Learning to Listen...by Max Lucado

Equipped with the right tools, we can learn to listen to God. What are those tools? Here are the ones I have found helpful.

A regular time and place. Select a slot on your schedule and a corner of your world, and claim it for God. For some it may be best to do this in the morning. Others prefer the evening Others prefer many encounters during the day.

Some sit under a tree, others in the kitchen. Maybe your commute to work or your lunch break would be appropriate. Find a time and place that seems right for you.

How much time should you take? As much as you need. Value quality over length. Your time with God should last long enough for you to say what you want and for God to say what he wants. Which leads us to a second tool you need—an open Bible.

God speaks to us through his Word. The first step in reading the Bible is to ask God to help you understand it.

Before reading the Bible, pray. Don’t go to Scripture looking for your own idea; go searching for God’s. Read the Bible prayerfully. Also, read the Bible carefully.

Here is a practical point. Study the Bible a little at a time. God seems to send messages as he did his manna: one day’s portion at a time. Choose depth over quantity. Read until a verse “hits” you, then stop and meditate on it. Copy the verse onto a sheet of paper, or write it in your journal, and reflect on it several times.

Will I learn what God intends? If I listen, I will.

Understanding comes a little at a time over a lifetime.

There is a third tool for having a productive time with God. Not only do we need a regular time and an open Bible, we also need a listening heart. Don’t forget the admonition from James: “The man who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and makes a habit of so doing, is not the man who hears and forgets. He puts that law into practice and he wins true happiness” (James 1:25 PHILLIPS).

We know we are listening to God when what we read in the Bible is what others see in our lives.

Paul urged his readers to put into practice what they had learned from him. “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do” (Phil. 4:9 RSV).

If you want to be just like Jesus, let God have you. Spend time listening for him until you receive your lesson for the day—then apply it.

From Just Like JesusCopyright (W Publishing Group, 1998, 2001) Max Lucado

Amazing Situation

I am totally amazed a the power of water! As most of you know, there was some major flooding in the Trophy Club area this past week. There were two families in perticular that were heavily affected by the flooding and they lost almost everything.

We took a group of guys and gals over to their houses last night to try to help out in the clean up process. Here are some pics of the damage:

The water rose over 5 feet above a nearby bridge. Wow! I cannot believe what must have been going through their minds as the water was rushing closer and closer to their house. I cannot imagine what is going through their minds today as they continually have to deal with the clean up process, the paperwork that must be done with the state, and all the loss that they continually find.

My heart goes out to these families so much and i just hope that we were able to be God's hands and feet to touch their lives and make a difference. They are wonderful people and i pray that God's love is so abundant that they may not question Him at all.

Thanks to all the men and women that participated in this great time. You guys are awesome and just as Joel's said the other day, it is equally amazing that there are so many loving and caring people that are willing to help in times like this. I truly appreciate all of you and i saw God's hands doing some dirty but so rewarding work yesterday!

Stay Strong, PLD!

Quiet Heroes... by Max Lucado

Quiet heroes dot the landscape of our society. They don’t wear ribbons or kiss trophies; they wear spit-up and kiss boo-boos. They don’t make the headlines, but they do sew the hemlines and check the outlines and stand on the sidelines. You won’t find their names on the Nobel Prize short list, but you will find their names on the homeroom, carpool, and Bible teacher lists.

They are parents, both by blood and deed, name and calendar. Heroes. News programs don’t call them. But that’s okay. Because their kids do … They call them Mom. They call them Dad. And these moms and dads, more valuable than all the executives and lawmakers west of the Mississippi, quietly hold the world together.

Be numbered among them. Read books to your kids. Play ball while you can and they want you to. Make it your aim to watch every game they play, read every story they write, hear every recital in which they perform.

Children spell love with four letters: T-I-M-E. Not just quality time, but hang time, downtime, anytime, all the time. Your children are not your hobby; they are your calling.
Your spouse is not your trophy but your treasure.

Don’t pay the price David paid. Look ahead to his final hours. To see the ultimate cost of a neglected family, look at the way our hero dies.

David is hours from the grave. A chill has set in that blankets can’t remove. Servants decide he needs a person to warm him, someone to hold him tight as he takes his final breaths.

Do they turn to one of his wives? No. Do they call on one of his children? No. They seek “for a lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel … and she cared for the king, and served him; but the king did not know her” (1 Kings 1:3–4).

I suspect that David would have traded all his conquered crowns for the tender arms of a wife. But it was too late. He died in the care of a stranger, because he made strangers out of his family.

But it’s not too late for you.

Make your wife the object of your highest devotion. Make your husband the recipient of your deepest passion. Love the one who wears your ring.

And cherish the children who share your name.

Succeed at home first.

From Facing Your Giants

Jeremiah 31:31ff

Listen to these words from Jeremiah 31:31-34:

31 "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, " declares the LORD.
33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

I am amazed by this prophecy. I think this is so powerful that in the midst of the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, God is telling them about the new covenant in Christ. God is so good.

While studying Jeremiah, the question has come to my mind many times: Why is God so harsh with the people by sending them into captivity for 70 years? That is some peoples entire life time.

As a step back and look at the situation and read more of the book, I realize that many times God has given them the opportunity to avoid this situation and also many times he has made the promise to bring them out of the captivity (29:10ff). So, I see that it is almost like the parent/child relationship that we deal with. We don't like to discipline our children, but we know it's the only way they are going to learn some lessons. The fact that the captivity is 70 years seems like and eternity to us but to God it is but a glimpse of time. My human eyes and mind may not understand, but from God's perspective, it is another situation where he is preparing his people for Christ to come.

I see the difference in the way God deals with his people in the OT vs. the NT. However, one thing comes to mind: even though He seems more "harse" in the OT, He continually gives his people chance after chance to avoid the problems. Then, just like me and you today, they still do things their way. God has to discipline them like we do our children.

His love is just as immense in the OT as it is in the NT. I love this study because it is showing me again how amazing God is and how faithful he is! Praise God!

Stay stong, PLD!

Peace for Anxious Days...by Max Lucado

When my daughters were single-digit ages—two, five, and seven—I wowed them with a miracle. I told them the story of Moses and the manna and invited them to follow me on a wilderness trek through the house.

“Who knows,” I suggested, “manna may fall from the sky again.”

We dressed in sheets and sandals and did our best Bedouin hike through the bedrooms. The girls, on my instruction, complained to me, Moses, of hunger and demanded I take them back to Egypt, or at least to the kitchen. When we entered the den, I urged them to play up their parts: groan, moan, and beg for food.

“Look up,” I urged. “Manna might fall any minute.”

Two-year-old Sara obliged with no questions, but Jenna and Andrea had their doubts. How can manna fall from a ceiling?

Just like the Hebrews. “How can God feed us in the wilderness?”

Just like you? You look at tomorrow’s demands, next week’s bills, next month’s silent calendar. Your future looks as barren as the Sinai Desert. “How can I face my future?” God tells you what I told my daughters: “Look up.”

When my daughters did, manna fell! Well, not manna, but vanilla wafers dropped from the ceiling and landed on the carpet. Sara squealed with delight and started munching. Jenna and Andrea were old enough to request an explanation.

My answer was simple. I knew the itinerary. I knew we would enter this room. Vanilla wafers fit safely on the topside of the ceiling-fan blades. I had placed them there in advance. When they groaned and moaned, I turned on the switch.

God’s answer to the Hebrews was similar. Did he know their itinerary? Did he know they would grow hungry? Yes and yes. And at the right time, he tilted the manna basket toward earth.

And what about you? God knows what you need and where you’ll be. Any chance he has some vanilla wafers on tomorrow’s ceiling fans? Trust him. “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” (Matthew 6:33-34).

From Every Day Deserves a ChanceCopyright (Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2007) Max Lucado

Campout was a success!!!

Thanks to everyone that came to the campout last weekend. We had a great time and we were really uplifted! I know that all that attended enjoyed a break from their busy schedules to relax in the country and be filled with God's word. Here are some pics for you to look at:

Stay Strong, PLD!

More Prayers are needed...

Please keep praying for little Kanyon, RIGHT NOW! He was moved to Dallas over the weekend and had a rough transistion. He is fighting an infection now and awaiting 2 more surgeries once the infection is cleared up. He needs us IronMen. Time to "mount up"!!! See the family's blogsite for the whole story at www.thephillipsphamily.blogspot.com . Thanks for your support men

Stay Strong, PLD!

Directions for Campout

Directions To Bent Tree Ranch

Take I-20 west from Fort Worth proceed thru Weatherford approximately 20 miles, exit south on highway 281, exit # 386, proceed south approximately 15 miles to Morgan Mill, at the Baptist Church turn west on 1188, go west 1 mile to the top of the hill, turn south on county road 132, proceed 2 miles to the ranch on the right side of 132, you will see the name of the ranch over the gate, the entry has white Austin stone columns.

Get Out and Grow Campout info

Some info about the Campout that you need to know:
1. Bring bug spray.
2. Bring a tent if you have one and sleeping materials (pillow, sleeping bag, etc.)
3. The only money you need is for your dinner Friday night at Hard 8 Bar-B-Que.
4. Bring your son or daughter if you want to. They will be an added delight.
5. We have a great guest speaker named Kenny Lybrand. He has some great things to share!
6. We should be done by 3pm or so on Saturday so you can get back to your house for dinner.
7. Bent Tree Ranch is about and 1.5 hour drive from Trophy Club (depending on traffic).
8. Bring drinks for your family for Friday and Saturday.

Agenda:
Friday, May 4th

5:00 pm Meet at LCCOC for carpool and directions

7:00 pm Arrive at Hard 8 Bar-B-Que for dinner

9:00-10:00 (Bent Tree Ranch) Session #1 “ How do I Make The Right Decision?”

Saturday, May 5th

6:30 am Rise and Shine breakfast, prepared by world class country chef Jim Pearson

7:30-8:30 am Session #2 “Christian or Disciple?”

8:30 am Break

10:00-11:00 am Session #3 – “Learning to Forgive”

11:00 am Break for lunch, prepared by world class country chef Jim Pearson

12:30 – 1:30 pm Session #4 and wrap up “God’s Amazing Grace!”


Please let me know if you are going to attend and if you have any more questions!

Thanks and PLD!

The Cradle of Hope... Max Lucado

Christ rose first; then when Christ comes back, all his people will become alive again.
1 Corinthians 15:23 TLB

Let’s go to the tomb, for Jesus lies in the tomb.

Still. Cold. Stiff. Death has claimed its greatest trophy. He is not asleep in the tomb or resting in the tomb or comatose in the tomb; he is dead in the tomb. No air in his lungs. No thoughts in his brain. No feeling in his limbs. His body is as lifeless as the stone slab upon which he has been laid.

The executioners made sure of it. When Pilate learned that Jesus was dead, he asked the soldiers if they were certain. They were. Had they seen the Nazarene twitch, had they heard even one moan, they would have broken his legs to speed his end. But there was no need. The thrust of a spear removed all doubt. The Romans knew their job. And their job was finished. They pried loose the nails, lowered his body, and gave it to Joseph and Nicodemus.

Joseph of Arimathea. Nicodemus the Pharisee. Jesus had answered the prayer of their hearts, the prayer for the Messiah. As much as the soldiers wanted him dead, even more these men wanted him alive.

As they sponged the blood from his beard, don’t you know they listened for his breath? As they wrapped the cloth around his hands, don’t you know they hoped for a pulse? Don’t you know they searched for life?

But they didn’t find it.

So they do with him what they were expected to do with a dead man. They wrap his body in clean linen and place it in a tomb. Joseph’s tomb. Roman guards are stationed to guard the corpse. And a Roman seal is set on the rock of the tomb. For three days, no one gets close to the grave.

But then, Sunday arrives. And with Sunday comes light—a light within the tomb. A bright light? A soft light? Flashing? Hovering? We don’t know. But there was a light. For he is the light. And with the light came life. Just as the darkness was banished, now the decay is reversed. Heaven blows and Jesus breathes. His chest expands. Waxy lips open. Wooden fingers lift. Heart valves swish and hinged joints bend.

And, as we envision the moment, we stand in awe.

We stand in awe not just because of what we see, but because of what we know. We know that we, too, will die. We know that we, too, will be buried. Our lungs, like his, will empty. Our hands, like his, will stiffen. But the rising of his body and the rolling of the stone give birth to a mighty belief: “What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us” (Rom. 6:5–9 MSG).

From When Christ ComesCopyright (W Publishing Group, 1999) Max Lucado

Please Pray again...

I am asking for your fervent prayers for the Phillips family again. They are the family that had the twins extremely premature. Last night, the girl, Jade, passed way and that leave Kanyon the boy still fighting for his life. He is so small and fragile. Please pray that God will allow him to survive and for peace and understanding for the parents, Jaymie and Kory. They are incredible folks and we love them tremdously!

Please Lord hold Kanyon's hand and pull him through!!!

I will speak to you in your language... Max Lucado

Pilate wrote a sign and put it on the cross.

It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. John 19:19

The framer of our destiny is familiar with our denseness. God knows we sometimes miss the signs. Maybe that’s why he has given us so many. The rainbow after the flood signifies God’s covenant. Circumcision identifies God’s chosen, and the stars portray the size of his family. Even today, we see signs in the New Testament church. Communion is a sign of his death, and baptism is a sign of our spiritual birth. Each of these signs symbolizes a greater spiritual truth.The most poignant sign, however, was found on the cross. A trilingual, hand-painted, Roman-commissioned sign.

Every passerby could read the sign, for every passerby could read Hebrew, Latin, or Greek—the three great languages of the ancient world. “Hebrew was the language of Israel, the language of religion; Latin the language of the Romans, the language of law and government; and Greek the language of Greece, the language of culture. Christ was declared king in them all.” God had a message for each. “Christ is king.” The message was the same, but the languages were different. Since Jesus was a king for all people, the message would be in the tongues of all people.

There is no language God will not speak. Which leads us to a delightful question. What language is he speaking to you? I’m not referring to an idiom or dialect but to the day-to-day drama of your life. God does speak, you know. He speaks to us in whatever language we will understand.

There are times he speaks the “language of abundance.” Is your tummy full? Are your bills paid? Got a little jingle in your pocket? Don’t be so proud of what you have that you miss what you need to hear.

Are you hearing the “language of need”? Or how about the “language of affliction”? Talk about an idiom we avoid. But you and I both know how clearly God speaks in hospital hallways and sickbeds.

God speaks all languages—including yours. Has he not said, “I will ... teach you in the way you should go” (Ps. 32:8 NIV)? Are we not urged to “receive instruction from His mouth” (Job 22:22 NASB)? What language is God speaking to you?

And aren’t you glad he is speaking? Aren’t you grateful that he cares enough to talk? Isn’t it good to know that “the LORD tells his secrets to those who respect him” (Ps. 25:14)?

Think a word of thanks to him would be appropriate? And while you’re at it, ask him if you might be missing any signs he is sending your way.

From He Chose the NailsCopyright (W Publishing Group, 2001) Max Lucado

Prayer Request... Urgent!!!

I wanted to ask for your prayers for some family friends of mine Kory and Jaymie. They were supposed to have twins in July and last night Jaymie gave birth to both. They are extremely small and will be evaluated more as the day goes on. This is a very difficult situation as you can imagine. Please lift them up in your prayers! thanks so much.

STP, an IronMan

IronMen Campout set

We have set a date for our second IronMen "Get Out and Grow" Campout. This will take place May 4-5. We will meet at the church Friday, the 4th, in the afternoon. We will drive to Stephenville to eat dinner at Hard 8 Bar-B-Que. After a great filling dinner, we will drive to Bent Tree Ranch where we will have some devotional time and some quiet time in the country. Then, in the morning, we will rise early to greet the sun and share in the beauty of a country sunrise. Saturday will be filled with devotional time and fun activities.

Please make plans to attend this event, it is going to be great! We have a guest speaker lined up and I know that you will love him. His name is Kenny Lybrand and he has some great things lined up to share with us.

If you have any questions, please let me know. My email address is stp@pmiair.com.

PLD
STP, an IronMan

Words of Wisdom

Every year Kelli's grandparents give me a desktop "Life's Little Instruction Calender." As I remember to rip off the daily message, I keep the ones that are significant and look through them time to time. I found a couple that are pretty wise and I want to share them with you.
1) You can't make good deals with bad people.
2) Don't forget that contentment is the greatest wealth.
3) Remember, the direction of your life is more important than its speed.
4) Children, marriages, and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get.
5) Spoil your spouse, not your children.
6) If you save money even on a little income, your success is almost assured.

Number three is the thought that I need to remember as I live day to day. I wonder how different my life would be if I actually follower these six instructions?

Ironmen softball started on Monday and we started off with a bang. Well, not quite! We lost our first two games. It seems that we always have a tough first week every season. Although we lost the game we won the battle in the end. We have been playing for several years now and we do not have to ask the other team to pray with us. They know that no matter the outcome we will meet on the pitchers mound and Pray. If you read this e-mail and want to be a part of Ironmen softball you are welcome to join the team!

Hope you all have a blessed week,
Lane Ladewig
*An Ironman*

Work day at Blanca's house

Well, we had a successful workday at Blanca's house. Blanca is a great woman that was in need of some repairs and fixing up on her house. You see, Blanca is now a widow as her husband died around Thanksgiving from cancer. He was the main financial source for the family and therefore she cannot afford her house anymore. In order to sell her house, she needed to do some fixing up so that it would have a better chance of selling.

This is where the IronMen came in.

We were able to raise money for our supplies and we also had $277 left over to give Blanca as a cash gift. We painted 3 rooms, the hallway and kitchen. We repaired the vent-a-hood with some excellent carpentry work. Thanks to Green Works landscape, we leveled the area around the foundation and added some sod. Wow, it looks so much better. Check out these pics:

Lose my Soul...by Toby Mac

I love this song and the words are great:

Father God I am clay in your hands
Help me to stay that way through all life’s demands
Cause they chip and they nag and pull at me
And everything I make up in my mind to be
Like I’m going to be a daddy that’s in the mix
And I’m going to be a husband that stays legit
And I pray that I’m an artist that rises above
The road that is wide and filled with self love
Every thing that I see draws me
Though it’s only in you that I can truly see
That it’s a feast full eyes and a low blow to purpose
And I’m a little kid at a three ring circus

I don’t want to gain the whole world and lose my soul

The paparazzi flashes and they think that it’s you
But they don’t know that who you are is not what you do
We get it twisted when we peek at the charts
You know before we part from the start where’s your heart
You a pimp, a hustler. What’s your title?
America has normal stars, we call them idols
While we teach prosperity, the first thing that should prosper is inside of me
Never because number 22 is on the range
But Christ can arrange and we say yes and now we change
Never the same, even though I fall
Since I got that call, no more Saul, now I’m Paul

How do I sense the tide is rising?
Desensitizing me from
Living in the light of eternity
How do I sense the tide is rising?
Hypnotizing me from
Living in the light of eternity

Lord forgive us when we get consumed
By the things of this world that fight for our love and our passion
As our eyes are open wide and on you
Grant us the privilege of your love
And may your kingdom be what wakes us up and lays us down

STP, an IronMan

Amazing Grace ... Frank Morris

An historical film soon to be released, Friday Feb. 23, about John Newton's Amazing Grace should be a must see by all of us. Newton was an especially bad person whose life was changed by God's word and then wrote a hymn that is know in every language in the world. I believe Amazing Grace will be a very inspirational movie.

Frank Morris, an IronMan

You have captured God's heart... by Max Lucado

Just look at the gifts he has given you: He has sent his angels to care for you, his Holy Spirit to dwell in you, his church to encourage you, and his word to guide you. You have privileges only a fiancée could have. Anytime you speak, he listens; make a request and he responds. He will never let you be tempted too much or stumble too far. Let a tear appear on your cheek, and he is there to wipe it. Let a love sonnet appear on your lips, and he is there to hear it. As much as you want to see him, he wants to see you more.

He is building a house for you. And with every swing of the hammer and cut of the saw, he’s dreaming of the day he carries you over the threshold. “There are many rooms in my Father’s house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am” (John 14:2–3).

You have been chosen by Christ. You are released from your old life in your old house, and he has claimed you as his beloved. “Then where is he?” you might ask. “Why hasn’t he come?”
There is only one answer. His bride is not ready. She is still being prepared.

Engaged people are obsessed with preparation. The right dress. The right weight. The right hair and the right tux. They want everything to be right. Why? So their fiancée will marry them? No. Just the opposite. They want to look their best because their fiancée is marrying them.

The same is true for us. We want to look our best for Christ. We want our hearts to be pure and our thoughts to be clean. We want our faces to shine with grace and our eyes to sparkle with love. We want to be prepared.

Why? In hopes that he will love us? No. Just the opposite. Because he already does.

You are spoken for. You are engaged, set apart, called out, a holy bride. Forbidden waters hold nothing for you. You have been chosen for his castle. Don’t settle for one-night stands in the arms of a stranger.

Be obsessed with your wedding date. Guard against forgetfulness. Be intolerant of memory lapses. Write yourself notes. Memorize verses. Do whatever you need to do to remember. “Aim at what is in heaven . . . Think only about the things in heaven” (Col. 3:1–2). You are engaged to royalty, and your Prince is coming to take you home.

From When Christ Comes Copyright 1999, Max Lucado

Workday at Blanca's house - This Saturday the 17th

More update on the workday at Blanca’s house.

1. The workday is not just for men, women are more than welcome. We really could use some women expertise on this project.
2. We have quiet a few people donating money and that is great, we still need some more!!!
3. Most importantly, WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!!! I only have 5 people (counting myself) that have committed to helping. PLEASE, PLEASE let me know if you can come. I believe we have more folks that can come but just have not let me know yet. If we truly only have 5 people in the church that can help, I will probably have to reschedule it. The work will consist of painting, minor repairs and yard work. Again, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN COME.
4. We will meet at the church at 7am to caravan to Blanca’s house in Garland. If you cannot meet us at church but do want to help, let me know and I can give you directions.

Blanca is so excited that someone wants to help her, let’s not let her down! Thanks for your help!!!

STP, an IronMan