Tag Archives: Paul Luckett

“Make everything you’re a part of better” is something I…

Originally posted on Facebook on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.

"Make everything you're a part of better" is something I frequently pray over my family and try to encourage them to do.

These guys are setting goals and putting in work to do just that.

I admire and am so thankful to have every person pictured here in my life.

As a family, we've just moved Roman into the The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science and Devin into Coahoma Community College. Chris starts his junior year at Mississippi State University next week.

Please pray with us that God shows Himself strong to and through this generation.

(P.S. Thanks to Megan Bean and Ben Harvey for taking the picture of us with Roman and for raising an awesome son in Sebastian Harvey for him to share this journey with!)

Make War

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com Make War

Sometimes, I appreciate the female form more than I should. I objectify them.

People will say, “It is only natural to notice a beautiful woman.”

And, in fact, it is –only natural.

But, I am not called to be natural but spiritual.

Sin is any way of thinking besides God’s. And my behavior is not the mind of Christ.

I repent.

The Word that the Holy Spirit burns on my heart is Matthew 5:28 where Jesus says, “whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

It has been often taught from this verse that a wayward glance leads to adultery, but what most overlook is that this is but one of several sins Jesus used to illustrate His main point: all sin share the same root. To be guilty of one is to be guilty of them all because one sin contains the DNA for all of them and they all flow from an unregenerate heart –including murder. (Matthew 5:19, James 2:10)

Murder.

One of my greatest fears is for my sin to kill what is dear to me:
for my wife to catch my glance and it kill the certainty of love for her,
or for my boys to see me inappropriately look at a woman and it kill the security they have in the Father’s house, afraid that I could betray and abandon their mother, destroying our family,
or for a sister to see my wayward glance and it kill her hope in the sanctity and ministry of marriage, thinking “all men are the same,”
or anyone observing my behavior, it kills my testimony, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

So, “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection…” (1 Corinthians 9:27)

And, I fight for my loved ones… with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17)

First, I must be born again (Matthew John 3:3). God must give me a new heart. Then, I have to be sensitive to the conviction and urging of the Holy Spirit. He will guide me by His Word. All of this is facilitated by receiving the Word and giving myself to it. And, by the Word, the Spirit will help me to fight.

The Spirit, by the Word, will help me tear down the lies of the enemy (2 Corinthians 10:4) and overcome the flesh (worldly thinking). It will transform me, renewing my mind, imparting to me the mind of Christ. (Romans 12:2)

The Spirit will reveal the mind of Christ for whatever I’m facing with the Word.

So then, what is the mind of Christ as it relates to women? How should I see them?

“Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.” John 19:27 – As a mother, someone that I honor and secure.

“Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise” Mark 5:41 – As a daughter, someone that I lift up.

“And as [the women] went to tell His disciples, behold Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice’… ‘Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.'” Matthew 28:9-10 – As a sister, someone that I encourage and respect as heirs together and fellow ministers of the grace of Life.

“You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection [women] neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.” Matthew 22:29-30 – As a wife, someone that is not to be treated as property -something to be picked up or put away based on my whims, but someone who is to be venerated as an awesome, holy vessel of God. (What angel was ever encountered in scripture without fear and awe?!)

Therefore, the mind of Christ is, if a woman is not my wife, she is either to be regarded as a sister, daughter or mother –all positions of honor. Then, I bring my body into subjection to use His view. This is how I fight. And, I fight everyday.

Being Christian does not mean that I do not struggle with sin.

It means I struggle with sin, with the Strength to overcome.

The natural man embraces sin.

But, we are called to be spiritual, to have the mind of Christ.

Therefore, make war.

#spiritualwarfare

Originally posted to Facebook here.

Connect and share with me:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/brainflurry
Twitter – https://twitter.com/brainflurry

Judge Not That You Be Not Judged

This is precisely what happened when God sent Jesus. They missed Him because He didn’t come in a package they approved of.

Jesus warned it will happen again, that we will fail to grasp Him, our light and life, when we overlook “the least of these” where He may be found. Matthew 25:45

Throw people away, whether because of their status, behavior, appearance, past, politics or even because they wronged you, at your own peril.

“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’

Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” – Matthew 25:31-46

Beware prejudice!

Consider again Luke 6:37-38 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Originally posted to Twitter here.

Connect and share with me:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/brainflurry
Twitter – https://twitter.com/brainflurry

Casting Off Into The River Of God’s Grace

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com Casting Off Into The River Of God's Grace

“I don’t want to go to lunch with you (or anybody).”

That was my thought after receiving an invitation to lunch from William Sansing.

But God is doing a work in me, teaching me that people are gateways to His presence and His Love is the key.

“Cast off into the river of God’s grace,” was the Word to me.

So, I went, casting off, seeking to meet God through fellowship with a stranger.

I define “blessing” as what brings me closer to God.

Lunch with William Sansing blessed me.

“When You Said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
– Psalm 27:8

I may have a gained a friend, perhaps even a brother. The test will be if we continue to share, not only lunch but life. That will require discomfort, risk, humility, grace –action.

Obedience is wildly uncomfortable. But, I so desire God that I’m willing to be uncomfortable, if it means I get more of Him.

So, we outchea.

Originally posted to Facebook here.

Connect and share with me:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/brainflurry
Twitter – https://twitter.com/brainflurry

I Don’t Feel God The Way I Used To

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com I Don't Feel God The Way I Used To

My wife left to go out of town and it taught me something.

I missed everything that comes with being near her.
I missed her company.
I missed her touch.

I wanted those things.

Should I have looked for them elsewhere because she was not near me? Would it have been appropriate to seek the companionship, intimacy and affection that I yearned for from another? Certainly not!

So, what do I instead?

I wait for my spouse.

I read my spouse’s love letters.
I reflect on my spouse’s love for me.
I reflect on my love toward my spouse.
I recall the last time I felt my spouse’s touch.
I remember the good we’ve had together and I rejoice over it.
I wait (prepare) with eager expectation for my spouse’s return.

So it is with the Lord.

He has not abandoned you. He’s just further ahead in the place that He’s calling you to. Sometimes, the absence we feel is His leading for us to come out of the place where we’ve grown comfortable and to come up just a little bit higher. (Romans 1:17, 2 Corinthians 3:18)

So, trust in His commitment to His promises, “He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5), be faithful to the Lord and seek His face because “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). And, never forget that He wants to be with you as evidenced by His actions, foremost by coming through His Son Jesus (Immanuel) and including His moving on my heart to write this for you to read this right now.

In the words of David the psalmist,

“Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!”
– Psalm 27:14

Joy And Pain

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com Joy And Pain

I have great joy, peace and hope because Christ is in my life.

Yet, there is pain that never leaves me. It’s like gravity, a condition of this environment, always there, weighing me down.

I don’t want to,
I don’t feel like,
I don’t have the strength to,
are all ways the pain makes me feel.

But, there is strength to thrive in spite of the pain: His strength.

To enjoy it I have to accept my weakness and His power, allow it to align me, flow through me and make me flourish,
like a flower emerging from the weight of the earth, its roots still in but its bud reaching toward the sun.

Quite often, life requires more than I have. But, His grace is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:8-9)

There is power to overcome
I don’t want to,
I don’t feel like,
I don’t have the strength to.

There is power to go on
as a vessel of His Love.

I just have to go,
depending on Him.

Any Love, any Light, any Life that He can channel through me is eternally worth it.

In week 29 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for Freddie…

Originally posted on Facebook on Saturday, July 23, 2022.

In week 29 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for Freddie Williams.

Remember when I said there are kind, caring, compassionate people in this world? Here's one of them.

A native of Starkville, Mississippi.
Serves our country as a soldier in the U.S. Army.
Starts a successful transport logistics company, Williams Logistics & Tranport LLC.
Volunteers to mentor young men in our community.

Today, he hosts a back to school bash, giving away backpacks and school supplies to our area youth. But what I find more impressive than this gracious act is how he chose to go about it. He elected to get the community engaged in meeting its own need.

He had tshirts made for volunteers that said BElieve in YOUrself. A message I take to mean that we can do better and the first step is to believe.

Thank you, Mr. Williams for that much needed encouragement but moreso for demonstrating that it's possible. I'm grateful. #52WoG

In light of recent events, it’s hard but stand firm believer.

In light of recent events, it's hard but stand firm believer. The Bible can be trusted. We, as…

Originally posted on Facebook on Wednesday, June 29, 2022.

In light of recent events, it's hard but stand firm believer.

The Bible can be trusted.

We, as believers, should not reason or orient ourselves based on anything apart from God's Word, no matter how badly Christians around us get it wrong or how compelling worldly arguments may be. (Romans 1:16-17, Ephesians 6:15, Hebrews 10:38)

The Word is the authoritative guide to Life, but without the revelation of the Holy Spirit, its meaning is closed to us. Reading, quoting, teaching and preaching scripture without the illumination of the Holy Spirit is how we, with such confidence that we're right, assert things that are so tragically wrong. (Deuteronomy 29:29, Matthew 11:25, I Corinthians 2:14)

The Word and the Spirit are complete, sufficient for all areas of life and need no extra-biblical supplement. (II Peter 1:3)

They also perfectly agree. The Spirit will never give anything that contradicts the Word. Evaluating statements against scripture is how we test things. (John 16:12-15, 1 Corinthians 14:32, 1 John 4:1-6)

To understand what the Word for any situation or season is, we must be careful not to proudly presume but to humble ourselves and ask God for understanding of the scripture and for wisdom. He gives it generously without risk of rejection. (James 1:5-8, 4:6)

Don't be distracted by the raging waves, those to your left and your right or even the "church". Look to Jesus, the Word in flesh and trust Him, alone.

There are areas of my life that are a mess.

There are areas of my life that are a mess. Messes can be fixed, if I: 1. Believe better is…

Originally posted on Facebook on Tuesday, June 28, 2022.

There are areas of my life that are a mess.

Messes can be fixed, if I:

1. Believe better is possible.
2. Take responsibility for the mess.
3. Stop adding to the mess.
4. Do something everyday to make it better.
5. Celebrate improvement, any improvement, every time.
6. Don't allow setbacks to stop me. Acknowledge them, don't ignore them. Confess them. Grieve them. Try to avoid repeating them. Return to step 1.
7. Never give up.

Pictured is my office. Those who know me can look at this and know I'm not ok. Usually, there is not so much as a stray pencil on my desk. But, life happens. What you're looking at is the result of wave after wave of unexpected challenges. I'm not beating myself up about it because this is me just rolling with it.

Now, I believe better is possible and I'm moving towards it. #thriveday

The problem is that men make God out to be like themselves and…

The problem is that men make God out to be like themselves and think that He would regard…

Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, June 27, 2022.

The problem is that men make God out to be like themselves and think that He would regard authority the way a man would, "to lord it over others." (Mark 10:42)

But, what did Jesus do with His bride? "He called His disciples together and gave them power and authority" (Luke 9:1, Mark 6:7, Matthew 10:1) and in the regeneration, "We shall rule with Him" (2 Timothy 2:12)

Everything God gives us, whether resources, revelation or authority is for the reconciliation of creation and the protection and provision for ALL that are in His house. (Matthew 24:45)

Do we even know why man was given authority in the first place? The fall. (Genesis 3:1) In God's lovingkindness, even in cursing as He was administering His righteous judgement, He had redemption in view and provided "covering" –making the family a military unit to effectively fight against an Enemy that our sin gave power to, to cover (preserve) us until the Chief Shepherd appears (Isaiah 11, John 10, Revelations 21).

Until then, we war. And, I don't know about you, but I want my wife, the woman who's in the foxhole with me, to be empowered, equipped and fully capable of fighting alongside me.