Sunday, April 30, 2006

Oh God, it's Monday!

You made the decision to get up early enough to spend a little time with God. You attended church on Sunday and are filled up with His Word and His Spirit... now it's Monday morning and you are beginning to feel the stirrings of dread and anxiety. Sound familiar?

We tend to say, "Thank God it's Friday... Oh God it's Monday!" I have learned to declare "T.G.I.M!" Thank God it's Monday! Oh yeah, sometimes it's a real faith deal! However, my words set the tone for my day and even my week. Our words really are "power containers."

It's easy to spend time with God in the house or in the church, but we still have to "re-enter" the culture i.e. work, the marketplace, etc. We can't stay on the mountain, we have to come down to where we all live day by day.

Jesus, don't leave home without him. As your heading out the door tanked up on coffee and running just a little too late, don't forget to take Jesus into your world. Here are a couple of hints as you hit the ground running:

1. Say What God Says About You! - speaking God's word over your day really prepares you to meet Monday morning head on. Deut 28:1-14 is a good starting place. Here's a snippet: "I am blessed coming in and blessed going out. I'm blessed in the city and I'm blessed in the country. I am the head and not the tail, I am above only and not beneath!" That's just a sampling! Man, that gets me going just writing it out! Talk about prepared to meet the day head on!

2. Hold Your Head Up! - Know that God is with you and is blessing the work of your hands! He has put a "Favor Shield" around you! Think of it this way. There is a "F.O.G. (Favor Of God)" around you! Whomever you encounter comes into your "F.O.G" before you even get there!

Now, you are armed and dangerous! Promotion is on your life because you are saying what God says and walking in confidence! Now, let's say this all together now, "Thank God it's Monday!"

Blessings,
Pastor J

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Good Morning God!

Growing up I was always told that breakfast was the most important meal of the day. That it was critical to get a good start in order to set the tone for the day.

It's the same way spiritually. Every morning when I wake up I simply say, "Good morning Lord." I want the first words out of my mouth to be uttered in recognition that Jesus is the Lord of my life.

I know it sounds simple and petty, but I have to tell you it has made such a difference in setting the "Tone" for my day.

Here's the "Phrase that Pays:" How you start determines how you finish!

How do you start your day? CNN, ESPN, MSNBC, MySpace? I want to challenge and encourage you to begin your day by simply saying, "Good morning Lord."

Set the tone and watch God work on your behalf. Jump into his Word (a good place to start is to read one chapter of Proverbs a day through the month, there are 31 chapters... very practical!) When you do this you are "Framing" your day for success.

Blessings,
Pastor J

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Neglect

It's so easy to get going in life and just plain forget about the basics of experiencing God everyday. You look up and the day is half gone and you haven't even breathed a prayer, worshipped or simply given thanks to the One who loves you more than you love yourself.

Basic Training is simply going back to your "first love." You know, when you first came to know Jesus and you were excited about your faith. It's getting back to spending time in His Word. It's believing for big things from God. It's worshipping with reckless abandon.

I am convinced that the Enemy's greatest strategy is not "gross sin." No, I believe it's "neglect." If you neglect to eat, you starve. If you neglect to breathe, you suffocate. If you neglect to drink, you dehydrate. If you neglect the basics of your faith i.e. prayer, worship, thankgiving, faith, etc., then you begin to die a slow and almost unnoticed death.

If I don't fill my car up with gas, then I get stranded. I can't get mad at the manufacturer! It's not Chevy's fault that I "neglected" to fill 'er up! It's my fault, because I neglected to follow the manufacturers instructions.

Today, don't neglect the basics of your faith... go back to basics and fill 'er up!

Have an Amazing Day,
Pastor J

Monday, April 17, 2006

This Post May Not be "PC!"

"God's Way or No Way."

This was my take away in the Easter message that I brought at MSCC in Abilene. It may sound harsh at first, but it is the truth spoken in love.

We live in a culture that wants God on their terms. They want to feel comforted when there is tragedy. They want help when they run out of money. They want to feel good when they are at the bottom of the barrel in life. They want to know God is there when life deals them a difficult blow.

But, most people do not want to change. It's like we want "something" for "nothing." We want all that God has to offer, but we are not willing to come to Him on His terms.

Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Madonna, Oprah and Whitney Houston are just a few celebrities who have made it "hip" to be religious. Oh, never mind what "flavor" you choose, just do what works for YOU.

If that was the Truth, then this thing would be easy and we could all just "choose our path." However, the Bible is clear that the road is "narrow" and there are "few" that find it.

My question for you today is: Have you found "His" road? I don't mean what works for YOU, I mean what pleases God? Remember, you are not your own, you have been bought with a price. That price was the life and blood of the Savior, Jesus.

Come to Him on His terms... it will be life giving and life transforming! You will find the peace you are looking for. Joy will be yours! You will have the "abundant life" Jesus spoke of in John 10:10!

My heart goes out to all of you who are hurting, confused, and feeling lost. You need a Savior. Choose Him and you are choosing life!

Making a Big D out of God,
Pastor J

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Death in the Family

I just received a call from my brother in Lubbock that my uncle Duanne passed away. He was a steady fixture in my life growing up. My family and Duanne's family lived on the same block during my childhood.

That made for some fun times with my cousins and their family. I remember "rumbles" between the boys and the girls from the neighborhood. I remember learning to pop a "wheelie" on my bike. Playing football in the yard... it might as well have been the Superbowl!

Death makes you think, causes you to remember... it is sobering. There is another death, much more public that causes me to remember and be thankful. It is the death of the savior, Jesus.

His death has paved the way for me to know God. Not just know "about" Him, but to really "know" Him. Yes, death always causes us to stop, think and remember.

As we enter this Easter weekend, I would ask you to stop, think and remember what Jesus has done for you. I will be traveling to Lubbock to conduct the funeral of my late uncle... what an honor.

Blessings to All,
Pastor J

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Being "Fruity!"

Did you know that you have been ordained by God to bear the Fruit of the Holy Spirit? That's right you've been called to be "Fruity!" Notice I did not say "Flakey!" We have too many flakey Christians running around already !

In Gal 5:22-23 there are nine "fruit" of the Spirit listed. Sometimes we get so caught up in the "gifts" of the Spirit that we miss the "fruit" of the Spirit! Here's an interesting point, the fruit of the Spirit is the character of Jesus. When we operate in these 9 fruit of the Spirit we look and smell like Jesus!

I have a simple saying, "Don't show me the gifts of the Spirit until you've learned to walk in the fruit of the Spirit." It should be fruit over gifts or as I like to say, "Character over Activity!"

Here are the 9 fruit as listed: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.

Now... go and be "Fruity!"

Making a Big D out of God,
Pastor J

Monday, April 10, 2006

Spring Fever?

Is it me, or does it appear that everyone seems to be "blowing up" these days? In my community, I've seen more road rage than normal lately. Fender benders and wrecks are on the increase. Families are struggling... students are crashing... Christians are in crisis... whew! It's a jungle out there!

My time away last week (see my last 2 blog entries) was very calming and centering. It's kind of like setting the scale back to zero. Getting away brings much needed perspective and peace.

I suppose we could chalk all this "drama" up to "Spring Fever." Human behavior does tend to be influenced by the changing of the seasons. Or... could it be that you need to pull away, settle down, get back into God's Word, pray, read an inspiring book and fellowship with the Body of Christ (Church)?

Be blessed and encouraged today.

Making a Big D out of God,
Pastor J

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Back from the Wilderness

A big thanks to those who prayed for me while on my three day excursion. I fasted, prayed, worshipped and studied for three days. I see why Jesus "withdrew often" to the wilderness to be alone with his Father.

Answers? Not really. I went there to get answers and what I got was God. I thought I needed to hear some answers and solutions, when what I really needed was Him.

If I get Him, then the answers will come in due season. What I got was more important and needful than answers to specific questions.

The first day was very difficult... I was bored, tired, confused, stir-crazy. I settled in the second day. I fought a lot of emotions... guilt was the big one. I felt like I was being selfish and self-indulgent to go away for three days. I got over it sometime in the second day.

The third day was the greatest. I found peace in His presence... Once I had Him, the answers I was looking for did not seem that important. My encouragement to you today is... seek Him first, and all these things (answers, solutions, etc.) will be added to you.

Ever Learning,
Pastor J

Monday, April 03, 2006

Listening... Hearing... Doing...

I'm doing a first for me this week. I'm going away for three uninterrupted days to pray, fast and seek God. I'm following the pattern of Jesus who the bible says would "withdraw often to a quiet place."

I'm not sure what to expect. I'm a tad bit apprehensive... I mean really, I like to be alone for about 2-3 hours, then I need to be around or talking to people. So, this is going to be a new venture for me.

I do expect to hear from the Lord as well as finish some much needed classwork to complete my Master's Degree. I have been putting this class off because of my work with the church. Busy, busy, busy!

I would appreciate your prayers for my time away, that God would speak loud and clear... I'm listening, hearing and will be doing what He tells me to do.

Making a Big Deal out of God,
Pastor J

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Friend of God

James 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. NKJV

Wow. To be called the friend of God! What an amazing statement! Why is that so powerful? Because most people see God as distant and unapproachable. It saddens me to think that many see God like this.

It's never been that way for me. I've always been able to run to God when I sin, when I fail or when I stumble. Why? I trust Him. I know it sounds simplistic, but it's true. I see Him as my friend. I am a friend of God.

Abraham was called the friend of God because he believed God. That's the qualifier... to simply believe and trust. Jesus told his disciples (followers), "I no longer call you servants... I call you friends."

Do you need "a friend who sticks closer than a brother?" There is one available to you... right now... at this very moment. Trust Him... he's there for you right now!

Would you like to know how to connect with God on this level? You can email me at jnapruitt@yahoo.com or go to this link for more information http://www.morningstarabilene.com/pages/index.php?pID=647.

Enjoying Friendship!

Pastor J