In the Time of the Lattereign

I often wonder what life would be like if I actually accomplished all of the lofty goals that I have on my dream list. Actually, there has only been a couple of specific things on the list, that I have kept revisiting year after year, for decades, because the timing never seems to be quite right.

“To everything there is a season…” the bible instructs us in Ecclesiastes, and the perfect season has not revealed itself. It doesn’t keep me from continually working out all of the details for it to come to the forefront in my life, but as always, life takes precedence over dreams. I am resolved with this fact, because I know that the Lord is working out all things for my good, and when it does come to light, it will seem that it happened suddenly.

I am thankful that the Lord has entrusted me to share my heart week after week in this venue, even though sometimes I wonder what impact it has made on the ones who actually take their time to read what the Lord gives me to share.

I keep reminding myself that the time to do the will of God is, now. You hear the saying, “There’s no time like the present,” and this is so true because the past can’t be changed, and we don’t know what the future holds. Then, the Lord assures me that he holds my future and that encourages me to keep writing when I am unsure of it’s effectiveness. It isn’t up to me to determine what will be anointed or particularly helpful for someone, my sole purpose is to write what the Lord gives me week after week, and he directs the words to those precious souls who need to hear what I have to share.

The Lord does have a sense of humor. The other day we went to Hibachi Grill, and I opened up a fortune cookie. The message made me laugh out loud, “You have a charming way with words and should write a book.” Seriously? Whether it was a random thing, or a directive from the Lord, it did get my attention. So, is it time to dust off the manuscripts that have been languishing in my files? Is the time, now? There is much to pray about.

Changing Times

image used: http://www.brownstoner.com/queens/long-island-city/five-big-commercial-factories-located-in-lic-astoria-jackson-heights-and-ozone-park/

It’s not healthy to always have an adrenaline rush pulsing through your body nonstop. There has to be that time in your life when you are not at the ready to fight or run away from your circumstances. It is a time to be still.

The world is a confusing place, at times, and if we are always watching what the world is doing, and forget to remember that God is on the throne, we will be troubled in our spirit. Tell me, what do we have to worry about? The battle’s already been won. There is nothing that Satan can try to do to us that the Lord hasn’t allowed to show his glory. We will be wise to learn to trust in the Lord with all of our hearts, and to lean not to our own understanding.

One of my favorite psalms is Psalm 121:

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

² My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

³ He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

⁴ Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

⁶ The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

⁸ The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

The Lord promises us that he knows what to do to lead us through situations that may happen in our lives. I can’t tell you how many times that I chose to worry needlessly, instead of trust God. My life became so stressed that it caused major health issues. It wasn’t until I made up my mind to present my whole life to God: all of the broken pieces of my life, the failures, disappointments, the hopelessness that I felt, and the inadequacies, that God reminded me to “be still and know….”

In all of my sorrow, it didn’t even occur to me that God was waiting for me to “look up.” We have a treasure in Christ, and nothing can destroy us, because the Lord loves us and he preserves us from all evil. There’s nothing to fear, when our faith is in him. it’s time that we realize that he has already won the victory.

Living for God is Not Complicated

We can never forget what soldiers have sacrificed so that we could have the freedom to live in the United States of America. Some of us know, firsthand, the loneliness we felt when loved ones accepted their duty to serve and protect us. It meant that family and friends were separated; it required missing the everyday mundane events that shaped our childhoods. Piece by piece, joy faded as we continued to hope for their safe returns. For so many, it didn’t happen.

I can see the United States flag wave proudly, reminding me that although we did lose so many soldiers, they willingly chose to serve their country.

Today, we give honor to those men and women who laid down their lives so that we could have a better life. In the midst of all the celebrations, picnics, and fellowship, keep in mind the ones who paid the price for your pleasure.

Let’s not forget to remember.

Building Memorials…

It never ceases to amaze me, how the Lord honors our prayers.

Here’s the official results of The Pentecostals of Greenville, NC CommUNITY Day:
271 registered guests
151 of them stayed for our blessing service.

We had 330 people in attendance for the service. 42 people received the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. 4 people got baptized in Jesus name. We have at least 1 more person that wants to be baptized tomorrow. To God be the glory! 

In both the good times and the bad, the Lord has everything under control. In this week’s Lattereign, we are reminded that the Lord cares about the things that we care about. Follow the link below to read it.

Before the Mountains…Thou Art God

It’s not Always Easy, but Waiting on God is Always Worth It

But they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40-31).

Let’s face it, we all get impatient when life seems to stand still. Think about the next time that you’re running late and at a stoplight. You mentally pace back and forth, looking at your watch and the bold red light that is glaring at you. As always seems to happen, every other direction of cars is allowed to move forward, so you wait, impatiently looking to see if there’s enough room between the curb and your next alley to beat the traffic light.

You’ll go through every parking lot known to man if it will shave off even 10 seconds from your trip. But it never fails, by the time you have dodged all of the parking lot speeders, you meet yet another stop light with someone in front of you trying to turn left, instead of right, so, you guessed it, you wait.

After the original line of cars that you tried to get around, goes through, you are finally on your way, only to be stopped by a train, or a detour, or whatever else that stops you from making any progress, to reach your destination. Net gain in time, minus two minutes and an out of control stress level.

We spend so much time rushing to get to our future destination, that we don’t even realize what a wonderful place we are in at this moment in time. It’s time to slow down and enjoy the journey. The journey may not always be pleasant, and certainly not without tears shed; however, every journey if carefully considered will reap fresh insights into the direction that the Lord is leading us through in the next step we will take. Each time we focus on our present, we gain strength to face an uncertain future.

I wish to have no regrets at the end of my journey. You’ve heard the saying to “Stop and smell the roses,” well, I believe we need to stop more often than just to smell the roses; we need to also stop to recognize our family that we often take for granted that they’ll always be there. It doesn’t hurt to plan for the future, but let’s not get so tangled up in worrying over the future, that we fail to make provision for the present. We are living in the present tense. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, today.

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh (James 5:7-8).

There’s Still Time to Redeem the Time

Mother’s Day

The story is told of an auction. When the violin came up for auction it was old and didn’t look like it was worth much. The bidding began and the bids were extremely low, until a man walked into the auction house and picked it up and played it, exposing it’s true value. After he played, he laid the violin down, and the auctioneer started the bidding. The bids were in the thousands of dollars.

In the church, we can invest thousands of dollars into the latest and greatest technology. Have all the bells and whistles available in our quest to attract big crowds of people to participate in our phenomenal presentation of “worship.” Our intentions may be admirable. but the true mark of success in our services, will not be whether we put on an incredible music and light show for entertainment; it will be whether the people who were in the service who may have experienced an emotional high, will also still feel the Lord’s presence after the lights fade and be ready to draw closer to God through salvation.

Have you been changed?

We must be in tune with the leading of the holy spirit. Our instruments are used to create an atmosphere of worship, but that can only happen when we learn to listen to what the Lord’s will is for any given service.

I keep thinking about that violin at the auction. It was dusty, old, neglected, not seen as worthy of the times. Oh, in its day it was valued, but just like the antique styles of worship of our elders, it’s been buried as part of the past, an antique, not worthy of the price of oil to rosin the bow.

I think about the old hymns.

Some people balk at using them, complaining that they’re too old-fashioned, people don’t want to hear them anymore, because the hymns are outdated. It doesn’t appeal to young people who like a lively beat and blaring tantalizing lyrics to make their hearts pound with emotion.

Their posture demonstrates the attitude, as if to say: Make me cry in the moment, but whatever you do, don’t reach for my soul that I might be changed. As I leave this place, I want to pick up my problems in tact and wait to face them another day when it’s more convenient with my schedule.

It’s easy to leave the same way I came when I can listen to the songs of new and hear how empty they are. A few quick repetitious notes reminding me over and over again, about what it must have been like for my elders, when old phonograph needles skipped backwards, instead of moving forward to the next notes.

Change? I’m waiting for a reason to do it, but here I find that same familiar tune that the world gives, and when I close my eyes, I get confused about where I am: the club, or a church service. You sing about Jesus, but I can’t even hear it, because I close my eyes and the world’s pull is so strong in the beat of the drums, and lights warm on my face, that I miss his still small voice calling me to repentance.

Not anything like I used to hear when I was young and innocent. I remember that worship when I was young, produced melodious sounds that helped to remind me of where I had been, and where I was in the moment, (in the presence of Jehovah),  and what my future could be if I would take the time to really listen to those soft words of love and hope.

I realized that I needed God…

I’d hear Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found was blind but now I see.

I could believe that I could always be standing on the promises of Christ my King, through eternal ages let his praises sing, glory in the highest I will shout and sing, I’m standing on the promises of God.

I knew that I had blessed assurance because Jesus is mine, oh what a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of salvation, purchase of love, born of his spirit, washed in his blood. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior, all the day long.

It was okay to sing,  Oh how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, Oh how I love Jesus, because he first loved me. To me he is so wonderful.

Don’t forget that “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.” I want to serve him, today, and not forget the rich heritage that we have because someone took the time to reach for us through prayer.

I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

In this week’s Lattereign we look at how important it is to have a strong root. Follow the link below.

The Strength of the Root

“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell? Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” (Proverbs 30:4-5).

“Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:3-6).

What do I mean by perfect balance? When I think of balance, the first thing that comes to mind is being steady. All sides are an equal distance from the ground. Before we find our way to God, we struggle to hold our lives together. Without God, it is impossible to hold your life together. We must acknowledge him in everything that we do. I can’t imagine trying to live without Jesus in the center of my life.

“He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of the saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path” (Proverbs 2:8-9).

Maybe you are walking with the Lord in Spirit and in Truth. Nothing seems to work out the way that you think it should. Do we get frustrated? Sure we do, but we have to reach way down deep in our souls and realize that the Lord has everything under control and that he is working all things out for our good. Now, I could settle for less than God’s best and maybe everything in life would go well for me, but would I be missing out on the greatest miracles of my life by not being patient and trusting God?

How many times have I taken matters into my own hands and watched my world crumble around my feet?

After walking with God all of these years, I am learning to trust him more, and fret less. It’s stressful living in uncertainty day after day. If I had my choice I would have everything in my life outlined according to well organized plans—they would probably fail, because except the Lord build a house, they labor in vain who builds it.

I want the Lord to put my life into perfect balance with his plans for me. He can open doors, the right doors for me; I can wait for the right doors to open as long as I learn to trust in him to know what is best for me. He wants me to prosper and to be in good health. I desire wisdom above all other gifts. He gives me peace that passes all understanding.

I have watched his plans unfold for me in the past few months and although I still search for his will, I know that I can have confidence in the Lord to lead me through effectual doors. Some soul waits (the one the Lord has prepared) for me to invite them to church or to just be a witness. I just want to say thank you, Lord.

 Victory Through Mercy and Grace

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 16:18-19).

“For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; in returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:” (Isaiah 30:15). When I read this verse the phrase “in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength” jumped out at me. Lord, do you mean to tell me that if I stay quiet when situations come up and remain confident that the act of being quiet and confident will give me strength? It got my attention! But, then I read the rest of the verse—“and ye would not” I wasn’t prepared for the reality check, here.

If we are honest with ourselves, I think we could say that sometimes we all yell when we don’t get our way (maybe not audibly but certainly in the way that we approach God). In my deepest thoughts, I rehash some old hurt or battle, or I lash out in anger and think that it isn’t fair: YOU said you’d bring it to pass, God. HOW LONG DO I have to WAIT, Lord?

Whether it’s out of frustration, fear of the unknown, or pure anxiety, we all have felt inadequate at times, but if I’ll learn how to remain quiet and confident that the Lord is blessing me, I can trust that the Lord is working everything out for my good. He said that I was supposed to thank him at ALL times: not only when I feel like it, or if it’s convenient; or only if I feel good; or if another saint obeys God first and worships; but at all times.

I have to remember that when people reject me; he was rejected first; when I become sick; he has already taken stripes on his back for my healing; when I am in despair, he’s already taken the chastisement of our peace upon himself. When I fail; he is ready to forgive me and help me to repent. I must purpose in my heart to do his will because Jesus loves me, and I don’t pretend to understand why, but he does. When I think about his sacrifices for me, I can’t help but keep a song of praise on my lips at all times.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock” (Psalm 27:3-5). Lift Him up.

Have I Ever Left You Forsaken

Crepe Myrtle

I am thankful that the Lord cares for us, even when we feel that he is so far away. The dew on the Crepe Myrtle above is a reminder to me that his mercies are new every morning. You may feel that he has abandoned you in your hour of need; maybe circumstances have overshadowed your victory, but you keep trying to hold on to his promises of redemption and healing. The scriptures tell us to “Fear not: Believe only and you shall be made whole.”

The question is, Do you have the faith to believe? We are all given a measure of faith, and where your faith may be just a tiny mustard seed, that is sufficient to grow a mighty tree. Don’t give up in your walk with God, even though you are being challenged with circumstances beyond your control, because no matter what you face, Jesus Christ will never leave you or forsake you, and he will do battle for you. Have no fear, only believe, and the Lord will prevail in your circumstance.

Sometimes he heals instantly, and other times it may be the best to allow the process of healing to be over time, but no matter how he chooses to answer your request, he is sovereign, and he knows the plans that he has for you, and you can hold on to that promise, because he is faithful. Let the peace of God overshadow you as you continue your journey of faith.

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