Family Friday 11/30: Get Lost

Good morning, men!

Last Friday we all got a rescue Message from Dustin sometime in the afternoon. Admittedly, he had to save the day because it was my day to write and I dropped the ball. Above is the reason why.

Y’all, I woke up in super dad mode. Totally forgot about the Message, made breakfast, drove my crew to the Christmas Tree Farm, and spent the day decorating for the Holidays. I’m not making excuses, but it made me realize how little I just totally shut out the outside world and focus totally on my family.

Every day has calls, texts, emails, social media….the list goes on. My challenge to each of you is to find a day this December, totally turn off the outside world, and get lost in the people that the Lord has blessed you with…..just not on a day you are supposed to write!

Have a blessed day!

M.I.T.T. ~ Runyan

The Helmet of Salvation

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17 NIV

One way we attack the enemy is using our helmet of Salvation.  Last night I listened to a guest speaker at a local church, and he broke down he armor of God from Ephisians 6:10-18….it was so powerful and I took so much from it, but one thing today I wanted to share was some truths about the helmet of Salvation.

Notice in the above statement I said “we attack” the enemy, keep in mind that God has fitted us with the armor needed to be offensive and not defensive in our battle.  We are prepared so do not sit back and be a counter puncher.

One thing I’ve noticed while being around more people recently is this tendency we have to seem mentally weak, specifically when it comes to expressing negative thoughts about ourselves.  Condeming thoughts that are a result of listening to the lies of the enemy, and now unfortunately believing it (I am guilty too). When you express it out of your mouth, you are saying “I believe the lies the enemy has bombarded me with, I give in, I am what the enemy says I am.”

Did you know that the frontal lobe of your brain allows you to actually step outside your own brain so to say, and actually think about your thoughts? That’s right you have the ability to think about how you think! As Pastor Doug stated last night, it is time for us to take ground in that 6” battlefield that exists between our ears, the mind! Why, would the enemy attack me in a certain area of my mind? Why, would this type of stuff even bother me? Why do I feel this way?

We must put on the helmet of salvation daily, before we even consider going out into the world. Protect your mind, and make a choice to think positively.  Please first consider what God says about you: free, forgiven, chosen, fearfully and wonderfully made, loved, unique, amazing, powerful.

Romans 8:1

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

BELIEVE IT, HAVE FAITH IN IT! AND FIGHT YOUR FIGHT!

with love, dlp

I AM A MAN IN THE TRENCHES FOR THE KINGDOM

The Lie of Scarcity

Good morning, men!

Yesterday, as I drove to Searcy, AR for work, I listened to a podcast from Red Church in Melbourne, Australia. If you haven’t ever heard Mark Sayers preach, I would highly recommend!!

His message, though highly detailed, was pretty simple in the end. He was reading a passage out of 2 Corinthians about being a cheerful giver. Here are the bullet points:

* Modern society tells us that things are scarce, and if we don’t watch out, they will be taken away from us.

* This feeds a consumer mindset that promulgates the need to buy more, make more, and fuels anxiety.

* This shifts us away from giving generously and towards hoarding our money/ time/ talents.

* The GOSPEL truth is that Gods goodness is unending, and even if we suffer, he provides for us eternally.

What a powerful message, especially close to the holidays. Find ways this week to be open handed and generous with all that God has blessed you with. In the end, it’s all His anyway!

Have a blessed day, men!

M.I.T.T. ~ Runyan

 

Two sides to the coin

Good morning men. Last week was a great thanksgiving week. We got to meet with both sides of our family and see relatives that we don’t get to see very often and enjoy some wonderful food together. For my dads side, thanksgiving is a bittersweet holiday. 4 years ago my grandmother on my dads side passed unexpectedly from a heart attack 4 days before thanksgiving. So unfortunately it sometimes serves as a somber reminder of her passing. We can rejoice though because she knew and loved the Lord and knows more glory than we ever will on this earth.

On the other side is my moms. We are so wonderfully and gratefully blessed to still have both of her parents. My grandparents turned 94 and 92 last month and yesterday they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. They are the picture of love men and of a biblical couple. Their faith in the Lord has always been at the center of their lives and relationship and he has used them to teach and show others how we ought to love, respect and honor one another and most importantly to give thanks back to God in all things.

I say that point to say this and it’s something I have touched on before: we all have different perspectives. One side of my family this holiday can be a sad reminder while the other is a time of celebration. Always be in prayer for our fellow man because we don’t know what they are going through. Prop one another up in love.

Have a great week in the trenches men.

The good thing about a blizzard…

The blanket of white snow is a great reminder that even though we were stained red because of our sins, they have been washed clean with the blood of Christ and made white as snow.

Psalm 51:1-7

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Isaiah 1:18 : ““Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

Snow has a purpose and like rain is a good illustration of the purpose of God’s word

Isaiah 55:6-11

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found;call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

So stay safe my brothers and give thanks for even a snow blizzard can remind us of God’s awesome grace!

Psalm 119

Pastors, it is your exceptional opportunity to share your ordained message today.

I listen to the Bible when I drive and on Saturday I listened to Psalm 119. I’m not sure what is going on in your life right now, but Psalm 119 seemed to have it covered.

I believe that there is a verse in that scripture for you to pray on. Take a look and see what it provides. We all make mistakes, learn from them and work to improve every day.

Make it a great week in the trenches. Be exceptional at being you.

Love,

Yancey

Give Within Your Means

Deuteronomy 16:17

17 Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.

Men, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

After seeing all of the numbers and chaos associated with Black Friday, I’m hoping that today’s scripture serves as a reminder to give within your means.

Jesus is the reason for the season. It is not impressing people with gifts. Give meaningful gifts that will create everlasting memories, touch the heart of the person receiving the gift and glorify God. Teach those around you to be meaningful in their giving, as well.

Make it a great Saturday in the trenches. Be exceptional at being you.

Love,

Yancey

This Is How I Fight My Battles

Thankful

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
Hebrews 12:28 NIV

I just really hope that today each and everyone of us can understand how much we truly have to be thankful for. We serve an unbelievable God, who loves us more than we could ever imagine.  We have a biblical hope that overcomes worldy hope, it’s a hope with a finality, we meet Him face to face one day in eternity.

I am thankful today for a lot of things God has given me, but what I am really thankful for is God.  Keep it simple today, be thankful that we have a God that blesses beyond all measure, and a Lord who was willing to leave His place on high to become like us, and give us His presence.

We have the best blessing of all: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.  Be thankful for that, it’s a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

M.I.T.T.

with love, dlp