The Gift A little over a decade ago I was on the streets of San Francisco ministering to the homeless and runaways when we came upon two young ladies; let’s call them Sara and Jane. As we found out through conversation, the two girls were 17 and 15, born in Oregon, and had been on the streets for about two years. Their mother was an addict who had, it seemed, no desire to be a mother. One day when the girls arrived home, they found some of their possessions on the front steps and a note that said the following: “I have left, and I don’t want you anymore.” Fearing the foster care system and the possibility of separation, the girls from that time forward had been on the street. For some reason (at the time unknown to me), I felt compelled to make the youngest girl a balloon animal, yes, I said a balloon animal, a puppy to be exact. As it began to take shape, the younger of the two watched with the most intensely blue eyes I had ever seen, eyes that now were beginning to sparkle with increasing intensity. Her face saddened and hardened by the world around her was now showing signs of joy, her frown slowly disappearing as the corner of her lips gradually strained upward, something obviously very unfamiliar to her. As I finished the gift and presented it to her, there was a reluctance to take hold; it was as if she feared the conditions which may be attached to her acceptance. Then, with the most innocent and childlike of voices, she broke out, “Sissy, can I have it?”. As the older of the two sisters looked me up and down, obviously looking for signs of wrongful intent, I interjected these words, “no strings attached.” With that, she nodded her head in approval. Her eyes now sparkled as bright as any star ever had, and her smile would melt the most hardened of hearts as she quickly grasped this simplest of gifts from a stranger. Oh yes, I made more and soon the older sister was taking hold of her own balloon flower as if it were a dozen red roses from a cherished friend. Before we parted, there were hugs all around, and the words of that young girl that will forever ring in my aging ears: “This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me, thank you!” As we enter the winter holidays and as Easter soon approaches, my heart anguishes over the commercialization of these celebrations, how they have lost their true meaning. The endless struggles of the giving a gift that is good enough; one that will be accepted. I feel the pain of celebrations past when the gifts I had given didn’t seem to measure up to the expectations of those receiving them. I remember the pain of how all of my anguish and sacrifice to give the perfect gift had all too often somehow fallen short, and soon the gift was tossed aside. I know what it feels like to make the financial, physical, and mental sacrifices trying to make it all perfect for everyone: a task no parent or human can ever do-it is an unreal expectation. A few days later, I ran into Sara and Jane once again. We were greeted with enthusiastic smiles and twinkling eyes. The balloons had begun to fade, were now wrinkled, discolored, and losing their shape, so I offered to make new ones. “No, these will do fine sir, they are special to us.” You see, they appreciated the most humble of gifts; they treasured the heart and the love that came with the gift far more than they valued the material possession. I pray that this season we truly remember the heart behind the greatest of all gifts: the heart of God who sent His Son. We can write books, preach eloquent sermons, write moving songs, and make the most moving of performances, but if we lose sight of the greatest gift ever given, we will never satisfy the longing in the human heart and mind. No gift we could ever give will compare in any way! No greater price has ever been paid nor a gift of greater value ever given; yet, all to often, this great treasure has been neglected like the toys no longer played with. Now is as good a time as any to remember and remind others by bringing out this gift, dusting it off, and showing others its value; after all, now is truly the only time we have. The giving of the elaborate is a task that we should, I believe, depart from and not expect as a requirement any longer. No gift humans can ever give will say we love you enough to undo hurts or satisfy the human needs. May we focus our attention this season on the ultimate and enduring gift of Jesus; the only one who can truly bring Peace, Hope, Joy, and Love to a dying world. Gene Burroughs, Servant of God

The Watchman Ever since I can remember, I have been a dreamer, a visionary: a person who sees things more as they can be as opposed to what they are. For many, this is simply impossible, and I tend to scare those who are not of my mindset. However, as I have aged and the trials of life have pounded and shaped me, I can honestly say that I am now a realistic visionary. In other words, I tend to look more at the reality of today as I envision and fashion future ideas, plans, hopes, and dreams. The reality of what is going on in our world today, the increasing decline in morality, the rising conflicts in the Middle East, the worldwide move toward one-world government, and, most of all, the increasing fulfillment of biblical end time prophecies tend to drive one more toward being a realist. Beginning in Ezekiel 3:16, we see the description God gives Ezekiel of a watchman: one who watches out for people, one who warns of danger, one who reveals what he sees that others may not see. As the story goes, a watchman has a responsibility to speak what he sees. The response is up to those who hear; once the watchman has spoken the truth as he sees it, his work is complete. Some will listen, some will ignore, yet, in the end, all will reap from their reaction to the truth. The Lord has raised up many watchmen in the past, and He has in this day risen up and equipped many more. Why? Because the time is growing closer for the return of Jesus, and the Lord would have all hear and know that He is coming soon for His bride. The Word of God makes it ever so clear the description of a bride who is ready to meet the Lord; those who will inherit eternal life. Matthew, Romans, Genesis, John, Revelation, and on and on are the books of the Bible that speak truth and wisdom for all mankind. So here is the reality, "the choice is yours." The truth is out there, and now you must decide what to do with it. Jesus is coming soon. Those who practice sorcery (drug use), sexual immorality, lying, gossip, adultery, fornication, envy, murder, drunkenness, wrath, jealousies, and more, will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5). That is step one to getting our lives in line with what the Word of God instructs us to. Secondly, we share this truth with others. Yes, it is our responsibility to share with everyone the reality of the need to be transformed; made new, "born again"; made new by the Spirit (Romans 8). Then thirdly, we truly need to be sharing the signs of the return of our Savior. The Bible is equally clear on what must and will take place prior to the return of Christ, and it is happening now. Is He coming tomorrow? No one knows; however, the prophecies are being fulfilled at an ever-increasing rate on a daily basis. Shouldn't you respond accordingly? Soon the Euro will fail, our dollar is teetering on failure, Israel is under attack, and everyone is beginning to line up against her. The UN is being given ever so secretly more and more control of our nation, and the price of oil will soon be out of reach for all of us. Our president has an agenda that is contrary to that of a Godly man and speaks of one belief while doing and supporting a contrary one. Yes, you may disagree, but that is your privilege, so feel free to do so. However, I implore each of you, throw your political views aside, as neither republican nor democrat nor Tea Party nor independent would be acting any different-this is the plan of the Lord. Be encouraged, embrace the return of the Lord, prepare your family, gather provision, share the truth with others, and read and learn for yourself. Whatever you do "get your head out of the sand." If you live in a place or area that snubs the Lord, you may need to move-ask the Lord. He didn't allow Lot and his family to stay and evangelize Gomorrah, He called them out. Be a watchman: pray without ceasing, be prepared and share the truth, then react as the Lord leads.

Choose Wisely on 12/06/12 As we enter into the final days before what may be the most important and pivotal presidential election in our history, I felt compelled to share my own struggles with making my decision. To begin with, I truly do and always have voted along moral lines as opposed to party lines. You see, as a believer, I hold no loyalty, conviction, or dedication to any political affiliation or party. My only loyalty, conviction, and dedication is to the Word of God and to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Hence, politics is not a studied or favorite subject of mine, as politics by nature seem corrupt and largely go against the Word of God. As a result, my vote will always be based upon issues of morality: candidates, their actions, beliefs, and proposed actions will be measured against my interpretation of what the Word of God says about those core beliefs. Two major issues for me this year are the following: I believe, without a doubt, the Word of God is clear that homosexuality is a sin: Leviticus 18:22, 20:13; Romans 1:26-31; and more. Should you choose to say that God is not against homosexuality, then you say the Word of God is not infallible, which destroys the very foundation of what you say you believe (short explanation). I do not hate homosexuals any more than I hate anyone else practicing sin; however, those who twist the Word of God and attempt to support any unholy act with a Holy Word will be faced with much opposition from this servant of God. Next, I choose to look at the taking of unborn human life, another very controversial subject, yet I wonder why. Why is abortion so controversial among Christians? Yes, a woman has a right to choose as does every person God created. I have the right to choose every day whether or not I will drink, overeat, use drugs, view pornography, and more, and, yes, I must choose to turn away from sin because I was born in sin as are all men. However, when I am forced by law to support a choice that goes against my beliefs and against my core values, the line has been crossed. If an unborn child is not alive, then why must we take its life in order to prevent birth, and if we do take a human life, is it not murder? End of argument for me. Again, sin is sin, and you can choose to do whatever you desire to do before God-it truly will be you who stands before Him, not me. However, I will not be forced or mandated to support such activity without making known at every opportunity my vehement disagreement with such action. These two points alone have been enough for me to make the choice to vote against our current president for his re-election. Now, you say what about Romney? He is a Mormon, a member of a cult! My first response is this: God alone will judge every man for his actions. God alone holds the keys to heaven, and Jesus is the gate through which all must pass. Yes, Mormonism is based upon false teachings, but I daresay there are many who profess Jesus in the church today who will face the same judgment, and all will stand before the same judge. However, Mr. Obama states that he is a Christian and then openly supports gay marriage and abortion and forces us, as believers, to support his openly rebellious actions against the very Word which he says he believes. This, my friends, is a far greater sin; it is an act of open defiance toward the God we worship! This to me is no different than supporting Saul as opposed to David. In my humble opinion, by supporting such an openly defiant man, I am standing in the crowd with others at the time of Jesus' death saying, "crucify Him!" Our president says he is a Christian, and the Word of God tells us a tree shall be known by its fruit (Matthew 7:15-20). No matter how many times a tree may say I am an apple or a fig, if it bears lemons, it is, in fact, a lemon tree. The fruit President Obama bears is not that of a Godly man, at least not the man of God I choose to be or support. Yes, I know I have stirred it up, but I pray that the Holy Spirit has stirred some hearts, and I openly challenge anyone to use the Word of God in context to contradict the facts I have shared with you today. That is, of course, if you believe the Word of God is infallible and true and unchangeable, just as the Lord Himself said He was and is (2 Timothy 3:16-17, John 1:1, Hebrews 13:8), just to name a few. If you do not believe the Word of God to be infallible, then, well, let me ask you, "What are you standing on?" Gene Burroughs, Servant

The Question Mark 16:16-18: “He who believes is baptized and will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.” This passage has been somewhat haunting me for the past few months. I must admit, what this passage implies troubles me deeply. Why, you ask? Because I don’t hear this preached, and I rarely see this in action in the modern church or Christian community. For many, passages like this become a bone of contention, a point for theological argument, and, for whatever reason, many have chosen what verses in the Bible fit their belief. Far too many of us are guilty of such action. We must all confess our sin in this practice, and I for one do so now! I admit that I, too, have on occasion overlooked, omitted, and bypassed scriptures that make me or would maybe make others uncomfortable. I, too, have taken far too much liberty with the Word in order to make my point. Please forgive me! Were my actions deceitful or wicked? I should say not, for I would never intentionally use the Word with ill intentions, but I, too, am human, and my flesh does and has gotten in the way. That said, I say to you that far too many (more than not) leaders in the Christian faith have done so; hence, your responsibility to understand and read the Word comes to light. Over the next few days or weeks (whatever it takes), I do intend to dissect the Word and do all I can to understand and share that understanding with all who choose to read my ramblings. Feel free to join me. Again, the question is, “Why do we not see the fruit in believers that Jesus describes in Mark 16:16-18?” The Truth Before we dive into Mark, we must first establish a basis for the argument of all scripture being relevant for today, tomorrow, and yesterday, for this truly is our foundation. 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Paul tells us in his letter to Timothy that there is a purpose for all scripture and that it is all inspired by God. All! Oh, let us take a moment to address the doubting Thomas's in the room. Yes, man wrote the scriptures and rewrote them time and again, and, yes, men make mistakes. But let me ask you this one question: “Do you think God is big enough, powerful enough, and concerned enough about His Word to prevent such mistakes?” If you don’t believe this, then I would say to you that I doubt you believe He is sovereign; therefore, how can you serve Him, for He does not exist to serve you. Either He is God or He is not, and if He is, then He is all powerful, all knowing, and more than capable of defending Himself. Therefore, “all scripture is inspired by God” and must be our truth. Let us look at another passage of relevance to building our foundation: John 1:1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” We are told in this passage that the “Word” is Jesus and that He has always been, and Hebrews 13:8 tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Now, if I take these scriptures in the literal sense with which they were written and in context, I can arrive at only one conclusion: “The Word of God cannot and does not change.” What was true at the very inception of the Word was truth. The Word is more than writings, more than a book: it is literal, past, present, and future reality. It is the very basis and existence of all things. What was foretold to happen, if it has not already done so, will happen in the future. The Word remains true to this very day and will forever be as such, truth! Please hear and receive this unreputable fact, not so by my opinion but rather true because it is truth, and no one or no thing can change that! Knowing truth to be as such when I read scriptures in context like Mark 16:16-18, I cannot, therefore, help but ask why these things are not being seen? Why are there not consistent miracles, signs, and wonders in the Christian movement today? Why is it that Jesus says these things will follow those who believe and are baptized and yet we see them so rarely today?" I believe that we must, as true believers, come to the complete and absolute understanding that everything in the Word is true and relevant to us and our lives and begin living as such. Our complacency and arrogance does not impress God; our opinion does not matter to Him or change His will. The Lord desires us to seek Him, to do His will, to love His people, to obey His Word, to move as His Spirit leads, and to love Him and allow Him to be Lord of our lives. Truly, the relevancy of everything else is questionable. I know this may sound harsh to some, but look around. Look at our nation-we are no longer being led as a Christian nation founded on God. Why? Because we as believers have failed. We have failed to pray, we have failed to love, we have failed to understand His Lordship, and we have failed at denying our flesh and laying our lives down for His glory. We have failed to defend and stand upon the very truth of the Word of God! More to follow. Gene Burroughs

Dear friends and family, With the approaching storm, we felt it appropriate and necessary to pass along as much information as we can regarding possible prayer needs and more. First of all, if Isaac reaches Cat 2 status or higher, the impact can be quite devastating, as winds will be in excess of 100 miles per hour. This being said, there are other factors to be taken into consideration that greatly affect the impact in any given area. For example, the eastern side of the center is by far the most dangerous and heavily impacted area. In addition, the storm surge quite often (as was the case with Katrina) can be by far the most devastating event in a hurricane. Our home is located approximately 2 miles from the outer beach, which is about one-quarter-mile wide; there is the inland bay about one-half-mile wide, then the peninsula upon which we live. Our elevation is approximately 30 feet above sea level, and our home is three stories in the back and two in the front. If you go to Google and look up 9536 Bone Bluff Drive, Navarre, FL, you can get a much better view and understanding of our terrain. I am by no means concerned for the safety of our family, as I will do all I can to keep my family from harm, even if evacuation is necessary. As for our home, well, God gave us this home, and it is His, so we will lay it at His feet and trust that our Creator knows best. I truly have a great peace that this storm will have minimal effect on our dwelling place; however, I am very concerned for those who could potentially face catastrophe and devastation. Our role in this event and in all catastrophes (of which I believe there will be many) is to be a blessing and bring Christ to all who have lost hope, dreams, and more. Our world, and particularly our nation, has become far too dependent upon the things of the world--material possesions and fleshly pleasures that truly are unstable and shifting like the wind-blown sands. America has followed far too closely in the steps of the Israelites when Samuel the prophet heard them crying out for a king (1 Samuel 8:9). We, as a nation, have determined that God is not what we want, and we would rather have our own way. We desire the things of our flesh more than the holiness of God. I fear that just as God warned the Israelites of what a king would give them, He has allowed for us as well. What does this have to do with Isaac, you ask? Isaac is simply another storm brewing, another crop from the seeds we have sown, and there will be more. How do we prepare for a storm, you ask? Deborah and I are committed first of all to leading our family to follow Christ not only with our mouths but to seek the righteousness that can only be found in Him. We desire to live lives sanctified by His blood; lives filled with repentance and humility. Oh yes, we stumble, but we will not fall, for He is our strength. We then do all we can to be lighthouses and places of refuge for those who are in need. We lead people to the one place of true hope, Jesus! Prayer Considerations: 1. We have been asked to be the local contacts for Operation Blessing (and have accepted). I would consider them the Christian version of the Red Cross. Please Google them and take some time to see what it is they offer. Our goal will be to again provide relief, prayer, comfort, hope, and more for people affected by this and other disasters. Please pray for opportunities to minister, serve, and be a blessing. 2. We would ask the Lord for His will in this storm, where it lands (if it lands), how strong it is, and more. We, of course, desire that He break up the storm and that it never reaches hurricane strength; however, that may not be His will. Therefore, we seek His will. After all, He is God, Amen. 3. Please pray for our finances and possibly consider financial support to assist with the relief efforts as well as our housing for widows and orphans. We have recently assisted with the renting of a two-bedroom, two-bath home to keep a family off the street, and we would love to do more. This home will soon be holding bible studies and more in one of the poorest communities I have ever seen. Deborah and I have done so out of our own funds, and we are simply asking the Lord to provide more so we can do more to help others find Christ and stay off the streets. 4. Pray for wisdom, as the father, leader, and priest of my home. I desire more than ever to follow the Lord and to lead my family in every step as He desires. 5. Please pray for favor with authorities, community, and church leaders. There are many empty buildings which can be used for God’s glory and to help with many of the programs aimed at widows and orphans in Pensacola. Yes, this is more than an Isaac update. It is a battle update, a letter from another front, and we thank you for taking the time to read and pray for us. If you desire to support the ministry to either orphans and widows, disaster relief, or our family, please make checks payable to “Liberty Church” and enclose a note explaining your desire for use of funds. For further updates, if you have a computer, you can follow the storm updates on Facebook; simply seek Deborah Burroughs or Gene Burroughs. Additionally, I will be sending updates to Shasta Lake Church and Little Country Church. We can be reached in the following manners: Address: 9536 Bone Bluff Drive, Navarre, FL 32566, E-mail: “Gene” outreachman@gmail.com “Deborah” deborahofficer@yahoo.com. God bless you, and please remember us in your prayers. Gene and Deborah Burroughs and family!

This morning I awoke rather early, somewhat in hopes of going fishing, yet more hopeful to somehow make a difference for the Kingdom. Having read the morning hurricane updates, taken notice of a few comments made by folks with far too much time on their hands, I have arrived at a not so new conclusion. You see, it is ever more apparent to me that this nation needs Jesus more than ever, and we are truly in far greater danger than we care to admit. This week Deborah and I stretched our finances beyond the limit and rented a home for a woman who was hours away from homelessness. The details are not important but let me assure you, the reasons for her pending homelessness were beyond her immediate control. Being led by the Spirit, we trusted Him and took the appropriate action. As we moved her from the shack that had been the home of her deceased uncle (our friend), the landlord showed up with a deputy sheriff. The ensuing events truly do not deserve discussion with the exception of the attitudes of each of these men; an attitude which, I am afraid, is far too prevalent in our nation today. You see, to them this woman who had fallen on hard times was something less than human, unworthy of even the slightest hospitality. These men did not know this woman nor did they care enough to find out about her. It mattered not that her uncle had recently passed, the one man who had cared for her and her siblings so faithfully for so many years. You see, his sister, her mother, had been murdered when she was a small child. The siblings had been bounced around for years until their grandmother (a Godly woman) took them in. Grandma raised them until her death and the children became homeless again as another uncle kicked them out of the home Grandma had purchased for the children. But the point truly is not their story as much as it is mankind's story. You see, God created these people, all of them, everyone mentioned in these wanderings of my mind. They were and are each of them created in the image of God, as are we. Thus being the case, how is it, I ask, that we as human beings, all with the same Father, can fall so far from the truth that we are all created equal and bear great value, if to no one else, to the King of all creation? As I mentioned earlier, after reading on the Web this morning, I see attacks on Christians, republicans, and those who choose to make a moral stand. Why? Are not the very good and moral standards in the Word of God exactly what this country was founded upon? The answer, by the way, is yes, and that is factual! Then how can we as a nation stand by and watch ourselves be lowered to third-world country standards where human life has no value, unborn babies are slaughtered, people are thrown about like refuse, and where men have somehow elevated themselves with money as if they had the power to change anything in this world without God's permission? If I sound angry, please forgive me, I am not. I am frustrated, yes, frustrated. I am frustrated with the fact that the enemy of our souls and the enemy of our Father has so easily deceived man once again. He has led far too many into rebellion and selfishness, and they have become now more willing than ever to follow him down the road to death and destruction. My heart aches today for the state of our nation. I pray that the Lord would be gracious and merciful, for without His grace and mercy we truly are headed for what we deserve. Remember today that there are many you will come into contact with, and every single one of them is a child of the King; worthy of your love. Gene Burroughs, Servant/Pastor

Living Outside the Boat

Living Outside the Boat Matthew 14:24-32 is a well-known passage that speaks of Jesus walking on water; coming to the disciples in the midst of a storm. He then invites Peter to join Him, and yet in the midst of the tempest, Peter’s faith fails him. I have heard many a pastor speak of trusting Jesus in the storm, keeping the focus on Him in the midst of trials, and so many other takes on this amazing and powerful passage. However, I challenge you to look at this passage and your life in a very different way today–one that will, no doubt, stretch your faith. You see, I believe that we as Christians are meant to live on the water! Yes, that’s right. I live on the water. You see, Jesus did not tell Peter to get back into the boat. As a matter of fact, He chastised him for his lack of faith. Jesus invited Peter to get out of the boat and come to Him, yet Peter, taking his eyes off Jesus and looking at his circumstances rather than having faith, began to sink and cries out for help; much like we ourselves so often do when we face our daily challenges. However, if we learn to live outside the boat in the midst of the storms, keeping our eyes on Christ, we will not only walk on water (hypothetically); we will learn to be comfortable living there. Recently, after clear leading of the Lord, we moved to Navarre, Florida, in order to take part in and begin some ministries in the area. One week before the planned move, we still needed over $10,000 to pay for the moving van and trip costs, yet knowing the Lord’s will, we ordered the van. The Lord told us the money would be in the mail, and lo and behold, days before leaving, there was a sufficient check in our mailbox. The morning before we were to begin loading, we still had need of an enclosed trailer, one about 16 feet long, in order to haul the things not accepted in a moving van. Unable to find a trailer of that size we could afford, I decided to take a look at a much smaller one. While continuing to pray about it and feeling as though I was about to settle, I moved forward slowly, but let’s face it, we’re about out of time. Moments before going to see the trailer, a friend, hearing about my need, gave my family and me an almost new 16-foot enclosed trailer! As we trekked across the United States each day, we became more and more eager to leave the hotel scene and arrive at our new home, which should close escrow upon our arrival. In route, we are told there are issues with the loan approval, and the closing will be delayed. Oh, did I mention we lost our pre-approval before leaving, and we’re now without a loan on our home? After nearly an additional week in a motel in Navarre, the owner (a fellow believer) allows us to move in without a loan and rent the home on a daily basis. Nervous, and with minds filled with scenarios of the storm around us and countless doubts and fears, we moved into the home the Lord had promised us. Against all earthly odds and in a miraculous move, two weeks or so later our home closed escrow! In Mark 16:16-18, Jesus speaks these parting words to His disciples: He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover. This was not a ‘maybe scripture’; this is a truth spoken by Jesus; a desire of His heart and the Father’s heart for all men. I believe the Lord desires that each of us would be so filled with His Spirit so outside the boat that these things would be a sign unto us who believe. If we were to stop looking at all of the reasons why we cannot be men and women of such great faith and begin to walk in the promises, the churches could not hold those who would believe! Those of us who determine to live on the water outside the boat will be the first to tell you that this is not easy. It is, in fact, very difficult. Life in the boat is safe and much easier. However, God does not call us to live in the boat; He has called each one of us out. Will you take the step? Gene Burroughs, Servant Navarre, Florida

Fighting Flies Florida has a plethora of insects of every size, shape, and configuration, and many of them bite and are annoying. In particular, the yellow fly has become my nemesis. The yellow fly is a silent flier; the female of the species is truly the aggressor. They attack without warning, slicing you open with their mouths and drinking your blood, much like a dog laps water from a bowl. Not everyone is affected as I am by the bites; for those of us allergic to them, the pain is more than a little annoying. Recently, while on our dock, I was seeking to spend some time alone with the Lord, desiring that intimacy with Him I so desire and long for each day; you will notice I said seeking. Yes, I wanted to hear the voice of my Lord; I wanted to feel His presence. No longer had I sat down than the flies came. I found myself spending the morning swatting and killing flies. No matter how many flies I killed, they continued to come, and yes, they continued to bite. I left the dock in pain, frustrated and wounded, never acquiring what I desired most. Over the past few days, I have thought much about that morning on the dock, and I have been able to deeply relate it to events in my everyday life. No matter how good my intentions, no matter how strong my convictions, the world always seems to distract me away from God. The harder I try and the more committed I am, the more the enemy fights back and the more distractions he throws. The enemy knows that if he can get us busy or distracted, most of us will completely fail to accomplish what we set out to do. So, just what is the answer? Well, I am not sure for you, but I do know the answer for me: "Stop fighting flies; be prepared!” You see, my wife has warned me that I should prepare to go to the dock; I should wear long pants, maybe even use some repellent, and (as most often is the case) she was correct. Me, however, I don’t like wearing long pants, (especially now that I live in Florida), and I don’t like the smell of repellent either, so off I go without any protection! The consequence: frustration and lack of accomplishment and a feeling of failure, all because I was too proud to use the needed protection; so proud as to think I could succeed without it. What if I had prepared, then what may have happened? Well, I would like to think I would have spent the time both the Lord and I desired together and been encouraged, directed, or more. Or maybe the Lord just wanted me to learn that I needed to stop fighting flies. Hmm, much to think about. This one thing I do know, if I prepare myself daily for the distractions this world desires to throw at me, then I will not have to wonder, I will know. I would like to challenge you today to identify the distractions that keep you from intimacy with God. Look for the flies. It may be television, the Internet, sports, money, love, or far too many other things to list; however, no matter what it is, you need to protect yourself from it. We all need to establish roadblocks, accountability, and discipleship; we must purpose to guard our time with the Lord and the study of His Word. If not, we may be fighting flies and not even be aware of it. Just food for thought! Gene Burroughs, Servant/Pastor Navarre FL

A lifetime in in Redding comes to a close

Farewell Feast (Potluck) Send off the Burroughs / Officer family After Serving in the Redding area for over 30 years the Lord has called them to the Pensacola Florida area When: May 28th 2012 from 1pm-5pm Where: Caldwell Park Pavilion (between the trestle and diestelhorst bridge) What to Bring: Side dish, and Entrée BBQ (will be provided) Condiments, plates, napkins, tea, and water will be provided. This may be your final opportunity to say thank you and hear more about the ministry in Florida An offering box available to assist the family with moving expenses PRAYER AREAS: We need a 5 bedroom 3 bath home in the Pensacola area Funds to cover the cost of moving $10,000 Complete and clear direction for the ministry

Day 230 “The battle is won yet we must continue to fight.”

Day 230 Matthew 27:15-23 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” The people cry out for the murderer to be released, choosing a man who has killed innocent friends, neighbors, and relatives, in order that another innocent man may be put to death. Make sense? The trial, punishment, and crucifixion of Christ will never make sense or seem justifiable to reasonable people; however, it was the will of God, all for our sake. The actions of the people do little more than to reinforce the extreme love that God has for us, because their actions were the very essence of the moral nature of humanity and very predictable. People like to be liked; they want to fit in. We humans desire to have our own way and seek instant gratification, often not feeling the remorse for wrong or hurtful choices until long after the adrenaline has worn off, and then, well, it's too late to change things. Pilate and his wife were removed from the emotion of this event, and by being so, they were able to see the senseless nature of the actions of these people, yet even then, out of fear of retribution, loss of power, or comfort, they chose to allow the mob to rule. Today I was reading an article on gang activity in the metropolitan areas of the United States, and as I read it, I could not help but feel sorry for those who had fallen into the trap of desiring to belong, fitting in or being liked, willing to take innocent lives, and for what? to move up the ladder? to have people fear them? to have respect? for money? How senseless and foolish is it that our youth are being stolen away in neighborhoods all over this land and throughout the world because of the need to fit in–or a sense of belonging? They have been conditioned to believe that nothing else matters except for protecting your own, making money, and belonging, even to the point of death. Before you get down on the gangs, the Jews, and the youth, let's look at another similar case of a choice made with questionable motivation: the election of President Obama. Sure, he is a nice enough man, one who professes to be a Christian, yet the first day he was in power he voted to shut down the terrorist detention facility in Guantanamo, reversed a number of bills signed by the former president that limited abortion funding all over the world, and much more. That morning on ABC news, the reporter said that “President Obama, in his first day of office, has changed the morality of the White House by reversing most of George Bush's moral policies.” I don' care for political discussions, and I have no political aspirations, because, quite honestly, the majority of people do not want to hear or see the truth; it makes them uncomfortable; therefore, I am only quoting the things I have heard. We say ‘what a shame; how can this be?’ The answer, again, is quite simple. We, like the people who sent Christ to the cross, are in a constant battle, one that will not be easily won, yet we know we will prevail through Christ Jesus our Lord. Daily Prayer: Father, may we never follow the mob and always seek to please You; may You be our moral compass. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “The battle is won yet we must continue to fight.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 229 “Sometimes the best defense is no offense.”

Day 229 Matthew 27:11-13 Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. The primary accusation against Jesus by the chief priest and elders was His proclamation as “King of the Jews” or messiah, an issue that truly was of no consequence to the Roman rulers. Their only issue would have been if Jesus were leading a revolt or had political aspirations that would threaten Roman rule. The reality was that Pilate marveled at Jesus for His strength, conviction, and lack of hostility in the midst of what was obviously a trumped up charge with dire consequences. In the face of certain death and obviously innocent of all charges, Jesus offered no defense. He knew this had to be done, and He had willed and purposed to walk with as much dignity and honor as He physically was able to. In recent days, I have been sharing stories of my past in order that I might stir within others similar instances in their own lives or in lives of those they have known. In some cases, it may even be what some are going through or will be in the future. Either way, the intent is always to assist and help others but never to complain about past injustices; quite honestly, that is not how I would see them. You see, what we go through and the lessons we learn, they are what make us who we are. If we keep them to ourselves, they benefit us and others by our actions, yet if we can share the stories of how we have been blessed, then possibly others can weather their storms with more ease and peace. For some of you out there, you have been convicted of crimes, injustices, or actions that you have not committed. How did you handle them? Was your approach one that cast doubt on everyone else or was yours one that allowed the will of God and your faith in Him to be the focus? No one wants to be convicted of things they are innocent of, yet how easily we forget about those things we should have been convicted of and that the mercy of God has allowed us grace. None of us could fully pay the price for our mistakes. It is impossible to do so and, thankfully, God does not require that we do. So, maybe the next time you feel like you are being unjustly accused, it would be beneficial to ask God how He would have you react and then take it from there. It may be that He just wants a little help to fulfill His will for someone else, or yes maybe even you. Daily Prayer: Father, may we not be so quick to defend ourselves when wrongly accused and more apt to seek your will in every situation. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “Sometimes the best defense is no offense.” Gene Burroughs Pastor

“Forgiveness brings healing and new life; bitterness leads to hopelessness and death.”

Day 228 Matthew 27:3-10 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the potter’s field, as the LORD directed me.” If it were not for the seriousness of the subject matter, this passage would make me laugh. The money was taken from the treasury to pay for the blood of a man, yet now it is considered tainted because of that blood. And while the actions of the man who was deceived are considered treacherous, the actions of those who carried out the deception are considered righteous. Here, again, we have more proof that people who purpose to do evil will always justify their action, no matter what the truth is. Judas, even though he had committed a heinous act, finally came to his senses and realized that he was wrong, yet these religious leaders stood firm and actually turned the tables on Judas. He had been foolish enough to believe them, and now he was no longer of use to them. Over and over again in this world I see far too often a very similar pattern in both business and unfortunately, occasionally, in ministry: one day everyone is your friend and you can do no wrong; the next day no one seems to desire your company. The tragedy is that all too often it can seem like your value is based upon what you have to offer to those around you. You see, no matter how we slice it, people by their sin born nature can seem to be in fellowship with us under false pretenses. However the true reality is this is never the case with Jesus, He loves us under all pretenses, in all circumstances and He never throws us out like used garbage. Our true value must come from the one who gave all He had for you, why? Because you are valuable to Him; yes, far more than just thirty pieces of silver, you are worth His innocent blood. Have you let go or are you still trapped by the hurt and pain caused by unfulfilled expectations? Judas solved his hurt and pain by hanging himself, and the people who used him didn't even care, yet had Judas become a mighty man of God as a result of his sin, those leaders would have regretted the day they met him. All Judas had to do was realize the power of repentance and forgiveness! How about you can you realize that power and walk in it, fulfilling God’s true calling for you? Daily Prayer: Father, may I never get caught up in the bindings of bitterness and unforgiveness. Teach me, Lord, the value of forgiveness, and may I expect no more of anyone else than I am able to give myself. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “Forgiveness brings healing and new life; bitterness leads to hopelessness and death.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 227 “If you don't want others to see it, don't waste time trying to hide it.”

Day 227 Matthew 27:1-2 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. There were two reasons it was necessary for the chief priests and elders to take Jesus to Pontius Pilate the governor; the first being that Jewish law required that trials be held during the day, and the first trial of Jesus was held under the cover of darkness. The second reason was that the Jewish leaders did not have the authority to put someone to death; they first had to convince the governor that someone was worthy of death in order that he could pronounce punishment. As I read this, I immediately thought of Luke 12:2-3: “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.” The Jewish leaders were well aware of the law. As a matter of fact, everything they did revolved around the law. They were the keepers of the law, yet they purposed in their hearts to break that law when they sought out and bound Jesus in Gethsemane. They then held their trial, knowingly breaking the law, the ultimate act of hypocrisy. If anyone has ever wondered why Jesus called them hypocrites so often or wondered what hypocrisy looked like, here would be the shining example. Yet I cannot help but smile when I think of these men who purposed to break their own law, now attempting to cover it up and justify their actions by following the law. Once again, we see the power of the Word, Luke 12:2-3. No one is above the ultimate law of God. There is no avoiding its influence, judgment, fulfillment, and truth. In my former life as a sales manager, the blessing of God upon my role was truly unbelievable for a nonbeliever as well as many who proclaimed to believe. Jealousy was rampant and some thought to find fault as a result. Try as they might, no matter how many tricks they attempted and lies they manufactured, there was no fault or trickery to be found in my success. It was as I had said, “God was blessing it.” In particular, there were two men of power, both professed believers who held double lives, and one of which was serving in ministry. At home, they professed the Lord; at work though, their actions were not glorifying to God. This behavior, of course, made it very difficult for anyone to share Christ because, after all, these men were appearing to be hypocrites. Being called away by the Lord (hallelujah!), I was left open for attack without defense, yet none was needed. Eleven-plus years later, the truth came out, and some have even come to ask forgiveness. God is the vindicator; He brings out the truth, and neither He nor His people will, in the end, be mocked. Hang in there and trust the Lord. He is your guard, and He will be glorified. If you will but trust in Him, no defense will be needed. Daily Prayer: Father, I am eternally grateful for the protection that You offer us against the attacks of the enemy. Thank you that we can trust You and know You will never fail. In Jesus’ name, Amen. “If you don't want others to see it, don't waste time trying to hide it.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 226 “Your past failures should not control your future except for avoiding them.”

Day 226 Matthew 26:69-75 Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!” And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly. Peter's denial of Christ is truly one of the most heart-wrenching stories in the gospels. Here he is, this disciple who laid his head on Jesus’ shoulders just 24 or so hours before, now claiming to have never known Him. There are those who would say what a fool or a weakling Peter was, and some may even be foolish enough to think that they would never do such a thing; however, this passage for me brings great hope. You see, if Peter can fail so miserably and go on to accomplish the things he did, then there truly is hope for the rest of us. Peter, after all, is the one God uses to introduce the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He was the leader on the day of Pentecost and established the first organized public gathering of believers; in many ways the first church. Peter became a mighty man of God who later was crucified for his belief. While Peter failed Christ that night, he was forgiven, blessed, and used by God in mighty ways! The heart-wrenching pain of denying Christ before man is not something that anyone can ever forget. Once you have believed and then denied that belief for fleshly reasons, the pain and remembrance of it never leaves. While I had an amazing encounter with God at a very young age and knew beyond a shadow of doubt that He was real and alive in my heart, I denied Him in my teen years. Every day I would awaken with the pain of denying Him in my heart, and eventually, I would use any means possible to soften that pain yet, even then, it never truly went away. The greatest regret I have in my life today is the fact that I walked away from my Lord for a time and denied His existence in me. Those years will never be returned; that fellowship forever lost. That pain, while it will never be forgotten, has now been overridden by the realization of the greatness of His mercy and grace by His redemption of my life upon my return. You see, I believe that God does not remember that I turned from Him (His Word says our sins are forgotten); hence, my walk with Him is new every morning. The challenge, truly, is that I remember as does satan, and at every opportunity he attempts to drag me back into the pit of my failures, sins, and transgressions, and every day I must hold onto Jesus to keep from falling in. Don't let your past control your future; don't let your circumstances affect your communion with your God. The trials of today have no way of separating you from His love, only from His fellowship, and to that we can easily return under the covering of Jesus’ blood. Daily Prayer: Father, I pray that every time we are reminded of our past failures and denials of You, you Father, by Your Spirit, would remind us of Your grace and Your mercy by the provision of Your Son as payment for our sins and transgressions. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “Your past failures should not control your future except for avoiding them.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 225 “Living a Godly life speaks of itself.”

Day 225 Matthew 26:57-68 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end. Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’” And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.” Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?” Reading this passage without becoming angry or judgmental is rather difficult for me, yet how can I be angry when, had these things not happened, we would be without hope? It is a similar rage that rises within me when I hear the constant barrage by the world on Christians and Israel. The same spirit that thought it would be victorious by killing Christ is the same spirit that rules the world today. Just as false witnesses were paraded in front of the leaders and people of that day, today we see false witnesses being paraded across our TV screens and hear them over our airwaves. That same spirit that influenced those men who bore false witness is the same spirit that influences people to commit heinous crimes in the name of god, pastors to fail, and so-called believers to water down their faith by compromising in the name of politics, peace, or whatever the latest movement is. Yet for us, as it was with Christ, words used to make a point or to defend ourselves against such a spirit, or with people influenced by it, are a waste of time. Why argue with anyone who has no desire to know the truth? Why try to convince someone they are wrong when, in actuality, they already know it but are too prideful to admit it? I liken it to those who support abortion. Why argue with them? They have made up their minds, and they are not willing to change. My favorite thing to say to abortionists is “If you don't believe it is a life, then why do you need to kill it?” The point is not about abortion; the point is that arguing about truth to those who desire not to know it is often a waste of time and can do more to drive people away than it does to draw them in. Again, were these people afraid of what Jesus said? No, they were afraid of who He was and what He did. His actions spoke louder than words, all the way to His death and resurrection. Are your actions and your lifestyle portraying one of confidence in Christ, love for your God, and obedience to Your savior? If so, you need say very little. If not, you’re probably trying to convince everyone, including yourself, who you are. Daily Prayer: Father, may we follow the example of Jesus in our daily walk. May we live a life that glorifies You rather than talking about it, yet compromising. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “Living a Godly life speaks of itself.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 224 “Wait, watch, listen, and pray; things will go much smoother that way.”

Day 224 Matthew 26:47-56 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled. On my first trip to San Francisco I found myself in a very long and dark alley, watching over two women and a teenage boy as they ministered to a very drunk young man and his girlfriend. As I stood there, the only thing I could think about was how I would defend these three if we were assaulted in such a dark place by one of the many groups of thugs looking for such an opportunity. As I stood guard, a man approached us and began speaking the most vulgar things I have ever heard spoken to these ladies. He became louder every moment and I became angrier with every word. After a few moments, I was fed up and had decided to just knock this guy out with a well-placed punch, yet, as I drew back my fist, I was stopped by that all too familiar voice of the Lord. “If you handle this in the flesh, the result will be one of the flesh. I can do my own battles; you haven't even prayed.” Well, needless to say, I dropped my arm and began to pray. I prayed that he would be quiet, and immediately he was. Then I prayed that the girls would not remember, and they didn't. They ended up praying with the man and the woman, and the man I was dealing with disappeared as quickly as he had appeared, so all was well. However, if I had continued down the path I was heading, only God knows what would have happened, but I know it would not have been His will, for His will was for me to pray and see Him win the battle. In Luke's account of this passage, we are told that Jesus healed the ear of the man who was attacked so, in other words, what Peter did as a response in the flesh Jesus made right in the flesh in order that the spirit-led scripture might be fulfilled. Peter did not attack the man out of extreme love for Jesus, for if he did, he would have stayed around. No, he and the other disciples ran in fear. Peter reacted in his flesh both times, and both were wrong. I guess maybe we all could learn to wait a little longer, react a little slower, and pray a little more. Daily Prayer: And that, Lord, would be my prayer, that I would wait on You more, take the time to hear Your leading, and spend more time seeking Your will. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “Wait, watch, listen, and pray; things will go much smoother that way.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 223 “Victory in the spirit brings great joy and freedom–‘watch and pray.’”

Day 223 Matthew 26:36-46 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” The day of betrayal has come, Jesus has just warned His disciples of His impending suffering, they have sworn allegiance, and yet, at the first opportunity, their flesh leads them astray. Jesus is asking His disciples to defeat their flesh for one hour by praying and keeping watch. In essence, He is asking them to be on guard, both in the flesh and in the spirit, by watching with their eyes and praying with their mouths. Yet the eyes soon fail, and by doing so, they shut the mouth. In other words, the flesh takes control and defeats the spirit. In their final hours with Christ before His crucifixion, the final memory the disciples will have is how they failed their Messiah and, yes, the enemy will use that to cause them even greater despair, because that is what he does. I don't know about anyone else, but there was a time in my life where, once I had sinned, I felt so bad that I would run from God, too ashamed to face Him, and in the process, I would sin even more. It was as if I had thrown all care to the wind. At this point, my flesh was in control because of my guilt and shame. I wonder if that is possibly where things went awry for the disciples. Could it be that, because of their failure of Christ in the garden, it became somewhat easier to deny Him the next day? The statement “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation” was not out of context here, but rather one which we can be aware and cognoscente of for ourselves every day. By allowing their eyes to close and the flesh to rule, the spirit was silenced. Oh, how often have I been guilty of such actions myself? I think about the times when I was in a hurry to arrive at my destination and I would see someone stopped along the road, obviously in need of assistance, yet I didn't stop. Even though my spirit was leading me to, craving for me to do what was obviously right, I allowed my flesh to convince me that its needs were more important, more urgent and pressing. I am confident that many of you have felt this shame as well; it is not the kind one can bear much of. You learn rather quickly yet, even then, it often happens again and again. So, what can we do you ask? We rest when it's time to rest; we take care of ourselves, both physically and spiritually; and we "watch and pray," then obey and, as a result, life will be filled with far more joy and freedom than guilt and shame. Daily Prayer: Father, may we be people who watch and pray. May we be people who seek Your will for our lives every moment of every day. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “Victory in the spirit brings great joy and freedom–‘watch and pray.’” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 222 “If God said it, you can believe it and react with faith.”

Day 222 Matthew 26:31-35 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples. As I read this passage, I cannot help but wonder why Jesus said that the disciples would stumble because of Him. After all, He is going to the cross for us; He had no need to suffer and die, he could have made another race on another planet, yet still He bore the complete burden all on his own. Yet no matter how many hypothesis or ideas one has as to why Jesus says these words, there is truly only one conclusion, for He gave us the answer. The reason Jesus said that we would stumble because of him was because it had been prophesied and written in the book of Zachariah, Chapter 13:7; that alone was all of the truth that was needed. You see, the sovereignty of the Word of God is and must be 100 percent truth, for if not, we have no foundation for our belief; we are as shallow as Mormonism, Islam, or any other religion that bases itself upon their so-called Holy writings. All other religions are limited in their foundation. Some are based upon self-professed new truths of the Bible, some upon nonfactual interpretations of the Bible, and others are based upon writings which often have no historical or geographical truth to them. Yet any time the basis for a religion or belief is not held as sovereign, inspired and holy, it has no roots, no base upon which to build. It is shifting sand. The same goes for those who change the meaning of the Word of God or propose new revelations and insights that often contradict the basis of their belief. How can this be? If the God you serve can make mistakes, how then can that god be infallible? In truth, any god who contradicts himself is nothing more than a lying demonic spirit seeking to lead others astray. If Jesus Himself was bound to the Word (and He was), then how can any man professing to serve Him change that very Word in the name of the God who would not? Am I taking this too far? Am I off track? No, I don't really think so. The purpose of this study is and always has been to learn more of Christ. To know Him is to be able to follow Him, and to follow Him is to change our world and rescue those who have yet to hear and receive the truth. Jesus, by obeying the Word of God and surrendering to His death, knew beyond a doubt that every scripture ever written about His death and resurrection would come to pass, as they did. If the disciples had seen this obvious truth, their responses would have been much different. Maybe Peter would have asked how many times he would deny Christ. Maybe they all would have sought His forgiveness beforehand but, you see, they didn't get it either: no man can change the plan of God, no man. If something has been prophesied and written in the Word, then, yes, it is infallible, yet when it is prophesied by man, it must be weighed against the Word before it can be accepted as truth. There are many these days who tell people that God is speaking truth in a prophetic way through them when, quite often, I fear they are simply sharing a feeling or an intellectual thought. Yes, God still speaks through men but God never contradicts Himself, and that, my friend, is the truth! Daily Prayer: Father, thank you that we can test all things against Your Word and know the truth. Teach us, Lord, to recognize those things that are not from You, and help us, Lord, to help those who have gone astray. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “If God said it, you can believe it and react with faith.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 221 “His blood, His body, our sin quite amazing!”

Day 221 Matthew 26:26-30 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. In Exodus, Chapter 12 (if I may paraphrase), the Passover is instituted by God as the final blow to the enemies of Israel and the act that causes them to be given their freedom. The Jewish people were given specific instructions to prepare a lamb for slaughter; they were to place the blood of the lamb over the doorposts and on the sides of the door (the lintels) and then remain inside while feasting on the sacrifice. As they were inside feasting on the lamb and unleavened bread, the spirit of the Lord would pass through the land, and any doorway that did not bear the blood of the lamb He would enter, and the firstborn of that household would be killed. And so it was, and the people of Israel were spared, while their enemies' firstborn children and livestock were destroyed; hence, their enemies released them from captivity. Here in Matthew 26, we see Jesus now performing the first communion or new act of Passover with His disciples and, while they were unable at the time to completely comprehend it, 3 days later it would all become clear. You see, Jesus was now showing them and all who have consequently read this passage that He is now the sacrificial lamb, that His body would be the one broken, and His would be the blood shed to cover our sins for eternity. He is now forever freeing all who believe from the captivity of sin. We must remember that His death and resurrection had not yet happened at this time; therefore, the degree to which this sacrifice was to be has yet to be seen. The suffering of Christ and the shedding of His blood has, unfortunately, been so watered down by many religions that it has lost much of its true intent. You see, God did not institute the blood sacrifice of an innocent animal to satisfy His thirst for blood; He did it to cause pain to the one who offended in order that they might no longer offend. My dad spanked me when I knowingly did wrong; the pain of that spanking and the thought of disappointing him again, that’s what kept me from repeat offenses. The hurt from taking an innocent life and shedding its blood for my mistakes, that is what should keep me from disappointing God as well. By instituting the new covenant, Jesus bore that pain for us as well, yet all too often we now forget His pain for us–that is the purpose of communion–maybe now we can all remember and help others to remember as well. Yes, to receive redemption is easy, but the payment that was made was anything but easy or painless; there was great sacrifice and pain. Daily Prayer: Father, thank You for the redemption of my life by Your son Jesus. May we never forget His suffering for our sake. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “His blood, His body, our sin quite amazing!” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 220 “Sin is curable, even in the latest of stages, just one drop from the blood of the Lamb.”

Day 220 Matthew 26:20-25 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?” He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.” Can you imagine being Judas, sitting at this table thinking that no one knew what he had done and, suddenly, the very person he betrayed acknowledges His betrayal? Have you ever done something knowing it was wrong, then just about the time you think you have gotten away with it, someone calls you on the carpet? Well, I have, and the feeling in the pit of your stomach is impossible to describe and completely unforgettable. The ironic thing is that none of us (as believers) ever get away with anything unnoticed, and He who sees it all has a way of not letting us forget it until we have dealt with it. Betrayal, as with all sin, is much like a cancer, it grows and grows even unto death until the every last root and cell of it has been destroyed. The longer it is left unattended, the more it grows, even when we ignore the symptoms. No matter how obvious they are, our denial does nothing to ease the pain. I see the pain of sin on the faces of people every day; like that cancer, it grows and grows, never being treated until either death wins out or the realization of Christ has come. If you look, you, too, will see the symptoms of sin on the faces of almost anyone you meet. Here are some examples. Bitterness shows itself as anger and the facial scowl. Unforgiveness often manifests itself as shyness when we can't accept forgiveness or as anger and bitterness when we cannot extend forgiveness. Selfishness is often the result of a childhood of overindulgence by loved ones or a lack of daily necessities, often manifesting itself as impatience and greed. The list truly does go on and on, even such as in Judas’ case: the arrogance of believing your lie so much that it becomes a truth. Judas’ response to Jesus could be interpreted as one of a man who was so deep in his sin he had convinced himself that it wasn't; again, like so many people we know today. Sin, like any other cancer, should and can be dealt with. Sin, unlike cancer, is 100 percent treatable, with a 100 percent non-mortality rate. The cure, of course, is free, somewhat painless, and rather enjoyable but, like cancer, we must first be willing to admit that something just isn't right. We must admit that there are things going on within us that we know are affecting us, and even though we can live with them now, they will only get worse if we wait. Whether it be your physical health or your spiritual health, can you ask yourself this question today and face the truth with strength, “How are you feeling, everything OK?” Daily Prayer: Father, I pray that we would not ignore the warning signs of sickness, either spiritual or physical; they all need to be dealt with. Please give us the strength to do so in the early stages. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “Sin is curable, even in the latest of stages, just one drop from the blood of the Lamb.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 219 “Obedience in the smallest form leads to the greatest of pleasures.”

Day 219 Matthew 26:17-19 Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. While there are many areas of this passage for one to focus upon, I feel led to focus on the man who owned the home where the Passover was to be held. You see, there were a number of critical things that must take place in order for this home to be secured, yet the gospels make it so matter of fact, as I believe it was and still should be. This man whose home was to be used was obviously a believer in Christ. He may have been someone Christ healed or someone who saw and heard Jesus teaching, this we do not know; he was, however, a believer. How can I say this with such confidence you ask? It appears that God had spoken to this man, for Jesus simply sends His disciples to say that the Master has need and obviously he responds accordingly. You see, this man more than likely had been praying or had been visited and spoken to in some divine manner. He was ready to hear and ready to respond, thus he did. In both Mark and Luke's writing of this passage we see that the disciples were instructed to follow a certain man carrying a pitcher of water to the house he enters and there to address the master. Can you imagine how many men in Jerusalem at any one time could be seen carrying a pitcher of water? The point is that everyone involved in this interaction had two very important things in common: they were listening to the voice of God, and they were obeying. While the details may have been foggy and the exact path was not known, these people needed no other help than the guidance of their Lord to fulfill His will. I could tell you many, many stories of such occurrences in my own life yet, today, one in particular stands out. On one of our many trips to the San Francisco area, one morning I felt like blessing the team with freshly cooked bacon for breakfast, so I grabbed one of the leaders and off we went to find a market. We first, of course, prayed for God to use us and guide us, for we had no idea where there was a market or which one He would have us go to, so following His direction, we went to a particular typical corner grocery. You have Uncle Guido behind the counter giving his daily advice and update on politics to everyone who makes eye contact, which is, of course, the daily routine of folks seeking coffee, advice, and maybe a muffin. This in itself was quite the blessing. As we left the store, bacon in hand, we passed a young twenty-something woman near the front door and made our way down the block toward our destination. We had gone no more than half a block when we both felt the same realization that we were to return and speak with her. As we made our way, I felt very impressed to make her a flower from the balloons I carried and present it to her as a gift, a token of her beauty as seen by the Lord. As we approached her, she looked at us both as if she knew why we were there and, with tears in her eyes, she hugged us and thanked us for coming because she had been waiting. You see, the night before, her much older boyfriend had beaten her and she had spent the night on the streets, during which time she called her mom who prayed with her. Her mother had told her that God was watching over her and there would be people who would see her today and remind her that God had not given up on her. They would remind her that she was His child; a treasure in His eyes. You see, far too often we desire for God to thrust us into situations to allow us to see the outcome before we take the step of faith. Sometimes He just desires to give us a glimpse; sometimes He desires for us to take a step of faith, no matter how foolish it may seem. I suggest that we stop looking for the big picture and respond to the little promptings, for if we do, then God may allow us to view even more, and what a view it is! Daily Prayer: Father, I am blessed beyond measure, yet all too often I fear that I forget to wait upon You for the seemingly smallest of things. Show me how to hear Your voice, and help me to obey, I pray. In Jesus’ name, Amen. “Obedience in the smallest form leads to the greatest of pleasures.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

The water that Burns like Fire

The Water that Burns with Fire The words you are about to read are the brief overview of a vision revealed to me by the Lord over the past few months. I believe that this year, 2012 is the beginning of the fruition of the things of which I speak. You must arrive at your own conclusion and I encourage you to seek the Lord and test all things against His word. There has been for quite sometime a preparation in the hearts of certain leaders both men and women who have been called to usher in and lead this nation in a move of repentance like none we have ever experienced. These leaders have been undergoing a refinement that was especially chosen for them, one of great pain, sacrifice, and trauma. Through these trials they have been drawn in to a place of understanding, victory, and most importantly intimacy with God. This nation in 2012 will see a rising tide of true repentance, a repentance that causes men and women to be transformed in a moment. I see in my minds eye a crack in the floor of the ocean and new waters pouring in from the deep, the seas are beginning to rise. First covering the lowlands and like a raging fire they will choose what appears to be a random path, yet this path will be one directed from on High. As these waters rise some will run to higher ground, others will recognize them as life giving, and remain to be overcome by them. Soon there will be strongholds where this fire will take up inhabitance and there it will remain as long as holiness resides in the hearts of the leaders. Many so-called prominent leaders will cry out for the water, thinking they are those of which I earlier spoke yet they in their arrogance will be denied. Others will create their own form of water and while it appears fresh and life giving to some, it will be filthy and polluted bringing forth only death and destruction. This false water will require no immersion, little change, no transformation and will appeal to many, there will be a great deception, one that has already begun. Beware of those who say they are the ones of whom I speak, those who are chosen will be evident for this is a fire of repentance. This is not a fire of signs and wonders, this is a fire of repentance, transformation, and free from hype, a pure water of fire! Those who seek to be immersed in the pure water, the water that burns like fire they will be forever changed transformed by its power. Their flesh will burn away and their spirits will be refined. Holiness and righteousness will be given to them and their prayers will bring forth power from on High. They will move upon the earth as directed by their Great Commander carrying forth the waters of fire seeking those willing to be transformed, those wiling to allow the painful consumption of their flesh. They will be clothed in His armor, in their right hands they will carry His Word, a sword rightly divining truth. In their hearts will burn a passion for His righteousness and their spirits will be led by Him. They will not proclaim their name nor seek to steal His glory, humility will be their strength, and pride will not know them. His praise will be upon their lips, and the Word will bear witness to all, for by His name alone will men be saved, and unto Jesus be all glory and honor! Fear, anger, and hopelessness will grip this nation, yet they will be free from the influence. Persecution will come upon them as never before, yet they will remain, and the water of fire will spread, causing all to choose their way. For those of you (and you know who you are) whom the Lord has chosen for this time, and this day, I encourage you, stay strong, remain in your place of prayer, avoid the pitfalls of sin and walk in intimacy with God. The waters are coming forth, be watchful, be ready, fill your lamps, soon you will hear His call, His call to rise up and go forth, be ready! More to come! Pastor Gene Burroughs

218 “The value of everything is determined by what we will pay or be paid for it.”

Day 218 Matthew 26:14-16 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him. There are several very interesting points worthy of mentioning today in this rather short section of scripture which represents a truly pivotal moment in history; the first point being that, to the Jewish leader, Judas could have been viewed as an answer to prayer. Think about it, if they did not believe Jesus was the messiah, then they were obviously praying for His demise. Therefore, Judas could very well have been viewed as one sent by God to deliver this so-called heretic into their hands. So here is a question for each of us: “Are we confident that the prayers we are praying are according to His will or are they according to our own will?” Secondly, Judas had a price. There was an amount of money that Judas was willing to sell out for–in this case, thirty pieces of silver. By the way, thirty pieces of silver was the same price that was paid for a slave if he was killed by your ox (Exodus 21:32) and, oh by the way, the ox was then to be killed. In Zechariah 11:12, it was also the price paid by the people of Israel to release them from the influence of the shepherd (God) whom Zechariah was representing. It is also very ironic that the Lord told Zechariah to throw the thirty pieces of silver to the potter, as the potter was considered to be the lowest form of laborer. As we will see later on, when Judas gives back the money to the high priests, they purchase a potter’s field to bury people in. I remember the day very well when I was working in the corporate world and the realization of selling out hit me. I was in my office in agony over tough decisions the corporate office had made that I was being demanded to enforce. I didn't agree with them yet I was responsible for carrying out their will. It was then that I realized that I had sold out, that they were the ones in control, and I had agreed to the price; it was also the day I purposed to leave. Have you sold out? How much will or did it take? Just remember, it will never be enough. You see, once the price has been paid for something, there is no turning back. Even if, by some chance, you didn't fulfill what you agreed to, you have done it in your heart, and you are now a thief and a liar– there is no winning! Once we step over the threshold of considering doing wrong and we enter into the place of purposing to do wrong, we have stepped into the place of complete separation from God–we have set the price and the value of His influence and control of our lives. Fortunately, we do have the grace and mercy of God that reconciles us through the blood of Christ, but we, and all of those affected by our choice, will face the consequences of our decision. Once Judas had accepted the money, he was past the point of turning back. His next option was to go forward with his plan; right or wrong, there was no turning back in his mind. Judas had purposed to betray God and for whatever reason he did, yet even Judas regretted his decision, but by then it was too late for him. Praise God that until His return or our death, both of which may be at any instance, it is never too late for us. Daily Prayer: Father, I ask forgiveness for those times where I have purposed in my heart to sell out; for giving into the gratification of my flesh rather than the fulfillment of Your will in my life. May I learn from the mistakes of my past and avoid these same pitfalls in the future. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “The value of everything is determined by what we will pay or be paid for it.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 217 “I would rather bless God and satisfy my spirit than ignore God and satisfy my flesh.”

Day 217 Matthew 26:10-13 But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” During Jesus’ short time on this earth, His suffering, both up to and upon the cross, will forever be remembered as the most selfless act of any man ever recorded in history. However, rarely will anyone think of the daily sacrifices that Christ made, particularly in His final three years (as, historically, we know very little about His childhood). He had no home, few close friends, denied His family, and was seemingly rarely concerned about His own comfort. His time on earth is coming to an end; most of the people around Him have no idea of what He is going through or what is about to happen. Obviously, His heart was heavy for His people, yet, as a man, He surely longed for some comfort for His weary body and soul. With everyone else clueless, suddenly this woman who had sat at His feet, one who had purposed to know Him, realizes that He is in need, and without thought of cost she takes action. She takes the most valuable of all of her possessions and gives it to her savior. And note that she doesn't just give Him a flask of oil; no, she takes this oil and begins to anoint her messiah. She lovingly and carefully rubs the oil into His very pores, even the souls of His feet, and she blesses our Lord and savior. How is it that so many so close to our Lord would miss such an opportunity? How is it that they ridiculed her rather than join her in this selfless act? It is a rare opportunity when someone is allowed to bless God; after all, what does He long for? what are His needs? I liken it to trying to buy something for the person who has everything–what do you give them? I personally struggle often to the point of giving up and sending a card, yet somehow my wife always knows just how to bless them. I truly don't get it, but she does. So the question for us today is how do we bless God? What can we possibly give that would bless the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Well, for once I do have the answer: we give Him us and make the sacrifice of giving our time, our talents, our gifts, and our resources, all for the sake of Him rather than the selfishness of us. Daily Prayer: Father, I desire to bless You, and all I have is me and the decisions I make. I pray that you will help me to purpose in my heart to give you my all in order that I might be a blessing to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “I would rather bless God and satisfy my spirit than ignore God and satisfy my flesh.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

"Good Friday" Day 235 Matthew 27:45-50 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. I don't know about anyone else, but for as long as I can remember, I have been confused about verse 46; not to the point of it driving me to find answers or to the point of it affecting my relationship with God. No, it was more like one of those things that every time you read it you think, hmm, that just doesn't make complete sense; however, today for me it does (thank you Holy Spirit). I am reminded that when Moses was meeting with God in Exodus 33: 20-23: But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live. And the LORD said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.” The Lord made it very clear to him that he could not look upon God. The reason was not that God didn't want Moses or anyone else to see Him, but rather that God did not want Moses to perish. You see, the human body is not holy; it is not consecrated, and any time a non-consecrated human body comes in contact with a holy and pure God, the human body literally perishes and ceases to be. Remember 1 Samuel 6:19: Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter. Or 2 Samuel 6:6-7 when Uzzah tried to stabilize the Ark: And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. Now, back to Jesus, the reason He was feeling forsaken by God was because He was, for Jesus was at that time the very manifestation of sin; therefore, God had for the first time ever separated Himself from Jesus; Jesus felt and was abandoned! The compassion of Christ is now complete. You see, He suffered in sin just as we suffer in sin, and because He did, He can now relate to you and me in every aspect of life. That, my friend, should bring great hope to all mankind! Jesus understands the pain of separation from God the result of sin; He knows how you feel when the loneliness of sin overcomes you! Just as you can comfort those who have been through similar trials, your savior can comfort you in every way; Praise God! Daily Prayer: Father, thank You that every aspect of salvation and redemption has been covered by the blood of Jesus. Thank You, Lord, that we can now commune with You. Help us, Lord, to never forget and to passionately share this hope with all mankind. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “Communion with God can only come through communion with Christ.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 235 Matthew 27:45-50 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. I don't know about anyone else, but for as long as I can remember, I have been confused about verse 46; not to the point of it driving me to find answers or to the point of it affecting my relationship with God. No, it was more like one of those things that every time you read it you think, hmm, that just doesn't make complete sense; however, today for me it does (thank you Holy Spirit). I am reminded that when Moses was meeting with God in Exodus 33: 20-23: But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live. And the LORD said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.” The Lord made it very clear to him that he could not look upon God. The reason was not that God didn't want Moses or anyone else to see Him, but rather that God did not want Moses to perish. You see, the human body is not holy; it is not consecrated, and any time a non-consecrated human body comes in contact with a holy and pure God, the human body literally perishes and ceases to be. Remember 1 Samuel 6:19: Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter. Or 2 Samuel 6:6-7 when Uzzah tried to stabilize the Ark: And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. Now, back to Jesus, the reason He was feeling forsaken by God was because He was, for Jesus was at that time the very manifestation of sin; therefore, God had for the first time ever separated Himself from Jesus; Jesus felt and was abandoned! The compassion of Christ is now complete. You see, He suffered in sin just as we suffer in sin, and because He did, He can now relate to you and me in every aspect of life. That, my friend, should bring great hope to all mankind! Jesus understands the pain of separation from God the result of sin; He knows how you feel when the loneliness of sin overcomes you! Just as you can comfort those who have been through similar trials, your savior can comfort you in every way; Praise God! Daily Prayer: Father, thank You that every aspect of salvation and redemption has been covered by the blood of Jesus. Thank You, Lord, that we can now commune with You. Help us, Lord, to never forget and to passionately share this hope with all mankind. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “Communion with God can only come through communion with Christ.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 216 “His will is always worth waiting for.”

Day 216 Matthew 26:6-9 And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.” In the gospel of John, Chapter 12, we are told that this woman was Mary, the sister of Martha, both the sisters of Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead. John also tells us that the disciple who was so critical of this selfless act was none other than Judas Iscariot, the one who was soon to betray Jesus. Judas was also the one in charge of the money or the treasurer for the disciples. Therefore, the fact that this oil was worth about one year’s wages was of particular interest to him, for had they been given the oil and been able to sell it, he, of course, would have control of a larger amount of money. You see, it is generally accepted as fact that Judas was stealing from the disciples in order to further his own agenda; little did he know. It is also noteworthy to mention that Mary was the same one who had been criticized for sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to His teachings rather than helping Martha with the chores. Mary was one who was in touch with what was going on and where things were headed; she had paid attention, listened, and waited, often to the chagrin of those around her. Yet now, when things are getting serious, she is actually the one who understands better than anyone else what is about to happen. I want to be more like Mary and less like the others, but to be more like Mary takes a lot of work. You see, most of us are Martha's; we tend to be impatient and want to see things being resolved rather than waiting and listening. We tend to be doers and fixers often to the point of missing the point. I believe that this can be illustrated by a flurry of activities that I had been involved in, and before I go on, I would like to say that this, in no way, reflects the depth or conviction of those involved in the story; it is rather an observation. About four years ago, just prior to Christmas, I was involved in three rather major construction projects at the church. It seemed that no matter what I did, I was bombarded with a plethora of opinions and discussions on what and how I should be doing things. It was so aggravating and counterproductive that I simply shut down and avoided everyone in order to accomplish my task. In the end, I was actually forced to delay the projects due largely in part to these distractions. However, if I desired to have a discussion regarding how God was leading or what passages meant, I could hardly drum up a conversation or anyone to speak with. You see, we have become such a society of doing and so results oriented that I fear our time seeking the Lord and His direction has moved down the list of priorities when, in fact, His will for us should never leave the top of the list. Our commitment to daily seek Him and His direction for us truly should be our first and foremost task, so I ask you today "How are you doing with that?" If you're like me, it is truly a struggle yet it is a battle that each one of us must win. We truly must overcome our fleshly desires and influences and daily fill ourselves with His Word and seek His will for each of us in prayer. Daily Prayer: Father, I confess to you that I have spent far too much time doing and far too little time waiting and listening for Your lead. Please forgive me, I ask, and teach me how to be more patient with life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. “His will is always worth waiting for.” Gene Burroughs, Pastor

Day 215 "Evil has no rules; therefore, against evil neither do I."

Day 215 Matthew 26:1-5 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.” The word plotted here, as defined in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, means “a plan secretly devised to accomplish an evil or treacherous end.” From the same source, the word trickery means: “The practice of crafty underhanded ingenuity to deceive or cheat.” Why do I bring this up you ask? The tendency of believers is to always think the best, to never assume that there are those who would desire to perform evil or mischievous acts against them. Why would people practicing witchcraft pray against us or why would satanists desire to see Christians, churches, ministries, and leaders fall? Surely they wouldn't waste their time on such things or would they? Let me ask you this: do you pray for the unsaved, do you pray for the lost to find Christ, do you pray for healings, for God's will, for miracles, signs and wonders? If you would pray such things against darkness, then why would they not pray against you to their deities? The answer is, I believe, that they do and, yes, they have power and, yes, sometimes they succeed, but only because we stand idly by assuming the best, ignoring the possibilities, and suffering the consequences of our actions. While Jesus did not desire to stop the crucifixion, if He had, He would have prevented it; therefore, it happened according to his will. Yet even then it was an evil scheme and a plan formed and executed very well and purposefully by the powers of darkness who conspired to kill the Messiah. Could it be that those powers of darkness have conspired in some manner to influence you in order to keep you from walking in faith, from stepping out? Have they prevented you in some way from being all that God would have you be? Could it be that by believing evil has rules, you have, to a certain degree, allowed evil to rule over you? I'm not a devil hunter; however, I do understand that I have an enemy, one who desires to destroy me and all who know me. He has nothing to lose, no rules to play by, and he needs no rest; he is patient and scheming, and by knowing this I can defeat him by the power of God with my prayers. Daily Prayer: Father, I do ask that You, Lord, by Your Spirit would reveal the scheming of the enemy to me in order that I might avoid the pitfalls and walk victorious in You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Evil has no rules; therefore, against evil neither do I." Gene Burroughs, Pastor