"Suffering Together"

There are different depths of love. I believe one of the deepest levels is experienced through "suffering together". This is when we share a pain or hurt, hardship or loss, together. We are there for each other. If we can do something, we do it. We help. If we can't, we're just there, there letting the other person know we care and we are for them. We want them to know they are not alone in whatever they're facing or going through. We want them to know that we love them and are not abandoning them when they need us the most.

In Acts 9:16, Jesus shares that Paul will have to "suffer" a great deal for Him and His cause. Thats not an invitation I really want to hear. Imagine that...Jesus comes to you and says, "Hey, I'm so glad you've decided to follow me. Now, I have some great things to show you." What are they? "I want to show you the great things you must suffer for my sake." Ouch! Not what I would be expecting. But, you know what, years later this is what Paul says to a church. "I want to know Him, in the power of His resurrection, and the "fellowship of His sufferings"(Philippians 3:10). Did you catch that last part? Paul said He wanted to know Christ in the "fellowship of His sufferings". Wow!!! Paul had learned that there is another level of love, a depth of fellowship, this powerful closeness that comes through sharing pain and difficulty together with someone.

I CONCLUDE WITH TWO BIG QUESTIONS:

1) Are You Willing To Share In Suffering With Christ?

Here's the deal - it's not really a question of are we gonna experience difficulty or test or pain, the question is - when it comes, how are we gonna handle it? Are you willing to suffer together with Christ, if that is what's required? "If God wants you to suffer, it is better to suffer for doing what is right than for doing what is wrong." (1 Peter 3:17 NLV)

2) Are You Willing To Share In Suffering With Others?

Now, here's the other question. Are you willing to share the hurts and pains of those in the family of God? “Share each other's troubles and problems. In this way you obey the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2 NLT) Let's do it. Let's continue growing in our love for others and experience a new level of love like never before through the "fellowship of suffering" together.

Live Well

2 Timothy 2:1 "Timothy, my son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus."

Grace has been defined as God giving everything for nothing to those who don't deserve anything. I like that! Somehow, many times grace is viewed as that which connects us to salvation and then we disconnect from grace in our daily lives. But, grace is also the new desires and ability to please God. Philippians 2:13 says, "For it is God that works in you the desire and ability to do what pleases God." Thats Grace! Grace doesn't just unite us with God, but it also changes us to become like God! It is the very life and nature of God living in us.

Think of this - does God have to force Himself to desire and do good things? No. Its His very nature! Does a sinner have to force himself to commit sin? No. Its his very nature to. So with us, our relationship with Christ gives us a new nature to love and live in a way that pleases God. Watch this - 2 Peter 1:4 declares "we have been made partakers of Gods very own nature". Just begin to let your faith grow in what the Word of God declares is true about you. By grace thru faith, what God has declared in His Word will be your experience in reality!

Because I have been serving God since I was 6 years old, people have asked me from time to time how I managed to make it thru my teen and early adult life without falling back. My answer is always the same. The same grace that saves us is the same grace that keeps us.

Titus 2:12-15 in summary says, Gods grace that brings salvation to us also teaches us how to let that salvation be lived out through us. It enables us to say no to wrong things and yes to right things. Salvation is a work of God from beginning to end. It doesn't start with God, and then we finish it. No! Philippines 1:6 says, "I am certain that God, who begin the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Jesus Christ returns." What God starts, He finishes. He is the "author and finisher of our faith". He is the "alpha and omega, beginning and the end". Trust Him all the way, not just in the beginning.

Remember 3 things:

1) Our faith active in God keeps His grace active in us.

All tests, temptations, trials, adversities that you face are an attempt to pull you away from faith in God. This is why Paul urges us to "fight the good fight of faith" in 2 Timothy 6:12.

2) Gods grace empower us with holy desires and supernatural strength.

Romans 4:16 says, "Therefore, it is of faith that it might be by grace". You see, our faith in God allows His grace in us. And His grace in us is what enables us to live like Him. Thats why Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

3) Grow IN Gods grace, not AWAY from it.

Peter ends his last letter with this, "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). See how this verse shows growing in the grace of God is synonymous with growing in a relationship with God. Take note, we don't grow AWAY from grace - we grow IN grace.

Be encouraged, the sure Word God spoke to Paul is good to us as well, "My grace is all you need" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Live well

Forever...with Him

Why am I alive? Does my life matter? Does my life have purpose?

Have you ever asked these questions or questions like them? I have. Others have too. These questions have been asked for thousands of years prior to you and me asking them. Here is the answer. The truth - you and I are important and we do matter.

Here's why? God did not have to create you, He chose to. In essence, God said something like this about each of us, "I strongly desire to create _(your name)_, because it is my will for him/her to experience my love and know me personally." Now, if you and I were just a little important, God could have created us to just live for a short period of time. God could have created us in such a way so that when this life on earth was over that was it for us. But He went so far as to "plant eternity in our hearts". He created us to live forever. Think about it. God doesn't just want to spend 80 or 90 years with us; He wants to spend the rest of forever with us! God wants us to live forever...forever with Him!

Yes - you and I, and all of us - every single person is very important. We really matter. We are alive because there is a God who loves us and desperately wants us to know Him! Do you know Him? Are you experiencing His incredible love? Just know, He desires for you to. Trust Him.

Listen - grace is....God accepts us because of Christ. Faith is....us accepting that God accepts us because of Christ. And yes, we have a purpose for being alive. I like to say it like this, Gods purpose is not just to save us, but He also saves us for a purpose. Your purpose in this life is to prepare for the next life. Think of it....forever with Him!

Live well.

"CHARACTERISTICS OF A WARRIOR"

Have a pure heart! Have mercy! Be a peacemaker! Expect persecution! Hunger and thirst for righteousness! Wow - this is warrior talk in case your wondering. Christ is detailing the characteristics of someone filled with the Holy Spirit and engaged in warfare. Let's look at them briefly to get a feel. This is good stuff!

Characteristics of a WARRIOR:

1. SENSES real needs - Matt. 5:3

The real Warrior senses their deepest needs and has them met by the one person who can - God! This is that perfectly balanced Warrior who recognizes "without Christ I can do nothing" BUT "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength". Theirs is the kingdom of God!

2. SHARES emotionally - Matt. 5:4

Warriors share emotions that channel change in themselves and ignite change in others! Don't be mistaken - this is not shallow emotionalism. This is the real deal - the genuine response to God intervention on mans helpless state. Real Warriors are open with their emotions and this is something that confounds the wise and strong of this world. This is good warfare!

3. SHOWS inner strength - Matt. 5:5

To conquer poisonous passions and tame wild thoughts is the Warriors "inner strength". Not only this, as wonderful as it is - it goes further and gets better. Their inner strength guides them in clear thinking and visionary movements to help create a future of good. He inherits the earth! Their mighty influence on others is anointed by the mighty influence the Holy Spirit continually has on them.

4. SEEKS God's righteousness - Matt. 5:6

They are bold as a lion (Proverbs 28:1)! Those who stand in the righteousness of Christ always are. They don't trust their own goodness or morality. They are good and moral, but that is not the source of their confidence - but the result of being filled Gods righteousness - who is the ultimate, undefeated, unending WARRIOR! They LIVE righteously because they ARE righteous! Don't be mistaken however, its not their own righteousness, but its the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ that they wear! They live with the conscience reality of being accepted and pleasing to God through their child-like faith in Christ! This is strong Warrior language! Those Warriors on the front line always wear well the breastplate of Christ-righteousness! They defeat the enemy every time - when he points to their imperfections and deep flaws - they point him to the blood of Jesus Christ and His finished work alone! The tactics of the enemy test their faith and strengthen it at the same time! What their enemy mean for evil against them God uses it for their good!

5. SOOTHES others wounds - Matt. 5:7

Warriors are not afraid of being tainted by the wrongs and weaknesses of others around them. They restore those overtaken in sin with Christ. They forgive those who have wronged them. They have special abilities to bring healing in seemingly impossible situations. There goal is reconciliation and restoration. They understand the process of healing. The understand that "hurting people hurt people" and freely pardon when attacked. They also understand that "merciful people heal people". Mercy is not giving people what they deserve when it would wound them or condemn them. Warriors give others in their time of need what God gave them in their time of need! Warriors give guilty people what they need most by not giving them what they deserve most - mercy! Mercy soothes wounds - and myriads of people are carrying wounds everyday all around us and need what they don't deserve - MERCY! Fight the good fight - Warriors show mercy!

Live well.

"Mighty In God"

I can remember a time in my life when I struggled greatly with thoughts about whether or not I was saved. I can still recall the confusion and feelings of anguish of simply not knowing and believing my forgiveness hinged on every detail of my life - there was such condemnation and guilt.

Do you struggle from time to time with feelings of unworthiness? Do you ever doubt whether your life is really pleasing to God and feel that it's not? For example, what about your prayer life - do you ever feel guilty or condemned about not praying enough? The truth is, if you're like me, you too struggle from time to time in some area of your life with feelings of unworthiness or doubt in relation to God and His acceptance of you.

Gods Word has a lot to say about this subject. As a matter of fact, other than the message of salvation itself, this particular topic is the subject of conversation as much or more than any other. Paul and other writers call it "the Law". Paul says that living under the Law is when we try to measure our acceptance with God by what we do or don't do. It's me doing certain things and enough of them which draws me closer to God and then measuring myself by how well and how much I did or did not do those things.

In fact, the whole letter to the church at Galatia is centered around this theme and it is heavily sprinkled in all the other letters as well. In summarizing Paul's words to the Galatian church, he is teaching them that when you live your life that it will cause you to live under the dominion of sin but when you live under grace you will experience the power and freedom of the Holy Spirit.

Recognize a couple of things...

1. The Law is when you think and live like what you do and how much good you do determines whether or not God accepts you and blesses you.

2. The Word of God teaches that "the Law" is the strength of sin. In other words, as long as you live your life that way, you will consistently experience the defeat of sin dominating you.

3. Grace is Gods answer to the power of sin in our lives. Paul writes in Romans 6, "Sin shall not have power over you, for you are not under the law but under grace."

We will pick up here next time. You are probably wondering how you begin to live under grace and not under the law so you can experience the freedom and power of the Holy Spirit in your life. We will get there soon.

He Cares

1 Peter 5:7 "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

"HE CARES"

Do you know that? Have you forgotten? Let this serve as a gentle reminder - "He cares"..."He cares" for YOU.

Right now - in the midst of your circumstance(s) - "He cares"!

Listen, the secret to "casting" your cares upon Him is in you "coming" to Him! Many times, our focus is wrong when we are burdened or worried with the things of life. All we want to know is how to cast our cares on Him. But, He wants us to know how much He cares for us. The secret in knowing how to cast our cares on him is by realizing how much He loves and cares for us! Let this image sink deep inside your heart - the Father God, "caring" for you in this very moment, in the midst of whatever you're facing - "He cares"!

Several years ago, I was overwhelmed with many different struggles - working two jobs, going to school, feeling all alone, dealing with a bad relationship, living at that time away from friends and family. As I began to pray for God's direction and help, this verse, "He cares", came to my mind. While I asked God to help me understand how to cast my cares upon Him, I was reminded what I really needed was to know how much He cared for me! At that moment, the very presence of God covered me completely with love, peace, and joy.

Let me offer 3 suggestions for experiencing the reality of this truth for yourself:

1. BE SURE - Ask God to help you realize how much He cares for you.

a. Don't rest content until this thought impacts your daily life. He cares about the details of your life.

b. Look for other verses to reinforce this truth to you.

2. BE SURRENDERED - Make sure your whole life is surrendered under God's control.

a. If there are areas that are not under His Lordship, ask for forgiveness and help to change.

b. Yield those areas to Him immediately and daily!

3. BE STEADY - In other words, stay steadfast in the things you know are of God.

a. Don't be moved by circumstances. Many times we can't control what happens to us, but we can always control by Gods grace how we respond to what happens to us.

Live well.

"The LORD Is My Portion"

I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

~ Lamentation 3:24

Imagine with me for a moment - Imagine you are in a line waiting to be served some food. But also imagine you are very hungry and in desperate need for food and water. We all know, it's one thing to be in line, but it's altogether different to be really hungry and feeling forced to wait on that thing you feel you need NOW. Also, imagine by the time your turn arrives, there is no food left. Have you been there? How did it make you feel? Hey - I have even been in a situation where I thought another line was moving faster and when I switched to it, it ended up being slower than the first line. That's a whole different level of misery right there!

Think with me for a moment - is this where you are? No, no...I'm not talking about in a line waiting to get some food. I'm talking about LIFE. Do you feel as if "life" has threw you at the end of the line and you are waiting on that thing you feel you really, really need? Not food...but maybe some job, ministry, husband or wife, peace in your family, healing in some relationship, finances, opportunity, dream to reach fulfillment, etc.

I have one simple thought to share with you - "The LORD is your portion."

The writer of Lamentations speaks of many troubles and difficulties he faced, wanderings and waitings which brought discouragement. But, he says that something he remembers during this time keeps him filled with hope in spite of the miserable circumstances. He says the LORDS love is great! Have you experience His love personally? He says the LORD'S compassions never fail! He is smiliing on us! He says the LORDS mercies are new every morning! We need them every day! God's faithfulness is great! Do you feel like God is faithful to everyone but you? Then come with me to verse 24 and let us say this together, "I will say to myself, The LORD is my portion, therefore I will wait on Him."

Two BIG encouragements: 1) The Lord is my portion. 2) I will wait on Him.

Hey - no matter where you are in life - at the end of the line and hungry - say this to yourself - "THE LORD IS MY PORTION".

Maybe you have been thinking about getting out of the line that's waiting for God to answer your needs and starting your own line - doing life your own way - maybe you think you can do it better, get there faster? No - I encourage you to say this to yourself too, "I will wait for Him"....say it, "I WILL WAIT FOR HIM". This God of great love and faithfulness, this God who loves you unconditionally for sure desires to give you life and life to the full!!!

Two BIG conclusions: 1) God gives us His best and never runs out. 2) When you wait on God you show that God is all you need and you trust Him completely! You show that when you have Him, you have everything AND when you have everything without Him, you really have nothing!

May these words fill your heart today until they overflow with words - "I will say to myself, the Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for Him."

Live well,

jc

Morality - Chaos or Godliness

"A moral life is a favored one..." ~ Prov. 14:9 MSG

What are morals? I will define it this way - it's using principles to determine what is right or wrong in any given situation. What do believe about sex outside of marriage? How do you view abortion - right or wrong? What do you think about lying? Do private sins only hurt and affect the persons doing them? Ethics? Sexual immorality? We could go on and on.

Let me say this - every continent, country, culture, people group, family and person is affected and exist by some moral or immoral standards. You just need to know that morality is not something that you or I can escape or hide from - they way we live shows whether or not we are morally pure.

I want to come at this from a Biblical view and be quick about it. There are other things that come into play that influence us, but I will only mention two things here - two things that create moral chaos in our lives and two things that develop moral purity in our lives.

THINGS THAT LEAD TO MORAL CHAOS...

1. Don't be SIMPLE-MINDED.

This is people, usually younger people, but not always - but this is people who have never learned to "think for themselves". They are like whoever they are around - circumstances dictate how they feel, what they do, and where they go. They are like thermometers that simply tell temperature of their surroundings. Simple-minded people simply don't think. If you ask them a question, they will usually respond with a "i don't care" or "what do you want to do". They just go with the flow.

They easily fall prey to new ideas, new fads, fresh excitement - good or bad. Another characteristic of simple-minded people is that when they are influenced in a powerful way by someone, they will automatically and fully accept that everything else about that person is also good and they usually end up trusting other people too much too fast.

Now, I am not trying to create or encourage a critical mind about everyone we meet because I firmly believe we should believe the best about people. What I am trying to do here is establish how simple-minded people live and why they lack good moral discernment. For example, a simple-minded person will very likely trust a great influential minister to the point that if that minister falls into some sin, they too will fall away from God.

Very simply put - they lack discernment. If they were a bird - they would be a sure thing for the bird trap. They will see the bait - but never "think" about why they bait is there. If they were a mouse - they would see and smell the cheese but never discern it's a trap that's gonna take there very life. They will never enjoy the cheese - but they will suffer the consequences! Proverbs 22:3 says it this way, "but the simple go on without thinking and suffer the consequences."

On another note, they lack the development of understanding. They hold no strong convictions. They have not yet learned to value truly important things and cannot comprehend how a few immoral choices will cost them everything!

2. Don't give in to the PRESSURE.

What's really going on when we experience peer pressure? When out with friends and pressured to cross a certain line or a boyfriend pressures you to go too far - why does someone give in? Isn't it because we want to be accepted and liked by others?!?! The truth is that we all want to be accepted and liked.

Now, what we fail to understand many times is that the real way to be liked is to make choices that please God. Over and over, the Scripture talks about those who found favor with God also found favor with people. This is the kind of favor that lasts - this is the right kind of favor - this is the right kind of acceptance with people.

THINGS THAT LEAD TO MORAL PURITY...

1. Surrender to LORDSHIP OF CHRIST.

(Judges 21:25) “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.”

According to the verse above, moral chaos was rampant in those days and so it is with us in our day and time. Like never before, truth is relative, and everyone is making up their own rules. We no longer change our lives to meet the standard of God's Word, but not it's acceptable to twist the Word of God to ease our sin-laden conscience and indulge in compromised living.

Somehow, our society has succeeded in creating a continual season of pleasure in sin. What we don't realize is that no matter what - we will reap whatever we sow!

Psalm 14:1 says, "The fool says in his heart, 'there is no God'". In the actual Hebrew rendering goes like this..."The fool says in his heart, 'NO GOD'". See the difference - it's not so much that the "fool" doesn't believe in the existence of God, it's that he emphatically does not want God! He is his own Lord - he wants no other. He will not accept anyone telling him what to do or where to go, etc.

Jesus is Lord whether we acknowledge him as Lord or not. But, the truth is that we will never find the grace and fulfillment for our lives outside of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. What we need to do is surrender to his Lordship in our personal lives. We must accept and yield to his Lordship. When we do, incredible power and purpose will flow into our lives like never before!

2. Live out your GOD-CREATED PURPOSE.

Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, there the people cast off restraints."

When we have a godly purpose for our life, we will live with moral standards. The POWER OF A VISION vanquishes the PRESSURE of COMPROMISE. I believe one of the reasons so many people today have compromised their morality is because they have lost, or never discovered, their God-given purpose!

Listen - everyone gets somewhere, but only a few people get somewhere on purpose. If you are going to accomplish anything great with your life, it won't happen by accident - it will require great purpose...God-created purpose! Purpose produces moral standards. Goals give us guidelines to live by. For example, once I determine I am going to visit Atlanta, Georgia - going west is no longer an option because I know I must travel east. Going south isn't an option either from where I start. The same is true when purpose fills our life - living anyway we want can't happen anymore.

Here's the bottom line - we help maximize our potential, make a difference with our life, and manage our own life when we live with strong, godly morals. Don't fritter away your only life.

"One life to live - and soon that will pass. Only what's done for Christ will last." ~Unknown

A life frittered away disgusts God; he loves those who run straight for the finish line. ~ Prov. 15:9

Live well,

jc

JUST A THOUGHT

It takes REAL STRENGTH to display good character in conflict! Its NOT a sign of weakness like many people would like for you to think. Crisis reveals the true character of a person.

Live well

H.I.M. Information & Update

H.I.M. MISSION EFFORT

John 4:35 “It’s harvest time!”

Family & Friends - I hope you all are doing great. We really serve an awesome God! Just as I was thinking about all of you that might read this, my mind traveled back in time to many past experiences. I was reminded of how God has blessed me with such incredible relationships. God is Good!

Personally, I am doing great and following God’s leading to do more for him. I graduated Southeastern Bible College on May 7, 2010. Very excited about that! Also, Presley Watson, a close friend of mine, and I have begun an Evangelistic Ministry together called Harvest International Ministries (H.I.M. for short).

June 15^th – July 3^rd, I will be traveling to the Philippines. We are expecting approximately 20,000 unsaved people in attendance over the 2-day outreach we are hosting. This is not a one-time event, but something we will be doing more in the future and also in other countries as the Lord leads.

This mission trip is focused on:

(1) Reaching the unsaved

- Special invitation given for children

(2) Feeding the poor

(3) Connecting those who receive Christ with local churches that will be partnering with us during the event

(4) Equipping the pastors to build healthy and effective churches

Prayer Support:

First of all, let me say that your prayers are much needed & appreciated. “The heartfelt prayer of the righteous person produces great power & wonderful results.” – James 5:16

God has led me to ask for people who will commit to pray regularly for the ministry. This ministry was born through prayer, so I have seen in a “big” way the results it achieves. “Prayer is NOT about getting “my will” done in Heaven, but about getting “God’s will” done on earth” –Andrew Murray. God’s will on earth is that all people be saved and know Him and prayer is vital to our success! It is vital because people’s hearts are hard and there is a real enemy fighting. If you will commit to pray, please let me know. The potential is great and I believe God’s power alone is sufficient. Sign up as an intercessor on our website at www.himwebsite.com.

Financial Support: (we are accountable to our board members in this area)

Also, I ask you to partner with me with through financial support. We are being as wise as possible with every dollar. Poverty is common in the Philippines where the average wage earned per day is only 5 dollars. We will be giving each family a bag of rice. This will provide enough food to a regular size family for approximately one week. I am convinced that God blesses those who bless others, particularly the poor. Psalm 41:1-3.

The total cost of this outreach in June will run approximately between 21-25 thousand dollars. Taking into account that we are expecting 20 to 25 thousand people to come to Christ, that averages about 1 dollar per soul. I call that a great return on your investment!

Thank you in advance for your prayers & support.

Live well,

jc

Harvest International Ministries (H.I.M.)

OUR VISION:

(1) REACH the unsaved. CONNECT new believers to local Bible-believing churches.

UNIFY the churches.

(2) EQUIP local pastors to be healthy & effective in 3 areas:

(a) Personal life

(b) Leadership ability

(c) Church growth