Apr
13.
ATTENTION ALL TEENAGERS!
Category: Diligent
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I wanted to give up a little encouragement to all the teenagers so I put up a title that I hoped would get your attention. If you are reading this blog, then I succeeded. I don’t want to take much of your time, because I know you have to get your room clean and homework done (ha-ha), so here is what I’ve got for you today. God wants to bring some awesome blessings in your life. Seriously, He really wants to bless you in your teen years! I just happen to know one of the keys to how this can happen so listen up and grab hold of this concept. Are you ready for it? Here it is, “Diligence”! One of the biggest ways God is able to reward and bless you is through diligence. The sad part is many teens go without God’s blessings because they are only willing to commit to things that are easy. By taking this low road, they end up cheating themselves out of the rewards God has for them, simply because they want to avoid difficulty. There are no rewards for starting something and there are no rewards for quitting. God rewards those who are diligent! It is doing the right thing over and over that enables God to pour on the blessings thick. The important thing to remember is there are no “drive-through” breakthroughs. You can get a drive-through milkshake. You can get a drive-through hamburger (hungry yet?). But there are no short cuts to receive rewards from the Lord. I want to encourage you today to take the high road. The road less traveled. All of the wonderful blessings that have come into my life didn’t happen overnight. It took years of faithfulness and diligence. But let me tell you, it was worth it all!!
Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.”
This is the road that leads to rewards. This is the road less traveled. If you work all week at your job and you show up every day, then you are expecting a payday on Friday. The same is true in life. If you remain diligent and don’t give up, rewards are surely ahead for you! Today, stay diligent! Remain patient! Don’t settle for second best! Be determined that you are going to get the awesome blessings God has for your life because you are a diligent teen.

-PK

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Jul
20.
Remain Faithful in Tough Times
Category: Encouragement
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Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.
NLT

Many people assume that they will not be happy and content until their circumstances change – until their spouse changes, or until they get a better job, or until they move into a bigger house, or until they are in a different location, or until they find their life mate, or until they get rid of all their problems.

Don’t make that mistake. One of the biggest secrets in our walk with God is learning to enjoy our life where we are. You may indeed have some major obstacles facing you right now, but being discouraged isn’t going to make anything better and it won’t make the problem disappear. Know that God is watching over your life. He’s directing your steps (if you are allowing Him to), and He will take you exactly where He wants you to go.

The apostle Paul said it best, “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little.  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need” (see Phil 4:11-14).

He was saying, “I’ve made a decision that I will live happy and content.” Now content doesn’t mean that we don’t want to see and experience change. We aren’t called to sit in neutral in our walk with God and just accept everything that life brings our way. I like the way the Amplified Bible states Philippians 4:11: “Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.” That is the secret. That is the Key! You don’t have to get upset because your circumstances are not exactly what you want them to be. It’s important to remember that God will not allow difficulty to come into your life, unless He has a purpose for it. You may not understand God’s purpose right now, but that’s okay. God seldom does things the way we expect Him to and He seldom responds to our prayers in the manner we want Him to. If you’ll keep a right attitude and grow in faith, God has promised that He will see you through and will bless you as a result.

We all go through dry seasons in life, times when we don’t feel or see anything happening. Maybe you have been calling out to God in prayers but your prayers aren’t being answered. Maybe you’re tithing but seeing no return or treating people with kindness, but nobody is going out of their way to help you.

Is God a liar? Is His Word not true?

No, these dry seasons are proving grounds. God wants to grow you. What kind of attitude will you have when you are trying to do the right thing, but the wrong thing keeps happening to you?

Remember, it’s during these times that God is preparing you for greater things. When you go through a dry season, a long period of time you don’t see anything good happening, just stay faithful; keep a good attitude and do what you know is the right thing to do. God is preparing you for greater things.

 

-PK

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Apr
21.
HOPE THAT OVERCOMES THE WORLD
Category: Encouragement
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Galatians 6:9, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

You have two options when you find yourself in difficult circumstances: you can give up or go on! Only you can make the choice; but if you choose to go on, you can encourage many others throughout your life who are faced with the same choice you once had to make.

One such person who has been an example of courage and raw determination in my life is Alan Sargent. Many of you know Alan, but for those who are not too familiar with who Alan is let me give a small amount of background. In 1988 God spoke to my lost heart and directed me to attend Applied Life Christian College. One of the many awesome leaders there was Alan Sargent.  God used Alan to help free me from hurt, unforgiveness, and a truck-load of rejection. It was an incredibly freeing experience. Throughout the years to follow, I have had the opportunity to observe Alan live his Christian life out in front of me. A couple of years ago, Alan had a couple of severe strokes that left his incredible intellect fully intact but greatly affected his physical body. Tasks that used to be as simple as lacing a shoe or eating breakfast became extremely difficult and frustrating. There is one thing that you must understand about Alan before he had these debilitating strokes; the man lived his life like a man with his hair on fire. Alan has always been extremely active and busy. If it was happening, Alan was a part of it. This season of transition following his strokes has been very humbling and difficult for him and his family.

The way to find out what is inside of something is to squeeze it. If you squeeze an orange, you get orange juice. Squeezing a person is no different. I have watch Alan being squeezed and I have seen the fruit of the Spirit pour forth. Instead of making a companionship with sadness, defeat, and depression, Alan has found a friend in hope. Alan has published two books since his strokes and has four books more waiting in the wings. You see, when things don’t work out the way we wish they would, we can either be sad about what we did not get, or we can be creative and look to see what we can do with what is left. Alan has pressed through the temptation to be defeated and he has chosen to stand on God’s awesome promise found in Galatians 6:9.

Like Alan, you may be facing a situation that seems utterly hopeless. I urge you today to ask the Lord to restore your hope. Hope simply says, “I believe something good can and will happen.” Sadness, disappointment, and despair have to flee in the presence of hope. As long has you have hope, you will not be able to give up.

 

-PK

 

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Jan
16.
Living The Resurrected Life
Category: Podcast
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God has a plan for a life full of joy and happiness. He has created us to be overcomers and conquerors. The difficulty many believers face in living the resurrected life are the pressures and stresses that life brings. If you can relate, then this message is for you.

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Mar
17.
Diligence Has Its Rewards
Category: Determination, Diligent, Encouragement
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I believe many people are unhappy today because they only want to commit to things that are easy or convenient. This saddens me because these people often cheat themselves out of the rewards God has for them in life. If they would be willing to put forth some effort, they could experience some amazing benefits.
It is very clear in scripture that God wants to prosper and bless His children in so many areas of life. Sometimes God requires us to walk through some difficult things, because he knows that building character through diligence will enable us to enjoy the reward of our efforts when it comes. There are no rewards for starting something; there are no rewards for quitting. But if you will remain diligent, you will receive your rewards.
If you are diligent you can expect rewards. Doing something the right way one time will not necessarily bring rewards. But doing the same thing over and over diligently will produce a reward over time. People who receive God’s rewards are those who remain diligent when those around them give up, lose their enthusiasm and quit.
I have heard it said, “There is no such thing as a drive-through breakthrough”! You can get a drive- through burger or a drive-through drink; but you don’t have the option of drive-through rewards from God. There are no shortcuts with Him. If you want a reward, you will have to be diligent and work for it.
In most cases, people whom we refer to as “blessed” did not start there. They have faced many challenges and struggles along the way, yet they have been diligent to remain faithful in their commitments and because of their diligence God has been able to bless them.
I want to encourage you today to remain diligent in your commitments and responsibilities in everyday life. Whether it is in your job, your school, your relationships with friends and family, your church, and especially your commitment to God; remember that God will reward you as you persevere. His rewards may not come in the form you expect or in the way you expect, but they will come as you remain diligent. Waiting patiently and expectantly is a part of remaining diligent. Whatever you are believing God to bring to pass in your life, be patient, enjoy the journey, and remain diligent.
Will you be determined that no matter what happens in life, you will not give up? The choice is yours, but I can promise you this, whatever you have to overcome to achieve your goals and enjoy the success God has for you will be worth it.
Be determined; be diligent!!

-PK

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