MOVE OUT …

Now, I am former military guy, having served our country during the Vietnam era as a storekeeper in the U.S. Navy…and I am proud to have served this great land; however, I must admit, I've never been one that likes to take orders. While in boot camp, I had one drill instructor that finished every sentence with, "Now, MOVE OUT!"…usually shouted at the top of his lungs.

When we read in Scriptures the last moments that Christ spent with his disciples before he ascended into to Heaven. we read these words, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Now, Christ could have shared a heart-felt message with his disciples telling them how much he would miss them; how hard times were sure to come there way; or that they should take heart because one day He would return for them and take them to be with him; however, His parting words really came down to this simple command given in love and direction…

MOVE OUT!

Christ send out His beloved disciples with the command to go, make disciples, baptize them and teach them to observe all that they had been taught so that others would come to know the Father because they, too,  had come to know the Son.

And we, now as those that have come to know Jesus, are given that same command…not shouted at us but lovingly impressed upon our hearts and our minds to take the Good News of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.

You see, Jesus never said that the whole world should go to church…but He did say that the church should go to the whole world…and YOU and I are His church.

So take heed to His great commission as your start this new week…and Move Out and move into a world that needs to see the Light of Jesus shining brightly in a dark and desolate world… a world that is lost in sin and headed for an eternity of separation from there loving Creator… and take heart, even when you meet the devil and all his forces.

He promised… He is ALWAYS WITH US…so, TAKE COURAGE and MOVE OUT!

Standing on the promises…moving forward for my Lord,

WPQ

Thought for the day:

Don't sit on the sidelines,

It's time to get in the fight.

To share the love of Jesus…

To be Salt and Light!

Worldly Wealth…How Much Is Enough?

We are indeed facing tough economic times; perhaps, the greatest for any generation of Americans, as well as for our neighbors around the world. What should be our course of action for these turbulent times? How should we consider worldly wealth and the question of how much is enough?

There is a story of an Arabian man who lived in a small cottage on a hill. Every week he would ride into the desert to a small stream so he could provide water for his camel….and every week, as the camel would drink, he would nose up pebbles to make a deeper place for the water to pool. Each week, the man would pick up some of the bright stones that his camel unearthed in the stream and take them home with him. One day, a visiting traveler told the man of the wonderful life and great riches that certain men in a nearby city enjoyed…the man’s heart filled with want and discontent; his eyes widen at the dream of worldly riches. So, he sold his small cottage and wandered the entire land looking for money and earthly riches; but finally, he died, alone and impoverished; buried in nothing but filthy rags. But for the man who bought the cottage, he found the collection of bright stones left behind by the previous owner and he preserved them.

One day a merchant, traveling through the region, stopped at the small cottage and was shone the bright stones. He informed the man that these stones were indeed diamonds and he became a millionaire immediately.

The first man had great wealth, but in his ignorance and foolishness sought the wealth of the world and died penniless. The second man held on to something that seemed insignificant, yet proved to be of great value.

How true is that today for so many of us? We strive and struggle and sweat to make ourselves rich by worldly standards; yet, we miss the greatest treasure of all…a full and exciting walk with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

Where is your heart today…and where is your head regarding wealth? It has been said that the problem for many of us is not that we want more…just that we want more than somebody else. It is that mentality that has led us to our current economic crisis here in America…. and it is a mentality that can only change as we surrender our will and our desires to the one who gave it all…. so that He could acquire you and me.

Are you interested in determining your worldly wealth today? Then, make a list to answer this question….add up everything you have that money can’t buy and death can’t take away….and that will tell you the condition of your heart and the wealth that is yours.

Rich Beyond Worldly Measure,

WPQ

Celebrating America's Birthday ...Joy or Pain...You Decide!

It seems that each year, this day of celebration gets here just a little bit quicker and leaves me a little wearier and a little less hopeful for what lies ahead. We all run hither and yon, wishing all those we know a “Happy 4th”, singing patriotic songs, eating BBQ and watching fireworks. We collectively ask for God to Bless America and then, somehow seem perplexed when gas prices keep rising, crime escalates and our leaders debate in open forum the merits of partial birth abortions, gay marriages and legalized gambling known as state lotteries. How can a righteous and holy God bless this mess that we now call America?

In fact, after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Anne Graham Lotz was queried on the Early show, the host asking, “How could God let something like this happen? Her response was quite profound. She said, “I believe that God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we’ve been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And, being the gentlemen that He is, I believe He has quietly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand that He leave us alone?”

And that my friend, unfortunately, is the sad state of affairs that we find ourselves facing in this year 2016. God has slowly and surely left us to our own demise and I am sure that it is breaking His heart to see how far we have fallen from our roots as a Christian nation. A country that He ordained, that began with such great and magnificent promise is sinking fast and unless, God Himself, orchestrates some cataclysmic jolt to all of us….this nation that still prints “In God We Trust” on our money, is doomed to a bitter end. There is one bright and shining star though ….His CHURCH that He ordained to be both salt and light for such a time as this. Let us not shrink from the battles that lie before us, but rather put on the whole armor of God and wage war. We serve the Great Commander-in-Chief who has never been defeated ….and HE NEVER WILL BE!!!!

Proclaim this July 4th as our day of Dependence on the Creator of the Universe….and fight the good fight…..we know the outcome, WE WIN!

MARCHING ON,

WPQ

                                    The Tale of the Talents

Long ago, in Biblical times, Christ taught lessons to the meek

The story plain for all to see, but, the meaning you had to seek.

So, listen to this story, with heart attentively;

The story of the servants and the talents of the three.

Now, the master was a busy man, a journey he had to make

So, he called together his servants; their instructions to take.

To the first he handed five talents; to the next he gave two;

To the last he gave one and then with the giving, he was through.

The first with five thought to himself, how he must spend his day

Taking part in opportunities that were sure to pass his way.

With hard work and diligence and a special thought in mind,

It wasn't long before this man had five more of like kind.

The man with two did likewise, too, as did his friend before;

And before the day had ended, his two had increased to four.

But, whoa be to the man with one...What do you think he did?

He took the talent given him and in the ground he hid.

By and by, as time did fly, through feast or small disaster,

It soon came time for judgment day, at the return of their master.

The master called his servant and said to each alone...

"Come and show your love for me by the seeds that you have sown."

The one with five said, "Look, my Lord, I now have earned you ten."

"Great job, my friend, rejoice with me...go and do again!"

The one with two said "Lord, I do, praise you forevermore."

Though given two, my faith in you, increased mine to four.

But the man with one his head now hung, with sorrow in his eyes.

He looked up at his master and this was his reply...

"I know you are a cautious man, reaping where you can;

So, I went and hid my talent in the moist and earthen sand.

And here it is, my master, just what belongs to you.

I kept it safe from earthly thieves; it was the least that I could do.”

The master was disheartened; a hush fell across the room.

A sad despair impaired those there like a thickening cloud of gloom.

"Depart from me, you lazy man. Cast him out into the night.

You had the chance to show your love; your chance to spread God's light.”

So, dear friends, don't be like him, don't waste the talents given.

Remember this poor servant and his transgressions not forgiven.

For God expects for everyone to use their talents for His glory.

And if you read between the lines,

Then you know the message of this story.

by

W. Patrick Queen

copyrighted  June 2008

A Life God Rewards....

Today's title for our devotional time is the name of the book that my Sunday School class is studying. It  was written some time ago by Dr. Bruce Wilkerson and in my mind, it is a timeless study, rooted in God's word of how we are to work for the glory of God while we lay up for ourselves, Treasures in Heaven. In fact, it is often a course of study that may divide those of us of faith as to how we are to be rewarded for our good works and how to read and ingest what the Bible has to say about such things.

One Scripture that helps bring this matter to better clarity (at least for me) is found in the Gospel according to Matthew in Chapter 25, verses 14-30. Here Christ, in the Parable of the Talents, is sharing with his disciples just days before He will be arrested and tried before Pilate exactly what He will expect from them when He is gone. He lets them know that in no uncertain terms that He expects them to take the "talents" that He has left with each of them and, based on their God-given abilities and bent, to magnify and multiply them for the Kingdom of God...and He lets them know that He will one day return for a "full" accounting of what they did and how well they did it!

If you know this parable you know that it has both a happy and a bittersweet ending...the entrance into the "joy of the Lord" for two of the servants that used their talents wisely and for gain for the Master...and the sad "casting out into the outer darkness" of the lazy servant that just hid what he was given and brought no return to the Master.

Maybe, that third servant is you today. You find yourself in a tight situation and you look at who you are; your talents and resources.... and in your heart and mind you have already decided that you will  not be able to give much of anything back to the Father. You fight the shame and the hopelessness that you will be cast out; however, IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO PUT YOUR TALENTS TO WORK FOR THE LORD SO THAT YOU TOO MAY EARN THE PRAISE OF THE ONE YOU SERVE...."WELL DONE, MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT; ENTER NOW INTO THE JOY OF YOUR MASTER."

Why do I say that it is not too late...because you're still here....alive, breathing and waiting for God to point you in the right direction to do good works for Him and multiply Himself in and through you. 

If you can breathe, YOU CAN LOVE! If you can see, YOU CAN GO! If you can trust, YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES YOU STRENGTH....AND GOD WILL GET THE GLORY!

Make today the day you step up and out in faith to do the Father's will and to put your time, talents and abilities to work for God....there's still time to earn that praise from the Master and to count your life a success for eternity....it's just a matter of faith!

Here's the rest of the story in poetic form in the next post.

WPQ

Here's a previous post that bears repeating...Be Blessed.

IT'S TIME TO GIVE UP!

It wasn't that long ago that I was sitting in the waiting room, having my car serviced, when I struck up a conversation with an elderly lady that was quite concerned with the problems she was having with her car. She shared with me that she had just recently had to start dealing with these kinds of problems….her husband had just passed away after 50+ years of marriage and now, she was having to do all the things that he once took care of for her. I told her how much I empathized with her because I had seen my mother struggle with getting back on her feet when my father passed away suddenly. I assured her that God would see her through these difficult days and we began to share how dependent we must be on our Heavenly Father to take care of us, even when it seems to take longer than we would like for an answer to our prayers. You see, she was praying that God would provide her with another godly man with which to share the remaining years of her life….she was so lonely and she wanted God to answer her pray quickly; but, she knew that God’s timing is very often quite different from our own.

We later parted company with thanks for our time of sharing and I promised to be praying for the many needs in her life. As I began my drive home, I thought of the story of the prodigal son and the three things that we must glean from that parable in Luke….we must GIVE UP…GET UP …AND GO UP ….before God can have his way in our lives.

When I say GIVE UP, I am referring to the miserable situation in which the prodigal found himself once he had squandered all his worldly possessions. In verse 14 of Luke 15, it reads, “When he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country and he began to be in great need (dire straits). SO, he went and hired himself out”…in other words, he kept trying to make it under his own steam; to turn things around with his might and his strength; to make up for his mistakes and restore himself to his glory days.... ALL ON HIS OWN. The best he could do on his own….feeding the pigs of another farmer and eating the pods that he fed to the swine. It wasn’t until he was ready to give up control of his miserable life that he could GET UP from this horrible situation and realize that a better life was just waiting for him, at home with his father.

Scripture says, “But when he came to himself”….in other words, when he got up, dusted himself off and looked at his situation, it came to him. I don’t have to live like this; why even my father’s servants are far better off than I am. I’ll go home and beg my father to take me back …not as his son, but as one of his hired servants. And that’s when the GO UP took over, “I will arise and go to my father and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you and I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” (Luke 15:18) When he decided to include God and to leave the outcome in His hands, the decision became obvious …so, he headed for home.

Yes, when life seems to beat you down, you can keep trying to “make it on your own”…or you can GIVE UP the pride that keeps you from surrendering to the power of the Father … then GET UP from the despair and misery that engulfs your life ….and do what is required in all of life’s dilemmas …. GO UP in surrender to the will of the Father ….for He is standing on the road, peering down that dusty highway, waiting to catch a glimpse of His long, lost son….turning toward home ….and a Father’s eternal love.

Running into His open arms…Safe and secure for eternity,

WPQ

Thought for the day:

Life's trouble may get the best of you

    As you are tossed both to and fro:

And you may question the Father's love, 

Unsure which way to go...

But never doubt how much He cares for you,

When life's volcanoes may erupt…

Just know that He is with you…

When you surrender…then, look up!

GOD REMEMBERS...Do you?

This year, I am approaching a milestone in my life…for in about 60 days, I will be celebrating my 67^th year on earth….as I said, it seems like a milestone to me. But, for many others; older, younger, wiser, smarter or any where in between, they too, are approaching a milestone…often with fear and trepidation.

That mindset deserves closer scrutiny ….how are we to face and deal with the pleasant and not so pleasant milestones in our lives? We are to remember WHERE we have been, WHAT has happened to us in our life journey and WHO has been our ever faithful guide.

God tells us that He remembers and that He promised in His covenant to keep us safe …just look in the story of Noah. After the flood, after the waters receded and the ground dried up, Noah and his family stepped out of the ark with God’s command to be fruitful and multiply. God said, “I have established my covenant with you that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And as He continues He says, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and for all future generations. I have set my bow in the clouds and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” Genesis 9:12-13

It is what God reveals next that helps us to see the true heart of our Creator…”When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I WILL REMEMBER MY COVENANT that is between me and you and every living creature. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When I see the bow in the clouds, I will remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature that is on the earth.” Genesis 9:14-16

Isn’t is good to know that God remembers and keeps His covenant with His creation?

Every time clouds gather and a storm appears on the horizon, God sees a tiny rainbow form and He is reminded of His promise to us…to hold back the torrential rains so the floods don’t come and once again, we are spared from His anger toward our sinful nature.

I think we should be more like God when it comes to the milestones in our lives…especially the ones that bring about fear, uncertainty and stress. We should remember to whom we belong….what He has done in the past and… what He is able to do in our uncertain future. We should remember His great love, his abiding favor in the presence of the Holy Spirit and His unwavering desire to make all things work out for our good.

How easily we often forget what God has done in our past….maybe, we need to find a sign that will always remind us of His abundant love and His ultimate sacrifice…maybe, all we need do is look to the hill of Calvary and see that old rugged cross….and remember the covenant that He has made through the shed blood of His only Son.

God has promised that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that He has raised Him from the dead, we are saved….just remember that the next time you approach a milestone and you are anxious in your spirit….remember that you belong to Him ….that no one nor nothing can snatch you from the Father’s hand…

Remember… just as your Heavenly Father remembers….and you will find a peace that triumphs whatever trial or milestone is set before you…

Remembering ….and rejoicing in His promises,

WPQ