Sunday Morning Mail

Steering wheel or spare tire

sundaymorningmail — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:59:44 +0000

I believe God by nature is personal, immutable, omniscient, omnipotent. He possesses personality, emotions, rationale and reason — the ability to communicate, to speak, to be heard, and to listen. Yet it is a rare person who pursues a deep enough relationship that they know the voice and will of their father on a regular basis. So how personal is your relationship? When was the last time you heard his voice with confidence?

In the last few emails I have been writing about prayer. Prayer is more than just a petition to God for help. Prayer can be a conversation as simple as. “I’m having a great day, God, and I want to thank you.”

Prayer does not need to be filled with fancy language or only done at a certain time of day. I spend a few minutes while driving to work to have a conversation with God. Granted the people on the freeway might think I’m a lunatic, but I have found if I put on my cell phone earpiece I don’t get the stares I used to.

God is omnipresent, He is everywhere, with that said one might rationalize, “if He knows everything about me why do I need to check in with him?” I can use the government as an example. They know where you work, how much you make, how many kids you have, they know your address, but what they don’t know is your favorite color, what you had for breakfast, what your worries are, what your concerns are. You would have to send them a letter telling them all about you and if you could get someone to read it would they care?

God wants you to talk to him, talk to him when things are good, request direction when you don’t know the way. Got wants to sit on the porch and have a glass of ice tea with you.

When you begin to establish this father-child relationship with God, you will be able to distinguish when He is talking to you. You will know when He is giving you direction. You will feel His presence while you go about your daily routine.

It is never too late to start. We just need to look at the example Jesus set forth in His story of the prodigal son. A son who takes his inheritance, leaves, squanders it on who knows what, becomes a slave, hangs his head in shame as he returns home, and is welcomed home with a huge party.

Luke 15:22″But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

A conversation with God (prayer) will steer you on the right path.

Prayer is powerful

sundaymorningmail — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:54:55 +0000

My friends, prayer is powerful. Let me repeat that so there is no mistake in what I say…

PRAYER IS POWERFUL.

If you have been following along for the last week, a dear friend of mine (Ava) has been keeping me informed of her husband’s (Albert) progress after cancer surgery. He had lung surgery, got pneumonia in his good lung, was on a ventilator, on pain meds, unrecognizing his own family, had a high fever, all looking like there was nothing going his way.

Ava has only asked that we pray, not so much for healing but for God’s will be done. Her prayer request was that we raise Albert and her to God and ask God to do, in his time, what He had planned to do.

Although Ava was weary and worried, she continued to know that God was in control and that her hope was not just a pipe dream but a reality.

Paul wrote to the Roman church in Romans 5:5 And hope will never disappoint us.

Ava’s hope has never wavered. Her strength may have faded, but her faith never wavered.

Last night Ava shared an amazing story. As story of hope, a story of prayer, and a story of faith. A faith built on reality, not a dream.

Please read her latest update on Albert. Then ask yourself, “is this the God I need to come into a close personal relationship with?”

Don’t give up, don’t quit praying, for we all, even you who are reading this, need to be the recipients of prayer.

Dear family and friends,
I am SO excited tonight I can hardly type. I have to start from the beginning though, and I didn’t even know the beginning until about 10:00 tonight.
This morning, our pastor, Dale Davis, and another man from our church K.J. went to the hospital. Dale said he just felt led to go to the hospital today to pray for Albert and Prissy. He didn’t want me to know because he didn’t want me to feel obligated to be there and did not want to see me….but rather his purpose was to pray specifically for Albert and Prissy’s healing.
He said they did just that…they prayed for them and then went to the chapel in the hospital and prayed some more. As they were leaving the chapel, KJ told Dale he just KNEW that God was healing Albert in a big way at that time and Dale said he told him he felt the same thing. They came home.
When I got there today, I walked in the door. Albert looked at me and smiled the BIGGEST smile. He tried to talk, and I stopped him. He started smiling and nodding yes and no to everything I asked him….squeezing both hands and KISSED me on the lips…I mean he even puckered up, and SMILED really BIG.
Al and Adam and Tyler came in and he laughed when they said silly things to him….no sounds of course…but it was a definite laugh. He was SO responsive.
We asked to see the nurse. She told us that they had completely taken him OFF the sedation meds. and he was breathing on his own. He STILL has to have the trach to help finish his breathes, but he initiates them on his own. On a scale of 1-10, he was a 9 today for me.
It was amazing. I could not wait till the 8:30 visit, however after eating Barry came home. He thought I KNEW he was coming home and I thought we were going back. He has to get up at 2:30 am so I TOTALLY understood. HOWEVER….I HAD to go back…something just kept telling me to go back so I called a friend, Linda Parker and she and I rode back down there.
I have NEVER felt so happy in my life as to see him like that although he was beginning to get tired. The nurse told me they did an x-ray and will see the results tomorrow, so I will let you know what they showed.
On the way home, I just felt so compelled to call Dale, NOT knowing at this time that he had been this morning. I was so afraid I had waken him. He said NO….I have been waiting for you to call. I asked him had someone already told him about Albert….he said YES….God told me this morning that you would find him this way today. He said he could not wait to call KJ, and that he was waiting by his phone also, because they KNEW that God had spoken to them this morning and HE answered their prayers.
My sweet friends and family….let me tell you….God is USING Albert to speak to some of you…US! Please listen to Him. He is showing us how mighty and how powerful a God He is. He is showing us that HE IS in control.
I have to take this time tonight to tell you. God WANTS a relationship with us all. I hope that if you don’t have that relationship with Him, that something in all this will draw you closer to Him. It sure has me.
I will continue to make mistakes, we all will, but if we strive to do better, God will be there to pick up the pieces when we make a mess. I know that God has used me in all this with Albert…I’ve already received emails to that witness. I just love you all, and I want God to be given ALL the glory and honor for what is happening in Albert’s life. Oh…trust me….he’s NOT out of the woods just yet….he has a LONG way to go…but I know that God is going the journey with him…and I TRULY believe that he is going to be walking out of the hospital sooner than we ever imagined. He’s going to open some doctor’s eyes as to what GOD can do along with them.

Upon My Return

sundaymorningmail — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:53:34 +0000

I suppose you have wondered (or at least I hope you have) where Sunday Mail had gone. As most of you know by now my mail had usually started with an inspiration. An inspiration from something I read, seen, or something that someone asked me. I personally thought that my inspiration had come from God, in some form or another.

I haven’t written because I was waiting. I was waiting for God to give me a message to deliver and he just wasn’t talking to me right now. I wasn’t upset by the fact that God wasn’t speaking to me, I just was waiting patiently.

I started thinking (I know that scares a good portion of you) God was talking or showing me subjects to discuss here. I just wasn’t paying attention. Then bam the light went on. I had drifted away from God.

It is at this point that I made my way back to the Lord. Like the prodigal son I humbled myself and asked for forgiveness. I am getting back into my daily discipline of praying and reading the Word. I am rekindling my close, daily, intimate relationship with the Lord. God is merciful as He not only forgives us and welcomes us back home, but He helps us to overcome the damage we have done during the time we were away.

Whether it be unanswered prayer or our sense that God may not be talking to us right now, let me share with you today what you should be doing while you are waiting for God to answer you. You press in even closer to the Lord! While you are waiting for God to respond, you keep praying every day, pray even more. While you are waiting on God to respond, you keep reading the Word, read even more. While you are waiting on God to respond, you keep going to church, go even more. WHILE YOU ARE WAITING ON GOD TO RESPOND YOU CONTINUE TO BE ABOUT YOUR FATHER’S BUSINESS, SINCE, AS YOU ARE ABOUT HIS BUSINESS HE WILL BE ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS!

I know how frustrated you are waiting for God to respond. The key to finding peace as you wait is to know that God knows you and your needs better than you do. Press into the Lord during this time you are waiting. Be about Gods’ business. Keep serving Him faithfully. As you are obedient and faithful in your service, you will wake up one day and realize God has responded. It may not be the exact way you wanted, it may not be the exact answer you wanted, but God will respond.

God is with you

sundaymorningmail — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:52:14 +0000

An open letter to a dear friend…..

Ava,

I have been to my knees for Albert and you. You are and will be prayed for. I am sure there are many out there spending many hours asking God, in all His wisdom and power, to heal Albert and get him out of that hospital and into his home where you love and devotion will be a catalyst to his recovery.

James 5:16 says

Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.

I have been the recipient of prayer. When I was in need of guidance and healing, a group prayed for me. When I was unemployed people prayed for me, even to go as far as fasting. There is no power greater than prayer. There is no power greater than the power of God as He reigns over our lives.

You have stayed the course, continuing to ask God to answer our prayers, in His will and in His time.

I have learned that time is not our enemy. What I mean by that is, our time is so immediate. We want instant gratification. Many of us think that prayer will be answered using our clock, our calendar. What we don’t always realize is God’s timing is always perfect.

I am reminded, also, that God will use even the bad things in our live to bring glory to himself.

We have come together as a group to pray. To ask God for healing. To ask God for strength. We have come together as a group, on our knees. God has used this time, these circumstances, to bring us together as a group, in prayer.

Prayer is powerful and prayer is redemptive. As we continue to pray for albert and you, we all become closer to God and we all look for to God’s healing touch as He begins His great works to restore albert to health.

Ava, God is with you , from the beginning of this trial all the way through it, as we all are.

Blind men see

sundaymorningmail — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:50:31 +0000

Mark 8:22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” 24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

Probably wondered where Sunday Mail went again? I was reading and this passage struck me as something that God was trying to tell me. I wondered why the spit and why a double touch.

A blind man, not much was said about him, except his friends brought him to Jesus, presumably to be healed. Jesus lead the man outside the village. No mention whether they ended up alone, but with Jesus’ following I rather doubt it.

Then Jesus spit on the man’s eyes. I don’t know about you but if someone spit in my face it would cause quite a reaction from me. Anger, wonder, indignation. What was Jesus’ reasoning for spitting? The man’s friends just wanted jesus to touch him. Was jesus intent with the spit to stir up some emotion? To fire this man up? To get his attention?

Then jesus touched him and asked “what do you see?”

The man saw shadows. Was there a lack of faith in the healing process?

Then jesus touches him again and he sees clearly.

What is going on here? Jesus doesn’t need to “heal” twice. Why is this man in need of an additional touch.

My thoughts here ….

Jesus taking the blind man by the hand, and leading him out or the town, and spitting on his eyes, and putting his hands upon him, and then asking him what he could see, are what Jesus does when He enters our life, when Jesus turns men from darkness to light: he takes them by the hand, offers His grace and mercy, and becomes their guide and leader.

By leading the man out of the village, Jesus brings this man on a path he is on familiar with.

When Jesus touches the man for a second time, he is stating even though we can see clearly yet He will continue His good work in us and not forsake us.

When you are walking in darkness, allow Jesus to stir up some emotion and touch you. As your sight begins to be restored, Jesus will be there to touch you again, so that you sight (your life) will be restored..

God’s time is perfect

sundaymorningmail — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:48:08 +0000

My friend Ava is still going through rough times. Please continue to pray for Albert (her husband) and her. Her letter tonight, updating us on Albert, had a tone of weariness, a tone of hope, and a tone of faith. Ava is showing her strength to me as she faces the battles that life can throw our way.

One line in her note caught my eye….

“God has such a way of showing up sometime how UNAPPRECIATIVE we are. He has a definite way of making us look at things in a different perspective.”

Her statement reminded me of the story where Jesus healed the ten lepers.

Luke 17:11-19
11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then said Jesus, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

You see Jesus isn’t concerned with just our bodily health. Jesus reaches out to us to also heal us spiritually. As Ava pointed out, we need to look at things from a different perspective.

Now I’m not implying that God made Albert sick so He could bring us closer to Himself. What I am stating is that through these trials God has begun a great healing in all of us. As we collectively call on God to watch over Albert and Ava, we begin to form a healing in our faith. We are strengthened in our resolve to lift it to God and allow Him to work, in ways we are not able to comprehend.

There is one other thing Ava has made perfectly clear in her updates to us…..

“I am VERY VERY impatient and God is teaching me that these things take place in HIS TIME…NOT MINE.”

God’s time is perfect.

Hear Us From Heaven

sundaymorningmail — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:53:25 +0000

Hear Us From Heaven

Last week I wrote about my possible drift away from God. This week as I have positioned myself close to God, feeling His presence in my life, I did some reading and praying.Some of you know, for many years now, I sing. I am part of the praise team and sing most every Sunday. We did a song a couple weeks ago that we repeated this weekend. I wanted a little background on the lyrics so I spent some time reading where they came from.

I went home and started reading the lyrics over again and then looked them up.

I found in 1kings8:22 where Solomon stood in front of the altar and prayed to God.

1kings8:30

“Hear me when I ask you to show us your favor. Listen to your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Listen to us from heaven. It’s the place where you live. When you hear us, forgive us.

Solomon is asking God to continue to bless this next generation. Solomon referred to the blessings that God bestowed upon David , his father.

In 1kings 8:28 he says,

“But please pay attention to my prayer. Lord my God, show me your favor as I make my appeal to you. Listen to my cry for help. Hear the prayer I’m praying to you today.”

The lyrics seem to come straight from the mouth of Solomon. Solomon describes heaven as being larger than large and even asks if God will even live on earth. Solomon describes seven instances where man has sinned and asks God to hear their prayers, witness their repentance and have mercy on them.

Open the blind eyes, unlock the deaf ears, come to Your people,
Touch our generation.

Today when I feel out of touch with God, I pray He open my blind eyes, unlock my deaf ears.

Sometimes we go through our day blind to the creations and wonders of this world that God has put before us. His words fall on deaf ears.

This week remind yourselves to open your blind eyes and unlock your deaf eyes and see and hear what God has done and is doing in your life.

I have inserted a link to the song I am talking about.

Easter Sunday

sundaymorningmail — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 04:38:14 +0000

Luke 24:1-12

1 It was very early in the morning on the first day of the week. The women took the spices they had prepared. Then they went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from it. 3 When they entered the tomb, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 They were wondering about this. Suddenly two men in clothes as bright as lightning stood beside them. 5 The women were terrified. They bowed down with their faces to the ground. Then the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?

Jesus has arisen. He has arisen from the tomb.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?

This is the question for us today. At the time it referred to Jesus, but I think the question arises to much more than that.

Jesus died on the cross for you and for me. He arose from the dead, and ascended into heaven.

This question asks about our faith. “Why do you look for the living among the dead?

Are you looking for something to fill a void within? Are you looking for something that brings you alive and vibrant? If so, then you need to look at the faith that is alive. A faith that grows and fills our souls.

Do you chase dreams that seem to elude you? “Why do you look for the living among the dead? Bring your dreams alive with prayer. Bring your dreams alive in your heart.

Have you lost hope like the two women who come to mourn? “Why do you look for the living among the dead? Bring your hopes alive in the promises of God. the promise that He would never leave you nor forsake you.

Yes, Jesus has arisen and we need not look for Him nor His love for us among the dead.

Jesus has arisen.

Palm Sunday

sundaymorningmail — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:17:13 +0000

I joined the crowd that lined the road leading into town. Under normal circumstances dust would rise from the hooves of the donkey as it trotted down the rode, but the people were laying their cloaks and tunics down. Others were laying palm branches down. There would be no dust in the air today.

Our King was riding into town. Many thought He arrived to free them from the roman rulers. Some thought our King arrived to start a revolt. Some of the throng looked for an army to follow Jesus into town.

Your King is coming. He is riding a donkey. What are you expecting?

Jesus comes to free us. To free us from the troubles of the world, the guilt of our sins, and bring us hope.

Jesus was to start a revolt. He wants a revolt to start within us. A revolution that begins with taking God into our hearts and leads us to a closer relationship with Him.

Today as we celebrate Palm Sunday, as our King arrives, let the revolution start. The revolution within, that will lead to the revelation of all that Jesus did and will do for each and every one of us if we let Him

Waiting for a Promise?

sundaymorningmail — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 21:15:52 +0000

Acts 2:39
The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call.

The promise is for you!

What promise from God are you waiting to be fulfilled?

Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Are you waiting for forgiveness? Are you waiting to see the promise that God will never leave you nor forsake you? Are you waiting for God to receive your burdens?

Are you waiting?

Note that Peter said “repent and be baptized.”

Waiting for God? Waiting for God to give to you the promises He made? Peter made it clear that we are to participate. That there is something we are to do.

We are required to have faith. We are to believe. We are to pray, unceasingly.

And even after doing our part we are to wait upon the Lord.

It is in God’s perfect timing that we receive the promises. The prophesy of Jesus’ birth, His death, and then His resurrection was made hundreds of years prior, God fulfilled His promise.

Through the faith and belief of many, the promise was fulfilled. The promise of forgiveness, the promise of the Holy spirit that resides with us, and the promise of everlasting life, through our faith in Jesus.

Are you waiting for the promise? Are you doing your part?