Commanded to Love by Lisa Burkhardt Worley

September 19, 2020 No comments Article

Do I go or not?

A friend of mine’s mother passed away and the funeral was on Friday, almost an hour away from my home. Overall, it would be a three-and-a-half hour commitment to attend.

Normally, I would not have hesitated to be there for my friend, but this time, I felt penned in by pressing schoolwork. I had earmarked Friday to write a research paper, and needed to study for an upcoming test on Monday. It was a big church. I didn’t know if she’d even see me there.

Ironically, the paper I am writing is all about how we should respond to God’s love, and one point is that “we are commanded by Jesus to love our neighbors as ourselves.”

While making the decision, I pondered, What would be meaningful to me? I knew if I were in the same shoes, I would be touched if someone put aside a busy schedule to support me, so after a lot of prayer and godly counsel from my husband, I made the decision to go.

Friday morning, I woke up at 3:30 a.m. and could not go back to sleep, so I decided to get up early and work on my paper. I completed every section but the last one which was: “We should respond to God’s love for us by serving and loving others.” It would have to wait until I got back home.

The church and funeral was beautiful, but when my friend gave a eulogy about her mother, I couldn’t believe my ears when she thanked everyone for attending and said, “You were not here on your own. You were commanded to be here.” I immediately thought about my paper. It’s a commandment to love others. And sometimes that means putting our personal schedules aside to be there for someone else. To make this even more impactful, when my friend left the sanctuary, she did see me and welled up with tears. I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, I’d made the right decision.

Not surprisingly, I came back home and finished my paper, just in time to attend a church worship event at the Texas Motor Speedway, topped off by fireworks. I had many reasons to praise God. Alleluia! I completed my paper! But I also praised our loving Father because he reminded me that the people in our lives are more important than our to-do list. If it’s of Him, He will help us accomplish what’s on our plates.

First and foremost, we are commanded to love.

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you (John 15:12).

Join us September 30th at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom for our next POP Chat where our guest speaker will be KCBI Radio Morning Show Host, Author, and Popular Speaker, Rebecca Carrell who will be speaking about “We Become What We Behold.” Our Worship will be led by Author and Radio Show Host, Donna Renay Patrick. It will be a great time of Worship, Teaching and Discussion. Click on the link to sign up!

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Blessed Change by Dr. Lynnette Simm

September 15, 2020 No comments Article

I heard it said that not all positive change feels positive in the beginning. That is where I find myself in my life now. Maybe you are in the same place too. In my life, jobs are changing, moving is inevitable, and a season in life is ending while another begins. But what if we could challenge ourselves to find the blessings in changes we may not have wanted?

My friend, Moina, and I have been going through some really tough changes in our lives. We both lost loved ones, both our husbands had major health issues, and both our children have grown from at-home to on their way to adulthood. These changes could have crushed our hope and our faith, but Moina and I didn’t want that to happen to us!

After crying to each other over all we have survived, we decided to make a pact. We promised to text each other daily with three things we are grateful for. We started with our husbands, family, health, homes, jobs—and slowly we have gotten to the point where we have to really ponder what we are truly grateful for.

Just today, I texted I am grateful we have choices. I am grateful that things never stay the same. I am grateful for books. I was talking with my husband about the up-and-coming move and the options we had and then went to enjoy a lovely book. She texted she was grateful for the Colorado skies, warm sun, and the beautiful mountains. I’m sure she was driving to work and was feeling blessed to live under the mountains that inspired the phrase “purple mountains majesty.”

Over the last month of texting back and forth, all our problems have disappeared…NOT! But, what has happened is a change in our hearts. While I can’t speak for Moina, I can say that my heart is open to change. My heart is loving the opportunity to tackle whatever comes with gratitude. Mostly, my heart is happy. My body is tired, but that’s another story.

Gratitude brings to light our blessings, big and small. Gratitude can help anyone see the positive in changes, even when changing doesn’t seem like a blessing, at first.

Rejoice always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)

You are invited to join us for this month’s POP Chat on ZOOM, Wednesday September 30th at 6:30 p.m. Our guest speaker is KCBI (Dallas) Morning Show Host, Author, and Popular Speaker, Rebecca Carrell, who will be presenting the message, “You Become What You Behold.”

Our Worship Leader for this month’s event will be Author and Radio Host on the Fishbowl Radio Network, Donna Renay Patrick. Donna is on the Music Staff at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Denton, Texas.

To sign up, just click on the link! https://share.hsforms.com/15bHBupdrTBugXxD9Y8Q_MQ3jo4z

Do You Need Rescuing? By Lisa Burkhardt Worley

September 12, 2020 2 comments Article

In the past, I was an expert on 9-1-1 prayers. I knew how to call on God in times of emergency.

I need another job!

Bless our finances!

I remember early as a struggling television sportscaster driving on bald tires and praying: Lord, I need new tires!

However, I wonder how much God appreciates these kinds of prayers, especially when we are not connected with Him on any other occasion. It’s like the friend you never hear from until they need something. Do you know someone like that?

I think we can learn from the life of Daniel. He faced an emergency when some of his jealous peers decided to create a scenario that would go against his religious beliefs. Daniel’s job was to supervise the high officers and protect the interests of the King of Persia, Darius. Daniel was so good at the job the King made plans to place him over the entire empire. That did not set well with the envious administrators and high officers who Daniel supervised, so Scripture said they began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs but they couldn’t find anything. Daniel 6:4 says Daniel was “faithful, always responsible and completely trustworthy.”

So the governmental officials had to make something up to snare this gifted leader and prophet. They talked King Darius into giving orders that if any person prayed to anyone but the king over a thirty-day period they would be thrown into a den of lions.

Daniel was a devout Jew and a praying man—in fact he entered the presence of God three times a day, praying in front of a window that faced Jerusalem. A date with vicious lions would be inevitable for him unless he temporarily ceased praying. (What’s thirty days?)

So did he stop?

No.

After hearing this disturbing news, Daniel went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, and just like always, he gave thanks to God. As an addendum, he threw in a plea for help. The officials who were behind this unfair ruling lurked close by and caught Daniel in the act of prayer. They immediately tattled to the king, who had no choice but to throw Daniel into the lion’s den.

Many of us know the ending. Daniel survived, thanks to the supernatural protection of God, and King Darius ordered the wicked government officers and their families to be thrown into the lion’s den themselves for their role in the deceitful plot. The result was far different from Daniel’s.

What are the lessons?

Daniel experienced an emergency but he came into it as a disciplined prayer warrior. When faced with this trial, it was business as usual. He first gave thanks, then he prayed. He wasn’t angry about the scenario because he had a relationship with his heavenly Father, he trusted God with the outcome, whatever was decided, but knew God had the ability to rescue him.
Despite opposition, Daniel did not back down on what he knew to be right. A relationship with God was first and foremost. He would not kneel to anything or anyone else but his Maker. He was living out the first commandment that says, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). Sometimes our heavenly Father allows trials to see if we will still trust Him in the midst of that trial. He wants to know that we’ll still choose to follow Him.
This was not an emergency prayer. Daniel had a relationship with his heavenly Father so this was like sharing about your bad day with your husband or a friend. God knew that Daniel was a regular in His presence, and had been trustworthy and obedient, so the LORD honored Daniel’s faithfulness by rescuing him.

Do you need rescuing? Are you sending out an S.O.S. signal to God right now? Or are you saying, “Dad, it’s good to talk to you again. We had such a great conversation yesterday. Thank you for my many blessings, but I need a little extra help today.”

People are watching to see how we handle emergencies. Because of Daniel’s steadfast faith and this act of God on his behalf, King Darius became a believer in the one true God, and Daniel prospered the rest of his life. And in the good times, I’m sure Daniel continued to praise and pray…per usual.

There Was Jesus by Rosemary Legrand

September 8, 2020 No comments Article

When you are laid off from your job with no warning, what do you do? I remember walking into the Managing Director’s office for my scheduled appointment. I was employed with the company for twenty-one years. After a long explanation, I was told I would be let go. To be honest I don’t know why I responded the way I did. But I said, “I will miss all my work mates that have become like my family but thank you for releasing me into my destiny. I did not know what I would do but I knew God had a plan.

The journey was not easy, but God has shown me he is faithful. During that time my husband went to be with the Lord. “There was Jesus” holding my hand to give me the strength and comfort that I needed. I was able to spend two years with my husband before he went home to be with the Lord. You see, had I not been laid off, I would not have been able to spend that quality time with Him.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (NLT).

Since being laid off; God has opened so many doors for me to minister His Word and to remind His children how much He loves them. This is my destiny and Jesus is with me.

In what area of your life do you need Jesus to come and hold your hand and for you to sincerely say, “There was Jesus.” In your illness, He is Healer. In your lack of finances—He is your Provider. In your sorrow—He is Comfort. In times of anxiety—He is your Peace. Will you call on Him? He cannot and will not fail you.

The Importance of Re-centering by Lisa Burkhardt Worley

September 5, 2020 No comments Article

“Look to the Lord and his strength. Seek His face always” (1 Chronicles 16:11).

“I forgot to pray!” I woke up this morning at 2:30 a.m. in a panic. I was supposed to lift up prayers on Facebook Live at noon yesterday for another organization, and because of a busy schedule, it totally slipped my mind. Today, I am in a different time zone and a blog is due for Pearls of Promise. I am tired and not sure what to write. I’ve written close to 1000 blogs over the past ten years and I can never remember the LORD not providing an idea.

Maybe you understand what it’s like to feel “fried.” Always behind. You can’t see past the brain fog. I believe that’s when we must re-center and ask God “Where am I being disobedient?” “What needs to come off my plate?”

This week I was reading about the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle and the “Holy of Holies” where God resided. If you wanted to find the LORD, you knew exactly where His presence was. We should also have a “holy” place set aside in our homes where we can enter the presence of God. Some call it the “secret place” but I call it my kitchen table.

Today, however, I am in a hotel suite in Scottsdale, Arizona and I’m sitting at a dimly lit table by the kitchen. (It was as close as I could get to recreating my Holy of Holies). Regardless, it’s the place where I am coming before God because I’m feeling too stretched and want quality in my life, not quantity.

When we need guidance or hope, we need to stop what we are doing and seek His guidance. The LORD will show us how to “re-center.” He will tells us what needs to stay and what needs to go.

Are you feeling overburdened? Energy depleted? It’s time to enter the Holy of Holies and lay your life before God, and be willing to do what He says.