Please Him Today

Serve the Lord with gladness.- Psalm 100:2

Our service to the Lord is part of our worship of Him. Our worship of Him is through what we do and how we act. We can do the ritual and still be wrong with our attitude. God wants it all. He wants it all His way.

We should be able to share with each other how we are serving the Lord and how we feel about it. "Gladness" means that we enjoy it. It means that we make the most of every moment. In other words, the best that we have for God comes out of us so much that we thoroughly get into and involved with what we are doing for the Lord.

Let today mark the first of many days where you give it all to the Lord out of joy.

Follow the Lord's Lead (John 13:15)

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
-John 13:15 (KJV)

The Lord gave His disciples an example of how to act towards one another. He shared His love with them in both word and deed. He offered them a chance to go beyond the norm, to be set apart. The Lord set the tone by setting the example of how to be Christ-like, how to be a Christian.

Ask yourself if you are following the Lord's example. Check yourself and your ways against the example that He set for His disciples and all of us. The key to it all is that we can follow His example and serve as examples for others to follow Him as well.

Ain't God good?

Freedom School: We Have Who Believe in Freedom...

Recently, I spent about a week in Knoxville for CDF Freedom School's National Training. Although this had been my briefest stay for the annual training event, I gathered some insights from the experience once again.

1. Freedom is still a word worth keeping in our vocabulary. Even with numerous technological advances such as the internet, MySpace, and cell phones, freedom still seems at a distance when we view our social and economic conditions. We need legislators who are going to do something about inflation, rising food and gas prices, and health insurance costs, not investigate the NFL about a Super Bowl over two years ago or even steroids in the MLB. Freedom is still something that we must believe in and share with our children, so that the cost of freedom is always valued.
2. Any long-term movement will have a natural generational struggle and conflict. Those who are to pass the baton will hold on as long as they can, even stating that there is no one to pass it on to today. Those who are waiting to take hold of the baton will complain about those who hold it, saying that their time has passed and they need to give it to the new breed of change agents. If we are to take the baton, then we had better start running. I have never seen a relay where the next leg of the race was passed on to someone sitting and waiting; they're usually running in stride.
3. It pays to pay homage to those who came before you and paved the way. It just makes sense. If you don't believe in karma or reciprocity, you have to at least recognize that you reap what you sow. Pay homage to those who have paid their dues, and then watch out.

Reflections of a Believer

Inspirational Poetry & Prayers
Bruce Jackson
(2008)

The Word is alive.
The Word is here and now.
The Word became flesh
But we still don't know how.
Really? Yeah, we do.
The Word became flesh.
He walked around with me
And with you, too.
He's within me
And even between us.
The Word was in the beginning.
The Word is JESUS.

Available for download $2.50
May 23, 2008
at www.lulu.com/lifepath/
Soft cover version available
July 4, 2008

More than Survivors (Romans 8:37)

We are More than Survivors

Romans 8:37

The concept is simple. Believers are not merely survivors of life's challenges. In fact, believers do not just overcome or simply conquer life's pressing matters. Believers, as Paul put it in Romans 8:37, "more than conquer through Him who loved us." It speaks volumes to those with wavering faith. It comforts those who just settled for what came there way. It empowers and energizes believers who strive to live life with abundance.

Order the t-shirt at: http://www.spreadshirt.com/shop.php?sid=129567 and go beyond surviving today!!

The Gospel = Good News

Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.- Acts 5:42 (NIV)

As believers, we have some good news to share with others about the Lord, what He has done, and most certainly who He is. This is the type of news that is good; good for us to share and good for others to hear. We have to be proclaimers of His goodness. Notice that they never stopped sharing about Jesus as the Christ. This happened day after day and in all sorts of places and including teaching and preaching (proclaiming).
Think on it today. Where are you teaching and preaching about Jesus and the good news that surrounds Him? When are you doing it? Is it daily? Take it to heart and never stop.

UPDATE:
Bayview Baptist Church's Man-to-Man Ministry holds its monthly men's breakfast May 17th at 7 am at 6134 Benson Avenue (San Diego, CA 92114). Join us as we look at men moving from ordinary to extraordinary via John Macarthur's Twelve Ordinary Men.

The LORD is By Our Side

If it had not been the LORD who was on our side... - Pslam 124:1 (NKJV)

I take this time to take into account where the Lord has brought myself and my family from nearly a year ago. As I had just completed some of the necessary filings for launching a new business venture, my wife was praying about going into her law practice on her own. By the end of last May, my wife was opening an office for her own firm. God spoke to her and she responded in faith. (Read Hebrews 11:6 and 2 Corinthians 5:7 if you are having trouble getting it.)
However, today's causing me to look to the Lord again in reflection of all that He has done. Because of His mighty works, His mercy and grace, His love, I can praise Him. I can praise Him for the opportunity to share His love through the message of His Word through preaching, teaching, training, equipping, and creative expression like I have never done before in my life. I stand in total awe of Him and what He has done with me as person, a man, a father, a husband, a servant, a preacher, and a believer.
Take into account today...

• Where you started
• Where you have been since you started
• What you have seen and heard since then
• How God has worked on your behalf
• Where you are now
• Where you are headed

This simple exercise may assist you in developing greater praise for Him. It just might give you a pick-me-up of praise when it seems like holy humdrum.