Having the Same Mind...

Today is a special day in the history and life of our republic...it is the FOURTH of JULY. In fact, today we celebrate the 243rd birthday of this great nation...a nation founded on those immortal words of Thomas Jefferson who said we all have the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." It was to that one mindset that 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence, basically signing their own death warrant as with colonists across the land, all would rally to fight for one ideal...that they should be FREE!

After winning our independence, those same brave men gathered again with one mindset...to establish a government that drew its authoritative power from the will of a free people...and that same mindset should be ours today. Unfortunately, we are becoming a country divided as many of us hold disparaging views as to how we move forward with the issues that face us.

I believe the great apostle Paul gave us some clear cut instruction as to how we as Christians should proceed as we seek to live in a world filled with turmoil. He wrote in Philippians 3:12-16, the following, "I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That’s what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason he made me his. Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven. All of us who have grown to be spiritually mature should think this way too. And if there is any of this that you don’t agree with, God will make it clear to you. But we should continue following the truth we already have."  NKJV Maxwell Leadership Bible

You can see in the highlighted portion of our Biblical instruction that Paul believes that we as mature believers should ALL think the way he does regarding the way and the reason for which we live...to obtain that which God as called each of us to be....ONE MINDSET WITH MANY DIFFERENT OUTCOMES...EACH OF US USING OUR INDEPENDENCE TO BE WHAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO BE AS WE STRAIN FOR THE PRIZE OF HIS HIGH CALLING.

So on this day, as we celebrate our nation's independence, let us also celebrate our spiritual independence from the life of sin and degradation from which God has redeemed us and give thanks for the high calling He has placed within the heart of every believer who seeks His face and has the mindset to walk in His way! And if you do not agree, then it is up to the Almighty to change your mind...only He can do that through the inner workings of the Holy Spirit.

Yes; today is a day of celebration, but also concern as we look across the great landscape of our nation. So many good things to embrace; so many horrible things from which we should hide our heads in shame. But as believers, living out our faith with one mindset, we can be the change that this country needs as we live our holy and fearless lives intending to be what God has called each of us to be....SALT & LIGHT....will each of you join me as we reach out to our neighbors, our homeless, our downtrodden, our rebellious and our broken-hearted and offer them the only thing that can truly make a difference in their lives...a personal relationship with their Heavenly Father through His Son, Jesus Christ...the author and perfecter of our faith. If we will do as Paul has instructed and come together with this same mindset, we will see our nation once again return to the  roots that were so firmly planted in our Christian heritage. It is only when we once again acknowledge that God is our Provider and Sustainer that we will see His hand of blessing stretch out over us all to see Him heal this land....and that will truly be a cause for CELEBRATION!

One mindset....reaching for the prize of His high calling,

WPQ

Poem for the day....

Today's  the day we celebrate

It comes round once each year;

It's a birthday celebration

Where crowds go wild and cheer.

We celebrate the amazing birth

Of our nation called the USA.

This wondrous miracle of republic

That is still alive today.

But there are those foes that come against

The things that have made us great;

So we must seek to firmly stand

Before it is too late...

To save this great Republic

Our motto strong to stand....

"IN GOD WE TRUST" should echo

Across this great and prosperous land!

So let us all with one mindset

Pray to our God above;

To shower us with His blessings ....

HIS PEACE..HIS JOY...HIS LOVE!!!

WPQ© July 2019

Celebrating America...I LOVE THIS LAND!

I LOVE THIS LAND...

I love this land with its rock and hills and trees;

I love this land from mountaintops to roaring seas.

I love this land with its grandeur and majesty

But I admit there are some things that truly bother me...

How can a people blessed with so many wondrous things

Turn their back on their Creator, the holy King of Kings?

How can each hope that beats within in the heart of every man,

Not praise the One who created us and walk according to His plan?

What kind of man would turn his back and quickly walk away;

Not take the time to lend a hand to those lost in life's dark fray.

What does it take, what can be done... to open closed and blinded eyes;

To see the suffering all around or hear the anguish in their cries...

Of those who are downtrodden, living less than God intended

Who only need a helping hand; a chance to be befriended;

What kind of people do not seek to make anew and change what is...

How can they continually do these things and say they are...HIS!

So I will show my love for all, each and every day;

I'll love this land and let it show to those who come my way;

Not only in single deed, but in what I think and say;

And I pray the Lord will listen, when I bow my head to pray....

HOLY FATHER....BLESS THIS LAND; THE LAND I TRULY LOVE!

LET YOUR MERCY SHINE UPON US FROM YOUR THRONE ABOVE.

HELP US SEEK THE LOST AND AS WE POINT THEM TO YOU;

MAY THE MESSAGE WE SHARE BE FOUND FAITHFUL AND TRUE!

MAY OUR LOVE BE ETERNAL AS WE SEEK TO FOLLOW YOU,

MAY OTHERS KNOW OF JESUS BY WHAT WE SAY AND DO;

MAY WE BE A BEACON FOR ALL WHO ARE LOST IN THE NIGHT

MAY WE ANSWER THE CALL...TO BE THE SALT & LIGHT!!!!

MAY EACH DAY BRING WITH IT, A WONDROUS OPPORTUNITY

TO SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS, SO THAT OTHERS MIGHT SEE;

WE LONG TO BE THE PEOPLE YOU WOULD HAVE US TO BE....

AMERICA, YOUR BLESSED LAND, FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA!!!!

OH YES...I LOVE THIS LAND !!!!!

WPQ© JULY 2019

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 2018. 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

As we prepare to celebrate our 243rd Birthday, may the words of this poem

resonate within the soul of every American that longs for our return to the God of the Universe...

May He hear our prayers and Bless us once again with HIS GREAT FAVOR!!!!

Poem for the day...

It's great to live in the land of the free

Especially when nothing's required of me.

I don't have to do what others think right;

I'm not required to be a guiding light.

I can go where I want, live as I please;

Take all I want and live a life of ease.

No one can tell my life is a mess

But sometimes I wonder and so I confess....

What if I lived like life is a gem

And I spent my days, focused on Him.

What if I gave with no thought of reward

Put on my armor, raised up my sword.

What if each day I battled those horrible lies

That tells us God's love is not truly life's prize.

What if I gave Him all I could be....

Would that make a difference others would see?

So as we celebrate the birth of our nation

Let us remember the God of creation!

No longer as His can we sit on the fence;

It's time to tell others of our dependence.

To stand and shout at the top of our lungs,

To revel in joy as songs of triumph are sung.

So whether rich or poor, no matter life's station

Petition our God to BLESS THIS NATION!!!

WPQ © June 2018

HAPPY 4TH...MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Survive or Thrive...You Choose!

In my many years of bachelorhood, before I married my beautiful wife of almost 30 years, I did what most guys of my generation did to make the "bachelor pad" look "cool"....I had lots and lots of plants. Unfortunately at that time, I was a traveling salesman that usually left home on Monday mornings, and if all went well was back home by late Friday afternoon. So, in order to take care of my many plants,  I more than sufficiently watered them and placed them in or near the windows so they could get their required sun. In most cases, this was a recipe for disaster and dead plants. If a plant stayed alive at my place for more than 2 weeks, it was a real survivor!

When I look back at my survival rate with my plants, there was only one that did well to live. In fact, you might say it was even able to thrive under the extreme conditions I placed on my chlorophyll colored roommates. It was my schefflera tree. It did not need that much water, so usually watering it once a week was sufficient and as for sunlight, medium light that was bright but indirect was the perfect amount...it truly lived in spite of my care.

As I think of that plant, it reminds me of the way some of us go about our Christian walk sometimes.  We don't want to be in the bright spotlight with a lot of attention coming our way because if others are looking at us and our actions, we may wilt and lose our witness. We are much more comfortable being near the bright light and getting the benefits of the indirect light of others who have chosen to serve as a deacon or a Sunday school teacher; or give their time and talents and sing in the choir; or volunteer a few Sundays a year to take care of those little children in the nursery. Yes, the bright light of service scares us, so we seek the dimmer light further from the real battles that are being waged in the name of the Lord.

And as for the watering, ONCE A WEEK IS GOOD FOR US! Yes, we will be there just about every Sunday morning for the church service. We will sit where we always sit; shake hands with the same people each week; give the same $10 or $20 tip to the collection plate and most of all, stay awake through the entire sermon. If we do all this, we will survive and be good to go until the same time next week when we repeat the process.

But God has called us NOT to SURVIVE...BUT TO THRIVE. In Psalm 92:12-13, it reads,

"The righteous thrive like a palm tree and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, they thrive in the courts of our God."

And that should be each of us...living our life, walking with our Lord in committed service so that we are not just survivors...but we are OVERCOMERS WHO THRIVE in this world as we prepare for the one to come. We need to spend time DAILY in His word, seeking His truth and pursuing His righteousness so that when the spotlight is aimed in our direction, WE WILL NOT WILT BUT STAND AS A GLORIOUS TESTIMONY OF GOD AND HIS FAITHFULNESS.

So the choice is simple, my friend...are you only surviving in your journey through this life or are you one of God's chosen elect who has decided that you will THRIVE?

AS ALWAYS, THE CHOICE IS YOURS!!!

Choosing to Live a Life that Thrives in Him,

WPQ

Poem for the day:

If you decided to follow Jesus

And to live a life that thrives;

You must do the work each day

That tells others you're alive.

So keep your heart from evil

In all you say and do.

For the bright light of this world

Will be shining down on you.

To see if your measure up

And really walk the Walk.

Or are you just giving lip service

When you try to talk the Talk.

For the Father's love will see you thru

Those dark nights and days to come;

Until He comes to take you to

YOUR EVERLASTING HOME!

WPQ©February 2018

I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN...

I am proud to be an American
In this land of sweet Liberty;
For those who have gone before
And died to keep us free.

I am one with those whose blood cries out
From lands across the sea...
Who gave their all in sacrifice
To protect our sweet liberties.

I stand with those whose struggles
Keep them downtrodden and forlorn;
And I mourn with every mother
For the child that was never born.

I lift up the broken-hearted
With their Spirit, I too weep;
And lament with those who have no place
To lay their head in peaceful sleep.

I champion those, our desperate ones
And pray for them sweet rest;
For the sure and ever present beat
Of freedom in each breast.

I unite with those whom I oppose
So together strong we stand...
In defense of this great nation
And the God who rules this land.

Oh, I am PROUD to be an American
So on this bright and glorious day;
May my actions and deeds speak louder
Than the words you hear me say.

Yes, I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN
Thus my prayer will always be;
That God will shower His blessings upon
This land of the BRAVE and FREE!!!!

W. Patrick Queen© January 20, 2017

MAY WE TRULY TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS, SEEK THE GOD OF THIS NATION WITH ALL OUR HEARTS AND MAY WE PRAY THAT FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHO GAVE THEIR ALL, THEY DID NOT DIE IN VAIN....

MAY WE ONCE AGAIN BE .....ONE NATION UNDER GOD WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!!! AMEN.

This is a reprint of a former post....let this be our

Call to Action

I had the day off yesterday, so I decided to treat myself to a big breakfast at my favorite morning place in downtown Greenville. After a very filling and satisfying meal, I cranked up my car and made my way into morning traffic to begin my errands. I had driven only a few feet out of the parking lot when my attention was diverted to a small white van, unloading boxes of fruit at the homeless shelter next door to the Ham House.

In front of me, in tattered and worn clothing, was a man of about 40. His was so tiny in stature, so frail and thin that when he turned sideways, he seemed to disappear. I found that in that next moment, my thoughts turned to pity as I wondered what might have led to his unfortunate circumstances ….I quickly uttered a prayer of thanksgiving, that but for the grace of God that could have been me; then, the light changed and I moved along with the flow of traffic as I began my busy day.

But all morning long, the thought kept coming back…. was my pity enough?

You see in many instances in the Scriptures, the Bible tells us that our Lord felt pity…..He felt pity in Matthew 9:36, “And what pity He felt for the crowds that came because their problems were so great and they didn’t know what to do or where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd.” (The Living Bible)

Jesus felt pity for the people in Mark 8:2, “One day as another great crowd gathered, the people ran out of food again. Jesus called his disciples together and said, “I pity these people for they have been here three days and have nothing left to eat.” (TLB)….or in Luke 7:12-13, “As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother and she was a widow. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” (English Standard Version)

In each of these situations, our Lord felt pity….But, oh my friend, HE FELT SO MUCH MORE!!!!

If he had only felt pity or sympathy for these people, he would have checked his emotions and just moved on…. like I did yesterday…..but our Lord felt so much more and with His growing feeling of sympathy and empathy, His compassion became action.

Yes, Jesus took pity….but more than that, JESUS TOOK ACTION!!!!!!

To the multitude of the lost and aimless, He became our Shepherd….To the hungry, he fed them and became our Bread of Life….to the broken-hearted and forlorn, he became their comfort and our Resurrection to Life Eternal.

And now, where does that leave you and me and our feelings of pity?  Are we to feel pity, sympathy and compassion for those that Christ sets in our path…or are we just to observe that pain and sufferings, thank God that it is not us and pass by on the other side ….OF COURSE NOT!!!!

We are called to serve …called to mirror our Savior and to give our feelings….FEET and HANDS and a VOICE that proclaims the love of Jesus in and through our ACTIONS.

So, resolve with me today that you will not fall victim to Satan’s ploy ….when you encounter those that need a helping hand …don’t just pity their plight and leave them for someone else to show them compassion….simply ask, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

JESUS WOULD TAKE ACTION TO ALLEVIATE THEIR PAIN OR SUFFERING BUT MORE THAN THAT….. HE WOULD SHOW TRUE COMPASSION FOR THOSE WITHOUT A SHEPHERD…..

Striving to Minister for Jesus,

WPQ

Thought for the Day:

We should follow Christ’s example

With everyone we meet…

We should seek to show compassion

For we are His hands and feet.

For Christ would have us working

To care for those distraught;

To give ourselves unselfishly

Is what our Savior taught.

WPQ@ October 2010

PRAYER CHANGES THINGS....SO PRAYER HARDER!

We've all heard it said that "prayer changes things" and I believe, that for the most part, most of us as believers actually hold to this tenet of our faith. However, when we look at what is happening in Venezuela or the shooting that took place at the UNCC campus (my college alma mater) last evening, we begin to question if prayer can or does make a difference.

First off, James 5:16 tells us that "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."  So the question we may be asking ourselves is...Are my prayers effective...Am I praying fervently ...and are these the prayers of a righteous man?

We all struggle with prayer....when, where and how to do it? How do we pray effectively? I think the answer is quite simple...we pray about the things that matter the most to us! First of all, as God takes control in our lives and we seek to live for Him and to be obedient to His will, we will begin to align our desires with the desires of our Heavenly Father...we will pray for what matters to us because we know those things matter to Him...and the more we pray the more our consistency will build ferverency. Jesus told His disciples on many occasions to ask their Heavenly Father for their needs and to continually pursue His favor through their fervent prayers. When we pray fervently, we will pray with a hot, burning, intense desire that will consume our wants as we make known to our Father what truly matters is asking for our needs in ACCORDANCE WITH HIS WILL....and that's how we become the righteous man whose prayers are answered.

When we pray for God to grant our wants or to give us what we have determined we need, we can be fervent, even effective in our consistency to pray; but we are not close to approaching the prerequisite that God has set in place for answered prayer....RIGHTEOUSNESS. It is our desire to be in alignment with the PERFECT WILL OF A RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY GOD that sets the framework for the workings of the Holy Spirit...and in those workings, we see that our prayers AVAIL MUCH.

So as you look across the landscape of your life and you see those areas that have been ravaged by the work of the enemy, take hope in this....WHEN YOU PRAY EFFECTIVELY, FERVENTLY AND RIGHTEOUSLY FOR THE WILL OF GOD TO BE DONE IN YOUR LIFE....THE ANSWER IS ALREADY ON THE WAY...and your landscape will be healed and God will be glorified as you let Him have his way in your prayers.

Yes, if you just take a look around the globe, you can see what has broken the heart of God! So, if you want to make an eternal difference, then plant your flag of prayer in one of these broken places and begin to pray as James encouraged believers to pray....just pray and leave the outcome of your prayers to your Heavenly Father...for He is just waiting for you and I to ask Him to meet our needs and our problems head on....for He has promised to answer every prayer and He is God...

He can't break a promise!

Praying fervently with a righteous heart,

WPQ

Poem for the day....

Each morning as you climb out of bed

Before your feet hit the bedroom floor,

Take a moment to think of the heart of God

And what you should be praying for?

Is it for the child who has no shoes

Or the man who has no feet?

Should you be praying for the homeless ones

Who are living just down the street?

Don't pray for things that make life grand;

Barely touch upon the things you need.

Just pray that God will grant to you

The desire to sow His seed....

Of Love and Grace and Mercy

So with all of those you touch;

You'll know that the prayers of a righteous man

Are the ones that accomplish much!!!!

WPQ © May 2019