JUST LIKE ME...THEN THE WORLD WOULD BE.....

I don’t know about you, but I often get the hankering for the world to be a better place; in fact, A PERFECT PLACE. I have given this a considerable amount of thought and have come to the conclusion that this could best be accomplished if every one was just like me.

Now, I am not always right, but I am seldom wrong. I always have the best intentions, although, things don’t always turn out the way I intended. I am generous to a fault as long as the sacrifice doesn’t hit to close to home….and I have been known to pay others a sincere compliment with no thought of what’s in it for me. That’s about as close to perfect as it gets….RIGHT?

I’m sure that by now, you know that all this is tongue-in-cheek….but isn’t it interesting to note that there are those who think, act and live as if this scenario above would make the world a perfect place. There is no hope that this will happen, yet many are living a life of strife and turmoil because they have not come to that conclusion….for those living in despair and hopelessness because the world will NOT conform to your ways, this poem is for you….

A PERFECT PLACE

Oh, how I wish the world to be

A perfect place for you and me.

A world where all is total bliss

‘Cause nothing ever is amiss.

For this to happen, we must all agree

Everyone has to be just like me.

Then I would control what you wear

How you style and cut your hair;

What you eat and what you bake

And how you treat a stomach ache.

All debates would quickly end

And everyone would be my friend.

I’d gladly mandate your movie picks

And give you advice on your politics.

No loud music with boisterous beat,

No double parking on one-way streets.

I’d pick the songs that you could hum 

And even choose your bubble gum.

All this I’d do and all for free

So everyone would be like me.

At church we’d sing my favorite songs

The pastor would preach on my favorite wrongs.

We’d start the service right on time

And I could leave and not spend a dime.

Yes, church would be the perfect dream

 And I get back home to cheer my team.

Yes, all would share my point of view

And nothing would ever seem askew.

There’s not a problem that I can see

If everyone were just like me …..

Just one small thing that dwells within

My ugly faults….God calls them sin.

So what’s a perfect world to do

When I’m a sinner and you are too;

To make this world what is should be

No one should ever be just like me.

A higher standard we must find

If we’re to be pure in heart and mind.

God’s plan is clear for us to know

He sent His Son, His love to show.

If we trust in Jesus, then we’ll see

Our sins were borne at Calvary;

With His perfect life He did atone

And now He reigns on heaven’s throne.

A perfect place one day we’ll see;

He’s coming back for you and me.

How sweet the song on that day we’ll sing

In praise and honor for our King;

Then you and I will know true bliss

Upon our cheek, our Savior’s kiss;

For there in glory, we shall see His face

At last…at home…in His Perfect Place.

W. PATRICK QUEEN

Copyright August 2008

Regarding Your Marriage…Done God's Way!

Today, I would like to speak to the husbands out there….regarding your marriage.

 Now, speaking from experience let me say that my wife, Terri, and I have a wonderful marriage. I mean, after all, she is married to a pretty incredible guy….at least that’s what I keep telling her. But what works best in our marriage is the fact that Terri is an Ephesians wife, based on the scripture from Ephesians 5: 22-24. She has given herself to me in submission as an act of obedience to the Father….and I;  I am committed to her as a husband that is to love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. In is no small wonder that so many marriages seem to be facing rocky roads in these difficult and terrifying days. We don’t read the scriptures like we should and when we do; we fail to follow their godly instructions.

In Ephesians, Paul first admonishes the wife to submit herself to her husband, “For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.”  He then goes on in the very next verses to say, “Husbands love your wives as Christ love the church and gave himself for her.”  And in verse 28-29, “In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.”

It is easy to see why Paul put the verses about a submissive wife first….she that is submissive is easier to love….but he never said that if she is not submissive this would in someway relieve the husband from his mandate to love his wife as he loves himself. If she submits, she is following biblical teaching, but if she does not, you’re to do what Christ would do for His church….love her UNCONDITIONALLY.

That’s a word that strikes fear into the heart of most men…unconditionally, without reservations. My love for Terri is not to be based on what she does for me …but rather, who she is….MY WIFE. And I am to love her, cherish her, protect her, empower her, admonish her, extol her, comfort her and be willing to give myself in any manner simply because she is my gift, my blessing from God.

Do you love your wife unconditionally and are you treating her in a way that shows how much you value her as your life-long mate? I hope that you’re not in the same boat as the examples that follow. Enjoy the levity that these provide, but if, by some remote chance, you find your self identifying with one of the husbands in these capulets…..IT’S TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE….love your wife with all your heart, body, mind and soul….YOU’LL BOTH BE GLAD YOU DID!!!

Blessed with the Best,

WPQ

A Marriage Seminar

While attending a marriage seminar dealing with communication, Tom and his wife Grace listened to the instructor regarding how essential it was in a good relationship for each partner to know the others likes and dislikes. The instructor asked Tom, “Can you name your wife’s favorite flower? Tom leaned over, touched his wife’s arm and gently whispered, “It’s Pillsbury, isn’t it?”

Family Ties

A couple drove down a long country road without saying a word. An earlier argument had lead to this deadly silence, neither party willing to concede their pronounced position. As they passed a barnyard filled with mules, goats and pigs, the husband quipped sarcastically, “Relatives of yours?” Came the wife’s quick reply, “Yep, in-laws!”

Remember ….God may have created man before woman, but there’s always a rough draft before the masterpiece.

 SO, husbands..... Treat your wife as the masterpiece God created her to be and you both will be better for it…

Rules, guidelines, instruction, even commandments for living the abundant life are found throughout God’s Holy word….here are a few of mine that I have labeled,

SIGNPOSTS FOR SUCCESSFUL LIVING

Pray often and without ceasing …the repetitious child always has his father’s ear.

Go to bed at a reasonable time…with thanksgiving on your mind and praise on your lips.

Get up on time…ready to spend time with your Father and start your day unrushed.

Do all that you can ….don’t do all that can be done; delegate to others…that’s how they learn.

More is good, but less is better. Simplify and unclutter your life …joy is in the simple things.

Don’t fret the small stuff, it will soon get bigger and then you can worry if you must.

DON’T WORRY, rather trust God in everything…He’s in control. Worry is the Devil’s tool.

Live within your means and always be ready to bless others with your material wealth…God loves a cheerful giver.

If you must criticize or find fault in others, use the K.I. S. S. theory…Keep It Short & SWEET.

Eat what makes you happy …when you look in the mirror, you’ll have no one to blame but YOU.

Every day, take time to be alone with yourself….and with your Heavenly Father.

Make friends… but always seek out those Godly friends that stick closer than a brother.

Laugh and laugh often ….God’s greatest release from the cares of this world is in our ability to laugh in the face of adversity.

Laugh some more…especially at yourself. Take your strengths at face value and your weaknesses will be diminished.

Develop a forgiving spirit ….most people you encounter in life are doing the best they can.

Be kind and loving to unkind people…they’re the ones that need loving the most.

And most of all, remember…..God did not appoint you general manager of the universe….if He needs your help in running the world, HE’LL ASK (But, I wouldn’t hold my breath!)

Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life and have it more ABUNDANTLY.”  John 10:10

Living Abundantly,

WPQ

Turning Blue…Changing the World!

If you read my devotional thoughts yesterday, you’ll remember I was lamenting about my plumbing problems but thankful for the insight that God had provided. Well, there’s even more instruction that lay before me in this saga of the leaky toilet.

After the plumber had replaced the inner workings of the toilet, he went underneath the house to check for possible leaks, but not before he had placed me in charge of checking out the toilet and tank for a tight fight of seals and all that technical plumber stuff. He handed me a pack of tiny blue crystals that I was to drop into the water in the tank. If the new float and seal worked properly, the water in the tank would be blue while the toilet water remained crystal clear.

It was dropping the crystals into the water that opened my eyes to God’s timely instruction. The crystals were about the size of a pinhead; the total amount less than the size of dime. I poured a portion of the package in one side of the tank and the remainder in the other. What happened next was to be expected, but I found myself watching in awe. Slowly….ever so slowly, the water began to change to a deep cobalt blue, almost like each individual water molecule was being surrounded by the dye and then, magically reborn a new, brighter, better water molecule. I thought (as I continued to watch this physic-bound phenomenon) this is the way God’s love works …. He gives himself to us and when we take Him in, He changes us to be like Him…and as we come in contact with others, they too will be changed. It took a few minutes, but as I stared in amazement, God laid upon my heart this thought…..Be a Life Changer for Me.

God wants each of us to touch those who are hurting, down cast, broken and with out hope …to touch them with the love and grace that comes from knowing Jesus personally …from being changed from the old, sinful nature to a new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, HE IS A NEW CREATION. Old things have passed away, behold, ALL THINGS ARE NEW.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Slowly that entire thought took hold of me ….pouring over me like a rushing waterfall on a hot summer’s day….God doesn’t expect me to be a World Changer but a Life Changer. Just as each tiny crystal dissolved and influenced those molecules that it came in contact with, God has given me the same mandate….change those with whom you come in contact…ONE AT A TIME.

If we show His love, His grace, His mercy, His peace to each person that God brings into our world; then, slowly…ever so slowly, just like the blue water in my toilet tank, each life will be changed and God will be glorified ….and you and I will have done what God intended for us to do …CHANGE OUR WORLD!!!!

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do people light a candle and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light so shine before men so that they may see you good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16

Anchored to the ROCK….changing with the Times,

WPQ

Working for the Lord…He's Watching!

When reading through some previously published blogs a few days ago, I came across one that certainly bears repeating...especially in light of  our society and the way many people work at their vocations these days...I pray that you are one of those who is working for the Lord!!!

I had the unfortunate opportunity to meet with a plumber the other day…not that he wasn’t a great guy, because he was. Unfortunate, because when it comes to plumbing problems, my luck is absolutely terrible. No matter how small the problem seems, it is always takes on a grander scale and is much more involved than first impression.

The other day was no different. We started out trying to take care of a small leak in the downstairs bath, but no leak could be found, even after a quick trip under the house to check for any leaks there. Since all seemed well, we decided to change out the inner workings of the toilet. That seemed to go flawlessly, so we headed upstairs to do the same. One quick check back under the house though revealed a problem. A pipe that came from the upstairs bathroom was leaking ever so slightly until we pushed against it; then, the flood came pouring down. That’s when the real work began…..as my new found friend, the plumber, did his best to locate the pipe in the wall, I tried to keep a cheery thought that all would be well. Two days later, with a hole in the garage wall, it is …but not before God taught me a valuable lesson.

You see, what we discovered was a crack in the main discharge line from the upstairs facility…a crack that had been there since the house was built, some ten years ago. The construction crew, it would seem, pushed against the pipe during their build out, cracked it and then decided to try to repair the damage rather than replace it. The repair did not work and the leak had been hidden inside the garage wall for the last ten years…out of sight, but not without the consequences a leak will produce.

In 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul admonishes his young protégé with these words, “Study and be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.”

In other words, be a worker for God who is prepared and who takes pride in what you do… whether it’s butcher or baker or candlestick maker. Just because the work you do may not be seen or may not be viewed as valuable….DON’T DO LESS THAN YOUR BEST!!! God is watching and He expects each of us to give Him our best in everything we do. So, do it right the first time as a sweet gift to the Lord…but, if you mess up, don’t leave your mess for someone else to discover and then have to clean up. Remember, you can only hide faulty workmanship for so long. In the end, it will be revealed.

Make Colossians 3: 23-24 your motto when it comes to the work area of your life, “Whatever you do, work heartily, AS FOR THE LORD and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.”

Remember… one day, your work will be judged before the bema seat of Christ…until then, He's watching!

WORK HARD … STUDY HARD…. GOD’S REWARD IS WORTH IT ALL!!!

GOD’S WORK IN PROGRESS,

WPQ

God's Favor…Your Fervor!

When's the last time you stopped and took a good look at your life? Are things going about as well as you expected? Is your life as joyous and enthusiastic as it was when you first asked Jesus to come into your heart and create a new life within you?

If not, then in may be that you've lost your FERVOR for God and thus, He is holding back His FAVOR!

Now, many theologians would probably debate me on this issue, but let's take a closer examination and see what the Scriptures might have to say on such an important matter. First, let me make sure that you understand my premise…You can't be good enough to win God's favor (the outpouring of His blessings on your life) any more than you can earn your salvation…God doesn't play that game!

He does say, however, in Proverbs 12:2,"A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of evil devices he condemns." And paraphrasing "good" or "righteous" would allow us to use the word, FERVENT…which means stretching or straining…as Paul says in Philippians 3:14, "I press (strain) for the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

When we have lost our fervor for God, we have placed him in the passenger seat of our life and we have taken over the controls. We no longer strain to be the believer that He has called us to be and it shows in all the areas of our lives. How can God be expected to open up the storehouse of Heaven and shower us with His favor when we have not given Him the proper place in our lives?

If we have lost our enthusiasm for spending time in His Word; become complacent in our prayer life; lost our zeal for sharing the Good News and no longer run after Him with ardent fervor in our hearts; why should we expect our Creator to be more than casually concerned about us and our desire to see an outpouring of His favor on us and our activities?

In Revelation 3:16, we read, "So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." What does that mean in context of the favor of God?

Simply put… if you are not fervently seeking the Lord in worship and in service for Him, He can hardly be expected to release His favor on you…so if you are a born again believer these days and are not seeing or experiencing the FAVOR of God in your life, you might want to take your temperature…hot or cold or just lukewarm?

God is waiting and willing to help you regain that fervor that has you straining for the goal of becoming a "sold out" convert for Christ…commissioned and battlefield ready to be all that God wants you to be in the war against our foe…and when you are back in the trenches, you will see the FAVOR of God poured out on you like never before. So, don't delay one more day, fervently seek the face of God and see if He is not willing to shine down His abundant favor on you.

Fervently Following My Commander, Jesus Christ….

WPQ 

When Bad Things Happen…

The following blog was written several years ago, but its message still rings true today!

“Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal” is a quote from the #1 best seller on the New York Times Bestseller List, entitled, THE SHACK, by William P. Young. Several weeks ago, I came in contact with a woman that was reading this book as she sat in the waiting room at our dentist’s office. She began to share with me the story line of this fictional novel and I must confess it piqued my interest. So, while shopping at Sam’s, I picked the book up and once I began to read it, I could not put it down until I had finished it. It was truly captivating in its subject matter; in fact, the byline after the title is …..WHERE TRAGEDY MEETS ETERNITY. …and that my friend is something we all struggle with…trying to understand why bad things happen to God’s people.

This book, though a fictional account of a tragic murder of a young girl and her father’s anguish in dealing with this great loss, will stir every heart string and touch you in the deep crevasses of your soul. You will be moved to examine your heart and the heart of your relationship with your Heavenly Father…and as you do, you will once again be reminded of the Father’s love for you.

Who, in this great big world, has not been touched by some seemingly senseless tragedy and not ask God….WHY? This book and its story line make a valiant effort to help us understand the heart of God and the work of the Godhead in our lives when we face insurmountable sorrow. Each page seems to offer hope and encouragement that we are not alone in our grief….rather the Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit are there to walk with us through the darkest valleys and to love us in the midst of unspeakable horror.

Though this is a work of fiction, the author is solid in his portrayal of a loving God who DOES NOT DO EVIL, BUT WILL USE EVIL FOR HIS (and our) GOOD. Here is a quote from someone who was been unmistakably touched by this little book:

“THE SHACK” is a one of a kind invitation to journey to the heart of God. Through my tears and cheers, I have been transformed by the tender mercy with which Wm. P. Young opened the veil that too often separated me from God and from myself. With every page, the complicated do’s and don’ts that distort a relationship into a religion were washed away as I understood the Father, Son and Spirit for the first time in my life.”

Patrick M. Roddy, Emmy Award winning producer for ABC News

The accolades go on and on; but let me say from one who loves to write and adores the written word, this book will have a profound effect on your outlook as well as helping you to trust your UPLOOK…..God is in control ….even if you can’t see His hand at work, trust that He cares for you. You may never understand why bad things happen in this world of sin and strife, but you can always know that God is with you and is working EVERYTHING OUT FOR YOUR GOOD…..HE LOVES YOU AND ME THAT MUCH!!!!!

If you can ….get this book, read it and pass it on. Someone you know needs to know that the God we love and serve is hurting with them. He is waiting to help them to deal with the pain, the grief and the sorrow if they will only do what the Scriptures say…. “Cast all your care s on Him, for He cares for you.” 2 Peter 5:7

Healed by the infinite love of the Father,

WPQ