People Email the Silliest Things
Have you ever received an email promising that God will bless you financially if you just believe and oh by the way send it to 5, 10, 100 of your closest relatives & friends. It's both comical & sad, that so many people including Christians fall for this New Age nonsense. I guess with people feeling like the blessing of the Lord are a McMansion (big house), 2 German engineered vehicles, the latest fashion, a pure bred poodle that gets a monthly haircut, and oh as a throw in 1.5 kids (that you pay a Nanny to watch them as you jet-set across the globe). So I have to get back on my soap box again because I received an email today promising blessings to those that believe and to send it to 8 people and God will just give me money. The scripture reference was: 1 Kings 8:23, which was used totally out of context, but I digress. Let me start off with this quote I heard before (I think it was Redd Foxx, but I'm not 100% sure).
Quote: Money can't buy happiness, but it makes a nice down payment.
Rather than going off, I'll just let scripture speak for itself (Sola Scriptura)
Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, Cease from your consideration of it. (Proverbs 23:4)When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens. (Proverbs 23:5) Far too many people are working hard to get rich that they neglect family, friends and etc. I'm not saying you shouldn't work hard but come on. Look at people that are rich even they are many times looking to hoard more for themselves. Take for instance Latrell Sprewell, some years ago he turned down a 3 year contract at 7 MILLION a year because he felt INSULTED AND HE HAS TO FEED HIS KIDS. Now dude is broke.
Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, (Proverbs 30:8) That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:9) This here could deal with the Prosperity Gospel or the Suffering for Jesus Gospel. Here the writer, shows that both are extremes and the deception that lies within either teachings.
For the LOVE (emphasis mine) of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10) Here is the real problem that is plaguing the family, church, the USA and world. It's get rich, get that money or die trying, it's scratch this off, sell this or that, run money schemes, break into a home, extort money, gold-diggen and etc. Done for the love of money. But it's sad that the church has fallen victim. Especially when Pastors are BRAGGING about the amount of money they make, to the very people that are paying their salary. My question is: are you really blowing up or has God graced you with people that love and honor you.
Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. (1 Timothy 6:17) Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, (1 Timothy 6:18) storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. (1 Timothy 6:19) But if God blesses you with money this is how you are expected to use it. It's certainly not for anyone (who's) in Christ to hoard up and build bigger barns and have 10 luxury cars. I'm not against having nice things while here on Earth, but let's be realistic. Do I need a solid gold toilet (saw that on MTV Cribs). But in helping others with the riches God has given us, we are storing up Heavenly treasures that will never fade, that rust and moths can't destroy or that theives could never steal (Matt. 6:19-20). But as the song says: I'd rather have Jesus, than silver and gold.
So I pray this over your life: That God's will be done in your life for now and eternity. That you'd bring glory to His name in all you do. In Jesus name, Amen.
Now send this to as many people as you want, but even if you don't. God blesses those whom He sees fit.
- Michael Pharr
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Judgment to Repentance
Today I was reading an article on usatoday.com titled: In times like these, more people are going to church for help. (http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-03-29-churches-helping_N.htm)
The article made me think about the types of situations God uses to bring us (Christians) closer to Him. I'm thoroughly convinced that it is through God's judgment or His allowing the trials of life to get to us, that brings us closer to Him. It's amazing when things are going well how hard it is to find time to pray. I mean the marriage is sweet, the kids are great, the job is fabulous, the dog is obedient, the car is running perfect, the roof isn't leaky, friends are trust-worthy, the food is awesome, the 401K is stacked and etc......and yet and still God is placed on the backburner.
But when the marriage turns sour, the kids are causing you to groan, the job is funky (or fickle, causing you to get let go), the dog becomes obstinate (stubborn), the car is ragged, the roof is leaky, friends become toads, the food is almost gone, the 401K has shriveled and your prayer time is non-existent, so you don't have the peace of God to get you through. So what is a person to do?
Do you run from God or do you run toward Him? Human nature is funny, when God blesses us the most, the more we take Him for granted. I must admit that sometimes I'm ashamed at how, sometimes I don't spend the quality time honoring the God who gave me life. I hear stories from Missionaries that go to other countries to spread the Gospel and they talk about how Christians there are so on fire for God (even if they are under intense persecution) and they would love to be able to worship God with the freedom we have. I wonder if God is doing a case study about: The Faithfulness of Those Who Are Persecuted vs. Those That Are Blessed With the Freedom to Worship Freely. I think we'd be shocked at the findings.
I wrote all of this, to come to this conclusion: It's good that we as a country are seeing the things we hold dear, crumble before our very eyes. To long we have taken for granted the freedom the Lord has so graciously blessed us with, to the point we call those blessings: inalienable rights, which is found in the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence. (We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.) It's ironic (or moronic) to think that it's a God-given right to live as we see fit, to be free in doing as we feel, and to be free in doing what makes us happy. Those of us that are in Christ (for real, not on the fence) should understand that this world and it's riches will one day pass away, but how we live for Christ will stand for eternity. Please read and meditate on the scriptures below.
FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." (Hebrews 12:6)
Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, (Proverbs 30:8)
That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:9)
One!
The article made me think about the types of situations God uses to bring us (Christians) closer to Him. I'm thoroughly convinced that it is through God's judgment or His allowing the trials of life to get to us, that brings us closer to Him. It's amazing when things are going well how hard it is to find time to pray. I mean the marriage is sweet, the kids are great, the job is fabulous, the dog is obedient, the car is running perfect, the roof isn't leaky, friends are trust-worthy, the food is awesome, the 401K is stacked and etc......and yet and still God is placed on the backburner.
But when the marriage turns sour, the kids are causing you to groan, the job is funky (or fickle, causing you to get let go), the dog becomes obstinate (stubborn), the car is ragged, the roof is leaky, friends become toads, the food is almost gone, the 401K has shriveled and your prayer time is non-existent, so you don't have the peace of God to get you through. So what is a person to do?
Do you run from God or do you run toward Him? Human nature is funny, when God blesses us the most, the more we take Him for granted. I must admit that sometimes I'm ashamed at how, sometimes I don't spend the quality time honoring the God who gave me life. I hear stories from Missionaries that go to other countries to spread the Gospel and they talk about how Christians there are so on fire for God (even if they are under intense persecution) and they would love to be able to worship God with the freedom we have. I wonder if God is doing a case study about: The Faithfulness of Those Who Are Persecuted vs. Those That Are Blessed With the Freedom to Worship Freely. I think we'd be shocked at the findings.
I wrote all of this, to come to this conclusion: It's good that we as a country are seeing the things we hold dear, crumble before our very eyes. To long we have taken for granted the freedom the Lord has so graciously blessed us with, to the point we call those blessings: inalienable rights, which is found in the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence. (We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.) It's ironic (or moronic) to think that it's a God-given right to live as we see fit, to be free in doing as we feel, and to be free in doing what makes us happy. Those of us that are in Christ (for real, not on the fence) should understand that this world and it's riches will one day pass away, but how we live for Christ will stand for eternity. Please read and meditate on the scriptures below.
FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." (Hebrews 12:6)
Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, (Proverbs 30:8)
That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:9)
One!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Knowing this, can I do that
If you know this:
"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. (John 15:18)
"If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. (John 15:19)
"Remember the word that I said to you, `A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. (John 15:20)
How hard is it to do that:
If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. (Romans 12:18)
"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. (John 15:18)
"If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. (John 15:19)
"Remember the word that I said to you, `A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. (John 15:20)
How hard is it to do that:
If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. (Romans 12:18)
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Emma Delores Govan
Two weeks ago on Sunday, January 04, 2009 at 11:05 am, my mother went from death to life for all eternity. Even though it's hard to come to grips with the finality that death brings in this life, knowing that I will never get a phone call from her from the same phone number she's had for the last 31 years. But I rejoice because my mother is no longer in pain and she is with the Lord, but knowing that one day I will leave this Earth (unless Jesus comes back first) I'll leave loved ones behind it brings things into focus.
Upon conception, we are conceived unto a physical death, but the heart problems that finally took my mom's life started 21 years and some months ago when she had a massive heart attack as a blood clot traveled to her heart. But I thank GOD for allowing my mother to live that amount of time because at the ripe age of 31 she could have been taken from my sister, brother and myself. As I was about 13 years old, my sister was around 11 or 12 and my brother was around 6 years old. I thank GOD that he allowed my mother to live through a massive heart attack that many doctors thought would take her out. As a Christian and a Minister I understand that in all things GOD gets the glory because even though my mom was on disability for that time, it allowed her to be home for us as we were growing up, she was at football and basketball games. She was able to attend award ceremonies and etc. Upon her death about 25% of her heart was working, to the point she was retaining about 40 pounds of fluid in her body.
I must be honest and say that it pained my heart to see my mom's legs and feet so swollen with fluid, that many times I had to go upstairs just to weep because I didn't want her to feel bad. In November my mom went to the doctor to see if she was able to be put on the heart donors list as her body was getting weaker, but the doctor told her that her body was too weak for a transplant. So when she came back home she was given medication to help stimulate her heart for about a month. On New Years Eve she was back in the hospital to get her heart checked and as it turned out nothing had really changed. I still remember getting the call on Friday, January 2nd from my sister when she gave me the news that the doctors were going to send my mother home on January 5th because there was nothing else they could do for her because her body wasn't responding to the medication, that was supposed to make her heart stronger. Thank GOD that I'd just taken my lunch break because I just broke down and cried because I knew how it was going to end and while at lunch I began to pray that GOD wouldn't allow my mom to suffer because through the years of her heart problem my mom still lived life to the fullest, she volunteered at food banks, cared for her ailing father (my granddad) and so much more. But things got so bad so fast that she had trouble walking, breathing and if it was cold she would have a real bad day. Even so that, months before her death she was already making arrangements for her funeral, and she would tell people that we (her kids) would appreciate that everything was taken care of when she died.
During the final weekend of her life she decided that since they were taking her of the machine that was draining fluid from her body because she'd developed a blood clot and the heart medication that she wanted to be taken off of all of her meds. During the last 21 years she was taking about 20 different meds daily and I saw the effects of the medicines as it wore her down even though it kept her alive, but she decided that her life would be in GOD'S hands and if HE healed her, no doctors or medicine would get the credit and if she passed then she would be with the LORD. During that time so many people came by the hospital, to joke with her, to see how she was doing and most importantly to pray for her. So many would comment to me when they left the room about how my mom was strong and how she had encouraged them.
She often commented on how she knew that GOD was still in control because people she'd fallen out with years past started to call her and she commented on how she asked for people's forgiveness for what may have transpired in the past. I often heard her saying that "she didn't have time to play games because she was dealing with her soul and she didn't want unforgiveness to keep her out of Heaven, so if people didn't want to let go of the past, that was their problem, but she was going to get things right."
The things I remember about my mom are: how at the end of her life physically she was not what I remembered but I think more importantly those ailments made her a better person and how she help people from taking in a Hurricane Katrina victim for free, to serving in the community and many of the things I found out were from her peers and friends because she wasn't helping people for fame or fortune. I remember a mom who most of our lives was a single parent and how she'd wear the same clothes during the week just to make sure her kids had proper clothes to wear to school. I remember a mom who was fair and wanted her kids to treat everyone with respect and she never made excuses for our shortcoming but demanded that we respect everyone. I remember a mom that when she found out that I'd written a book; she was my biggest fan and she sold more books than I did or when I was able to preach she was there until the last time because her health didn't allow it. I remember a mom that would buy things for her grandkids. And even though we weren't a family that always told each other that we loved them, we knew our mom loved us because as we got older we saw the sacrifices she made for us.
I could go on and on about my amazing mom, but I'll close with this thought. So many times I've heard grown people cuss at their parents, say hateful and hurtful things to their parents, disrespect their parents, killed their parents or had to compete with their parents, and I was always shocked to hear those things because my mom was always there for me and my siblings. Even when I last saw her on Saturday night she was making sure I was taking care of my body and that everything was alright with me. And I'm thinking "mom I'm okay, I'm more worried about you getting better." She told us all, that she was proud of us and she loved us.
I praise GOD because I had an awesome and faithful mother and it hurts that she's gone and sometimes I think to myself that I haven't gotten a call from her, then I remember there will be no more calls. But I'm more thankful and glad that my mom doesn't have to cry anymore, she doesn't hurt anymore and even though she was 53 years young, she did the most with less and to me (more than a monetary inheritance)........that's a real legacy.
Emma Delores Govan: February 16, 1955 - January 04, 2009
Upon conception, we are conceived unto a physical death, but the heart problems that finally took my mom's life started 21 years and some months ago when she had a massive heart attack as a blood clot traveled to her heart. But I thank GOD for allowing my mother to live that amount of time because at the ripe age of 31 she could have been taken from my sister, brother and myself. As I was about 13 years old, my sister was around 11 or 12 and my brother was around 6 years old. I thank GOD that he allowed my mother to live through a massive heart attack that many doctors thought would take her out. As a Christian and a Minister I understand that in all things GOD gets the glory because even though my mom was on disability for that time, it allowed her to be home for us as we were growing up, she was at football and basketball games. She was able to attend award ceremonies and etc. Upon her death about 25% of her heart was working, to the point she was retaining about 40 pounds of fluid in her body.
I must be honest and say that it pained my heart to see my mom's legs and feet so swollen with fluid, that many times I had to go upstairs just to weep because I didn't want her to feel bad. In November my mom went to the doctor to see if she was able to be put on the heart donors list as her body was getting weaker, but the doctor told her that her body was too weak for a transplant. So when she came back home she was given medication to help stimulate her heart for about a month. On New Years Eve she was back in the hospital to get her heart checked and as it turned out nothing had really changed. I still remember getting the call on Friday, January 2nd from my sister when she gave me the news that the doctors were going to send my mother home on January 5th because there was nothing else they could do for her because her body wasn't responding to the medication, that was supposed to make her heart stronger. Thank GOD that I'd just taken my lunch break because I just broke down and cried because I knew how it was going to end and while at lunch I began to pray that GOD wouldn't allow my mom to suffer because through the years of her heart problem my mom still lived life to the fullest, she volunteered at food banks, cared for her ailing father (my granddad) and so much more. But things got so bad so fast that she had trouble walking, breathing and if it was cold she would have a real bad day. Even so that, months before her death she was already making arrangements for her funeral, and she would tell people that we (her kids) would appreciate that everything was taken care of when she died.
During the final weekend of her life she decided that since they were taking her of the machine that was draining fluid from her body because she'd developed a blood clot and the heart medication that she wanted to be taken off of all of her meds. During the last 21 years she was taking about 20 different meds daily and I saw the effects of the medicines as it wore her down even though it kept her alive, but she decided that her life would be in GOD'S hands and if HE healed her, no doctors or medicine would get the credit and if she passed then she would be with the LORD. During that time so many people came by the hospital, to joke with her, to see how she was doing and most importantly to pray for her. So many would comment to me when they left the room about how my mom was strong and how she had encouraged them.
She often commented on how she knew that GOD was still in control because people she'd fallen out with years past started to call her and she commented on how she asked for people's forgiveness for what may have transpired in the past. I often heard her saying that "she didn't have time to play games because she was dealing with her soul and she didn't want unforgiveness to keep her out of Heaven, so if people didn't want to let go of the past, that was their problem, but she was going to get things right."
The things I remember about my mom are: how at the end of her life physically she was not what I remembered but I think more importantly those ailments made her a better person and how she help people from taking in a Hurricane Katrina victim for free, to serving in the community and many of the things I found out were from her peers and friends because she wasn't helping people for fame or fortune. I remember a mom who most of our lives was a single parent and how she'd wear the same clothes during the week just to make sure her kids had proper clothes to wear to school. I remember a mom who was fair and wanted her kids to treat everyone with respect and she never made excuses for our shortcoming but demanded that we respect everyone. I remember a mom that when she found out that I'd written a book; she was my biggest fan and she sold more books than I did or when I was able to preach she was there until the last time because her health didn't allow it. I remember a mom that would buy things for her grandkids. And even though we weren't a family that always told each other that we loved them, we knew our mom loved us because as we got older we saw the sacrifices she made for us.
I could go on and on about my amazing mom, but I'll close with this thought. So many times I've heard grown people cuss at their parents, say hateful and hurtful things to their parents, disrespect their parents, killed their parents or had to compete with their parents, and I was always shocked to hear those things because my mom was always there for me and my siblings. Even when I last saw her on Saturday night she was making sure I was taking care of my body and that everything was alright with me. And I'm thinking "mom I'm okay, I'm more worried about you getting better." She told us all, that she was proud of us and she loved us.
I praise GOD because I had an awesome and faithful mother and it hurts that she's gone and sometimes I think to myself that I haven't gotten a call from her, then I remember there will be no more calls. But I'm more thankful and glad that my mom doesn't have to cry anymore, she doesn't hurt anymore and even though she was 53 years young, she did the most with less and to me (more than a monetary inheritance)........that's a real legacy.
Emma Delores Govan: February 16, 1955 - January 04, 2009
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