Tag Archives: Paul Luckett

You don’t have to be prominent to be important.

You don't have to be prominent to be important. There are impurities in my thinking that disrupt…

Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, June 5, 2022.

You don't have to be prominent to be important.

There are impurities in my thinking that disrupt my peace and destroy my productivity.

Jesus referred to these as leaven.

Among which is the idea that I have to be prominent to be important.

Jesus warned us about this. “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts"
-Luke 20:46

This sort of thinking breeds self-seeking, making me a slave to what is momentary and does not satisfy (disturbing my peace). It also places undue emphasis on me as an individual rather than as a member of a larger whole, dividing me from those to whom and from whom edification should flow (destroying my productivity).

But this is the mind of Christ,

"And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another."
-I Corinthians 12:23-25

So, my prayer today is:

"Father, give me a heart like Christ's, that thinks of prominence as nothing to be sought or held on to, not being preoccupied with oneself (even how they or their work is perceived), but is humble, simply living in service to the Whole, trusting You with their obedience. (Philippians 2:3-11)

Therefore, give me a heart
that does not need to be seen,
that does not need to be applauded,
that does not need likes on social media,
that does not need to signal my importance through titles such as president of this, founder of that or through possessions such as houses, cars or clothes,
that does not need "important" work but a heart that is content peeling potatoes in Your name.

Give me a heart that is glad, yes rejoices, just to be at Your table, regardless of where I sit.

Give me a heart that is satisfied with You alone.

I confess that I do not have this heart. I still desire worldly acceptance and approval. I repent and ask for Your heart believing this is Your will, therefore having full confidence that You can and You will grant my petition, believing that I will receive it without doubting, I ask these things for Your Son Jesus' sake and in His name I pray.

Amen."

I Can Go On

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com I Can Go


He didn’t want to.
 
The Christ, the God-Man, the highest form of existence did not want to do what was before Him to do.
 
“O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” -Matthew 26:39
 
Yet, His love for the Father and for you and I prevailed. By it, He steeled Himself in the face of unparalleled and incomprehensible suffering and chose to trust and obey the Father, to fulfill His ministry and finish His redemptive work.
 
I am tired. I am frustrated. I am discouraged and this remembrance is an encouragement to me.
 
Surely, with there being even more grace towards us now than there was before (John 4:12), I can endure these comparatively light and momentary afflictions: I can endure fatigue, feelings of failure, discouragement, difficult and devious people. Not seeing the end from the beginning, I can trust the Father, I can hope, I can love, I can work His fields, I can keep my hands to the plow of His redemptive work no matter how small or fruitless my efforts may seem.

I can go on.

Jesus is my example, my model and my guide. He is the person I want to become –to attain to His resurrection, to be like Him: righteous, just, loving, faithful –altogether fit to rule. He is my prize.So, even though I don’t want to right now, I press.

Some days, like today, I find myself feeling bad about where I am…

Some days, like today, I find myself feeling bad about where I am in worldly terms: what I look…

Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, May 23, 2022.

Some days, like today, I find myself feeling bad about where I am in worldly terms: what I look like, what I want and don't have, etc..

The temptation is to do something to make myself feel better in that worldly context (to eat something I enjoy, buy something I want, to do something for recognition, etc.) when the key is to completely change contexts –from worldly to godly.

To change these contexts is to abandon earthly considerations; don't worry about it and to shift focus from myself to God, to what He's doing, to how I can be a part of it, to confidence in its beauty and its goodness –to trust God.

Discontent and worry are the opposite of trust.

Very often, the remedy for a sad countenance, discouragement and a downcast heart is a new heart –one secure in God.

So, my prayer in this hour is Psalms 51:10-13,

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit."

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.51.10-13.NKJV

If you are saved, you are part of Christ’s body and your function…

If you are saved, you are part of Christ's body and your function in the body is not just going to…

Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, May 15, 2022.

If you are saved, you are part of Christ's body and your function in the body is not just going to church and listening to the mouth. Nor is it recruiting others to come and just listen to the mouth.

God, through Christ, has given you a ministry: "good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Eph 2:10

What has God given you a heart or burden for? How is the Holy Spirit leading you? How are you providing for Christ our Lord's House? How are you seeking His interests in the world?

You were not saved for nothing.

#MinistryIsForEveryBeliever

This is our son Roman (he’s going to kill me).

Originally posted on Facebook on Thursday, May 5, 2022.

This is our son Roman (he's going to kill me).

I told him the budget for his car and that anything extra he'd have to pay. He started applying for jobs the very next day. He's already earned $500 dollars. And, now he's looking for another job!

I am posting this in case any of my Starkville friends can help him out.

The kid is driven:

He wanted a gaming computer. He saved for a year, bought the components and built it himself.

He wants to join the Air Force and heard they fancy Cross Country athletes. He joined the Cross Country team and has run for three years.

He wanted to go to The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science. He initiated and completed the application process by himself.

He wants to graduate the Air Force Academy ready to buy a house. He saved $1000, met with Barbara Runnels Coats and opened a mutual fund at 13 years old.

I could go on…

Roman is putting in applications all over the place, but if any of our friends in Starkville are hiring or know of any opportunities for a smart, respectful and driven young man, we'd be grateful if you pass them along. He's ready to start immediately. Please feel free to message me or Melissa Luckett.

His resume can be viewed at the link below:
https://bit.ly/3P32ICs

52 Weeks of Gratefulness #16 – Fruitful Words From A Friend

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com Thankful For Fruitful Words From Josh T Taylor

In Week 16 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for a fruitful word from a friend, Josh “T” Taylor.

I want to advance the Kingdom of God.

But, how we imagine the Kingdom and what it actually is are often starkly different.

It is easy for us to be deceived by appearances, to busy ourselves with religious activities, to feel affirmed by big crowds and large projects, but all the while having done nothing for the Kingdom. (Matthew 7:21-27)

I have struggled with wanting to do something “big” and feeling like I’m not doing enough… that is, until my brother, Josh “T” Taylor, shared a word that has been setting me free.

“T” and I attend a marriage ministry together. It is a small group but it is very rich.

One day, we were talking about the role our marriages play in the Kingdom by glorifying God in how we as husbands and wives reflect Christ’s love.

In that moment “T” pivoted and said something that completely shifted my view of ministry. He was sharing water that he had received elsewhere but it was particularly refreshing to me because it was filtered through his sincerity, his love for me and his applying it in his own life.

He said, “The Kingdom of God advances at the speed of relationships.”

That word immediately affirmed itself. My heart was set on fire as much by the messenger as by the message.

It was illuminating. It revealed, among many things, how I often get distracted seeking outcomes while God seeks hearts. And, we reach those hearts, not by large, flashy ministries but by Spirit-filled, sacrificial, longsuffering love for people as they come to us, which is most often one at a time.

I repent. Not my will Father, but Your will be done. (John 6:38)

This word from a friend and dear brother has been a great ministry to me. I will go forward in service to the Father, seeking to be faithful with whatever He places in my charge -one talent or five, and trust God with the rest.

Thank you “T”. I love you.

I’m grateful. #52WoG

The Real Enemy

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com The Real Enemy

The threat to the church or to my effectiveness as a kingdom citizen is not systemic racism, wokeness, injustice or the advancement of the LGBT agenda.

There is nothing external that can stand against the Church.

Or, did we not believe our Lord when He established the Church and said, “the gates of Hell will not prevail against it?” Matthew 16:18

Satan knows this well, which is why he instead tries to work from the inside.

“For I know this, after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.”
– Acts 20:29

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
– Matthew 7:15

The threat is not external but internal.

Jesus did not say, “Beware those who vote for Trump” or “Beware CRT” but, “Beware the leaven of the [religious establishment] which is hypocrisy.” – Luke 12:1

Hypocrisy: the presenting as one thing while actually being another.

Two of the most pernicious forms of hypocrisy in the church today are the industrial church and cultural christianity. We’re losing way more of our children to this than to Disney.

We wrestle not against flesh and blood. Our hypocrisy is the real enemy.

Therefore, let us put away the leaven (1 Corinthians 5:7).

Let us come out from the #industrialchurch. Don’t go to church. Be the church.

Let us come out from #culturalchristianity. Don’t just claim Christ’s name. Seek Christ’s heart.

Beware Cultural Christianity

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com Unity Is Not Conformity

Cultural Christianity is the reduction of Christianity to an identity.

Cultural Christians share language, conventions, and practices around Christian themes but do not recognize the deity of Christ nor submit to His authority as evidenced by their dissimilarity to His Biblical account.

The key characteristic of Cultural Christianity is the preeminence of the group. Cultural Christians prioritize membership to the group above submission to Christ.

Being a Cultural Christian does not require regeneration, belief or any lifestyle change besides participating in group-sanctioned activities that signal their affiliation. Membership is granted on the basis of conformity to the group.

Cultural Christianity adds members largely through cultural assimilation: the often unconscious adoption of the positions and behaviors of others whose acceptance is desired. It seeks cultural belonging and influence, not the Kingdom.

Beware #CulturalChristianity

If I may be real, for years I struggled with whether to share my…

If I may be real, for years I struggled with whether to share my faith with my children. First,…

Originally posted on Facebook on Thursday, April 28, 2022.

If I may be real, for years I struggled with whether to share my faith with my children.

First, because I was wrestling with whether I truly believed. I still am. (It is they that endure to the end that are saved.)

And second, because the most detrimental thing I could do to my children's prospect of authentic faith was have it based on mine (rather than on Christ).

It is too easy for my children to accept what I say and mimick what I do because they love me, trust me and want to be accepted by me, rather than thoughtfully examining the claims of Scripture and coming to their own authentic, personal, battle-tested faith in Christ.

One thing I did decide early on was to convey that I would love them the same regardless of what they believed, not only because I want to remove any stumbling blocks to my children coming to sincere faith in Christ, but because it is true.

Beware #CulturalChristianity