A series of steps led to Peter's denial of the Savior

First: too much self-confidence

Second: following at a distance

Third: hanging out with the wrong crowd

Luke 22:55 shows Peter warming himself at the enemy's fire, in the courtyard of Caiaphas, who was trying Jesus. At this point, Peter was already worn down, defeated, and weak. He was vulnerable, and the last place he should have been was at a fire surrounded by unbelievers.

Sometimes we think we are influencing others, when in fact they are influencing us. Sometimes we think that we are pulling them up, when in fact they are pulling us down. Psalms 1:1 says, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful." Notice the regression in the words in Psalm 1. First, there is walking. Then there is standing. And finally, there is sitting.

When we sin, it usually begins with a series of steps. And when we hang around with the wrong people in the wrong places, we are going to end up doing the wrong thing.

Prayer Breeds Wisdom

In 1996, my husband was severely ill. I was somewhat a newlywed, inexperienced, overwhelmed, and overburdened with a 2-year-old child to care for.

As a new convert in my church, I did not know too much about prayer and its power. That is until I discovered it for myself.

On a Tuesday evening, following the prayer service the pastor, who knew about my situation, said to me, "Hold on firm! Sometimes God is just testing us."

 "Are you kidding?" I thought to myself. "God, if this is a test, I had enough." I couldn't wait to get home and get on my knees and pray, even though I didn't know what I was going to say.

Needless to say, I did pretty well. I knew nothing about confessing sins, ask and you shall receive, and so on...All I knew was that I found myself weeping and wailing and begging for mercy.

"God, please have mercy on me. I can't take this anymore." Before the prayer, if someone asked me what "this" meant, I couldn't tell them. But, God knew exactly what it meant and provided for me accordingly.

I got on my knees heavy laden and rose up as light as a feather. Between work, visiting my husband in rehab, picking up my child from Daycare, and taking care of the house, I was a mess. I was stressed out and getting sick often.

"I was blind but now I see." My days didn't have to be chaotic anymore. Suddenly, I knew what to do. "I don't have to answer the phone when I'm busy."

How wise is that?

Ready, Set, Fight

How often do we have to fight our battles
Sometimes for ourselves and sometimes for our brethren

How often do we find ourselves in a jam trying to find
The right tool or weaponry to fight our battles

How often do we end up choosing the weaponry
That is unfit to give us victory in battles

How often are we reminded as to what
The best weaponry is and yet ignored it

How often does prayer become the first
Weaponry that comes to mind when in battle

How often do we take our battles to God in prayer
And let Him use us as He wants on the battle field

Let us not try to put out forest fires using a squirt gun
Let us use the spiritual weaponry that God has given us.

What Are All These Calls About?

Called to Salvation
Since the fall of Adam and Eve, sin has created a separation between God and man. But God reaches out to us to reinstate our relationship with Him by offering Christ on the cross in our stead. That is salvation through Jesus Christ.

Called to Sanctification
Once saved through Christ, God calls us to holiness. That is those of us who are willing to accept Christ righteousness and obedience. We are then set apart to become His special helpers. Our collaboration is necessary in order for us to grow into Christlikeness, even though this is strictly an act of God.

Called to Service
Once sanctified, we are chosen to witness to the world in whatever capacity God has placed us.

God might be calling you. Are you listening?

Every Believer Has A Story...

The more we surrender to God
The more we see Him working in our lives.

The more we watch Him work
The more we desire to share Him with others.

Our personal experiences with Christ
Will motivate us to share the good news.

We gain confidence from His promise
To be with us and empower us.

Remember His command to spread
The gospel around the globe.

To make disciples and baptize
People from all nations.

One of our highest callings
Is to tell others about Christ.

Loving God involves having
A personal relationship with Jesus.

And sharing Him with others
So, what's your story...?

Just Imagine...

A tree!

Planting it in the front yard

Digging  it up after a few months

Planting it in the back yard

 Failing to flourish

Struggling to even survive

Never producing fruit

Becoming useless

Eventually getting cut down and burning in fire

                Vs.

A person!

Deciding to go church

Reading the Bible

Praying regularly

Just for a few months

Repeating the process over and over

Never growing spiritually

Never producing spiritual fruit

Failing to abide in Christ

Just imagine....

What Mercy Is... Vs. What Mercy Is Not...

What Mercy Is...

Mercy is pity plus action
Mercy is a virtue
Mercy is something we do
Mercy is to help a person in need
Mercy is to rescue the miserable
Mercy is a desire to relieve the suffering
Mercy is to be spiritual

We will be merciful when we recognize how much mercy Christ extended to us by his death on the cross.


What Mercy Is Not...

Mercy is not something we feel
Mercy is not a weakness
Mercy is not a disease of the soul
Mercy is not "I feel your pain"
Mercy is not critical
Mercy is not quick to condemn

We will not be merciful when we refuse to see ourselves as we really are and fail to recognize how much mercy Christ extended to us by dying on the cross.