Thank You For The Harvest

Given August 8, 2007
As we gather today to celebrate those things for which we are thankful, I'm reminded of where the harvest comes from; the seed. "And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:12". The things we are harvesting today come from the seeds we've planted in the past. If you're not seeing the kind of harvest you want, or in the amount you want, try planting different or more seed.

This summer, after planting some bean seeds, I harvested a bumper crop. I love to count things, so I counted the bean pods I got off of several plants. You know I got 27 bean pods from one plant with about 8 beans in each pod. That's 216 bean seeds that came from the one I planted! Now that's a good return! I had planted a bunch of seeds so I got a bountiful return. "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6". And, since I wanted beans, I planted bean seeds. I sowed according to what I wanted to harvest.

But I didn't just let the seeds sit there. No, I watered them, got the weeds out, kept the soil loose around them because I wanted the best harvest I could get. And it took awhile. But I had faith that the process would work. It works the same way in the Spiritual realm. You get what you sow and in the amount you sow it. "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38".

As we give thanks today for what God has done for us and the things He has given to us, realize it comes from this principle of seed-time-harvest; plant the seed, give it some time, reap the harvest. You know, we should be out looking for opportunities to plant into the Kingdom of God in many areas of our lives and expecting, by faith, a bountiful return.

Be blessed!

Talk, Walk, Talk

Given August 22, 2007
I'm sure you've heard the expression, "You gotta walk the talk!" See what you think about this: You can talk it after you walk it, but you have to talk it before you walk it, to see it. Man, does that statement make you squint your eyes and shake your head? Well, let me try to explain what it means.

It is said in Romans 4:17 that God, "calls things that are not as though they were." God told Abraham that He had made him the father of many nations. Abraham believed God and, I imagine, he went around saying, "I'm the father of many nations.", even though he was a hundred and his wife was barren. He was talking it BEFORE he saw it or walked it. He kept on talking it until he saw it, which was his son Issac. Then, after he'd talked it, and saw it, he could then walk it.

Abraham talked and walked by faith at first, saw his faith come to life in Issac, then he could put his arm around the boy and talk it some more. Then, I imagine, he said something like, "Look what the Lord has done!"

"It is written: 'I believed; therefore I have spoken.' With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13". If we speak the promises of God, believe what we say, and walk in it, then we can talk about it afterward and give God the glory!

Optimist or Pessimist

Given June 25, 2007
I heard a story on this day about a fisherman who took a skillet with him on a fishing trip. He was planning on catching some fish. He was optimistic. Probably, he had caught fish before and believed he would again.

The kingdom of God works that way as well. When we are praying or believing for something, how do we act; what do we say? If we really believe the Word of God as displayed in the Bible, we will behave and speak in a certain way; you might say we'll be optimistic. Are you praying for a job...? thank God for it and begin doing, James 1:22, things related to your new job. Are you sick...? thank God for your healing and begin speaking those things that are not as though they were, Romans 4:17.

I won't say too much about being pessimistic but, if you listen, you'll hear Christian brothers and sisters, and even ourselves, talking this way often. Watch out and don't do this. Believe what God says, act on it, speak it and see it come to pass, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11:24". Don't pay any attention to the lies and temptations of the devil.

The daughter of a friend I worked with was praying for a new job. The next week at church, she gave a tithe on the salary of the new job. You know what happened, she got the job! Is that optimism, (faith), or what?

I Doubt It

Given November 7, 2006
Have you ever met a person who was negative? Boy, I have! They complain about everything, speak gloom & doom, and find fault in the best of situations. "Hey, is it going to be a good day?" - "I doubt it." "Are you going to get that job?" - "I doubt it." There's not much faith there, if any, and they don't receive much from God.

Jesus said, (paraphrased), "...whosoever shall say... and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe ... he shall have whatsoever he saith. Mark 11:23". Believing or doubting is important to our prayers being answered. If we believe what the Word of God says about our situation and don't consider that there is another alternative, Jesus said, we will have what we say; what we pray.

But if we are not fully persuaded as Abraham was, we'll be like this guy: "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1: 6-8".

"Are you going to get well?" - "Yes, by His stripes I'm healed!". "Are you going to Heaven?" - Yes, whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved". "Aren't you in some trouble?" - "Yeah but God told me He'd be with me in trouble; and He'd deliver me". There's no doubt about it!

Dream Big

Given June 2, 2007

While traveling to an out-of-town wedding recently, I noticed a sign on a mobile home sales lot. The sign said, "Come in and find your dream home." That set me to thinking. Now, there's nothing wrong with living in a mobile home; I purchased and lived in one myself for several years. They are good, basic, living quarters for those on a limited budget, as we were.

But a "dream home"? I think that says something about our dreams. "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20". One of the greatest limitations to our lives is who we think we are and what we think we can accomplish. The enemy puts thought of mediocrity in our minds and if we don't push beyond that, we will never rise to what God has planned for us. We need to dream big, imagine unthinkable accomplishments, and not limit God by our small thinking.

Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10". While you're living in that mobile home, working in a low-paying job, or quietly serving God, dream of a big house on a hill, a job where you can have enough for yourself and others, or have a major spiritual impact on others. And by faith, thank God for it! He loves a big dreamer; just ask Joseph, Genesis 41:41-43.

The Check's In The Mail

Given February 3, 2007

How many times have you heard the statement, “The check’s in the mail”? It’s become sort of a joke implying that something is promised to you and you doubt it’s going to happen. Sometimes people make promises to us then don’t follow through OR we make promises with good intentions but we forget or put it off…you know.

If someone says they’re going to do something for you and you don’t believe it or don’t have faith in that person, you won’t get too worked up about it. But, if you do believe it and trust that person, you’ll be excited and looking forward to it arriving. Even though you don’t see it, you have faith it’s on the way and you’re happy.

Well, that’s a description of how it is with God. If we have faith in Him and His promises to us, we’ll be excited about what’s coming even though we don’t see it. We trust Him and know He won’t let us down. “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 2 Corinthians 1:20”. However, if we don’t have faith, even though we’ve asked, we’ll still be sad and down in our circumstances.

Think about it; what’s your attitude about what you’ve prayed for? Are you excitedly expecting it or are you still depressed and doubting? If it’s in line with the Word of God, then “the check’s in the mail” and you can count on it!