their national anthem they will sing it proud and loud….not like us who will not sing it proud or loud because of our PRIDE that is growing as a result of us drifting away from God.

One person cannot change a countries direction but we can change our country one heart at a time. Next time you’re at a an event, instead of mumbling, proudly sing the Star Spangled Banner and when you’re at church, instead of mumbling, proudly sing unto a Good God.

The last part of 2 Chronicles 7:14 says… and I will heal their land

God Bless America

Gary

Ask somebody!

Proverbs 1:5    and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsel.

I guess it’s just a man thing, that is, not being willing to pull the car over and ask for directions even when we are lost and can’t tolerate it when our wife ask us are you going the wrong way?  We don’t even like to read the instructions on how to put something new together. We just dump it out of the box and hope for the best.

There was a time I had the opportunity to buy a used Chevy Blazer wholesale and my intention was to resale it and make some extra money. I didn’t pray about it, I didn’t ask for anyone’s opinion or advice. You see, I had worked in the car business for several years before I had given my life to Christ and let’s face it; we have a tendency to not ask advice, pray etc.. about things we are knowledgeable about.  It’s because we can really get prideful in those areas of life we know a lot about.

Well, come to find out the market on the Chevy Blazer was really bad because this was right after hurricane Katrina and gas prices had really soared. If I had asked someone, I probably wouldn’t have lost money on that deal!

I’m reminded of when the disciples had been fishing all night, which was their profession. They took advice from Jesus. A preacher, teacher, carpenter not a commercial fisherman. They took his advice and went back out like He advised them and they caught fish!

It would behoove us to take advice from people who God can use to make right decisions, even people not in our so called profession.

I learned a valuable lesson from that Chevy Blazer......

Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Ask Somebody!!

Gary

The Rope Swing

Hebrews 11:1: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

Some of my friends and family from Alabama will know of a place called Chimney Rock on beautiful Lake Martin. At Chimney Rock there was a rope swing that I had swung on many times during my childhood but it was a time as an adult that I remember so well.

I climbed up the hill and onto the rock that you had to literally stand on the very edge to grab the rope as someone would throw it to you. It was very high in the air and once you made the decision to swing there was not the option of changing your mind midair because you would just swing back into the rocks. So, you had to be decisive about letting go when you swung out over the water.

I stood there with the rope in my hand that actually had a ski handle tied on the end that you held.  Looking up where the rope was tied on a limb of a pine tree I noticed there were several different colors of rope tied together by what had to be several different people that I didn’t know.  I was having faith in these people that they secured these ropes and I trusted my life with it.

I really felt like God spoke to my heart when I was standing on that rock with that rope swing in my hand. He spoke to me…  If you will have the faith in Me that you have in the people that secured this rope swing that you have never met or seen, I will take you for the ride of your life!!

How true that was!

God also told us in Matthew 17:20:  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 

The reality is we tend to have a lot more faith in things that we shouldn’t,or things we don't even trust.  If we just have faith in a loving God, He is ready to take us on the ride of our life!

Have faith

Gary

Worried?

Matthew Chapter 6 verse 25 tells us “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life"

I can remember very well the first time I worried as a Christian. It was the summer of 1997 in a cell in Orleans Parish Prison about a day after I had given my heart to Jesus. You see I entered into jail for a seven day stay for public intoxication which was a relief considering I was homeless at the time. God had transformed my life in that cell, I don’t have the words to describe what had happened but after reading the Gospels for two days (thanks to the Gideons!!) I was convinced I needed a Savior. The crazy thing is I had been living on the streets, addicted to drugs, alcohol, etc..... and didn’t worry about anything; but, now that I had given my heart to Jesus all of a sudden I am stricken with worry. You see, when I was immersed in the world, I didn’t worry and now that I am immersed in Jesus I am worried about where I am going to go, what I am going to eat, live etc... when I get out of jail. What am I going to do with this new life that I have found while reading God’s word in this jail cell. I believe that is what the enemy wants us to do. WORRY.
I know that God wants us not to worry as He clearly states in His word.
Worry is a sin. Jesus says 3 times in Matthew chapter 6 not to worry. You see this worry I was attacked with had me really considering that this new life was not for me because the way I had survived on the streets was going to have to change......I was going to have to trust God!
I was worried.
The only thing I had to do to pass time in that cell was read God’s word so that’s what I did. As I read the word I came across the scripture in Matthew chapter 6 that said....
Do not worry about what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life.
After reading this my worry was gone and I walked out of that cell a few days later to start my new life, Do not let worry get you off course, remember what Gods word says
“therefore I tell you do not worry about your life”

Why Envy?

Psalm 37:1 tells us..... Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong. In this verse David is saying not to fret about those people who are prospering by doing the wrong thing, but God lets us know that is not the way to true happiness.

I had been serving God a little over a year, I was singing in the choir, involved on the worship team etc...... and by the way I was desiring a wife. There was a friend of mine that wasn’t living for God and I remember the day so well when he walked into church one Sunday morning with a beautiful girl whose father happened to be a pastor. That’s what I wanted!!!! A pastors’ daughter!!!

Words cannot describe the emotions I felt when I saw him walk into church with her knowing he wasn’t living right. Thoughts went through my mind like God, why are you blessing him who is not serving You and I feel like You don’t care about me right now.......I think I am going back into the world!! At least I can find a wife.

I know that is some very immature thoughts but I was not exactly a mature Christian at the time and I wanted answers from God on fairness. Sounds like a little kid griping about a toy that his brother got that you wanted huh, I know it does.

The truth is that is exactly how we can be with God at times and you know how frustrating and hurtful it can be when one of your children is upset and they feel like they haven’t been treated fairly. I can only imagine how it would make God feel knowing how much he loves us and how perfectly He knows what’s best for us.
Verse 2 of Psalm 37 says for like the grass they will soon wither and then verse 3 and 4 tells us…Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
God provided me with a beautiful wife and the relationship I was envious of did not prosper. God wants to give you the desires of your heart. We just have to trust Him and don’t waste days and years of your life envying what seems like people who are prospering because without Christ no one is experiencing true prosperity.

Gary

Thankful

As Thanksgiving approaches, the world as a whole gathers together and shares for what they are thankful, I think about the people of the world that do not live for God; but, on Thanksgiving they are doing the will of God. If they only knew! If the unbeliever only knew that if he or she is thankful they are doing the will of God. Now I am not saying that the unbeliever has the wonderful promises that God offers the believer but what I am saying is something supernatural happens in a person’s life when they are thankful. You see, the bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 to be thankful for this is the will of God. Just as great the blessing in a person’s life for being thankful so is the lack of blessing, happiness, and peace for not being grateful. The apostle Paul taught us that he learned this secret in Philippians 4:11: for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

We are now living in a time that if a child does not have an I-phone they are not grateful. This is a sign of the direction that we are headed as a nation. Even our government is not grateful and content. They are slowly losing that supernatural blessing from God that has been on this country since its grateful beginnings. But the direction of our government does not have to affect our personal lives if we are thankful.
I have truly realized it only takes focusing on one negative thing in your life to lose the thankfulness for the many, many blessings God has given us. When that happens we lose our peace.

Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Let me encourage you to not wait till the end of next November to be thankful and thus do the will of God. Let’s continue to do the will of God everyday of our life by being thankful. Let God know you are thankful for Him and let those around you know you are thankful for them.

I read a quote recently that said not expressing your gratitude towards someone is like receiving a gift and not opening it..........

Be Thankful and let it be known
Gary