What if you only had Five more minutes To walk upon this earth What would fill your schedule What would come to mind What would be their worth Who can say what span of time For each one yet remains Seconds spent are they divine Moments cannot be reclaimed What if you only had Five more minutes What would remain in your heart What would be there in it When your time to depart Would they be spent for Jesus Or squandered selfishly In slavery or freedom How would those moments be What if all believers Lived five minutes at a time Would it change words and behavior Would we follow God’s design Tom Green November 15, 2009

Recently I was preparing a word for the youth and I was reading in Mark 14: 32-40: 32 They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” 33 He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. 34 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 35 He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. 36 “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 37 Then he returned and f

Have you pursued the groaning of your heart? Have you pressed in because of your many burdens? I, the Lord, give unto My people these weights for a reason; I, indeed, give the ache of labour! Plenty there is in the doom of the day... climate disasters, political posturing, necessary pending changes... and a return to a nation under God. Respect is lacking in all stations with people... but I will lift up the humble. So GO to your safe haven, that being ME, in all your circumstances, and keep plain your ask unto Me! ... for I am clarity in the midst of chaos, peace in the storm, and surety in uncertain times. I am the Rock of Salvation, and the Lord of your life. MY providence will keep you

Memorial Day week-end is past. But memories in 1956 as newlyweds surface. My husband explained to me that it was a family tradition to go to the Indy 500. Family and friends always met there also. Since we both worked, if it got rained out on Monday, we just had to forfeit our tickets. My husband would subscribe to the Indianapolis Star for the special month of May race issues. It listed all the drivers and their cars. Underneath the Newspaper name was the scripture that read..."Where the Spirit of the Lord is...there is liberty." Yes, that newspaper was bold. We would pack our cooler with my fried chicken and head for Indianapolis the day of the races. A minute or two before the race

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23 I have heard this scripture many times. I have even heard many sermons that included encouragement of taking up my cross. The other day during my daily Bible reading time, it hit me. I really didn’t have the full knowledge of what it means to take up my cross. I finally examined what this simple phrase means. I believe that Jesus intends this command to be an action on our part. When I looked up the definition of the word “cross” as a verb, it means, path or to pass in a different direction. Our daily path or actions must be rooted in and directed by God’s Word. I have heard my

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine! A song that many of us sang as a child but maybe it should be an adult song. What does it mean to let your light shine? Jesus said in Matthew 5:14, “Ye are the light of the world.” I believe that if we are a light then those are walking in darkness will be drawn to us. The world we live in is becoming a dark and evil place, more every day. The sounds of children crying can be heard on every corner of America. People are hurting. People are dying and many of them have never seen the light. Go out today and let your light shine. Don’t hide it under a bushel and never let Satan blow it out.

The popular band Rend Collective has coined the phrase “I will be undignified” and turned it into a top song in the charts. I simply encourage you to listen to the upbeat Irish jig and try to keep those feet of yours from breaking into your own version of some type of river dance. Such a catchy tune and beat but an even more powerful message behind it. The key phrase behind the song is that “I will praise the Lord with ALL my life” so I simply encourage that. Are you praising the Lord in ALL the areas and with everything you have in you? The bible tells us in: Hebrews 13:15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowled

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 I recently accompanied Kendra and the two kids to the doctor’s office. Corbin had an appointment to see the audiologist and Kenlee and I were in the waiting room. The appointment was supposed to be quick. However, there were some concerns and they had Kendra stay longer to run some additional tests on Corbin. It became lengthy and Kenlee was restless. I took her outside to sit on a bench in front of the building to get some fresh air. Kenlee decided she needed to be the building greeter and proceeded to say “Hi” to everyone that entered the building. It was actually quite humorous to watch. There was

For a few years, I had the privilege of knowing the late great Pete Maravich. As a young boy Pete disciplined himself daily to become the greatest basketball player of his time. Plus, he had a father that was a coach that helped him stay focused and challenged. While other kids were just out playing, he was working on his game. The result of his daily discipline commitment is proficiency on the court that few can even compare. Self-discipline is vital in anything we do, such as, our family, our jobs, school, athletics and so on. You can add to or take away from this definition as follows: the ability to regulate one’s conduct by process, principle and sound judgement to achieve positi

When you utilize My word(s), you actually are forming another possibility than the one before you. I, the Lord, framed and spoke the world into being; so too, are you to build the picture you dearly hope for into existence. We are called messengers and dispensers of good news...”good ‘n tasty it is to the needy aching soul, the goodness of the Lord. Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one that takes refuge in him. It is in Him that fullness of benignity can be had, for His obedience fully extracted the charge of “fallen” from our record! Him without blemish, us in total darkness and alienation from our Creator...Him in the pit of hell, us -now in Christ- with our F

Of all things, I was watching a Disney movie with my children the other day and there was a key part in the movie where Rafiki (The wise monkey) asked Simba if he knew who he really was. It seemed like a very simple question, but it caused the Lion to think on who he really was. Rafiki even went as far as to show him his reflection in the water. After some time, Simba saw a reflection of his father and learned who he really was, he was the son of the king. This is very true in our lives today. We have several opportunities every day to showcase who it is that we really are, but do we live up to that each time. Can others around us tell that we are a child of the Most High King? Galatians 3

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 The above verses clearly reveal the result of not allowing the love of God to control our lives. Please read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a. Here are listed the attributes of God’s unconditional love. If we humble our hearts before him, submitting our wills to the

A gentle answer turns away wrath,But a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,But the mouth of fools spouts folly.Proverbs 15:1-2 Thisyou know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak andslow to anger for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20 Maybe I am the only person who needs to think on the verses above but I frequently need to be reminded to listen and be slow to speak. The world as a whole has lost the ability to listen and be slow to speak. Everyone has an opinion and their opinion is the best or the only one that truly is right. The news calls it passion or tolerance, but the Word

1 Chronicles 16:11 “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” This verse has been burning in my heart. I’m one who is always striving, finding myself exhausted, having to take that pause. The Lord beckons us to come to Him with all of our cares. Mathew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” You want rest? You want to be refreshed? Jesus is calling. In His strength our weakness is covered, in His strength we are trusting, not striving. And in His presence.... there is a refreshing flow. His presence is life and joy. So, if you are weary, your joy is depleted and feeling overwhelmed, there’s an answer. Shut yourself away with Jes

Then I said to you, ‘Do not be in dread or afraid of them. The LORD your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.’ Deuteronomy 1:29-31 As a teacher, I witnessed first hand the influence of a “father” figure in the lives of children. In the public school, many programs were started so that the children would have the influence of men in their lives. Our school district started the “Watch Dog” program. Men of the community or stable dads that have had proper background che

Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4 Someone at school may try to get you to do something you aren’t suppose to or try to get you to break a rule. You should say, “No”. I am not going to disobey. If you get tempted by the devil, you have to tell him to get away. Jesus doesn’t want me and you to do bad things. Jesus is our King. He died on the cross for our sins and loves us. The devil does not love us. He wants to keep us from loving Jesus. Use the Word of God to fight the devil. Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

A truth I’ve come into understanding with, is we empower whatever we come into agreement with. There’s power in agreement, there’s power in unity. (Genesis 11:1.6) 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing, that there be no divisions among you and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction. Words carry substance, they are substantive in nature. James 3, the chapter talks about the power of the tongue, it can be a deadly force and also has the power to determine the direction of your life. It’s like the bit in a horse’s mouth and the rudder on a ship and determines a direction. It has the powe

For you have been bought with s price: therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:20 You were bought with a price, do not becomes slaves of men. 1 Corinthians 7:23 BEFORE SALVATION: You were dead in your trespasses and sins. Ephesians 2:1 We were formerly far off from God. Ephesians 2:13 I was blind. Luke 4:18 By nature children of wrath. Ephesians 2:3 We were strangers and aliens to God. Ephesians 2:19 SALVATION BRINGS: Made us alive together with Christ. Ephesians 2:1 But now we are brought near God by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13 God opened my blinded eyes. Luke 4:18, Isaiah 42:7 …We have been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath to come. Roma

But the word of the Lord endureth forever. 1 Peter 1:25 God’s Word is… Alive Powerful Sharper than a two-edged sword Cuts between soul and spirit Exposes our thoughts and desires These things can sound scary because God’s Word is meant for spiritual warfare. We are not playing a game, we are in a fight and battle. God’s Word is our weapon. Not a weapon to sit back and defend ourselves but a weapon to stand and fight, to move forward offensively. Submitting to God’s Word brings life and power. God’s Word brings power to… Redeem Heal Rebuke or correct Overcome all evil C.H. Spurgeon said, “To be a Christian is to be a warrior. The good soldier of Jesus Christ must not expect to find ease

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:11,12,17 As you know, the sword is not a piece of armor that we put on and wear. It is a weapon. Like all weapons, the danger comes when you pick it up to actively use it. A knife or gun laying on a shelf can’t harm anyone by itself. It takes someone to pick it up for it to be useful to them. My husband likes to hun