52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #6 – A New Generation

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - 52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #6 – A New Generation

In Week 6 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks to God for a new generation.

My nephew and I were out one Saturday and happened upon a car broken down in the middle of traffic. There’s a young man driving with several other young men in the car.

You could see in their faces they weren’t sure what to do. So, my nephew and I stopped to see if we could at least help to push them out of traffic. As it turns out, their car, a 2013 Ford Escort, has a shift lock mechanism that prevents the car from being put into neutral if it doesn’t crank (darn new-fangled doohickeys).

As we’re figuring out how to disengage the shift lock and get the car in neutral, the driver, a young man by the name of Jeremiah (who is no more than 16) introduces himself to my nephew. He engages in conversation, sharing that he and the young men that were with him were on the way to a baby shower. He asks my nephew, “Are you a new student at State? What are you studying?”

Then Jeremiah says (as we’re all standing closely around a car in the middle of traffic), “Man, it’s great to meet you. I really appreciate your help today. If you don’t have a church home, I invite you to come hang with me at Peter’s Rock.”

I could have swallowed my head I was grinning so wide at this young black man’s poise, confidence, boldness and willingness in his witness.

Though this young man didn’t know what to do about the car, he fully understood the ultimate assignment.

In the words of KB,
“They say [young people] are leaving God.
I just smiled, like, ‘You really need to see the squad.'”
-From the song, “We right here”

God is doing something
in every generation.
(1 John 2:13-14)

I’m grateful.

#52WoG

How Work for Him Establishes Our Plans

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - How Work for Him Establishes Our Plans

Proverbs 16:3,

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and He will establish your plans.”

What a curious turn of phrase.

I find it interesting that the verse does not say “give your plans to Lord that He may establish them”.

Because that’s typically how we approach things, right? We plan; we set priorities and goals, then we do the work to establish those plans.

But, I find the Word of God to be true and observe something amazing.

When I do what I do for God —even when I don’t know where I’m going, He establishes my plans —He gives me what I didn’t know I wanted or needed. He gives me the truest, deepest desires of my heart —which is always some expression of Himself in various forms.

I didn’t put having a warrior of a wife, loving sons, in-laws that are blood to me, a host of delightfully different people made dear family to me through Jesus Christ, fullness, wholeness, satisfaction, joy, peace or many of the indescribably wonderful things I currently enjoy on my vision board.

But, God.

God gave them to me in the course of my trying, and often failing to follow Him, even when I didn’t know what I was really doing or where I was going.

Jesus said don’t seek after what everyone else in the world seeks after, because your Father knows what you have need of even before you ask (Matthew 6:8). And, He also knows what you want most deeply even before you do.

What I see, is that to obey with a heart committed to the Lord is to experience the kingdom. And, His Kingdom is what I want most deeply. This is my plan, though largely unknown to me, that He establishes.

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
— 1 Corinthians 2:9

It’s true.

So, my strategy is simple: love God, do what I do for Him and I cannot fail.

#thriveday

Never Forget We Are At War

Never forget we are at war. Hearts are a strategic objective—for us and the evil one. One of his primary aims is to make us bitter.

“Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”
— Hebrews 12:15

Bitterness cannot be contained. You cannot hate people or desire their harm without poisoning the well that waters every other area of your life—including those you love most dearly.

Guard your heart. Fight to love everyone.
#spiritualwarfare #perfectourlove

The Communion Principle

If it does not promote or protect Communion with God through Christ, it is wrong and sin.

Communion reflects who Jesus is, what He seeks and what He does, and has become a useful principle against which I can test everything else to bring it into obedience to Christ.

In just one example, it guards me against dabbling in worldly philosophies such as stoicism. Stoicism is clearly unacceptable because it seeks something other than communion and has at its core, from which it draws, something other than Christ.

Likewise, it makes clear why Jordan Peterson is not someone to follow.

Christ alone. Communion with God though Him is the pursuit.

#communion

A Table In The Presence Of My Enemies

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - A Table In The Presence Of My Enemies

Last week sometime, God made two things burn on my heart that seemed contradictory, but as I prayed into it and when He showed me their harmony, it blew me away.

They both flow out of “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” – Psalm 23:5.

The first revelation was “the treasure is in the trouble,” which means blessing (nearness to God) and strength come in the fire—representing the conflict, adversity, and hardship enemies bring. The challenge brings me closer to God and grows me (resulting in greater glory).

Said another way, when my enemies show up, I know I’m finna eat! Because “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”

Hallelujah.

And the second revelation came from a question, “Why are enemies and the table He prepares for me in any proximity to each other?”

My enemies are there so they could be invited to eat.

I remember a table where our Lord sat and broke bread with His enemies. It’s a table that we continue to this day, where He shares not only bread and wine but His body and blood with us, His enemies.

“For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
— Romans 5:10

Or, said more accurately concerning those who believe, former enemies because He used His table to make us children of God.

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!”
— 1 John 3:1

Oh, hallelujah! Bless Your name, Lord.

In a culture of clap-backs, punching people in the mouth and the appearance of strength this is hard to hear.

We are called to fight but not like that (2 Corinthians 10:3-6). If you want to fight so bad, fight toward communion.

That’s the call.
#perfectourlove #communion

52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #5 – A Co-laborer

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - 52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #5 – A Co-laborer

In Week 5 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks to God for a co-laborer.

A man walks up to me in the gym and says, “I want you to know that I love your heart for the Lord and I want to encourage you to continue doing what you’re doing.”

We go on to talk about how we’re called to snatch each other as fellow believers out of the fire (Jude 1:23), but what stuck with me was his exhortation to do so with grace—expounding that it’s initially jarring to any of us to be faced with the prospect that we may be engaged in idolatry. “None of us wants to believe we have an idol and it takes us a second to come to terms with it.”

That man’s name was Joseph Horan. He’s a pastor at Bridgeway that I met through a men’s prayer group that goes to every school in our city and county, and prays for the teachers, staff, students and their families.

While that men’s group started with prayer, I’m delighted to testify that’s not where it’s ended. From that has sprung mentoring efforts, joint fellowship between churches, and meaningful relationships—communion. And its fruit is playing out in our interaction in the gym.

Moments after Joseph walked off, another man who overheard our conversation asked me about my faith, shared how he hasn’t been to church in years, how he wants to connect and shared his phone number.

This is The Way.

It’s the only way. And Joseph’s act of goodwill was deeply encouraging especially in our current climate. It reminded me of 1 Kings 19:18 where God said He had reserved for Himself thousands who had not bowed and who were not serving the idol of the times.

Joseph Horan reminded me that I am not alone. I am not the only one fighting for communion.

I’m grateful.

#52WoG

How To Test The Spirits

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - How To Test The Spirits

How is it that we all go to church, we all read the Bible, but we believe, think and move so drastically different and in opposition to one another?!

Are we being exposed to truth? Was what you heard, what you saw, what you participated in “church” even of God? Did you hear a good sermon today?

Here’s how to tell.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
— 1 John 4:1

Holy Communion is the cipher.

False prophecy divides and excludes; it obstructs the path to communion.

Even when the message decries oppression and injustices, if there is no Way presented to reconciliation, it is not of the spirit of God. God is a redeemer.

A true witness reveals the oneness that is already there and facilitates a greater enjoyment of Holy Communion.

Did it promote the bringing together, of the saved and those who are being saved, to the Lord’s table where we receive and celebrate His redemptive and atoning work to make us One? And, did it promote overcoming whatever attempts to hinder it?

That is good. That is of God.

When we come together, it should not be about the sermon anyway. It should be about Holy Communion, where we all participate, bringing something to give.

52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #4 – A Welcome Visit

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - 52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #4 - A Welcome Visit

In Week 4 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks to God for a welcome visit.

Sunday night I receive a text, “Hey Uncle Paul, I was wondering if I can come over there tomorrow and we can watch the college football national championship together”

My nephew is a son to me. He is so dear to me. Of all the things he could be doing, to think he’d want to spend time with here with us…

It brings tears to my eyes, even now.

Because there’s no where I’d rather be.

I’m grateful.

#52WoG

Purge The Leaven

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - Purge The Leaven

Christians, God hates how we’ve put politics at the center of our discourse. It is now something we have to get around to get to each other. It is an idol. It is a spot in our Love Feast. Get it out! REPENT!

How we voted for an earthly government does not inform how the Kingdom of God operates. God is sovereign.

The means (method) is as important as the ends (mission). Our attempt to achieve heavenly ends with the corrupt means of politics is one and the same as Jesus taking Satan’s offer to fall down and worship him as a way to get back “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory” in Matthew 4:9. This is NOT The Way.

You are nearing destruction. Judgment begins at the house of God.

REPENT!

The Kingdom Of Heaven Is At Hand

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - The Kingdom Of Heaven Is At Hand

How is the one sitting on the throne of your life doing? How is that government working for you?

If you’re weary of unjust, oppressive, and ineffective government, and are yearning for a better homeland—a government of righteousness, with the peace, harmony, and wellness that results—the good news is “the kingdom of heaven is at hand”.

My previous king constantly led me to death and disappointment. He was corrupt and an unwitting vassal of another kingdom.

I’m referring to my former self.

But now, I couldn’t be more pleased with Jesus, my Savior and King.

He leads me well.

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”
– 2 Corinthians 2:14

The triumph He always leads us to is experiencing the kingdom of God more.

I commend Him to you.

Denounce your government, and defect to Christ: Repent.

Know this: it’s not easy. It is the hardest thing you will ever do.

Defection will make you an enemy of the state. It costs everything, but His kingdom is unquestionably worth it.