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This Sunday, July 2nd, we will celebrate our nation's freedom with our 9th annual Celebration of Freedom Concert and Fireworks Spectacular. There will be live music, praise and worship, activities for the kids, and, of course, a wonderful fireworks display all on the east lawn of Grace Church. If you live in the Tulsa area, put it on your calendar. I promise, you won't be disappointed!
We just had a group from our church leave yesterday morning to go to Thailand and China. They will be helping a missionary we (Grace Church) financially and prayerfully support each month. There are times God sends some to go while others are left behind to "stay by the stuff." But if we will pray for this mission team and the people God desires to reach through them, we will be rewarded equally. Why don't you take a moment today to pray not only for this team, but for others around the world who are proclaiming the Gospel. And pray for the hearts of those they will encounter to be prepared to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.
Wednesday - June 28, 2006 Today we are halfway through the work week. Many people have an opportunity to be strengthened and encouraged in the Word of God to help them get through the rest of the week. The demands of our jobs and responsibilities in our homes can have a tendency to generate stress. But God did not design us to handle stress. Jesus died so we can walk in peace, no matter what is going on in our lives. What we learn from the Word of God we receive in church will give us the "ammunition" we need to finish our week strong! Why don't you make the decision to go to church tonight or whenever your mid-week services are scheduled? I guarantee, it will make a difference!
Some people think when they get born again they will never have to face another problem in life. But until Jesus returns to the earth to rule and reign for a thousand years during His Millennial reign, we will be confronted with problems. The good news is Jesus died so we can overcome those problems. The Bible says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them ALL." So if you are being confronted with a problem today, just remember, it cannot overtake you if you will not allow it to, and Jesus has made you more than a conqueror!
We live in a wonderful nation-the best in the world as far as I'm concerned. There are many today who might not agree with me, but what makes our nation great is the freedom to worship God and to express our faith freely, without fear of punishment, harm, or even death. We are approaching Independence Day-the Fourth of July-a day when we remember America becoming a nation. I am proud to be an American. But as great as being an American is, it is nothing in comparison to being a child of God. Being a child of God gives us freedom far beyond what we experience as Americans-and it is a freedom that lasts forever!
Don't you love Friday's? It means the work week is over and the weekend begins. It means we have more time to relax and enjoy our family-more time to fellowship with our friends. I think those times have to be a little bit of heaven on earth. One day, in the not so distant future, we will have all eternity to fellowship with one another. Even better than that, we will be able to walk and talk with Jesus in that perfect place called Heaven! What a wonderful future we have to look forward to!
All of us have a position of authority or are under authority in some way. A teacher has authority over his or her students and yet is under the authority of the principal. A coach is in position of authority over his or her athletes, but is also under the authority of the owner of the team. But just because we hold a position of authority doesn't mean we have a right to lord it over someone, and being in submission doesn't mean someone should be allowed to run all over us. Jesus was our example of the exercise of proper authority and submission. He was the Son of God, yet humbled Himself by taking on human flesh and becoming a servant. Let's follow His example today.
Wednesday - June 21, 2006 Houston experienced tremendous flooding just recently. Ten inches of rain in a twenty-four hour period of time! People had to be rescued from their cars. I'm sure the people in that area wondered if the rain would ever stop! But God made a promise in His Word that He would never again allow the earth to be completely flooded as it was in the days of Noah-and He has kept His promise! What promise from God are you standing on today? Know that He will not fail you!
There are powerful weapons that exist in our world today. Weapons of mass destruction have reportedly been found in Iraq. North Korea is threatening to test a missile that could reach our western borders. But as powerful as these weapons may be, they do not compare to the power of God! It is greater than any power mankind can produce. The Bible says we have been given weapons, not natural weapons, but weapons that are mighty through God! I want to encourage you today to use the weapons you have been given.
Why not take today and make it a "praise day"? Turn off the country music, the oldies or whatever you normally listen to in the car, and plug in a praise CD. Start, continue, and end your day with praise to God. I will agree with you in prayer for something special to happen today as you put the praisers in front to lead you in battle. I will agree with you for the enemy to be confused and to turn on himself. I will also agree with you that everything good and bad that has happened to you for the past week will turn around and work for your good, your advancement. All this will come as a result of dedicating today to praising God. Please let me hear from you about the blessings that came your way.
As I walked through the airport the other day, I went by the TGIF restaurant. A sign over the bar said "In here, everyday is Friday." I thought about a sign for the church, "In here, everyday is Sunday." In other words, every day is the Lord's Day. With our God, every day is the same. He never changes. God never dreads Monday or looks forward to the weekend. Every day is heaven to our Savior. Every day with us should be a day to worship the Lord. Each day carries the possibility of great blessing, healing, financial gain, family unity, a promotion on the job or a chance to lead someone to salvation. It is also a day to expect the coming of Jesus for His Church. This is the day the Lord has made-let's be glad and rejoice in it!
While putting my sermons together, I have come to appreciate those who have worked for years to make Bible study easier. I use books and computer programs which people spent years compiling. I know how difficult it can be to write one book. I cannot imagine working on one edition, a lexicon, a Bible dictionary, a word study or commentary for a great deal of your life. You may think my sermons are all original, but I will give credit to those who have made my pastoral life and study easier, those who have written the study helps I use. Next time you read a book, or study a Bible subject, give the Lord thanks for those who made it possible for you to learn so quickly about the Bible!
Wednesday - June 14, 2006 I know what it is like to carry a burden for yourself or someone else. You feel weighted down in your heart and the circumstances occupy much of your thought life. You have a hard time shaking the need. The Old and New Testaments alike warn us about trying to carry our own burdens, no matter how spiritual they may seem. We are not built to handle the concern and worry of needs in our own life or in the lives of others. Psalms tells us to cast our burden on the Lord and He will sustain us. God cannot meet our needs if we continue to carry our own burdens. Peter tells us to place the whole of our burden on the Lord because He cares for us. It is an insult to the care and compassion of God for us to carry our own burdens. He cares for us so much He wants us to trust Him with our fears and worries. Give your burden to the Lord right now and don't take it back.
Since I have been ministering on the nation of Israel, I want to make praying for the peace of Jerusalem as more a part of my daily prayer life. Please make it a part of your own life too. When you see Israel on the news, or hear about the weapons of Iran, it will be comforting to know you have prayed for peace in that region. Your prayers, along with mine, will give God a means through which to work in that area of the world. I hope you will be able to join us in Washington in July to meet with our representatives in support of Israel. Make that meeting a part of your prayers too. I appreciate you standing with me.
I know many of you will be heading out on vacation over the next few weeks. That is what summer is for. I know you are already planning on what you will take - clothes, toiletries and, of course, swimsuits. What about a book from our church bookstore, the Word Shoppe? You may not be in church, but you should not forget your spiritual growth. I know I am a pastor, but even before I was a pastor, I always brought a spiritual book with me to study while on vacation and continue to do so. There is nothing like spiritual revelation and it seems so much easier while you are on holiday. There is so little to distract you. I know you will go by the mall and visit a few stores for clothes. If you live in the Tulsa area, why not stop by the Word Shoppe before you go and pick up a good book? If you don't live in Tulsa, why not go by your local Christian bookstore and do the same? Now you can really enjoy your vacation!
I am looking forward to church on Sunday. Because it is our annual Grubby
Sunday, the entire congregation will join together for one service, followed by fellowship and fun. To me, there is nothing like being with the people of Grace Church, worshiping God together. The praise and worship at our church cannot be equaled. I love to sense God's anointing enter the auditorium. It sets the stage for miracles, healings, and the preaching of God's Word! If you live in Tulsa and don't have church home, come join us. And even if you are just in the Tulsa area for a weekend visit, we would love to have you visit! I would personally love to have you with us to celebrate God's life in us!
In recent years, the world has been rocked by terrorism. Many terrorists cells have been broken up and many operatives arrested in the past few months and weeks. This is keeping Christians on their spiritual toes to keep their nation's safety up in prayer. It is a challenge to me to pray for the United States. Satan would love to destroy our nation through the terrorists. God will keep us intact through the prayers of His own children. Pray for the safety of our country. God bless America!
Have you ever eaten half of your hamburger and then remembered you did not pray for the meal? What is worse is to come to the end of a day and remember you have not fellowshipped with your Heavenly Father. Prayer should be second nature to us as Spirit filled believers. Praying in tongues is so simple to do and is commanded for us to do as part of the Christian life. Let's begin our day with prayer and sprinkle each circumstance, good or bad, with communion with our Father. Let prayer also be the last thing we do before we close our eyes to sleep. What a way to live and truly enjoy our life.
Pastor Bill Winston was our guest speaker this past Sunday
and I am still meditating on his powerful message encouraging the body of Christ
to rise up as the seed of Abraham to receive our inheritance as heirs of the
promise and all that it entails! We need to get our eyes off our circumstances
and back on the Word of God! I encourage you to go to the services
page on
our website to listen to Bill Winston's anointed message.
It will greatly encourage your faith and inspire you to take back what rightfully
belongs to you through Jesus Christ!
This is Grubby
Sunday week. I always love the service
that begins in the morning and lasts throughout the afternoon. It is
all day church! We just attach fellowship to the worship service and
the family of God gets to enjoy each other’s presence over lunch, rides
for the kids and games. If you have never experienced Grubby Sunday,
come in your jeans, shorts and casual clothes for a day you and your family
will truly enjoy your time. There is only one service this Sunday morning
(6/11) at 10:00 am. Even if you have to sit on the bleachers, you still
will not want to miss this service!
I have known Bill Winston for many years. He attended
Grace for awhile when he was enrolled at ORU. He now pastors a large
church of many thousands in Chicago. He is a gifted minister with a strong
emphasis in speaking to business leaders. His church trains many from
the congregation about beginning and managing a business. I have spoken
at his church and was blessed to see what God has done for him. Chicago
is blessed to have him and we will be blessed to have him at Grace this Sunday
night at 6:00. Don’t come to church alone. Bring someone.
A new workout facility went in on the corner near our house. It took the place of a grocery store, which went out of business two years ago. The parking lot is again full. I have to drive around the cars as I go to the mailbox to send out my bills. I wonder if Christians put in as much time doing spiritual exercises as so many do into physical exercise. Most people who go to the gym to workout put in at least an hour to benefit their body. How much would our spiritual life improve if we all spent an hour in prayer, praise, worship and study of God's Word? For bodily exercise profits little (a little while): but godliness is profitable in all areas. (1 Timothy 4:8)
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