KEEP THAT FORK!

^" ...and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you," (1 Peter 1:4)


This morning I want to share a story with you that touches me every time I read it. I pray that it blesses you as well.

There was a young lady who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given only three months to live. So as she was getting her things in order, she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain details of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, what kind of flowers she wanted, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.

After everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave, the young  lady suddenly remembered something that was very important to her.

"Oh Pastor, there's one more thing," she said excitedly.
"What's that?" the pastor's replied.

"I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand," she told him.

 The pastor stood looking at the young lady, not knowing quite what to say.

"That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young lady asked.

"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor.

The young lady explained. "My grandmother once told me a story that I never forgot and I have tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement.  Here’s her story:
“In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep that fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew something better was coming . .  . like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful and with substance!'
So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder, "What's with the fork? Then I want you to tell them, "Keep that fork . . . the best is yet to come."
The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the pastor heard the question, "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.  He was right.

So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you ever so gently, that the best is yet to come.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.(1 Corinthians 2:9)

God is saving the best for last! While things of the world get worse, become old and fade away. The things of God only get better! Rejoice and look toward the day when there is no more death, no more sorrow, no more pain because in Him all these things will pass away. Throw away all the worldly pursuits and pursue God because the greatest celebration awaits us!
Keep going, even if it gets tough — because it only gets better in God! 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,  thank you for assuring me that the best is yet to come.  No matter how things may look for me today, I faithfully await my "better days".  Give me the strength and courage to continue to go forward as I let your light shine through me to help others see your glory.  Order my steps today and bring someone into my path that needs to hear that their best is yet to come.  Anoint me to share these encouraging words of hope and allow these words to make a difference in their heart. Thank you for the promises of a better tomorrow.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

YOU'RE JUST LIKE THE PUMPKIN

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)


As we get closer to the end of October, we will see many carved pumpkins on porches, in yards, in windows, and all over the place.  Many people will celebrate Halloween. This is a great time for Believers to teach others about how to become followers of Christ.

Years ago I taught a youth class at my church on Wednesday nights.  This wasn't your ordinary group of kids. They were the ones that no one else wanted to deal with in the community.  Ranging from age 9-12, girls and boys, from the "other side of the tracks"- these kids had hearts of gold.  You just had to be patient enough to break through the barriers of hurt, rejection, and abandonment that they faced on a daily basis.

One night as we were studying our lesson plan, a boy asked me what it was like being a Christian.  I wish I could have told him it was easy, but I told him the truth in a very creative way.  We were actually carving "JESUS" into our little pumpkins, so I used this for my example.  This is what I shared.

"It's fun being a Christian because I know that God loves me unconditionally.  No matter how hard things get in my life, I know that he will never leave me alone.  It's kind of like these pumpkins!  Just imagine that we were all pumpkins in a big ol' pumpkin patch.  God is walking through looking to see if he can find one who wants to be with Him.  Some wanted to be picked, and some weren't ready...they had excuses to stay in the garden a little longer."

"So God gathered all the pumpkins that really wanted to go with Him.  First He wipes all the dirt off, just like He does when we accept Him into our hearts."  (We wipe our pumpkins off)  "That really feels good.  But we must remember, the dirt is not the only thing we brought with us from that garden." 

As we cut the tops out of the pumpkins, I said "There are some things that require "surgery"...some things that hurt.  You see, there are things inside us that need to be removed.  Sometimes when people hurt us, we grow seeds of anger and bitterness.  When people let us down, we grow seeds of rejection.  When we are victims of abuse or witness bad things in our families, we sometimes grow seeds of violence and unforgiveness.  This cleaning process hurts a bit, but if God doesn't remove it, then we become infected.  This will cause us to rot from the inside, and soon other pumpkins will be ruined because of our infection." 

(We are now wiping the inside of our pumpkins clean.)  "Once we are all clean, on the inside and out, God can use us in His own way.  Sure it may hurt a little here and there, but if we trust Him, we'll see that He's making a wonderful change in our lives. "

(Now we are carving the letters JESUS into the pumpkins.)  "Once all the "surgery" is complete, we can be filled with the Holy Spirit." 

(This is where we place our candles inside.  The lights are dimmed at this point.)

"Then God will remind you that He has a plan for your life.  He wants the beauty of Jesus to shine through you so that others can see their way to Jesus! 
You see, we are not any better than the other pumpkins in the garden.  We are just better off because Jesus has taken us from darkness to light!  Now we have to show others the way.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)



Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for asking us to be Your children. We want to be more like Jesus.
We want others to see Your light shining in our lives.  Help us to open our hearts to You. Take away all our bad attitudes, bitterness, anger, and anything that's not like you.  Give us Your light and love inside.  We're loving you in Jesus' Name, Amen.

TRICK OR TREAT: THE ENEMY EXPOSED!!

⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
(1John 1:8-10)



We're getting closer to the end of October.  This is the time when unbelievers flock out to get masks and decorations celebrating death and the wickedness and darkness of the Evil One.  But let's take another look at what's going on within our own lives and communities every day.  Today I want to expose one of the most useful tactics of the enemy that we all need to be aware of. 

SELF DECEPTION

The devil uses self deception is ways that we may not even recognize until it's too late.  Here are some examples:

Addictions:  You fool yourself, or allow the devil to fool you, into thinking "It could never happen to me.  I have a strong mind, I can't be overcome by drugs, sex, or alcohol."  In a short time you find yourself occasionally using these "tactics" to satisfy or comfort you temporarily instead of praying for strength!.  The next thing you know, you're doing it more often...until you're hiding it from everyone. 1 Peter 2:11 reminds us to avoid pleasures of the flesh: "Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul." 
And Proverbs 20:1 says  "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise."
Don't allow yourself to become a victim. Stop destruction in its tracks!! Fall down on your knees and allow God to transform your mind.

False Praise:  This is when you're in church, but your mind is somewhere else. The enemy has distracted you with thoughts about the ball game, dinner, or what happened last night. You want the preacher to think you're really worshipping, so you just go with the flow...doing what's expected and fitting in with the congregation.  Do you not realize that you can't pretend to have the Spirit of God in your life?  What will you do when the enemy attacks you?  He's not "pretending" to attack, so you can't pretend to praise Almighty God!!  Your praise is your power and you must repent and take God seriously.  His word says in John 4:24 that God is a Spirit, and His worshippers must worship Him in Spirit and in truth!  The key word here....TRUTH!!  You can't fool God.  He knows your heart and He will deal with you according to the result of your deeds.  Jeremiah 17:9-10 says:

 

"The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? "I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds."

Self Sufficiency:  This trick of the devil is very common.  This is how he uses it.  There may be a small problem that comes up in your life- slight illness, family argument, short paycheck, or the neighbor aggravating you.  Instead of taking all the small issues to God, you try to handle them yourself.  Before you know it, things have blown out of control...and you are surprised. Really?  Do you know that God cares about every little detail of your life.  Even the little stuff! Yes, it's in the word: "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken." (Psalms 55:22) 

    "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." (1 Peter 5:7-9)    



Hidden Sin:  This covers all those secret things you do that no one else ever sees.  
Scripture tells us "God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Sam. 16:7). No sin--not even a whispered curse or an evil thought--is hidden from the view of God. In fact, if we realized that God himself is the only audience for such secret sins, we might be less inclined to write them off so lightly.

The Bible tells us that God will one day judge the secrets of every heart (Rom. 2:16). He "will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil" (Eccl. 12:14).
Not only that, secret sins will not remain secret. "The Lord [will] bring to light the things hidden in the darkness" (1 Cor. 4:5).
Jesus said, "There is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops" (Luke 12:2-3).

Those who think they can avoid shame by sinning in secret will discover one day that open disclosure of their secrets before the very throne of God is the worst shame of all.
It is crazy to think we can conceal our sin by keeping it secret. It is double crazy to tell ourselves that we are better than others because we sin in private rather than in public. And it is the very height of craziness to convince ourselves that we can get away with sin by covering it up. "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper" (Proverbs 28:13).
All sin is an assault against our Holy God, whether it is done in public or in secret. And God, who beholds even the innermost secrets of the heart, sees our sin clearly, no matter how well we think we have covered it.      

Be aware that the enemy is out to destroy you, by any means necessary.  These aren't the only tactics he uses, but they are some of the most common.  No matter what is going on in your life, don't ever forget that God wants you to be close enough to Him to share every little detail and concern with Him. After all, He is your Father!  He wants to have a real relationship with you.  Give Him the true praise and worship that He deserves.  Let the blood of Jesus cleanse your heart and Holy Spirit take over your life so that you'll have the discernment you need to see the tactics of the enemy and the power to fight against it.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,  I come to you today asking for forgiveness of all my sins and iniquities.  I know that Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for my sins. He died on a rugged cross and was brutally  crucified that I might be saved.  He was raised from the dead that I might live, and He now sits at your right hand.  I accept the gift of salvation with gratitude.  From this day forth, I will live as Your child, and heir with Jesus!  Thank you God for saving my soul and making me clean! I will forever praise and worship your Holy name!!  Amen!!

 

GOD USES THE UNLIKELY...OUTSIDERS AND OUTCASTS

When we read the Christmas story, we think it obvious that God sent an angel to invite shepherds, because every manger scene we’ve ever seen has a cute little angel and gentle shepherds. They’re just part of the package. But the person reading this account 2000 years ago would have viewed this a little differently. They would find it incredulous that God would invite shepherds to witness the Messiah as a newborn, expecting instead political leaders like Caesar or Herod or religious leaders such as the Pharisees.


So who were the shepherds?

They were Social Outcasts. They were poor, uneducated, uncultured, and uncouth. If you were with your family walking through town you would go to the other side of the street to avoid them. They were the rough characters in the small town on the fringe of society, so much so that their testimony was not even admissible in court.

They were Religious Outsiders. Because their work was considered ceremonially unclean, they were not allowed into the temple courts or to be an active part of temple worship. Religious leaders often considered them on the same level as prostitutes, so when it came to the religion of the day they were always on the outside looking in.

Here then, God is inviting a group of guys who have been on the outside looking in the entirety of their lives and putting them at the top of the invite list for the most important birthday of all time. This is a theme we will see continue throughout the story of Jesus’ life. Not only does he consistently seek out those on the outside or fringe, He invites them to be at the center of His mission. As an adult, Jesus chose an inner circle comprised of uneducated fishermen, a former tax collector who has robbed and cheated his countrymen, women (who had few or no rights at the time), and even a former prostitute. Those who have been relegated to the outside are not only a focus of His rescue mission—they become the leaders of God’s rescue mission for humanity.

What does this tell you about God and who He values?

You may have felt like an outsider or an outcast at some point in your life. Just remember, this does not mean God can't use you.  As a matter of fact, He can use you THE MOST!



Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus into the world for people like me.  I am so grateful for Him and all His life has done for me.  Use me Lord so that I may draw others to You. Lead my way and I will follow. In Jesus name, amen.

GOD SHOWS UP IN UNUSUAL PLACES

"When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

And Moses said, “Here I am.”  (Exodus 3:4)

After my morning prayer, I was thinking about how God shows up in the most unusual places, or at the most unusual times.  He has always done it that way! 
 
The backside of a dessert – God shows up to a man named Moses and a bush begins to burn and a mighty deliverance begins (Exodus 3:2).

In the belly of a large fish – God shows up to a man named Jonah and a missionary is dispatched to a cruel and wicked people group (Jonah 1:17).

In a cave with special effects – a rock-shattering wind, an earthquake, a fire, followed by a gentle whisper of the voice of God to a man named Elijah – and the order to anoint two kings (Hazael and Jehu) and a prophet (Elisha) is given (1 Kings 10:12-16).

On a dirt road to Damascus – God shows up to a man named Saul and the vessel through whom most of the New Testament would be penned is called (Acts 9:3-6).

On a ship caught in a tempest somewhere off of Crete in the Adriatic Sea– God shows up to a man named Paul and grants the request that 276 sailors and passengers not die and God grants the safety of every single one (Acts 27:23-24).

In a filthy Roman jail – God shows up about midnight to Paul and Silas who being held as prisoners for preaching the gospel and an earthquake facilitates every prisoner’s chains falling off (Acts 16:25-26).

At a despised tax collector’s booth – God shows up to a profiteering Jew named Matthew and an apostle is called is to follow Jesus (Matthew 9:9).

On a beach at the Sea of Galilee – God shows up to invite two brothers, Peter and Andrew, to change careers and become “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).

In the belly of a large fish – God shows up to a man named Jonah and a missionary is dispatched to a cruel and wicked people group (Jonah 1:17).

In a cave with special effects – a rock-shattering wind, an earthquake, a fire, followed by a gentle whisper of the voice of God to a man named Elijah – and the order to anoint two kings (Hazael and Jehu) and a prophet (Elisha) is given (1 Kings 10:12-16).
Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,  thank you so much for being right here anytime I need you.  Thank you for loving me enough to desire a continuous relationship with me.  I am so grateful for your love. Walk with me throughout today and show up in every part of my life.  Your presence brings me joy!  I feel comforted knowing that You are always right here with me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
You are never alone!

THE FISHERMEN MENTALITY

Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
(Mark 1:14-18)

 You may ask, is there some meaning in the fact that fishermen were among his first and most prominent disciples? Perhaps so.

 

 Remember, as disciples, our job is to evangelize...spread the good news of Jesus throughout the world. Fishermen have some important qualities that are helpful for our discipleship.

1. Patient - Fishermen often need to wait for many hours, even days for a catch. Disciples need great patience, as do evangelizers.
2. Professional – Fishermen need to spend time learning about the behavior of fish, learning to observe the water and navigate, leaning the right time of day and season to fish. They need to know the right bait, the proper use of the net. They need to understand the different of types and behaviors of fish, and so forth. All of these traits are good for disciples and especially for evangelization, which is job number 1 for the disciple.Through growing in practical knowledge we come to know our faith and learn effective ways to be fishers of men.
3. Purposeful - When fishermen are out fishing, it is a focused endeavor. That’s all they do, and everything is centered on the main task. They are single minded. Disciples surely need more of this attitude. The Book of James says, The double-minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8). St. Paul says, But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:13-14). Every disciple needs to be more single minded.
4. Pursuing - Note simply that they go to the fish. Too many churches merely open the doors and hope people come to them. This is not evangelization. The key word for disciples and evangelizers is “Go.”
5. Partnered - Fishermen work in teams. Thus Jesus sends disciples out, two by two.
6. Persistent – If fishermen don’t make a catch today, they’re back out tomorrow. Disciples surely need to persist, both in their own journey and in making disciples of others.

Let's allow God to make us fishers of men today. 

 

 

PRAYER:

 

Dear Heavenly Father, I am so grateful for being your child.  Thank you for salvation that sets the sinner free. Show me how to be a great disciple. I want to have that fishermen mentality.  Open my territory and order my steps as I go out to draw others to you.  I'm leaving everything behind me so that I can press toward the goal.  Team me up with other fishermen who are eager to build the Kingdom. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

Now, let's go fishin'!!!

SOUL FOOD

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto
me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name,
O LORD God of hosts." - Jeremiah 15:16
It's amazing how some folks react when you mention the words "soul food" to those people who really enjoy it. They get that longing in their eyes. Their mouths begin watering, and they begin to use wonderful descriptive words to describe the flavor, aroma, and taste of it. They get excited about the mere mention of "soul food".

Do we get that way when we hear the mere mention of God's Word, the Bible? It is our soul food and yet how many of us get as excited over that as some people do over cornbread, collard greens, or fried green tomatoes? Do we get a longing in our eyes? Do our mouths water? God's Word is full of flavor, aroma and taste. Our verse says that,

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them;
and thy word was unto me the joy
and rejoicing of mine heart..." Jeremiah 15:16

Soul food is usually considered to be the most satisfying food there is. God's Word is the most amazing soul food and can satisfy us beyond measure. Think of all of the wonderful things found in the Bible that we can feast upon. There are promises, comfort, direction and instruction, salvation, love, joy, and wisdom. The list could go on and on. The menu is full.

There is only one thing we need to do as we sit down to feast on the Word of God. We have to partake of it. We can have the most wonderful food on our table. The table can be set with the most exquisite tablecloths and napkins. The china can be the most expensive in the world. The crystal can be glowing and the silverware can be shinning. The food can look and smell tantalizing. The table can be beautiful, but if we never eat any of the food it will not fill us up or satisfy. We must eat.

Reading, studying, and memorizing the Word of God is the only way we can taste of it and we must do it daily. If we only ate physically once or twice a month we would starve. We wouldn't have anything to sustain us. The same is true with the Word of God. We must constantly go back for more. Let's take our napkins, open the Book, feast together, and see what morsels we can find inside.