Black Friday is madness!

Now don't get mad at me if you are a Black Friday supporter. I guess this won't bother you anyway cause you won't read it...you are at the mall! Many people are after what they believe to be "unbelievable sales". Stores offer a "crazy" deal to get you into the store. And though they only have a few of those, there hope is that while you are there you will buy something else, even if you miss the "crazy" sale. When catching a mouse we use this same philosophy with cheese and a mouse trap!
I am always amazed by the publicity and hype that comes regarding Black Friday. To imagine camping out in order to get a laptop computer seems strange to me. 57 million people will go shopping today and I am certain that this makes the retailers happy. In our town, one lady even went into labor while waiting in line! Now that's madness!

We have all been very frugal with our income and our spending this year. It appears that we may be turning our economy around. And we want the best possible deal on all of the things that we must have for Christmas! I get that. But what if we were to treat this Friday like every other one. Sleep in, enjoy time with the family and send the retailers a message. Tell them that you will buy on your terms not theirs! I know, I'm on a soap box! But I think that if we stayed away from the stores on this weekend, there would be even more prices dropping for ALL of us. You, the shopper, has the power so don't forget that!

On a positive note, whatever you do with Black Friday, just be safe and act like the faith-filled believer you are. The Lord is watching over you and will direct you to the people and places you need to be. Turn the madness into gladness! Have a blessed weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving...whether you read this forward, thanksgiving or backwards, giving thanks...it means the same thing. Saying thank you can never be taken for granted. It's not just good manners, it should be as natural to us as breathing!

Each and everyone of us has something to be thankful for today, from single parents to the widow, from the soldier to the retiree, there IS a reason to be thankful. God is always looking out for you best interest and though you may find yourself in a rough season, now that God is taking all of your challenges and difficulties and blending them together to make you something special!

Let the JOY out today. Pray for all of those around you. And regardless of what is going on in your life, GIVE THANKS and just see what THANKSGIVING can do for YOU!

The "Posse"

"For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." Psalm 91:11

Billy Graham once said that he thought based on this scripture, that you and I had at least two angels assigned to help us. To picture in my mind that there are two divine presences surrounding me every day, guarding me when necessary and watching over me is quite a comfort. The Bible says they will lift us up, they will keep us from stumbling. Why even if I make an innocent mistake and brush up against something that is harmful, because of this "posse" I will be safe!

One of our "miracle members" at The Landing, Darrell,(rescued from a terrible crash) is being used by God in this season to preach the Good News of the Gospel and wake up people that are spiritually sleepy. A few weeks ago, he was invited to a city about an hour away and was ready to go. Suddenly, a group of folks from the church showed up at the church to caravan to that city and be the "amen corner" for their brother in Christ. Darrell was so excited and when he testified about this incredible night he called them his "posse". Darrell was surrounded by a group of folks whose only mission was to support him, help him and make sure he had everything he needed. A few weeks later we visited a home for folks that were retired and once again, the "posse" was all there! It feels really good to know that we have a "posse"!

Today, we are surrounded by angelic beings that have a mission from God...watch over my children and guard them in all their ways. When we start to understand that, we are no longer afraid and timid. We are filled with power, love and sharp minds that make the right choices. The "posse" is summoned when you and I live in God.
Today , if God dwells in us this posse walks with us!

The Grace of Giving

Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.

Ever since I was a little boy and went to church with my parents I have heard preachers talk about the tithe. It was always defined as giving ten percent and God would bless our life. Every place I went an offering was taken. For nearly 20 years the music ministry I worked for passed a bucket to cover expenses for the concerts we produced. And all the time I was missing a great truth about God's economy.

The longer I am in the church the more I notice my focus not being so much on the percentage as the participation. I have "tested" the Lord and He has always shown up in a huge way. At the church I founded, The Landing,we don't take up offerings. We lay out a buffet of God's Word and ask the people to give whatever is laid upon their hearts. As they leave they place their gifts in boxes at the doors of the church. No bucket is passed and miraculously, still no need goes unmet! There have been times I wondered how we could make it and God always proved that He was in control and those windows that this scripture talks about flew open.

I think that God wants us to learn how to be generous givers. To allow our giving of time, talent and treasure to be natural so that He can supply supernaturally. He brings abundance to us when we live this way so that we can be used to meet the needs of others and find our own needs met along the way. He tells us that our crops will not be devoured and our livelihood will always be fruitful if we learn the grace of giving. If all we focus on is a percentage, we can miss the person that God wants to bless through what we have. I know times are difficult in this country and I have to be honest...I have never seen more people blessed and more giving than in the church this year when it was supposed to be terribly difficult. It has shown me very clearly that God's economy IS NOT tied to the worlds. God supplies ALL of our need according to His riches in glory.

Tithing is not an option...it is a natural extension of our worship and should flow from our lives easily. As we become generous givers and practice the grace of giving, God will throw open those windows and pour out all that is necessary to meet our needs and the needs of those connected to us. Our church is truly being called BLESSED in this hour and I am astonished at what God is doing for His people through the efforts of people that stand on the promises of God and trust Him. We not only are experiencing a delightful land but a delightful Landing!

Practice the grace of giving today. Maybe a meal, a coffee or just some friendship and conversation. Perhaps God will cause you to make a donation to someone in need and bess them in a much bigger way. Don't focus on the percentage...focus on the person. What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!

A Defining Moment

This is a week to practice the thanks-living lifestyle I have been studying about. As I read the story of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20 yesterday at The Landing, I was reminded of the power of thanksgiving. He was about to be invaded by a large army of adversaries and in the midst of this defining moment, he prayed. Others may have quit and walked away but He asked God what to do and he stayed focused. The end result was an army of priests that went out before his army praising God and then a choir that learned an 8 word song and sand it from the top of their lungs: praise the Lord for His mercy endures forever! This thanksgiving brought about the annihilation of ALL of those that were against Jehoshaphat. In fact, it took them 3 days to carry away the things that God provided for them in this divine ambush.
Life is filled with moments that will define you or deflate you. This weekend, I was experienced such a moment as a fellow Tulsa minister passed away; his life taken prematurely by lymphoma. Pastor Billy Joe Daughtery of Victory Christian Center was only 57 years old and I was angered by the fact that someone so young who was doing such good things was taken from us so unexpectedly. As a minister, though conflicted over this news, I knew that God orchestrates all of our steps and our stops. The moment defined me as I remembered the wonderful opportunity I had this year to be somewhat involved with his ministry and some new television programs called "360Life: A look at faith from every angle". I thanked the Lord for some moments to watch this wonderful man of God in his element, speak with him, and experience what many of his followers already knew: this was a true man of God. Pastor Daugherty was the real deal!
Today, from the canopy of heaven, Billy Joe sees a new angle of faith that I have not yet realized. He has truly gone full circle. One day, we will all have the chance to come full circle...ashes to ashes, dust to dust, and if we have done all we can do, we will hear the words that he heard early Sunday morning: well done, well done!
Don't let life's sudden disappointments and tragedies deflate you: let these supernatural moments define you. God worked out a wonderful plan for Billy Joe ands God has something very special for YOU as well. Keep your chin up, your eyes fixed on Jesus and run this human race in such a way as to win the prize...just like Pastor Daugherty!

May God bless all of the family and friends and may the ministry experience supernatural success as you keep running and fighting for the faith! You are blessed by God for such a time as this!