Month: October 2024

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Recognizing When Satan Attacks

So often we go through life and we know that as believers Satan attacks regularly. He does it because he is the ultimate loser in world history. I think we have to be able to recognize the difference between Satan’s everyday attacks and those attacks when we seek to get closer to God. This begs the question how do you tell the difference?

Well, it’s pretty simple. Here is an example of what I am talking about and how experience has taught me to see the difference. Throughout my week, Satan attacks me on a regular basis with the everyday ups and downs of life. Then when I start to do something that is related to God the attacks get more intense. Things like sending out daily e-mails to some of the women at my church. Then comes the Saturday war with Satan. It’s coming and we both know it and frankly, I let my guard down this past weekend. It happens but that doesn’t mean that Satan wins the battle. Is the battle still going on this morning? Sure. Will it lessen sometime today I suspect it will and that’s ok too. Will it crank back up on Saturday? Of course it will and I can’t lose focus on that fact.

I think it’s important to understand that one of Satan’s favorite attack times is when you are physically and emotionally exhausted. That is when it becomes real easy to let your guard down.

Like most things in life be aware of what is going on in your life and you can pretty quickly figure out what is happening.

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Apostle That’s You!

When believers think of the word apostle they often harken back to what it says in Mark 6:30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told them all they had done and taught. (NLT) When we look at the word apostle we often think of those men many centuries ago but I contend that all believers are apostles of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are all taught to go spend the gospel throughout the lands. Period!

However, that is just the opposite of what Satan wants us to do. He puts all these negative thoughts about our inability to do it in the correct form or fashion. This gets me into one of my favorite ideas and serves as a reminder to all of us. As believers, we are in the seed-planting business and God is in the construction business.

So even though you may not see yourself as an apostle you really are and then it’s just a matter of how many seeds to decide to plant.

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Feeling Spiritual Dead?

It is a typical trash pick-up day, so I got it and set it out like always, but this morning, it was somewhat different because I realized I was just spiritually dead. Nothing is left in that tank; frankly, it’s not the first time and won’t be the last. That may sound clavier but it really isn’t because experience has taught me it will come back sometime. It may be today or not and that’s ok. When these things happen to people it is normal for people of faith. It is not a sign that you have lost your trust. In reality, it is a sign of how important your faith is to you! Because if you didn’t have it wouldn’t matter. So then comes the question how do you get it back?

For me, I crank up the Southern Gospel music I love so much.

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Church Growth Your Roll

For many of the traditional mainline churches growth is some sort of dream. Well, the church I attend faces just the opposite situation: continued growth. Which is a great thing but comes with challenges.

However, it is important to understand that as the church grows and your faith life changes so does your responsibility to make the new folks feel welcomed because contrary to popular opinion pastors can’t do it all!

So we all need to remember that when we all started to attend our church there were others already there that made you feel welcomed.

However, one of the biggest obstacles we face is that we simply don’t know who these folks are and how can we help? As I have said about the church the more you put into the more you get out of it.

The question becomes how can all of us do more to make the new folks feel welcome? Because as the church continues to grow the needs will also continue to grow likewise. It’s also important for those of us who have more days behind us in our lives than in front of us that we also have a special responsibility to pass along the knowledge we have gained in our faith walks to others. I know all have used the excuse that we don’t have the time.

Here is my response to that excuse. The Lord Jesus Christ found the time to die on the cross for all of our sins and yet we can’t find the time to help further his kingdom?

I guess it all a matter of perspective.