Every morning I wake up with a song. I don't even think I am awake. And yet I must wake myself up with my singing. Today was no different. "What a Mighty God we serve" came "blaring" out of my mouth. Awakened from my dreams of misssions work and healings.

Is He a Mighty God to you?

Some of you have been under the gun. The posts for prayer get more and more, the tragedies mount. And to the world it looks like the devil is winning. And to you it may look like the devil is winning. NOT SO!

Don't concentrate on What it looks like, (Notice the word concentrate-not avoid) but WHAT He says about the situation and WHO He is.

Yesterday, I woke up and began to work on what I though God wanted me to say. (I already had two other possibilities and here He wanted a third!!!) He had me on being a bondservant, and then He had me on what does being like Jesus mean, and now He wanted me to focus on prayer. (Maybe there is progress here!?!?) And I was hoping maybe a light little Christmas story would be nice. In minutes I had three pages of notes and scribblings. Then I thought I heard the word "fast" so I hurried up. Wrong answer! I believe God is preparing my heart for the greatest test of my existence. I love to fast, so it is not a hard thing, but a necessary thing. Fasting at the drop of a hat is a normal thing. The concern is I haven't fully gained back the weight of my last long fast. In 21 days I dropped 42 pounds and I weighed 180 to begin with. (So perhaps the possibility of a glorified body here on earth with no flesh hanging on these bones is a possibility!!!) Thank God, it wasn't before the turkey!!!

So I arrived at the home we are meeting at around 8:15. At about 8:30, we began to pray. Right through 9am class. Right into praise and worship at 10. And then we began to pray for people. It was after noon before the message was even given a thought.

And out of it came a greater anointing upon people. A refreshing.

Christmas is just mas(s) with out the Christ. God is trying to put His Son in us. He is either Lord of all, or not at all. Divsions and petty arguments have invaded the body. I have a new "rule". I pray with people entering my home. I will not give the enemy foot room in my door. If you are coming together in the name of Jesus, do it. Let's put Christ in the center of all that we do.

I went to my wife's "Christmas party" yesterday. The jokes about sinning began the moment I walked through the door. They don't know I am a pastor. I was actually hoping no one told them. We sat on the end of the table where it seemed like no one would be. They just sat down next to us. And began with questions. And surely I had to pray for the food on my plate. Well, they watched. But then the talk turned to missions(I am not even sure how!) and church and the church web site. So Jesus was there. See, part of the message yesterday was what do you have to give. The answer is "light". Freely given.

They have only attended Catholic church and they don't have a true relationship with the Lord. But let me say this, I know many Christians who have walks that are hard to tell who they serve, so do they have a true relationship? And a couple of them were hungry. Ironically, the ones living in sin. At Christmas time you can get away with most anything.

God loves the sinner. And the sooner you and I get it together on that concept the sooner you and I will see results.The sooner Jesus will be able to return.

So while many are running around wondering where the next store is, God is working on the hearts of the people. Believe it or not there is probably(?) a sinner at the family get together you and I don't want to go to. And they most likely need Jesus. Remember who you are. You are the bearer of light. I share this little story for those of you who have gone somewhere and look more like the world than the world. (I am not talking about dress or hair-BUT your actions!!!) Do they speak Jesus or Satan? Do they know you are a Christian? IS the fruit good or bad?

There were two fisherman. John and Peter. John leaned over the edge of the boat and the fish began to jump in the boat. Peter raced over and he said, "how do you do that?" John showed him that look that resembled the love of Jesus and the fish continued to fill the boat. Peter said, "OK." Going to the edge of the boat, he leaned over and only moments later he fell in. John threw him a rope and pulled him in. "Peter! What happened?" But all Peter would do was pucker his lips, cheeks moving in and out, and move his arms like fins.

Perhaps you have missed the importance of this story because of the inability on my part to convey in words what usually is an action story. But the reality of it is John, drew them in, abiding in Him, whereas Peter was drawn to the world and its system, becoming like them.

John 9:31 says this, "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth."

God wants to answer you prayers but read that scripture. Let it soak. Here are a few others.

1John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

James 4: 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.