Oh how frequently we let life get in the way of worship!

I had what felt like an interesting thought the other day while watching the movie, The Book of Eli.  No, this thought wasn’t about that particular movie at all, but while watching it, I observed something that seems to be quite common in movies.

Have you ever noticed, when there is a “bad guy” in movies, he typically has henchmen, underlings, or men working for him that are, without fail, bigger, stronger, and way meaner than he is?  They are willing to do basically anything for him.  They will kill for him, fighting, stabbing, or shooting anything that poses even the slightest of threats.  They will also even die for him, jumping in the way of a speeding bullet or oncoming attacker.

Click Here to Read More…

I’ve been in the sales industry since 1997.  My version of sales has always been in the way of mortgages, so mostly, I have sold a service rather than a tangible product.  Due to the crumbling of the mortgage industry, I have become greatly disillusioned with selling mortgages…for a number of reasons…so recently, I’ve gotten involved with a new company that does in fact “sell” products.  These products can change one’s life physically, which can impact one’s life emotionally, psychologically, and mentally.

Click Here to Read More…

Last Sunday, the pastor at the church that my family and I visited made a statement during his sermon that I thought was profound, powerful, and insightful, while also feeling quite indicting to me.  He said, “I hope to not treat you as if you lack what it takes to be a fully functioning member of the body of Christ.”

Ouch, I thought to myself.  That’s harsh.  Or, at least it felt harsh to me.

Why?  Why did his statement strike right at my heart like it did? 

Click Here to Read More…

This week, I have been publishing a series of posts on the power of worship.  This series is  GUEST POST from Kim Potter, who runs one of my favorite daily devotions ministries.  Her words have impacted my life now for the past several years.  This particular series has really spoken to me a number of times.  I thought I would share it with you, mainly because I find it to be very applicable to marriage.  Kim’s ministry is called “A New Thing Ministries” and can be found at: CLICK HERE.  I would also strongly suggest subscribing to her daily newsletter, which you can do in the middle of the home page of her website.  Her devotions are very powerful.  I hope you enjoy…

CLICK HERE TO READ PART ONE OF “THE RAIN OF WORSHIP”

CLICK HERE TO READ PART TWO OF “THE RAIN OF WORSHIP”

 The Rain of Worship (Part Three)

by Kim Potter

Even with all the teaching on worship, I have found that many people do not know how to worship.  I know many ministers have a different view of praise and worship.  This is how the Lord has taught me and I hope it helps you in your pursuit of Him.

Praise means to rejoice, give commendations, applause, approval, endorsement and acclaim.  Through this definition, we understand that we praise God for what He does.  We praise Him when He answers our prayers.  We praise Him when He delivers our children.  We praise Him for His mighty acts.  

David was a man of praise, He even said in Psalm 71:6, “Your praise shall continually be in my mouth.”  What made David a man of praise?  He had seen God do such mighty acts right before his face.  King David had seen God deliver him so many times; he couldn’t help but become a praiser.  We see King David’s praise all though the Psalms.  

Click Here to Read More…

This week, I will be publishing a series of posts on the power of worship.  This series is  GUEST POST from Kim Potter, who runs one of my favorite daily devotions ministries.  Her words have impacted my life now for the past several years.  This particular series has really spoken to me a number of times.  I thought I would share it with you, mainly because I find it to be very applicable to marriage.  Kim’s ministry is called “A New Thing Ministries” and can be found at: CLICK HERE.  I would also strongly suggest subscribing to her daily newsletter, which you can do in the middle of the home page of her website.  Her devotions are very powerful.  I hope you enjoy…

CLICK HERE TO READ PART ONE OF “THE RAIN OF WORSHIP”

 The Rain of Worship (Part Two)

by Kim Potter

Hosea 6 says “Come. Let us return to the Lord…let us strive to know the Lord…He will come to us like the rain.”

It’s time to return to the Lord, strive to really know Him, to become intimately acquainted with Him, for He is about to come and rain all of who He is and all of His abundance on you…as you worship Him.

Now, let’s look at another scripture… “even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” (Isaiah 46:4)

A year or so ago, I went through a season where I studied worship a great deal, during that time Lord gave me a dream.  God often speaks to me through dreams and He often reveals things to me through dreams.  This dream explained the process of worship to me…please allow me to share it with you.

Click Here to Read More…

This week, I will be publishing a series of posts on the power of worship.  This series is  GUEST POST from Kim Potter, who runs one of my favorite daily devotions ministries.  Her words have impacted my life now for the past several years.  This particular series has really spoken to me a number of times.  I thought I would share it with you, mainly because I find it to be very applicable to marriage.  Kim’s ministry is called “A New Thing Ministries” and can be found at: CLICK HERE.  I would also strongly suggest subscribing to her daily newsletter, which you can do in the middle of the home page of her website.  Her devotions are very powerful.  I hope you enjoy…

The Rain of Worship (Part One)

by Kim Potter

“And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there shall be no rain.” (Zechariah 14:17)

I have always been a worshipper; it has usually come easy for me. It was the very first thing I learned about God, and it has been my heart cry ever since.

Now, I will admit, there are times when it is more difficult to worship, it doesn’t always come easy. When battles and trials came, it seemed my safe place was in worshipping Him.  And worship, I did.  It has brought me through many difficult times.

However, there was a time when my times of worship had diminished.  I had no excuse; I simply got my eyes on the cares of this world and the battle that was shaking every part of my life.  It was an extremely difficult time for me.

During that particular time, the Lord spoke something to me that changed how I saw worship and taught me what happens when we worship God with our whole heart.  He said simply ‘no worship, no rain.’  I thought that was the strangest statement.  But it just kept coming to me.   I thought ‘that can’t be scriptural.’  So I looked it up and it is scriptural.  Zechariah 14:17 declares, “…those who will not worship me, on them there shall be no rain.”

Click Here to Read More…

Have you ever noticed that most people really struggle with taking the blame for things they have done?  For standing up and taking responsibility when they mess up or fail someone?  Sure, it’s hard to do, but think about the times in your life when you have done this, think about the relational barriers it has broken down. 

Have you ever been at odds with someone really close to you, and all it took to bring the two of you back together in love was for you to say, “Hey, it was my fault.  I’m sorry.”  Think about the times in your life when you have been hurt or emotionally injured by someone you care about–maybe one of your parents, your spouse, your children, or your siblings–or think about when a really close friend has done something to truly hurt you.  What brought you back together with that person?  I guarantee you that if there has indeed been a reconciliation in your relationship then it began when that person said something like, “I’m sorry.  What I did was wrong.  It was my fault.”

Click Here to Read More…

Here is what I want you to do today…

Find someone in need and meet that need, whatever it may be, whether it be emotional, physical, spiritual, financial, etc.  Wherever that someone is in life, meet them there and love them.  Love them like Christ loved the woman at the well or the Good Samaritan loved the man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho.  Love them like Christ loved you.  Sacrifice your whole self for them.

Friends, this is what our Christian walks are all about…