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

BEST 3 WORDS EVER....

HE IS RISEN....

This is the day that Jesus stepped out of the grip of death's grasp and ushered all who will believe into ETERNAL LIFE...a life bought with his shed blood, by the strips on his back and the thorns upon his brow....but now, just three days later...HE IS RISEN...and as the Bible tells us, in just a short time, He would leave this earth and be taken up to His anointed place at the right hand of the Father...and there He waits until the command is given to go and bring the "faithful" home. UNTIL THEN, REMEMBER.....

When we see a problem...God sees a plan;

When we see a trial...God sees a triumph;

When we are faced with heartache...God gives us a glimpse of Heaven.

For when life beats us down to be broken beyond repair...

GOD GIVES US GRACE FOR THE JOURNEY....

HE'S JUST WAITING OVER THERE.

....JUST WAITING OVER THERE.....

Over there life is wonderful as we sit at Jesus' feet
We'll see the saints we longed to know, but never got to meet.

We'll see the angels in full array, their halos glowing as the sun;
We'll know that life is over, but our journey has just begun.

Now we're home with Jesus in the mansion with many rooms

He's banished pain and misery and life's overwhelming gloom.
As we walk the streets of gold, each step our hearts will sing

Our praises of adoration and hallelujahs to Christ our King.

For on that cross He bore the sins and paid the price for all

This King of Kings who came to earth, born in a cattle stall.

Of lowly birth the angels sang, this Christ-child born to save;

To lift the curse on all mankind...His triumph o'er the grave.

For death could not shackle Him; O' death where is thy sting?

No tomb could hold the Son of God...Creator, Lord and King!

Now we shall reign forevermore and eternity we'll share

With Jesus Christ, the King of Kings...for
He's Just Waiting Over There!

WPQ @ Sept 2017  

CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY....NOW GO AND LIVE LIKE YOU KNOW IT!

Out of the Cross- Part II

 NOW, THE REST OF THE STORY….as Dr. Alexander Metherell continues,

Once a person is hanging on the cross in the vertical position, crucifixion is an agonizing slow death by asphyxiation. The stresses that are placed on the muscles and the diaphragm in the inhaled position are acute; one, literally, must push up on his feet so the tension in the muscles is eased for a moment, allowing him to exhale. Each rise and fall upon the nail causes the flesh to tear in the foot until it eventually locks against the tarsal bone. Each breath was labored and exhaustive as Christ would scrape his bloodied back against the rough, coarse wood of the cross. As his breathing slowed, a medical condition known as respiratory acidosis occurs…carbon dioxide in the blood is dissolved as carbonic acid which causes an irregular heartbeat. This faint, but irregular heartbeat, would have been known by Jesus and He would have known the very minute of his death before he uttered, “Lord, into Thy Hands I commit my Spirit.” Death would have been sure, but not to a Roman guard. So, upon examination, the soldier took a spear and thrust it in his side, between his ribs, through his lung and into his heart.

A spear thrust into the heart of God….because of me.

All that has been described is because of ME....MY SIN…..MY SHAME...MY FAILURES….MY PLACE.

That cross was meant for me …and you. Each labored breath, as Christ rose upon that nail, had the weight of the sin of the world on his shoulders…..YOUR SIN AND MINE. He did not have to die; rather He chose to take my place. At any moment, he could have spoken just one word….COME, and the entire heavenly host would have left the glories of heaven in a mass assault against the darkness and evil of that crucifixion. But, he did not cry out for the angels. He would rather have endured the torture and the shame of that cross than to spend eternity without you and me. He spoke but one phrase that resounded throughout the heavenly realm…..IT IS FINISHED !!!!

He gave His life to pay a debt He did not owe and now the torture, the pain, the suffering of the Crucifixion matters not at all …if you and I fail to accept what Christ did to claim us as His own. Do you belong to Him or was His death wasted? Was the pain of this horrific event just a bad story in the history of the world or does it have a personal significance to you? Do you know my Jesus of the Cross or are His life and death of little importance in the greater scheme of your life?

The work has been done…it is finished….and the Christ of Calvary is RISEN.

Is He Alive in You Today?…..if not, let’s talk …the sooner, the better.

Blessed ….Because of the Cross,

WPQ

Out of the Cross Part I

The following is a reprint of  a former post....and on the celebration that follows at the end of this week, it is important to understand the great cost of our jubilation that comes at Easter.

I just finished reading Lee Strobel’s book, The Case for Christ…a legal journalist’s personal investigation of the evidence for Jesus. I read it all with a great hunger to see how he would treat the historical and empirical evidence regarding Christ. It is a compelling read, a must for every believer….not to bring you to faith, but to give greater clarity to what you already believe.

One chapter really tore me up….it dealt with the medical evidence regarding the torture and crucifixion of my Lord. I was NOT prepared for the insight of this chapter and the vivid picture that was indelibly imprinted in my heart and soul. The expert, Dr. Alexander Metherell, shared the weight of his medical and scientific credentials to set aside any thought that somehow the crucifixion of Christ was a staged event…that He swooned upon the cross, was pronounced dead and then was revived after he was taken down from the cross and put in a cool tomb.

As I read the following, I came to the stark realization of what Christ endured upon the cross so that I might be saved…

The torture before the cross is enough to kill most men, thirty-nine lashes or more depending on the mood of the soldier. The beating began at the shoulders, down the back, the buttocks and the legs; each lash with this braided leather thong embedded with metal balls and chards of bone literally ripping the flesh away, exposing bones, muscles, veins and often vital organs. The prisoner enters hypovolemic shock often fainting and dying from massive blood loss. Christ, already at the point of exhaustion and collapse, was in serious to critical condition, but he did not succumb to death (we have the written text regarding the Crucifixion). The soldiers would have laid Christ on a horizontal beam and nailed a 5-7 inch spike into each wrist just below the palm…to have nailed it into his palm would have been futile… his weight would have torn the skin and he would fallen from the cross. The Romans knew the nature of this business all too well.

The pain from this action would have been UNBEARABLE. Imagine, if you can, that feeling of pain that you get when you hit the ulna nerve (your funny bone). It’s extremely painful when you bang your elbow, even if only a glancing blow. What if someone could grab that nerve with a pair of pliers and squeeze and twist without letting go…the effect would be similar to what Jesus endured. In fact, the pain was so unbearable that there was literally no word to describe it; they had to invent a new word…. EXCRUCIATING, meaning, “Out of the Cross”. 

Think on that for just a moment if you can…the pain that Christ endured on the cross for you and for me was so unbearable, so life-devastating, so beyond words….that they had to create a word that would somehow capture the intense anguish and pain caused during the crucifixion….

THEN….Jesus was hoisted on the crossbar to be attached to the vertical stake having his feet nailed in the same manner, crushing and impaling the nerves in his feet. The weight of his body would have immediately pulled and stretched his arms, probably six inches in length and would have dislocated his shoulders…now death by asphyxiation had begun….

Tomorrow, we’ll examine the rest of the story… and how it impacts you and me.

Blessed by the Savior,

WPQ