Thursday, October 28, 2010

90 Day Challenge

Okay, so are you up for a challenge?  I challenge you to a duel.....sort of.  Head on over to www.youversion.com   I've taken the challenge to read the Bible in 90 days....not just the old testament and not just the new testament....THE ENTIRE BIBLE IN 90 DAYS! 

You can sign up on their website and choose whichever reading plan you want....Day 1 is almost over- I read 16 chapters this morning.  The cool thing about this site is, you have 40+ versions of the Bible to choose from- I'm using my new favorite: THE MESSAGE!  It flew by.  So, are you up to the challenge?  Come on!  Let's do this together.  We can even make a date to read the last chapter together on the last day of the challenge.  I'M BEING SERIOUS!  COME ON AND JOIN ME!  THE ENTIRE BIBLE IN 90 DAYS!

When you finish your reading, LISTEN LIVE AT http://www.whif.org/!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

God's Comfort

Ever read the 23rd Psalm?  No, I mean REALLY read it?  Here, look at this:

God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing.  You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from.  True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.

Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure.  You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies.  You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. 


Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.  I'm back home in the house of God... for the rest of my life! 

(taken from The Message version of the Bible)

So what's the theme here?  God is with us to comfort and bless us all the days of our lives.

Some Key verses that stuck out to me were "You walk at my side....you make me feel secure...my cup brims with blessing...I'm back home in the house of God...for the rest of my life!"

Through this passage, God tells me that no matter what, the good- the bad- the ugly...no matter what i do or where I may screw up, God is with me...NO MATTER WHAT!

Thank you, Father, for being there- for loving me in spite of myself and for the fact that it doesn't matter how far and hard I may try to run away from you...YOU ARE WITH ME and YOU STILL LOVE ME! Amen.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Here I Am...Send Me!

Do you ever feel like God is calling you to do something?  Ever feel like there is an urging your soul do something great for the Lord but you feel like you’re “unworthy”  because of something from your past?  Perhaps you feel like you’ve done something that God can’t “take care of”?

Let’s take a look at something from the book of Isaiah, chapter 6-

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."  Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 
With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."  Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"  And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Wow….that’s kinda cool but perhaps, if you’re like me, there are some words in there that are kind of hard to read and understand.  Like, what kind of name is “Uzziah” and just what exactly does the word “Attoned” mean?

Let’s read those verses again but this time, let’s read it from a different version:

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Master sitting on a throne—high, exalted!—and the train of his robes filled the Temple. Angel-seraphs hovered above him, each with six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two their feet, and with two they flew. And they called back and forth one to the other, Holy, Holy, Holy is God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

His bright glory fills the whole earth.  The foundations trembled at the sound of the angel voices, and then the whole house filled with smoke. I said, "Doom! It's Doomsday!  I'm as good as dead!

Every word I've ever spoken is tainted— blasphemous even!  And the people I live with talk the same way, using words that corrupt and desecrate.  And here I've looked God in the face!
The King! God-of-the-Angel-Armies!"  Then one of the angel-seraphs flew to me. He held a live coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. He touched my mouth with the coal and said,
"Look. This coal has touched your lips. Gone your guilt, your sins wiped out."  And then I heard the voice of the Master: "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?"

I spoke up, "I'll go.  Send me!"

WOW!  Straight out of the Word of God… you may be feeling like “Doomsday” has come to you and your house but let me tell you this:  If you are a true, born again child of God…if you have asked the Lord Jesus Christ to be your personal Lord and Savior, then your guilt is GONE!  Your sins are WIPED OUT!  It’s time to quit worrying about whether or not you are unworthy…God never calls the equipped to do His work…He equips the called.  All you need to do is show up!

If you have never asked Him to be your Lord and Savior, it’s this simple:
“Lord, I need your help.  I’ve done wrong and said wrong things…I’ve sinned.  Please, save me from MYSELF!  Be my Savior!”

That’s it!  Now, you need to find a good, BIBLE-BELIEVING-PREACHING-TEACHING church to attend.  If you need help finding one, feel free to email me at adamedwardgeorge@yahoo.com 

LISTEN LIVE AT WWW.WHIF.ORG !

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Better Today

I’ve recently come across an artist by the name of Coffey Anderson.  I must confess, I have become completely taken with his sound…..I know, SHOCKING…..  PLEASE don’t tell Third Day that I said that! 

He sings both Praise & Worship as well as secular ballads.  At the very end of this post, you’ll see a video of him singing one of my favorite praise & worship songs (I like that he also teaches people how to do the song).

Before you watch it though, I want you to think for a minute about the words to one of his secular songs called “Better Today.”  It’s a song about a man standing at the altar waiting to marry his wife.  It’s a beautiful song that I wish was around 4 years ago when Kelly and I got married.  However, the lyrics can sooo totally go to the spiritual realm.  Check it out:

And I wanna hear your voice, in the morning when I rise
I think I know I’m just a normal man, only made of sand
Except when you’re by my side….
…..you made me better today
Better than I was before
And now my heart can rest and I will search no more
You made me better today, today, today!

WOW!  If that doesn’t sound like the prayer of a redeemed soul, I don’t know what does.   I’m so thankful for that particular night 15 years ago when I came to the realization that I was just a “normal man, only made of sand” and that I needed Christ to be by my side.  Indeed, HE has made me better today!

Yes, today I am a better man, husband, father and minister because I called upon a Savior who can move the mountains…one who was mighty to save….now HE HAS CALLED US to shine His light and let the whole world sing….let them know that we are singing for the glory of the Risen King!....to let them know that because of Jesus, we are Better Today!


Wednesday, October 20, 2010

What is your role?

A lot of us have our quiet times in the morning, afternoon or evening when it's just us and the Lord working through the day's impending craziness or past exhaustiveness (yes, i just made up a word).

The book I've been using is called "A Leader's Heart: 365-Day Devotional Journal" by John Maxwell.  I have to share part of yesterday's with you.  Really made me think....I'm telling you what, God has a purpose and a plan and along the way, He is keeping me in check- this spoke to me BIG TIME!

2nd Kings 20: 2-3 says Hezekiah turned from Isaiah and faced God, praying:
      Remember, O God, who I am, what I've done! I've lived an honest life before you, My heart's been true and steady, I've lived to please you; lived for your approval.

    And then the tears flowed. Hezekiah wept.

Hezekiah was only one of two kingsin Judah who completely followed the Lord.  The prophet Isaiah had predicted Hezekiah's death but Hezekiah poured out his heart to God and reminded Him of His covenant. (Not that God ever needs reminding, I think God sometimes tests us to see that we are going to be faithful and true to our words).  God heard his prayer and healed him.  In fact, God gave him 15 more years on this earth.

As He so does for us, He did for Hezekiah what Hezekiah couldn't do for himself.  See, both knew their roles:

HEZEKIAH                              GOD
1.  Maintain a humble heart      1. Demonstrate grace and power
2.  Submit to God's values         2.  Control the destiny of the land
3.  Ask God to meet needs         3.  Respond to needs of people
4.  Stay faithful to covenant      4.  Stay faithful to the covenant

How are you fulfilling your role?

WOW!  That question just nailed me to the wall.  See, if you are like me, step 3 is soooo easy!  It's the others we have to work on.  Thank GOD that HE IS A GOD WHO STICKS TO HIS ROLE no matter how often we may wander from ours.

Dear Lord, thank you for the devotion you sent yesterday.  Help me to always remember my role and to not ever forget that YOU will ALWAYS remember YOURS.....no matter how often I may stray from mine.  Amen.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

You're Beautiful

My Station Manager, Robin Robinson, sent me this video this morning....as a pianist of 25 years, I am COMPLETELY blown away by this guy.  He has NO ARMS!  Yet, he plays gorgeously with his feet....and sings!  He was the winner of "China's Got Talent!"  For whatever reason today, I can't get the video to embed in this post so you're gonna have to click on the link to get to it. 

My question for you is this:  "What is holding you back from leaning on God and going after YOUR dreams?"  This guy lost both his arms at the age of ten yet he dreamed of being a pianist....   you say you can't do what because.....why?

Here's the link:   http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=912BB1NU

When you're finished watching, head on over to WWW.WHIF.ORG and LISTEN LIVE!!!!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Visions & Dreams

God's WORD tells us in Proverbs chapter 29, verse 18 that "Where there is no vision, the people perish!"  I kind of like how The Message version words it: "If the people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what He is doing, they are most blessed!"

God has been really dealing with me the last few weeks about a certain generation that, unless we get rolling on a vision, surely will be lost.  As I'm writing this, I'm listening to Toby Mac sing "City on our Knees."  I love this song and the imagery that it casts.  Can you imagine this:  WE ARE ONE CHOICE FROM TOGETHER, TONIGHT COULD LAST FOREVER!  

Okay, so what does that have to do with vision?  Well, think about it.  God casts a vision and what do we do with it?  Too many times, nothing.  If we take God's vision and use it the way that HE wants us to, we could change the world!  A choice that we make in Jesus' name could have eternal significance.

I don't know yet the full scope of this vision that GOD is casting before me but I know that whatever it is, I'm there.  Too many times we try to make all the plans....God just wants us to listen.  I'm not willing to let the people perish just because I refuse to accept the vision.  When it comes to God, you're in or you're out...there's no middle ground there! 



So let me ask you this:  What is the vision that God is casting before you?  Is it the same as the one He's casting before me?  Are you truly concerned about a lost generation?  I know I am....why don't you come on and join me....accept God's vision and run with it!  While you're running, you can LISTEN LIVE AT http://www.whif.org/ !

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

My Next 30 Years

I tell you what, this has already been a week of reflection.  First, the movie "To Save A Life" and now a song by Tim McGraw called "My Next 30 Years" that I heard scanning through the stations today.  I turned 30 back in March of this year and to be perfectly honest, it got here a lot faster than I thought it would.  I mean, come on, when I hit 20 I knew it would take 40 more to hit 30....NOT! 


I've had some pretty awesome experiences for someone of my age....I mean, there's not a lot of 30-year-olds who (1) have performed in NYC's Carnegie Hall, (2) performed opera in Florence, Italy (3) owned their own home by 29.  I'm not trying to boast, but when I look at these things, I think "That's all some pretty awesome stuff but what does it matter in the grand scheme of things?"


Look at these lyrics:


I think I'll take a moment to celebrate my age, an ending of an era and the turning of a page.  Now it's time to focus in on where I go from here…….Lord have mercy on my next thirty years.

In my next thirty years I'm gonna have some fun…..try to forget about all the crazy things I've done.  Maybe now I've conquered all my adolescent fears……and I'll do it better in my next thirty years.

Find a world of happiness without the hate and fears,  Figure out just what I'm doing here…….in my next thirty years.

My next thirty years will be the best years of my life, Raise a little family and hangout with my wife.  Spend precious moments with the ones I hold so dear, Make up for lost time here……in my next thirty years.

So what can I do to make the next 30 years the best years of my life?  I'm signing off at this point.....to make a point.  I want you to think "What can I do in the future that (1) I havn't done yet, (2) that will make a REAL difference in this world (3) will leave a true legacy when I'm gone.

While you're trying to figure that out, you can LISTEN LIVE AT http://www.whif.org/

Monday, October 11, 2010

To Save A Life

Sorry it's been a while since I posted.  The past week has been sooo very crazy.  Had a great Saturday afternoon with you though....thanks so much for tuning in. 

Last night, my wife and I were able to watch a new movie called "To Save A Life."  You may have noticed the new widget to the right of this post.  It really got me to wondering...."How many times might I have been able to save someone's life had I just taken notice of them?" 

It really made me think about a decision I made when I was in high school after I got saved.  See, I didn't have the "best" friends in this world but they were still my friends.  When I got saved, I ditched them totally for the "new" friends.  I remember seeing them across the cafeteria looking at me like "What have we done?"

I never rectified that situation...at least not in whole.  I've come across a few of those people and have apologized to them but havn't been able to reconnect with the rest.  This movie really has me reevaluating my self, and my past actions.

You see, so many times we pass by people either at work, church or in school or even in the stores and never think to ourselves "I wonder what they are going through today?"  "Does that person need someone to talk to?"  "Are they at the end of their rope?"

If you've not had the chance to watch this movie, you NEED TO GET IT!  Check out the trailer below:


So how are you gonna look at people now when you pass them by?  I know I'm a little different....and a little better for having watch it.  Hope you have a blessed day and remember: LISTEN LIVE AT WWW.WHIF.ORG !!!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Your story

Darlene Zschech is one of my all-time favorite artists and worship leaders.  You see, you may not automatically recognize her name but if you have ever sung the song "Shout To The Lord" then you have been singing one of the songs that she has written.

She has an amazing article in this month's WORSHIP LEADER MAGAZINE.  It's all about YOUR STORY!  We all have a story to tell....whether it is good, bad or somewhere in between.  Your experiences in life is what makes your story yours! 

She began with a word from the WORD....Rev 12: 10 - 11 says:

10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:    "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ.  For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.  11They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony;  they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.  12Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!  But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you!  He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."

How about that?!  She goes on to say "Don't let the accuser beat the song and story out of you or keep you from standing strong in the promised hope of the future.  And share this posture of worship with the people you lead on a weekly basis."

"God's story of redemption over your life is what gives your story power!  Make sure that you are living your life wholeheartedly in worship!  Our songs and stories are not wrritten to make us rich, and they are not designed to tickle the ears of man; they are birthed out of the sacred moment of realizing that without Him, we are nothing!"

Taken from WORSHIP LEADER MAGAZINE, "Priorities: Story in Story" by Darlene Zschech, page 24.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

WOW!

This has NOTHING to do with ministry or anything but.....

I AM LOVING THIS FLORIDA/ALABAMA GAME!!!

Friday, October 1, 2010

Are you Jesus?

Okay, so before you go crying "FOUL!" of calling me a "Blasphemer!"....think about this:  You may be the only reflection of Jesus Christ that some people will ever see.  GOTCHA!

How many times do we come across a message that just totally impacts us or maybe we hear a song that within a three minute period, changes our whole life because it has affected our outlook?  There are so many lost and lonely people who could you some love and encouragement....but most of all they need to know that they are being seen and that Jesus loves them.

If they know that we are a Christian and see us acting just aweful to them, why would they want to be one of us?  Let me leave you with this: There are people running 100 mph in the wrong direction....what are you going to do about it?  Are you going to share the love of Christ with them or are you just going to let them keep running?  Watch the video below and let the words have their way with your heart.  God bless!  I love ya!