The Serving:  I know many of you who know me well aren’t surprised by this, but today’s serving of E-Manna starts out talking about heroes from Comic Books…

 I think, if you were to look at all the superheroes in comicbookdom today, you would find that at least 85 % of them wear a disguise to differentiate between their everyday persona and the evil-fighting, world saving alter ego.  Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, Diana Prince, Hal Jordan, Barry Allen, John Jones, Ray Palmer, Olliver Queen, and Carter Hall… These names are the “real” names for heroes we have (mostly) all heard of: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, The Martian Manhunter, The Atom, Green Arrow and Hawkman, members of the Justice League of America.

 The question is, “Why”?  Why do these heroes have an often timid and meek alter ego to hide their exploits behind?  Many answers come to mind including safety for their loved ones, a way to retreat and rest between adventures, and even possible fear for their own life and existence.  But to me, the most plausible reason for having a secret identity is the opportunity to have some humility in their lives.  I mean, the bright colored costumes don’t really hide their actions and constantly being sought after for praise and thanks would actually take a toll on even the most flamboyant of characters.  No, I really think that the concept of alter egos is one to allow these heroes the opportunity to live a normal life in which no one knows that it was Hal Jordan who kept the meteor from hitting the earth, a chance to escape the limelight and just be “Hal” instead of Green Lantern. 

 Now I know that these are fictional characters.  I know that there aren’t really any superheroes in the world, or are there?  I know we have all heard of stories of someone rushing into a burning building to rescue someone only to fade into the crowd following the save in an effort to not be forced into the public’s eye.  Or what about the woman who quietly goes about cooking some delicious food to leave it quietly for a family in need;  this is the very definition of a hero. 

 Let me tell you, I know superheroes!  I know of people who quietly spend time on their knees praying for lost loved ones, working to clean up churches and grounds to make them more accommodating for visitors, and in my own life, when we were going through a life crisis, a group of people taking time away from their busy lives to finish a bunch of yard work that I had neither the time or energy to complete.  All of these people do these jobs “under the radar” in an effort to not draw attention to themselves.

 The Biblical direction for this? 

 First of all, Christ Himself;  Philippians 2: 8 tells us, “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—  even death on a cross!”  Get that picture, friend.  Jesus, though he was God in flesh lived a very humble life.  He didn’t purposely draw attention to Himself.  His goal was to direct others to God.  Time after time, when Christ performed mighty miracles He gave instructions to “Go and don’t tell anyone what has happened”… He purposely kept the spotlight off Himself but did more good than anyone in history.

 We are also commanded in Scripture to live lives characterized by humility.  Colossians 3:12 says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  Let me tell you from experience, when this is the way that you “dress” in the morning, the day is not only far more satisfying, God will honor it by giving you opportunities to be His missionary in His work during the day.

 He promises us that He will empower us with supernatural “robustness” if humility is a character of our life.  Psalms 149:4 tells us, “For the LORD takes delight in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.“

 Dear Friends,  I can speak from experience that the times that I stepped out in my own power and pride typically resulted in a very humbling experience.  I challenge each of you to allow humility to be the daily flavor of your life.  It is truly the right thing!

 Let’s Pray:  Dearest Father, we thank You that You have provided us with the absolutely perfect example of humility in Your Son, Jesus.  He lived a life of power but deferred all honor and glory to You and, in so doing, He guided and directed people to You and has changed more lives in history than any other.  Please help me this day to truly understand and live humility in my every step, every thought, every word and, in so doing, to be Your witness to a lost and hurting people.  We love You and Your Son, in whose Name we pray, Amen.

I was driving back, about 6-7 hours, from Peoria, IL on a business trip.  I was driving along the interstate enjoying an absolutely beautiful day when I saw the horrible sight of brake lights on the highway.  Traffic was quickly slowing to a standstill.  I don’t know about each of you, but when I’m on the interstate I really want to drive the speed limit (or maybe a little above… yes, I know it isn’t right but it is safer to move along with the traffic, at least that’s my argument…).  At any rate, the traffic ended up coming to a complete standstill to the point that people were exiting their car and walking out in the median in an effort to see what was going on.  After 30 or 40 minutes emergency vehicles came up the shoulder and, of course, some folks crossed the median and headed back the other way.  Finally after about an hour and 10 minutes traffic began moving again and all the cars began to merge to the right lane.  Most folks followed the direction of others and patiently waited and merged over..  But then, all of a sudden, a tiny Geo “SUV” went flying down the left lane oblivious to every one else and forced its way into the traffic at the furthest-most point.  Well friend, immediately my blood boiled as I became furious at the selfishness of this person who clearly believed that whatever they were doing was more important than anyone else on the road.

I sat there in my car and planned what I was going to do.  I was about 25-35 cars back when this car merged and went through the traffic point (there was a fairly serious accident which was the cause for the slowdown).  I knew that my big Trailblazer with its 350 Horse-Power engine was more than capable of catching up to that Geo and its 45 Hamster-powered engine.  I made it past the traffic point and began to apply the heavy foot.  After about 6 or 8 miles I saw the offending driver up in the distance.  I had planned to signal to the driver to pull over at which time I would “explain” to the driver of the wrongness of his/her driving ant their offense to me all all the other folks that were wronged.  Finally I pulled up alongside of this powder-blue vehicle and saw that the driver was oblivious to anything and everything.  He was about 65-70 years old, a cigarette burning from his pursed lips, windows up and his seat belt across his body.  Then I noticed the saddening truth… there was a 4 or 5 year-old child, a little girl I think, standing on the front passenger seat with no seat belt, trapped in that smoke chamber moving along the highway at 70+ miles per hour.  I realized at that very moment that this individual was selfish beyond any capacity I could believe.  His every though, every act, every aspect of his life was focused on his own needs and satisfaction of his every whim.  He didn’t care about any of the other drivers on the road nor did he even care about his own granddaughter.  I was absolutely stunned;  I truly couldn’t understand this individual’s thoughts…

Immediately God spoke to me and changed my heart as to my course of action.  I immediately began praying for this driver as well as the beautiful young lady who was suffering in the smoke chamber as well as for her safety in that car as he drove her without a seat belt.  I actually wept for both of them as I prayed to the point that I turned off at the next exit to compose myself and get a bottle of water.  I haven’t been able to get that picture out of my head since… That poor little girl with her curly brown hair and dirty face has resonated in my heart.and has driven me to prayer daily.

You see, friend, that man’s example is completely the opposite of what we are called to do by  Christ and The Scriptures.  Of course, we can look at “The Golden Rule”, Matthew 7:12 says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” In other words, it is saying that we need to treat others exactly the way that we feel we should be treated.  The Bible also tells in Philippians 2: 3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” That chapter  continues on to give us the Perfect Example, that of Christ when it says in verses 5 through 8 when it says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus; Who, being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross.”.

Do you get the picture?  We are to follow the example of Christ and daily die to self, that is, put our own needs, desires and wants to death in deference to others.  That type of sacrificial love will change others lives by demonstrating Christ in action.  How much better would our lives be as a result?  There would be no more violence, no more stealing, no more slander, no more vice.

So I ask you, can we change the world?  We may not be able to control others but if we demonstrate Christ’s sacrifice, others have a much more likely chance of them imitating that behavior and living for others.  An old Christian song, “If Each One Reached One” gave us the blueprint by which we can turn this world over for Him.

That is my goal, to reach at least one person every week through sacrificial living and demonstrating Christ-love in my very life.  Are you with me?

Let’s Pray: Dear Father, Thank You for giving us the Perfect Example in the person of Your Son.  Through His sacrifice we can live our lives in such a way as to demonstrate His example and, by doing so, helping them on the path to an eternity with You.  Please help me look for opportunities to give of myself, my possessions, my time, my love without hesitation.  Please encourage each person reading this E-Manna to do the same.  For we pray these things in the Holy Name of Christ, Amen.

The thing I remember well was how difficult it became each time I added another object into the mix.  I was pretty fortunate that they were bean bags and not fine china as they hit the ground alot of times.  After a (long) while I would be at the point of rarely dropping them as I practiced.  And it is important to add that as I was learning the next level the stress factor would also increase incrementally.  But try as I might, I could never get the sixth bag into the air.  It seemed as if there was a limit to my juggling abilities.

You may be wondering why I am writing about juggling… Well, if you noticed, it has been about 2 -3 weeks since my last E-Manna.  The reason is, I was trying to juggle too many “balls” in my life.  Between work, Church, Martial Arts, Performing a wedding, being a Grandpa, repairing cars, winterizing the pool, etc., well, you get the picture.  The problem is, while I was doing alot of things, it seemed as if I did few of these things well.  The primary reason was I failed to prioritize and choose to do the things that mattered first, devoting my heart to doing them well and completely.

This, of course, takes me to the story of Mary and Martha with Christ. In Matthew 10: 38-42 we read, “

 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

    “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.””

 Each time I read this passage I am convicted of the busy-ness that I allow my life to be characterized by.  I regularly have people marvel and comment at my life, wondering how I accomplish all the things I am doing.  The truth is, I do so, but at what cost?  Is it really the right thing to do so many things and sacrifice the real and true things that should be done?  What about health and stress?  Look at Martha’s comment again… She was distressed because there was so much to do and she was compelled to do it all.   It was even worse because she was sure that her sister, Mary, should have been devoted to helping her with the cooking and cleaning and, since she wasn’t helping, it was a perceived personal attack on her. 

Are we like this sometime?  I mean take a step back and really evaluate your life.  Are you focused on the things that, according to Christ, really matter?  Are you focused on reaching a lost world for Him, or loving one another, or being the husband, wife, or child that you should be to honor Him? 

Friends, I am in the process of reprioritizing my life so that I will be available for Christ and His promptings.  I ask you to join with me in this reprioritizing both in my life and, if needed, yours as well.  Be faithful to pray for His guidance, be encouraging to one another to keep priorities, and if you see me going astray, please help give me an attitude adjustment!

Let’s Pray:  Dearest Father, we thank You for Your guidance in our lives.  Though we allow the hustle and bustle of the world to overtake our lives in such a way that we don’t focus on Your commands and precepts.  Please help us to keep our hearts and minds on what You know to be important and help me to be faithful to honoring You in all I say, do, and think.  For I pray these things in the Holy Name of Christ, Amen

It really got me to thinking… we often take advice or direction from sources that may not get us where we need to be in our lives just because it is an “accepted” source.  We listen to celebrities, politicians, news sources, even our own family and friends can lead us astray.  Now I am not saying to not go to these people for advice and to listen to what they say.  However, what I’m saying is that we need to be very careful about filtering advice, even from “Godly” friends or counsel, through the filter of God’s Word and Spirit.

Proverbs 14:12 tells us, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” You see, we can even be led astray by our own desires and wants.  I know someone dear to me who is a smoker (yes, I said it… I am very much against smoking but still love the person – just hate the act!) who is constantly ill with issues like bronchitis and coughs and colds.  They will medicate and go seek medical treatment at doctors and hospitals yet will complain of not being able to breath or sleep and then go “fire one up” immediately after a huge coughing fit.  I just don’t understand… but it truly brings the Scripture to life before my eyes.

So what are we to do?  Psalms 119, verse 105 tells us, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” God’s Word is the only thing here on the earth that can truly direct and guide us.  The words “lamp” and “light” make me think of the times where I was in an unfamiliar place at night desperately needing some light so that I knew each step was safe and secure.  God’s Word can be that for us in any situation.  By using the Scriptures as a filter for the advice we receive and then stepping out in faith through what we receive from it, we will find out of the faithfulness of God and His Word.  Not sure what to do about a job situation?…  Consult His Word. Relationship issues?…  Go to the Scriptures.  It really doesn’t matter what the situation is, God’s Word will provide the direction you (and I) need.

Now notice I said that the Bible is the only thing on the earth that will give us sure direction?  There is one other source that we can go to for guidance; that is God (and His Spirit) Himself.   Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;   in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” The Scriptures are pretty clear here… Trust in God with everything and don’t let our own “understanding” of a situation to cloud the true and pure wisdom that He has and is.  The application of this is pretty simple,  Pray and Wait!…Wow, I said simple but waiting can be pretty hard!  We are unfortunately a people of immediate gratification and instant satisfaction.  (More on that another time)  But when we wait on God’s response then we will be able to step through the minefield of life with supernatural guidance and make it through any situation.

So friend, the rest is up to you.  Let God’s Word and His Godly counsel be your guide every day in every situation.  Remember that He loves us so much that there is no decision or situation too trivial or too serious for Him to intervene.  In fact, as a loving Father, He desperately desires to and is pleased when we go to Him with even the “little things.”

Let’s Pray:  Dearest Father,  Thank You for Your guidance in our lives.  Even in the times when we feel independent and “go it alone” You are still there keeping Your loving touch on us.  But when we stop and consult You and Your Word, Your faithfulness shines forth illuminating our path with Your undeniable love.  Please help us to be faithful to consult our Abba Father in every aspect of our lives.  For we pray these things in the Name of the Holy One, Christ Jesus, Amen.

Of all the concepts of the Christian faith, one of the most truly confused is that of sacrifice.  You see, sacrifice is as much attitude as it is content.  If we do a great act of sacrifice with all the wrong motivation or focus then the act of service is only good to us or the object of that sacrifice, not to Christ.  For example, I know an individual that goes on foreign mission trips to countries all over the world on a regular basis.  However, to hear them talk about it before or after is to hear continual complaints about how bad it is for them; lack of showers, irregular meals, difficult travel, etc.  While all these things are true, these things are all temporal and are matter of personal comfort.  They don’t really impact on the proposed focus of the trip.  Rather, the focus should be on the opportunity to be Christ’s hands and feet, no matter the discomfort, in an effort to reach people with an eternal message of hope.  Look at Matthew 6: 1-4 where it talks about false versus true sacrifice when it says, “Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding. When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—’play actors’ I call them— treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.”

So how, as a flawed human (that’s all of us, friends) do I make sacrifice real, genuine, and acceptable in the eyes of Christ?  Simple, follow His example.  You see, as God in man’s skin, Jesus knew all about sacrifice on a real level.  He knew what was in store for Him on the cross yet chose to go anyway without grumbling or trying to make grandiose His act of sacrifice.  The Scriptures show us that time and time again He went to the cross silently and willingly.  When He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemene for relief from His impending death He pulled away from His disciples and went off on His own. When He was confronted by Pontius Pilate, Ciaphis and Herod He stood silent and didn’t draw attention to who He was and what He was about to do.  The end result? Sacrifice that was acceptable to God the Father and resulted in a true, real, and forever victory. 

Friends,  Please let me encourage you to follow this example and let Romans 12:1 be a guide to you when it says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual (or reasonable) act of worship.”  This will help you to be the servant that God wants and requires and will allow what you do to be a pleasing offering to Him.  Believe it or not, it will also make it so much sweeter for you.

Let’s Pray:  Dear Father, please examine my heart and my motivations in everything I do.  Please help me to keep my focus on loving those that You have placed before me with the Love of Christ and in so doing, to be honest and genuine in my acts of service.  Please guide me to be a servant that is focused on looking for opportunities to sacrifice of my time and resources in such a way that I model Your sacrifice.  Please let others see Christ in every aspect of my life.  For I pray these things in the name of the One who sacrificed all for me in Love,  Christ Jesus, Amen.

The Serving:  I am stuck in Memphis.  My flight home from this business trip is delayed and I am sitting here wishing I could be home.  I travel alot and miss alot of what is going on at home.  It makes me really long to be home.  To be there to enjoy time with my family and friends and to do the things that a “normal” person who doesn’t travel 80% of their work week can do.  And yet, I have been given a responsibility to accomplish a job, a task for which I have been educated, trained, and equipped to accomplish. 

But it doesn’t make me long for home any less.  The desire to be with my loved ones is strong and real.

And then it struck me… As a believer, that is how my heart should be.  Longing to be home with my Savior; sitting and thinking and dreaming about what my life will be when I board the “flight” to be home, my real home, the home of my adopted Father.  Yes, as a believer my daily prayer is a prayer of longing for this when I pray the words from Revelation 22: 17 and 20 when it says,

“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him Revelation come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life….He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

Yet, as I pray this prayer of longing and hope I also know that God has trained me and equipped me to accomplish a specific task, the task of sharing His glory to a world that resides in darkness.  For me to sit and wait, only thinking of the future of eternity is actually a very selfish way to live.  I mean, the right thing for me to do is to share the joy and hope that He has given me with those around me.   Look at the example from the Book of Acts, Chapter 1, verses 10-11 where the disciples had just watched Jesus ascend into the “clouds” and were still sitting there in amazement.  The Scriptures read, “They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”"

You see, the Angels of the Lord chided them into stopping their passive life of longing and into a life of active service to the Lord.  And what was the response?  They immediately went forward with the command from Christ to fulfill the Great Commission.

So, how about you??? Are you sitting around looking into the sky, longing for the day of Christ’s return?  There is nothing wrong with that provided that it isn’t the only thing you do… We need to get busy!  Let the Spirit move you to accomplish the things that He has appointed, trained, and equipped you for.  And do it with gusto, remembering that He knew, before He placed you in that place, that all was possible through Him!

Let’s Pray:  Father,  Help us to look at the place that we are in and look for You at work there.  Help us to seek for the opportunity to plug into that work and accomplish, for You and through You, the things that bring You glory.  And while we do, help our hearts to be longing to be with You on the day we are called into Your presence.  For we pray these things in the Name of Christ,  Amen

1 Cor 5: 1-10 really drives this point home when it says, “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 

The picture it pai

The Serving:  Joy… Such a small word but with such huge expectations.  I really believe we get the whole thing confused.  We think joy is the feeling that we get when things are going great, the euphoric sensation in which we think that it just can’t get any better.  Life is sweet and we are sure it is because we are being faithful in following Christ and He is blessing our socks off.  Maybe it is the feeling when you have just had a child or, even better yet, a grandchild; maybe that big promotion at work or that new sports car you have always dreamed of… this is how we define Joy.

But what if it is so much more than that?  What if Joy is more than a great feeling; maybe more than a sensation of happiness beyond belief.  In fact, maybe it doesn’t have to do with happiness at all.  What if Joy is the satisfaction of being right in the middle of God’s will, no matter what the situation?  What I’m talking about here is resting in His hands no matter what is going on around you.  It is a “peace that passes all understanding” (Phil 4:7); a sense of completeness and satisfaction with all you have and all you don’t have.  Joy is when the Holy Spirit has filled you until “your cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5).  It is an understanding that all your needs are met and even a couple of your wants have been provided.

Maybe you aren’t in a situation that the world thinks you should have joy in… Maybe you have had a measure of trial or suffering and things look a bit grim.  Perhaps the death of a loved one, a financial hardship, an injury or accident.  In other words, in the world’s eyes you have been dealt a bad hand.  Especially in these times we can have Joy even if we can’t have happiness.  James 1:2-4 tells us, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” What this is telling us is that we need to make a conscious effort to see the Joy, the complete fulfillment in Christ, no matter how bitter the trial may seem.  This is a concept that is completely lost to those who don’t have Christ as Lord and Savior.

You see, “Consider” is also translated as “see very clearly”.  Trials are merely the mechanism by which He helps us achieve Spiritual Maturity.  I’m not saying it’s easy or pleasant.  Sometimes when things seem darkest it is just His way of showing us the contrast of His beautiful light!  And here is probably the best part;  It is in these times that God puts His Believers in our paths to serve as a source of strength, hope, and love.  He gives us the opportunity to let others bless us and, in so doing, receive blessings upon themselves.

Dear friends, please follow James challenge to us in Chapter 4, verse 4 when he wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Note that he didn’t say “Rejoice when things are going well” or “Rejoice when you have no trials”.  Rather it says “Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS”.  In fact, Believer, I would tell you that when you are in a trial it is then that you should Rejoice in the Lord knowing full well that He has ultimately the best for you and that He is not finished with you as of yet!

Let’s Pray:  Dearest Father,  I think it is so beautiful that You have provided encouragement to us when things see dark in our eyes because Your eyes see no dark; everything is illuminated and You know the wonderful things You have in store for us.  Our lives are a book in which You have already read the end and You are excited to share it with us because it is good!

Please help us this day to trust in You in all things and to make Joy and Rejoicing the tenants of our life based on complete faith and trust in Your good and perfect will.  Help us to be your peace emissaries to this world, spreading Your message of love, forgiveness and complete fulfillment to a lost and wandering people.  For all these things we pray in the name of the Completer, the Fulfiller, the Reconciler, The Friend, Jesus Christ,  Amen

The Serving:  Recently I was going about my normal job as an engineer in the oil industry.  I support a number of field sales representatives in industrial and commercial lubricant sales.  It takes me all over to different manufacturing facilities making all sorts of products.  This particular day I was in a food manufacturing facility to which I had never been.  My discussion was with a maintenance coordinator concerning some potential areas of improvement within the plant.  While outlining my recommendations I asked a question common to my job, “Are you the person that would be responsible for implementing these recommendations?  His response was simple, “No, that would be the maintenance manager, my boss.”  I then asked, “Well, is it possible for me to go and talk with him so I can lay out an implementation plan and get his buy-in?”  His response this time was an answer that really started me thinking, “Well, you need to go through me to get to him;  no one gets to talk to him without going through me first.”

As a field technical engineer this answer was a little frustrating as I don’t like duplicating my efforts and I saw that I was going to half to convince two separate individuals of my recommendations.  However, the more I spoke with the maintenance coordinator the more I realized that my primary job was to show him of the benefits to his plant and he would then communicate to his boss who would then implement the program.

As I was walking to the car to drive to my next stop it hit me; the situation I was in was actually very close to my spiritual requirements.  You see, as much as I would like to go directly to God to plead my case for eternal life, according to His Word, there is a mediator that I need to go to who will plead the case for me.  John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He is there and is more than willing to listen to what is going on in my life and heart so He can go to the Father and speak to Him on my behalf.

It is not by any other man that God will respond;  No priest, no rabbi, no pastor, no cleric.  We have the honor of going directly to the Source, God’s only Son, who knows my heart and even more important who carries the stripes by which my own failures are covered and erased in God’s sight.  No other religion in the world provides that same promise/ opportunity.

As in the last serving I wrote about my own testimony of how I cam to know Christ, I think it is very important that all understand that this truth, that Christ is the only way to the Father, is non-negotiable.  You may have lived an awesome life, one which has been recognized by people as being moral and even edifying to your fellow man / woman.  However nothing that we do of our own accord carries any weight with God, the Father.  It is only Christ’s sacrifice and His pleading before God for our eternal soul which can move God’s heart to one of forgiveness for our sins.

Friends,  what or who are you placing your trust in?  In your own good works or the works of others on your behalf?  Or perhaps you have placed your trust in the One who gave all on your behalf… It is my prayer that each one who reads this would understand and believe this firm truth.

Let’s Pray:   Dear Father,  Thank You for Your Word and the Truths written therein… When we apply these Truths to our lives we are right in the middle of the path You have in store for us.  Please help me to trust only in You and not in anything I bring to the relationship.  Help my heart to be humble and my worship of You to be genuine and natural.  For I pray these things in Christ’s Holy Name,  Amen

Greeting Friends!  Today’s E-Manna is actually a bit of “Homework” from the Pastor of our church, Pastor Brad Mitchell… His sermon yesterday was dealing with sharing your faith and, as a challenge, he asked each of us to write down our testimony, that is, how and encounter with Christ has changed our life… Here goes!

The Serving: I would love to be able to tell you that the first time I heard the Gospel of Christ my life was changed forever but that wouldn’t be the truth.  In fact, I know in my heart that my life wasn’t really changed until God got hold of my heart through a series of terrible events in my life… But let me start at the beginning…

I was invited by my sister, Penny, and one of my dear friends Phil Lynn, to come to Thomas Road Baptist Church in Phoenix, AZ. back when I was in high school.  While attending that first day, at the end of the sermon there was an invitation and Phil asked me if I wanted to go down front.  I agreed, not really understanding what I was doing, and repeated a prayer.  At that time I thought I was a Christian but, to be honest, there wasn’t any change in my life.  You see, I was always a nice guy; the type of guy that people seemed like they wanted around.  I was always ready to help people with whatever they needed and treat people with kindness and respect. But the reason I did it was because of the way I was brought up, a morally strong person.

I graduated from high school and went on to college, continuing to be active in church and church-related activities but always having this gnawing feeling that something was missing.  You see, I could easily go out with the guys and do things which weren’t right on Saturday night and then wake up Sunday morning like there wasn’t anything wrong.  I was not truly convicted of my sin and thought that if only I did a little bit more I would be ahead of the game and God would accept me because I worked so hard and was a nice guy.

I graduated college and went off to the military.  While serving in Germany my life continued the same empty pattern.  I was trying to keep the scale balanced in my favor through my involvement in God-based activities while living any way I wanted during the other times.  I married and started a family.  Then, in 1987, something happened that would change my life forever.  My little daughter, Sarah Jean, was born and after only 3 months of life she passed away due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).  My life crashed around me…

As I had been in the field for most of her life I felt I couldn’t continue as a soldier in the US Army.  I began to look for other careers that would allow me to be at home more.  I used my engineering degree to go and work in the oil industry.  After a 6-month long training course I took a job in Knoxville, TN.  About a week into the move, through some very strange circumstances, I was invited to a revival at West Park Baptist Church.  Following the Sunday evening service the Evangelist, Bro. Ron Comfort, stayed after to answer some of my questions and that evening I became a child of God.

The difference? No longer did I serve to be seen.  Now I was driven by a hunger to know Him better and to share with others what Christ had done for me.  You see, the sacrifice that He made for me became real and tangible.  I truly understood about my sinful heart and how nothing I could do would be enough to pay the debt that I owed.  Each act of service ever since has been nothing but an act of obedience and love to a Lord who loved me so very much more.

I can’t tell you that I was someone saved from a life of drugs and alcohol or some crime-filled life to a clearly changed person.  But the change is just as real; as the Scriptures says in 2d Corithians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! ¹⁸All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation”.  I am a new creation whether you can see it or not on the outside.  I’ve been washed of my sins by the blood of Christ and I am no longer myself; I am now a part of Him.

Now, why did I call this  “My Story – HIS Story”… It’s simple;  my story doesn’t matter at all without HIS Story first;  His birth, His sinless life, His horrible death, His amazing resurrection… It was HIS Story that gave me the truly happy ending to my story and mine isn’t even over yet!

How about you, friend?  Do you know for sure that if you were to die today that you would be taken to the Arms of God thru Christ?  If not, please respond back to me and let me share the Good News of how you can know for sure.  Let me help you to reconcile with a loving and just God and wipe away all doubt and anguish.  I can absolutely guarantee that you will be glad you did…

Let’s Pray:  Heavenly Father;  I am so very thankful for the sacrifice that You made for me to give the greatest gift that I could ever imagine, Eternal Life with You.  Help me to be faithful sharing with my beloved friends and family about the change in my life.  You are faithful beyond belief to love and provide far beyond my thoughts and dreams.  Please let my life reflect the true joy that can only come from having a relationship with You.  And Lord, I pray for a fire of revival to burn brightly among those that have read these words for each of us to live a life worthy of Your calling.  For these things I pray in the Name of Christ, Amen.

The Serving:  For those of you that know me you know that I work pretty hard at my job.  I travel 40+ weeks of the year often 3-4 days per week.  It is tiring and does get old.  I’ve often thought about changing professions in an effort to reduce the travel and wear on my body.  But I also know that I have been driven to be the very best at my job for a number of reasons.  I know that I have thrived on the stress and appreciation from customers to do a good job.  And while I still want to do a good job, it now has a different meaning.  I want to do the best I can because I am commanded to do everything in my life as a commitment to Christ.  However, I don’t feel driven to do the work, rather I want to do my best but not sacrifice the Eternal work of my Heavenly Father.  To that end, I have been praying often about His promptings.

Yesterday before I left on a plane for Atlanta I spent some time in prayer asking God to direct me to someone to minister to.  While sitting in the airport a young flight attendant flying on the same flight was headed home.  As she passed me she made a comment about how much she liked my T-Shirt (I was wearing a Green Lantern shirt!).  That lead to a pleasant discussion about a number of topics.  When they called us to board the plane, I was both pleased and surprised to find out that we were seated together.  We continued our talk as we flew.

We had breached a number of topics when we began to discuss life challenges and she openly shared with me about a particularly difficult trial she was in the middle of.  We discussed it for a while and I attempted to provide some Bible-based discussion about how she should proceed.  I then asked her if it would be ok for me to pray with her.  We bowed on that plane and prayed for God’s intervention into her life with peace and comfort and wisdom available only from Him.  When the prayer was ended I was confident that we both had an encounter with God on that plane.  I could sense a peace in my own heart that could only be described as His Spirit filling me and taking away my own anguish.  Her smile, bright as it was before took on an even more wonderful glow, clearly demonstrating His indwelling in her as well.

Now I share this not to take credit for being Mr. Spiritual Man, but rather to point out that God was faithful to answer my request for an opportunity to minister.  There was no doubt to either of us that He gently placed both of us in that situation so as to allow me to minister to her and through that she (and Christ) to me.  As a dear friend of mine used to say, “My God has never said “Oops!”"

John 15: 15-17 tells us of Christ’s view of this situation to His disciples and to us as believers.  It says, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.”  He was very clear that when we ask in His Name and for His Purpose of loving others that He would faithfully provide. 

You know, the Scriptures tell us of Satan’s plan for the world.  In 1 Peter 5:8 it says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  In another translation it describes Satan’s prowling as “eyes going to and fro”.  You see, he is looking around with open eyes for lives to destroy.  How much more should we, as followers of The Way, be going with eyes to and fro looking for opportunities to be the hands, feet, lips and heart of Christ to a hurting world? 

I hope that each of you who have read this today are challenged as I have been challenged… Let’s stop talking and singing about “loving like Jesus” and start doing it.  Pray for opportunities and then go forward with Open Eyes and a Open Heart and watch how He uses you to change lives for an Eternity!

Let’s Pray:  Father in Heaven, thank You for Your loving kindness in our lives.  Thank You that when we pray to You for opportunities to serve You by serving others You are faithful to provide those opportunities and the power and strength to fulfill that calling.  Sometimes we know that You are just waiting for us to take that initial step of faith before You provide far beyond anything we can comprehend.  Please help us to trust and obey Your Word and commands.  This we pray in the Name of the One who gave all, Christ Jesus, Amen.