November 19, 2018
Back in 2005 my business partner and I owned one of the largest licensing companies in the sport of NASCAR. At our peak, the Lord allowed our companies to do in excess of 75 million dollars a year in sales. We were giving over $ 7,500 dollars a month to missions. I felt so good about giving away our money to great causes. It was a joy each month to see who we could give to. In reality, I was extremely joyful in giving but I would not know till 10 years later what true giving meant.
It is easy to give out of abundance. It is very tough to give out of what you do not have. To now make $ 1,400 every 2 weeks and to tithe $ 140 dollars is tough. Especially when healthcare, groceries and utilities are $ 1,600 every 2 weeks. It is very easy to justify not giving because God wants us to survive.
2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
In the New Testament Jesus gives no percentage in what we should give. All He asks is that WHATEVER we give, we give with a cheerful heart. If you can’t give with a cheerful heart then don’t give. You won’t go to hell because of not giving. BUT, there are many blessings that come from giving in faith.
In 2005 it was easy to give at least 10%. In 2015 till now I FINALLY have come to appreciate and suffer with the poor. I had no clue as to what the poor were going through in 2005. I would give, I was writing devotional’s, but I had not much compassion for those who “Did not work” and “Who were poor”. In severe times of depression that God allowed me to go through if you had offered me a job at $ 500,000 dollars a year I couldn’t do it. I was too paralyzed in my pain and hopelessness. “But Brad you write a devotional every day for the past 15 years”. It is ONLY by God’s power and grace that I have been able to write in my desperation.
2 Corinthians 1:8 “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.”
If the apostle Paul had hopelessness of life, then don’t feel guilty of being alone and discouraged. The devil attacks those who are effective for God’s Kingdom. Consider yourselves worthy.
So where am I going with this? Since I have lived the uncertainty of the next meal for our family, I understand in a small way the plight of the homeless. On Friday we had $ 12.56 to our name. No savings and no 401K. But Julie and I know that God is able. We have been close to going hungry BUT NEVER hungry.
In 2019 The Ultimate Decision is going to start a pilot project in Huntersville, NC. From my connections in NASCAR we are gong to try to get land, 200 tents, food, a bus and a government grant to make a place to where the homeless can live. We are not going to make someone work to live there. In my depression I was OK with dying even if offered work. I understand hopelessness. I FINALLY understand pain of all kinds. We desire to be God’s hands and feet in this world to offer grace for the brokenhearted. Will some people take advantage? Yes? But who cares, that is between them and God. It is up to us to be compassionate, a servant and willing to put others before ourselves.
I have seen many people working in soup kitchens that make sure ever one around them knows that they are successful and don’t need to be there. Many people want to serve but few want to be treated as a servant.
Jesus Did.
Please pray for us as we help the homeless and broken hearted. We can share the Gospel but foremost we need to show Christ’s love.
Please pray Warriors, Pray.
Brad
November 7, 2018
Many believers and non-believers alike think that a strong Christian is one who does not doubt God. I am here to tell you today that everyone doubts God from time to time. But it is through those doubts that God proves himself faithful. Then His faithfulness brings us to repentance. That repentances takes the halo off of our faith and puts it rightly on the King, Jesus. The more we get mad at our doubt the more we concentrate on our doubt. Remember
WE WILL NEVER GET THIS LIFE RIGHT THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN.
I hope that statement frees your conscience to learn who Jesus is instead of finding fault with your own faithfulness. “I should have listened”, “I should have tithed” and “I should have known God would come through” are all self-defeating if that is all you concentrate on. There is a great passage on doubts, our faith and God’s plan in the 9th Chapter of Mark.
Mark 9:16:29 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” “O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
This story is so much like our lives. This boy did not have normal seizures as when Jesus came and called out to the evil spirit inside the boy the evil spirit shrieked and came out.in The boy’s father made a very interesting statement to Jesus.
“But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” This man had doubts. Have you ever been in the emergency room with your child and things look really bad? You would be hard pressed to say that 100% of your mind believes that the outcome will be good. Then Jesus says to the boy’s father and I don’t believe in an arrogant way but a compassionate way “, “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Jesus starts my asking the same question of doubt back to the father “If You Can”. It seems that the father gets a little flustered because he wants his child to be healed and then says a very interesting statement.
”Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Doesn’t this seem like a contradiction of words. He is agreeing with Jesus that he believes but at the same time he is saying “help me overcome my unbelief”. The disciples asked Jesus why they could not drive the evil spirit out and Jesus said “this evil spirit could only come out by prayer.” Excuse me, I thought the disciples knew how to pray?
Thank goodness for people being real and honest. That is whom God loves. Not the person who claims to have it all together but the person who does not. The person who needs Jesus more than he needs himself. I pray that you are open enough to pray to Jesus “Help me to overcome my unbelief.” I want to believe but a lot of times I doubt, especially in a crisis. But with God being consistent my doubt starts to turn to trust when I see how faithful God is. I feel like the disciples came from a background of praying rote prayers. In a lot of churches there are many prayers that are said week in and week out. They are good prayers but over time they can become just words. I feel that this is what happened to the disciples. They did not see the power of a real prayer. They may have been praying like the religious leaders. Praying for people to see and hear but not praying for God to change their heart and the hearts of others.
Today, don’t get down on yourself if you have faltered in your faith with sin and doubt. God is right here waiting for YOU now. He desires to help you overcome your unbelief so that you can live a life of peace and not turmoil. Will you trust Him today by asking for help or will you still try to handle this world on your own? That is where the choice is yours. Please choose wisely whom you will serve. Some of the best prayers are the word “Help”.
Have a great day.
Brad
October 30, 2018
“Be strong and Courageous”. The Lord had spoken these words to Joshua before he entered the Promised Land. What I didn’t know was when Joshua was first introduced in the Bible. Way back in Exodus chapter 17 is Joshua first mentioned.
Joshua 17:8-13 “The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.”
Before tying this together I wanted to also talk about being strong and courageous.
Joshua 1:5,6,9 “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua could be “Strong and Courageous” because
1. God was with Joshua
2. God said He would never leave or forsake Joshua
3. God said that he would be with Joshua “Wherever” he went.
The Lord Jesus tells us that, but our default is usually worry from our flesh, instead of true faith through the Holy Spirit. So how does this mesh with the first set of verses? Joshua saw first hand the power of God. But Joshua also saw that Moses needed God’s strength and the help of others to act. When Joshua went out to fight the Amalekites, Moses had to hold the staff over his head for Joshua to lead his men to victory. When Moses got tired he put his arms down and the Amalekites started winning. So, Aaron and Hur helped hold up the arms of Moses with his staff.
I have tried to be strong and courageous with our finances. From trying to get odd jobs to hitting bedrock emotionally and physically. I can no longer hold my hands up. I need you to be my Aaron and Hur. I don’t know why the enemy keeps attacking, but when I lose strength the enemy advances. When we are sustained we advance in the Lod’s strength.
Could it be just like Joshua that our trial is going to eventually show you God’s victory? I believe so. It is the only hope of our struggle besides knowing we are engaging the enemy everyday. Please pray for a feeling of victory, increased faith and a joyful outlook no matter the circumstances. Please pray how you can help us today. I don’t need to tell you where we are at. I just know our arms are lowered. I love you all for being true and faithful warriors.
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Be strong and Courageous.
Your fellow warrior
Brad
God loves many things in and of this world. But this morning I want to go over a verse that many of us only think about in one context.
2 Corinthians 9:7 “……….for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Every time I have read this, I thought about when I give my tithe I need to be cheerful. Any money we have is all God’s anyway. So when we give our money in the offering we really need to think how much of God’s money we are going to give back to Him. – Ouch!!
But in this instance a lot of times most of us are not a cheerful giver when it comes to giving our time, our talents, resources, possessions or a host of other things. Have you ever used a friends car and the conversation went something like this. OK have fun but park far from other cars, I just got it waxed so be careful where you drive and don’t have any drinks in the car. After this is said you feel like, you know what I will just walk. In essence this person is more interested in what they think of their possession than being a cheerful giver.
Are you a cheerful giver when someone can’t do anything for you in return? A lot of us will only help those that we know can give us something in return. “Hey did you hear the boss is moving, lets help him.” Would you help someone move and be joyful at the same time if that person could not do anything for you?
There are a lot of givers in the world but very few cheerful givers. So why the scowl on the face? It is all about the condition of your heart. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ and have been saved it is because God chose you first, you did not chose God. You accepted His free gift but it was God who softened your heart to lead you to repentance. When you realize the enormity of this gift He gave you by saving you form hell this is all you should need to be cheerful till the day you are called to your real home. But most of us always want more. We want our salvation then an easy life on a sinful earth. IT WON’T HAPPEN. If you are going to follow Jesus you will suffer because the devil has a mark on your back. Remember if you are saved Satan can’t steal your salvation but he will try to make your miserable so you don’t take anyone to heaven with you. That is why we need to pray for protection from the evil one. We can’t fight Satan alone but He that is in us, (Jesus) can.
No matter where you are in this journey we call life if you are not joyful then you are looking too far beyond your salvation. This world is not our home so quit putting down concrete stakes. You are only here a short time. We can only be a cheerful giver when we allow the Holy Spirit to have full access to our life. We need to realize that we were saved from the fire of hell and if that is not enough to be cheerful about then you have a deeper problem. The deeper problem is that you value the THINGS of the world (Status, money and security) more than your salvation. This will always bring you down and quench your Spirit.
You want to be a cheerful giver? Then think about who saved you when you didn’t deserve to be saved. Throw off the cares of the world and realize it is ALL God's anyway. Then and only then will you give and give and give with a simile on your face and joy in you heart.
Don’t let anything or anyone in this world steal your love for Jesus.
Have a great day.
Brad
