Acts 3: A New Insight

Yesterday at Church the Pastor performed a solo skit of the lame man who was healed by Peter and John at the Gate Beautiful in Acts 3. It was a very moving performance. And at the end of the service several people accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Pastor Greg gave us a dramatized insight into the life of the lame man before and after his healing. The focus was on Love. The love of the lame man's mother, the love of John and Peter, and ultimately the love of God the Father and Jesus the Son.

It was a transforming Love that had the power to heal the lame man both inside and out.

That's what Jesus' Love does. And when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior we are miraculously changed, too.

I remember that life changing event in my own life back when I was 20 years old at a little old First Baptist Church in Bay City Texas. I was healed. -Oh I wasn't lame physically, but I was definitely lame spiritually. But asking Jesus into my heart changed all that.

Unfortunately, for me life's road as a Christian has been rocky. And over the past twenty-two and a half years I really haven't made much impact on the world for Christ.

But honestly, yesterday's sermon really impacted me. I really like the perspective the Pastor showed us and I identify myself greatly with the 'lame man' much more now than I ever did.

Oh this world is so full of distractions, that is the problem. But we Believers must over come them and narrow our focus to the only thing that really matters: And that's telling others about Jesus Christ.

-And not only speaking the Truth verbally, but Living the Truth as a matter of our daily routine.

I definitely don't live the truth out -Especially around my family. - I'm acknowledging that fact and I'm most certainly giving it to God this morning.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord You are such a good, kind, and loving parent. You want only the best for Your children. I ask You this morning, Lord: Help me with my heart. Change me, Lord. I want to be transformed like the lame man at the gate beautiful. I want peace overflowing in my life, Lord. And I want to tell others about and help them find that peace.

Father God I just rest in You today. I am so weak, won't You make me strong...? Father God thank You for Pastor Greg's unusual sermon yesterday.

Thank You for my precious family. Thank you for all my tennis students. Lord, many young people are going back to school today. I lift them up, Lord. I lift up the teachers and all the support staff today too, Lord. I pray that all he Christians in school today will stand up and be a strong witness today and that lives will be forever changed through the power of Your Love.

Lord I especially lift up Connor today. Bless him Father. I pray that he continues to grow in You and that his light would shine brightly.

Father God I lift up my own tennis classes today. Many young people will be trying tennis for the first time and i just pray for a rich time of fun and enjoyment with all the glory going to You, my King.

Lord I pray for my career and work situation at Columbia Lakes. This place is most definitely a spiritual battleground. I lift up the management of the Hotel and the Country Club this morning. I pray for healing and that Your will be done. Father, I pray for my role in all this. How might I be able to witness to others in this sticky situation...? I know I am called to do something or I wouldn't be here in the first place.

I'm waiting on You Lord. I yield to You.

Father God I love You and pray these things humbly in Jesus' name, Amen.

Prayer for Christina

Lord, I lift up one of my tennis students to You today. Please bless 'Chrisina H' as she spends a weekend retreat at a christian camp working on her relationship with You. Father God I am so impressed when I observe young people publicly seeking You. It gives me great joy to see You are indeed raising up a mighy generation of workers for the Harvest.

I pray that Christina will be transformed by this weekend. Father God you are a mighty God and I pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

Blessing for Today...

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord, I have a thankful heart this morning. The sun is shining. The birds are singing and the birds are chirping. -What a glorious day...!

Father God, I pray a blessing on my day today. I pray for a productive day of touching lives and accomplishin great things in Your name, for Your glory.

Lord I just give this day to You. I'm not going at it under my own power. -I am nothing. And I can do nothing apart from You. Lift me up, hold me up, and enable me to be right in the middle of your will for my life, my King.

I love You Lord, and pray these things in Jesus' name.

Amen.

OK.. Didn't Have a Good Day, Certainly not a 'fruit of the spirit day'

Nope... It wasn't a good day. Sorry God. Really, I am. -As far as fruit of the spirit goes, I think my fruit trees are pretty barren right now....

Speaking of fruit of the spirit, I came across a good article on http://studylight.org/ about fruit of the spirit....

Check this link out: http://www.liveasif.org/view.cgi?type=w&list=20060912003


And that article link prompted me to conduct a search for this link of a humorous video containing the 'fruit of the spirit' song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1t8MVZRNb4


That was a little silly, I know. -However, I can't wait to teach Elijah that song...

But seriously, I need some intercessory prayer. -I'm definitely having a rough time of it right now.

I can't even hardly pray right now except to pray for forgiveness.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I am so sorry. I fell short of Your Glory again. (like always) I owe you a great BIG apology and I owe my precious wife one, too. I truly love you both but it would be difficult to discern that by my words and actions tonight, wouldn't it...?

Lord help me change. Bless my dear sweet wife for giving me grace on a daily basis. I most definitely don't deserve grace from anyone. By the way, thank You Lord for YOUR GRACE, too...!

Father God, thank You also for tomorrow. It will be a new day, and a new opportunity to do better and give You Glory You so richly deserve.

I Love You Lord and I pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

A Good Day...

I awakened this morning and found myself praying for a 'good' day. But I wasn't praying for a good day for myself.

I want to give a 'good' day to my Lord and Savior as a gift. Jesus Christ died for my sins.

He died for my 'bad' days.

So today I pray for no sin in my life. I pray for no anger. I pray for no negative thoughts to weigh me down.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I'm praying for a good day today. That's what I want to give You. I want you to have my BEST. Help me to be in the moment at all times. Help me to genuinely pour myself out to those around me. When I'm empty I pray that You'll just fill me up again, Lord.

Father God I'm praying for a transformation today. Help me to love better. Help me to live a life that honors You, my King.

Oh Lord You are so worthy of this. I love You my dear sweet Father God. And I pray these things in Jesus' name,

Amen.

John 13:35 -Live the Life

...By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another... John 13:35

HERE we Go. This verse jumped out at me this morning. I know I need to work on some relationships today.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I just give this day to You. I am doing nothing under my own power today. I am submitting completely to You, my King.

Help me to love my neighbor with Your love, Father. Let there be no animosity or indifference in my being today. Father God I truly rest in You today.

I love You, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Matthew 11:28

Come to Jesus if you are weary. Come to Jesus if you are heavy laden. HE will give you rest...

Jesus IS the answer. He IS the WAY.

This is one of those nights when I just can't sleep. This is a night when I just feel compelled to dive right in to THE WORD OF GOD. I don't want to stop until I have a renewed spirit...!

I am so tired and weary of my life as a lukewarm, mediocre, average christian. I have got to do things differently.

Why can't I rest in Christ, moment to moment, 24-7...?

I know the answer.

It's because I'm not fully committed to Christ. I'm not FULLY SURRENDERED.

OK, well what does 'Fully' surrendered look like...?

'Fully' surrendered means:

• Not Worrying about things -I am the chief sinner in this regard...
• Not being so busy -I've been in bondage to 'busyness' for years...
• Not getting so angry -I'm getting worse in this area, not better...
• Not speaking negatively of others -Why can't I control my tongue...?
• Actively spending more time in prayer -Duh...

Sam's Inventory: How surrendered am I...? Oh, on a good day maybe 60% surrendered. Most days probably less than half of my day is surrendered.

What's the solution to my problem...? Matthew 11:28

I've Got to REST in JESUS...

Let's Contact the General Contractor for Planned Parenthood

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This information was passed along to me from a friend at Texasfamilies.org. We have a great opportunity to make our voice heard about the subject of abortion today.

The general contractor for the remodel of the building at 4600 Gulf Freeway, owned by Planned Parenthood of Houston & Southeast Texas, has been identified. Upon renovation this building will be the largest free-standing abortion center in the Western Hemisphere.

The general contractor is: Meyerson Buiders Inc

Main Office: Meyerson Builders, Inc.1770 St. James Place, Suite 509 Houston, Texas 77056

Contact Jerry Meyerson

Telephone: 713.355.4443 Fax: 713.961.2830

E-mail: jerry@meyersonbuilders.com
________________________________________

Central Texas Office: Meyerson Builders, Inc. P.O. Box 523 Flatonia, Texas 78941

Contact Sandy Meyerson

Telephone: 361.865.3302

In a respectful way, please call, e-mail, fax and write to both offices. Then forward to your family, friends, church and business community.

State your opposition to the remodel of the building at 4600 Gulf Freeway into a late-term abortion center where unborn children will be killed in their mother's womb through six months of pregnancy(25 weeks). State that abortion hurts women in both a physical and psychological way and destroys families.

Let Jerry Meyerson and Sandy Meyerson know that you will be passing this information on to your family, friends, church and business community.

Texas Families Against Planned Parenthood
P.O. Box 301094 Houston, TX 77230
Phone: 713-395-1330
Email: staff@houstoncoalition.com

*******************************************************
To subscribe to the Texas Families Against Planned Parenthood e-mail list, please go to http://www.texasfamilies.org/ and add your name to the statement opposing Planned Parenthood's expansion.

Houston Coalition for Life, P.O. Box 301094, Houston, TX 77230

Psalm 29:2 -Giving God the Glory...!

This morning's scripture study verse from the Spurgeon Devotional is::

Give unto the Lord the Glory due His name... (Psalm 29.2)


Spurgeon questioned: What have we that has not come from the Lord...?

The answer: Nothing.

Oh, this is why God is opposed to the proud... (James 4:6)

Pride is something that I really have to work on because there are definitely times when I think too highly of myself. I can easily spot pride in other people, but am slow to acknowledge that it is also an issue with Sam Chadwell.

I think God has been working on that problem with me for a while, now. He's been taking me down a notch or two for some time...

I can't really elaborate more on this topic right now. I'd just like to let the implications of these two scriptures sink in awhile...

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I give my pride issue to You. I can think of no better words to describe my sentiment except those from Jude 1:24-25: Lord I give You all Glory, Majesty, Power, and Dominion over my life. You are the only one who can help me and save me. You are the only one who can keep me from stumbling.

Oh Father, I do hope to stand in Your presence one day blameless and full of Joy! But until then, thank You for giving me the revelation of my current condition. Thank You for this moment to recognize the error of my ways and repent. Thank You my Lord and King from whom all good things come...!

I love You Lord. And I give this day to You. Today is all about honoring You Lord and giving You the proper credit and respect You so richly deserve. I am going to honor You by loving others as You have commanded. I am going to honor You by giving my utmost for You.

Father I recognize that I am greatly blessed. I have been given so many Divine Favors that I daily take for granted while others around the world suffer persecution, cold and hunger. Clearly, You have set me apart from most of the rest of the world.

Lord I do thank and praise you. I acknowledge you as ruler of my heart and life. I will rest in You. I will walk in Your ways my King. -In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Genesis 24:63..Taking Time To Pray

Today's Lesson is about prayer. My inspiration for today's discussion began with the Charles Spurgeon Morning Devotional.

Genesis 24:63 records that Isaac went out to a field in the evening to pray. Spurgeon took note that Christ is 'Everywhere' and we can meet him right where we are: - in a field, in our house, or even on a crowded street. I totally agree with that. I have several special prayer places for myself including the family room and bedroom in my house, and the front seat of my car. I love the quiet moments when I am alone with my God.

Upon researching today's scripture verse I came across a comment made by Matthew Henry regarding Genesis 24:63:

He went out to take the advantage of a silent evening, and a solitary place, for meditation and prayer; those divine exercises by which we converse with God and our own hearts. Holy souls love retirement; it will do us good to be often alone, if rightly employed; and we are never less alone than when alone.

'We are never less alone than when alone..' -I think that's just beautiful. what a sweet moment in time when it's just God and I together, hanging out.

Being alone with God is an awesome experience but there's also something very special and inspiring to go outside and praise God among the trees, grass, and along with every living thing that God has made...

John Wesley had this to say regarding Genesis 24:63:

'...He went out to take the advantage of a silent evening, and a solitary field, for mediation and prayer. Our walks in the field are then truly pleasant, when in them we apply ourselves to meditation and prayer we there have a free and open prospect of the heavens above us, and the earth around us, and the hosts and riches of both, by the view of which we should he led to the contemplation of the Maker and Owner of all...'

I really identify with the way Wesley described: the hosts and riches of both the heavens and the earth around us leading to the contemplation of our maker....

In fact, I moved my family to West Columbia in the fall of 2005 because I wanted them to grow up in a country, rural area like I did. -I love walking alone in the morning or evening when I get a chance. The sounds of the morning insects and animals is sometimes deafening. I always consider that these created things are all giving glory to God in their own way. -I love to contemplate scripture and pray in that kind of venue, and you can't really find the beauty of nature like that in a built up, metropolitan area.

Some New Habits...

Yesterday I tried something different and I'm going to try it again today. I'm setting the alarm on my phone to go off every hour on the hour. The alarm is a reminder to pray. I'm trying to create an environment where I will begin to 'pray without ceasing'... I want to keep my day in tune with HIM. I want to make sure that I never get too wrapped up in a moment and stray from the ONE who deserves my complete devotion. So every hour on the hour through out my waking day I go through a 'quick checklist' that currently includes:

• Praise and Worship to the Creator of all Things...
• Thankfulness for my wife and family and my many other blessings...
• Intercession for current special interests which I might even write on the palm of my hand as a reminder of...
• Petition for personal and global needs

This new system worked pretty good for me yesterday. I'm trying it again today. And I'm going to add a scripture memory verse to my routine as well. Today's scripture memory verse will be from Charles Spurgeon's Morning Devotional: Psalm 92:4..... -YOU Lord have made me glad through Thy work, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands...

I hope to keep a sense of joy in my core being all day. Right now I have to remind myself constantly that I am saved and I should be living in Victory. In that way my cup of living water will overflow into the lives of others around me. THAT is what God desires of His children...!

You know, 'praying without ceasing' is a whole other level of consciousness...!

Oh I fully expect the enemy to challenge my new routine and throw every kind of distraction my way. I am ready. I am clothed in the full armor of God today, ready for battle...!

Today I will especially lift up my precious wife who will be teaching art classes to home schoolers.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord You are most wonderful and holy. You are the Creator of all Good things. You are my Savior and Redeemer. You are my Comfort. You are my Rock. I rest in You, my King.

Father God I truly give this day to You, in Your honor, for Your glory. Help me to firmly establish my new hourly routine of remembrance to worship and communion with You. Lord I do pray that it raises me to a whole new level of consciousness. How can it not...? How can I not be forever changed if I stand in Your holy presence and connect with You on a more frequent basis....?

Oh God I pray that there never be a 'disconnect' from You...!

Lord I lift up my precious family to You. I pray special blessings upon Monica as she officially begins her new teaching career today. Lift her up, Lord. I pray You enable her to speak and teach the truth boldly and that her words greatly impact the young lives of those children in her classes today.

Father God I just dedicate my whole day to You. Please protect me from the enemy's distractions and fiery darts today. Lead me not into temptation, Lord. Bless me, Father. And especially bless my speech as I communicate to my own group of young people today as well.

Help me to be bold and courageous for You Lord. Let me not be ashamed of the Gospel of Truth...

I love You Lord. And I pray these things in Jesus' precious, holy name, AMEN.

Today's Forcast: Cloudy

This morning I read Hebrews Chapters 11 and 12.

I love how chapter 11 explains what faith is and then goes on to list the roll call of 'faith heroes' recorded throughout biblical time. Then chapter 12 starts off by labeling these Heroes 'a great cloud of witnesses'.

You know, God knows and sees everything we do and think. But there is also a 'great cloud of witnesses' up there keeping an eye on us, too. These witnesses are those who have 'been there and done that...'

We can learn so much by examining the lives of the faithful who have gone before us. Did any of them have doubt at times in their lives...? -Sure. -Absolutely.

But the bible records how they all finished the race strong.

And so must I.

My problem is that I keep operating under my own power. Why am I such a stubborn man...? God has given me so many examples to follow.

You know, since I've been married to Monica I've observed her grow into a woman of strong faith. I've observed her prayer life grow and grow. I thank and praise God daily for my wife's encouraging presence in my life...!

Not only can I look at the lives of the great cloud of witnesses for an example I can also look at the life of my precious bride for a constant every day reminder. Oh I am blessed, indeed!

Today's Forecast is cloudy...! Praise God...!

Trusting God...

This morning's Oswald Chambers devotional was about trusting God...

Today's scripture verse is Matthew 8:26. Our God can do anything. And He desires good things for His people. Sadly, too many times my faith is like that of the apostles in the boat when the storm came up. My prayer today is for a firm unwavering faith and trust in God for all Good Things.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord hold me up, lift me up. Help my faith, Lord. This morning I am weak. But I know that You are strong and You love me and will guide my path and protect my family and I.

Father God, this morning I am just resting in You. Oh how I love You my King. I just give this day to You My Savior.

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Prayer for Today...

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I pray for myself today. Help me to grow into the man of faith You called me to be. Help me to be more like You. Help me to be kind, gentle, and most of all patient. Lord help me to manage the resources You have blessed me with a little better.

Father God help me to manage my time better. Time is one of the most valuable resources.

Lord Jesus help me to impact some one's life today in a positive way and make a difference in this world.

I love You Lord. And I am so sorry for being such a big sinner. I want to have nothing to do with things that grieve Your heart.

Thank You for all the blessings that I do not deserve in the least.

In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Dizzy from being Busy...

The title of my blog today is an interesting phrase isn't it...?

But I do think it accurately describes me. Oh there is a war being waged for how I spend my time right now.

'Dizzy from being Busy' is a phase I heard on a video my wife posted on her blog last night.

Being a living sacrifice is praise, worhip and devotion. Thanks Monica for Your daily witness...!

Love, Sam