Seven dangers of Human Virtue!

Seven dangers of Human Virtue. (Gandhi). 1) Wealth without work. 2) Pleasure without conscience. 3) Knowledge without character. 4) Business without ethics. 5) Science without humanity. 6) Religion without sacrifice. 7) Politics without principle. That's all for a while folks!

SELFLESS LEADER!

"And should you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not; ...but your life I will give to you as a [snatched] prize of war wherever you go". Jeremiah 45:5. (AMPV). My friend, the principle of true leadership is not "self-serving but selfless service". A desire to be great is not wrong in itself; however, it's a warning against greatness for "yourself" is a selfish ambition. As a team, every member of the team has to realize that they have vested interest in the ministry's success; when the ministry succeeds, the payoff is advancement of the kingdom of God and your opportunities. A rising tide lifts all boats, isn't it? A selfless leader never operate in isolation. They carefully consider the impact of their decisions on the people around them. A selfless leader is known for their integrity. He or she will make every effort to clarify their intention and motivation. They always will be transparent, honest, and truthful about their daily activities and especially about finances. Genuine selfless leaders will earn the trust of their team members who are above and below them. Are you a selfless, trustworthy leader? In your home...ministry....business? Well, are you?

LIVING FOR A CAUSE GREATER THAN YOURSELF!!

" And David said,...Is there not a cause?...And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him, thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine". 1 Samuel 17:29-32. My friend, let me ask you a question? Are we living for a cause greater than ourselves?. Our existence make any difference in this world we are living in? At the age of twelve Jesus said " I must be about my father's business". Luke 2:49. Twenty one years later, dying on the cross, He announced, "It is finished". John 19:30. These two statements frame a totally fulfilled, mission accomplished, God-glorifying life. You may say that is Jesus! How about people like you and me? Well, How could David stand up to a giant from whom everybody else was running from? Even the king of Israel was scared and was hiding. He found that God's people were being threatened, and everybody around him was afraid to confront the problem and ridicule. Bro: do we have the boldness and nerve to say "I'm going to do something about this". If you were God, and you wanted to send one of your servants to help the less fortunate and proclaim the gospel, what would you do? God sent His only son to save us. God has called each of us to live for a cause greater than ourselves. If God asked you what you had done for the spreading of the gospel and for the poor, what would you say? So ask God to reveal to you His purpose for your life. Until you find it you haven't lived, and until you fulfill it you are not ready to die. Do you know what is your God given assignment? Just asking, just asking.....just a..

REST MAN REST!!

"..and he said, it is enough; It is enough; now, Oh Lord, take away my life...And He lay and slept under a Juniper tree.. 1 King 19:4-5. Humm, my friend, I have a message for you! TAKE A BREAK AND REST!!! God never prescribe deeper spirituality to a natural problem, TADA. When it is time to sleep-it's time to sleep. Nothing takes the place of Rest and spending time with your family. By the way "there is no vacation anointing either". Rest, Rest! Intercessory prayer and talking in tongue won't do it. GO TO BED! Jezebel may be hiding beside the Juniper tree or behind the shadow of the Oak Tree. But your God can handle Jezebel and what ever she is trying to do. All you have to do is rest in Him man!! Illness, stress, family problems, job demands, etc ..rob us of sleep. And when we constantly run low on battery power it shows up in our attitude, our relationship, and our performance. David said "I will both lie down in peace and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety" Psalms 4:8 (NKJV). Hey Bro: do you know that "with one week left to live, Jesus observed the Sabbath"? As far as we can tell. You may ask " with all those apostles to train and people to teach, he took a day of rest and worship?" Apparently so. My friend, you need rest, rest, rest, REST. It's not UNHOLY! Don't feel guilty, DO YOU UNDERSTAND? GOOD!!

CHRISTIAN RACE!!

"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus". Philippians 3:14 (RSV). I was a runner in State and University level in India during my School and College years. I can relate to what is Paul talking here. The gun sounds. Runners spring from their starting blocks, and the race is on. At the beginning, the pace is rather equal; but as the contestants round the final turn, their gait increases. Far down the track, a tape stretches across. Noise from the crowd grows in intensity. Each Competitor, drenched with perspiration, strains every muscle, running in their own lane to the finish line. In a moment, the tape breaks. The winner grimaces from his exertion but smiles with joy. He pressed toward the finish line and captured the coveted prize. How like a race is the Christian life. The prize of eternal life spurs dedicated servants of Christ to surmount any obstacle in order to attain it. Their purpose is to be with Christ at all cost. Victorious Christian life requires the devotion and stamina of a track star. But all the blood , sweat, and tears of discipleship will be gently blotted from memory by His wonderful look of love when we reach our goal! Too many church goers are singing "standing on the promises" when all they are doing is sitting on the premises. Bro: It's good to be a Christian and know it, but it's better to be a Christian and show it!! TADA!! The crowd is watching you friend, your spouse, your children, your church, your friends, unbelievers..world...and JESUS!!!!

HIS PRESENCE!!

"..Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world". Matthew 28:20. All of us have challenges in our lives. Some times when we go through difficult days, it is very lonely. We feel isolated. We feel nobody understands, maybe nobody even knows and cares about it. But OUR GOD knows and He is present and He is there to be an encouragement to us. My friend, there is no day so dark, so common place, so uninteresting that we do not find Him there. Often, no doubt, He is unrecognized, as He was on the way to Emmaus, until we realize how our hearts have been warmed, our lives stirred, with every promise seeming to speak to us with heavenly reality and power. When seven of His disciples were fishing at the sea of Tiberias, scared, catching nothing, the merciful restoring Jesus appeared on the shore and asked them, "Children, have ye any meat?". They did not recognize Him, but one John said "It is the Lord". He was there, WASN'T HE? He is IMMANUEL (God be with us). Not an "above us God" or somewhere in the neighborhood God. Not "God with the rich" God, not with the religious' God, not with Americans, Russians, Indians, Africans, Europeans, Nurses, Doctors, Plumbers, Truck Drivers, Engineers, Taxi Drivers, Librarians alone God. HE IS "GOD WITH US" God. Bro: I want you to know this fact always, that He is with us, a Presence all unseen but real and ready when we need Him to manifest Himself for our help. Hey, hey, You are not alone, the creator of the universe GOD ALMIGHTY IS THERE WITH YOU TO HELP AND DELIVER! Y'ALL HEAR ME?

TODAY IS THE DAY TO LIVE!!

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thoughts of your life..eat..drink..put on..But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and hid righteousness: all these shall be added unto you" Matthew 6:25-33. My friend "Today is your day"! Are you looking for something better in your future all the days of your life and it is passing you rapidly? We dream of a magical rose garden- free from all thorns- across this situation- and we neglect to enjoy the fragrance of the roses that bloom today so close to our window, aren't we? Bro: You cannot recycle time! Tada. Our future to a large extent is the result of how we live today and the decisions made today under the guidance of the principles of God. A thief becomes a thief when he accept the lifestyle to steal the first time. You become an alcoholic when you choose to take the first drink. Businessman fails in his business because of a string of wrong decisions. Years ago I read in a New York news paper about woman in the nineties suing the Lottery Commission of the State. Apparently she won millions of dollars, but found out that she will be paid in installments over the next twenty years. She says she wanted her money now because she will not be around to collect it. She won millions but too old to spend it. Hey, hey, Get rid of that self-pity, criticism, and blame. Excuses..bury them. Take up everyday as today, one by one, with clean hands and a pure heart and enjoy the life- with your spouse, children, relatives, church friends and above all 'have daily time with our God". One thing I learn by watching the clock is that it passes time by keeping its hands busy. Am I right?

BITTERNESS!!

"And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? .. now the Lord hath forsaken us...." Judges 6:13. Humm, Gideon, BITTERNESS? My friend, root of bitterness unchecked produces bad decisions- do you know that? The man was bitter looking at the past! In the past anything anybody does to you is controlling you, that means you have bitterness. This will result in making WRONG DECISIONS! He or she hurt my feelings- is that your excuse buddy. Are you wearing that "FEELING GLASS" and see everything and everybody through that glass rest of your life? Can you imagine Peter walking away from Jesus saying "He hurt my feeling", he called me a satan or Cananite woman going away from Jesus telling "he hurt my feeling", he called me a dog! Hey, Kingdom people "Shake it off" that bitterness. Somebody burnt you or mistreated you in your past and you are "straightly shut up" like Jericho, God cannot help you my friend. When you open up, then God moves. Over the telephone you told me "I don't have bitterness". Let me see: Bitterness is a characteristic that always reveals itself in unpleasant ways. A bitter taste is hard to swallow; bitter cold is hard to bear; bitter truth is a phrase used to describe a situation when telling the truth is painful; bitter enemies are those whose names strike fear in your heart. So when Bible speaks of BITTERNESS, or of a BITTER SPIRIT, it is speaking of that which produces a bad taste, an unpleasant reaction; that which is characterized by resentment or anger. Hey hey, Give all your bitterness to Jesus and plea for His help. He can blot out your Bitterness and hurt feeling. We are guilty and He is innocent, we are filthy and He is pure, we are wrong and He is right, He is not on the cross for His sins but He is for ours, He will perform the miracle of forgiveness in you and set you free. Today not tomorrow....yes...YES..HE WILL.

PRESENT-TENSE GOD!!

"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM..thou say unto children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you". Exodus 3:14. My friend, we are serving a Present- Tense God! God not only reminded Moses of His covenantly promise to Abraham, but used His name "I AM THAT I AM" to remind Moses about His COMPLETENESS, God's SUFFICIENCY, His PROMISES, His PROTECTION, and His COMFORT. Our Lord is ALMIGHTY!! "He is the same yesterday, today and forever". Our Jesus always said "I AM". For us: we were younger, faster, prettier, full of energy. We can say "we were". He never said "I WAS". From the center of the storm He shouts: I AM, from the court where He was tried He said "I AM". For you and I: From the ICU He says "I AM", from the board room He says "I AM", from the maternity ward He says "I AM", at the divorce court He says "I AM", Single parent He says "I AM", people call you names and says "you are good for nothing"- He says "I AM", laid off and bills are piling up he says "I AM", rejected and ridiculed He says "I AM". Oh my!! Whatever situation you are going through my friend, He is a Present-Tense God. He is telling you "I AM THAT I AM!! Am I preaching or WHAT?

God's love and mercy!!

"The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are overall his works". My friend, this Sunday morning as we are worshiping our God, do you know how good our God is? His goodness is seen in His provision for us not only in our own lives but in the universe. His goodness is seen in His patience with us. None of us deserve any of His good and yet He has poured it out upon us. His mercy endures forever. His love and goodness is seen in His protection for us, doesn't it? Is there any end to His love and His mercy? Is there a limit? You'd think so, wouldn't you? Well, David the adulterer never found it, Peter the liar never found it, Mary Magdalene never found it. They all hit the bottom in life but when it came to God's love, they never did it. Hey hey Our God is good and His love is everlasting. Let's worship Him today!!!

MAKING DECISIONS!!

"Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety". Proverbs 11:14. My friend, do you know what causes bad decisions? Limited information is the greatest cause for poor decision. People who are making decisions without getting all the facts and making decisions without full information are making decisions on half truths. Surround yourself with people who gives optimum information. Don't make any decisions on the basis of "He says", "she says", "they say", "I heard", "I thought", "It looks like to me": all that cause you to make bad decisions. In future, this will help you in your church life, business, marriage, raising children, and out in the Isle of Patmos. Bro: Now you know what happened to you, right? Don't take permanent decisions on the basis of temporary circumstances!! Did you hear me??? Yeah, yeah, Good.

SAD DEPARTURE!

"He was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions". Mark 10:22. My friend, isn't it a sad departure for this rich young ruler? He was rich, he had great possessions, he held a great position, he was deeply religious but he was not HAPPY. Well, his hands were clean and that's why he said:" All these things have I kept from my youth up". Omniscient Jesus did not deny what he said either. But his heart was empty- something is missing- and he was looking for something more. He was uncommitted and for a call to service and sacrifice- he wasn't ready. For him, it was too strict and too senseless. Filled with sorrow, the rich young ruler forfeited eternal life because he would not meet Christ's demands. To this day men and women find Christ attractive until he commands them to go, sell, and give. How about you and I, my friend? We are proud and content to be saved and a member of a church, right? As Christians, we often delude ourselves. We keep the law and kneel before Jesus. He promised abundant life but the primary ingredient is sacrificial service. Does our Christian experience consist of a dull routine because we refuse to give our all to Christ? Will we depart this life in sadness? Humm, I thought I will share what the Lord spoke to me during my devotion this morning!!

DON'T BE LAZY!!

"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man". Proverbs 6:9-11. My friend, are you guilty of laziness? Well, you may say I am not. According to the Bible: 1) Those who want to do nothing. They are LAZY.(Proverbs 13:4, 19:4). 2) Those who engage in activities of secondary importance and neglect those activities which should challenge their talents. They are LAZY.(Proverbs 20:4). 3) The "one talent man" had been active - he buried and unburied the money but was still called "LAZY" and he had not been busy in the most significant activity. Some feel it is too hard or too much work to change. If you accept the status-quo position in life, we end up living a mediocre life. Do things to get by in life will not take you to the destiny God has for you. If you are too lazy to study the Bible and shows yourselves approved, don't expect to see your life prospering. Here in Texas we say "He who wants milk should not sit on a stool in the middle of the pasture expecting the cow to back up to him". Tada!