1 Chronicles 29:17 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.

Our twentieth president of the United States was James B. Garfield. This man only served as a president for two hundred days before he was gunned down and killed. History says that in the 1880 Republican Convention was in a deadlock on who would win the ballot. Somehow Garfield’s name got placed on the Republican Ballot, and he wins.

This man was the only ordained minister to be elected president. He was a man who had chosen to live a life in godly virtues. He made this statement, and I think all of us can resinate with what he says, “I mean to make myself a man, and if I succeed in that, I shall succeed in everything else.”

Men, succeeding is choosing to live a life of godly virtues, to delight in living in uprightness, and to be a man of integrity. I believe James Garfield made those choices early in life. We never know when those defining moments will show up in life.

I am realizing that more and more as the older I get, that you can work on living a life of integrity to only lose it in a moment of a bad decision. I want to choose to “Make myself a man” who walks in the uprightness of the Lord. When I do that, I will always have integrity in my heart.

Strength and Courage

Michael

We want to promote the Klompen Classic this year. You can run or walk. This is held on May 2 and costs $25.00 if you preregister. For you fitness folks, it is a great event. Go to www.crossroadspella.org for more information. If you show up, you will see my wife and I running the 5K. Well, you will see us jogging at an easy pace. But, the key is, we are moving and having fun.

Strength and Courage

Michael

Deuteronomy 4:1 New International Version (NIV)

Obedience Commanded

4 Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.

Moses was giving the Israelite people a blue print for their life and how to take possession of the land that God was giving to them. I first have to ask how did you create a blueprint for your life?

This is a critical question. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal a plan for your life. This is essential. Today, I would like to give you two nuggets that will help you on your trajectory of life in taking the land God has promised you.

Nugget #1: Do You Hear God’s Decrees?

God has a decree of redemption for all mankind. God did this by having His Son go to the cross in which he shed his blood for your forgiveness of sins.

Nugget #2: Do You Hear God’s Laws?

These laws are God’s teaching in both the Old and New Testaments. Are you hearing it? 

Men, when we realize that God has decrees for our lives, and they are within the Bible, we have the blueprint for our lives. Through God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit, we can and will possess the land God has given each one of us. We each have a blueprint for our lives. Let’s possess it and take the land.

Strength and Courage

Michael

Men, I strongly encourage you to look at the fellowshipofthesword.com for upcoming Quests for men. We have partial scholarships for any man who wants to attend. This event will help you uncover, unlock, and unleash your heart.

Strength and Courage

Michael

John 20:2 New International Version (NIV)

² So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved,and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

Mary Magdalene went to the tomb that Sunday morning, but found the stone rolled away. At this moment, Mary had not seen Jesus. In her mind, the body had been stolen. So, like anyone else she pulls up her garments and runs back to find Peter and John.

We then see Peter and John go running to the tomb. It is a foot race, and of course, the younger disciple, John, gets there first. Now, here is an important piece that you do not want to miss. John stops at the opening of the tomb, he looks in, and assesses what has happened. Why did he hesitate?

Then, there is Peter. It says in Scripture that he went straight in. I love that. He had no hesitation. He wants to see for himself. But here is another important part. John saw and believed. Peter did not. Again, I have to ask why did John believe and Peter did not?

It was not until Jesus appeared to them later behind locked doors that Peter did believe.

I try to put myself into those moments. What if I was John or Peter? Would I have believed? Would I have come running? 

Men, my heart, my soul, and my spirit wants to run to Jesus and lift Him up for what He did on the cross for me and for you. Jesus later tells his men this: John 20:29b Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

That is us!

Strength and Courage

Michael