Trapped or Wrapped?

Life can be so difficult sometimes. It has been some time now since I have written in this venue and it is because I have felt trapped in the presses of time and lack of inspiration.

That is quite confessional, but it is true. The press of time has left my mind feeling empty and quite uncreative. Trapped.

I'm sure there are others who feel trapped in some way or the other. Circumstances can certainly feel like bars and walls when we want them to change and they seem hopelessly embedded in our lives.

Perhaps you feel trapped in your employment. Maybe, it's your marriage. Perhaps sickness seems to have you hemmed in on all sides.

Whatever it is, maybe your outlook about it all could change if you look at it from a different point of view.

What if you are not trapped, but wrapped?

Satan complained to God that Job was wrapped so tightly that he (Job) couldn't help but praise God. Job 1:10a says, "Hath not thou made an hedge about him, and about his home, and about all that he hath on every side?" KJV

Maybe your situation that feels like a trap is really God's protection wrapped about you so that unseen harm or loss will not befall you. It may be just a matter of perception and trust.

Trust God with all your heart, lean not on you own understanding and trust Him with all the circumstances of your life, see them as Him at work for your good and maybe, just maybe, those circumstances that seemed like a trap will now seem like freedom, protection and joy.

Trapped or wrapped? It may just be in how we choose to look at things.

In His Love
Walter

Something To Hold On To

The Internet is an amazing thing. You can get so much information from so many different sources.

I think one would be wise to ask one's self just how much of this information is reliable? How credible is the source?

Anyone can express an opinion about anything at any time so some of this stuff just can't be true, can it?

I read today in an email that was forwarded to me that there is a real movement afoot to radically redistribute the wealth of Americans.

This email writer said that Nancy Pelosi and others like her are going to seek approval for a windfall tax on retirement funds, stocks and the like to use to raise the standard of living immigrants and others so that they can have the life they expected when they came to America.

Now I don't even begin to suggest that this is true. You'll have to determine that for yourself and I am sure there are ways to verify the truth or falsity of the claim made in the email I received.

What I am suggesting is that, with the ability of anybody anywhere to disseminate information, whether true of false, and knowing that is somebody who will believe whatever is disseminated ad if it's the gospel truth, I'm glad I know the real Gospel Truth.

I'm so glad that in this world of ups and downs, good news and bad, truths and lies, that I have something to hold on to that I know is genuine; God's Word.

It's old but true; I don't know what tomorrow holds but I do know Who holds tomorrow. And what's more, I trust Him completely with my life and all my circumstances. And that's enough for me.

When my eyes and focus is on Christ in faith, I don't need to worry about anything else. And I'm choosing not to.

He's the Something I hold on to and because He also holds onto me, we can never be separated. See Romans, Chapter 8. You'll be blessed.

And maybe you'll find something (Someone, really) to hold on to, as well.

Pray for revival. It's happening around the world. Keep praying. It will happen here.
In His Love
Walter

The Right Choice

My memory gets fuzzy on stories I have heard. Maybe I can make some kind of sense out of this one.

It's sort of an old American Indian proverb and it's about the inner spirits in all of us. Christians should know that God's Word teaches that there are two "persons" in us and we identify them as "Carnal" or "Spirit."

Of course the Carnal person indicates our fleshly tendencies and the Spirit person indicates the presence of Christ that lives in those who have been saved by God through Jesus Christ.

In the old proverb, the different "persons" are referred to as wolves. These two wolves are constantly fighting with one another.

Sound like anything that takes place in your heart? It sure does sound familiar to me.

The question is asked, "Which of the two wolves will win?" The answer in the proverb telling is, "The one you feed."

Boy, is that right!!

I get up every morning and take care of our two dogs. Part of that is feeding them.

What would happen if I began to withhold food from one of the dogs?

That dog would die.

I have to be aware of the needs of these two dogs every single day. I have to take definite steps to feed and care for them. It requires time and effort.

So it is in the case of my "Carnal, fleshly side" and my "Spiritual, Godly side."

I must be aware of both and take appropriate, deliberate steps to promote the life of one and appropriate, deliberate steps to promote the death of the other.

I have to make the right choice everyday. Each day I neglect my "Spirit man", he gets weaker. In neglecting him, I feed and strengthen the "Flesh man." And vice versa.

Make the right choice today. Feed the Spirit of God within you through Christ and let Him grow powerful and strong in you.

And in so doing, starve the flesh man in you to death.

Pray for revival. Pray for strength. Pray. Simply pray.
In His Love
Walter

Overloaded!!

Overloaded!! WAAAAAYYYY overloaded!!

Do you ever feel this way? I sure do!

As a matter of fact, this is my first attempt at a blog this week just because I have felt so overloaded.

By overloaded, I mean too many important things to do in the time it seems that I have in which to do them.

But I have to face the reality that my days have the same 24 hours in them that everyone else's days do so the problem of overloading must be mine. There seems to be something inherently wrong with the way I do things.

I am excited about this today because God has reminded me what it is that I'm doing wrong.

I am seeking to do the things He has brought to me to do, FOR Him rather than WITH Him, and there is all the difference in the world.

Our wonderful Heavenly Father loves us so much that when He saves us, He comes to live inside us. Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in our hearts. God doesn't save us to continue to be apart from us. He saves us to be with us in the most intimate way possible.

He (and what He wants is really what should matter) wants to be with us and wants us to be with Him in all that we do.

I actually have come to believe that He despises it when we do things FOR Him.

But He loves it when we do things WITH Him.

And overloaded is what we feel when we are operating FOR Him out of our own power and strength rather than WITH Him out of His power and strength.

If you don't believe this will make a difference, just try it. I think you'll find what God has helped me find; doing things WITH Him is a lot easier and less stressful than doing things FOR Him.

Now, Dear Father, Help me to practice what You've shown me. Knowledge not put into practice is just information. It does little good.

Please pray for Revival. I'll help to remind you each day.

In His Love
Walter

Religion VS Relationship

There was an editorial in yesterday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution that addressed the decline of religion in America.

I suppose the writer, Leonard Pitts, thought that religion's decline was a bad thing for he seemed to offer some suggestions about how religion could be better.

Well, religion can never be any better than it is right now and right now religion is worth the same thing it was worth yesterday and that is nothing.

You see, religion is a man-made substitute for a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Religion uses some key relationship words like worship, sacrifice, kindness, forgiveness and other things but religion uses these words in the context of Man seeking to please some deity (people worship unusual things) through Man's own efforts.

God's own Holy Word tells us that pleasing Him that way can't be done. The concept of pleasing God by what we do is a works mentality and Man falls for it at almost every opportunity. There is something appealing to Man about doing something to "pay for" his salvation rather than receiving it at the free gift of God's grace.

But God has taught us, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:8-9 KJV

It is so easy even for Christians to slip out of the freedom of the practice of a relationship with Christ in the the slavery of the practice of religious activity around Christ.

Don't let your focus be anywhere else today but on Jesus. When He called us, He did not call us to follow a recipe for Christian living; He called us to follow Him.

There is all the difference in the world.

Make Jesus your focus today. He is all there is that is truly worth seeing anyway.

Please pray for revival. Please.
In His Love
Walter

Tools

Tools come in all shapes and sizes. Many things that are tools are not thought of as tools. For example, when is the last time you thought of that pencil on your desk as a tool? We think of pencils as writing instruments, use them as drumsticks, but seldom place them in our mental category of tools.

I am typing this on a computer. I often think of this instrument as a communications device, a type of entertainment (hey, I like to play Free Cell, don't you?), a place to store information or a way to find information, but I seldom call it a tool.

But that is what it is, a tool.

Tools can be used for good or evil.

A hammer that drives nails to build a house can be used to commit murder. A gun meant for use as a hunting tool can be used as a weapon of destruction. A computer meant for many good uses can be used to poison the minds of many.

Statistics reveal that well over 50% of adult males who regularly attend church have willingly, deliberately viewed pornography in the last 7 days. These viewings were not something that was stumbled on by accident, but willingly and deliberately sought and viewed.

Those same statistics reveal that well over 50% of the pastors of churches have willingly and deliberately viewed pornography in the last 3 months.

Tools used for sermon preparation used to plant poison in the minds of those who deliver those sermons.

Ladies, please don't be too harsh with us men. Tools meant for good are all too often used for evil purposes by many, male and female.

Folks, we need to consecrate not only our minds but our possessions and tools to the glory of God. Only when they are fully given to Him are we able to use them properly and glean all the benefit of having them.

Never let anything He can use for blessing be used instead for evil. Consecrate your mind, heart and belongings to Him today.

Please pray for revival. Never stop seeking Him for revival. Only He can drive out pornography, drug dependency, alcoholism and the like. We need a Great Awakening Revival. Pray for it, please.

In His Love
Walter

Great Deals

There are lots of great deals available in the marketplace today. That is, if you choose to believe the advertising that's being done now.

I heard this morning that an insurance company that is well known for their reptilian spokesanimal has just reduced their rates in Georgia on automobile insurance.

They also stressed that you could buy it over the phone, from a representative or on-line. Gee Whiz!! How easy can something be?

Low rates. Easy to purchase. Convenient. Good coverage, too. At least they think so.

Let me tell you about the best deal mankind has ever known.

It's free. It is easy to obtain. You can get it anywhere, anytime. No telephone needed. No computer necessary. You don't even have to deal with a special representative.

You deal directly with the Boss.

He also happens to be the Creator of the universe and all that has ever been.

But He has time for you. You don't need an appointment. You don't need any money. You just need to be willing to believe that Jesus, God in the flesh, came to earth, lived a sinless life, died FOR YOU on a cross at Calvary to pay the debt YOU owed God because of your sins, was buried, rose three days later and now has ascended into Heaven where He awaits the arrival of all who have chosen to place their faith in Him for salvation.

A certain insurance company may have made protection for your car cheap and convenient.

Jesus has made provision for your eternal soul free and as simple as bowing your head wherever you are, whatever else you are doing, and giving your life, heart and faith to Him.

Looking for a great deal today? This is it. The best deal of all time.

If you've already taken Christ up on His offer, be sure and tell someone else about it so that they can be blessed too.

Hey! If you would tell a neighbor about a great sale at a department store, wouldn't it be even better to tell them about the free salvation of Christ?

Sure it would!

Also, please pray for revival for our nation. We need God's power and presence to be poured out on us all.

In His Love
Walter

Plans For Today

Have you made any plans for today? Most of the time, it seems that the day makes plans for us.

We are creatures of habit and that helps the day take responsibility for us instead of us taking responsibility for the day.

Let me suggest an option for you to consider today.

Instead of letting routine set your agenda, give some consideration to breaking free of your regular schedule and spending some quality time with God.

God created us with the ability to do many things and it seems that we often think that He is interested only in what we can do for Him.

But the truth is that He created us for fellowship with Him and today He wants to hold you and love you more than He wants you to accomplish anything.

When you have finished reading this missive, close your eyes for a few minutes and picture yourself sitting on a porch in the mountains or on a deck overlooking the beach, in a rocking chair, sitting like a child in your Heavenly Father's arms.

Enjoy the peacefulness. Enjoy the beauty. Talk to Him. Listen as He speaks to you. Feel the love and warmth of His arms. Feel the strength He has and be assured that He uses His might on your behalf everyday.

Let your burdens drain from your mind into His Spirit. Give Him all your cares. Laugh in joy as you empty into Him and He fills you with Himself.

Doesn't this kind of time with Him bless you and make you feel wonderful?

Isn't this something that should become the dominant and first part of your daily routine?

God loves you today. As much as He ever has, as much as He ever will, as much as He is able and that's a lot.

Celebrate and live in this love today.

It could be the best day you've had in quite a while.

Do it again tomorrow. It could get better and better everyday.

Please pray for revival. Don't forget. Don't neglect. Just pray. He is listening.

In His Love
Walter

Opportunity

Today is a day of great opportunity. Yesterday was a day of great opportunity and tomorrow, should God give it to us, will be a day of great opportunity.

I know that the economic outlook is not the best it's ever been right now, but that really is the root of the great opportunities that are before us now.

As we watch Wall Street go up and down, as we hear and read news of jobs lost and governmental debt mounting, people are wanting to hear about something steady and unchanging, something (someone, actually) dependable no matter what the circumstances of life are.

That Someone is Jesus. That Something is a Savior.

Our Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever and He is exactly the Dependable Rock, the Unfailing Anchor, the Indestructible Shelter that so many people today need from the storms of life that are raging all around us.

With the difficulties of life that surround us right now, we have opportunities like never before to point people to the steady, unchanging love of God in Christ Jesus.

It is our joy and privilege as well as our responsibility to do so.

People today need Jesus. Those of us who know Him as Savior and Lord can tell them about Him and His great love.

In the midst of economic troubles, we can show others how to be richer than they've ever been before with riches that cannot rot, fade away or be stolen.

The love and care of Our Savior is not dependent in any way on the ups and downs of Wall Street.

His Heavenly riches are poured out at His in accordance with His promise, not according to governmental bailouts.

He delivers us from sin debt rather than saddle us with bailout debt.

Instead of lamenting the economy today, how about sharing the joy of Jesus?

Both you and this old world we live in will be a better place because of it.

And please, remember to pray for revival. Fervently. Consistently. Insistently.

God is listening. He is preparing to act. Just pray.

In His Love
Walter

I Missed Yesterday

I missed doing this blog yesterday. I was learning something new. I was being taught how to organize my work on the computer.

I can now create a folder!!

That may not seem like much to many of you, but to me it's a big deal.

I also learned how to use one of those flash drive thingies that you plug into a USB port!!

Wow! Even if I don't know anything else, I can really use the words, can't I?

Seriously, it was fun to do and I hope that I can remember all I was taught.

I'll probably have to be reminded along the way, especially if I don't do these tasks at least occasionally, so that I can remain proficient at performing them.

It's a lot like the teachings of God. So much of what we learn we do not put into practice as a regular part of Christian living and we forget that we are to do these things for our good and Christ's glory.

Forgiveness, for example. In The Lord's Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray, "and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

We remember to ask God to forgive us, but we don't practice forgiveness of others enough and it becomes almost as if we have forgotten that God requires us to forgive.

And so we have to be reminded to forgive others.

Specifically thankful prayer, for another example. We seem to remember very well how to outline our needs and desires when we go to God in prayer but when it comes to being thankful for all He has done, the best many seem to be able to do is to use a few generic words about "thanks for my blessings."

How much better it would be for us to be specifically thankful for the blessings, and generically ask God to meet our needs.

It's a matter of practice. And being reminded.

And, just as I can get better at operating a computer in all its intended ways if I practice, so we can all get better at the Christian life if we practice it.

God calls it sanctification, or growing to be more like Jesus, or being conformed to the image of His Son.

There's nothing better on earth to desire to get better at than being like Jesus.

Please pray. For revival. Everyday. Many times a day. God will give it. Let's just be faithful to keep praying for it.

In His Love
Walter

Faith In God

An abortion has taken place in Brazil. Abortions are illegal in Brazil but the government can override the law in what they consider special circumstances.



The pregnant female was only 9 years old. She was pregnant with twins. She was supposedly raped by her stepfather.



That would constitute a special circumstance and the officials charged with making this decision said that they did so because the pregnancy endangered the life of the girl.



The Catholic Church in Brazil protested, but to no avail.



How do you feel about this circumstance?



It is indeed a horrible thing that an adult would rape a 9 year old. And one has to wonder how it was that her body could conceive at such a young age.



But what about the two babies that were killed and discarded?



Who were they? What might they have meant to the world?



It is likely in our present society that pre-natal testing would have resulted in the abortion of Beethoven. His testing would have indicated a less than perfect fetus.



In our present society it is likely that the great Methodist preacher John Wesley would have been aborted. His parents were poor and he was child number 15.

It is possible that one of these two aborted babies would have been a doctor who would discover the cure for cancer of the common cold.

The other child might have been a physicist and discovered how to make fuel instantly from the air.

What about God? Couldn't He have prevented this? Couldn't He have protected these babies or have placed them in the womb of another female?

Yes, He could have.

But the point is that He didn't. He created two lives and allowed those lives to be revealed in the body of a nine year old girl who had been raped and by this allowance He issued a challenge to trust Him, to have faith in Him.

Maybe this was considered, maybe not. But it should have been.

People, in their arrogance about knowing what is right, in their great ability to see into the future and know how things are going to turn out, said, "This cannot turn out well. We must kill these babies."

My Bible, God's Word, still says "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Pro. 3:5 KJV

Someone, somewhere, trusted in their own understanding rather than having faith in God that He knew all about that young girl and her stepfather and those babies. And they killed those babies.

And we are diminished because of it. We will never know exactly how diminished we are because we will never know what God would have done with those two lives. We will never know what we have taken away from ourselves and how we might have been enriched through the lives of those two babies.

God can make good out of anything, you know.

Worldwide, we have diminished ourselves millions of times now through the killing of unborn babies.

How much brighter would our world be today if we had their little child smiles and their little child laughter? How much different would our world be today if we had never embraced this kind of killing?

All it would have taken is faith in God.

We seem to have trouble believing that God can be God if we'd get out of the way and let Him.

Please pray for revival. And have faith in God. In every circumstance of life. He can handle it.

In His Love
Walter

The Church Sign

There are many neat sayings that go on church signs.

I saw one this morning that I had seen before and maybe you have, too, but because of its relevance to the recent topic of faith, I thought I'd share it with you.

"Belief thinks God can. Faith knows God will."

I wrote the other day that faith is demonstrated by action. And I stand by that. I just want to emphasize that sometimes that action must be mental.

In the case of our national situation right now, the most important action we can take to demonstrate our faith that "God will" act on our behalf to make good on His promise that "all things work together for good" is the mental action of changing our attitudes and our faces.

Think about it. A faithless attitude and the sad face that goes with it is going to go from person to person like a wildfire goes from tree to tree until everybody is down-in-the-mouth about our nation. And the more down-in-the-mouth we feel, the more down-in-the-mouth we act and the situation we would like to get better gets worse because we have a faithless attitude and look like it wherever we go.

When we change our attitude from one of believing "God can" to one of knowing that "God will" and put a look of joyful confidence and expectation on our faces, that attitude then spreads from person to person, maybe not as quickly as the wildfire example above because people seem to love bad news far more than good news, but it will spread and the situation we want to get better actually does get better.

A good dose of positive faith in God that He will, rather than that He can, will go a long way toward improving the health of our nation in every way, not just economically.

How about this? Apply these verses to everything in your life for a few days and see if your outlook doesn't improve and see if your improved outlook doesn't improve the outlooks of others.

Here are the verses. Proverbs 3:5-6, KJV; "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."

The world might just be amazed at what a change in attitude, reflected on our faces, can accomplish.

You already believe He can. Will you now know that He will?

Pray, please. For revival. Pray for others who will join you in prayer. Seek God. He will be there to hear you.

In His Love
Walter

The Agony and The Ecstasy

I experienced agony and ecstasy on the way to work this morning as I listened to a song on the radio.

The song was "Why Me, Lord?" I believe it was written by Shel Silverstein. I know that Kris Kristofferson and Christy Lane have both recorded it.

I cried twice as it was played today.

The first tears came as the Christy Lane sang these lines; "Lord, help me, Jesus, I've wasted it. So help me, Jesus, I know what I've done."

I cried because I identified so much with that line. I know what I've done. And I don't mean the good things. I mean the sins that I have committed against God. They have been many and they have been grievous.

I cried because I wish so much that I had never sinned or that I could wipe them away.

The song went on and Miss Lane came to another line that moved me to tears. "Lord, Help me, Jesus, I've wasted it. So help me, Jesus, I know who I am."

Now I can't be sure what the writer meant by that line. If you think about it, it could be interpreted two ways. It could be another statement lamenting what sin had done.

But the Lord used it to speak to me in my tears to remind me that in Christ I am now not what I used to be. I am saved. I am cleansed. I am different.

Those of you who know me well may be thinking negatively right now. That's okay. Listen to this. I'm not who or what I ought to be all the time, you're right. But I'm not what I used to be either. And I can tell you that God is still working on me night and day so that I'm not yet all that I'm gonna be by His power and to His glory.

I know what I am. I am His. Not because of anything I have done but because He has chosen to love me. He has chosen to love me in spite of my sins. In His great love for me, He graciously offered to save me, cleanse me by the blood of Jesus and I took Him up on His offer.

Yes, I remember what I've done not to deserve His love and salvation. And I know what I am because of His love and salvation.

I think the remembering of why I shouldn't be saved and blessed makes the reality that I am saved and blessed that much sweeter.

I enjoyed the agony and the ecstasy today. If you know Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you can celebrate both today as well.

If you don't know Him in the way of salvation, invite Him to come into your heart today. He'll change you, cleanse you, save you, love you.

It truly will be ecstasy.

Pray please. For revival.

In His Love
Walter

The Word Is FAITH

I got a call over the weekend from someone who reads these blogs. This person wanted to discuss one from last week that I had titled, "Rescue."

The caller pointed out to me that I had come close to but had failed to use the one word that would really convey what I was trying to say. The word is FAITH.

He pointed out to me that I had danced all around it and that some perhaps would get it but that I needed to come right out and say (write) that what out nation needs is faith in God. The caller firmly believes, as I do, that we have lost our national faith in God.

We have turned more and more to government, etc. and that's not going to get the job done.

We need FAITH IN GOD. We need to remember that He is in control and that we can have faith that He will work out His purposes and His goals. We need to have faith in Him that He does what is best, what is right, what is holy and what is good for His people.

We also need to remember that faith requires action.

It is one thing to say we have faith. It is quite another thing to act on that faith.

God spoke through James to say to us that, "faith without works is dead." James 4: 20 KJV

God also challenged us through James when He said, "Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." James 4: 18 KJV

That challenge is meant to convey to us that we cannot demonstrate faith without the action of works or acting on our faith.

In the midst of our national need, demonstrating that we have faith in God, if indeed we do, means holding our heads high even in the toughest of times. It means speaking words of hope rather than continual despair. It means being focused on God Who is in control rather than focused on an economy that seems out of control.

God's promise to His people is that, "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8: 28 KJV

It may go against the grain of what the world would have us do, but we need to have faith and then show our faith.

Praise God in the midst of these troubled times. Get excited about watching and waiting to see just what He is going to do. Celebrate all the ways He chooses to confound those who consider themselves wise.

And don't let your faith be challenged by those who choose not to have it or exercise it. Go to Psalm 91 and be blessed by words like these; "A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation, there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. Psalm 91: 7-10 KJV

The word, the practice is FAITH. In God and God alone.

Please pray for revival. A sweeping great awakening for our nation.

In His Love
Walter

All Too Rare

In the sixth chapter of Isaiah, we are able to read about an occurrence that is, in today's Christian world, all too rare. Verse 8 of chapter 6 says, "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here am I; send me.'"

Did you catch the rare occurrence? It's right there in front of us. The voice of the Lord is calling out for someone to do His work. That's not rare at all.

What is rare is Isaiah's response.

He volunteered.

He offered himself to God without knowing exactly the assignment, without knowing exactly where it would lead or what the personal sacrifice necessary to do God's work would be.

But he volunteered. He even spoke eagerly, excitedly.

How many such responses do you suppose pastors and nominating committees are going to get in the coming months as churches prepare for God's ministries through them to go on?

It is far more common to get answers like, "I've done my part. It's time for you to get someone else." Or, "If you can't find anybody else, call me back and I'll think about it." Or, "I'll pray about it, but while I pray, you keep looking." Or, "I'm not qualified. There are others better than I am."

I have been a pastor for quite a number of years now and an active worker in the church as a deacon, Sunday School Director, Training Union Director and I have served on many nominating committees and I don't remember a single time when someone responded to the needs of the church, actually the needs of God in His work through that church, by saying eagerly and excitedly, "Here I am. Use me. It doesn't matter where or how or what the personal cost may be. Use me. I'll do God's work."

Don't get me wrong. Someone usually does eventually take the job. But it is all too often a heart-wrenching affair.

Folks, Jesus died for us. He gave up His body to be tortured mercilessly and poured out His blood on the ground so that we might be saved from our sins, reconciled to Holy, Righteous God.

And it is all too rare that we come, eagerly and excitedly ready to do His bidding so that His work can go on in this world He has called us to impact in His name and to His glory.

I heard a song on WCON this morning that I pray might become our theme as God seeks people willing to be His hands and feet and voice in this needy world. It was entitled, "Let It Be Me."

Want to see the world changed for the better? And I don't mean by Mr. Obama and other politicians! Let this become your watch word to Jesus. Lord, let it be me. Let it be me.

Watch out!! Jesus is going to do great and mighty things through those who are more concerned with being available and willing than qualified. Jesus is going to do great and mighty things through those who are more willing to see the need and hear His voice to answer that need than to check and see how much spare time they have to give.

Last time I checked, Christians belonged to Him. All our time and resources and energies are supposed to belong to Him. Where did we get this idea about giving Him leftovers?

Pray please for revival. We all need it so.

In His Love
Walter

Just A Short While Ago

Just a short while ago, and I really mean just a very few minutes, I knew what this blog was going to be about.

Now I don't. I seriously can't remember.

There have been a number of distractions this morning and I lost my focus on the topic that seemed to be so right.

I can remember how right it seemed. I can remember that I had been given a perfectly logical outline for it. I just can't remember the subject matter.

It is so easy for me to lose focus. It so easy for me to forget. I forget things all the time.

I have great intentions. I just forget to act on them.

Just as things have distracted me from my topic this morning, things come up that can, if I'm not very, very careful, take my focus off of Christ. And when my focus is on anything else, I'm headed for trouble.

Only when I'm fixed on Jesus is my guard set properly over my mouth.

Only when I'm fixed on Jesus is my determination strong to take every thought captive to His glory.

Only when I'm fixed on Jesus are my eyes not on me and what I think I need or don't have.

Only when I'm fixed on Jesus do I realize how very rich He has made me and how thankful I should be.

The truth is that I'm only happy and joyful when I'm fixed directly on Him as my All In All.

Have you been distracted from Him today? Perhaps this happened to me so that you could read this and become refocused on the Only One Who really matters.

Take a moment, re-focus, and continue the day honoring and glorifying Him.

He'll be pleased and you will be more fulfilled. I promise.

Please pray for revival. We need it so badly.

In His Love
Walter

Rescue

President Obama is scheduled to address the nation tonight and one of the important topics is the economy. Duh!!


Our nation is in trouble. This trouble has occurred because of sin. Greed, specifically.


As our nation has turned more and more away from God and national emphasis on His presence, power and Word, we have gotten deeper and deeper into greed and shown less and less compassion for others.


It seems that the rich have truly gotten richer while the poor suffered as the poor always do and we have now reached the crisis stage because the rich are beginning to lose their riches and the poor have less than ever for the rich to profit from.


I know that I've said a lot of this in this space before, but it is true. We need Jesus. We need revival.


Without a change of our national heart, we as a nation are doomed.


It saddens me to know that Krushev may have been a wise prophet so many years ago when he predicted that the United States would be taken without a shot being fired because, as he said, we would "crumble from within."

It does not have to be true. This nation can still be rescued. But only by the power of Almighty God.

We need Jesus. We need national revival. Without a national turn to Christ, we are toast.

I am not trying to be Mr. Doom&Gloom. I am simply saying that we are so far down the slippery slope of sin and greed and national degradation that God is our only hope and we who know to pray had better not waste anytime getting about the business of seeking His face for His deliverance.

We do not deserve it, but when have we deserved the blessing of God?

Our appeal must be to His mercy, His grace, His love. We must cry out to Him in humble desperation for we are a desperate nation.

We do not have the national strength or will to pick ourselves up by our own bootstraps.

Congress can't do it. Obama can't do it. Only God. Only God. Only God.

Pray. Pray. Pray. Your nation needs you now as a prayer warrior more than it has ever needed any type of armed service.

In His Love
Walter

Sacrifice

This morning on ESPN there was a touching story involving two high school basketball teams.

On the day of an annual game between two nearby high schools, the mother of one of the main players for team one died.

Naturally, his teammates and coach reached out to him, offering sympathy and support in his time of loss. The coach even offered to cancel the game. The player insisted that the game go on.

Rather surprisingly, when game time came, the team two was very sympathetic about the situation, and even though the player whose mother had died wasn't there, they expressed their support and respect for him before the game began.

Shortly after the game began, the player whose mom had died showed up at the gym. He wanted to play, but there was a problem. For him to play in the game after his coach had left his name off the roster because he was not expected to be there, there would be a technical foul called for him to enter the game. The other team would be allowed to shoot two technical free throws.

He wanted to play and his coach wanted to let him, so, in spite of the technical foul call and the two free throws in the middle of a close game, his coach inserted him into the game.

The officials did what they had to do and called the technical. The opposing coach requested that they not do so, but state rules are state rules and the refs had to make the call.

A senior player from team two stepped to the foul line and twice shot the ball about three feet in front of himself, purposely missing the free throws.

With the blessing of his coach and teammates and with cheers of approval ringing down from the stands, this young man made a sacrifice for himself and for his team. And it cost them. They eventually lost the game to the team with the player whose mom had died. But they left knowing that they had done the right thing.

Sacrifices are not easily made. Especially the ones that cost us something real.

But sacrifice is the example of our Heavenly Father and He is honored and glorified when we set ourselves aside, even at great cost, and make sacrifices that are blessings to others.

God Himself made the greatest sacrifice ever known to this world, when He went to the cross as Christ and poured out His perfect blood that sinners like you and me could believe in Him and His gift to us and be cleansed from our sins.

Has He called you to make some sacrifice to someone today?

Maybe it's to someone who will not notice or appreciate what you do.

God will notice. God will appreciate what you do.

If you have no other reason to do it, do it for Him.

Remember what He has done for you.

Please pray. For revival. And for others willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary for God to be glorified.

In His Love
Walter

Leftover Parts

Sometimes I feel like I'm made with leftover parts.

It is very hard for me to buy dress shirts that really fit. I have an 18 inch neck and shirts made for 18 inch necks are always big enough around the middle to fit another person inside my shirt with me.

They're huge!

And then there's my head! It looks large to me every time I see it. And one of my hips is sort of higher than the other one which makes my pants legs look like one is always longer than the other when it's just that my waist is not level.

Leftover parts! That's what I sometimes think.

And then God reminds me that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, that He personally fashioned me with His hands.

Leftover parts, indeed! There is nothing leftover about me. My creator made me, He loves me, He died to redeem me from sin, and the last thing I need to dwell on is the difficulty of shirts that fit!

My Jesus fits just perfectly into my heart. He leads me, teaches me, helps me, protects me, cleanses me and keeps me! He has promised that He will never leave me or forsake me.

He told me through His word not to worry about my clothes and things like that and I'm choosing to do just what He said.

How my clothes fit has no impact on my spiritual condition or how I look to My Heavenly Father. Jesus fits just fine and He alone makes me as handsome as I'll ever need to be. Spiritually speaking, of course.

If you haven't discovered it for yourself, let me assure you, Jesus is the perfect fit for you, too, and the longer you wear Him the more comfortable and wonderful He becomes.

If you never have, put Jesus on today. Invite Him into your heart and you'll soon discover that He is exactly the right size, shape and style for your life.

Live life in Him.

Please pray for revival. Often and with great passion. God is hearing those prayers and He is going to give us His gift of revival. Just remain faithful in prayer.

I His Love
Walter

God and Bad Times

It is becoming clear that in bad times, people do turn to God.

"The Christian Index" cites "The New York Times" in an article about this subject and I've just cited them both. People are taking notice of people seeking God in the midst of our national economic distress.

And I say that's a good thing. God has promised in His Word that "all things work together for good," and that is just as true for troubled economic times as it is for anything else.

Historically, many people have come to saving faith in Christ during times of prayer and supplication for an improved econmic outlook and, while some might disagree, it is far better to be saved from one's sins than to be rich financially.

I celebrate the truth that many are seeking and finding God even as they lose their money.

But I also celebrate the millions who have known and served Our Heavenly Father for years because they responded to His love offer of salvation without the push of economic fears.

I hope that those who are now coming to Christ will rejoice that there were already in place believers who could point them to the only true relief for money problems or any other kind of problems that arise in life.

And those of us who know the Truth should be prepared to share Him with the many around us even where we live who are seeking answers and relief.

As Mordecai said to Esther as he encouraged her to act on behalf of God's people, who knows but that we were put here at this time for such a time as this. Maybe God has us here to point troubled people to Him as He uses this difficult time in our history to draw many to Himself through Christ Jesus.

Let us pray for a harvest that money cannot buy and let us all be available to call attention to the only real answer for any problem: Jesus.

He alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life for any and all situations.

Pray for revival. Often. Fervently. Consistently. Please.
In His Love
Walter

Learning

There was an ad campaign on Saturday mornings a few years ago about learning. Something like "Learning Is Fundamental."

And I have to say that learning is fun. It's exciting. It's fulfilling. And, when it's learning about Our Heavenly Father and His great love for us, it is addictive.

Abba wants us to know Him intimately. He wants us to know His love. He wants us to know Him and His love for us so well that we trust Him about everything.

I am learning that everything that we need to know about God, everything we need to know God intimately and personally, has to start with our knowledge of His love.

If we seek to learn anything about God apart from the "fundamental" knowledge that all that He does flows out of His great love for us, we will not understand it correctly.

When we read in the Bible that God is love, it is because without that foundational fact, nothing else about God makes the sense it should and will be misunderstood. That misunderstanding will make everything else we might try to know about God be just far enough off to confuse us.

Without being completely convinced of God's love, we will misinterpret much of what He does to mold us into the image of Christ.

Being molded into the image of Christ can hurt, especially for someone like me who needs a lot of molding and shaping to be anything at all like Jesus.

If I'm not fully convinced of His love and do not understand that everything He does is for my good and to help me be more and more like Jesus, then I don't understand and can even resent God when the things He does or allows into my life are painful.

But I'm learning. Everyday, I'm learning.

God loves me. Everything He does or allows in my life is because He loves me and He is at work making me, molding me into the very best person I can be.

God loves me. The goal He ultimately has for me is to be like Jesus. Did you hear that?

He loves you, too. The goal He ultimately has is for you to be like Jesus.

Me and you. Like Jesus!

How wonderful can it get?

All because He loves us.

Whatever happens today, view it through the fundamental truth that God loves you and is at work making you the best you you can be in the likeness of Christ.

If God is not working on you, ask yourself if you've ever given yourself to Him by faith in Christ and His atoning work at Calvary.

If you've not given yourself to Him, you can simply be asking Jesus to come into your heart and save you. He wants to. He died to.

Then you will know the first step of His love and you can begin the glorious journey of life with Him knowing that everything from the moment of salvation forward is a product of His love. Even the parts that hurt.

Just love Him and be convinced of His love for you.

God is love. And you are the object of that love.

In His Love
Walter

Keep "Em At Any Cost

There is an article in the newspapers today about an Austrian priest who has given up a promotion within the Catholic church.

He was promoted to become the auxiliary bishop of Linz, Austria. He has stepped down from the promotion.

No big deal, I guess until we examine why.

Some time ago, Rev. Wagner suggested that God had used hurricane Katrina to punish New Orleans because of the sins of the people of the city.

Now I'm not here to say that God did or did not use Katrina as a way of punishment, but I certainly think it is a valid idea that is worthy of consideration.

I feel like God certainly could have used Katrina as a punishment on the United States as a whole because we have all been affected by the aftermath of the storm. The costs associated with recovery efforts is in the billions of dollars and those dollars are coming from somewhere and that somewhere is you and me.

Christians should consider everything when disasters occur. God used these types of events in the past as recorded in His Word and He is certainly free to do so again.

Rev. Wagner said so and now has withdrawn from his promotion because the controversy could prompt people to leave the church.

This is where I have a problem. This man has put forward an argument that has basis in Biblical history, that God punishes people for their sins and that Katrina was possibly a tool of such punishment.

There is nothing wrong with starting and encouraging that thinking among people. The minute we think that God is incapable of, or wrong for, bringing punishment on Man, wherever man may be, by whatever means God would so choose, we no longer present God honestly as He has revealed Himself to us in His Word.

This pastor has withdrawn from his promotion to keep people in the church.

This happens too many times in our world today.

God's Word and character and ways are compromised in the name of keeping people in church.

People need to hear the truth. Only in the Truth are people set free.

Pray that we never apologize or withdraw from the truth just because it may seem challenging to someones sensibilities.

God's Word, God's Truth is supposed to challenge us, enlighten us and ultimately, free us. But we must first hear it and know it and consider all it's hard ramifications.

God does punish sin and sinners. However He chooses to do so.

We can never back away from that.

This world needs Jesus. Revival. Prayer. Please be a part of that. Pray and keep on praying.

In His Love
Walter

Religion and Politics

Now there's a title for you: Religion and Politics. Do those two things have anything in common? I think so. Perhaps more than they should.

Yesterday our national leaders reached "agreement" on a 789 billion dollar economic stimulus bill. But to read the quotes from many this morning, it seems that there is at least as much disagreement as agreement.

It seems that the compromises necessary to get enough votes lined up for passage of the bill do not sit well with either side. But there was compromise and it does seem that the stimulus bill will get signed by President Obama sometime very soon.

Compromise. Politics could not work without it. Religion has embraced it.

There is, in our world today, a great effort to get people to compromise on matters of religion.

The aims are good, I suppose, but the results are not.

I cannot be true to my Christian faith and bless the beliefs of someone else who happens to believe that there are other ways to Heaven than through Jesus Christ.

I can stand by and observe and even confess another's right to worship whomever and whatever he or she desires.

But I cannot compromise my beliefs by saying that another faith is just as good as mine, that another God is okay as long as another person believes in some sort of higher power.

The teachings of Almighty God have made it clear: religion is not the answer. Relationship with Christ is.

Our Christ, the Head of the Church, the Savior of our souls, has taught us with no room for compromise that He is "the Way, the Truth and the Life" and that "no one comes to the Father but through" Him.

It is and will continue to become more and more difficult to hold the conviction that Jesus is the Only Way in the world we live in. But we must. To compromise any at all on that most important point is to make our Christianity into something else entirely.

The adherents of any belief system based on any belief but Christ and Christ alone will end up in Hell.

Religion desires to compromise. Relationship does not and will not.

Pray for our world today. Pray for yourself. Pray that you will remain strong in your faith and never, ever compromise. Jesus is the Way.

Pray also for revival. Please.

In His Love
Walter

If I Have, Please Forgive Me

I may have broached this subject before and if I have, please forgive me but it seemed worthy of a reminder.

God is so very good to me. My life has been blessed beyond measure in all sorts of ways.

God has given me so much: a beautiful wife and family; six, yes, count 'em, six grandchildren that can light up Granddaddy's heart with just a little smile; a wonderful home; a loving church family; food and more than enough blessings for life; the list of His riches passed on to me is endless.

But last night as Wanna and I watched the first hour of the Westminster Dog Show, I was reminded that a strong argument could be made that God's greatest blessing to me (after Christ's sacrifice that I might be saved) is not in what He has given me but in what He has spared me.

Last night toward the end of the first hour, a young girl, bald from her cancer treatments, was introduced. She smiled a huge smile but you could still see the strain of sickness in her eyes.

Her bright red dress did much to create a happy look, but the pain of suffering so much at such a young age could easily be seen.

My grandchildren have had health problems of one kind or another. My kids did, too. So did I. But none of mine have ever had their lives threatened by something like cancer and none of them ever looked like they were losing the battle.

God has spared me so much.

A young adult, a soldier in our armed forces was also introduced. He had lost both legs serving us overseas. He walked out to cheers on his titanium legs and stood proudly and as steadily as he could.

I have been challenged medically a time or two, but nothing like the loss of my legs.

God has spared me so much.

If today, as you think about and engage in prayer, if, somehow, thanking God for the blessings you have received has become common and uninspiring, try thanking God for what He has spared you, what He has protected you from experiencing.

It may be that the greatest blessings (after salvation) are those things that we never touch, never taste, never experience, never own.

Give Him thanks today. He is worthy to receive it for blessings received and pain spared.

Then pray for revival. Great, glorious, Holy Ghost revival.

In His Love
Walter

Have You Seen Him Today?

It is such a beautiful day today.

When I got up this morning and took the dogs our for their first walk, it was about 5:15.

The moon was still out and bright and full. The sky had a few clouds. The dew sparkled on the grass. The air was clean and fresh.

I saw God.

A bit later, Wanna and I prayed. Fervently. We were so thankful for our blessings. We prayed for our families. We prayed for you.

We felt God.

Still later, Lily awoke and she was in a good mood. (Sometimes three-year-olds are not, you know.) She smiled and came quietly out of the room she and Mea share when they are with us and Wanna and I got hugs and kisses as we gave her Ovaltine milk and turned the TV on to "Blues Clues."

We saw and felt God.

Shortly after coming to the office, a phone call I received provided the financial answer to a need that had just arisen a few moments before.

I say, felt and worshipped God.

God is so good and I am blessed to have seen and felt Him so much today.

The even greater realization is that He wants us, me, you and everyone, to feel and see and experience Him all day long.

He wants to be so intimately involved in our lives that we don't even consider forgetting His presence and power at work in our lives.

Have you seen Him today? Have you felt His presence so very real in your life?

He's near you. Just stop, look and listen. You will find Him there.

Then, just celebrate His presence and His goodness.

Please pray for revival. You know the drill. Just please do it.

In His Love
Walter

Changes

Changes.

They happen.

They are often quite a lot of trouble.

Unless they are changes that I want. Then they are not only okay, they are welcome changes.

But the changes I don't want, the changes I didn't think I needed, the changes I have had forced upon me are tough to deal with, more because I don't want to than anything else.

Today has been a day when certain changes have been made necessary by incidents totally out of my control.

Things have happened today that have impacted me, Carey and others in ways that are so inconvenient you can't believe it and some of these things are going to take some time and money to fix.

Changes, especially unnecessary ones are trouble.

I'm so thankful that in the midst of these changes, these inconveniences, that I have a Rock to go to that reestablished stability in my world.

That Rock is my Jesus and right now, I'm holding on to Him with all the strength I can muster.

Let me suggest that when changes, trials, troubles or anything unpleasant gets in you way, go to the Only True Rock, the Only Safe Fortress that you have.

Don't let the vicissitudes of life defeat you. Hold fast to Jesus.

When you have been reconciled to Him, He has promised never to leave you or forsake you.

Take advantage of that great promise and find all the strength and stability you'll ever need.

Let Him hold you, strengthen you, undergird you in every way today.

And pray for revival. Oh, how we need Jesus!

In His Love
Walter

The News Today

I read in the news today that Iran has fired their first ballistic missile that they produced themselves.

Comforting to know they can do it on their own, isn't it?

And guess what? North Korea is preparing to test-fire a long range ballistic missile of their own that has the range capability of reaching Alaska.

And the good news just keeps on a-comin'!

Our economy is going to take years to recover, according to Newt Gingrich. Well, Duh!

And in spite of all this news, I'm as joyful and excited as I can possibly be because I know what many of you know: none of this has been a surprise to God.

Dear friends, we don't have the answers to all the problems that our world faces today. We can't fix the economy or convince Iran and North Korea that nuclear weapons are not the way to change our world for the better.

But we do have the answer to the heart problems that have produced all this greed and hate: Jesus.

We need to share Him with everyone we meet. We need to share the truth about God's love and grace and forgiveness through Christ until everyone has heard.

The results are up to God but the witnessing is up to us.

And we need to realize that our talk is no good if our lives don't match up.

So, let's live Jesus today. He is far more attractive than you or I can ever be. And He is the answer that can fix economies, heal hatreds and halt missiles with bombs.

We need Him now more than ever.

Pray for revival. Pray until the Church stands as the Church. Better yet, kneels as the Church.

In His Love
Walter

Doing What's Right

One of the stories I read in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution this morning had to do with a cab driver who discovered that a bag with valuables in it had been left in his cab.

There was diamond jewelry, an expensive watch, an iPod and other stuff worth a good bit of money.

The cab driver did the right thing and found the rightful owner and returned it.

That this story made the paper does not bother me at all. People who do the right thing should be noticed and applauded.

The tone of the story, amazement, is what makes me stop and think.

The idea conveyed was that it was almost unbelievable that this man would return things that could have so easily kept.

He could have worn the watch, given the diamond jewelry to his wife or other female and converted the iPod for his own use. No one would have been the wiser.

What does it say about us as a society that we are amazed when someone does the right thing? Whatever happened to the time when we expected that people would do the right thing almost always?

People used to take seriously God's command that we should not steal.

People used to understand that ill-gotten gain included things that were found and kept unless every effort was made to find the rightful owner first.

Even Opie had to wait 30 days for the $50.00 he found in the lost wallet. And even after the 30 days had passed, Sheriff Taylor, as good a daddy as sheriff, helped Opie understand that he had to return the money when the man showed up a couple of days after the time limit.

I pray for a day when once again everyone expects everyone else, and himself as well, to do the right thing all the time.

I pray for a day when we still applaud those who do, not because we consider it unusual, but because doing right things is the Godly choice for life.

There is only one true way. There is only one totally right choice. That way, that choice, is to follow Jesus. To receive Him and to love and walk with God.

Love Him today. If you have not embraced Him as your Savior, invite Him into your heart today. It is amazing the difference He will make.

Please remember to pray for revival. Please remember to pray for our leadership. God hears our prayers and He will answer. In His good time. In His good way. Let's just do our part and pray.

In His Love
Walter

The Hall Of Famer

The Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl last night. 27 to 23.

It was a thriller according to the report I saw on ESPN this morning. I didn't stay up to watch the game.

I've already forgotten who was the MVP. I do remember that he was one of the wide receivers for the Steelers.

People in Pittsburgh were thrilled, as you knew they would be. I guess I'm happy for them.

Before the game and then again this morning there was a lot of talk about whether or not Kurt Warner, the quarterback for the losing Arizona Cardinals, has been good enough during his career to be considered a Hall of Fame player.

Kurt Warner is openly and apologetically a Christian. He is a man of good and consistent character.

During the two week media build-up to the actual game, one of his teammates was asked about Kurt's qualifications as a potential Hall of Famer. He said in reply, "Hall of fame dad, hall of fame friend, hall of fame teammate, hall of fame quarterback."

Notice that the comment about quarterback came last. Other far more important qualities were mentioned first.

Also during the two week build-up to the actual game, some of the "talking heads" that debate sports endlessly as if sports is the most important thing on earth that can be discussed and they are the experts to discuss it, ridiculed Kurt for his Christianity. They literally made fun of him. Sort of the "goody-two-shoes" kind of thing.

If they only knew that Kurt Warner already has his name written down on a list that far surpasses any list made by men, whether it is a list of good quarterbacks or dads or friends or teammates. His name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

I will forever believe, and I think that Kurt Warner would tell you that having his name in God's Book of the Redeemed means far more than any recognition he might or might not get here on earth.

I believe that he would also tell you that the main reason he is able to be the quarterback, friend, dad and teammate he is, is because of the presence of Christ in his heart.

I believe that Kurt plays his best, fathers his best, befriends his best because he tries very hard to do everything he does to the glory of His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and Almighty God, his heavenly Father.

The debate about Kurt's Hall of Fame worthiness may go on for years.

But his eternal fame is signed, sealed and delivered by the One Who knew him best but still loved him most.

Does that mean he stands out any more than the rest of those who are believers? No. It just means that he stands (better yet, kneels) alongside all of those who have trusted Christ as Savior and Lord to praise and honor and glorify Him.

Is your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life? Your earthly achievements don't matter much for eternity. Only your relationship with Christ.

If you have received Him, praise Him. If you have not, ask Him about it today.

Please pray for revival. Please. Our nation needs you as a steadfast prayer warrior.

In His Love
Walter

The Problem With The Peanuts

As most of you know, I come from South Georgia. Peanut country. I've been around 'em all my life. Sold boiled peanuts as a boy to earn money for my school clothes. Loved doing it. Love peanuts, especially boiled. Down there, we know how to boil 'em right. Get 'em when they're green. Eat 'em up.

Blakely, the home of the suspected processing plant in the peanut salmonella outbreak, is less than an hour from my hometown. This problem could devastate the entire town. Early County is practically in mourning.

The problem with the peanuts is not really a problem with the peanuts. I can tell you from first-hand experience that there are no inherently bad peanuts. They are all quiet, very docile.

The problem with the peanuts is a problem with people. Someone has gotten lazy, or greedy, or both. And everyone is seeking to say, "It's not my fault."

The State has blamed the plant. The plant has said they did everything the State required them to do so it must be the State's fault.

The Feds have blamed the State and the plant and now seem to be blaming each other because back in September, something happened with some of these peanuts on a shipment that Canada refused and tried to send back but the FDA (a federal agency) would not let the peanuts back in the US and that should have jump-started an investigation into what was wrong with the peanuts.

Does this sound convoluted and complicated?

Covering up errors always is.

Perhaps somebody did not want to take responsibility for the losses that would be incurred if the peanuts were condemned and destroyed.

Perhaps someone did not want to take responsibility for the costs of fixing all the building deficiencies we read about.

Perhaps some State or Federal inspector was just too tired or too disinterested to follow through on what they had discovered.

There's plenty of reason to believe that something like this will be at the root of this salmonella outbreak because there are plenty of people trying to put the blame on someone else.

Take it from me, the root problem is sin. When Adam first sinned for himself and the rest of us, he opened the door for laziness instead of God's intended productivity.

That same door was opened for greed, the desire for easy money rather than God's intended work ethic whereby a man was rewarded for honoring God with everything he put his hands to and then enjoying the fruits of his honest labor.

The problem with the peanuts is the same problem with anything else that is wrong in this world. We are a fallen, sinful people very much in need of God's salvation.

If Man would focus on honoring God with the same energy he uses trying to gain ease and comfort and riches for himself, it would be a different world.

How about you? Where's your focus today? What are you pursuing? God's perfect will or your own aims and goals?

It matters, you know? Life is so much more than peanuts.

Pray for revival, please.

In His Love
Walter

Chicken Mull

Tomorrow night, if nothing out of the ordinary happens to prevent it, I will bring chicken mull to the One of A Bunch soup supper.

Now some of you are saying, "Ughhh! What's chicken mull?"

It is a delicious soup/stew concoction made of boiled chicken, milk, salt, pepper, butter and soda crackers. It is a very simple recipe and I just gave you all of the ingredients.

Now you can make chicken mull.

What's that you say? You can't make chicken mull by just knowing the ingredients?

You are right. Knowing the ingredients is not enough. You have to know something about how to utilize them together to create what is to me and Wanna a very delicious dish.

There is also a recipe for victorious Christan living. The ingredients are found in the Bible and a successful Christian life can begin for anyone who will take some of the ingredients and start to use them together properly.

But just like chicken mull, just knowing the ingredients will not get the job done. You actually have to take them and work them together. But when you do, you will have a most delicious life in Christ.

The chief ingredient is salvation through belief in Christ and His atonement for you on Calvary's cross and His subsequent resurrection from the dead three days later. You need this just like chicken mull needs the chicken.

When you take this most important ingredient and begin to stir in generous amounts of prayer, Bible study and heart-felt worship, a victorious Christian life begins to take shape.

Add things like forgiveness of others who have wronged you, a genuine love for those the world would consider unlovable and a generous heart that causes you to reach out to help others with your time, money and strength, and your victorious life gets better and better.

Now I know that the name of my dish, chicken mull, probably doesn't sound too appealing and it might take some convincing to get you to try it.

But a victorious Christian life should sound appealing to all. Who doesn't want to live victoriously? Who doesn't want to be on the winning side?

Whether or not you ever try my recipe for chicken mull, please try God's recipe for victorious living. You'll find all the details about His recipe in His Word. He's the Master of the Universe. You can be sure He is also the Master Chef of life.

Please pray for revival. Don't forget. It is the most important thing you can pray for our nation, our state, our church.

In His Love
Walter

A Foggy Day

It's a foggy day today.

I'll wager that you already knew that.

Kind of hard to miss, huh?

Foggy days make things seem blurry. And that makes me more careful as I drive. I don't want to fail to see something or someone and have an accident as a result.

I sometimes have foggy spiritual days, too. Days when there are questions I don't have answers to. Days when the direction of my life seems unclear. Days when I don't feel sure about what God is doing or what He would have me do.

And it just occurred to me this morning that those foggy spiritual days are days when I should be as extra careful living my life as I am extra careful driving in the fog.

God has a lot of ways to call our attention to truths He wants us to learn and today He used a foggy day to help me realize how important it is that I take whatever extra time is needed to be sure the way He has chosen for me is clear before I proceed.

Many people will have accidents or near accidents on the road today because they remain in a hurry even though the way is not clearly clear.

How about we agree with one another that we will take the extra time to look closely in every direction before we proceed on the highway or in our lives? That way we can avoid "foggy day decisions" that lead to accidents in life and please Him by waiting for His leadership.

Too often, these "foggy day decisions" can be as bad for our lives and those around us as a fatal accident on the highway and I'm quite sure that if we wait on God, He will clearly show us each step He wants us to take.

Don't be impatient in the fog.

And please remember to pray for revival. True revival, sent by Our Heavenly Father, will do more to clear the fog out of lives and minds that anything else that could possibly happen. Pray that it will be so and that it will be soon.

In His Love
Walter

Stronger Everyday

Many of you who read this blog know that I recently had both my knees replaced. Since the operations, one in August and one in November, I have worked at building up the muscles around my knees to eliminate all discomfort and to make sure that my new knee joints last as long as possible.

In the physical therapy that was ordered for me after my surgeries, I quickly learned that one of the things that seemed to help the most was to ride a stationary bicycle. We borrowed one from Chad and Christie so that I could continue this therapy at home.

The bike they loaned us is pre-programmed with a number of different ride simulations to provide the kind of workout that best suits the intended goal.

They all make me huff and puff. When I first started on it, I'd occasionally hear Wanna ask, "Are you all right?" All that heavy breathing and noise I made caused her to wonder if my heart was going to hold out.

You'll be glad to know that it has held out so far and I'm in the process of increasing my ride/workout a little each day.

And you know what? I can tell that my heart and lungs and legs are getting a little bit stronger everyday. I can literally tell that the residual discomfort of knee replacement surgery is going away, as well.

I love it when a plan comes together. (Thanks, Hannibal.)

Exercise works for Christian life as well as your body life.

Regular Bible study feeds your spiritual life proper food and you get stronger. Regular prayer brings strength directly from God to you and you get stronger. The exercise of obedience makes the most difference and provides the most growth. A little more each day and you get stronger everyday.

Stronger everyday.

Stronger to resist sin in all its tempting forms. Stronger to hold your tongue when what would come out will only make a situation worse. Stronger to capture the thoughts in your mind that do not honor God or reflect the glory of Christ. Stronger to be kind to those who have been unkind to you. Stronger to forgive those who have hurt you.

Regular spiritual exercise will make you stronger in every way a little bit everyday and each day you will become more confident and aware of the powerful presence of God with you to overcome all that Satan, the world and your flesh will throw your way.

Regular spiritual exercise makes you more like Jesus. What more could we want than to grow more and more to be like Him, the One Who died that we could be free?

Give it a try. Push yourself a little farther each day. You'll reap Heavenly rewards.

Don't forget to pray for revival. Please. Fervently and continuously. He is faithful. He will send it. You just keep on praying.

In His Love
Walter

A Song In My Heart

Yesterday at our weekly service at the assisted living home, one of the songs we sang was, "He Keeps Me Singing." The first line of that song is, "There's within my heart a melody..."

This morning when I woke up, I started thinking about how many times I wake up and there really is a melody within my heart and it's not just a song, it is a song to or about Jesus and my relationship with Him.

It seems that many mornings there really is that melody that Jesus whispers to me sweet and low.

It is a wonderful way to start the day and it's not me doing it. It is Jesus helping me get my day going on a joyful note with my thoughts fixed on Him.

This is not something I do for myself. It is a gift from God and it is wonderful. I would encourage you to ask Him for such a gift. It will be a real blessing to your day.

And don't be shy about asking Him for this type of gift. Remember that He is our Heavenly Father and He truly knows how to give gifts that lift and encourage and strengthen us for praise and service to Him.

And when He does give you that early morning song in your heart, hold on to it all day. It will help in all sorts of situations to keep you focused on Who and What really matters in life.

Remember His words through the Psalmist, "Sing unto the Lord!"

As you sing, multitask and ask Him for revival. Be faithful in prayer for revival and He will be faithful to send it. In His good time. In His good way.

In His Love
Walter

Today

This one's easy.

I had a conversation with a wonderful friend of mine just a little while ago and realized as we were talking that there are some things we've allowed the world to plant so firmly in our minds that it takes a good bit of digging to get them out so we can get on with right thinking.

The particular thing I refer to this morning is thinking like everybody else. The world wants those of us who have been washed in the blood of Jesus and claim Him as Savior and Lord of our lives to look and act like everybody else. That will weaken our testimony and will cause others to think that having Jesus really doesn't make much difference in a person's life.

The world and our enemy Satan wants us to fall into the trap of thinking like everybody else.

In the context of our talk this morning, my friend said something like this, "The economy is so bad these days."

I said, "Whoa. The economy is not bad. It is exactly what God has given us for today and we need to be thankful for it and rejoice in it. It is our reaction to the present condition of our economy that is bad."

What I mean is that our Heavenly Father has promised us many things. "All things work together for good" comes to mind. "I will never leave you nor forsake you" also pops up. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of death (or even difficult economic times) I will fear no evil, for Thou are with me."

You see, when our faith is in God our Heavenly Father, we are forever in His hands and whatever the circumstances, whatever happens to us, He holds it all and we are surely blessed by it. We will never know what tomorrow holds, but if we are His through Christ, we will always know Who holds tomorrow and that should be enough.

Faith must be put into practice and affect all the areas of our lives or it is not really faith. Yes, sometimes our faith can falter, but we must quickly get up and get on living totally dependent upon God and that means there are no bad days or bad economies, just times when His shaping of our character into the image of Christ is a bit more intense than at other times.

Please remember my dear friends: "This is the day that the Lord hath made. I will rejoice and be glad in it."

Also, please pray for revival. By now you recognize this as my mantra. Please keep it up. God is faithful. He will send it.

In His Love
Walter

Yesterday

Yesterday, I sent out an email plea for some wood and some help. Boy, did I get it.

Thanks to everyone who showed up to split, load, deliver and unload the wood that D donated.

Miss Ruby was very grateful.

I am, too.

God was pleased.

I am, too.

Yesterday was a day when the strength of the Body of Christ known as the church revealed itself and met a need in a family member's life.

Yesterday was a day when the love of a particular body of believers known as Hills Crossing Baptist Church shone forth in a mighty way.

Yesterday was a day when the cold of the weather (and, whoooeee, it was cold) was overcome by the warmth and caring of people who were willing to give of themselves to benefit someone else.

Yesterday was a day when many gave an offering of pure love to Our Heavenly Father by reaching out to meet a need.

Yesterday was a day when my heart was lifted and encouraged and I loved it. There was plenty of help and others who wanted to help that did not make it in time because those who showed up first stepped to and got the job done and I mean done.

Yesterday was a day when the church was the church in all the ways that the church is supposed to be the church.

Now, Church. How will we serve Him today?

Please don't forget to pray for revival. Earth-shaking, life-changing, nation-impacting revival.
Today could be the day God gives it. We just never know.

In His Love
Walter

A Very Special Day

Today is a very special day. Today Barack Hussein Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States and the first President of color in our nation's history.

Today is a very special day. The Arizona Cardinals are preparing for the Super Bowl. It will be their first appearance in the NFL Championship game since 1940.

Today is a very special day. My daughter and her three children, Mea, Lily and Ezra are coming over to spend the next two nights with us. It is Ezra's first visit to Grandma and Granddaddy's house.

Today is a very special day. It is someone's birthday. Even three people in our church fellowship.

Today is a very special day. It is special for more reasons that we can possibly imagine. It depends on who you are and what is important to you that makes today a special one.

And, depending on who you are and how you view life, every day can be just as special as this one.

Today is a very special day for me because it is a day that I will spend with God and He with me.

I will talk to Him and He will talk to me. I will need His strength and guidance and He will provide it.

I will need Him to help me keep my mouth shut at certain times and He will help me. I will need Him to help me open my mouth at certain times and He will help me.

He will help me to recognize and be thankful for what is beautiful, good, pure, right and wonderful in the world today.

Today is a very special day and it is really all because of Him and His great love for me. And you.

Let Him be your reason to have a great day today. Forget circumstances. Just celebrate and live for Him.

That might make today the most very special day you've ever had. Who knows?

Pray for revival. Please. You know how. Just do it.

In His Love
Walter

Today's Lift

I think I may have stolen the title of the one minute talk that the gentleman from Community Travel does every morning on WCON. If I did, I hope they won't mind too badly. This missive is not meant to be a copy of what he does and I have to tell you the truth, sometimes I don't get the point of what he has to say. I hope you get the point of this blog, though.

This is meant to be a huge lift for all of you reading who know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. It is meant to be an enticement and encouragement to those who do not know Him in that way in the hope that you will ask Him into your heart to be your Savior.

So many people feel badly about themselves. Professionals and lay-people alike know what low self-esteem is.

Well, here's something to make you feel great about yourself. Maybe this is the best remedy for low self-esteem on the market today, and it's free.

God delights in us. God loves us. He loves us as much right now as He ever can or will no matter who we are or what we've done.

(Here's a note to anyone who has never received Christ as Savior; God loves you, too. As much as He ever can or will. He delights in you.)

Now, I'll admit He may not delight in some of the sinful things we do, but He delights in and loves us just the same.

And He wants us to delight in Him. He wants us to realize His love so completely that we receive His love, celebrate His love and delight in His presence above everything else that might bring us pleasure.

He loves us so much that He died on the cross to rescue us from our sins. He loves us so much that He patiently continues to forgive the sins of those who have been redeemed and continues to offer His redemption to those who have not received His forgiveness of sin through Christ.

And I say again, He delights in us. Psalm 18:19b says. "He delivered me, because He delighted in me.

You and I bring joy to God's face. You and I bring delight to His heart. What a rapturous thought! You and I bring a smile to the face of the Creator of all that was, is and ever shall be!

Think of that! God, Almighty God, delights in you...and you...and you...and me.

Wow!! Oh, wow!! Thank you Father for that knowledge and encouragement.

Let's all try to be as delighted in Him today as He is in us. Maybe it'll show on the outside and someone who does not know what we know will want to know.

And, remember, what we know is not a verse of Scripture but the reality of the heart and mind of God.

Be blessed today. Be a blessing today. And please, please pray for revival. And don't stop praying for it. We need it.

By the way, I'm sorry about yesterday. I came in early to do the blog before I had to go to Athens for my yearly physical and the internet was down. I couldn't get online. And my physical was fine. You wish your cholesterol was as good as mine.

In His Love
Walter

The More Things Change

The old saying stated completely is: "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

The weather today is cold. It is supposed to be even colder tomorrow and then, Oh, Boy, watch out for Friday and Friday night!!

Of course after that it'll warm up. Then it will get cold again.

The Stock Market goes up then it goes down. People celebrate one day and moan the next.

Gas is up some. It was down some. Don't worry. It'll go one way or the other again real soon.

When the economy is good, Americans are spending, taxes are rolling in to our State Government and all is well except that credit debt is mounting up. When the economy is bad, Americans are not spending, our State government is moaning about taxes not coming in and folks aren't charging anymore.

Things change so fast. I spoke with someone on the phone today who said, and I believe her, that things are going so fast around her life right now that she doesn't know which way to go next.

I don't know about you, but I need to be reminded that there is One Who never changes. One Who is always steady. One Who is always right beside me, with me, helping me in all the changes and turmoil of life: Jesus.

Thank God for what He has told us, shown us about Jesus.

Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today and forever."

I need to know that. I need to hear that. I need Him to be my Rock in an ever-changing, ever-whirling world.

If things are about to get you down, take hold of The Rock. Not the wrestler and movie star. The Rock Who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Hang on to Him for a while and the maelstrom of life won't even matter anymore. You might get so used to His steady hand that you resolve to never let Him go, even for a moment, ever again.

Don't for get to pray for revival. Pray. Please, please, pray. God will do it. Just be faithful to pray.

In His Love
Walter

A Thousand Words

Some of you may be laughing at the title. You may be thinking that a blog of only a thousand words would be nice. I don't know how many words I normally use, but I don't think I've come too close to a thousand yet.

I have been thinking about yesterday's post about the lottery and trusting God.

You know, we like to quote Scripture like Phil. 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." KJV We might also like Hebrews 13:5b, "And be content with such things as you have." KJV We might also go so far as to tell ourselves that we have, like Paul, "...learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Phil.4:11 KJV

And we might actually believe that because we have surrendered to our current circumstances we have contentment. But that just isn't so. To be content means that we do not just bear our circumstances, we embrace them, we rejoice in them knowing that Jesus is there with us.

To be content before God means that we do not simply tell ourselves to look at the good things we have and be comforted or to look at others who have less than we do and feel good about it, it means we actually love just what we have just as we have it and do not long for more.

Think about the difference it makes in our hearts toward God. Think what He sees when He looks into our hearts searching for contentment.

He is not looking for simple surrender to circumstance. He is looking to see if Jesus is really enough for us to be satisfied.

We sing the song, "I am satisfied, I am satisfied, I am satisfied with Jesus. But the question comes to me as I think on Calvary, is my Master satisfied with me?"

One of the reasons Christians have lost much of their voice and influence in the world today is this matter of contentment. The world tells us that we need more, deserve more and that we are justified in wanting more.

The Holy Word tells us, teaches us that Jesus should be all we require for joy and contentment for our lifetimes. We also sing the song, "He's all I need, He's all I need, Jesus is all I need."

Is He? If He is, then you require nothing else. If He's not and you profess to be His, why is He not? What do you need to face in yourself so that He becomes all you need?

I hope this is less than a thousand words but remember the rest of that quote: "A picture is worth a thousand words." Let's be careful of the pictures that God and others see. May He and they see joy and contentment in us because if Jesus and nothing more.

Pray, please. For revival. You know by now. Please pray. Until God sends it in the mighty way we need it.

In His Love
Walter