Day 57 "Since a tree is known by its fruit, which tree are you"

Day 57

Matthew 7:15-20 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them."

We are, first of all, warned of false prophets, those who come in sheep's clothing but are rather ravenous wolves. In addition, we are told how to identify them–by their fruit. How often do we see eloquent speaking, charismatic people who speak one thing and yet do another? I dare say the world is full of them, and unfortunately there is no shortage of those who would do so in the name of God.

Just this morning on national news, there was a story of a Church in the Midwest whose members were intentionally disrupting the funerals of our soldiers, claiming that these men were going to hell; condemning them in the name of God and bringing great pain to the families, as well as shame to our God and His Church. It is no wonder that many people think we Christians are a bunch of whackos, so would I, if I didn't know better. What does that have to do with this Church, you ask? The fruit of this congregation is not the same as the fruit of a Church following the gospel would bear–our fruit is and always should be unconditional love! Beware that you do not confuse the fruit of the power of Jesus’ name with the fruit of the one using His name. We must remember the power over demons and hell is in the name of Jesus, not in those who speak it or use it; these can and, in the case of false prophets, always are in direct conflict. For example, if a prophet comes and is using the name of Jesus (which has power over satan) and calls demons out, and then commands his followers to contradict the word (often in sexual ways), they are a false prophet, and we should never submit to or follow such a person!

Remember, an apple tree bears apples, grapes bear grapes, and pears bear pears, right? And if someone says they are a lemon tree and they have apples hanging on them, no matter what they say, they are an apple! My mother-in-law has an orange tree that has the most beautiful oranges you have ever seen except for one problem, they’re lemons. Yes, they look like oranges, but they are not and nothing you can do will convince you otherwise once you have tasted them. Once you have tasted someone's teaching, deep down you know their roots; you taste their fruit. Keeping in mind that the fruit of our belief is love, no matter how we may feel about a particular false religion, it behooves all mankind to remember many of the people in these cults have no idea that they are following false teachings and, for the most part, that they have been deceived. Christ's love in us and the truth spoken in love is quite often their only hope. Yet, if we desire to fill the houses of false teachers, we need only to wag our fingers, slice with our tongues in judgment, and ride our high horses of righteousness, just as the Pharisees did in days of old.

Having said this all in love, let me end with the following question: “Do the Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and yes, even the Catholics, stay true to the entire Word of God? This you must answer on your own. Remember, "A tree shall be known by its fruit."

Daily Prayer: Father, may we truly be known as ones who bear luscious, healthy, and desirable fruit, bringing glory to our Savior Jesus, our Lord, and in His name we pray, Amen.

"Since a tree is known by its fruit, which tree are you"
Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 56 "Choosing your own path is not a popular decision; however, this is not a contest."

Day 56

Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

Having been a believer since the age of seven, I must confess that being a follower didn't happen until my twenties. You see, that's when I accepted the fact that being a believer was a more difficult way. In order to maintain this walk, one truly must purpose to take the hard way–to take the step away from the popular accepted belief and choose to be different.

In my younger days, I worked for many cattle ranchers: some very talented, others not so talented. The most experienced man I ever worked for had been ranching all of his life. He was at least a third-generation rancher, if not more. We would push large herds of cattle from private lower lands in the spring up to the higher public lands where better grass was growing. Along the way, we would find lead cows: ones that others seemed to follow. Once we had them pinned up, we gathered those lead cows and placed bells on them. The bells would help us find the cows any time we desired, and as well, they served as a way of letting the other cattle know where the herd was headed. In the fall, we simply located the lead cattle (by the sound of the bells), and then we very slowly pushed them to where we wanted all of the cattle to gather. Sure enough, by the time we got to our corral (or gathering place), the majority of the herd had followed the bells and joined up with the others. When I read this passage, I am very much reminded of those lead cows and the sound of those bells ringing in my ears.

Far too many people today have chosen to follow the pack, to listen for the latest buzzword or join the latest craze, and never even know what or who they are supporting or following. Our lives are far too important and cherishable to allow others to determine what is right for us, especially if we haven't even checked out the facts. The gate to death is wide because far too many will accept what others say without checking it out; they will, unfortunately, believe the media or a friend or accept an unfounded opinion. But those of us who choose to follow God, and are willing to be persecuted for it, will walk a lonely road. We’re not here for the fire insurance–we’re here because we believe, because we’re convicted and committed, because we have no choice, for the truth is engraved upon our hearts. That’s why I'm here. How about you? Anyone hear bells?

Daily Prayer: Father, give us eyes to see and ears to hear that we may not be deceived, that we might not be pleasers of men, but rather pleasers of you, Oh God. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

"Choosing your own path is not a popular decision; however, this is not a contest."

Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 55 "The treasure of heaven is redemption and all else is just a blessing."

Day 55

Matthew 7:7-12 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

To many, this is a very familiar passage of scripture. We tend to grab hold of the promises and build areas of our lives upon them; however, when the entire context is not taken into account, we often build upon shaky ground at best. If you read this scripture by itself, your tendency would be to think that all you need to do is ask God for anything and He will blindly accommodate you. And not only will He accommodate, but He will bless you abundantly with good gifts (verses 8-11). Yes, it is true that our God desires to bless us with good things, but what are good things? Are they the things that we believe will bring us great earthly pleasure and comfort, or are they those things which will impact the Kingdom and make us a more Holy and productive people?

We must remember that God, through His word, makes it abundantly clear that those who seek earthly gain have set aside heavenly minds. Again lets look at Solomon, because he asked for wisdom (with a pure heart), only then did God give Him the treasures of this world, and if the wisest man of all time couldn’t handle it, what makes us think we can? This passage is about seeking what is right. What did Jesus say about seeking? Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” In verse 12, we see what I believe is the true meaning of this passage: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Why does this passage begin with ‘therefore?’ Ask yourself the question, “What is it there for?” It is there to emphasize the true meaning of the prior passages: God desires that we would be a generous, giving, loving, self-sacrificing people, ones who give their best to God and His people, not their leftovers, and as we give, so shall we receive.

One of the most appalling things at the Church is unfortunately a very common practice. Often, when we put out the call for furniture, clothing, etc. for people in need, the body brings us their leftover garage-sale garbage. I have literally opened bags of clothing and found vomit on them! Am I the only one that sees something wrong with this? When we give to the Church, we are not giving to people, we are giving to God; therefore, all too many bring God their leftover trash rather than their best. Aren't we glad that God doesn't give us trash when we ask for food or judgment when we ask for forgiveness? God desires that we seek a relationship with Him based not upon what we receive in return, but rather upon who He is–our Lord, our Creator, our salvation, our hope, our God. In return, what we seek and receive will be Him, and we will find ourselves completely satisfied as a result.

Daily Prayer: Lord, help us to keep our eyes looking toward You, our ears tuned to hear Your voice, and our wills subjected to Yours. May we give as You have given, and may we be found content in You. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

"The treasure of heaven is redemption and all else is just a blessing."

Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 54 "Anyone can judge others, but to love one must purpose to obey."

Day 54

Matthew 7:1-5 "Judge not, that you may not be judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother 'Let me remove the speck from your eye' and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

When I think of how harshly I have judged people in my life, the thought of God judging me with that same harshness is more than a little terrifying. Jesus has given us everything we need to live a life that will change our world, yet we choose to go our own way, often with malice and forethought. Can you imagine what the world would be like if every believer were to stop looking at everyone else’s shortcomings and focus strictly on their own? For one thing, it would be a very short time before we would have no one to talk about or fuss over, for when we focus on our issues, we have little time to see those of others. Not to mention the fact that, if we were first able to get ourselves in order, all would then be in order, right? Look at it this way, if I have a problem with something you’re doing, and likewise, if you work on your issues and I work on mine (with God’s leading for each of us), then I could no longer have issue with you nor you with me. Wow, we just found the cure for one of the greatest causes of human suffering–dissention! Think of how much more impact we would have on the world if, as a body, the believers rallied around focusing on their own shortcomings rather than those of others. That kind of love has not been shown since Jesus walked the earth, and the effect of it is still impacting our lives today! All of that said, Jesus ends with providing us the prescription for truly helping others get on track and see clearly, "we get ourselves right." The passage ends with Jesus saying, ‘once we see clearly by having our life in order, then we can help others see clearly as well, all, of course, without judgment.’

Pastor Chuck Smith, founder of the Calvary Chapel movement, has based his entire ministry on the belief that all people need to walk complete with God is the Word, thus he (and all Calvary pastors) teaches through the Word. Pastor Chuck is correct in saying that all people need is the direction of the Word; however, many Christians hear it, and possibly even know it, but don't apply and practice Godly living. If we, as believers, would listen to the instruction of the living Word and apply it daily in our lives, we would no longer need retreats, marriage seminars, evangelism classes, etc., in order to keep ourselves on track. Not only that, but most of the people around us would be following in our footsteps as well, even without us telling them where we are headed. Why, you ask? Because of how blessed, peaceful, joyous, generous, and loving we would be–not because we try or plan to–because we couldn't help but be that way. Complete surrender to Christ is contagious, are you?

Daily Prayer: Father God, help us to seek to correct ourselves rather than focusing on the challenges of others in order that we may walk in the fullness of You, causing others to desire that love. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

"Anyone can judge others, but to love one must purpose to obey."

Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 53 "Worrying is to faith as David was to Goliath."

Day 53

Matthew 6:25-34 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Jesus is doing all He can with His time on the earth to equip His people for the trials of daily life, and His words are truly everlasting. They are meant not only for the generation who saw Him walk this earth but also for those generations yet to come until the day we see His return.

The primary focus of this passage is the act of worrying. Here the word literally means to be distracted or preoccupied to the point of causing anxiety or stress. He begins the passage with a call to avoid such foolishness using, as an example, the things on earth which He created such as animals and plants, things without souls, items of somewhat lesser value than those of us created in His image, which is all mankind. He goes on to remind us that it is God who ultimately provides for all life. For us to worry is to walk without faith, and as we know from Hebrews 11:6, “…without faith it is impossible to please God….” “Worrying is to faith as David was to Goliath,” the deliverer of the blow of death. When we worry, we place God on the shelf with other useless, lifeless items and make fear and anxiety the crutch upon which we lean. Jesus is not telling us to be lazy and avoid planning to provide for our needs. What He is saying here is don’t let it consume you and drive you to the point of forgetting that ultimately God is your provision. He makes this point very clear in verse 33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

When we make fellowship with God the first and primary focus of our lives, everything else truly does seem to become less important and much more insignificant. Remember the old saying, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Well, I have an addendum, “Absence makes the mind to wander.” Anytime we are separated from anyone or anything for very long, we begin to run scenarios and question the depth of the relationship: the same is true with our relationship with God, when we are not consistent in our fellowship with Him, we soon forget His desire to provide and care for us, and the devil truly loves to fuel that fire. Make God first and throw vanity out the window. Remember not to worship the world but rather the one who created it and worry will soon be a thing of the past!

Daily Prayer: Father, help me today to leave the cares and worries of this world at your feet, at the altar of grace and mercy, and give me the peace and the faith to trust you, my Lord, to fulfill my needs. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

"Worrying is to faith as David was to Goliath."

Pastor Gene Burroughs Servant

Day 52 "The one I serve is the one I love."

Day 52

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon.”

The two masters Jesus is referring to are God and money–or spirit and flesh–two things which are constantly at war with one another. The love of money and the pursuit of riches is a topic which Jesus often mentions, and in every case, He is extolling the evils of pursuing wealth. When the God who created Heaven and Earth warns us of the incredible evil associated with pursuing riches, should we not listen? Remember what He is saying here, ‘do not serve Mammon.’ He is not saying it’s evil to be wealthy: what He is clearly saying is wealth and the pursuit of it should never be our motivation. I know many wealthy people who allow their money to serve God and have succeeded in not becoming servants of their riches. The problem comes when our focus in life becomes so intent on gaining wealth rather than seeking a closer relationship with Christ. That thing we seek with the most passion is truly that which is ruling our lives, or in other words, that which we serve.

As a child growing up, I witnessed far too many members of my family fail miserably (at life and love) while pursuing riches. As a result, I coined a phrase which I live by to this day: “I would rather be poor with love in my home than rich with no one to love.” The pursuit of happiness is not the pursuit of money: it is the pursuit of the greatest giver of love, Jesus. My greatest desire has now become that of helping others pursue a relationship with Christ. You see, I know something they don't. Even though the road will be hard and the way long, there is no greater joy than knowing Him; that He has washed your sins as white as snow and is even now sitting at the right hand of the Father making petition to Him for us all.

I am a slave to God, not money. May I ask, "Who is your master?" If not God, why not? If money, why so? And, if you’re not sure how to find out, believe me when I say this, “Others know, you might try asking them.”

Daily Prayer: Father, help me to serve you today and to place my worldly desires aside and follow after the things of Christ. Show me where I am falling short, and direct me back to the path of righteousness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

"The one I serve is the one I love."

Pastor Gene Burroughs Servant

Day 51 "I desire what I see; therefore, I must see only that which I choose to desire."

Day 51

Matthew 6:22-23 “The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, if your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is in darkness, how great is that darkness!"

Like me, you may be asking, “What does my eye have to do with being a lamp?” I must confess that I really had to seek God on this one. Maybe for some it was easy, but not for me until the Holy Spirit revealed it. A biblical lamp is made up of three basic components: the receptacle, the fuel, and a wick. In this case, the receptacle would be the eye, the fuel would be the intent of the heart, and the wick would be the mind. The intent of the heart would create the flame or the passion; the mind would be the element used to control the amount of fuel used; and the eye would be what, in this case, takes in the fuel for the fire. Therefore, if the eye seeks out good fuel, the heart will receive it, the mind will distribute it, and the spirit will light the flame that all will see–good fuel, good actions. Yet the opposite can also be true in that the eye, while searching the horizon, may seek out things that are not so healthy for our spirit, and while the internal reaction is the same, the result will be darkness–or the intent of our heart. Rather than people seeing good and God glorifying things in you, they will see defiling and deceitful things in you.

Maybe this will help. If you smell or hear something, the eye must choose whether you look to it. If you don't look to the source of desire, the way becomes much more difficult toward attaining it. You can't see the path to desire if the eye does not reveal it, right? Sounds like we may want to keep better track of where our eyes wander. This happens to be the way the Internet has become such a successful tool for the enemy. He knows that if he can get our eye, it won't be long until the rest of us follow: we see; we desire; and, all too often, we react by not turning away but rather toward the temptation. Are you allowing your eye to wander? If so, rein it in, if not, be watchful and wary lest you fail.

Daily Prayer: Father God, help me to take the effort to control my eyes, to be wary of the desire to let them wander, and choose rightly what to allow within me. Amen.

"I desire what I see; therefore, I must see only that which I choose to desire."

Pastor Gene Burroughs Servant

Day 50 "Earthly pleasures or Kingdom treasures, you decide"

Day 50

Matthew 6:19-21 " Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth: where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;"but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." For where your treasure is there your heart will be also."
A few years ago as I was reading Jeremiah 9:23-24 the Lord spoke a word to me a phrase which is very relevant to this passage," Earthly pleasures or Kingdom treasures, you decide". We must make a conscious decision in our lives as to what we are going to pursue, the temporal and material satisfaction, or the faith to believe that what we do on earth will affect our lives eternally? We can purpose to either focus on creating wealth on earth, (which will be destroyed and or stolen), or we can purpose to lay up heavenly treasures that will never be destroyed. Is this to say that God will not give us wealth on earth, of course not, the wealthiest man to ever live was Solomon, and while he asked for wisdom, (which God granted), God also blessed him with incredible and incomparable wealth. Yet even he the wisest man to ever live when blessed with such wealth lost his focus and fell to the temptations of this world. The point is this, our focus and our purpose on this earth truly should be upon attaining spiritual wealth, Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you". When we get our priorities right, then God can truly begin to work in our lives in ways we can only imagine. When I left the corporate world I was making a lot of money, had a company car, an expense account, and all of the power that comes with it. My relationship with God was largely based on my need for, and His blessing of forgiveness. Oh yes I was serving Him however my time and commitment were greatly divided. When I made the choice to obey Him and to go into full time ministry my first position was cleaning toilets in the Church. Our income dropped over 50%, the expense account and car were gone, and the only power I wielded came in the form of a toilet brush. My relationship with God suddenly became less about repentance and forgiveness, and 100% about serving Him. By the way did I mention that in this the Lord blessed us with a savings account, we remodeled our home, purchased newer vehicles, and had a much happier life again all on 50% of the income. Where is your focus, are you wanting more of the things of the earth, or are you willing to pursue the things of God?
Daily Prayer: Lord I pray that my focus would always be on the things of heaven and not of earth, that I might trust You to be my provision. Amen.
"Earthly pleasures or Kingdom treasures, you decide"
Pastor Gene Burroughs Servant

Day 49 "The reward of joy in suffering, comes in the quiet and soothes the spirit"

Day 49
Matthew 6: 16-18 "Moreover when you fast do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly I say to you, that they have their reward. "But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, "so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."
When it comes to fasting keeping a happy countenance can become extremely difficult to do, after all when our tummy growls it expects to be fed. When we neglect our tummy it sends a message to our brain to shut down our body in order to preserve our energy reserves. When that doesn't work, our body gets really mad and gives us a maddening headache that seems to amplify the screaming in our minds that says just feed me! What we are experiencing is the battle between the flesh and the spirit, and unfortunately all too often the flesh wins.
While Jesus in this passage is specifically speaking about fasting the same truths can be applied in all of our lives in areas such as; tithing, exercising our spiritual gifts, and the use of our talents. The treasure of this passage is rather clear, yet unlike a pirate's treasure it is easy to attain, the treasure is the blessing of God. What Jesus is saying here is, in your service and obedience to God; "don't let the pain of physical or spiritual affliction be the focus, but rather let joy reign in your life." When we grimace, or complain in service to God we place the attention on ourselves. Yet when we serve with Joy people tend to ignore us and place more emphasis on the joy of the Lord. Unfortunately all too many of us who serve the Lord full time often forget this truth. We get so weighed down by the constant barrage of helping people bogged down by sin and its consequences, that for us it can result in both mental and physical fatigue. Our constant goal of course is to retain our joy in Christ thus preventing the outward evidence of the daily struggle. When others praise God out of our sacrifice and obedience the only blessing we should receive is from the King of Kings Himself. However as we all know our flesh is fed by the attention of others. The key to this treasure is to deny your flesh in public in order that your spirit may be fed in private. In doing so your witness will be greater as the Lord rewards you openly.
Daily Prayer: Father please give me the strength to deny my flesh with joy, to suffer with gladness, and lead in humility. Amen.
"The reward of joy in suffering, comes in the quiet and soothes the spirit"
Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 48 "The roots of bitterness run deep and deadly yet the yet true forgiveness kill's them all"

Day 48
Matthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
The word trespasses refers here to transgression or violation, so in essence Jesus is warning us that in order to receive grace freely we must freely give grace. All too often we hear from the wronged that they deserve the right to be angry, that they are after all the victims. In the Church today we have I believe far too many who are walking in un-forgiveness, which ultimately results in a loss of pure fellowship with God. This means that due to their lack of forgiveness, He is unable to forgive them, a vicious and non-productive circle. Another result of lack of forgiveness is that it can lead to bitterness, and bitterness like a weed takes quick root, and becomes very difficult to destroy. The crop of bitterness is torment which grows all too quickly, it multiplies with little help, growing in the slightest of cracks, beware of bitterness. I personally believe mental institutions all over the world are filled with bitter tormented people, most of which don't remember why their anger runs so deep. So here we sit wondering why God is not speaking to us, getting angry with Him, when all along we are the ones to blame because of our unwillingness to forgive those who have offended us. Here is the craziest of all truths they all too often don't even know or remember that they have offended you. Hence others bind us up both in the spirit and in the flesh, when freedom is only a prayer away! Recently a person very close to me shared how after years of being influenced by the pain she inflicted upon her former stepmother she came to terms and decided to openly and directly seek her forgiveness. After a few moments of sharing with her, the former stepmother said, "pardon me but I don’t know what you’re talking about" All of the pain, the hurt, and the fears suddenly made no sense, this woman didn't even remember. Don't let your enemies hold you in bondage, take away their power with the same forgiveness and grace that Jesus took away your sins with
Daily Prayer: Father help us to not hold on to the hurts, pains, and bitterness heaped upon us by others, and if I have a root of bitterness please show me Lord that it may be uprooted forever, help me Lord to walk in the freedom of forgiveness. Amen.
"The roots of bitterness run deep and deadly yet the yet true forgiveness kill's them all"
Pastor Gene Burroughs

Day 47 “The Lord of your life will lead your every move, what or who is your Lord”

Day 47

Matthew 6: 13 And do not lead us in to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen

The only true protection any person has from the influence of the devil is God and His authority. The full power of that protection is only available to those who know the Lord and have made Him, “Lord of their life”. The key words here being “the Lord of their life”, which is truly one key aspect to the prayer Jesus is teaching us. You see serving God is more about Him being Lord of your life and a lot less about your security or eternal salvation. When you pray the “Lords Prayer” with sincerity of heart you are in essence saying I surrender to you all that I am, and I acknowledge You as Lord of my life. When this becomes the case our lives take on a new dimension, they become more powerful, and we become better equipped. If God is not just a figurehead but rather the Lord of my life, and if I truly believe all what this scripture is stating, then everything that I encounter as He leads me, is His will, and hence what is better for me. So just what does it mean when we say that God is the Lord of my life? He and His will become my number one desire and obsession, obeying His word, seeking Him daily, allowing Him to be in control. These are the attributes of one allowing God to be the Lord of their life. When we seek to allow God to be our Lord we do much to disarm the power of evil, for no longer do we submit to our fleshly desires, but rather first to the desires of our spirit. There is a peace that passes all understanding once we truly are surrendered to His will for us.
Now before our minds take us into a place of feeling unable or unworthy to attain such perfection let me clarify. This is a place we should all desire and aspire to be, yet understand that very few people have arrived. Therefore we can consider it great joy to know that our God is gracious, merciful, loving and kind, and He will allow us to make mistakes. It should also be of great comfort to know that during this process, as we make the journey, He will not lead us into temptation. That He will deliver us from the evil one, and that He has the power and authority to do so.

God wants to be more than a figurehead in your life, He wants to be Lord, give Him a chance, and allow yourself the chance to walk in that fullness, you will never be disappointed. And remember, He will never leave you, and that He is a patient Lord who will never ask more of you than you can bear.

Daily Prayer: Father God I ask that you teach me to surrender completely to Your will and allow You to be Lord of my life. I know you will never leave me, that You will never harm me, and that You want what is best for me, and I thank You for that in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

“The Lord of your life will lead your every move, what or who is your Lord”

Pastor Gene Burroughs Servant

Finding Him in the Darkness (written July 2010 yet never released)

Suddenly the events of the past eight or so months have subsided enough to be reflected upon, the results of which were now far too apparent. In October we were told that my wife's illness was serious, probably terminal. In November our greatest fears were realized. From that day until now there were so many events, so many obstacles, so many scenarios and responsibilities that the reality of what lie ahead never really hit home. Between the endless Doctor appointments and procedures there was the plethora of phone calls, legal issues, and a line of people a mile long wanting for just one final word. Somewhere in the mix were the children, two at home, another some hundred plus miles away, what about them and the grandchildren, where do they fit in? There was so much of my time spent managing the business of death that very little was able to be spent just saying goodbye, let alone caring for the loved ones. The daily highlight soon became the blessing and mystery of nightly meals being delivered often by complete strangers, simply because they cared. Maybe the business of death is a blessing in disguise, could it be that keeping busy prevents us from realizing the darkness of what lies ahead. The problem is that the darkness is coming, it is real, and truly nothing can prepare you for it. At this writing I have suddenly realized for the first time that I am alone, my life partner has left this world. I am numb, I am scared, I am overwhelmed, and no one knows to what degree. Dare I tell them? My children have finally fallen asleep, the result of exhaustion from crying a seemingly endless stream of tears. The laundry is done, the dishes are washed, and now I am forced to make the long trek down a short hall to my now empty room. A place formerly filled with laughter, joy, hours of discussion, and the kind of love that only married couples can know. This room that served as a hospital, a place of preparation for heaven, and eventually a place of passing now it waits as if to devour me. It has become an empty, dark, cold, and quiet, chasm of despair. Last night as I lay in the bed after what seemed like hours it all came crashing in, the memories, the fears, the doubts, the shoulda coulda woulda thoughts, and yes the darkness of being alone. Loneliness is my new found and unwelcome companion. Who do I call, who can help me, where are my friends in the middle of the night? There is no one, not one, who can comfort me now! As the tears began to flow, I wondered, will the pain ever end, I hoped for sleep and yet it seemed to run from me. With every tear I became more awake, awake to the situation I now found myself in. How did this happen to me? Oh my poor children, my grandchildren, my family, and yes me! In the midst of my pain I cried out to the only one who had never left my side, the only one who truly understood my pain, I called upon my Lord. Many times I had heard His voice, felt His presence, or sensed His direction, but right now I needed a hug! In my desperation I sought Him, crying out, Father touch me, heal me, hold me Lord! No sooner had the words left my mouth when suddenly I felt something I had never felt before. It was if someone had clothed me with a warm blanket, every inch of my body felt the comforting touch, He had heard my cry! So this was intimacy with God, this was that touch I longed for the comfort I sought. All from one whom I could not see, but knew was there! I suddenly felt safe, equipped, and able to move forward, even if only for one minute, or one hour, or one day. Suddenly I was not alone, the God of all creation had come to me in my moment of despair, The nights are not so bad these days, when I call He is there, I know Him much better now, I love Him more, He is more than my God, He is my comforter, my strength, my hope, He is more than my salvation, He has become my all in all. What a shame it is that it can take such tragic events for us to truly know the Lord in this way, to this degree. However if this is what it takes, I am ready for the challenge. My wife has joined Him now, she knows no more pain or suffering, she is home. Somehow I doubt she would desire to return, no more than I desire to return to knowing Him as I did before. You see now I know Him intimately, I feel Him, I trust Him, I need Him, and I desire to please Him, He is my Lord, He is my God, and I will serve Him. Please don’t grieve for me, but rather for those who have yet to know Him, or only think they do, for surly they are the ones who are alone, not me. “Intimacy with God is much more than an emotion it is true oneness” Gene Burroughs New Beginnings Shasta Lake

Day 46 “Never love the things made by man more than the things made by God.”

Day 46

Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.”

Forgiveness of others for infractions against us, or debts to us, is an absolute must for a Godly life. It is almost as if we must all come to a place of being able to forgive anyone, of anything, at any given time. The thought of this is no doubt challenging for all of us, for some more than others, yet nonetheless it is asked of all of us.

A few years ago, the Lord used a very difficult situation to truly challenge and change me. For years, I had worked and saved in order to have a heavy-duty diesel pickup. With the Lord’s help, I was able to find a very nice truck at a price I could afford. On several occasions different people have asked to borrow my truck, and when possible I have allowed it. However on nearly every occasion my truck was returned with a new dent, or scratch, maybe something broken, and of course an empty fuel tank. It seemed that no one really cared that I was doing them a favor, they acted is if I owed them something, my frustration mounted with each occasion. As time went by my anger became more and more aroused, try as I might, I could not ignore the voice inside of me–you know, the one from God–the voice of reason and love? The Lord spoke very clearly to me that I was to forgive my brothers, even if they didn’t ask for it, or acknowledge a need for forgiveness. The Lord reminded me of myself and my need for forgiveness from Him, even when I didn’t deserve it. He spoke clearly to me of my need, even when I wasn’t aware of it, and how He never gave up on me.

I learned a valuable lesson or two that day, the biggest one being that people are always more valuable to God than things. You see, people are made by God, and people cannot make people–only God can. All too often we place greater value upon the things that people make; things that God places absolutely no value upon.

Therefore, when God asks us to forgive our debtors as He has forgiven us, it just might be a good idea to take that a little more seriously.

Daily Prayer: Father, I pray that you give me the patience and the perseverance to love Your people more than I love the things of this world. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“Never love the things made by man more than the things made by God.”

Pastor Gene Burroughs, Servant

Day 45 “The Word everyday will keep temptation at bay.”

Day 45

Matthew 6:11 “ Give us this day our daily bread.”

The very thought of depending on someone you cannot feel or touch for your daily needs is a concept far too difficult for many of us to grasp. The very thought is one that strikes fear in the hearts of those who have yet to walk in such faith. Does this mean that we are to rise up and say this prayer and then wait for someone to knock at the door with a loaf of bread and a bowl of beans? The answer may surprise you: possibly so. You see, for each of us, we must listen and be confident in what God is calling us to do–the keys being “listen” and “calling us.” For each of us the walk is very different, and each of us is responsible for taking the time and putting the effort to know what God is saying. If we listen quietly, then we will hear what is being spoken. If we speak while we are to be listening, we will hear whatever it is we desire to hear. Our reactions in life are primarily based upon our senses, and our senses are often led by our mind. Therefore, our desire must be to listen daily for God to speak to us regarding our daily bread both physically and spiritually. Once we listen, then we can respond to what it is He is calling us to do, with great confidence.

So, just what is it that God is calling us to do? In every case, I can say with confidence that it is, at the very least, to obey Him. How do you do that, you ask? First, you must listen; then obeying becomes rather simple. You see, if I hear His voice because I have patiently listened, then truly everything else in life becomes rather simple because He is now in control.

What does His voice sound like, you ask? I believe for each of us it is different, but when you hear it, you will know. There is a peace that accompanies His voice, a leading that needs no explanation, and a hunger that you never knew existed is now satisfied. How do I know it isn’t the devil? Test what you hear against the Word of God. And know this: the Word of God will never contradict itself. Therefore, anything you hear will be born witness by the word in context.

What does all of this have to do with daily bread, you ask? Remember in Matthew 4:4 when Jesus said these words, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” We must have the bread of the Word of God every day, for we cannot function fully without it; therefore, we must read, wait, listen, and react.

Daily Prayer: Father, teach me to hear your voice, to recognize Your words, and give me a hunger for Your Word. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“The Word everyday will keep temptation at bay.”

Pastor Gene Burroughs, Servant

Day 44 “He is God and we are not, and for that we can all be eternally grateful.”

Day 44

Matthew 6:9-10 “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

The very first instruction that Jesus gives us in this model prayer, also know as the “Lord’s Prayer,” is one of respect. You see, the first thing we must acknowledge is that God is God–our God. The simple admission of such truths is not for His benefit as much as it is for ours. He knows who He is–it is we who all too often forget. If we remember first off that He is God, the creator of life, the giver of all grace and mercy, and so much more, our mindset becomes a little less like a begging child and lot more like a humble one. His name is to be revered and respected and not taken lightly. I believe, with all of my heart, that when the kingdom of darkness hears the names of God, like Elohim or Jehova, or more, they tremble. And I believe that the name Jesus sends them running in fear. We would do well to take a lesson from the powers of darkness when it comes to reverence for God. When in His presence, humility and fear are always good companions.

Next, we acknowledge, for the same reasons, that it is His kingdom we long for, not our own. Our goal on earth is not to build our kingdom here, but rather to be citizens in His. This mindset will allow us to direct our prayers more toward the spiritual needs of ourselves and others and away from worldly desires.

Finally, we concede ourselves to the desire that we confess it is His will we desire, not our own. If we desire our will, then we truly are not submitted to Him and His authority; therefore, the beginning of this very prayer was of no consequence, for we did not mean it. A life lived submitted to God is a far less confusing and chaotic life than the life lived by one who chooses his own way, with his own desires. He knows what is best, and what is best for us is to surrender to that truth.

I suggest to everyone that saying the Lord’s Prayer prior to beginning our daily devotion and prayer time is a practice that is healthy and brings good habits.

Daily Prayer: Father, may I never take for granted who You are. May I always be submitted to Your will in my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“He is God and we are not, and for that we can all be eternally grateful.”

Pastor Gene Burroughs, Servant

Day 43 “Begging never impresses God; trusting Him always will.”

Day 43

Matthew 6:7-8 “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

Prayer should never look like a shopping list. Prayer is the cry of our hearts coming through our mouths and to the ears of God. As our prayers pass through the stages from inception in our hearts to the speaking of our lips, hopefully, there is much thought and feeling accompanying them. I believe the Lord would have us hear and consider our own prayers as much as we would have Him consider them. There have been far too many occasions upon which I have prayed something, and the moment it comes out of my mouth, I question why I would ever ask such a thing. How is it that, when the thought was in my heart, it made perfect sense? Yet now, I’m embarrassed to have spoken it. Sometimes, it would do us well to think a little longer before we pray and maybe spend more time just thanking God for what He has done.

One of the more annoying things I witness in life is the children who seem to never stop asking for something from their parent. On recent occasion, and far too often, I see children simply asking, without a breath, over and over the same question: “Daddy can I?” or “Mommy can I?” followed by something they desire–more than likely not what is best for them. I often wonder, “When will this child breathe?” as he continues without ceasing until receiving the desired response. The key is, if you ask enough and become rude enough about it, the parent will become annoyed enough with your persistence to simply say yes, often not even knowing what he is saying yes to. The child now sees that, by begging and being an annoyance, he can get whatever he wants, and all the while the parent cannot understand what is wrong with his child.

Aren’t you glad God is not like these parents and that He doesn’t give in to our begging and complaining? I for one am elated because far too often I have begged and pleaded with God for something I simply could not live without, only to find later that it was not what was best for me.

God wants us to understand He is sovereign and that He knows what is best for us so, as we will soon see, it is always best to simply surrender to His will and trust that He hears us and loves us.

Daily Prayer: Father, may I be content with all that You determine is best for me and avoid the temptation to beg for things that may not be. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“Begging never impresses God; trusting Him always will.”

Pastor Gene Burroughs, Servant

Day 42 “If what we see is what we get, bummer!”

Day 42

Matthew 6:5-6 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

Prayer up until now had been something more of a ritual, as if only the elect or righteous were allowed to do so. As we will see over the next few days, Jesus is hitting the Jewish leaders rather hard without making it too obvious. You see, these men of prayer were quite accustomed to being looked up to and revered (if even in their own eyes) by the common man. Now, the time has come for all men to be called to prayer and then instructed as to how this prayer should be conducted and, as we will soon see, how. Jesus is not stating that the only way or time to pray is in your closet when you are alone. No, the real point is: “Don’t do it to be seen and rewarded by man, do it to be heard and rewarded by God!”

When I was in Israel standing near the Wailing Wall, I saw something that both disturbed me and illustrated rather well what Jesus was speaking of. Near where I was standing, there was a small bowl of water, and I noticed the men coming near the bowl and washing their hands before they went to the wall to pray. Coming closer, I noticed that it was actually more of a dipping than a washing, and the water was filthy. I assumed it was something ceremonial and continued to observe. One particular gentleman was being rather rude to the ladies in our group (nothing unusual in the Middle East), and he just had a general air of arrogance about him. I am not meaning to judge; however, being able to read body language rather well, I can tell you he was not a humble man. Smoking a cigarette and barging his way through, he put out the cigarette in the bowl and splashed his hands rather quickly; then promptly covered his head and made his way to pray at the wall. As I stood there watching these events unfold, my mind immediately went to this very passage, and I felt as if to some degree I understood what Jesus was speaking of.

You see, what I witnessed was a man that appeared to be praying out of obligation or duty. What Jesus is saying the Father wants from us is prayer from our hearts–to Him–not for the benefit of others to witness. No, prayer is something we do in order to be close to our God, to communicate with Him, to cause us to reflect and remember that it is He who is our source for all things.

Daily Prayer: Father, I ask that you teach me how to pray. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“If what we see is what we get, bummer!”

Pastor Gene Burroughs, Servant

Day 41 "The tree bearing praise of man has shallow roots."

Day 41

Matthew 6:1-4 "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your deed may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly."

Our hearts can be such wicked instruments, even at times leading to our downfall. Can you imagine the arrogance Jesus is describing here–people such as the Pharisees who, because of their position and self-induced righteousness, would walk around announcing their arrival? We truly must do all we can to prevent ourselves from falling into a similar trap. If we plan our giving and good deeds around the circumstances, we are truly walking in arrogance and on dangerous ground. True goodness has no plan to be fulfilled, it just is. Good people rarely plan on being good people, they just are. They tend to spend more time than most seeking the reasons for their failures and how to correct them, thus leading to even more good deeds. The joy of being rewarded by God is truly amazing; it's not like a typical endorphin rush that lasts for the moment, but rather a life-changing milestone that remains embedded in your heart and mind. The feeling you get when people pat you on the back for your good deeds truly is a very temporary rush with no lasting roots. The praise is as fickle as the ones who give it, and no one is more fickle or unpredictable than mankind. Think about how many times you have had people pat you on the back, sing your praises, and be your best friends only to have them ignore you and talk bad about you for no apparent reason. All too often, I would guess?

So why is it we seek so vehemently the praise of our fellow man? Maybe it is to compensate for the lack of parental attention or validation, or possibly as a result of some form of abuse, but whatever the reason, there is a cure–the reward of God. You see, as I mentioned earlier, the reward of God is not temporary. When we seek His reward, we receive it, and it never goes away. I used to be caught up in what people thought until I experienced God's reward. He changed me. He softened my heart, gave me compassion, taught me to cry, and gave me new and everlasting confidence, none of which I deserved. Why, you ask? Because now He is the only one I seek to please. By seeking to only please Him, I have found myself and many others blessed as well. Be careful what you plan for or place your focus upon–challenge your heart: it can either be a wicked and deceptive appendage or an instrument of tremendous blessing.

Daily Prayer: Lord, help us to search our hearts daily; reveal to us those areas that need your touch. Help us Father to seek your reward, and let your light to shine that the darkness in our hearts might be revealed. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

"The tree bearing praise of man has shallow roots."

Pastor Gene Burroughs, Servant

Day 40 “To be lovely we must love the unlovely.”

Day 40

Matthew 5:43-48 "You have heard it said, ‘you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes the sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet the brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."

Every day at 7 a.m., he would walk in the door and begin cursing at the top of his deep penetrating voice. His words seemed to shake the very beams that held up the floor, and everyone turned away as he entered the room. The anger in his soul was obvious, and the very ugliness of it poured out of him with every word, much like that of sweat from a runner on a hot summer day. His former profession was a thug for organized crime; a man who used his strength and anger to collect overdue debts from those foolish and desperate enough to take out loans from the mob. As with many, my interaction with him remained distant and shallow by choice. My prayers focused on things like, “Why me Lord? Why has he chosen to do business here?” It was in one of those moments of prayer that I knew this man needed Jesus more than most I had ever met, and suddenly my prayers changed. Now I began to pray for him. I prayed that he would come in more often. I even prayed that we would be friends, and lo and behold, all my prayers were answered, even the prayer for this man to give his life to Christ.

You see, there is no one in this world that needs Jesus more than those who are lost, deceived, hurt, and desperate for love and compassion. If we are not God’s ambassadors upon this earth, then who will be? These lost, hurting people are the very ones we should be hanging out with; the ones we should be ministering to. How is it that we have become so consumed with being the perfect Christians that we have forgotten who needs us most? Yes, the gathering of believers is important, yet far more important is the drawing in of those who have yet to believe. Our goal should never be to gather on Sunday and close our doors to those on the outside–no, our goal should be to bring in the ones who have yet to enter. No one feels more unworthy to enter than they do; therefore, we must show them that no one is more worthy to enter in than they are.

Jesus is telling us over and over again, love the unlovely, bless those who curse you, bring hope to the hopeless, and so on. I challenge you today: do you believe that what you believe is for you and you alone? Or are you ready, willing, and determined enough to trust and obey God for the lost?

Daily Prayer: Father, I ask that you give us the strength, the desire, the ability beyond our own in order that we may love the unlovely and bring them into the presence of your glory. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“To be lovely we must love the unlovely.”

Gene Burroughs, Servant

Day 39“Everyone has been purchased by His blood; therefore, nothing holds greater value than they.”

Day 39

Matthew 5:39-42 “But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and to him who wants to borrow, do not turn away.”

Wow! Talk about going against everything the word teaches. How can Jesus say such things? Doesn’t He realize how people will take advantage of us if we do as He asks? The answer is, “Yes, of course He understands, after all, He left heaven and came to suffer and die for those same people.” Of course people will take advantage of those who turn their cheek and give more than what they are asked to do; however, they will not do so without conviction. You see, anytime we react to the harshness of the world with humility and grace, it will never go unnoticed.

One cold blustery night I was preaching, and a guy came in off the streets. He was obviously homeless and chilled to the core from the cold. His only outerwear was a sleeveless shirt, and he carried a blanket to wrap himself in. Here I was teaching on the mercy of God, wearing my favorite Kerusso designed hoodie, when this passage entered my mind. You guessed it! Off came the coat, and then as if that were not enough, the guy asked me for a Bible. Well, yup, the only one available was mine and, yes, I gave it to him. I saw this man not long after and, no, he was not wearing the hoodie nor did he have the Bible, and needless to say I was upset. Then the Spirit convicted me. You see, He told me to give it away without conditions, without requirements, and without promise. My anger left me rather quickly, and once again compassion returned.

I believe with all of my heart that God wants us to see the value in mankind–the good, the bad, and the ugly. Why? Because He gave His life for all mankind, not just the deserving–there are not any deserving of His life–not you, not me, nor anyone who has or will be born of mankind. If we will make the effort, take the time, and give when giving makes no sense, it will never go unnoticed by God.

If He is my all in all, and if He is my provider, my strength, my shield, my God, won’t He take care of me if I take care of His who have gone astray?

Daily Prayer: Father, I ask that You would make my heart expand in love and generosity and that you would help me always to know Your people are far more valuable than anything this world has to offer. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“Everyone has been purchased by His blood; therefore, nothing holds greater value than they.”

Gene Burroughs, Servant

Day 38 “The power of words is only as strong as the actions behind them.”

Day 38

Matthew 5:33-37 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

If I hear another person say, “I swear to god,” I honestly think I may scream! As soon as someone says that they swear to god, I honestly lose all faith in what they have to say. Why, you ask? The reality is a liar always works harder to lie than a man of truth works to be truthful. You see, when I speak truth, I don’t need to think about it–it is truth simply because it is. There is rarely a need to recall what I have said in the past (except for memory loss) in order to insure the story I have told today matches the story I told the last time, or was it? Wait! I need to work this out, just what did I say? Uh-oh, I’m confused; can’t let on–I might be found out. I know I’ll raise my voice, I’ll sound more passionate, and I’ll even swear to god–that will convince you I am being honest! Sound familiar?

I dare say we all know people who do everything they can to make the truth fit their particular situation, need, or desire. However, who do you know that no matter what they say, you just know that they are being as honest and truthful as they can possibly be? These are the ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ people; these are the people we desire to emulate.

I can remember back some 25-plus years ago, I had a very successful service company that specialized in mobile homes. Our business became so successful that I was constantly overbooked and always juggling to make everyone happy. I fell into a very bad habit; I began to use words like “try,” “maybe,” and phrases like “I will do my best.” In the beginning, the result was simply longer working hours, rarely under 12, and more like 16 hours a day. When the hours ran out, the frustration of my clients began to boil over and weighed very heavy on my mind. I could not understand (in my young foolishness) why people were mad at me, after all, I did say, “I would do my best,” that I would “try to get to them,” or that “I may be able to make it”–not that “I would.” My frustration was mounting as fast as theirs, and things were very quickly overwhelming me to the point of wanting to give up trying.

That was when a dear friend pointed out to me the cause of my frustration–my words. You see, I wanted to make everyone happy, and in the process I was making everyone mad. Why? Because my ‘Yes’ was not my ‘Yes,’ nor my ‘No’ my ‘No.’ I realized that no was not a dirty word, and yes was a binding one. When I began to walk in the truth of the power of our words, in particular my own, that was when life began to become much less stressful, and my reputation began to change.

May I encourage you today to think long and hard about the promises you make and the words you speak, and let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and may you not be afraid to say ‘No.’ Everyone will respect you more.

Daily Prayer: Father, I pray for the wisdom to speak in honest truth at all times, and may I never have need to convince anyone of the condition of my heart. May it always reflect You. Amen.

“The power of words is only as strong as the actions behind them.”

Gene Burroughs, Servant

Day 37 “Purity begins and ends in the heart.”

Day 37

Matthew 5:31-32 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.”

Well OK, here we go, tell me this is not something far too many people don’t want to hear. I understand how harsh this passage may sound to some of you, but let’s really be honest: these are Jesus’ words to us. The hard cold truth is that, yes, Jesus was speaking to people who had gotten in the habit of writing letters of divorce simply because they desired a change or whatever other twisted reason they would conjure up. However, the reality is that the Lord inspired these writings, and He knew that they would be read by countless millions who were not a part of the Jewish culture. Therefore, His words (just as all of His other words) are just as relevant for us today as they were then and will be tomorrow and forever.

Yes, Jesus does say that divorce on the grounds of anything other than sexual immorality is a sin–on that we can agree. Now, what must one do when they have missed the mark? If you said repent, you are absolutely correct. Therefore, if you are in any way connected to one or more adulterous relationships, there is hope–repentance. Before you judge others or say that this passage has nothing to do with you, let us look back at verse 5:28 where Jesus tells us that if we look upon another woman desiring to have intercourse, then we have committed adultery. You see, this is a very slippery slope for both men and women, and in reality, far too many of us have failed in this area and would rather not admit it. Yes, these are difficult subjects, and yes, Jesus speaks words that can cut to the bone, yet we need to hear and heed them. He is not saying that there is no hope for salvation for those who fail in sexual purity, but He is saying ‘admit to your failures.’ Let us remember the powerful words in John 3:17, “Jesus did not come to condemn the world but that through Him the world might be saved.”

The bottom line is this: marriage is not something to be taken lightly, and far too many have. Rather than a lifelong commitment, marriage has become a convenience: for women, security; for men, comfort. The reality is marriage should be far much more than convenience and comfort. Marriage is two becoming one: a front united to stand against the temptations and struggles of this world–a holy union of two bodies, two souls, two pasts, two futures, and much, much more. Marriage is permanent in the eyes of God and should be equally so in the eyes and hearts of men and women.

Therefore, I challenge you, if you are married, make it work; if you are not, don’t be until you are sold out to being one with another.

Daily Prayer: Father, I ask you today for protection against sexual immorality. Give me the strength to remain pure in my heart and in my mind in order that I might bring glory to your name. I pray these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Purity begins and ends in the heart.”

Gene Burroughs, Servant

day 36 “Many lame people will limp into heaven, and yet many more people will run to the gate and find it locked.”

Day 36

Matthew 5:29-30 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

If taken in the literal sense, this passage would do a little more than scare the average person. It could also be taken out of context and lead to a weird cult of one-armed blind people. Thankfully, however, Jesus is not suggesting that people begin mutilating their bodies in order to inherit eternal life in heaven. What He is saying is that we must do whatever it takes to control our situations and discipline ourselves in order to avoid sin. So much so, that even if it meant losing a body part, it would be worth the sacrifice.

Shortly after my first wife and I were married, I decided to get serious about the Lord and stop dancing with the devil and then running to Jesus for another drop of blood to ease my conscience. I purposed to leave recovery and become delivered from my addictions. However, every time one of my buddies would drop by, I found myself giving in to the temptation of drugs, alcohol, and more. It wasn’t long before I decided to cut off all contact to change my environment. I chose to take drastic measures in order to save my life and marriage. My wife and I rented a home out of the area of my frequent travels, and we unlisted our phone number and cut off contact with all people associated with my former culture of addiction. Suddenly, the ability to avoid falling into the same old pit became rather easy; without the temptation, I was able to stand strong. The more I stood, the stronger I became, and eventually (years), I was able to stand in the midst of temptation and not be tempted at all.

My point is this: we must do whatever it takes to keep ourselves out of situations that we are not strong enough to avoid falling into. If you have issues with drinking or drug use, avoid at all costs any situations and people that place you somewhere that you can fail. If you are tempted with food, don’t have the foods you’re tempted with in your home; avoid the drive-through, and admit you have a problem. If your issue is porn, get rid of the Internet, cut off the TV stations, and have someone hold you accountable.

Jesus is making it very clear here that we must do whatever it takes, no matter how drastic it may seem, in order to be ready for His return or our joining Him in heaven. We must make the effort, take the stand, and avoid temptation. Our flesh is weak, and our enemy is far too evil and cunning to defeat on our own, but we must do our part. I believe if we will take a stand, then Jesus will stand with us, and there is no power in any universe greater than our God!

Daily Prayer: Father, I ask you to give me the strength to take drastic measures in order that I might have pure and holy fellowship with you. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“Many lame people will limp into heaven, and yet many more people will run to the gate and find it locked.”

Gene Burroughs, Servant

Day 35 "Captive thoughts will soon die and become food for righteous living.”

Day 35

Matthew 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

According to the law, you were guilty of sin only when you had actually committed the unlawful or sinful act. What Jesus is saying here is that your heart is the place where sin begins, and from there it enters the mind. By saying that sin begins and ends in the heart, Jesus is challenging men in a way that they have yet to be challenged. Up until now, what went on in the mind was OK as long as you didn’t go any further. The reality is, however, no matter what deeds I conceive in my heart, whether I act them out or not, in the eyes of God I have done them!

For example, when men or women say that pornography does not hurt anyone, they are deceiving themselves. When we look upon the body of another person or watch sex acts, there is truly only one purpose–physical gratification. By these words in this passage, Jesus is telling us as clearly as possible that things like pornography are nothing short of sin. Whether you are single or a married couple, when pornography is viewed, you are committing adultery.

Another example is desiring the things that others have, or covetousness. If I conspire in my mind to take from someone else what he has in order to satisfy my desires, then, once again, I have committed the offense.

Yes, there are many examples that any one of us could name where the things we conspire in our heart goes against the principles of God. Therefore, the control of the mind, the taking of thoughts captive (2 Cor. 10:5), is completely and absolutely necessary for the believer. When thoughts begin to grow in our hearts that are contrary to God, the best response is to begin reading the word or singing praises. The worst thing we can do is begin to fantasize or act out those thoughts. This captivity of the heart is absolutely a necessary part of every believer’s life, and we would all do well to practice it, after all, practice does lead to perfection.

Daily Prayer: Father, I ask that You would give me the strength and remembrance to take captive those thoughts that would lead me to sin. May you reveal the scheming of the enemy before I fall into temptation of them? In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“Captive thoughts will soon die and become food for righteous living.”

Gene Burroughs, Servant

Day 34 “If I trust Him for everything, I will worry about nothing.”

Day 34

Matthew 5:25-26 “Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on your way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

In the midst of instruction to His disciples, Jesus throws in what seems to be a random line about agreeing with your adversary, or those who are against you. First, we need to understand that under Mosaic law, if someone accuses you of something and he has two witnesses, you are found guilty. Now, you can imagine how corruptible such a system could become. If you upset someone, it would be rather easy for him to pay a couple of people to lie about you, and suddenly, you would find yourself in jail, even though you are innocent of all charges. Therefore, it is much easier to arrive at a mutual agreement with someone rather than bow your neck, fight it out, end up in prison, and still pay out even more in the end.

Is it possible that, in this scenario, Jesus is actually trying to tell us to place our trust in Him in all things? You see, if someone attacks you in order to take from you something he desires, God is more than able to replace what you have lost. I believe, in most cases, the Lord will give us even more or better than what we have lost. The reality is, trusting God in all things can be one of the most freeing activities one can undertake. When I completely and absolutely trust the Lord with everything I have–all of my possessions, all of my fears, doubts, and wants–I no longer need to protect them. Everything we own we tend to want to protect and care for, yet once we surrender them to God, we become free from that responsibility. Think about it, if God owns the things I care for, then anyone who desires to take them is taking them from Him, not me! While I may be able to inflict momentary pain upon him, the God of the universe is capable of inflicting eternal misery! Now, while it is not about who can inflict the most pain, it can be somewhat comforting to know this truth.

The greater lesson here for us is to become able to let go and let God care for everything in our lives. To come to a place where we are able to trust Him for not only our provision but our protection, as well, is an amazing achievement. I would implore you to trust the Lord with all you have and all you aspire to have. He takes great care of things and the utmost care of you. He is worthy of your trust!

Daily Prayer: Father, I would ask that you give me the faith and confidence to trust you with, and in, all things. I pray that I would let go and let You take care of every aspect of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“If I trust Him for everything, I will worry about nothing.”

Gene Burroughs, Servant

Day 33 “Self righteous indignation has no value and profits no one.”

Day 33

Matthew 5:21-24 “You have heard it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to His brother ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You Fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

As we see in this passage, the relationship between man and God is very dependent upon the relationship between man and mankind. The Lord wants us to live in unity upon the earth, as brothers and sisters united by His Spirit. If God is the embellishment of love, then should not we also be people who love, truly love? Remember John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” If God loves man who turns his back on Him, so much that He would sacrifice His Son, then what are we to do? Would you sacrifice your child for another human in order to insure life eternal for them? Thankfully, God does not ask us to take such drastic measures. All He asks is that we make things right when they are wrong. You will notice that He draws no distinction as to who is at fault–He simply says, ‘go and make it right.’ The very act of humbling oneself to the point of approaching an offended brother is difficult enough. But, then throw in the fact that you were the one who was offended, now we have an entirely different set of circumstances. “You mean you want me to ask forgiveness from someone who did me wrong when I have every right to expect them to do so?” The answer, by the way, is yes. You see, if someone’s fellowship with God is being negatively affected by my relationship with them, and I can repair that fellowship by humbling myself, why wouldn’t I?

The bottom line is that no matter what reason we offer, pride is at the heart of our resistance. We desire to be justified, we desire to be correct, we desire to be acknowledged as such, we seek justice; however, God, who has every right to expect justice, extends to us grace. If He, the God of the universe, can extend grace and mercy to those who defile Him daily, then should we not be able to offer a small portion thereof to one of His children? After all, it is His grace that He has given to us that we ourselves will extend to another. Maybe this will be helpful. Could it be that we are now simply a conduit for His grace, and what we are giving is His, not ours; therefore, it costs us nothing?

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that extending grace is easy or that everyone can do so with a smile on their face. I am, however, saying this, “If you learn to extend grace, you will find that there is a never-ending supply of it at your immediate disposal, and you will never regret it!” Go ahead, hand some out today and see what happens, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Daily Prayer: Father, I ask you to help me to extend grace and mercy to all who have ought against me, no matter what the cause. Teach me Lord to love more than I judge and forgive as You forgive. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!

“Self righteous indignation has no value and profits no one.”

Gene Burroughs, Servant

Day 32

Day 32

Matthew 5:19-20 "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The natural tendency of men is to look for new revelation and wisdom; new understanding that will either justify our own theories or make them look wise in the eyes of others. Jesus is making the point here to His disciples that they are no better than those they would possibly judge. You see, since Jesus says He came to fulfill the law, the natural response would be that we would have no more need of the law. Then it becomes a club, only those who believe in Jesus are right, and everyone else is wrong. But remember, the law is not fulfilled until Jesus is sacrificed, and even then He is fulfilling the law, not abandoning it. Jesus prevents this exclusiveness by saying that the righteousness of those who believe the law is the minimum standard for heavenly membership. Therefore, to judge the Jewish leaders and nonbelievers for obeying the law or the commandments was not acceptable. What was acceptable was to use their desire and passion for what is right for the good by exposing them to the truth. This pattern remains to be one we can use today for our Jewish and Gentile brothers and sisters. Yes, ultimately, the choice to believe or not is theirs. However, if we truly love the Lord, we can do our part by loving and respecting them for their faithfulness.

How do we as believers in Christ have or exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you ask? Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” The answer is this: Jesus is our righteousness. If we believe in Him and have fellowship with Him, He provides the righteous covering for us–He is our atonement. We as humans are incapable of living a life without sin; therefore, He did it for us. Now that is love!

In addition, Jesus makes the point that those who keep and teach these principles will be rewarded in Heaven, something we would all do well to desire. You may say, “But I am not a teacher, I have no formal education.” If you own a bible and are reading this devotional, you have tools at your disposal that qualify you to teach. We teach not just in a classroom or in a Church, we teach in our daily walk, by our actions, by the words that proceed out of our mouth. When we become believers and the change in us is manifested by our actions and lifestyle, we are inadvertently teaching. May the lessons we teach be worthy to be taught, a reflection of the righteousness of Christ in us.

Daily Prayer: Father, I pray that my actions would always reflect you in a positive light. May I never cause anyone to turn away from knowing You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“Being a reflection of Christ is never a negative image.”

Gene Burroughs, Servant

Day 31 “Jesus paid the price, for no man can fulfill the law.”

Day 31

Matthew 5:17-18 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

Until one has read the entire Old Testament, it can be rather difficult to understand what law Jesus is referring to in this passage. Therefore, we would do well to spend today reviewing, in layman’s terms, “the Law,” as it were. When man fell from grace in the garden, the Lord was forced to introduce rules and conditions upon man in order for man to remain in fellowship with God. You see, man cannot have a pure one-on-one relationship with God when he is in the presence of sin. The purity and holiness of God would, I believe, utterly destroy a man who is in His presence while in sin. Therefore, God instituted a manner of atonement for sin–payment, if you will. The bloodshed of an innocent animal properly presented was payment for sin, and every time a man missed the mark (sinned), he would need to make payment for that sin. The pain of shedding innocent blood, in most cases, would cause one to try harder not to miss the mark and, therefore, allow a man to remain in communion, or fellowship, with God. Remember, I am giving you a very brief explanation and leaving out many details. Further study of Genesis through Deuteronomy would be recommended for those who have never done so, also Romans, chapter 8. Jesus came to earth to provide Himself as payment once and for all for the sins of all men who believed that He was the “Son of God,” sent for that final payment.

The reason He is addressing this subject is to assure those listening that He is not a heretic but rather the Messiah of whom they were told would come and make final atonement. Today, Jewish nonbelievers are continuing to live under “the law.” They believe that Jesus was not the Messiah, but rather some crazed man, claiming to be who He was not. When we profess our belief in Jesus, we are saying that we believe He was and is final payment for sin and that His blood paid the price for our sins and transgressions. It is this payment and our subsequent belief and profession that now allows us to have access to fellowship with God on a continual basis. The key, however, is to remember daily, moment by moment, our need for His atonement and keep short accounts with God in relationship to our failings. The goal is not to daily sin and daily ask for forgiveness, but rather to avoid sin at all cost and, when we fail, to boldly come to the throne of grace and seek forgiveness (Heb. 4:12-5:3). Finally, when Jesus says He came to fulfill the law, He is saying that He came to make payment, as well as fulfill all of the scriptures that spoke of His coming. Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies that foretold of His coming; a feat of astronomical proportions.

What you have just read is one version of the Gospel, and the message is always the same, “Jesus Paid the Price.” And, sharing this simple message will have eternal effects on all who truly believe. Maybe it is easier than you thought. I hope and pray that you, too, will tell the story of Christ.

Daily Prayer: Father, give us the strength and ability to share this message with all who will listen, and may we, ourselves, never neglect the Gift that You have given us in Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

“Jesus paid the price, for no man can fulfill the law.”

Gene Burroughs, Servant

Day 30 “Darkness flees from light; let His light shine in you.”

Day 30

Matthew 5:14-15 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”

Since the definition of darkness is “the absence of light,” we, as believers, are preventing total darkness upon the earth, most assuredly. You see, without the light that is in us, Jesus Christ, the world would become simply evil. Knowing this, I believe that each of us faces a great and serious challenge; to not hide our light. The purpose of light is to remove darkness, to illuminate a path, a room, an area of desired existence. Light has a very important purpose, and light is in many ways a necessity. In extreme and remote areas such as Alaska, where residents spend extended periods without light, there are very recognizable and predictable outcomes. Depression, suicide, hopelessness, alcoholism–these are some of the few conditions that seem to increase when people are exposed to extended periods of darkness.

Looking at this from a purely scientific standpoint, we can see there is no doubt that we, as human beings, fare much better in a place where light is present. Now, let’s look at it from a spiritual standpoint, as well. In doing so, we will find that people who have little or no understanding of God and the redemptive power of Jesus suffer from exactly the same symptoms as were arrived at scientifically. You see, man needs light; he needs the light of both the Sun and the Son–one rises on its own each day, and the other needs to be uncovered each day. That is the light in us. Each day, we must aspire to turn on the light inside of us. For some, that is simply recognizing the need to be a light for a dark world. For others, we may need to remind ourselves to submit to the Lord and His will everyday. Still, others don’t see themselves as lights and desire to remain hidden and avoid being lights. However, the bottom line is this, we are “the light of the world,” and Jesus is calling us to shine. He is calling us to light the way for others to see. Evil can be defined as “the absence of God,” and the prescience of God creates light. Therefore, by lighting our world with His prescience, we are causing evil to flee simply by being who He has called us to be. Being people of God is, in fact, the most powerful example of Spiritual warfare, and all who believe are able to achieve it.

Won’t you take a chance today and begin by surrendering to His will and allow yourself to be a light for someone lost in darkness? After all, if you were trapped in the dark, wouldn’t you be thankful for a light?

Daily Prayer: Father, show me today how to be a light in the darkness. Teach me Lord to shine brightly for you. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“Darkness flees from light; let His light shine in you.”

Gene Burroughs, Servant

day 29

Day 29

Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men."

Wow! Do I love this passage! It challenges me to consider so many scenarios of what Jesus was saying–first, His disciples and secondly, the rest of us who follow after them. The last time I read this passage, the Holy Spirit revealed a very key part of it that suddenly changed how I view the meaning. He says this, "how then shall it be seasoned?” Jesus is speaking of the effect of salt on the earth; therefore, the word “it” refers to the world! Jesus is saying that if we, as salt, lose our flavor, how will the earth be seasoned? If we do not season the earth by spreading the truth of the Gospel, then the earth will no longer receive the truth. Therefore, we are the principal means by which the truth shall be spread, and if we fail, the earth and all of those who inhabit it are at risk of never hearing the message of the Gospel! Spreading the Gospel is not an option–living as Christ's witnesses upon the earth is not an option. The very reason for our earthly existence is to further the message, otherwise we are of no use.

Am I the only one convicted right now? For what reason does the Church body exist, but to equip the saints and to train people in the ways of the Lord? Yes to all of the above and more. It does not and cannot end there; it ends with a purpose–to be salt to the world. And yes, I said it again. If our Churches are places where people go to be redeemed, restored, and renewed, then praise God; however, if that is where it ends, we are in trouble.

In my life I have known a number of people who seemed to thrive on education. There is even a term for them, "professional students," yet, I cannot think of a more selfish ambition than to be someone who is constantly filling their mind with knowledge and then never using that knowledge to help someone else. It is the height of selfishness disguised as a good thing; much like a Church full of people who take in the Word only to keep it to themselves. While I realize that these statements and my position are not very popular, I'm not the one who wrote this and many other scriptures with a similar message. I'm simply shedding light and saying what many are afraid to say. Therefore, I would ask this question, "What or who are you afraid of?" If this is you, don't be trampled underfoot. If not, but it is someone you know, love them enough to encourage them in recognizing their purpose on earth.

Daily Prayer: Father, all too often we wallow in the selfish pit of need for redemption, confirmation, and education. Please forgive us Lord for our all too often failure to allow others to bathe in your goodness. In Jesus’ name we ask these things. Amen.

"Salt in the shaker is no more than a table dressing."

Gene Burroughs, Servant

Day 28

Day 28
Matthew 5:11-12 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Have you ever been harassed for being a Christian, belittled, or made fun of for your convictions? If so, you have insight and understanding that those who have never been persecuted are unable to comprehend. As wonderful and glorious as it may sound to be persecuted for Christ, the truth is, it is not a fun place to be in. It is painful and often causes us to withdraw; our flesh does not like it. However, as we all know, persecution for the sake of Christ is a reality, an honor, and I believe a necessity. If you are not being challenged for your beliefs, I would ask you this, “Do people know that you are a Christian?” I would say, “Of course people I am around on an ongoing basis know I am a Christian: after all, I'm a pastor, a leader in the Church.” What about the people who know nothing about us? Are we living our lives in a way that others cannot help but take notice? I'm not just talking about the people in the checkout line; how about the gangbanger on the street or the office gossip? How about your boss or the kids in school? Yes, we are responsible for living a life that says I am a follower of Christ, not just a Christian. Many cult members call themselves Christians, yet we are the embodiment of Christ on earth–more than a label–this is a life.
Another phrase we should look at is in verse 11, where Jesus says this, "and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake;" the key word here being falsely. We all make mistakes, yet the blessing does not come when we are guilty of the accusations. When we make public mistakes, we need to make public confessions: the only remedy for failure is truth without repentance. Far too many Christians have the tendency when they fail to find somewhere to place the blame, be it their parents, spouses, children, bosses, or the traffic. How about blowing people away by speaking the pure truth? "I'm sorry, it's my fault." Five very powerful words. I can say from experience that being falsely accused is no fun. My family and I went through a very tough time a few years ago because of false accusations. Yet, in the end, it was those very accusations that caused me to completely sell out to being in full-time ministry, and yes, for me that was, and is, a true blessing. Let them come at you with all of the accusations for His name sake that they can muster. Like iron sharpening iron, you, too, will be drawn closer to your creator and become stronger as He blesses your obedience.
Daily Prayer: Father, help us to be people known for our beliefs, known as followers of Christ, and show me where I fail. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
"Followers of Christ will have others following them."
Gene Burroughs, Servant