The Pen of Pastor

Today, I had the privilege of spending a little time with a precious lady who entrusted our funeral home with the care of her daughter. She shared with me stories of how innocent her daughter was through life. See, her daughter fought against all odds to defy a mental handicap. However, through the struggles she faced she consistently sought to please the Lord by allowing Him to use her to bless others.  This lady received her ultimate healing Dec. 4, 2015. Her mom, Ms. Peggy Henderson, shared her dependency on Christ, how when a spirit of grief strikes her, the precious Holy Spirit has been faithful to visit her and bring joy unspeakable and full of glory. Though He has been faithful, she shared with me today that since her daughter passed, she feels that the Spirit of God has convicted her heart. In prayer and meditation today she asked God to reveal the "sin she had committed." She says that God revealed to her it is not what she "comitted" rather what she has ...

Often, at this time of year, we as Protestants recoginze our Saviors birth and typically celebrate what we have come to percieve as His arrival or His first coming. However, in recent sermon preparation I was confronted with a passage of scripture that challenged my idea of Jesus COMING to me and provoked the idea that perhaps I am in a season where He has chosen to LEAVE me. Often, as Christians, we think of Jesus leaving to concern His ascension back to heaven; after crucifixion, burial and resurrection. However, there are recordings in scripture where clearly Jesus left His disciples, His followers. One can only observe the scripture and glean from it what he can, why Jesus would choose to leave His children; but nevertheless He does.  Matthew 14:22,  “Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away.”  Matthew 26:36,  “Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His di...

Yesterday, Friday, October 16, 2015. Kaye and I went with her grandpa, who has been in the hospital to a new in patient rehab that will be responsible for helping him get back on his feet. However, I have a friend who is in the same building for rehab. He is 85 year wise and has served God faithfully, literally around the world. Though his body is feeble and his mind is not quite as sharp as it once was, I had the true honor and privilege to sit and listen to him tell me how good God is. Though he would tell me he needs the help of God, he would also tell me how thankful he is for salvation and "victory in Jesus." He took me by my hand and without prompt begin to pray for Kaye and I. He asked God to bless our family and our home. He pleaded the blood of Jesus over our lives and asked that God would give souls to our ministry. Needless to say, Kaye and I both were so overwhelmed that we quickly found tears rolling down our cheeks as yet again, this friend, man of valor, and ...

Wow, nearly eight months since my last post here on the site. It is amazing how it seems life takes us by a whirlwind and within what seems like no time at all, eight months have slipped through our grip. Over the past several days especially, Kaye and I have talked about how it seems we have so much on our mind that it is even hard to think. With the holiday season quickly approaching, maybe that we just sold our home and have yet to find the right place for us, ministry responsibilities, opportunities and aggravations at work or even school issues and concerns, it seems that the thoughts continue to pile on one another. Today, I am sitting at our North Ocoee Office, and here it is a little easier for you to take a moment in silence and reflect or perhaps take the early morning hours to read a passage of scripture or pray. So, I took full liberty to do that and indulged myself for the first time in eight months to open my copy of "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young. The first l...

Wait...a word that I personally despise. I hate being told that I must wait for something or even worse to have to wait on someone. I am one that was missing the hour that God gave out patience. But today I was reminded that waiting is not necessarily a consequence or a hindrance to me. In fact the Psalmist David said it like this, "Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD." (Psalms 27:14 NASB) or perhaps the prophet Isaiahs words, "Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary."(Isaiah 40:31 NASB)"  Right now I have a dear friend who has found himself waiting on the Lord. It seems that he has more questions than answers. As nice as it would be for God to expedite this season in his life and to answer those questions that seem endless, I am convinced that he will soon experience courage, rest, peac...

Think about the following words... “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” (Matthew 5:48 MSG) Another translation of scripture said that we should be perfect as Christ is perfect. What a profound thought that I am to be Christ like in every way including being perfect. Perhaps that is the true definition of being a disciple of Jesus Christ, being PERFECT like Him! The Message Bible defines us as kingdom subjects and goes on to charge us to live like it and to live out our "God-created identity." That's a powerful thought, we were made by God and we have a responsibility to portray Him in ourselves. Perhaps that is what John meant when he wrote I must decrease and He must increase.  Does that ultimately boil down to the plan of salvation and sanctification (to be different from the world?) If we are going to confess to...

Though it has been some time since my last post I couldn't help but want to write today as I reflect on a passage of scripture. It's found in the gospel of Luke 6:35-36, "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."  Perhaps, I am on the only one who has struggles with the idea of LOVING my enemy. I mean why would I want to love someone who has wronged me or hurt me or my family. But the words of Jesus did not stop there He went on to say that we should lend and expect nothing in return. As I read those words of our Lord and Savior I couldn't help but think of the loan company who financed my car, they not only wanted something in return but much more then what they originally lended me. Yet, it was during these thoughts I continued to read,  and you will be sons of the...