All posts tagged: love

That I may discover God’s highest and best usage for my life

Published by

The world is yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him. I’ll try my utmost to be that man. DL Moody Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love. Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee. Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King. Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee. Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose. Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine. Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne. Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store. Take myself, …

7 Wins for your Community

Published by

Dear Church Family, It is good to come to you today through the love and grace of Jesus our Lord. Allow me to share a few words about what I believe God is doing and wants to do at TAG this fall. The Lord has shown me at least 5 Areas in wish He wants to prosper us this fall I am calling this the 5 Wins of Fall. The church that prays together wins The church that suffers together wins The Church the forgives one another wins The Church that serves together wins The Church that Dreams together wins The church the unites wins The Church loves God and His people believer and unbelievers wins. As your pastor, it is my duty to not only call the Church to action, but to lead the way, through example. So I want to Repent and ask your forgiveness in areas I have failed to show good example and leadership. I want to personally ask for your forgiveness if I have hurt or grieve you in any …

God owns everything but these

Published by

I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer. But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens. For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it. Do I eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats? Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” (Psalms50:8-15 NLT) I have always heard it said, “God doesn’t need anything from us.” But today I will shock you by telling you that is a false statement. Even thought God owns everything, in His infinite wisdom, He has given away His ability to control, …

Charity Begins at Home

Published by

A Paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13  Author Unknown and altered by J. Yardy Though in the glamour of the public eye I sway the emotions of many by my oratory, or my silver singing, or by my skillful playing, or by my winning personality, and then go home and gripe because things don’t go m way, I am become a sounding brass or a tingling cymbal. And though I am able to impress others with my vast knowledge of the deep things of the Word of God in Bible Studies and prayer groups, and though I am able to accomplish mighty things through faith so that I become famous in the church as a remover of mountains, and have not love that reads the deep longings of the hearts around the family circle, and removes the barriers that grow up in shy and tender hearts, I am nothing at all. And though in glamour of public praise I bestow my goods to feed the poor, and though I win the name and fame of the …

I am officially back!

Published by

40 days ago, I decided to take a break from blogging to kind of reevaluate my priorities. Well, with the Lord’s help, I think I finally have everything in its proper place. Thankfully, blogging is back on the list, but not in the same place it was. I am thankful for your prayers and the many wonderful thoughts I received from many of you by email.  Today, I would like to announce that I am officially back! I look forward to connecting again with all of you for mutual encouragement in the Lord. My first post will center on some of the things the Lord has dealt with me during these 40 days. For example: Family, humility, charity, priority, service, and love.  I’ve learned that “the home is the acid test of the truly yielded life, for in all other phases of Christian service there is a certain amount of glamour; but in the home, one is confronted with the bare facts of life, stripped of all glamour.” I am sure you will enjoy reading my next …

Bitter Free

Published by

How do you react to grumbling and criticisms? Do you react in the same negative spirit? Do you feel the need for revenge and payback? I personally think it is a test of character when others slander and are judgmental of us. Character is not only how we act but how we react to people who hurt us – especially those we call brothers and sisters in Christ. I have been in situations in my life and ministry when I literally felt my heart descend into a dark and bitter place because of how others treated me. But The Lord has taught me and has given me tools to keep me from bitterness. I tweeted about this sometime ago: “I will not sin against God by ceasing to pray for you." 1 Sam. 12:23. Give me thick skin and a soft heart toward mean spirited church folk — Walter Bright (@WaltBright) May 9, 2014 So what’s up with this verse? How can this verse help deal with the hurt and pain that come from the people we  love and gladly serve. In …

6 Reasons why you should forgive people who are not sorry.

Published by

Recently, I was speaking about the power of forgiveness at a meeting and there a young woman two or three rows from the front. I could tell that she had something on her mind. She seemed a bit anxious. Apparently, she didn’t want to interrupt or draw attention to herself. But I could sense that she was struggling very hard to ignore the urge to ask a question. Finally she gave in, and with a raised hand, she asked, “but what if they are not sorry for what they did?” I thanked her for the question and assured her that I would address the question in the next session. However, I took some time to counsel with her after the meeting because she was obviously looking for an answer to deal with a pressing need.  The following is a summary of what I told her and later shared with the group: Forgiving someone who doesn’t see the need to ask for forgiveness or show any sign that they are sorry for what they’ve done wrong is …

5 ways to Rekindle the flame in the ashes of your love life

Published by

  As we approach Valentines Day, I would urge you to take advantage of the opportunity to make thing better in your relationship with you spouse. Here are 10 Simple, yet powerful ways you can rekindle the ashes of your love life: 1. Address every unresolved issue in your relationship I understand that women feel very deeply about things, but men do too. It is important to deal with hurts and disappointments as promptly as possible. If we allow the sun to go down on our wrath, we run the risk of opening the door to resentment and bitterness. This is never a good place to dwell in a relationship.. It is important, therefore, to resolve every conflict. Repent and forgive. 2. Focus on the little things Sometimes in life the things that matter most are small things. Little gestures of kindness. Little acts of grace. Little moments of tenderness. Little sacrificial service. All these can add up to spark an unstoppable flame. It really doesn’t have to be a diamond ring – I’m sure that wouldn’t hurt, cuz …

7 steps to a better life

Published by

Everyone is looking for a better life, but just how to get that life can prove a little elusive, especially if we go about seeking it the wrong way, or pursuing the wrong things. Let me propose 7 steps to a better life. The list is not exhaustive, but I am sure you’ll find these steps very useful: 1. Make curiosity your best friend Curiosity is the desire to learn or know more about something or someone. Plutarch once said, “The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” Curiosity is the very thing that fuels that fire and makes for a better life. 2. Put Christ at the center of everything you do I know a man who ran after the pleasures of this world. But at the end of his life he realized that it was all vanity – a chasing after the wind. So remember God, fear Him and keep his command, in everything you do do it all the his glory. 3. Let simplicity be your …

Can you feel it? It’s in the Air tonight

Published by

O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth Long lay the world in sin and error pining ‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn Fall on your knees O hear the angel voices O night divine! O night when Christ was born O night divine! O night, O night divine! [Choir:] Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains He shall break, for the slave is our brother. And in His name, all oppression shall cease Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we Let all within us praise His holy name Christ is the Lord! Their name forever praise we Noel, Noel O night, O night divine Noel, Noel O night, O night divine Noel, Noel O night, O holy night