Let It Rain 1

One of the farmer’s worst enemies is a lack of rain. When there is no water, the soil can’t produce strawberries, peaches, oranges, blueberries, potatoes, peanuts and grapes. The bugs, birds and deer can all be controlled, but rain from the sky comes from our God in heaven who blesses the earth with his moisture and rain.

In the Bible we read about many droughts throughout history. Famines happened to Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, David, King Ahab, Haggai, and even the early church days written in the Book of Acts. To everything there is a season. Just how do you handle the droughts that come your way? Business owners, churches, families, relationships, governments, the stock market and one’s health can all face seasons of drought.

I recently was out on the west coast of America. My wife and I had the opportunity to visit the Hoover Dam. I was amazed to see what a man had built in the desert. Through many men who designed, engineered, labored and even gave their lives, today there is power and water that flows into California, Arizona and Nevada. Someone had an idea on how to make the desert bloom. You may be in a season of your life that you’re losing hope that God could make your desert bloom again. Has your marriage, business or ministry seemingly lost its vigor and life?

What could have gone wrong? Was there a reason for the famine? History tells us that King Ahab married a woman named Jezebel who introduced other gods to Israel. So then God sent a famine in the land to get their attention. Don’t ever think that God doesn't know how to get your attention. Three and half years went by with no rain which led to days of grief and sorrow for Israel. Finally, God leads Elijah to a showdown match with the false prophets of Baal and Asherah. He proclaimed that whichever God answered by fire on the altar sacrifice was the one True God. After the Baal prophets cried all day, nothing happened until Elijah prayed and God sent fire out of heaven that burned up the sacrifice on the altar. The false prophets were then destroyed.

Then Elijah told his servant to go look out over the mountain. He went and looked some seven times before he came back and said, “I see a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand”; it wasn't long until the clouds turned black and it began to thunder as the sound of an abundance of rain fell. 

Are you ready for rain on your drought? Are you ready to seek God’s face to see Him change your life, your world, and your situation? Nothing is too hard for God! If He sent rain then, He can do it again IN your ordeal. “He is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Friend, don’t lose HOPE that God has forgotten you in your drought and despair. "God, do it again for those who will turn their face and hearts towards heaven”. I’m looking and listening for the sound of an abundance of rain.

Let It Rain Video Message 

Strategically Reaching Others

Who is on your radar that needs the Lord? Have you thought about how to reach that friend, family member, co-worker or neighbor next door? One day this life as we know it now will come to an end. Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you and if I go I will come again to receive you unto myself that where I am there you may be also.” (John 14:2, 3)

Will your family or friends be left behind? Will they face the wrath of God that will come on this earth? The Book of Revelations makes no bones about it that what’s coming on earth after Christ return isn’t going to be pretty. Famine, financial collapse of the worlds markets, wars where millions will be killed, and the great deceiver called “The Anti-Christ” will appear just to mention a few things that are coming.

We are living in a time where many are being lulled to sleep. I believe Satan has blinded and drugged up people on the things of this world where they can’t even see what’s coming. Is there hope for your family and friends? Let God use you!

HE WILL USE YOU’RE:

ENCOURAGMENT, Each of us has the power to encourage someone with our actions. Buy someone a cup of coffee, a lunch, mow their grass, or put some gas in someone’s automobile. God can give you the thought to encourage someone in some way that REACHES and touches their heart.

CHARACTER, No one is perfect but each of us who have surrendered our life to the Lord has a new heart to live right and do right. I am not saying that we pretend to be people that have no hang- ups or hick-ups in life. Thank God I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me to deny my fleshly desires and live an overcoming life.

BOLDNESS, This world would like for us to cave in under the pressures of this sinful society. Satan hates those who will stand up for what is right. God gave Peter a new boldness when he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Let God refill you today with His Power to stand up in the work place, the market place, or among your family who thinks you’re crazy.

KINDNESS, Don’t tell anybody how in love you are with Christ and then spout off at them every time they unnerve you at work or on the highway. Have you thought about letting someone else have your parking space, buy them lunch or a cup of coffee. Yesterday this guy walked into the restaurant who had tattooed his entire face. One of our men from church was moved to buy his breakfast and leave a card that said, “Something extra to show you that God loves you.”  Be kind to people and watch God work.

COMPASSION, The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was known as the way of Blood because of the blood which is often shed there by robbers. It was a drop in elevation from 2500 feet in 15 miles to 850 feet below sea level. A priest, Levite passed by a robber one day but one man stopped and said, “I must do something to help this man.” Let God use your compassion to change a life.

TIME Dwayne Jones said, “were not running out of money, but we are running out of time.” Will you let God have your days that are left? Make the best of the days you have left to give.

No one wants their ship to sink in the Harbor - Part 2

Many adults and students enter college with great passion and graduate and go into the workforce looking for success in their future. Is success making the big dollars?

Ships were not designed and built to just sit and surely not to sink in the Harbor;  rather they are designed to sail in the seas regardless of the tough winds and waves they will encounter. But what about ships built that never get out of the harbor?

Some ships are made for trading, others for entertainment, some for fishing and some even for combat in protecting our shoreline. The bigger question for each of us today is “Why were we personally created?”

Jehoshaphat had to be devastated as he watched his ships after being built sink before they ever set sail on the sea. All his time, energy and investment ‘down the tubes’. The big question is WHY? Was God getting his attention in sinking ships that were built to seek gold? Had this great man of God who had seen great victories asked what had gone wrong?

Anyone that experiences losses should ask, “Lord, why?” We know that God wasn't against blessing him with treasures and riches. Earlier in his leadership he watched God single handedly defeat three nations without him lifting a hand. They took three days just to collect the riches! So it’s not that God was saying “No” to his entrepreneurial spirit. There is one other interesting development that we must take note of.

After his failure in joining partnership with King Ahab, he also joins up with King Amaziah. When we go against the grain of God in one instance, you would think the wakeup call would be loud and clear. Jehoshaphat came close to losing his own life in the partnership with King Ahab; now he sees Gods rebuke in teaming up with his son. “³⁵ Some time later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who was very wicked.³⁶ Together they built a fleet of trading ships at the port of Ezion-geber. ³⁷ Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, “Because you have allied yourself with King Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy your work.” So the ships met with disaster and never put out to sea (2 Chronicles 20:35-37).

Be cautious who you team up with in life. God wasn't about to allow him to have success in his new partnership and investment with a wicked King. Keep God as your partner in pressing forward in life. God’s advice in partnership and collaborations is priceless. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and He delighteth in his way. (Psalms 37:23)

“NO ONE WANTS THEIR SHIP TO SINK IN HARBOUR.”

Early in the morning on December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise torpedo attack on the US Naval Base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. On December 8, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a speech, also known as the “Infamy Speech” to the American citizens, informing them that this happened while the US was in the midst of talks to keep peace. That same day, America entered into World War II.

Close to 360 Japanese planes attacked about 33 American ships. America sustained a loss of 170 aircraft that morning as well as 18 ships. 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 others were wounded; few Japanese died.

Another man in history also watched and LOST his ships as they sunk in his harbor. The King of Judah experienced his own loss, pain and sorrow. “Jehoshaphat also built a fleet of trading ships to sail to Ophir for gold. But the ships never set sail, for they met with disaster in their home port of Ezion-geber. (1 Kings 22:48)

So just what went wrong with this Kings success? He reigns at the age of 35 for 25 years. He also came under attack from three surrounding nations that attempted to wipe his nation Judah off the face of the map. Jehoshaphat immediately sought the face of God for direction. Ammon, Moab and Mt Seir came with a vengeance to destroy them but met their own fate by turning on each other and destroying one another. Judah never drew a sword in the battle but instead lifted their voices with great praises to their God. As a result it took three days for Judah to collect all the plunder, riches and treasures from off the dead bodies.

So what caused Jehoshaphat to build ships in order to seek after gold? Could that have been a sign that his focus was in the wrong place? God’s Word tells us prior to this move that he was asked by the King of Israel, “Ahab” to partner with him in fighting against the nation of Aram. Jehoshaphat quickly agrees without even asking the Lord what His will would be in this matter. Ahab was a wicked King who worshipped false gods. Why would he so quickly agree to partner in this battle with this king? What can we learn from Jehoshaphat’s Losses?

“PAST SUCCESS DOESN’T GUARANTEE FUTURE VICTORY.” If King Jehoshaphat had asked God the right questions, (not if they would win in this battle with Aram), but are you for me making this NEXT move with this King?

“HE PARTNERED WITH WICKED MEN, AHAB AND AHAZIAH.” Jehoshaphat had always leaned on the Lord as his partner, for his next move in every battle. Not this time, he moved without God’s direction and approval. God tells us not to be unequally yoked. What does light have in common with darkness?  Be careful who You get “in bed with” in business, marriage or this world.

“HIS FOCUS SHIFTED FROM CHASING GOD'S GLORY TO CHASING GOLD.” There is nothing wrong with God blessing you with gold; but what’s more important is a heart chasing after God. Chase after God and He will more than give you blessings.  What are you chasing these days?

"WE MUST NEVER FORGET TRUE SUCCESS COMES FROM GOD.” God’s the REASON that King Jehoshaphat experienced Victories, Relationships, Riches, and Blessings. “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”(Matthew 6:21) NLT

Video Message

Focused?

It was a mild October afternoon in 1982 and Badger Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin was packed. Over 60,000 die-hard University of Wisconsin fans were watching their beloved football team take a beating by Michigan State. What seemed odd was that as the score became more and more lopsided, bursts of cheers and applause kept being heard in the stands. People began to wonder who these strange people were who were cheering while their team was being pummeled. As it turns out, 70 miles away from Badger Stadium the Milwaukee Brewers were beating the St. Louis Cardinals in game three of the World Series. Many of the Badger fans in the stands were listening to portable radios and responding to something else besides what was happening right in front of their eyes.

How many times do we lose heart when we FOCUS on things that are right in front of us? When things just aren't going your way! When the score becomes more and more lopsided in your life, each of us has to choose what we’ll focus on.  Possibly your marriage is experiencing its hiccups, your job has become empty and wearisome, your health is deteriorating, and the kids are in rebellion. What will you focus on?

In Medieval times, the enemy would take their victims and dismember them by chaining four horses to the condemned's arms and legs, thus making them pull him apart. I’m convinced that Satan who comes to steal, kill and destroy is doing the same today by pulling men apart by destroying their focus. Satan is out to divide your thoughts, interest, and focus. Is it even possible to stay focused in this day and hour?

I encourage you to stay FOCUSED on:

God    Why should anything else take priority or precedent over your Lord and Savior? Did not Christ give His very own life so we could experience an abundant life? He said Himself, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and He shall add all these other things to you.” Matthew 6:33

Family  “The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord.” (Proverbs 18:22) It’s sad the average marriage in America only last 7 years. Don’t be surprised if the Four Horsemen don't attempt to rip your marriage apart with some distraction from this culture.

Purpose   You are here for a reason. Life is too short to live for another reason. Doctors were created to help people get well; electricians were created to bring power and light to society, lawyers were created to help people with legal issues, Pastors were created to encourage, educate, and equip people in their faith in God. Ask God to show you.

The Finish Line   Jesus said; “Remember lots wife.” (Luke 17:32) She lost her life in a blaze of fire all because she refused to stay focused on God and chose to look back at the world she loved. Refuse to allow the enemy to pull you apart with your focus, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” Hebrews 12:2 “You will never reach your destination if you stop to throw stones at every dog that barks along the way.” Winston Churchill    Are you FOCUSED?

Focused - video message

Am I Procrastinating Being "All In?" - Part 2

Can you tell me who Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Hoshea,  Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sethurson, Nahbi, Geurlor, or even Paltison are? Most of us would have to go on the Internet to research  who these people possibly are. The reason 99.9% of us don’t recognize their names is because they never did anything positive in helping advance or move Israel closer toward the Promises of God. These are the names of the 10 spies who came back to Moses and said, “We are not able to go in and possess the Promise Land.”

Why would you remember somebody who never did anything positive to advance moving people closer to the promises of God?

It had nothing to do with them being smart, energetic, well groomed, or even favored with leadership. These 10 men came back with an evil report. How would you like to be labeled as one who had nothing positive to bring to the table of God’s plan and purpose?

These 10 spies had several deficiencies.

They said, “Let’s Play it Safe”

You will never get to where God wants to take you by playing it safe. When my wife and I came to Jacksonville Florida, we both heard the enemy whisper in our ears, “You might starve to death; how are you going to put food on the table, gas in the car, and pay your insurance? You are going to go broke.” Well, yes we really didn’t have two nickels to rub together. But I simply refused to listen to Satan’s nonsense. He said, “If you go, you may never come out of the hole again.” Satan never does have anything positive to say to any of us about our future.

Why would you want to line up with the enemy? Why would you want to say what he says?  These 10 men ended up causing a million plus to die in the wilderness, all because their doubt led them in the wrong direction. Why would you want to wander in the wilderness? Nearly 3,500 years ago, the Lord Delivered His people from Egyptian bondage as described in Exodus, chapters 1-12. They were to take possession of the land God had promised their forefathers, a land flowing with milk and honey. Don't fall into the same trap of putting God off and missing the promises of God.

 Today, choose to take a Risk and do things God’s way. Are you procrastinating His direction for your life? You must decide if you’re “All In” or not? Quit dabbing your foot in the water; dive in and accept His love and grace that will get you where you need to go.

Am I Procrastinating Being “All In?”

When my kids were young, I taught each of them how to swim. They had been in many kiddy pools up to their knees, but had never truly swam in a deep pool past their neck. As I was teaching them, they all had a tendency to hang onto my neck, the side of the pool or some float nearby. It wasn’t until they turned loose, or let’s say, I turned loose that they experienced being “ALL IN.” Then they moved themselves across the water without my assistance.

You will never learn to swim by just reading a book, lying out on a lawn chair, or just watching how to swim on a YouTube video. Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch Christian who, along with her father and other family members, helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during World War II and was imprisoned for it. Her most famous book, The Hiding Place, describes the ordeal. When you finish reading her story, you will surely see that Corrie was  “ALL IN” for the Lord.

Jim Elliott was a missionary who took the love and light of God to the Indians in Ecuador. It cost him and four other missionaries their lives, but today, thousands of those people know Christ as a result of men who were “All In.” Jim lived by his own saying; "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."

Would you say that people today in the body of Christ are, “ALL IN?” Can you and I truly say, “Lord, I’m all in?” There have always been times in the history of the church, where God’s people have grown SLACK. In Revelation 3:2 John writes, “Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God.” Those are very strong words, but we dare not ignore them, since they are from the Lord Jesus Himself.

We have so many excuses where we say, “I’m just too busy; my work requires so much of me. I have to pay my bills; my family needs me. I just can’t commit like I want to.” That all may be true, but what about our Lord and Savior who requires not just 30% or even 65%? He requires that we love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Where does that Scripture fit in with our own agenda?

When will we come to the place that we say, Lord, I am yours regardless. Lord I will give regardless. Lord I will serve regardless. Lord I will be faithful to You regardless. Friend, don’t get caught up in the quicksand of complacency when it comes to saying, “Lord, regardless I’m All In.”

There are many undertows in the world today that will attempt to suck you into its vortex. Will you be bold and courageous enough to declare like Paul, “³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Declare with Paul, “I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me."
                     Procrastination - ALL IN - video message