“The fields are white for the harvest, but the laborers are few!” This is the proclamation of the Bible pleading for people to tell others about Jesus Christ. The people of the church are to go out and tell others that Jesus is coming soon and that Jesus is the only way to heaven! As I was speaking to a mother a few days ago, she told me an interesting question she and her son were asked. The question was, “If you only had twenty four hours to live, how would you spend that time?” This is a question that could be posed to each of us! We need to spend each day as if it were our last. Would we surround ourselves with fun and games? Would we spend time with family? How many people would we tell about Jesus? How many have you told about Jesus lately? Fifty, forty, ten, one? Maybe none?Tell someone about the one who died that they might live!

A phenomenon occurred a few years ago. It was the latest and greatest fad. Many people flocked to the book stores and online. The search of millions had finally arrived. They had found what they were looking for all this time and didn’t even know it. The name was a derivative of many forms but one central theme, self. Self-help and self-improvement had taken the world by storm. Many motivational speakers were selling millions of books and having seminars to lift you up. Improve your self esteem and improve your income. Promises made to give “self” what it desired. The promises continue and some speakers have infiltrated the churches and spirituality has left the church. Church, we do not need a new book, we have The Book. We do not need another motivating sermon or speaker. We need God. We need the Holy Spirit to move and cause a great stirring. Church, pray for revival!

Have you ever ridden by what seemed to be a mud hole then go by a month later and a great house now stands where once was nothing? This has amazed me how to see nothing then something magnificent is then built. Honestly, I have felt that I had situations in my life that was nothing but a mess. The storms of life had driven the rain and winds and there was only washed out dreams and goals. It seemed that the sun would never come and dry it out. It seemed that what was wrecked by the storm would never recover. Then Jesus stepped in and began to build a magnificent building. See, when the master builder gets involved, we have nothing to fear! He first is the firm foundation and builds exactly what He needs where He needs. Do you have a plot that is flooded with trials and tribulations? Give it to the Master, He knows exactly what to do!

As a child, I never understood why my parents needed quiet time. I thought that everyone loved noise. Noise from a radio, me hitting the walls, pots and pans, and a multitude of other reverberating sound waves! As I have begun to mature, I have found great pleasure in silence. It really is quite amazing just how much noise we have in our lives. Our lives are filled with so much background noise that we do not hear what we need to hear at times. Find a quiet place, even if it is a closet in your home. This quiet place is a wonderful place to pray and read your Bible. I encourage you to find some quiet time alone with God. Many times we need to listen when God is speaking. We often say He isn’t speaking, but it may be that we cannot hear Him! It is hard to hear a whisper in the midst of a world full of noise.

We all seem to think that we all know what is best and how to conduct our lives each day. Many jump into the day without consulting the One that can make our day productive and useful. I once heard a man that owned several beautiful violins. He had them merely on display. A musician was visiting in the home and begged to buy one of the beautiful violins but the owner would not sell one. The musician then asked to play one and finally the owner consented. The violin made such a wonderful melody that the owner cried out, “Take it! It is yours! You know how to use it for what it was designed for.” Like those violins, our lives are designed to be more than a display of Christian values. Our lives are to make a melody for God. May we place our lives into the hands of God, who knows how to use us for His glory!

The Word of God is the most precious book. The sad reality is, here in America we have the freedom to possess, read, and distribute the Word of God without persecution. The majority of church attendants possess a Bible in one form of another. Those that possess do not always read and study this blessed Book. The last part would be to distribute. Our church has been challenged to bring KJV Bibles to our church and place them on the altar! Here, we can pray that God will use those Bibles and place conviction and ultimately, people will receive salvation in the hearts of those that receive the Gospel. God has not called us to be a set aside to be a spectator, but to be engaged and part of something wonderful! What better way than to get out and distribute the blessed Holy Word of God! Get involved today! You could help another’s eternity change to Heaven!

I love bluegrass music! I am convinced the angles of heaven play bluegrass! A favorite album of mine is “Songs We’ve Worn Out”. It is full of songs that have been played numerous times over the years. On that album is the song “Jesus Loves Me”. This is still a favorite of mine even as an adult. We consider this to be a children’s song but it has not lost its message and the message is the same to a child or an adult! Thank God that He still loves us! Thank God that His love is not conditional and it never changes! It is a love that we can depend on! It is a love that will not fade. It is a love that will endure for all eternity!

Today we celebrate Father’s Day. It is a time for some to express their appreciation to the father in their life. For some, it is a time to reflect on the sweet memories of the past. I thank God for my father that taught me work, honesty, and character are what makes a man a man, not the offerings of the world. And most importantly, that God is the only foundation in which a man can stand steadfast. All other ground is sinking sand! Today as we celebrate Father’s Day, do not forget about your Heavenly Father! He does not desire a gift, or a card. He would be happy just to hear from you today! Fathers, remember that you are leading your family one way or the other. Make your decision today to lead to the Heavenly Father!

The season of graduation is upon us. This always opens the question of, “what is next?” Dreams and goals seem to be at your finger tips. A feeling of accomplishment overwhelms and we stand at the edge of life looking out wondering where to go. Some take this time to relax and enjoy themselves before the next step. That step may be a college, a technical college, stepping into the work force, military or a myriad of other choices. This exciting time is flooded with a multitude of questions and concerns. The first step is simple. Seek God. Seek godly counsel. The Bible tells us to “Seek ye first the kingdom of God”. Our prayer is that the local body of Christ will do just that. Our dreams and aspirations await us, but what does God have in store for you? This is not just a question to graduates but to each of us. The most important question any of us can ask is “What does God have in store for me next?” Seek God and His counsel and allow Him to direct our paths! You will not be disappointed!

Prayer is something that is a necessity in the Christian life. Prayer is our communication to God. Yet, very little emphasis is placed on this vital part of our Christian walk. Even individuals that do not regularly attend church know the importance of prayer. Leaders, in time of distress, have requested prayer. Today is not only the day of worship, but it is a day of prayer for the Christian. We are living in perilous times. We are surrounded on all fronts and are being attacked by enemies seen and unseen. Today is the day to turn to God, fall on our faces and pray. Pray, not vain repetitions, not a rehearsed speech, not great swelling words of emptiness, but true prayer. Truly calling out to God for revival, for repentance, for reliance on Him and most importantly, for a great move of the Holy Spirit! If we the church place the emphasis on the power of effectual fervent prayer, we will see God move! Decide today that you will give yourself to the great responsibility of prayer!

In John chapter 11, Jesus was sent word that His friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus needed Him. Yet He tarried where He was. Lazarus was sick and needed the touch from who they knew could make a difference. They had seen Jesus heal the sick, lame, blind and lepers. They had seen Jesus raise the dead. Their worst fear came upon them and they buried Lazarus. Then Jesus traveled to them when it seemed that all hope was lost. When Jesus arrived, they cried out with such agony that even tears from the eyes of Jesus are recorded. I thank God that the story does not end with Jesus crying at the graveside of a friend. Jesus cried out for Lazarus, and he came out alive! You see, with Jesus, there is hope in the most hopeless situation! Just depend on God! It’s never too late with God!

> I have heard it said that if you are not moving forward then you are moving backwards. There is a great deal of truth to that, but there are some times that we need to be patient and wait. Shortly after the ascension of Jesus Christ, the disciples of Jesus were in the upper room waiting for direction. I could only imagine waiting and hearing the nay sayers grumbling and telling the disciples they were wasting their time! Determined to do what God told them to do they prayed and waited. I am sure there were times of discouragement. Some may have begun to doubt. Some may have begun to expect God to not show up. That is when God really shines. The sound of a great and mighty wind begins to blow and the fire of the Holy Ghost anoints the disciples giving them the burning message that Jesus Christ is Lord! Within a week, 5,000 souls were added to the church. All because they were determined to wait on God! Are you discouraged or doubting, just wait on God!

Wednesday was a wonderful evening here at the Bible study and prayer meeting! We experienced the outpouring of the gracious love of Christ! That is the commandment that is given to each of us as Christians! We are to love and bare one another’s burdens. That is exactly what happened! Some made request and others made known the praises of God and there was an air of love for the brethren! It was a concern for the bettering of the people of God. Praise God that we were able to have this time in our church! This, I believe, is proof of a church praying for great and mighty things to happen! We must first see it in our homes and then it will spill over into our church and then our church can be effective in our community and surroundings for the glory of God! Continue to pray for these great and mighty things! There is no limit to what God can do if we submit to Him! I just say, “Praise God! For He is Good!!”

I have reason to rejoice. Sure, there are plenty of problems in the world. I am not blind to these problems, but our joy as Christians should not be dictated by the circumstances around us! If you are truly born again you have reason to rejoice. You have Jesus Christ in your heart! We have worries, troubling circumstances and another issue may arise before the day’s end, but we have Jesus! This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it! Look above and rejoice that you are saved by the blood of Jesus and there is nothing to take that away!

It seems that our world advances toward more and more turmoil every day! You hear on the radio, television, internet that turmoil has taken over. This to me is another confirmation in my mind that God’s Word has been true and will continue to show what the world will come to! The great news for us as believers and followers of Jesus Christ is that we already know the end! We know who is victorious! We know that God will be victorious over the nations! We know that God will set up His kingdom and that we will be there! Turmoil has been a constant for ages! It will continue until Jesus comes to sit upon the throne that has been promised Him! Fret not at the happenings of this world! Look to the promise of the return of our King! Just as John says, “even so Lord come quickly!” I say, Amen! I am looking forward to that glorious return of the King of kings and Lord of lords!