On Monday of this week, April 23, 2007 The United States Senate met and was called to order by the Honorable Jim Webb, a Senator from the State of Virginia. The first order of business is always prayer usually led by the Chaplain of the Senate, Barry Black. On this day a guest Chaplain, Sunday Adelaja, pastor of the largest evangelical church in European history prayed the following prayer published in the Congressional Record, Volume 153, No. 65.
“The PRESIDING OFFICER. Today’s prayer will be offered by the guest Chaplain, Pastor Sunday Adelaja from Kiev, Ukraine.
“PRAYER
“The guest Chaplain offered the following prayer:
“O, Lord of creation, we acknowledge Your lordship today, Your sovereignty, love, and power. We ask that You will bless the United States of America in these days of great uncertainties. Bless the leaders of this great Nation with the wisdom needed to lead the Nation in the right direction.
“As leaders, we realize there are some things we want but do not need and some things we need but do not want. You have promised to meet our needs but not satisfy our greed. Help us to realize our decisions have a destiny, our choices have consequences, our path has a purpose, our faith has a foundation, our home has a hope, and this country has a cause.
“Acknowledging that as America goes, so goes our world, I ask for a sweeping, weeping, and reaping revival throughout this great Nation. May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done in America as it is in heaven. Help us to remember that America is great because America is good. If America ceases to be good, it will cease to be great. God of heaven, please help America to continue to be good.
“In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
Pastor Sunday, we all say “Amen!” and are in agreement with your prayer for our great nation. America is great, and there are those who would, in the name of religion, destroy it, but may we “in the name of Jesus” (the only name whereby any are saved) hold up our leaders and troops as they fight for the values and the freedom to practice our faith without inhibition by the government.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Friday, April 27, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Are You a Good Worrier?
Perhaps one of the greatest drains on our energy and ability to perform our jobs or be successful in life is worry. Worry has been described as "interest paid on trouble before it comes due."
Zig Ziglar writes in his monthly newsletter, “One of America's worst enemies is worry. Worry is like a rocking chair; it requires a lot of energy, and it gets you nowhere. Leo Buscaglia said, ‘Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.’
“Americans take more pills to forget more worries about more things than ever before and more than people in any other nation in history. That's bad. According to Dr. Charles Mayo, ‘Worry affects the circulation and the whole nervous system. I've never known a man who died from overwork, but I've known many who have died from doubt.’ Doubt always creates worry, and in most cases, lack of information raises the doubt.
“Life is much like Christmas. You're more apt to get what you expect than what you want.”
One thing that will reduce your worry is simply don’t worry about what you can't change. Here’s an example. When I am stuck in traffic I tend to get irritated (like most of you reading this), but I am working on realizing that I can’t change anything about that situation. I can’t make the cars sitting or barely moving all around me do anything different. It is out of my control. The only thing not out of my control is my mind, what I think about, and how I let it affect my attitude. I can focus my attention on the problem that I can’t change at the moment or I can choose to listen to a constructive message on the CD or the radio or just stop to meditate on the Word of God. I can either fume over the delay or use the delay to do some problem solving on the challenge at work, or developing that new plan I’ve been talking about. It is a mental discipline.
In Matthew chapter six Jesus uses the word “worry” five times telling not to worry. The word is worry in the NIV, but in the King James instead of “worry” the word is “take thought.” That’s really what worry is. It is thinking about, dwelling on something that I cannot change.
Read this and insert “take thought” or “think about” for the word “worry.”
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)
In Matthew 12 Jesus gives the parable of the sower. Some of the seeds planted He says fall among thorns and this is the “man who hears the word, but the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.”
It’s very simple. You can hear the word of God, the promises of God’s Word. You can memorize them and listen to them every week at church, but if you worry then worry will choke out the words and destroy your faith to believe them. So, the simple conclusion is “stop worrying” about the things we can’t change. If we can change something stop worrying about it and change it. We just need to remove worry from our lives because it is choking out the seed of God’s word making it unfruitful in our lives. It is a simple choice of changing my thoughts from worry to thoughts of God’s blessing and promises. You can do it!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for the sin of worrying. Forgive me for spending more time and energy worrying than I do praying, listening to You, and being a doer of the Word You give me. Today, I make the choice not to worry about what I can’t change and to stop fretting over those things that I can change by just doing it. I love You, Lord, and I love it that I know You love me. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Zig Ziglar writes in his monthly newsletter, “One of America's worst enemies is worry. Worry is like a rocking chair; it requires a lot of energy, and it gets you nowhere. Leo Buscaglia said, ‘Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.’
“Americans take more pills to forget more worries about more things than ever before and more than people in any other nation in history. That's bad. According to Dr. Charles Mayo, ‘Worry affects the circulation and the whole nervous system. I've never known a man who died from overwork, but I've known many who have died from doubt.’ Doubt always creates worry, and in most cases, lack of information raises the doubt.
“Life is much like Christmas. You're more apt to get what you expect than what you want.”
One thing that will reduce your worry is simply don’t worry about what you can't change. Here’s an example. When I am stuck in traffic I tend to get irritated (like most of you reading this), but I am working on realizing that I can’t change anything about that situation. I can’t make the cars sitting or barely moving all around me do anything different. It is out of my control. The only thing not out of my control is my mind, what I think about, and how I let it affect my attitude. I can focus my attention on the problem that I can’t change at the moment or I can choose to listen to a constructive message on the CD or the radio or just stop to meditate on the Word of God. I can either fume over the delay or use the delay to do some problem solving on the challenge at work, or developing that new plan I’ve been talking about. It is a mental discipline.
In Matthew chapter six Jesus uses the word “worry” five times telling not to worry. The word is worry in the NIV, but in the King James instead of “worry” the word is “take thought.” That’s really what worry is. It is thinking about, dwelling on something that I cannot change.
Read this and insert “take thought” or “think about” for the word “worry.”
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)
In Matthew 12 Jesus gives the parable of the sower. Some of the seeds planted He says fall among thorns and this is the “man who hears the word, but the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.”
It’s very simple. You can hear the word of God, the promises of God’s Word. You can memorize them and listen to them every week at church, but if you worry then worry will choke out the words and destroy your faith to believe them. So, the simple conclusion is “stop worrying” about the things we can’t change. If we can change something stop worrying about it and change it. We just need to remove worry from our lives because it is choking out the seed of God’s word making it unfruitful in our lives. It is a simple choice of changing my thoughts from worry to thoughts of God’s blessing and promises. You can do it!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for the sin of worrying. Forgive me for spending more time and energy worrying than I do praying, listening to You, and being a doer of the Word You give me. Today, I make the choice not to worry about what I can’t change and to stop fretting over those things that I can change by just doing it. I love You, Lord, and I love it that I know You love me. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Producing and Blessing
What God created He intended to be productive. In Genesis 1 He commanded even the waters to “bring forth abundantly.” Then He created all the living creatures of the sea and the birds of the air. Then He “blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on earth.” Then He said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kind.”
Then He said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule” over the creation. In Genesis 1:28 God said about man what He’d said about the rest of creation... “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.”
God created everything to be fruitful, to be productive. In fact, in verse 29 He tells us, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” There was always more than they needed for themselves. It is not God’s desire or will then for any of us to be so poor that we do not have what we need. In fact, He wants us to have more than we need so that we have some to give away.
Are you productive for your company, your business, your church, your family? God has created us to subdue through our fruitfulness. We don’t really need to subdue many animals today, but there are animals, challenges in life, on the job, in our families, in our churches, etc. that must be subdued. That is part of productivity, the result of fruitfulness. One of the questions you will find on job applications very often will have to do with “problem solving.” How good are you at problem solving? Then if they give you an aptitude test for the job it will almost always have problems for you to solve. A huge part of training in school is problem solving.
There is a reason for that. It’s what God created us to do. Be productive, fill the earth, and solve its problems. That’s why people invent things that help us get the job done. That’s why people have ideas to overcome obstacles and increase productivity. That’s the way God created us. So, if your productivity is low it is because you have forgotten who you are and why you were created. Get out there and start living like the blessed, fruitful creation of God that you are!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for accomplishment today, thank You for using me today to make a difference in the world I live in, in the family You have given me, in the workplace where You have positioned me, through the vocation You have placed me and cause me to be fruitful. Out of Your blessing on my life will flow ideas, resources, and fruit to sustain my life and help and bless others. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Then He said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule” over the creation. In Genesis 1:28 God said about man what He’d said about the rest of creation... “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.”
God created everything to be fruitful, to be productive. In fact, in verse 29 He tells us, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” There was always more than they needed for themselves. It is not God’s desire or will then for any of us to be so poor that we do not have what we need. In fact, He wants us to have more than we need so that we have some to give away.
Are you productive for your company, your business, your church, your family? God has created us to subdue through our fruitfulness. We don’t really need to subdue many animals today, but there are animals, challenges in life, on the job, in our families, in our churches, etc. that must be subdued. That is part of productivity, the result of fruitfulness. One of the questions you will find on job applications very often will have to do with “problem solving.” How good are you at problem solving? Then if they give you an aptitude test for the job it will almost always have problems for you to solve. A huge part of training in school is problem solving.
There is a reason for that. It’s what God created us to do. Be productive, fill the earth, and solve its problems. That’s why people invent things that help us get the job done. That’s why people have ideas to overcome obstacles and increase productivity. That’s the way God created us. So, if your productivity is low it is because you have forgotten who you are and why you were created. Get out there and start living like the blessed, fruitful creation of God that you are!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for accomplishment today, thank You for using me today to make a difference in the world I live in, in the family You have given me, in the workplace where You have positioned me, through the vocation You have placed me and cause me to be fruitful. Out of Your blessing on my life will flow ideas, resources, and fruit to sustain my life and help and bless others. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Monday, April 23, 2007
Where is I AM?
Many people spend their lives regretting the past and fearing the future because of the pain of the past. But think about what God said to Moses when he was standing at the burning bush. Remember what He said? It’s in Exodus 3. Moses asked, “Who will I tell them sent me?” God said, “Tell them ‘I am’ has sent you, and I am that ‘I am.’”
When you live in the past with it’s pain and regret it is difficult because God is not there. His name is “I AM” not “I WAS.” When you spend all your time thinking about the future and fearing its challenges and problems it is difficult for you because His name is “I AM” not “I WILL BE.”
Moses needed to know then and there who was going with Him. We often talk about taking one day at a time, living one day at a time. This I know, God, I AM, has been with me in the past and will be with me in the future, and He will be whatever I need Him to be at any given moment. But where I need Him most is RIGHT NOW, today, this moment.
When we call on human help we often get “in a minute” or “later” or “tomorrow” or “when I get the time.” But our God is “a very present help in time of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
He is there with you right now. Don’t miss Him by looking so much for “I WAS” or “I WILL BE” that you miss “I AM.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are with me right now. You know every thought and hear every cry of my heart. I will be blessed and will do great this day because You are the I AM. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
When you live in the past with it’s pain and regret it is difficult because God is not there. His name is “I AM” not “I WAS.” When you spend all your time thinking about the future and fearing its challenges and problems it is difficult for you because His name is “I AM” not “I WILL BE.”
Moses needed to know then and there who was going with Him. We often talk about taking one day at a time, living one day at a time. This I know, God, I AM, has been with me in the past and will be with me in the future, and He will be whatever I need Him to be at any given moment. But where I need Him most is RIGHT NOW, today, this moment.
When we call on human help we often get “in a minute” or “later” or “tomorrow” or “when I get the time.” But our God is “a very present help in time of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
He is there with you right now. Don’t miss Him by looking so much for “I WAS” or “I WILL BE” that you miss “I AM.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are with me right now. You know every thought and hear every cry of my heart. I will be blessed and will do great this day because You are the I AM. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Thursday, April 19, 2007
The Medicine of Laughter
Have you ever thought about how important humor is to your life? We all like humor, but too many of us never really make it a priority in our lives. You say, “Make humor, laughter a priority?!” You know how you feel. Life is serious. There are too many serious things happening in our world. It would even be inappropriate to laugh. There are certainly times to be sober and serious. The happenings of the past few days remind us that the world is definitely full of people filled with pain causing them to do horrific things. As you watched the videos of the young man who took 32 lives at Virginia Tech did you see the pain in his eyes? There had probably been no laughter for longer than he could remember. All those who had had any close contact with him noted how quiet he was.
Remember the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac. Sarah laughed when the messenger from God told Abraham that they were going to have a son when he was 100 and Sarah was 90. She laughed and then denied that she laughed as if there was something wrong with that. I mean, that’s certainly a laughable thought to me! I am not 100 and Debbie is not 90, but I would laugh if the doctor looked at us and told us she was pregnant (and then CRY!). But when Isaac was born she said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." Genesis 21:6 (NIV)
Sometimes laughter is a cover for pain. The Proverbs says, “Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.” Proverbs 14:13 (NIV) But on the other hand laughter is a great tool to get us through pain. When I conduct a funeral service I always try to find something in the life of deceased to make us laugh. Some people find that disrespectful, but most find it relieving to be able to laugh in the midst of grief.
Not long after the iron curtain had come down I was ministering in the former Soviet Union in Siberia. It was a city not even on most maps at that time because it had been a secret military installation and a city for Communist Officials to go for R & R. There were 300,000 people in the city. The one thing we noticed in most of the people whether in Moscow or in Siberia (they are a six hour flight apart) was that they did not smile, they were not happy even in their new found freedom. Even the church people were somber. One pastor listened to us crazy Americans as we laughed and enjoyed ourselves. He watched as we played games in the square with the youth and 3000 people would show up to watch and eventually laugh with us. Then we’d share testimonies and preach the Gospel to them and thousands of them would come to know Christ. That pastor said in frustration and even anger, “You laugh too much. You are too happy. Holy people don’t laugh, they are serious.” I am not criticizing him at all because this man had been through much pain. He’d been in prison for his faith. The joy had been taken from him. The day we left he finally smiled at us. Maybe we rubbed off on him just a little.
The police showed up at the “hotel” where we were staying to give us personal escorts downtown for our meetings because they were drawn to the laughter. One evening late we were sitting in the restaurant (we were the only ones there as was most often the case) and we were laughing at the end of a long day of ministry and travel around the area. We noticed all the staff standing over to the side watching us, and immediately we felt bad because we’d forgotten the time and we were keeping them there waiting on us to finish. So, I went over with an interpreter to apologize. When I did they reacted immediately with, “Oh, no we are not upset. We were just watching you laugh.”
On the other hand I was in a meeting last week with two gentlemen from Viet Nam who had both been jailed for their faith more times than they could count. They made jokes about it. The smiles on their faces were so big they covered their faces. They told funny stories about being arrested, thrown in prison for leading people to Jesus, and then thrown out of prison because they were leading people to Jesus in prison. Laughter, it’s a wonderful thing!
The Bible agrees, “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.” Proverbs 17:22 (MSG)
Remember the “Reader’s Digest”? We got it all the time when I was a kid and even in adulthood. Still today when I pick one up in a waiting or room or wherever I will go first to “Laughter is the Best Medicine.” Remember that? Then to “All in a Day’s Work” and “Life in the United States”. It is good to laugh.
Certainly one of the best ways to ruin your life would be to take everything too seriously, especially yourself. Have you ever noticed how really successful people are able to laugh at themselves? I don't think I've ever met anyone worthy of modeling my life after who didn't make humor an integral part of their life.
Humor and laughter will make every part of your life better. It will help you through difficult times and it will help you make the good times even better. It will attract good people and good situations to you. You'll become a magnet for positive experiences. And it's well documented that daily laughter will make you healthier. We shouldn’t be surprised because the Bible had already established that.
Have you ever noticed how some people wouldn't be happy if they weren't miserable? There may actually be something humorous about that. Laugh a lot today.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me not to miss the fun, the laughter, the humor in life. Your Word reminds me that “the joy of the Lord is my strength” not the soberness and seriousness of life. May my countenance and my demeanor reflect that joy to others. Make me a magnet to draw people to the joy that just comes out of me, and then to You that brings the joy to my life. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Remember the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac. Sarah laughed when the messenger from God told Abraham that they were going to have a son when he was 100 and Sarah was 90. She laughed and then denied that she laughed as if there was something wrong with that. I mean, that’s certainly a laughable thought to me! I am not 100 and Debbie is not 90, but I would laugh if the doctor looked at us and told us she was pregnant (and then CRY!). But when Isaac was born she said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." Genesis 21:6 (NIV)
Sometimes laughter is a cover for pain. The Proverbs says, “Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.” Proverbs 14:13 (NIV) But on the other hand laughter is a great tool to get us through pain. When I conduct a funeral service I always try to find something in the life of deceased to make us laugh. Some people find that disrespectful, but most find it relieving to be able to laugh in the midst of grief.
Not long after the iron curtain had come down I was ministering in the former Soviet Union in Siberia. It was a city not even on most maps at that time because it had been a secret military installation and a city for Communist Officials to go for R & R. There were 300,000 people in the city. The one thing we noticed in most of the people whether in Moscow or in Siberia (they are a six hour flight apart) was that they did not smile, they were not happy even in their new found freedom. Even the church people were somber. One pastor listened to us crazy Americans as we laughed and enjoyed ourselves. He watched as we played games in the square with the youth and 3000 people would show up to watch and eventually laugh with us. Then we’d share testimonies and preach the Gospel to them and thousands of them would come to know Christ. That pastor said in frustration and even anger, “You laugh too much. You are too happy. Holy people don’t laugh, they are serious.” I am not criticizing him at all because this man had been through much pain. He’d been in prison for his faith. The joy had been taken from him. The day we left he finally smiled at us. Maybe we rubbed off on him just a little.
The police showed up at the “hotel” where we were staying to give us personal escorts downtown for our meetings because they were drawn to the laughter. One evening late we were sitting in the restaurant (we were the only ones there as was most often the case) and we were laughing at the end of a long day of ministry and travel around the area. We noticed all the staff standing over to the side watching us, and immediately we felt bad because we’d forgotten the time and we were keeping them there waiting on us to finish. So, I went over with an interpreter to apologize. When I did they reacted immediately with, “Oh, no we are not upset. We were just watching you laugh.”
On the other hand I was in a meeting last week with two gentlemen from Viet Nam who had both been jailed for their faith more times than they could count. They made jokes about it. The smiles on their faces were so big they covered their faces. They told funny stories about being arrested, thrown in prison for leading people to Jesus, and then thrown out of prison because they were leading people to Jesus in prison. Laughter, it’s a wonderful thing!
The Bible agrees, “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.” Proverbs 17:22 (MSG)
Remember the “Reader’s Digest”? We got it all the time when I was a kid and even in adulthood. Still today when I pick one up in a waiting or room or wherever I will go first to “Laughter is the Best Medicine.” Remember that? Then to “All in a Day’s Work” and “Life in the United States”. It is good to laugh.
Certainly one of the best ways to ruin your life would be to take everything too seriously, especially yourself. Have you ever noticed how really successful people are able to laugh at themselves? I don't think I've ever met anyone worthy of modeling my life after who didn't make humor an integral part of their life.
Humor and laughter will make every part of your life better. It will help you through difficult times and it will help you make the good times even better. It will attract good people and good situations to you. You'll become a magnet for positive experiences. And it's well documented that daily laughter will make you healthier. We shouldn’t be surprised because the Bible had already established that.
Have you ever noticed how some people wouldn't be happy if they weren't miserable? There may actually be something humorous about that. Laugh a lot today.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me not to miss the fun, the laughter, the humor in life. Your Word reminds me that “the joy of the Lord is my strength” not the soberness and seriousness of life. May my countenance and my demeanor reflect that joy to others. Make me a magnet to draw people to the joy that just comes out of me, and then to You that brings the joy to my life. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Give to Caesar!
Yes, for those in the US, we have reached tax time (the middle of April)! Today is the day. We actually got two extra days this year. We've all heard the phrase that the only 2 sure things in life are death and taxes. Yes, taxes are unpleasant, but necessary. As Jim Rohn says, "You have to feed the goose that lays the golden eggs. Sure, sometimes the goose eats too much. But better a fat goose than no goose at all."
I have the same tendency that you do... to complain about taxes. I paid more taxes in advance this year than I ever have in my short history, but I sill owe taxes at tax time than ever before too. Now, while I was quietly complaining... quiet only because no one else was around at the moment to complain to... the thought came to me that there is an alternative to paying more taxes. It’s really very simple. Make less money!
Jesus admonished us, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." Matthew 22:21 (NIV)
Now, I am a faithful, cheerful giver and tither. It is not a struggle at all for me to give to the ministry and tithe to the local church. It is never a question, and I love to do it. But Jesus didn’t really differentiate between giving to God and giving to the IRS (Caesar). He just said we are supposed to do both. So, now that I have repented I can say, “Thank God I can pay taxes.” Just as I tell you it takes money to run a church, it takes money to run a country. And no, I don’t like everything they do with the money we give them, but that is not an excuse to quit paying taxes. I need to begin to exercise the power of the American citizen to vote and speak to those who represent us and make laws reminding them that I pay their salary.
Bottom Line... there’s a whole lot more about this nation, these United States of America that I like than dislike. So as you write that check and pop it in the mail (at 11:59 p.m.) say a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s blessings in your life, and then say a prayer for this great nation and its leaders.
Prayer: Thank you for the privilege of living in a free nation. Thank you for your blessings in my life. Thank you for the privilege of paying taxes. Bless our leaders and our nation today and everyday. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
I have the same tendency that you do... to complain about taxes. I paid more taxes in advance this year than I ever have in my short history, but I sill owe taxes at tax time than ever before too. Now, while I was quietly complaining... quiet only because no one else was around at the moment to complain to... the thought came to me that there is an alternative to paying more taxes. It’s really very simple. Make less money!
Jesus admonished us, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." Matthew 22:21 (NIV)
Now, I am a faithful, cheerful giver and tither. It is not a struggle at all for me to give to the ministry and tithe to the local church. It is never a question, and I love to do it. But Jesus didn’t really differentiate between giving to God and giving to the IRS (Caesar). He just said we are supposed to do both. So, now that I have repented I can say, “Thank God I can pay taxes.” Just as I tell you it takes money to run a church, it takes money to run a country. And no, I don’t like everything they do with the money we give them, but that is not an excuse to quit paying taxes. I need to begin to exercise the power of the American citizen to vote and speak to those who represent us and make laws reminding them that I pay their salary.
Bottom Line... there’s a whole lot more about this nation, these United States of America that I like than dislike. So as you write that check and pop it in the mail (at 11:59 p.m.) say a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s blessings in your life, and then say a prayer for this great nation and its leaders.
Prayer: Thank you for the privilege of living in a free nation. Thank you for your blessings in my life. Thank you for the privilege of paying taxes. Bless our leaders and our nation today and everyday. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Buzzards, Bats, and Bumblebees
The BUZZARD
If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.
The BAT
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from
which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
The BUMBLEBEE
A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.
PEOPLE
In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up.
Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, but faith looks up.
The above thoughts are from Zig Ziglar’s Newsletter April 17, 2007
“I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalms 121:1-2 (NIV)
Prayer: Lord Jesus, today I will choose to look up in the midst of the battles and challenges of life. I am not trapped in an inescapable prison. Help is always readily available to me because You love me. You have promised all the knowledge, power, and strength that I need to do what I have to do in life. Thank You, and expect to hear from me today. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.
The BAT
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from
which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
The BUMBLEBEE
A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.
PEOPLE
In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up.
Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, but faith looks up.
The above thoughts are from Zig Ziglar’s Newsletter April 17, 2007
“I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalms 121:1-2 (NIV)
Prayer: Lord Jesus, today I will choose to look up in the midst of the battles and challenges of life. I am not trapped in an inescapable prison. Help is always readily available to me because You love me. You have promised all the knowledge, power, and strength that I need to do what I have to do in life. Thank You, and expect to hear from me today. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
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