Jesus Raises the Son of the Widow of Nain

Luke 7:11 Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. 12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.

16 Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” 17 And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.

So young man I say to you arise!!! So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. Check this out He (Jesus) presented Him to his mother. How awesome is this, Jesus presented the young man to His mother! Do you know that Jesus has raised you from the dead if He is Lord of your life, He will present you as well. What a glorious day. Live today like a born again child of of the Most High! He loves you and right now He is sitting at the right hand of the Father making supplication for you. One day He will say, Father he is Ours! How awesome is that! We belong to Jesus! We belong to Jesus! We belong to Jesus! 

RAK CHAZAK,

Brother David

Psalm 100
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
                                            4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
                                            And into His courts with praise.
                                            Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
                                            5 For the Lord is good;
                                            His mercy is everlasting,
                                            And His truth endures to all generations.


We should be about making a joyful shout to Jesus Christ today! We should be all about praising Him! We should serve Him today with gladness. Today pick that piece of paper up off the ground with a smile on your face, happy to make your surroundings better because Jesus is in your heart. Buy somebody's lunch today and tell them Jesus loves them, do it with a smile on your face. How about this, receive a gift today and thank Jesus for it! Don't be stubborn, receive it with thanksgiving in your heart! He is a PROVIDER! Let Him provide. Tell someone about Jesus today and allow His Word to come alive and endure to all generations through the powerful message of salvation.

RAK CHAZAK,

Brother Big Daddy

Have you ever thought about how you got here? I mean you look around at you circumstances in your life  and you think how in the world did I get here. I left the gym this morning after a workout that was rough and I began to think about when my daddy and I used to run. We ran 5-10 miles everyday. I couldn't wait for the opportunity each day. About every other month we would get all crazy and run 15-20 miles. When I was doing that I never stopped, i was wide ope twenty four seven. I would teach all day, coach all evening come home and there was always a project going on in the house. I never stopped. When I did, I slept like a baby for the few hours I closed my eyes. That lifestyle led me to eating right and pretty much taking care of myself all around.  What in the world happened? Slowly but surely the joy of running began to fade and a life of sitting took over. It didn't happen over night, but it happened. One day turned into two days and two days turned into a way of life. Then the ultimate in crazyville took place and I said, well since I am not exercising, why bother to eat right. The result of all this, a life filled with hauling around a ridiculous amount of extra weight, eating habits that can only be described as stupid, a ton of half finished projects around the house, and sleep, well sleep is just something you day dream about, but it never happens for more than two hours at the time. As I think about this I parallel it to someone who wakes up one day and says how in the world did I get engulfed with sin. we get there one small step, one slow fade at a time! You don't all of a sudden rush up the steps to the high dive and take off running and dive into an empty pool. Instead, you slowly begin to drift. First in your mind, your thoughts begin to carry you to some rough places. You once were quick to allow the authority of God living in you to redirect those thoughts immediately, but when the fade begins you stay there a little longer today. You think about it a little too long today. Tomorrow repeats today until eventually you are full out meditating on that which is impure and not of God. Then sin creeps in maybe through your attitude towards another person, or harsh words spoken in anger to a spouse, a coworker, or a family member. The comes the failure to repent. The conviction has not faded completely, it is still there. Yesterday your response to the conviction of the Holy Spirit was immediate, repentance was immediate to follow. Today, conviction leads to a little slower repentance. Negotiations begin, the flesh rages, and the fall is fast approaching. Then, the walking around in sin, walking in open disregard for what God says. You may play the part in many areas, but the reality is you are fading and fading  fast. The result you are so overweight in sin that what used to be easy is now a chore and a burden. What was once easy and a blessing to your heart is now a ball and chain. What you once did out of love and commitment with joy, you now do with resentment and sometimes even anger. It is only a matter of time until you wake up take at look at your life and ask "What in the world has happened to me, where is my Bible, where is my church family, where is my brothers and sisters in Christ. I must make things right? ....So how? Well repent and do the things you once did. Read and study the Word of God. Pray without ceasing. Go to church. Love God's children and love the Word of God! NEVER, EVER, EVER give up! In essence get back in the gym. Stop whining about what you can't do anymore and start doing what you can do! God may carry you through some baby steps on your return to Him. Take the baby steps. Baby steps are good for us all. Baby steps lead to toddler steps, and the next thing you know you are a grown man! Go to work there is plenty to go around. 

James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

RAK CHAZAK,

Brother Big Daddy

Ephesians 1:15-21
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.


How often to you give thanks to Jesus Christ for the saints that are in your life? Those individuals that you know are close to God, who have mentored and loved you through all walks of life. When is the last time you lifted them up by name? Well how about today? The scripture above contains another one of Paul's awesome prayers. Let us look at what He prays for:

1) spirit of wisdom
2) revelation in the knowledge of Him
3) eyes of understanding being enlightened
4) know the hope of His calling
5) the riches of the glory of His inheritance
6) greatness of His power towards us who believe
7) according to the workings of His power
8) same power that raised Jesus from the dead
9) greater than any name ever named
10) greater than any name to come

Have you prayed this for yourself today? Do it!  It will look something like this:


Dear Jesus,

 I am asking with all my heart that you give to me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You. Please enlighten the eyes of my understanding, that I may know what is the hope of Your calling, that I may know, what are the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of Your power toward me because I believe. Grant strength to me according to the working of Your mighty power, which raised You from the dead and seated You at His right hand in the heavenly places. Jesus your name is far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Pray it today, it will be a blessing!

RAK CHAZAK,


Brother Big Daddy

Finally, a chance to write again. I finally had two people in one week ask me about the blog, so it sparked the desire to get back in the saddle and write. I must admit I love to write, as I feel it is an extension of teaching. Teaching involves learning and I hope there is learning taking place on the receiving end of these blogs. I will say this, when you respond with comments learning takes place on my end.  I am asking you to comment on these blogs. Share what God teaches you. It will not take a long time, but your comment may minister to me in a powerful way. Your comments are your way of returning the teaching. I know it takes time, but it is worth the time spent when someone reads your comment and is changed! Never underestimate the power of God working through you. Yes, you are powerless, but only when you depend on you! You are mighty, you are strong, when you depend on Jesus. Ok, off the soap box and onto the good stuff, Jesus Christ and His glory. 

Philippians 4:6-9

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Be anxious for nothing, this is a command from Jesus, be anxious for nothing. He left no room for wiggle and certainly made no exceptions. We should not be anxious and worrying about anything. Why? Because Jesus will give you perfect provision in perfect timing. Now He says pray, supplicate, and give thanks in everything, and His peace will guard your heart and mind. Think about this, Jesus is saying, when difficulty comes and worry rears its ugly head, don't let yourself travel down the path of worry. How do you avoid this? By meditating on that which is  true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy. Do you understand the word meditate? Meditate is not quickly thinking good and then running back to the bad. Try this exercise when you are worried about a difficult situation, or relationship problems, anything, sit down and write down as many things as you can that are good in your life, my list might look like this:

Salvation
Provision
A calling on my life 
A beautiful wife
Children that know Jesus
Wonderful parents
Great sister and brother in law
A wonderful church family
A roof over my head
Clothes on my back
Health

This list can go on and on. You have to write your list not focused on emotion. You may be struggling at work so emotionally you don't want to claim it as a positive. You have a job when many others do not, claim the victory. If you rely on emotion to write your list,  then your list will be flawed. Take emotion out of the way, and write your list based on positive truths. Then open a line of prayer to Jesus, giving thanks for all the wonderful things He provides. Pour out praise to Him, talk to Him, tell Him He is awesome, and mighty, powerful and true. Tell Him He is Lord of your life, and all the earth. Tell Him He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Tell Jesus that you love Him, and you recognize you are nothing without Him. Tell Jesus you want to walk with Him into eternity. Tell Him your love for Him is great.  And then feel the peace that surpasses all understanding captivate you and sooth your heart and dissolve your worry. Throughout the day pull out your list, read it and praise Jesus.

RAK CHAZAK,

Brother Big Daddy