Friday, February 27, 2009

Taking the Leap of Faith

We all know that all too often the Lord calls us to do something for Him that does not seem to make sense…for some unspoken reason, it seems to go against our normal way of doing and walking in faith with our Father. So, there we stand, hands on our hips, asking…”God, are you REALLY sure that this is what you want me to do…that this is the way you want me to do it?” Sometimes, God just wants us to take that leap of faith and experience Him in complete trust and submission.

However, since our God is a God of order and design, he more often calls us to surrender to His plan that is clearly marked before us. Take for instance, the story of His people; led from Egypt to the very border of the Promised Land of Canaan. He had already promised that he would provide the Israelites with a new homeland and he gave to Moses, their leader, the plan they were to follow in order to secure this unknown land.

The Lord said to Moses, “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.” So at the Lord’s command Moses send them out from the Desert of Paran. When Moses sent them out to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are weak or strong, few or many? What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land. Numbers 13:1, 17-20

Did you catch all that Moses instructed the twelve spies to do…the questions that were to be answered …the information that would need to be gathered before God’s chosen people could inherit the new land? They were to step out in faith to capture this new land… God had a plan and He wanted to reveal it to them in a timely and orderly manner. To do so, they would first need to do some reconnaissance….they would first need to gather all the information that would allow them to follow more clearly what God had already ordained.

The same is true for you and me. Sometimes, we need to blindly take that leap of faith and trust that God will be there to catch us if we fall or fail; however, we must know, in our heart of hearts, that we have truly heard the voice of God and that our leap is in obedience and not out of a selfish desire.

Most of the time, we need to proceed as the Israelites….we need to scout the “unknown” territory and seek answers to some timely, important questions regarding the direction God is leading….He will not be offended. In fact, in James 1:5, we are reminded that God is the giver of all wisdom, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault…and it will be given to him.”

Today, maybe God has set before you some unknown territory that He wants you to take for His kingdom…it may require a leap of faith or a more methodical manner of seeking wisdom and asking some tough questions. Either way, you can be sure that God has the answers and a plan that He’s just waiting to share…why not apply the questions that Moses gave his spies….simple and effective in their nature to determine what lay before them. Whatever you do to seek God’s guidance, start with this….

YOU ASK THE QUESTIONS AND EXPECT GOD TO PROVIDE THE ANSWERS…

Then, maybe that leap of faith won’t seem so scary and God will be honored in your obedience….


Asking His direction….seeking His wisdom …obeying His call,

WPQ

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Working on the Inward Man

Now, I don’t know about you, but I seldom watch any of those celebrity award shows like the Oscars or Golden Globes or such. To me, it’s just a bunch of pretty people getting together to see who has the best plastic surgeon. I mean, just look at Joan Rivers…she’s had more work done than it takes to restore a 1940 Ford to prime condition. Besides, when I read scripture, I am constantly reminded that God looks on the heart, not on the outward appearance.

In fact, Paul probably said it best in 2 Corinthians 4:16, “Even though our outward man is perishing, our inward man is being renewed day by day.”

We all get it….we are fighting a battle we just can’t win …fighting to look youthful while day by day we lose ground in this battle against aging. It is so sad to see so many in our society spending thousands of dollars so their obituary picture will resemble their graduation photos.

God has a much different perspective…and He has tried for all time to help us adopt His philosophy regarding this matter….the outward man is here today and then gone tomorrow; the inward man will live FOREVER. So, how should we proceed?

How can we show God that we value the inward man; how can we invest in renewing him daily? To do so, we must enter the spiritual gymnasium and workout with the inward man… just as we would workout with our outward, physical man if we wanted to build muscle or lose those pesky twenty pounds. Here’s a suggested inward man exercise program….

We must lift our hearts in praise ….daily!
We must push back selfish and sinful desires…daily!
We must run the race toward the prize of God’s high calling…daily!
We must leap for joy when God comes to our rescue…daily!
We must shoulder the weight of the needs and burdens of others…daily!
We must nourish our soul with the meat of God’s word….daily!
We must stand firm in our defense of God’s work in our lives…daily
We must flee the Evil One…daily …and most of all,

We must mirror our Lord Jesus Christ…for our inward man should be the reflection of our Savior.

I don’t know about you, but I've got some work to do… so I'll

See ya in the gym,
WPQ

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

GOD WON'T ASK

There is coming a day when each of us will stand before our Maker, the Creator of the Universe, God Almighty…to answer for who we were and what we did with the life He gave us….here are some questions God won’t ask….

God won’t ask what kind of car you drove….He’ll ask how many people you drove that didn’t have any transportation.

God won’t ask the square footage of your home…He’ll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

God won’t ask where you bought your clothes or if you always wore the latest styles…He’ll ask how many of His children did you help clothe.

God won’t ask how much money you earned or how much you kept…He’ll ask how much of what He gave to you did you give to those in need.

God won’t ask what was your highest salary ...He’ll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

God won’t ask what was you job title…He’ll ask if you performed your job to the best of your God-given abilities.

God won’t ask how many friends you had…He’ll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

God won’t ask in what neighborhood you lived….He’ll ask how you treated your neighbors.

God won’t ask about the color of your skin…He’ll ask about the content of your character.

God won’t ask if you believe in God…He’ll ask do you know my son, JESUS…..

AND YOUR ETERNAL DESTINATION RESTS IN YOUR ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION…..DO YOU KNOW JESUS….the only begotten Son?

If not, talk with someone you know who has a personal relationship with Jesus ….they will gladly make the introduction so that you may answer God’s all important question with an emphatic ….

YES… I KNOW JESUS AS MY PERSONAL SAVIOR AND LORD OF MY LIFE!


CLAIMING AND PROCLAIMING JESUS,

WPQ

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Obstacle or Opportunity?

It is so wonderful to serve our mighty Lord, ruler of Heaven and Earth…one who is all-knowing and all powerful; yet, there is one thing God has never known. In fact, He would not know it if it walked up to Him and bit Him on His hand….it is a Problem!

God has never encountered a problem…never run up against something that caused Him concern or baffled Him as to what should be done. God ALWAYS has a perfect plan.

In our world, what you or I see as an obstacle, trial, tribulation or problem …God sees as an opportunity. Don’t believe me….read John 9:1-3

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned this man or his parents that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned.” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

Did you catch the magnitude of the lesson that Jesus was trying to teach his disciples? It was for God’s glory to be manifested in this blind man’s life that he was born without sight….what was his obstacle to overcome was God’s opportunity to exalt His Son.

The same is true today for you and me. For everything that we see as a problem in our lives, God has placed that obstacle there as His opportunity. We may not see the reason why or understand His methods ….but when we cannot see the hand of God; we can always trust His heart. He has promised us in His word that all will turn out for our good.

So, today no matter what obstacles God has placed in your path…REJOICE…and know that He is already at work to accomplish His will in your life…to make you more like His Son so that you may bring Him Glory in all things.

Jesus left his disciples and us with these words from John 16:33, “I have told you these things so that you might have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.”

Are you an over comer today in Jesus Christ? It’s all in your viewpoint of your Heavenly Father’s plan…..OBSTACLE or OPPORTUNITY….The choice is yours!

Overcoming with the Father,
WPQ

Monday, February 23, 2009

A God Moment....the Best Kind!!!

This past weekend, by beautiful wife, Terri and I went away for a romantic weekend to celebrate our upcoming 19th wedding anniversary. We went to a lodge that we had always talked about going to for such an excursion.

While she was scoping out the place and checking on the evening dinner’s fare, I stood, warming myself by the massive stone fireplace that extends over 90 feet into the large- beamed ceiling. While standing there, I struck up a conversation with a couple that was seated near the fire and in minutes, we were talking about their home on Mobile Bay and the devastation that Katrina had visited on that region. My lovely bride returned and I bid the couple good-bye as my wife and I made off to do some local sight seeing.

On Sunday morning, we went down to the lodge to partake of their “Big” breakfast and as we were being seated, the couple I had met on Saturday came in. As the hostess was searching for a table for them, I motioned for them to come and join us… as I am ever the good citizen and always ready to make a new friend.

As they were seated and we introduced ourselves, they mentioned that they would be eating quickly so they could get to a church in the area….the conversation moved quickly and they mentioned (God only knows why) a young couple in their church at home whose one year old had cancer and had just had her kidney removed….My wife and I knew all too well that story…and then we had a “God “moment….a moment that only the all-knowing, all-powerful God could orchestrate.

As we shared our testimony about our daughter’s battle with cancer and Wilm’s tumor (the same disease this one year old is battling), it was evident to all four of us seated at that table …in that lodge ….at that moment …that God had brought us together so we could be a source of encouragement to this young couple in Mobile.

We got the Syke’s address so that we could send them a copy of our little book, Bent…but not Broken, and our promise that we would pray for young Avery and her mom and dad…..and though there’s more to this story that I can write in today’s blog….know this, God has set before you people that need a touch from Him…and unless you step outside of yourself, that need will go unmet and you will go without the blessing that God has set aside for you. I am so thankful that I listened to that small voice that told me to call that couple to our table….and I trust and pray that the young couple will feel the same after they receive our gift of encouragement.

Today, know this…. no matter what troubles, problems or obstacles you are facing, you have a Heavenly Father who cares and who is, at this very moment, sending comfort, support, encouragement and His heavenly solution to you….so,

HOLD ON…HEAVEN’S HELP IS ON THE WAY!


Blessing others…being blessed beyond measure,
WPQ


The following is an excerpt from Bent …but not Broken, A Family’s Victory Over Cancer through the Grace of God by W. Patrick Queen


Mighty Oaks

Like a giant oak that stands tall against the sky;
Roots like thirsty straws gathering nourishment when it's dry;
There is no storm or peril that can fell so grand a tree
And in this work of nature, there's a lesson for you and me.

From just a tiny acorn planted in the deepest, richest sands
Grows this towering testimony to the majesty of God's hands.
A single, little bud that comes bursting forth in spring
Filled with all God's creatures, their melodies they sing.

And with each passing season as the years may come and go,
This once small, tender sapling into a mighty oak does grow.
Its powerful, gnarling limbs arch gracefully toward the sun
Offering shade and sweet repose for those whose work is done.

As centuries come with each new age, the oak is stalwart still.
Its majesty and grandeur, the elements cannot kill.
This warrior survives all pestilence as it reaches above,
And each of us will thrive and grow when grounded in God's love.

So when life's burdens weigh you down or you're feeling all alone,
Remember little acorns into mighty oaks have grown.
Just plant your tiny seed of faith in the Master's Holy sod
And you will grow, like mighty oaks, to touch the face of God

Friday, February 20, 2009

Teach Us to Pray

Jesus was asked by his disciples, “Lord, teach us to pray”….and in those first verses of Luke, chapter 11, Christ gives them the who, what, where and when to pray.

First, we are to pray to our Heavenly Father; to honor His name and to greet Him as holy and righteous. We are to pray for His will to be done….here on earth as it is done in heaven….to pray for the coming of His kingdom….and we are to pray DAILY for our every need.

“Give us this day our DAILY bread’….tells us that God’s focus is not on a weekly get-together at church; rather, He is looking to meet us, and our needs, each day. The trials of life don’t just happen on the weekend, but each and every day. If we are to navigate through life with less worry and equal to the challenges that we face, then we need to be communicating with our Heavenly Father on a daily basis.

In fact, it is this basic unit of measurement that God has been using since the Creation. “God called the light Day and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.” Genesis 1:5

We only have to open God’s word to see how the scriptures resonant in passage after passage regarding our daily interaction with our Heavenly Father. He ordained our walk to be a daily exercise in faith.

Now, don’t get me wrong…I’m not saying that it’s wrong to think or plan for tomorrow; to make provisions for what might lie ahead. It’s only wrong to worry about tomorrow….so, if our focus is too far in the future; we set ourselves up to miss the blessings that God has prepared for us…today.

The only way to make it through any crises….trouble with your kids, financial stress, marital upheaval, extended sickness or any other of life’s many problems is….ONE DAY AT A TIME….it only stands to reason.

Why? ….because that’s the way God has set this world in motion and that’s why His Son taught us to pray…. “Give us this day our daily bread”.

How are you doing in meeting God each day ….praying for His provision….and trusting in His Word? Remember, waiting on God takes faith….trusting in God takes patience…persevering in God takes life….one day at a time!!!

Walking in His way….step by step, day by day,
WPQ

Thursday, February 19, 2009

The Condition of Your Soil

Riding through the countryside of South Carolina the other day, I noticed that first rite of spring had begun. As I looked across field after field of newly turned sod, it reminded me of my childhood days and the work of my Dad’s Merry Tiller.

Every other spring, our large back yard was converted from a neighborhood ball field into a very large and productive garden. It all began with my Dad, who after working all day, would come home to work behind the tiller, over turning the dark earth in to ball- sized dirt clods. It was my job to take the hoe and break the clods down into plant worthy soil.

Dad explained to me how necessary my job was….that in each dirt clod, there laid nutrients and other minerals that would be needed in growing our vegetables. These nutrients were trapped and it was my job to release them by breaking them up. I worked for days, chopping and beating the clods, until, at last, there lay before me a field, ready for planting. We then began to meticulously furrow each row and make preparation for the seed. This whole process usually took a couple of weeks…it sure seemed like a lot of work to an eight year old; but, when I saw those tiny corn shoots, the rows and rows of beans and squash and the great big smile on my Dad’s face, it was worth it all.

Our hearts are like that soil….waiting to be overturned and prepared for the planting and harvest that follows.

Matthew 13 tells of the sower and the condition of the soil as we read, “A sower went out to sow. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path and the birds came and devoured it. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil; but when the sun rose they were scorched. Since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 13:3-9

What’s the condition of your soil…and you soul today? Is it fertile ground, ready and receptive to the word of God? Or is it overturned sod that is still rocky and clod-like?

Maybe, you need the work of the Holy Spirit to prepare your soil…to break apart those clods of indifference and release the nutrients of peace, harmony, patience and love. You need to surrender to the great Gardner and let him have his way with you soil….and your soul.

Why not pray this simple prayer today and ask the Holy Spirit to use whatever tool is necessary to prepare your heart for the planting of God’s word in your heart, body, mind and soul….Ask him to prepare your soil so that your harvest will be a hundredfold of good works for the glory of our great and awesome God.

Father, today let the work of your Holy Spirit prepare my heart for service. Let all I do bring honor to your name. May your word permeate the soil that is my heart and grow in me those qualities that produce a life that is pleasing in your sight. Amen

Tilling for the Kingdom,
WPQ

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

The Lordship of Christ

There is in my mind two steps, if you will, to salvation. The first step is our acknowledgement of our sin and our need for a Savior. Although this can be difficult for many of us to admit, when we read scripture and are convicted by the Holy Spirit, our need becomes self-evident. We ask Jesus to come into our hearts, to forgive our sins and to make us righteous in His sight.

We now belong to Christ and are a child of the King.

It is the next step, or if you prefer, the continuation of our salvation experience that many seem to skip…or at the very lest, postpone….The acknowledgement of Christ as Lord in and over their life.

Christ, himself, asked his disciples, “Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord”, and do not what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on rock. When the flood came, the torrent struck the house but could not shake it, because it was well built.” Luke 6:46-48

The problem for too many Christians is that they view their faith as a cafeteria line...their thinking ….”I’d like to have a little salvation today, but I think I’ll hold off on any of that Lordship right now. I’m not sure it would be good for where I am in my life.”

They believe that accepting Christ and his free gift of salvation comes without any further commitment on their part…..but, as we see in the scripture above, they are missing the best part.

You see, that flood is coming …and it will wreak havoc in your life. The question then becomes; how will your house stand if your foundation is not on solid rock? Therefore,

Your foundation should be the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Each morning, as you begin that day, pay honor to and acknowledge the dominion of Christ in your life. Ask what He would have you accomplish for Him today …how can you serve Him and bring honor, glory and majesty to His name? He will know by your actions and the desires of your heart if you truly claim Him as Lord….and you will be building on that Solid Rock of salvation that is everlasting…..then,

Others will see Jesus in you …and He will be Blessed !


A humble servant of the King,
WPQ

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Whom did you serve?

There is coming a day, in the not too distant future, where all men, past and present, will stand before their Creator to answer the question above. We, as believers, know this day as Judgment Day; and, if we have called upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and invited Him to be our Lord and Savior, then that question has already been answered for us by our profession of faith.

Unfortunately, there are too many in our world today who are sitting on the fence posts….waiting for something to knock them over on one side or the other. They know the story of the Christ, yet, they seem to treat it as some quaint, little tale of a good man with good intentions. The Bible tells us however that there fate is already sealed.

Jesus said in John 12: “Whoever believes in me, believe not in me, but in Him who sent me. I have come into the world as a light so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”

So the question will be raised on that last day…Whom did you serve? Did you take Jesus at His word and follow His commandments or did you treat His words and His life as some delightful or mundane fairytale?

To conclude today’s thought, I want to invite you to go to the following link that is provided to view a wonderful thought regarding your choice and your answer to that all important question. Do you read the story that follows from top to bottom or from bottom to top….the answer to that question will determine your eternity!

I pray today that question has been answered in your life and that you are serving the risen Savior….Jesus Christ….the name above all names.


http://media.creativepastors.com/mediapreviews/index.php?stream=Upside_Down_MPEG1


Living for the Savior…..serving in His Kingdom…..waiting for His return,

WPQ

Monday, February 16, 2009

Holding on to the Helm

When I began my active duty in the Navy, I reported to my duty station, the USS Strong, without a billet classification; so, I was immediately assigned to the Deck Force. Besides being in charge of the overall upkeep of the ship, it was our job to steer the ship…to man the helm while underway.

I’ll never forget my trepidation when I took hold of the helm for the very first time. I was in the middle of the Atlantic, water surrounding me on all sides, no lines or boundaries or demarcations of any type to give me a point of reference ….to aim the ship and steer toward a destination. I only had the big wheel and a heading marker that gave our course direction in degrees.

I truly wanted to panic…but then the Officer of the Deck, the one who was in charge of directing our course, shouted out a command, “Come to a heading of 175 degrees north, speed 15 knots.” I immediately shouted back his command and began to spin the wheel and watched as the heading began to change…..155 …160….165…170…and then, I reversed the wheel several turns until the heading was exactly 175. We were on course and heading toward the direction that the OOD had called out. Now, I’m not sure how he knew exactly where we were heading, the calculations that were required to make sure that we stayed on course to our final destination….but day or night, whenever I was at the helm, I knew I could trust the Officer of the Deck to give me the exact heading to steer that would take me and my shipmates safely to our final port of call.

The same is true in our Christian experience as we set sail across the stormy waters we know as life. We are at the helm of our ship, seeking to sail safely through to our final port of call….but fear, anxiety confusion and so much more cloud our vision and make the way treacherous….in fact, all too often we fail to even leave the safety of the harbor.

But Jesus said in His word that he would provide us an Officer of the Deck…one whose commands we could follow and obey…one who would be with us and guide our journey.

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:7

The Holy Spirit is with you today as you take hold of the helm ….He has come to give you guidance and direction and to help you steer through the treacheries of life. The sailing will not always be smooth; your ship may be come battered and torn; you may want to turn around and return to the safety of the harbor….but you can trust the Officer of the Deck....God's Holy Spirit.

He has made all the necessary calculations and he knows the waters, the currents and the ebb and flow of the tides. You can trust him to lead you to the calling that God has placed on your life. You can remain calm when seas toss you about and know that he can overcome any storm and that he will lead you safely through to calm, still waters.

So, today ….get a firm grip on the helm of your life and listen intently for the voice of the Holy Spirit as he calls out the heading for today’s journey. It may be through uncharted waters or simply a shake down cruise that prepares you for a longer, more arduous journey…..but no matter the destination, you will arrive safely home...where you will be greeted by the Father’s loving arms and a whisper of …

“Well Done, my child….WELL DONE!”


Holding on to the Helm...Listening to my OOD,
WPQ

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Enlarging Your Territory

In a chapter in the Old Testament where the writer is listing the descendants of Judah, there is a brief mention of one of Judah’s relatives…a man by the name of Jabez. In I Chronicles 4:9-10, we read,

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying “Because I bore him in pain.” Jabez called upon the name of the God of Israel, saying. “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory, and that your hand would be with me and that you would keep me from evil so that it might not bring me pain. And God granted what he asked.” (English Standard Version)

Did you catch that last part…..God granted his request!!!

Why was this man so special in the eyes of God and how can we achieve that same dominion in the eyes of our Creator?

Well, first, he was an honorable man…more honorable than any of his brothers and most likely, more honorable than anyone in the surrounding community. He must have understood what God required of him and was a very responsible and considerate person. He truly sought to serve the Lord and to honor him in everything he did….thus, the reason for the first part of his bold request… God’s blessing of enlarging his territory.

He knew that God would not give him more if he were not thankful for that which he already had. Also, how could God entrust him with more if he were not already a good and faithful steward of the blessings that were currently his. The only reason God will enlarge a person’s territory is if He believes that person will use it responsibly to bring glory to God and to enlarge the Kingdom of the Most High.

So, if you’ve been petitioning our heavenly Father for greater blessings and a larger, more fruitful territory ….the question is quite simple…..ARE YOU BRINGING HONOR TO GOD IN ALL YOU DO?

Before you move on to greater endeavors for the Lord, you might want to stop and ask your self these questions ….

Am I bringing honor to my God through my words and my deeds?
Am I causing pain…harm…promoting evil in my relationships?
Am I thankful for the blessings that I have already received?
Am I using the resources that I currently have to expand the work of the Lord?
Am I responsible for my actions and their results?
Am I using my influence to bring others to Christ?

Take some real, quality time to search your soul as you answer these questions….and if you believe that you can answer in the affirmative in all these areas, then, you can precede with the final part of the prayer of Jabez….for a life that is free from pain.

In fact, in all my studies in the Bible, I do not recall anyone else who was spared the pains of life…save this one ordinary man with his extraordinary prayer….

So …..Pray the prayer of this humble man …live as he lived before his God ….and you too may live a life of enlarged territories …full of blessings and free from harm.

Expanding the Kingdom…living for the Lord,
WPQ

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Don't Just Do Something...Stand There!

After the Israelites exited Egypt, they began their travels through the desert to the Promised Land. In Numbers, chapter 9, we read how the Lord instructed Moses to have the Israelites observe the second Passover. It is later in that same chapter that we read about the cloud of Guidance.

On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of testimony, and it appeared like fire above the tabernacle from evening until morning. It remained that way continuously; the cloud covered it, appearing like fire at night. Whenever the cloud was lifted above the tent, the Israelites would set out; at the place where the cloud stopped, there the Israelites camped” Numbers 9:15-17

Scripture goes on to tell us that as long as the cloud remained above the tent of testimony, God’s people stayed put. Whether it was for a night, several days, a month or longer….they did not break camp and move out until the cloud went before them.

The same is true for us today. We need to stay put until our cloud (God’s Holy Spirit) moves out.

Now, it is true that we all call upon the Lord for guidance, direction, protection and provision… in fact, the list seems to go on and on. Yet, too often, after we have made our request known, we strike out on our own and fail to heed the tug or nudge of the Holy Spirit. We are too eager to make things happen rather than wait on the leading and direction of our Heavenly Father.

It is imperative today, in our rat-racing, fast-paced world, that we take time to know the will of God before we blindly forge ahead. Too often, we rush into the next endeavor for God without ever waiting to make sure that He is with us and that we are not going it alone. Too often we feel that if we just sit still and wait on the Lord, we are somehow losing ground; but, nothing could be further from the truth. He has commanded us to BE STILL...and know that HE IS GOD!

So, the next time you need a little guidance or you’re feeling unsure of the next step to take along the path of God’s will for your life…..DON'T JUST DO SOMETHING...STAND THERE....and wait patiently on Him.

Remember, God’s spirit is hovering over you; working inside your heart and mind; calming and encouraging you to be still and wait on His Holy and divine spirit to move…in fact,

Your Promised Land is just ahead if you will but wait on the Lord and follow His spirit…after all,

Waiting on God is the perfect way to know his will…..WHEN HE MOVES…YOU MOVE!!!!!!!


Moving ahead …following His cloud,

WPQ

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

A CHANGE OF THINKING

I want to ask you to do me a special favor that, for the large part, should be painless. I want you to change your way of thinking….now, before you go off the deep in, take a deep breath and listen to my proposal.

From the beginning of creation, God has had a specific way of considering the 24 hours that make up a day. From His word we read in Genesis 1:5, “and the evening and the morning were the first day.” Did you catch that?

You and I don’t think that way, do we? We see it just the opposite. A day is the morning followed by the evening….always has been, always will be….and that’s what requires a change of thinking on our part.

There is always a wonderful truth embedded in even the smallest scripture …if we are only willing to take a good look. If we could but see our days as God sees them….first the evening followed by the morning, what a difference that could make.

We would then spend each evening contemplating and meditating on the activities and responsibilities that God will set before us in the morning….and then spend time asking Him for His guidance and blessing upon all that He wants us to accomplish for Him and His kingdom. Then, as we place our head on our pillows, we are free to experience a full night’s rest as we give everything to Him. We can sleep in the full assurance that He is in complete control and we can lay aside the worries and cares that beset us after a day of hurried activities.

David, the psalmist wrote, “Weeping may endure for the night, BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING!” Psalm 30:5 Why not change your thinking in this area of your life and experience the joy that is yours each new day…..

Let me know if seeing each day the way God sees it works for you….it only takes a moment to change your mind.


Enjoying the new day and all its promise,
WPQ