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