"Strong, Radiant & Useful"

Written by R. E. Bailes

Feeling The Heat?


There are days, weeks or months in our lives when we especially feel the pain of the enemy's attack. During these times we continue on with what we know we ought to do in our life and with what is right although it isn't easy. These attacks can be in the form of small temptations and thoughts in an attempt by the enemy to cause us to turn our eyes away from our focus for just a moment to refocus on something different that could actually bring us relief from our struggle to do what is right.

I'm not saying that we live every day like this or we wouldn't ever be used for our purpose of existence on the earth.

The relief I speak of would offer us a break from the discipline that comes with living a life in communion with God. This discipline is our choice to take the path that leads to truth and the life that flows into our being instead of out of our being. Have you ever seen a coworker or friend the day after going out on the town and so called "living it up"? Did they look revived and full of life? They fell for the temporary deception of the enemy that seeks to destroy and take away life; not give it.

The stress that a believer feels is real and stems from satan as the temptations come and the remarks are made by those who have chosen satan's path to find relief. The chiding and sarcasm can cut deep sometimes or the false accusations and jealousy of those who wanted to live right, but didn't have the strength to do it. The thing is that God uses this stress to make us strong and beautiful and useful for His purpose and benefit. Don't turn back and go for what looks like relief!
1Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Have you ever seen a clay pot just after it was shaped and removed from the wheel? It is dull and kind of ugly and it has to dry out in the sun for a while. The next thing that happens is to add the coloring and the glaze which doesn't look very good either. When the glaze is applied over the entire pot, it appears that the vessel that took so long to make has just been ruined for sure! It remains this way until it is put into the oven and exposed to the fire. When it comes out of the fire, what appeared to be dull and ugly, now is a beautiful piece of art. It is shiny and the colors radiate with excitement and life! Some pieces even become very highly valued and collectible. The pot goes into the fire essentially useless as a weak and easy to break clay mold. It appears dull and coated with a milky coating that gives it an appearance that someone had made some kind of mistake while preparing the vessel for the furnace. Until this point there isn't much attention given to the vessel or the potter as far as that goes! I don't think many people would show up to see a museum full of pots and vases made by a potter that had never been put into the fire. Wouldn't you agree?

Only the fire can truly make the difference! The fire alone strengthens the vessel, making it able to withstand the bumps and bangs it might receive in the course of performing the purpose for which it was created.

Then there is the amazing transformation which takes place on the surface that is evident once the pot has had time to cool down. The heat turns the messy looking glaze into a shiny protective shield which will keep the pot resistant to the elements and the stains that would tarnish or fade it's radiant beauty. While going through the heating process there is a reaction that transforms the dull resins and colors into a glorious array of beauty which satisfies the eye of the potter!

You see, it is satan that tries to fool us into believing that his temptations will bring us relief and happiness; all the while drawing us away from the fire. The firing of a pot has to take place in a certain order and timing so the pot will not crack. If it cools down too fast or doesn't get hot enough it will crack and fall apart. When this happens the potter must start all over with this project until the vessel is finished and ready to be revealed to the world. The properly fired vessel is now capable of fulfilling the purpose for which the potter shaped it.

The potter shapes the clay for many purposes!
The same clay that makes vases to hold flowers is used to make the dish for baking grandma's pies or to make the bowl for feeding the hungry in Asia. Every vessel must be shaped by the hand of the potter as the wheel turns around and around. The potter's eye must remain focused on every turn of the wheel while the clay takes shape and carefully removed from the wheel to start the next step.

As the resins are added to bring out the desired colors, it is the potter who knows how the resins will react to the fire and how hot the fire needs to be to cause the proper reaction to take place in the resins that are used. When the resins are heated up, there are different reactions, depending on the type of resin used in making the colors and designs on the vessel. When the potter chooses the resins to use, there is a vision in mind of the final product, but the heat will determine exactly how it comes out!

I only know this because I'm one of those annoying people who asked allot of questions at an art viewing where there was allot of pottery on display. I have never actually done this type of work myself and don't think I would have the patience to do it either; though I love to look at them and greatly appreciate the finished product.

I have learned that there are many things that I don't understand in life but I know where to find direction when I need it! One place I look for this is in the Proverbs!

Proverb 3:5,6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

God has a vision in mind for each of you as well!
He has been shaping you and adding the resins that may not look so great right now or maybe He's been adding the glaze that looks all hazed and dull, but that is what shines and protects your life when the fire is turned up! You will become the useful vessel God meant for you to become as you stay in the path of your Potter.

Maybe you have been prepared and are already in the fire right now!
The heat has been turned up and satan is tempting you to doubt the hands of the Potter every time you turn around! That is why the Bible tells us to rejoice when we are experiencing tough times and difficulties in our walk with God. Rejoicing that God is getting us ready for the main purpose we have been intended to perform here!

God explains it in His Word, but most of us haven't heard the message enough to understand! It is in the fire that we are getting our strength; our protection and our radiant colors that make us shine and our ability to be used effectively for our unique purpose in a world of unfinished vessels! You have a unique purpose! You are very special in the hands of your Creator!

Satan wants us to turn back and enjoy the pleasures of the flesh; to cool down and crack becoming a useless vessel in the hands of the Potter! Don't be fooled!
Instead, give thanks to God; realizing that it is the fire in your life that makes you into what He wants you to be and He knows when you have reached the point of strength, protection and beauty that you need to be Useful in His hands!

Trust your life in His hands and you'll be glad you did!

1Peter 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

"Who's Your Builder?"

Written by R. E. Bailes

A Builder You Can Trust


Today I want to take you to a psalm of David. This psalm is a psalm of "ma‛ălâh" ; meaning in the Hebrew a psalm that takes us to a higher place in our lives. In Psalm 127, the KJV translation says "of degrees" but "ma alah" is the Hebrew, which I believe we will be able to relate to better as we learn from this passage today. Let's read,

Psalm 127:1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

I had been discussing with a friend the matter of remaining consistent in our parenting and how it is easy to give in when the children keep challenging our decisions and rules. The problem is that when we give in just once, they feel that they were able to shift our boundary and that makes them feel that they might be able to do it again and again. That is when their challenges start coming more often and with more enthusiasm! Have you already been experiencing this? Don't fret! There is a way to get through this and come out being the kind of parent that the Lord meant you to be! But first, let's look at the Lord's part in this equation!

What I'd like for us to learn today is what the Word says about the family that allows satan to move into their homes. I have heard people say so many times that their children are driving them crazy or taking over their home. The fact is that parents have allowed it to happen and I include myself in that group. Yes, I have done this before without even knowing I was doing it.

Once we have laid down a boundary we must maintain that boundary and not compromise on the decisions we have made based on our principles and moral beliefs. Let's look into the verse that we have just read and I want to look at the literal translation because it opened my eyes as I'm sure it will yours.

"Except the lord build the house" When I looked at the Hebrew I found that this translates to mean "Unless the Lord obtains the children of a family". How would the Lord obtain the children of a family? This means that the Lord would gain possession of the children as in a family adding a new member to their home. Let's keep going!

"they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." This is translated literally to mean "they toil in the ruin of the children: whether or not the Lord guards the city or place of encampment, the guard is on the lookout for the evil and destruction." Let's look at the next verse,

Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

As I looked at the verse in the literal translation this is what I read, "It is evil to rise up early, to delay going to bed, to consume the grief: for this reason he gives those who He loves sleep."

I used to wonder why we had to sleep so much every day and now I know that it is to restore our strength to face the evil that is in the world. Is there any way to aviod the evil in our homes though? According to this passage there is and it isn't so hard to apply to our lives. It is simply a matter of turning our children to the Lord instead of things that will draw them further into evil and destruction.

We have to watch what they are signing into on the internet, what they are watching on tv, who they are making as heroes and idols, who they are hanging out with and who is teaching them in school, to name a few.

If you are feeling weary in well doing and wonder if it's worth it sometimes, let's read this last passage,

Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

"Children are an heritage of the Lord" in the Hebrew literally means "Children are occupied of the Lord:" and they are given to us as a reward or a benefit. When we think about something being occupied we usually think of it as being taken. Children are taken by the Lord and we must let them know while they are young just how important they are to God.

Going back to the beginning of Psalms 127, we must remember as parents, if the Lord does not "bânâh bayith" , that we "‛âmal shâv'". The literal Hebrew translation is "if the Lord does not obtain children in the family or home, that they toil or work evil and destruction that then obtains the children." As I thought about this a little further, I thought about how the Hebrew dictionary had used the word "obtain children" and I realized that in order to obtain something, you are actually taking hold of it.

So, how would evil and destruction take hold of our children if we keep them within the safety of those boundries we have laid down for them? Wouldn't we be safe to say that we too need to remain in the boundaries of the lord in order for Him to guard our families in the night when we all are sleeping. You could also apply this to when we are not with our children and they are out there on their own where we cannot protect them.

Turn to the Lord and the Lord will guard your camp as your watchman which is in the Hebrew "shâmar", meaning : properly to hedge about (as with thorns), that is, guard; generally to protect, attend to, etc.: - beware, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep (-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch (-man).

Turn from the Lord and His guard is in "shâv' " which in the Strong's Hebrew & Greek Dictonary means : the sense of desolating; evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjectively), uselessness (as deceptive, objectively; also adverbially in vain): - false (-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity.

Is the Lord guarding your family or are they allowed to pursue destructive interest of their own as the guard of the city watches over and protects them in vain. Are you getting the message that David intended for us here; to lift us higher in our knowledge and understanding concerning our families and boundaries?

This Psalm of David was called "shiyr ma‛ălâh" pronounced sheer mah-al-aw'; meaning "A Song of a Journey that is Progressing Higher!"

I felt that this was truly an enlightening passage and it helped me with my understanding as a parent when it comes my home.

I realized how the Lord wants for us to live with our families under His protection so that we can enjoy His heritance and benefits as Christian Parents today!

There is a great book called "Boundaries" that is written by Christian authors Dr. Henry Cloud and John Townsend. It is a great book for additional guidance in undersanding the difference that boundaries can make in every relationship. When to say "Yes" and when to say "No".

You can go directly to their website through the following website domain link: http://www.cloudtownsendstore.com/boundariesbook1.html

Prayer Requests - Please submit requests to be added to the Prayer for Parent link by emailing me directly.

Send all emails to: parentsdailypost@yahoo.com

"Thank You!"
I just want to take this opportunity to say "Thank You!" to those who have given in financial support of this ministry. Every gift, great or small, is a blessing in making it possible to continue in this ministry. Your financial gifts help make it possible to invest more time towards taking this ministry forward in alignment with God's purpose. I have been receiving emails regularly, giving testimony of how this ministry through the Word has encouraged and uplifted people going through various types of crisis in their lives. Let's all just "Praise the Lord"!

"Do Children Get Credit?"

Give the children credit!

I want to share an article with you from CNN Money that gives us wisdom and insight as parents concerning credit. Remember that it is God's will that we trust in Him and pray for the things we need to keep our testimony pure and to teach our children how to manage their money and keep a good credit record record as well.

Article by CNN Money on 8/28/09

To get the best deal on a loan, you need some new strategies to bump up your score - and keep it there.

Borrowing money today requires impressing an increasingly hard-to-please crowd. With creditors of all kinds more cautious than ever, you need an A+ application to land the best terms -- and that means an A+ credit score, the number lenders use to judge your risk of default.

The most commonly used credit scoring system, called FICO, rates people from a very risky 300 to a pristine 850. And right now we're in the middle of a credit score crunch: "You need a 750 or better today to have the same treatment you got with a 700 two years ago," says John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education at Credit.com.
John D'Onofrio, CEO of Autoloandaily.com, seconds that: "Two years ago a 680 was enough to get a great car loan rate. Today it's often the minimum to qualify at all."
Think you're still in the clear? Don't be so sure. Lenders have been making changes that could cause your score to slip from excellent to average. Improve and protect your number with these strategies.

Learn Your Score. You have three FICO scores, based on your credit reports at the three credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. The numbers tend to be in the same ballpark, so pony up $16 to get one representative score at myfico.com. You can get an estimate free at Creditkarma.com. But the FICO score gives you a better sense of what lenders see.

Scout for Mistakes. Your scores are only as good as the information they're based on. And a third of people who've pulled their reports have found errors, according to a Zogby poll. That's good reason to read your report.
When you buy your FICO score, you'll get a copy of the report it was based on. Get gratis histories from the other bureaus via annualcreditreport.com (you're entitled to one free from each bureau every 12 months).

Spot an error? Request a correction, following the instructions on the bureau's website. Let's say the size of a credit line was misstated or an account was mistakenly marked delinquent. Getting the error fixed could raise your score as much as 200 points, says Ulzheimer, who has also worked for Equifax and FICO.
Never, Ever Be Late. As you'll see in the pie chart on the right, the biggest chunk of your credit score comes from your payment history. Just one late payment can shave 100 points off a 750-plus credit score, says Ulzheimer. Lenders can't tattle on you to the bureaus until you're 30 days past due, adds credit expert Gerri Detweiler. But don't risk it. For all your bills, enter recurring due-date reminders on your computer calendar.

Missed a payment? Get back on track within the next 30 days, and you should "get back the lion's share" of points lost, Ulzheimer says. More than 90 days late? The damage can stick for years. If it was a one-off lapse, call your issuer and plea for a good-will adjustment to your credit report. (It's a long shot.)
Remember the Magic 20%. The second-biggest factor in your score is how much you owe vs. how much credit has been extended to you. The part of this that's easiest to finesse is your credit card utilization rate, or your total card balances compared with your total credit limits, as well as each card's balance relative to its limit.
Example: If you've charged $5,000 on cards and have $50,000 in credit, your rate is 10%. For the best score today, 10% is ideal, but you can probably creep up to 20% and keep a high rating.

Unfortunately, with banks lowering credit limits and canceling unused cards, it's harder to maintain such a low percentage. In the previous example, if your available credit is cut to $20,000, your rate shoots to 25%. That could sink your score by as much as 50 points, says Ulzheimer. The lesson: Know your limits, watch for changes, and stay under 20% on each card and in total (0% if you'll be applying for a loan soon).

Already above 20%? Paying down debt is the obvious way to lower your utilization rate, but another strategy is to apply for an additional credit card to increase your overall credit limit. That may cause you to lose a few points in the short term -- so don't do it if you're about to apply for a mortgage -- but it should pay off in the long run.

Keep Oldest Cards in Play. As noted, credit issuers these days are eagerly canceling cards that are not in use. Besides reducing your limit and increasing your utilization ratio, having an account closed can hurt you in another way, especially if it's among your older ones.

See, 15% of your score rides on the length of your credit history. The longer you ably manage revolving debt, the better you look. So don't cancel your oldest cards. And don't let them get canceled on you: Move a recurring charge to each so they stay active.

Already ditched or been ditched? A new card (see previous) can help with your utilization rate, but there's little you can do to help the "history" component of your score, except to keep other old accounts in use.

Accept Fate on the Rest. There are other factors involved in your score, but they're not so easy to manipulate. For example, 10% is based on how well you manage a mix of credit types, such as mortgages, car loans, and credit cards. But you don't want to go out and, say, finance a car just for a score boost; besides, you can easily get 750-plus with just a few well-tended credit cards.

Along the same lines, 10% is based on "new credit," but the effects of a new application can be positive or negative, depending on your history.
In other words, if you want to be among the crème de la credit crème, accept what you can't change, and focus on what you can.
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I'd like to encourage you to teach your children about credit and it's importance but to do it on their level. I have used the idea of using a point system and make a game out of it for my daughter. She gets points for taking care of her responsibilities and then we look at how she's doing every week. I then relate that to the loan and credit system that we have as adults. She understands the basics but as with any child, a reminder every once in a while helps it to sink in.

If you credit rating is low due to past situations, do worry about the things you can't change. Push forward and do what you can in the future. We all know that people fall on hard times and they are effected by this. We also know that having a low credit rating effects the things that you can purchase. Don't feel discouraged though, as the Lord wants us to keep our eyes on Him and He will take care of you and reveal to you the things that you should do and His will for your life. Keep teaching your children what is right and learn from your mistakes. Whatever you do, pass it on so that your children will not have to learn by experience as you have!

God Bless You and Have A Great Day!

You Never Know

Who's Your Daddy?

I received this story through an email and was encouraged to take time to share the truth with the children in your life. You never know what influence you may be having on them. -R. E. Bailes-

A seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg, TN.. One morning, they were eating breakfast at a little restaurant, hoping to enjoy a quiet, family meal. While they were waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to table, visiting with the guests.


The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife, 'I hope he doesn't come over here.' But sure enough, the man did come over to their table.

'Where are you folks from?' he asked in a friendly voice.

'Oklahoma ,' they answered.

'Great to have you here in Tennessee,' the stranger said.


'What do you do for a living?'

'I teach at a seminary,' he replied.

'Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I've got a really great story for you.' And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with the couple.

The professor groaned and thought to himself, 'Great .. Just what I need ...another preacher story!'

The man started, 'See that mountain over there? (pointing out the restaurant window). Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he was always asked the same question, 'Hey boy, Who's your daddy?' Whether he was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same question, 'Who's your daddy?'

He would hide at recess and lunchtime from other students. He would avoid going into stores because that question hurt him so bad. 'When he was about 12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always go in late and slip out early to avoid hearing the question, 'Who's your daddy?'


But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast that he got caught and had to walk out with the crowd. Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher,
not knowing anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, 'Son, who's your daddy?'

The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the church looking at him Now everyone would finally know the answer to the question, ' Who's your daddy?'

'This new preacher, though, sensed the situation around him and using discernment that only the Holy Spiritcould give, said the following to that scared little boy.. 'Wait a minute! I know who you are! I see the family resemblance now, You are a child of God.'

With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said, 'Boy, you've got a great inheritance. Go and claim it.'

'With that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out the door a changed person. He was never the same again. Whenever anybody asked him, 'Who's your Daddy?' he'd just tell them , 'I'm a Child of God.''

The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said, 'Isn't that a great story?'

The professor responded that it really was a great story!

As the man turned to leave, he said, 'You know, if that new preacher hadn't told me that I was one of God's children, I probably never would have amounted to anything!' And he walked away.

The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress over and asked her, 'Do you know who that man was -- the one who just left that was sitting at our table?'

The waitress grinned and said, 'Of course. Everybody here knows him. That's Ben Hooper He's governor of Tennessee !'

Someone in your life today needs a reminder that they're one of God's children!

'The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of Godstands forever.' ~~Isaiah

YOU'RE ONE OF GOD'S CHILDREN!!!
HAVE A GREAT DAY!

"What Makes a Memory?"

Written by R. E. Bailes

What Makes A Memory

When I think about memories and how they are made, I believe that we all have someone in mind that made the most impact on our life and that person is the one whom we have chosen for a lifetime friend. It may be a father, mother, uncle, aunt, teacher or a childhood friend who stuck beside you through thick and thin.

There's something very special about that person that created those memories not only for yourself but, as you may have found, for most everyone they had known in their life. Usually this person was not one to fit the pattern of society or to even try to follow the the examples of their peers. These very special memory makers were more like pioneers in their own time. They cut the paths through their forests; carving out a new level of expectation for others but even more so for themselves!

They were not afraid to stand and say what they were thinking. They believed in what they did and did it with all of their might! They sacrificed the luxuries of higher rank, higher pay and secluded vacations for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the people with whom they worked, played and worshipped. They would rather organize a function and spend their weekends setting up and taking down equipment, all for the good of those people. The events all ended and the people all went home but the meaningful memories would last a lifetime!

Just how important are these memories and what good is it to remember the past?

I have an uncle who was one of those people! His life had such an impact on the lives of many young people over the years and he had, as a coach, challenged all youth to do a little better at everything that they did in their lives! His challenges had stayed with me over the years and his example of stretching himself to go the extra mile, work the extra hours or take on the extra stress to make things happen for those who enjoyed his community activities and events in the small town of Dunbar, West Virginia. The rest of the world may have not had any interest in what was going on in this small town nestled up in those mountains, but the people who lived there knew him and their lives were definitely touched by his life as coach, recreation director and his role in the town's annual festivities. He built new facilities and made a real difference in the lives of the youth for about thirty years.

One of those young men that he had impressed to live a life of value and excellence was a guy named Ricky. Ricky had been challenged to go the extra mile, work the extra hours and take the extra stress of life upon himself as he played the position of quarterback for the Dunbar Bulldogs and joining the wrestling team in his last year of high school, he wrestled his way to third place in the entire USA and went on to gain a scholarship at Marshall University his freshman and sophmore years. Ricky had done more in his first twenty years than some people do their entire lives!

Ricky was an awesome young man and I knew him like my own brother. Little did I know the last time I saw him just how much his life would impact the lives of thousands of lives in this community! Everyone loved him and he was one of the most caring and giving people that I have ever met. That is what makes it so hard to understand the events that followed his sophmore year at Marshall.

One night while Ricky was riding the back roads to his house in a blinding fog, he ran off of the edge of the road and lost control of his motorcycle. As his wheel slid on the wet muddy surface he was thrown off of his bike and rolling across the ground, he struck a rock that severed his spine at the base of his helmet and instantly took his life. I couldn't believe that this had really happened until I saw him myself. Even more unbelieveable than his death was the actual impact of his life. I remember my uncle telling me that he had no idea just how much Ricky had done for the people he had known. You see, Ricky was my uncle's middle son!

I had always been proud to have been named after an uncle who had made such a difference in the lives of all he knew! Yes, his name is Robert E. Bailes and everyone knew him as Bob Bailes. The day that my cousin Ricky was buried my Uncle Bob was the proudest one there and amazed at the stories that each person brought about his son and the positive impact he had on their lives. There were so many people at that funeral that I remember looking from on top of the mountain where he was buried down to the building where the funeral was held and seeing cars bumper to bumper for several miles all the way up to where we were standing by the grave! As I looked at the row of cars solid winding their way down the mountain and through the neighborhood to the building, I knew Ricky Bailes had left us all with a memory of someone who have given his all for others!

There was another who did this as well and who also told us to remember him for the things that he had done. His life had been given for the good of all who ever lived! His blood would be shed for a new contract that would give us life anew and forgiveness. His love was unconditional!

He too went the extra miles, spent the extra hours, taking on the extra stress of life on himself and giving up the luxuries of this life so that all who came to know Him would receive life everlasting! Yes, there are those who leave us with memories that will impact us forever and Jesus was one who did just that! Jesus asks us to remember this shortly before his death at the Lord's supper.

ICorinthians 11:24-26 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

Not only do those wonderful people leave us so many great memories, but they also leave us with a challenge! They leave us with a challenge to live out the values that we have learned from their lives! They challenge us to live life fuller and with more meaningful and with purpose! We cannot neglect the challenge as their life has already proven it's power and meaning even after their life has ended.

Jesus gave us this challenge as well!

1Corinthians 11:27-29 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

Worthy is the Lord and those who receive His forgiveness and who forgive others of their offences. I love this passage in Revelations where it is prophecied that all of the angels will say this.

Revelation 5:12,13 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Make memories today and remember the memory of Jesus, who gave His blood so that we may have life and have it more abundantly!

John 10:10,11 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

"What Would you Do?"

Written by R. E. Bailes

What If Today Was Your Last?

What would you do different? How would you treat the people you have known all of your life? Would you give them a hug? Would you tell them something you have always thought but haven't ever said? Something that would make them feel fulfillment and satisfied within.

How would you treat your children and grandchildren? What would you have to do to leave things in order for your family? Would you write a letter to your children? Would it be just one letter to all of them or one for each child? Would you get that big bunch of flowers for your special someone? Would you cook a big meal with steaks and all the works so you could all sit around the table one last time and laugh, talk about their lives and tell everyone what you really feel deep in your heart about them? Would you want to send your pastor a letter of appreciation? Would you want to talk to someone you have worked with for years and make sure they knew that God loved them and had paid the price that they may have life too? Would you ask someone for forgiveness of some wrong you had done to them? Would you forgive the ones who had mistreated you and never made things right? Why not? It wouldn't matter if tomorrow wasn't going to come, would it? What would it hurt to forgive? What would you gain by forgiving them?

You would gain a peace of mind, heart and soul in the last 24 hours of your life if you forgave them. You would also have the peace of mind in knowing that they would not feel that your hurt had gone with you to the grave. Your family would know that you loved them. You friends at work will know that you cared enough to tell them about the gift of God. Your spiritual leader or mentor would have a reminder for life that they had made a difference in your life. What if you had done these things already?

Just think about it for a minute! You wouldn't have to spend your last 24 hours doing all these things if you knew you were going to pass from this life into eternity!

Matthew 6:33-34 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for tomorrow: for tomorrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

In the past week I stopped at an accident to help out. It had happened in the middle of a highway that had about four lanes going in each direction. The car was slammed into the guard rail in the middle and the side of the car on the driver's side was crushed in really bad. There was no way out of this car for the man and his daughter who was about the same age as my own daughter. As I assisted in keeping them stable and translating some in Spanish I kept looking at the man's face and wondering how he must feel. I knew he was scared because he couldn't move everything and he was trapped. I knew he hadn't been prepared for this moment in his life and had no way of knowing this would happen; but he held a few papers in his hand and a New Testament. I couldn't speak enough Spanish to ask him, but I felt that it was the most important thing to him at that moment! It was a moment when his life teetered on life and death. His mind was on the things that mean the most in this world as he continued to stare at his Bible in his hands.

This man's life was changed but I also had changed in a split second as I began to think about how it could have just as easily been me in that car and I might not have had a second chance to do what's most important. The chance that we all need ,to do the things that count!

What is keeping us from doing the these things before we get to the end of our lives? Why must we wait until then? Are we too proud to look past the hurt that we have been through and get on with getting it behind us? I know that I thought about this and I thought, "If I was going to die, it wouldn't matter what anyone thought about me! It wouldn't matter if people thought I was strange for calling them up and telling them things that I had wanted to say to them! Maybe I would be able to leave them feeling better about themselves and our relationship!".

By following the wisdom of the Word, I also would be giving my children an example to love and forgive others!

Luke 6:35-37 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:


Then I thought about this a while longer and I realized that it wouldn't matter if I went ahead and did all of those things right now! It really would make a difference to do the things that I just listed and more, but I don't need to wait until I am coming to the end of this life!

I could do it now and live with the thought of knowing that I had done my part in the lives of those I loved and cared for during my life; not after my life was over. Our thoughts really do count while we are alive.

Psalm 139:2-4 You know my down sitting and my uprising, you understand my thought afar off. 3 You compass my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, you know it altogether.


Please take just a few minutes right now and throughout this day. Give this serious thought because we really don't know when this life on planet Earth as we know it will end!

Be ready!
Don't wait! Just ask yourself, "If I had one day to live, what would I do?".
Make a list and start with the first thing!

Your life will never be better as you begin to live in the blessing of God's love and forgiveness! You don't have to wait until you die to enjoy the blessings of Life!

This may be "the last 24 hours" you have but it is also "the first day of the rest of your life!" I care for you today and pray that your life will be blessed by the message that God has laid on my heart!

It has blessed me and my life has just begun today!

Philipians 3:14-15 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

"Foolishness or Faith"

Written by R. E. Bailes

Who Challenges the Storms?

The storms of life are learning experiences but we are not meant to learn them alone. Many times as a young man I would tell guys that I wasn't afraid when we had a bad thunder storm. I wanted to appear brave and act as though it was nothing so they would see me as being tough and fearless. The truth was that I actually hated lightening when it got close and I knew it was very powerful. Interestingly enough though, my friends believed me! They would try to show no fear or concern as well when there was a big storm! We had allot of them in west Tennessee and it seemed we were in a tornado tunnel or something in the fall of the year.

As brave as I may have appeared to my friends, it would have been foolish to go out into the storm when huge trees were bouncing around like a field of wheat when the wind blows.

In the news today, I read about a father, mother and a seven year old girl who were washed out to sea by a huge wave that crashed into the rocks while they were watching the waves created by Hurricane Bill this weekend in Maine. The following is an except from the Associated Press News release.

EDGARTOWN, Mass. – A large wave fueled by Hurricane Bill swept spectators out to sea at a Maine park Sunday as the storm-churned surf attracted onlookers and daredevils along the Eastern Seaboard.

A man, a woman and a 7-year-old girl were pulled from the sea near Acadia National Park, Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Shane Coxon said, and rescue crews were searching for others believed to be lost in the waves.

This is such a shame and yet we do exactly the same thing in our lives every time we think that we are strong enough to stand up to Satan or his challenges by ourselves. The Lord wants us to put on the armor of God but the armor is empowered to protect us by the Holy Spirit who works in our lives as we seek His will.

Paul knew what it was like to weather a storm or two and he had learned that he was safe whenever Jesus was with him no matter how rough the waves were that beat against the boat.

Mark 4:37-40 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, do you not care that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?

Faith is the key word in this passage!

Where do you put your faith when you find a storm coming on? If you feel the pressure and you are telling everyone how hard it is for you to make it on your own; please realize that it isn't up to you to do this alone! Jesus says in the thirteenth chapter of Hebrews that he will never leave you, nor forsake you!

Hebrew 13:5-6 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Remember these words written by Paul and be strengthened in knowing that Jesus will always take control of the storms, but sometimes Jesus waits until we acknowledge our need for His power in our lives.

Mark 4:38 ....and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still.

Jesus is waiting for You today! He longs to take control of the things that cause us fear and danger if we will just ask!

John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

"How To Find Integrity"

Written by R. E. Bailes

When Do We Exhibit Integrity?

Proverbs 20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

Isn't that the truth? Who can find a man that has the heart of God? Do you know anyone like this? I've heard it said often that we just can't find anyone that we can trust anymore. Even the church members will take advantage of you if you get into a desperate situation.

As I thought back on the times when I have met people who were in a situation where they couldn't get themselves out, I remembered seeing a report where the high school children at a local school had walked past someone that had been attacked by another student with some kind of weapon. It said that it was astounding how many students were caught on camera just glancing at this student laying on the ground and walking right on by.

Parents, what are we teaching our children? Are we telling them to do right, love one another, go to church and then driving or walking right past people who are in desperate situations? Do we really believe that they are going to be what we tell them to be if we are not following the same principles.

Speaking of principles, the Principle in my junior high school was one of the toughest people I had ever met and yet he would laugh and carry on with you after school! He had a position in the school that required that he hold everyone accountable for their actions and uphold the rules and consequences of the students behavior, good or bad. His title was Principal and that is exactly what we were learning from him; how principles in life would have an effect on our lives whether we liked it or not. We cannot change principles because they are the foundation of our universe and this planet that we live on. These principles were laid down by our Creator from the very beginning when Adam and Eve were given the Garden of Eden. The decisions that they made and that each and everyone of us makes are followed with results.

In almost all cases we see the results of our decisions more clearly displayed in the lives of our children. If you are not sure how you or your spouse are doing, just take a long look at your children and realize that they have been watching every move you make ever since they were born. If you don't like what you see them doing, it is never to late to make changes in your life and believe me, they will start asking questions! That is another sign that they are patterning themselves after you. There are many places in the Word where Jesus speaks to the parents about how they can bless their children and curse their children. I will look at one of those with you as we find out when we actually exhibit "integrity".

There are many cases in the Word that talk about understanding the heart of a person but what about their integrity? When do we see this displayed in a persons life? I first thought when I began to study this a couple of years ago, that integrity was the way that a person felt about themselves and their honesty with others. I thought that it meant that they would keep their word if they had integrity. As I continued to look at the use of integrity in the Word of God, I began to realize that it must be allot deeper than our actions in public or more than how we speak to others or what we say.

It actually began to look more like a private matter to me. I found that integrity was something that was found in the spirit, soul and heart of a person. It is found in the core of our being and actually exhibits itself not in front of other people but when no one else is around.

Who we are when no one else is there is when we find out whether or not we walk in integrity. So it won't be hard for you to figure out but it might be difficult for others to know for sure. People can have wrong thoughts in private and speak in such a nice, educated, polite way to others so that everyone thinks very highly of them. That's why we learn in Psalm 118:8 that it is better to put our trust in God than to put out confidence in man.

The Hebrew word for integrity is "tôm" and is pronounced tome. The definition includes the following:

completeness; figuratively prosperity; usually (morally) innocence: - full, integrity, perfect (-ion), simplicity, upright (-ly, -ness), at a venture.

Completeness in the Bible usually refers to the growth and understanding of the believer in Christ. Prosperity is achieving and receiving the blessings of God's will in your life. Innocence is a clear conscience undefiled by secret sins and wrong motives. Our children can maintain their innocence if we keep them from the ones who would defile their minds and bodies. Simplicity is living the life God chose for you without divulging in the things that the world believes that it must experience in order to find happiness. I was told once that I lived a simple life when I lived out in the country as a youth. The person who said this said it in a way that it sounded like it was a bad thing to live a simple life. It was funny how much I liked it though! So they saw it one way and I saw it another. There's allot to say about living a simpler life and being in the will of God.

America has become known as the prosperous nation of the world where everyone can go and achieve their dreams. The people in other countries have envied us and wished that they could leave their simple lives to come and indulge in the luxuries and many toys that are found on the shelves and in the clubs of America.

Do they really know what they are giving up when they leave the simpler life that their ancestors have lived and enjoyed to come to America where the desires are never fulfilled and there is always a bigger and better toy to buy. I have seen most faces in my community frowning while driving down the road in Mercedes and Cadillacs. I have seen children pitching fits and stomping their feet at Adventure Landing because they couldn't ride the go-carts one more time. I have seen the mothers with grocery carts so full they were running over and standing at the checkout with a total look of disgust on their faces.

If all of these things bring us joy, then where was that joy when they were all alone and thought no one was looking? Where is the integrity of our nation, our people, our families and ourselves?

Psalm 78:70-72
70. He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
71. From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
72. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.


David had found his integrity while alone in the fields taking care of his sheep. Yes, a simple life but a life that God had chosen. A place where David could here the wind and the birds. A place where he would come to understand he foundation for caring and protecting. Yes, it was a simple life for almost forty years as God was preparing David for a life of leadership and when that day would come, the integrity of David would go with him into the battle with Goliath and into the kings palace and on into the role of King! It is in the simplicity of life that our children must learn and find their integrity, their innocence, their prosperity! We parents must lead them and go there with them if we also will desire to experience integrity in reality.

When Goliath challenged the armies, David remembered fighting off that bear when his sheep were attacked and pulling the sheep from the teeth of the bears mouth. He struck the bear in the head with something and won the battle. David said that he had done this and Goliath was no different. David had fought off this bear when no one else was around! He could have turned and ran and let the bear eat the sheep but he knew what his purpose was and he stuck with it. That's integrity and now the integrity of David is carried over into his public life when he sees the giant Goliath. We all know how that story turns out and we probably have wondered how a small Shepard was able to do what the solders wouldn't do.

David had integrity. I challenge us all to look at our lives in private; live simply in the will of God; teach our children the importance of integrity and let it carry over into our lives publicly starting now.

Proverbs 20:7 The just man walks in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

Psalm 26:1 A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.
Psalm 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

"When Times get Rough"

Be Strong in Christ

Daniel 1:3-8

3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, . . . 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. . . . 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego. 8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food.

When things are going smoothly in your life, you might not find it hard to believe that God is good. But if life takes a bad turn and something devastating happens, you might ask, "How could a good God allow this?" If you know that kind of pain, then you can empathize with Daniel.

Across the pages of the Scriptural account of Daniel's life - from teenager to old man - you can write, "Sovereignty at work." God was directing Daniel's life, whether Daniel saw it at the time or not.

Do you know Daniel's story? One bright day in Jerusalem when Daniel was just a teenager, he was captured as a POW and was ripped away from everything warm and familiar. Daniel's enemies were working a cruel strategy. They singled out the best young people-"the All-American's", "MVP's" and "Most Likely to Succeed" and brought them to their capital close to the modern-day Kuwait. Their plan was to brainwash these kids with their culture and make them leaders. Daniel was given a foreign name, Belteshazzar. He was forced to learn a new language and was given a new diet.

Had Daniel decided what God was like by looking at his circumstances, he would have become a disillusioned, confused, angry, young man. Kidnapped from his homeland, forced into slavery, most likely castrated to become a eunuch in the palace, Daniel's eyes were still on God. Don't gloss over these facts like they're from some made-for-TV movie - this story is true in every detail. Imagine the suffering connected with his circumstances, yet Daniel went through the fire . . . successfully. This certainly gives us hope that we can make it through our firestorm, too.

No doubt a situation comes to mind right now from either your past or the present. You may wonder how a God of love could have allowed some painful, wrong injustice. Yet I would bet on the fact that you've not come full circle yet. There will be a day when you will look back and see how God's sovereign hand was at work. Truth is, He is in the center of the situation that troubles your heart right now. He's right in the middle of it.

Just because you can't see Him doesn't mean He isn't there. Look for Him. Trust Him. He is at work.

Entreat God for favour in His sight today and God will begin to reveal to you His plan and will in whatever situation you are facing! Your children will learn as well, when they see your example in the rough times and how you turned to your Lord instead of some artificial and temporary relief.

Lord, I know You are at work in my life and circumstances . . . even when I don't see Your hand. I know You are working all things together for good. Help me fix my heart on You no matter how long I must wait to see a bigger picture. I believe You will bring all things around for Your glory.

• Do I tend to look to God or to my circumstances? Have I ever questioned His goodness or His sovereignty.
• Do I know someone who has gone through significant trials, yet their eyes are completely fixed on Christ? Describe their joy.
• Are there hints in my life that point to "God at work . . . even when I don't see it"?

Original publication date: August 17, 2009


Related Links

Embracing Change -- Cinde Lucas
Bookends of the Christian Life -- Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington
The Good News -- R.C. Sproul Jr.

Phil. 4:13 I CAN do all things through Christ which strengthens me!

"No Reply"

Written by R. E, Bailes

Check Your Drafts

In todays world of modern technology and the internet we often try to fit so many things into a day that we miss something along the way. I experienced this recently when I was in such a rush and I completed my emails, grabbed my things and rushed out the door. It was about ten hours later when I had returned home and a couple of hours later after cooking and cleaning up that I checked my emails again. When I opened up my inbox I saw a message from someone that I had written that morning. As a matter of fact, it was the last email that I sent out.

Their email said, "I can only assume that you are not interested in joining us with our event since I didn't hear back from you. We were really hoping that you had been able to participate. I would have appreciated your reply even though you didn't plan to join us."

There must have been some major misunderstanding!

The fact was that I had planned to join them for this event and had been looking forward to it! I had even typed up an email that morning telling them how much I was looking forward to this time! What had happened? When I went to my sent mailbox, it wasn't there. So I went to the drafts and there I saw my email and realized that it hadn't been delivered at all. When I checked with someone who knew more about these things I found out the reason it had gone into drafted emails. The draft saves our messages and holds them if we sign out or the computer shuts down and we hadn't ever actually gotten the message to the one that it was intended for. The person who would receive this message has no idea that I even typed a word and until we I go back to the draft box and send it, they never will!

Well, I made contact and worked that one out and all was fine, but I thought about how many times I may have done that and never knew it. I thought that I had hit the send button, but I got into a rush and missed this one small vital click of the mouse. I thought about how this could apply to the every day life of people and how that one small click that doesn't happen can make all the difference in the world to your spouse, your children, your friend or your coworker. It could even apply to the guy who fills your bags at the grocery store.

That one small click is the button called "appreciation". Every living being loves to be appreciated in some way and it doesn't hurt or cost us a thing to give it to them. I know that there have been plenty of times when I have planned to show my appreciation but I got too busy and forgot to open my mouth or pick up that card to show it. Appreciation is the oil that keeps our lives and our emotions running smoothly. We all love to receive some appreciation for the things we do but there are people who really and truly look for us to appreciate the things they do; as great or as small as they may seem!

Remember to look for something that you can appreciate in everyone you meet and your world will begin to become a better place to live. God is the source of appreciation because God is good. Only good can come out of appreciation when it is given. The key is that we give it!


2Thessalonians 2:16-17
16. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17. Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

So where are all the acts of appreciation stored that we forgot to give to those who we had meant to give them to? They are still there and waiting to be given; held in the memory of our heavenly Father and His draft box, so to speak. He will help you remember to live out those acts of appreciation, if you start your day in communion with Him. As a matter of fact, beginning your day in appreciation to God is a great way to get off to a start with a positive attitude that will keep everyone around you wondering,"What are they so wound up and happy about?"

I know it's not always easy to feel this way and that things in life can drag us down sometimes but it is always uplifting to give thanks and appreciation to God! Start your day this way and the rest will fall into place! Just a simple "thanks" for our child's simple deed can make just as much difference to them as our knowing that our Father in Heaven is pleased with us. Take time.


Psa 57:7-11
7. My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
8. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
9. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
10. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
11. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

"Finding Renewed Strength"

Written by R. E. Bailes

Find the Strength to Reach Your Goals!


It is the summer of 1976 at my home in Selmer, Tennessee and we were living the country life to it's fullest. All I could think about was my horse and all the places I could ride that summer. We had woods that went forever behind our house. Sometimes I could ride for a couple of hours before turning around and it was mostly because I had to find my way back home. It was allot of fun and my other three brothers all had their own interests that kept us running in different directions at least until we had our family basketball games in the side yard on our dirt court with our rusty backboard that wobbled back ad forth every time someone took a shot.

It was a usual dry, hot day in June when I walked outside to find my older brother, John, jump roping his way down the driveway. I thought that was odd because I had always seen girls jump roping, but not guys! So, I decided to observe what was going on with my brother as he turned the end of the driveway and headed down the road. I walked to the end of the drive and caught a glimpse of him just as he went around the curve. He was jump roping and running at the same time!

The laid back person that I was, I decided to sit at the edge of our yard and wait for him to come back. I liked observing things that other people did as a child too. It just interests me to know why people do things they do!

I began to think that John wasn't coming back when I saw him coming back around the curve in the road that he had taken when he left about an hour earlier! When I saw him this time, he appeared to be in intense pain and was profusely sweating all over. I thought maybe he had gotten lost or maybe he had fallen along the way and was hurt and maybe he could barely make it home, as I noticed his pace had greatly decreased. I started to ask if he was ok and he just flew right past me with a focused look in his eyes like I had never seen before in my brother. I remember thinking that he must be in survival mode and can't think straight. Hmm? Don't we all get like that at times in our busy lives, especially as single parents?

I had an even bigger surprise when I got to the house to find John walking around and around the house after his long hop/run! Again I started to ask what he was doing but he just walked with that same blank stare! I was really getting worried about him at this point so I sat down on the steps and waited for him to speak up, but he didn't. When he finally stopped walking around the house, he went into the carport and started jumping up and touching a piece of tape on the wall! I couldn't believe it! He looked totally exhausted! He looked like he couldn't take another step! Now he is jumping? He kept jumping until I finally saw him collapse on the concrete floor, gasping for air again totally covered in sweat.

It was then that I ran in to get my dad to come help him up! I called out to my dad, "Hurry dad! Somethings wrong with John! He's been running and jump roping for over an hour and then he walked around the house like 5 times and then he jumped up and down in the carport until he just fell down on the floor! Hurry dad! He might be dying! Hurry!" Well, my dad kind of chuckled and said,"I'm sure he's ok." So calmly he assured me that John was just doing what he told him to do. I didn't really understand at first what he was saying, but I still got him to go out and check on John. Dad went to the carport and John still laid on the concrete floor breathing hard. Dad said,"Are you going to make it son?" and John said, " Of course! I just am doing what you told me to do!" I didn't know that my father had given John this exercise routine just the day before and that John was just following his fathers guidance because he wanted to be the very best player on the McNairy Central High School basketball team more than anything else in the world that day! He wanted to be a star player in the game! I saw my brother continue doing this day after day for the next few months as his body began to take on unbelievable transformations. His legs got like oak trees and his upper body showed every muscle, as he was leaner than ever before! He kept raising the tape on the wall in the carport to jump to and kept extending the length of his jump roping runs looking forward to that day when he would have the chance to play against and with the best of the player across the state. Well, it paid off! I actually remember him taking one step at the foul line and jumping up so high that he could take the ball between his legs and then dunk it! I believe his nickname became "hotdog" after that. Hotdog was a term used back the for the guy that takes the show. I was so proud of my brother though I may not have told him. But it was the first day when I saw him gasping on the floor of our carport and my father told me why he had done all that, that my brother became my hero! He was running the race and not giving up! He was suffering and waiting for the results that he couldn't see right then! He was trusting his father that had directed him to do this. What I also didn't know was that my own father had been the coach for the team for two consecutive years that had won the International Navy Volleyball Championship and he knew exactly what he was doing when he gave my brother his training to be a winner in the game of basketball! All my brother needed was perseverance, determination and the trust to wait on the results that would build his strength to not only be able to play basket ball that year but to also go on to gain a soccer scholarship into college and then to play on the USA Soccer All Conference team with the Best of the best from colleges across the US.

It is amazing that I was able to witness that day the start of what literally changed the destiny of my brother and his future! He may have found another way to do what he did, yes? He may have struggled along on his own and found out how to build his strength quicker through supplements or even steroids like some athletes did back then. Instead he went to his father and his father gave him the guidance he needed. he still had to do the work! He still had to run; he had to walk and he had to rest to get the strength to fly like the eagles on the court! I loved to watch him jump when he would go in to make his layups or dunks. I knew he was meant to do this. Why? Because he had a passion built into his heart to do it! God had made him that way!

Parents, there is a plan for each of our lives no matter where we are in the race! Whether you are just picking up the rope; whether you are rounding the curve; whether you have been run/jumping for an hour and still have to get back home; whether you are coming back up the driveway and the house is right in front of you; you must walk and you will not faint! The walking has it's purpose after the run! It cools us down and slows our heart rate so that we won't get sick. You may have to go jump in the carport right after the walk until you can't stand anymore, BUT don't grow weary! Don't give up! Your Father knows that you are getting stronger a little each day and one day when the transformation is obvious YOU WILL be able to do even more because YOU WILL renew your STRENGTH!

Remember though! Just as my brother's incredible God given strength didn't come over night; we must wait on the Lord to give us new strength! You see, waiting is not an option. We must wait upon the Lord!

Our scripture to read and remember for today is,
Isaiah 40:31 "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

"Dreams and Visions"

Written by R. E. Bailes

What Shaped Her Vision?

If you have been watching the Olympics you may have seen the 2009 Gymnastics World Championships and how a young lady took the Gold Metal by just .075 difference in score. Her name is Nastia Liukin and the young lady that won the Silver is Shawn Johnson. These two young ladies portrayed to the world the ultimate in sportsmanship and attitude when it came down to the wire. Their reactions upon completion of the final competition were emotional and yet the strength that comes with man hours of practice had prepared them for the moment when they would realize that their dream had come true. This dream for Nastia had been fueled by the dream of her father as her coach. He too had received the Gold many years before and his dream of seeing his daughter do the same had come true.

The Word of God talks about the older men having dreams and the younger have visions.

Even though it isn't in the same context this reminded me of that passage as I thought about the vision that Nastia must have had to reach the moment when she had that Gold metal in her hands. Without the vision she surely would have given up during the competition when she saw the other girls scoring so closely to her own. I then thought about how her father understood his dream for her and was able to help shape and fuel the way for Nastia to keep her vision alive and clearly focus on her vision without wavering in thought.

Isn't that how God treats us when we stay in open communication with Him? He has a dream for our lives but we will need to understand and know what it is in order to see that dream come true. We need to understand that His dream for us is good and that the things that we strive for will determine the vision we have for our lives. Is it possible that our present vision for our life is determined by other dreams of our own? Have we been chasing the dreams that are presented in the magazines and tv commercials? Is there possibly an ulterior motive of those who make those ads that will bring us temporary satisfaction but ultimately financial stress and ruin?

Whose dream are we going to follow after in this world? What will fuel the visions we have? Is our vision in alignment with God's dreams for our life and our future? God had a reward in mind for all of us and that is what his dream for us is about. Reaching the mark for the prize of the high calling; that is the high invitation of God in Christ. God wants to call our name one day and hug us in victory as we receive our reward for pressing toward the vision that He describes for us in His Word. Maybe it isn't quite clear what that is for your life yet! Don't despair if you are not clear about His will and His dream for your life!

I'm sure Nastia's father didn't teach her every single thing she would have to accomplish all at one time in order to receive the Gold metal at the Olympics. If He had of tried to teach her all at once, she surely would have become discouraged and quit. It is the dream that gives the older more wise men endurance and the will to stay on course without quitting. They see the reward at the end and already know how great it feels to receive it! The younger generations cannot understand so they have need of a vision; a picture of what that dream looks like, feels like and the ultimate satisfaction it brings!

This is what the Word says about the days ahead.
Act 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

What are the dreams we have for our children? Are their visions being shaped to bring them to the place where they will find ultimate satisfaction or is it possible that they too, like many others in this life, will find disappointment and stress? How can we build the visions of our children for spiritual, physical and emotional success?

Hold onto that thought for one minute!

When we get our vision in alignment with God's dream for our life, we know it because we begin to feel the communion with God, right? We take time to pray and we read His Word to find out more about His teachings and to receive guidance from the Holy Spirit. In the same way, Natia must have communicated and listened intently to her father's teaching! He had been there and had won the reward before her by making the right choices in his own life. He knew what the result would be for her today and he seemed to show a sense of fulfillment in his expressions as the camera filmed him while she was receiving her applause and reward. She had reached the goals that he had helped her set but it was her will and her vision that ultimately got her there!

How can we build the visions of our children? Our children learn from our hopes and dreams and their visions are set by our lives! We need to check our own goals and our own vision of what we are serving for in life to see if it is in alignment with God's dream for us or if it is in alignment with the dreams that shape our world through magazines, tv and internet. Set your sights on the dream that God has and your children will follow you. It is true, what we do speaks louder than words. Take thought for today and the goals that we are setting for our children! What is it going to be; the world vision or God's vision; ruin or reward?

Mat 6:28-34 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

"Living Your Hearts Desire"

Where have all the Daryls Gone?

This past Sunday my daughter and I had made our way to the shuttle following the morning service. This shuttle would take us to the parking lot that we had parked in about a quarter of a mile away. It's funny that we even took the shuttle because my daughter had said something earlier about walking back to the car when we had parked. She had enthusiastically said that we could always use the exercise. I remember thinking how the ninety degree temperatures would cause my dress shirt to adhere to my body by the time we made it back to the car. I just figured she would change her mind when we walked out of that auditorium that was always a little on the cold side.

When we walked out those doors that heat hit us in the face and my daughter wasted no time making her way straight to that bus. It turns out I was right and we were in for a treat. As we entered the shuttle bus following the service we had to make our way up a few steps and it seemed with each step we took that a burst of excited greetings loudly made its way into our ears. It was a young child's voice and yet it sounded with the confidence and vocabulary of an adult.

"Come right in! That's right! Pick a seat and sit right down!", I heard before I made it to the second step. Then I heard, "Hello, you all just sit anywhere you like!" and "I'm glad you came today!". I couldn't believe my ears when I saw the young boy sitting in the front seat of the shuttle! He couldn't have been more than five years old and sitting there moving his hands about as he talked like a professional speaker. He had amazingly been given the blessing of speech at such a young age! As I sat down and watched this young man greeting everyone that entered the shuttle bus, it reminded me of how easily we can make the difference in how someone else remembers us. This little boy had most definitely left a lasting memory in my and my daughters mind, as well as the rest of the people who entered the bus that day.

His mother told us that he had been pleading with her for some time to ride the shuttle bus. You see, she didn't need to ride the shuttle but had rode today so that he could finally have experienced his dream. I thought about how he may have thought this through many times and may have envisioned greeting everyone as they made their way on board. Maybe there was allot more to this than met the eye. Could he have been given the very desire and purpose in his spirit to encourage someone special today? Could it be that he was to encourage me?

When we finally made it to the place where we would all depart, I asked his name and he shook my hand and gladly thanked me for riding the shuttle and for coming to church today. He also told me to come back and ride again! His voice so full of expression that you had to agree with him, I told him I would and he thanked me again. That's when I told his mom, who sat across from him, that I wrote messages to encourage others and would love to use him as an example. She told me his name was Daryl and allowed me to take his picture. She said that he has always been that way with people and I thanked her so much for allowing me to share this story.
Daryl knew what his heart had told him to do and he wasn't worried about what anyone else thought! This reminded me of how Jesus loved the children and told his disciples once to let the children come to Him. As a matter of fact, children are so important that the word is found in 1,524 verses in the Bible. I thought that was very interesting since the words Jesus, love, faith and believe are in 1,585 verses all combined. There was something very special about the children for Jesus Christ to mention them this many times in His Word!

There was the child like faith of Joseph that carried him through his younger years as he was sold into slavery.

Then there was the child that brought the five loaves and the two fishes to the meeting where Jesus was to speak.

Why is it that the children seem to fulfill a purpose most anywhere that they happen to show up? They are in tune with the meaning of their life at a young age! Every young child can tell you exactly what they want to be if you ask them. How do you think they know this? Don't you believe that included with that incredible package that we call DNA there must have been something included that we just can't see; something called "purpose for this life".

I believe that their minds are not yet cluttered by the conception of those who think that they know what this child should become. This lack of clutter frees their activities, allowing their bodies to be used for the purpose they are given to fulfill in their lives! Daryl certainly didn't let anything stop him! He hadn't been cluttered with conformity and demands to become something other than himself. His mother seemed as surprised as we all were and I really thought that was even more impressive, that he was just acting naturally.

There is a passage that refers to the church of God as children and in the scriptures we find that Jesus many times refers to his followers as the children of God. There were also the children of Israel who were the decedents of Jacob. This passage is so good that I can't help but share it with you as I talk about Daryl and the blessing that he was to me.

1John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Yes, let us love "ergon", the Hebrew word meaning "toil, act, doing, work". Not only love "ergon" (doing) but "ergon aletheia" meaning in the Hebrew "doing truthfully". It doesn't get much clearer than that. Written for children we plainly see; "love others in doing everything you do truthfully". That is what I saw in Daryl that was so awesome!

I challenge you to do whatever you do with all truthfulness, not only truthfulness towards others but today I want you to be totally truthful with yourself!

Can you honestly say, without a moments hesitation that you are doing the things that you desire in your heart? Is there someone else in your life that dictates and controls the decisions you make? If you looked deep into your soul, would you find that young girl or that young boy calling out to the people on the bus, "Hey man! Come on in and get a seat! Thanks for coming today!". Instead you are sitting there silent and oppressed because you think it's too late to be the person that you were purposed to be. I want you to begin to think differently! It's never too late with God! God's purpose for your life can become reality at any moment when you decide to do His purpose and be truthful with yourself about the desires of your heart!

Remember this! In the eye of your creator, today is the very first day of the rest of your life! You have an eternity to live out your purpose if you believe in the name of the Lord Jesus; so what are you waiting for? Start living and join the Daryls of the world today! Let your light shine in all that you do! God loves you and wants you to be who you were meant to be!