Author: readyforafreshstart

PASTOR APPRECIATION!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

1 One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared THE LORD. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.” II Kings 4:1

You Matter to GOD! {A Poor Widow!} ~ OCTOBER IS PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH! First, let me say that I have never promoted this before! Second, I am at a very small church where people shower me and my family with appreciation and grace twelve months of the year! In fact, the very computer I am using to write this article was a gift from a member of our church! 🙂 Third, I am sorry that I have not spoken out previously! Why? I am not out to glorify nor gain brownie points for being a pastor. I simply feel I have a voice which reaches out to people who attend other churches. This means that there are those who may not know what a wonderful opportunity awaits to encourage your ministers & their families. Here’s a link to an article a young woman writes to help you bless your ministers. Here it is: https://reconnectwithcarmen.com/october-pastor-appreciation-month-10-ideas-to-make-it-a-month-to-remember/

I read in another article, that many ministers struggle to make ends meet, save for retirement, provide for college for their children, ever go on vacation, and most certainly have no savings whatsoever. (https://billhigh.com/culture/poor-pastors-literally/) This is the case for those who have answered GOD’S call far too often. You can help! If you attend another church, please do something wonderful for your pastor and staff this month! They will appreciate it, and you will be glad you did! 😊

I can hear someone saying, “this is so strange for you to pick a topic and not discuss the value and purpose of the Scripture above.”  I am so glad you asked. Notice that the widow was a wife of one of the prophets who served Elisha. Basically, he was on staff at “The church where Elisha speaks for GOD and does cool, amazing stuff!” Well, maybe not the exact name. 😊 Nevertheless, notice that this widow has no retirement plan, no savings, and no way to keep her children safe. I just think it’s time for me to remind you that your pastors, ministers, and staff should never find themselves in this position.  Of course, GOD will take care of them… with your help!

17 Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” (Deuteronomy 25:4) And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” (Deuteronomy 24:15) [and]

19 Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses.                                                                            ~ I Timothy 5:17-19 NLT

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

Please encourage your your pastor, ministers, and staff as the LORD leads this month! 🙂

My Way or YOUR WAY? {Forgetting GOD}

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

11 But King Jehoshaphat of Judah asked, “Is there no prophet of THE LORD with us? If there is, we can ask THE LORD what to do through him.” ~ II Kings 3:11

MY Way or YOUR WAY? {Forgetting GOD} ~ How can I go days without praying? Honestly, I don’t understand how I can become so self-absorbed, focused on my perceived highly important tasks, oblivious to what’s most important. I find myself saying these words while I am alone with GOD after finally realizing that it has been days since I truly sought HIS presence. Do you remember when you first realized that you were lost without GOD? There was a time when I thought I was in good standing with GOD because I was a good person. Then, I found out I needed to be saved, redeemed, and born again. JESUS came into my life and changed everything. HE saved my soul and cleaned up my life. And now, there are times when I just leave HIM out of my daily life because I forget to seek HIS presence. WOW! ☹ ~ Heaven forbid!

In the verse above, King Joram, Ahab’s other son, has been disrespected by another king. So, he calls his friends, other kings, to ask them to help him go to war. He says to them, “THE LORD has brought the three of us here.” However, there is no time when he actually talks to GOD. King Joram has not prayed seeking GOD’S wisdom or counsel. Whose fault is this I wonder? We could blame his mother and father since they both “did evil in the sight of the LORD.” After all, they did not teach him the deep truths of GOD. They did not take him to church or Bible Study when he was young. They never showed him the right thing to do! Sounds familiar, right? Too many of us stopped gathering for GOD when COVID started and haven’t been back. Our children are growing up in an UNGODLY culture! They need to learn GOD’S WAY!

This illustrates the problem with modern American Christianity! Many of us are so busy telling everyone that GOD is on our side, while we neglect to actually seek HIS presence. We have decided that we can legislate morality based upon what we think instead of what the BIBLE says. Steve Irwin often said it all too well… “Danger… Danger… Danger!” Let’s gather & grow again!

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

Have we forgotten GOD?
24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of HIS return is drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

GOOD or BAD?

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

And he said, “This is what THE LORD says: I have purified this water. It will no longer cause death or infertility.”                                          II Kings 2:21a NLT

GOOD or BAD? There is a question for which most people have a very strong opinion. “Are we, as people, basically GOOD or BAD?” The answer someone gives reveals a great deal about their outlook, philosophy, and theology of anthropology as a whole. Too deep, too soon? Well, hang in there. 😊

First, I have been privileged to meet and know people whom I felt were genuinely good folk. They would truly give you the shirt off their back, as the saying goes. They give to charities, volunteer to help those who are less fortunate, and try to make the world better as we know it. Most of us would say that these are the kind of people whom we want to be like.

Second, I have also met people who rub me the wrong way. For some, I am the one who does the rubbing. 😊  These folks just don’t seem to care what anyone thinks about them. I think one of their favorite songs must be, “I Did It My Way,” by Frank Sinatra. We all think of people who are hard to be around. Some of us have family members who we are willing to see at family reunions, but we wouldn’t want to go on vacation with them. 😊

Third, what does the BIBLE say about all of this? GOD’S WORD is not silent on this issue. It says, “There is none righteous, NOT EVEN ONE.” (Romans 3:10) If this isn’t enough, it continues by saying, “No one seeks GOD.”  In verse 23, GOD says, “All have sinned and fall short of the GLORY OF GOD.”  Some genuinely struggle to believe that no one is worthy, right?

This is why we have the BIBLE! This is why JESUS came 2022 years ago! You see, if any one of us could be good enough without JESUS, then why did HE come from heaven to die on a cross for you and me? The truth is that no matter how GOOD you are, you still need JESUS! And, no matter how BAD you are HE can still make you GOOD! It’s called GRACE ~ God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. GOOD or BAD ~ You can be made perfect today! 😊

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

BAD can be made GOOD, and GOOD can become BAD! Be Wise ~ Follow JESUS!

PASS THE BATON!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for THE LORD has told me to go to the Jordan River.” But again Elisha replied, “As surely as THE LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together.  II Kings 2:6 NLT

PASSING THE BATON… Funerals are both challenging and rewarding parts of a pastor’s ministry. When a dear friend departs and leaves us behind, it’s hard for all of us. However, sharing all the wonderful ways that friend helped us become the man or woman of GOD we are today is a great joy!  Far too often, we’ve had the sheer delight and the heart-breaking pain of both of these experiences. Michael W. Smith sings those lyrics so well…

And friends are friends forever, If the Lord’s the Lord of them

And a friend will not say never, ‘Cause the welcome will not end

Though it’s hard to let you go, In the Father’s hands we know

That a lifetime’s not too long, To live as friends

By now, you’re thinking of someone. That person or those people who invested in you long before you ever knew how important that investment was.  Elisha would soon be leading without the voice of Elijah to guide him and assure him that GOD was clearly speaking. Isn’t it comforting to have someone in our lives whom we can trust will always point to JESUS? Invest all the time you can with this trusted friend. We all wish we had more time!

Let’s rethink this for just a moment. How many people do you think would picture you when they are asked these questions? Are you intentionally leading others to draw closer to CHRIST? You may be thinking, “but I’m not a pastor or priest.” Well, my friend, one of the godliest men I know was never called to ministry, nor did he go to Bible College or Seminary. Nevertheless, all of the memories I have of this man are of his consistent love for JESUS and his incredible words of biblical wisdom. I learned more from him than many of the preachers we all know. Bottom line! You have to be running the race to PASS THE BATON. So, why not get off the bench and run? 😊

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

HOW MANY TIMES?

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

13 Once more the king sent a third captain with fifty men. But this time the captain went up the hill and fell to his knees before Elijah. He pleaded with him, “O MAN OF GOD, please spare my life and the lives of these, your fifty servants.” ~ I Kings 1:13 NLT

HOW MANY TIMES? In the verse above, King Ahaziah had sent two groups to kill the Prophet Elijah. However, both groups were met with a force much greater that they expected, and each group of fifty men were killed instantly when GOD spoke through Elijah. Finally, the third group was dispatched, but this time the captain was wise enough to see the had of GOD at work. His decision spared the lives of fifty men. After this, Elijah went to King Ahaziah and declared his death sentence. Ahaziah, like his daddy Ahab, had fought against GOD his entire life.  He died painfully rejecting GOD’S plan.

There is so much we can learn from this short passage in the beginning of II KINGS. 😊 First, GOD speaks to us throughout our lives inviting us to follow HIM and HIS plan. The BIBLE says that GOD is seeking people just like you every day, all the time. (John 4:24) We must listen and respond to that call from GOD. JESUS died on a dirty wooden cross for your sin, all of it! HE loves you right where you are today. That is HIS message of GRACE and MERCY.

Second, our decisions affect those around us. Two men made decisions that each caused others to lose their lives. Decisions matter! Your decision to ignore or hate GOD touches and changes the lives of everyone around you. If you are a parent, then your choice to discount or snub GOD is most certainly affecting your children. After all, Ahaziah behaved exactly like his daddy.

Third, you have to decide WHO you are going to trust. Will you choose people whose lives and behavior you wouldn’t want your children choosing as role models, or will you trust the ONE who has stood the test of time because HE is the only true, wise, and eternal GOD? HE is calling ~ HOW MANY TIMES?

1 I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? 2 My help comes from THE LORD, WHO made heaven and earth! ~ (PSALM 121:1-2)

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

1 I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from THE LORD, WHO made heaven and earth!
~ PSALM 121:1-2

Break Every Chain!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

43 In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in THE EYES OF THE LORD. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. ~ I Kings 22:43 NLT

Break Every Chain! I have been working with some of the most inspiring people over the last twelve years who are called “teachers.”  These gifted individuals realize that the greatest opportunity before them is to shape the moral character of children who have been chosen to enter their classrooms. I am thrilled to have the privilege to invest is so many lives.  We, teachers, are in the unique place of molding and guiding others toward lives of hope, joy, and fulfillment. Last year, I saw one of my previous fourth graders at Publix. He greeted me with his very deep voice by saying, “Do you remember me?” It took a moment, and I told him that it was difficult because he did not have a beard in my class. 😊 He and His family love JESUS! He is definitely one of those success stories! PTL!

Sadly, I have a few other stories which are not going as well. We are also parents who have the much greater responsibility to “train up a child in the way he or she should go…” The promise that follows says, “And, when he or she is old he or she will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) If you take a moment to read the verse at the heading of this post, you will see that “he followed the ways of his father.”  Parenting is the greatest responsibility we have. As a teacher, I stand in the gap and point true north to JESUS unashamedly!  I wish there were no regrets in my parenting past! I am plagued by my failures and frustrated moments of whining and complaining (especially as a pastor)! You may be experiencing the same feelings…

So, what about the past?  We can’t change it. However, we can change the present to mold the future! I am moved by the film, “I Can Only Imagine.”  Dennis Quaid portrays Bart’s father as a wretched man. Nevertheless, the change in his life is something only JESUS could have done. Let’s rededicate ourselves and our children’s lives to JESUS! PRAY to Break Every Chain!

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

Generational sin gets passed on… Let’s Break the Chain!

PROOF!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

37 So the king died, and his body was taken to Samaria and buried there. 38 Then his chariot was washed beside the pool of Samaria, and dogs came and licked his blood at the place where the prostitutes bathed, just as THE LORD had promised. ~ I Kings 22:37-38 NLT

PROOF! In the OLD TESTAMENT, there was a plan of those who “said” they spoke on behalf of GOD, but in truth they were liars. The BIBLE gives us a prescription which GOD had given for dealing with these folks.

20 “’But any prophet who falsely claims to speak in MY NAME or who speaks in the name of another god must die.’” 21 “’But you may wonder, ‘How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from THE LORD?’ 22 If the prophet speaks in THE LORD’S NAME but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that THE LORD did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without MY AUTHORITY and need not be feared.”                    Deuteronomy 18: 21-22

The BIBLE also says that these “false-prophets” were to be killed. This may seem harsh; however, misrepresenting THE LORD OF ALL CREATION is no small thing! It yields a reverent fear. How many “prophets” might die today?

Nevertheless, times change. I often wonder how many of those standing to deliver THE MOMENT OF TRUTH understand the significance and gravity of that opportunity to speak for the LORD. Remember, when choosing a spiritual leader in your life, look at what the BIBLE says about leaders. 😊

7 Above all things, show yourself an example of good works, with uncorrupt doctrine, with gravity, 8 and with the wholesome word that cannot be rebuked, so that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having nothing in you that he may fault.                                               Titus 2:7-8 ~ NWB

Anyone claiming to speak for GOD should always be using biblical PROOF!

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

TRUST!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

25 And Micaiah replied, “You will find out soon enough when you are trying to hide in some secret room!” ~ I Kings 22:25 NLT

TRUST! Have you ever thought about how many people have proven themselves to be untrustworthy? Right now, I am praying for men in whom I believed, admired, and trusted. However, each of these men for whom I am praying have a fatal flaw. They harbored secrets which ultimately overshadowed and discredited all the good they did in their lives. Like many of you, I find that as I have grown older, my willingness to trust in others must be earned. I used to be poly-anna and naïve. Now, there must be a long-standing record of trustworthiness which includes a faithful walk with JESUS and a great deal of evidence of a deeper relationship with HIM.

Don’t misunderstand, we ought to love and care regardless of a person’s choices and history. Yet, if any of us are going to allow someone to be a spiritual leader in our lives, then that leader has to walk close to JESUS every day. We are surrounded by spiritual leaders who have telecasts, podcasts, web-shows, blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, Instagram messages, and so much more. If they do not walk step for step according to Scripture, WATCH OUT!!! The BIBLE was not written to make us feel better about ourselves.

16 All Scripture is inspired by GOD and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

II Timothy 3:16 NLT

When listening or reading something your spiritual mentor has shared, be sure that it resonates with THE WORD OF GOD. There can never be a statement which says, “I know what the BIBLE says, BUT…” Someone once said, “Keep your but out of the BIBLE.” 😊 I like this one, “GOD said it, and that settles it!” ~ “It’s true whether you believe it or not!” ~ Intense? ~ yes! Great Christian leaders point to JESUS and no one else! This is the only way to ensure that the one who is leading is worthy of our TRUST!

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST,

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

PS…

If what you believe does not agree with the BIBLE,

then you need to change what you believe!

I do not change the BIBLE to agree with what I believe!

I change what I believe to agree with the BIBLE!

The great question to ask of our spiritual leaders is simply, “Can I Really Trust You?” Actions Matter!

When Evil Triumphs!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

15 When Jezebel heard the news, she said to Ahab, “You know the vineyard Naboth wouldn’t sell you? Well, you can have it now! He’s dead!” 16 So Ahab immediately went down to the vineyard of Naboth to claim it. ~ I Kings 19:15-16

When Evil Triumphs! Imagine living through the nineteen-twenties when a young man named Adolph Hitler rose to power from absolute obscurity. What it must have been like to be a follower of JESUS as the world moved closer to the second World War. Many believers must have prayed daily for GOD to intervene. How many Jews cried out to GOD in disbelief of what was happening to GOD’S chosen nation? Where was the providential hand of intervention? What was the HOLY SPIRIT doing in the midst of this genocide? We ask, “How could a loving GOD let these things happen?”

In the passage above, we see the same thing happening during the reign of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. The difference is that they were the leaders of the nation of Israel ~ GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE! Everyone who knew Naboth must have been asking the same questions. Naboth was respected by everyone, but that did not matter to Jezebel.  How could GOD let Jezebel commit such an atrocity? Killing Naboth just so she could give his vineyard to Ahab. King Ahab had everything he could possibly want; yet, he wanted the one thing he couldn’t get. WOW! We cry foul and unfair! Right?

How many of us are asking GOD that same question? Why GOD? Why am I going through this right now? Tell me why this is happening to my loved ones. What about our country? Here’s GOD’s answer to Job’s question!

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?  Tell me, if you know so much. 5 WHO determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? 6 What supports its foundations, and WHO laid its cornerstone 7 as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?   ~ JOB 38:4-6

What do we do when Evil Triumphs! We Trust in the LORD Our GOD!

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST,

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

When Evil (appears as though it) Triumphs! 🙂

TRUST! No Going Back!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant. ~ I Kings 19:21

Trust: No Going Back! Today, we begin to look at the end of The Prophet Elijah’s work, and the beginning of The Prophet Elisha’s work. This changing of the guard should encourage and motivate us to renew our commitments to our own call. Do you remember when you first heard the life-changing truth of the GOSPEL? It was the moment when you realized you were bankrupt and had nothing good to offer GOD. It is in that moment when we receive the free gift of salvation through the marvelous work of JESUS on the cross. We come as beggars with nothing to give, and then we leave as children of the KING! We are filled with the SPIRIT to help us walk worthily in this new life. JESUS called this moment being Born-Again. (John 3:3)

As we consider The Prophet Elisha’s actions that day, I am reminded of Cortez choosing to burn the ships in which he and his soldiers had travelled. Cortez burned and sank these ships to inspire the soldiers to be fully committed to the mission ahead. Cortez and his army arrived with one purpose: Conquer the Aztec People. Burning and sinking the ships allowed no going back, no retreat, and no surrender. That is the very definition of commitment!

We are more than conquerors! Here’s what JESUS tells HIS followers!

23 Then HE said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be MY follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow ME. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for MY sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?                                                                  Luke 9:23-25

Let’s recommit to that original promise we made: NO GOING BACK!

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

PS ~ Check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOVrOuKVBuY & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlNngcDNFS0