Transition

Finishing Strong Friday: Life and Death...THEN Life!

Yesterday I lost a colleague who transitioned from this life and into the next life. He died of Cancer, but today he is with Christ where there is no more sickness and no more death.

I share this with you because my friend DID NOT die hoping, he transitioned KNOWING! 

There is a difference that I want for all of us to grasp this morning. When those who are Saved die, they merely transition from this life to the next. However, for those of us who are not Saved, we still transition but our destination isn't life, but truly death, which is the complete separation from God.

My colleague knew The Lord and more importantly The Lord KNEW him. When Joe transitioned, he left a diseased, dying, turbulent, corrupt, sinful, hurtful and pitiful world behind and entered into The Kingdom of God as a child of The King of kings and The Lord of lords.

It is said that for those of us who are Saved, that this life will be the only Hell that we will ever experience. Now think of what awaits those who deny salvation...it's going to be a whole lot worse...totally unimaginable!

Cherish today, cherish relationships today, fix things and settle other things and of the utmost importance, accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior - tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Today I pray that when our time comes (and it will come), that we transition KNOWING and not die hoping.

Joe Cowans, Rest in Eternal Peace...YOU FINISHED STRONG!

COME LET US REASON TOGETHER

Thankful Thursday: COME LET US REASON TOGETHER!!

Check this out and don't miss this message! It is The Lord who seeks us in our mess; requires to speak to us while we're living foul; who initiates contact with us when we would rather hide from the condemnation of everyone that we've wronged or hurt!

We can never fall to far and we can never mess up so much that He can't reach us. He wants to hear from you so that He can heal you and restore you and yes, even FORGIVE you!

What are you waiting for? Today is the day that you will be FORGIVEN. Today is the day that you will be DELIVERED. Today is the day that God will wipe the slate clean and give you a new life, new hope and a new agenda!

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord , “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18 NKJV)

Wow-HALLELUJAH-Wow! THIS MEANS YOU AND IT MEANS NOW!!

You Will Do Great Things, When You Ask for Great Things to be Done to Others.

Wednesday's Word: You Will Do Great Things, When You Ask for Great Things to be Done to Others.

Jesus said that for those that believe in Him, they will have the authority to do the same works, wonders, miracles and blessings that He Himself has done...and get this, even greater works shall we have authority to do. However, we must know also that the works in which Jesus performed wasn't for Him, but the works that He did was for others.

May we believe in Jesus and have the authority to free the captives, restore sight to the blind, heal the brokenhearted, motivate, encourage, have compassion and display the fruits of the Spirit which are: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

May we pray for the oppressed and stand against oppression; May we pray for victims and stand against crime; May we pray for the afflicted and stand against drugs, alcohol and every chemical dependency; May we pray for our loved ones and our communities and stand against evil.

Whatever we set in our hearts to do, we must pray (ask) and Jesus promises that "He WILL do it"!!

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.  And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (John 14:12-14 NKJV)

LIVE HIM!!

Tuesday’s Truth: You've ALREADY Received Christ – NOW LIVE HIM!!

C’mon, what are we waiting for? What else do we need? Lives are in the balance Saints. Open your mouths and proclaim The Kingdom of God; Walk out your faith; Spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ; Operate in the authority given to you from Christ; and Fulfill your commission as a Servant of God!!

"My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; NOW LIVE HIM. You're deeply rooted in Him. You're well-constructed upon Him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start LIVING it! And let your LIVING spill over into thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7 the Message)

A Different Gospel

Monday's Meditation: “A Different Gospel”

Have you been told that you need to “Get Right”; clean up your act, stop doing that and start doing this? It is all (I hope) being told with good intentions, but don’t’ get overloaded and overburdened with people’s demands on your life and their preconceived thoughts concerning your relationship with God. God simply wants for you and me to have faith in Him, to believe and to trust in Him.  He is a Mighty God and doesn’t require much more than our simple faith! He will and has already done the rest!

Confession, when God came into my life, I was drinking, cussing, fussing and pretty much doing anything and everything that I wanted to do.  Yet, He Saved my life on a morning when I was hung-over, argumentative and totally living contrary to any semblance to “Getting it Right” with God….and get this, I wasn't even in a church! 

I’m sure there are other/many stories like mine, but I shared this to say that all that I had to do is to hold off the tricks and schemes of the devil for just 1 minute…just long enough for me to allow the voice of God to speak to my heart and then suddenly…I was changed forever!  I wasn't in a suit, I wasn't sober, I wasn't on my knees and I wasn't even in a church…I was right where I was, in my mess and He SAVED ME!  For this reason, I share with you my thoughts and my love for Christ each and every day of the work week, with the hope that you too will tell the devil to “SHUT UP” if only for 1 minute so that God can speak to your heart and you too will be Saved!

Beware of people who say that we need more than simple faith in Christ to be Saved. When people set up additional requirements for salvation (A Different Gospel), they deny the power of Christ’s death on the cross. We must know that there is NO OTHER GOSPEL

The Apostle Paul put it this way, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel” (Galatians 1:6)

Our Gospel Message is: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever BELIEVES in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Think on this, you can be counted as a "whoever" today instead of being a "whatever" and lost for all eternity! 

Stripping Off the SPECTACULAR

Finishing Strong Friday: Stripping Off the SPECTACULAR!

The FAVOR of God in your life baffles others, it leaves them dumbfounded and confused. How are you doing what you are doing, how is it you succeed more than you fail, why does opportunities always come your way?

Well, everyone else is looking at the SPECTACULAR in your life, but as servants of the Most High God, we have to remind them to STRIP OFF THE SPECTACULAR!!

The "Genesis" of your success and the foundation of your Favor is based on Prayer, God's Word, Trust and Obedience! You see, when you Start Right then you will FINISH Right!!

Yes, they see the SPECTACULAR, but let them know that when you strip away the spectacular and look at the reality, THEN they will believe that it's ALL GOD!

May you begin with God and in doing so...FINISH STRONG!! There's really nothing  SPECTACULAR about me... It's God who alone is SPECTACULAR!

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday: Who is THANKFUL that He woke you up this morning? I have had this song on my heart since I got up...I was going to type the lyrics, but thank God for YouTube :)

The Lord is blessing YOU too! Have a great day...

"The Lord Is Blessing Me Right Now" Fellowship Ch…: http://youtu.be/H4TqoAhlU6I

BACK TO SCHOOL!!!

BACK TO SCHOOL TODAY!

Well, I'm sitting in my comfy chair, sipping coffee and looking at Backpacks, School Supplies, Lunches and new School Clothes. Yep, today is back to school at "The White House" and many other houses.

Our son Kyle is a Senior this year, YAY!!!! Our daughter Kaelyn is a Big 3rd Grader this year. GO KAELYN!!!

As I sit here feeling their excitement to grow wiser, to further mature as individuals and to reunite with friends and most importantly, discover who their teachers will be, I can't help but smile.

I'm excited that the children are excited about school and I pray their protection, I pray for their transportation to and from school, over relationships, lunches and against everything and anything that would come against them!

Lord God, bless the children and lift them and gift them to be representative of what you have already planned for their lives. Bless the teachers who have such a huge role and task ahead of them. Amen.

Again, I look at the excitement of the kids on their first day of school and I hope that we parents get excited, supportive, and studied up for all of the school projects that WE'LL be doing this year!

Oh, I'm also happy that I'm not the only one that has to be up and moving before the sun comes up!!!

Pray for our children, the teachers and the schools everywhere. Pray against shootings and watch God hear and answer...NO SHOOTINGS in 2015!!! I declare a great school year in the name of Jesus!

What are you speaking?

Monday's Meditation: What Are You Speaking?

This is important because we must know that what we say is absorbed by others; it affects others; and it even has an affect on ourselves.

We need to quit speaking division, jealousy, slander, self-promotion and self-preservation, we need to stop speaking doubt, fear and inadequacies.

We MUST become "Faith Speakers"!! We MUST speak hope, potential, possibilities and trust. We MUST speak renewal, restoration and forgiveness. We MUST speak strength, perseverance, and encouragement to our family, our community and beyond.

In order to be a "Faith Speaker" you must first have FAITH in God!

The psalmist says, “I believed and therefore I spoke” (Psalm 116:10)

Today may you believe and out of your belief, SPEAK FAITH... then you will be a "FAITH SPEAKER"

Recognize and Respond!

Finishing Strong Friday: Recognize and Respond!

Yea, that's right! Recognize that you are not to be infected as if to catch the disease called "Evil Doer" by the wrong doings, mistreatment, maladjusted, dis-proportionate activities that appear to be the norm in this world and in this life. BUT you are to effect change for the better by showing the love of God, having compassion, caring for yourself and your neighbor, encouraging the young folks to act right and to live right by nurturing and healing those who have been hurt by "Evil Doers".

Respond by saying no to evil and yes to God and TURN IT AROUND...turn your life around, turn your thoughts around, turn your actions around, turn evil into good, turn wrong into right, turn contempt into compassion, turn fear into hope, turn disappointment into celebration...TURN IT AROUND!

"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." (‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1-2‬ MSG)

I'm Not PERFECT and That Is Alright!

Thankful Thursday: I'm Not PERFECT and That Is Alright!

There is no such thing as a PERFECT Person, but there are those of us who are WILLING. Knowing this has freed me from the anxieties of feeling as though I have to be perfect...whew, so much pressure relieved!

God takes what little I do have to offer...whether it be financial, ministerial, relational or vocational and blesses it and makes it great...or PERFECT for the occasion! If you and I can simply offer what we do have, no matter how little or how imperfect it may appear to be to us, God will perfect it!

"For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have." (2 Corinthians 8:12)

Don't Sellout "YOU"!!

Wednesday's Word: Don't Sellout "YOU"!!

Far to many of us are trying to achieve fame, popularity or position by selling out ourselves by not living according to our purpose.

We belittle, berate, go about backstabbing, slandering, stepping on and stepping over others all to make our own names great..

Well, I refuse to do any of this! If I have to totally destroy you to get a better name for myself or a better life for me, then I want no part in that. However, if I respect you, assist you and mentor you or be mentored by you then we will both prosper...not only in this life, but also in the next life as well.

I have no need to compromise my character or integrity to gain temporary success as I am living to obtain eternal success in Christ Jesus.

"A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." (Proverbs 22:1)

Pour Out Your Soul to Him

Tuesday's Truth: Pour Out Your Soul to Him!

One of the toughest battles that we will continually face in life is the battle within ourselves.

We battle fear of rejection; fear of failure; we can even fear our future. We struggle spiritually with reappearing sin.

Paul spoke of being perplexed... Moses was approaching burnout being the leader and judge over every matter of the people...Jonah said in Jonah 4:8, "It would be better for me to die than to live."... and Elijah in his depression said, "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." (1 Kings 19:4)

So what is the answer to bearing the load of oppression and depression? What is the answer to fear and burdens? To whom should I bear the heartaches and sorrow and heaviness, and sadness and emptiness and loneliness of my very soul?

Perhaps the simplest answer to our internally difficult concerns is JESUS: "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest...for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28,29)

He is the solution to every heartache, every dilemma, every unsolvable problem, every disappointment and the deepest loneliness.

Truth is: You and I can crawl up on His lap and pour out our soul to Him. It is to us that He says, "How often I wanted to gather (you) together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling..." (Matthew 23:37) And when our inclination is to turn to everyone else but Him He says, "Look, your house is left to you desolate." (Matthew 23:38)

How Is It with Your Soul?

The "WITH" Principle

Monday's Meditation: The "With" Principle!

Many times and by some great efforts and thoughtful intentions, we spend a great deal of time "creating" new programs to invite others to, we create new initiatives to involve, to enlist, and to incorporate the interest of others based on a perception that people are only attracted by newness.

However, think about this...if YOU are already doing something that you're passionate about; if you're involved in something that brings you joy and satisfaction...then why not just invite others to go "WITH" you?

People tend to go "WITH" you when they hear of the exciting things that you are already doing.

Meditate on this: One day when "I" was out there, being "out there", living "out there" and in all honesty feeling as though that it was my lot in life to be left "out there", someone invited me to go "WITH" them...and I said YES!!

"I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of The LORD." (Psalm 122:1)

The Three C's of Finishing Strong!

Finishing Strong Friday: The Three C’s of Finishing Strong!

There are so many good people that I know. Also, I am blessed to be in a loving, caring and supportive family.  It used to be that when I had issues or difficulties, I would call on my family, engage my friends and await their advice and directions.  Oftentimes, things worked out and on my way I went. However, the times of success were short lived, sickness set in; distress came a knocking; fear and confusion paid me a visit and when I looked around I saw that I was hemmed in on every side.

I slipped into isolation effectively avoiding all of the good people in my life…I tried them and they couldn't do it.  I picked up smoking as I was of the thought that smoking would relieve stress and anxiety, only to discover that smoking added additional issues and dependencies…so smoking couldn't do it either. I tried alcohol thinking that I can drink life’s issues away only to discover that after the buzz is gone, the problems remain…so, that didn't work either! I could go on and on about things I've tried (sex, drugs, excessive partying, etc.), but we all have been there and are all too familiar with this story. 

However, it wasn't until the Word of God was shared with me by someone who has always been there in my life (my brother Ken) and seen my downward spiral, yet still told me that I was of value in the eyes of Jesus Christ, that I discovered that I was welcoming everything and receiving nothing…whereas, Jesus was accepting me as I was, yet I was refusing to come to Him. 

My favorite book (if there is such a thing, I like them all) in the Bible is John’s Gospel.  It is this Gospel that opened my eyes and my heart to who Jesus is, what He came for, and what He has already done so that I (we) can live the life meant for us, not just the life that we have been deceived into living.

Yes, I tried everything, but the Word of God CONVICTED me when it spoke clearly and precisely to my spirit, “Yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:40)

This verse was so true in my life and after I was CONVICTED, I was then COMFORTED because I knew that I no longer had to be “hemmed” in, there was a way out!  After I was CONVICTED and then COMFORTED, the Power of The Holy Spirit then CONVERTED my spirit and I received The Lord Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

In that instant I became a child of The Most High God and I have had no need to try anything or anyone ever since…I have in Christ Jesus ALL that I will ever need!

I became transparent this morning so that I can share this Living Word so you may be CONVICTED, COMFORTED and ultimately, CONVERTED!!! The three C’s in the world are to be Cool, Calm and Collected…but, I offer CONVICTED, COMFORTED AND CONVERTED.  The three C’s that I offer gives life, the others are just a status.