Faithfulness in All Things

Oswald Chambers writes, “Being faithful to Jesus Christ is the most difficult thing we try to do today. We will be faithful to our work, to serving others, or to anything else; just don’t ask us to be faithful to Jesus Christ. Many Christians become very impatient when we talk about faithfulness to Jesus. Our Lord is dethroned more deliberately by Christian workers than by the world. We treat God as if He were a machine designed only to bless us, and we think of Jesus as just another one of the workers.” As a believer today, it is becoming more and more challenging to be faithful to Christ than ever before.

But, can you imagine what the reward will be like? It is worth it friends … if only we would surrender our will and focus only on serving Him.

God bless you. ~ Rev TJ

Encouraging Note, Oct 3, 2010

Let us remember that the life of the Believer is to be lived in servitude to God, with love for one another always. Anything less is allowing our own flesh to rise up and decide who we serve, which leads us into disobedience to Jesus’ commandment in John 9:12, “My command is this, love each other as I have loved you.” This week friends, we must take time to remember that loving one another is not only a commandment, but the only effective way to minister the Gospel to one another. Ephesians 4:32 is our focus verse today and I encourage you to not only read it but allow God to work it into your hearts. May God bless you always, Bro TJ.

Ephesians 4:32, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

What a day that will be

This morning I was at our church's sunrise service and unintentionally, my mind continued to drift back to the the day Mary went to the tomb and realized that her Lord was no longer there. The bible records it this way:

"Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" - John 20:1-2

While we were sitting outside listening to our Pastor's words, the sun began to come up out of the East and I wondered what it was like on that day; to see the disciples faces in realization that He was truly not there, that He had risen! I don't think, to be perfectly honest, that my mind can really grasp what it means to express the joy I feel today; knowing that when I die although my family may be sad -- I will be face to face with my Lord and Savior and long to hear Him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant". As I thought more this morning, I heard Bro Butch say "I'm not sure what happens in Heaven on Easter morning, but I'm sure it is way better than the preaching down here." I could not help but agree, knowing that sitting at the feet of my Lord and Savior cannot even compare to anything we might experience on this Earth. Think of it friends: To kneel before the Throne of Grace, to see the One who sits upon it because He has been given all authority by His Father .... wow, now THAT will be a good day at "church"!!

My heart cannot comprehend all that Jesus has done, and even now in my office I am watching "The Passion of the Christ" in preparation to worship this morning -- and I just cannot comprehend how much Jesus loved me that He would willingly lay down His life for me. It is the prayer of my heart that you too would know this love. It is my prayer that you too would admit that Jesus gave His life for you as well, and that everything we have been given to do on this Earth comes directly from Him through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It is the desire of our Father that "none should perish, but all should come to repentance" (see 2 Peter 3:9), and today could be the day for you to admit that you need a Savior. To admit that Jesus died for you, and gave His life so that you could one day live eternally with Him in Heaven. Won't you admit that today? Won't you take the time to turn to Christ, admit to Him that you need a Savior, thank Him for dying on the cross for you, and give your life to Him fully?

I promise if you do, from the trials and struggles to even the best church services you have ever attended will not even come close to that first day in Heaven, when you stand before the Lord and thank Him for all that He has brought you through. Oh what a GOOD day that will be, when my Jesus we shall see!!

God bless you my friends, it is truly a happy Easter because ...

HE HAS RISEN -- HE HAS RISEN INDEED!! Hallelujah!!

Are you GOING?

This week, I have been thinking a lot about No Greater Love's (NGL) upcoming ministry trip to New Orleans to witness on the streets during Mardi Gras and I have to admit I am getting very excited. This will be my 10th year on the streets with them and each trip (either to Mardi Gras or the Indy 500) with NGL I am challenged more than the year before, and it moves me farther out in my comfort zone - expanding my tent stakes and allowing me to gain more understanding on what God would have His people do to impact His world.

Each year I have gone I've been afforded the opportunity to learn, to witness, and to come back home and practice what I've been taught; and each year the Lord has grown me and stretched me farther than I ever thought I could in the ministry. Truly, this ministry has grown me beyond my wildest dreams in serving the Lord and I want to take the time to challenge any man reading this to GO with me. If you want to see your life changed, if you want to be a better husband, father, and man of God that the Lord has called you to be (see Ephesians 5:25-33) then you need to contact me about going. For several years now I have watched my own son, Chris, grow in his walk with the Lord and to a dad, there is no greater joy than seeing your own son take a stand for Jesus Christ and purpose himself to be a witness in this world.

I received an e-mail a few weeks ago that I would be the Assistant Street Minister/Camp Director in Mobile and to be honest, I am more nervous than I've ever been. Being able to serve in this capacity and learn from what I feel is probably one of the best teams of leaders assembled is extremely humbling and at the same time nerve racking as well. As a matter of fact, it has taken me almost 3 weeks to attempt to digest it and get my mind around it. In this, I ask that you would join me in prayer as I prepare to serve this camp and that I would remain focused on the main goal: which is to put the Gospel in the hands of faithful men (2 Tim 2:2); because it is about Jesus, and nothing more.

No Greater Love has changed my views on service to the Lord in more ways than I can ever imagine; and I am a staunch believer in the fact that if you can witness on the streets in New Orleans, you can come home and impact your church and community in a mighty way for the Lord. Guys, I challenge you to come with me and get a vision of how God views this world through His infinite love, and I promise you that you will never look at the Gospel the same way again. Won't you be obedient enough to follow The Great Commission and GO? I pray that you would, and I promise that if you go you will NEVER be the same man again.

Gentlemen ... If you are interested in going, please contact me through the links above. I promise you that your life will be impacted in ways that will truly rock your world.