Different

As men in the trenches for the kingdom are we choosing to be “different”? Obviously, by saying different I am not saying we set ourselves apart because we draw attention to ourselves the way the world would expect.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 NIV

Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.
Psalm 4:3 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/psa.4.3.NIV

Today I challenge you to be “different”, that you choose an attitude of gratefulness and an understanding of God’s work and plans for your life. That no matter what the situation you are in high or low that you humble yourself before God choosing to love your neighbor and serve. That when you hear the word of God you react and respond and reject passivity.

Let’s choose to be “different” and let’s make a choice to show others the love of Jesus Christ.

With love, dlp

M.I.T.T.

Questioning a Question

Good morning, men!

Today I want to throw out there a conversation I had with Murray Watts yesterday. We were discussing the subject of talking to people about salvation and how, especially in the South, people will ask others, “Do you know, that you know, that you know?”

First of all, I want to say ANY conversation where you build up the courage to ask someone about their salvation is a good one. But as a salesman, I’m always trying to find ways to ask better questions that drive deeper conversations.

What if, instead of asking a question that can be glossed over with a quick “yeah, sure”, how about asking, “Have you ever been at a place in your life where ALL you had was Jesus?” You talk about a conversation changer! In sales we want to ask questions that extend the conversation, and I would venture to say that angle may drive the talk deeper.

I am thankful for all of you men and your willingness to further the Kingdom, however you do it!

Have a blessed day!

M.I.T.T. ~ Runyan

One Step Away

Good morning men!

Last year we had a new pastor come to our church and what a blessing they have been. At his previous churches, they have put on a men’s program depicting the last supper, Good Friday and the resurrection of Jesus. He mentioned he had trouble sometimes filling two roles. One being Jesus, for obvious reasons and the other: Judas. Also for obvious reasons. I got to thinking on that and I can see the problem with playing Jesus. We aren’t worthy, not even close to depict our Lord.

For Judas, I can understand as well. Who wants to portray Judas since he betrayed our Lord. Well men, I have some bad news.

We are all Judas.

Yup. All of us. We’ve all fallen short just as Judas did. We are also the Roman soldiers who nailed Christ to the cross.

Thankfully though, Christ in his endless mercy has forgiven us all. All he asks is the we follow him. Rejoice today men in a compassionate and endless loving God and remember no matter how bad you think you are, Christ is there waiting with open arms for you to repent.

Have a great day in the trenches men.

God’s counsel

I’m going to keep it short and sweet today gentleman. As Christ followers, the Lord promises to lead & guide us as his adopted children and co-heirs with Christ.

Psalm 32:8: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”

2 Tim 3:16-17: 16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God^b may be complete, equipped for every good work.

John 14:25-26: 25“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

John 16:12-15: 12“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

How blessed are we to have such counsel! Thanks be to the Lord for his amazing grace and love for us that He uses us for His glory and our good!!!!

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Matthew 26:69-75

69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”

74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Pastors, you may be in a place where weather is having an impact on your service. Don’t preach to the open seats, give the people in attendance everything you’ve got.

A bit of a stretch in the correlation today, but stay with me. We got some new software at work that blocks all kinds of sites from the inappropriate sites to Facebook to The Manly Message. I can no longer read or work on it from work. It even blocks the message on my phone.

Not being able to get to the message made me think of denying Christ and then Peter’s denial. There are so many places that need Christ, but aren’t getting Him. I believe that’s where we come in. Spread the Word; make a way for Him to be wherever we are.

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

Love,

Yancey

Faith In Action

Hebrews 11:1-13

11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.

No narrative needed today, men. This passage speaks volumes. Keep your faith strong. Make it a great Saturday in the trenches. Be exceptional at being you.

Love,

Yancey

Family Friday 2/22: Inspiration

Good morning, men!

Today I want to talk about inspiration and where our inspiration comes from. Earlier this week I shared that I was inspired by a conversation by my son. Most days, my drive to get up and go to work has to do with the inspiration to be a good provider.

What I want to consider is this:

What if a belief that God’s perfect plan was active in our life and we were LIVING his purpose was the direct inspiration of our actions?! Would that not change our daily outlook?

Jeremiah 29:11 says:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Head out this weekend filled with a drive rooted in the fact that God plans to PROSPER you….and all you have to do is submit your will to Him. That’s good news.

Have a blessed day!

M.I.T.T ~ Runyan

Refine

Just a very quick statement this morning for you all. No matter what season of life you are in today, give praise and glory to God. This is where I am at, believing that no matter the issue, My Savior is going to use it for good! He is using it to draw me closer to him and can also use it to draw others closer to him! That Mnt Everest, one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world was caused by grinding and friction that could have been as slow as 10cm per year!

God is a refiner and a builder. He wants the best for us!

With love dlp

M.I.T.T.

Be Thankful

Good morning, men!

2 Corinthians 9:11 says:

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.

Today, very quickly, I want us to think about two things: generosity and thankfulness. The two feed off of each other. When we are generous, people are naturally thankful. In turn, when we give thanks to God for our blessings, that SHOULD drive us to be more generous towards others.

Next week I will be in St. Louis for a work meeting. Our regional business leader has asked me and another rep from North Dakota to speak to the group about thankfulness and a “glass half full” approach to our job.

First, I was humbled and honored that Russ would consider me for the opportunity. Trust me…..there are some days I don’t feel very “glass half full.” Secondly, I immediately began to ask God to turn this into a gospel opportunity. Pray for me as I prepare and that the Spirit would guide my words.

Have a blessed day and try to find ways today to spread generosity and thankfulness to those you encounter!

M.I.T.T. ~ Runyan