Out of the Office Today

Today I have to go to Lafayette to attend a denominational meeting. I enjoy these meetings along with the fellowship, however, they can take a long time and drag out for several hours. I am downing a very strong cup of coffee so I don't fall asleep during the meeting. Everyone have a great day. God bless.

Be Careful What You Say...

Taking Time To Rest

Today, while surfing the Internet and catching up on the daily events in the world, I noticed that Starbucks Coffee was going to close down 7,100 of their coffee shops nationwide for three hours to re-train their employees on the basics of brewing and preparing their beverages. I was surprised to read this, because it's out of the ordinary for a major corporation like Starbucks to stop everything and take a break from selling coffee. However I was reminded of the fact that we all need to stop and take time to rest and refresh ourselves. In the Bible we read a wonderful story which illustrates the importance of rest. It is the account where Jesus meets His disciples after sending them out to minister in Mark 6:30-32 and the scripture says, "The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." 32So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place." The Lord understood the importance of rest and taking time for ourselves. He rested, His disciples were encouraged to rest and we should do the same. Rest is good for our body, mind, soul, and spirit. On my day off each week, I just enjoy resting and reading a good book and relaxing with a cup of coffee or hot tea. I am able to rest my body, and relax my mind and this is something I look forward to doing each week. Take time this week or over the weekend to rest and relax. You will be blessed and it's good for you. God bless.

Forgiveness Goes Two Ways...

I was reading in Matthew recently, and saw once again, a verse that, as many times as I have read it, still has the power to startle me: Matthew 6:15 (NIV) But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Christ's words are pretty clear, aren't they. He doesn't mention exceptions. He says it when He teaches His disciples how to pray, also: Matthew 6:12 (NIV) Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. If we are harboring any unforgiveness against anyone, it creates a block between us and our Heavenly Father. Yes, even when people have not asked to be forgiven, we must follow Christ's example, as He forgave those who crucified Him: Luke 23:34 (NIV) Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up His clothes by casting lots. Don't get me wrong. God does not expect us to condone sins that others have committed against us. That is unscriptural. It is right to hold people responsible for their behavior. It is actually good for them spiritually, anyway. However, we can hold people responsible, and yet still forgive them. When we forgive those who have wronged us, we reconnect with God. In addition, we find release and peace internally. This only happens when we are able to forgive others.

God's Word for Today

"For God is a spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."
(John 4:24)


I hope you have had a blessed day and enjoyed the presence of God as you worship today. Remember that we praise God for what He's done for us, and we worship God for Who He Is.

My Youth Group's Questions for Their Pastor

Suffiency of God's Grace

2 Corinthians 12:7

"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But He said to me, ``My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (NIV)

So that Paul would not forget this, God gave him a constant reminder of his weakness. Rather than removing the problem God gave him grace in it. This grace is sufficient (i.e., adequate in the sense of providing contentment). (The Greek word translates: "to keep me from becoming conceited"). Has God given you a constant reminder of your weakness? Is there a problem that constantly bothers you? Our God gives us a daily supply of Grace. To seek this Grace, we need to spend time each day with our Lord, time in prayer, meditation, bible study, and other spiritual disciplines that help us receive our daily portion of Grace. I am reminded of the people of Israel wondering in the dessert. They were hungry for food and our God provided the manna for them. Deuteronomy 8:3 "He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."(NIV) Each day the people had to gather their supply of manna. Each man, woman and child had to gather their own manna. The manna would spoil over night and had to be gathered again the next day. We must gather manna (grace) everyday from our Father in heaven, who readily gives us our daily portion. The Lord humbles us to prevent us from drawing away from Him. He wants his children at His side everyday. The Lord wants to show you how wonderful He is. Isn't an awesome thought that He cares this much about us? Isn't it wonderful that when we are at our weakest, HE is at His strongest! Now, go and get you manna for the day, experience the daily supply of Grace that our Lord has carefully proportioned out for you today.