Have you ever read the story in the Old Testament about Abraham and Isaac? How God had asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son.

Have you ever wondered why God asked him to? I was reading a book the other day that went over a scenario, that I had never thought of.

Usually one thinks that God was wanting to test Abraham’s heart, that’s what I’ve always heard.

Well, in ‘ The Pursuit of God “, A. W. Tozer paints this picture.

Remember, Isaac was his only son and maybe just maybe, he had a divided heart and loved Isaac a little to much and God wanted to drive all things away in his heart that might stand in the way

You say, how can one love a child to much? I met a Mother and Father of a slain son who quit God because their boy got killed.

One can love anything to much, what’s in your life or mine that stands between you and God/? I apply this to my life also, no one is exempt.

The question is simple, are you willing to inspect your life and lay down those things that might be standing between you and God? I am. I’m tired of a powerless church.

I read the red letters in my Bible and I know there’s more. It’s just that the world has infiltrated Christianity and we had listened to a diluted version of the gospel.

Today if Jesus came to earth, we would do the same thing the Jews did; we would dismiss Him as a lunatic or assassinate Him. We would be so scared of His power, we would freak out

If a blind man got healed in our churches, we would freak out but, people it’s the norm!

Lord come in your power and freak us out! We need to be shook up, out of our slumber and believe what can be in Your Name. Amen!!!

RL

We pastured rural churches in Mississippi, that was by choice. I have been to hundreds of rural churches as a visitor and I’m here to tell you, if not for the women; the churches would have closed

We pastured a church, if it had not been for one woman; the church would have died.

What is the problem? It’s that men are not answering their God given role, of being the head of the house.

I went to a conference last weekend and the following statistic blew me away. Let’s say in a household of four, a son or daughter get saved. The average who get saved is 6%

If a mother get’s saved, 16% of a household get saved. If a Dad get’s saved, a whopping 95% get saved. Why is that, it’s because he is following the order God ordained!

This conference I went to, twelve men from our church went; I could not have gone with a better bunch. We came back changed, the real secret we found was loving Him first in all things.

You see, if we truly seek Him first; all things will fall into place.

A new Christian went with us, a relative new Father, I believe only five years, he and I wrote on face book and he is on fire to see his family move in the right direction.

The key to a solid church, is have men who truly lov God in order and the homes will be in order and the church also.

It starts in the home people!

Lord WAKE up the men of our nation to their rightful place in your Kingdom. Amen!!!

RL

Last night, I received a message a friend of mine committed suicide. It has really shaken me.

I guess the reason, is because I battle depression and she battled it. The reason I’m afraid, it could happen to me.

I remember three years ago when I was diagnosed Paranoid/Clinically depressed, I thought I was headed to the Nut Farm.

I was making my families life a living nightmare No one could tell me the truth, I was right and everyone else wrong. I imagined thing going on that meant me harm, I saw and heard things that was not there.

My wife took all that she could take. She had my best friend and his wife come over and intervene. I knew I needed help but, was so paranoid; I thought everyone was out to get me. I know now they truly were looking out for me.

I think my dam busted one Saturday, I accused my wife of twenty-eight years of being unfaithful.

My wife got up and got her Bible and left the room. She went to our back bedroom and cried.

I went to the bedroom an hour later and when I arrived, my wife was setting on the bed still crying.

She said unless I got help, she did not know how much she could take

Needless to say, the Lord lead me to a good Doctor and after three years; I am my old self.

Depression is a dark enemy, it will take your life if you let it. I know the depression I’m in is under control but, hearing of my friend’s death has rattled me. I covet your prayers.

If you are healthy, everyday you should thank God. If you battle with depression, talk to someone; get some help.

Lord guard our minds and for those of us who are called to bare this load,send us to the help we need! Amen!!

RL

I’m reading a book right now and some of the things I read, I find hard to swallow.

It’s not that I don’t believe it happened, I just have a different slant on it. That’s what I like about God, He meets us where we are.

I heard a sermon the other day and I must say it stirred my heart. A young man preached it with astonishing conviction, you could tell; he believed what he spoke.

It was about God meeting you where you are and no matter what you have done, His love never changes.

People need to understand, His love for us was settled on the first day of creation. He hates the sin but, loves His creation

So wherever you are and whatever condition you are in, you are loved beyond your wildest dreams

His love goes beyond our understanding, no matter what has happened to you in the past, He loves you.

Our mind says no one could love me, look at all I’ve done but, Jesus goes beyond our beliefs and stretches out His arms and welcomes us in.

Since being in the ministry, I’ve seen all manner of mankind born again and each one was forgiven, it did not matter what they had done.

I’m so glad, I know how wrecked I was and a loving God took me in.

So why keep running, open your eyes and let Jesus love you through the pain, the hurt, confusion, bitterness or whatever

I’ve been born again since I was 14 and not once have I been forsaken!

You may be let down by mortal mankind but, Jesus will never leave.

I read a story long ago, about a prisoner of war in Viet Nam; he was alone and dying far from home. Then one day he remembered a Bible story that his grandmother used to tell him. He bowed down and cried before God, Help!! That’s all it took, suddenly he had a new found reason for living, he had the same living condition, same food and same torture but now he had Jesus

In our lives a lot of times we cry for help, He hears us and sees each tear

Lord, we glorify Your name and pray that people would accept Your love, right where they are.

Amen!!

RL

Pray for America, she is in dire straights . . .

Last time I wrote, I spoke out against the minimum securities going up all around America.

Now I want to open up a can of worms!

Prices on gas is steadily rising, all because of the trouble in the Middle East. I can’t figure it out, we have all the oil we need in Alaska!

I say to heck with politics and drill, then we cam be self sufficient. They say it’s being saved for the future but, we need it now!

Think of all the money being spent needlessly on the minimal security buildings, money that in my opinion is being foolishly spent, we could use that money on the Alaskan pipe line. Send the criminals back to where they come from and save all that money.

As far as The Alaskan Pipe Line, we are making vast jumps in technology in electric hybrids

By the time we run out of oil, technology will have caught up.

I know I’m a gain of sand in a large bowl but, this grain of sand sure wants to be heard!
What do you think? Is there a better way?

Lord, we need some help, our ways seem fruitless, We need your mind on the situation!!! Amen!!!


RL

I’m mad, I want to share my views and hope you comment; good or bad.

If you do not know it, there are minimal security facilities going up across America..

We have been told they are for illegal immigrants

My beef on this issue is the cost per inmate, per year. My biggest grip is who’s going to pay for it and what are we going to do when Pres. Obama set’s them free?

I don’t have the exact figures but, I was told it breaks down to $20,000 an inmate. He gets free dental, free room and board and free medical.

The cheapest thing to do is send them back to wherever they come from and let the authorities there handle them.

I worked all my life and now, I sit in a wheelchair and my youngest daughter goes without health insurance because we can’t afford it. While these non-Americans who are criminals get it free!

What really robs me the wrong way, they should not be here in the first place. Jobs in America are getting scarce and we allow criminals to take them.

When are we gonna wake up?

Let’s do like Australia, before they come to this country, they must have a job first.

Lord help the U. S. A.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Amen!!!!!!!!


RL

Feb. 15th is my birthday, my wife has already given me my present. It is a Nook reading electronic device from Barns and Nobles book distributors.

With Nook, I can enlarge the print size to where I can more easily read it. It’s about the size of a book page and less than an inch thick. I look like someone from Star Trek when I am reading it.

Who’d a thunk it, 30 years ago? Technology is so fascinating, it’s not something to be scared of, but something to be embraced.

If it were not for technology, I would have to struggle with a book and a magnifying glass.

Some Christians shun technological breakthroughs, but I say what a marvelous creature God has made.

I can put the Bible on my new toy and that means a lot to me, to be able to read His word!

Never take His Word for granted, because one day, you might need a device like mine. Amen!


RL

Today was our 31st anniversary and it was great!

I have a question for those who are married, what keeps some people together; while others do not? I believe it’s called a lack of commitment.

You can call it what you may but, bottom line that’s what it is.

My Mom and Dad lasted 25 years. The reason they got divorced, alchohol. My grandparents over 40 years, before my grandpa died.

I have gone back in my high school annual and counted plenty who have been married twice.

I know this is going to sound hard but, the only biblical reason for divorce is marital unfaithfulness.

Today we get a divorce for verbal abuse or irreconcilable differences. The church needs to wake up, divorce in the church is the same as in the secular world.

Pastors tip toe around the issue because they are afraid od hurting someone;s feelings. Who do we want to please, man or God!!

What we need to do is teach our kids by example, commitment.

Our churches need to teach the biblical reason for divorce and accept no other reason. It’s a hard thing but, it’s the right thing.

In our marriage vows it said, for better or worse; my wife is the embodiment of that vow.

Over five years now, my wife has shown remarkable love. Love that goes beyond the natural. Most women would have walked away, that’s commitment.

Life is not always fair but, staying your ground shows what’s inside.

Lord, help us persevere in all areas of our lives. Amen!!

RL

Time is like a mist . . . poof, and it’s gone. We get so caught up in our lives, we miss a lot of the good stuff.

I had a job when our girls were growing, that allowed me to spend time with them.

I can recount numerous occasions. Then in later years, I changed jobs and worked many hours. I never got to spent quality time with them.

Before I knew it, they were graduating. Where did time go?

In our lives on this earth, we are preoccupied and distracted, we forget the important sometimes . . . At least I know I did!

Juggling a ministry, a job and family I know I missed some things.

Now as I sit in this chair, I have all the time I could possibly want but. My girls are all grown up.

We think we have all the time in the world but, we are fooled, our time slips by and Boom! It’s gone.

It’s like I’ve heard a million times over the years, when asking a non-believer to make a decision to walk in Christ's way, Oh I have plenty of time.

Well friend, time is shorter than you think, make the decision now before time is no more!

One night years ago, I went into a pool hall, when they closed, I had a bunch around me that I was telling the gospel.

There was one boy heavy on my mind, I pleaded with him to come to Christ but, his answer, I have plenty of time. Two days later he committed suicide

We never know what tomorrow will bring, we must be prepared and ready.

Lord of time, help us to make the most of (little) time we have. Amen!!

RL

When I was in college, I had to do a paper on Hitler. He was a charismatic man but, not as smart as people think.

The one thing he was, cruel and sadistic. I would have hated to grow up in that time, how can a whole country be tricked by one man?

I look at the disabled men and woman of today and thank God he lost the war. If I had lived in that part of the world, during that time; I would have been killed.

Imagine, he had killed 6 million Jews. Believe it or not, he was 2nd in line, Stalin put to death 30 million.

Today, we call Hitler and Stalin animals but we in America stand by while babies are killed everyday.

We call ourselves civilized but, we use some of the same methods as Hitler.

We tolerate injustices and scream at genocide but, what about the babies, don’t they deserve an advocate. I’m going to take a stand and call all those evolved murderers, that’s what we would have called them in the 40’s.

If you are pregnant, think hard before you choose to abort, you could be caring the next Einstein or Elvis

Lord, we are a sorry state of humanity that needs your help. Draw a line and help us make the decision, whom we will serve. Amen!!

RL

Last July, we all went in together and bought a larger house, the reason, to put 4 disabled people under one roof.

My Mother-in-law, sister-in-law and myself are in wheelchairs, our nephew is autistic.

Since living together, I have thought a lot on being handicapped and what it means. A lot of people who are physically challenged, are perhaps more of an over comer than physically whole people.

Let me explain, there are so many people who never deal with the real issues; they sweep them under the rug. It’s never dealt with, they are emotionally stunted.

While on the other hand, a physically challenged person has to deal in reality every day. Most of them deal with their disabilities everyday and have learned to handle them. On the other hand, so many people in life who are not disabled physically are dysfunctional.

We all have our problems, normal or challenged. We must each learn to overcome whatever it is. The first thing we must admit, is that we in ourselves are helpless and the only way we can overcome, is letting Jesus bear our burdens.

One of the hardest things I had to do, was to let Him have my life. You see, a thing called pride gets in our way or at least in me.

There are times today, I still have to swallow my pride and throw up my hands and say, it’s Yours Lord!

Jesus You know our hearts and You see our needs, help us to rely on you each and everyday. Amen!!


RL

Remember Paul, he had a thorn in his side, I believe it was to keep him humble.

We all have something inside that if we’re not careful, will harm us spiritually.

In my live, I have seen good men and women of God turn from the gospel. I have seen men and women taken in early life and have wondered why!

Babies never knowing life, taken by death. I myself sometimes wonder why me and to all these questions I have an answer.

For those who backslide, only God knows their hearts, not me. My goal is to persevere. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, not on anyone else

As for those who die early, each person has an amount of days he or she must live. Our days on this earth are numbered.

The problem is we look at the situation not thinking of eternity. Our eyes should be expecting Him but, we find ourselves stuck here in the temporal.

The Bible tells us to fix our eyes on the heavens but we are so busy, we forget

A real person of God falls, a child taken, a stroke, these things are a work of decades of sin in this world.

Adam and Eve were meant to be eternal, so were we. We are all dying as soon as we are born, why; SIN!!!

The key is so simple for this life on earth, keep your eyes on HIM!!!

Lord our eyes are wonders, we need Your Holy Sirit to empower us to keep our eyes stayed on You. Amen.


RL

It’s funny, here in Central Ms. It hardly ever snows. We get all excited, even at the mention that it might.

My thoughts this morning are goning to be rough. I hope you can digest them.

The anticipation of snow is kinda the anticipation the early church had about Christ’s return. Over the centuries, we have allowed that anticipation to dwindle. We no longer have that longing in our hearts

We are like the servants who waited on their master to return, they got so tired of waiting, they did what they wanted

It’s been over 2000 years and I believe the church has become as the woeful servants.

Even in my lifetime, I have seen the reduction of the atar call. How can a person in church come to know Christ if he’s not asked or how can a Saint who’s in need of prayer find it

I’m not saying all churches are like this but, Iam saying there’s an awful lot.

We have made the church to appear like the world but, we are to be set apart. I remember once I walked into a store to ask direction, they asked, are you a preacher and I asked; why do you ask. They said there was a difference they could see. Today, that difference seems smaller and smaller

For the carnal man to want to change, he must see the purity of Christ in us or why change!

I challenge you to live as a royal priesthood, a Holy Nation. A dying world out there needs to see Jesus, in all His Holiness and Purity

Lord, bring us to the place that we once lived and for those who’ve never been, light a fire that can only be quenched by you. Amen!!!


RL