Sunday, May 31, 2015

THIS GREAT TRUTH…

One of the great truths of the Bible is that we can KNOW that we belong to Jesus and that our God is the ever-the-same, never changing, holy, righteous, omnipotent Ruler of the Universe.

I John 5:13 tells us this great truth, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may KNOW that you have eternal life."

So in my mind, God's Holy Word says it…I believe it…that makes it so!

My prayer for each of you today is that you KNOW that you are a child of the King…the one who laid down His life to regain you for His kingdom …and one day very soon,

 HE IS COMING BACK TO TAKE US TO BE FOREVER WITH HIM…
ON THAT I HAVE…..

BLESSED ASSURANCE

Blessed Assurance ....what a wonderful phrase
To our God in Heaven, we lift up our praise!
Of honor and glory in songs we will sing;
Unending thanksgiving to Jesus our King.

Blessed Assurance ....this truly is mine!
I'm bound for His kingdom and it's glory divine;
I'm watching and waiting for Jesus, my King;
And there in my mansion, forever I'll sing.

You are my Savior who reigns from above.
You given your Spirit and filled me with love.
I stand on your promise that Christ died for me,

BLESSED ASSURANCE...I'm alive and set free!

W. Patrick Queen

September 2012

Friday, May 29, 2015

Running All Alone

There’s the story of the small business owner that took a walk through his factory and was well pleased… until he happened upon a younger chap standing idly on the loading dock. He huffed up to the young man and opening his wallet, handed him a hundred dollar bill and said, “Here, go spend your time some where else.” Somewhat puzzled,
the young man stared at the owner, then took the money and left. Turning to the shop foreman, the owner asked, “How long has that guy been working for us?” Came the reply, “He doesn’t work for us; he was Joe’s ride home.”

Things are not always as they seem. Even the mirror on the passenger side of our car warns us that objects may be closer than they appear. Perception is not always reality. In fact, it is often far from it.....

Take Noah…..his neighbors perceived that he was a nut….building an ark when there was no visible sign of water; however, their perception changed when the raindrops got big. Likewise, the children of Israel believed that all was lost as they stood on the banks of the Red Sea with the entire Egyptian army bearing down on them; however, their perception of doom changed to joy as the Lord parted the sea and they made their way across on dry land.

But my favorite change in perception was in the mighty prophet, Elijah, who had just defeated the prophets of Baal and was now in hot retreat from Jezebel and her oath to see him killed. In 1 Kings 9:14, we read, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, EVEN I ONLY, am left and they seek my life, to take it away.” Elijah, this great man of God, was the ONLY ONE LEFT to stand up for God in all of Israel...at least that was his perception. But, in verse 18 we hear God say, “Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed down to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

What seemed to be was not….God was already at work to protect Elijah from death, but moreover, He was raising up a multitude of others ready, willing and able to worship the Lord of Israel. He was not alone. His perception was NOT reality.

Next time it seems that everything and everyone seems to be against you, remember this story of Elijah…your God is already at work, often behind the scenes, changing the circumstances, altering the status quo.... working to change the outcome for your good and His Glory.

Remember, you are never alone, for God is your Rock and your Salvation. Why not live that way today, so that there might be NO misconception of those that see you serving a Risen Savior….after all, the perception of the Father will be seen through the eyes of the world by what they see in YOU!

Be strong and serve well…others are watching,


WPQ

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Quenching Your Thirst...Jesus is the Water of Life!

If you long to live a life fulfilled, but everything seems to stand in your way, then it's time to take Jesus at his word. Let him fill your thirsty soul with water than refreshes, renews and re-purposes you for a life that is lived in service to Him...it's time to 



COME TO THE WELL
  
When life seems too much to bear
And its fears you can’t dispel;
You will find the Savior waiting
When you come to the Well.

Though you know no gain in a life of pain,
So intense you want to yell;
You’ll find release in the Savior’s peace;
He’s waiting at the Well.

For all your life though your sin and strife
Has cast on you its spell;
Know you’ll receive when you believe
His mercy at the Well.

In your disgrace accept the Father’s grace
That saves the lost from Hell.
Then you will know, His love overflows
When you meet Him at the Well.

For you long to be, alive and free
In your heavenly home to dwell;
To be forever blest in eternal rest
With Jesus… at the Well.


W. Patrick Queen
November 2011





Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Thirsty….Go to the Well!

Well, it’s good to have celebrated our Memorial Day holiday as we honored our brave men and women that sacrificed their lives so that we might live FREE….and now it's time to get back to life in the fast lane. It’s seems like quite some time since I have been able to write, but God has kept the ideas coming and today, I would like to pose the question, “Have you ever been really thirsty?”

Now, I’m not talking about a little dry mouth or nervous anxiety that tends to make the moisture in your mouth retreat like General Lee’s army…I’m talking about the kind of thirst that comes from down in your soul…the kind of thirst that makes you think it could never be quenched…an eternal thirst.

Jesus met a woman with that kind of thirst as he was passing through Samaria and the little village of Sychar. He sat down to rest, parched from the noon day sun and the journey that he and his disciples were on as they headed for his home in Galilee. He had nothing with which to draw water from Jacob’s well when he noticed a woman making her way to the well…an odd occurrence for this time of day. He asked her to give him a drink and her reply, How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) John 4: 9

Then Jesus did what He did best…..He met her at the point of her need as we read, “Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”  “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”  Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”  John 4: 10-15

This woman knew a good thing when she heard it… No more long, hot trips to the well and NO MORE THIRST….but Jesus wasn’t through with his ministry to this woman….He had piqued her interest but her eternal soul still hung in the balance.

Let’s read on….He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”  “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.  You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”  Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” John 4: 16-26

This woman had been given all she needed to know regarding the Christ…she had just met the Lamb of God who had come to take away the sin of the world….what should she do if she wanted to have the thirst of her eternal soul quenched by the LIVING WATER….she had confessed, now it was time to profess….so she left her water jugs behind and went into the village and told those that she very seldom ever talked to that she had met a man that had told her everything that she had ever done…and she posed to each of them the eternal question, CAN THIS BE THE CHRIST?

And the best part of this story….So many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony. (My emphasis) John 4: 39

She came to draw water but left with a heart overflowing with love, forgiveness and the desire to have others met this man named Jesus ….the Spring of Living Water welling up to eternal life.

How thirsty are you today? Have you met this man named Jesus and come to know him as your personal savior….if not, WHY NOT?

He‘s waiting to meet you at the well …but He won’t wait forever!!!!!!

Thirsty No More,

WPQ

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

THESE THREE THINGS…

Someone of importance once said that to be an ardent follower of Christ one’s life must have three necessary things in evidence….prayer, consecration and temptation. Prayer is necessary for constant communication with the Father, consecration is at the root of a submissive will and temptation is there to assure that the Father can be trusted. In other words, you will never know the reality of your faith until you have been in the “trenches of life.” Unless you experience the difficulties of life, you will not know the depth of God’s love and faithfulness nor will you know at what point you will succumb to life’s many temptations….thus, life’s difficulties are there to make you stronger.

Take Peter, for example …in his mind, his faith in Christ was rock solid ( thus the name Petros); yet, in Mark 14 when Christ tells him that he will deny him three times before the cock crows twice, he adamantly retorts, “ Even though they all fall away, I WIIL NOT! Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.” But before Christ was whisked away into the dark, Peter had given in to his fears and had denied with a curse that he ever knew the man. This great apostle with whom Christ had shared so much broke down and wept. The temptation had been too great and he had failed his Lord.

The same can be said for each of us. We want to serve our Lord …to stand fearless in the throes of adversity and to emerge victorious. But far too often, the circumstances that God allows to entangle us, they trip us up and cause us to fall flat on our faces. Yet, He still loves us and offers us other opportunities to stand firm and be counted on His side. Each trial is sent to show us His faithfulness and our weakness …each outcome, each battle, each new day is ours to become all that He wants us to be.

So, take heart, good friend….although Peter failed, when Christ saw him again, he asked him, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” Peter’s response, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” So, Christ asked him two more times and with each response, He commanded Peter to feed his sheep….and Peter became a great man of God and a GREAT MAN FOR GOD.

Today, pray to your Father that he will direct your path, consecrate your work and keep temptation far away…or if not, that through His power, VICTORY WILL BE YOURS!

Living the "Good" life…Counting on God's Faithfulness,

WPQ


Thought for the Day:
More love for Thee, O Lord,
This is my earnest prayer;
Draw me closer in my walk with you
And always keep me there!


Friday, May 22, 2015

GETTING GROUNDED

This past Sunday, our pastor preached a very stirring sermon revolving around John 5:39 …he said, “Search the Scriptures.” Now, those three simple words led me to believe that we might be in for an early dismissal, but I was sorely wrong. It was during the next 35 minutes or so (I truly lost track of the time) that he went on to explain that we should not go to the Bible just to find solutions, but rather to find the Savior…and there to daily, moment by moment, grow in our walk with the Lord. He asked for a show of hands of those who might be somewhat overwhelmed with the daunting task of reading, interpreting and understanding the Scriptures. I must admit, I did NOT raise my hand…not that I am any kind of spiritual giant, but rather, I relish the time that I spend searching, discovering, exploring and uncovering some “gem” or “nugget” of truth that God has left sprinkled within the pages of His Holy Word. Left there with one singular intent; one eternal purpose …. For me to find and thus, be changed!

My wife, however, was one of the many that raised their hands and when we got home, she asked me to agree to take at least one evening each week to sit down and study the Bible with her. Now, we have studied our Bibles together in the past; had many stirring conversations regarding scripture and its interpretation and often conferred regarding the Sunday school lesson that I teach each week. This, however, was different…and last night, we began in the book of Philippians, one of my favorite books of the New Testament, chocked full of those ‘nuggets” that God has left in our way. So, let me say that for the unforeseeable future, I know that God will be working in me as I take a closer look at His infallible truth and share those insights with you, my brothers and sisters in Christ.

And there is something else that I am sure will occur…my wife and I will be drawn even closer together as we make this journey through God’s Word. Let me encourage you to do likewise. Affirm with your mate that a time of concentrated, consecrated Bible study is necessary in this world’s atmosphere of unrest and disbelief that engulfs us at every turn. God wants His people to stand out and to stand firm….and we can only accomplish this if we are GROUNDED IN HIS WORD!!!

So, join us …commit to take one night a week, turn off the TV and get off the couch, then…. open God’s word, together. The rewards will be immeasurable…you’ll get to know each other better and more importantly, you’ll be drawn closer to the Creator of the Universe…Your Heavenly Father.
Searching the Scriptures…Serving the Savior,


WPQ

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Praying in Joy

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I encounter some people that really try my patience. In fact, in all honesty, they make me lose it completely. Now, I’m not one to name names…you know who you are, but in my studies the other night, Paul admonished me in Philippians 1 verse 3 to pray with joy. He said” I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” Do I always pray with joy? Not on your life…but there it is, from one of the pillars of the early church….PRAY WITH JOY!!!!

Paul is telling us to begin our experience with others by remembering them and then, in our remembrance, to pray with joy. Unfortunately, it seems that I don’t always remember the good things of others …only the things that seem to make me lose my patience and too, too often, disrupt my walk with my Lord. What if I started using “spiritual eyes’ to view those that God brings into my life and as we unite in the partnership of the gospel, I won’t have to overlook their faults? Instead, I will be focused on the good work that God has begun in them and in our relationship.

Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this very thing, that He that has begun a good work in you will continue it until the day of Jesus Christ.” That should be my focus…if I must be myopic, let my focus be on the good work that God is accomplishing in each of us. I can revel in the misery of the injustice of the moment, past or present…..or I can look at those around me and see them as God does….A WORK IN PROGRESS!!!!

And then, I can pray for them and with them in a spirit of joy and thanksgiving, knowing that God is at work, bringing to completion this person of faith …my brother or sister in Christ. And that’s the eternal partnership that is available to each of us….we belong to Christ and we belong to each other. So, let the praise and prayer begin and let the JOY of Heaven rain down.
Praying for the rain of Joy...Washed in the blood of the Lamb,

WPQ

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Are you a Bargainer with God?

It wasn't that long ago that I sat down to view one of my favorite TV shows, NCIS, but about midway through, I became a little peeved with the writers and directors.

There was a scene where Tony Denosoe, one of the NCIS federal agents finds himself alone in the chapel on the Navy base. He starts down the aisle of the chapel carrying on a flippant conversation with the "BIG GUY” regarding his lack of staying in touch (Tony’s been SOOOOO busy) as he continues to plead his case that “he is doing the best he can down here.” Now, here’s where I  wanted to plant my size nine squarely on Tony’s posterior region. He matter-of-factly queries God to see if God still intends to hold up his end of a bargain that Tony had made with him on a previous tough occasion…..of all the unmitigated gall.

He’s made a “deal” with God and he wants to know if God can deliver …or I guess through the implication; then if not, the deal is off!

I was perturbed on so many fronts, I really don’t know where to start….first with the writers who once again have chosen to represent  God as a giant genie in a bottle…we rub it and our wish is his command,

Secondly… the only way to get something from God is to promise Him something in return….like we have anything that God wants, needs or can’t get or do for himself.

Thirdly….if you believe in God and trust in Him, you must be a moron. Besides, how can you believe that God is really going to keep his end of any bargain that you might make with Him?

Once again, those that bring us entertainment think that God or even the concept of an Almighty being is just to ludicrous for words…so they paint Him and all of those who might profess to follow Him as idiots….and then, it hit me as the words of Christ rang true in my head and then my heart…”You have heard it said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:43-44

Although the above scene left me feeling anything other than loving or forgiving for the blasphemous way in which our God was portrayed, I must admit Tony’s diatribe with the Father set me to thinking…do I bargain with God in order to somehow try and influence His answers to my petitions….have I made some vows or promises that I have failed to keep in my daily walk with the Lord….do I hold back my obedience to His will waiting to see if God comes through as He has promised in His Word?

So, let me be honest and admit that this show got me to thinking about two very important issues for me as a Christian……am I loving those that persecute me because I am a follower of Christ and eager to display my heritage as one of God’s chosen…. or am I all too eager to give them a swift kick in the pants as punishment for their treatment of me?

And, when given the opportunity to petition God for an answer to my needs, do I put myself in the position as a “deal maker” or a “faithful follower”?

Two pretty serious questions that definitely bear some more self scrutiny…and prayerful consideration in the light of God’s Word.

Holding to His Truth….Loving as He Loves,

WPQ

Poem for the Day:

May I faithfully follow you, O Lord;
In your service make my spirit meek…
And when others put me down, O Lord
May I turn the other cheek?

May I show your heavenly love, O Lord
And never doubt your caring ways;
May all who I encounter Lord
Be filled with joy and praise.


WPQ 2011

Need another word of encouragement?...www.thankfulpraiseministries.com

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Are you a “Sweet” or “Sour”?

Down here in the South, we are known for many things….our gracious hospitality, our genteel manners and our ability to can  or “pickle” just about anything that comes out of the ground, grows on a tree or hangs from a vine…..and my favorite object of pickled perfection is the cucumber.

Now the cucumber is mighty good on its own….thinly sliced for a salad or finely diced and served with tomatoes and onions on a hot dog; but, its crowning achievement as a delectable delight is after it has been subjected to days, weeks or even a month in high fructose corn syrup and special spices.

Yes, I’m talking about a PICKLE….but for a moment; join me in the journey from garden to your grocer’s shelf.

First of all, the pickle is a cucumber that is selected for its firmness, color and size so that it can do what it does best…..ABSORB! Yes, a pickle is nature’s sponge from your garden ….ready, willing and able to become your pickle of choice.

Now, if you place your cucumber in a solution of high fructose corn syrup, vinegar and sweet spices, you will end up with a sweet, satisfying morsel of heaven that can put a smile on your face ( my favorites)….on the other hand, if you use a mixture of less syrup, more vinegar, dill, garlic, pepper and loads of salt, you will end up with a SOUR DILL that  can remove the enamel from your teeth (at least that’s what it feels like to me)….and I have said all this to say….

WE CHRISTIANS ARE A LOT LIKE PICKLES….SOME US ARE REALLY SOUR AND SOME OF US ARE REALLY SWEET….Which one are YOU????....That’s all determined by what you absorb.

If you spend your time in God’s word, seeking His guidance and direction…if you are constantly looking for ways to help others…if you surround yourself with genuine believers …if you make the worship, praise and adoration of your Savior the main thing in your life; odds are you’ll turn out on the sweeter side of the pickle meter.

But, if you frown more than you smile….if you believe that whatever your are doing it is “all about you” …if you never give until God says that’s enough…if you spend too much time in front of the “BOOB TUBE”….if your Bible is the biggest dust collector in your home….Well, I’m sure you can see the correlation…..you’ll end up a SOUR Christian with little joy and even less desire to change.

Why not follow the advice of the apostle, Paul, who when writing to the Philippians penned these words,  “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”  Philippians 4:8 Today’s NIV

Yes, where you spend you time in thought, prayer or meditation will determine what you are absorbing in your daily walk with Christ. It can be pure and noble or it can be devious and despicable …it will produce the SWEET or SOUR disposition by which you will be known.

So why not immerse your self in the only true and righteous one…Jesus…..the more you absorb of Him, the more you will be like Him ….and that will be really SWEET!

Taking Sweet to New Levels….Absorbing the Savior,

WPQ

Poem for the Day:

My outlook may be fuzzy,
Life’s trials may make me sour;
But the time I spend with you, dear Lord
Will make me sweeter with each hour.

So as I read your Holy Scriptures
And I bow my head to pray…
May the time we spend together
Be the sweetest moments of my day.

W. Patrick Queen

Need another word of encouragement?...www.thankfulpraiseministries.com

Monday, May 18, 2015

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

There’s an old saying that “Practice makes perfect”, but as a former PGA golf professional, I’ve learned that is not exactly true. Through the years, what my students have taught me is that PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT!

In teaching the great game of golf, I have often used imitation to instill in my students the correct way to swing the club. They watch me …then, they try to imitate. When their imitation is correct, then I encourage them to practice, Practice, PRACTICE…to make it PERMANENT!

Paul sought to encourage the Christians at Philipi to practice humility…to model themselves after Christ. He wrote, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus….Who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, BUT MADE HIMSELF NOTHING, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man….HE HUMBLED HIMSELF....and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:3-8

Jesus Christ, the Creator of the Universe, became a servant who humbled himself to reach each of us and to teach each of us that we should become like him….empty of ourselves, so that we might serve. We are to imitate Christ. We are to become servants of the Most High God and a servant to every one that we encounter. What would happen in our world today if we all began to look out for the welfare of others first, even before our own needs or wants were met? How would the world view those of us that call ourselves Christians if we were not motivated by self ambition or vain conceit…if we truly modeled ourselves after our Savior?

Why not make a promise today to practice humility. First step, humble yourself before the Lord then, deny yourself and follow Christ’s example to meet the needs of others. Your practice may not be perfect…but it will take you one step closer to making it PERMANENT…..and that’s what moves the heart of God…PERFECT HUMILITY!!!

Serving My Savior….Humbly with Purpose,

WPQ

Thought for the day:
If you want to follow Christ,
In everything you do;
Just seek to humbly serve Him…
Let His love come shining through.

Don't seek the praise that comes from men
But honor your Father above..
Do all you can in obedience
To show the Father's love.




Saturday, May 16, 2015

Are  you  a  007  Christian?

I don’t know about you, but I am a diehard James Bond fan. In fact, I practically grew up watching and re-watching the James Bond films… and to this day, I will gladly plunk down in front of the old boob tube and catch a Bond thriller or weekend extravaganza of Bond classics.

I guess the mystery and excitement of James dashing around the world as a servant in Her Majesty’s Secret Service was the juice that would quench the thirst of a young mind’s wanderlust and allow me to step out of the problems and tribulations of a young adolescent, even if just for a few hours. I seemed to always marvel that James was so adept at hiding his true identity and pretending to be so many different people with such diverse and intriguing backgrounds.

The same can be said for so many Christians in this day and age….they profess to follow Jesus as they pass down dark halls and gather in church vestibules on Sundays; but, on Mondays, they move through the corporate world incognito ….stripped of anything that may give away their secret identity ….a son or daughter of the Most High ….a member of the family of God.

But they are not the first to travel such a path of deception as they conceal their Christian identity; just look in the Scriptures in John 12:42-43: “Nevertheless many, even of the authorities believed in Him, but for fear of the Pharisees, they did not confess it so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”

Even in the day of Jesus, when many had seen with their own eyes the miracles he performed, they could not be persuaded to believe in Jesus….but there were many that did believe: but rather than confess Him as Lord and Savior, they kept their faith in Him a secret….they became a silent follower with a secret identity for fear of the cost.

Today, unfortunately, there are too many Christians living as 007…an agent for Jesus with a secret identity. They will profess Him to their close circle of fellow believers but they are not willing to publicly announce their allegiance and loyalty to the King of Kings for fear of the cost….the cost of ridicule, weak-mindedness or sarcasm…the cost of power or prestige or put downs….the cost of glory or praise from others that see Christ as a crutch and not as a conqueror.

How are you living in this world today…are you out in the open as a true believer that values the opinion of God over the fleeting fancies of the “in” crowd….or  are you living as a “secret agent’ that is pretending to be what the world values rather than living the values taught to us by the Savior.

As always, THE CHOICE IS YOURS ….AND YOURS ALONE!!!! God will not hold your feet to the fire until you confess Him as Lord and Savior in your life; but, He is watching …and often withholding His abundant blessings until we are stripped of our secret identity and fully functioning as a child of the King.

So go ahead and drop the pretense that you can be an 007 Christian…. Step out in faith to tell others that Jesus is INDEED the one you adore and the one to whom you answer ….and in that matter, YOU WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY!!

Stepping out of the Shadows….Living in His Glorious Light,

WPQ


Thought for the day:

Living for Jesus in this day and age can be quite hard to do;
Especially when the pressure's on and it all depends on you…
So take a moment to confess, no matter the end of the story;
God is at work to bring you good and in that receive His glory.


Friday, May 15, 2015

Writer's Tools

Each artist has different mediums or venues in which they like to work. For some, it's the acrylics and oils that bring out their true talents; while others prefer watercolors or charcoal etchings to best display their eye for the visual side of life. Whatever their choice, they are most comfortable and complete when they are using their talents and expressing themselves with the medium that best allows them to share their vision with the world.

The same is true for the written word, although the different "mediums" may not be as numerous. As one who likes to paint his version of the world as he sees it ....using the written word.... I have always felt most comfortable and complete when writing poetry. It must be something in the rhythm and rhyme that moves me and releases my inner self in expression. Whatever it is, I have found little reason to question it, but prefer to get lost in the thoughts that have been laid on my heart and in letting those thoughts take flight.

I have probably written over 2,000 poems of all types, versions, kinds, subjects and sizes in my lifetime and I hope and pray that I still have something to say through this "medium". It is for that reason that I have penned this introduction to what will quite often be my thought for the day....A POEM TO DWELL UPON.

I trust that you will be Blessed and in believing, you will know Him better, you will seek His face and you will walk in His way.


A POEM TO DWELL UPON….
ONE SOLITARY LIFE

He came to earth by a Virgin's birth,
Born in a cattle stall; but on that tree at Calvary,

He sacrificed it all.

His life was spent as he preached "repent";
He never had home nor wife.
For He sought the thrill to do the Father's will…

In a Solitary Life.

He walked around from town to town,
No property could He claim.
But when you believe, His grace receive…

When you call upon Jesus' name.

So, don't regret the life you get;
Though it's filled with pain and strife.
For He died for you to give life anew
through

His Solitary Life

W. Patrick Queen @ June 2000




Thursday, May 14, 2015

BIG BLACK BUG

It was just a few summers ago, that across the South, we were dealing with some brutal drought conditions that had many of the folks that deal with those types of situations direly concerned.

In fact, it made me do something that  I have never done before in my adult life…..water the grass and surrounding plants in my yard. I remember one morning in particular. I was out at the crack of dawn to perform my new ritual, when this great BIG BLACK BUG (or wasp or mutant bumblebee) altered its flight plan and made a straight beeline (no pun intended) for me. Well, I did the only manly thing I could do…I switched the nozzle on the water hose to JET and shot that sucker right out of the air before it collided with my forehead ( I’m sure it would have left a mark). It plummeted to the grass, but I could tell it was only deterred; stunned or dazed, but definitely not ready to give up the fight; so, I sprayed even more water on it to make sure it would stay down. After about 40 seconds of watering the grass in that “special” spot, I once again turned my attention to the rest of the yard. After several minutes, I made my way back to that area of conflict and found that bug struggling to climb out of that wet grass and get airborne. Well, you just got to admire that kind of perseverance!

And I do….in fact, one of my favorite scriptures in James 1:2-4 says "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops PERSEVERANCE. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete….not lacking anything.”

Yep, that big black bug reminded me that I never know from day to day or moment to moment what trial or problem or persecution is headed my way. I may be off to do my thing, minding my own business, when trouble rears its ugly head; but God’s word tells me to count it all joy when those trials come my way so that I can persevere and be COMPLETE….LACKING NOTHING!!!!

I trust that today you are ready to be tested and to be found complete in the grace and love that our Heavenly Father bestows on each of us. Be like that BIG BLACK BUG and don’t let a little water (or heartbreak or disappointment or catastrophe) keep you from getting airborne and becoming all that God has ordained for you to be.

If your not sure how to get that done, read the rest of James 1…..there’s a lot of God’s instruction just waiting for you….Have a Blessed Day as you persevere for the Father.

Winging my way to Glory,


WPQ

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

It wasn't too long ago that one of the young women in my wife’s office announced that she was expecting her first born and thus, the ever challenging quest to come up with just the “perfect name" had begun.  After all, a name captures all the hopes, dreams and wishes that we, as parents, hold for our precious bundles of joy. Each name brings with it the expectation of the uniqueness of that individual ….even if its one that has been passed down from generation to generation.

The same can be said for our Heavenly Father….for God goes by many names; each with a special meaning. “Yahweh” means Almighty God, “Abba” means Father God, “Jesua” or “Jesus” means Jesus saves; and in each name that describes the almighty, omnipotent, omnipresent God of the universe, there is one quality of that name that has the most meaning for each of us…it is all that is needed to be saved. The Scriptures are resplendent with direction to call on, to trust in, to abide in, to worship, to glorify, to comfort in the name of the Lord.
All things in heaven and earth point to one inescapable fact…the name of the Lord has the power to save. In Romans 10:13 ESV scriptures says, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” It is this very verse that separates us as Christians from all other faiths and reminds us of the power that is in the name of Yahweh.

King David learned this as a lowly shepherd boy and wrote continually about his deliverance from his enemies by trusting and calling on the name of the Lord. In Psalms 20:7 ESV, he wrote, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Throughout Scripture we see how God saved and restored his people when they turned from their wicked ways and called on the name of the Lord. And Jesus, the precious Son of God, whose name is above every other name, continues to instruct us through his Holy Word to trust in and to ask all things in his precious name.

So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11

What’s in a name…….in the name of Jesus...EVERYTHING!!!!!!
Speaking the name of Jesus…Boldly and in Love,
WPQ
Thought for the day:
Living in this world make bring you great acclaim,
But what really matters most is what's done in Jesus name.
So plant your tiny seed of faith in the Father's Holy sod
And your name will be remembered  for your service to your God.


Tuesday, May 12, 2015

HUMILITY PERSONIFIED

I wrote yesterday regarding humility and the lack of it in our world today….yet, it is still at the heart of service to our Lord and the very essence of who Christ was. In Philippians 2: 6-8 we read, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Being a servant is not an easy profession; and one that very few would aspire to. But, our Lord came to earth with that express mission…to humble himself and serve. From the earliest days of his ministry on earth, he served the lowly and down-trodden. He healed their infirmities, restored their sight, cured their diseases and raised their children from the dead. He even went so far as to wash the feet of His disciples when no one else would stoop so low. He, the Maker of Heaven and earth, with a towel girded about His waist, washed the dusty, dirty feet of those He loved…just to demonstrate how we are to serve. Humbly, quietly, without flash or fanfare, giving unselfishly, he lowered himself to us so that in our faith and trust, we could be raised to Him.

He, Gloriously…Magnificently…Seated on high...and we in a servant’s rightful place, next to our Master. Do we consider ourselves better than our Savior or are we just making excuses when we fail to serve? Is the example that our Savior gave us to hard to follow or are we just too proud and haughty? If we are to call ourselves Christians, then we must be Christ-like and that means…. we must be a servant!

Humble yourself to the position of “faithful servant” and see how God is exalted in your life…you’ll enjoy the view from on high, seated next to your Savior in glory.

Salt & Light Quote:

Never is a man so exalted as when he has humbled himself before the Lord…. nor can he bend so low that God will not raise him on high.

Serving my Savior…Humbled by His Grace,

WPQ


Thought for the day:

If you want to be like Jesus,
The very best place to start
Is to do for other's unselfishly
With a servant's humble heart.

Just serve the Lord with a humble heart
And in all you say and do;
When you bless others in service for Him
They will see our Lord in You! 

Monday, May 11, 2015

HUMILITY ....A LOST ART

There was a time before the “you can do anything” promoters in this world that humility was actually considered a desirable characteristic. A time before the heavyweight fighter, Muhammad Ali, proclaimed that he was the greatest and we all began to make similar claims. We were told and taught to believe that there was nothing that we could not accomplish if we just set our minds to the task before us ….and that it was okay; no, it was mandatory that we tell everyone just how great we were and how we deserve the very best of everything. That thinking has corrupted our younger generation and has left them gasping for breath as they race around in life trying to have it all.

The Bible speaks at great length to extol the virtues of humility …and it’s a word that is timely for all of us today. From the wisdom of Solomon in Proverbs 15:33, we read, “The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.” And in just the next chapter, Solomon continues to instruct us in verse 18, when he says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Haughty is a word we don’t hear very much anymore because it defames our character. When we take a closer look at what it means, words like proud, arrogant, conceited, snooty, stuck-up, overconfident and high and mighty come to mind ….and those are words that no one likes to have associated with them and their character.
No, no one wants to think of themselves as haughty or as Paul admonishes in Romans 12:3, “I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith God has assigned.”

So that brings us back to humility….how do we get it and how can we hang on to it? In James 4: 6, we read that God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble and then in verse 10, he tells us to “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

Humble ourselves before the Lord…. the Creator of the Universe, the GREAT I AM, the ALPHA and the OMEGA, the BEGINNING and the END, the Name above EVERY Name. How could we NOT humble ourselves before our Maker?

Haughty or Humble…..the choice is yours? More tomorrow on how to be humble!
Seeking to be humble…Bold for my Savior,

WPQ

Thought for the day:

Lord, make my life a guiding light
So that my neighbors might see;
May they be lead to seek your face
Because of what they’ve seen in me.


Sunday, May 10, 2015

Seeing is Believing…

There is a disciple of Jesus that often is referred to as "Doubting" Thomas…in fact, for many Christians that know the name of this disciple, they think it is a permanent part of his persona; however, nothing could be further from the truth.

In John 20: 24- 29, we find this story of our "doubting" disciple; "One of the disciples, Thomas, “The Twin,” was not there at the time with the others. When they kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord,” he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands—and put my fingers into them—and place my hand into his side.” Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them and greeting them. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger into my hands. Put your hand into my side. Don’t be faithless any longer.  Believe!"

“Thomas said, "My Lord and my God!”

 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. But blessed are those who haven’t seen me and believe anyway.”

You see, Jesus did not rebuke Thomas for his questioning spirit; rather He answered him and told him to see for himself by placing his hands in the scars and in the side of his Savior. And though Scripture never tells us that he did reach out and touch Jesus;  in that moment, all of his doubt vanished and he proclaimed his belief in the eternal one of Heaven.

Now for you and I, we too, have times when we question God and need some sort of "proof" that He is able and willing to do or be what we need at that moment…and it is our loving and sincere relationship with our Heavenly Father that allows us to seek Him and ask our questions…and He always answers, though not always according to our time table. God is not intimidated by our questions and He will not chastise us for asking. He is, however, waiting to see us grow to the point in our faith when we can believe without seeing and our doubt is never more than a fleeting thought that comes and goes quickly.

So what about this guy name Thomas… is this a bad rap for a momentary lapse of faith or a sincere desire to believe by questioning what he could not understand?

Thomas was a believer that went on to be a great servant for God as he took his faith in a Risen Savior and shared it throughout the country of India…he bore much fruit in the faith and was killed by a spear in the back. The church is there today because of this man who and his questioning spirit.

Remember, our questions are often the beginning to our journey…but the answers come more often through our experiences that build our faith and cause us to reach out and touch our world around us…we are touched by our Savior so that we may know and go where He leads…free from doubt and firmly rooted in His Word and the power of His Holy Spirit.

Touched by My Lord…Serving in Faithfulness,

WPQ

Thought for the day:

If you seek to follow Christ
But questions fill your mind;
Just trust the Father up above
For the answers in due time.

For He has called each of us
To be willing to step out;
To declare our faith and love for Him,
Forever… and without doubt.


Saturday, May 9, 2015

The Fear of the Lord…Healthy or Harmful?

In America today, we are indeed in the midst of troubling and terrifying times. In fact, there seems to be a great cloud of fear that has swept over our nation as we deal with stagnant home values and a struggling economy; ever-fluctuating stock markets and the threat of ISIS radicals bringing war and mayhem to our shores. Fear seems to have a choke hold on just about everyone… including those of us that are called Christians.

There are at least three hundred and sixty five times that the Scriptures tell us to “Fear not!” But, maybe that is easier said than done. I mean, all anyone has to do is read the headlines of the newspaper or listen to the hundreds of news reporters bombarding us with the next round of “doom and gloom”. It’s enough to make your head spin…or at least want to stick it in a deep hole; but I believe God has a better way for His children to deal with fear and to be His lights of reason in a darkly lit, fear-infested world.

President Franklin Roosevelt told our nation in another perilous time that we had nothing to fear but fear itself; but, God’s Holy word tells us in Psalm 111:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.” Did you catch that? There is only one healthy fear…the Fear of the Lord. But what does that mean exactly? Should we quake in our boots and tremble at the mere mention of His name? Not exactly!

Now, God deserves our respect, our admiration, our spirit of awe and reverence and yes, even our fear; but, our fear should make us dependent on Him… not desperate or downcast! We should acknowledge that our sovereign God made us and that we belong to him…that nothing can come against us that He will not destroy. Fear, the kind that grips, controls and manipulates our will, has no place in the life of a Christian. The apostle Paul said it best in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” Fear that is defeated in the life of a Christian is replaced by FAITH. In fact, it can be said that faith is fear…with legs.

Faith gets us up by doing…fear leaves us frozen and afraid. Faith moves us forward while looking up….fear makes us stand still and fixate on the problem. Fear may come knocking, but faith answers the door!

Now, I don’t know what fear may have arisen in your life. Maybe, you’ve recently lost your job; there’s bad news from the doctor or bills are piling up. Maybe, your marriage is on shaky ground or your house is heading into foreclosure. Whatever calamity has beset you, God Knows ….and if you’ve made it known to Him that you are placing your faith in Him for the solution to your situation….then half the battle to defeat fear has been won.

You’ve taken that first gigantic step in attaining the wisdom that God wants to grant you for your dilemma…you have acknowledged your dependency on our great, mighty and awesome God….and now, your fear will flee as you remember that faith believes in God in spite of what you see, hear or feel.

Remember, faith is not believing that God can do something….FAITH IS KNOWING THAT HE WILL…and in knowing, all fear is GONE!!!!!

I trust that today that you will allow God’s Holy Spirit to dispel and disperse any and all fear from your heart, body, mind and soul. Seek God’s wisdom for your situation, study His word, seek Godly counsel, pray earnestly, believe passionately and plan to do whatever God directs you to do. God already has His plan at work …He may just be waiting to see how large your faith is and how little your fear. Faith is the key to displacing our fear….then, the only fear that remains is our fear for our  Lord!

Living free from fear….trusting in His mighty hand,

WPQ

Thought for the day:

God told Noah to build an ark,
A project that caused great pain.
He stepped out in faith to obey His God
Without seeing the first drop of rain.


Friday, May 8, 2015

Mighty Oaks

Life is full of difficulties and for some of us; we just accept that this is the way it is. Others fight and squirm and fuss and complain that life just isn’t fair. Some others make the most of difficult situations and never let others know what they are going through nor do they ask for help. But whatever you operating style, when it comes to problems….

WE’VE ALL GOT THEM.

So today, be encouraged and if you can, be encouraging….I hope this little poem helps.

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.

W. Patrick Queen
Excerpt from "Bent…but not Broken"

For more info regarding our book, go to

www.thankfulpraiseministries.com

Thursday, May 7, 2015

WALKING HIS WAY

A few years back (or was it a decade ago), I was sitting in a conference room in Atlanta, listening to a story from our executive director of a Christian non-profit in which I was employed. He was recounting a particular time when he was in route to a special sales call during the early years of his sales career.

He was a relatively new Christian at that time and he was working hard at “walking with the Lord” through all the ups and downs of life. As we all know, it is often at times like this that the Devil finds fertile ground in which to plant a stronghold. As he recounted his story, he told of how he was traveling down the highway, in the middle of absolutely nowhere, when his car broke down. He was already running on a tight schedule to get to his next business appointment and this was the last thing he needed in what had already been a very hectic and challenging day. He told of how he got out of the car and began to walk around and around and around and around the car while he prayed. He shared that he must have walked around that car more than a hundred times….and at that moment this little thought popped into my head that I shared with the group…“Just imagine how far you could have gone if you’d have walked in a straight line.” We all came apart at the seams in laughter…including the story teller.

But that thought caused me to reflect on just that question…How far could we go if we didn't let the circumstances of life get the best of us?

Often, all it takes is some small catastrophe, setback or minor inconvenience to set us off and that causes us to pitch some type of “tizzy fit."  We begin to wring our hands and walk in circles, questioning what to do and forsaking the path that the Lord has laid before us. We have made plans to do what is required to walk with our Lord; yet, when we encounter obstacles to that walk, we too often forsake it. The writer of Proverbs tells us in chapter 16, verse 9 “that the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

So, don’t let the speed bumps of life deter you from following the path that the Lord has set before you….He has established each step and He is just waiting for you to “step out” in faith and walk the walk that He has ordained for your life.

And be assured that you will never have to walk by yourself… for God has promised to always walk beside you (Psalm 23). When you've made the commitment and have given yourself to Him, there’s ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that can befall you that can remove you from the protection of your Heavenly Father ….. And there’s no circles to walk….unless there’s a Jericho in you future…but, that’s a story for another day.

So, trust the Lord and walk in His way and you can know that He will see that everything turns out for your good and His Glory…

Walking the walk of Faith …Counting on the Promises,

WPQ


Wednesday, May 6, 2015

                                          The Vessel 

The Master was seeking a vessel to use
With so many before Him, which would He choose?
Tall ones and short ones, thin ones and stout;
Shiny and polished ….gleaming without.

“Take me” cried the gold one, “I’m sure you can see;
Of all of the vessels, the best one is me.”
“My luster is gorgeous; I outshine all the rest;
Surely, dear Master, for you gold is best!”

But, the Master passed on, spoke no word at all
To look at a vessel that was slender and tall.
The lines were so graceful, yet simple and true;
But this vessel of silver just wouldn't do.

He came to a vessel that was made out of brass.
Well made, but shallow and  polished like glass;
It was clearly quite evident that for all of its luster,
This gleaming vessel would never pass muster.

Then, He came to where a great vessel stood,
Solid, majestic… hand carved from fine wood;
“Oh, give me a try” was this vessel’s request,
But the Master knew it would not pass the test.

Then, there before the Master, it lay on the floor,
A broken clay pot of value no more;
“Oh, this is the vessel I want to make mine,
One I can mend and thus make it divine.”

“For I don’t need a vessel with pride in itself
Or one made of silver to sit on my shelf;
Nor one that is polished, nor one that is fine,
I need a vessel that I can call mine!”

So gently He lifted that vessel so broken
And with His kind words, so tenderly spoken;
He mended and cleansed that broken vessel of clay
And lovingly filled it with His Spirit that day.

Then He said to the vessel, “There’s so much to do,”
“Just pour out to others as I pour into you.”
“For though you were broken, you’re the vessel I choose”
“Now and forever … You’ll be the vessel I use.”


W. PATRICK QUEEN
JUNE 2001

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Is Your Faith Alive?

My wife and I have been watching the series, A.D. The Bible Continues, and in last night's episode, I was drawn in to the character of Stephen and the way the producers of the show saw fit to portray him.

Here was this young man, a well-learned scholar of the Jewish faith, that was asked by Peter to look after the new converts in the camp…he quickly refuted the request and told Peter that he was called to preach. He eventually made good on his desire to share God's word regarding his Savior, Jesus Christ. There, in front of the Sanhedrin, he delivered his one and only sermon. It so infuriated them that they bound him, took him out of the city and stoned him to death.

I always believed through my study of the Scriptures that Stephen was a model convert, filled with the Holy Spirit and ready to do any good work for the cause of Christ and this fledgling new faith…and I still believe that to be true. But what struck me, as I watched this portrayal, was Stephen's desire to do what he believed God had called him to do…and that was to preach the Good News…and he was not about to let anything or anyone deny him his calling.

So that got me to thinking…what about you and I when it comes to our "calling?' Are we so committed that we are always at the ready to be obedient to step out in faith and do that which is required? Are we willing to put feet on our faith and spring into action to do what God has laid upon our hearts?

James probably said it best in his book, chapter 2, verse 17: "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

So how's your faith today? Is it ready for action at a moment's notice or are you waiting for a "one of these days" moment before you step out in faith and answer God's call to be obedient in service. Good and godly intentions are meant to be lived out, not just dreamed about as we wait for the perfect time.

Today, step out in faith and be a person of action for our Lord. He has already prepared the way and He will be with you every step of the way, no matter how difficult the task or arduous the journey Show the world that your faith is not only alive and well, but is ready for action…action that turns our dreams into to God's great and mighty works.

Yes, when we do God's work in His time and in His way, He gets the glory and we get to hear those precious words…"WELL DONE, MY GOOD AND PRECIOUS CHILD."

Putting feet to my faith,

WPQ

Thought for the day:
Don’t put off until tomorrow
What you can achieve today.
Just trust the Lord in all you do
And He will guide your way.

He'll give you joy in doing,
Each task will help you see.
God's in the "doing" of great things
When He uses you and me.

WPQ   MAY 2015


www.thankfulpraisemionistries.com

Monday, May 4, 2015

R U One of the Few?

Our world is filled with special people of all sizes, shapes and talents; however, there are only a few that breathe that rarefied air of being the very best at what they do. Whether professional athlete, star performer or other person of notable acclaim…only a few can  follow the path that leads to stardom and all the trappings that go with it.

The same can be said for those of us that seek to follow Christ; firstly, in our conversion and secondly in our daily walk. Scripture tells us in Matthew 7: 13-14, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

Now let me assure you that I am not saying that you or I can place any claim on being one of the "few" by anything that we do…no amount of good works, amazing talents or concentrated effort on our part can make us a star in the kingdom of God. It is only by the grace of God and His gift of His beloved Son that we can be saved. In fact, it is God himself that leads us to that narrow gate and the Holy Spirit that can usher us through and into the realm of everlasting life.

In fact, when left to our own design, we end up following Proverbs 16:25; "There is a way (path, my translation) that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death (destruction, my translation)."

God, our Creator, knew that we would seek Him…that's why we were created…to seek holy fellowship with Him; but sin changed all that… and ever since the fall of man, we having been trying to rebuild that relationship on our own…and that my friend, ONLY LEADS TO DESTRUCTION AND ETERNAL DEATH.

Yes, you can spend your life trying to be "good enough" to get into God's perfect heaven so that you may spend eternity with Him…but that path only leads to an eternal HELL; and unfortunately, you will have plenty of company. However, the path that leads to heaven has already been walked by our Savior, Jesus Christ, who carried His cross to Calvary and there bore my sin, your sin and the sin of all mankind so that we might enter the narrow gate and be one of the "few" that will be forever with the Father.

Are you one of the few? Can you claim Jesus as your Redeemer and Friend? Are you heaven bound when your time on this earth is over? If you can't answer that question with a resounding "YES", then let's talk! I would love to introduce you to my Savior and Friend and share with you how you can become one of the few….a Child of the King!

Choosing the gate that leads home to the Father,

WPQ

Thought for the day:
I want to walk with Jesus
Every step along life's way;
But narrow is the path
That I must walk today.

So walk with me, dear Savior;
Hold me close to you each day;
So other's will know I belong to you
And join me on the way!

WPQ  May'15