A fly was trapped inside of a house. Everyday, he looked out of the window and saw all of the other flies just flying around and enjoying themselves in the nice warn sun. He decided that he was going to get out of that house and enjoy the fresh air too.
He flew towards the daylight only to bump his head on the windowpane. Again and again he tried to break through, but again and again be bumped his head on the cold, hard glass. He looked in the window seal and saw all of the flies that died trying to escape through the window. He was determined that he was not going to end up like them. He was going to make to freedom. But after days of trying, he eventually joined all of the other flies that lay dead in the window seal.
The sad thing is, he did not have to die there. Just a few feet from the window was a door that was standing wide open. If he would have chosen the door, he could have flown safely through. But he lay dead in the window seal because he was determined to do it his way.
We are often unsuccessful when we try to break free from situations in our lives because we are determined to do it our way. What we don’t realize is there is a door nearby that is standing wide open. Jesus is that door. He is standing there with his arms wide open. He is saying, “I am the way” (John 14:6)
Lets stop trying to do things our way, and trust God to work things out His way.
"He's Only A Prayer Away: 9 Examples Of Praying Until Your Breakthrough" Book in Stores Now!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Hes-Only-Prayer-Away-Breakthrough/dp/0982033036/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279928966&sr=1-7
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Lost In The House
My wife and I just purchased a house last week. Although it is nice and beautiful, it is also big and confusing. There are a lot of rooms, doors, twists and turns. I don’t know how many times I was going to the hall closet and ended up in the garage. Or I was going to the basement and ended up on the sun porch. One time, I just stopped in the middle of the kitchen and started turning in circles. My nephew, who was helping me with some things, started laughing and said, “What’s the matter? Are you lost?” When I said that I was, he said, “How can you get lost in the house?”
There are a lot of people who are faithful church members, but they are lost. Some of them sing in the choir. Some of them are ushers. Some of them are deacons. Some of them are even preachers. They are in the church house every Sunday, and they do their jobs well. But if the truth were told, they are lost in the house.
Contrary to popular belief, everyone that goes to church is not saved. Did you read the story of the prodigal son in the 15th chapter of Luke? His brother, who never left home, got mad when his brother repented and went back home. There are some church members that have the same attitude. They don’t want certain kinds of people in “their church.” Gang members, drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes, ex-offenders or anyone who is not like them are not welcome. But they don’t realize that those are the people the Jesus died for.
Most people that don’t attend church do not have a problem with God, the Bible, or the church. They have a problem with church members. The reason that some people don’t go to church is because of the way they were treated when they did go. You have not been hurt until church folks have hurt you. Let me tell you something else while I am on the subject. Some people don’t go to church because they see how people act that does go. They are in the church, but the church is not in them. In other words, they are in the Lord’s house, but they are lost in the house.
God loves you. No matter what you have done or what you have become, you are welcome in His house. But you don’t want to be lost in the house.
"He's Only A Prayer Away: 9 Examples Of Praying Until Your Breakthrough" Book in Stores Now!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Hes-Only-Prayer-Away-Breakthrough/dp/0982033036/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279928966&sr=1-7
There are a lot of people who are faithful church members, but they are lost. Some of them sing in the choir. Some of them are ushers. Some of them are deacons. Some of them are even preachers. They are in the church house every Sunday, and they do their jobs well. But if the truth were told, they are lost in the house.
Contrary to popular belief, everyone that goes to church is not saved. Did you read the story of the prodigal son in the 15th chapter of Luke? His brother, who never left home, got mad when his brother repented and went back home. There are some church members that have the same attitude. They don’t want certain kinds of people in “their church.” Gang members, drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes, ex-offenders or anyone who is not like them are not welcome. But they don’t realize that those are the people the Jesus died for.
Most people that don’t attend church do not have a problem with God, the Bible, or the church. They have a problem with church members. The reason that some people don’t go to church is because of the way they were treated when they did go. You have not been hurt until church folks have hurt you. Let me tell you something else while I am on the subject. Some people don’t go to church because they see how people act that does go. They are in the church, but the church is not in them. In other words, they are in the Lord’s house, but they are lost in the house.
God loves you. No matter what you have done or what you have become, you are welcome in His house. But you don’t want to be lost in the house.
"He's Only A Prayer Away: 9 Examples Of Praying Until Your Breakthrough" Book in Stores Now!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Hes-Only-Prayer-Away-Breakthrough/dp/0982033036/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279928966&sr=1-7
Sunday, March 6, 2011
"It Is Finished" excerpt from "He's Only A Prayer Away" by Rev. Burton Barr Jr.
On Good Friday afternoon, in 2004, I sat in the back of Scruggs Memorial C.M.E. Church in St. Louis listening to my pastor, Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Bobo preach one of the seven last words of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It was the same word that I have chosen to conclude this book with. “It is finished” (John 19:30).
As he was nearing the end of his sermon, I felt my cell phone vibrating. When I peeked at the caller I.D., my heart sank. I recognized the number because I had called it many times during that week. It was the number to Forrest Park Hospital, where my mother had been in hospice care for several days.
As Pastor Bobo talked about how Jesus’ earthly mission had been completed and how the suffering and the pain of Calvary and the cross had come to an end, I thought about my mother. I thought about all of the sacrifices that she had made while raising my brother and me.
I thought about all of the pain and suffering she had endured over the past few months while she was in a nursing home. I thought about the gut wrenching cries and moans that tore my heart to pieces when I’d visited her on the previous day. Then, I heard my pastor say, “It is finished.”
Although I politely waited until the seventh and final word of our Savior had been preached and the benediction was given before I stepped outside, I didn’t hear anything that anyone had said. All I remember was standing on the steps of that church and listening to the message that had been recorded and left on my phone’s voice mail. It was the nurse saying, “Mr. Barr, I am calling to inform you that your mother, Mary Jane Barr, has expired.”
I thought to myself, “It is finished.” Her work down here on earth was completed. Her commitment as a loving mother, a faithful wife, a dedicated worker, and a loyal friend had come to an end. It is finished.
As sad as I was on that fateful afternoon, I was also encouraged because I knew that because of the finished work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I would see my mother again. It is finished.
My friends, when Jesus spoke those powerful words while He was hanging on that cross, they were not words of defeat.
If you notice, He didn’t say, “I am finished.” He said, “It is finished.” You need to hear that. Those were words of victory. It was not only victory for Christ, but it is also victory for all of us who choose to follow Him and to know Him as our Lord and Savior. It is finished.
Here is another thing. I don’t believe that those words were whispered. No I don’t. I believe those words were shouted. I believe they were shouted because Jesus wanted Satan and all of his demons to know that the battle was over. Satan had been defeated. Jesus had successfully completed His mission, so, before He took His last breath, He shouted, “IT IS FINISHED”. It is finished.
Let’s examine the words of Jesus, “It is finished.” Exactly what was it that was finished? When He received the vinegar and uttered those famous words, what was He saying?
Over the years, I have done a lot of research on this subject. I’ve read a lot of books and utilized the Internet.
One of the things I learned is what Jesus meant when he said, “It is finished”.
First of all, it meant that His life on earth was finished. Although He is God, while He was here on earth, He was a living, moving, breathing human being. He ate. He slept. He walked. He wept. He preached and He prayed. When he uttered those words; all of that was finished.
His holy hands that had healed so many, given strength to the lame and sight to the blind would soon be cold and motionless.
His feet, which had walked on so many missions of mercy, would soon become rigid and unmoving. His voice, that had spoken countless words of grace and love to so many, would soon become silent. His body, which had carried Him through three decades of life, would soon become lifeless. It is finished. Yes, Jesus’ human life had come to an end.
It also meant that His work on earth was finished. All of the Old Testament prophesies were fulfilled. Death and the grave were defeated. Everything that He had been sent here to do was finished.
Let me personalize this thing for you. When I was nine years old, I sat in the back of the Rose of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago and listened as my first pastor, the Reverend James A. Murphy, preached a sermon about Adam and Eve. It was the first time I had ever heard the story; so I sat there somewhat spellbound as he talked about the fall of man and the consequences that we all had to suffer because of the fall.
Although my brother and I were in church every Sunday, I think that was the first time one of Rev. Murphy’s sermons really hit home with me. I loved to hear him preach Sunday after Sunday. It was through him that I first heard the story of the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace and Daniel in the lion’s den.
There were so many sermons that Rev. Murphy preached that made me feel good. The Prodigal Son, The Good Samaritan, and Lazarus being raised from the dead were just a few. I guess you could call them shouting sermons.
But the fall of man was not a shouting sermon, not to me. Because the only thing that my little nine-year old mind could digest was that because of Adam’s sin and disobedience, I was going to die and go to hell someday and there was nothing that I could do about it.
I felt when Adam fell, I too had fallen. I was a sinner. I didn’t want to be a sinner. I didn’t even know what a sinner was. I was just nine years old.
Rev. Murphy didn’t let the story end there. He told me about Romans 5:19, where it says, “As by one man’s disobedience” meaning Adam, “many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one,” meaning the finished work of Jesus Christ, “shall many be made righteous.” Jesus took a sad story and gave it a happy ending.
Because of His finished work on Earth and on the cross, when we repent and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God forgives us for our sins. Man’s problem is that we have a hard time forgiving ourselves.
“It is finished!” was His cry. His work was finished. It was complete. It was ended.
“It is finished,” however, refers only to Jesus’ redemptive work. We know from Scripture that His work as Lord continues.
Christ is in heaven right now as Lord of the universe and head of the church. Jesus is hard at work on our behalf and for our good; preparing a place for us, pleading for us before the Father, defending us, and keeping us safe from the attacks of Satan. It is finished.
Jesus has completed the work that God sent Him to do on Earth. What was started when Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, was ended on Golgotha. Christ’s salvation work was done. It is finished.
This means that Christ’s work of suffering was done. Oh, how our Lord suffered. Think of Gethsemane, the Sanhedrin, Pilate, Herod, and then Pilate again. Think of the brutal soldiers, the journey to Calvary, the nails of the crucifixion, those three awful hours of darkness when God forsook Him physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Our Lord suffered so very much.
But now it was finished. The cup of wrath has been drained. The wages of sin have been paid. The disgrace and shame, the suffering and the agony are past. Never again shall He experience pain. Never again shall He endure the taunts and the slaps of those who hate Him. Never again shall He be in the hands of His enemies. Never again shall He be in darkness. Never again shall God’s presence be taken from Him. It is finished.
It is finished means that nothing more could be done or would be required to secure the salvation of sinners.
I read the story about a young man that came forward in a Gospel meeting asking, “What can I do to be saved?”
Knowing the man thought he had to do something dramatic to be saved, the pastor responded, “You are too late.”
“Please don’t say that,” exclaimed the distressed seeker. “I really want salvation. I will do anything or go anywhere to obtain it.”
“I’m sorry,” replied the pastor. “You are too late for that. Your salvation was completed many hundred years ago at Calvary. It is finished. All you have to do now is accept it.
In 1975, after my third court martial, I was given a bad conduct discharge from the United States Marines. That meant I didn’t have any benefits. Whenever I filled out applications for employment or was asked if I was a veteran, I had to say that I was not.
In 2008, I went to the veteran’s administration office and got a copy of my military records. To my surprise, I learned that the major charge that I was convicted of had been overturned on appeal in 1979.
Therefore, my bad conduct discharge had been thrown out and I was given an honorable discharge; but for almost thirty years, I had been living with the guilt and shame of a sentence that had been dismissed.
Man sold himself into sin, but Jesus paid the price to redeem mankind. He became a propitiation for our sins; appeasing God’s wrath and judgment; fully satisfying the demands of a righteous God in respect to judgment upon a sinner.
I’m not worried about anything because I’m a child of God. He adopted me a long time ago when Jesus hung on the cross and said, “it is finished.”
It is finished because the Father was satisfied. It is finished because the Son was crucified. It is finished because the Saints were edified.
At last and did my Savior bleed
And did my sovereign die
Would He devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I
At the cross – At the cross
Where I first saw the light
And the burden of my heart rolled away
It was there by faith
I received my sight
And now I am happy
All the day
It Is Finished.
"He's Only A Prayer Away: 9 Examples Of Praying Until Your Breakthrough" Book in Stores Now!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Hes-Only-Prayer-Away-Breakthrough/dp/0982033036/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279928966&sr=1-7
As he was nearing the end of his sermon, I felt my cell phone vibrating. When I peeked at the caller I.D., my heart sank. I recognized the number because I had called it many times during that week. It was the number to Forrest Park Hospital, where my mother had been in hospice care for several days.
As Pastor Bobo talked about how Jesus’ earthly mission had been completed and how the suffering and the pain of Calvary and the cross had come to an end, I thought about my mother. I thought about all of the sacrifices that she had made while raising my brother and me.
I thought about all of the pain and suffering she had endured over the past few months while she was in a nursing home. I thought about the gut wrenching cries and moans that tore my heart to pieces when I’d visited her on the previous day. Then, I heard my pastor say, “It is finished.”
Although I politely waited until the seventh and final word of our Savior had been preached and the benediction was given before I stepped outside, I didn’t hear anything that anyone had said. All I remember was standing on the steps of that church and listening to the message that had been recorded and left on my phone’s voice mail. It was the nurse saying, “Mr. Barr, I am calling to inform you that your mother, Mary Jane Barr, has expired.”
I thought to myself, “It is finished.” Her work down here on earth was completed. Her commitment as a loving mother, a faithful wife, a dedicated worker, and a loyal friend had come to an end. It is finished.
As sad as I was on that fateful afternoon, I was also encouraged because I knew that because of the finished work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I would see my mother again. It is finished.
My friends, when Jesus spoke those powerful words while He was hanging on that cross, they were not words of defeat.
If you notice, He didn’t say, “I am finished.” He said, “It is finished.” You need to hear that. Those were words of victory. It was not only victory for Christ, but it is also victory for all of us who choose to follow Him and to know Him as our Lord and Savior. It is finished.
Here is another thing. I don’t believe that those words were whispered. No I don’t. I believe those words were shouted. I believe they were shouted because Jesus wanted Satan and all of his demons to know that the battle was over. Satan had been defeated. Jesus had successfully completed His mission, so, before He took His last breath, He shouted, “IT IS FINISHED”. It is finished.
Let’s examine the words of Jesus, “It is finished.” Exactly what was it that was finished? When He received the vinegar and uttered those famous words, what was He saying?
Over the years, I have done a lot of research on this subject. I’ve read a lot of books and utilized the Internet.
One of the things I learned is what Jesus meant when he said, “It is finished”.
First of all, it meant that His life on earth was finished. Although He is God, while He was here on earth, He was a living, moving, breathing human being. He ate. He slept. He walked. He wept. He preached and He prayed. When he uttered those words; all of that was finished.
His holy hands that had healed so many, given strength to the lame and sight to the blind would soon be cold and motionless.
His feet, which had walked on so many missions of mercy, would soon become rigid and unmoving. His voice, that had spoken countless words of grace and love to so many, would soon become silent. His body, which had carried Him through three decades of life, would soon become lifeless. It is finished. Yes, Jesus’ human life had come to an end.
It also meant that His work on earth was finished. All of the Old Testament prophesies were fulfilled. Death and the grave were defeated. Everything that He had been sent here to do was finished.
Let me personalize this thing for you. When I was nine years old, I sat in the back of the Rose of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago and listened as my first pastor, the Reverend James A. Murphy, preached a sermon about Adam and Eve. It was the first time I had ever heard the story; so I sat there somewhat spellbound as he talked about the fall of man and the consequences that we all had to suffer because of the fall.
Although my brother and I were in church every Sunday, I think that was the first time one of Rev. Murphy’s sermons really hit home with me. I loved to hear him preach Sunday after Sunday. It was through him that I first heard the story of the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace and Daniel in the lion’s den.
There were so many sermons that Rev. Murphy preached that made me feel good. The Prodigal Son, The Good Samaritan, and Lazarus being raised from the dead were just a few. I guess you could call them shouting sermons.
But the fall of man was not a shouting sermon, not to me. Because the only thing that my little nine-year old mind could digest was that because of Adam’s sin and disobedience, I was going to die and go to hell someday and there was nothing that I could do about it.
I felt when Adam fell, I too had fallen. I was a sinner. I didn’t want to be a sinner. I didn’t even know what a sinner was. I was just nine years old.
Rev. Murphy didn’t let the story end there. He told me about Romans 5:19, where it says, “As by one man’s disobedience” meaning Adam, “many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one,” meaning the finished work of Jesus Christ, “shall many be made righteous.” Jesus took a sad story and gave it a happy ending.
Because of His finished work on Earth and on the cross, when we repent and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God forgives us for our sins. Man’s problem is that we have a hard time forgiving ourselves.
“It is finished!” was His cry. His work was finished. It was complete. It was ended.
“It is finished,” however, refers only to Jesus’ redemptive work. We know from Scripture that His work as Lord continues.
Christ is in heaven right now as Lord of the universe and head of the church. Jesus is hard at work on our behalf and for our good; preparing a place for us, pleading for us before the Father, defending us, and keeping us safe from the attacks of Satan. It is finished.
Jesus has completed the work that God sent Him to do on Earth. What was started when Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, was ended on Golgotha. Christ’s salvation work was done. It is finished.
This means that Christ’s work of suffering was done. Oh, how our Lord suffered. Think of Gethsemane, the Sanhedrin, Pilate, Herod, and then Pilate again. Think of the brutal soldiers, the journey to Calvary, the nails of the crucifixion, those three awful hours of darkness when God forsook Him physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Our Lord suffered so very much.
But now it was finished. The cup of wrath has been drained. The wages of sin have been paid. The disgrace and shame, the suffering and the agony are past. Never again shall He experience pain. Never again shall He endure the taunts and the slaps of those who hate Him. Never again shall He be in the hands of His enemies. Never again shall He be in darkness. Never again shall God’s presence be taken from Him. It is finished.
It is finished means that nothing more could be done or would be required to secure the salvation of sinners.
I read the story about a young man that came forward in a Gospel meeting asking, “What can I do to be saved?”
Knowing the man thought he had to do something dramatic to be saved, the pastor responded, “You are too late.”
“Please don’t say that,” exclaimed the distressed seeker. “I really want salvation. I will do anything or go anywhere to obtain it.”
“I’m sorry,” replied the pastor. “You are too late for that. Your salvation was completed many hundred years ago at Calvary. It is finished. All you have to do now is accept it.
In 1975, after my third court martial, I was given a bad conduct discharge from the United States Marines. That meant I didn’t have any benefits. Whenever I filled out applications for employment or was asked if I was a veteran, I had to say that I was not.
In 2008, I went to the veteran’s administration office and got a copy of my military records. To my surprise, I learned that the major charge that I was convicted of had been overturned on appeal in 1979.
Therefore, my bad conduct discharge had been thrown out and I was given an honorable discharge; but for almost thirty years, I had been living with the guilt and shame of a sentence that had been dismissed.
Man sold himself into sin, but Jesus paid the price to redeem mankind. He became a propitiation for our sins; appeasing God’s wrath and judgment; fully satisfying the demands of a righteous God in respect to judgment upon a sinner.
I’m not worried about anything because I’m a child of God. He adopted me a long time ago when Jesus hung on the cross and said, “it is finished.”
It is finished because the Father was satisfied. It is finished because the Son was crucified. It is finished because the Saints were edified.
At last and did my Savior bleed
And did my sovereign die
Would He devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I
At the cross – At the cross
Where I first saw the light
And the burden of my heart rolled away
It was there by faith
I received my sight
And now I am happy
All the day
It Is Finished.
"He's Only A Prayer Away: 9 Examples Of Praying Until Your Breakthrough" Book in Stores Now!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Hes-Only-Prayer-Away-Breakthrough/dp/0982033036/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279928966&sr=1-7
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Who Are You Calling?
I had a friend in Chicago whose name was Maurice. He was a major drug dealer and a fence. For those of you who may not know what a fence is, he is a person who buys stolen property. Maurice was a high roller. He owned two nightclubs and was into some of everything on Chicago’s West Side.
In September of 1985, some detectives came to my house and took me to jail. I needed $50,000 cash to get out. The only person that I knew that had that kind of money was Maurice. I called him, but he wasn’t there. A week or so later, I called him again, but he still wasn’t there. I tried calling him again and again. But every time I called, they said he was not there. Finally, I gave up.
When I went to court, I was given 2-year sentence. When I was on my way to the bus that would take me to the penitentiary, guess who I saw? That’s right, I saw Maurice. He was getting on the same bus. I had been trying to call him because I was in trouble, but he was in more trouble than I was!
Sometimes we put our trust in the wrong people. We put our trust in our friends, our family members, our classmates or our politicians. But we should put our trust in the Lord. He is the one that we should call on in times of trouble. God loves you. No matter where you are. No matter what you have done. No matter what you have become. God loves you and you can call on Him.
Justice and Mercy had scheduled a very important meeting. Justice arrived at the appointed place exactly on time. He was dressed sharply and looking good. He didn’t have one hair out of place. His robe was so white, it seemed to glow. Even his sandals were spit shined. He paced back and forth, glancing at his hourglass, as he waited for Mercy to arrive.
When Mercy got there, he didn’t look anything like Justice. His hair was all over his head, and his robe was dirty, ragged and scorched. His sandals were run down and had holes in them. He said, “I’m sorry for being late, Brother Justice, but I have been on one assignment after another. Three young boys were in a fiery furnace, and I had to see about them. Then, there was a young man that was in a lion’s den. I had to see about him. I was on my way here when I learned that there were two men in a Phillipian jail. God was so impressed with their prayer and their praise, He sent me to see about them.
Just then, Mercy’s cell phone rang. When he finished with his conversation, he turned to Justice. He said, “I know that we have a lot to talk about, but we will have to do it at another time. Someone else is in trouble. They are saying, ‘Lord, have mercy.’ I have to go and see about them”
Are you the one that is calling on the Lord right now? Or are you calling Maurice?
"He's Only A Prayer Away: 9 Examples Of Praying Until Your Breakthrough" Book in Stores Now!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Hes-Only-Prayer-Away-Breakthrough/dp/0982033036/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279928966&sr=1-7
In September of 1985, some detectives came to my house and took me to jail. I needed $50,000 cash to get out. The only person that I knew that had that kind of money was Maurice. I called him, but he wasn’t there. A week or so later, I called him again, but he still wasn’t there. I tried calling him again and again. But every time I called, they said he was not there. Finally, I gave up.
When I went to court, I was given 2-year sentence. When I was on my way to the bus that would take me to the penitentiary, guess who I saw? That’s right, I saw Maurice. He was getting on the same bus. I had been trying to call him because I was in trouble, but he was in more trouble than I was!
Sometimes we put our trust in the wrong people. We put our trust in our friends, our family members, our classmates or our politicians. But we should put our trust in the Lord. He is the one that we should call on in times of trouble. God loves you. No matter where you are. No matter what you have done. No matter what you have become. God loves you and you can call on Him.
Justice and Mercy had scheduled a very important meeting. Justice arrived at the appointed place exactly on time. He was dressed sharply and looking good. He didn’t have one hair out of place. His robe was so white, it seemed to glow. Even his sandals were spit shined. He paced back and forth, glancing at his hourglass, as he waited for Mercy to arrive.
When Mercy got there, he didn’t look anything like Justice. His hair was all over his head, and his robe was dirty, ragged and scorched. His sandals were run down and had holes in them. He said, “I’m sorry for being late, Brother Justice, but I have been on one assignment after another. Three young boys were in a fiery furnace, and I had to see about them. Then, there was a young man that was in a lion’s den. I had to see about him. I was on my way here when I learned that there were two men in a Phillipian jail. God was so impressed with their prayer and their praise, He sent me to see about them.
Just then, Mercy’s cell phone rang. When he finished with his conversation, he turned to Justice. He said, “I know that we have a lot to talk about, but we will have to do it at another time. Someone else is in trouble. They are saying, ‘Lord, have mercy.’ I have to go and see about them”
Are you the one that is calling on the Lord right now? Or are you calling Maurice?
"He's Only A Prayer Away: 9 Examples Of Praying Until Your Breakthrough" Book in Stores Now!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Hes-Only-Prayer-Away-Breakthrough/dp/0982033036/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279928966&sr=1-7
Sunday, February 20, 2011
The Bridge Builder
Two men owned farms that were across the road from each other. They had been friends and neighbors for as long as either of them could remember. One day they had a disagreement that led to a very heated argument. When it was over, they vowed to never speak to each other again.
Some time later, a stranger knocked on the door of one of the farmers. He said that he was a builder by trade and was looking for work. He asked the farmer if he needed any help around his property.
The farmer said that he had the perfect job for him. He pointed to the road that divided his property from that of his former friend. He said, “I want you to build a huge wall at the end of my land. I want the wall to be so big that that I will never have to see that man over there, or his house, or anything that belongs to him ever again.” Then he said, “I have a few errands to run. There should be enough wood in the shed for the wall. I’ll pay you when I get back.” Then he got into his truck and drove off.
When the farmer finished with his business, he headed home so he could see his new wall. But when he got there, what he saw completely blew his mind. Instead of a wall that divided the two properties, there was a bridge that connected them.
He ran to the builder as he was putting his tools away. He said, “What is this? I told you to build a wall, not a bridge.” While he was talking, he saw his neighbor running towards him, laughing and crying at the same time. His neighbor told him how sorry he was about their terrible misunderstanding. He said, “When I looked out my window and saw the bridge that you had built, it made me realize just how valuable your friendship really is, and how much I missed fellowshipping with you.” The farmer looked at his friend and realized how much he had missed their fellowship as well.
He turned to the builder and said, “Thank you for bringing two stubborn old friends together. There are a lot of things that need fixing around here. There is enough work around here to keep you busy for a long time. Please stay.”
The builder smiled and said, “I appreciate your offer, but I must be on my way. I have more bridges to build.”
God is looking for some bridge builders. Are you one?
"He's Only A Prayer Away: 9 Examples Of Praying Until Your Breakthrough" Book in Stores Now!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Hes-Only-Prayer-Away-Breakthrough/dp/0982033036/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279928966&sr=1-7
Some time later, a stranger knocked on the door of one of the farmers. He said that he was a builder by trade and was looking for work. He asked the farmer if he needed any help around his property.
The farmer said that he had the perfect job for him. He pointed to the road that divided his property from that of his former friend. He said, “I want you to build a huge wall at the end of my land. I want the wall to be so big that that I will never have to see that man over there, or his house, or anything that belongs to him ever again.” Then he said, “I have a few errands to run. There should be enough wood in the shed for the wall. I’ll pay you when I get back.” Then he got into his truck and drove off.
When the farmer finished with his business, he headed home so he could see his new wall. But when he got there, what he saw completely blew his mind. Instead of a wall that divided the two properties, there was a bridge that connected them.
He ran to the builder as he was putting his tools away. He said, “What is this? I told you to build a wall, not a bridge.” While he was talking, he saw his neighbor running towards him, laughing and crying at the same time. His neighbor told him how sorry he was about their terrible misunderstanding. He said, “When I looked out my window and saw the bridge that you had built, it made me realize just how valuable your friendship really is, and how much I missed fellowshipping with you.” The farmer looked at his friend and realized how much he had missed their fellowship as well.
He turned to the builder and said, “Thank you for bringing two stubborn old friends together. There are a lot of things that need fixing around here. There is enough work around here to keep you busy for a long time. Please stay.”
The builder smiled and said, “I appreciate your offer, but I must be on my way. I have more bridges to build.”
God is looking for some bridge builders. Are you one?
"He's Only A Prayer Away: 9 Examples Of Praying Until Your Breakthrough" Book in Stores Now!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Hes-Only-Prayer-Away-Breakthrough/dp/0982033036/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279928966&sr=1-7
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Get Off Of The Bus
We just witnessed one of the coldest spells that I can remember experiencing since I moved to St. Louis. I felt like I was back in Chicago or Detroit. As I was driving down the street one day, I noticed people at various bus stops, all bundled up and shivering as they waited for the bus. It reminded me of something that happened to me on one very cold winter day in Chicago.
I had been waiting for my bus for several minutes in the freezing cold. When the bus finally arrived, I climbed aboard, paid my fair and took a seat. I was glad to be out of the bitter cold and on a nice, warm bus. I leaned back in my seat, glancing out of the window while enjoying the ride. All of a sudden, the bus made a left turn instead of going straight. When I looked around, I realized that I was on the wrong bus. The bus was headed downtown, but that is not where you want to go. I started to get off, but it was so warm, cozy and comfortable I decided to ride a little while longer. It felt so good; I think I dozed off for a while. Before I knew it, I was at the end of the line. I was in the heart of downtown because I didn’t get off of the bus when I had the chance.
A lot of men and women are riding the wrong bus. Satan is the driver, and he is taking them where they don’t want to go. He is taking some of them to the penitentiary. He is taking some of them to the cemetery. He is taking some of them to divorce courts. He is taking some of them to maternity wards or abortion clinics. He is taking some of them to the pits of hell. They know they are going the wrong way, but they are comfortable and they just want to ride a little while longer before they get off. All the while, God is saying, “Get off of the bus.”
What about you? What bus are you riding on?
"He's Only A Prayer Away: 9 Examples Of Praying Until Your Breakthrough" Book in Stores Now!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Hes-Only-Prayer-Away-Breakthrough/dp/0982033036/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279928966&sr=1-7
I had been waiting for my bus for several minutes in the freezing cold. When the bus finally arrived, I climbed aboard, paid my fair and took a seat. I was glad to be out of the bitter cold and on a nice, warm bus. I leaned back in my seat, glancing out of the window while enjoying the ride. All of a sudden, the bus made a left turn instead of going straight. When I looked around, I realized that I was on the wrong bus. The bus was headed downtown, but that is not where you want to go. I started to get off, but it was so warm, cozy and comfortable I decided to ride a little while longer. It felt so good; I think I dozed off for a while. Before I knew it, I was at the end of the line. I was in the heart of downtown because I didn’t get off of the bus when I had the chance.
A lot of men and women are riding the wrong bus. Satan is the driver, and he is taking them where they don’t want to go. He is taking some of them to the penitentiary. He is taking some of them to the cemetery. He is taking some of them to divorce courts. He is taking some of them to maternity wards or abortion clinics. He is taking some of them to the pits of hell. They know they are going the wrong way, but they are comfortable and they just want to ride a little while longer before they get off. All the while, God is saying, “Get off of the bus.”
What about you? What bus are you riding on?
"He's Only A Prayer Away: 9 Examples Of Praying Until Your Breakthrough" Book in Stores Now!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Hes-Only-Prayer-Away-Breakthrough/dp/0982033036/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279928966&sr=1-7
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Aim High
I once read a story about flea trainers and how they train their fleas. First, he places them in a jar. When he puts them in there, they jump out, because fleas are incredible jumpers. But the training begins when he puts a lid on the jar. The fleas continue to jump, but when they do, they bump their heads on the lid over and over again. After a while, the fleas continue to jump, but they no longer jump as high as they can, because they don’t want to bump their heads anymore.
Now the trainer removes the lid from the jar. When he does, the fleas continue to jump, but they do not jump out of the jar. Actually, they don’t jump out because they no longer can jump out. They cannot jump out because they have conditioned themselves to only jump so high. Now, that is all they can do.
Some of our people have conditioned themselves to only jump so high. Every time they tried to jump any higher, they bumped their heads. They have bumped their heads on racism. They have bumped their heads on peer pressure. They have bumped their heads on people telling them what they could not do, and what they could not be. They have bumped their heads over and over again because Satan has placed a lid over their dreams.
I want to tell you something. When Jesus died on the cross, Satan thought he had shattered His dreams. But early that Sunday morning, when Jesus stepped out of the grave, not only was the stone removed from the entrance to the tomb; the lid was removed from above your dreams. That is why the Apostle Paul was able to say, "I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me."
Don't be afraid to aim high. Aim as high as you can. One of my former Pastors used to say, "Always aim for the moon. If you fall upon the stars, you will still be on higher ground." Put your trust in God and aim high.
"He's Only A Prayer Away: 9 Examples Of Praying Until Your Breakthrough" Book in Stores Now!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Hes-Only-Prayer-Away-Breakthrough/dp/0982033036/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279928966&sr=1-7
Now the trainer removes the lid from the jar. When he does, the fleas continue to jump, but they do not jump out of the jar. Actually, they don’t jump out because they no longer can jump out. They cannot jump out because they have conditioned themselves to only jump so high. Now, that is all they can do.
Some of our people have conditioned themselves to only jump so high. Every time they tried to jump any higher, they bumped their heads. They have bumped their heads on racism. They have bumped their heads on peer pressure. They have bumped their heads on people telling them what they could not do, and what they could not be. They have bumped their heads over and over again because Satan has placed a lid over their dreams.
I want to tell you something. When Jesus died on the cross, Satan thought he had shattered His dreams. But early that Sunday morning, when Jesus stepped out of the grave, not only was the stone removed from the entrance to the tomb; the lid was removed from above your dreams. That is why the Apostle Paul was able to say, "I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me."
Don't be afraid to aim high. Aim as high as you can. One of my former Pastors used to say, "Always aim for the moon. If you fall upon the stars, you will still be on higher ground." Put your trust in God and aim high.
"He's Only A Prayer Away: 9 Examples Of Praying Until Your Breakthrough" Book in Stores Now!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Hes-Only-Prayer-Away-Breakthrough/dp/0982033036/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279928966&sr=1-7
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
