Happy Monday Everyone!

Because there are 31 chapters in the book of proverbs and every verse is so amazingly dimensional, some people read a chapter from proverbs each day… and they repeat this routine every month! I’ve been doing it 20 years, and what a difference this has made in my life!

Since today is August 23, here is something from Proverbs 23, verse 12 “Commit yourself to instruction; atune your ears to hear words of knowledge.”

I believe one of the great differences between success and failure is the presence or absence of knowledge and wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 10:10 says, “Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.”

When I was 19, I was an empty pod waiting to be developed.

• Thank God for the endless beauties of His written word and the desire he gives us to feed on it’s timeless truths.
• Thank God for all of the amazing authors in our world, and all of the great books they have written to give us advantages!
• Thank God for the people who inspire us to read lots of books!
• Thank God for you, the people who read my blogs!

If you’re in a rut today, commit yourself to [new] instruction; atune your ears to hear [new] words of knowledge. Make a new commitment to reading your Bible, everyday! Go to a book store and pick up a few great books! Register for a conference! Go to a church where spiritual wisdom is pouring out like rain!

Today, I’m reading a new book, Appoint Us A King from my dear friend Gail Strother. It’s not in the bookstores yet… I’m privileged with a pre-published manuscript and the honor of writing a review for the back cover. This book is blowing me away! Unbelievable! Please pray for Gail’s success and thank God you’ll all be able to read this masterpiece very soon!

I’m wondering… what are you reading, how are you currently sharpening your ax for greater strength?

I just finished praying for you all. Make this a most triumphant day! With much love…

Dream Big, Live Bold, and Make the Difference!

Chuck

The Donate Link, Facebook, Twitter, Make me a Legend, Destiny Family Center, You Tube

Happy Saturday!

I’m late blogging today because I went to watch my beautiful cousin Melissa Briggs and some of my great friends (Tammy Wade, Debbie Roadcap and Sheila Davenport) run a 4 mile race this morning. I was not running, just a fan today… and how much fun that was!! I love cheering like a crazy person… one of my favorite things to do in life!

I want to wish a special congratulations Melissa Briggs!! On Facebook, you said thanks for the cheering. I say thank you, for inspiring me to tears! I love you!

Next, I’m going to cheer for my friend Chad Bertch at the Valley Extreme Sports Park, Greenville Va. He’s racing four wheelers at 2pm… should be fun.

Last night we went to the Rockingham County Fair and ate deep fried twinkies, onion peels, and potato springs! Oh, and we rode the ferris wheel (photo).

Tonight, we’re hosting Emily’s family for dinner.

Then tomorrow, church @ Destiny Family Center is going to be amazing! Amber Griffin is (from Richmond) is singing a special song! I’m preaching part 3 of my sermon series, The Forgotten Power Of Expectancy! I honestly cannot wait until tomorrow morning!

Ok, enough about me… what are you guys doing on this lovely Saturday? Please take a sec and let me know, if you can. With much love…

Dream Big, Live Bold, and Make the Difference!

Chuck

The Donate Link, Facebook, Twitter, Make me a Legend, Destiny Family Center, You Tube

Happy Thursday!

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could see into the future a few months, or even just a few days or hours? Think of how this ability would prepare us for life’s biggest challenges, and how we’d be able to maximize every golden opportunity!

I’m not saying this is possible… not that any of us can see the future perfectly. However, I’m positive we can have hints and feelings about the future through the consistent practice of prayer.

People who only pray when they have a big need are really missing the boat. Prayer is the means by which Christ followers relate with God. I’m saying that we can know God, who knows the future.

I have found through 20 years of experience, that prayer does not work well unless it is often, daily-even hourly. The person who relates with God on this level will never be blind or unprepared for anything the future dishes out.

Take a look at the following situation, where Jesus is only hours away from betrayal and sacrifice… and He’s gathered a few of his closes disciples for prayer. He asks them to watch (or pray) with him about something horrible that is MOMENTS AWAY FROM HAPPENING, as He (Jesus) prays one of the most intense prayers of all time!

Matthew 26:36-46 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch [or pray] with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.

So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

One of the reasons Jesus was so powerful during his darkest and most defining moments, is because He was always fully prepared! None of it caught him by surprise! Jesus triumphed at the cross, because of the unbroken communion He had with His Father.

On the contrary, Peter slept while Jesus prayed… and Peter abandoned Jesus, even denied knowing Jesus, because Peter was not spiritually prepped for that dark and defining moment.

What a difference consistent prayer can make!

Try this for one week: Pray 10 times a day (or more)… talk to God about everything going on in your life, until there is nothing left to talk about. Spend a bunch of time listening in the silence… for a God inspired thought, or feeling. Read your Bible with the purpose of hearing from God. Notice how certain verses will jump from the pages. Do this until you’re certain that God has your heart and you have His… until Just like Jesus, you are going into the future fully prepared for whatever you will face!

Here’s a great song for this moment: Hillsong, Oceans Will Part

I’d love to read your thoughts on this topic. Make this a most triumphant day everyone! With much love…

Dream Big, Live Bold, and Make the Difference!

Chuck

The Donate Link, Facebook, Twitter, Make me a Legend, Destiny Family Center, You Tube

Happy Tuesday!

“Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the good news that is shining upon them. They don’t understand the message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT)

This morning, I woke up with a huge burden for the people I’ve known throughout my life… the ones who are still locked in the darkness. Now, after walking in the light for almost 20 years, I often forget what it was like when I was on the other side of the threshold. I find it hard to remember what it was like to live in the dark, when I could not see or feel the light that was shining on me. It’s so hard to believe there was a time when I could not comprehend the message about the glory of Christ!

Dear God, I never want to live another second of my eternal existence outside of this light. Jesus is more real to me than anything in this physical earth. I can’t fathom the coldness of having my light removed… the emptiness of having Jesus taken from me. I don’t care that this cold dark world mocks people like me. My profession of faith is not a fraud.

Read these classic words from the Apostle Paul, as he spoke to Timothy (his son in the faith) about how much he believed in Jesus, and how much he wanted Timothy to love Jesus too. Paul’s words to Timothy speak so powerfully to me this morning. I hope they will do the same for you…

2 Timothy 1:9-14 “For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. ¹⁰ And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. ¹¹ And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News. ¹² That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return. ¹³ Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.”

Did you catch the end of verse 10…

He (Jesus Christ) broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.

If you have this light (the illumination of this light), then carry it faithfully… every day. Never let yourself feel shame for loving Jesus passionately. Instead, bring your light into the darkest places… and shine more and more brightly, until others comprehend the message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Here are a few songs for this moment. Enjoy!

That’s my message for today… I just prayed you all another most triumphant day! Thanks for reading my daily blog! Thanks for your comments! With much love…

Dream Big, Live Bold, and Make the Difference!

Chuck

The Donate Link, Facebook, Twitter, Make me a Legend, Destiny Family Center, You Tube

Happy Sunday Everyone!

What a week this has been for Emily and I. We went to an undisclosed place and celebrated our milestone together. What a time we had!

This morning, I’m thrilled to be gathering @ Destiny Family Center once again! I love the people in this church… everyone should love their church this much! Even after 8 long and sometimes grueling years of untold challenge and sacrifice, I still sincerely love the flock I’ve been privileged to shepherd.

God has been so good to me and my family. Every plan of the enemy has come to nothing! I have come through the furnace of affliction unscathed!

Today, I am still like the eagle: young, well rested, vibrant, and in still nested in the heights! This morning, I climbed out of bed, looked and waited for the thermal updrafts… and when the moment was right, I leaped from my rock and soared to the heavens. I’m not living in the valley… not feeding on the dead things. I was born for the heights, this is where I live!

Isaiah 40:26-31

Look up into the heavens.
Who created all the stars?

He brings them out like an army, one after another,
calling each by its name.

Because of his great power and incomparable strength,
not a single one is missing.

O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?
O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?

Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?

The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.

He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.

Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

I just prayed you all another most triumphant day! Thanks for reading my daily blog! Thanks for your comments! With much love…

Dream Big, Live Bold, and Make the Difference!

Chuck

The Donate Link, Facebook, Twitter, Make me a Legend, Destiny Family Center, You Tube