Category Archives: Spiritual Growth

Desperate For Him

Desperate For Him

  Because of the abundant blessings that rest on America, we don’t really understand what it means to be desperate. We go to the grocery store stocked with literally thousands of items. We go to the doctor when we get sick. We go to the faucet or the refrigerator when we get thirsty. Desperation is […]

Slow Down- Rest

Slow down. Relax

What do you picture when you think of rest? Do you see yourself chillin’ in front of the televison? Sleeping in? Playing video games? To my friend Pete Hohmann, it is kayaking, serious, mile after mile of kayaking! Way too much work for me! Of course if I could do it Keira’s way, as seen […]

A Stroll, a Fresh Apple and Forty Years- Anniversary

A Stroll, a Fresh Apple and Forty Years- Anniversary

  Saturday was our anniversary and it was a perfect day for the two of us to get away. We had put in some long, hard hours for several weeks. I packed a healthy lunch, grabbed a handful of chocolate kisses (a person can only take so much healthy) and we look off to Lake Lure. […]

Stunted Trees- Nourishment

Stunted Trees- Nourishment

The beaches at Santa Rosa Beach, Florida are some of the most beautiful in the world. The Marine Science instructor had the 4-H students meet at the park entrance to begin the field trip. It was a fascinating afternoon. We splashed in the water gathered specimens to identify and observed scat (animal droppings) and tracks […]

The Vine That Ate The South- Kudzu

It grows a foot a day! And you thought centipedes had a lot of feet. No, I mean it grows a foot longer a day, and yes, I’m talking about Kudzu. This vine covers everything and I do mean everything. It covers road signs, cars and houses. It smoothers, covers and  chokes everything in its […]

Have you washed in the Golden Laver lately?

Have you washed in the Golden Laver lately?

  Have You Washed In The Golden Laver Lately? In the tabernacle, if you move from the brazen altar and then continue to the next piece of furniture you will come to the laver. For a long time this piece puzzled me. The altar was where the sacrifice for sin was made. It is a […]

Throw Away Defeat Trophies

Throw Away Defeat Trophies

  Why do we hold on to things that remind us of pain and defeat of the past? It stayed in Wayne’s junk drawer. You know the drawer; filled with all the stuff that you can’t part with, but doesn’t have a real home because it’s really not worth keeping, but you can’t bear to […]

Rehearse Your Victories

Rehearse Your Victories

  I can’t begin to imagine what it must have felt like when Goliath criticized David. OK! I’ll admit it was much worse than just a criticism. Goliath loathed this kid and his words were intended to intimidate and humiliate David. “Do I look like a little dog that you can run off with a […]

Surrender! What If He Hadn’t?

What If He Hadn't Surrendered?

altIn August  2011, Ray Horton ended his role as coach with the Pittsburg Steelers. His new assignment is with the Arizona Cardinals as the defensive coordinator.

 

One of the people on his “Say Goodbye To List” was a cook Maurice Matthews. Maurice was always a fun guy, that constantly teased Horton with jabs like:

You’re coaching in “my” position or

“When are you going to let me drive my car,” referring to Horton’s shiny red Mercedes.

Horton always teased back, “Man, you can’t afford the gas for that car!”

But Horton had more than a final goodbye in mind when he stopped by the kitchen that day. His question probably surprised Matthews. “Man, can I borrow whatever money you got on you?” Regardless of the questions that had to be rattling in his brain, he pulled out a twenty and surrendered it to the coach.

 

The car keys jingled as Horton handed them to Matthews with the explanation, “sold for $20!”

Wow! Don’t ya just love the generosity of this coach! But the question that is rattling around in my head is, “What if Maurice hadn’t surrendered what he had?”

 

I’m sure he had plenty of excuses:

  • It was all he had in his pocket.
  • Horton had plenty of money.
  • Why did Horton want the little Maurice had?
  • Maybe Maurice needed to buy gas on the way home?

Does it upset you that Horton would ask for what he had in his pocket? No, of course not, but we know now, that Horton had a fabulous exchange in mind!

 

And so does God!

He is a generous God. WE SEEM TO FORGET that!  And He has a good plan in mind for you.

But you’ll never experience it unless you learn to SURRENDER what is in your hand!

 

The prophet Elijah asked the widow woman a similar question, “Give me what you have.”

From the burning bush, God asked Moses what he had in his hand.

Oh, and Jesus asked the rich young ruler the same question.

 

I believe it is the question God is asking believers today. And it is the question He is asking you, “What do you have in your hand?”

 

What ya got?

  • The widow woman had a little meal and some oil.  
  • Moses had a stick.
  • The rich ruler had money.
  • Whatever ya got, give it to Him; move to a place of surrender.

That place of surrender positions you to receive from God.

That act of obedience releases blessings.

 

It ‘s in more areas than just financial. I’m not talking about how to get a car. I’m talking about releasing the blessings of God into your life. Releasing His favor, His joy, His peace and His abundance into your life.

 

What is your talent?

  • Are you stewarding that talent?
  • Are you developing, using and surrendering it to God.
  • What about your money and your time?  
  • Have you surrendered them to God’s plan?
 
I am so glad Matthews surrendered his twenty dollar bill to Horton; and I’m so glad God is even more generous and capable than Horton.
 
 
Thank you Mr. Horton, you made my day!
 
Thank you God, you make me able to enjoy every day.
 
 
Please help me understand that my victory is always wrapped in my
 
SURRENDER to you!
 
 
Jim Elliott “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
 
 
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The King is Here

Hugh Latimer was an influential leader in the reformation; a very dangerous time to be trying to influence people that “we are saved by grace and not works.” Queen Mary was the daughter of Henry VIII and was known as “bloody Mary” for killing Christians. However, King Henry VIII actually killed more Christians than she […]

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