Is it a ‘small world’ or ‘BIG KINGDOM’?

 Is it a ‘small world’ or ‘BIG KINGDOM’? 

I have always been amazed at how, even being from a small town in rural Alabama, and even now living in a somewhat larger city, but still less than 60,000, it seems impossible to travel anywhere in the world and not meet someone I know or should know. My old High School, Haleyville High, just returned from the annual Senior Trip to Washington D.C. and New York City. I would bet, if I were a betting man, someone on that trip if not several, ran into someone who knew them or at least their family. I have had the opportunity to travel to many places, some overseas, in 78 years and on most trips, I will see someone with some connection to me, my family, my hometown or current city.  

This most always invokes the phrase ‘isn’t it a small world’. As I have considered this, I have always been amused to think this happens so frequently, but today I begin to think about a ‘what if’. What if we could identify and know all of our brothers and sisters in GOD’s KINGDOM as we travel through life. What an affirming feeling we would have as we recognize the masses who join us in this eternal kingdom. How much power and assurance of all God’s promises would we begin to realize. How bold would our witness become and how much love would we begin to share in our journey here on earth.  

I know for me an example of this newfound boldness occurs during the Christmas season. Mike Free is the unofficial leader or a Bible Study that has blessed me for over 25 years. We meet once a week, early on Tuesday mornings and 15 to 20 men for various denominations study God’s word. Mike, a true servant of God was called many years ago to use Bible studies as his way to serve and Glorify God. As a result, he leads not only our group but serval other groups here in Decatur. Each Christmas all of his groups gather during the week prior to Christmas for breakfast, devotional and some very loud but not so good singing of the old carols. This one small breakfast meeting is so encouraging and even emboldening to me. When I see those men who I know, see from throughout the community I actually get super charged in my commitment to reach others.  

Kingdom people are called to community. Church families are great, but we are a part of a body so much bigger. We are billions in numbers, and we must draw strength and boldness from our position, not only as children of a mighty God and as joint heirs with Christ but as a force in a lost world.  

   

 

WHICH BUCKETS ARE YOU GOING TO FILL?

 From nearly 78 years of experience, I’ve learned something about this journey we are on.  In my simple mind I have decided life to a large extent is choosing paths that are defined like buckets in our minds.  Every day there are buckets we decide which to fill. The buckets represent something, some good and some bad.  The bad are always going to be there along with the good.  How you fill them each day is what makes the difference and determines the direction your life will take.  Fill the ‘good buckets’ and you will find success, fulfillment and happiness.  Fill the ‘bad buckets’ and you will find stress and strife.  When you are focused on filling the ‘good’ buckets and ignoring the ‘bad’ you will see you don’t have the time to deal with the ‘bad’.  The ‘bad’ will always be there.  My whole life I have seen ‘bad’ buckets in front of me every day, but by focusing on directing my energies to the ‘good’ buckets they become less an issue and challenge.  My bucket assessment goes something like this in your situation.  

 1. Your Spiritual Bucket:  you know the value of knowing and relying on a spiritual life.  Fill that bucket everyday with some acknowledgement of God and the blessings he gave you. It is mandated not suggested we glorify our Lord in all we do.

2. Your Family Bucket, both your own earthly family and your Spiritual family whose walking with you. Strength and support are vital to making it. These family relationships are critical at every stage of life. We were made to be companions and to walk this road with both families.

3. Your Educational Bucket: No matter your age you have an opportunity and a mind to accomplish everything in life you dream and desire.  Don’t waste the opportunity laying right there in front of you to prepare yourself to soar.

4. Your Personal Relationship Bucket:  Surround yourself with people that make you a better person.  Don’t alienate those you recognize as ‘going nowhere’ types but work to become a positive influence on them.  Do not sink to their level to feel included to be the positive influence they may need to be better people.

When your focus is on giving 100% to fill these ‘Good Buckets’ every day you will not have time or the spirit to worry about the negative buckets you have in front of you every day.  All of us have ‘Bad Bucket’ stuff around. us every day.  If we are not busy filling our ‘Good Buckets’ they can bring us down and avert your focus and attention, but you have a spirit and the power to remain true to ourselves and avoid the negative effects on us.    

 

WHICH BUCKETS ARE YOU GOING TO FILL

 From nearly 78 years of experience, I’ve learned something about this journey we are on.  In my simple mind I have decided life to a large extent is choosing paths that are defined like buckets in our minds.  Every day there are buckets we decide which to fill. The buckets represent something, some good and some bad.  The bad are always going to be there along with the good.  How you fill them each day is what makes the difference and determines the direction your life will take.  Fill the ‘good buckets’ and you will find success, fulfillment and happiness.  Fill the ‘bad buckets’ and you will find stress and strife.  When you are focused on filling the ‘good’ buckets and ignoring the ‘bad’ you will see you don’t have the time to deal with the ‘bad’.  The ‘bad’ will always be there.  My whole life I have seen ‘bad’ buckets in front of me every day, but by focusing on directing my energies to the ‘good’ buckets they become less an issue and challenge.  My bucket assessment goes something like this in your situation.  

 1. Your Spiritual Bucket:  you know the value of knowing and relying on a spiritual life.  Fill that bucket everyday with some acknowledgement of God and the blessings he gave you. It is mandated not suggested we glorify our Lord in all we do.

2. Your Family Bucket, both your own earthly family and your Spiritual family whose walking with you. Strength and support are vital to making it. These family relationships are critical at every stage of life. We were made to be companions and to walk this road with both families.

3. Your Educational Bucket: No matter your age you have an opportunity and a mind to accomplish everything in life you dream and desire.  Don’t waste the opportunity laying right there in front of you to prepare yourself to soar.

4. Your Personal Relationship Bucket:  Surround yourself with people that make you a better person.  Don’t alienate those you recognize as ‘going nowhere’ types but work to become a positive influence on them.  Do not sink to their level to feel included to be the positive influence they may need to be better people.

When your focus is on giving 100% to fill these ‘Good Buckets’ every day you will not have time or the spirit to worry about the negative buckets you have in front of you every day.  All of us have ‘Bad Bucket’ stuff around. us every day.  If we are not busy filling our ‘Good Buckets’ they can bring us down and avert your focus and attention, but you have a spirit and the power to remain true to ourselves and avoid the negative effects on us.    

THE DEVIL DOESN'T DRESS LIKE A SNAKE ANYMORE!

 This morning while listening to a devotional through my ear buds, I learned a very important lesson.  The devotional had directed me to Genesis 3 where the serpent had convinced Eve, by distracting her from God's law, to defy God's instructions and try the only fruit he had forbidden.  Just as I got to the part about how it really wouldn't hurt Eve to taste it, I got the beep from my ear buds I had a text.  Now at 4:15 in the morning the likelihood of me getting anything important is about as likely as me winning the Powerball.  The problem was I immediately picked up the phone and click to see what my message was (a new deal from Rock N Roll Sushi).  Now since I like Rock N Roll Sushi, I was glad to see a deal, BUT it is not in the same universe as my need to grow my relationship with my Lord and Savior.  

I cannot get out of my mind now how accustomed we are to just such instances all the time.  Distraction from what should be our more intimate times with God has always (even back to Eve) the Devils most productive tool.  I've been guilty of this type distraction all my life.  I have check those beeps and vibrations even during a worship service and serious Bible study.  Anything that breaks our worship and communication with our Lord and Savior is a victory for the evil one, not worth it and dangerous. Nothing on this earth or in this life is worth it.  

Would you ever disrupt a meeting or conversation with Nick Saban, Hugh Freeze or any other high-powered personality.  Most important meetings or events require us to either turn-off our devices or check them at the door.  Our worship time should require no less focus and attention.  Just some thoughts on our attention to the only thing that really matters for eternity.  

PRAYER, WHY IT DRIVES THE DEVIL NUTS!

 It's taken awhile but the Holy Spirit finally made something I've been told all my life finally make sense.  Prayer has always been something I believed in, probably because of hearing so much about it from my Grandmother Roby, who was such a great example.  She tried to get the message across but somehow it did not take.   

Today before the sun came up I finally saw what has been in front of me all the time.  This explains why the Devil hates for us to pray so bad.  Four (4) reasons why prayer is so important in our lives and why the Evil one hates it so bad has become clearer than ever before. 

When we sincerely PRAY, at least four very important things happen that really gets to the old Devil. 

1. We are acknowledging to ourselves and God he does exist as the 3-O God of the Universe.  (Omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent)

2. We believe our God hears us when we seek him and go to him.  

3. We are placing our concerns under his authority. 

4.  His response will be according to his plan for his kingdom, and we can have a binding faith and trust in however God handles our prayer will be in our best interest.

Mrs. Estelle Housel-Psalms 19:14

 

We are searching high and low today for some answer or magic bullet to trigger a return of this nation and world back to the days when God was known and honored more. Frustration in our great nation grows as we struggle with loss of respect in the world, crime in our streets and a severe moral decay in our society. David Housel, former Athletic Director at Auburn University has written a great book, 'FROM THE BACKBOOTH AT CHAPPY'S', wherein he remembers cherished times over his life and presents them in a way that draws similar memories out of the reader. All the stories are great and reflect David's great writing skills, but some reveal lessons from our past that are needed today more than ever.

On page 149 (softback edition) David addresses the issue of public prayer and how what so many are lamenting as gone was never really what prayer is meant to be. I agree and would go even further to guess words raised as prayer for the sake of ritual only actually challenges our spirituality.

The real revelation in the section, (Was I Wrong) is in the discussion of a call David received from a former student of David's mother, Mrs. Estelle Housel, a 4^th grade teacher in David's beloved Gordo Elementary School. The caller told David he simply wanted to let him know how much he appreciated David's mother who had taught him in the 4^th grade some 53 years ago. He told David how each day as the class lined up to go to lunch Mrs. Housel had them recite the prayer of King David from Psalms 19:14.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.”

The caller relayed how over the 53 years those words had stuck with him through the good times and tough and he just wanted David to know how much his mother had meant to him.

Now I have a point I want to preserve and make. There is a tremendous lesson here as is all scripture we read, study and meditate on for any time. This simple one sentence prayer, repeated every day of the school year had made a 53 year, lasting impact on the man.

As simple as it is, Mrs. Estelle Housel planted a seed in every child they would carry for the rest of their lives.

1. There is One above all others.

2. He does knows the thoughts of our minds and the meditations of our hearts.

3. That when we are in him he gives us strength and redemption for our sins.

If over a 30 year career, Mrs. Housel taught 20 kids a year, she would have exposed 600 young people to these basic principles. I checked and the best I can determine is there are between 70,000 and 80,000 elementary schools in the United States today.  Assuming there is an average of three 4^th grade teachers in each school. If ½ of them (well over 150,000) each had this one verse recited daily how many of our future generation would at least have a seed planted. Using the same 20 students per year and teachers working only 20 years, 60 million children would be exposed to this valuable lesson.

My purpose for the rest of my life is to find 4^th grade teachers willing to expose their charges to this one sentence for the time they have them. No formal prayer just a seed that God will grow on his own. 

Devil's Game Plan

 Not many are going to like this but it's time to look a lot deeper.

This round goes to the Devil, not because Democrats have seemingly prevailed in this latest election furor, but in dividing God's children along earthly matters. There are as many God fearing, patriotic, well meaning Democrats in our country as there are Republicans. God gave everyone a mine and speaks to everyone of them as he leads them, the contrasting opinions and diverse view of earthly matters make us strong, as evidenced by our 200+ years of blessed existence in this Country. The Devil won, this time, by blinding those who are his children to the truths of his Son's message and instructions. We have demonized anyone that might think different from us. We fail to unite in the greater and over riding Truth we are all one people, serving not an earthly government of rule but the one Adonia who is 'Absolute in Authority and Responsibility'. We are losing our focus on a Creator and are more dependent on CNN, MSNBC and FOX for our direction than God's Word. I sincerely believe Division and Distrust are the Devil's greatest weapons. If we do not start changing hearts and accepting differences, to be resolve by clean hearts we are destined to fail.

By the way, I'm guilty.