Monday, March 28, 2011
The Jesus Filter
Hello Everyone, Over the next several weeks we will be going on a journey of discovery. Discovering who we are, what we were created for, and discovering our salvation through our faith and the love giving grace of God. The first question: Why were we created ? This is a question that has been posed many times over the years and can only be answered by going to the source; Our Creator. In Genesis 2:26 God says, "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." I see this as we were made to be in fellowship with God. He made us to be in charge of everything he made. He wouldn't make us in his image and in his likeness and then not have anything to do with us. How many of you have had a difference of opinion with your child and then decided to never talk to them again? It just doesn't happen that way. God made us to be close to him he wants us to call on him the same way we would call and talk to our closest friend. This week don't just pray, open up your heart and have open coversations with God. Let him know your joys, your pains, and even your doubts. He is there for us, he has been since the beginning of creation. Have a blessed week! Billy
Sunday, March 13, 2011
A year ago this past Thursday my Dad passed away from his long fight with cancer.
I bring this up as it along with God's prompting is what led me to start this weekly ministry. I found myself worrying about his salvation and whether he had accepted Christ in his heart. 19 years earlier my Mom had passed away suddenly without the chance to tell her how much I loved her and without us discussing Christ.
Her death is what led me to accept Christ as my Savior. I can't say at that point that I understood what being saved meant. I stumbled many times since then but seeing my Dad, the man that I looked up to and thought could whip anything in such a vulnerable state made me realize we can't do things on our own. We were never meant to we were meant to give it all to God.
Over the last year with the guidance of our pastors and the leading of Christ I know the true meaning of being saved. I know that as followers of Christ we have already won the battle over death our bodies may be beaten and broken but we are alive in Christ.
1 Corinthians 15: 50-58
50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep; but we shall all be changed
52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
55"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
56The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
57But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Have a blessed week,
Billy
I bring this up as it along with God's prompting is what led me to start this weekly ministry. I found myself worrying about his salvation and whether he had accepted Christ in his heart. 19 years earlier my Mom had passed away suddenly without the chance to tell her how much I loved her and without us discussing Christ.
Her death is what led me to accept Christ as my Savior. I can't say at that point that I understood what being saved meant. I stumbled many times since then but seeing my Dad, the man that I looked up to and thought could whip anything in such a vulnerable state made me realize we can't do things on our own. We were never meant to we were meant to give it all to God.
Over the last year with the guidance of our pastors and the leading of Christ I know the true meaning of being saved. I know that as followers of Christ we have already won the battle over death our bodies may be beaten and broken but we are alive in Christ.
1 Corinthians 15: 50-58
50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep; but we shall all be changed
52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
55"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
56The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
57But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Have a blessed week,
Billy
Monday, March 7, 2011
Seek God in all things
Hello Everyone,
Over the last several weeks we have been looking at how life throws us the proverbial curveball. Whether be on our own accord or by something that nature or someone else has done. I have often thought and heard the questions why? Why does God permit these things to happen? Why does God allow evil in the world?
Saturday morning while driving into work I was praying/ arguing/ asking for things from God when it came to me. We always ask the questions that you see above when it is not God causing these problems.
God gave us freewill to choose what paths we will take, we are the ones who choose to go it alone without seeking him first. Bad things happen because we choose to live our lives without God and his love.
Adam and Eve lived in paradise but chose to do the one thing God told them not to do. All the trees in the garden but they chose to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We do the same thing with our lives. We chase after earthly things and make decisions without involving God in our plans.
Seek his counsel and pray about everything.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
Philippians 4:6,7
6 Fret not about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.
7and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Over the last several weeks we have been looking at how life throws us the proverbial curveball. Whether be on our own accord or by something that nature or someone else has done. I have often thought and heard the questions why? Why does God permit these things to happen? Why does God allow evil in the world?
Saturday morning while driving into work I was praying/ arguing/ asking for things from God when it came to me. We always ask the questions that you see above when it is not God causing these problems.
God gave us freewill to choose what paths we will take, we are the ones who choose to go it alone without seeking him first. Bad things happen because we choose to live our lives without God and his love.
Adam and Eve lived in paradise but chose to do the one thing God told them not to do. All the trees in the garden but they chose to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We do the same thing with our lives. We chase after earthly things and make decisions without involving God in our plans.
Seek his counsel and pray about everything.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
Philippians 4:6,7
6 Fret not about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.
7and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Seek First The Kingdom Of God!
Hello Everyone,
Over the last week I have added extra travel time to my driving schedule, kids activities, and busyness both at home and work. During that time, for the first time since I started writing this email, I missed getting a devotional written for the week. I was down on myself for letting this happen but through it found the message God was guiding me towards.
Matthew 6:32-34
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
In society we are all so busy we chase after everything under the sun and only give God our extra time!
Do you think we could get by with that at our jobs or with our families? Then what makes us think that God only deserves the leftovers?
I have had a chance to truly think about it this week as I was feeling guilty about not getting out my writing. That is when this passage was brought to light. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Think about that. He didn't say do everything you need to then when you are done seek Me. He said SEEK FIRST!!!
We serve an awesome God who deserves to come first in our lives. Wouldn't you agree?
This week I am making a pledge with God to give him my first fruits, the first moments of the morning. I will get up early while everyone is still in bed and the house is quiet and just listen to what he has to say.
Try it and let me know how your week turns out.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
Over the last week I have added extra travel time to my driving schedule, kids activities, and busyness both at home and work. During that time, for the first time since I started writing this email, I missed getting a devotional written for the week. I was down on myself for letting this happen but through it found the message God was guiding me towards.
Matthew 6:32-34
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
In society we are all so busy we chase after everything under the sun and only give God our extra time!
Do you think we could get by with that at our jobs or with our families? Then what makes us think that God only deserves the leftovers?
I have had a chance to truly think about it this week as I was feeling guilty about not getting out my writing. That is when this passage was brought to light. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Think about that. He didn't say do everything you need to then when you are done seek Me. He said SEEK FIRST!!!
We serve an awesome God who deserves to come first in our lives. Wouldn't you agree?
This week I am making a pledge with God to give him my first fruits, the first moments of the morning. I will get up early while everyone is still in bed and the house is quiet and just listen to what he has to say.
Try it and let me know how your week turns out.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Our Undercover Boss Jesus Christ
Hello Everyone,
One of my favorite new shows is Undercover Boss. It is a show where the CEO of the company disguises him or herself and takes on the lowliest of jobs in the company. I found it interesting the similarities between what the bosses are doing and what our Boss did. God came to earth as man to suffer the same hardships and trials that we go through and to pay the ultimate price for the things we did.
This past week our pastor was teaching on Christ's final moments on earth. If you have studied the New Testament you know that Jesus' last days were spent teaching his disciples how to live as he did.
In Christ's final hours while preparing to eat the Passover feast, he did something that was more than symbolic. It was one of the greatest things he could have taught. He taught us in this passage not to think of ourselves in to high accord, never put ourselves above any one else. If Christ himself would do the lowliest of jobs what makes us think any of us are above doing the same. To be true leaders we must first be willing to do what we expect of others.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
John 13:1-17
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”
7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
One of my favorite new shows is Undercover Boss. It is a show where the CEO of the company disguises him or herself and takes on the lowliest of jobs in the company. I found it interesting the similarities between what the bosses are doing and what our Boss did. God came to earth as man to suffer the same hardships and trials that we go through and to pay the ultimate price for the things we did.
This past week our pastor was teaching on Christ's final moments on earth. If you have studied the New Testament you know that Jesus' last days were spent teaching his disciples how to live as he did.
In Christ's final hours while preparing to eat the Passover feast, he did something that was more than symbolic. It was one of the greatest things he could have taught. He taught us in this passage not to think of ourselves in to high accord, never put ourselves above any one else. If Christ himself would do the lowliest of jobs what makes us think any of us are above doing the same. To be true leaders we must first be willing to do what we expect of others.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
John 13:1-17
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”
7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Hello Everyone,
Have you watched the nightly news lately?
If you have you may have noticed that there is a serious lack of people caring for one another and showing true love. The biggest story from the Super Bowl wasn't about the game or the commercials it was about Christina Aguilera making a mistake and getting caught up in all the excitement of the game and botching the National Anthem. I am as patriotic as they come but being a musician I know that if I were judged for the mistakes I made in my musical career and not the actual right notes or words that I played no one would know about the gift God has given me.
The truly sad thing about it all is during the Anthem the only shots they continue to show on the news are of the people who noticed the mistake and not the Pittsburgh player who while watching showed what it meant to him. I am not sure if anyone else noticed as no one in the media has mentioned it, but one of the players when shown on camera had a tear well up in his eyes and roll down the side of his face. Here is probably one of the toughest people in America who had worked his whole life for this moment and showed true emotion, something that the world has lost sight of.
Last year after Jamie McMurray won the Daytona 500 the biggest story was that he cried, not the reason he cried or what it showed our young men who were watching, no just that he was a man and cried.
I hate what it has taught our children. Even though I can't recall ever saying anything wrong to my son about crying, while watching Where the Red Fern Grows he kept saying the air was blowing in his eyes.
It is ok to show emotion, it is ok to mess up, it is ok to not be perfect. As we are all children of the most high God and are loved for what we do right or wrong.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Luke 6:37
37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
1 Peter 3:8
8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
Have you watched the nightly news lately?
If you have you may have noticed that there is a serious lack of people caring for one another and showing true love. The biggest story from the Super Bowl wasn't about the game or the commercials it was about Christina Aguilera making a mistake and getting caught up in all the excitement of the game and botching the National Anthem. I am as patriotic as they come but being a musician I know that if I were judged for the mistakes I made in my musical career and not the actual right notes or words that I played no one would know about the gift God has given me.
The truly sad thing about it all is during the Anthem the only shots they continue to show on the news are of the people who noticed the mistake and not the Pittsburgh player who while watching showed what it meant to him. I am not sure if anyone else noticed as no one in the media has mentioned it, but one of the players when shown on camera had a tear well up in his eyes and roll down the side of his face. Here is probably one of the toughest people in America who had worked his whole life for this moment and showed true emotion, something that the world has lost sight of.
Last year after Jamie McMurray won the Daytona 500 the biggest story was that he cried, not the reason he cried or what it showed our young men who were watching, no just that he was a man and cried.
I hate what it has taught our children. Even though I can't recall ever saying anything wrong to my son about crying, while watching Where the Red Fern Grows he kept saying the air was blowing in his eyes.
It is ok to show emotion, it is ok to mess up, it is ok to not be perfect. As we are all children of the most high God and are loved for what we do right or wrong.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Luke 6:37
37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
1 Peter 3:8
8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
A revival of Faith
Hello Everyone,
You have a health scare, you get bad news at work, or a member of your family is hurt. Have you noticed how a bad situation makes you think about the things that matter most in your life. When we experience bad things we naturally are drawn closer to our faith and our family. Over the past year I have realized how God allows adversity and forms of persecution in our lives to open our eyes, minds and hearts. I hate to quote one of our President's advisors when he said "don't let a good crisis go to waste" but it does ring true when we face adversity we must use those times as times to get closer to the One who is truly in control.
When we are faced with bad things in our lives we should live as Job and seek God's love, wisdom and promises. He has promised throughout the Bible that he would never leave us nor forsake us.
1 Kings 8: 56-58
56 “Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. 57 May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us. 58 May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors.
I have read the book of Job several times and each time I read throughtthe first chapter I am struck by the very last verse. In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. He had just lost all of his wealth, his flocks, and his family but still he praised God.
Adversity in our lives can be a revival of Faith.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
Job 1: 18-20
18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised.”
22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
You have a health scare, you get bad news at work, or a member of your family is hurt. Have you noticed how a bad situation makes you think about the things that matter most in your life. When we experience bad things we naturally are drawn closer to our faith and our family. Over the past year I have realized how God allows adversity and forms of persecution in our lives to open our eyes, minds and hearts. I hate to quote one of our President's advisors when he said "don't let a good crisis go to waste" but it does ring true when we face adversity we must use those times as times to get closer to the One who is truly in control.
When we are faced with bad things in our lives we should live as Job and seek God's love, wisdom and promises. He has promised throughout the Bible that he would never leave us nor forsake us.
1 Kings 8: 56-58
56 “Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. 57 May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us. 58 May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors.
I have read the book of Job several times and each time I read throughtthe first chapter I am struck by the very last verse. In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. He had just lost all of his wealth, his flocks, and his family but still he praised God.
Adversity in our lives can be a revival of Faith.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
Job 1: 18-20
18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised.”
22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
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