If It Was Up to You

Would you do it?………………………………If it was up to you?…………………Revival, that is…………would you start it or be willing to start it?
What if the only thing holding back revival in your neighborhood, your city, your state, or even your beloved country, was you starting the Revival? Would you be willing to step out and be that “spark” that ignited that Revival Fire that we have only heard about and not experienced?
So often, we as christians wait on someone other than me to see Revival happen in our communities and/or our beloved USA. But WHAT IF…….What if I was the spark that ignited the dry, brown, and nutrient starved spiritual vegetation that so easily bursts into flames. What if YOU were the one that had that “spark”? Would you do what was needed to see hundreds if not thousands of people in your community come to the saving knowledge of Jesus? What if you had that spark that would start the “domino effect” of Spiritual Revival and saw countless back-slidden christians come back to Christ?
Would you “do” it? Would you give up that “thing” if that was needed? Would you sacrifice the “thing” if it was needed? Would you start that “something” that was needed? Would you increase that “thing” in your life if it was needed? Would You? If you are reading this, you probably are experiencing one of two things right now:
1. You might be experiencing the waste of time and energy it took for you to read this devotional with all of its grammatical mistakes….
or …
2. You might be feeling the sense of urgency of Revival that our Nation and our communities so desperately needs. You might have even been touched by the Holy Spirit on the “thing” that you can do.

If you have been touched by God’s Spirit on doing that “something”, then why not start now. Start it now and don’t worry if it catches on with others. Sparks don’t worry on starting a flame, they just ignite the things that are “combustible” around it. If you don’t have anything around you that is “spiritually combustible”, then maybe you should take your spark to the things that will react to it. So….

Would You do it? What if it were up to you?

-Pastor Kennedy

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The Change!

Ephesians 3:20- Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Have you ever ask for something to change in your life?  I am sure  most of us have.  Now when we have the faith to believe and we receive the abundance that we asked for creates change in our life.  Most of the time some of the changes (aka BLESSINGS) if we are not careful may be received incorrectly.   Let me give you some examples.  NO LAUGHING AT ME… 🙂

We pray for our children to grow.    –  –   Then we have to sit in the DMV with them to get a learners permit (yes I lived through at least one heart attack this afternoon).

We pray for our relationships with others to grow.   –  –   Then we get to sit through some of the most heart breaking events over or with them.

We pray for our faith to increase.  – – Then we get put right smack in the middle of a place only God can help us.

So, where is all this going.  We need to remind ourselves that sometimes the changes we ask for may need to take us back a few steps to get a really good answered prayer.  I know that the above verse doesn’t mention much about change, but lets not forget that for things to become abundant the change must be walk in.

 

Bro. Ray.

Did That Just Happen?

To keep everything on pace with today I decided to just wait to the last minute to complete this devotional today(better said tonight).   Seems like all of us at Grace have been in that position today.  I truly believe that the Lord doesn’t make ANY mistakes with any of these things.  Lets just look at a few things we as a church had to handle just today.

1. Pastor is bad sick!

2. Brother CW had surgery yesterday!

3. THEN without delay life ran head on into everyone of us just as normal.

I know today was very busy day.  About the time I got all the things that jumped in my way completed today.  I remember my promise to my brother.  WRITE a devotional.  Well.  Thinking tonight the devotional was meant to be a BIG round of applause to all of you.  I had a Navy buddy who is a youth director for his church up north visiting with me tonight.  He was amazed at how the members of our church stepped up and took charge of the church.  It is our church and boy did we act like it tonight.   What a wonderful night to have a good friend sitting on a pew next to me and see the unscripted love our church has for the Lord.  PEOPLE… we got it right to night.  Pray for our leadership to get back in the game as fast as they can.  But no matter what I know Grace Baptist Church will preach, teach, and spread the gospel under ANY circumstances.  Thank you Lord for all the riches you provided tonight.

Philippians 4:19    But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Bro. Ray 🙂

What Is Your Life?

Jas 4:14  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 

What an intriguing statement!  What a convicting statement!  Ask yourself that question, What IS your life?  This statement is in the present tense.  That does not meant what WAS your life; it means what IS your life.  I have met a lot of people who spend a lot of time beating themselves up for their past…guess what?  If you are saved by the Blood of Jesus, the Gift of Salvation, and the ONLY way to Heaven, then your history is simply that…..history.  With God, He wants to focus on the now and the future.  So let me ask you again, what IS your life?  Are you pleased with the way it is going…is God?  Are you pleased with your current status of “where you are going, and what you will do to get there”…is God?  Do you know where you are going and how you will get there?

There is good news…there is still time to change what is needed to change!  Someone does know what is needed and how to fulfill that which is needed!  That is Jesus Christ!  What a Wonderful, Awesome, Amazing, Magnificent, Superior, Ultimate, Heavenly, Perfect, Pure, Loving, Gracious, All-Knowing, Highest, and Patient Saviour!!!!!!  He is the answer to what we need!  While some men have some power, my Jesus has all power!!!  Have you accepted Him as your ONLY WAY to Heaven?  Guess what, it is free access to Heaven!  But it is only through the Almighty, Pure, and Precious Blood of Jesus!  Will you accept Him as your Saviour?  If you have, will you allow Him to salvage your life?  He can and wants to?  Last Question…..What is your Life?

 

 

No Trespassing!

Good Morning,

It was wonderful seeing you all this Sunday.  Look forward to seeing you at our mid week services.

Brother Ray Newmans

NO TRESPASSING

Psalms 90:12 – So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Last week I had a very interesting time with my work.  I was blessed by being awarded a large Section 8 housing complex to re-roof.  With this working blessing I am never short of people to share the GOOD NEWS with at these locations.  Very poor and defeated people who by all means need the love the Lord has plenty of.  Amazing as it may seem my devotional today has nothing to do with them 100 or so people living in that housing complex.  It has to do with the couple just behind this complex.  I will be as brief as I can be,  I know your time is limited.  Please let me paint the picture for you.

Old man in his 80s at least.  Hard looking man.  Just not the one you would pull up a chair with.  Life had been hard on him from what I could see.  His skin was sun beaten and cracked.  His laser like blue eyes shined through his leather colored face.  He has some health issues, but was doing well for the years he had been allowed to walk around on this earth.  I thought of how many presidents, how many fads, and how many hard times this guy had lived past.  Then…  watching him walk in his back door.  I wondered how many books he could write about the wonderful things he had experience in his life.  He had a modest house.  He wife was always in the kitchen window.  I seen him smile once.  Of course not at me.  It was when he walk out of the house to get in his chair on the back porch.  You could tell he loved her more at them moments then ever.

His home was older then the Section 8 complex.  So, that means he was there first and stayed even after his property value took a big hit from it.  He didn’t build a huge fence.  He didn’t have 7 blood hunger attack dog waiting for someone to walk his way.  All he had was a little sign stuck in the ground stating “NO TRESPASSING”.  Sometimes the wind would carry the paper off our shingle bundles into his yard.  I would stop at the sign.  Look at him.  He would tip his hat.  I would run over get the trash out of his yard and hurry back to the “my side” of the trespassing sign.  My crew all followed the same rules.  NO ONE went into his yard unless he was on his porch and gave us the go ahead.  Needless to say he spent a lot of time on his porch Monday giving us permission to enter and then making sure we exited his unguarded grounds.

The next day we moved on to a different building and his yard was not in danger of trash any longer.  I still noticed him on that porch about the same time every day.  Then I was snapped back into your building something mode and just got busy with all my daily worries of roofing.

That same evening two men broke into that OLD MAN’s home looking for pain pills.  They found what they broke in looking for… 7 pain pills.  The cost!  They beat that old man so bad he died the Friday morning.  His wife placed in the hospital with a life no one wants to live.  A life of loss.  I didn’t even know his name.  I let the NO TRESPASSING sign hold me back.  Evil used it for a target.  I didn’t “GO” because I thought I had plenty of time. I would catch him in the yard and get him talking.  That day will never happen!

All our days are numbered.  I promise you this right now… If I could have that Monday of last week back.  I would know his name.  I would have heard them stories.  I would have ask that very important question.  If you died today, would you go to HEAVEN?

Forgiveness and Trust

Today’s Devotional is given to us by Russell Watkins!  I hope this blesses your heart as much as it has blessed mine!

Matthew 6:14-15

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

These two verses have really convicted me when I have the desire to hold onto a grudge. It is amazing how we let the actions of others control our thoughts to the point that our unwillingness to forgive becomes sin in our life. I usually handle trespasses against me personally pretty good (with a few exceptions), but I really struggle when someone does something against my family. The Christian in me is usually suppressed by the flesh in me and I let my mind begin to devise a plan against the trespasser  (cutting tires, simple battery, etc.) (just kidding…kinda). One thing that really helped me recently with a struggle to forgive is realizing that I don’t have a choice in the matter. Forgiveness is not an option, it is a commandment and my pride and hurt (and the two usually go hand in hand) is not worth sacrificing my relationship with God. And the fact is, although I do not loose my salvation through sin, I do loose my fellowship with God. The Lord showed me a few things when discussing this matter with a friend, so here it is:

–          Forgiveness and trust are two different things

–          Forgiveness is about me… trust is about them

–          Forgiveness needs to happen immediately; trust happens in the future,       and may never happen

–          Forgiveness is required of me, trust is earned by them.

I am humbled by the fact that although I continue to sin against God, He is faithful and just to forgive me every time. And because I get to freely experience God’s forgiveness, I should be quick to forgive others. I know everyone has different situations to deal with and chances are, you may be dealing with something so terrible that know one could imagine the pain that you are feeling. I may not ever know what has hurt you, and if I do, I may never understand the measure of your hurt, but I know the One who can get you through it. Cry out to Jesus… He will meet you wherever you are.

October Bible Reading Schedule

18. Ezra 5-8:20

I Corinth. 3:5-4:21

Psalms 29-30:12

Prov. 20:26-30

19. Ezra 8:21-10:44

I Corinth. 5-6:20

Psalms 31:1-18

Prov. 21:1-3

20. Nehemiah 1-5:13

I Corinth. 7:1-40

Psalms 31:19-32:11

Prov. 21:4-7

21. Nehemiah 5:14-9:21

I Corinth. 8-9:18

Psalms 33:1-22

Prov. 21:8-12

22. Nehemiah 9:22-12:26

I Corinth. 9:19-11:2

Psalms 34:1-22

Prov. 21:13-16

23. Nehemiah 12:27-Esther 3:15

I Corinth. 11:3-34

Psalms 35:1-28

Prov. 21:17-20

24. Esther 4-10:3

II Corinth. 12-13:13

Psalms 36-37:11

Prov. 21:21-24

Their is No Faithfulness in Their Mouth.

Psa 5:8  Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

Psa 5:9  For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

The Psalmist is begging God in these two verses to lead him in righteousness.  These two verses are one complete thought, they need each other to expound what is happening with the writer.  The enemies are hindering his walk in several ways.  They are confusing him by making his “way” not look straight.  This is one of their most used tactics to hindering you and me in doing God’s will.  They want you to be confused as to which direction you should take.  They like to cause confusion in God’s will for your life.  They want you to think that you cannot attain God’s purpose for your life.  They know that God can do mighty things through you and they believe it more than you do; that is why they try to stop you before you start.  Let me encourage you to continue on the Lord’s will even if it looks crooked to you as it did to the Psalmist in verse 8.  The Lord’s will is not crooked, but straight!
The next verse shows another tactic that they use.  They try to convince you that they have your best interests in mind for you…that only they understand you and only they know what is best for you.  Keep in mind what the Psalmist says in verse 8, there is not faithfulness in their mouth, and their inward part is very wickedness.  Their throat is an open grave.  With their mouth, they convince you to give up and die.  Remember…there is not faithfulness in their mouth.  Repeat these words to yourself when that temptation comes, when that discouragement comes from them, and when they try to stop you before you start…their is no faithfulness in their mouth.
Bro. CW’s challenge for today:

Don’t believe them over God!  What God starts, He will finish!

What are you looking at?

Psa 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Psa 5:4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. I think the last part of verse 3 is interesting, notice the words “and will look up”.

Why is it important for the Psalmist to look up? Is it really that important to look up while I pray? While these questions go through my mind, these next few thoughts come to me: Looking up when I pray, signifies where I place my faith for my prayers to be answered. I believe where I put my faith is a choice. It is something that I decide to do. Can anyone really explain how God exists? Where He came from? Who gave Him His power? No one person can logically explain it, other than making statements that we accept from the Bible…by faith. Faith is a decision on WHO I WILL BELIEVE. Everyone is given a measure of faith from God.

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

When we look up to Heaven, we signify who are faith is in. I do not believe that we need to look up to Heaven, but rather I am just emphasizing that we choose where we put our faith. What is my point? Where we look to first for our answers, is really where we put our faith. Where do you look? Do you look to a family member, job, bank account, government, a senior saint, etc. ? God wants you to look to HIM.

Notice also that the next verse tells that God does not take pleasure in wickedness or evil. The first word in verse 4 starts out with a Preposition. This indicates a continuation of thought. Wickedness and evil work opposite of faith. When someone participates in either one, it hinders their faith in God. The last thing that I need is for my faultering faith (I feel sometimes) to be hindered. Have you ever felt that your faith faulters? If not, you must be perfect. When a christian wants to increase their faith, they will stay away from wickedness and evil.

Bro. CW’s challenge for today: Who you cry to first in a need is whom you trust the most. Where will you look to when a need arises? Will you stay away from faith hinderers?

Your Voice

 

Psa 5:1 To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

Psa 5:2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

Psa 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

      King David is showing us what he did to get God’s attention.  Yes, David did action, but look at what type of action he did:

1. Give ear to my “words”. 

2. Consider my “meditation”.

3. Hearken unto the “voice of my cry”.

“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning.”  I do not hear much about the subject of voice, but it is very important to us.  The word voice is mentioned  505 times in 456 verses in the Bible.  The first mention of the word voice is found in Genesis 3 after Adam and Eve ate the wrong fruit and hid from God because they heard the sound of His voice walking in the garden.  The last mention of voice in the Bible is Revelation 21:3 and states:

  Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them,  and be their God.

If you think about it, our own voice is very dear to us.  We recognize each other by the sound of it; we can tell emotion in it; we can project it; etc.  Our loved ones voice is a very pleasant thing to us and hearing it can cause us happiness.  I love hearing my daughters voices as they run to greet me when I get home.  I love hearing my wife’s voice as she talks to me.  

     Can you imagine how God feels when He hears your voice praising Him and worshipping Him?  Wow, If it is anything like the joy I get from hearing my daughters voices; then it must be great to Him.  One thing that I have also learned as a parent is that I can tell my child’s cry from another child’s cry.  It is funny to see other parents pause what they are doing when they hear crying, to see if that is their own child’s cry.  When it is my child’s cry, I stop what I am doing and rush over to them to help them.  Can you imagine what God does?  I know if we do that for our own children, how much more does God do that for His children?  When was the last time that He heard your voice cry out to Him?   God wants your voice to cry out to Him.  Will you?  He knows your voice, so what is stopping you?  Bro. CW’s challenge for today:

Who you cry to first in a need is whom you trust the most.  Who will you cry out to?

 

Silence is Golden

Psa 5:1 To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

Psa 5:2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

 Psa 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

     I wrote yesterday about us coming to God and crying to Him for His help and begging for His intercession into our lives.  I want to point out the objects of David’s actions.  Have you ever been to the place where you were wanting to do something, but you just did not know what to do?  Have you come to God in times past and did not know what to say or what to ask for or what to do?  Some people go to God and perform the wrong action.  That last thing we as christians want to do is to provoke the King of Kings and Lord of Lords into a negative action.  King David is showing us what he did to get God’s attention.  Yes, David did action, but look at what type of action he did:

1. Give ear to my “words”.  David used words.  As a parent, I often encourage my girls to use words in describing their feelings.  In doing that, my girls sometimes do not have the right words and when I understand what they are feeling, I then help them with the right words.  It seems silly for me to point this out to you, but please understand that people use many other actions to “vent or express” their emotion.  They often use violence, force, cruelty, jealousy, hatred, etc.  God wants us to go to Him and use words.  Using words to God as our “outlet of negative emotions” shows restraint, control, and spiritual maturity.

2. Consider my “meditation”.  Meditation is often a subject that is overlooked and under-appreciated.  To meditate is to slow down my emotion and think.  A person that meditates usually does not make hasty decisions.  Remember, slow decisions lead to better decisions.  My marriage, friendships, and ministry have greatly been helped by this one concept that I had to learn the hard way.  Silence is often misunderstood, but never misquoted.  I have had to remind myself of these words MANY times.  I BELIEVE A LOT OF OUR RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS CAN BE SOLVED BY IMPLEMENTING THIS CONCEPT INTO OUR DAILY LIVING PATTERNS.  Many good people have horrible relationships with those around them because they fail to stop and meditate before they act.

TO BE CONTINUED…

 

Bro. CW’s challenge for today:

Meditate on your words and actions before you do them.  They just might save you a lot of grief.  Remember, you are probably leading someone by your actions…what are they seeing?