Have you found success illusive? How do you measure it? How successful are you? Would you be interested in knowing a way to guarantee your success in life? What if there was one thing you could do that would bring success in every area of your life?

Last night in our seminar, we heard from a man who could trace his failures to times when he was not faithful to practice this one discipline and found direct evidence of success in his life when he did.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not whither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalms 1:1-2 NIV

We had a great session, learning learning how to meditate. I only wish everyone could have been there. If you want to learn more about how meditation can help you experience real success in life, contact me. I would love to share this blessing with you.

Sacred Fire

As we prepare for Pentecost Sunday, I borrow my title for this article from the new book, George Washington's Sacred Fire by Peter A. Lillback with Jerry Newcombe. In this book the author debunks the myth that George Washington was not a believer and at at most just a Deist. He provides ample proof for the Christian character and faith of George Washington through his own writings in letters and journals and the writings of those closest to him, his family and friends. The author establishes the fact that there burned in George Washington a sacred fire.

We need a sacred fire to burn again in the hearts of men, who will rise up and make a difference. On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came into the upper room. An overwhelming "Sacred Fire" sat upon each of them, and that fire began to burn bringing an outpouring of the Spirit of God, and transforming live. The Sacred Fire burned in the heart of Peter, who even though he was formerly a coward who not only hid in the shadow, but even lied about knowing Jesus as he denied Christ three times. On Pentecost he stood and preached fearlessly before the crowds gathered in Jerusalem because of the Sacred Fire of Pentecost.

In this day when churches in America are in grave danger, we need people in whose heart burn this Sacred Fire. We need people infused with the courage that comes when they are full of faith and filled with the Holy Spirit. We need godly men and women who will stand up and proclaim the truth to the crowds in our generation.

It appears that the thirst of the current administration for control hasn't stopped with the banking industry or health care. Now they are making a move to control churches. They use the word "partnership." They talk aboIut "partnering with churches" in the Obama administration's new "faith-based initiative." Their goal is to reduce salvation to social justice. Promoting the "Green Agenda" is goal of their gospel. They offer funding to churches who will "buy in" to their "green" agenda. They are making an effort to define their social agenda with the Gospel. However, when churches accept Government monies for their green projects then they will have the government telling them what they can and can not do. We need to remember that salvation is individual and personal, not collective and social. In our day we need people in whose hearts burn the Sacred Fire who will stand against this unholy tide. We need to be sure that we DO NOT accept money to "green our churches!" Social Justice is not the answer. God is intensely personal! We need to understand that God cares about the individual. He doesn't force us to participate; He invites us. The gospel is not about government mandates, but about surrendering our hearts to God. In our day we need people in whose hearts burn the Sacred Fire who will stand against this unholy tide.

As we prepare to celebrate Pentecost tomorrow, I want us to remember that on the Day of Pentecost, God empowered the church to make a real difference in individual lives. He did not mandate a program of social justice. He knew that when individual hearts are submitted to Christ, they would make an awesome difference in the lives of others. It is my prayer that you will receive the power of Pentecost and be ignited with that Sacred Fire.

Pentecost

There are many Christians who are bogged down somewhere between the cross and the upper room. They have visited the cross for salvation, but have never made it to the upper room for the power of the Spirit. Fifty days after Passover is the celebration of Pentecost, and fifty days after Calvary, God sent the power of the Holy Spirit, "when the Day of Pentecost had fully come."

Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for this promised power that would empower them to serve. The heart of Pentecost is the harvest. Since Jesus was going back to the Father, he was leaving them with the Father's Promise for the power they needed to build the Kingdom of God.

As we prepare for that celebration this year, I want you to understand that Pentecost is not just some denominational doctrine, but a biblical experience, that God intended for every believer.
There are some who teach that the experience of Pentecost was for a limited time. They claim it was just for the birth of the church age, the time of the apostles. It is suggested that during this age, so full of paganism, the experience of Pentecost was a special gift for a special time. I would suggest that our own day is filled with more paganism and ungodliness than any age in history. We need the power of Pentecost, now more than ever.

As Peter stood to explain on that awesome day, he spoke in Acts 2:38-39

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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off -- for all whom the Lord our God will call.

This was a promise from God, and Peter makes it clear that this promise was for ALL. Again it is not a limited time offer! The experience of Pentecost is "for all whom the Lord our God will call." This promise is for me and you. We are the "all who are far off," and the "all whom the Lord our God will call." This promise is for us! So many have allowed the enemy of their souls and religious tradition to rob them of the Power of God that comes at Pentecost.

This supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit is the natural by-product of a heart that seeks after God. Don't be satisfied with some substitute power. God has promised, and He will fulfill His promise. It's time to be hungry for the power of Pentecost. God says that if we hunger and thirst after righteousness we will be filled. It is time to claim ALL that God has for us. It is time to receive the awesome power of the Holy Spirit. Expect to receive the promise of Pentecost. Repent and the Promise of the Father, the power of Pentecost.

A Godly Mother

Even though it has now been seven years since my Mother's death, I can still vividly remember the grief that I felt. It was my first experience with that gut-wrenching emotional pain. Nothing had ever affected me so profoundly. I know I was being self-centered. She was the heart of our family. I was always so proud of my Mother. I remember thinking that it was just too soon. I felt robbed of precious years. The heart of our childhood home was gone. I was so focused on what I had lost instead of what I had.

This year on Mother's Day, I thanked God for what He had given. My brothers and I had the gift of a Godly Mother. The "heart of our home" was a "Godly Heart." I know so many people who have said, "Oh, what I would give to have the kind of home you've had!" Shame on me for the self-pity, when I have been so blessed! Thank you, God, for the years you gave me with my Godly Mother. Thank you, Lord, for letting her be there for us through the years, and thank you for the legacy she left us as a woman of your Word. Thank you, Lord for replacing my sorrow with joy and sweetness of remembering my Godly Mother.

Keep Smiling!

When the Masters rolls around you can be sure that the televisions at Bates Furniture will be tuned in. Mr brother-in-laws, Hubert and Harold, and their Dad, are always tuning in just as much as work and other responsibilities will allow. Even though I don't follow golf like they do, I am usually aware of what's happening because of them. This year, Hubert sent me the awesome account below about the 2010 Masters. I was so moved by it that I wanted to share it with you here on my blog.

For the past few days, while I tried to enjoy one of the greatest golf tournaments in the world, all I was entertained with was the Tiger Woods show. As soon as one golfer would hit a tee shot or make a putt, it seemed that the next view would be that of Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods just missing a putt that would have put him in contention with the other golfers. Tiger Woods hooking his drive which showed how his time off had hurt his game. Tiger Woods trying to "respect" the game. How it seemed that the Tiger was able to put his past transgressions behind him and was able to concentrate on the job at hand. It just kept going on and on about Tiger this and Tiger that.

On the other hand, a little miracle was occurring at the Masters; one golfer just kept smiling. He smiled if he made a good drive, or if he made a bad drive. He smiled if he made a 50 foot putt or missed a 5 foot putt. As he walked between holes, he smiled and shook hands with the crowd. He never cursed a bad stroke or blamed another person for a miss. All he did was smile.

Why would Phil Mickelson be smiling? Here was a man whose wife has breast cancer. Here was a man whose mother has breast cancer. Here is a man who rather than allow his wife and mother to fight this battle by themselves, took time off from the PGA tour to be with them. Here was a man that returned to the game he loved when his wife ordered him to. Here was man, who was so glad for the miracle that was happening as his wife moved closer to a cure, that he rewarded her oncologist by allowing him to be his guest caddy at last week's golf tournament. This move, which could have cost Mickelson thousands of dollars in purse money, was his gift to a man he knew he could never thank enough for what he had given to him.

During the last round today, Phil's wife was staying in their hotel room since she was still weak from the chemo treatments she is receiving. Phil did not know as he walked up to the 18th tee that his wife would be there. All Phil did was smile. He smiled to the crowds, he smiled to the TV audience, he smiled to God. After his last putt found the bottom of the hole, he hugged his caddy and others and walked to the scorer's shack. He then gave the biggest smile of the whole four days. He saw his wife, and even in the midst of thousands of people, it seemed that only two where there.

Tomorrow I am going to smile. I am going to smile if it is nice weather or bad. I am going to smile at the driver who honks his horn at me, or the driver who cuts me off. I am going to smile if I get the order or not. And when the day is done, I am going to save my biggest smile for the person who makes me complete. Then I am going to look to the heavens and give thanks for being able to smile. Thanks Phil! God bless you and your family.

Well, after reading that, I am smiling through my tears, and I hope that you are encouraged to keep smiling too!