Take Dead Aim....

If you happen to be a golf fan such as I, then you love to see the "pros" working on their games on the driving range...and the one thing they ALL work on consistently is their aim, their direction ...their "towards" as I like to call it when working with my students.

As a former PGA club professional, I have given a multitude of golf lessons to all sizes, shapes and swings of men, women, boys and girls...and one thing evident in EVERYONE'S swing is that they are not lined up to their target like they think they are...in simple terms, THEIR AIM IS OFF!!!

Often, that is what has lead them to take a lesson in the first place; they seem to be swinging the club well, but the ball is not going where they are aimed...and as I mentioned, their problem is usually their aim and not their swing.

The same can often be said for the way things are going in our Christian walk. We are doing all the right things...reading our Bible, praying when we can and making it a point to show up for church functions and Sunday services...but life just doesn't seem to be falling into place like we think it should. If that's the case for you, then your problem is probably the same as my golf students...YOUR AIM IS OFF!!!!

The apostle Paul addressed this problem for the Philippians who were struggling to find joy and harmony in their new Christian walk as they left behind the sin and shame of their former lives and began this new journey....their walk with Christ. So Paul pinned the following, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:13-14

Paul knew all too well the high cost of following Christ. He knew it was not an easy road that led to the Kingdom; and he knew that he had not yet attained the full measure of the life he sought in Christ Jesus...so he did what he needed to do to make sure he was on the right path to living for God as God willed for his life....HE TOOK DEAD AIM AT THE TARGET...THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD FOR HIS LIFE.

You see, if your life is not going the way you think it should, it may have to do with where your aim is focused. If you are trying to live a "good life" rather than a "godly" life...YOUR AIM IS OFF! If what matters to God doesn't matter to you, YOUR AIM IS OFF! If your more interested in your comfort over godly conviction, YOUR AIM IS OFF! If you're living to impress others rather than hear the words from the Father, "Well done, my good and faithful servant"...then you need an aiming lesson....You need to take to heart the words of Paul and aim for the mark...the true calling that God has placed on your life...and mine!

In this time in our culture, God has called each of us into the battlefield to stand up and be counted as faithful followers of the one true God...to take dead aim at sin, evil and the folly of mankind and to call it what it is...and then to live a Godly life in front of our family, our friends and our neighbors so that they may see a difference in us and how we live in this corrupt and lost world. But that can only happen when we zero in on our target to be the man or woman God has called out for such a time as this.

Are you ready for such a challenge or are you content to just maintain the status quo and limp along in your Christian walk; always hoping for something better but not willing to make the sacrifices needed to be the person God has called you to be?

It is your decision...so decide to TAKE DEAD AIM at the mark...and be all that God wants you to be and then life will be sweeter...you have my guarantee; but more than that, you have God's promise of an abundant life far greater than you could possible imagine.

Taking aim...hitting the mark for Him,

WPQ

Thought for the day...

You may attempt to persuade another

 to change their point of view...

But nothing speaks more plainly than

what Christ has done in you.

So if another’s lifestyle

you are hoping to rearrange,

Just testify how the Father’s love

can make an everlasting change.

Rude Awakening…Are you a Soldier of the Cross?

Few of us, if any, knew that when we accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we were automatically enlisting in the Army of God. In fact, most of us probably expected a somewhat passive life of meekness with a few bumps along the road of life thrown in to keep us humble.

Boy! Were we ever in for a rude awakening? Now, I don't know about you, but my life has been anything but pastoral. In all truth, it has been one skirmish and engagement with our enemy, the devil, on a daily basis. It seems as if I am constantly under attack by the demonic forces of this world as they seek to disrupt my witness for my Lord. I find that they use any means necessary to rout my energies as I seek to live and to walk consistently with Jesus as my Commander-in-Chief; however, God's Word tells us in Joshua 23:9-11, "The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you.  One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised.  So be very careful to love the Lord your God."

God has richly promised that we are not in this war alone…He is not only in the fight with us, but He is fighting for us and through us and no matter how the battle may be raging, we will be victorious. We may not feel that way as the bullets of temptation or the bombs of despair explode around us…our eyes and our circumstances will deceive us…all those on all sides may look at our situation and tell us that God has deserted His post and we are in this thing called life all alone…BUT NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH!!!!

God is right next to you in the trenches of your battle with cancer; He is standing guard as you suffer through those lonely nights after the loss of a loved and cherished family member; He is battling those feelings of hopelessness and helplessness as you put your faith in Him and trust His hand to lead you to safety and a newness of life.

God promised that if He is for us, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE CAN STAND AGAINST US…so take courage as you get set for battle today. You are a highly decorated solider in the Army of the Most High and He is SOVEREIGN LORD…YOU ARE THE VICTOR IN ALL….BECAUSE HE IS WITH YOU FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT!

Soldiering on for the Savior….Victorious in All,

WPQ

Poem for the day:

We are fighting in a battle, 

A battle known as LIFE, 

And though we are surrounded 

By turmoil, despair and strife.

We cannot be defeated 

For our enemy's fate is sealed.

By His nail-scarred hand, the battle's won 

And God's eternal glory revealed.

WPQ @ 2017

You Gotta Rock the Boat Before You Walk on Water…

Now, I’m something of an expert when it comes to the title of today’s topic…not that I have ever walked on water; but, I sure have rocked the boat on more than one occasion.

It all goes back to my days in the Navy when I served as a helmsman for the motor whaleboat….a small, motorized craft about 20 feet or so that was used to carry the crew and more importantly, our commanding officer, from ship to shore. I worked along side a good friend of mine by the name of Tiny, a rather robust young man at 6’ 6” and 285 pounds.  Tiny was a Boatswain Mate Third Class and in charge of the motor whaleboat and the crew that ferried our shipmates to our port-of-call. I had the good fortune of being assigned to his detail and I learned a great deal from him, especially when it came to getting in and out of the boat.

The first time I was assigned duty on the launch, I proceeded to climb in the boat with little knowledge of where I should place my feet or how to move forward from the aft to the bow of this small vessel. Unfortunately, that lack of knowledge deposited me into the harbor and ruined my freshly-starched uniform…Tiny had a big laugh and I had to go back aboard the ship and change into another uniform. I never forgot what Tiny taught me regarding the boarding and unboarding of our craft…..and although, I often rocked the boat coming and going, I never fell in again.

I share this story because of the kinship it provides me with my favorite disciple, Peter and his story in Matthew 14:26-32 ….it is here, where Peter sees the Lord, walking on the water in the midst of a terrible storm.

We all know this story and too often, each of us may have chided Peter because of his failure to successfully navigate the stormy waters. It seems that after climbing out of the boat, as he begins to walk toward the Master, he is overcome by the wind and the swirling seas and he begins to sink. Jesus, in His loving spirit, takes hold of his hand and lifts him out of the raging seas and says, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

It seems that Peter has failed…but, let’s examine this from a different vantage point. All the disciples where present…they all thought they had seen a ghost…they all feared for their collective lives …and they all had the same opportunity to rock the boat….that is, anyone of them could have called out to Jesus and said as Peter, “Lord, if it is you, command me to leave the boat (my addition) and to come to you on the water.”

But Peter was the only one that was willing to risk the savage sea and the wild winds and heed the Master's command…only Peter was willing to rock the boat and step out in faith to meet his Lord in the storm. He was willing to leave what little security this tiny vessel offered and walk forward, climb over the bow and lower himself into the cold, dark sea.  No one offered a helping hand or even an encouraging word but our Lord….and He simply said, “COME!”

It is true that Peter’s step of faith left him soaked to the bone and maybe, somehow, his lack of faith diminished him in the eyes of the other disciples; but in the eyes of the Lord, though disappointed in the overall outcome, I’m sure Jesus was once again encouraged that Peter was on his way to becoming the man that He knew he could be….a man for all seasons.

And the same can be said for you and me, if we are willing to rock the boat and heed the Master’s call to come….to step out of our comfort zone….to dare to be all that He has called us to be.

We may falter and fall short of God’s desire for our lives….we may disappoint Him as doubts and fears creep into the fabric of our faith….but He will lovingly extend His nail-scarred hand and lift us out of the tempest-tossed seas of our lives and but us back into the boat ….and then the storms will cease….for He alone is the Son of God.

I encourage you today with this….

Don’t fear the storms of life as you sail through them….rather trust the Son of God, Jesus Christ and know that you will arrive safely home to spend eternity with Him. Until then keep,

Rocking the Boat…Expecting to walk on water,

WPQ

Poem for the day:

Life's stormy seas may gather

And the winds may howl and blow;

But if we seek to sail with Jesus

There's one thing we should know.

He is the Master of the seas

And all the heavenly realm...And

We shall reach our harbor safe

When He is at the helm.

WPQ @ 2017

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

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

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

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

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

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

Serving My Savior….Humbly with Purpose,

WPQ

Thought for the day:

If you want to follow Christ,

In everything you do;

Just seek to humbly serve Him…

Let His love come shining through.

Don't seek the praise that comes from men

But honor your Father above..

Do all you can in obedience

To show the Father's love.

WPQ @2010

Grumbling or Gratitude...It's Up to You!

Have you ever spent an afternoon in the kitchen, dicing and slicing, peeling and pounding, grating and grinding...all in preparation of a wonderful family meal for the upcoming evening dinner. After all the hard work and slaving in the kitchen, you call your family into the dining room with that familiar greeting, "Come on everybody, supper's ready. Let's eat!" Slowly, but surely everyone takes their seat and you announce the bill of fare for the evening meal. But rather than hearing a plethora of "ooohhhs" and "aaahhs" about the wonderful meal you've prepared, you are met with moans and groans about "why are we having that, we wanted hot dogs."  It's enough to make you want to scream at the top of your lungs and send everybody to bed without any dinner.

But a closer look at this little microcosm of life shows us that we treat God the same way. Just look at the Scriptures starting with His chosen people, the Israelites. God has miraculously delivered them from their years of bondage, drowned Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea and has their leader Moses ready and willing to lead them into the Promised land. But in Exodus 16:2-3, we read, "The entire Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, 'If only we had died by the Lord's hand in the land of Egypt."

After all that God had done for His people, they chose to grumble about their plight rather than show gratitude for their provision...and the whole of the journey that lasted 40 years in the wilderness is one grumble and complaint after another. If not for the great love of God, surely He would have washed His hands of this whole relationship with the Israelites and left them to survive on their own.

Fortunately for you and me, our God is a God of compassion and does not measure His love for us on how much gratitude and love we show Him...if He did, we would ALWAYS end up with a HUGE debt that we could never repay. But I believe, personally, that God does restrain His hand of blessing when we fail to show the appropriate gratitude.

After all, would you keep showering your own children with more and more of the things they want or need if they NEVER showed gratitude but continually grumbled about what they did not have or how someone else has something better...I DON'T THINK SO!!!!

So why shouldn't our Heavenly Father treat us the same! Now, He has promised that He will always see that all our NEEDS ARE MET; however, giving us the desires of our heart comes from showing our gratitude ...and gratitude leads to obedience and through our obedience, God's storehouse of blessings is open for business.

A wise man of faith once said, "If you are on this side of the dirt and you have trusted in God's redemptive plan and your place in Heaven is secure, what could you possibly have to complain about?"

Dwell on that thought for a moment....how bad is your life, really? No matter what you are facing, the God of the universe cares and HE WILL PROVIDE...SO LIKE SO MANY OTHER THINGS IN LIFE, IT IS YOUR DECISION....

GRUMBLE    OR    GRATITUDE....what you decide will not affect God's love for you but it may very well affect how He provides!

Praising Him for His Provisions....Showing Gratitude with every Breath,

WPQ

Poem for the day:

Life can have its ups and downs

And make us want to fuss;

About the things we think we need

Or how others are treating us.

But God, He knows our every need

So when we choose to grumble;

Life's sky may darken, the rain comes down

And we heard God's Holy rumble.

By reminding us who's in control

As the dark clouds are swept away;

When we show Him our gratitude

His blessings are new each day!

WPQ @2017

Called to Serve

Everyone is called to serve,
No task too great or small;
For if you hear the Savior’s voice
You’re called to give your all.

You’re called to be a shining light
And drive darkness from the lands.
You’re called to be His workers
With rough and calloused hands.

You’re called to give your very best
No matter the toil or task;
To come with willing heart and mind
To do what He would ask.

You’re called to be a helping hand
To those who’ve lost their way.
You’re called to show the love of Christ
In all you do and say.

So give the Lord what is His due,
Your best in everything;
For you, my child, must heed the call…..
The call to serve the KING!!!


W. Patrick Queen
June 2008

FIRMLY PLANTED….DEEPLY ROOTED!

For years, we lived in a quiet neighborhood, right across the street from the community pool and playground. This area was meticulously groomed each week and was always in the best shape when it came to the caliber of care that it received. I guess that is why I was so surprised to see one of my favorite willow trees cut down and carted off one week. Now, to be sure it was dead, but what struck me as odd was its demise.

Now, there where two willow trees planted not fifteen feet apart and for the last five years, I have watched them grow and mature, ever spreading their lovely branches and providing a great place for young children to take shade from the hot summer sun….and that’s my point of consternation. One lived and one died; each, seemingly, planted in the same soil, given the same care and exposed to the same elements. But, upon closer examination, I found the difference ….one had been struck down by some insects while in a weakened condition from the drought…the other willow tree’s roots had found a greater source of water. You see, about six feet away, the sprinkler head had malfunctioned and had built a small pond in a low lying area. In fact, every time we got any rain, the water puddled there….so, the tree near the puddle got more water and nutrients and was able to remain strong while its next door neighbor succumbed to the drought, insects and other natural causes and eventually died.

The lesson for us in all of this is found in Jeremiah 17:7-8, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green and is not anxious in the year of the drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

How’s your root system today? Are you trusting in the Lord …is your trust in the Lord and not in what you can do? Are you firmly planted in His Word so that the barbs and darts and arrows from the Devil have no effect on your life? God has promised in His Son, Jesus Christ, to NEVER leave us or forsake us. No matter what you are facing today, God is here to see you through. Let you roots sink deep into the well of everlasting water and be refreshed. Know the joy of your salvation is something that is yours now and eternally. Don’t let the devil or circumstances or others rob you of the joy and peace that is yours as you continually grow in the Lord. Remember, WE BELONG TO HIM ….and we are to produce much fruit.

Today, give up the dry, barren way of following Christ…giving lip service and little else. Instead, look for a way to serve, offer a word of encouragement, do more than is required of you….Smile, tell someone you love them and back it up with your actions. God is the great gardener and He is watching to see if you are growing or if your roots have died and you should be cut down.

I pray that today you will be firmly planted, growing exponentially with roots that reach to the very soul of the Master and that your fruit will be bountiful for the Lord…."He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:3

Planted together…prospering for the Kingdom,

WPQ

Poem for the day:

The troubles that we face each day

May surely drag us down;

But when we’re planted in our Lord

Then we’re on solid ground.

So let the seasons of life roll on

Bringing pain or drought or blight...

For we are watered by the hand of God

And bathed in the Son of Light.

So let your roots sink deep into

The Father's perfect, holy sod;

As we all shall await the day

To kiss the face of God.

WPQ @ 2017