Pray To God For Endurance And Patience...

How many people did you encounter today that need to work on their patience? I am betting you ran into a few and possibly you are leading the pack in need in that area. It is hard putting up with others, especially when one is severely tried.

A lot of people showed patience in their walk with the Lord in the examples God gave us in his holy word. Job is probably the legendary patient person most people think of. Job's world collapsed as he lost his health, property and all of his family, except for his nagging wife. Yet Job trusted in the Lord and said "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;" (Job 13:15 NIV).

It is easy to show patience when everything is going our way. But when one thing gets out of order, here comes the stress, anger and frustration. Instead of impatience, we must put our faith in God and in his timing and love like him.

The creator of the universe, our father on the throne in heaven, has incredible patience. He waits and waits for us to come to him. God loves us dearly and has given the whole human race common grace and has given saving grace to those whom he has chosen to redeem.

"And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone." That's what Paul told us in 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV), "be patient with everyone".

God's power is needed for us to develop patience and it doesn't happen overnight. Patience is something that comes and goes as our circumstances change. Paul wrote a prayer in Colossians 1:11, "being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,"

Pray to our Sovereign Lord today to give you endurance and to help you develop patience. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life – he is exactly what we all so desperately need.

God Is So Good-Make Him Your Best Friend!

God Is So Good! Don't just be friends and only have a Sunday morning relationship with the maker of all creation. Make God your best friend. We are a living gate between light and darkness and live with an open heaven over us.

In Jacob's dream at Bethel in Genesis 28, "He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it." When Jacob wakes up he tells us in the bible that the house of God is a gate to heaven.

Our bodies are the house of God. It is in us that he dwells. Through us passes the angelic powers of the Almighty, just like Jacob saw in his dream, angels ascending and descending from heaven to help do the work of the Lord.

Jesus told his disciples, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." John 20:21 (NIV). The very power that God gave Jesus is in us today. We have access to the Lord 24/7 and the Lord is looking for ways to help us. Grab hold of the life he wants to give you.

God is generous and extremely good. He loves us. He told us in Matthew 25:40, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' We are Jesus! What you do or don't do for everyone, you are doing or not doing for Jesus.

God knows our worst flaws and weaknesses, but still loves us. No man born of a human can come close to treating you as well as God does. He has accomplished so much for us and will not let you down. Develop your friendship with him. You have to work at it, it doesn't just happen.

We are all a piece of Jesus. A bit of God. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2 (NIV)

The bible tells us in Ephesians that if you are born again you have already died in Christ and have been risen up with Christ and are seated with him in the heavenly realms.

When God looks at us, he sees Jesus, because that is who we are. That is who we were made to resemble. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Like Jesus, God has a plan for us to do in building his kingdom. It is time for us to be about our father's business. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIV).

God is so good! Make him your best friend. You won't be disappointed.

Rick Hawbaker
'Called to Love'

In Pursuit of the Life Jesus Died to Give Me

Walking the narrow path, I am determined to defeat Satan. I am in hot pursuit of the very life that God wants me to have. The life that Jesus died to give me. That's what I want.

Have I lost my mind completely or have I finally got it all together. Guess it depends who you are talking to. People in my past might feel I have walked off the plank on the ship of life in the middle of the great pond. But I know I am living the good life walking with the king of glory, the prince of peace, the great I AM.

The power of the holy spirit is upon me, in me, and working through me. How I enjoy seeing God work everywhere. He is in the young and in the old. I have seen him change me and change others. If you go through hard things as your life changes, remember you are being changed for the better. He loves you way too much to leave you like you are.

More than you can imagine can be yours through the power of Jesus Christ. You can have everything! "A man reaps what he sows" (Galatians 6:7 NIV). You sow goodness, kindness, friendliness, mercy, good will, generosity, and righteousness, that's what you will get. You sow indecency, meanness, wickedness and evil, that's what you will reap.

I am a warrior for Christ, a soldier for our risen King, who beat death, hell and the grave. When the 72 reported back to Jesus after he had sent them out two by two he said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." (Luke 10:18 NIV). "The gates of hell shall not prevail" (Matthew 16:18) Satan was defeated at the cross. Stomp on his head!

Rick Hawbaker
'Child of God'

Sweet Surrender...

Jesus wouldn't have temporarily come down from glory if nothing was wrong with the world. He took a body, similar to ours, to live in among us and then died for us that we might be saved. If God had been happy with what was going on, he wouldn't have needed to send Jesus to save us.

Our biggest sin just might be that we want control of everything. We struggle with giving up our trust in ourselves and putting that trust in God. We think we can run our own lives and many of us try to go it alone without God.

Millions of people pack into church every sabbath year around. Yet, seldom is heard a sermon on "repentance". These people do not grab hold of the idea that they need to truly regret acts of the past. When communion is served a quick prayer comes to their minds, but sadly the act of repenting leaves their minds quicker than the quick prayer entered their head.

If the world had been righteous, we wouldn't have had to have a visit from the king of glory. Jesus wouldn't have had to come to preach "repentance" and he wouldn't have had to buy our ticket to heaven.

Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for our separation from God. We can now be forgiven for our sins. Jesus mission was "to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10 (NIV) Because of Adam's fall Jesus came to redeem the earth and to save mankind.

"He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him." John 1:11 What a terrible thing? Do you think that brought a tear to God's eye? Our father came to visit and nobody knew him. How would you feel if you visited your kids whom you love dearly and would do anything for them and they acted like they didn't know you. "He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him." John 1:10 (NIV) How sad!

Do you think that made God feel bad? What do you think about the fact that he can't tell you apart from the non-christian that lives next door to you? If you are Christ-like, you should be different. You take your family to church every time the door is open, but you haven't surrendered yourself to God.

God can get or have everything he wants except he can't make you surrender yourself to him. That is why your surrender is so sweet for him. Surrender to his love and embrace God's will for our lives. Be all you can be through him and become a benefit to the lives of others.

Jesus said in Matthew 4:10 (NIV), "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' Serve him only is what it says, not serve yourself.

In Luke 9:23-24 (NIV), Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."

Surrender yourself to God! "He must become greater; I must become less." That is what Jesus told us in John 3:30 (NIV)

Serving a Living God,

Rick Hawbaker

We Don't Have Any Secrets From God

Is it going to be good news for you when Christ has returned or is it going to be bad news? God's word tells us, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13 (NIV).

It isn't too comfortable knowing that nothing you say or ever think is 'off the record' to the King of Glory. God knows all and sees all. "For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths." Proverbs 5:21 (NIV). We don't have any secrets hidden from the Almighty God.

Don't waste valuable time wondering how you are going to ask for forgiveness for something you have done that has separated you from God. God is not shocked by your sin. He saw you do it. He knows all that you have done and he still loves you unconditionally. Even on your worse day.

Christ's blood on the tree is the only reason the foul, disgusting sins we have committed can be washed away. We are told in Psalms 51 that God's unfailing love and great compassion can wash us whiter than snow. We are sinners living in a fallen world, Satan's kingdom. Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

Jesus, God in the flesh, said to "Repent" in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. John the Baptist, the greatest man of all time, said "Repent" in Matthew 3:2. The Apostles, Paul and Peter all told us to "Repent". "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord..." Acts 3:19 (NIV).

Your heart has to change and you must seek the Lord Almighty until he has saved you. Repent! Saying the 'Sinner's Prayer' isn't going to save you and filling out the card at church saying you have accepted Christ as your savior isn't enough. The evidence of your salvation will be when you continue to walk with the Lord and when the Holy Spirit has finished the good work in you he has begun.

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." Acts 16:31

You must put your faith, trust and belief in the man who walked on water and who split the sea. Give up trusting in yourself and humans and put all your trust in our Almighty God. Be careful to seek God's voice in your life and filter out what men say. Make Jesus the Lord of your life.

God is concerned about a person's inner disposition and character. It's the motive of the heart that counts. The Lord said to Samuel years ago when Samuel was looking for a king to annoint to replace rejected King Saul, "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV.

Serving A Living God,

Rick Hawbaker

Lemonade Stand Operators Keep Hope...

Isn't it funny how we hear a story then one day it pops back in your mind. The story I am sharing is one like that. Let's see how well I remember it.

Jill and Heather were sisters living in the burbs back in the day when nintendo home entertainment systems first came out.

Everyone had nintendo, was soon getting nintendo, or so it seemed. These two girls wanted Ninetindo so bad. They knew it would make their summer. School was about out. Only problem being, they had no cash. Together they had $2.87. Not much for a ten and 12 year-old heading into a long summer.

The girls took their hope and dream of having a nintendo to their parents. Their parents wanted them to have it too. Wouldn't it be nice to make the girls happy. But their oldest sister was getting married in two months. Mom's car was parked in the alley at the area auto mechanic waiting for funds to be fixed and grandpa needed help with paying for a much needed roof job on his home. These things along with the regular expenses that were rising each month, Mom and dad had to say no.

Being good parents they just didn't say "No!" and "get out of here". They didn't send the girls in the basement out of the way to watch TV or to their room. They made the suggestion that if the girls wanted a nintendo bad enough, then how about trying to raise or earn the money to buy one for themselves.

Hey, what a great idea. School was out in a couple days. They sat up a lemonade stand selling lemonade and ice tea and sometimes tossed in a chocolate chip cookie or two. Every day they sat up the stand and they gradually took in a nickel here, a dime there, and a whole quarter once in a while. One day a man gave them a dollar bill.

Well, they got down to the last week before heading back to school. The lemonade stand season was quickly coming to a close. They had done well and enjoyed their venture. But, they were going to come up way short. Like $25 to $30 short.

Having hope they drug themselves out to their corner each of the final days of the last week of summer break. As they baked in the hot sun they began making plans to have the lemonade stand again next summer. Maybe next year would be better. One could only hope. They still wanted a nintendo.

On the last day with a half an hour to go and with thirty-five cents in the coffee can, there hope for a ninetindo anytime soon had almost vanished. Then, behold, a man in a shining car pulled up and stopped at the curb in front of them. He jumped out and began talking with the girls and asking questions. He placed his order for a big lemonade and one cookie.

The well-dressed man said, "your sign says this is your last day of the season. Was business good for you this summer?" He continued, " I saw you sitting out here day after day as I drove home from work and I always wanted to stop." He dropped two green bills folded up into the coffee can. He thanked them and took his cup filled with lemonade and crawled back in his car.

The girls picked everything up, folded the table and headed for the house closing out the season. Jill waved to their last customer as he drove away. She then glanced at the two bills in the can and started screaming. The man had given them thirty dollars in a twenty and a ten. Jill and Heather now had more than enough to buy their Nintindo.

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without know it." Hebrews 13:2 (NIV).

Do you think Jill and Heather served lemonade to an angel that day?

"Praise him, all his angels, praise him all his heavenly hosts." Psalm 148:2 (NIV)

Rick Hawbaker
'Man of God'

Prayer Needed In This Satan Soaked Episode

A dear friend contacted me this morning with a deep prayer concern. She is nearing sixty, is divorced from an alcoholic, abusive husband, and is working hard to survive. She is struggling to overcome her past that is filled with bad memories of alcohol, drug use, broken families and bills.

Living with a son who has children from a broken home, she is helping them survive, and also helps a daughter who lives close by with her children. In her spare time, she works full-time for a heartless retailer as a cashier. My friend clearly loves the Lord. She has scripture on her lips and shares it with others daily. She wears Jesus on her sleeve. She shows acts of kindness to others often. Since becoming Christ-like, she hasn't met anyone she hasn't loved.

This angel is giving her all and all to make ends meet and to raise the two families in Christian living. I have seen her dip into her purse more than once and pull out money to give to others that are hurting. Some equally or hurting more than herself. She needs the money to pay for past bills, her current bills and her children's bills. But yet she is there for others giving beyond what she can.

This special friend contacted 'Focus on the Family' today for help with counseling for her grandchildren. Beside all of the above problems and concerns she is swimming in, her six year-old grandson has been sexually touching his twin sister wrongly. He learned this playing next door a couple weeks ago as my friend's mother, in her 80's, was watching the children and sent them next door.

All of you prayer warriors out there...Pray for healing and wholeness for all families involved in this Satan soaked episode. Through the power of prayer Jesus can mend this family that Satan hovers over. Please pray for everyone facing similar situations to overcome. Prayer activates the power of God and chases away Satan.

Ask God in the name of Jesus to heal this family and all of the families currently dealing with the same issues. May he heal those struggling and be with all of those who have already gone through pain like this. There is no one greater than our God. Jesus told us "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Matthew 28:18 (NIV).

Drive Satan out of town and far away from this family with your prayers. Jesus has overcome. Satan hates it when we pray. God is power. God is love. God is hope. God is joy... God doesn't want any of us to live in pain and suffering. Jesus suffered for us. We were born to win. Win for him! Pray for God and his many angels to intervene and set this lady free.

Rick Hawbaker
'Man of God'

(Photo taken on Trail Ridge Road in RMNP near the summit in June of 2010)