EXCUSES

I’m not exactly sure what triggered the memory today… but as I was in the backyard with the dog earlier this morning, I suddenly began to picture the very first time we brought a youth group to what was then called Marriot’s Great America theme park, in Santa Clara California, in the mid-1970’s.  I remember that we arrived soon after they opened in the morning and left when the park closed that evening.  We had a great group of youth and some fun-loving sponsors.  Once at the park, we divided the kids and sponsors into groups, equipped the sponsors with walkie-talkies and planned to meet a couple of hours later for lunch.

A good friend of ours, who had been one of my groomsmen in our wedding, accompanied Piper and I and the group we led.  Well… as it turned out, John was a fun-loving, single guy who LOVED roller-coasters... much to Piper’s and my chagrin… as neither of us were thrilled with them.  But that didn’t deter John one bit and he made it his sole purpose that day to get us on a roller-coaster!

We did a pretty good job of coming up with all kinds of EXCUSES until the afternoon waned into early evening… and with great trepidation… I finally gave in… and had an ABSOLUTE blast!  Following that initial ride, I must have ridden the roller-coaster at least a half a dozen more times until they announced the closing of the park!  I even convinced Piper to take a couple of rides with me… which she also enjoyed tremendously!

The silly EXCUSES that Piper and I kept coming up with that day (based on our personal fear and doubts) reminded me of the flimsy EXCUSES that I observed different individuals give, over the years, when it came to the suggestion of standing in faith on the Word of God for an adverse situation that they were facing.

And likewise… it also reminded me of the times different folks would try their best to get Piper and I to accept and then insert their EXCUSES for NOT trusting God, into the stand of faith that we had embarked upon.

Jesus encouraged us in Matthew 6:34, in the Remedy translation to,

“Stop worrying about how the future will turn out, don’t weigh yourselves down with imaginary future problems that haven’t even happened yet, and trust God with your future.” 

It is pretty clear to me that the “imaginary future problems” that Jesus was talking about in this verse, are none other than the EXCUSES that we employ against using our faith, when it comes to the idea of trusting in God’s Word over and above the things that we think MIGHT HAPPEN… This type of response to the difficulties in life, tells me that people’s EXCUSES (including mine at times…) have taken precedence in their hearts and minds over their trust in the truth of God and His Word.

In speaking of individuals who had given up on their faith in the Word of God, the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1:25 that,

“they traded the truth of God for a lie. They worshiped and served the things God made RATHER than the God who made all things…” (TPT) 

When I think back over the last eight years of Piper’s life, I feel very sorry for the people who kept making EXCUSES as to why they couldn’t come and visit her, or call her, or stand in vibrant faith with us for the myriad of miracles that we were believing for.  I am saddened because they missed the loving hand of God working in the twilight of her life.

They missed the joy of seeing all the answers to prayer that filled our days and they missed the continual glow of the Holy Spirit in her smile, in her voice and that sparkling gleam in her eyes during the times when she seemed to reach deep inside of herself and pull out the wonderful, joyful, sweet and loving Piper that we all knew and loved.  They missed the tangible anointing of God that was all over her.

In this regard, Jesus taught the multitudes one day saying:

“I say to you all, the one who receives an invitation to feast with Me and makes EXCUSES will never enjoy My banquet.” (Luke 14:24 – TPT)

The word “ENJOY” in this modern version is translated in the King James Bible as “TASTE,” which in the original Greek is defined as “to experience, to enjoy, to gain nourishment from” and “to perceive the flavor of.”

Have you ever made an EXCUSE and not gone to a social event… only to find out afterwards of the delicious meal that was served and of all the fun that everyone who attended had… and you missed out on?  Well… I’m sorry to admit that I have… on more than one occasion!

Missing those kinds of events and the banquet served is like the EXCUSES we make when it comes to walking in the truth and promises of God’s Word in our daily lives.  If we don’t step out of our comfort zones and continue to allow our fears and/or inhibitions to have a greater say-so in our lives than our faith in God… we’ll NEVER get to experience and thereby ENJOY the flavor, the nourishment and the good pleasure of the banquets that God, through the knowledge of His Word and our active participation in it, invites us to attend.

With the celebration of MEMORIAL DAY today, when we honor all of those who have given their lives in the service of our country, we can’t help but to want to salute our flag and remember the great liberties and benefits it represents.  We pray for the families who have loved ones who gave their lives so that those liberties will continue and we praise God for the freedoms we enjoy in the USA.

Many of us will also enjoy a banquet, a barbeque or another traditional beginning of summer meal amongst family and friends… and I am pretty sure that none of us will come up with an EXCUSE to miss the good time!  Likewise, I encourage all of us to NOT make EXCUSES when it comes to participating and enjoying the banquets of victory that God offers us through the exercise of His Word in our lives!

Have a blessed day, and as you do… Keep EXPECTING and ENJOYING the BEST of God in your adventures in life!

Whodunit?

I discovered a free streaming channel the other day that airs three of my favorite Canadian TV programs.  As I thought about these programs and some of my other favorites, I realized that most all of them were police procedurals in some form or shape!  I guess I am a sucker for a good Whodunit… especially when I consider that most of the books that I read at night are also mysteries, thrillers and action-based stories!

I do have an inquisitive nature and enjoy a good research project… therefore, trying to figure out the culprit before the characters in the stories do… is always a fun challenge for me!  So, when a mystery popped up in my own life, I decided to put my sleuthing skills to work on a personal basis.  (I didn’t grow up on the Hardy Boys for nothing!)

Soon after my wife passed in 2018, while in a quiet time of prayer and Bible study, I felt the Lord impress the word “CONTINUE” into my heart.  I wasn’t quite sure what it was that He wanted me to CONTINUE, but quickly assumed that He wanted me to pick up the pieces and somehow CONTINUE on with my life after my devastating loss.

That assumption seemed to satisfy me for the moment, and I immediately began to seek the Lord’s directions for my future.  Most of the information I believed that He was giving me, seemed to outline short term plans, including the selling of our home in North Carolina and moving closer to our children who were now residing in Oklahoma and Tennessee... and regroup my life! 

It has been interesting to watch the hand of the Lord as the majority of His leadings have been the methodical unfolding of just one-step at a time… without a too distant glimpse into the future.

Lately though, the word “CONTINUE” has begun to enter into my thoughts on a more consistent basis!  So… with my lightning quick mind… it FINALLY hit me that the Lord was trying to exemplify a point to me… and I began to implore of Him exactly what it was that He wanted me to “CONTINUE.”

And as I stood in the shower that same morning and let the hot water beat down on my back, I thought of one of the common tools that all the characters in the police procedurals that I watched or read, used when trying to solve the mystery that they were working on… A Ha!  Elementary my dear Watson… the EVIDENCE or CRIME BOARD!  You know the one I’m talking about… the board where they write down and/or tape up all the evidence they have accumulated and list all the potential suspects in the case.

So, in my mind’s eye, I imagined a large mobile white board like Piper and I used in many of our Children’s Church classes, picked up my imaginary dry erase pen and began to list all of the things that were directly connected to me and my life throughout the various decades of my adult existence… beginning when I turned eighteen in 1970.

Now, it took many more sessions in thought beyond the shower that morning… but when I finally felt that the list was complete and mentally strung yarn to connect all the common threads of evidence, I realized that once Piper fell off the list at the end of the decade of the 2010’s, that the only COMMON THREAD left was the ever-increasing burning desire in me to:

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 – EMTV)

And once again I stopped and declared “A Ha!” and followed up with, “That is EXACTLY what the Lord has instructed me to ‘CONTINUE’ with in my life now that Piper is no longer at my side.”

That personal revelation to me clarified, confirmed and connected the dots to many of the random “hints” that I have received over the almost five years since that first impression I had to “CONTINUE”!  It also flooded my heart and my mind with the many remembrances of how the Lord has worked in my life throughout my past… and re-confirmed that even though my circumstances have drastically changed… God hasn’t… for as Hebrews 13:8 profoundly declares,

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (God’s Word ©) 

You see… the way that He has worked in the past for me… AND FOR YOU… He will “CONTINUE” to do for us… as we “CONTINUE” to do whatever it is that He has asked of us to do for Him.

What is it that He has asked YOU to “CONTINUE” to do for Him?  If you aren’t sure or maybe need some clarification… I might suggest that you find yourself something to use as an EVIDENCE BOARD and begin to list or attach on it all the pertinent facts… and then follow the COMMON THREAD that will give you the solution that you are seeking!

And…with all that PROOF staring you in the face… you’ll be able to successfully,

“Run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God's heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14 - God’s Word ©)

A Ha!  Sounds like an exciting Whodunit doesn’t it? 

Have a great rest of your week, and as you do… keep EXPECTING God’s BEST in your life!

Quiet and Loud!

I was thinking this morning about the last years of my wife’s earthly existence and of the various sudden emergencies that we faced along the way.  I recalled that my immediate reaction was to bring calm and peace to the situation.  Along with the physical attentiveness to her particular needs at the moment, speaking situational-specific scriptures over her and keeping myself calm and clear minded… I laugh now, when I consider all the times that I gently held her hand and softly whispered “It’s Okay! It’s Okay!”

Looking back, I think that all the “It’s Okay” comments were just as much for me as they were for Piper!  I realized early on, as I cared for her and the debilitating disease that she was dealing with, that I needed to stay calm and quiet enough on the inside, so that I could hear the voice of the Lord, in order to know the best course of action to follow when alarming symptoms presented themselves.

Psalms 23:1-3 was one important portion of scripture that I kept near to my heart and mind throughout those years.  In this very graphic painting of life that the Psalmist drew, he began by stating:

“The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough.  He offers a RESTING PLACE for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an OASIS OF PEACE, the QUIET BROOK OF BLISS.  That’s where HE RESTORES AND REVIVES MY LIFE.  He opens before me pathways to God’s pleasure and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to his name.” (TPT) 

There were numerous occasions during that eight-year period when I would have to forcibly quiet and calm myself down enough, so that I could mentally picture The Lord’s RESTING PLACE, His Oasis of Peace and the Quiet Brooks of Bliss.  Once my mental and emotional state reached that place of stillness, I discovered that I could then hear what Elijah heard and described as “A Still, Small Voice” after he had been physically inundated with a fierce wind, an earthquake and fire in I Kings 19:9-18.

Through the years of my adult life, I have often times retreated to quiet places where I can get away from the distractions of life and spend time in fellowship with the Lord, in order to seek comfort, wisdom and direction.  It is also a unifying habit that Piper and I quickly developed together from our dating days onward.  We took every opportunity we could to spend time alone with each other so that we could regroup, refresh and talk to the Lord together.

I believe that this habit of seeking out and spending time in the quiet, calm and still places throughout our lives (both individually and together) is what caused me to become very familiar with the “Still, Small Voice” of the Lord when He speaks to me.

I was thinking (and talking aloud to the dog) about this on Fiver’s and my morning walk along the golf course earlier today, when I suddenly had the thought that “the more you spend quality time listening to the Lord, in the QUIET places and times of life, the easier it will be for you to decipher His voice and His directions, during the LOUD and high-pressure times that pop up along the way!”

That thought goes right along with the blog post I wrote a few weeks ago entitled, “PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE”*  Just like with any other skill that one is attempting to learn and become proficient with, hearing the “Still, Small Voice” of the Lord takes regular practice until it becomes second nature to you.

One word of caution to you though… as you seek to become familiar with the “Still, Small Voice” of the Lord… know that the words of comfort, wisdom and direction that you believe that the Lord is softly speaking to you – will ALWAYS line up with the written Word of God in your Bible… In other words, in order to develop familiarity with the “Still, Small Voice” of the Lord… you also have to develop a personal familiarity with the contents of your Bibles!  The two always flow in tandem with each other.

Do you know that I am still getting confirmations from the Lord, in the Word, for things that He told me years ago?  Some of my most common phrases lately, as I study the Word has been “WOW! Now I get it!” or “Hey!  That’s another confirmation for what you showed me way-back-when!”  Times like that warm my heart and sometimes bring tears to my eyes as I sense the Lord wanting to slap me on the shoulder and say “SEE, I TOLD YOU SO!”

So… Needless to say… I enjoy spending time fellowshipping with the Lord in the QUIET, CALM and STILL places in my life… So that… I can hear and distinguish His “Still, Small Voice” when the LOUD interruptions and emergencies in life surprise me!

HOW ABOUT YOU?

I hope that you are having a fantastic weekend!  After a week of rain and lots of thunder and lightning, we are in the midst of a picture perfect, sunny Oklahoma spring weekend!  Let me know how your times spent in the Quiet places with the Lord are going… and don’t forget to keep EXPECTING his BEST all along the way!

 

 

* http://pjberruto.blogspot.com/2023/05/practice-practice-practice.html

Mother's Day

I had the opportunity over the last couple of weeks to see both of our girls giving presentations in front of an audience… and I couldn’t help but to smile at how comfortable they were and the oratory skill and humor they employed, in order to draw in those being addressed. 

I guess having a couple of outgoing parents who were constantly in front of groups of children, youth and adults at church, attributed to some of their comfort on stage, but you know?  The more I watched, the more of their MOM I could see in each of them.  The innocent twinkle in their eyes as they laughed, the way they used different distractions as a means to adlib and bring a positive response from the crowd and their engaging smiles that kept everyone connected to their presentations.

All four of our kids are very adept with public speaking, but these recent experiences with our two girl’s was especially rewarding, as both of our daughters were extremely shy when they were young.  It wasn’t until her senior year that our older daughter came into her own and not until attending Bible college for our younger daughter. 

From the stories that Piper told, I don’t think that she was ever considered to be shy in her childhood, so while they may not have received that attribute from their MOM or me… for that matter, Piper had a special relationship with our girls that definitely shows forth today in the way that they mimic their MOM in the manner in which they carry themselves, love the Lord and reach out to others.

And speaking of MOMS… I’ve heard it said that men tend to marry women like their MOMS… and while Piper was very different from my MOM in her physical appearance, had some opposite views on many of the norms in society, and in the presentation of their faith… where my MOM was very reserved and felt it to be kept quiet, personal and clearly separate from her public life… Piper, on the other hand, was very vocal and simply lived and included her faith in everything she said and did!

But where they were both very similar, is in the way that they could walk into a room and rapidly command the attention of everyone present!  My MOM was a strong-willed Italian woman who was very outgoing, gregarious and full of fun!  Piper’s approach was more subtle but just as effective with her engaging smile, very evident, sweet spirit and contagious sense of humor!  Both of them were very quick-witted, self-confident just about anywhere they went and had the uncanny ability to make ANYONE feel welcome and loved.

Proverbs 31:11-12, 26-28 describes the Godly Wife and MOM who fears the Lord and loves her family saying,

“Her husband trusts her with all his heart, and he does not lack anything good. She helps him and never harms him all the days of her life… 

She speaks with wisdom, and on her tongue, there is tender instruction. She keeps a close eye on the conduct of her family, and she does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children and her husband stand up and bless her” (God’s Word ©)

Then in the last verse of Proverbs 31, the Psalmist concludes his admiration of the Wife and MOM by declaring,

“Reward her for what she has done, and let her achievements praise her at the city gates.” (Proverbs 31:31 - God’s Word ©)

I believe that the greatest reward that we can give to our MOM’s and the highest achievement in which to give them public praise, is in seeing their legacies, their personalities and all the lessons and love that they spent their lives giving us, in vivid display in the lives of their children… as they combine all of that with the unique and individual experience and touch of their own lives… and then, pass it all on to the next generation!

And from what I see in the active display through me and my siblings, as well as in the lives of Piper’s and my four children… and five grandchildren… My MOM and Piper can look down from heaven and smile while they lovingly view the parts of them that they see in us down here!

And I bet that you could say and SEE the same thing in your family as well… RIGHT?

Have a blest celebration of MOTHER’S DAY and joyfully keep your MOM’s light shining bright, by living your life to the fullest extent and to the brightest illumination possible!

PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!

Over the last few weeks, I have made the point to stop and enjoy… to really savor… that first sip of coffee in the quiet still of the early morning hour.  The cul-de-sac outside my study window is usually silent and although there may be a solitary golfer or two on the golf course beyond, it is normally just me, the dog lounging on the couch behind me and my freshly brewed, hot cup of java!

I’m not sure why, but that one moment, with that first sip of caffeinated, coffee bean flavor, just sort of centers me and sets my heart and soul aright for whatever flavors the fresh new day has in store for me.

When I quit my outside-of- the-home job to care for my wife in 2010, my entire life for the next eight years, centered around her and her ever-growing needs.  As I began to really experience the depth and detail of her physical, emotional and spiritual needs, I quickly realized the benefits of keeping us on a disciplined daily schedule. 

To be honest, it was the only way in which I could keep up my mental, physical and spiritual strength on a regular basis each week.  Amongst other things, I had promised her early on, that I would do my best to keep our life as normal as possible as her health deteriorated… and sticking to the schedule greatly aided my ability to honor that promise to her.

When she moved on to glory in 2018, I stuck with the same overall schedule, filling in other chores and activities in place of the daily care needs that I performed for Piper.  But I still get up and go to bed at the same time, and have stuck with a disciplined life-style.  Adhering to the schedule in her absence has helped to keep me focused, organized and grounded, as I’ve dealt with the shock, pain and stark reality of her absence in my life.

Lately though, I’ve come to understand the importance of stopping every-so-often throughout the day… and to smell the roses and enjoy a moment of rest, recreation, reflection and self-inventory… Point in case… taking the time to savor and enjoy that very first sip of coffee each and every morning.

This may sound a little weird… but since Piper’s passing, I have had to re-teach myself how to enjoy life… and while I’ve come a long way since 2018, I still have a long way to go.  It has been extremely difficult for me to view and fully experience the pleasures of life without the presence or mindset of my lovely wife being at my side.  It’s kind of like learning the mastery of a new skill in order to become proficient in any new endeavor.

In Philippians 4:9, the Apostle Paul encouraged his readers to,

“PRACTICE what you've learned and received from me, what you heard and saw me do. Then the God who gives this peace will be with you.” (God’s Word ©)

Every time I read this verse, I hear a little voice in my head saying “PRACTICE!  PRACTICE! PRACTICE!  I remember my parents telling me this when I was learning the multiplication tables back in elementary school… and back then… I hated it, every time they said it… But today… I am very happy that they made me PRACTICE, PRACTICE! and PRACTICE some more… until it stuck in my head and became second nature to me!

Paul’s basically telling us to take the time to repeatedly PRACTICE all that he’s taught us in the Word of God until we gain the mastery of the mechanics of our faith.  In 2 Corinthians 10:4 the Apostle informs us that,

“The weapons we use in our fight are not made by humans. Rather, they are powerful weapons from God.” (God’s Word ©)

And in Ephesians 6:12-18 he explains not only WHO we are actually fighting, but also HOW to wage a successful war.  Ephesians 6:12 teaches us,

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (KJV)

In verses 13-16 he trains us to put on the complete armor of God as we stand against the spiritual forces that come against us in our lives and concludes by admonishing us saying,

“And take… the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is THE WORD OF GOD.” (KJV)

So, when you put all these verses together… what is the lesson that Paul was stressing?  Well, it’s simple!  In no uncertain terms, he is coaching us to PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE… until we all master the mechanics of our faith.  And we do so through the ever-increasing depth of knowledge, understanding and application of the Word of God in our lives… until it becomes second nature to us!

I admit that I am still feeling a bit clumsy (and guilty!) when it comes to comfortably experiencing the mechanics of having fun and enjoying my life without the presence of my 48-year life partner… but starting with the enjoyment of that first sip of coffee in the morning each day… I aim to PRACTICE! PRACTICE! and PRACTICE some more until I get it… and it becomes natural to me!

How About You?

                                      

Have a good rest of your week, and as you do… keep EXPECTING God’s BEST while you PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE! your expertise of working the Word in your life every day!

No Clue!

Have you ever been in a position where you were with a group of people and someone suddenly said something that was totally inappropriate… and from the look on their face… it was obvious that they had NO CLUE as to what they had just said… or to the negative response that it may have elicited from individuals in the group? 

Well, I have and was reminded of more than a few of those occasions when I was sipping from a hot cup of coffee this morning and studying my Bible.  James 1:8 succinctly informs us that,

“A double minded man (or woman) is unstable in all their ways.” (KJV) 

The times that made the biggest impression on me was when the individuals making the seemingly naïve statements had a good knowledge of the Word of God, but yet seemed to set their faith aside in difficult times of stress and/or trouble… which to me… is the precise time that you should want to depend on your faith and be aware of and responsible for the words you speak and the actions you take… RIGHT?

At times like these, I am always reminded of a very familiar scripture that tells us that,

“Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose.”                                (Proverbs 18:21 - The Message)

As I studied from James earlier today, I clicked over to the digital copy of the Remedy Bible that I recently downloaded to my Bible Study program* and sighed an “AH!” of understanding when I read a more descriptive paraphrase of verses seven and eight that further explained that,

“Those consumed by fear will not think they can receive anything from the Lord: they are unstable, controlled by emotions, and can’t make up their minds about anything.” 

This greater exposition of the verse immediately helped me to gain a deeper understanding of the various feelings I’d felt… which ranged from mouth open surprise, to laughter, consternation and just plain anger… when inappropriate - with NO CLUE comments, were made in the midst of the difficult times of Piper’s sickness.

Now, as I look back at the lessons learned through the battles and victories of difficult times in this life, I aim to use these as another positive layer for the foundation of my current and future life.  It has made me even more alert and aware of the encroachment of fear upon my life, and of the importance of walking in what I John 4:18 calls God’s “perfect love” in and through me which “casts out fear.” (EMTV)

I Corinthians 13:6 tell us that, “Love joyfully celebrates (God’s) truth and finds no delight in what is wrong…” (TPT) 

You see… as I take the personal responsibility to stay focused on celebrating God’s truth in my life, I will be less susceptible to falling into frustration and/or anger and the lingering effect of hurt feelings, when inappropriate words are sent my way… and even more importantly… take the time to assure that my thoughts, my actions and my words are full of God’s love and thereby appropriate in the midst of any situation.

So, if you’re anything like me… then you don’t want to be known as one of those “unstable” individuals who unknowingly allow their emotions to control the way in which they respond to the situations of life.  I’d rather be the one that takes a moment to think about and consider the words they speak and/or the way they respond when life throws a lemon their way!  I want to radiate the sweet fragrance of God’s love everywhere I go…

How about YOU?

I hope that you are having a wonderful weekend!  We are supposed to get into the low 90’s today… it’s looking more and more like spring in northeastern Oklahoma!  What’s it like where you live?  Whatever it is, I pray that you are celebrating God’s love and God’s truth in your life, and as you do… are EXPECTING God’s BEST in everything you do and say!

 

 

*E-Sword - https://e-sword.net/downloads.html

Singlemindedness

I enjoy listening to Sirius XM’s enLighten channel in the early morning hours on Sundays.  They dedicate the time to the old hymns and they are sung by many of the popular, past and present Southern Gospel groups.  Hearing these often-times forgotten hymns in our current age of contemporary worship music, always brings me back to Piper’s and my heavy involvement at her Baptist church during our early days of dating and marriage throughout the 1970’s.

Back then, the “old” hymns were new to me, for while we sang hymns at my Catholic church, we didn’t sing the same ones that the protestant churches did.  So, while hearing the different hymns usually brought back specific memories of special services, ministry events and cause me to smile in remembrance of many funny things that Piper and I did or were involved with at the church, yesterday’s listening to the hymns took on a whole different focus for me.

I had been studying in James 1:7-8 during what I have begun to call my “coffee time with the Lord” first thing each morning, and was increasing my understanding on the subject of “SINGLEMINDEDNESS” in the pursuit of my daily faith.  And as I stood at the kitchen sink, while filling my coffee carafe with water, I suddenly froze and stared out across the living room when I realized that all of those old hymns were singing about one thing… or maybe I should say, “one personality”…Jesus Christ!

Now, I know that this comment may sound silly… but I had never quite seen the “SINGLEMINDEDNESS” of the saints that were anointed of the Lord to write those particular lyrics.  I’ve always enjoyed reading about the life stories of the old hymn writers and even though their theology was not always correct,* they wrote their musical psalms from the deep places of their hearts in their desire to honor and worship the ONE who brought salvation, peace, healing, meaning and/or understanding and deliverance into their lives.

In teaching his church concerning the most successful way to ask God, in faith, for wisdom (or anything else for that matter), Pastor James wrote,

“A person who has doubts shouldn't expect to receive anything from the Lord. (for) A person who has doubts is thinking about two different things at the same time and can't make up his mind about anything.” (God’s Word ©)

After I poured the water into the coffee maker, measured in the right amount of New Orleans style coffee with chicory and switched it on, I returned to my place before the sink in the open plan kitchen/living room and allowed myself to get lost in the lyrics of the songs resonating from my surround-sound home entertainment system.

I was amazed at how much the songs repeatedly spoke of the name of Jesus and of His glorious works and of how they succeeded in focusing the one’s singing the songs on Him, and if being sung at a church service, to prepare and fine tune the congregation’s hearts to receive the spoken word and teaching that would come forth from the Pastor’s sermon.

When you read the full first chapter of James, you’ll quickly understand that he is talking about how to develop and walk in strong faith… and especially so, when the trials and tribulations of life come knocking on our front doors!  In verses seven and eight he brings home the potential damage to or nullification of our faith when we allow doubt to enter into our hearts and heads.  He emphatically states that to doubt is to be double-minded and that doublemindedness leaves us empty and confused.

To James, the key to a successful faith-life, is to stay “SINGEMINDEDLY” focused on the truth of God’s Word and not be drawn into questioning and doubt by what you might… or might not see happening around you.

If you can make the time, I would suggest that you read from the Old Testament in the book of Joshua, chapter one, verses 1-9.  Here you’ll find Moses getting ready to turn the reigns of leadership over to his second-in-command before the Children of Israel entered into the promised land.  In these verses, Moses is giving the KEYS to success for Joshua and their countrymen as they face the many potentially insurmountable challenges on the other side of the Jordan River.

In verse eight,** Moses specifically tells Joshua FIVE THINGS that he and the Children of Israel (stated as “YOU”) each needed to do in order to make their way prosperous and have good success during their journey and the battles they would face.  Moses was sternly encouraging them to BE and STAY “SINGLEMINDED” in the pursuit of the wonderful life that God had promised them.

And you know?  He is still telling us the same thing TODAY!  For you see… just as those old hymns still work to focus our attention on Jesus and the truth of His Word, God wants us to stay “SINGLEMINDEDLY” connected and in tune to His “living and active” Word that is found within the pages of our Bibles. (See: Hebrews 4:12)  For when we consistently DO this, we’ll personally experience God’s promise of “making your way prosperous and have good success.” (KJV)

The modern Message Bible tells us to “make sure you practice everything written in it (God’s Word).  (for) then you’ll get where you’re going and then you’ll succeed.”

My goal in life has always been to succeed in the things that I do… and I bet that I could say the same exact thing about you!  And so, this my friend… is the secret and powerful way to make that desired success happen for you!

Have a terrific week, and as you do, keep EXPECTING God’s BEST as you “SINGLEMINDEDLY” focus your attention, your thoughts, your words, and your actions on Him!”

 

*But the same can also be said for some of the contemporary Christian and Southern Gospel songs that I hear on the radio…

**See: Joshua1:8 in The New American Standard Bible