Second to None

This is Garrett- I hijacked my wife's blog. 

"You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him." Luke 4:8

How hard is this!  Satan can twist, turn, fog and distort the truth which in time will lead us away from Christ.  One of the most common tactics and schemes he uses is the attack of “busyness”, busyness within our work place, homes or everyday duties.  The struggles of life can become a burden if we try to live life ourselves.

Alarm sounds.  Hit snooze.  Alarm sounds.  Stumble out of bed and go through the regular morning preparations.  Then off to another day at a boring place of work.  A week goes by, then a month and then a year.  Before you know it you are a victim of "busyness".  I can speak from experience.  

We become servants to our schedules and distant from the Lord when we invest more in us.  How can we put Christ first in our busy day and not serve anything else?

  1) "Keep on praying” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Be completely honest with God and let Him know your struggles.  Put reminders in places you will notice them throughout your day.  Office, car, phone, computer screen, etc...   

  2)  “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."  John 15:5

We have to remain in Him, stay in the Word.  He will not leave us.  It is us that drift from Him.  

  3)  “...bad company corrupts good character.”  1 Corinthians 15:33

Surround yourself with friends that encourage you in Christ.  Don't settle in your relationships with friends to fit in or gain political status.  Stay focused on Christ not the world or what it has to offer.

Thank You Lord for Your forgiveness!  Forgive me for not putting You first and for serving my needs and schedule before You.  Forgive me for getting caught up in things that are meaningless. We praise You for Your mercy and grace.  Amen.

The Body

Joy is found in the body that makes up the church. As all the parts gather together and join in as one, an eternal joy fills the air. Brothers and sisters rescued and redeemed laying their hearts at Jesus’ feet.

Jesus thank You for using us to be the Church! Bless each part that makes up the body. May we begin to function as a whole and not as individual parts. You did not design it that way. Amen

Which is it for you?

“He was absolutely convinced that God as able to do anything he promised.” Romans 4:21

Seeing and believing, do they go hand and hand? Do we have to see in order to believe? Or are we able to just believe without seeing? If Abraham was absolutely convinced, was it based off of what he saw, or off what he believed and knew about God?

What about those of us standing on this side of the cross, what do we base our faith off of? Are we absolutely convinced that God is able to do anything He promises, promised? Do we have to see to be absolutely convinced?

According to Hebrews 11:1-3 faith is not based on seeing, it is actually the very opposite. Faith is, believing God is who he says he is, and that He will do what He says He will do.  

“What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.”

Abraham did not need to see God’s promises come true ahead of time, neither do we. Abraham had faith because of the relationship he had with God.

Trust, brethren, that is what it comes down to. 

Jesus help us make sense of all that You are teaching us through Your Word. Show us ways we can strengthen our faith and trust in You. Help us step into that confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. Jesus we await that promise with great expectation, but in the meantime may we walk closely with You until the final promise of Your return is fulfilled. Amen

This type of Faith

“He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised.” Romans 4:21

This type of faith can only come from an intimate and personal relationship with Christ. A relationship like this is built on time, commitment, trust, devotion, love, and faithfulness.

The more we spend time with the Lord in His Word, and get to know Him, the stronger our faith will become.

Yet the only way to even begin a relationship such as this is by confessing with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead.

“For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are  saved.” Romans 10:9-10

Jesus let us not forget how important a thriving relationship is with You. Thank You that is easy and available at all times.  Amen

Chew until my jaw hurts!

“He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised.” Romans 4:21

Still sitting here, right in the middle of Romans 4:21! Rather than trying to process this in my mind alone, I have actually begun to chew on this huge, tender, but tough piece of meat Jesus cooked up for me.

I say tough because I know Jesus is making sure that I taste every flavor that comes out of every bite until it is so fine it cannot be chewed anymore. Plus I know the flavor of His word will never go away.  

I am a meat (The Word) kind of girl, so this is phenomenal for me. I actually prefer the meat of God’s Word over any of the sides that might be offered. Though good at times, the meat alone is satisfying and contains more nutrients for me.

I want this piece of meat-Romans 4:21 to be chewed so long my jaw hurts, yet be so fulfilling as it settles within me, that I walk away from this meal ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED my God is able to do anything He promises.

Then, like Abraham my relationship, faith and trust in God will be full of new flavors and nutrients just as it was for Abraham and I will begin to daily walk in the light of God completely satisfied.

Jesus verse after verse You have shown me Your faithfulness and commitment. You have done everything You said You would, and You have fulfilled every promise. You are who You say You are, and You do what You say You will do. Your yes means yes and Your no means no. Forgive me for my lack of faith and trust and for not chewing on Your meat long enough. Amen

Absolutely Convinced?...

“He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised.” Romans 4:21

My mind took in every word my eyes met to form each sentence God wrote. Sentence after sentence was filled with power, guidance, instruction, and wisdom.  Each sentence was taken in, processed, prayerful absorbed, and pondered on.

When all of the sudden, Jesus took my vision, my mind, and my flow of reading to a completely different level. A big ole halt, right on Romans 4:21.

“He (Abraham) was absolutely convinced that God WAS ABLE to DO ANYTHING  He promised.”

This particular verse sums up the type of faith, trust, and relationship Abraham had with God.

It hit me so hard I hit my face (literally) on the ground weeping and crying out to the Lord.

I have always considered my faith, trust, and relationship with the Lord to be pretty strong, until I read this passage and Jesus gave me a glimpse of reality.

I am convinced brethren, but ABSOLUTELY convinced?

I am convinced God is able, but ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED, He is able?

I am convinced God can do ANYTHING He promises, but ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED, He does?

Those absolute’s, have, well…been less than absolute. That is what brought me to my face.

How can my relationship with Christ be rock-solid, thriving, and grow, if I am not putting all of my ABSOLUTE trust, faith, and commitment into Him?

How can I be of great use to Christ if I am not ABSOULUTEY convinced that He will do what He says?

I just need to sit here a while longer…

Jesus sent the rain!

"Mommy, mommy its raining!" Avery shouted

"It is Avery, isn't that so awesome?"  I replied

"Mommy, remember I have been praying for God to send water for the flowers?" Avery responded

"I do Avery." 

"Mommy, Jesus sent rain, isn't that so cool?"

"Yes baby that is so cool!"

Jesus thank You for showing Avery Your faithfulness, but most of all thank You for filling him with the wisdom to know that it came from You. Jesus thank You for the joy that fills his heart as he sees how wonderful You are. Thank You for sending the rain, not only physically but spiritually. May it begin to nourish and restore our dry and thirsty souls. Amen

The Beauty that Surrounds me

"The heavens tell of the glory of God.

The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship.

Day after day they continue to speak;

night after night they make him known.

They speak without a sound or a word;

their voice is silent in the skies;

yet their message has gone out to all the earth,

and their words to all the world.

The sun lives in the heavens

where God placed it.

It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom

after his wedding.

It rejoices like a great athlete

eager to run the race.

The sun rises at one end of the heavens

and follows its course to the other end.

Nothing can hide from its heat.

-Psalm 19:1-6

Jesus thank You for the beauty that surrounds us every day. I have found great joy in the work of Your hands. Thank You for the marvelous display You allow me to see every day as I look outside. Amen

Daddy’s design

“For an elder must be a man whose life cannot be spoken against. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exhibit self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home and must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, peace loving, and not one who loves money. He must manage his own family well, with children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?” 1 Timothy 3:2-5

Daddy,

 I will never forget the first time I read this passage, I was in college and I called to tell you how you truly fulfilled all of these requirements and how excited and proud I was to see so much of Jesus in you.

I can remember you laughing all while expressing one of your greatest qualities-humbleness

You are so rare daddy and I hope you know how truly amazing you are! The qualities expressed in this passage are the very qualities Jesus used to design you, and what an amazing design you are.

You have never let the circumstances of life hinder your walk with the Lord. Your steadfast faithfulness and your unwavering commitment to do what is pleasing in the eyes of the Lord has become the very thing I admire most.

Along with your commitment to your family, your get up and drive 11 hours to be here in the middle of the night because you’re needed, your love that is expressed through every hug, every kiss, and every heart to heart conversation that last into the morning hours.

My words will never be able to express how blessed I am to have an earthly father as great as you.

You have patterned your life after your heavenly Father and because of that we get to see a picture of Jesus every day.

Thank You daddy for being the walking reflection of Christ and for always making sure I knew who my true Father was and is-Jesus. I am eternally grateful and forever saved.

Happy Father’s Day

I love you!

Taken for granted

 “Always be full of joy in the Lord, I say it again-rejoice!” Philippians 4:4

In the midst of trial, sadness and despair, there is joy to be found, even when it seems as though it could never appear. It does, and it is always right on time.

This unexplainable joy rises from the deepest part of our hearts and surfaces as strength.

So how is strength a joy? Because it allows us the ability to function! And to be able to function is a God-given joy. One that is all too often taken for granted.

Jesus thank You for giving us the strength we need every day to function. May we use our ability to function for Your glory and with all the joy it fills us with. Amen

Something New

"I am coming to you... that My joy may be made full and complete and perfect in them (that they may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that they may have My gladness within them, filling their hearts.”  John 17:13

Joy is found in that moment with Christ when He opens your eyes and reveals something new to you, something about Him that strengthens your relationship and deepens your love.

Jesus Your something news NEVER get old! The joy that comes from them is by far the greatest. Thank You.

Felt in His presence

"I am coming to you... that My joy may be made full and complete and perfect in them (that they may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that they may have My gladness within them, filling their hearts.”  John 17:13

Joy is found in the presence of Christ. The more you are around Him the more joyful you become.

Jesus there is nothing better than being in Your joyful presence. You always make our time remarkable and I praise You for that. Amen

Tucked Away

When joy seems to be far away stop and look within-within the Word.

There you will find it tucked away in every promise of God.

Jesus the joy You give could not be wrapped up in a greater gift than Your word. Thank You! 

Not in... but in

Joy is not found in self, it is found in grace.

Finding Joy

Finding joy, easy or hard? Depends on the situation I suppose. Isn’t there joy to be found in ALL situations?

Yes!

So how do you find that joy?

In Jesus

It is not something earned or anything we can work for.

Joy is a gift-given by the Lord.

All we have to do is take the gift, right?

Yes!

Then what?

Do we open it and automatically become filled with joy?

Oh, that it would be that easy, that everlasting.

Easy, maybe not-everlasting-YES!

How is that-because Jesus is everlasting and all things in Him are everlasting.

So what do we do then with this gift of joy?

We just keep opening it up every day in all situations, at all times.

What does this gift look like, does it re-wrap itself?

It looks like Jesus and it always re-wraps itself and even presents itself in different ways everytime.

Is there another name for this gift, you know other than joy?

Yes!

What is it?

The Bible!

Jesus when we feel like we are all joyed out, or when we are not even sure about this thing called joy redirect us to Your Word. Amen 

Dear First Baptist Carthage

Jesus woke me up to pray for you this morning. Garrett, the boys and I miss you immensely!

You are an amazing body of believers that have stolen a piece of our heart. The warmth of your love for Jesus has made a lasting impact on us, and we hope we will carry that warmth over into our new church home.

I pray you are continuing to work together as one body for the sake of the One we love so dearly-Jesus Christ.

I pray you are standing firm in His Word and are continuing to share the Good News with all who can hear.

I hope you will encourage and embrace each new member of the body coming in, and will stay in constant prayer for the members of the body whom God has called elsewhere.

I hope you will make yourselves available to God so He can do great and mighty things at First Baptist. I pray He will move you beyond your comfort zone and into a place where true revival will begin. May you never grow complacent as a body, but continue on in your work for Him with joy, passion, and motivation from the Holy Spirit 

Know that each one of you are loved and dearly missed by the Morgan’s. We pray for you and your precious leaders whom God has called to lead you. Support and pray for them, they are very rare and extremely precious.

Just as you are to us!

May God’s richest eternal blessings fall upon you, showering you with His amazing, undeserved kindness that leaves wisdom and understanding of His greatness!

I pray your deepest need will be met and that you will continue to live a life worthy and pleasing to the Lord.

Enter His throne room often, and be sure to always tell Jesus you love Him and thank Him for loving you, just as Brother Collins did every Sunday.

With all of our love from Christ alone,

Garrett, Kristi, Avery and Dax

The Main Topic

 "But watch out! Be very careful never to forget what you have seen the LORD do for you. Do not let these things escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.” Deuteronomy 4:9

How often is Jesus the main topic of our conversation? The more I step back and listen to all the conversations that go on around me, I realize how little Jesus is in them and it leaves me wondering why.

Why don’t we talk about Jesus more? We talk about our jobs, our hobbies, our plans, our families, each other, even ourselves. Yet we leave Jesus out, except for on Sunday’s, or in times of disaster, or crisis.

I can tell you in my home a majority of the conversations we have revolve around football. And when Garrett’s whole family is together it seems that football and work is the only topic ever discussed, so it seems.  I often ask Garrett if there is anything other than football or work that we could talk about.

It seems as though talking about Jesus is unnatural and uncomfortable to so many of us that we avoid it as much as possible. Why is that? Is it because we don’t enough about Him or His word? Is it because we don’t want to make people feel uncomfortable?  Do we find talking about Jesus boring or not as interesting? Why do we not talk about Jesus on a regular basis?

Jesus does so much for us, is involved in every part of our lives and our day. He is always teaching us things, He is the reason we are able to even have conversations, and yet we talk about everything but Him.

Does the absence of Jesus in our conversation, fulfill the plan of Satan?

How often does Jesus make your conversation?

What happens when you bring Jesus into a conversation?

How can we make Him become the topic of conversation?

I love what the LORD tells Moses in Exodus 13:8-9, “This is a celebration of what the Lord did for us when we left Egypt. This annual festival will be a visible reminder to you, like a mark branded on your hands or your forehead. Let it remind you always to keep the LORD’S instructions in your minds and on your lips. After all, it was the LORD who rescued you from Egypt with great power.”

Today as you and I stand on this side of the cross we too have a lot to celebrate. The cross is our visible reminder of what Jesus did for us. His blood is our mark; it has branded our entire body. We should reflect upon it and on Him daily and always keep it on our minds and our lips. We should speak of the great things and great power Christ has done for us in every conversation.

Jesus would You take us as far as not being able to even carry a conversation if You are not the main topic. Jesus You have done so much for us and You are about to do even more for us. That in itself is worth talking about. Amen

Count your blessings over your burdens

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

Today I had the privilege of meeting an 86 year old man who has suffered from two strokes and a heart attack. As I took him back to the exam room, I noticed he had a cup in his hand. I asked if I could throw it away for him. When he replied, “Due to the two strokes they had to remove part of my esophagus, which has not allowed me to eat, swallow or drink for over 7 years now, this cup never leaves my hand.”

He is fed through a feeding tube. He is never hungry, never thirsty, and has no idea if he ever gets full. I wondered what that would be like to never be hungry, full, or thirsty. When he grabbed my attention back and said, “It has been a hard 7 years. 7 years of not swallowing, chewing food, or drinking, but I am so blessed. There is always someone who has it worse than I do. After my second stroke the Lord revealed something to me that changed my view of things.” “What is that?” I asked.

He said, “The Lord told me to count my blessings and not my burdens. When you begin to count your blessings you won’t have time to count or worry about your burdens because you will never get done counting your blessings. It was the one thing that brought me out of depression and made me smile again.” (And he has the cutest side smile I have ever seen, maybe that is why, because he counts his blessings.)

At this point I am crying and nodding my head because the lump in my throat was so big it blocked any words from coming forth.

Count your blessings over your burdens! What a powerful statement. Jesus knew I needed to hear that. Actually I think He wants us all to hear that.

We are blessed, and there is no doubt our blessings outweigh our burdens.

So maybe when you take your 30 minutes to pray today you could praise God for every blessing by naming them one by one. I bet it just so happens your time will go so quickly, you will stay at His feet a little while longer.

Try it and see what happens.

Jesus I have no doubts that so many of our lives will be transformed when we begin counting our blessings and not our burdens. I know that our hearts will begin to overflow with a new type of joy that can’t be explained, yet will be seen for miles away. I am excited and I am so thankful for this precious man. Thank You for using him to minister to my heart today. Thank You that I was listening and looking for You. I found You and heard You and I am blessed and better because of that conversation. Thank You. Amen

The Good Person Test

Written by Ryan Burchett-


(Cue the Andy Griffith Show theme music in the background)

*Meet Mr. Nice Guy. If good people go to Heaven, he will be the first in line.*

Mr. Nice Guy: "Well, I try to do what's right. You know, do nice things for others, and keep out of trouble, that sort of thing."

*Well Mr. Nice Guy, may I test your 'goodness?'*

Mr. Nice Guy: "Sure thing!"

*Have you kept the 10 Commandments?*

Mr. Nice Guy: "Pretty much, yeah."

*Really? Do you mind if we look at them?"

Mr. Nice Guy: "Um...alright."

*Have you ever told a lie?"

Mr. Nice Guy: "Yeah, who hasn't?"

*What do you call someone who tells lies?*

Mr. Nice Guy: "A liar."

*Have you ever stolen anything?*

Mr. Nice Guy: "Nope."

*But you just told me you're a liar."

Mr. Nice Guy: "....."

Mr. Nice Guy: "Well, I did steal some candy once as a kid."

*What do you call someone who steals things?*

Mr. Nice Guy: "A thief."

*Jesus said, 'Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her in his heart. Have you ever done that?*

Mr. Nice Guy: "Of course man! Every day!”

*Have you ever used God's Name as a curse word?*

Mr. Nice Guy: "Yeah, only a few times."

*That's called blasphemy. 'The Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His Name.'*

*So, after taking the test, by your own admission, you're a liar, a thief, a blasphemer, and an adulterer at heart, and that's just 4 of the 10 Commandments."

Mr. Nice Guy: "Ok, so I'm not perfect! Neither are you or anyone else!"

*Actually, it's worse than that...*

*Sin isn't just doing things we shouldn't. It's also not doing the things we should. 'Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."

Mr. Nice Guy: "Ok...."

*There's more.....suppose we could put a device in your brain that would record all your private thoughts for a week......and then play them on a movie screen for your friends and family to see.*

Mr. Nice Guy: "That would be embarrassing!"

*'God knows the secrets of the heart. Psalm 44:21'*

Mr. Nice Guy: "Well, compared to people like Osama bin Laden, Hitler, and Saddam Hussein, I'm a saint!"

*True, but the standard is God's Law, not other people.*

*Besides, even if you sin just 5 times a day, in one year, that's 1,825 sins! If you live to be 70, you'll have broken God's Law over 127,000 times!*

*You'll have to answer for every sin on Judgment Day, when 'each of us will give an account of himself to God.' Rom.14:12*

Mr. Nice Guy: "But won't God just forgive me?"

*Try that in court: 'Judge, I know I raped that 1 woman, but I'm really sorry! And since that time, I've helped 10 extra people!'

*Only a corrupt judge would allow you to go free.*

Judge: "Justice demands that you pay for your crimes!"

*God is a holy and righteous Judge. He hates our sin! Jesus warned that God, in His wrath, will cast all who sin against Him into eternal fire 'where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matt.13:42*

Mr. Nice Guy: "Then how can anyone get to heaven?"

*There's only one way......if a sinless person offered to take your punishment, then justice would be served and you could go free!*

*God loves you so much, He sent His son Jesus to suffer and die for your sins.....then He rose from the grave - defeating death!"

*You can't earn eternal life. It's God's gift to all who humble themselves and come to Jesus. 'Turn to God in repentance and have faith in the Lord Jesus.' Acts 20:21 He will forgive your sins and give you a new heart with new desires! 'If anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation!' 2 Cor.5:17*

*Then, read the Bible and obey it. Find a good church to help you grow, and tell others the good news you've just heard!*

Let's meet

"Then all the believers were united as they lifted their voices in prayer." Acts 4:24

Hey brethren, how about meeting me at 7:30 a.m. at the feet of Jesus to chat? It would be great if you could come. There will be lots to chat about, so think about it. Jesus and I will be there.

I hope you can make it. I know you will be blessed.