“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

Father God’s intent for our lives is that by living in His presence, we would live in a continual state of joy. Although happiness can be based on things that are happening, joy goes much deeper. True joy is a state of contentment and complete satisfaction through our connection with Him.  Joy is a state of being that we can live in, in-spite of circumstances and in His presence our joy is full.

There are many things that would try to rob us of our joy.  Paul talks about some of these things in the book of Philippians. James, the brother of Jesus, also talks about joy in James 1:2 where he tells us to “Consider it pure joy“, when we face challenges in this life. Jesus said in John 16:33 that in this world we would have tribulation, but He said that we should be of “good cheer” for He had overcome the world.

Look at this verse, John 16:33, in the Amplified Bible, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]“

The truth, as elementary is it may sound, is God is a good God and the devil is a bad devil. Jesus makes this clear in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly.” James also emphasizes the “Goodness of God” in James 1:16,17, “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

I’ve heard it said that, “If the devil can take your joy, he can take your stuff.” I like looking at this from the reverse, which is, “if he can’t take your joy, he can’t take your stuff.”  Our adversary will use anything possible to rob us of our joy, but he can only do that if we let him.

In James Chapter 1 we see that we should not think that when testings and tempting come that they are from God. In verse 13 he says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.”

Elevation brings revelation. The higher we are, the greater our perspective. When we can see the big picture, we can see victory. Romans 8:37 says, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Based on the right perspective, we can allow any trial or circumstance we may endure, to strengthen our resolve and make us stronger.

When you set out with friends or family on a road trip, your goal is to get to your destination. You wouldn’t allow a flat tire, some care trouble, a traffic jam or a detour to get you off track. No, you would work through those challenges because your mind is fixed on reaching your goal or destination. In the same way, we can not allow the challenges that come with life to throw us off our goal of reaching the “prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus,” which is more that a destination, it’s our destiny.

God want’s us to travel the road of life with great joy, even in the face of any challenges that life or our adversary may throw our way.  As we see the big picture, we know that He will work everything out for our good, so that our joy may be full.

Today’s Thought:  Traveling the road of life is a joy ride, as we keep our eyes on Him.

In the high tech world in which we live, there may be several things you want to make sure you don’t forget, besides your coffee, on your way out the door. Let’s see, iphone, itouch, ipad, ipod, iyou get my point.

But along with these necessary tools for today’s business environment, do you have on the Armor of God that we see in Ephesians 6:10-18? You know the Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness, Sandals of Peace, Helmet of Salvation, Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit.

No, I’m not suggesting you go into the office looking like a Roman soldier, but this metaphoric equipment is what Paul used to describe how we should be dressed and equipped to face the “wiles of the devil.”

The simple truth is that we are in a battle every day for our souls, our families and our stuff. God wants us to be protected against the strategies of our adversary so He has given us the equipment we need to be successful.

In Nehemiah chapter three, the Horse Gate was the eighth gate to be rebuilt. Throughout scripture horses have represented warfare.

When Jesus made his triumphal entry through the Sheep Gate, on what we now celebrate as “Palm Sunday,” he came riding on a donkey. This represented Him coming the first time in the innocence of a  lamb, but Revelation 19:11-21 describes the coming Messiah as a warrior as He will return on a White Horse. This represents the victory that we have in Christ as believers in Him.

Should we be so naive to think that our adversary is going to just sit idly by and watch us walk in our victory as believers. Of course not! 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

Do you have your amour on today? If not, put it on and you will be you prepared and protected against the attacks of the enemy?

Thought of the Day: God always causes you to triumph….2 Corinthians 2:14

“But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 14:4

According to the Mayo Clinic, drinking plenty of water is essential for good health. Not only does it keep us hydrated, but it is vital to flushing out impurities and toxins in our bodies.

She had done a lot of things to try to quench her thirst, but the woman that Jesus met at Jacob’s well was still thirsty. He knew all about her and all of her relationships, but yet went out of His way one day to offer her a different kind of water.

It was water that could only come from Him and her willingness to take a drink from this Divine Well would be life changing for her. This “Well” represents the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said in Acts chapter one that He would baptize us in the Holy Spirit.

Today, decide not to rely on your own ability to be successful in your job, your business, your home or your life. Take a drink of the Well of Everlasting Life everyday and be empowered by the Holy Spirit!

Today’s Thought: Whenever you find yourself getting thirsty again for more of Him, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh and anew!

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1

“Get shed of it,” was a saying I can still hear my Grandparents, Lewis and Mamie Jones, say. Yes, they’ve been gone for years now, but the memory and meaning of that saying still rings in my ears. It’s a southern term for “get rid of it.”

The writer of Hebrews 12:1 was in essence saying the same thing. He was basically telling us to get rid of anything that would bog us down or way us down as we run the race of life.

The dung gate mentioned in Nehemiah chapter three was vitally important to the welfare of the residents of the city. Can you imagine living in a walled city where there were lots of animals and people and no one decided to take out the trash or the animal droppings? Not to be crude, but it wouldn’t take long for the city to be unbearable to live in.

In the same way, we can be unbearable to be around when we walk about carrying our trash, or in today’s terms “our baggage,” around with us all the time. The last gate we mentioned, prior to the Dung Gate, was the Valley Gate. I have found that often times when I have walked through valleys in my life that there is usually some trash that needs t0 be taken out afterwards.

There’s something about a valley experience that will often times bring to the surface things we need to “Get shed of.” It’s when we decide not to take out that trash that we can start to stink.

What I also find interesting about the “Dung Gate” or “Trash Gate” is that it is the 5th gate.  Five throughout scripture is the number that often times represents grace. I have found that whenever I need to “Get shed of something,” God will provide the Grace for me to do it.

So today, open up the trash gate, and “Get shed” of anything that would hold you back from fulfilling all that God has called you to do or be.

Today’s Thought: God will provide the grace for us to let go of the things that would weigh us down or hold us back.

Mrs Cora Carter

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:15

It is believed by many Bible teachers that after Christ died on the cross He descended to a place between Heaven and hell and set the captives free. To those who had died in faith, believing that God would send the Messiah, Jesus revealed Himself to be the One. And in addition, He made a public spectacle of Satan, disarming him of his power and authority, of which he had stolen from Adam so many years before.

I’ve always envisioned this as that of a parade. Can you just imagine the scene? All Heaven and hell is in attendance and Jesus is the main attraction as he leads Satan by a chain, because of the finished work of the Cross.

The folks in the Ware Creek Rosenwald Community, near Blounts Creek, North Carolina, really know how to celebrate  Easter! Even though they’re just a small little community of family, friends and loved ones they do it up right! From the Easter egg hunt, fish fry and laughter the air is charged with lots of love. Why they even have a parade!  As the Chaplain with the Blounts Creek Fire Department I was privileged recently to drive one of the fire trucks in that parade and meet some of these fine people.

The Community Building, the centerpiece of the community, was once a school house, filled with children trying to learn how to make their mark on the world in a post slavery era. It was, in fact, the largest all Black school of its kind in the U.S. according to Mrs. Cora Carter, the Grand Marshall of the parade.  She was a student in last class to attend the school before it was officially closed. This year the school will celebrate its 100 year anniversary and has since become a community center and learning center, to help young and old improve their skills.

I have to admit, I was a little taken back at first when I heard about such a small group of people going to all the trouble of having a parade. It wasn’t until I found myself and my daughter Courtney riding in the fire truck, waving at people that it hit me. I was almost moved to tears when an elderly black lady stepped out of her home and waved with such enthusiasm at my little blond haired girl. That’s when I really got it!

This community just simply realized they had lots of reasons to celebrate. They were celebrating their community, its families, their heritage, but most importantly a resurrected Saviour  that had made it all possible.

So today, have your own parade too! Even if it’s just you, you have a reason to celebrate if you’ve received this resurrected Lord as your Savior.

Today’s Thought: The resurrection of Jesus is worth celebrating!

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. Psalm 91:7

Just a couple of days ago I decided to take a little break from the business of life and ministry.  I only had a few hours to get away, so I decided to take a kayak out on beautiful Blounts Creek, just a minute or so from my home here in Eastern NC.

As I set sail to enjoy some quiet time and relaxation I snapped a picture on my phone and quickly texted it to some friends.  One of those friends, Mike, happens to live in the Dallas area. Just as quickly as I hit the send button I received one from him.  I knew it was not in response to the one I had sent him. It was kinda one of those moments when you pick up the phone to call someone and they just happen to be calling you at the same time.

This is the message I received from my friend Mike,“Need prayers! Tornadoes all around, in a hallway!” Within just a few minutes I received three phone calls from the other friends I had sent the kayaking picture to.  Each one asking me if I had sent them a message about tornadoes in Dallas, to which I replied “No.”  They all said they had received the same message and were praying for someone in a hallway with tornadoes all around them in Dallas.

After a few hours I finally reached Mike by phone and was able to put together what had happened. When he sent me the text about needing prayer it also went out to my other friends as well, which immediately invoked a prayer chain.  All of them praying for Mike in Dallas that some of them didn’t even know.

Mike told me that one of the twisters passed right over the building that he was in and another passed over his home without doing any damage to either.

As I pondered this event I was reminded just how powerful prayer is and how powerful it is when we agree together with other believers concerning any situation or need. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 18:19-29 “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

This whole thing just reaffirmed to me again how much God wants us to pray prayers of faith. He made us in His image and gave us His authority in this earth and wants us to be involved in the process of our deliverance, protection, prosperity and anything else that Sozo Salvation was designed by Him to give us.

Today in spite of the busyness of life, remember to pray. Pray prayers of faith over your life, your family, your business, your job or whatever you need. And, find someone that you can get into agreement with.

Today’s Thought: Prayer changes things!

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Psalm 23:4

I really admire someone like Billy Graham, who although he’s been in ministry longer than most people have been living, doesn’t feel like he has to have the answers for everything. When cornered with a deep question, he doesn’t hesitate to say “I don’t know.” The truth is, that none of us really know why bad things sometimes happen to good people.

But two things I do know is that God is a good God and the devil is a bad devil.   And, I also know that “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”  Now that may seem a little too elementary for some, but it is a truth that can help you weather one of life’s storms when they happen to come along.

In fact, Jesus Himself said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

It seems to me that David understood that there would be valleys we would walk through at times, but these valleys were not meant for us to linger in.  David never said, “Yea thought I linger in, stay in, build a house in, or live in the valley.” He said, “Walk through.”

The fourth gate that was rebuilt in Nehemiah 3:13 was the Valley Gate.  This gate represents those times in our lives when we do walk thru valleys. But one thing we can count on in those valleys, is that Jesus is always there beside us for protection and comfort.

Today’s Thought: When we find ourselves in a valley, one of the best things to do is to keep.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“Honey, why did you cut the ends off that roast before you put it in the roasting pan”, a husband asked his wife? To which she replied, “Well, that’s the way my mother always did it.”

The wife quickly called her mother and asked, “Hey mom, why did you always cut the ends off the roast before you put it in the roasting pan?”  The mother replied, “Honey, I’m not really sure, it’s just the way I always saw your grandmother do it.” The young bride then called her grandmother and asked, “Grandma, why did you always cut the ends off the roast before you put it in the roasting pan?”  “It’s only because I never had a roasting pan big enough to hold a big roast,” replied the grandmother.

The third gate we see mentioned in Nehemiah chapter 3 is the “Old Gate.” The Old Gate was the gate where the Elders would sit and discuss matters of importance and make decisions and laws that would effect the inhabitants of Jerusalem. It was also there, at the “Old Gate,” that those mature elders would settle matters of dispute, and it became known as the “place of authority.”

The “Old Gate” represents the maturity of the believer after we make God’s Word out final authority. Jesus said in Mark 7:13, that the “traditions of men make the Word of God of no effect.” In other words, the Word of God may be trumped at times by our traditions. Hebrews says that the “Word of God is quick, sharp and more powerful than any double edged sword.”  But, the word is never fully effective in ones life, until it is given final authority.

Years ago, I stepped into a new place with God that was somewhat contrary to some of the traditions I had grown up with in Church. It wasn’t that I was trying to be a “tradition breaker,” but I was just simply desperate for a move of God in my life. And in my desperation and hunger for more of Him, I cried out to Him and He met me in a life changing way.

The very next day I sat down at lunch with my wife and shared with her what God had just done in my life. I described to her the encounter that I had had with Him the previous day, and how I knew that it was life changing. Needless to say she was bit surprised and certainly in a bit of a quandary, but I’ll never forget how she responded. She decided to get into the Word for herself and read the entire New Testament as if she had never read it before. In fact, she set aside everything she had ever been taught or heard, and asked God to show her the truth in His Word, and He did.

By the time she finished reading the New Testament, she was absolutely convinced that healing, the gifts of the Spirit, and many other things were still in existence and for believers today to walk in and benefit from.

Over the next couple of years, we dove into the Word of God and grew by leaps and bounds. In fact, we grew more as believers over that short period of time, than in all the other previous years of our lives combined. All because we decided to put God’s Word first and let it be our final authority.

If we truly expect to grow as believers in Jesus, we must make the written or “Logos” Word of God our final authority. And as we continually pass through the “Old Gate” we will experience for ourselves more of the “Abundant Life” that Jesus provided.

Today’s Thought: When we set aside our traditions and embrace His Word, we grow and mature in Christ by leaps and bounds.

Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Mark 1:17

Several years ago my Father- in-Law gave everyone in the family a set of fishing rods for Christmas. With those rods, from the adults right down to the kids, we received a loving admonition to take some time to relax and enjoy fishing with one another.

I have to be honest and say that at first I wasn’t that thrilled with the whole idea, but as the temperature warmed up we took those rods out for a little fun, and boy did we have plenty. From then on I fell in love with fishing and have never found any sport or hobby to be more relaxing and enjoyable for me.

What got me really “hooked,” is that we just so happened to go fishing again that next fall when Spots were running.  Each year the Spots begin to run through the salt waters of Coastal North Carolina and you really don’t even have to be an “Angler” to catch them. All you need to do is find out what they’re biting and use the right bait. Usually that’s shrimp or blood worms, and it’s pretty common to even catch two on a double hook line at one time. Now that’s my kind of fishing!

In Nehemiah 3:3 we see that the second gate to be hung on the walls of Jerusalem was the “Fish Gate.” It was so prophetic in its representation because just like Jew and Gentile would come in and out of that gate into the fish market there at Jerusalem, so you and I have the ability to catch different kinds of fish for the Kingdom by becoming “Fishers of Men.”

And just like those Spots, all we need is the right bait. And in my own opinion, there’s no better bait than yourself. Your own personal testimony of what God has done in and through your life is probably the most effective bait you could ever use to be a “Fisher of Men.”

This is what I like to call “Lifestyle Evangelism.” Yes, it’s a lot different than just cornering someone and getting them to pray a scripted prayer that you’ve been given. In fact, research has shown that in the far majority of cases, that type of approach to evangelism doesn’t result in many true conversions.

More effective is people seeing for themselves the impact that Salvation has had on your life. And, if you truly understand and walk in what it means to be “Sozo Saved” you will be a magnet that others will be drawn to.  It’s not even something you have to do, but rather just be.

The word Saved in the Greek is the word Sozo and it’s translated to mean saved, healed, delivered, preserved, protected, to prosper and to be made whole. And, when we walk in the fullness of our salvation benefits, the goodness of God will draw people to Him through us.

Today’s Thought:  Walk through the “Fish Gate” and be the supernatural be the bait that will draw others to Him.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6

In this world of “political correctness” it’s easy to see the attempt many have made in trying to force Jesus out.

I was so encouraged recently when I attended a graduation of newly elected sheriff’s from the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association Leadership Development School. Thirty-eight Sheriff’s from across the state were honored that day and one of them opened the ceremony in prayer and one of them closed it in prayer.  And  in both prayers the Sheriff’s did not hesitate to give God praise and pray in the “Name of Jesus.”

Acts 4:11-12 makes it clear when it says, “For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

As the walls were being rebuilt in the book of Nehemiah, so also were Twelve Gates being rebuilt and rehung as well. Each one of these Gates has a special meaning for us as believers. In Nehemiah 3:1, the first of the Twelve Gates to be rebuilt was the “Sheep Gate,” by Eliashib the High Priest and his sons.

This gate so clearly represents Jesus, “The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29 This is the same gate by which Jesus would make His “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem just before He would willingly go to the cross and lay down His life for us.  He’s the starting point for the Christian life, and without Him we have nothing and no possible way to get to the Father.

Have you passed through the “Sheep Gate” too? Have you asked Jesus to come into your life and be your Lord and personal Savior? Have you taken time to invite him into your day?

Everyone of us has a spot within that only He can fill. Let Him be first and enjoy all the benefits of the “Abundant Life” that only come through Him.

Today’s Thought: Jesus is the only way we can ever experience wholeness and the abundant life!