JUST ENOUGH for The Journey - I'm IMPERFECT and Proud of It!!

Bringing my perfection to the world does absolutely nothing for anyone, but bringing and showing my imperfections and then telling the world of God's redemptive work in me is what will change the hearts of other imperfect people who can and shall be used mightily by our Perfect God. He wants to redeem you, especially with all of your faults, imperfections, missteps and mistakes!


And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV) 

JUST ENOUGH for The Journey - NO, I Can't SHUT UP!!

Every day I wake up with great excitement as to what God will say to me and what He would have me to know about His love; His compassion; His faithfulness; His majesty; His greatness; His awesomeness, limitless, boundless, ageless and unmeasurable forgiveness for His creation!


When I open up His Word I lose track of time but I find my purpose. When I open up His Word I forget about my problems because I've grabbed ahold of His promises. When I open up His Word I no longer feel tired and sleepy but I receive energy and enthusiasm. When I open up His Word I leave the grips of pain and fear and I fall into the ever loving arms of Christ Jesus. When I open up His Word I see who I am in God's eye not what the world has condemned me to be. When I open up His Word I know that I can do all things in Christ Jesus who strengthens me!!


Every day when I open up God's Word I see all of these things and more. Even more overwhelming is the fact that His Word is not just speaking about me and what I can do and about who I am....NO, God's Word also includes all of these things about YOU ALSO!! So, NO, I CAN'T AND WON'T SHUT UP...I have something that I am compelled to tell you and I need to reminded of who I am at the same time. What I have is for both you and for me!


What God has is a blessing with our names on it!!  Come and get it!!



Oh, I'll guard with my life what you've revealed to me, guard it now, guard it ever; And I'll stride freely through wide open spaces as I look for your truth and your wisdom; Then I'll tell the world what I find, speak out boldly in public, unembarrassed. (Psalm 119-44-46 The Message).

JUST ENOUGH for The Journey - YOU'VE BEEN CAUGHT IN THE ACT, BUT One by One...!

This portion of scripture is awesome. Jesus was in the temple courts and all through the feast Jesus is being judged by the religious leaders or His naysayers. They say that He has never studied as he was too young in age - Jewish culture has it that the age of wisdom is 50 years of age, yet there Jesus was teaching anyway, these leaders/naysayers claim that Jesus has a demon, and even that He has come from or was born from the wrong place to be the Messiah. They have already claimed and will later claim that His witness is not true, that He is a Samaritan, and they have repeatedly sought to kill Him since he healed the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath.

Yet among all of this, what a lovely witness we have here in Jesus as He shows His caring love for one lonely, frightened sinner! You see, there were those who caught a woman in the act of adultery. They brought her before Jesus, there was nothing that she could say, she was guilty! Have you ever done something that you are not proud of? Have you ever done something wrong and have been caught "red-handed"? Have you ever lied, cheated, stole, wanted something that someone else had...wanted someone that somebody else had or lusted after something that was not yours? I know that a couple of those sounded the same but they are quite different. Anyway, have you ever just been plain CAUGHT IN THE ACT?

Well, this woman was CAUGHT IN THE ACT, yet Jesus' only response to her accusers was, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." Now her accusers who were seeking to cast judgment on her had to look inwardly to judge themselves. Question: Who among any of us is without sin? Who has never made a mistake? Who has never lied, cheated, stole, lusted, struggled with jealousy, drank too much, partied too hard, smoked too much...who among you has never done anything contrary to the will of God?

This is exactly why I like this scripture...those who were judging were now being judged by the true Judge. They couldn't bear to cast judgement after reviewing deep within themselves their own faults. So, ONE BY ONE they dropped their stones...from the oldest - those who have heaped up more sins/wrongs to the youngest...each of them dropped their stones and walked away.

Today, you may be feeling accused. Today, you may be struggling with acceptance. Today, Jesus is wanting and waiting for you to come to Him. When you come to Jesus, it really doesn't matter who accuses you of anything. Jesus will accept you and those that are His are His...no one can stand to accuse you any longer!  Watch your naysayers and your accusers go away...ONE BY ONE!

For those of us who are "in" the church but are not "BEING" the church...drop your stones, each one of you...from the oldest to the youngest...let the stones drop!!!

"Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." (John 8:2-11 NKJV)

JUST ENOUGH for The Journey - Just Look UP!

Just stepped outside to take Tucker out. I looked up into the sky and saw so many Stars. What a clear sky and what a day before us that has so many opportunities and so much promise.

Yes, all of that just by looking up. Now, I'll bend down on my knees to "Seal the Deal". God promised and now we must receive it!

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord ; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up. (Psalms 5:3 NKJV)

JUST ENOUGH for The Journey - Three Basic Elements of Prayer

This morning's Sunday School Lesson in case we don't have it because of our Consecration Service:

When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM, who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, 'WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS? 'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.' "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:23-31 NASB)

1.) WHO HE IS:  "O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM

When you're feeling pressured, when you're being threatened, it's always a good idea to start prayer by remembering to whom you're talking. Sometimes my problems seem so big and insurmountable until I start to worship and remember WHO HE IS - the Creator of all things.

2.) WHAT IS HAPPENING: "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur."

In Psalm 2, Father, the believers prayed, "You told us that the heathen would try to come against You and Your people - We acknowledge that this is all in accordance with Your will. David wrote in Psalm 73 that the heathen seem to prosper while the Godly suffer.  Peter said, "Think it not strange when fiery trials come upon you" (1 Peter 4:12)

When persecution comes, it is in accordance with the Word and the will of the Father

3.) WHY WE COME:  "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus."

The early church didn't pray that they might have a break from persecution, but that they might have boldness in persecution.

THE RESULT: And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

We often pray when we are shaken up. These guys prayed so they could BE SHAKEN UP!!!

JUST ENOUGH for The Journey - A Triple Threat!!!

Rich...Young...Fool - Hmmm...

And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive.  And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?'  Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."'  But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?'  So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:16-21 NASB)

JUST ENOUGH for The Journey - YOU ARE IN THE PLAN OF GOD!

No group, however violent and strong; no gang, however organized and sophisticated; and no movement, however popular and situated can change God's plan, neither His time, His method nor His message and messenger! It is the Sovereign God who is making the moves, not God's enemies. HALLELUJAH!!

As I rise up again this morning as I have on all of the mornings preceding this one: safe, secure, joyful, on purpose, with a purpose, in my right mind, good health, peace, love and fellowship I have to realize that if I was NOT in the plan of God, then I would not be able to sleep in peace in this mad and confused world.

Let's give God praise for just being able to rise yet again today. Let's give God praise for each and every obstacle that He has already gone ahead of you on this day and removed. Let's give God praise for the obstacles that He has given you authority over so that you may simply speak and they shall be moved. Let's praise God for the experiences that await us today and for the people we will encounter and for those that will come our way so that we can encourage them.

Give God Praise because AGAIN TODAY, YOU ARE IN THE PLAN OF GOD!!!

Know this, when we are in God's plan, then we are unstoppable!

Go forth, be a blessing as you are blessed and do your part in God's plan...right where you are!

And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”(Acts 5:38-39 NKJV)