Have You Seen My Movie?

Apparently in the new Zach Galifianakis movie, the title character's name is Marty Huggins. Dad sent me the link a few months back to the movie trailer. Here it is if you haven't seen it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Pv0zZfxEnI Dad said, "Get ready for some ribbing." I love Zach, so no worries, even if his character is a tad feminine. Maybe someone will google the name and stumble upon this blog. If that's you, then drop me a line. It'd be great to know you were here. I've already gotten a few twitter request follows from people that I don't know, so I guess anything is possible. At any rate, enjoy the blog. I am working on a devotional that will be on Amazon shortly. I'll keep you posted. Go enjoy the movie, and feel free to spend some time poring over the timeless words of Proverbs. There is so much wisdom and freedom to found in the Word of God. God bless you, and thanks for stopping by the blog.

Sometimes God Speaks In Such An Obvious Manner Even I Get It

Last night I was coming home from Greenville and stopped to get gas in Columbia. It had been a long day of visiting clients and making cold calls, and I just wanted to get home, take a hot shower and watch the Tarheels and Blue Devils go at it. I filled my car up, and as I was about to drive off, I noticed a young man with a gas can asking another customer for help filling it up. This guy was tatted up. I'm talking more face tattoos than Mike Tyson. I watched for a few seconds the reactions of the other patrons. In that moment, I felt impressed that I should help him. A nudge from God, if you will. Nah, I told myself, that other guy will help him. It's probably just a scam I thought. Best to not get involved. So off I drove, the guy getting smaller in my rear view mirror the further I drove, while the sense that I should turn around to help kept getting more burdensome. But I'm stubborn. I hit the entrance ramp to I-20 to Florence thinking that probably wasn't God's will for me to help that young man. He looked a little sketchy anyway. The license plate of the first car I passed stopped me cold. It was "GODSWIL". You gotta be kidding me. That voice in my head said, "So I really had to spell it out for you, huh?".  Needless to say I got off the next exit and made my way back towards the gas station. I was kind of hoping that I'd get back and he'd be gone, but sure enough, I see him with the gas can. I drive up next to him. "What's the story, man?"  He points to a beat up Explorer and tells me that he and his 3 friends are headed down to Savannah but they ran out of money because they had to pay for some car repair. "Did the guy in the car you were waiting on fill your gas can up?" I ask. He tells me no and that people don't seem to be too helpful or interested in helping him. Maybe that's because you look like you'd bite Mike Tyson's ear off, I thought. I ask him his name. Evan, he tells me. I relate the story of me seeing him while I was filling up and feeling impressed to help him but driving off anyway. He laughed when I told him about seeing the license plate. I could tell Evin was somewhat amazed at the sequence of events that led up to my return.   You don't mind filling up the gas can, he asked. Nah man, I say.   I can't explain it, but in that moment, i knew I was supposed to fill the SUV up.  After that license plate, I'm done arguing. I tell him to pull the Explorer to the pump, and I fill it up.  I tell Evan that I am not a perfect Christian but that I try to listen when God tells me to help someone, though sometimes I do require an occasional license plate with a message from God. I have some leather study Bibles in the trunk from our last Bibles for Athletes event. I ask Evan and his 3 friends in the car if they'd like a Bible. Don't feel obligated I tell them. Just take one if you want one.   Evan walks with me to get the Bibles out the trunk of my car. That's a sick Challenger, he says. Thanks, I respond. I'm not promising that God will bless you with a Challenger, I say, but if you do what God says, He will bring you good things in life. We shook hands, he grabbed a Bible for himself and his friend who said she'd like one, and I wished him a safe trip.  This time the ride home was less eventful: no more license plates with reprimands from God. I said a quick prayer that Evan would realize that God was infinitely concerned with his well being. So much so that He would use something as crazy as a license plate to compel me to turn around to help him. If you don't mind, say a prayer for Evan. I have the unmistakeable feeling that God is going to do amazing things in him and through him. 

Being Like Jesus

“… a man of wicked devices is hated” (Proverbs 14:17b). Jesus is the preeminent example for how Christians should live their lives. He never used people or manipulated them to get what he wanted; he was never deceiving or misleading. He spoke the truth in love, was a friend to the friendless, and loved others unconditionally. He never stepped on people to gain position or power. He was not impressed with the pursuit of riches or political clout. He served others, held his tongue and turned the other cheek – even though these characteristics were perceived as signs of weakness. His motives were pure and unselfish, and he gave without expecting anything in return. How far short we fall from His example! All too often, we resort to the tactics of the world to obtain what we desire. We ultimately end up using the same schemes, plans, and devices that Satan uses. We take advantage of others for personal gain and manipulate people who possess the things we desire. We use deception to secure a contract or land a big account by misleading a client about our past success. We love conditionally and befriend those who can offer something back in return. We chase after prosperity and prestige, and we are more concerned about our reputation than we are in helping others. We scheme and connive to get ahead at work, to own more “toys” than our neighbors and to be the most respected and envied man at church. Godly men, we must not be masters of wicked devices, but we must be followers of the Master. We must pattern our lives after His and allow the Holy Spirit to conform us to His likeness.

Encourage One Another

“A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! (Proverbs 15:23) The motivational gift God gave me at birth is encouragement. It gives me great joy, satisfaction, and a sense of purpose to cheer on, root for, and encourage others. No matter what gift God has given you, Satan will attempt to pervert it. An encourager who is out of fellowship with the Lord can become cynical, judgmental, and destructive to those around him. He will become the very opposite of the man God created him to be. If he desires fulfillment and purpose, he must surrender his life to the Lord and walk in the gift God has birthed in him. Whether you possess the motivational gift of encouragement or not, godly men are commanded to exhort one another daily (Hebrews 3:13). All believers struggle in their faith occasionally and will experience periods when their souls become dry and thirst for words of encouragement. I have endured times when my soul was famished, and God sent brothers and sisters with a word of encouragement for me at precisely the time I needed it most. During one of the lowest periods of my life as a young man, my basketball coach, Jim, told me that he loved me and was proud of me. I actually sat down and cried when he shared these words of blessing. How good was this word spoken in due season! I am thankful for the opportunities God has given me to share an encouraging word with those in need and to see the transformation that occurred as a result. Godly men, look around you for those that are hurting and starving for an encouraging word. Allow God to use you to rain a shower of blessing upon them.

"God's Unconditional Love for Us"

“The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame” (Proverbs 14:35). When I was a little boy the last thing I wanted to do was get my dad mad at me or have him disappointed in me. We can all relate to wanting our dads to be proud of us. Some of us went to extremes in the pursuit of our dad’s approval, and many indulged in negative excesses when they did not receive it. Whether you ever received your earthly father’s blessing or not, your heavenly father desires to bless you, and He loves you unconditionally. You are the apple of His eye (Psalms 17:8), and He is proud of you. He brags on you, just as he did Job. He is not pleased with you one second and disappointed in you the next. God’s approval of you is not based on your works and efforts, but on the unchanging blood of Jesus. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (I Peter 1:18,19). “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight” (Colossians 1:21, 22). Our Heavenly Father is pleased with us because He is pleased with Jesus. When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we come into right standing with God.

Having a Humble Spirit

“Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud” (Proverbs 16:19). Many times, God’s principles contradict our natural understanding. In fact, they seem contrary to human nature. Our natural inclination is to hate our enemies, but God tells us to love them. When men hurt us, He says to forgive them. When others take advantage of us, he says to go twice the distance. Today’s proverb is baffling to our human reasoning as well. By nature, we all want to be with the “in crowd.” We desire acceptance, respect, and popularity. Yet, once again, God puts His emphasis on the inward man. A humble spirit with the lowly is better than dividing the spoil with the proud. Our world system and its mores are diametrically opposed to Kingdom principles. Proverbs 15:16 says: “Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.” I have found that the “Better…” proverbs, almost always contrast worldly perspectives with what God says is best. The point is: we cannot always trust our own understanding, which is precisely why God tells us to lean not on our own understanding but to acknowledge Him and He shall direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5,6). It is imperative that believers base their decisions on the unchanging Word of God. The world’s values and beliefs change daily. It takes humility to seek God’s will. The question is: Do we really want to do His will, or would we rather follow the fickle ways of the world?

Don't Believe Everything You Hear

“The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going” (Proverbs 14:15). The major reason that cults and false religions are so prevalent today is because men do not know the Word of God. Since they do not know it, they cannot recognize heresy and false doctrine when they hear it. As a result, the church and her families are “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14). Without the Word of God, we are like a sailboat without a rudder. We have no direction, are totally dependent on the wind and waves and are carried about wherever they take us. When a pastor, Christian leader, or unsaved person (such as a boss at work) attempts to lead us, we have a responsibility to ourselves, our families, our brothers and sisters in Christ and our co-workers to make sure that the counsel we have been given lines up with the Word of God. When Paul instructed the brethren in Berea, “they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so (Acts 17:11). The perversion of the gospel of grace will become more prevalent in the last days. “ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (I Timothy 4:1, 2). As men of God, we must contend for the faith and be prudent in our lives.

A Counterfeit Man

“A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame” (Proverbs 13:5). Lying is the very essence of hypocrisy. When we lie, we make a false representation of ourselves to others. The locker room boastings of youth are far too often carried into adulthood with men competing to outdo one another and pressuring others to conform to a worldly view of manhood. Authentic manhood is godly manhood, and it is far different from the picture we have been given. As Christians, we lie every time we go to church, put on our happy Christian masks, and act as if everything is wonderful, even as our world crumbles around us. It is easy to lie to others, when we are so used to lying to ourselves. Christians are no different from the world, in that we are afraid to be vulnerable, honest about our problems, and transparent in our struggles out of fear that we will be judged or perceived as weak. Instead of confessing our faults to one another (James 5:16) and having the strong lift up the weak (Romans 15:1), we play the church charade and hope that no one sees us for who we really are. When tragedy strikes, some Christians refuse to allow themselves to grieve because of a distorted belief that they need to show the world that they are “strong in the Lord”. However, they forget that Jesus wept, laughed, grieved, and experienced the entire gamut of human emotions that we experience. Suppressing how we truly feel is another form of lying and hypocrisy. Men of God, let us ask God for the courage to be real men and not merely a guise of the real thing. Abraham Lincoln once said, “If it is a crime to make a counterfeit dollar, it is ten thousand times worse to make a counterfeit man.”

Loving God's Word

I love the Word of God; even though there are times, it wounds me deeply. It cuts to the quick and exposes my selfish motives and desires. It is a mirror that reveals my sin, and the reflection I see is often ugly to behold. Like peeling an onion, each layer of self that is removed brings tears and pain, yet I thank God for the power of His Word and its ability to convict me of sin. Dwight L. Moody admonishes believers to: “Cling to the whole Bible, not a part of it. A man is not going to do much good with a broken sword.” General Robert E. Lee said, “The Bible is a book in comparison with which all others are of minor importance. In all my perplexities and distress the Bible never failed to give me light and strength.” II Timothy 3:16, 17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Men of God, do not run from the Word. We have a tendency to set the Word aside when we struggle with sin because we do not enjoy being convicted. Nonetheless, if we love knowledge, we will love the instruction that comes with it; the foolish, stupid man hates reproof. Continue to dig in the Word, godly men, and allow it to convict you. “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him” (Psalms 18:30).

Silence the Venom of Gossip

“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends” (Proverbs 17:9).
No one likes to be talked about or to have people gossip behind their backs. We all want to be given the benefit of the doubt, and if we have offended someone, we want him to come to us so that we can do our best to resolve the situation. Despite the fact that we want these considerations for ourselves, how often do we extend the same courtesy to others? Are we quick to spread tidbits or share “facts” that we have not bothered to confirm as truth? Do we tell talebearers that we are not interested in participating in their sin? Perhaps we do not even spread the gossip that we hear, but we encourage its telling by merely listening. The world sees nothing wrong in repeating a matter, and they usually could not care less if the information is true or not. Especially with today’s media, as long as it makes good copy or boosts ratings, then they are happy. They are not concerned that lives, marriages, and friendships can be ruined by the telling of tales. Talk shows, reality television, and the tabloids are full of gossip, half-truths, and lies and we consume tons of it daily. A godly man realizes the dangers in gossip and diligently avoids it. He understands that, “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins” (Proverbs 10:12). “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves, for charity shall cover the multitude of sins (I Peter 4:8). Men of God, be reconcilers and cover a transgression. Don’t be gossips, talebearers, or separators of friends.

Who's Influencing You?

“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20).

When one of my brothers was a teenager, my parents tried to get him to understand the correlation between the friends he had chosen and the trouble that inevitably found him. He was not willing to give up these friends until he matured to the point where he could weigh the pros and cons of their friendship. He eventually realized that the cost for their friendship was too high a price to pay. For better or worse, the people we hang around influence us. During my freshman year of college, I received a care package from home. I eagerly tore into the box to find soap, shampoo, and my favorite cookies. I greedily stuffed two cookies in my mouth and immediately spit them out. They tasted like soap! The close proximity between the cookies and soap had cross-contaminated them. The cookies absorbed the pungent fragrance of the soap to the extent that it had lost its own uniqueness. When we walk with wise men, they will invariably rub off on us. Similarly, if we walk with fools, they will negatively influence us and eventually overpower us. “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (I Corinthians 15:33). We can be in the world, intentionally witnessing to those around us, loving the lost with the love of God and still be separate. Jesus ministered to the sinners and publicans, but hand-chose his inner circle. We should follow the same example.

Sharing Good News

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30).
With the exception of coming to Christ ourselves, leading someone to Jesus is the greatest thing we can do in this life. Bringing men to Christ is our mission and calling. “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). We are commanded by Jesus to go and make disciples in all nations (Matthew 28:19, 20). No one is exempt from the need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we have a responsibility to share the Good News. Research by Barna and Gallup indicate the percentage of Christians who actively share their faith is low. When I returned to Jesus after my prodigal experience, I remember feeling inadequate and unworthy of sharing my faith. I was apprehensive that I would say the wrong thing or offend the other person. I realize now that Satan planted these excuses to hinder me from witnessing. Once I discovered, as Dr. Neil T. Anderson said, that “Witnessing is sharing our faith in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God” I felt enabled to share Jesus. I have shared Jesus with many people since, and I have never had a bad experience. Even when a few people were rude or antagonistic in their worldview, I had complete confidence and peace that I had done what God wanted. Almost every individual I have shared with – even Muslims – have thanked me for caring enough about them to share the truth of Jesus. The greatest high I have experienced is the thrill of leading someone to the Lord. Men of God, be intentional in your witness. A lost world is waiting to hear our message.

Come, Lord Jesus

“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12).
The more we desire something, the harder it is to wait for it. When I was a boy, waiting for Santa Claus to come was a yearlong event. The countdown for next year’s Christmas began on December 26. My anticipation grew daily as Christmas drew nearer. When the big day arrived, I would tear down the stairs along with my brothers and sister, wake up our parents and revel in the excitement of Christmas. Men of God, we should possess a similar attitude of expectation concerning the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (I Corinthians 15:51, 52). Those that love His appearing and look forward to it, will be rewarded with a crown of righteousness (II Timothy 4:8). Paul again exhorted Titus to “[look] for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (I Peter 5:4). Are our hearts longing for Jesus to return? Is our prayer that of John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus”? Do our hearts skip a beat when we see prophecy fulfilled before our very eyes? Rest assured, men of God, Jesus is coming back. May we not be ashamed of His coming or be found sleeping.

The Contradictions of Christianity

“There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches” (Proverbs 13:7).
Kingdom principles are often difficult to understand and contrary to so-called common sense. We must die in order to live, be poor in order to become rich and take up our cross before we are set free. Jesus was the model of this apparent contradiction. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (II Corinthians 8:9).
The God who created the universe, who owns the cattle upon a thousand hills, became poor for us. “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).
Just as Jesus became poor, we must also become poor. The first beatitude says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew. 5:3). A man must realize he is lost before he can be found. It is only after he looks within and recognizes the wretchedness in his heart, that he will call out to the Savior and receive forgiveness. The man who feels he is “rich in spirit” will be poor for eternity. “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear” (Rev. 3:17, 18).

The Miami Heat Are A Picture of Most Christians

It's hard to feel bad for the Heat. With all the pre-season hoopla and empty promises of a dynasty, well, it all seems a little blustery now. There are some interesting parallels in the Heat and most Christians, and I thought I'd spend a few moments unpacking that concept.

With three superstars on a team, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James could never decide who was the go to guy. Each man expected the other one to carry the load. What ended up happening was that no one did anything, and three perennial all-stars ended up looking like regular joes. The Mavs, an old school basketball team, beat them with an unselfish pass game. As Christians, we are often just like the Heat. God has enabled each of us with superstar gifts and talents, yet we wait on the other all-star Christians around us to do the work that we were called to do. It's easy to shift the responsibility on others when we think they are more qualified and have more all star appearances than we do.

Also like the Heat, we are celebrating our victory before we have rightly attained it. No matter where we are in our Christian journey, if we are still on this side of the daisies, then there is work to be done. While there is nothing wrong with celebrating Christ's finished work on the cross, that doesn't give us the right to sit around basking in future victory when there is so much laboring that needs to be done in the meantime. When you begin celebrating before you obtain the prize, you have lost focus and have underestimated your adversary.

The Heat also did not follow a strong leader. In hindsight, a young, inexperienced coach may not have been the best choice for three headstrong youth. A wiser leader, who had been battle tested in the trenches of NBA warfare, would have been a better choice. It is difficult for NBA players to respect a coach that has not earned his stripes. Similarly, Christians often follow weak leaders, who tell them what their itching ears long to hear, instead of following strong, faithful leaders who speak the truth boldly. Like the Heat, when strong leadership is not present, Christians tend to point fingers, shift responsibility and sit around and cry over lost opportunities.

There is hope for the Heat. If they can learn to play as a team, each learn their role in the offense, play to each teammate's strengths, and come together as one body for the common goal of winning it all, then greatness is in their future. The same can be said of the Church. Let's not fall short of greatness like the Heat, when we are all All-Stars playing on the winning team.

Depart From Evil

“A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident” (Proverbs 14:16).
As boys, we are taught from an early age that we should be fearless. Maxims from our youth, such as “Big boys don’t cry’ and “Be a man,” have given us a false expectation of how we are to face the world. Many of the “truths’ we were indoctrinated with as children are not grounded in reality. For example, boys are taught to fear nothing, but there are some things we should have a healthy respect for: sin, evil, and a Holy God. A fear of sin and evil is wise because it serves as a protective mechanism to keep us far away from wickedness. Our fear helps us to weigh the consequences of falling into sin when temptation comes our way. A foolish man is confident and fears nothing. This kind of man is easily led astray because he places himself in no-win situations. He fails to recognize dangers and warning signs that a wise man would pick up on. “A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished” (Proverbs 22:3). Godly men, I realize that the Bible says that we are to fear no evil (Psalms 23:4) and fear not what flesh can do to us (Psalms 56:4). However, the fear of the Lord and departing from evil go hand in hand (Proverbs 3:7). The fear of sin and evil is not a negative fear rooted in a lack of faith in God’s abilities, but a healthy fear ingrained in a love for God and a desire to live holy.

I'm Not There Yet

Sometimes there are days that God lets you see yourself for who you really are, and although it is immensely painful, it is necessary for growth. After all, it is when you feel you have arrived in the Christian journey that you cease to grow. If I am being honest, I have been complacent lately. The routine of Christianity has lulled me to sleep, and I hate going through the motions. Sometimes a long stretch of I-26 and I-95 after a day visiting clients is a perfect time to take inventory of your life spiritually. Am I the man I claim to be? Do I excuse sin in my life as just being human? Have I grown accustomed to my life as it is that I have ceased to hope for something better? Do I still believe that God loves me and wants to bless me more than I can think or imagine? Has my pursuit of happiness become more important than the people God places in my path to reach and influence? Am I a good steward of my money? Am I preparing myself to be the husband that my future wife deserves?

As you can see it was a very long ride back from Charleston. My spiritual inventory revealed many places in which I am lacking. I was convicted to renew my spiritual journey with gusto. It is so easy when this world is pulling you a million different directions to lose your first love. Quite a few tears were shed when the Holy Spirit reminded me of all Jesus had done for me, how "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord." (Psalm 40:2-3)

So tomorrow is a new day, a chance to begin again. Not just for me but for you as well. His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:23), and if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9). Who wouldn't want to serve a God like that?

God Is Our Refuge

“In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge” (Proverbs 14:26).
God gives us many descriptions of his provision and protection in Scripture. One of my favorite descriptions is the picture Jesus gave when he wept over Jerusalem. “How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37) The protection of God’s wings is first mentioned to Israel when God said, “I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself” (Exodus 19:4). God compares himself to an eagle that “stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings” (Deuteronomy 32:11). When the eagle teaches her eaglets to fly, she nudges them out of the nest, but she does not leave them on their own. She hovers over them, and if they struggle, she will swoop underneath them and catch them on her massive wings. God does the same for us. We rest atop his nest and under the shadow of his wings. David said, “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings” (Psalms 17:8). “How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings” (Psalms 36:7). “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings, and our confidence is that when we fall, his great wings will gently catch us and set us down safely. What a mighty God we serve!

Hitting Rock Bottom

“Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard” (Proverbs 13:15).
No sane man would choose a life of sin if Satan showed him the ultimate consequences of that life in the end. For example, when Satan tempts a man to use drugs, he will appeal to the man’s curiosity or his sense of adventure. He may even convince the man that the drug will fill the void in his life; however, he will never show the man the results of his sin: loss of finances, his wife leaving him because of his addiction, the destruction and pain brought upon his children, etc. Revealing the consequences of sin would be foolish because not many men would fall into temptation. God loves us so much that He allows us to make bad choices. With our free will, we can choose to serve Him or choose to follow the road to destruction. Proverbs 14:12 says: “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” For some men, it takes hitting rock bottom before they recognize their need to be saved. As long as times are good and life is grand, most men will be content, but when tragedy strikes or the rug is swept out from under him, he will begin to question the meaning of life. He will search for something to fill the void in his soul. This is the crucial time when he is most open to the gospel and a relationship with Jesus Christ. Look around today; there are men throughout your sphere of influence who need to know about Jesus. Will you be faithful to share the Good News with them?

Calm in the Midst of the Storm

“And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” (Matthew 8:23-27)
The disciples had the Savior in the boat with them, yet they were afraid that they would drown in the storm. Jesus responded to their fear by asking them, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” As believers, Jesus is our righteousness, and He will keep us in the right path, if we follow Him. The wicked man, who does not have Jesus in his heart, will be thrown out of the boat and will drown in the stormy sea. What the disciples had was a lack of faith in Jesus. We have all had those moments.
In Mark 4:35, we are given another piece of the story. Jesus told the disciples, “Let us pass over unto the other side.” Notice He did not say, “Let us go to the middle of the lake and drown in a storm.” We can trust what Jesus says and we can trust Him to do what He says. The same Creator who has the power to calm the winds and the waves, can still the troubled waters in each of our lives. We must simply learn to trust Him to do what he has promised.