Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas!

Audrey is 5 and a half.  She loves taking care of her baby dolls and she is a self proclaimed artist.  She loves to read and she is an extremely creative student.

Paulie is 4 and a half.  He loves sports and he is very strong.  He loves playing games and he is very good at following instructions accurately.

Stacey is homeschooling the kids and working one day a week as a nurse in the Emergency Department.  She is very interested in organic and natural eating.

Paul is Executive Chef at Evo in Atlantic City.  He just had foot surgery and is recovering well.

God has been good to us as we continue to grow in Him.  We love our lives.  God bless you all.  We love you!

Paul, Stacey, Audrey, and Paulie Simmerman

21Dec2013 - Caught up to the 3rd Heaven

How you doin? What a good time at Bible study last night. I should have known because I was hearing lies about how my answer should be "no". I had a couple of good reasons not to go, but I went because my "yes" over came my "no". Praise Jesus. I got a little drunk in the Spirit. We laughed like crazy as we hosted the Presence. AWESOME!!!!!!! 2 Corinthians 12.

Verses 2-4, "I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. ³ And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— ⁴ was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell." HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!! Holy jealousy is oozing out of me. I want to be "caught up to the third heaven" so bad it hurts. Can you imagine hearing "inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell". What intimacy. Being in the elite realm that's secret and sanctified. COME ON!!!!!!! The Holy Ghost takes me closer and closer to that kind of intimacy.

Acts 8:39, "When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing." Again, the Holy Ghost transporting people. Not just to the heavenly realm, but to different places her in the first realm. How many of you know that earth is the first realm of heaven? Acts 8:40, "Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea." Philip is down with being transported. He went about his business of dealing out the good news like nothing happen. Like being transported was regular life. DIG IT!!!!!!! Oh, to be that intimate with the Holy Ghost.

Real quick. Verses 7-10, "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." There's some "light" reading on Sat morning. Pun intended. These 3 verses are good for 5 more emails at least. I just wanted to say... HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!! God is TOO much in a great sense of the word. Be caught up to paradise and hear inexpressible things today.  

20Dec2013 - Jesus is Attracted to Faith

How you doin? I feel as though my mind may burst. So much going on right now. Being stretched is such an under statement. I believe that Stacey and I have received a real call on our lives. Understanding how to answer that call is a HUGE mountain. More then that, receiving grace and faith to depend on the resources of heaven is painfully stretching my mind. My heart feels fine, but my mind is going nutzo. Bill Johnson said, "Jesus is attracted to faith". I need Jesus to led me. He's attracted to faith. Jesus offers grace and faith. This concept makes perfectly good sense. So what's my deal? I need to rest in the Lord. 2 Corinthians 11.

Verse 1, "I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me!" And that's Paul talking. Verse 3, "But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ." OH SNAP!!!!!!! I can't let this be my reality.

For some reason I feel as though I'm not receiving my portion of faith very well. Not that God hasn't given it to me, but I'm not receiving it. Romans 12:3, "For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith." (NASB) God's done His part. So what's my part. Romans 10:17, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." I'll be listen today. Receive your measure of faith today.

19Dec2013 - Loved By God

How you doin? Last night and more this morning I feel a tremendous amount of love and celebration for Jesus. I fell smitten by God through the Presence that His Son supplied. COME ON!!!!!!! I was begging for prophetic dreams last night, but didn't get any. I think God just wants me to receive His love, love Him back, and love on others. I'm down with that. The Holy Ghost has just filled me with joy and celebration of His "yes". I cherish the time when God pulls me out my diligence and just increases in me what He's about... love. I'm in a series of responses to Him and from Him. AWESOME!!!!!!! I don't want it to end. 2 Corinthians 10.

Verse 1, "By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you-" This is an under used characteristic of Jesus. I can't help but to see Jesus' tenderness and His great invitation to cuddle with me. He is indeed strong, powerful, and toting a sword, but He is also meek, gentle, compassionate, and most of all loving. I think of how proud I am of Stacey. To me she is the trophy wife of all trophy wife's. Jesus is the bride groom and I'm His bride. I know for sure that He sees me in the same way as I see Stacey... and then some. I can feel the way He sees me. I can see the way He sees me. COME ON!!!!!!! Totally smitten.

Verses 3-5, "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Weapons of the world are intended for destruction, death, or disabling for capture. Heavenly weapons are intended for freedom, salvation, life, redemption, and reconciliation. The weapon of heaven is love. Jesus' most powerful world changing act was hanging beaten and victim of the worlds sin on the cross. COME ON!!!!!!! All the healing, delivering, and teaching He did pails in comparison to what He did on the cross. The cross defines spiritual paradox. Jesus in His weakest, meekest, subdued, and gentle state was strong and powerful enough to defeat death. HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!! I'm all over the place today. Smitten!

Verses 17-18, "But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” ¹⁸ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends." I love this reference of Jeremiah 9:24. I for one want to feel comfortable about boasting in the Lord. Heaven's weapon of love breaks the strongholds that keep me from receiving the fullness of Christ in me, hope of glory. WOW!!!!!!! I'm undone and love it. Love on Jesus and people today.

PS   I was listening to a song from Bethel worship called "I really Love You (Spontaneous) off of their album "For The Sake Of The World" and was blown away.     
And this is not religion
'Oh as some would suppose
This is a love song
With every fiber of my being I compose

['cause] I really love You [my strength and shield]
I love You right now [my victory and my strength]
I really love you [yeah]
[and] I love you right now"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA7HBsoAVSQ

18Dec2013 - Yes and Amen

How you doin? Stacey's at work, so my filter is not here. I'm hoping that I don't offend anyone with this email. On a positive note, my foot feels better today then it has since the surgery. Praise Jesus. He's already rewarding my obedience.

Danny Silk said, "What is your yes? If you're focusing on your "no" it's because you don't know your "yes". This is one loaded statement. God has given me the assignment of organizing conferences for my church. Our first one with Jonathan and Karen Welton is coming up quickly. There are 2 men that I really love and want to invite to our church. Bob Hazlett and Todd White. I've reached out to them several times with no success. Stacey and I saw these 2 men of God at the Power & Love conference we attended this past May. As well as in/on other things. So I'm praying and asking God indigently "how do I get Bob Hazlett or Todd White to our church!?". Immediately God replies " invite Power & Love". I did my normal narrow minded arguing. Things like, "I already attended this conference", "it's too big for our church", "our congregation isn't as "out there" as Stacey and I are", and so on and so forth. God's argument back was "invite Power & Love". And He wonders why we think He doesn't listen to us. I made it perfectly clear to Him "no".

So I say "no"... God says "yes". Who do you think is right? So God gives me the grace and I start the process. It just so happens that one of their open dates is one of our church's open dates. Coincidence? I emailed Tom Routolo who leads the ministry (in the natural) and he responded to me that same day. Coincidence? This conference isn't starving for host in anyway. I reached out to Pastor Spike and he said "yes!". He was excited. However, I did reach out to some other people from my church and they, like me, said "no". They too had several legitimate reasons why "no" was the correct response. So I took that to God and your not going to believe what He said... "yes!". I reminded Him that He's again givings us "no"-ers the impression that He's not listening.

My first contact with Tom Routolo was on Fri. 12/13 via email. Yesterday 12/17 Tom sends me an email saying, "Paul, please give me a call". So, I called him and he asked me how it's going with the organization of the conference. I told him there have been a lot of "no"-s. He encouraged me with the fact that they promote these events to at least 2000 people in hopes of obtaining the minimum 175 registrations. That's really sad if you ask me. He gave me the contact information to the person from the church that we saw the conference at in Pennsauken. Coincidence? God is obviously NOT LISTENING!

2 Corinthians 1:17, "Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?"  Maybe it's not God's lack of listening. MAYBE it's my/our "no". 2  Corinthians 1:18-19, "But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” ¹⁹ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.”' Praise Jesus for that. Can you imagine if Jesus was "no" like me. Or even "yes" and "no"? OUCH!!!!!!! Buckle up here comes the bomb. 2 Corinthians 1:20-22, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. ²¹ Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, ²² set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!! What is "Amen"? According to my buddy Webster it means, "used to express solemn ratification (as of an expression of faith) or hearty approval (as of an assertion)" I also like COME ON, YUP, AWESOME, SO GOOD, DIG IT, OH SNAP, and YES & AMEN. Jesus supplies the "yes", but I/we supply the "Amen". I'll be standing firm in Christ as I receive the barrage of "no"s over yet another conference at my church. I've only presented 2 and both times I needed to "stand firm in Christ" through the "no"s. Our "western church" is gulping down the demonic spirit of religion with a human tradition chaser. Know your "yes" today.

PS   "What is your yes? If you're focusing on your "no" it's because you don't know your "yes". - Danny Silk

17Dec2013 - It's Not Just $

How you doin? I hope you enjoyed your day off from the email. We had a wonderful time in Virginia, despite the Flyers forfeiting a 3 goal lead in the last 8 minutes of the 3rd period. They went on to loose in a shootout as they usually do. Never the less I enjoyed my time with my brother-in-law (the Caps fan/season ticket holder). It's fun to be around family. 2 Corinthians 9 today.

Verses 9-11, "As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”

¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." The Scripture referenced here is Psalm 112:9. Giving is not just money. It's giving of ourselves to God. COME ON!!!!!!! Verse 10 just melts my butter. Bill Johnson said, "God gives us what we need to be pleasing to Him, then rewards us for being pleasing to Him. That's a good deal." I agree with Bill. According to verse 10 God will "increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness". AWESOME!!!!!!! How do I position myself to receive God's increase? Give generously.
What do I give? Verses 6-8, ^"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." The needy need a lot of stuff. If I make determinations about what people need, it takes God out of the giving. By taking God out of the giving, it will not position me for increase and abundant blessing. That's a good word.
I can remember when Stacey and I were sozo-ed for the 1st time. Stacey had a vision that she was a very large red gem stone along with many other colored gem stones in a jewelry store . Jesus, Audrey, Paulie, and I stood off to the side waiting for her. The Holy Spirit was chipping chunks of the gem stones off and giving it to the people in a very long line. The best part was is that while the Holy Spirit was chipping chunks off of the gems (including Stacey), they were not decreasing in size. They were being blessed abundantly according to their giving. COME ON!!!!!!! Stacey said that the gem stones represented healing, salvation, and finances. WOW!!!!!!! Stacey is very prophetic.
The heading on these verses is "Sowing Generously". In my Bible's dictionary the word sow means, "to scatter seeds in planting a crop; to cause a given effect" This will be giving me something to think about today. By sowing into advancing the Kingdom, God increases my righteousness. What is the given effect of sowing into advancing the Kingdom? According to verse 11, "your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God". Sow into advancing the Kingdom today. It couldn't be a better time of the year.  

15Dec2013 - Christmas Songs

How you doin? We are getting ready to go to Virginia. So we're taking the day off from devotions in the interest of time. Sorry God. I did want to take this moment to share with you some of my favorite Christmas songs. Just a few I hope. I'll provide the link to the songs. Please prayer for safe travel and a Flyers victory. You too Peyton and Kelly.

1) "Jingle Bell Rock", Thousand Foot Krutch-
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQWv7wqR7AA

2) "It's Christmas", Hillsong-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf6OoAZbAQg   (Especially the end)

3) "Christmas This Year", Toby Mac-
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCkFzWJuQlY

4) "First Noel", Toby Mac-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trxTCTUtSig

5) "Love Came Down At Christmas", Jars of Clay-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIr5th0d44Y    (Stacey's favorite)

6) "Little Drummer Boy", Jars of Clay-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lasUhPa07w

There are SO many songs. I didn't even get into Third Day or Casting Crowns Christmas albums. I hope everyone enjoys this time of the year as much as we do.

14Dec2013 - The Richness of Grace

How you doin? A late devotion this morning. We watched that same Graham Cooke sermon again last night and it's really got my attention. It just makes sense to me. Living as the new creation that I am in Christ. Or that I am because of Christ in me. Graham Cooke's way of speaking is AWESOME!!!!!!! He often says "come on people, think this through". He also says "welcome to the good news". 2 Corinthians 8.

Verses 1-2, "And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. ² In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity." WOW!!!!!!! I work with a few Macedonians and now a little about their history. They have quite a history of "very severe trials". I like here how God's grace is associated with "overflowing joy" and "rich generosity". Even in "extreme poverty" and "every severe trial". Certainly an example of living as new creations.

Verse 5, "And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us." In a story about giving and collections, I couldn't help but to notice that giving "themselves first of all to the Lord" was what exceeded expectations. This is new covenant stuff. The old "dead" me would think that giving people enough money to make them happy or to get them to stop asking me for more would meet the expectation. Now I'm starting to see the importance of giving myself to God and letting Him work out the rest. COME ON!!!!!!!

Verse 9, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." WOW!!!!!!! There's no greater gift of giving then what Jesus did for me. This verse is my favorite in this chapter. I'll take that promise. This is what I want to be conscious of. Not sin conscious, but truth conscious. Verse 9 is an incredible truth. "So that you through his poverty might become rich." COME ON!!!!!!! If I can truly believe this truth and become rich in this way... I'll never be poor. Be rich through His grace today.

PS   I don't mean to cut this short. I hope you read all of chapter 8. It's wonder-full.

13Dec2013 - The Comforter

How you doin? So this time off is proving fruitful. I watch 2 sick (better then good) sermons yesterday. I also wrote 2 emails. RAD!!!!!!! The sermons were by Shawn Bolz and Graham Cooke. Everywhere I turn God is showing me more about the good news of the new covenant. 2 Corinthians 7.

I'm so preoccupied with this revelation of living in grace and truth consciousness, that I struggled with chapter 7 this morning. A few emails ago, I came up against Rick Warren's statement to justify hardships in life that gave God credit for stuff that's not His. The statement was, "God is not concerned with our comfort, He is concerned with our character". With all due respect to Rick Warren, he's sold a few more books then I have, but this is the kind of teaching that is forcing the Holy Ghost to work over time to undo me. I've said that quote to myself WAY to many times. Verses 6-7, "But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever." AWESOME!!!!!!! Two things about these verses, 1) GOD COMFORTS THE DOWNCAST, 2) loving our neighbors brings them joy. COME ON!!!!!!! Joy out weighs happiness. Happiness comes and goes, but joy is forever. That's a good word.

Verses 9-11, "yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. ¹⁰ Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, butworldly sorrow brings death. ¹¹ See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter." WOW!!!!!!! Godly sorrow leads to repentance. Worldly sorrow leads to death. New covenant... old covenant. Godly sorrow leads to repentance, which leads to salvation. SO GOOD!!!!!!! Worldly sorrow features sin, shame, regret, and blame... death. To me, sorrow is conviction. Conviction is Gods way of pointing out my lack so I can practice/train to receive His upgrade or download. WOW!!!!!!! It's starting to sink in. My spiritual father David, stresses the importance of using the correct words to me to the point I want to smack him. Good thing I didn't. I'm learning that in many cases it's a matter of life or death. If I may be so bold to change the wording in Mr. Warren's statement I would say, "God IS concerned with our comfort AND our character." It's Christ in me, hope of glory that makes me a good character. COME ON!!!!!!! That's a good word.

Stay with me. Graham Cooke was dropping bombs yesterday in the sermon we watched. I'll watch it again and again, because it was changing my mind. AWESOME!!!!!!! Here's a few bombs. 1) "Being dead to sin or being crucified to the flesh is not an action, it's a consequence. Jesus did the action." 2) "God is not working on our sin... He killed that. God is working on our righteousness." 3) "We live in a church that is sin conscious. God is truth conscious. Truth will set you free." 

Don't raise the dead you that Christ killed through His acts on the cross. Let him/her stay dead today. 

PS   Don't be surprised to hear more about this Graham Cooke sermon. God is changing me and I love it! I'm being upgraded or undone. DIG IT!!!!!!!

12Dec2013 - Grace = Favor + Salvation

How you doin? God is good. We had a better afternoon yesterday. We continue to work ourselves to the edge and He pulls us back. His grace is sufficient. I mentioned yesterday expecting more from God like a spoiled child. I often pray for favor. Sadly enough the favor I pray for is self serving. Today's Scripture shed some light on this subject. 2 Corinthians 6.

Verses 1-2, "As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. ² For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
    and in the day of salvation I helped you.” (reference, Isaiah 49:8)

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation." I like how favor and salvation is linked together. I can remember when God first delivered me from drinking and drugging. I was so excited for that freedom from captivity. It was SO much more then enough. I believe we misuse the word salvation. To the Christians "salvation" means acceptance of Christ or receiving Christ. Which is correct, but do we truly understand what we are being saved from. "Salvation" is freedom from sin, which leads to death. It's being pardoned from a death sentence. There can't be any greater display of favor. I think about how I use that word. I say "let me do you a favor" and then extend some meaningless act of kindness or give some stupid advice. When God said "let me extend you some favor" He took me off of death row. The favor I ask for tends to be self serving favor. Like grant me financial favor or grant me understanding so I can be right in theological conversations. I can't imagine the face God makes at me when He looks at me. I picture this very loving smirk and subtle shake of His head. The one that all parents give their kids when we see them doing something that we know they will grow out of. COME ON!!!!!!! We've all received and/or given that look.
These verses create an incredible equation, grace = favor + salvation.

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
    and in the day of salvation I helped you.” WOW!!!!!!! That's a promise that can't be over looked. God's favor is SO much more then helping someone move or lifting something heavy. It's salvation. It's parole. It's freedom. It's life. I ask for favor as if I don't live in His favor everyday. Grace = favor+salvation. COME ON!!!!!!! I'm going to start being a better steward of the favor that He's already shown me.
Chapter 6 has a couple more mind blowing promises from the Old Testament. Verse 16,  "For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.” (reference Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27) AWESOME!!!!!!!
Verse 18, And,

“I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.” (reference, 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8) HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!! Don't receive His grace in vain today.
PS   Favor is salvation that doesn't end. God continues to grant me favor by freeing my from sin. He continues to free me from chains of disbelieve, discouragement, sin, and all lack. PRAISE JESUS!!!!!!! Revelation is cool.

11Dec2013 - Reconciliation

How you doin? I've learned to love the headings in my Bible. Today we read 2 Corinthians 5. This chapter has 2 great headings. 1) "Our Heavenly Dwelling" and 2) "The Ministry of Reconciliation". AWESOME!!!!!!!

This chapter is great. Full of truth and promises. Verse 1, "For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands." That's an incredible promise. The concept of my Heavenly body is more then exciting. Verses 4-5, "For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!! "So that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life". That makes me want to jump up and down. I'm not going to considering the condition of my foot. The promise of the "Spirit as a deposit" is overwhelming. God knows that it's going to take the Spirit to "guarantee what is to come". WOW!!!!!!! I love God's plan. I love God.  

Verse 7, 

"

For we live by faith, not by sight.

 " That's good instructions. Verses 9-10, 

"

So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

 " I can honestly say that I want to be pleasing to Him. Not to keep myself in good standing, but out of love for Him. He's already extended more favor, grace, and love to me then I could have ever deserved. His Son Jesus is enough for the entire world for the entire duration of time. COME ON!!!!!!! I need to stop being so spoiled and ungrateful. I find myself asking "what's next?". As if what He's done is not enough already.

The 2nd heading is one of favorite words in and out of the Bible. "Reconciliation". To think that I'm reconciled with the Father is hard to wrap my mind around. I believe that my walk with Christ would look different if I understood the fullness of this idea. Verses 14-15, "For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." COME ON!!!!!!! I want some of that. In fact I want all of that. I want to live for "Him who died for them and was raised again". WOW!!!!!!! I don't mean to quote every verse, but this can't be missed. Verses 16-21, "

 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:

 

The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 " WOW!!!!!!! COME ON!!!!!!! HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!! SO GOOD!!!!!!! I CAN believe that God has done this. When God delivered me from the clutches of addiction and other sin... He made it very clear to me that He had reconciled me to Him. The thought of being "in" with the Father is more then thrilling. It's even better knowing that it's not because of what I've done, but because of what He has done. COME ON!!!!!!! What a chapter to read heading into the Christmas season. Be reconciled to God today.

PS   Please be praying for us. The surgery it's self was minor compared to the potential melt down here at the house. Tension continues to threaten the peace that is normally in our home. Father God, please sustain us through this trial. Protect us from those who lay in wait. Lord, I ask that you send your Comforter to us in such a way that we can see Him and hear Him. Amen.  

10Dec2013 - Soul vs Spirit

How you doin? Snow is looming. As if being half crippled isn't enough, now 2 to 4 inches of snow is foretasted. Our Father of compassion and comfort will sustain us through this difficult week. My heart goes out to the McKenna's and all couples who are dealing with what we are dealing with this week, but for a much longer period of time. The amount of grace, compassion, and comforting from God is mind blowing. Praise Jesus for sending the Comforter. 2 Corinthians 4 today.

Verses 5-6, "For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ." WOW!!!!!!! This is more verification of the hope that we have for the mystery of God... Christ in you, hope of glory.

Verses 7-12 are fairly famous verses. I've always read these as an outside job. That we are hard pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down by other people. That could be the case in the natural, but lately I've read these verses as an inside job. This is being crucified with Christ. Dying to ones self. Verse 7, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." We are the jars of clay. Verses 10-12, "We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you." Hard to understand, I know.

Verses 13-15, "It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.¹⁵ All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God." COME ON!!!!!!! It's the spirit vs soul. If my soul leads my spirit I'm out of sorts. The Spirit is connected to my spirit. I need to be Spirit led. That's a good word.

Verses 16-18, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." WOW!!!!!!! I love this Scripture. In Psalms David often speaks to his soul. Questions his soul and commands it to be obedient to his spirit. By keeping my eyes on Jesus, this internal battle is won by what is "unseen". It's won so that grace "may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God". COME ON!!!!!!!

It's a blessing to have my soul hard pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down by the Spirit. It's so grace can over ride law. I want my spirit, that's connected to the Spirit, to led my tri-polar person. Spirit, soul, and body. People who are bipolar are getting gypped. I'm tripolar. Let your spirit partner with the Spirit and run the show today.

Paul Email -9Dec2013- Competent Ministers

How you doin? Stacey's a Saint. She has more servant hood in her little finger then I have in my entire body. I've been asking for prayer for me, but today please pray for her (and the kids). Stacey has been dealing with 3 very needy people for the past 3 days and heading into the 4th. My post-op Dr.'s appointment isn't until Weds. It's then I will get my walking boot. My pain is still way more then I had thought it was going to be. 2 Corinthians 3 today.

This is one of my favorite chapters in the entire Bible. Reading this chapter with Exodus 33 & 34 is mind changing. I've written about verses 12-18 several times. Verses 17-18 are 2 of my favorite verses in the Bible. I love the concept of "The Glory of the New Covenant" as it is titled in my Bible.

I've read this chapter so many times and have received the same revelation about the new glory of God. Today, I asked God to reveal something new to me. Verses 4-6, "Such confidence we have through Christ before God. ⁵ Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. ⁶ He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." This falls into the category of identity. I'm not sure that I receive this promise very well. I don't always see myself as a competent minister. I still struggle with the "letter" (of the law) interfering with my ability to minister the new covenant (grace). I am still so very sin conscious. Jesus, please break this off of me... in Jesus' name. God makes me competent to minister the new covenant or the Spirit. A.A. says that you can't give something you haven't received. So I need to receive this free gift of grace. COME ON!!!!!!! More then that I need to receive the competence that comes from God. SO GOOD!!!!!!!

I strongly urge you to read these 18 verses over and over again. I believe that the demonic spirit of religion keeps the "letter" (of the law), which kills, in the theology and teaching in our church system just enough to prevent us from being competent ministers of the new covenant or the Spirit that gives life. Be a competent minister of the Spirit today.

Paul Email -8Dec2013- Sobriety and the Holidays

How you doin? Stacey and I skipped devotions this morning. I did want to share this article I sent in to the Herald. I'm not sure if it will be published or not, but I thought it was worth sharing.

I was talking with someone who experienced Thanksgiving sober for the first time in several years. She's been sober for 8 months and is approaching the Holiday season sober for the first time in a number of years. She called me the day after Thanksgiving to tell me that she "had a rough day on turkey day". This is not uncommon. Holidays are tough for the newly recovered or even the people with a few years under their belt.
   I shared my experience with the holiday season. I'm no expert, but I'm heading into my 9th holiday season and it doesn't even faze me. The first 3 or 4 holiday seasons it was painful. Take Thanksgiving for example. It was one of the only Thursday's of the year where other people were drinking in the afternoon with me. More then that, it was one of the few Thursday's of the year that loved ones and friends didn't ask me, "why on earth are you drinking like this on a Thursday?".

   Holidays tend to be the alcoholics friend. It can justify irregular drinking patterns. The non-alcoholic drinkers of the world tend to be a little less judgmental and more accepting to the alcoholic's drinking. So in my booze soaked mind, I thought fondly of the holidays. Right up until the end of my drinking career. I didn't even have the opportunity to enjoy the loosened standards of "regular society" because even in loosened standards I got too drunk. I stopped receiving invitations to dinners, parties or anything else that came with holiday celebration.

   So the first few years of my sobriety I took the advice of those who had some time sober and seemed to enjoy the holidays. They told me to remain thankful for my sobriety. They told me not to believe the lies that the Devil had filled my head with about the need to drink on the holidays. I was warned not to be a "great forgetter". Meaning not to forget how drinking resulted in terrible separation and loneliness, even during a time of the year that was conducive to loose drinking standards and celebration.

   Now, God has brought me full circle. I have loved the holiday season for the past 5 years. The redemptive power of Jesus has reconciled me to the true reason for the season. Not loosened standards, but the birth of my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. COME ON!!!!!!!

   I'm writing this article in an attempt to help the sober people out there that may be dreading the upcoming season. Be mindful of the fact that this time of year lends itself to relaxed drinking standards in the name of holiday season. It can also represent separation and loss. It can also represent the addicts complete redemption. "Jesus is the reason for the season", as many yard signs and bumper stickers say. Jesus is also the reason I'm sober today. Jesus reconciled me to my heavenly Father. His birthday is not a "rough time of the year". It's about His beauty and splendor or in other words... glory. Don't listen to the lies this world tells about the Christmas Season. Listen to the beautiful truth of heaven: your Savior is born. 

PS   Welcome back T.J. 

Paul Email -7Dec2013- Forgiveness and Ministering

How you doin? What a painful night last night. Two little toes took my entire body down. Between 4pm and 6pm I was writhing in pain. The pain subsided slightly by 8pm. Today much better. Still painful, but tolerable. This morning God showed me the importance of each part of the body. As I said, 2 small toes practically crippled my entire body. Thinking about that in Spiritual terms and applying it to the body of Christ is helpful. It's my humanity that sees different parts of the body as more important then others. 2 Corinthians 2 today.

Verses 6-8, "The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. ⁷ Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸ I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him." This could be the best set of verses about forgiveness. These along with verses 10-11,
"Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, ¹¹ in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes." Forgiveness is for us. It's so "Satan might not outwit us" and so "we are not unaware of his schemes". These are 2 incredible reasons to forgive.

Verses 15-16, "For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life." COME ON!!!!!!! That's a good word. WOW!!!!!!! Can you imagine being "the pleasing aroma of Christ" to God. That makes me more then excited. I pray everyday for the Holy Ghost to lead into obedience and actions that will be pleasing to my Father. More then that I pray for the revelation of the fullness of Christ in me. I know for sure that Father God is pleased with Jesus. This chapter is very encouraging.

Verse 17, "Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God." Again Paul speaks of sincerity. Sincerity cleanses the conscious. Again Paul qualifies "in Christ we speak before God with sincerity". SO GOOD!!!!!!! Forgiveness right into ministry. AWESOME!!!!!!! Be "the pleasing aroma of Christ" today.

PS   Thank you for your prayers. I can feel them. It wouldn't be going this well today without them. Love yuz.

Paul Email -6Dec2013- The Comforter 2 Cor 1

How you doin? God hasn't healed my toes. It looks like surgery will go through. This will be rationalized as God's plan for me. I do believe His plan can be different then His will. The 6 weeks recovery time from surgery seems to be a set up. I had a word come to me this morning that this next 6 weeks is a "stop taking your medicine" moment. When God healed me of my arthritis, I had been praying for months. One day I asked Him why He wasn't healing me and He said as clear as day, "you're still taking your medicine". I stopped taking my medicine and am still arthritis free 3 months later. I believe I have a call of ministry and worship on my life. I believe God will be using this time away from the "medicine" of worldly resources to teach how to use the resources of Heaven. The resources of Heaven are necessary for us to step into and walk in our destiny of ministry and worship. There will be more on this at some point. 2 Corinthians 1 today.

I'm trying not to over look the 1st two chapters in this book, because of my love for chapter 3. So far so good. Verses 3-4, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." Rick Warren said, "God is not concerned with our comfort... He is concerned with our character". I believe Rick was trying to reconcile hardships in our lives. I think this is wrong teaching. God is compassionate and comforting. The Holy Ghost that lives in me is called the "comforter". Human understanding is limited. We as people tend to give God credit for stuff that isn't His. I've learned not to thank God for my trials and tribulations, but to thank Him for sustaining and comforting me through them. I believe that sin, particularly drinking, caused the arthritis that caused the weakness in my foot that caused the dislocation of my toes. God doesn't get the credit for my sin. However, God will sustain me through this situation. He is comforting me with the thought of time spent with Him. God can bring good out of bad. He's in the business of redemption and reconciliation. COME ON!!!!!!!

Verse 12, "Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace." I love what God is teaching me about conscience. My conscience of His grace instead of my sin. That's a good word. The wisdom of the world is all about sin and death and attempts to avoid them on my own. I've already proven to myself beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will fail... on my own. I want to boast that my conscience testifies that I've conducted myself "in the holiness and sincerity that are from God". COME ON!!!!!!!

Verses 20-22, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. ²¹ Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, ²² set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." YES & AMEN!!!!!!! That's going to be on my mind all day. "Seal of ownership", "Spirit in our hearts", and "guaranteeing what is to come". WOW!!!!!!! What is to come? For me, that is the revelation of the fullness of Christ in me. COME ON!!!!!!! Using and relying on the resources of Heaven. AWESOME!!!!!!! Say "YES & AMEN" to the deposit of the Spirit in your heart today.

PS   Please pray for me and Stacey to be attuned to the Spirit of revelation to reveal the resources of Heaven to us during this time away from worldly resources.

Paul Email -5Dec2013- Do Everything in Love

How you doin? As much as I seek God's face and voice, sometimes He doesn't say what I want to hear. For some reason I allow external situations to affect me WAY too much. Work is my biggest battle as it is for many. I allow financial insecurity to give fear (Satan) a stronghold on me. As if God hasn't demonstrated that He provides ALL that I need/want. I found myself eating yesterday until I was bloated and sick. The Holy Ghost convicted me to stop eating for comfort. That He is the Comforter. I felt bad about myself and at the same time great about the fact that I was convicted by the Holy Ghost even in my weakness. 1 Corinthians 16 today.

The final chapter of 1 Corinthians. Verse 13-14, "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. ¹⁴ Do everything in love." It's interesting that being on guard, standing firm in faith, being courageous and strong, are associated with doing everything in love. Love is the ultimate weapon in spiritual warfare that rages on. I love what Bill Johnson says, "spiritual warfare is the only war that you don't look at your opponent... you stare at the Victor." "Do everything in love." 4 powerful words. God is love. Could this read, "Do everything in God"? Jesus made clear that He was in the Father and Father was in Him. John 14:10-11, "Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. ¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves."  This is something that really can't be missed. John 5:19-21, "Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. ²¹ For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it." COME ON !!!!!!! Jesus, as a man, was the perfect reflection of Father God. Can you imagine seeing all that God does. POWERFUL!!!!!!! We actually have it better. John 14:15-21, “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹ Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” WOW!!!!!!! The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in me. Jesus saw everything that the Father did because the Father loved the Son. By loving Jesus with 100% of myself He will show Himself to me. COME ON!!!!!!! Jesus' acts on the cross reconciled us to the Father. Here comes the oil and tears. AWESOME!!!!!!! John 14:20-21 is mind blowing and mind changing. "On that day", when Jesus defeats death. I get to live on this side of the cross. PRAISE JESUS!!!!!!!

When God calls me out onto the "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)". Into the mystery of the great unknown. "The Spirit of truth", will reveal the mysteries. The mysteries that God hinds for me not from me. Colossians 1:25-27, "I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." I say YES & AMEN!!!!!!! I feel free. COME ON!!!!!!! Christ in me. HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!! I'm a mess and I  don't want to be fixed up. Lord just lay me out. Rend my heart oh Lord. Fill me to my capacity of Christ in me. Do everything in love today.

PS   I so seek an intimate relationship with the Father. Jesus makes it possible. The Holy Ghost allows it possible for the fullness of Christ to be known to me. I don't care how it manifest. I just want to be in His Presence.  

Paul Email -4Dec2013- A Life-Giving Spirit

How you doin? A rough morning here at home today. My external conditions are effecting my internal conditions. This never goes well for me. I'll be praying against those who lay in wait to pounce on me when I look away from Jesus. I'll need to brush them off and turn my eyes upon Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15 today.

This is a chapter that demands a response and serious consideration. It's about "The Resurrection of Christ", "The Resurrection of the Dead", and "The Resurrection Body". Very heavy, but AWESOME!!!!!!! reading. Verses 12-14, "But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." WOW!!!!!!! This Scripture speaks of the natural and the Spiritual realms. So interesting. Verse 17, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." That's something to think about. I can't afford for my unbelieving to keep me in my sin. Human understanding is weak. Spiritual understanding is everything.

Verses 20-22,"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." AWESOME!!!!!!! Adams disobedience led to death. Christ's resurrection leads to life. I'll just reach right out and grab that.

Verse 24-26, "Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. ²⁵ For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy to be destroyed is death." HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!! When Jesus said, "It is finished", it's because He defeated death and handed the Kingdom over to God. PRAISE JESUS!!!!!!!

This chapter is loaded. Verses 33-34, "Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”³⁴ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame." I think Paul should tell the Corinthians what he really thinks. Purity keeps coming up in a big way. I generally try to avoid this subject due to the fact that the old covenant teaching I've received all my live keeps mixing into the new covenant grace I'm so extremely lured to. The Holy Ghost will undo me completely. The process is well in motion.

There is SO much in the Bible about the transformation from old covenant to new covenant. Water into wine, new wine in old wine skins, law and grace. Here's one that will make you think. Verses 44-49, "If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven.⁴⁸ As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. ⁴⁹ And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man." I can't depend on my human understanding for this. WOW!!!!!!! COME ON!!!!!!! & HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!! That's beyond a good word. The 1st Adam was given power, authority, and was to reign on this earth. He handed it over to Satan through sin. The 2nd Adam (Jesus) also had all authority and power. Matthew 28:18, "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." When Jesus defeated death through His resurrection He "handed the Kingdom over to God". He won back what the 1st Adam lost. COME ON!!!!!!! Adam's disobedience led to death. The law leads to death. Jesus leads to life. I for one want to follow Jesus. Jesus had authority here on earth as a man. He ascended into Heaven and left us in charge. Luke 10:19, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, lives in me. Grace and faith make it possible for me to receive my inheritance. AWESOME!!!!!!!

Let me land this. As it is so often the last couple verses of the chapter bring it all together. Verses 56-58, "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." The old covenant makes us sin conscious which leads to death. The new covenant make us grace and love conscious which leads to resurrection and life. COME ON!!!!!!! Be alive in Christ today. 

PS   PLEASE read this entire chapter and ask the Holy Ghost to guide you through it and to give you understanding.

PPS   There's probably 10 or more emails in this chapter.

Paul Email -3Dec2013- Love Desire Gifts Prophecy

How you doin? Today is a bitter sweet day. My cousin Chuck's birthday (40th) and the anniversary of my mom's death (15th). It's hard to believe she's been gone for so long. It's also hard to believe my cousin, who's like a brother to me, is that old. 1 Corinthians 14 today.

Verse 1, "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy." What a loaded verse. "Follow the way of love". God is love. Jesus is love. Jesus is called the "Way". "Eagerly desire spiritual gifts". WOW!!!!!!! I love how these 2 things go together here. Following the way of love and eagerly desiring spiritual gifts. "Especially the gift of prophecy". Stacey is very prophetic. We are both very interested in spiritual gifts. When we read these verses in the past, we started praying for God to increase our desire for spiritual gifts.

The rest of this chapter goes on explaining the importance of prophecy. Verse 3, "But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort." I've never spoken or prayed in tongues. I'm not discouraged by this whats so ever. Verse 4, "Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church."

Without quoting every verse in this chapter, I'll say that Paul makes it clear that prophecy is better for the body of Christ and tongues is better for the individual, unless their is an interpreter. Spiritual gifts that interest me are prophecy and discerning of spirits. If the Holy Ghost offers me tongues, I'll certainly welcome that.

Prophecy edifies, strengthens, encourages, and comforts people. This sounds like it falls in line with love. I would think that if God feels as though I need to edify myself, He'll give me the gift of tongues. My heart for ministering is for the believer who doesn't receive the fullness of Christ in them. Prophecy certainly serves that ministry.

Verses 18-20, "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹ But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults." To me love is holding someone's well being in higher regard then my own. Tongues is for me... prophecy is for people. That's a good word.

This is an intense subject as many are. I would never come up against tongues. I understand that there are 2 meanings of tongues, 1) spiritual language (prayer) and 2) different languages. It's important to know which one we are talking about. This chapter really makes things clear to me. The bottom line is- 1) follow the way of Love (Jesus), 2) desire gifts of the Spirit, 3) especially prophecy. Determine what gifts of the Spirit you desire today.

Paul Email -2Dec2013- A skillful Praise

How you doin? Stacey's at work. We put our Christmas tree up yesterday. It's picture worthy. The trees theme is Philly sports and Harley Davidson. It is WAY RAD!!!!!!! Psalm 47 today.

This Psalm is 9 verses please read it today. Verse 1, "O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy." 3 years ago we went to our first Jesus Culture Conference. I was taken back by the concept of shouting to the Lord. Psalm 22:3, "Yet You are holy, O You who inhabit the praises of Israel." I find myself feeling freer to shout out to the Lord during worship, because of this Biblical truth. I want to be in God's Presence really bad. If He "inhabits the praise of His people" then I want to praise Him as loud as I can. I've noticed a shift at our 9am worship service at church. The praise team plays 3 songs before the sermon. I've noticed His Presence more then ever at our church. I've noticed our congregation's response to His Presence. Praise is essential.

Verses 5-7, God has ascended with a shout, The Lord, with the sound of a trumpet. ⁶ Sing praises to God, sing praises; Sing praises to our King, sing praises. ⁷ For God is the King of all the earth;
Sing praises with a skillful psalm." "A skillful psalm". This is an interesting set of words. The Hebrew word for this is "Maskil". It references Psalm 142, which is David's prayer in the cave. David was in anguish. Psalm 142:1, "I cry aloud with my voice to the Lord". There is something about shouting to the Lord. Psalm 142:6-7, 

“Give heed to my cry,
For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are too strong for me.
⁷ “Bring my soul out of prison,
So that I may give thanks to Your name;
The righteous will surround me,
For You will deal bountifully with me.”

WOW!!!!!!! This is AWESOME!!!!!!! This sounds like a prayer that could be prayed often. "Bring my soul out of prison". COME ON!!!!!!! I'm feeling lead to shout "skillful praise" to the Lord. I don't want to cross any lines of respect, honor, or reverence for the Lord, but I really want to be in His Presence. If the Bible tells me that God inhabits the praise of His people, then I want to praise Him all day. Give a shout of praise to the Lord today. (Out loud)

PS   Try this in private. Shout out loud to the Lord in private. What we do in private is practice for what we do in public. I making a push for our 9am service to "give a shout of praise to the Lord".

Paul Email -1Dec2013- What is Love

How you doin? If I had to describe God in one word it would be "love". Years ago I read the book "The Covenant Marriage", by Gary Chapman. I read it then in an attempt to understand marriage. I want to read it again. This time in an attempt to understand my relationship with Jesus. 1 Corinthians 13 today.

In Chapman's book, he describes Biblical love as a decision. A decision to hold someones well being in higher regard then your own. This definition of love reminds me of Jesus. The world's view is that it's a feeling. If you fall in love, you can fall out of love. Chapman went on to say that divorce is common because we base our love for each other on how that person makes us feel. I've only been married for 6.5 years, but I know for sure we don't make each other feel good all of the time. I'm surprised at how the commitment and decision to be married and to love each other does make me feel good all of the time. That's a good word.

This chapter is titled "Love". Verse 4-7, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." I don't think I could find a better description of love then this one. I don't think I could find a better description of God then this one. I can see how love is a decision in these verses. None of these thing come very easily  to me. I need to decide to be patient, kind, forgiving (or keep no records of wrongs),... etc. Back to the Holy gym. I need to train for this stuff.

Verse 8, "Love never fails." That's a simple and powerful truth. Verses 9-10, "For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears." To me perfection comes through Jesus. It can be obtained here on earth as it is in heaven. COME ON!!!!!!! By receiving and understanding love, I can have access to the resources of heaven. Perhaps more on that in my book.

Verses 13, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Faith and hope partnered with God's grace leads to love. When I think of how God loves me, it's hard not to understand love. I've done very little to make Him feel good. That's why I pray all day for Him to increase my desire to love Him and for Him to rend my heart to poor His love in. AWESOME!!!!!!! The Bible offers me/us the best workout ever written. Jesus offers us the best trainer ever... the Holy Ghost. COME ON!!!!!!! Decide to love today.

PS   It's no coincidence that the 2 greatest commandments are first, love God and second, love your neighbor.   

Paul Email -30Nov2013- Drink the Spirit

How you doin? Boy, is this 12th chapter of 1 Corinthians right up my alley. Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Spiritual gifts, appointment from God, unity, and the internal work God has in me/us. COME ON!!!!!!! Some powerful reading here today. I'll take all of it.

Verses 4-6, "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men." I know that God has a work in me. I've experienced Spiritual gifts. Not nearly enough to quench my desire for the gifts. There is a work... not was a work in me. It's coming.

Verses 12-13, "Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." I love these verses. Unity through the Spirit. As any good recovering alcoholic would, I notice drinking references. Jesus' prophetic act of turning water into wine as His 1st miracle is supported in verse 13. The intoxicating drink that is the Spirit. COME ON!!!!!!! Gods word is food. Gods Spirit is drink. I get a kick out of the worlds counterfeit. Liquor stores advertise beer, wine, and spirits. The key is lower case "s". God is not the bartender of (s)pirits of this world. He will serve up some (S)pirit. I've written before of the vision I had when I was following Jesus and He we walked up to a library were everyone was reading and it was calm and peaceful. I followed Him right in. Then we left and He lead me to a saloon. It was like you would see in a western flick. The wood shutter doors, people falling out of the windows, and everything. It was loud, rowdy and scary. Jesus walked right in and I stop. He turned to me and said "they're just serving up the Holy Spirit". So I followed Him in. AWESOME!!!!!!! "We were all given one Spirit to drink". COME ON!!!!!!! Not spirits... one Spirit. That's a good word. I love how Bill Johnson put it, "when God offers food, eat... when God offers drink, drink". That makes it easy for me. Drink up today. 

PS   Verse 1, "Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be ignorant."

Paul Email -29Nov2013- Women Get It

How you doin? I'm quite the Black Friday shopper. I bought 2 saute pans for $4 more then one of them cost normally. I never left the house. I did have a hard time understanding our reading this morning. This happens very infrequently. 1 Corinthians 11.

Verse 1, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." I love this concept of mentoring or Spiritual parenting. I think we should all have a mentor, as well as have those we mentor.

Verses 11-12, "Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. ¹² For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God." I love this debate about women in ministry. I thank God every day for Stacey's wisdom, anointing, and love for God. When ever I try to get people to be on our ministry team at church, it's easier to get women. To me women are wired for love. To give and receive love. God is love. It just makes sense to me that women have an easier time receiving the fullness of the relationship we are invited into. Love is the bases and root of intimate relationship. I think we should listen to women more often.

Verses 31-32, "But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgement. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world." WOW!!!!!!! The Lord protects us in every way. When God's standard is hard for me to understand, I just lean on the fact that He loves me SO much. These verses help me understand the importance of holding myself to His standard. I don't want to be "condemned with the world". I'm called to be in this world, not of it. COME ON!!!!!!! Praise God for calling me. I can't even imagine going back a life without Him. Men, love the women in your life extra good today. Women, know that you are AWESOME!!!!!!! in our eyes and even more so in God's eyes today. 

PS   Stacey and I talk about the importance of knowing the condition and history of Corinth. Paul was writing to them with this knowledge. I call Corinth the "red light district". Prostitution, homosexuality, and sexual immortality was running rampant. Divorce was common as a result of this. Their church was in trouble as a result of this sinfulness. Check out the history of Corinth. It helps understand the emphasis Paul places on certain things. 

Paul Email -28Nov2013- God is Faithful

How you doin? Happy Thanksgiving. Stacey and I found ourselves praying for servant-hood hearts this morning. It's interesting how God is leading us to serve instead of being served during holidays and everyday. We really want the kids to understand that it's better to serve then to be served. 1 Corinthians 10 today.

The first 4 verses are interesting. They speak of the Old Testament Jews as being under the same "cloud", "passed through the sea", "baptized into Moses", and ate the same spiritual food". These verses show how it was the same God that lead the Jews of that time. Verse 4 is the best, "and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ." Jesus was very much part of the Old Testament. I love how this refers to Jesus as the rock that provides drink. Jesus' ascension allowed the Holy Ghost to come live in me/us. COME ON!!!!!!! The Holy Ghost is the drink.

Verse 13,"No temptation has seized you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." "God is faithful". He doesn't leave us out there on our own. I see my trials, tribulations, and temptations as the gym. They train me to desire the Presence of God 100% of the time. They train me to pray for open ears, eyes, mind, and heart. Open to the Holy Ghost. I believe God's promises. Not only that they're promises, but that He will keep them. This promise motivates me to search for the "way out" of temptation. It's interesting that following Jesus is referred to as "following the Way" Jesus is the Way out of temptation and into Heaven. AWESOME!!!!!!!

This chapter is full of of warnings. I don't take these warning lightly. I'm not exempt from choosing poorly or falling into temptation. It's God who offers me a "Way" out. Such a good word. Verses 20-21 are interesting, "No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. ²¹ You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons." This supports my theory that God and Satan do not hold hands walking through the park. God gave me a quote that I say often, "Demons partner with sin... God partners with me". I can be affected less by demons by seeking purity in my life. DIG IT!!!!!!! Demon activity may stay the same, but how it effects me can certainly change. I once had a vision of myself being very large (not fat... that's how I knew it was from God) and tiny demons were attacking me and bouncing off of me and falling to the ground. I pray to live in that type of refuge. God offers it and promises it. It's up to me to receive it. COME ON!!!!!!! The best part is that the Holy Ghost makes it possible for me to receive it. Look for the "Way" out today.