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Love Will Prove True

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THE WORD

1 Thessalonians 5:21 – Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When it comes to having a strong walk with God there are qualities within you that will make you stand out as a person that possesses something amazing. These attributes of the Lord are given by the anointing that dwells within you! Some of the most anointed individuals that I have ever witnessed made a difference to the world around them through one thing: Love. For without love, our works for others are of none effect.

Churches do not produce successful outreach just by awesome praise and worship music, nor how eloquently organized the sermons may be. While these things make going to church from week to week worthwhile I feel that we are missing the greatest opportunities to help those in need with something more available than what we produce in the place of worship. God is much more powerful than a building and what we can produce from within it.  I encourage you to go and read about the qualities of charity and examine your life and see if the love that is coming forth from you is making a difference in every part of your life that people see.

As we continue to operate in the church in the ministry and as individuals in our personal everyday ministries, let us always remember to do all of our works with love. It will reach the coldest of hearts, go further than you ever thought possible, and will always break ground when you sow seeds of faith in that manner! Remember the love of God in your life!

PUT INTO PRACTICE

Take a moment to get someone on your mind that perhaps you have not spent very much time with lately. Think of a way that you can bring a smile to that persons face and make an effort to supply a spontaneous blessing. It does not have to be anything over the top; something simple will do. An example that I have performed was gathering addresses and sending Christmas cards to people I never have. The response I got back in return was overwhelming, further establishing to me that even a little of God’s love goes a long way!

The Mind Of Christ

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1 Corinthians 2:16 – For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

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When we begin to consider a few of the wonderful qualities of the mind of Christ, it makes us really evaluate what is upon our minds:

First of all, Jesus made of Himself no reputation. Some people in this world are in involved in the interaction and entertainment for a name, fame or fortune. Let me remind all of us that Jesus came so that all could have life and a way unto Heaven (and not to give us an hours’ worth of entertainment on Sunday). We (while in the world today) should remember that we should make what we do about no one but God first and God glorified. If we put out more of God and less of ourselves, they will be drawn to something that will never fail them. Am I saying that we as leaders will fail? Yes. I am also saying that we need to remember who is in control of our leadership as well!

Secondly, Jesus took upon him the form of a servant while living on earth. We love to be in control, but never to follow or be ordered by others. We love to and want to place conditional prayers upon God, as well as putting conditions to serve and obey and truly expect everything to come to pass. A servant unto God will serve in spirit and in truth, through persecution and victory, and will not be moved from the calling that is placed within!

Finally, Jesus humbled himself, and became obedient even unto death. Honestly, even when we feel like the world is crashing around us and we do not hear a voice nearby, God is the still small voice that is there to lead. We have to remember that humbling ourselves allows the Godhead to have its place in our lives, and takes us to a place of complete obedience AND compliance in our lives! Let us begin to take on these high qualities so that we can be the true light of the world!

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Put Into Practice:

A simple way to know what is on your mind is to simply speak what is on your mind. This might be better practiced alone and may lead into prayer when done correctly. Take a few minutes and begin to just allow every thought that hits your mind to come out in spoken word. It may shock you to find what you actually will say verses what you normally suppress in the back of your mind. As you do this for a few moments, begin to start praying about the parts that are bothering you and allow God to help you in these areas. Growth never starts without some groundbreaking action!

Why Are We Ashamed?

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There is one thing that I can take pride in for sure: my work. I feel like that what I do that I do the best that I can to the best of my ability. For that, I am not ashamed of it. I would let it speak for itself to five people or 5,000 people. We’ll do this for things we are proud of, people we are proud of, or even principles or standards that we have in our lives. What I want to ask today is, why are we so ashamed to show God in our lives to others?

Just because people try to force God out by what is considered practical laws and procedures doesn’t mean that you still cannot proclaim a Godly life and live by a Godly example. If you live it close enough, people will know what you stand for. Rules and guidelines about why God cannot exist in a place, facility or group to me is simply a declaration of fear of what is simply misunderstood.

People always make it out to be a battle about your right to carry a bible and shove the word of God down their throats. That sounds harsh, but the truth hurts. It should never be about being prideful in something or the battle for being justified; it should simply be that God is the “I am” in your life, and that you do not have to prove anything to anyone. If they say “you are not allowed to speak it”, that’s fine because you can live it!

Don’t be ashamed of what you have inside, for it’s the only light that draws others to Christ!

Words Are More Than Words

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THE WORD

Deuteronomy 32:1 – Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

Psalms 15:1-3 – LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

We write them in emails, Facebook walls, IMs, text messages, tweets or even speak them in person; for with words that come from our lips, hands, phones, tablets, and keyboards come a great power and responsibility for how you will convey them each and every day to those that are surrounded around you. Whether they are to encourage someone or to tell a person who upset you what you think about them you have an intriguing ability to express yourself to someone else through words. Always be aware of the words you speak as well as the words you hear. Communicating and listening can have a direct impact on your life in many capacities, and as the word of God gives reference to the power of life and death being in the tongue, you must be cautious! Trust me: people are reading, watching, listening, observing, feeling, receiving, etc. of what you speak, no matter the medium you use to use your words! As the bible refers to conversation about our business being “yay yay” and “nay nay”, make sure to keep things clear and to the point without using words that would tear down another person.

PUT INTO PRACTICE

I encourage you to dedicate one day to only speaking or writing encouraging words about the top three things that bother you. You will find that if your feel funny speaking positive and faithful statements then you are not accustomed to it happening enough to be comfortable with it. As you succeed with this good practice, continue to do it as many days as you can until you have built a good habit in your character.

The Basic Fundamentals

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Sometimes we get so involved in trying to do all of the complex things in life that we forget about the basic fundamentals. It’s easy to remember to pray, to read the bible, to make sure you put money in the offering plate, to offer a testimony during service, to sing a song of praise, to do just about anything that you could think of. I could sit here and write you out an entire checklist of to-dos that most of us accomplish with perfection. The bible even talks about us striving for perfection, to strive for that mark, of the high calling.

I want to make sure that we don’t miss the most important part of all.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

[1] Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
[2] And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
[3] And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
[4] Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
[5] Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
[6] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
[7] Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
[8] Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
[9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
[10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
[11] When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
[12] For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
[13] And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

We can offer all of ourselves to the world in every possible way, but without charity, it is essentially meaningless. If we are going to do things with an attitude in other words, we are in the wrong spirit. If you come to church without charity, how will you ever be able to have compassion on the people that come in that are truly in need?

Let us open the eyes of our hearts and always remember that even though we all have many great callings and talents, that the FORCE behind them should always be charity. And if you feel as though you are lacking in that area, pray that God will fill you with more. He can give you patience and understanding with the people that would make you feel as though you could not be charitable to them. I know it’s hard to be this way to everyone, but it’s possible. God showed the most charity of all when he sent Jesus as the sacrifice for the world, that we would be forgiven and have a pathway to Heaven through salvation.

Always remember to be charitable to ALL those around you. In other words, let love be what’s in your heart ALL of the time. Remember the basic fundamental of Charity, for it will carry you far in drawing those loved ones to Christ!

Press Through The Crowd

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Mark 5:25-34

[25] And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
[26] And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
[27] When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
[28] For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
[29] And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
[30] And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
[31] And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
[32] And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
[33] But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
[34] And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

This is small and simple thought that I feel like is easy to express, especially to those that are being jaded about their obedience to God. Press through the crowd, get past the bystanders and objects around you and obey God! Your blessings are not behind them, but ahead!  We have many issues that we face, as we know, VERY MANY! But when we push, pray, fast, and stop trying to do everything else that we know to do finally just trust God, we will be made strong!

Draw From The Living Water

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John 4:10-24

[10] Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
[11] The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
[12] Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
[13] Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
[14] But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
[15] The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
[16] Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
[17] The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
[18] For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
[19] The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
[20] Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
[21] Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
[22] Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
[23] But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
[24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

A certain woman came unto Jacob’s well around the 6th hour. Jesus asked her of a drink of water, knowing good and well was not wanting earthly water.

When I think about water, I consider where it is located. In shallow ground, it is exposed and susceptible to all forms of bacteria and corruption, and therefore is not fit for consumption for survival. When God’s word is not drawn from nothing but from the surface, it has not been purified and will not take you very far.

The things that we need to draw from in God are in the deep! They are spiritual, and are drawn from that humble prayer and great leap of faith! When we draw from the living water, we won’t continually thirst every day because we will finally come into peace that we wouldn’t find elsewhere! A refreshing; like a cold glass of water that you could only get from the depths.

Jesus even said, if you knew who was that told you this! Sometimes we forget who it is that we serve, the all-powerful, miracle working God!

If we are drawing from earthly, fleshly water, we’re drawing from man, opinions, analysis, doctrine, and ideas, we will definitely thirst again! The water that Jesus gives shall spring up, giving everlasting life, where we won’t long for anything else, including this natural water, or this world.

I know that other people come in and worship because they know and understand what it is that they worship. The hour is now where people need to come together and worship God in spirit and in truth. We have to not only heed God’s spirit in a service, but also the truths of his word, for it are through the truths that we are made free!

Breaking The Off-Season

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I am an avid sports fan, and I do not have a preference to what it is. As long as there is competition, and the thrill for a win, I love it. There’s just something about the game when you watch one, when you observe the athletes that are participating…which now will lead me into what I wish to write about today. I hope this inspires you like it did when God showed this to me.

When athletes are in their season of play, they are in peak shape; they are ready for action every day, and don’t have to spend weeks at a time getting ready. Even in their off-season, they are practicing, working out, sticking to some form of routine. God showed me something very vivid with this. But first, a scripture:

2 Timothy 4: 2-5

[2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
[3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
[4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
[5] But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

From this scripture, God was teaching me something. We as a people need to be as athletes, praying, fasting, having faith, working in our gifts, doing what God has called us to do, in a routine in the on and off-seasons.

Whether you’re on or off the court, inside or outside the church, you need to be prepared to share God’s word with someone, be prepared to shine a light to them, be prepared to sing that song that’s on your heart. Don’t be out of shape, and let the enemy win another soul. The enemy wins so many simply due to the fact that we are out of shape. We are not practicing what we are preaching, and not sticking to a sound doctrine, or in other words, the word of God.

If we followed a spiritual diet that consisted of the holy things, and not the worldly things every day, consuming what God would have us to, your spiritual man would be better fit first of all. Secondly, with prayer and fasting, your spiritual self would be in better working shape, being able to make a better difference in the moment, having more conviction in your words, being able to get a hold of God in a manner that would have God move right then and there!

We have to be ready, not just when we feel like it, but always, in and out of season! Break the off-season! Be ready at all times!

Are You Ready For An Update?

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It’s good to be back writing on the HOG blog once again! lol! We might as well give it a catchy name everyone loves, so there you go!

Sometimes it is hard to allow technology to capture how good that God has actually been in our ministry. The places we have been have been just as much of a blessing to us. We have learned many things a long the way, and even though we have grew up and had many experiences, we always learn something new.

The Lord God is wonderful. Simply put. The singing seems to only get better, even when we get more tired. The ministering that we do in spoken word and truth seems to be more magnified, even when we feel more and more weary from the journeys that we take. And though we know there are more ahead of us, we know that there is more strength to be had, and more blessings to give to others. For we do not stand as a group to get a pat on the back, but to hold our hand out and help to pick others up in need.

I hope the day comes that we all become strong enough to obtain and retain that power from on high, that when people see all of us that carry Christ within us, they KNOW beyond all doubt, and that we have NO fear of come what may.

Thanks to all of the past churches for the wonderful fellowship, the wonderful food, and the wonderful experiences! We can’t wait to see you again! Be sure to stay tuned. We are in the works for some new news! I’ll stay on it, I promise!

The Love Of God

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Can anyone really comprehend “unconditional” love? It seems the love that parents have for their children is as close to unconditional love as we can get without the help of God’s love in our lives. We continue to love our children through good times and bad, and we don’t stop loving them if they don’t meet the expectations we may have for them. We make a choice to love our children even when we consider them unlovable; our love doesn’t stop when we don’t “feel” love for them. This is similar to God’s love for us, but as we shall see, God’s love transcends the human definition of love to a point that is hard for us to comprehend.

The Bible tells us that “God is Love” (1 John 4:8). But how can we even begin to understand that truth?  There are many passages in the bible that give us God’s definition of love. The most well known verse is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” So one way God defines love is in the act of giving. However, what God gave (or should we say, “who” God gave) was not a mere gift-wrapped present; God sacrificed His only Son so that we, who put our faith in His Son, will not spend eternity separated from Him. This is an amazing love, because we are the ones who choose to be separated from God through our sin, yet it’s God who mends the separation through His intense personal sacrifice, and all we have to do is accept His gift.

Another great verse about God’s love is found in Romans 5:8. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” In this verse and in John 3:16, we find no conditions placed on God’s love for us. God doesn’t say, “as soon as you clean up your act, I’ll love you;” nor does He say, “I’ll sacrifice my Son if you promise to love Me.” In fact, in Romans 5:8, we find just the opposite. God wants us to know that His love is unconditional, so He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us while we were still unlovable sinners. We didn’t have to get clean, and we didn’t have to make any promises to God before we could experience His love. His love for us has always existed, and because of that, He did all the giving and sacrificing long before we were even aware that we needed His love. I know a sister in Christ who makes this statement almost every time she gives her testimony; He loves me Just As I Am. This is such a true statement.

God is Love, and His love is very different from human love. God’s love is unconditional, and it’s not based on feelings or emotions. He doesn’t love us because we’re lovable or because we make Him feel good; He loves us because He is love. He created us to have a loving relationship with Him, and He sacrificed His own Son (who also willingly died for us) to restore that relationship.

God is Love! As such, true love — God’s love – can be summed up in this passage of scripture:  “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”  (1 John 4:7-11)