Archive for April 2013
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?
The long blue Pontiac sedan rolled smoothly down Highway 30 through the Indiana countryside. My father, Pastor Carl Ballestero was driving. I was his unofficial assistant and the two of us were going to a church anniversary service.
Carl Ballestero
Most trips Daddy was known to be talkative, but sometimes, he was content to ride in silence. Today was one of those days that he chose not to talk much, if at all.
Knowing that he had to preach at this special service, I chose not to interrupt his thoughts, in case he was thinking about his sermon. I only spoke if I saw he was interested in talking.
I contented myself by looking out of the passenger’s side window at the farms and passing landscape. The silence was comfortable.
The car ride had been without a spoken word for more than a half hour. Then, as if from nowhere I heard Daddy say in a soft voice, “Lord, have I told you lately that I love you?”
Tears immediately sprang into my eyes, and the scenery became blurred. I never turned to looked at him. I didn’t want to interrupt or interfere with this sweet moment between him and the true love of his life.
I knew I was in the presence of godly man who truly loved The Lord with all of his heart. The Holy Ghost immediately filled that car, and I wept freely. I thanked God for His presence and His love, but I also thanked him for giving me a father who truly loved Him!
That moment nearly forty years ago has forever impacted my personal devotions. Every now and then I find myself riding along in the car or just setting at home and then seemingly out of nowhere, I will find myself saying… “Lord, have I told you lately that I love you?”
You know what? It still works! I always seem to feel God’s presence anew while tears flow down my cheeks just like they did that day.
Thank you Lord, for a Dad who set such a wonderful example before me. He unashamedly let me see how wonderful it was to fully love The Lord and openly show it!
Thanks Dad!
What Are You Using For Bait?
What Are You Using For Bait?
Fishermen
What Are You Using For Bait? That’s the common question Fishermen ask of each other. They know that what you use for bait most of the time will determine what you catch.
If someone is fishing for Bass, their bait is normally different from someone who is fishing for catfish. What is used for bait will determine what is caught.
Hunters
Corn Feeders or corn placed near deer stands are common in many states. However, no one has ever heard of a deer hunter using Jalapeno Peppers for deer bait. Corn attracts the deer not the chili peppers.
Trappers
Every successful Trapper must know what baits attract which animals and bait their traps accordingly. What is used for bait will determine what is caught.
http://www.animal-traps.com/baits.htm
Householders
It is common knowledge among us, that cheese is a favorite bait to use in a mousetrap. When cheese is used, mice are caught. No one uses a carrot to bait a mouse trap.
Boys And Girls
If you don’t like the type of people you keep attracting, then maybe you need to check what you are using for bait.
What type of person are these guys trying to attract?
Do You Need To Change Your Bait To Catch Something Different, Or Better?
- Carnal people attract carnal people
- Worshippers attract worshippers
- Critical spirits find one another
- Godly people attract other godly people.
Preacher, You Get What You Preach
- If you preach Faith, you attract believers.
- If you preach the New Birth according to Acts 2:38 you attract those who want deliverance.
- If you preach Holiness… Holiness preaching attracts those who want to leave the world behind.
- If you preach Doctrine… you attract those who love the Word.
- If you preach Pop Psychology type sermons… you will attract those that only want to hear smooth things, while continuing to live like they always have.
- What is used for bait will determine what is caught.
Worship
Contemporary style worship attracts contemporary minds that, as a rule, resist older traditional Pentecostal style worship music. (Besides, there is little to no mention of sin or doctrine in most of the new songs.)
What Does Satan Use For Bait?
- Offenses?
- Bitterness?
- Money?
- The Desire To Get ‘High’?
- Injuries?
- Egos?
- Half Truths?
2 Timothy 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
The devil sets traps.
Now the big question! This is the most important one of all!
If You Wanted To Attract God, What Would You Use For Bait?
- Repentance?
- Worship?
- Humility?
- Hunger?
- Thirst?
Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Ask Cornelius.
- He attracted the attention of God.
Acts 10:2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
Ask The Prodigal Son
- He was humble and repentant.
Ask Bartimaeus
- He cried out for mercy.
Ask Zacchaeus
- He desired to see Jesus and got above the crowd.
Ask Israel
- God told them what to do to attract His Favor.
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
She Wouldn’t Stop Talking About Her Old Love.
She Wouldn’t Stop Talking About Her Old Love.
All she could talk about was her former love. She dreamed of him in heart every day and spoke aloud of her deep passion for him to the amazement of her startled listeners. After all she was a married woman. If she was so in love with a memory, then why get married to another?
Like an air-headed bride who was clueless that her remarks about her past love life would ever ruin her present relationship, she couldn’t stop talking, she just wouldn’t quit. Her husband’s heart hurt knowing that although she was married to him, she was still in love with her old love.
Some around her remembered her former lover and agreed, that he was all that she remembered. Yet others felt deeply saddened that the one she now lived with, and who loved her very much, had heard her thoughtless comments. They knew he would spend the rest of his life competing with her old flame.
Why would a bride openly talk of a past love? Was she trying to sabotage her marriage? Didn’t she know anything about how to behave in a relationship? Couldn’t she brag on her current her husband? Why did she only say sweet things about her former love, and nothing about her current husband? Something was horribly wrong with this picture. Everyone could see where things were headed.
Strangers shook their heads and wondered that she could be so bold as to publicly proclaim that she still carried a torch for her man of yesterday and brag on him in her new husband’s face.
Hers may not be a married relationship much longer if the groom grows weary of hearing her old lover’s name.
Many that heard her remarks, formed the opinion that she truly wasn’t in love with the one she was married to, or that she was so disappointed in her new marriage that she didn’t care what happened.
How could a bride be so stupid? Why would she tear down her own marriage? Why couldn’t she keep some of her pleasant memories buried in her heart and savor them privately, if she must. Why wasn’t she discreet? Why wasn’t she in love with the one who now loved her?
She was a married woman! If she couldn’t give all of her love to her husband, why did she bother to even get married?
Shamed husbands aren’t alone in their embarrassment and hurt. The Lord God also knows the pain of playing second fiddle to an air-headed love.
The Story Of Hosea- Gomer.
The Lord told the prophet Hosea to marry a woman who was a common prostitute. He wanted Him to marry a woman who would be unfaithful. He wanted Hosea to understand His heartache and pain in loving Israel, while they were still in love with Egypt.
Israel – Egypt
God loved Israel, yet Israel had other lovers. Not only did she remember her past loves, she too, like an air-headed bride wouldn’t quit talking about them, and God heard her.
He knew that no matter what He did for her, she would always be in love with another.
It was stupid of her to forget who was feeding her, fighting her battles and blessing her every day. She wasn’t interested in a relationship with Jehovah. She just wanted to be kept, while she remembered what she considered to be the good things about her past.
Israel had complained about Egypt while she lived there, but although Egypt was now ancient history, Israel seemed to forever talk about her memories.
Those memories caused her taste buds to drool over the most mundane of things. Israel actually cried real tears.
Numbers 11:4 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
Numbers 11:5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:
It was like Israel regularly kept visiting the grave of her dead husband, decorating the site with fresh flowers and spending hours everyday weeping over what no longer was.
Israel Lusted After The Things Of Egypt.
She Quickly Forgot What Jehovah Was Doing for Her.
Psalm 106:13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
Psalm 106:14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
Israel tempted the Lord ten times in the wilderness by lusting after the things in her past, and complaining about what she now had and didn’t have, until God sent fiery serpents among them.
They Were Too Clueless To Realize They Were Tempting God!
Today’s Generation Loves Pleasure More Than God
This is a pleasure driven society. The good news is that all pleasure is not bad. The bad news is, that one of the warning signs of the last days would be that men would love pleasure more than they loved God. We’re here!
2 Timothy 3:4 …lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
What do we speak of the most? Is it sports, recreation, entertainment, fine dining, video games, travel, or the Lord?
As the Bride of Christ, shouldn’t we understand about relationships? Shouldn’t we wake up to the realization that if we really want a relationship with the Jesus Christ…
- Maybe, just maybe He should be on our minds, and not the lusts of our flesh.
- Maybe, just maybe we should talk about Him more often, and not the world.
- Maybe, just maybe, we should be in love with Him, not the world.
- Maybe, just maybe we should talk about our love for Him and not about our love for the things of this world.
Do You Feel That You And Jesus Have A Good Relationship?
Then Why Mess Up?
There Is Nothing Worth Losing Your Soul Over!
If others hear you talk about the things of the world more than the things of God, your relationship with the Lord is certainly in trouble.
Take another look at what you have now. Don’t lose it. No one can go back to a memory, not ever.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Deuteronomy 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deuteronomy 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Deuteronomy 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Your Husband Might Be Somewhat Understanding, But God Will Not Be.
He’s A Jealous God.
He Pulled Her In
He Pulled Her In
It hadn’t rained for weeks. The horrible and devastating storm was now over. All day the dove had flown back and forth looking for food, looking for a place to land, looking for any sign of life.
She hadn’t found a thing that she could humble herself to come down to. And, she really wasn’t prepared to fly all day without landing on something somewhere.
She was weary. It was all she could do to fly the long trip back to the Ark. With labored effort she struggled toward the open window at the top of the giant boat. Her wings labored harder with every flap. She was very conscious of how tired and weary she was. She felt like she couldn’t go much farther.
Noah knew her nature. He knew she would never be happy to live in a world of filth or decay. She would never be comfortable around anything unclean. She was a dove, not a scavenger.
She had left earlier that day with a raven, but they soon went their separate ways. He happily sought out the rotten and decaying carcasses among the flood-strewn debris. She had no interest in such things.
There had been no place on earth she would allow herself to go to. Returning to the Ark was her only option. But it was almost too late. She was completely exhausted.
Then she saw a hand stretched out towards her. She focused on the hand. This was the same hand fed her every day and cared for her. She knew all would be well if she could but make it to his outstretched hand.
The hand reached out of the Ark as far as it could; caught her and pulled her safely inside.
She was home now!
She hadn’t been strong enough to make it all the way back inside on her own, she had done what she could, but that wasn’t quite enough.
But, when she was willing to make the effort to come back to the Ark, there was an outstretched hand ready to pull her back inside!
Gen 8:7 And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.
Gen 8:8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
Gen 8:9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.
Do you find yourself weary of a life filled with sin? There’s hope. If you will make the effort to get to the Ark of safety, I promise you, there will be an outstretched hand ready to pull you safely inside.
He’s waiting on you.
JONATHAN ALVEAR – Wayfaring Stranger…and Other Songs of My Journey
JONATHAN ALVEAR – Wayfaring Stranger…and Other Songs of My Journey
My dear friend, Brother Jonathan Alvear has just released a new CD. You’ll love his anointed singing. This Album includes the songs:
Name I Highly Treasure
No One Ever Cared For Me
His Hand In Mine
Wayfaring Stranger
Rock of Horeb (La Peña)
When Jesus Comes
I Can’t Complain
That’s Enough
I Trust In God
After All
Just To Walk With Him
It is now available for purchase. Price is $15 per CD. If you order a single copy, you can send $20, which will include the CD, the mailer and postage. The address is:
PO Box 83247, Conyers, GA 30013
Or if you have PayPal, his email is jonlvr@aol.com
If you use PayPal be sure and email him the address you want it sent to.
Bro. Alvear said, ” If a pastor orders 20 or more, I will throw in a complimentary copy for him, autographed if he so desires. Also, on orders of 3 or more, I will absorb the shipping cost.”
Note: Available through iTunes… Soon!
They’re Everywhere!!
They’re Everywhere!!
They never used to be seen in Pentecostal Churches, but they are now. If they were ever seen in church in the old days, an embarrassed apology was made. But not any more!
Now, they come to many church and do not mind being obvious about showing up. They seem to enjoy the attention they attract, too.
Some of the time they come to church and no one notices them when they walk in, after they finally sit down. Then it’s like, they say Boo! and get your attention. They sure know how to catch folks off guard.
How times have changed!
I remember them never being seen in church anywhere years ago. But now, they’ve evidently got religion and so they come to almost every service.
In the old days, someone would try to help them hide from if they came, and make sure they stayed out of sight, but no effort is being made anymore. They seem to enjoy being seen in church. More and more of the folks are becoming comfortable around them.
Now, they come to our General Conferences, Camp Meetings, Rallies and especially Sunday Morning Services. They love to be seen and enjoy the attention and the limelight found even on the platform.
Actually, the few that are unhappy to see them in church any more… now just turn their heads and try to ignore them. Like an ostrich with it’s head in the sand.
It used to be a problem when they showed up anywhere, especially church. But now, they’ve even come to church with some preacher’s wives and daughters. Go figure.
What am I talking about?
I’m talking about Knees.
They’re Everywhere!!
They’re Seen Everywhere In Church Nowadays. Why?
The Curse Of The Permissive Parent And Pastor
The Curse Of The Permissive Parent And Pastor
My critics might say that this blog post is written with a bad spirit, I pray not, but it if so, may the Lord forgive me. Please allow me to give an altar call of sorts.
Parents
My beloved wife and I may be senior citizens now, but we have learned a few things about raising a family throughout the years. We have been richly blessed of the Lord with five of the most wonderful children parents could ever pray to have. But, it’s the raising of them that requires the help of the Lord and wisdom of a Solomon.
I cannot take credit for the wisdom part, (My wife is blessed with good common sense.) but we both have been greatly helped by our dear parents, by the Lord and by His Word.
Parents have to learn when to say Yes, and when to say No. Sometimes, both words are hard to say.
A child that never hears the word No while growing up, will most likely have a difficult time saying No to themselves as an adult.
We all enjoy the cute personality displays in our children. We love their antics and brag on their accomplishments. It’s all part of being a parent.
But, no one likes to see a tantrum when a child doesn’t get his or her way. But, it does happen. It happens at home, in Wal-Mart, in the car and even at church.
Many times a parent must say No to their darling child for it’s own good. Those pleading eyes and their sweet-talking may melt your heart. Remember however, your sweet innocent little child has learned long ago how to work the family system and manipulate your emotions. Oh yes.
When we see a well-mannered teen or young adult, we know they didn’t become that way just by themselves. There was someone in their life that helped make and mold them into that young adult we admire.
What Type Of Children Do Permissive Parents Produce?
· Spoiled brats?
· Children that must always have their own way?
· Children that feel free to talk back to their parents?
· Undisciplined and disrespectful that will bring their parents shame?
Who in their right mind would want to be married to someone that carried that same spoiled brat attitude into their adult life?
Children who have been blessed with loving parents, who were not afraid to say No, receive the most compliments in life. Just saying.
Under the disguise of being merciful and loving, some have permitted the development of little monsters in their own home.
The Curse Of The Permissive Parent Is That Your Child Will Bring You Shame.
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Additional Reading:
Seven Signs Your Kid Is A Brat
http://www.care.com/child-care-permissive-parenting-7-signs-your-kid-is-a-brat-p1017-q6594347.html
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Pastors
Pastors also have to learn when to say Yes, and when to say No. Sometimes, both words are hard to say.
Remember the story of Eli, a High Priest in the Bible? He was a nice guy, a real nice guy… just weak. He was so weak he couldn’t say, No.
He was a High Priest over Israel. Yet, he would not judge the sins of his own sons. The boys were a disgrace to their father. They brought shame and reproach upon him, upon Israel and they angered God so much, that He killed them.
Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas were priests, yet they showed great contempt for God’s Law and they openly sinned. No one dared cross them or complain. They made a great mockery in their execution of holy things in the Tabernacle.
KJV 1 Sam. 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord.
ESV 1 Sam. 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.
Eli’s sons were guilty of great crimes, which brought destruction upon their father’s house. Their actions caused the Ark of God to be lost to the great enemy of Israel.
Phinehas died in battle with the Philistines (1 Sam. 4: 4, 11); and his wife, on hearing of his death, gave birth to a son, whom she named Ichabod, saying, “The glory is departed from Israel” and then she died.
Upon hearing the news of the loss of the Ark in battle and the death of his sons, Eli fell from where he was sitting and broke his neck and died. Scripture says that Eli’s heart trembled for the Ark. That is very commendable. But why didn’t that same love for the Ark make him correct the sons that served the Ark with him?
A pastor that condones or excuses the sinfulness of his children will live long enough to regret the day he gave in to their pleas for permission to do wrong. As a pastor, you of all people should know that you really do not love your child when you:
- Supply them with money for their habits.
- Excuse their inability to keep a job even though they are married with children.
- Refuse to believe they could ever be guilty of wrongdoing.
- Excuse their prescription drug abuse.
- Always take their side against their spouse.
- Allow them on the platform while they are under the influence of a controlled substance to which they are addicted.
- Ignoring their drinking problem.
- Use them in leadership.
- Overlook their moral problems.
- Keep bailing them out of jail and sticking them behind the pulpit again.
- Allow their tempers and threats to cause good people to leave church.
- Have a different standard for the saint’s kids than for your own.
(Saints may not say anything to you, but they are not stupid. They see what is going on, but they keep on, as best they can, hoping you will correct the situation somehow.)
But If You Don’t…
You sir, have just become another Eli. God is not pleased with the shame you have allowed to be brought upon His house. It’s just a matter of time before the word Ichabod will be written again. Only this time, it will be written very close to you.
If you desire the glory of God to continue to bless and anoint the church you pastor. Take the oversight, reprove and rebuke with all long-suffering. Love what God loves, hate what God hates.
Under the disguise of being merciful and loving, some pastors have permitted the development of monsters.
The Curse Of The Permissive Pastor Is That Your Child Will Bring Shame Upon You And The House Of God.
I Promise You, The Glory Will Depart. Revival Will Not Stay.
The Unanswered Call
The Unanswered Call
This was the third time in an hour that I heard the incessant ringing of the phone on the other side of the motel wall. There were people noises of talk and laughter, but no one seemed to want to answer the phone. Why not? Why would they just let it ring?
Did the think they knew who was calling, and didn’t want to speak to them? Were they so content with the present situation in their life, they didn’t want any interruptions? I will never know.
As the guy in the room next door, I didn’t have any authority. I could not command them to answer the call. I could only be frustrated because they didn’t.
I have no idea what the call was about, not do I need to know. It’s none of my business. Yet, the fact remains, they were called and they didn’t answer.
They were called, and they ignored. There even came a second attempt to get them to stop and answer the call, but to no avail. As if that was not enough, the call came the third time, and was again ignored.
Would the caller give up? Would the caller try again? How many callers even try past the first time? This one tried three times without any response.
My frustration was only that of a weary traveler. I don’t know who the people in the other room were, nor do I know who called. It is just one of those moments travelers soon forget.
On the other hand, as a full-time minister of the Gospel for fifty years, I have seen precious people I know receive a Call from God and not respond. They kept on talking and laughing with friends and family like nothing had just happened.
The ringing noises in their heart went silent for a while, then after a time, began anew.
Heads of family, friends and ministry turn and look at them in wonderment. Why don’t they answer The Call?
- Everyone else knows whom it’s from.
- Everyone else knows what it’s about.
- Everyone else knows what it entails.
Why can’t they realize how important and urgent it is to Answer The Call?
- It’s not like everyone gets The Call.
- But He chose to call you.
- He makes no mistake when He calls.
He knows your number and called you, but you chose to make excuses and find a reason not to answer.
The day of that unanswered Call may be the day that causes you the most grief. (Ask Jonah.)
- If The Call is from Him, then He will NOT let you fail.
- If your phone is still ringing, PICK IT UP.
If it has gone silent, ask Him to forgive you, your fears and lack of faith. Tell Him that if He ever calls your number again, you will ignore everything else and answer His Call, no matter what it is about.
When He Calls, He means business. And there is no greater or more important business in the world, than His!
Listen… do you hear anything?
Is that the phone again?
Apostolic Expository Series
Christy Ballestero (My Beautiful DIL)
http://marciaballestero.com/
Pastor Anthony & Kim Ballestero, New Destiny Worship Center, Clearwater, FL (My Son)
Pastor Bryan & Christy Ballestero, Temple Of Pentecost, Raleigh, NC (My Son)
James Groce Blog – "Toward The Mark"
Kenneth Bow Blog
Kingdom Speak Podcast
Philip Harrelson – "The Barnabas Blog"
Verbal Bean Ministries
Holy Ghost Radio
The Ballestero Blog 