Veterans Day

This past week has been referred to as a "historic" week in the history of our nation. The 45th President was elected in a stunning upset. The majority of pundits and prognosticators were wrong and Donald J. Trump was chosen to lead our nation. I was thankful for the opportunity to have been able to cast my vote as a reminder and symbol of my freedom as an American citizen. I was able to vote my conscience without any fear of retribution or any coercion by the government or some other political force. Wasn't it Lee Greenwood who sang these lyrics; "I am proud to be an American..."

This week also affords us another wonderful opportunity. We will celebrate Veterans Day on Friday, November 11th. In many ways these two "celebrations" are interconnected. I have always thought about these two events being connected each time that I have cast a vote even if the vote took place in a month other than November. Veterans Day allows us to focus on those men and women who have served the nation in our military. These individuals have served in both peace time as well as times of war. They have served bravely but also compassionately. They have stood strong against the various forces that have sought to destroy our nation and sought to destroy the freedom that we enjoy on a daily basis. Friday is our opportunity to say THANK YOU to those who have served our nation in honor and who have demonstrated the desire to protect the freedoms that we celebrate, I encourage you to make sure that you personally speak to a Veteran and let him/her know that they are honored, respected and appreciated. These valiant soldiers deserve our appreciation and they deserve the honor and praise that they will receive on their special day of recognition.

This Veterans Day is also unique from a personal perspective. Today is the first Veterans Day since the passing of my Dad seven (7) months ago. His family was blessed that he lived one week past his 90th birthday, He was a World War II veteran who served in the European theater of action. Our Dad, Wallace E. Willingham served in Company B, of the 347th Infantry, in the 87th Infantry Division of the 3rd Army. The 3rd Army was under the command of General George Patton. Dad was in combat action at the Battle of the Bulge, the crossing of the Rhine River (under the cover of darkness on his 19th birthday) the Siegfreid Lines, etc. I am very proud to be a son of this Army Veteran who loved God, who loved his family and who loved this nation. He won several awards; Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantry Mans Badge, Presidential Citation, European WWII Camme Nation Medal, and the European Theater Ribbon and Medal (with two Bronze Stars).  

Dad was a strong advocate for Patriotism and he possessed great respect for all of the Veterans that had served with him as well as those who had served our nation after him. Scattered across our nation are a group of men and women who do not ask for respect but they deserve our respect. Scattered across our nation are a group of people who are not demanding to be applauded but they deserve to receive the applause of appreciation from a nation that has provided wonderful opportunities for people of various races, ethnicities, various religions, and various nationalities. Much is being said about people "having the right" to express their opinions and their ideas. Let me remind you that "freedom of expression" did not come without a price. Take a tour of a local Veterans Hospital and see the men and women who are still paying the price for their time of service in our nation. Our freedom was not cheap and it is still not cheap. 

I am thankful that I have the freedom to express my thoughts via this blog. THANK YOU DAD FOR YOUR SERVICE!! THANK YOU SIR, THANK YOU MAAM FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR NATION. I OWE YOU A DEBT OF GRATITUDE THAT I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO PAY. BUT I WILL DO MY BEST TO HONOR YOU, SUPPORT YOU AND PRAY FOR YOU!!!

Happy Veterans Day!!!

Encouragement on Election Day

Today is the day on which Americans have the privilege to go to the polls and cast their vote for the next President of the United States. Let me remind you that there are many other offices that will be decided today although the Presidential election has drawn the most attention both positive as well as negative. The television and radio interviews have found many people who say that they will be glad when this election is completed. I assume this is due to the angst, anxiety, anger, fear, disagreement, and some disgust with this election process. This election process has certainly been filled with much rancor, foul words, unending attacks on the character of the candidates as well as the continuing revelation of the "character flaws" of the various candidates.

The title of this post reflected my desire as well as inspiration to shine a light of encouragement upon this day. I do not know the outcome of the election as I write this blog and I am not prepared to make a prediction but there are some things that the Spirit continues to place in my heart and I want to share them with you today.

I have joined with many of you in praying about this election. Let me share with you what I have sensed in the past few days. Repeatedly I have sensed the Spirit leading me to passages of scripture in the Bible that reminds me to "trust in God." I do not believe this is coincidental but I believe this is a mandate from God to point me to the person in which I need to place my trust. No one knows the future and that includes those individuals who are running for the office of President. They have their plans, agendas, ideas and strategies but they are also unable to know what may happen on tomorrow. But as a believer I know who holds our tomorrow in His hands and I also know that He is living in my tomorrow. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today as well as tomorrow. 

I keep hearing the line from one of the worship songs that we sing, "I trust in You..." These words are referencing the Lord God Almighty. I am not going to stop my praying regardless of today's outcome. I am not going to stop my singing regardless of today's outcome. I am not going to stop preaching and ministering to others regardless of today's outcome. I will not hang my harp on a willow tree regardless of today's outcome. I will arise in the morning (if it is the Lord's will) and I will offer my praise, adoration, worship and thanksgiving to the One who died on the old rugged cross that I might have forgiveness of my sins. My victory was won at Calvary and I plan on walking in that victory that has been provided through the blood of Jesus Christ!!

HALLELUJAH TO OUR SAVIOR!!! Let the votes be counted!!

Preparing to Vote

Tomorrow is Election Day across America. I encourage each of you to take the opportunity to celebrate our freedom as Americans through the action of casting your vote on Tuesday. I understand the concern that many people across our nation are feeling today. But I also know that there are some other offices other than President that are on the ballot. There are many sincere and qualified individuals who are running for these offices and they truly believe that they can make a difference in in America. I also remember all of those Veterans who have served our nation throughout the time of our nation's existence. I believe that we would dishonor them if we chose to willfully ignore our privilege to cast our vote. 

I read these words of Adrian Rogers a few days ago and I thought that it would be an appropriate reading as well as an appropriate reminder on this Pre-Election Day in America. 

Right now our nation is sick unto death because she has forgotten God. But listen to this and let it burn itself into your soul. In 1821 John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States, said,

“The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: It connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity. From the day of the Declaration, the American people were bound by the laws of God.”

The principles of civil government and Christianity were linked together in an unbreakable bond. Nearly all citizens acknowledged Christian, biblical principles as the rules of their conduct.

In 1913 President Woodrow Wilson said,

“America was born to exemplify the devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from Holy Scriptures.”

In March, 1931, Congress adopted “The Star-Spangled Banner” as our national anthem. Do you know what the fourth stanza says? “Blessed with victory and peace, may this Heaven-rescued land praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must when our cause it is just. And this be our motto, ‘In God is our trust.’”

God blessed America was she was rooted in spiritual principles and truths. Praise God for our Christian and Judaic heritage being written into our very fabric. And pray for your nation according to 2 Corinthians 7:14.

Let us continue to pray for God to bless, guide and direct the Leaders of our nation!! Our trust is in the Lord god Almighty!!

Wednesday's Word from the Bible

2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (NKJV)

Do you remember this old saying; "Tie a string around your finger so you want forget." Then the challenge would arise to remember the reason that we placed the string on our finger in the first place. Now we download games on our smart phones that are supposed to assist us in our ability to remember things that we do not want to forget. People have been known to write things on the palms of their hands, on their wrists and even on the back of their hand. Why did they take that action? They did not want to forget some morsel of an important fact or truth.

I can not tie a string on your finger and I can not not write on the back of your hand through this electronic communication but I do have some important information for you today. WE NEED TO REMEMBER THE PROMISES OF GOD!! Many of you are just like me today. You are standing on the promises of God concerning certain issues/situations/challenges/battles/struggles in your life or in the lives of others today. You are believing God for yourself as well as for others. Do not give up or give in to doubt or fear. We have a great reservoir of riches from which to draw.

We definitely can not afford to give up on praying for our family and friends who need a relationship with Jesus Christ. There are times that we may need to revisit the promise that the Apostle Peter declared in our verse for today. God is not slack concerning His promise and His desire to reach out to those who need a Savior. 

Our present world is full of uncertainty but we can count on the certainty of God. I am still claiming the promises that God has spoken in His Word. I am still holding onto "God's unchanging hand..."

Tuesday's Thoughts

Ephesians 1:18, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,” (NJKV)

I feel a very strong burden to share with you this morning. It is very seldom that I will be this personal as I share this morning. But the overwhelming presence of the Spirit that is lingering in my heart following Prayer Time this morning is directing me to share with you in this post today. I do not make that declaration in arrogance or boastfulness but I make it so that I can give the Glory to God and be obedient to His leadership. Today's Prayer Time was unique to say the least but I asked God to help me apply His Spirit to my life and apply His Words to my personal life, I also asked Him to let me know "what He would have me to do with what He placed in my heart."

It has been a while since I have felt such a strong burden from the Lord. That may be surprising to some of those who personally know me. I believe that the work of the Lord is very important and I take very seriously my responsibilities. I do not perceive myself as a "slacker" when it comes to the work of the Kingdom of God. I am FULLY CONVINCED THAT GOD IS NOT FINISHED WORKING IN THE MODERN DAY CHURCH. He is looking for someone, anyone, who will make themselves available to God. I am determined to offer my life to God and do my best to follow His leadership as He takes us into the challenging days that lie ahead of us.

Yesterday was Halloween. Much has been written both pro and con about this day of activity. I am not here to address that today; I am here to address All Saints Day. All Saints Day was originally established to recognize those "saints of God" who had entered into Heaven after their earthly life was concluded. Most Protestant congregations do not participate in the celebration. I am not here to promote that celebration but I AM HERE to share what God placed in my heart as I prayed this morning. My eyes are still filled with tears (some of you who know me may find that hard to believe) as I type this post. We need to remember those departed saints and the difference that they made in our lives as they traveled their road of life. We need to recognize those saints of God who are presently living among us in this day and time and we need to allow them to pour into our lives those life changing principles that will make a difference in our race of faith.

But here is the core of the burden that the Spirit placed on my heart today.  We need to remember those "spiritual first responders" (Pastors) who have a strong, burning, heartfelt desire to faithfully serve the family of God. I know that some of you may be thinking, "Hey, you are a Pastor and you are just trying to draw support for Pastors." I can tell you this with an honest and open heart before God that I have never felt such a heavy, weeping burden for the spiritual leaders as I did a few minutes ago. This was not a brief interruption but it was a moment of Divine intervention where the Holy Spirit brought my praying to a complete stop and I could not utter any words for a period of time. I was completely overwhelmed and mesmerized by the presence of the Spirit. I am unable to share all that I felt but there some key things that I need to tell.

Our Pastors are going to need more that catchy phrases such as "Pray for the Pastor." Pastors need more than fancy words or slick cliches; they are needing Prayer Warriors who will daily undergird them with strong prayers and tears. Pastors are going to need real encouragement from the family of God. Pastors are going to need people who will stand with them when the enemy of our soul comes knocking on their door as well as the doors of the church. Pastors are needing people to love them and encourage the gifts that these men and women of God possess. Pastors need smiles, warm handshakes, warm embraces and kind words. Are Pastors perfect people? Certainly not!! Are Pastors always right? Certainly not!! Are Pastors to be worshipped? Certainly not!!  Are Pastors the "star of the church? Certainly not!! Are Pastors to be respected and appreciated? Yes, they are to be respected and appreciated!!

These thoughts may offend someone today because they know Pastors who have failed, faltered and made poor decisions. Pastors are human beings who have their set of struggles and battles as well as everyone else. But I know many Pastors who are giving their best service to God and to His family. Take your eyes off of the negative and focus on the positive attributes that Pastors bring to the table week after week. Let us be thankful that God has given us some very good people who do watch for your soul and who watch for my soul. 

Thanks for taking the time to allow me to share my heart/burden with you. Remember to take some time to pray for your Pastor today!!!

Do You Hear the Alarm?

Romans 13:11-12, “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. ¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” (NKJV)

I truly believe that this principle that the Apostle Paul taught us is very applicable to the days in which we are living. I do believe that I hear the "spiritual alarms" going off as I look at the present condition of the world. I also hear the Spirit sounding the alarm in my heart as I pray, meditate, read the Bible and prepare messages to share when I am privileged to share the Word of God either in private discussions as well as public discourse. But what I am going to do with the alarms that are sounding? Will I choose to answer the call to God or will I choose to hit the "snooze button" and return to my comfortable "zone of sleep?"

I do not have time to list all of the alarms that are sounding in our present world. Some of these are of the personal nature as well as the conditions of our society. Many of us are sensing the internal "calling of the Spirit" to draw closer to God. But sadly many Christians are ignoring that call and choosing to remain in their present spiritual condition. Many of us understand the challenging times in which we are living but we are choosing to put our trust in our abilities, our ideas or our belief that we will not be captured by the powers of darkness. Both of these attitudes are dangerous and can lead us into a spirit of rebellion that chooses to ignore the call from God.

Light was meant to dispel darkness. A darkened room can become full of light with a simple flip of a switch. But that "light" switch has to be wired correctly and that light switch has to be connected to the proper power source to make a difference in the room filled with darkness. I desire for my soul to be wired correctly and I desire for my soul to be connected to the correct power source. 

Christians are called to reflect the light of Christ in this dark world. I remember a song from my childhood and a portion of the song declared these words; "This little light of mine, I am going to let is shine..." God is calling each of us to let our light shine in this dark, sinful and rebellious world. Will you let your light shine today?

Will we answer the alarm or will we choose to hit the snooze button and go back to sleep?

Thoughts on Thursday

2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ," (NKJV)

In a few days our nation will choose a new President as well as other governmental leaders throughout our country. This campaign season has been an unique one to say the least. The news media continues to remind us about the individual candidate who is disliked the most rather than the one that is the most popular among the citizenry of our nation. Is that just odd to me or has anyone else noticed that trend? I am sure that many of you are like me in this regard; you have been praying for God's will to be fulfilled in this decision facing our nation. We certainly need a leader that will be able to face our enemies with strength and courage as well as a leader that will successfully navigate the challenging internal "waters" that we are facing.

But I have also come to another conclusion throughout this political process. My hope is not in a Democrat, an Independent or in a Republican. My hope is in the Lord God Almighty, the Creator of the universe. Yes, I still believe in Creation and I believe in the God who is the Creator. I have also arrived at another conclusion. I have concluded that we are in a "spiritual war" and our enemies are not flesh and blood. Although I understand that satan uses fallen humanity to carry out his plans for division, destruction and demise. But I also understand that Jesus Christ has power to defeat these enemies both internal as well as external. 

I must believe the Words of God found in the Apostle Paul's writings in 2 Corinthians 10. I am not fully convinced that all believers recognize the spiritual war that we are facing. It seems to me that some believers have been rocked asleep through complacency, unconcern, laziness, lethargy, apathy, pleasure, pride, arrogance, selfishness, lack of fervent passion for God, lack of reading the Bible, and lack of a consistent prayer life just to name a few "spirits" that I intercede against on a daily basis. BUT I REFUSE TO GIVE UP HOPE ON AN AWAKENING THAT GOD DESIRES TO SEND TO OUR LAND!!

To be continued,,,