Put ‘Em Up

Deuteronomy 20:4

4 For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

Pastors, it is Sunday and chances are the weather may have some of your members gloomy after the nice weather. You have a great opportunity to remedy that today. To al, please pray for our flooded areas in the Midwest.

Men, I’m sure you have heard the saying, “brining a knife to a gun fight,” but it turns out that that isn’t the case at all. If God is with you fighting your battles, what else or who else do you need??!! Don’t be inactive, but let God do what He does to help all of us.

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

Love,

Yancey

Are We Giving Enough?

Mark 14:3-9

³ While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

⁴ Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? ⁵ It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

⁶ “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷ The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. ⁸ She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.⁹ Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

I was talking to my supervisor’s supervisor earlier this week and we got to talking about how our school district doesn’t have a lot, but it gives what it can when it can. I got to thinking about this verse in that conversation. What I find a little ironic about this passage is that when this story is told in John, it is Judas who says that the perfume could be sold for the poor.

What I admire about this woman is that she gave what she had. I’m certain that we all can learn a lesson from her and her willingness to give.

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

Love,

Yancey

Family Friday 3/ 29: I’ve Got Your Back

Good morning, men!

At the end of last week, my oldest son asked if I would buzz his hair. He said he wanted to be “bald like dad.” We shaved it off, threw some Vanilla Ice lines in there and he LOVED IT.

Well, fast forward a couple days to school letting back in from Spring Break and the story changed a bit. When Derek went to school, kids made fun of him. They said he was ugly and bald and his head looked weird. He came home crying and very upset. We sat down and talked as a family about how some kids at his school don’t know Jesus, and they sometimes say things to hurt others to make themselves feel better.

Last night, I got a series of texts from one of his best friend’s mom. She said Jax was upset over kids poking fun at Derek and didn’t want him to be alone….so he asked to shave his head too! He even talked his little brother into joining.

Two things:

1. When we see others around us hurting, find ways to love them like Jesus would.

2. Be proactive when talking about bullying with your kids. Whether they are on the giving or receiving end, it happens more than we think.

Have a blessed day, men!

M.I.T.T. ~ Runyan

Stand In Your Love

Thank you for today’s inspiration of the message Weimer!

Please just soak in this message from the Lord. Have a blessed day standing in His love!

When darkness tries to roll over my bones
When sorrow comes to steal the joy I own
When brokenness and pain is all I know
Oh, I won’t be shaken, no, I won’t be shaken

My fear doesn’t stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn’t stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn’t stand a chance
When I stand in Your love!

Shame no longer has a place to hide
I am not a captive to the lies
I’m not afraid to leave my past behind
Oh, I won’t be shaken, no, I won’t be shaken!

‘Cause my fear doesn’t stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn’t stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn’t stand a chance
When I stand in Your love!
Oh, I’m standing

There’s power that can break off every chain
There’s power that can empty out a grave
There’s resurrection power that can save
There’s power in Your name, power in Your name
There’s power that can break off every chain
There’s power that can empty out a grave
There’s resurrection power that can save
There’s power in Your name, power in Your name!

My fear doesn’t stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn’t stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn’t stand a chance
When I stand in Your love!
Oh when, when I’m standing in Your love
Oh, my fear doesn’t stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn’t stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn’t stand a chance
When I stand in Your love!

Oh, oh-oh, I’m standing in Your love
I stand in Your love
Standing on the rock
Oh, I’m standing, standing in Your

lovehttps://youtu.be/1T2tMt0Ky6g

With love dlp

M.I.T.T.

Our Words Matter

Good morning, men!

I will keep it short and sweet today. The idea that our spoken words, as Christians, matter is something I have struggled with my entire life. I find myself far more cognizant of what I say at 37 than I was at 27, but I still have days and times where I look back and think, “that did absolutely no good for the Kingdom.”

A few things to consider when, as disciples, we are talking or posting publicly:

1. Have I prayed about this subject?

2. Does this comment, conversation further God’s kingdom or hurt it?

3. Would I make the same comment if I knew my pastor/ wife/ mother heard it?

Those are pretty good filters to put on our mouths and social media accounts. It is something I have to ask myself every day! Keep up the good work and have a blessed day!

M.I.T.T. ~ Runyan

Seasons Part III

Good morning men!

I am going to continue to piggy back off of the last two messages pertaining to seasons. Hopefully wherever you may be, spring is FINALLY starting to show up. I know here in our part of AR, it has been a long, cold and wet winter. No snow. Just tons of rain that doesn’t seem to let up. However, everything is starting to bloom. Winter is turning to summer and the old is gone and the new is here.

Revelation 21:5 “Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!

Men we all go through seasons. Even after we are saved. The devil never quits and it may seem like you are in a dark cold winter. We serve a Lord though that gives us an eternal spring. In Him we are new. In Him we don’t have to worry. Trust and obey. We have great news for those who are lost and are struggling. Even though we are saved, we still struggle. We know the war is won though men and we can rejoice in that.

Have a blessed week in the trenches.

Our focus determines our attitude

To continue with Yancey’s post on seasons of life, this weekend didn’t quite go as planned and our season of life smacked me right in the face. As a father of 5 and a sales rep who already drives a lot over the road, I admit I’m not a huge fan of driving all over the place when I am home. But this is the season of our life: where all of our kids have activities making family planning really tough & typically revolves around running people everywhere. This weekend was supposed to be a good family weekend with my oldest son Seth before he heads back to school after spring break. We still had family time but it was rushed with all the activites. Seth had a good attitude, but I will admit my frustration was starting to build.

My focus was wrong as it was on MY expectations and my circumstances versus leaning on the Lord and being a fluid servant leader. The Lord addressed this in multiple ways:

James 1:2-5:2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, ^a whenever you face trials of many kinds,3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 

Then my Dad came over for a visit. My Dad is 75 and was diagnosed recently with prostate cancer. Thankfully they caught it early, but he still has to go through radiation for 8 weeks starting today. 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Was my Dad frustrated, downcast, worried, upset? No. My Dad knows its in the Lord’s hands and the Lord will get him through it one way or the other.

One thing I have learned with my Dad, he is the stereo typical little guy you do not want to underestimate. He is my height at 5’6″. He is not heavy or skinny. He is a lover and a fighter and one of the toughest guys I know having gone through not 1 but 2 heart valve replacement surgeries, and hernia surgeries. Yet at 75 he still loves to bowl and golf.

This Saturday he and I just talked. And I was so thankful for our conversation and his attitude. I love my Dad and I ask for your prayers that his radiation therapy goes without any issues or side affects. Pray that He has his eyes fixed on the Lord still and not his circumstances.

Which is when the Lord brought this verse to my mind this morning after I reflected over the weekend. It is the passage in Hebrews right after chapter 11 (which is often called the Hall of Faith for all the broken OT heros named who lived by faith). It is also a reminder of what Jesus faced during this season as He approached the cross.

Hebrews 12:1-3: 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Men let us all fix our eyes on Jesus rather than our expectations and circumstances. We know the war was already won by what Jesus did by living in perfect obedience to the Father and laying his life down on the cross, then being raised to life to conquer sin and death and providing the opportunity for us for eternal life through adoption as sons, His coheirs; children of God. If we focus on Jesus and clothe ourselves in His character and who we are and what we have in Christ, the trials of this life will seem a whole lot less daunting and our attitudes will shine the light of Christ to those around us. I am preaching this to myself as much as to anyone else as it is something I need to remind myself everyday.

March Madness and the Seasons

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Pastors, be excited for your opportunity today.

In watching the NCAA tournament the example of seasons becomes even more real with each game. Some players will finish their basketball careers and start their professional careers away from the game. Some players will play professionally before they have to hang it up. Some players will be back next year. Same with the coaches, some retire, some will be back, some won’t.

That’s where we all are right now, in a season. Is it time to stay, to go, to completely change or keep things the same? Graduations are just around the corner, they signify a change in the season, as well.

Whatever the season, our faith needs to be at our forefront. Stay strong in your faith. We’re here if you need us.

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

Love,

Yancey

Like It or Not

Colossians 3:23

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Men, where are you at in your work life? Do you like your job? Do you like your boss? I hope that yes is the answer.

Regardless, keep in mind that all you do should be done to glorify the Lord. If you like your job, chances are that liking your boss and glorifying God is easier than if you don’t.

I hope today’s message helps keep things in perspective. Make it a great day in the trenches. Be exceptional at being you.

Love,

Yancey