I cannot thank you enough for your support of this Kairos weekend. It was tremendous!
The guys were blown away by the thought that folks were praying for them. They really feel like the world outside the prison walls has forgotten them. Your prayer coverage of our weekend did not go unnoticed and it certainly made a difference. Many hearts were softened and made receptive to the love of Jesus Christ.
Many of the guys already knew Christ but had never experienced the love and joy of a relationship with Him and with family. Others came to know and trust Him for the very first time. Still others heard the Word but have not yet made a decision to invite Christ to be their Savior.
Please continue to pray for these men, that this experience will forever change them for the Kingdom.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Holy Ground
When the LORD saw that he had caught Moses’ attention, God called to him from the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
“Here I am!” Moses replied.
“Do not come any closer,” God told him. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he hid his face in his hands because he was afraid to look at God.
Exodus 3:4-6
Moses was in his father-in-laws pasture, tending his sheep. There was no altar, no pulpit, no stained glass windows, no padded pews or carpeted aisles. There was not even a building. It was the place where God met Moses and God called it Holy Ground.
Where is the place where God meets you? Yes, it may be at church on Sunday morning but is it limited to that? I pray that you meet Him more than just at church. I pray you meet Him early in the morning when you rise and quietly spend some time with Him in study. I pray you meet Him when your home is filled with the activity of the day. I pray you meet Him as you drive through the morning or evening rush hour. I pray you meet Him on your job when issues of integrity and fairness are being struggled. I pray you meet Him in the stands as you cheer for your child and their teammates (and the opposing team too). I pray you meet Him before you end the day as you prepare to get a nights rest.
God met Moses right where he was and God declared that place to be Holy Ground.
We are standing on Holy Ground;
And I know there are angels all around.
Let us praise Jesus now;
We are standing in His presence on Holy Ground. By Geron Davis, copyright 1983
“Here I am!” Moses replied.
“Do not come any closer,” God told him. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he hid his face in his hands because he was afraid to look at God.
Exodus 3:4-6
Moses was in his father-in-laws pasture, tending his sheep. There was no altar, no pulpit, no stained glass windows, no padded pews or carpeted aisles. There was not even a building. It was the place where God met Moses and God called it Holy Ground.
Where is the place where God meets you? Yes, it may be at church on Sunday morning but is it limited to that? I pray that you meet Him more than just at church. I pray you meet Him early in the morning when you rise and quietly spend some time with Him in study. I pray you meet Him when your home is filled with the activity of the day. I pray you meet Him as you drive through the morning or evening rush hour. I pray you meet Him on your job when issues of integrity and fairness are being struggled. I pray you meet Him in the stands as you cheer for your child and their teammates (and the opposing team too). I pray you meet Him before you end the day as you prepare to get a nights rest.
God met Moses right where he was and God declared that place to be Holy Ground.
We are standing on Holy Ground;
And I know there are angels all around.
Let us praise Jesus now;
We are standing in His presence on Holy Ground. By Geron Davis, copyright 1983
Friday, October 28, 2005
Higher Thoughts
“My thoughts are completely different from yours,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9
The sovereignty of God is a very difficult concept to fully understand. In our humanity this is hard to comprehend, especially when tragedy strikes. It is then that it is so important to have a spiritual foundation. A solid faith foundation, built on God’s Word and sustained by God’s Spirit, will see you through the difficult times. Trusting God with the answer rather than trying to figure out His ways, His thoughts, is essential.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5
Thursday, October 27, 2005
PROVIDING GODLY COUNSEL
PROVIDING GODLY COUNSEL
O King Nebuchadnezzar, please listen to me. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past by being merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.
Daniel 4:27
Daniel found himself standing before the most powerful man in Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar was waiting on a response. Daniel could have told the king anything. No one else had been able to interpret the king’s dream. He could have come up with a tale which would have tickled the king’s ears.
Daniel did not take the easy way out. He was a messenger of the Most High God. His ability to interpret dreams was given by God. Daniel gave the king godly counsel.
When you are given the opportunity to counsel, do you say what your friends and associates want to hear or do you call on the wisdom of scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit for a response? I pray your path is like Daniel. I pray you have the conviction to speak truth. I pray you will be bold, strong and filled with God’s Spirit so His words will flow from your lips.
Prayer Request: Central MS Kairos #13 for Men begins this evening. Please pray for the prison inmates who will participate in this weekend and for the team who will be God’s messengers to them. May we have the conviction of Daniel.
O King Nebuchadnezzar, please listen to me. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past by being merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.
Daniel 4:27
Daniel found himself standing before the most powerful man in Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar was waiting on a response. Daniel could have told the king anything. No one else had been able to interpret the king’s dream. He could have come up with a tale which would have tickled the king’s ears.
Daniel did not take the easy way out. He was a messenger of the Most High God. His ability to interpret dreams was given by God. Daniel gave the king godly counsel.
When you are given the opportunity to counsel, do you say what your friends and associates want to hear or do you call on the wisdom of scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit for a response? I pray your path is like Daniel. I pray you have the conviction to speak truth. I pray you will be bold, strong and filled with God’s Spirit so His words will flow from your lips.
Prayer Request: Central MS Kairos #13 for Men begins this evening. Please pray for the prison inmates who will participate in this weekend and for the team who will be God’s messengers to them. May we have the conviction of Daniel.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
THE WAY OF LIFE
Oh, how I love your law! I think about it all day long.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for your commands are my constant guide.
Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your decrees.
I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments.
I have refused to walk on any path of evil, that I may remain obedient to your word.
I haven’t turned away from your laws, for you have taught me well.
How sweet are your words to my taste; they are sweeter than honey.
Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.
Psalm 119:97-104
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6
The psalmist recognized that there was more than one way of life. Because of his passion for God’s Word, he came to regard the Word as sweet to his taste buds. Because of that passion, he developed a hate for every false way of life.
Have you ever heard the expression ‘living a lie’? The psalmist was daily and all day meditating on God’s commands and those precepts would not let him live a lie. He developed a love for the truthful way of life. He couldn’t live a lie.
In Jesus, believers have the embodiment of God’s Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” – John 1:1.
In Jesus, believers have “… the way, the truth and the life.”
Believers will find that Jesus is sweeter than the honey in the honey comb.
Oh, how I love your law! I think about it all day long.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for your commands are my constant guide.
Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your decrees.
I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments.
I have refused to walk on any path of evil, that I may remain obedient to your word.
I haven’t turned away from your laws, for you have taught me well.
How sweet are your words to my taste; they are sweeter than honey.
Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.
Psalm 119:97-104
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6
The psalmist recognized that there was more than one way of life. Because of his passion for God’s Word, he came to regard the Word as sweet to his taste buds. Because of that passion, he developed a hate for every false way of life.
Have you ever heard the expression ‘living a lie’? The psalmist was daily and all day meditating on God’s commands and those precepts would not let him live a lie. He developed a love for the truthful way of life. He couldn’t live a lie.
In Jesus, believers have the embodiment of God’s Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” – John 1:1.
In Jesus, believers have “… the way, the truth and the life.”
Believers will find that Jesus is sweeter than the honey in the honey comb.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
BLESSINGS FOR OBEDIENCE
The LORD will give you an abundance of good things in the land he swore to give your ancestors—many children, numerous livestock, and abundant crops. The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens to bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them. If you listen to these commands of the LORD your God and carefully obey them, the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always have the upper hand. You must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today to follow after other gods and worship them.
Deuteronomy 28:11-14
It is in the heart of God to shower you with blessings and He makes it crystal clear what you need to do to be drenched in His downpour. First, He says listen. “… listen to these commands of the LORD…” We must take the time necessary to know what God’s Word says. We do this through study, reading our Bible, attending our Sunday school classes and small group sessions, and listening to the preached Word. Second, He says obey. “… carefully obey them…” Once we know what God says, it is necessary to also DO what His commands tell us to do (and not do what He says don’t). Third, God says to keep Him as your focus. “You must not turn away … to follow after other gods…” We must be careful to not allow the things of this world become our idols.
Normally we don’t want to get caught in a storm without our umbrella. Catch this image. Picture your umbrella as sin … the thing that blocks you from receiving God’s blessings. Let the wind of the Holy Spirit blow that umbrella away. Live a life under the control of the Holy Spirit, resisting sin at every turn. Walk in the rain of God’s “…rich treasury in the heavens…”
The LORD will give you an abundance of good things in the land he swore to give your ancestors—many children, numerous livestock, and abundant crops. The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens to bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them. If you listen to these commands of the LORD your God and carefully obey them, the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always have the upper hand. You must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today to follow after other gods and worship them.
Deuteronomy 28:11-14
It is in the heart of God to shower you with blessings and He makes it crystal clear what you need to do to be drenched in His downpour. First, He says listen. “… listen to these commands of the LORD…” We must take the time necessary to know what God’s Word says. We do this through study, reading our Bible, attending our Sunday school classes and small group sessions, and listening to the preached Word. Second, He says obey. “… carefully obey them…” Once we know what God says, it is necessary to also DO what His commands tell us to do (and not do what He says don’t). Third, God says to keep Him as your focus. “You must not turn away … to follow after other gods…” We must be careful to not allow the things of this world become our idols.
Normally we don’t want to get caught in a storm without our umbrella. Catch this image. Picture your umbrella as sin … the thing that blocks you from receiving God’s blessings. Let the wind of the Holy Spirit blow that umbrella away. Live a life under the control of the Holy Spirit, resisting sin at every turn. Walk in the rain of God’s “…rich treasury in the heavens…”
Kairos # 13 for Men @ Central MS Correctional Facility
Please be in prayer for the upcoming Kairos weekend. A good time to pray, as prompted by the Holy Spirit, is anytime between Thursday, Oct. 27th, 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 30th, 5:00 p.m. Someone may be being drawn to join the Kingdom.
Monday, October 24, 2005
Tahitian Noni Juice
I was introduced to Tahitian Noni Juice this past May. I was having severe sinus problems and a distributor friend of mine told be about the success his wife had in overcoming her sinus problems by drinking Tahitian Noni Juice. I tried it and it worked.
I have subsequently learned of the many health benefits derived from the Noni fruit. This natural juice product derived from the French Polynesian Noni fruit has been around for over 2000 years. Tahitians call Noni a “Gift from God” that heals many ailments. Just in my family here are some health benefits we have experienced:
• Father, age 92, arthritis relief, lowered blood pressure
• Mother, age 91, improved mental clarity, digestion, lowered blood pressure
• Wife, energy, restful nights sleep
• Brother, weight loss
• Myself, sinus congestion, weight loss, energy
If you would be interested in Tahitian Noni Juice and its potential health benefits for you, please let me know. I have become a distributor myself. I would also be glad to share how this product can supplement your income. We can all use an extra few bucks. If nothing else, maybe you need a little extra for the gas pump.
I was introduced to Tahitian Noni Juice this past May. I was having severe sinus problems and a distributor friend of mine told be about the success his wife had in overcoming her sinus problems by drinking Tahitian Noni Juice. I tried it and it worked.
I have subsequently learned of the many health benefits derived from the Noni fruit. This natural juice product derived from the French Polynesian Noni fruit has been around for over 2000 years. Tahitians call Noni a “Gift from God” that heals many ailments. Just in my family here are some health benefits we have experienced:
• Father, age 92, arthritis relief, lowered blood pressure
• Mother, age 91, improved mental clarity, digestion, lowered blood pressure
• Wife, energy, restful nights sleep
• Brother, weight loss
• Myself, sinus congestion, weight loss, energy
If you would be interested in Tahitian Noni Juice and its potential health benefits for you, please let me know. I have become a distributor myself. I would also be glad to share how this product can supplement your income. We can all use an extra few bucks. If nothing else, maybe you need a little extra for the gas pump.
THE ONE WHO KNOW OUR TOMORROW
This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Jeremiah 29:10-14
How difficult it must have been for the people to whom Jeremiah was prophesying. His message from the LORD said “… seventy years …” and you will see the culmination of my plan for you. I can just hear the people complaining. “What about tomorrow?”
As we go through the changes which happen in life … the new job … the addition to the family … the move to a new house and neighborhood … the change in business partners … the retirement … the loss of a loved one … we want to know now how things will be tomorrow. Changes like these for many are the high stress situations that the cardiologists warn us about. Instead of getting stressed out about tomorrow, the better option is to wait on the LORD. He is the one who says “… I know the plans …” He holds our future in the palm of His hand. All we have to do is trust Him and wait patiently on Him.
For additional thoughts along this line, click on the Devotion for today.
This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Jeremiah 29:10-14
How difficult it must have been for the people to whom Jeremiah was prophesying. His message from the LORD said “… seventy years …” and you will see the culmination of my plan for you. I can just hear the people complaining. “What about tomorrow?”
As we go through the changes which happen in life … the new job … the addition to the family … the move to a new house and neighborhood … the change in business partners … the retirement … the loss of a loved one … we want to know now how things will be tomorrow. Changes like these for many are the high stress situations that the cardiologists warn us about. Instead of getting stressed out about tomorrow, the better option is to wait on the LORD. He is the one who says “… I know the plans …” He holds our future in the palm of His hand. All we have to do is trust Him and wait patiently on Him.
For additional thoughts along this line, click on the Devotion for today.
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