A week ago while at the alter praying before service I heard the Lord talk to me about our Fore Fathers. He talked about their path being overgrown. We need to take this path again. This is a path they took. Not a highway. It was the path least traveled. This would also explain why it is overgrown. Today, we don’t want to take that path. A highway with more people is appealing to us. After all there are more people to witness to. We need to go to where the people are. much of this is true. Except that we aren’t always prepared for this path. When that happens we get sucked up in that way of life. A life style that is fun and easy going. One that offers more money, more stuff and more of everything our heart desires. What is not to like?

How about all of it. Has God called us to a life style where we are no different than anyone else? We are the salt of the earth. We are a light guiding people to His great Love and Grace. Its not the other way around. The people around us need to know that we are different and not afraid to show it. You see, we who are called by His name are different. We have someone on our side that offers a way to heaven guaranteed. His name is Jesus. The author and perfecter of our faith. For there is no other way to heaven except through Jesus Christ himself. He is our strength. He is our courage. He is all that we need.

Lets look at our the people who went before us. A fore father can be someone from hundreds and thousands of years ago. Or even just a decade or two ago. Its one who decided to walk in obedience to God. Who was not afraid to be different or alone. Knowing that they were walking with God in His truths and ways. It may not have been popular, but it was what they needed to do. We do not need to go down the exact same path as before. We do need to continue to share the gospel to a lost and dieing world. Our fore fathers laid out a path of going before us and preparing a way. Some of us will go further down this path preparing a way for those to follow. Others of us will plant seeds and yet others will harvest on this path. God will direct us to the people who need  a word, healing or miracle. Remember that its His plan, not ours. We will be more effective following God’s way. He has been preparing us all the time. Just because the path is overgrown doesn’t mean that it needs to stay that way. Its the path that leads to the door of salvation. Its not a highway that leads to a large gate or worse a toll booth. Its a path. Then we can travel that path around to others  for the purposes of teaching, guiding, and encouraging His children. The path He has laid out before us is based on His plan for our life. Some paths are great and loaded with honor. Yet some are simple and quiet. Both paths are of the same importance in the eyes of God. Don’t be discouraged with a path that was not what you wanted. Its a path that is needed. If your not sure of the path, then take time to stop and ask God where to go. He will show you the way.

Our world is not the same as it was before. And then again it is. We Christians are still being persecuted. This is why we need to stay on His path. God will guide us through. Remember that He will not leave us or forsake us. For God is not bound by this world. After all He created it. We are the ones who have messed things up. So, lets stay on the path God has set out before us. Where as going down the highway may get you run over.

Be blessed, Ken

As the title states, lets talk about window shopping. We all have done it to some degree or another. In fact my wife and I take a couple days during the spring through fall time to go out to Lake Geneva. Its just a day here or another one there, but it offers us time to get away. Often we find ourselves looking at home listings posted in the realtor’s window. Its kind of fun to see how much they are asking. Needless to say they are wish lists. Priced WAY out of our budget. Now these listings have all the info about the homes the realtor’s think you need to know. Its all the appealing stuff. Photo’s to make them even more enticing. Details of the property. Location of the home. How many of this and how many of that. All good information. Trying to get you interested.

So, window shopping has its good points and bad. Kind of like our daily walk with our Lord and Savior. People are watching us all the time. Trying to find that something to put back into our faces. Something to make fun of. Something to accuse us of. Something to use against us to prop themselves up higher than we are. So, lets give them something. When we are living a life worthy of the name of Jesus Christ what do we have to fear? They will call you a nut case or stupid for following Jesus. Calling you weak. Out of touch with whats really going on today. High and mighty is one that comes up often. Or that we put ourselves above everyone else. If we are living a life worthy of His name, then we should be a window for them to see the truth. Thats as simple as Jesus Christ himself. How are they going to know of a better life if we don’t live it in front of them.

Nothing speaks louder than a picture. If they are watching you, then show them. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except by Jesus. Remember the second part of the great commandment is to love your neighbor. Show this by being kind and giving them a smile. It may be the only one they get today. Greet them with a friendly hello. Open the door for them at store. let them get in front of you in the line at the check out. Especially when they have fewer items the you do. Tell them to have a great day. I have been doing this more often these days and the reactions are wonderful. They respond with a heart felt than you.

When you go to a restaurant don’t be cheap. We as Christians already have a bad reputation for this. Be a good tipper. Say thank you after they attend to your needs. Engage them in some short conversation. If they appear to be having a bad day, then say something kind to them. Offer to pray for them. Encouraging words are always good. You just may get the opportunity to lead them in the sinners prayer. At the very least you would have your best to make their day more pleasant.

I need to mention that when we do fail don’t try to hide it. If we need to ask for forgiveness then do it. If you need to eat a little bit of humble pie then do it. This will also speak loudly to them. If we behave badly, we may not have another chance to correct it and truly share the gospel with them. It also leaves an image that they will not soon forget.

People will not always listen to us. They may even tell us to shut up or worse. Remember that Jesus went through a lot worse for us. Even being persecuted for His name is a good thing in the sight of Jesus. Lets show them the good things of Jesus. The things that make our lives worth living.

Be blessed, Ken

Here we are posting again. This is the first time I have done two days in a row. That said, I’m going to talk about this last Sunday. We had a very good service at church. The whole time was spent in worship. Its great to see how God works things together. The last two posts were about revival and now we are talking about part of that process. As we entered into worship the pastor spoke of the need to break off chains and all that is binding. The binds of worry, pornography, depression, cancer and anything that hinders you from obtaining that which God has for you. There was excitement, joy, shouting, crying and a lot of praying. It was a time to be in His presence. I am writing about this because this is for everyone not just those at the service. If you are hindered in any way just go to God and ask for victory over these. He doesn’t want to see His people suffer. As with revival, this is a time when God empowers His children. Equipping them for the tasks that are to come. He will not only set you free, but put you in a position to help others obtain that which is missing in their lives. Or should I say “who” is missing in their lives.

During this time God was giving me a vision. I saw a column of people marching down the center isle of an auditorium. They were four people across and as deep as the vision would show me. In the front was a banner  leading the way. Not knowing exactly what this meant I spent some time seeking God for an answer. The first place He took me was to 2 Chron. 7:14. which says “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” As I meditated on this my impression was about healing our land. Our country has strayed way too far from its original path as a Christian nation. Its not too late to make a difference in our land. We need to draw as close to God as we possibly can. Forsaking ourselves and our wants and needs for those that are of our God’s will. Do we trust God to do what is best? Or do we think that our way is the only way for it to work out? God knows what is best. Just let Him do it. Lay down our own ideas, thoughts, wants and needs at His feet. Make ourselves available to Him for His will tom be done.

You may have heard this before. You may have read this before. But, look at it as confirmation of His word. Many people have talked about revival is coming. Or The third great awakening is coming. Some speak of spiritual promotion or blessings coming. Signs miracles and wonders will be seen. This is all good and most likely going to happen, so why not put yourself in a position to be on the receiving  end of this? Why not be as close to God as possible?Why not do all that we can? Why not be obedient to god and do as Hen asks of us? I want to hear “well done” when I see Him face to face. I want to see others get their opportunity to be with God in Heaven. Its not all about us. Its about Jesus first and our neighbor second.

Go to our Lord Jesus and get those chains and binds broken. Spend time with Him in His presence. Go that extra distance by forsaking ourselves to Him. It won’t be wasted time. Remember that God loves you.

Be blessed, Ken

Ok here we are in part 2. The clue given in part 1 about soaking in a tub has to do with cleansing. When you soak in the tub for a length of time your pores open up and the dirt and junk come out. That’s what we need today. We need to cleanse ourselves both outside and inside. In 2 Chron. 29 we read the story of King Hezekiah. He tells the priests to consecrate both the temple and themselves. This was necessary in order to prepare for what is going to take place. You can’t really expect God to answer us when we look and act like the world. At least in a way we would like Him to answer us. remember that in 1 John 2:15 states that we are not to love the world. In fact if we do the love of the Father is not in us. We also have in James 4:4 tells us that friendship with the world is hatred toward God. All of this in addition to asking for forgiveness of our sins.

After King Hezekiah had the priests consecrate the temple and themselves the people did the same thing. Followed by the sacrifices required of them. We don’t do the sacrifices any longer. Simply because our Lord and Savior has done it all for us. There is nothing that we can do to match or even come close to what He did for us. Once this was done they started to worship God. Worship is important to do. This is where we offer up to Him all the glory, honor and praise due to Him. It also brings us into a place of being in His presence. We forget about ourselves and just worship God. Its all about Him, not us. During this time of worship the people sang and played their instruments. What they also did was to bow down and get on their knees to worship. I’m sure many of them were laying flat on their stomachs as low as they could be before God. All of this is meant to get ourselves out of our comfort zones and into God’s comfort zone. Remember the first part of the great commandment is to Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind and with all of your strength ( Mark 12:30).

Now does this say that we will have revival if we follow it to the letter. No it does not. But in the very least we will be in a better place at that moment. Where we won’t worry about much of anything. So, if I don’t see it in the church it means that there isn’t revival  happening? Wrong, all it means is that the church isn’t there yet. Revival may happen on an individual basis. People could be in revival all by themselves. They have taken the time to forsake everything and just go after God. We too, may experience this.We just need to go after God and not worry what others saying or even thinking. Just remember its all possible with God.

Be blessed, Ken

Here we are today talking about a topic this time. Lets talk about revival. We all have heard the church say that we need a revival. Revival is coming and stories of a great one coming again. We have this vision of those from the past being relived. This may be good and all, but why do we limit ourselves? Why do we chase around the country to get in on the latest happening? These revivals have lead to some great moves of God and His pouring out of the Holy Spirit into our lives. But remember that God doesn’t always do everything in the same manner all the time. We like things done the same way because we are comfortable with it. So, here are some thoughts I’ve had concerning revival.

I wrote down some questions about this topic. Like, what is it? What is it going to look like? What is going to take place? And, what is it going to take to get there? To start with lets go to Webster’s  dictionary and look to see how it applies to us spiritually. Revival: 1C1; a period of renewed religious interest. 1C2; an often highly emotional evangelistic meeting or series of meetings. So there we have it. Its interest and emotions. Thats its we are done. Well not quite. Its just a definition that leads us to the second question of what’s it going to look like. An example that comes to mind is 9/11/01. right after the attacks on the twin towers and the Pentagon people started to go to church in the masses. We were seeing great numbers of people returning. The problem is that it didn’t last. Why? Because they went out of fear. Not out of a renewed or closer walk with God. Some stayed and are still attending today, but not many. We are having more today, because people are looking for answers and are being honest with themselves. They need to know and are finding the truth. These people are looking beyond interest and emotions. In Jesus’ time the people followed Him with interest and emotion. But when it came to the time of truly being a believer they fell away and denied Him. Even to the point of chanting for His crucifixion.

Another example are the likes of Brownsville and the Toronto airport revivals. These were more than interesting and emotional. They had the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They changed lives and made lasting impressions in the lives of those who were there. They empowered people to go out into the world and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Signs, wonders and miracles all happened. Even still to this day. So, what is it going to take for this to happen today? We’ll talk about that in part 2. I will give you an insight into part 2 with this; go take a long soaking in the tub.

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Be blessed, Ken