Tag Archives: education

That’s My Kid You’re Messing With!

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Bullying At SchoolI am sure most have seen a burling cloud of smoke rising up in the sky signaling to all around that something is burning. Most individuals have a curiosity to see what is burning and how bad the devastation is.

I imagine David and his mighty men became alarmed when they saw the smoke rising from the direction of their homes. I am sure their battle worn bodies were in need of a time of rest and pleasure with their families, only to be shaken with concern. In 1 Sam 30:1-6 we read that these mighty warriors who were coming to Ziklag after a three-day travel from the Philistine’s camp were devastated beyond their capacity of remaining strong and focused.

When they saw that their houses had been burned and their wives and children had been taken away captive, it says in verse 4 that they, “lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep.” These men of war were driven to their

How long will we just sit by and watch our children and families be carried away down the road to destruction.   (tweet)

knees knowing that the Amalekites who they had recently brought havoc on and brought to the sword now had their children and families (1 Sam. 27:8-9). Why wouldn’t these murderous savages and fierce warriors not ravage and kill in revenge. This is what David and his men are picturing in their mind as they slide down the slopes of hopelessness.

Why has so many in the church succumbed to the same if not worse predicament with our families and children? We have been off building our careers and egos much as David’s army had been. We have allowed ourselves to be deceived in thinking that our children are safe and out of harms way much like this story. Yet, I believe we are in a much worse dilemma for we are not even concerned with the signs and smell of smoke invading our society.

All down through history we have seen the enemies attempt to carry our children away into captive and ultimately destroy them. John 10:10 says, “The thief

Don’t be messing with my kid!  (tweet)

does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” The enemy’s mission statement is to do everything he can to plunder our children which are gifts from God.

The enemy used Pharaoh in Exod 1:22 to try and stop the deliverer by killing the children when Moses was born. Again, we see the enemy used a threatened Herod to try and kill the coming deliverer by destroying the children when Jesus was also born Continue reading →

Excuses, Excuses People have them Everyday!

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525985625An excuse is an attempt to be forgiven and release oneself from any obligation or responsibility by circumstances. We live in a culture that I have termed as a chronic excuse syndrome society. We are to easily given over to breaking any commitments and responsibilities that we may have.

The excuses such as, “I forgot” and “That’s the way we have always done it” or even “I just don’t feel like it” have become commonplace in our lives. Oh and let us not forget this one, “that’s not my job”. The long list of excuses that we have allowed to slowly decay our society has also begun to seep into our Christian journey.

God knows our imperfections and still chooses to use us. (Tweet)

Years ago the Kingsmen Quartet sang a song called “Excuses”. The opening line went something like this “Excuses, excuses, you’ll hear them every day. And the Devil he’ll supply them, if the church you stay away…” As comical as it may sound, the truth should shake us awake.

George Washington Carver said, “Ninety-nine percent of failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.” Carver was no stranger to adversity and could have easily made excuses throughout his life. But against all odds he overcame his environment. Despite being born into slavery, he worked hard developing hundreds of products made from crops such as peanuts and sweet potatoes. This he did under the oppression of segregation, yet he never used it as an excuse to abandon his passion.

Carver is mostly known for his scientific contributions, but is also recognized as a devoted Christian who boldly declared that the God of the universe was his source of inspiration. Therefore, he refused to allow any excuse to hinder him from a God given purpose.

To often we allow Excuses to stop us from achieving our destiny in God (Tweet)

To often as Christians we allow excuses to stop us from achieving our destiny in God. Moses who tried to accomplish God’s purpose by himself ended up in a desolate desert. Yet, God still had a plan for him.

We read the dialogue in Ex. 3:10-11 of God’s calling of Moses, as well as his reply. Moses responds with his first excuse saying, “who am I that I should go…”. He saw himself as a failure and a “has been” which he thought justified himself in giving an excuse. Again in the following chapter we read two more excuses that Moses gave to God. Out of a rejection complex he told God, “What if they don’t believe me” and then finally “I am slow of speech and tongue”. Moses looked at himself through the eyes of insecurities and therefore felt that he wasn’t a good speaker.

The scriptures reveal that God has a plan and a purpose for us. But just like Moses, we begin to offer up excuses for not fulfilling God’s plan, which can limit or even abort the plan of God for our lives. God wants us to whole heartily trust Him and not let insecurities, hurts of rejection or even fear of failure cause us to be disobedient to His plan. A person’s excuses come from looking to their own lack of abilities and not looking to God’s omnipotence. When Moses continued making excuses even when God reprimanded him as his creator, we read that the Lord’s anger was kindled.

Our excuses to not obeying His purposes are nothing short of a lack of faith in God. Let us respond in faith and not be quick to find an excuse.

There’s Life in the Vine!

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Image    There is a definite difference between the life that is separated unto prayer and the life that has separated from prayer. One has the power of God flowing through it and the other is powerless. We must understand that Jesus is the vine and we are only the branches. (Jn. 15:5). As long as we stay connected to the life-source then we will walk in His power.

Paul encouraged the Christians in Ephesus with these words: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might,” (Eph. 6:10). We walk in His power as long as we are in fellowship and communion with Him. I remember my former pastor, telling the church that some things must be caught not just taught. I believe Joshua caught something as he followed Moses.

Joshua saw the results of Moses’ communion with God. He Talked to God and then walked in His power every day.  Joshua caught the spirit of prayer and abiding in God’s presence. I love Exodus 33:11 where it says, “So the Lord spoke to Moses face-to-face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.” Picture this scene: Moses returned to camp and to his responsibilities but Joshua stayed in the Lord’s presence. Evidently Joshua caught something; he understood that a life of intimate prayer and communion will result in a walk of power.

We cannot survive without being grafted into the vine. Joshua was committed in making sure that he was grafted into the vine. It was a daily choice he made. Just as it must be a daily choice in our life to make sure we are connected into the life source of the vine.  As we come into the place of prayer and communion with God, we are strengthening our connection in the vine!