Living For Eternity...A Life God Rewards!

Living in the now is hard for a lot of God’s people …what with our world’s infatuation with gathering and storing and saving for our old age. It seems that hoarding has become part of the standard thinking of the rich and the “wanna be” rich. Now, I for one can empathize with this thought process, being one of the “baby boomers” who has been suckled with the idea that if I am going to live a long and satisfying life, I better stockpile lots of “goodies’ to see me through my senior years.

But, let’s look at this from a Biblical perspective. This life is really just a dress rehearsal for the eternity that I will spend with my Heavenly Father …at home in the New Jerusalem. In fact, my entire purpose for living is to prepare me for eternity …to have me practice on earth what I will perfect in heaven. Now eternity, that’s a LOOOONNGGGG TIME according to 2 Peter 3:8 which says, “But do not overlook this one fact, Beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day." God’s calendar is different than yours and mine…I may live to be a hundred here on earth, but I’m going to spend a trillion years in eternity and that requires that I get my eye on the prize while I’m here.

Each of us was made by God…. for God. God did not put us here to make us happy, but to make us HOLY…and that’s the struggle of life. Until we get that thought at the center of our consciousness, we’re probably going to spend our time and efforts in pursuing the wrong things of this world….and those “things” lead to our destruction. Sure, we all want to be successful, fulfilled and comfortable both now and in our “retirement” years; but God is more interested in your CHARACTER than in your COMFORT.

So, where does that leave us? Do we listen attentively to the noise from the crowd that tells us to “grab all we can” since we only “go around once in life”…or do we heed the Savior’s call to “take up our cross and follow him.”

If your life is not facing some sort of difficulty, then maybe it’s time to check your Christian pulse and see if your really have a heartbeat for the Savior? Truly, it’s okay to want to be reasonably happy here on earth; to face a minimal amount of desperation or despair….but, remember, God is more interested in your growth in Christ than the size of your home or the value of your IRA. If you’re working for the Kingdom, then trust me; Opposition is near-at-hand….but that’s okay! 1 John 4:4 says, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He that is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

So start living for the eternity that God has promised you and leave behind the cares and troubles that so easily beset us….Today is the first day of the rest of your eternity ….at home with Jesus and our Father of Love.

Letting go of today…Reaching for eternity,

WPQ

Thought for Today:

God brings life’s struggles not to impair us…but to improve us;
Life’s catastrophes not to impound us…but to EMPOWER us for HIS GLORY!

Is Your Life Going Well?

Let me ask you a rather poignant question…..How’s life treating you…..Things going well, running smoothly, no problems? Are you a Christian and not being hounded on all sides? Well, could it be time to take your spiritual pulse?

What do I mean by such a preposterous question? Aren’t we all supposed to be working to have a better, smoother running, more fulfilling life? Besides, who wants trouble?

We all should….Why? Simply put…because Scripture says that’s the way it is to be. When we read 2 Timothy 2: 12 we have a better understanding of this Biblical truth,

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Since the beginning of time, it has been the mission of Satan to blind sinners and to beguile and undermine Christians…to inflict pain, suffering and discouragement to those who belong to God. He will do anything to disturb our minds, disrupt our lives and discourage our witness for our Lord and Savior. He is the one who led Lot to Sodom, instilled the anger in Joseph’s brothers so they would sell him into slavery and lead Peter, the Rock, to deny Christ three times. He even called out the Son of God and attacked Him…challenging Him to deny His Father to gain worldly fame and fortune.

In 1 Peter5: 8, we are reminded by Peter to “be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

If you are a Christian and seeking to live for the Lord in a godly and forthright way, you should be on the menu for our adversary, the devil. You will (a promise from God’s word) be pressed and stressed and messed with from all sides…that’s the way the devil likes to operate. He comes at you with all sorts of problems; some large, small, even life-changing …each designed to move your further from God’s perfect will for your life…each with the intent to separate you from the witness of God’s love in your life.

So if life has been treating you too good lately, you might want to ask yourself if you are truly living a godly life in Christ Jesus. If your life is truly making a difference in the lives of those you encounter, you can bet the devil is sniffing around to see if he smells “fresh meat”; however, if not; then, even a lion will not eat a dead, decaying corpse.

Is Jesus alive in you today…are you striving to live a life that is pleasing to Him….are you beset with trials, problems and persecutions of an earthly and heavenly nature? Then, PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!!!!!!

Remember….the way you handle the trials, tribulations, test and temptations in your life can be a great beacon that shines the light of God’s love, support and encouragement to others that are watching you. You are living in Him and He lives in you …and it should show!!!!!

Today, count your blessings …but also count your persecutions as blessings….for in each one is an opportunity to draw closer and closer to your Heavenly Father…and as you lean upon Him, you will feel your pulse race, your heart pound and your faith grow as you win the war against your adversary….and when all is said and done, the VICTORY IS IN THE LIFE WELL-LIVED IN JESUS!!!!!

Living in persecutions ….counting each a blessing,

WPQ

Poem of the Day:

Father, in Heaven, please grant me

When faced by earthly foes;

A spirit that will not tremble

And be undone by earthly woes.

Let me place my trust in Jesus

And not shrink from the battle near;

May my battle cry be sweet music

In my Savior’s tender ear.

May the victory be ours, dear Lord

As I place my will in thine;

Then all who see will acknowledge

My Savior is indeed…. DIVINE.

WPQ@2001

Whom Do you Serve?

Throughout the ages of history and across the battlefields of time, warriors have worn the colors and carried royal flags to show their allegiance to their King….forever marching behind a banner to let all men know whom they served.

During that dark era of American slavery, many slaves were known by the family brand seared into their flesh; a constant reminder of whom they served.

Even as Christians, we often seek to have some identifiable mark or trait that will let all who see us know that we serve the King of Kings; however, maybe we should take a step back to understand what Jesus knew regarding His relationship with the Father.

In fact, even the devil himself understood the tenuous relationship that Jesus had with his Heavenly Father…look at scripture; “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give to you,” he said, “if you will bow down and WORSHIP me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me Satan! For it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.” Matthew 4:8-10

Did you catch all that?

Satan did not ask Christ to serve him, but to worship him….for even Satan understands that what or whom you worship is what or whom you will serve. He promised all the kingdoms of the world to Christ (even though they were not his to give) if he would perform one simple act of worship….just bow before him….for in that bow, Christ would perform the act of submission and take the first step toward service.

Oh, but our Savior was prepared for the taunts and trickery of the deceiver…He understood as only one sent from heaven’s glorious realm that it is our worship that our Heavenly Father desires most. He commanded the devil to be gone and once more confirmed his resolve to follow what God’s word has to say regarding our worship….We are to worship and then to serve only God.

The Bible tells us that God inhabits the praise of his people. Now, I don’t know about you, but I know in my own life, I have felt closest to and desired to serve God most when I have been in an emotional and heart-felt time of worship. Whether singing, praising, praying or crying out for God’s Spirit to “have His way in my life”…it has been in these times of immersed and immense WORSHIP that God has given me a spirit of service.

Worship causes the presence of God to be felt and experienced by His people …to be drawn to a time of a closer walk and greater commitment to serve …to be still and know that He alone is God…..that is real, authentic worship.

So today, I trust you will follow your Savior’s example and put service in the correct order …don’t just seek to serve God bigger or better…covenant to worship deeper and more diligently…and when you do, the devil will flee.

Walking in Worship…Seeking to Serve,

WPQ


Poem of the Day:

You may seek to serve the Lord
In all you do and say;
But what He really wants from you
Is the start of each new day.

Just meet Him at his Heavenly throne;
Spend time in worship at His feet.
Invite the Lord to go with you
Down every busy street.

For you may seek to serve Him,
Some glorious gift to him you’ll bring;
But nothing says “I’ll serve you Lord”
Like worship of the KING!

wpq@2009

R U An Overcomer ?

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 overcomer 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

POEM OF THE DAY:

Life’s problems may weigh you down
Dark clouds may bring you rain
But when your joy is in the Lord
You’ll hardly feel the pain.

If life tests you mightily
And you think you might give in
Just place your faith in Jesus’ strength
And He’ll help you turn from sin.

He’ll under gird your actions
He’ll fortify you plan
Remember what you can’t do...
Your Heavenly Father can!

WPQ@2000

Ready to Rock This World?

If you read my post from earlier this week, you may recall that I proposed that it was time for us as a country to take a good, hard look at the sad state of affairs that we find ourselves in and do and ABOUT FACE...BUT HOW DO WE DO THAT...and will it really make any difference.

When Christ began His ministry, He took his new band of followers on a little field trip and upon seeing the multitudes that were following, He went up on a mountainside and began to speak...we know those first twelve verses of Matthew, chapter 5 to be The Beatitudes. Here, he lay down the tenants for those who would call themselves His disciples to follow...and if they would do these things, they would truly,

ROCK THE WORLD....

You see, things were just as bad then as they are now...sin was rampart and the world needed a Savior...GOOD NEWS... that Savior had come and his name was Jesus. But Jesus began to challenge his newly formed band of men to be more than those who tried to be "good enough" with righteous works and pious words; He told them to be SALT and LIGHT and to let their light shine before those that did not know God so that they would turn to the Father and glorify their Creator in Heaven.

And that same call goes out to each of us today! Obviously, the Scriptures are resplendent with other "commands" of what we should be doing, saying, living; but the in this 5th chapter, Jesus tells those first disciples how to make a difference that will rock the world of those they encounter.

Verse 21...Murder begins in the heart, so guard your heart and make peace with your adversaries.

Verse 27...Adultery's root lies in the heart, so cut off that which offends and thus escape hell fires.

Verse 31...Marriage is a sacred, binding vow that should be honored before the Lord.

Verse 33...No need to swear an oath...let your word be the true measure of who you are in the Lord.

Verse 38...Go the second mile, turn the other cheek, and give more than the Law requires you to give.

And the one that probably means the most to Jesus and is the hardest for us to do is found in verse 43...

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES....if we truly want to rock this world and start a spiritual revelation and revival we need to love our enemies, bless those that would do us harm, do good to those that hate us and pray for those who misuse, abuse and persecute us...WHY? Because as sons of God, that is what Jesus did as He lived His life, but more over as He died for each of us on the cross.

Want to make a difference in this world today that will send an eternal "ripple" across the fabric of time? Then, do as Jesus did and taught His disciples to do...

LOVE GOD AND LOVE EACH OTHER AND THUS FULFILL THE LAW AND SHOW OTHERS YOUR OBEDIENCE TO YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER...Jesus did this ...and so did His disciples. Just look at the difference they made in our world today...And if you think things are bad now, wait until the Rapture when all of us who belong to Jesus are taken from this world...then things will REALLY get bad!!!!

Until that time, let's rock this world and tell ANYONE who will listen....JESUS SAVES!!!!

CARING FOR HIS WORLD BY SHARING HIS LOVE....

WPQ

 

Poem for the day....

Jesus came to guide us,

So we could walk with Him each day;

Helping us to make a difference

By what we do and say...

He taught us to love each other;

Should be an easy thing to do

But when we let our anger out,

Our love will not come through.

So we must copy the life He lived

Our actions must ring true;

If we want others to follow Christ

Then the least that we can do....

Live as Jesus taught us to live

As His banner of love is unfurled...

Then those who are lost will be drawn to Him

As each of us will ROCK OUR WORLD!

WPQ © August 2018

About Face, America...

In the story of the Exodus of God’s chosen people, we see them forsake God and turn away from him time and time again. One of the worst examples occurs while Moses is atop Mount Sinai, receiving the Ten Commandments. The people are certain that Moses has deserted them and they petition Aaron to make them new gods to go before them.

Aaron obliges their sinful desires and when Moses returns, God delivers His verdict regarding their worship of the golden calf, “And the Lord said to Moses, I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now, therefore, let me alone that my wrath may burn hot against them that I may consume them.” Exodus 32: 9-10

I believe that we in America have reached that same position as the Israelites did in the scripture above ….and that God’s patience has reached the breaking point with us. We have been given so much; blessed beyond measure with the goodness and favor as “one nation under God”….but that time of God’s favor and blessing upon our great country is coming to an abrupt end as His anger burns hotter and hotter due to our “turning away” from Him.

My wife sent me an email yesterday that had the following poem from a 15 year-old teenager from Arizona attached. After I had finished reading it, I wept openly and begged God to forgive us for our failure to stand as a beacon of light in this dark and devil-infested world.

The America that is portrayed in this teenager’s poem is the America we have left our children…. and WE SHOULD BE ASHAMED…...I know I am!!!!! Let's once again commit to stand for the one true God in today's anti-God culture. The youth of America are still looking at us and asking, "If God doesn't matter to my Mom and Dad, why should He matter to me?"

As our children across America return to their appointed schools this week, I beg you to pray for our children, their schools, the teachers and administrators and for each of us....May we speak the name of Jesus proudly and WALK THE WALK AS WE TALK THE TALK!!!!!

God forgives when we repent….ABOUT FACE, AMERICA…before it’s forever TOO LATE!

WPQ


New School Prayer

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule;
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone, we must meditate;
God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks..
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong. 

We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns, the school's a mess..
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot;
My soul please take!

Amen

Suffering for His Sake...

This is a reprint of a former post that DEFINITELY bears repeating...

I just finished reading one of the poems from our little book, BENT…but not BROKEN! and I can hardly believe that it has been eleven years (now 21 years) since that horrendous childhood cancer wrecked our daughter Alyson’s life. We are so blessed to have a beautiful, healthy and happy teenager (I know that seems like an oxymoron). I also read another article today about a family that had lost their son in a horrible accident and I found in that headline the same question that I remembering asking when cancer threatened to take the life of our little 5-year old….WHY HER …..WHY US?

It seems that whenever life’s trials and tribulations confront us, whether we are faithful Christians or not, the first question we ask is “Why me, Lord, why me?” It’s almost like we are expecting that all the bad, terrible, horrendous outcomes in the world should somehow happen to someone else…particularly those “sinners” that are lost and without hope. I know when the cancer hit, I felt that way. But then, I remember a scripture that God lead me to in the first days of our year long ordeal; one that deals with our suffering in Philippians 1:29 that read, “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for His sake.”

I must admit, I reeaaallly struggled with this; the thought that it had been granted to me and my family that we should suffer. But, the Lord taught me daily the lesson that to believe in Him made it necessary that I be prepared to suffer for His sake….and suffer we did; but God was ever at our side. His daily provision and care kept us focused on getting beyond the pain and the suffering that we were enduring. As we watched our brave little girl battle an enemy that was determined to win, we held tightly to this one thought…. OUR GOD WAS GREATER THAN WHAT LAY BEFORE US….And our God always is……

Greater than the disease you have; greater than the bills you owe; greater than the loss of a precious loved one; greater than ANYTHING that Satan may bring against you ….for you have been granted to suffer for Christ …FOR HE SUFFERED FOR YOU!!!!! Don’t try to run and hide or dodge this time of suffering. God is at work and although the outlook may not be good…..the UPLOOK is always perfect!

So, believe in Christ today and let His love be sufficient for all the pains and suffering that you are enduring. I know that you will still ask WHY, I did; but that’s okay…..GOD KNOWS WHY….and He’s only got your VERY BEST at the heart of His heart.

I trust that you will be blessed by the poem that follows this devotion entitled …THE THORN.

Suffering together,

WPQ

Poem for the day....The Thorn

When I’m broken-down and wearied

When I’m downcast, lost, forlorn...

I try hard to remember

There’s a blessing in each thorn.

When life’s trials have upset me

Or my traveled path is worn;

I plead my Father shows me

There’s a blessing in each thorn.

When my friends have all deserted me,

I might wish I was never born.

It's times like these I wonder

Where’s the blessing in each thorn?

But my God made me this promise

From His love I can’t be torn.

For when I put my trust in Him

I find the blessing in each thorn.

So each day I’ll trust my Savior

Though life might scoff at me in scorn.

For I know that He is waiting

With a blessing for my Thorn!

W. Patrick Queen ©August 2001

A Child of the King...

In Matthew 18: 1-4, we read, “At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.”

Are you humble in your drive to be the greatest? Do you know what it means to have child-like faith in the Father and follow Jesus unconditionally? Are you headed for the kingdom of heaven? Read on and be blessed:

The following was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista, CA. He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment, to "explain God." I wonder if any of us could do as well if we were required to give our EXPLANATION OF GOD:

"One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers."

"God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off."

"God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have."

"Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren't any who come to our church."

"Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him; but he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K."

"His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important."

"You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time."

"You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God. Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong….and besides, the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway."

"If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids."

"But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases.
And that's why I believe in God."

I trust that today you won’t focus on just what God can do for you, but rather what YOU CAN DO FOR GOD…..AS A CHILD OF THE KING!

Blessed and believing,
WPQ

BROKEN and BLESSED?

If you stop one hundred strangers on the street today and ask them to describe the state of our world in one word; the word probably uttered the majority of the time would be ….BROKEN!

Yes, when we look in every direction, we see that truly mankind has made a complete and utter mess of our world…it is broken and out of sorts with our Creator's original design and purpose; however, there is hope in the midst of our dysfunctional situation and that is to be BROKEN BEFORE OUR MAKER AND ALLOW HIM TO REBUILD US AS HE SEE FITS.

There is a current TV commercial that illustrates my thought. It deals with a little boy that is out with his Dad and sister and he is putting his remote controlled race car through its paces when the back wheels fall off. He is heartbroken and ask his Dad if he can fix it? One look at his Subaru, he says yes and climbs behind the steering wheel, and with the broken car on the seat, he goes in whichever direction his son turns the controls. If we look closely at this situation, it is where many of us find ourselves in life…we have the controls and we are steering our life in all directions, when something, someone or so circumstance breaks us and our spirit…we want to know if our Heavenly Father can fix us?

It is when we surrender that He takes the controls from our hands, puts us behind the wheel and then guides us to steer as He directs. We just have to stay focused on the path that He has put before us and remain committed to follow whereever He leads.

You see, brokenness in and of itself is not a bad thing. In fact, it is a vital part of the fabric of our lives. The ground must be broken to plant the seed in order to reap the harvest. The clouds must be broken so that the rain will fall and water the crops. The very seed itself must be broken and die to itself so that new life may be born and a harvest of good may be produced.

And you dear Christian brother or sister, you too must be broken if you are to serve your Heavenly Father and allow Jesus to live in and through you. God's greatest desire is that we follow Him in all that we do and He is prepared to do whatever is necessary to make us fit for service in His kingdom…even if that means we must be broken.

King David, a man that had to experience extreme brokenness to regain his relationship with God, said it best; "The sacrifices to God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart--these, O God, you will not despise." Psalm 51:17 

Where do you stand today in this broken world…in service to your King or still holding on to your wants and desires? Give Jesus your broken and contrite heart today and make this world a better place because you are here in His name, under His power and working by His authority….be broken today; it's the first step on the path to BLESSING.

Broken and Poured Out ….Seeking to Serve,

WPQ

Poem of the day….

If for the Father you want to live

There are some things that you must do…

Give you heart as a broken gift

So Christ can live through you.

Just seek to surrender a willing heart
And to go where he will lead....
For when you commit to follow Him,
He'll meet your every need.

A contrite heart, He will love.

A broken spirit, He will mend.

He is your Loving Father and

Your everlasting Friend.

WPQ@August 2014

SEEKING HIM?

SEEKING HIM?

There is a story of a woman who lost her husband of many years very suddenly. She was extremely distraught and very lonely, so at the advice of some friends, she decided to get a pet. She went to the pet store, looked them all over and finally decided to take home a talking parrot. She was sure that a conversing bird would be just the right fix for her loneliness; but after a week, the bird had not spoken, so she went back to the pet store.

The clerk informed her that she needed a ladder for the bird to climb upon and if he had a ladder, he would begin to talk. She bought the ladder, returned home and placed it in the cage. Another week went by with still not a peep from the bird, so she went back to the store. Seems that the clerk failed to mention that she needed to place a mirror at one end of the ladder so the bird would see himself, be content and then, begin to speak. She purchased the mirror and home she went. After another week of silence, she returned to the store, visibly upset that the bird that she bought for companionship was still not talking. The clerk asked if she have a swing in the cage upon which the bird could perch. Her response was an emphatic, NO! He assured her that if she bought the swing and placed it in the cage, the bird would talk and talk and talk. She bought the swing…..

But, the bird did not talk; rather, IT DIED!!!! So, she gathered the cage and her dead bird and stormed back to the pet store. She told the clerk that she had done everything and bought everything that he had suggested, yet the bird would not talk and now, it was dead. The clerk asked her if the bird ever said anything during the month plus that she owned it. …Her reply, “Well, right before he died, he said, “Don’t they have any food down at that pet store?”

You see, the woman missed the obvious. She was so busy trying to make the bird happy so it would talk that she failed to give it one of the things it needed most to survive...
You and I are a lot like that woman in our daily walk with the Lord. We are so busy trying to “do” for the Lord in service and activity that we miss one of the most essential reasons that we are alive ….our fellowship with the Father.

From the onset of creation, God has been about the union and fellowship that He desires with His creation. In Genesis, chapter 3, verse 8, we read, “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the evening, and the man and woman hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God in the trees of the garden.” 

Now God was not out walking for the exercise; He was seeking to spend some quality time with His creation, but their sin had broken that fellowship and they hid themselves from Him. All that God had in store for them was undone in that act of disobedience.

The same is true for us today. God has so much He wants to give us, so much that He wants to accomplish through us; but that bond…that fellowship must remain unbroken if we are to truly live for Jesus. Christ said it best when He said, “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.”
God wants to give you His best! He wants to know you intimately and for you to know His heart and mind. But, if your focus is on reputation rather than relationship, on activity rather than an aspiration to belong to Him, on situations rather than substance….then, just like our widow in the story above, YOU WILL MISS THE OBVIOUS…..

You were made by God….for God …to serve God …to worship God, and most of all, to belong to God in a close relationship that is found in His Son, Jesus Christ. I trust you are seeking His face today…I know He is looking for you.

Seeking the Father….Moment by Moment,

WPQ

Poem for the day...

Running through the world each day

As we scurry from place to place;

Trying to do a million things

As we seek to win life's race.

But we were never meant to run

Apart and on our own...

For we were meant to start each day

With time spent before His throne.

For when we kneel before our God

To spend time with our Father there;

Then we can know without a doubt

That He goes with us EVERYWHERE...

For He has chosen each of us

To be a rare and priceless gem...

And we will know our greatest joy

Is spent will seeking Him!

WPQ © August 2018

Understanding the Sovereignty of God

Life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns and ins and outs…well, you get the picture….and for that reason alone, each of us often struggle to understand what it all means…who is in control and what is my responsibility as I struggle to take charge in my own life.

We are constantly bombarded with problems, trials, troubles and an occasionally, a happy moment….at least that’s the way if often seems to us as we make our way through life. When we look around at the path that our life has taken, we tried to correct our course, pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and get back in the game. After all, that is at the very least our responsibility …to use our free will to decide to make things better for us and for the ones we love. But, sometimes, when we look at our circumstances, we realize that we can do nothing but accept our situation and trust in the sovereignty of God.

Ah, the sovereignty of God….now, there’s a concept that even the brightest, most intellectual minds of the ages have wrestled with …always to no avail. In fact, scripture tells us that we can not understand the mind of God and in Romans 11:33 we read, “Oh, the depth of the riches of both wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out.”

The following is a rewrite of a devotional from Dr. David Jeremiah that I think gives great insight into this topic of God’s sovereignty….

The great minds of history have always struggled to understand the issue of the sovereignty of God versus the free will of mankind. Some day in eternity we may discover how the track of God’s sovereignty and the track of our responsibility finally come together. But the way we should look at this is really very simple….Let God take care of His sovereignty and let us take care of our responsibility. God’s sovereignty explains things that humans cannot possible fathom.

The sovereignty of God in our lives, at least from our perspective, is like looking at a weaving of a tapestry from the wrong side. We see all the various threads and knots and strands sticking out and can’t begin to even imagine the finished picture. We see it from the back side because we do not have God’s perspective…but someday, in eternity, God will take that patchwork that we have looked at and failed to understand and He will turn it around….then, we will see the beautiful tapestry that has been woven out of our lives. At last, we will see what God has seen all along.

Yes, you and I can spend our entire life trying to figure out why God does this or why He did that or what is He going to do next…or we can rest in the knowledge that GOD IS SOVEREIGN AND HE IS IN CONTROL!!!! We can make ourselves sick with worry over how something is going to turn out or we can trust that God always knows what is best for us and that He is at work to accomplish His plan. I have always held firm to the belief that when you can not see the hand of God at work…you can ALWAYS trust His heart.

So, if you are searching for security in this ever-changing, diabolical world, then rest secure in this truth…. GOD KNOWS BEST AND HE NEVER FAILS TO TAKE CARE OF HIS OWN. He will not fail you and there is nothing that can snatch you from His hand…..on that you can build your fortress.

Trusting in my Heavenly Father…for He knows Best,

WPQ

Poem for the day:

God is at work today

As He weaves your tapestry;

So honor Him in all you do

And trust His sovereignty.

WPQ@2009

GOD KNOWS BEST....

When  I was growing up, one of my favorite TV shows centered around a family of five plus their dog...A father, mother, eldest teenage daughter, middle child son and the baby of the family who was loving called "Kitten" by her father. Do you know the name of this show?

You're right...it was Father Knows Best! Each week the family via the children, the mother or the dog would come home with a problem that seemed to confound everyone, except dear ole Dad. Yes, in fact, they even called him Father; a deep and sincere way to show their love and appreciation for the man that would make all things better.

And for a lot of us that call on God as our Heavenly Father, we see Him in much the same light. He is there to make all things right in our life so we can move on without being hindered by our problems or setbacks. But what if we took God at His word in Jeremiah 29: 11-13 which reads,

 ^"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

You see God had a plan for your life...for my life...for the life of your spouse, your children, your neighbor, the guys at the parts store or at the supermarket.  Yes, for everyone God has a plan; however, the first step in that plan is to surrender to Him....to call on Him, pray to Him for our salvation and to know that He is listening for that prayer. That prayer is the connection that brings us into a "right" relationship with a righteous and holy God. Without that prayer, there is no connection!!!!

It is only when we seek out the Lord and find Him waiting with open arms that we can begin to experience the plans of good and for prosperity  that He has in store for us. The one simple plan that God has for each of us is this.....

BE LIKE HIS FIRST BORN SON....JESUS! When we strive to live like Jesus, we will begin to experience the plans that God has for our lives...and as we seek His face and surrender our will to His, we will know what God knows....for GOD KNOWS BEST!!!

Yes, God knows what is BEST for us and we too can come to know that when we seek Him with all our heart. So, don't let your problems confound and frustrate you; if God truly knows best, these problems are not meant to have you turn from Him...rather they come to have you TURN TOWARD HIM so that you might come to trust Him more as He molds you into the YOU that He wants you to be.

Do you truly believe that God Knows Best...or do you see yourself as an adviser who is chirping in God's ear telling Him what you think would be BEST in this situation? I'm sure of this....if God needs your advice, He is more than capable to ask you...but since He is the one that TRULY knows best, I can't see that happening. Rather than asking God to fix what's wrong, why not say,

Heavenly Father, my life seems to be topsy-turvy and in a real mess, but I know you love me and have plans for my life to prosper and for me to be more like Jesus every day. So, I trust you to do what only you can do to make my life turn out for my good and your glory...because

YOU KNOW BEST!!!!!

Living for the best....Prospering for Jesus,

WPQ

Poem for the day.....

When your life is rough and rocky

And you don't seem to understand...

Remember to put you trust in Him

For the Father has a plan.

He plans to see you prosper;

For all things to turn out good...

If you will only seek Him

And live life the way you should.

When you pray to the Father

Your heart broken and contrite...

And you seek to know Him better

Morning, noon and night.

The Father has planned good for you

Each day you will be blest....

And forever you will reign with Him

For He truly know what's best!!!!!

WPQ © August 2018

Taste and See....

Now I don't know about you, but have you after tasted something for the very first time and became immediately addicted to the taste of it....well, it happened to me some decades ago when I tasted ice cream for the very first time. Since that fateful day, I have ALWAYS had a insatiable craving for ice cream. In fact, it is the one aisle in the grocery store that my wife has forbidden me to visit alone. Otherwise, I come home with a half dozen or so varieties of ice cream and ice cream treats that keep my waistline bulging and my blood sugar count in the stratosphere.

And that's the way it is with sin (not that eating a bowl of vanilla ice cream is a sin)...Sin, whatever it is, teases you with a taste and before you know if, you are hooked. Yes, our adversary, the devil, knows exactly what he is doing...that's how he got his hooks into Eve. He tempted her with how good the apple looked, but he hooked her when she took the first bite.

Isn't that the way it always is...you didn't intend to become an alcoholic, but when your high school friends teased you about being a chicken if you didn't take a drink, you did! And then one sip led to a whole bottle of beer which lead to a fifth of whatever was the cheapest at the ABC store ...and before you knew it that one sip had sealed your fate as an alcoholic. Or remember that first "joint" you were offered in college that lead to some wild trips, being spaced out on some exotic drug...now years later, you know you never reached your full potential because you were always "high".

I could go on and on with the "tastes" we have all taken that have led us away from serving and following Jesus as we strive to make a difference in this world. But this I know, you can't beat the taste of sin until you turn away from it...much like I do when I avoid the frozen food aisles where they place the ice cream in full display. It is only then, once you commit to look forward from your addiction,  that you can taste something better.

Psalm 34, verse 8 has the taste we should be looking for as it reads, "Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him."  Yes, once we have tasted the joy that is found in our great and mighty God, we can replace the awful taste that sin has left behind and we can come to know the sweet joy that belongs to each of us who profess to love the Lord.

So what taste of sin is holding you back from tasting all the goodness that the Lord is waiting to provide? Turn and flee from sin and then, take refuge in the mighty arms of a loving God who only has your best interest at the center of His heart.  He is waiting for you to decide that the taste of His joy is FAR GREATER than the taste of any sin...but you will never know the great joy He gives until you take that first taste....only then can you become addicted to a righteous and holy God who loves you so much that He was willing to die for you so that you could once again belong to Him for all eternity...now that's got to taste pretty sweet!!!!

Tasting the joy that is Jesus...Living for His gain,

WPQ

Poem for the day....

We go about our daily lives

Giving in to the taste of sin...

Which leaves us lost, without hope

When our world comes crashing in.

But God has set a better plan

One we each should follow

If we want to live a life fulfilled

Instead of one that's hollow.

Yes we should turn away from sin

To follow in crucifixion...

And let the Lord takeover

Our prone to sin addiction.

 If  we want to know the sweetest taste

The taste that forever brings....

 Joy and peace and everlasting love

Is found when we serve our KING!!!!

Oh, Taste and see that the Lord...HE IS GOOD!!!!

WPQ©August 2018

Measure What You Say…God's Listening!

It wasn't that long ago that my wife was in the clubhouse that houses her real estate office in the community in which she sells. One of the residents in the community had passed away a few days before and after his funeral, the family was being fed and cared for in the clubhouse. Many friends and family were milling around, sharing their sorrow over the loss of this loved one; but one gentlemen's voice rose above all others…not just because of the volume, but also because of the vulgar expletives that were peppered throughout each sentence.

I am continually amazed by the speech I hear this days, particularly in public places. In the days of my youth, if you hit your thumb with a sledge hammer, a curse word just might leak out of the pain…but it was a short outburst, typically followed by a round of apologies to all those within earshot.

In our society today, it seems that anything is permissible, even if there are women and children present…and too often, the women are just as involved in this abhorrent language as the men.

Our speech has become all too casual and unencumbered by the dictates of social constraints…and it seems that such a mindset has also invaded our prayers. We used to bow and pray in humbleness and reverence, but because we have been led to believe that God is just a good, old grandpa; ever waiting to dole out our next request, we have become careless and indifferent in our manners and in our prayers.

The wise King Solomon warned us, "Do not be quick with your words, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God." Ecclesiastes 5:2  Even Jesus rebuked the religious hypocrites of his age for their many words uttered to impress God with their religiosity….it has never been about how many words you utter that captures the attention and the ear of God; it is the contrite heart that is being laid open and bare before the throne that draws a merciful God near to those that He loves.

In Hebrews 4:16, God encourages us to come before His throne with boldness and confidence, but never in carelessness. Our words are incredible instruments when laid before a righteous and holy God. Maybe we would all do well to remember this when we enter our "prayer closet"….

SURELY GOD HAS MORE IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND DIRECTION TO SHARE WITH US THAN WE HAVE TO SHARE WITH HIM…Yes, God cares about your needs and even your desires, but He also wants us to listen to His desires that will draw us into the center of His will…both are extremely important to anyone who loves the Lord and wants to be a good and faithful servant.

So, today, WHEN you pray, remember this simple statement by John Bunyan…

When you pray, rather let your heart be without words than your words be without heart!

Reverently listening more… obediently speaking less,

WPQ

Poem for the day....

As we live each day we must be careful

When we open our mouths and speak....

The words that we may utter

Will not make us seem petty and weak.

It is hard to believe that our tongue

Can be our ruling Master;

But it's the words we often utter

That can lead us to disaster.

How can it be the same mouth that speaks

Never ending praises to the Lamb;

Can spew forth such sordid speech

When faced with a precarious  jam?

Yes, it is only by the grace of God

And  a heart set on purity....

That shows the world how to live a life

Without a mouth filled with vulgarities.

WPQ © August 2018

Running the Good Race...Winning Life's Prize!

This is a reprint of a former blog from August 2008....

My wife and I just finished our study of Philippians and I was once again reminded of “running the good race” In fact, watching the Olympics this last week has definitely reinforced that concept.

Now I, for one, am a great admirer of the young talented sprinters that compete to see who can cross the finish line in the shortest amount of time. As a young child and even into my adult years, I was always considered to be pretty fast for a “white guy with short legs.”….so I love to watch the track portion of the games. In using my keen eye of observation and listening to the commentators, I realized there are three major parts to a race….getting out of the blocks,(the start), running hard through the straight-aways (the middle) and exploding with the “kick” at the finish (the end).

Paul tells us in Philippians 3:13-14, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it on my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” It is clear in these few short lines that Paul has set the tone for the race that he calls life.

And……The race begins anew each day…..

Getting out of the blocks is so important for that sets the tone for the rest of the race. For us as Christians that begins by starting the day by communicating with our Heavenly Father…we talk to Him and He, through His ordained word, talks to us. If you want to begin to run the race that presses on to the high calling that God has set before you…you’ve got to get off to a great start each day. Start your daily walk with a time of fellowship with Jesus and you will be out of the blocks with great speed, stamina and serenity.

The next portion of the race is where many falter….Running hard through the straight-aways. Its here, in the trenches, where our enemy lulls us in to thinking we can meet all the demands of home, work, church and life in general on our own. We can and should take care of our problems and only bother God when we can’t seem to handle the matter by ourselves. This kind of thinking will slow you down and cause you to lose valuable time and energy in the race to claim the prize that God has laid before each of us. God wants to be intimately involved in your life, but He will not intrude. Invite him in by talking with Him about all the hopes, dreams, mistakes, failures and everything else that affects your desire to remain close and to follow His leading in you daily activities. He is with you in all things and is cheering you on as you make the turn toward home.

And last, but surely not least is that “Exploding Kick” ….an all out sprint for the finish line and the opportunity to stand on that podium and receive you prize…for an Olympian, a gold medal….for a child of The KING…YOUR CROWN. But that winner’s podium is reserved for those that finish well. Paul says it best when he tells us to “strain forward”, to lean into the finish line of what God has set before you. Too many Christians become complacent with their past accomplishments or too saddened by past failures and they quit …..just short of God’s finish line for their life. Run to the end of the race.

Don’t let your past dictate the outcome of your race ….Run the good race and finish strong for the Lord. Others are watching and many will copy what you do ….so run hard, stay the course and strain for the prize; then you can stand proudly on the podium and hear the cheers of the heavenly throng as you receive your crown and give honor and glory and praise to Him that sits on the throne…the Author and Finisher of our Faith.

Running to win the prize,
WPQ