This One Name

This one Name can calm your fears
It can bring you peace and dry your tears
It can heal your body and free your mind
It’s more powerful than anything you’ll ever find
It will stop the enemy in his tracks
And bring to naught all of his attacks.
You only need use it and simply believe
It will force the enemy to pick up and leave
It’s the Name above all names
To which all must bow
It’s the Name of Jesus
So use it now!

You’re Never Too Old To Be Used By God

You may be thinking today that you are “over the hill” or that your best days are behind you. However, God still has a tremendous plan for your life and you’re never too old to be used by Him.

We see in the Scriptures that Moses was 80 years old when he began to step into God’s plan for His life. The final 1/3rd of his life was by far the best and most productive phase of his life. He was used by God to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and he saw miracle after miracle, including God’s supernatural sustenance and provision for himself and all the Israelites for 40 years. In fact, when he was 120 years old, the Bible says that “His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.” (Deuteronomy 34:7) He even climbed a mountain at 120 years of age before he died! That is divine health and strength!

Also, we see where Caleb was as strong at the age of 85 as he was when he was 40 years old. He said in Joshua 14:11, “As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.” In Joshua 14:12 Caleb stated, “Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day…”

He not only took the mountain, but was able to drive out the Anakim (giants) in it at 85, because he wholly followed the Lord His God. (Joshua 14:14)

Perhaps you have giants in your life today and feel like you are too old to possess your promised land and be used by God. Just remember this, no matter where you’re at in life today nor what your age is, God wants to still use you in a mighty way, for you’re never too old to be used by God!

Take Care of God’s Temple!

Many Christians never fulfill the plan of God for their lives because of their lives being cut short. However, there are certain steps we can take to extend our lives and fulfill the dream that God has put into our heart. You’ve heard the phrase, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. That certainly applies to our physical temples and we must be diligent to take care of them!  Ecclesiastes 7:17 states, “Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?”  According to this verse, being foolish can cause you to die before your time.  Benjamin Franklin stated that, “He that can take rest is greater than he that can take cities.” Here are some basic keys for taking care of your body, God’s temple.

1) Rest – Gen. 2.2 states the following, “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.” Even God, an eternal Spirit, took time off to rest for an entire day during the week. Jesus told his disciples in Mark 6:31, “And He said to them, ‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’ For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.”

Nothing substitutes for rest. If God the Father rested and Jesus told his disciples to rest, then we need to discipline ourselves and give our bodies, minds and spirits rest on a regular basis.

Many Christians suffer from what we call “burnout”. I believe this can be prevented if we discipline ourselves to rest when we need it. In the aforementioned scripture in Mark chapter 6, Jesus recognized that rest was necessary for His disciples. As someone once said, “Come apart before you come apart.”

If your body is telling you to rest, then heed the warning. You only have one body, so listen to it.

2) Eat right – The old adage, “You are what you eat” could never be truer than in this day and age. With the abundance of fast food, we have chosen convenience over nutrition and our bodies have paid the price. You don’t necessarily need to be a “health nut”, but you do need to put the right kind of food (i.e., fuel) into your body.

I’m reminded of a minister whom the Lord spoke to regarding this. The Lord basically told him that he was being a hypocrite. He said that he would fire anyone who put the wrong brand of oil in one of his ministry vehicles, but he himself was putting junk into his body, and that was hypocritical.

Don’t forget the GIGO principle, which means “Garbage In, Garbage Out”. If you put mostly garbage into your body, then that’s what you’ll feel like. One doctor stated that the majority of the foods we put into our body should be living foods (i.e., vegetables, fruits, etc.) instead of dead foods (e.g., pastries, pies, refined/white bread, etc.).

I believe that if we put as many fresh, living foods (raw or steamed, if possible) into our body, then we will feel much better. As someone once remarked, “No food tastes as good as good health”. No matter how good the junk food may taste, it will eventually affect your health, and the price of how you feel will not be worth it.

3) Exercise – Whether it’s walking, running, bike riding, lifting weights or something else, we all need exercise on a regular basis. Consistency here is the key.

Find something that you enjoy and it will be easier for you to be consistent. You don’t have to train with the intensity of an Olympic athlete, but you do need to exert some effort.

Experts say that we need at least 30 minutes of exercise five days a week or more. If you haven’t exercised in a while, you may need to decrease the frequency and duration.

During Bible times, people did a lot of walking, so exercise wasn’t much of an issue. Today, however, we must make time for exercise, especially if we have sedentary jobs.

4) Get enough Sleep – Before Thomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb, people got an average of 9-10 hours of sleep per night. However, today the majority of people in the U.S. get less than 7 hours of sleep per night. This results in a sleep deficit that cannot merely be overcome by just sleeping in later on your days off.

Lack of sleep can cause stress and anxiety, as well as anger, irritability, depression and cardiovascular problems. It also can be responsible for short-term memory loss and suppression of the immune system. In addition to this it can alter hormones and metabolism. About eight hours of sleep is crucial to help the body and brain reset.

Tiredness is the main cause of 18% of workplace accidents and 25% of all traffic accidents. According to the National Sleep Foundation, tiredness in the workplace is causing the U.S. $80 billion annually.

The Exxon Valdez oil spill is an example of an accident partially caused by worker tiredness. According to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, part of the reason for this accident was believed to be due to the failure of the third mate to properly maneuver the vessel, possibly due to fatigue and excessive workload.

Many people that are battling an illness today are doing so because of continually pushing themselves and not getting sufficient sleep. Sometimes we just need to say “No” if it doesn’t fit within our schedule.

By the way, experts say to get in bed as many hours before midnight as possible. Studies have indicated that the number of hours you sleep before midnight is twice as important as the number of hours you sleep after midnight.

5) Make time for recreation – We need to have fun. Yes, I said fun. Too many people today have no form of recreation aside from eating out. That really is not recreation and certainly won’t help you live a long and healthy life. It’s not a sin to “let your hair down” and do things that you enjoy and relieve stress.

For me, fishing is one of my “stress relievers”. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed and is a prime source of recreation for me. For some, it may be working out or playing some type of sport. Whatever it is, make sure that you do it consistently, especially when you are under stress. You will be amazed at how it will improve your outlook on life.

6) Be led by the Spirit – Jesus was led by the Spirit when ministering to others, not led by the needs themselves. If we are always led by human needs, then we will never get any rest. We should lead a spirit-led life, not a driven life. Unfortunately, many Christians live driven lives and their health is suffering because of it.

Romans 8:14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” “Sons” indicates a level of maturity, since it doesn’t mention children of God. It takes a level of maturity and humility for a Christian to be obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit. God is not a Taskmaster Who will make you work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He is actually the best Employer around. His plan for you includes rest and relaxation.

Matthew 11:28-30 states, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

The Lord’s yoke is easy and His burden is light. If we burn out in the ministry, then it’s not God’s fault. We’re simply being disobedient to His leading when He directs us to rest.

7) Cast Your Cares upon the Lord – I Peter 5:6-7 states, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” It takes humility to cast our cares upon the Lord. Pride makes us think that we can handle it all, but humility looks to the Lord and causes us to cast all of our cares upon him.

Ps. 55:22 states, “Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”

In closing, let me state that it takes discipline to put these principles into practice (including discipline to rest and have times of recreation). However, the price will be well worth it as it produces a healthy body to run our race. We can then say with the apostle Paul in II Tim. 4:7, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”.

What Will You Do With Your Dash?

It’s been said that our life is a dash between two dates: Our birth date and our date of death. My question to you is this: What will you do with your dash?

Some use their dash to pursue temporary things such as riches, pleasure or material possessions. Others use their dash to pursue the plan of God for their lives and to minister to humanity. Only you can make the decision as to what you will do with your dash.

You have only one dash, so use it wisely. Will you waste your dash on things that will someday perish, or will you use your dash to engage in activities that will have an eternal impact?

Will your dash be warmly remembered by others long after you are gone, or will your dash be just another punctuation mark in humanity that will soon be forgotten?

Just remember that you have the power (and responsibility) to use your dash as you will. Since you have only one dash, you should carefully and prayerfully consider how you plan to use it. I hope you will invest it wisely and not waste it. For the Scriptures state that our life (or dash) is as a vapor.

As the poem states:
” Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

So what will you do with your dash?

Run to Win!

As the great harvest beckons us,
Let us on our course stay.
As we obey the Master,
And follow His way.

For we each have a race,
A race we must run.
So let us run it with patience,
Till the work is all done.

With our race set before us
And our course that’s laid out.
Let us follow His plans,
As we begin to step out.

For this race we must run,
Till the last soul comes in.
Hear the Master’s voice calling,
“Run to Win!”

Sherwood Page – 1999

Can God Furnish a Table in the Wilderness?

The title of this blog was a question asked (in Psalm 78:19) by the Hebrews in the wilderness after they had seen miracle after miracle performed by God on their behalf. Unfortunately, many Christians are asking this question of God today. Of course, by examining the Scriptures, we see that God did furnish a table in the wilderness by feeding the multitude with quail, manna (food from Heaven) and even water that gushed out of a rock.

No matter where you are at in life today, God can (and will) furnish a table for you in your wilderness, if you will believe Him for it. You may be in a wilderness of financial famine, sickness or depression. Perhaps you are a single parent or someone who has just lost their job. You may be a full-time student with limited (or no income). Regardless of your situation, God is a God of abundance and supernatural supply every day of the year, not just when the economy is good or when we have a good-paying job.

In Psalm 23, perhaps the most famous and oft-quoted Psalm of the Bible, we see that the Lord, as our Shepherd, prepares a table for us even in the presence of our enemies (verse 5). No matter what your enemy is today, God is able and willing to furnish a lavish table in your wilderness.

Of course, God is not a Respecter of persons, but He is a Respecter of faith. So don’t limit God as the Israelites did in Psalm 78:41, but believe that your loving Heavenly Father will furnish you a table for everything you need (and even things you may not need). He is still Ed Shaddai, the God Who is more than enough.

We must, however, come to God by faith, realizing that all things are possible with God. (Matthew 19:26) If we will do that, and realize that God is a liberal Giver and a Rewarder, then we can partake of all the items that God has furnished on His table, for all things are possible to him who believes. (Mark 9:23)

The Power of Persistence

Many years ago my uncle brought back some pieces of glass from Niagara Falls. These pieces of glass had been at the bottom of the falls for quite some time and, amazingly, had no rough edges. You would think that water would not have that kind of power over glass, but the persistence of the falls had reformed the broken pieces of glass to remove all rough edges. I believe that in life we encounter broken dreams, but like those broken pieces of glass, they can be reformed by our persistence.

Perhaps the following story illustrates the value of persistence best. The story begins with that of a young boy whose mother died of milk sickness when he was just nine years old. As far as schooling goes, he only had 18 months of formal education. Also, his first love died of what was presumed to be typhoid fever. This young man later married and had several sons. However, only one son would survive into adulthood. One son died of tuberculosis and the other of a fever. The fourth son died at age 18.

The young man in this story was eventually diagnosed with what we would call clinical depression. However, he decided to run for the state legislature in 1832, but lost (he was eighth in a field of thirteen). He ran again for the state legislature in 1834 and won. Nevertheless, the death of a close friend, Ann Rutledge in 1835, affected him profoundly. He did finally win a seat as his state’s representative to the U.S. Congress in 1846 and later sought the job of commissioner of the General Land Office, but lost. In 1860, however, he was elected the 16th President of the United States and one of the most beloved Presidents of all time. His name is Abraham Lincoln.

Perhaps you have experienced some similar setbacks that allow you to identify with the aforementioned story. However, the Bible states in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Just remember that persistence will win out regardless of what you are going through. Perhaps the words of the following poem illustrate this best:

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow–
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out–
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit–
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Author unknown

It Doesn’t Matter Where You’ve Been But Where You’re Going

I’m reminded of the story of a homeless man who came into a church one day. He asked to see the pastor and then proceeded to give him ten dollars. As the homeless man was walking out, he stopped and then told the pastor he would give him his only remaining possession, his pillow. That man may not have realized it that day, but he made a change in the direction of his life. In Galatians 6:7 it states, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, he will also reap.”

Perhaps you started your life off negatively and have been in a lot of bad places. Or possibly you’ve been through trials and tests that you never imagined. However, keep this in mind, it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, but where you’re going.

The apostle Peter denied the Lord three times, even after promising Him that he would die with Him. However, the Lord forgave Him, and after the day of Pentecost he preached boldly to a multitude, and three thousand people were added to the kingdom of God in one day!

My friend, learn to forgive yourself and press on towards what God has for you. Forget the past and “let the past be past at last”. Remember, it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, but where you’re going!

Get Back Up!

In December,1958, the light-heavyweight boxer, Archie “Old Mongoose” Moore fought the rugged French Canadian, Yvon “The Fighting Fisherman” Durelle in one of the most memorable fights of all time. Moore, by the way, was only 3 days away from his 45th birthday.

In a classic fight that boxing fans must see to believe, the tough 29 year old French Canadian, Yvon “The Fighting Fisherman” Durelle, knocked down Archie Moore an incredible three times in the first round with brutal shots and appeared to be on his way to certain victory. However, Moore just made it to his feet each time and somehow managed to weather the storm and survive the round. Then, incredibly, he began to work his way back ever-so-slowly. But Durelle pounced on the Mongoose for four more rounds, viciously knocking down Archie Moore again in the 5th round. Still, the “Old Mongoose” would not quit. No matter how hard the shots were, each time Archie Moore got back up.

Durelle then became visibly discouraged by Archie’s firm resolve. Now it was Archie Moore who slowly began to take control of the fight from the extremely tough challenger. Moore knew every trick in the book and used each one of them to come back from the verge of defeat. Durelle finally went down in the seventh. And then again in the tenth round. The “Old Mongoose” then settled it once and for all in the eleventh round when he knocked down Durelle, as the crowd watched in disbelief. This classic fight defined the words “comeback” as well as the will to never give up.

Perhaps, like Archie Moore, you may feel like you’ve been knocked down time and time again. However, we need to get back up and show the enemy that we are more determined than he is. We need the firm resolve to win, no matter what the cost.

As II Corinthians 4:8-9 states, “We are pushed hard from all sides. But we are not beaten down. We are bewildered. But that doesn’t make us lose hope. Others make us suffer. But God does not desert us. We are knocked down. But we are not knocked out.” (New International Reader’s Version)

Just remember that, as a Christian, God is “in your corner” and if you will just get back up with a firm resolve to not quit, you will win the fight.

As Les Brown says, “If you can look up, you can get up”. So pick yourself off from the mat and get back up! We win!

1 http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=1503&more=1
2 http://www.fightkings.com/lategreats.htm

God’s Not Finished Blessing You Yet!

I’m reminded of the story of a man of God whose wife had left him after 13 years of marriage. As he was walking down the courthouse steps after the divorce, he asked the Lord this question: “Is this all I’ve got to show for 13 years of marriage and ministry?”. The Lord then answered him with this phrase: “I’m not finished blessing you yet”.

That man of God is blessed beyond measure today. However, I wonder what would have happened if he would have turned his back on God and His plan for his life?

Perhaps you’ve been through some struggles and wonder if is there anything else in store for you. The answer to that is an emphatic “yes!”, for God is not finished blessing you yet. God has more blessings in store for you than you can imagine if you won’t give up on God and if you’ll stay in faith.

Heb. 11:6 says that God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. One definition of reward is, “something given or received in return or recompense for service, merit, hardship, etc.” There is a rich reward for staying in faith and continuing to serve God. Perhaps you’ve been through a hardship or a series of hardships, but my message to you is this: God’s not finished blessing you yet!

Once you do something for God, He never forgets it; and I can promise you that He is the best rewarder there is. So I encourage you to stay in faith and press on towards what God has for you. As the missionary Hudson Taylor said, “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.”

And remember, God’s not finished blessing you yet!